I'm off to see the wizard.

Don't beat him up too badly. Or just don't leave marks? I cant'remember which it is.

SS

Maybe you should get t-shirts for all of them!!!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. I wear mine to work. It's covered up by scrubs, but it's there, nevertheless.

maybe I could wear it as an undershirt and flash it when I meet one of my ex employees on the way to the bathroom! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Works for me as long as it works for you! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

T&L - Do you ever eat nopales? They are the cactus things that the Mexicans eat. Yummy - they are delicious. We had some fried tonight for dinner, and had some black beans, and fruit.

I had the funniest dream last night.

Well, the first part was real. AJ woke me up at about 3:45 am because an alarm had been going off for quite some time and he couldn't get his eyes open to go see if it was our septic. Why he thought my eyes would open any better that time of the morning I'm not sure. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I went outside and checked, and it was coming from one of the neighbors across the street. Went back in, called the sheriff, tried to go back to sleep. My eyes were still glued shut, but I only dozed for a while because once he woke me up, the alarm was too intrusive to just drop right back off again.

When I finally fell asleep, I dreamed that it was early early the next morning, and the across the street neighbor came over to inform me that the alarm was actually my fault. I had left the coals in the BBQer, they had mysteriously stayed burning for several days, and the night before someone had set a kettle of food over them. The smoke from the burning had set off all the smoke alarms in the neighborhood, and EVERYBODY WAS BLAMING ME!!!!!!

I woke up with a start, and it was quite a while before I could convince myself that I was off the hook, and the sheriff was not coming to give me a ticket (or worse). "Oh, officer, I think the gold handcuffs will be so much more flattering to my complexion than the silver ones...."

Still don't know what the alarm was, either.

I have never tried cactus. Chicken, I guess. I'm assuming they remove the spines first! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I'll have to tell you about the evening of heavy-duty bonding I just spent with HP. We were in sync. We worked and thought as one. A well-oiled machine, proceeding in perfect harmony. It was amazing! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Tomorrow. When he's at work. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Oh, you MUST get some!!!! You can get it already de-spined and chopped, or do it yourself. It is delicious with black beans.

For beans - get black beans, wash, and boil in water with salt. After about an hour, add a onion and some garlic. Cook till done. If you have epazote growing, add a sprig to take out the gas.

You can make the nopales alone, with onions, tomatoes, or with cheese.

Do you eat cheese?

We sometimes by napolitas at the grocery store....they are canned - sort of pickled but neither sweet nor sour nor dill. Haven't ventured into the hispanic markets in my city yet though we have gone into a Thai market and a huge international market. They have things in the produce section that I have never seen before and things I know not what are.

So, what does this t-shirt say.

Well, girls, Believer has given you a cactus recipe to cook for me to try out. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> I suggest Neaksis take it to the church potluck. It's spring and they're used to her bringing them edible (?) plants to sample. I mean we've already tried thistle hearts and cattails...<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I'm not the family cook--the goose who lays the golden eggs doesn't have to live in the kitchen--but I'll try it if one of them fixes it.

The t-shirt says, "Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulders, and Your hand over my mouth." I wear it regularly (stuffed in my mouth like a cork! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />), especially in the summer when short sleeves are appropriate.

I'm off to bed. Tomorrow I get Neaksis' Val, for some compulsory schoolwork. We're both going to be tired by tomorrow night, but I can guarantee you she's going to have worked while she's here. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Don't be silly. Bean gas is our after-dinner entertainment! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />



I eat it in cooking; I'm not much of a cheese sampler if it's not melted and in some sort of dish. Neaksis avoids it when she can. Neak will use both soy and regular, whatever is handy. However, there are lots of dishes that don't taste right without some sort of cheese-like substance included...is this one of them?

t&l

After-dinner entertainment!?!?! What kind of people are they going to think we are???????????

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Hey T&L, do tell about your evening with HP...

and what about Flard?

I can vouch for these cookies! They are so easy and so GOOD! No flour means that they taste more peanut-buttery. My grandkids love 'em!

BUT, don't bake them any longer than 10 minutes or they will BURN! They won't LOOK quite done, but they will be.

BTW, I'm not really new here. I'm usually here as LC.
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

hello to all the tl & neak gang !!

I hope you are all well and are enjoying your summer/late spring. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I thought to let you all know that tonight Aussie has been deployed with 8 hours notification. His whole team is going over there where ever 'there' is this time. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

AW & my grand daughter don't know yet as she has been out with her beautiful DD at the studio for a recording, bit of late night shopping and then dinner.

I was minding Mikey when he got home, picked up Mikey and told me. I'm still a bit stunned, but he seems ok with it, almost eager which is rather sad in itself. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I wonder if I should ring AW and ask her and Bess to come home? I think she will want to spend every single moment she can with him. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/teary.gif" alt="" />

If I could impose on you all for a few prayers right now for them both I would be very grateful to you all.

What a way to end the night <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Yes, ring her right away. I'm so sad to hear this.

I reached her on her mobile. I got dead silence on the other end and a short 'We're on our way"

Why do mums have to give bad news ? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

EVERYTHING was going so well. this is just bullsh*t

I'm sorry <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

its just not fair to our family, not to any of the families to go through all of this again and again.

Deep breath, need to put all that aside for the children. Anyone got some make up? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Why do mum's have to give bad news? Because those great big strong men are too chicken, that's why!

Where oh where is the poultry emoticon?

Give AW lots of hugs from us. You will both need them. Prayers continue.

I'm crying....

DARNITOL!!!!!!!!!

Love to AW and Aussie....and you, too AWMum. (sniff, snarf)