Such beautiful roses from all of you! Carla, bless your heart - thank you! Would you believe I celebrated tonight by bringing home a Polish Pizza (sauerkraut, polish sausage and onions on a pizza) for dinner? LOL! The sun was shining most of today; cold, yes, but not as cold as yesterday's start of -22F!! So, all things considered, 20 above felt downright balmy. BTW, I love the shading on the edges of those pink roses - they're just beautiful! Luanne, those are all good things to have on one's birthday indeed and you don't know just how right on the money you are! I gave my potted roses a shower in the basement this evening and got to enjoy Rosette Delizy and Frances Dubreuil blooms while I tended them - how's that for fulfilling a prophesy of rain and blooming roses? My husband called me at work and sang Happy Birthday to me, and then this evening my oldest and dearest friend called me and sang a birthday song in Polish just like her mother used to sing when we were kids, so I've had music and as gifts those songs couldn't have pleased my heart more. As for the chocolate part, tomorrow night my son and his family join us for a big birthday bash, bringing with them a very special chocolate cake from a bakery famous in southern Michigan. I haven't had a Sanders' fudge bumpy cake in at least 20 years, so I am practically drooling at the thought. My DH, both sons and I *all* have our birthdays within this one week, so we celebrate with a single party that lasts all weekend. Thank you so much for Evelyn, a rose I've been considering adding to my gardens for a while now. She has such a pretty petticoat. :-) And dear Sue, thank you for those special wishes. I hope indeed that the year ahead is easy on my heart. DH is doing well right now so I certainly am counting those blessings. Thank you for the sun drenched white roses - I'm hoping for blue skies just like that. Anne

Oh, yes, I'm feeling far better today than a few days ago. I was really ambushed by the blues this year for some reason. It's been tough year in a few respects. Financially: I had much less freelance work than I need to support us. So there was a lot of added stress. All is fine now, though. Romantically: Also disheartening. But I am stunningly healthy and I have wonderful children who only make me a little crazy. Today is Alice's other winter formal. Alice is a trooper. She's been beset this week by a sty on her eye (just beginning to bloom), a cold sore (just fading), a chest cold (still hacking), and the high likelihood that she and three other girls will look like the hot pink bridesmaid quartet at the dance tonight. She learned on Thursday that 3 other girls have her exact dress in hot pink. She is still looking forward to a fun evening. We gave her a spray on tan last night. I wouldn't let her get acrylic nails or a real tan in a booth. Mean mom! I'm playing fairy godmother to my little Cinderellie. The mice are hard at work hemming her dress and the bluebirds are fluttering around the room. ;) Lou, I know you've had a much more difficult year than anyone deserves. And you do it all with aplomb and joy. A good example for dour me.

Good Morning! I am back from the deep south and glad to see that you guys partied hearty without me! LOL Raeanne - Thanks for holding up the birthday traditions while I was gone. (If you want lessons in GIF 101, I can help. LOL) NHSuzanne - Those pictures are gorgeous! I too want to know what kind of camera you have. DH told me that while we were gone the weather turned cold up north. It is back to being hot and humid now though! BJ - So glad to hear that all went well and that you are up and around. (We never doubted for a second that you would come through with flying colors.) Jen - I agree that cleaning closets can be cathartic, but I hope you got to do some other fun things too. Dee's package sounded like fun. She is a great birthday partner! Tikanas - I hope you got to read your birthday wishes, even if you can't post. Email someone in the group and update us on your life. Inquiring minds want to know. Amy - I went to Lafayete, LA to visit my DD for a week, but thanks for missing me. I am glad to hear that you are still painting. I treasure my picture from you and look at it daily. Besh - I too love Heavenly from VS. My DD turned me onto it. I usually buy her some for her birthday and Christmas, but she said she has had to stop wearing scented lotions and sprays because of the bugs in LA. Donna - WTG with WWatchers. Your renovations sound wonderful. Any before and after pictures to show us?? Gretchen - What can I say? What a nice surprise to log on and see a post from you. I thought for a second you had moved to California, since you are now calgret, but I see you are still in Chicago. Please keep posting, we missed you. Patti - I hope you reached Dallas ok. My first Houston experience was WET! On the way to LA, it poured in Houston on my layover and my luggage got soaked. They must have left it out in the open at some point. I had to wash all my clothes when I got to DD's apartment. But my flights weren't delayed, so I got out on time and my return flight was uneventful. I met a really nice lady on my first layover and it turned out we had the same birthday. We chatted and tried not to notice the wind and rain outside! LOL Have with your DGD!!! Magic Kitty - Haven't seen a post from you lately. How are you holding up in the FL heat? DeeMarie - I hope you are having wonderful weather and enjoying every minute of your cruise. And speaking a enjoying every minute, that is exactly what I did in LA. Despite the heat and humidity, DD and I had a wonderful time. We explored the swamps, two plantations homes, went searcing for alligators, ate seafood, sampled Cajun cuisine and music and just spent some Mother/daughter time. The week went fast but I hope to be able to visit her again before they transfer out of the area. I will post a few pictures in the album when I get a chance. Now I have one more trip over Labor Day weekend and then I start back to school on 9/4. Part of me is looking forward to a paycheck, but part of me doesn't want the summer to end! Hi to anyone I missed. Maddie - where are you? Kate - are you sill with us? Joanne - Come back! John - We need you to check in brother! Gotta finish up some laundry and catch up on the mail and bills! UGH. Later, Marci

I just saw this today, you made me cry! Thank you so much. I thought I might skip this year and turn 44 next year but decided that this will just be my special year of life instead. I have myself to take care of, a beautiful dd to love and support, a crazy ds who is blossoming into an even crazier young man, and a dh who I look forward to another 20 years of marriage- and more- with. I did get a really nice surprise that did make my day. Besides having a great talk with my daughter, setting a foundation for the future, my BIL called with news. He married in his 20s to a gal who had a boy and girl with no father involved. They were 4 & 8. He raised these kids as his own and he and wife tried several costly procedures to reverse her tied tubes and have a baby of their own. Sadly, they divorced last year. Well, he met a gal with a 6yr boy and gets along with the dad just fine. We thought marriage was coming any day but I wonder if they have postponed knowing I cannot be there. Well, he announced they are pregnant, due in Nov. Just when my treatment will be done. So new life for me and a new life in our family. It is such a great blessing for all.