Milkdud and Joyce, thanks for your good input regarding our little girl. Joyce, I'm glad your granddaughter has found a niche in gymnastics. That really helps, I think--for a small child or a child who is "different" from her peers in any way to find something she is good at. We tried gymnastics for Jane. There's only one gym close by, and I was really distressed by how the instructors treated her. We started her in a group class (I couldn't afford individual lessons), and the instructors consistently put her into smaller groups with 3 and 4 year old children, even though she was solidly 7 years old. They just divided them based on size and never tested her beyond the abilities of the preschoolers. I tried talking with them about it, to which they replied that group classes were just laid back, for building confidence, and not really for building their skill levels. The only response I got was to find a way to fork over the big bucks for private lessons. So, we pulled her out because it was just frustrating and demoralizing for her. I wish we had more options! I've been tempted to stress eat for the last few days. I haven't given in, but it seems it's getting harder every day. I'm also experiencing some pretty dramatic cycle changes, which adds to my stress. I'm only 40, but the signs are beginning to look like menopause starting. (Actually, some of the signs started several years ago, but I should say are now becoming impossible to ignore.) I imagine that will mean an even slower metabolism. I think I'm just going to have to give up eating altogether! I just don't think it's good for me. Milkdud--congrats on the rain. I hope it's a good thing for you there. I'm really not sure--we are having a rainier spring than last year and are thrilled with it. Our drought for the last 2 years has been so bad that area lakes are almost impossible to use for recreational purposes in the summer and last year there were all kinds of conservation efforts going on. If it continues, there will probably be mandatory water rationing this summer, which we'd all love to avoid. Yet elsewhere, people are flooded out and it's a tragedy. Feast or famine, it seems. --Rebecca

Good fricken early 4:30am morning! (Had to pee, of course once I'm up I WANT COFFEEE!!!!! So here I am. Bright eyed and bushy tailed. Crappy weather day yesterday. Crappy body yesterday - just wanted to sleep all day long. I get those every so often. So I slept on and off all day. Totally lifeless. Dinner was with friends on their deck over looking a pond. Listened to the birds, frogs, wild turkeys. Had a huge serving of bean salad. Forgot about bean salads - they are soooooo gooooood. Since I'm more with it today, going to get out some chicken to bake tonight. Too much red meat lately. Dee your planning is smart. I love salads especially in the summer. Zumba classes, eh? Is that the mad cycling thing? I'm a happy camper this morning, my neighbour said I could have some of their wild rose bushes. Yay! Their small and have a light scent and spikey stems - wildlife leave them alone. And they also said I could have some of the white anemone that Phil has in abundance in front of his pond - yay! Catherine gave me a tray of small different coloured pepper plants - I told her I don't buy pepper seeds in packets. I take them from the peppers I buy, dry them for a week and then plant them. Talk about 110 percent germination. These are mini bell peppers she had in salad different colours - now I have a tray full to plant. I'll be keeping seeds for next year. Garden, garden, garden. That's my life and home gym club. I need to get out into the fields a bit to get some tree limbs to make plant supports - there's tons of small trees crowding each other out to trim. I'll enjoy the walk. Thursday I'm going to a diabetic clinic at our local medical center. First time in over a decade - great medical center for a small town. I'm not on medication but I want to keep an eye on things. One of the reasons I've been working at getting my weight down. All part of my healthy lifestyle plan moving forward. Hubby is also booked since he had a glucose fasting test which turned out 'funny'. They say he is pre-pre diabetic whatever the hell that means. Heck we're just abnormal which is normal for us. I'm shocked he's agreed to go. Dave is going to be 50 this year and thinks he is now closer to dying with living. Good heavens Charlie Brown! Okay, he has horrid joint problems from old military training, football and hockey injuries - he is finding it hard woodworking on large projects - his body lets him know. But after a desk job career without exercise no wonder he's feeling it now. He has lost weight since moving out here but is still heavy. I keep reminding him Rome wasn't built in a day and things will get done in good time. At least he is going to the clinic. Whether or not he goes back is another story. Today is an outside day - no rain clouds! Yippppeeeee. Fresh air, bugs, birds, dirt - the final frontier. What's on your plate today? Getting out for a walk? Taking a cue from Dee and planning ahead? How ya all doing? Let's make this a great day! Cheers, Peggy

Hi all! Tikanis, yes, I started back yesterday, and will go until the first week of August. I've got an anatomy class and a psych class this time. The anatomy class is going to be hard, but cool. We're dissecting a bunch of stuff, and then we're traveling to a local medical school to observe an autopsy. (I think I'll bring a bib, and a knife and fork to mess with our prof before we go. Maybe a bottle of hot sauce as well! LOLOL!) The psych class is in an area that is under going renovations, and we don't have AC, and it.is.miserable. And, it was only 83 yesterday. We have a box fan going, but that makes it hard to hear him. I recorded the lecture, but all I can hear is an occassional words or two, and the droning of the fan. Ahh, well. :) Good luck on the survey; I've been worked on one before, and it was sooo stressful. And how cool to be that close to sea lions! Suzanne, gosh,you're got your plate full! I'd love to follow you around for a week, and see SP and the clucking girls! :) Deemarie, the wedding sounds like it was lovely! I'm very glad that things went wonderfully. :) Ivamae, I agree. We do need this forum. I've been here since '98, and I can't imagine not being here and talking to everyone. These ladies truly are my sisters. :) Yeah, where is BJ? Amy? Jen? Besh? Hheellllooo.... Hugs, Maddie

Good Morning. Besh - sorry about your friend. I had an immediate member of my family attempt suicide and it was a very traumatic experience. I can relate to your friend and his family. Very deep issues. Suzanne - Your night out to the theatre and dinner sounds like my kind of night. Where is BJ, I haven't read a post from her. I pretty much caught up from my mia months. QOD: We will have a low key Thanksgiving. My DH's mother and sister are visiting us now since Wednesday and they leave the day prior to Thanksgiving, so we have been having special dinners and going out to eat quite a bit. So I may just make soup and salad for Thanksgiving dinner -- hahahahhahaha. I made a turkey breast yesterday and it was YUMMERS. I hear them in the kitchen now making a italian cookie/biscuit my MIL used to make my husband when he was younger. Oh such happiness -- brings a tear to my eye. GMWAS (Gag me with a spoon). (wink wink) I know my DH is enjoying every minute of it. We drove to he east coast of Florida on thursday and went to a Bloomingdales. I love it. We do not have any here on the west coast(at least that I know of). So my husband bought me a Dooney and Burke purse (which he did a year ago this time when they came down for a visit) So you can bet your bottom dollar that I am hoping this is a yearly thing. Patti - my parents also celebrated their 50th anniversary last month. My husband and I threw them a party at a party center in Ohio (where I am from)and had 130 people there with a band. It was quite a challenge organizing it from Florida. Plus my mom gave her input too.....so... I took a lot of deep breaths and went forward the entire time. I had a blast. A good time was had by all and it was worth all the effort and aggravation just to see how happy it made my parents. We even had my cousin who is an Catholic Deacon renew their vows. Not a dry eye in the joint at that point. Man this is a long post. I better save some for tomorrow. Take care everyone..... Lynn