What's new Saturday?

I'm starting this a little early, but I'm on the computer and thought what the heck.
I have two scared German shepherds huddling under my desk right now.  Fireworks are going off outside ( Wednesday is Canada Day and it seems that the fireworks are selling well already) - and my dogs are afraid and acting silly.  Storms also make them a little weird.  If they could both get on my lap, they would - so that I could protect them.
I finished officially with school for the summer today. I taught my last class two weeks ago and have tried to clean off my desk, write my outlines for next fall and get more organized.  The death of my sister last Wednesday and the time that I spent with her in hospital kept me from my scholarly duties  -  not that I regret the time with Kathy.  Anyway, I'll need to find a day next week to go to the college and finish everything so that I can rest easily this summer - then I will sit on my deck with good book and a glass of wine, or tea depending on the time of day, and while away the time!
Things are moving along toward the vsg surgery.  I attend the class next Friday in Toronto for information about the surgery.  Then on the 20th of July, I go back to Toronto to see the internist, social worker and dietitian.  I don't have my surgery date yet, but I am contacting the surgeon to get it so that I can keep the college up-to-date.  I am so tired of dragging around this huge, fat body and I cannot wait for the day that my journey toward a slimmer self begins.
I have read your posts everyday and keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.
Margaret
I have one swollen ankle.  Does anyone know what that might be caused by?  I haven't twisted my ankle or injured it in any way.

Good evening all.  You should see my dogs during thunderstorms.  Scared is putting it mildly.

Last night did not got on the net much at all.  Got to work and the a/c was out for the third day in a row.  I almost passed out, they told me to go on  home if I want to.  Bye bye.

Went home and slept 9 hours straight.  Wow.  Feel much better tonight.  Went to the Rangers game (101 degrees at game time).  They won big.  12-2.

Got a call while we were at the game.  Oleta's mom has taken a turn for the worst again.  Her scleraderma has completely taken over her lungs now. 

george-so sorry to hear about oleta's mom taking this turn....not only is it horrible for her but the toll it's taking on teh kids (brad and oleta)....

my prayers are going up for God's will to be done....

stay hydrated guy!!!!!!!!

I am up yet, just having gotten home from seeing mom.  She has old age dementia and  have one of her bad spells  the past couple of days.   For some reason she seems to do better if I am there during the bad days.  We can't figure out why me  when I do have several siblings just as caring as I am  and they live closer,  but oh  well,  I go when ever she needs me.  
Your dogs under the desk remind me of hubbys cat he had when we married.   Snoop was a big ornery critter,  very contrary.   But during storms the biggest coward!! 
He'd go get on our water bed,  climb under the pillows, inside the pillow case and lay there and quiver in fear till I'd go haul him out and hug him till the storm was over!  
Hope everyone is doing well!!

Hi Margaret and All,
I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister Kathy. When I lost my brother I was a mess for a long time. Please accept my sympathy.
I am still in British Columbia, Canada and my vacation is nearing its end. We have been to Victoria and Whistler (site for the 2010 Winter Olympics) and the days have been very good. It looks like I will be able to meet Karen and Millie on the way home on Sunday (crossing my fingers...)- I'll be calling them to confirm as we travel down through Washington State. I just love the way the flowers grow here in Vancouver. I know it is because of the rainfall and temperate weather- I am going to try to grow more flowers in California again. I'm going to "try". Our weather in central California is wonderful, a very dry hot, but the dry, hot makes growing a bit more tricky.
I'm thinking that I will have lost a bit more weight when I get home on Monday since I have eaten well but have walked and climbed almost every day since we arrived. That would be a very nice bonus for me!
Julia

Thank you for your condolences.  I don't think that I'll ever really get over Kathy's death.
Glad you're having a good time in BC.  I love Vancouver and Victoria and all of their flowers, too.
Have you tried growing flowers that are meant to thrive in your area?  This is a link that may help from Better Homes and Gardens.  It gives 10 no-fail picks for every region of the US.
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/perennials/low-maintenance-perennials/?sssdmh=dm17.385864&esrc=nwgn52_09&email=1557995807

I totally understand your feeling that you will never get over Kathy's death. I felt as if my world had collapsed for at least a year following Jon's death. I can't say that I've ever totally gotten over his death (it happened 19 years ago) but I did regain my life and personality after my time of grief. I still think of him often but it is usually in a happy way. The grief comes rarely, usually in a stab of a deep memory from childhood, as when I visited the ocean in Santa Cruz and while wading in the waves I started to cry. It seemed to come from nowhere- but it was something we did together as children and my body remembered. I think that sibling grief is quite strong and is sometimes not recognized as being the deep loss that it really is... but even in saying that I must reassure you that if you are accepting of yourself and feel what needs to be felt (as my therapist said- "Cry from your belly- cry what you really feel."- it will feel scary at first because it is almost a scream of a cry that feels as if it will never stop) you will get back to laughter again. I can say that I was forever changed by Jon's death, but in many ways I am happier and I don't take much for granted any more. I'm no longer scared of sadness either... I climbed from the deepest hole- one that I thought would do me in... you can be here too. The memories truly don't ever go away, which is a good thing.
Thanks for the info on the flowers... but I want YOUR flowers- not mine! Haha! I am the princess, don't you know!?
Hugs to you especially- Julia

I have been up all night getting ready for a yard sale today (Saturday). Gee ... maybe I will make $5 today? haha

morning! margaret-how wonderful to see you but where did your photo go???we had a border collie mix named mollie who had to be sedated when we knew a storm was coming and we lived 2 blocks from "main street" in lorain- when the memorial day parade or the international parade (in june) would march down broadway- OMG!! between the bands and the fire engines etc...holy smokes...mollie and i sat out a tornado that came very close by while we were in our travel trailer ....the vet gave her ecotirn - a coated aspirin--if it were a milder strom andf then some "controlled substance" when it was really strong IF we had advance warning! my trinity -my great dane before the current dogs--had seperation anxiety as well as the storm issues --whoa boy she could make a mess trying to get outside if it was getting ready to be bad..she was only safe in her crate...

sorry- i babbled....blame that on carla--we stayed up too late talking and it's now 615 am --michael has fed chico and started coffee pots going- i am barely up and we need to start setting up the stuff for yard sale day 6....at least with carla here it will be fun to talk to someone else!!!

yesterday; michael went out and looked and our signs were down again--darn that guy-we can't prove it obvioulsy but we know it was the neighbor--how childish....and it hurt our business i am sure!!! i wanted to cry when michael came home to tell me they were down again....

**edit-michael is having legs cramps even tho he is working hard to stay hydrated during all of this yard saling.....

not sure what else the day holds- i know there will be a hair cut today or tomorrow and we are grilling out tonite--other than that not really sure-hoping to catch up with melissa tomorrow....???? melissa if you are reading you have a pm......

it is sooooooooooo great to have carla here- i really needed that sista fix and we are able to just pick up in conversations like we've been together always...if you haven't met other OFFers and you get a chance- DO IT!!!

and pat r--i do love you even if you let the secret out before i got to!!!!!

susan you should have decent weather for your sale- hoping you make some money!!!!
hugs and prayers...............

morning everyone!!!

well its a cool day so far this morning and i can finally turn ac off!!!! ahhhhhhh

last night we went to the carnival and had a beer and fries...yeah i know not a good choice to have but they were so good!!! we didn't go on any rides because we couldn't see spending $$$ on that. way to expensive!!! but we sat under the tent to eat the fries and drink our beer. they had a trivia game going and i got to answer a question and i won!!!! the prize was two tickets to a new comedy club in willoughby hills!! worth $30.00!!! wow!!!!!! i had to lol and said to rick...aren't you glad you have an older woman?? LOL question was this...goodnight david....answer was...good night chet. after that we came home and got bandit and took him to the park for a nice walk. it cooled off ok so he really enjoyed that walk in a new place....was good getting outside instead of cooped up in the apartment.

the house rick is building is starting to take shape now. he is making it out of popsicle sticks....he ran out of sticks so now he has to wait til i eat more popsicles...lol

called my mom last night so she could hear the polka band playing at the carnival. it was hard to hear but she did say my sister was home now from the hospital. she also mentioned that my ex was back in the hospital. seems he stopped eating and drinking and is in really bad shape. not sure yet if the eye is going to be taken out now or not. he is very depressed. i feel bad for him. he has been through so much since '96 with his tumor and cancer and more tumors. i know its going to rattle some here but i don't care...please keep him in your thoughts and prayers for GOD's will to be done for him. just because we are divorced doesn't mean i stopped caring about him. there was many many years together and i just am that way i guess. i do have feelings even if he was nasty to me over the last several years. so THANKYOU for the prayers and thoughts!!! (and if you want to slam me for asking for this....KEEP IT TO YOURSELF!!!!)

margo i wish i was closer so i could see carla too!!!

kathy sorry about your sister.

pat r i will be thinking of you when you go for your surgery!!

julia your trip sounds like you had alot of fun!!!

and i am sorry if i forgot anyone because i do have CRS...and i hate when that happens!!

welcome to the newbies!!! congrats on taking the big step and know that when you get your date time will fly by so fast!!!! and to those i missed...welcome to the losers bench!!!! this pc i am using is so slow and makes it hard for me to get to all the posts....but i am happy for you all!!!! hang on its a wild ride!!!! ;-)

well off to shower and get ready for another steamy day at work. 1-9 today....

have a great day and SMILE!!!! makes people wonder what you've been up to!!!! :-)