Here you go, my Sweet Violets! Another new home for our daily musings....

"Thus nature has no love for solitude, and always leans, as it were, on some support; and the sweetest support is found in the most intimate friendship."

- Cicero

Judy, It is absolutely unacceptable that Bob can not be more involved. Would it be worth it to cancel and go to Bob's current church to have it done? This is an important event . . . you have the right to feel comfortable with who is performing the services. Is it to late to change venue and do something different?

Janie, Wow??? I'm curious as well.

Haydee, Now is the best time to prune from around September into early October for Oleanders. Pruning any later will cut off the Spring growth according to this website: culture. They even have diagrams of how to prune which is helpful as well.

Hello everyone else :0)

Ahhhhhhhhh the soup was delish, as usual. Haydee, you don't have a pressure cooker??? They are really handy for quick meals. The soup was done from start to finish in 10 minutes tops.

Heather... Bob doesn't have a church now. He is retired from the Alpena church and from the little one he served in Atlanta. His goal at Atlanta was to build it up so that it could afford a part time pastor. It went from 35 on a Sunday to 80-90. I really have to brag on him. He is one heck of a pastor. He's so down to earth and kind and caring. He's the Bobster!!!

Kris was 2 and a half when we came to Alpena so this is the only church she knows and she wants Grady baptized there. After that, they are looking for another church. It will be interesting to see if Tom calls Bob to let him know what he's doing in the baptism. If it's what Kris says, it will be minimal and then I will be really pissed and Bob will be so disappointed. But Tom calls the shots as he is the pastor there. It all just sucks.

Ok... no more talk about the church. This board is for encouragement and not for all my drama!!

Joe is coming to pick up Ethan in a little bit so I have a breather before I go to my meeting. We're going out to dinner after choir with our friends and I hope we don't talk church! I'd much rather talk CRUISE!! 3 more months and we will be in the Southern Mexican Riviera.. wooo hooooo!!

JANE.. we're dying to know what's happening at work!!!

Laura.. where are you?? Hope you're feeling better!!

Forgot to mention, Kris says they are starting a Zumba class at the health club. I sure hope it's at a time when I can go with her. I'd love to try it. Michelle.. you did that for awhile, didn't you??? Did it kill you? That's my biggest fear... that I'll keel over from the activity!!:wink2:

Zumba! Yes, Judy -- you have to do it! But not in the bouncy shoes. Regular ones. It's just like you're dancing on a beach in the Islands -- I swear I want a fruity umbrella drink at the end of each session! So much fun! It'll get you ready for dancing the night away on your cruise!!

What an unexpectedly nice day! One friend called to meet for coffee, and then another called for lunch! I love being spontaneous!!

DD is still riding 5x/week & loving it, thanks for asking! She is considering entering her first jumper show in a couple weeks.

Add me to the list of the curious, Janie! What's going on??!

OK -- back to work!

Michelle... why do I think of Mr. Ed when I see that horse picture? DD looks like she's in heaven..

The horse makes me think of Mr. Ed also . . . Hellloooo WiLLLllLLBBBbbUuuRRR, lol.

I did Zumba. I had a great time but found that although it was tons of fun, I was only getting a moderate workout and would have been happier with a higher intensity workout.

At the time I had been hitting the gym every day for months and months to do step classes, weight training and othe aerobic activities and was in really great shape. I suspect Zumba may be the right level for me now post baby, lol. I haven't dragged my behind to the gym in toooo long.

Heather - WOW, thanks for that link! All I ever wanted to know about these little suckers. I hate them, Juan loves them so I have tolerated them. If he gets them pruned properly like the site says then I might grow to like them...

Judy - what ports are you visiting on your cruise??

Michelle - love those unexpected surprises! Lunch with friends is oh so fun...

My throat is feeling crappy crappy crappy. Hurts so bad. I had split pea soup out of a can for lunch...

Judy - wait, the soup was done in 10min? Will I be using my pressure cooker alot?? I use my slow cooker alot and that's opposite, right? LOL. I might have to go out and buy one...

Judy - wait, the soup was done in 10min? Will I be using my pressure cooker alot??...

I make all my soup in the pressure cooker in 10-20 minutes. There is nothing faster and it tastes like it has been simmering all day :wink2:

Well I am home from work. Yesterday Sue called me and said she accepted a new job and was going to give Charlie her two weeks today. As of when I left she has not, which means that hopefully I will miss the drama that goes with it all. I didn't want to say anything til she told him. Looks like we might be in for an interesting day tomorrow. I am having soup for dinner tonight, so I am going to eat it now!!!

Hey girlies~

Guess what I did? Did you guess? I worked out this morning AND did 30 min on the eliptical after school too!!! :wink2::thumbup: That would be so awesome if I could keep it up! This morning I did weight training, because today is my dirty hair day. So, I wanted to do cardio this pm. It is sooo much harder in the pm. I've eaten food, the gym air is thicker, it is hot...and when you've been on your feet all day, your feet hurt bad. BUT I DID IT!

OK, what is a pressure cooker? I've never heard of it. I hate soup, so if that is all they do, then I am out.

Jane, keep us in the loop about the drama. Is Charlie a drama queen??

Michelle, I LOVED the pix. Claire looks happy as all get out, the the pic of the horse was funny. Glad you lunched w/ friends!

Haydee, hope you don't get what Juan has.

There are so many good shows on tonight...LOVE WED. and LOVE Glee!

xoxooxxo

Good evening, Violets.

PamELa.. you don't know what a pressure cooker is????? Please tell me I'm not THAT old!!! The new pressure cookers can cook just about anything and do it in very little time. It cooks under pressure.. hello!! I've done ribs and soup and pork roasts, chicken and beef. Most things take less than an hour to prepare from start to finish. And everything is incredibly moist.

I got my pressure cooker from QVC and it's a slow cooker, browner and pressure cooker all in one. I also got the cookbook on QVC.

Well, our church budget meeting is over and finally, FINALLY somebody named the elephant in the room. The secretary finally said that there was no leadership and that attendance is down by 50%, yet we are expecting those 70 people to finance the budget. The pastor just sat there stunned. I said "my salary is piddly and 10% of that won't balance the budget. I am in a difficult position as the wife of the former pastor, but the church is dying in spirit and it breaks my heart." There were nodding heads all around. If he doesn't know he's in trouble after this meeting, he's ignorant and will never know. I also told them I am not going to direct the choir forever especially when I can't worship with my husband in the same church. So the seed has been planted for my leaving.

Bob and I shared Nachos Grande for supper. He's lost 8# this month by......... gasp!!! following the bandster rules!!! I'm proud of him!! Now I need to keep up with him.

Off to watch the end of Glee... I need me some of those pills.. LOLOL

Everyone have a good evening!! Sleep well..

Judy, sounds like finally a productive meeting... kudos for your honesty... you're in a tough spot...

Pam, yay on all the exercise & the 30 mins!! Your description of late-day exercising was right on the money! (feet, air, motivation... bleh.) But you did it! Yay!!

Janie, oh my! Do share as the drama unfolds!

What's w/all this "soup" talk? I don't have a pressure cooker... but you all are making me think I need one! (I'm easily influenced, dontcha know!)

I had some poignant "teachable moments" w/DS tonight... ah, parenting... why is it that it's always ME who does the "heavy lifting"? Nothing major, just life lessons learned the hard way... I think it stresses me out more than it does him! He's my baby... all this growing up stuff is for the birds!

Off to finish up a few more exciting pages of the Health Care Fraud manual (not how to commit it, but about the laws that forbid it, silly girls!), then bed... g'night my lovelies!

Good Thurs Morn, Girls~~

Rise & shine, lovelies! It's another bright new day where anything can happen -- be open to the possibilities! :redface:

On tap for me is work, housework/errands, DD's riding, DS's soccer game... that'll take me from now through about 9pm tonight... sounds good!

A giggle a day: Here's a funny recent pic of Mo the cat taking a snooze in a very interesting spot (DS's crotch! :wink2:)!

Enjoy the day!

Good morning Violets!!

I'm up waiting for Ethan.. I just fixed beef stew to cook in the crockpot all day. Smells yummy in here.

Cute picture, Michelle!!

My cough is almost gone and my nose is not so stuffy today, so I'm feeling pretty good. Also felt good about the meeting last night and knowing my time as choir director is coming to an end.

I have flute rehearsal tonight. That always calms me down. Our flute group is playing for the Peace Concert on Sunday, plus my singing group is doing two numbers and I'm doing a solo. Once again, the Judy show!! I'm just glad this cold didn't affect my voice at all.

Grady comes today for an hour while Kris works out. I'm always glad to see the little guy now. He's so much happier with his sleep schedule set now. And his mommy is so much happier too!

Off to get some breakfast. Everyone have a great day!!

Hey Girls~

Man, that second workout kicked my ass yesterday. I was like melted butter all night, and my legs were sore and tight. I did not make it in this morning, just changed the alarm...and could go back to bed now. I think cause it took more to get through the workout...I am still not over it. But, I did it, and now know I can do it again!

I will have to investigate the pressure cooker. I've "heard" of it...but never really knew what one was. I like the idea of a slow cooker in one...I don't have a lot of space in the kitchen, HATE MY KITCHEN!

I have a long day today, and a meeting from 6-7! F*^%ing sucks. Sorry, but I am tired and cranky...my poor chillllren!

Have a great day!

xoxoox