What are you up to today? This week?

[heidiiiii]

Kathie,

I hope you can get in also. If you do not have any..when you go to the office ask them to give you a couple dr. masks.

I am a firm believer in telling it like it is..when it comes to illness. If my kid is sick, I forewarned people before they came around. If I am sick, I will not go to their house to spread it around.

Being that I dealt with illnesses of this type most of my childhood, I was taught that it is not fair to share. If they know and come around anyway then that is on them.

[ilovecats]

Yup. Mucinex stopped the coughing from post nasal drip last night, but I have the mother of all sore throats. Am going to the doctor to check for strep today. My goddaughter's mother informed us that Mollie had a step throat after we'd been there all evening and shared cookies that Mollie had baked. "Look at the way that child is jumping around. You'd never know she has a strep infection, would you." Aaaarrrrrggggggg. I guess she figures with 6 kids, she may as well let visiting bugs do the rounds and get it over with, but I sure would have appreciated knowing the child was sick before we agreed to come. It's bad enough for me to be ill, but now I'm taking every precaution so Lloyd doesn't pick it up. He certainly doesn't need something else to battle right now.

I can call the doctor in ten minutes when they open the office phones. Hope I can get in quickly!

OMG Kathie! That is awful that she would do that, irresponsible actually given your husbands lowered immunity right now. I hope you gave her an earful. I hope that neither of you get sick.

[ilovecats]

worked, filled the gas tank, went grocery shopping, ate a late lunch now here i sit...oh and i fixed my garage door opener. luckily it was just a mis-aligned sensor. wish i had checked that days ago. i've waited almost a week to be able to use the door opener, the guys who installed it didn't call me back. i left 2 messages. i'll report them to sears.

[Missymew]

Sorry to hear that you're sick Heidi, and KathieB please take care of Lloyd. I, too, have to be so careful when I catch a cold. I avoid people like the plague when they're sick. My immune system has never been good, and when I do catch a cold it always goes to my chest and I'm sick for weeks. I've got asthma and a poor immune system. I picked up a bug early in December and only yesterday and today I've finally been almost cough free. It so takes its toll.

Take care of yourselves. Its so cold here right now, and has been a particularly hard winter. Its struck early and the snow and cold have stayed on us. I've only been going outside to restock my bird feeder. Ray's such a sweetheart and refills it in the evening for me so that the birds can have plenty of seed and peanuts at first light. I also step out in the afternoon to refill so that they can have another good feed just before the darkness. My cats and I so enjoy our birds and squirrels through the window.

Keep warm, healthy and safe everyone.

I'm thinking about heading downstairs to my worktable to do roll out some paperclay.

-Susanne

[Val]

Heidi sorry to hear that you're sick , hope you will be feling better soon. KathieB hope all will be Ok with Lloyd. It is still warm here in NC, but then it get cold, I don't know how to dress.

[havanaholly]

As we age so do our immune systems. Kathie, you can buy the masks at the drug store, tell your pharmacist what's up.

[Sherry]

Went to the store to look for goodies to send Chris in his first care package-got two bags of TrueNorth nut clusters, germ-x pens, germ-x wipes, tylenol pocket pack, Burt's Bee Lip balm, Visine, 4 novels....any suggestions for anything else? I want to mail his favorite fried pies, but will wait until he's there. This package is to be waiting on him when he arrives.

[Muriel]

Sherry, I'd include a fave magazine or a photo of family and his friends.

I'm not sure how strict the army is (never been in the forces and really don't know the regulations), so this may not be possible, but when I was going off to uni, my family made me a pillow case on which they wrote down all their phone numbers with their names, and a little note to phone home when I get the chance or need a chat. Chris went off to canada for a year, so for him it wasn't really practical to do the phoning thing (and may not be for your son I'd suspect), so for him I just did one side of the pillow case with night night, sweet dreams, sleep well, etc and a moon, and the other side had a sun and good morning, rise and shine, wakey wakey etc written on it. I'm guessing they have army issue pillows and may not be allowed their own pillow case, but if so, then something like that might be nice.

Written 3000 words for my study time, and only half way done but it is bed time now! I'll print off and take in what I've done for tomorrow and continue over new year.

Night night everyone, stay healthy and get better thoughts being sent your way!!

:groucho:

[Sherry]

What a cute idea! He has Skype, and we all have cameras on our computers, so will be able to talk to (and see!) him for 2 cents a minute! We bought him lots of minutes!!

Chris is not army, he's Air Force, Air Combat Command. He loves to read, and is finishing up his Master's online while he's there, but we are sending loads of paperbacks, that he can share with his friends. They are not allowed to leave the air base at all, which I am grateful for, but that means they will need things to fill their time. Maybe I should send a set of dominoes!

[Gayle]

CDs of his favorite music, international calling cards, travel sized games, hard candies might work.

[Sherry]

He downloaded a ton of music before he left. Also an entire external hardrive of family photos! See why he's so hard to do for? He loves apple fried pies and when he's in the states, I mail him a box of those at a time to share. But since I don't know exactly when he'll reach Balad, I hate to have stale pies sitting around for a week or so! Everything he mentioned wanting in the way of clothes, extra equipment, etc, we got him for Christmas and birthday. We got him the Pelikan case for his computer, the undershirts, etc, etc, and now I'm down to pies, books, Germinex (he didn't ask for that, it was my idea!) and dominoes!

[butlerestates]

Heidi try the puffs with vicks in them. My daughter just came home with these and now I'm addicted to them! I have been living on sudafed PE

for weeks and mine is not going away either. I guess I have to break down and go to the doctor. I sit here with tissue stuck in my nose looking all sorts of beautiful! And to make it worse I had to spend the whole day looking for pants that will fit my big ol butt. I need slacks and I searched the entire mall and nothing fits. My problem is that I am not shaped like everyone else in the world. The y do not make pants that fit me. Plus sizes are too big regular sizes are too small. I guess I will have to wear a full skirt every where I go. And if I see one more brand claiming that there pants are for curvy shaped women I am gonna scream. I think oh goodie only to see them in a size 0! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? The model wearing these 'CURVY" pants is so skinny the only thing she even knows about curves is that she made one when she drove there that day. Ok so enough whining. I just had to vent about this! :groucho:

[Sherry]

We all share your frustration! When the clothes on the mannequin won't even pull up over your leg, it gets kinda depressing to go shopping. And try to find a shirt or sweater that doesn't show your belly button! Sheesh!!

[chesterfieldzoo]

All I wear is full skirts. I had a 24" waist and 36" hips. If pants fit the one, they didn't fit the other. I have the same proportion now, just more inches.

[butlerestates]

All I wear is full skirts. I had a 24" waist and 36" hips. If pants fit the one, they didn't fit the other. I have the same proportion now, just more inches.

This is the problem I have had my whole life even when I was 105 pounds the difference between my waist and thighs is crazy. If the hips fit then I get that kangaroo pouch in back. I think I should just stop carrying a purse and put everything there!

[heidiiiii]

My friend is of the full derriere variety and she wears mostly skirts. She is also petite (meaning short short short) so she has that challenge also.

Speaking of that friend. She went to her Mom`s for Christmas in Virginia. Mom only sent one way tickets. Yesterday my friend had to drive home! From VA to CT. I think she garbled that it took her 12 hours. I do not envy her at all.

Still not feeling well but I am mobile so that is a good thing. I hate that my head still feels full and blecky. The Man friend is coming over tomorrow. All hands on deck for house cleaning.

Chelsea is going to have to break it to him. We are a cluttered family. I cannot keep up the facade. LOL Either he will roll with the art supplies spilling over the diningroom table (among other things) or he will run screaming from the house. My rugs are NOT pristine clean every single day. There usually is a pot soaking on the stove. LOL

I let the word boyfriend slip the other day and she did not correct me. Here is the really interesting part. They are going on a road trip in January (of all months!). They are driving down to Baltimore and will make a stop in NYC on the way home. It will be a Thurs-Sun trip. Interesting...vewy vewy interesting.

I am going to make chicken wings for one finger food for tonite. I have to pick up something for a side dish before the snows start later this morning.

[havanaholly]

We have a paddling trip tomorrow on the Chipola River from Marianna, with a "gourmet luncheon" potluck on the way. I'm taking four-bean salad and cheese biscuits of some kind, so I'll be playing in the kitchen today; also need to RSVP a brunch party for Sunday.

Last night DH took me out for birthday dinner (our fave place is closed on Sundays), a gourmet-type restaurant located in a former Gulf filling station! It has had to be added on to over the years because it's VERY popular and the one time we tried reservations we still had an hour wait! Last night's the first time since right after they opened that we were able to walk right in & be seated. I had grilled duck with butternut squash risotto, garlic spinach and pear chutney, and the dhefs FILL the plates; none of this micro-portion in a vast expanse of plate! DH had lamb skewers with mango chutney and a lentil pilaf. My mouth is STILL in a state of delight!

When I was in HS I also had a 24" waist & 36" above & below. Being petite, I was short-waisted, and after the babies began coming the waist left.

[Anna]

Really intereswting Heidi, and as for the pristine, he might even let out a sigh of relieve (hmm, now how does one spell that anyway???) as "clean" can be scarey as well!!!! I prefer the lived-in-look myself, like the house is loved and well used

I hope you start feeling alot better during the day, and that Chels doesn't have to go into work today, or won't she know until she arrives there? Still no snow here, but it is coooold, not very cold on the thermometer but it is one od those cold days where you feel it in your bones ,ind of cold, brrrr....

I am still cutting and pasting what will be the kitty food tins, last count gave 40-ish something, and then there are the dog food tins... Hubby told me that I really shouldn't do to many as the tins ought to be newly stocked in a store as not to be old food for the furry little ones LOL, gotta' love a man that thinks like that huh?!?

Hugs

[heidiiiii]

that Chels doesn't have to go into work today, or won't she know until she arrives there?

She said that this is how it goes. Since there is no school right now because of vacation, they run the place like a regular daycare. They will be open. If any kids show up, she has to work. She will have to stay there until the last kid leaves..usually 6pm. If no kids show up, they will call her. Fred is home so he will drive her there and a co-worker already said she would take her home.

Anna, the word is Relief.

[Anna]

She said that this is how it goes. Since there is no school right now because of vacation, they run the place like a regular daycare. They will be open. If any kids show up, she has to work. She will have to stay there until the last kid leaves..usually 6pm. If no kids show up, they will call her. Fred is home so he will drive her there and a co-worker already said she would take her home.

Anna, the word is Relief.

Thank you! There are certain words that is just not sticking in my mind when it comes to spelling them.... Some teacher huh??? Keeping figners crossed then that the snow and all makes people stay home! Over here it is about the same as far as the school and kids needing daycare, but the parents have to hand in a schedule over the hours their kid/s need over the holidays and then the staff is planned according to that, and the days without any kids are "closed" but one of the teachers/staff is on call with a cell phone number if there is someone who needs to re-schedule for some reason.

Hugs

[havanaholly]

Wintery cold (for us) since yesterday! This is a good day to curl up in the kitchen!

[Sherry]

Not too bad here, today. I need to take my king size quilts to the laundromat, they won't fit in my washer. Then I'm moving all my junk at the antique mall into a different booth as soon as the present renter moves out-gotta see if I can do that today. And we should hear from son, if they will be moving in for sure. That means I have to put the dh up for sure and get that room ready to go. I guess my holiday is over, even if I don't go back to school until Monday!

[Starfire]

It is snowing here. They predicted 4-6 inches for the valley but since we are up in the hills we usually get more. In this case it is now at 12 inches and still piling up.

Hope it stops soon so the road crews get it cleared off since we have to take our fur kid, Molly, over to a specialist some 50 miles away for a follow up on her health problems. Preliminary results seem to indicate that it is not cancer, thank goodness but they still do not know what is causing her symptoms.

Have to finish the laundry and if possible get to the grocery store sometime today. Hopefully will get some time to do some more miniing this afternoon or evening.

Our other two fur kids have been having a ball wrestling and chasing each other out in the snow. At least they can expend some of that energy out there instead of in the house. Anyone for none stop indoor wrestling matches? The golden retriever Flynn loves the snow and spends a lot of time out there charging around. Our other boxer, Baron loves to play with him as well but has to come in every ten or fifteen minutes or so to thaw out then he is at the door to go out again. Have to watch his feet and ears. I have tried coats and sweaters for Baron, but Flynn will pull them off or they wind up soaking. We have lost three over the past two days and probably won't find them until spring thaw. The snow is now belly deep and they are making like kangaroos. Wish I had their energy!!

[havanaholly]

We first discovered a tether with a chain when we inherited my DM's nasty toy poodle after she died. We lived in OH and we either had to put him on a leash or otherwise hang onto him when he went outside for hygenic purposes, he loved to run away and we would otherwise have lost him in the snow. I made him a turtleneck cabled sweater the first winter we had him and he LOVED it, finally wore it out when we moved back to FL.

[Sherry]

Holly, my grandmother had a nasty poodle. She told me one day that when she died, she wanted the dog, Jackie put to sleep and buried with her. I said ok, but what if the dog dies first?

She had to think about it a minute, then didn't speak to me again the rest of the day.