You might just be able to rent her soon TL .. she threatens she is going to retire in the next few months. Just think. Mum in the evening, mum in the morning, mum during the day, <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Just in time for Dad to retire .... AGAIN ... for the 4th time. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I suggested a trip O/S anywhere ... Dad said 'J***s H CH***T girl, you must be joking, theres furriners over dar'
What about Ireland Dad? "Sheet no I'd havta fly"
Eastern States? "Too bloody hard to drive that far"
What about Esperance (4 hours away on the Southern Ocean)in summer then? "Don't like the lead in the water"
OK <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> what about a night at the casino and a taxi home? No no let me guess .. You'd have to SPEND money !! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

there are times I wonder how mum puts up with dear ol dad! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You know, the ultimate career goal is not advancement to the top. It is retirement.

If anyone's retiring, I'm on board. Ok kids, you can do your own laundry and cooking and cleaning now. Mom's retired!!!

Mum, I wrote some more on the trip. I think I will even get some written today.

Mom, wanna have haystacks tonight?

Cinders, you'd better make your feet mind. It sounds like they got you in trouble again, and they need to stop. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Today's quote from the new, reformed Dervish: When I grow up, I want to be a drudger like Uncle Neakbro. And I like BBQ sauce now, too.

(In case anyone new peeks in, Uncle Neakbro dredges, and loves BBQ sauce.)

Dervish: *groan* I just fell and got hurt.

Neak: Where?

Dervish: *groan* On the bicycle.

Hi Neak

good to see you did some writing, I mean you were under orders <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Poor Dervish, he just can't help it, but he's a adventurous boy after all... just keep him away from uniforms and he'll be ok <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Off to bed have to finish patio this weekend if I can

night night all <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Wait a second - AW is off to bed - but she has to finish the patio this weekend.....how does that work?

Last night, when I got home from work, my house looked worse than when I left - even though I had left children a 'Plan of Action' for the day - and they'd actually done SOME of the things. I called them at their dad's house and told them I was upset. SHEESH! I have no idea HOW they undid all the good stuff they had done while actually doing some of the 'to do' list items.

The Diplomat arrived and agreed that my house looked worse than he had ever seen it. I don't know....just feel like my life has been sort of out of control for months. What's up w/ that?

So, I had mentioned Father's Day to the children and they had been totally unresponsive to the fact. For breakfast this morning, the diplomat and I went to the donut shop where D works, He got a cinnamon roll and I got a spinach parmesan bagel. I gave D a $20 bill and some ones and told her to deal w/ FD. Seems neither child remembered my mentioning it. Son had left his meds at home - despite them being on list for Friday and my mentioning it on the phone.

Life is not easy. Not easy, at all.

Dog is escape artist.....anyone know a good cure for that. Today, she was covered w/ moist green stuff from the vegetation...is she going over the fence? Is she going under the fence? Where is she doing what?

BTW, she can climb the ladder into the 'tree house' part of our swing set. It's about 3-4 feet off the ground.

The only trouble with working on things like floor structures is that you have waaaay too much time to think. And think. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />
I thought about how stupid it was to do this all myself when there were perfectly acceptable carpenters, except they keep objecting to me pointing out to them they are 1mm (about 0.039 370 079 inch but who's counting) out every now & then. Or that the cut isn't straight because it has to be just right you know, well I think it has to.
And lifting 4m (13 feet) long beams 100mm thick (4inch) and 300mm (12inch) wide is HEAVY work. My back muscles are telling me that right now even lifting with my back brace and knees. And swinging a 4 kg (9lbs) hammer over and over is not making me a petite little wife either.
Its almost as difficult as keeping Mikey away from the tools with sharp edges. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Digging in the support stumps and concreting those was also a challenge, apparently the local building laws says EVERY beam as to be level with all the others, how unimaginative!
But just about ready to start nailing the flooring down now. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I had the radio on and they had that old Harry Chaplin song, 'Cats in the Cradle'... well I thought about those lyrics.............
He learned to walk while I was away.
And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew,
He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad.
You know I'm gonna be like you."

..................

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon,
Little boy blue and the man on the moon.
"When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when,
But we'll get together then.
were gonna have a good time then."

...............................

And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me,
He'd grown up just like me.
My boy was just like me.

Thats what its been like for our kids, an observation nothing else, just the way it is.
I just wish it was different at times. but there you are <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Rella, maybe someone else here has some bright ideas about dogs, but the T&L clan is not able to help. I won't bore you with my own doggie misadventures, but Neaksis' little black fuzzy Anika has found another home. Not instead of Neaksis, mind you, but in addition to. Trying to give the other people a hint, Neaksis made sure Anika was wearing her collar.

Yesterday morning, early, Neaksis told me Anika had finally come back again, her collar was off, and she was wearing a new flea collar.

About an hour after that, a friend who lives around the corner called. "I couldn't get ahold of Neaksis, but I'm sending Anika home with Frankie." <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

So all we can do is wish you luck. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

AW, I think you really are better off doing your own repairs and renovations. It is just so amazing how cranky those carpenter fellows can be when you offer helpful suggestions and make teeny little requests. They act like you're trying to criticize them or something!

Of course I've heard that song many times, but never from that perspective. Sad, but oh so true. I can see you are not complaining, only commenting.

Tell your lovely DD hello, and will write soon.

Only a little news from this end. The Dervish has gotten his head buzzed. (Thank you dear AJ.) You can almost see that there will someday be some hair on his head. It was shocking how many scars he has, only a few of which I knew about. I tried to take some pictures yesterday, but they didn't go into AJ's phone.

Which was an extra shame, because the pictures were also of Dad, who came over yesterday and set up his cute little portable office at the rear of the semi, and did all his fancy drafting things to design a hitch for the semi that will pull car-type trailers.

Also, this week's Princessism, by a Princess who often thinks she is much cuter than she is, lol.

Mrs. Pastor: Princess, you have such a beautiful tan; you must have been out in the sun a lot.
Princess: in a cutesy snobbish tone of voice Heh heh, that is because I am of Native American descent, and browner is better!
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Not sure if that constitutes national pride or racism.

AJ just told me his boss' car got broken into yesterday, and a laptop bag was stolen. The boss is sad, because he has a whole bunch of work to do today to replace what was taken, and doubtless the thief is sad too, since the 'laptop' turned out to be a bunch of load confirmations and other trucking paperwork. Not a real hot item on the black market.

I just woke up...... why didn't someone wake up and send me to bed??? I was supposed to be in bed 2 hours ago.
Mikey chooses tonight to sleep thro, DD is sound asleep after all that energetic parading stuff at cadets.
Apparently the Training Sgt couldn't see his face in her boots so they weren't shiny enough <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I bet if he waited he would have got them them in his face <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />, but the wise man moved on to the next person I am told.
She did something with ropes tonight, climbed them, threw them, tied someone up or something,you know one of those 'rescue' thingy things.
Look if they want something to do they can come help me <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
She's off to camp again soon. This time her troop of little fellow helpers is going to be in either canvas tents or brick barracks cause of their last little effort, just ask her about the wooden hut at the last camp <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> I promised not to tell, so I can't. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
But its got to do with boredom, late at night, sneaking out & lots of firewood. But I haven't said anything <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
AT least it wasn't ME this time <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Cats in Cradle .. yes well ... no not complaining, its just a bit sad he misses all those moments as you can never get them back. It just made me think thats all.

As long as the buzz is only shears no problemo!! If its a June bug stuck in his ear eeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww saw it on tv tonight ...... yucky ... I still have nightmares of Aussie telling me about those maggots in his cuts and wounds.. shudder .. he says he named them <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> I'm still not certain if he was pulling my leg or not yuck yuck yuck

I like the Princesses reply lol gotta give her points on that one <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> lol I'd say national pride its far less worrisome <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Off to bed before I fall off my chair

night all

AW

Got to act as hostess tonight for some people from out of town. No shows much on Monday night. Here in Music City going to see live music is what people expect to do. So, I found a place w/ decent food and live music. Music started 7:15 or 7:30. They arrived at 6 and were out of there by 7:05 because someone had to go back to their room and work. Bummer!

Neak, I didn't acutally meet her but I got to see Wilma Mankiller once at a book festival. She was a presenter in a session that my children and I went to....I think we dozed off because hearding elementary school or younger children through a book festival is HARD work. If she wasn't a presenter in that session, she had been a presenter in the previous session.

Just doing a "drive-by" wave, Neak!!

Hi and Bye!!

k.d's heartbreak <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Diplomat leaves town today for the next stop on the training tour.....[color:"blue"]BUMMER!!!!!![/color]

Page 3!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I don't know about anyone else but I'm tired, my back aches a little bit and Mikey wants food ...I wonder if Mac's is considered a balanced food ????????????????????? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Sorry your man is out of town for awhile Rella. Kid time and momma to take it easy..no marathons for you right now.

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

AW, I'm sorry your man is out of town for a while, too.

It is nice to have my children home again. Seems they are hard to live with and hard to live without. I bet they say the same thing about me.

*waving back* Hi KD, how are ya??? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

AW, you did not tell me about wooden houses. I will be sure and tell her that. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You can bet just about anything Aussie was not kidding about the maggots, but as disgusting as it is you can be very grateful for them, as they may have saved his life. Maggots will only eat dead flesh, so by cleaning his wound for him they would have been preventing putrification. For someone who was not able to get medical help for some time, it could well end up making all the difference. Even if I had to put up with maggots myself, I don't think I would name them. Ugh!

Rella, how cool that you were able to meet such a wonderful woman! She is like what the Princess imagines herself to be now, lol. You never know, though, and dreams do come true.

Mom & Neaksis left yesterday to go to ID, and hopefully enroll the eldest juvenile delinquent in a residential facility. Project Patch They have wavered for the last 6 weeks about taking him, due to his age (even though he falls within their age range, right now all they have are older kids), so they finally said to bring him for a personal interview and they will decide. If they will take him, he will be admitted immediately, this afternoon, and be gone for at least a year.

He was also in the last few days diagnosed with RAD, Reactive Attachment Disorder. I'm sure his sister will be, too, though hopefully she will be treatable at home.

Neaksis' eldest has been a bit better the last month or so, since AJ has been around enough to take him firmly in hand if need be, but that only made him a tiny bit more bearable for Neaksis, so she could wait long enough to hear from "the PP place" as I call it, and did not actually fix the many things that were wrong with him. If he goes, it will be nice to not have to worry that if Neaksis is calling I have to grab the phone really fast because he might be going berserk again, or if she doesn't answer we have to run over and check to make sure she's not dead.

Wild horses couldn't have kept Mom from this trip, since one of her best buddies from work moved to ID, and they got to stop by for a nice visit before going on to the PP Place. This is going to give Mom some serious state envy, I just know it.

And the other day, when Dad came over and I told him my potato plants were growing, and that I had always wanted to grow potatoes again every since that time he had planted them for us as a kid, and let us help harvest them, he said with a big grin, "When we move to farming country, we'll have to do that again."

Then, let's see. Next week is VBS, which we will miss the end of because we have to take a trailer up to Canby, BC (I think it's BC), and will be in Canada for our 11th anni. It sounds exciting, even if it's all work.

Well, must dash and finish getting things ready for AJ to take off to SLC, UT again. He was supposed to leave yesterday, but the container he is hauling didn't clear customs yet. But everyone have fun, and if you were here, I would make banana bread for you, too. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I was going to say, it would also be nice not to have to call the sheriff out periodically, but that is not such a plus for Neaksis, since all the deputies here seem to be young and cute. Neaksis, there must be something else you can call them for.