TerriDoodle

Here are some good variations of the Greek [Turkish!] salad that Heather posted in the other thread. Thanks Heather -- they all sound wonderful!! Post more recipes -- I love Mediterranean food!

Hey! Guess what?! I have discovered a HEALTHY snack that is so addictive!! I promise you will love it! http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f91/recipes-violet-style-55494/index2.html#post1225657

This stuff just disappears in my house during these hot summer months! Delicious!!! 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped 2 large ripe tomatoes, chopped 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped 1 small red onion, chopped (optional) 12 pitted kalamata (Greek) olives, sliced 4-6 oz feta cheese, crumbled or cubed Dressing: 1/4 c. olive oil juice of one lemon 2 tsp. dried oregano 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper Prepare all vegetables as described above. Toss with dressing. Chill and serve. Serves 6

That is just SO COOL!! I long for those sweet innocent moments....right about NOW.

Beth, you crack me up. Let's have a glass of wine sometime.

Y'know ya'll.... none of us can really know "what went on" unless we were in the freakin' room while it was going on!!! Keep that in mind.

Jane I don't know what the hell you are talking about!! I couldn't even remember my own phone number this morning when I was talking to the body shop guy!! OMG! It was pitiful. I still question whether or not I gave him the right one!

"There's no amount of evidence or data that will change somebody's mind," says Michael Shermer, who is the publisher of Skeptic magazine and a columnist for Scientific American, and who holds an undergraduate and a master's degree in psychology. "The more data you present a person, the more they doubt it ... Once you're committed, especially behaviorally committed or financially committed, the more impossible it becomes to change your mind." Any inconvenient facts are irrelevant. People who believe in a conspiracy theory "develop a selective perception, their mind refuses to accept contrary evidence," Chip Berlet, a senior analyst with Political Research Associates who studies such theories, says. "As soon as you criticize a conspiracy theory, you become part of the conspiracy." Evan Harrington, a social psychologist who is an associate professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, agrees. "One of the tendencies of the conspiracy notion, the whole appeal, is that a lot of the information the believer has is secret or special," Harrington says. "The real evidence is out there, [and] you can give them all this evidence, but they'll have convenient ways to discredit [it]." Whatever can't be ignored can be twisted to fit into the narrative; every new disclosure of something that should, by rights, end the controversy only opens up new questions, identifies new plotters.

Michelle - Meant to say how awesome is that about your Springsteen concert!! Isn't he like one of your very favorites??? I can't even remember the last time I went to a concert. Just not my thang anymore. What an old lady I have become!!! Speaking of which -- has anyone been watching the Alzheimer's Project on HBO this week? It's really good and so informative. I loved the segment about the grandkids...so sweet.

G'morning Girlz, Ok. Today is a better day! I think things have calmed down for the time being and are more normal than they have been. However, lately, one never knows what the day holds. Pamela - that is so cool about your gown!! OMG! What color is it? Black? How slimming!! What is your school doing for you to celebrate having a PhD on staff??? TracyK and I are meeting up tomorrow!!! I've got the day off and hope to be done with all the drama around here so as you can imagine I am REALLY looking forward to that!!

All I asked for was some info about the economists you referred to. Nevermind then.

Oh, forgot to mention that I've found the secret to weight loss: EXTREME MENTAL ANGUISH! I've lost 3# in 2 days! :smile2:

But she does not need or want to "debate" or have to defend her references. You need that. She doesn't. I don't need it either. I am perfectly capable of filtering through the data myself.

Judy!! Shame on you.... you, of all people, should know that there is no such word as "alot". It's two words: "A LOT". FINALLY I get to do this: :smile2: :tt2: :ohmy: Re: answering awkward questions like, "How much did you weigh?" I've always remembered what Miss Manners said (or was it Ann Landers? LOL) about this. She said to answer with another question: "Why do you ask?" It sends the message that "It's none of your business" without being downright rude. It will usually leave them tongue-tied. Isn't that great??

Well, Beth, in spite of your feelings on the matter, I'd still like to hear from BJean. Just PM them BJ.

Honestly and sincerely, BJean, I would like to see any source you can provide from leading economists that would give me some hope that the Obama administration is indeed doing the right thing. Here I am, I am ready to listen to the opposing viewpoint and take into serious consideration. Please provide some links and sources (even by PM if you like) and I promise not to say a word in opposition to you. I just would like to read the info you can provide. Thanks.

Hi Girlz, Gosh, I just can't express how happy I am to have Jenn and Tracy posting again. Where is Heather?? Ohhh Heatherrrrrrr!!! Kat your whole last post was a scream! You're hilarious. Ok, WAY more kid drama last night. I was up 'til 2:00a again. I've talked to his dad more in the last 2 days than I have in the last 5 years combined. He's in his bed at my house now but I have no idea what the day holds. He's being totally irrational, manipulative, and is compulsively lying about everything. It's pretty damn hard to relate on any meaningful level with someone who is doing all that at once!!! I'm going to try to talk him into a "family" therapy session tomorrow with his therapist -- which he will resist mightily -- but if we can do that then we all become part of the therapeutic process and she can then legally discuss his case in detail with us. Surprisingly he IS taking his meds, so that's not even the problem! I can only imagine how bad it would be if he were not. HIS bottom line is that he just wants to be left alone, to be out on his own, but he has no money, no car, no job, etc. He is willing to live on the street to have his independence. BUT, there is this underlying manipulation going on so nothing he says is reliable. Well, I could write a book about all of that whole drama but blech....who cares? I'm ALMOST at the point of throwing up my arms and just letting him go. I'm running out of ideas.

My ex-husband just called and Evan is up to the same crap he was yesterday!!! Except that today he doesn't have the excuse of being hungry and exhausted!? WTH??? I think he just wants Jay to chase him and BEG and PLEAD with him to come home. After all the drama we had yesterday, I don't think that's going to happen. He's just being SO WEIRD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jenn - You 'sound' a little perkier. Are the antibiotics helping? I did a little research and saw that if you catch Lyme Disease early your chances of a full and speedy recovery are much, much better. Do they feel like they caught yours early? I assume they confirmed it was Lyme. (?) ((((Hugs)))

Oh, you'll find something to renew your stress levels!! You "Type-A's" always do! Man, I am proud of you!!! Good girl and what an inspiration!! But I'm in the same club as Kat! Now I have the added motivator of this Colorado trip and miles and miles of hiking in the mountains! Uh, have I gone back to the gym yet to get into shape?? Uh, NO! Sounds like Pamela could use your help right now! Michelle, too!

Tracy, your post was the best thing to happen to me all day!! So glad to see you again. We missed you so much!! You're always a part of this group....whether you are actually HERE or not! The drama with Evan has calmed down a WEE bit tonight but it took ALL DAY to get here. It started at 11:30 last night when I got the dreaded phone call...he called saying he wrecked his car (AGAIN). That's a long story all by itself, but he's OK, not hurt or anything and the car was towed off once again to the body shop. Things didn't go well after we all go home and by 1:30AM he was out the door sobbing and on foot and I had no idea where he was headed....probably to one of his friends, but I couldn't be sure. Phone calls to his dad, girlfriend, etc., then a restless sleep kept me up until 3:30AM and my alarm went off at 5:15 to get up for work. My son was missing. I went thru the motions but ended up in a heap of tears in my boss' office and he told me to GO HOME. Finally found Evan and brought him home at 10:30a but it was insanity for the next 9 hours. Not arguing at all, just trying to make sense of his world. With his bipolar it's very difficult to do and reasonable logic simply does not work with him. He left my house again at around 8:00p....on foot....in the rain....headed for who-knows-where. Said he just needed some space and time to think, blah blah blah. After 20 more phone calls between him, me and his dad it was his STEP MOTHER who finally convinced him to come in out of the rain, over to their house and get a hot meal, a shower and a night's sleep. Thank God....and all of you for your prayers. Once again, they worked. Tomorrow will be a different day with new challenges, I'm sure. But today was a doozie. I'm headed for bed now. I love you all. T.

It's becoming obvious that he learned from the "best", Beth.

Dear Violets, Please take a moment to muster all your prayer power for my son, Evan, today. We need them desperately. Too exhausted to go into the details but please help us today...and tomorrow too. And maybe the next one after that while you're at it. Thanks. I love you all!

Uh, what did he want Suzie?? Just to catch up on old times??

Any bets on how this Chrysler bankruptcy will turn out? The proposal that's on the table is unprecedented and frankly illegal. Will the judge have the balls to do the right thing or will he, too, succumb to Obama's ...uh...."charm".