Hellooooooooooooooooooo~ Well, with the sale of the house came TONS of work! We signed the papers on Tuesday morning and have to be out by THIS Saturday night at 11pm! Just Baby V, my college DD, and I had the movers there on Wednesday - a WHOLE ENTIRE 18 wheeler FULL to the top! DD watched the baby and I packed the rest of the stuff. I slept on the floor of the house that night and baby slept in his port-a-crib. Up at 2am to get on the road to get in line for the first ferry to the rock. I dropped Baby off at daycare and headed to the "drop zone." Then a full day of unloading into the garage of our yet unfinished house. We got done at 4pm yesterday and I went to work till 5. I think I fell asleep BEFORE my head hit hit pillow! Today, it's work. Tomorrow, back to the house for a few runs to the dump and to recycle some of DH's old electronics in the city. Then, load up the remains of whatever's left in the house and wipe out drawers, cupboards, and then and back to the island. The cleaners are coming today to do a good clean beforethe new owners move in. I'm dreading holiday traffic on the way back, but hey!---can't complain---SOLD the house. Yes, at a 60% reduction and after over a year, but it's sold. Sigh. One question--SHould I dig up the St. Joseph or leave it there? lol. This Sunday, we are going to GO TO THE BEACH and have a weiner roast picnic with another family from school. YAY! A real day off!!!!!! *********Dee, Trekaren, I hope you feel better.********* Baby V is on a 20 day course of antibiotics since I took him to the allergist and they think he has had a year long sinus infection, which ALL the other docs I took him to missed dianosing. It appears they are correct, as his nose has cleared up but he is having the worst intestinal issues I've ever seen him have as a result of the antibiotics, but there is only about 5 days left so I will continue and see if the "cure" lasts. As for Monday, I think I will work on my garage and packing , as the move from our rental to the new house is about 3 weeks away. Ahhhhhhhhhh. Okay, I'm done. Everyone sounds like life is GOOD! Enjoy the weekend. This week, I have been internet impovrished and no internet when I'm away, so see you guys on Monday.

I too haven't been far. I pass through and read and have good intentions of posting, but the evening goes so quickly that before I know it, it's time for bed. I made some chili yesterday to cook in the crockpot today, so I have some extra time now to just sit and relax. Thanksgiving was great. Both kids came home, and we went somewhere every single day. I had to go back to work just to get some rest! LOL (Suzanne) So sorry to hear about Sweet Pea. I know when she is hurting, you are hurting just as much. I remember the pictures of your barn decorated last year. It looked like a Norman Rockwell Christmas card. Your gift from Maddie sounds fantastic. Kudos to Maddie for finding the perfect gift. (Carolyn) - you sound like you are in a good place right now. I am glad you are looking forward and are anxious to start your single life in Dallas. Have a safe trip. Maddie - I was reading an article a few years ago about teenage drivers and they featured stories of 3 different teenagers who had been killed in accidents because of excessive speed. The one boy had my son's name. Even down to the middle name. It freaked me out at the time, so I know what you felt when you saw and heard "your" name in conjunction with a death. Patti - Sorry to hear that your Mom isn't doing well. Are you going to be in Texas for Christmas? You will have to email me the address where you want me to send your exchange package. Raeanne - I have been seeing your artwork on FB. You do beautiful work! DeeMarie - I had to laugh at your description of the tech. Hopefully you will get good news on the 14th. Donna - There was a mother cat and 2 kittens lurking right outside the preschool. We were worried when the weather turned cold, so one of the church members made them beds out of boxes, straw and blankets. I was feeding them each morning when I got to school. They found someone to adopt the two kittens, but the mother is still available. She is a beautiful calico and was obviously someone's pet at one time. But she wasn't chipped, and there are no signs posted looking for a lost cat. We have a lead on someone taking the mother, but I think she really wanted one of the kittens. I always think of you and your rescue dogs when I see an animal in need. Hugs to anyone who needs them and have a great weekend. I have errands to run and a family Christmas party tomorrow night. Marci

Maddie~ Forget about the rant...nhsuzaane is right..We ALL have had rants here. It helps just to type away and press "post"--very theraputic. Plus, let yourself enjoy the support. And now, I'm going to have a little rant of my own... Maddie, On the job...I have no doubt you like (maybe even love) your job, but there is way too much "job" and not enough of you. Start looking for another position. Even if the auditors find you need more manpower, the company still has to find the funds and get the authorization for it; that could take a long, long time. Right now, it's not a priority for them to help you even learn your job...why would they be motivated to get help for any time soon? Start job hunting now. And BTW, you don't have to find a job at what you went to school for---find something you LIKE---what happened to your auctioning dreams? Or real estate? When we toured that KY mansion together, you really impressed me with your vision on property renovation! You would be a gem in the customer service end of a high-end real estate biz! And you know so much about the history of KY! And---you take on WAY too much in all of these jobs you've had. Take some time and find a job that fits YOU. Enough of this Super-Woman-Set-Me-Up-For-Failure-Cr@p. You are a very,very nice person, but you are taking on too much---because you're TOO nice! You do not have to save the company---just find a job, work as hard as you can, follow your job description, and save money for pleasure vacations and retirement, and BE YOURSELF! Maddie, everyone enjoys being around you. I loved every single minute I spent with you. Your humor, your easy smile, your warmth, and your perky red-headed personality should land you whatever job you want. Please ask yourself if what you're doing is really what you want to be doing...or is it just what you trained for and you don't want to "waste" that $ and education. Perhaps this is why you choose jobs that are so difficult. Do you really want to be doing what you're doig??? People change over time and maybe you should think about your OTHER talents and find a "fun" job to do for a while-one that take advantage of your PERKY personality, your persuasive manner, and natural good looks-instead of your brain! There is nothing wrong with *NOT* having a brainy job! Look at meeeeeeeeeeeeee! I CAN FLY! (and feel like Peter Pan half the time!) Sorry this is so long, but I really think you deserve to be happier. It makes me sad to think your employer doesn't appreciate you or give you the type of working experience you deserve. If the last person was miserable and now you're miserable, buy a paper at lunch and start LOOKING for a new job...try looking in the customer service ads...or real estate! Everyone here will write you a reference, I'm sure. Love you and want you to look forward to going to work! -Beege

We walked 1.5 miles last night. Will probably go to the mall and walk around and do a regular walk later today. I had candy yesterday, but will taper that off today. Lol! I need to come up with a meal plan for tonight. Not sure what sounds good or is healthy enough for tonight. We went to lunch with the neighbors for lunch yesterday at a Japanese place. Pretty tasty food. My neighbor treated because we have been helping his wife with things while he has lived out of the country for the last couple of years. He doesn't need to do that, but insists.