Cool.....first show is August 31 and it runs throughout September. Meaning, it will be playing the week I'm off (week of Sept. 12 for the divorce), and through the rest of the month.

I'd rather see it in NYC, but it would sure be much more economical in Atlanta. Checking the web-sites, tickets are about 1/2 of the price in ATL vs. NY, ($60 vs. $120), and of course I could just drive over and back, or spend one night in Atlanta.

Humm...I may have to check that out.

Georgia

Now ya'll are treading deep into my territory. Woman of Faith sells cruises for a living. And I live in the Pacific Northwest. So Alaska cruises are my specialty. I have done it a couple of times. Once on a big ship, another time on a small ship.
I would definately suggest that you wait until you have a significant other to sail with you on an Alaska cruise. There is a lot of down time, and it is best to have someone along with. I will not be going into any further details at this point........

In fact, I am thinking about starting my own business. After going through a D, and 2 years of questioning everything about my life, I find that I am no longer content to settle for just the standard get up, go to work, come home, rinse and repeat routine. I haven't come up with the details yet, but I want to specialize in Christian tours. Cruises, tours to the Holy Land, groups to Branson, that sort of thing. For singles, marrieds, anyone who has the desire to travel, but would appreciate a christian focus.

WOF -

I know that we are treading close to the "non-commerical" limitations of MB, but I would like to keep your information at hand for FUTURE REFERENCE.

An idea for you...Christian bus tours to the Gaza strip. (Okay, my sick sense of humor at work! Sorry.)

Just curious, how would you see Christian tours / cruises being any different than any others? No drinking / gambling?

And...someday I'd like your input (maybe) on the "best" way to cruise Alaska.

Georgia

BTW - I've never done ANY cruise.

GG,

You sound like you are doing well. Our household has been having computer issues. My hard drive on my laptop died and then my H's laptop decided it hated it's OS so had to rebuild the entire system. The problem was I always use server OS and forgot how to do anything with the normal OS. That was Doh moment. I lost everything though so can you email me again. Here is a public account that my H and I have together: [email]the_pipers@tesco.net.[/email]

The pond sounds wonderful can you post some pics? I would love to see it. Just sounds like everything is on track for you. See how God is using your new found free time. I am sure you will have the best home bible study group.

I have no idea how much of my story you know. I have been on the boards for ever. I think MB is very helpful even if the marriage does not survive because it helps the person heal and not just focus on the marrage.

My desolution from start to finish took two years. That was all the civil and criminal cases. My ex was abusive along with being a serial cheater. MB helped me end the relationship and the wonderful people at domestic violance center helped me see the cycle and break it. I was lucky I got out before it was too bad.

But now I am married to a wonderful guy. Yes it is not perfect but I am only human. We have nothing to hide and can get into and view everything each other has. We even use the MB principles. I just wanted to say this to you to give you hope. My ex chould have choose me and our relationship but he did not. I missed him because it was not all bad but to be honest he would rather have a lot of women in his life than just me and I could not live with that.

I just know that God is going to give you a load of blessings. Give Jeb a pet for me. My H is sponsering a dog for me. We live in an appartment and cannot have any pets so he did this gift for me so I could walk the dog and play with him.

W and I (with DD4) went to NYC in December, and one of the shows we took in was Phantom. DD still hums the tunes. W said recently something to the effect that she realizes she might not be able to afford to do that kind of thing again for a long time....

Phantom runs forever, of course - something like 20 years.

Oh, and you can get much cheaper tickets than the list price. Just google "broadway tickets". I think I used "BroadwayBox.com" and "Playbill.com". If you subscribe to their email lists you will get notice of every discount - and if you don't find it on one of those sites, there is the place at Times Square where everybody buys last-minute half-price tickets. 40% off is not hard to find. I think I paid something like $55 for Phantom or maybe it was $45. Also tickets are cheaper on weeknights.

-AD

Good Morning to all -

As my CASA appointment got postponed, I went home and did yard work yesterday. I re-worked the major waterfall to allow more water to flow over the rocks instead of under them. I've got a frog that has taken up residence in the stream, I've seen him (her, it?) a number of times now. I will try to remember to take some pictures this evening and post tomorrow. I am really, really pleased with the pond. The water sounds wonderful. When I'm in bed, even with the windows closed and the A/C on, I can still hear the water running outside. I'm anxious to work on the deck, I'm formulating plans in my mind as to how it is going to look. I'm also planning to put a non-intrusive pergola over the deck, something just to fancy it up a bit. I was out there last night looking at the existing architecture to try to figure out how I am going to design the pergola to compliment the house and not look like an "add-on".

And, I mowed and trimmed the yard. The grass is looking so good, all this rain is really keeping everything green.

Poor Jeb is having some medical issues. He had a sizeable "lump" on his side. I took him to the vet about 2 weeks ago and he said it was nothing to worry about. Well, it's been getting bigger and bigger. I got home yesterday afternoon and it had "vented" on its own. It was a mess (don't want to be too gross here). I cleaned it really good with alcohol and it left a crater about 1/8" in diameter. I trimmed the hair around it, cleaned it again, put neosporin on it, and then applied a bandaid. Do you realize how ridiculous a Schnauzer looks when he has a bandaid on his hip? Anyway, I think he's going to be okay, he just had the worlds largest zit.

I'll try to post some pictures tomorrow including Jeb with his bandaid.

Thanks, AD, for the tip on the Broadway plays. I would really like to go, but it's going to be hard to not just go the FOX in ATL as it is so close. BTW - I've been by the FOX many times, but never to anything there, so that will be a bit of an adventure.

For Valentines Day 2 years ago, I took WW on a weekend trip and we stayed at the Georgia Terrace Hotel just across the street. It is a very old hotel that has been wonderfully restored and is very, very romantic. It is where the cast of GWTW had their premier party after the opening night. There are pictures of the cast all over the place. It has the grandest ballroom I've seen.

Anyway, I'm rambling.

I wish I could surprise WW by telling her to pack for a night away, then fly her off to NYC, a night on Broadway to see Phantom, then spend the night in a way too expensive hotel overlooking Central Park. Oh well......

My very best surprise trip ever was to Palm Beach staying in the Chesterfield Hotel. It was (IMO) wonderful. However, WW later told me that she was in love with OM#1 and the trip meant nothing to her.

Okay, back to reality.

MoiNouvelle - thanks for sharing a little of your story with me. I know that you understand what I am going through. I miss the good times, we seemed to have so much potential and possibilities for the future. But, the 3-some was just unacceptable and more than negates the good times.

GOOD MORNING, MIMI....

I hope all is well with you all and you're still on track to maintain your Proverbs 31 recovery.

Georgia

Hi Georgia:

I'm doing great. We are doing great. DH has developed a really close bond with OS...still distant from YS but I think this will come along eventually...A large part of it seems to be a normal age and stage thing for our YS. OS recalled how he was the same at age 18. YS left for college on Sunday and we are empty-nesting again...

Georgia, hold on and treasure your good memories despite the bad times...move onward towards creating new memories...

Hi Mimi....

Glad the family thing is going well. #1S called me last night and we talked a long time. He's having to work through all the issues of buying the house and he keeps asking for my advice on various things. I appeciate very much that he respect my opinion enough to call and ask.

On the memories, I do indeed try to remind myself of all the good times. I so wish that WW hadn't taken to attacking the past as it tends to tarnish what I remember as "good times". Of course, I understand the history re-write etc. But...it still makes it terribly hard to overlook those attacks when thinking of the past.

I don't want to be too risque here, but there are things I remember about that weekend in Palm Beach that lead me to believe that she enjoyed that weekend, too.

She told me immediately afterwards that she thought it was one of the best times of our marriage. It was about 2 years later that she made the disparaging comment.

When I was making out my list of things to split, I thought about that weekend. #1DIL is into scrapbooking and she made us a beautiful scrapbook of that trip. Photos, airline tickets, menus, hotel stuff....just a gorgeous scrapbook to remember that weekend (our 25th anniversary). I was thinking about whether or not I want that scrapbook. It is on our coffee table.

Okay, things to do. I'm running home at lunch to let Jeb out as I'll be late getting home today due to the CASA appointment after work.

Have a nice lunch.

Georgia

Chiming in here about alcohol on a wound .....

If you use 3% hydrogen peroxide it disinfects the wound but is less uncomfortable. Alcohol stings. (This from a fool who requested an Rx from her M.D. so that my friends could get a numbing cream for their llamas ears, because they had to apply medication in them to kill ear mites.) Since I can't stand any pain at all, I am very sensitive to pain in other people & critters.

The llama ranchers explained to me that the application doesn't cause the animals pain; it is just that they need to be restrained by big strong ranch hands who know how to keep the animals still without themselves getting kicked and injured, because the animals don't like being caught or held.

Hum...thanks Bellevue.

I don't have any hydorgen perioxide at the house, hence I used alcohol. Jeb didn't complain at all. I cleaned it again at lunch and he seems to be okay with it. I can't believe the size of the hole this thing left. I was able to clean inside the hole with a cotton swab, that's how big it is.

Any medical experts offer any advice that I do anything differently (other than the alcohol vs hydrogen perioxide)? Should I continue use of neosporin, or just leave open and clean frequently?

Is there any chance a stitch or 2 might be req'd?

Thanks for the input.

Georgia

My cat would get things like this fairly often. He would get them from an infected bite or claw scratch from an animal or other cat. It would turn into an abcess and get bigger and bigger until it found an exit. If it is ANYTHING like what my cat would get, it is important to let it drain, drain, drain...and the vet gave me triple antibiotic ointment I would squirt into the wound...it would go away on it's own.

I don't use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Never found them to be particularly helpful. Saltwater is good though...I know seems like it would hurt, but it doesn't. To clean the wound just mix up some warm water with a bit of salt (about a tablespoon in a large bowl) and dab the wound with cloth soaked in the water. Pressing the wound may be uncomfortable for Jeb, but I always felt I needed to get as much out as I could. the vet would even install a wick...a piece of string hung from one side to the other that we twisted to allow the abcess to drain.

I know the old adage, pouring salt on a wound...but salt water on a wound is actually very comforting. I learned this when I battled a bout of blood poisoning from a cut on my finger. The Doc told me to soak my hand in saltwater 3Xday...I could feel the infection itch away while in the water...

Perhaps he got a possum bite, or cat scratch on his butt?

FGG,

My husband always had people keep the wound open so that the fluids could drain instead of impacting again. He preferred that they heal from the inside out vs a scab.

Do you have any idea what the cause of the wound was to start with - for example did you see if a thorn or something came out when it burst? My concern is whether or not there is still foreign material in the wound. Ideally your veterinarian would flush the wound out with water.

Leave open and clean frequently. Watch for signs of redness or reinfection. Any change of behavior (lethargic or not eating normally) go see your veterinarian.

Good Morning, Folks -

Okay, first of all, here is the pictures of the pond:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/mb_georgiaguy/album?.dir=/c404

And...remember the frog that I kept seeing in the stream? Well, seems like she had a little surprise for me! My pond is now amazingly stocked with very tiny tadpoles, hundreds of them if not thousands. I think the ecosystem of the pond is beginning.

Jeb's wound seems to be doing well. I am keeping it clean and it seems to be healing well, no signs of redness or any additional draining. I've been leaving the bandage off (so no photos of him this morning) and it seems to be doing good. Thanks for the medical advice.

My CASA visit went extremely well last night. I was at the home for a long time, next I'm going to try to set up an appointment to meet the parents.

Afterwards, I went to visit Mrs. Reese.

GOOD MORNING MIMI - Pay attention, I need your advice (as well as advice of anyone else who wishes to chime in).

Mrs. Reese seems very coherent. We talked for a bit, then she told me that her D has said she will likely not be able to go back home. She told me that she can't believe that her D would "discard" her like this, that she was raised to think that family always took care of family. She went on telling me about how her mother took care of family members when they were sick, how she cared for her H when he had the brain tumor and told him she would NEVER put him in a nursing home, and how she herself cared for D when she broke her leg. She never thought of "discarding" her D when she broke her leg, but she took care of her.

She went on to tell me that she told D that she was ashamed of her actions for doing this to her. She said she was going to tell "Georgia" about this (sigh). Also, she is writing a letter to her pastor to get him to try to get her back to her house.

And, she tells me that YS (in his 60's) is very upset with D and doesn't agree with her all. He thinks his Mom should be back home.

OS seems to basically be out of the picture entirely. It's as D told me, he doesn't want to get involved with his Mom.

Whew.....

I tried to steer the conversation generically towards telling her that she needed to realize that her kids are trying to do what is best for her, and that she needs to love them and not condemn them. I pointedly told her that I didn't think telling D that she was "ashamed" of her actions was appropriate, that I thought she needed to tell D that she loves her and appreciates all she can do.

I also told her that I think she needs to encourage all 3 of her kids to talk together and work with her as a family. I see the chasm between YS / D getting worse and worse, and OS is either in denial, too busy, or something. I don't know. And..he's the local pastor.

Truth is, I'm WAY over my head on this. I'm just wanting to be a supportive neighbor, but I see this family getting more and more dysfunctional as time goes on. WHAT DO I DO? Should I just nod and smile and go visit, should I jump in and try to get these 3 "kids" together before they totally splinter apart, or what? I've thought about going to see OS, Christian to Christina, and tell him that I think he, as a pastor, needs to take a lead in getting his family back together on this issue. Of course, he could (rightfully so) tell me to butt out and MMOB.

HELP!!!

And, if that isn't enought, Mrs. Reese told me she prays everyday that God will take her, that she is ready to go. She doesn't know why He leaves her here, that she doesn't want to live like this.

I told her that there are people where she is that can help. She still has a sound mind and she can show kindness to those around her and brighten her day. She said that she realizes that and she tries to smile and talk to the other residents to help them.

Okay, Mimi....bring me some of your expertise.

What should I do?

Georgia

Didn't Mrs. Reese come back home for awhile?

Yes, she came home Friday (8/5), but went back on Monday (8/8). When I visited her on that Sunday afternoon she was home, she told me she was having a terrible time trying to walk at home as she has carpet. Of course, the nursing home doesn't.

I reminded her yesterday that she had told me herself that she felt she might have to go back. However, she says that she now thinks she could have stayed at home if she had someone with her (and she did have someone staying with her).

Plus, she says that she went back with the understanding that it would be for about 2 weeks until she finished P/T. However, she is now under the impression that the stay is meant to be permanent.

Georgia

This is the tact I would use. Remain neighborly... This stuff is too complicated for you to take on. Plus, this is out of your control. What you say will not make any difference in this...Serenity Prayer would work here. Accept the things I cannot change, etc.

GG,

I try to read most of your thread, but mostly just lurk around.

I don't know, and don't have any good advice, but...this thought struck me...

Why not tell Mrs. Reese that maybe God needs her to do some of his work in the nursing home? That maybe, just maybe, there is someone there that needs guidance from her before it is too late.

Basically, nicely inform her that neither you , nor her, knows exactly what He has in store for her, but y'all can bet it is part of His plan. Tell her that she needs to really pray about it and see where God may just be leading her.

Tell her, that unbeknownst to her, she has even helped you, without knowing that she was doing it. That maybe that is where God sees her strength and needs her for that purpose.

I don't know....maybe I am off base. But....that was the first thought that came to mind.

Take care.


HCII

hcii,

*Ditto*

Thanks for the advice.

She and I did in fact have a very similar conversation yesterday. I told her that we never know where God is going to have us or why. She knows about my situation, we've talked about it at length. I told her that I hadn't planned on being divorced after 29 years of marriage, but I had to trust that God still has a plan for my life. And, I tried to tie it in to that the fact that she and I both are enduring difficult times, neither of us knows why, but we have to keep our faith.

Thank you, Mimi, for the reminder that I can't fix everything. One of the things that WW used to tell me is that I have a propensity to take charge where I'm not in charge. I've tried to take that constructive criticism to heart. I guess I still have to be reminded of that from time to time.

Lunch, and Jeb is going to the doggie beauty shop this afternoon.

Georgia

Georgia,
I saw your problem about your yahoo mail and thought I would tell you how I solved that problem for me.
In order to request a new password you need the account ZIP CODE. If you go into your 'my account' on yahoo and change the zip code to either a fake one that only you will know, or maybe an old one that your WW won't know, that should solve the problem <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
GOod Luck
Danielle