Hi! How is everybody doing? I am waiting to hear more about Zig's meet up with Maddie. Inquiring minds, you know.... Raeanne, have you been kayaking yet? My DS turns 18 at the end of August and I do believe that I'll buy myself a kayak. Kind of a thank you present TO MYSELF!!! for having raised 2 decent kids lol! DeeMarie, how is the knee holding up? Swimming sounds like an excellent idea. NH Suzanne, I am sure that you did not deserve to have your butt kicked. The visual on that has me ROFL! This has been a very good week for me all the way around. The weather is very warm (too warm!) but the days are just beautiful with clear blue skies and a light breeze. I am right on track with diet and ALMOST there with the exercise. Back later, I hope everyone has a very nice day. Tikanas

Hi Guys! Patti emailed me and said CHECK IN---so here I am! Sorry for being MIA. I probably won't be back until Tuesday or Wednesday. Everything is going haywire. The day the photographer was due, I went downstairs and my SubZero had died. Water all over the floor and all the food in there was garbage. I cancelled the shoot. Then the next night, all the power in the right side (bonus room and nursery went out, as well as the internet) The night after that, the master bedroom and bath went out. I called an electtrician and he replaced the breakers and we're back as of yesterday. New countertops arrived, but the plumber cancelled and now I've got to find a plumber before Saturday to hook my sink back up. And appliance guy can't hook up cooktop or dishwasher until next week. I have my open house this Saturday, so I am wound up tighter than a spring! I can't wait for next week to come!!! I noticed the massive lines of survey as I skimmed, so I thought I'd join in---a little respite from the stress, if you will...! 1. Where do you work? At home 2. What color socks are you wearing right now? none 3. What are you listening to right now? Computer fan. 4. What was the last thing that you ate? Handful of Fritos 5. Can you drive a stick shift? but of course 6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Periwinkle 7. Last person you spoke to on the phone? One of of my best girlfriends 8. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes! 9. How old are you today? 45 (feels like 100) 10 Favorite drink? Coke 11. What is your favorite sport to watch? Olympic pairs ice skating and women's gymnastics:floor exercises 12. Have you ever dyed your hair? "Ever?" ALWAYS. 13. Pets? Not any more... 14. Favorite food? lemon cheesecake 15. What was the last movie you watched? Much Ado About Nothing 16. Favorite day of the year? December 31st 17. What do you do to vent anger? Longs Rants followed by Cleaning the house and b1thching the whole time. 18. What was your favorite toy as a child? Ricky doll (it actually wa sa Thumbelina with all the hair cut off. I wanted a boy doll) 19. What is your favorite, fall or spring? Spring!! 20. Hugs or kisses? Hugs 21. Cherries or blueberries? Neither. raspberries 22. Do you want your friends to email you back? 23. Who is most likely to respond? 24. Who is least likely to respond? 25. Living arrangement? Chaotic, DH p/t, 2 bio kids, 2 foster kids, and 2 on/off college-aged kids and whomever follows them home. 26. When was the last time you cried? Last week, about how much there is to do all the time. 27. What is on the floor of your closet? No, the question is, what ISN'T on the floor of my closet? 28. Who is the friend you have had the longest relationship that you are sending this to? 29. What did you do last night? Talked on the phone, resad the news, and went to bed reading "The House ALways Wins" 30. Favorite smells? Fresh cut grass, vanilla candles, Johnson & Johnson baby lotion 32. What are you afraid of? rodents and men with knifes 33. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? Double cheese with onions, ketchup, mustard, and hot pickles 34. Favorite dog breed? Rodesian Ridgeback or a Pharaoh Hound 35. Number of keys on your key ring? 4 or 5 36. How many years at your current job? Not too many ...yet. 37. Favorite day of the week? Tuesday 38. How many states/counties have you lived in? 2 states, 2 39. Favorite vacation? Cruising or driving combined with hiking 40. Have you driven a motorcycle or heavy machinery? yes 41. Your middle name? Jo Enjoy the rest of the week. See you on Wednesday!!!!!

hwings, I'm so sorry for your loss. My daddy died 3 years ago. Everything you describe sounds so familiar. I felt the same way. Daddy was a large part of my life and I felt so lost. The first year was so hard. I cried often, sometimes for days at a time - off and on. I remember not wanting to participate in any holidays. It just wasn't the same. I didn't want to be around people much at all. And I asked myself the very same question that you did. I had also lost grandparents who were very close to me but it wasn't anything like the loss I felt when daddy died. You asked when will this stop? I really can't answer that, I can just share my experience. After 3 years I still cry. Not every day, not every week. But it strikes like a sniper when a thought or a song reminds me of him or I am involved in something he would be there with me on. Father's day was really hard this year. I was depressed for 3 weeks. I have heard some say time heals. Well for me time lenghthens the time between the times I feel sad but when the sadness comes, it feels the same as it did back then. For me...It isn't a matter of getting over grieving, it is a matter of getting through each episode of sadness. And it isn't all sadness. I think of daddy in good ways too and smile lots. Just his morning I was up at mom's washing my hands and saw the bottle of Old Spice on the bathroom shelf. Mom took it down several months ago but put it back after I complained. I picked up the bottle, took off the lid and took a big whiff. It smelled just like daddy. At one point that would have made me fall to pieces but today I could do it just fine. Grief is such a personal thing. And it helps knowing others feel some of the things you do. This forum helped me so very much during that first year. I didn't post much, but read what others were going through. I also eventually went through some counseling to help get me out of the depression. I guess the bottom line for me is that nobody loved me like my daddy did and I miss him every single day. But I also celebrate what his life was too. He was a great guy who was loved by so many. By your post it is so very clear how much you loved your dad and it is so great that you got to say goodbye. That helps. Hang in there sweetie.....We're in the boat with you.

Rob333, I had never read that particular list, but boy, oh boy, I relate to some of the items. Socks, thanks for the explanation. I had no idea what the picture of a wolf (now, I know it's a coyote) and a bird was trying to represent.