mdrai

Mid-afternoon check-in... how's everyone doing? I'm ok. Regular day. ((Pam)) I hear DS on his way in from school... will check back later!

"It's the most... wonderful time... of the year!"

Yes, Janie... publishers try to get as much printed/out the door by 12/31 as possible... so the next 6 weeks are a zoo! But lucrative. Then they take a big breath in Jan/Feb... I'll have too much time on my hands then! Tomorrow is my "official" start of the holiday season: Starbucks debuts it's holiday red cups + brings back the holiday drinks, gingerbread latte, etc.! I love small joys! Here's a MAJOR joy: Today we booked our January trip w/the IL's for their 50th anniversary! A week in Mexico! On the beach! Nothing that we'll "have" to do but relax, sip 'ritas, and read! I'll need it after rush season!

Haydee great pics... use one for your save the date! Hi everyone! Busy busy busy... it's that time of year in the publishing world! Love you all!

Yes, Claire's sticking w/her hippie theme... my camera died @ the Barn Halloween party or else I'd show you pics of C & Lady as hippies... I took a couple w/my phone, but that's the worst... if I can get them off I will post them... it was so funny... Lady had on a blond wig, a peace sign necklace, and a tie-dye blanket, + peace signs/hearts/flowers drawn on her all over... so funny! Friends are coming here for dinner & t-or-t'ing tomorrow night... my house is an absolute SHAMBLES (I haven't had time to clean it, & evidently no one else who lives here notices, so...)... I'm hoping to get some cleaning time in today, + tomorrow morn... ugh. Don't know what I'm serving... something easy/portable as we'll be on the porch handing out candy... it may rain, which would be nasty... What else?... oh yeah! Heather: pb'ing is bad... but having to do it while driving is the WORST -- been there! I feel for you!! The rest of the weekend will be helping DS finish his at least 10-page paper on the French Revolution (+ comparing/contrasting it w/the Am Rev & English Civ Wars... yeah, right...), trips to the barn, soccer practices, & work. :sad: Enjoy now!

Ok, ok... now I see how it should be... something like this?... [ATTACH]17952[/ATTACH] With joyful hearts the Shrinking Violets (those bodacious babes in "The Bubble-ator") invite you to rock Houston with them-- & special Michael Jackson impersonator all the way from the streets (& Italian restuarants) of Alabama -- at the rollicking weekend-long Violet Bash at the long-awaited, much-anticipated, oh-my-gosh-it's-finally-here wedding of their beautiful friend Martha Haydee and Juan Miguel Lara Dance with each Vi at least once, receive a coupon for a Free, all-you-can-eat breakfast at Denny's! Limited Time Offer!

Oh, something like this, Pam?: With joyful hearts the Shrinking Violets request the honor of your presence at the Nuptial Mass at which their dearest darling friend Martha Haydee and Juan Miguel Lara...

I'm all about the "joyful hearts" -- #1. The other is too B-O-R-I-N-G!.... oh, except I just noticed something... shouldn't it say: With joyful hearts Mr. and Mrs. Remigio Gonzalez (and the Shrinking Violets) request the honor of your presence at the Nuptial Mass at which their daughter (dearest darling friend) Martha Haydee and Juan Miguel Lara... Dontcha think?

You're right, Janie... why do they call them "sleep" studies, anyway? Who can sleep in a strange place w/all those electrodes & wires & crap + knowing that people are watching? Maybe you can doze off early tonight & catch up on your zzzzzs...

You really have had a busy week, Pam! Enjoy the movie! I want to see it but don't know when I'd get there... hope they extend it! I also want to get in the Halloween "spirit" and see Paranormal Activity... I love to be scared w/out being grossed out! Tomorrow is the last day of the first grading period of the school year -- wow, where did that time go? Wasn't it just "back to school" time? I keep checking to see if I won the Spa's getaway... as of last night, the winner hadn't responded, and they twittered that they'd pick someone else if the person didn't claim the prize! So maybe there's another chance for me to take the waters! Tonight DS is starting in goal for the first post-season playoff game -- very exciting! Other than that... it's work work work! I got an unexpected but delightful raise yesterday! I thought it was for just the next two months (the "rush" time of year for publishing), but no, it's permanent! Yay! And even better, my editor wrote that she "would never be able to get my projects done without you. You are appreciated." Two simple sentences that mean so much. Make it a great day, girlies!

I usually try not to concur in public, but, what the heck... I concur! :thumbdown:

Pam, when I read this: "WWAAAHHH!"I read it/hear it the way Lucy does it!! Hang in there, friend!! (Oh, btw, it looks like I didn't win the Spa's Girlfriend Getaway Weekend... dang it all!... will just have to make my own, I guess!!)

It works if I turn my laptop upside down.. ;o) Oh my... wish I'd thought of that... I simply stood on my head! They all look nice but I do like the idea of using a pic(s) as well... personalized... I didn't like the one where all the numbers were spelled out (May Fifteenth, Two Thousand and Ten)... my brain doesn't work that way! Laura... I see your "current" number taking a free-fall -- yay! Pam... How was YOUR big meeting?? I'm sure you wow'd them!! :scared2: Another busy day in paradise for me... coffee w/a friend this a.m.... lots of work... kids going here & there... Everyone have a great day!

It's beautiful, Haydee... I can imagine how magical it will be with the twinkling lights!!! What do you mean, cocktail "HOUR"?? :cursing: Tee hee, just joshin'... I am still in my pj's and still in front of the computer!! What a day!!

Good morning, girlies~~ I've been sitting here @ the computer since 7:30 this a.m., but haven't had a sec to check in here! Busy busy... Now I"m hungry thinking about all that yummy food we had @ Laura's parents' house... oh yeah, I'd forgotten all about those chicken balls... wrapped in bacon... rolled in brown sugar... ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyyyyyyy... Tonight's the Halloween Show @ the barn... DD's dressing up her horse like a hippie!... should be fun... will post pix tomorrow! Make it a great day!!

Oh my gosh, Laura -- be careful! You're not driving yourself, right?? Ay yai yai!! I can't believe I started us talking about Thanksgiving! Sorry! Yes, Haydee, last year DH's family came here, as well (you have a good memory). I must throw a good holiday, I guess! I do go all out. The actual TG meal is easy to do... it's all the b'fasts, lunches, & dinners the other days that are tricky! + figuring out where everyone will sleep (6 extra bodies) + activities... gotta love family! AND... I'm also hosting Christmas dinner here for my whole extended family from the MD/DC/PA areas... but no overnight guests w/that one.. just a lot of folks... maybe 20 or more? Last year my Sis hosted "Chinese Christmas" & had it catered w/yummy Chinese food... so the kids & I are plotting what fun thing to do this year... DS's vote is "Greek Christmas" ... mmm, I could definitely do that! So we'll see... lots of time to plan, right? HA -- NO!! TG & XM will both be here before we know it! & then it'll be 2010 & you know what THAT means... HAYDEE"S WEDDING!! :wink2:

Ugh Laura, waking up w/that feeling/taste is the worst... :thumbup: Sorry for you! Glad the travellers are all home safely. Pam, interesting artwork! I can't tell what's on what looks like wires... it looks 3-D... like different objects?? It looks cool, whatever it is, and also looks great over the new table. Last night my MIL told me that T'giving dinner (+ a day on either side at least) is out my house, w/them & BIL's family. We're the middle point. But I was hoping that we'd all go to the IL's & I'd get a break. Gotta start making a "cleaning plan of attack" and menus. Make it a great day!

Good Morning... or is it technically afternoon already? I did not see our Sun morn show yet... it's dvr'd... had to take DD to her re-scheduled poms performance during the 1/2 time of the re-scheduled football game... so there went my precious Sunday morning routine... coffee, paper, & CBS Sunday Morn show! wah. Back home for a quick lunch & then out to the Stable store so DD & shop w/all her b'day cash... Then back home & a load of work that I've been slacking on that needs to get done... We're having DD's fav dinner tonight: corned beef & cabbage/pots/carrots... it's already in the crocker! Man I love that invention! Make it a good one! Pam... love the pics of the new table set... love it! Laura... take care... sip sip sip!! Judy... travel safely!

Good Morning, Vi's~~ ((Laura))... you've had one crazy band journey, haven't you? Well, I'm just glad you're back safe & sound! Take care... rest, liquids, etc. & so forth... you're an expert on all this by now! It's a rainy day here today... actually supposed to get thunderstorms!... so am trying to find out if kids' activities are cancelled, etc. before heading out to a way-overbooked day. Make it a good one, everyone!

Ugh!

((LAURA!)) The third time's the charm!

Oh, I just unclicked the "show your signature" box before I submitted my reply... I figure no one wants to see that I've lost NO lbs EVERY time I post, lol! That was nice to get your mom netflix!

But not the last!

Because you blazed the trail! (& for me at least... pure luck!)

Testing new siggy... (Janie... you're my inspiration!!)