Kat817

Laura---send DH back to the store for the Childrens form of Musinex. It comes in little pouches of crystals you simply pour on your tongue, and they dissolve--they come in grape or bubble gum I think--not bad tasting, do not stick in your stoma--and they helped me! Feel better soon!!! OK off to look at the trailer I think. Made Rick sausage & eggs, and stupid me tried to eat a biscuit.....I feel miserably full, and want a drink really bad and I know better, so I am off to hit the elliptical and hope it moves it on through!!! TTYL~~ Kat

We are getting bike fever, but there is a foot of snow out there!!! Not happening any time soon! Gotta go find us some Breakfast, but wanted to stop in and say HI, Happy Friday, Happy February! Thanks for starting the new thread Sherry! See y'all in awhile! Kat

Good Morning Girls~~ Happy Friday! Happy February! Getting closer to our trip---yea!!!! Not sure what today holds for us....thinking of a movie, yep Michelle, a go out movie! DD wanted chinese last night---Rick and I always order an appetizer of crab rangoon, then share the entree--last night we had a Mongolian Triple, with beef, chicken & shrimp. It was really good, but just didn't settle well on my stomach---not a stuck issue, just stomach was a bit nauseated after. Worried me, because my FIL, was down with a virus, and they sent Lindzie home from school sick at her stomach....but mine is all better now! Speaking of ill, sure hope Laura is feeling better. Your time with your Mom and "the girls" sounds fun Michelle, enjoy it! My Mom just went to the Dr. yesterday, and it seems she has a mild case of shingles on her hip. I guess if you have to have them, it is an inoncuous a spot as any to have them! She said the Dr. told her they are very mild, and that they don't itch or hurt too badly, so they gave the meds to her, hope it passes quickly. No new snow for us yet----supposed to hit today. We still have tons on the ground! Hoping to finally get to go see the motorcycle trailer today. The boy we are going to go look at it with has stayed so busy with all this snow, pulling cars back onto the roads---it is hard to connect with him. Well, I need to go get my fluids started and find something to call breakfast for us. Rick offered to cook---but the kitchen is clean---he is not a neat cook!!! Plus he wanted to make pancakes---not what I need to eat!!! Better find another plan!! Maybe (close your eyes Michelle) I could convince him to go try to break Pamela's record----good fun, good exercise, no syrup....well....ok, ok, ok, no syrup.....did I say good fun??? LOL Talk to y'all in awhile! Kat

Judy--I forgot to mention the toffee---I too add it--I add it to anything I can, I am a toffee freak! I buy the syrup for my tea and cocoa....they are far and away my favorite candy bars, and blizzards! And the Paula Deen Gooey Toffee Butter Cake----oh hell I gained 3 pounds just typing it! Kat

I make my queso like this....depending on how much you want you can double this...and it holds great in a crock pot on warm. Brown a pound of hot sausage....drain off the fat, turn pan to low heat throw in chopped green chile...onion if you want a can of ro tel tomatoes Then in a bowl I cut up a block of velveeta cheese--you can use the mexican style for extra flavor---and you can use store brand equivalent to Velveeta. I usually add a can of nacho cheese----it is already in a liquid form, and keeps the velveeta from solidifying again if it gets a little cool. I put the cheeses in the microwave to melt them the first time---then mix it all together in the crock pot, and let it simmer on low for 2-3 hours before we eat it. I double this ... and we take several things that can be dipped in it. I am taking tortilla chips, and rolled tacos ( I get corn tortilla/beef, and flour tortilla/chicken---let them thaw just a bit, then cut them each in 3 pieces, then cook them--keeps hungry men from double dipping!!!) And then I make another crock pot full of the little smoked sausages---we refer to them as drunk weenies---they get a sauce of bbq---and a can of beer dumped in them to cook....and then the one thing I am famous for taking to Superbowl is food porn at its finest...it is called Death by Chocolate!!! Layered in a trifle dish is fudge pudding, white fudge pudding, brownies, fudge sauce, and topped with whipped cream, and chocolate shavings. A couple of years ago, I made a huge bowl of banana pudding---they ate every bite, but still ask for the chocolate! Becky is making pulled pork sandwiches, and posole....and everyone else just brings whatever strikes them at the time. This year I think Manda may do the Death by Chocolate for me! Superbowl teams do nothing for me this year, which is kinda bad----often times if I am involved in the game, I can avoid the kitchen---since I could care less about the game, not really wanting either team to win (!!) I am going to have to conciously avoid the kitchen~ wish me luck!!! OK, we cleaned up the wood pile, split some wood, took down some things from over head----and decided to eat Chinese with Abbey---so at least some things got done today!! Kat

LOL----I know what to put in it, I did not know what was in the cupboard, and what needed to go on my shopping list!!! It isn't like rocket science to make!!! Except.....no Jimmy Dean this time. I got a huge bunch of rolls of hot Owens brand sausage, marked down the other day so it is getting used instead----plus I add green chile to pretty much everything!!! LOL Kat

Can't wait to see the final result Pat--looks like you shrunk a bunch!!!! I so wish I was that far---I am going to do it! Looking GREAT!!! Dianne---I let the day get away from me, and was planning on going, and they close in 15 minutes here, and won't reopen until 3--Lord knows what I will be involved in then! BBL~~ Kat

WOW Jen---I am sending such positive vibes your way---you may not be safe to be around!!! Rick and I went to eat---brunch---so I can get lunch, him breakfast. This little diner here in town serves breakfast all day, but I have to wait to get the salad bar up til about 11! They let me order a salad and 2 chicken strips, and seldom charge me for the chicken...today they didn't, I ended up bringing one home! Anyway, we are sitting there eating when Abbey calls, her DH is going to be gone tonight, and wanted to know if we wanted to go to dinner with her...aka take her to dinner! So looks like my entire day will be spent dining out. I did good this morning, stuck to a healthy diet, in reasonable portions. Sitting here drinking my tea....now to just get through the evening! LOL Life is Hard on me now! We are headed into Durango again to go look at a motorcycle trailer---hope it is what we are looking for. It is at my friends sons work, at a towing yard----so it would be cheap!! Woo Hoo---more for me to spend in SA!! OK, I am off to see what I need for my Queso dip for the Superbowl party....talk to y'all in awhile! Hugs~~ Kat

Let us know when you get back Jen! Thoughts are with you as you WOW them!!! Think today we might take in a movie---not sure, I know any minute he will be asking what the plan for the day is!!! Too much snow on the ground to do some of the things we NEED to do! In some places around here, the horses are knee deep in snow this morning! I will be in an out as the days allows--thinking of you all! Kat

Had a fun day swimming with Rick & Kinsey, come home in a snow storm, due to hit again tonight! Ugh--enough already! I will check in tomorrow, off to find me a new phone! Kat

Green--in ALL debates and discussions--I have never seen you be anything but fair, and treat people with respect. Often you simply sit back, put things into perspective, and never really take a side on an issue...keeping an open mind. Many times, you have made me rethink things, sometimes even making me change my own views! But always giving me another viewpoint to consider, if we are not already in agreement. In this case, we are in agreement that the child SHOULD come first with both parents---but obviously does not. While we are all lambasting this man, for his want to abandon--no one else but you mentioned the mother negatively. I ask ---- if she is truly the loving mother??? Why did she reveal this? She obviously still wants the money.....Why tell? Did she not think this would hurt her child? Shouldn't her first thought be, not to hurt the husband purposely, but to not hurt her DD? I think your terminology is fitting! Keep the thought provoking posts coming....this poster at least sometimes needs her blinders removed!!! Kat

Kat is here---just slow! Had a busy evening, and now Rick is off until Monday, so who knows what we will be doing. We were going to take the granddaughter swimming today in Durango---but they have got 29 inches of snow in the last 24-36 hours! Doubt we will do that! So likely some shopping, and then Rick's brother is stopping through on his way back home from a business trip. My next door neighbor I was telling you was in isolation with the MRSA infection---insurance said enough was enough, and sent her home yesterday! She has a shunt in her arm, a port type thing, where they hook her up to IV antibiotics twice a day. Over $500.00 a week for the drugs and medicare nor their supplement will cover them, because they are experimental! These people cannot afford that! He told me he figured they could buy them for 2 weeks, and hope she is better. But then the drugs had to be drove up from Abq. so they were an extra hundred bucks. I mentioned it to a mutual friend, he goes to VFW with, and he is going to bring it up, and try to get them to help. We can help some, but it is so ridiculous! They worked for years, and have medicare, as well as a supplement, and have no help. Home health is coming in once a day to check on her for 2 weeks---which will be good. Scares me! TracyK you are doing sooooo well, you will be at goal, and a skinny mini when we all meet! I am beginning to wonder if I am ever going to move from here!!! I have not begun drinking yet, have no desire to eat yet! I slept in bursts last night, a few minutes here and there, but awake everytime I rolled over....has me wanting to be really grouchy---making an effort not to be! Rick and Kinsey are happy and playing---and I wanna grump!! LOL Hope all of you begin to feel better soon! Pamela---loved the Dr. story! Especially that you needed a shower but were gonna smile through it!! LOL I got hit on at the restaurant the other night, but I think the guy had had too much to drink!!! Wouldn't ya know!!?? Ok, well, I need to get some things done....bbl~~ Kat

Pat we were all boycotting UNTIL you post the pics!!! Was one of those days yesterday--and now DH is off until Monday---heaven knows what is gonna go on. Supposed to dump more damn snow on us today---yuck! I am glad the Dr. thinks you are healing well--it always feel better to me when the strips come off, they itch something fierce! Sherry --- hope your men feel better! Glad the pups are ok!!! Well off to do what I sat down to do---------pay the car insurance!!The fun never ends around here!!! Kat

I quit smoking years and years ago, but still drink on occasion. I usually opt for something without carbonation, but if I get something carbonated, I sip slowly, and it loses the fizz quickly with the alcohol anyway. I was also warned off due to the empty calories. I accept that they are just that, and make a concious decision when I choose to have a drink. This is not a diet for me, I want to live today the same way I want to live the rest of my life, with my diet issues in moderation. That includes the occasional drink. I have a friend who is single and banded, and she drinks some most weekends. Never to a point of no return! But she has several drinks per week, and it has not affected her over the last 2.5 years that I am aware of, her weight has dropped, and stayed off. Never heard of the possible link to erosion..... Kat

Nice to see everyone posting! Cindy--weren't you supposed to see the Dr. this last week? How did it go??? Waiting to hear! Kat

I eat bread, I always have. Immediately following my 2nd fill, it was really hard, and had to be toasted. But as soon as the super tight restriction eased I have been fine ever since. I can take any bread at all, and toast it and eat it alone without issue. But to take a piece of soft white sandwich bread by itself and eat it, it almost always causes me to hurt some as it passes. If I take the same bread, toss a piece of lunchmeat, or a chicken strip in it, or even peanut butter---then I can eat it without issue. But I can only eat 1 slice---a foldover is my max. I think if I have the other type of food for my stomach to digest the bread with and help it pass without making a big ball of dough, I do fine. I find the same issue with Pasta. To eat just a bowl of noodles with sauce, I might get 1/4 cup, and am miserably full. If I however eat some chicken with it--I do much better, without the miserable feeling! Somethng about the harder food helps me process it. Kat

Well then going along with that thought process.....then my question would be...where do you draw the line? It took me 3 tries to figure out just how to find the right man! So...I had my DD with husband #1, who remained in her life by my choice, and my assistance, without paying CS. Then I married the biggest mistake of my life---and yes for awhile he did help support myself and my DD. So when I divorced him (with good cause), should he have been able to claim that he married me with a child, and now he wants a continued relationship with that child, whether she be his biologically or not? There have to be some sort of guidelines! And paternity is one of those guidelines in my opinion. I am not trying to say to hell with the kids----I am saying---if the state or government in general is going to make a man pay for a child proven not to be biologically his, they should make it a legal adoption, so the man has equal rights to that child for visitation, and custody if he chooses. He should be allowed to be more than an open wallet! Kat

I was banded, with hiatal hernia repair, the end of April and was back riding within 2 weeks. BUT.... I rode as a passenger until I was probably a month out---because lifting was still touchy. Every Dr. has his own way of attaching your port, and the muscle mine is stitched in, while it is not affected by any articles of clothing, is definitely a muscle I used in lifting---so I waited. We have had one snow storm after another, and even when the weather is half way decent, there is so much debris on the roadways from the sanding of the ice, and the resulting mud on vehicles, it is unsafe to ride. Looks like we too have another month or so in front of the fire. Now that does not in any way mean my DH does not spend money on his bikes--that is a year round thing. Through the winter, he shops--and then come season, we make as many local rallies as possible, and long weekend trips. But what a way to spend money!!! Ride Safe! Kat

My funniest PB happen just a month or 2 after being banded, before y'all come on the scene. I was at the GYN for my follow up---I used to go every 6 months, and am now back to yearly--yea!!! Anyway, like Pamela said, I was worried about laying there, and my stomach roaring---so I stopped and bought a croissanwich (sp?) at Burger King. I ditched half the bread, and snacked on it as I drove across town to the Dr. Just before going in, I took a drink to make sure I had it rinsed out of my teeth and all.....there in was my mistake as well. I made it it, signed in, and knew, it was either pace the room, or lose it. I do not PB easily, it is a difficult thing for me to "throw up" in any way! So I am in the bathroom gagging! This girl in another stall tells me "I'm sorry you are sick, but it helps knowing I am not the only one with all day sickness, my sister is pregnant too and she never even had morning sickness, and I am sick all day!" I replied some people are that way, hope she feels better soon....unsure how else to say anything!!! I let her leave the bathroom, and eventually managed to rid myself of some air, and my food settled.....but I was mistaken for a sick pregnant woman!! Oh, ended up going to lunch with DD---her treat mind you! I ate a taco, and a few bites of refried beans. Avoided the chips and salsa! Shared a taco plate with Kinsey. She ate one of the tacos, and ate the center out of the other one covered in enough sour cream for all of them! The girl is growing, she eats non stop! I have drank 2 glasses of tea, and a bottle of Fuze. Will be headed out to exercise here in a couple of hours, and will get in a bottle or 2 of water then. Kat

Haydee---I grab my little orange, and a paper towel...to hold the peel, then as I eat it, if I come across some that just refuses to chew down into mush...it joins the peel in the paper towel!!! I usually eat them only at home, so I am not spitting out food everywhere!! Judy your weather sounds like it is a day behind ours----we had total white out conditions last night, and it was thundering and lightening while it snowed sideways!! Wierdest weather I remember ever seeing!! We are supposed to get hit this weekend again too. I am sooooo ready for spring! Suzanne---glad your scale is moving in the right direction now!!! WTG! Maybe what you lost is your fear of flying---then you can go to SA!!! Hey can't blame me for trying....you need to go! Ok off to find food for the bottomless 3 year old!!! Kat

Hate to spoil a roll here....but mine is not correct!!! LOL I thought you wanted me to book the earlier flight, so I did! Depart: 6:20 a.m. Fri., May. 16, 2008 Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) Arrive: 9:29 a.m. Fri., May. 16, 2008 Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) Travel Time: 2 hr 9 mn Depart: 5:40 p.m. Mon., May. 19, 2008 Houston, TX (IAH - Intercontinental) Arrive: 6:59 p.m. Mon., May. 19, 2008 Albuquerque, NM (ABQ) Travel Time: 2 hr 19 mn These are booked and paid for....hope it is still ok, puts me right in the middle of Laura and Michelle and allows us to leave earlier---was the thought behind it! Kat

****TUESDAY'S TIP OF THE DAY**** HOT CHOCOLATE A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate. It is so wintery here, the hot chocolate felt fitting!!! Kat

Hi girls~~ Lazy day, Kinsey and I have been making a play-doh smorgasbord!! We have pies, and cakes....and soon to be lots of mixed up colors if I don't watch her!!! Manda tried to go to work, but got turned around by her boss, they closed her plant. So she is at home trying to get her important work done without the help of a certain 3 year old with 4 wall fever!!! Add in, 2 rambunctious pups----and you now know why I have Kinsey even if her Mom is at home! She will be here after her in about an hour she said. My DIL called and wanted us to meet at Pizza Hut for the lunch buffet. That is a total and complete bust for me--but I always pick up the tab, so I get invited frequently!! Not today I begged off! I ate a slice of 12 grain bread toasted for breakfast. Will have a clementine for snack in awhile---trying to keep some fiber going in! Will be back in a second to post my tip! I got it in an email the other day and saved it for today! Tracy, hope today at work is ok----feel better. Pamela you will knock his socks off whenever you get observed----just save the hard thought lesson!!! I am hoping the roads get cleared and I will go work out again later today. I slept much better, I slept in late! Jane are you sleeping on an incline?? It works great for me! Laura----DD had wierd Chantix dreams too! So did my best friend Becky! She told me hers, I laughed my butt off!!! Literally---it is GONE! Ms Jen! I see you here!!! How you doing? Sure you can't join us in SA? OK, be back in a minute with my tip of the day! Kat

While I agree that in the case the OP cited, they should put the child first, if he continues to treat this child as his own, he might feel as though he is just continuing to allow her (mom) to rub salt in his open wounds. We know judges make men pay for children who aren't theirs....but not all judges! We never know how the judge is going to rule in any case--especially ones like these. If the Mom is withholding the child now since it "is not his"....that is going to be a threat from her til the day the child turns of age. She may not have him by the short & curlies but she has him by the heart----and knows it! It does need to be decided by a judge in the best interest of the child--------but then it needs to be enforced! THAT is where my problems come in, leaving my DD to feel very much like bonniep mentions. I was awarded child support! He was awarded visitation. Did he do either? Nope! He would allow her to come see him-------if I brought her and picked her up--------he could not be bothered. And he did not pay his support--------but as I said before, legal help is either a years away waiting list for legal aid, or high dollar! You choose---pay the bills or hire an attorney, and allow yourself as well as the child to be drug into the court system yet again. Back to the OP--it states that the judge found it not in the best interest of the child to determine paternity. Does that mean, the father is a relative, or someone it is going to be traumatic to reveal, or that the father is unknown? I feel for this child ~~ BUT still believe that man to be within his rights to know, be put on the birth certificate, and given parental rights, or have the right to bow out of the picture. Obviously the Mom has thrown it in his face that he is not the Father, or it come out in some way, or he would still be going about his business assuming to be the father, and this would not have been in court. Is there any reason to believe if Mom brought it up once, she won't repeatedly anytime he does not toe the line with her? While the child is the #1 concern this man too has rights! The Mom in this case holds ALL the cards! She can opt to tell the child at any time - he is not your Dad. She can hold back visits....She possibly knows who is the Dad, and the day he makes more money than the ex, then she might come forward. While we concern ourselves, and rightly so, with the child, this man has to be dealt with fairly too--it is his life too---he only gets one same as the rest of us, and if his heart has been ripped out by the revealing that this child is not his, does he deserve to have that happen again, and again at the hands of the deceptive ex wife? Yes it seems cruel to want out of the childs life---but sometimes you have to have the anger to get through the pain of a situation. Not to sound extremely sexist, but it is much easier for many men to be angry than it is for them to be sad--they are victims of their own raising. Bottom line in my opinion is this poor child does not have much of a chance. Whether "Dad" is in the picture or not, she is living with a lying, manipulative woman, who is very unlikely to change her ways. That will be what she learns as she grows. We have branched out into 2 totally different discussions here--one of this man who wants his CS reduced, done away with and reimbursement, and another totally different discussion of Non paying parents in divorce. While I do not support the Father who has access to his children, and refuses to pay, such as my ex husband, and bonniep's father-----I still feel the case in the OP is 100% different! Unfortunately he is going to be dealt with in a court used to seeing Dead Beat Parents--and he is going to be colored with that whether it is deserving or not. Kat

Usually if you had no issues with spicy before, you won't after. I love hot mexican food, and eat it all the time! Without issue. Try a small bit, increase both the spice and the amount slowly, and just see how you react. A burst of real flavor is sooooo nice when your amounts you eat are so much smaller, I want the most taste packed in that I can get!!! Welcome to LBT! Kat