I know I missed it............. whatever it was.

Oh well, I missed lots of things lately.

Hi everyone.

I hope Cinders gets the heat on soon. Wearing a coat while you wash dishes is not very fun. (And yes, I have been there, and done that.)

You can get some heat by turning on the oven, and opening the oven door, but it costs a lot to use the oven as a heater.

Sorry to hear Neak has been Sick. I have been blessed this winter and have not had problems yet - well, lets just say I haven't missed any work.

I hope Neaksis recovered from the proposal - Was it a decent one, or an indecent one? Or perhaps it was no proposal at all, which would explain why there hasn't been a wedding yet.

I do notice she remained quiet through the whole thing. At least I didn't hear any thing.

AW, let us know how Christmas goes. And please say Hello to your "half full" mum for us.

Hi CC !!

I never did go chopping with my W, we went to the store instead. I was smart enough to leave the axe in the car.

How's work been T&L?
And HP?
And Neak Bro, and everyone??

Honestly, you are getting behind. Come back and catch us on what's happening.

Neak, are AJ, and Mr Computer home yet?

SS

.............and it was late at night, just us ladies, Neak fondly sharing some feminine charms (GACK) I think I swallowed something too.............

Well, thank you for the kind wishes for heat....fortunately, my 20 year old system works - as long as it doesn't get too cold because it can't defrost properly. As long as it doesn't get too cold, I'll make it another week. If it gets too cold, I'll call the contractor and tell them to get their warm bodies over here and earn some money from me.

Think I'll go ice skating tonight - with church youth group. Including my children.

I think I have quit shopping. Just quit.

Oh, my fireplace is ready for the winter...but I have no firewood. Right now, I have a holder with nine pillar candles in it.

Have fun C,
Don't fall and break anything.

Here's my Friday humor for this week - I ran out of chicken jokes. I should probably say right up front - Pun Intended.

1. My first job was working in an Orange Juice factory, but I got canned. I couldn't concentrate.

2. Then I worked in the woods as a Lumber jack , but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe.

3. After that, I tried to be a Tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it - mainly because it was a sew-sew job.

4. Next, I tried working in a Muffler Factory, but that was too exhausting.

5. Then, I tried to be a Chef - figured it would add a little spice to my life, but I just didn't have the thyme.

6. I attempted to be a Deli Worker, but any way I sliced it I couldn't cut the mustard.

7. My best job was a Musician, but eventually I found I wasn't noteworthy.

8. I studied a long time to become a Doctor, but I didn't have any patience.

9. Next, was a job in a Shoe Factory. I tried but I just didn't fit in.

10. I became a Professional Fisherman, but discovered that I couldn't live on my net income.

11. I managed to get a good job working for a Pool Maintenance Company, but the work was just too draining.

12. So then I got a job in a Workout Center, but they said I wasn't fit for the job.

13. After many years of trying to find steady work, I finally got a job as a Historian - until I realized there was no future in it.

14. My last job was working in Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind.

15. SO, I TRIED RETIREMENT AND FOUND THAT IT'S THE PERFECT JOB FOR ME ! ! !


Actually, I haven't tried retirement yet, but I'm sure I can conform.

SS

You guys are all so funny!!!!!!!!

Neaksis has been quiet in person, too, except for the gurgles and groans.

However, SHE was able to eat a small supper tonight, and I was not.

Food tally for today:
5 crackers
1 1/2 popsicles
1/2 burrito
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

AJ and Mr. C just got home a few hours ago. AJ fell asleep, long before it is quiet enough to worry about husbandly duties. At least it's a holiday, so we will have more than just one more day together before he takes off again. Tomorrow I'll make him take a nap. It's probably just as well; I might have gotten seasick.

Also, Neaksis' youngest seems to be coming down sick now. That is almost everyone. AJ & Mr. C weren't around to get germs, and Grandpa and the Dervish were the only ones on this side of the lake who have not been impacted yet, of those who were here when the exposure occurred.

I told Neaksis it was time to watch "Outbreak".

Mr. C will not shut up, even a little bit. Neaksis asked AJ if the poor kid had been allowed to talk at all this week. He sure seemed like he had been saving up that long.

I have fresh, clean bedding tonight, for which I am truly thankful. So is AJ.

B, you don't fool me a bit. You are just trying to get me in trouble with my momma, lol. (Tattletale!)

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

g'night.....

night princess.... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Sorry to hear you all are sick, Neak.

The flu is something that just spreads like crazy once started.

Hope you all are well before Christmas.



k.d.'s heartbreak

Thanks, KD. I sure hope I'm well enough to enjoy a wonderful Christmas dinner!
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Neak

what a rotten time to get the flu or cold. I do hope you are all well for Xmas and the seasons cooking delights and chocs and brandy puddings ........ and did I mention CHOC's !! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
and of course that by the time AJ is awake that you aren't sneezing all over the place .. tends to kill the moment .. just a tad <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

It seems strange to us here to be sick because of a winter flu, we are getting the sniffles because of the air cond as its so hot and you are all trying to just keep warm! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
its 1.00 am in the morning & I still have the air cond on to cool us down. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Although I don't post very often (nothing much to tell) I follow all your stories so I want to wish all a very Merry Xmas, with heating, or airconditioning!

I haven't been very chatty lately, have I? Not much to say, and not much time to not say it either, what with being so busy (during my non-employed hours, such as they are!) trying to beat myself at Bookworm by the end of the year so I can move on to actual interaction with real human beings again. Or not. But I really can't spend the rest of my life--and since I'm turning 60 next month, that's not as long as it used to be--repeatedly burning down the Bookworm library. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

But I wanted to at least say Merry Christmas to you all. You have entertained my life a great deal over the last many months. The cost of meeting you was high, unfortunately, but it's been a fun run anyway, as long as we were in the mess that brought us here.

I'll have to tell you about the woman I stood behind (interminably) in SuperWalMart yesterday...but later. I'm at work (surprised?) and don't want to take that long at the Kaiser computer. Let me just say that on my worst day, I'd still rather be a labor and delivery nurse than a WalMart Customer checker, especially on the next-to-the-last shopping day before Christmas. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Have a lovely day. We have slain the soy turkey and plan to feast to our little vegetarian hearts' content. If Believer is having tongue again, I don't want any details! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I'll bite my own tongue, if there's any tongue-biting around here, thank you very much... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. Neak, your brother wants his hair cut. PLEASE oblige him while he's in the mood. He really liked the way you did it the other time--as did I--and is ready to trim his winter plumage without waiting for me to have the time to do it for him. He visited me at the hospital last night and looked like an insane physicist. Think Back to the Future, electrocuted. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Merry Xmas & happy New Year to you ccbis!


TL

I was going to email you today however I was ... um .... unavoidably distracted by a rather good looking bloke who is on leave right now. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I have just finished the food prep for tomorrow. Sis & her H .. the sisdoc one are sleeping ... well they SAY so but my DD has already told them to get a room.. in the new emclosed patio, all the young ones incl Mikey are asleep all over the place in the TV room after watching something scary ... dont ask me why but they loved it.
Sis & I put all the pressies out once they were asleep except for the train set ... Aussie was 'setting' it up for Mikey and 'testing' it .. for about 2 hours <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Anyway .. MERRY CHRISTMAS from my mob to your mob and SS & Cinders & all.

Mum says a hello to all and may you have a Merry Chrissy and a good year where an anniversary is 'ours' not 'hers'! [ I sense a tad of resentment and dissatisfaction in the words but being Xmas I will blissfully ignore it .... I gather you may know how she feels TL but again I am blissfully unaware right now ... denial is rather comforting ) <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

SOME idiot wanted to go to the 7.30 mass and its 2.30am already ... when will I learn to just shut up. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

kisses and hugs to all its Christmas Day here <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

AJ & I had a romantic Christmas Eve, complete with bubble bath and candlelight from the gift I gave him.

The story goes downhill from there.

While we were rinsing the bubbles off in the shower, the rest of the kids got home with Neaksis. That was fine; we had actually expected them sooner, but it turns out they were busy eating pie and quesadillas to top off the chocolate they had already had.

In the course of getting the bath run and the candles lit, I had gotten out the giant red candle from Mom's basket for me, and set it on its plate. But when I had managed to drop the bag of potpourri in the trunk which I was going to sprinkle around the candle for decoration, I just set it on top of AJ's laptop, which was on a 3-legged stool.

When I tried to turn on some music on the laptop partway through the bath, I set the candle on the conveniently near toilet lid, closed of course, and left it.

The stage was set.

Only a few minutes after getting home, Mr. C ran frantically into the bathroom to deposit his stomach contents in the toilet. But the toilet was blocked by the candle. He wasted precious seconds carefully setting the wax cylinder on the floor, then projectile vomiting all over the candle, the toilet (lid still closed), the trash can, the wall to a height of 2 1/2 ft, and the floor.

"Mommy, do you still love me?"
"Why, Son?"
"Because I threw up on your new candle."
"You did? Of course I still love you."
Sees the rest of the devastation, and continues mentally:
"Perhaps I need to reconsider that."

After more than a half hour and a dry heave or two, I finally got enough cleaned up that I had to empty the trash can in order to start cleaning up the wash of puke down the side, and it was also sitting in the puddle on the floor.

When I dumped it in the bag, all the pukey things I had just picked up, and all my pukey paper towels from cleaning, poured out on top of the just-cleaned toilet, the just-cleaned part of the floor, and even a whole area of floor that had previously been untouched.

I admit it, I cried a little.

Finally I was done. I sat down with Neaksis and AJ to watch a funny Christmas movie, and the evening seemed to be looking up. Then, just before going to bed, AJ began to complain that his stomach was bothering him.

He had diarrhea off and on through the night. Mr. C got up and threw up some more, too, for variety. And finally, AJ too threw up about an hour ago. (Then had more diarrhea. I'm sure he would thank me for telling you that.) Now both invalids have showered and are back in bed, at least for now.

Don't think it hasn't been a Merry Christmas anyway. Well, AJ & Mr. C might disagree, but I still got what was most important to me: my family, together. (Vomiting together, but that doesn't sound nearly as poetic.)

So Merry Christmas, everyone! I hope your Christmas was not as eventful as mine.

Love you all,
Neak

The Dervish still has not gotten sick.

AJ says to tell you the Dervish is too mean to get sick. I would have to agree with that, even if he ends up getting sick.

Also, Neaksis, AJ wants to know when you are going to get over here and help take care of him????????

Neak - You are such a great writer!!! I laughed until my ribs were hurting. I was watching that candle the whole time, expecting something to catch on fire. You are too funny.

I haven't tried to cook Christmas dinner yet, so there's still plenty of time to fit a fire into my schedule.

I knew even as I sniffled over the pile of trash, that SOMEDAY I would be able to laugh about the whole thing. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Very Merry Christmas, B!!!!!

PS The poor candle would MUCH rather have caught on fire than had that horrid mixture of chocolate, pie, and quesadilla deposited on it. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />