BTW Neak, it looks like the clam can burst out of his shell when there is something he is COMFORTABLE talking about.

I got a chuckle out of that one too.

Hi CC, I hope fall is nice this year.

SS

Hi everyone, SS, Cinder, T&l, Neak, Neaksis and all the aussies, lurkers etc.

Fall is beautiful. Many storms, which I love. It's cool, but the sun feels wonderful.

I have work, I'm quite busy, which is good. I should be busier but I'm enjoying a period (quite extended at this point) of spiritual growth and that takes a lot of my time.

I've re read the Road less Traveled for the 4th or 5th time and am now re reading the last book in the series for the third. I keep finding new things!

I also listen to Dr. Harley every day. I'm becoming an expert. He's on holidays for 2 weeks now, untl the 14th but I can listen to re runs, many of which I hadn't heard and even if I have, it's always comforting to hear him.

I only check the website for news of "old" friends. I was surprised to see Gramn back, unfortunately his story doesn't seem to have turned out that well. I wonder what happened to Caren...


The girls are doing well in their studies.


WH is spending his birthday with his mother and OW in Italy. He'll be back in a week.

No trips on the horizon for me yet, but you never know. If I get paid for the job I'm doing, I'll invent one for myself. I deserve it.

I'm surviving.

Hi SS, neak, TL, Rella, CC and anyone I forgot <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

SS just think of pain as your body's way of telling you that you are alive! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> As my Aussie says 'Wouldn't be dead for quids" <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

It was nice to see the clam shell opening a bit, had a smile or two over it.
And talking of clams, mums clam dear ol' dad, announced to her this morning while she was getting ready to go to work at 5.00am, "oh by the way I'm going into hospital next week, doc wants to do some tests on my pancreas" WHAT says mum!!
"Yeah" dad said to her, "nearly forgot about it.had some blood tests and hes not happy about some of them"
"WHAT blood tests?"
Mum was NOT pleased ... and a bit worried of course.
My sister told us that it's more than likely to be acute pancreatitis as this often presents with raised levels of pancreatic enzymes in the blood. ergo the blood tests.
Causes = alcohol, smoking, and type 2 diabetes. Dad won't test for that. He used to go see Aussies dad who was a doctor and get treated for gout but thats about it. Stubborn
SOME men are very difficult. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Yes SS it is a Gov Department that took all the cars and no they won't get any more. I did make a comment to the DG (CEO) about it and late this morning 30 cars suddenly appeared back in the carpark. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Well, tht doesn't sound good. But, at least he sees the doctor upon occasion.

SS, I had to chuckle, too. So did Neaksis. Dad also gave me a nice shoulder massage at potluck. Until he got ahold of me, I didn't know that my sore muscles had sore muscles that had sore muscles. I feel better now, except I can't walk.

{{{{CC}}}}} I hope your WH is smitten with emerods. I still can't believe he is passing up a gem like you. Neak <--- indignant on CC's behalf.

AW, let us know how Mr. Pancreas does. I guess gout is manly, but pancreatitis and blood tests are not. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

We had a wonderful communion service today. The children really got the concept, most of them at least, and as part of their preparation, were confessing to stuff left and right. Very unaccustomed, and nice.

(The Dervish just came and asked me what are sperm crabs??????)

Said small Dervish told the children's story, about Jonah. He didn't do too badly, though his War and Peace size saga was liberally sprinkled with "su'nly"s. "Su'nly there was a storm." "Su'nly a big fish came." "Su'nly it swallowed Jonah." "Su'nly it spit him out again."

It was great up until, after the city wasn't "astroyed", Jonah found a little boy outside the city, who had lost his mother, and Jonah took him back to his mother. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Then I had to wrestle the mic away from him or he would still be up there talking.

Then there was, "Mama, when are we going to do the juice and bread, I mean, the blood and skin?"

I'm on the phone now, so will have to come back later. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

So, did you figure out what a sperm crab is.......I can think of a variety of answers. If he had asked about sperm whales it would have been easier.

Or you can let your sister curse him for you, and he'll be "smitted with gonads," as she said recently in church. I pretty much thought most men were so smitten, but what do I know? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Hey Neak, I actually looked up emerods in the dictionary!

But I think I know what you mean.

something related to your sister's curse would be more apropriate probably...

LOL!

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> He would also show you how sorry he is by making gold replicas of them, and sending them to you.

solid gold, right? only way it would be worth selling them!

You betcha! You're worth way more than gold plating.

G'night

Hi All

Everyone off with the a cold like I was by the looks of it! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Quick update on dad ... no idea as tests are 'continuing' whatever that means .... well I can guess what it means .. no beer, no shellfish, managed diet etc etc etc <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

However mum got called in because of some abnormalities in some blood tests her doc did 2 weeks ago.
Mum said he wasn't too worried but better safe than ignore I guess.

However I'm keeping fingers crossed that neither has a major problem.

I suggested they could share the same hospital room <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> for the week........... the look of horror on each face was priceless <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> .. sometimes those two are strange <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Mikey has a cold, DD caught it, I had it, the pharmacy is making a fortune.

I'm bruising the bank account with concertina glass doors in jarrah that open the games room out to the new enclosed patio I'm still building. Electrician is booked in as apparently no one trusts my wiring attempts <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> .. darn doubters <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> to wire up the patio and new spa area.

Now ......... sledgehammers ... got a beauty for breaking up the old shed slab as thats where the spa is going <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

who'd like to drive the wheel-burrow???? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

AW, I can hold up one end of a shovel as long as I can lean on it most of the time. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

My oldest son runs the sledge - but I think he calls it a "jackhammer". He breaks up concrete for a living, and hauls it away. Maybe I should send him round.

Rella - are the aches gone yet from the walk?

T&L,
I hope you get a rest this week. May it be just right at work. Busy enough to make the time pass, but slow enough that you don't get so tired.

CC,
Thanks for the update. You are important - and we miss not knowing how you are - when you are quiet.

Reading about the medical tests made me think about my owon parents. They are not in the best of health either. My mom has diabetes. My dad has had problems with his back and shoulder. They get along well considering. I probably take them for granted - though I try to help when needed, and I visit they as often as I can. I know I will miss their help and advice when they are gone.

Life has so many things to think about. Often I think I am too busy, but when I do take the time to think, I realize that often I put the things first that are merely important, and leave off some of the things that are critical. I am sure there will never be enough time to do everything. It pays to take care of the most important things - my Wife, and my children.

Neak, these years are chaotic, and I know sometimes you long for a rest. It won't change much for a while, but if you take the time to think, and if you are careful with how you allocate your time, it will still be a most wonderful time of your life. The right kind of memories are priceless.

Hmmm, not sure why I get into these moods sometimes.

It's a beautiful day here. Not a cloud in the sky, still cool enough to be brisk, and the air smells clean, and fresh. I hope your world is wonderful also.

SS

Y'all, my daughter is really struggling with some issues:

Academic

Honesty

Accountability

Hormones

She is a total mess. Her boyfriend will probably break up with her tomorrow unless she is smart enough to confess all her untruthfulness to him.

She knows better than to make some of the choices she has made and now she is paying the price for those choices.

It came as a real shock to me to find out that she has been clean of her drug addiction for over a year and that it's been over a year since she got out of rehab. That was a surprise to both me and to dad and stepmother. (Uh.....she said WHAT????!!!!!!) That was so made up.

I was also surprised to find out that, for a long time, I was so depressed I couldn't get out of bed so she practically had to raise herself and her brother. That doesn't explain why I got us everywhere we were supposed to be, fixed food, saw that we got dressed, went to work or school, and hung out at the library so much.

So, Princess TalksWithHerHands needs to become Princess ThinksWithHerBrain.

So, please lift her up....and her dad, stepmom, and me. I don't know what we will do with her. At this point, I don't know what I can do for her.

How about Princess DoesntTalkAtAll?

So sorry, it is very hard when our children start manifesting horrible things that we know will bring them all kinds of trouble, but they won't listen and avoid it.

I will pray for your daughter right now.

Hi Neak,SS,CC,TL,Rella and all.

Rella don't know if I feel very confident dealing with those teen issues these days, however I would say you should look for some underlying issue here which would lead her to such behaviour.
Could be depression, young people can suffer from this without parents realising it, perhaps a unpleasant experience with drugs & that doesn't mean she was taking them ... close friend etc, or feeling very vulnerable for some reason and wanting attention.
Yound people seem to feel so much pressure these days, it didn't seem anywhere as difficult when I was that age. Of course it might have been to the 'me' I was back then!
And before you think it ... NO its not Mum's fault !!!
I just try to remember mine are kids even so, adults or not under law <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

talk Rella, keep talking. And expect your buttons to be pushed <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> .. and you may want to buy a punching bag <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

you know, maybe I should apologise to my mum for being such a teen cow <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So, yesterday, on the way home from school, her dad took her - without my input - and had her drug tested.

Last night, she was a basket case. We talked a bit and I told her that she needed to own up to what she had done if she had hurt her friends.

I knew, last night, that her boyfriend was going to break up with her because she had lied to him so so much....yup, it deserves two of those words.

This morning, her boyfriend did break up with her. Then her dad picked her up and - without my input - took her for STD testing. I could have double-dog-dare divorced him except we are already divorced. Then he took her to the psychiatrist where she got her prescriptions for her ADD medication and her antidepressant (which she has been on for a while).

After that, he took her to the psychologist. She will probably be checking on d every day or two for the next week.

So, since lying has become her 'drug of choice' because she could weave stories to get sympathy and compassion, I showed her the twelve steps from AA's website. I explained that they could be modified to fit anything which controlled your life in a negative way. She liked them. She wanted a word document of them.

We'll get through it.

Great! Just Great!!!!!

Tonight, she reminds me that we need to pick up her French horn at the shop tomorrow. Says we have to pay for it. EXCUSE ME!!! DO WHAT!!!!!!

That was the first I'd heard about that. I don't know.......Sheesh!!!!!

I told her that I simply can't do it before payday on the 15th. If she wants it tomorrow, she has to pay for it.

I'm peeved!!!!!!!!