Hi Rella
He's a Commando and was injured in some heavy fighting, They decided to send him home... THANK GOD ... on a early rotation as he was due back early December anyway. Its such a relief! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> DD is overjoyed and can't stop grinning ear to ear. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'm glad he is home and doing well. Sorry he got home for this reason. But, it is a good time to be home.

Quickie update, since I haven't had a chance to say much.

Truth to tell there was nothing much to say this week anyway. Neaksis has been helping me work her magic on the house, so it was not very exciting to say every day, "Cleaning house again, sneaked off for a second to go online, oh here she comes must run before she sees me sitting down." And the same the next day and the next. The army doesn't know what they missed out on - she is amazing.

The house is covered in snowflakes, the paper variety, in drifts up to 20 ft deep.

I am getting sick again, but trying to fight it. All these germy people make that hard.

We are about to go cut a tree at a tree farm, getting the biggest one we can for GP's viewing enjoyment. They are really cheap at the tree farms. $22 for any size doug fir, for example.

Well, must dash again, Neaksis is on her way and wants to leave when she gets here. {{{{{{{{friends}}}}}}}}}}

(((Neak)))

Well, it's been a nice weekend even if it did feel like I spent the day driving yesterday. Drive one child somewhere, take the other child and wait, go back and find the first one, go here and there some more.

I'm ready to turn in - when first child gets home from youth group. Other child didn't show up to get in the car to go. So I took first child, drove back by the house to get second child and take that one w/ me to my small group - an evening of computer time was not to be had. Second child and I are home but first child is not here yet. I told her she would have to get her own ride home since she hadn't worked it out and I was going to finish up after her....but she's not here. HMMMM??

I don't know what she's talking about. I merely give suggestions on various activities that she can take part in if she chooses.

Tree shopping was fun.

And Grandpa sat and watched the tree instead of the TV for a long time, even with NO DECORATIONS WHATSOEVER. Just wait till we get lights on it... It is huge, and was only $22.

Ha - I knew I could tease her out of silence. Now just tell us about your TV thingy!!!!

A REAL tree!! I loved the pine resin smell through the house, but Aussie went and bought a fibre optics tree, it looks like a real tree but it lights up. Pretty, but not real .... and just because I asked him... repeatedly ... to dispose of the real ones .... after each January <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Just like Neaksis I suggested he join in an activity .... cleaning up ... he chose not too <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

All happy faces here! DD is in reading to her darling hero ... she's reading holiday brochures ... captured audience so to speak <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> isn't that cute! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Hey, someone want to figure out when I can find time to go to the christmas tree farm and cut a tree - with my children. I've always wanted to do that. Always.

O O O I know I know ..... DONT PLAN ....... just go do it!!! lol <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

lucky you cant hit me uh? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Do they have pine trees where you are, Rella? If not, just go chop down a nice maple or something. If you put on enough decorations, no one will notice. The fun is in the chopping, anyway.

yeah, they have pines here.....and maples, and oaks, and poplars, and magnolias, and dogwoods, and redbuds, and apple trees, and beech trees, and sycamore trees.

I hope the tree farms supply saws. All I can find right now is a hacksaw but I have a very nice one.

see if you can borrow a BOW SAW or a tree trimming saw & use some vege oil on the blade before you start .. it makes it easier cut into the wood! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

and watch out you dont stand where its going to fall ... its easy to forget when you get into it <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Most of all have FUN with your kids doing it !! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Oh, it is LOTS AND LOTS of fun!!!!!! And here, anyway, they supply saws. I think most probably would.

Anyone ever heard the song "Santa Came On a Nuclear Missile"?

Tuesday I will have surgery on my foot. 6 wks. on crutches (in a 2-story house, no less), and another 6 wks. re-learning to walk. I was mentally prepared for an endoscopic procedure with a 3-wk. recovery time. I was NOT mentally prepared for what the MD told me I would need and I vacillate between thinking I'd have to be nuts to get it done, and thinking I'd be nuts not to get it done (this line of thought usually comes later in the day when I've walked a lot and my foot is giving me fits!). What's the use of having options, if none of them are good? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

t&l

In that case, I guess you need to figure out what the outcomes for each option would be in 2 years or 10 years. I guess that means...what is the prognosis for each of those choices?

I have just had an Adventure. Now I am going to bed.

Prognosis: Definitely Crippled vs. Maybe Not Crippled.

PS Have not heard the song. Spill it!

You can't be crippled. I'm crippled. You have to wait at least 6 wks. until I can walk again. It's not your turn right now. Take a number and get in line! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

t&l

That was your prognosis anyway. I don't want to share. I would rather give you piggy-backs the rest of your life than share.

GROAN!!!!! Last night I went to help AJ put letter stickers on his truck (legally required name and #'s), in the dark and in the rain. (Not on a train.)

That was bad enough, but when he pulled out his super-light load of styrofoam one of the brakes went out on his truck and he just dragged it off the side of the road and had to park. This would be his just-bought supposed-to-work-fine truck for the new company owners. So he is stressed, besides missing his unloading appointment.

And the only guy who would even call him back last night for repair was swamped, (probably because he was the only one who would answer his phone), and finally had to go home and take a nap. AJ is still waiting for help, but I left him with Mr. C and plenty of food and water.

Then after a couple of hours trying to deal with that, we still had to put the letters on in the middle of the night in the rain.

I was soooooooo sleepy this morning.