Friday Coffee Klatch

[Peggy C.]

Goodmorning ladies! (and lurkers;) ) How is everyone today? It is a very blustery and cool morning here in Cleveland...my favorite kind of weather. I almost called in sick so I could trim the darn pricker bushes in the front of my house. Those dumb things grow so fast I have to trim them 2-3 times a summer. Grrrrrrrrrr!

Anyway I have some good news. Dh= and I finally got an estimate to install a fence and it was a lot cheaper than we thought. So by the end of Oct. we should have it installed!

I don't have much planned this weekend and I'm glad for it. I'm supposed to meet up with the famed emily sometime since she is in town visiting her grandparents, but that is about it. (and I can't wait!:D )

What is everyone else up to? How were those clambakes last weekend? This weather definitely has me thinking about fall events.

[Chefzhat]

Peggy, it's cool here as well (darn it all!). I'll be chattering my teeth tonight at the football game!

Only a soccer game for ds on Saturday planned so far. Kind of a boring weekend, but it will probably be filled with homework and required reading. My dh is in the doghouse:) so I'll be sure to make him take me out to dinner on Saturday, just to punish him . . .

My silly, silly doggies just ate their way through a trash bag and dragged trash around the garage - grrrrrrr! My fault though for leaving it out for them to get. I wish I could break them from chewing up everything - otherwise they are very good puppies.

Prayers for Cheryl (Phantomcg) today for good news on her beloved doggie, and strength for her as well.

Debie

[Gracie]

OMG it's Friday! I just logged on and saw this thread.

I missed you all these last 3 weeks. DD and I had a wonderful (but expensive! :D ) time on Martha's Vineyard. We explored the island, went to the beach, bought jewelry and ate well! During the rest of my vacation, we went to the beach twice with friends, took DD and her best friends (twins) to Six Flags and did back to school shopping.

I got my hair highlighted and the sun over vacation really augmented it. Now I look somewhat blonde. Everyone likes it.

This weekend better be a laying low time. I'm exhausted from coming back to work. We don't have any plans but DH and I will probably spend some time at Home Depot and Lowe's checking out kitchen cabinets, flooring, etc now that we're definitely going ahead with our kitchen and addition (see other thread).

Yay for your fence, Peggy!

Hello to everyone posting at the same time as me!

Loren

[SueK]

Good morning Peggy and Debie and everyone else!

I'm back online after moving. I got the internet hooked back up yesterday, which is probably not a good thing since now I have a reason to ignore all the unpacked boxes that are still in our garage. :)

DH leaves for Japan tomorrow AM. :( He just found out Wed that he has to go. At least it's only for a week this time. Usually he goes for two weeks at a stretch. He told his boss this is it for overseas travel until after the baby is born and the holidays are over.

We don't have much planned for the weekend. After DH leaves tomorrow DD and I will probably head over to the old house to do some cleaning. Then Sunday our old neighborhood has a street picnic so we're going to that.

Peggy - is your new fence for Otis? Or does he behave and not run away when he's outside?

[KathrynY]

Good morning everyone! :)

I'm sipping a fresh peach smoothie, getting ready to head to work. Rosemary Merlot flank steak from Sept. '03 is marinating in the fridge for dinner.

Not much going on this weekend. My KA refurbished food processor arrived this week, so I'll be making lots of pesto to use up the gargantuan basil plants in my garden.

Sunday my department at work is having our annual faculty-staff-student Fall picnic at a local park. It's always interesting to see what the grad students come up with - they do the shopping and man the bbq grill. I'll probably bring some sort of homemade cookies or brownies - they are always a big hit.

Peggy, yay on the fence estimate! I know you've wanted a fence for a while, so I'm glad it's working out. Give Emily a hug for me :).

Debie - good luck with your homework and reading this weekend. I think I saw your course load somewhere on the BB, and it sounded interesting but a lot of work!

Sue - wow your move came along quickly!! Enjoy the unpacking and settling in. Does your DH go to Japan often? My DH was there several times a year for a while, and LOVED it - the food, the culture, it all fascinated him. All except of course the dreadfully long flight.

Loren - your vacation sounds fabulous! Have fun shopping for kitchen stuff - I'm excited for you that your renovation is working out.

Wishing everyone a great weekend!!

[SueK]

Kathryn - have fun at your picnic. Students are always up for food, aren't they? :) Whenever my old office would have a potluck, our grad assistants would just happen to have a reason to be at work that day for free food.

DH travels overseas a couple times a year, although last year it was Europe, rather than Asia. It's such a long flight that I'm sure his body clock will be completely messed up from only being over there for 6 days!

[Shirley Panek]

Good morning! I'll have a chance to do a bit more than just lurk this morning. Like most of you, we have a cool morning (and thankfully it's not humid like it has been), but it's supposed to be sunny and 80, so it looks like a great day!

We're off to Newport News this weekend for an air show. We'll get to stay with my cousin who moved there in January. Should be fun, especially if it's going to be as nice (weather-wise) as they say it should be).

Peggy - glad to hear about the fence.

KathrynY - you peach smoothie sounds delicious! Is it a recipe you made up yourself?

Loren - I've been reading about your remodel - sounds like it's going to be a fabulous addition! I'm green with envy.

Debie - sounds like a restful weekend to me! Hopefully not too much of it will be taken up by homework!

SueK - Does your husband go to Japan a lot? My DH will have to start going to Japan for work soon. I'm not sure where, though. I'll have to find out. Are there any tips your DH would suggest?

Good morning to everyone else who posted while I was posting! :)

[Molli526]

Good Morning all!

We don't have too much going on here this weekend. We are hosting a couples party (read: shower) for my best friend and her DF on the 20th so I am thinking about making the cake this weekend just b/c I will have the time. I made the Outrageous Brownies last weekend and have them waiting in the chest freezer.

Not much else, will probably watch a little football.

Peggy - YAY! for the fence!

Debie - I LOVE this weather :D

Loren - Congrats again on the kitchen

Sue - Glad the move went well

Kathryn - Enjoy you KA and making pesto

Shirley - Have fun at the air show

Good mornig to all who are posting with me or after :)

[Peggy C.]

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/pa247f9626982bf9a5e4e10d1eda92edd/fb2d9e10.jpg

Unfortunately this picture makes us look look hillbillys, but really we aren't. The downspout has been repaired and we have to block of the steps (which are being replaced very soon...like before the fence) or Otis goes underneath them.

[lhall]

Hi everyone. I'm here, but I just have a minute. I'm off today, and naturally the day is full of errands. I've already been to the grocery store for party & supper club stuff.

I'm a Mystery Reader for Ginger's class today (that's in just 30 minutes). Mariel has a School Parade at 10:30 that I will go to as well. Otherwise I need to run to Target. Mariel wanted to watch Lilo & Stitch last night and she broke the DVD trying to get it out of the case. She also left the rented Two Towers DVD on the floor. So, I've got to buy a child proof latch for the TV stand.

I'm also going to make cookies for when Ginger gets home, she's riding the bus home today.

I've also got to call an attorney as I'm debating suing work for reverse discrimination and wrongful termination. As far as I can determine I wasn't offered a new contract for a made up reason. Naturally my boss won't give me the details. GRRR! I am much much happier knowing I won't have to deal with her much longer. I don't know how she sleeps at night. I'm not one to sue lightly, but I really do think it's that bad.

Finally, I've got a few other job leads to follow up on and to prepare a class for an interview next week. They want to get an idea of my teaching style since it's the position would be in charge of the library instruction program. Even better news from that place. They just got permission to fill another vacant position and I'm qualified for that too! The benefits of working in a small library is you pretty much have to do a little bit of everything.

Peggy,
Great news on the fence estimate!

Loren,
Sounds like a great vacation, have fun kitchen cabinet shopping.

Kathryn,
Enjoy the picnic, sounds like fun.

Sue,
Bummer about DH going overseas especially with your move. I'm glad he won't be gone long.

Hi to everyone else. I'll be back around 9:30 or so. Gotta go check on Alysha's DH.

Leigh

[Molli526]

(((((Leigh))))))

I am glad you have a lot of positives about the job situation. Your boss is something else. Cool you will be the mystery reader. I used to do that for my mom's class (She was an elementary teacher). A lot of fun.

Peggy,

Otis looks so cute!

[Peggy C.]

debie let your DH out of the doghouse long enough to cozy up to him during the game tonight. And then you can throw him back in! Atleast you'll stay warm at the game!

Loren we missed you, glad to hear the vacation was fun. Now tell us all about the jewelry you bought! I love jewelry, but I stick to silver and semi-precious stones. I have a ton of earrings, I can't seem to walk through an art show w/o buying a pair. Have fun shopping this weekend, can't wait to hear more about the addition.

Sue have fun at he picnic. Does your old neighborhood close down a street or do you have a common area? We'd love to do somehting like that, but our city gets all weird about closing streets down.

Kathryn you are correct we have wanted a fence for a long time. I think all 'free' puppies should come with a fence!:D John has taken to calling Otis the money pit.:rolleyes: Ok so it's true...sigh. Gotta love the pooch anyways. I'll definitely give Em a hug for you. Let me know how the re-furb KA works. I think I might check one out. Or maybe put it on my Christmas wish list. Have fun at the picnic.

Shirley, good to see you this morning. LOL I didn't realize Newport News was a city. I thought (at first glance) you were going to an outlet for the catalog. Have a good time.

Molli, football will probably be on our agenda also. Love this weather and think I might need to go buy a new sweater at break time.

Leigh have fun with the girls and your day off today. I'm really glad to hear you have some good job prospects on the horizon. I can't imagine someone being so dumb (but obviously your current boss is) as to fire or not renew a contract in this day and age w/o cause and documentaion. I think you are definitely justified contacting an attorney.

[SandyM]

Mornin' Ladies,

Leigh - I'm sorry for all you're going through with this job. I'll keep you in my thoughts for some good, solid resolution to it all. Good luck on the new leads, and have fun with the girls today! What kind of cookies will you make?

Peggy - congrats on getting that fence installed!! Otis is just too precious for words - and that picture does NOT make you look like hillbillies, for goodness sakes!! I just want to squeeze that face!! Oh, and please put me 2nd in a hug to miss Emily, please! :) Lucky you!

Kathryn - gargantuan basil, eh? That made me giggle. :) Have fun at your picnic.

Sue - Sorry to hear about your DH leaving, but it sounds as though his boss is pretty receptive to him being home for the remainder of your pregnancy. That's a good thing. :) Have fun at your street picnic!

Loren - I've always wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard - sounds like you had a great time!! :) Best of luck with the kitchen job, and please keep us updated!

Debie - It's chilly over on this side of the state, too. :) It makes me VERY hungry for apples and cider and raking leaves and such. Have fun at your games, and dress warm!! :)

Molli - Have fun at your shower - Jim's going to have the guys over for a poker game on the 21st, and I might throw those together for them (less for me to eat ;) ).

Today after work, Jim, my brother and I head back to Buffalo to bring my mom back to Michigan, with all her worldly goods, tomorrow. It's a very short trip, but dad is real anxious to see her (it's been nearly 3 weeks since they've been apart). It's going to be a hectic few days, but once that's over, things will settle in. It's been a crazy, crazy month here, but I'm really looking forward to having my mom closer to me. We weren't close until I moved 350 miles away - go figure. :rolleyes: :D

Hi to everyone else joining in after me. Happy Friday! :)

[jjsooner73]

Good morning everyone! It's going to be fairly warm and humid here in north Texas today. Ugh. I want Fall!

DBF and I are going to dinner tonight, though I haven't decided on where yet. I haven't seen him in over a week (dam& schedule). Tomorrow, he is off as well. I have my Team in Training kick off which he may attend with me. He's doing TNT as well, but his kick-off is Sunday, which he will miss. My event is with the Ft. Worth TNT, his with Dallas. Then we'll have to rush from there to my friend's son's 2nd bday party. After that, I'll have a couple hours to veg, and then to same friend's house to watch the OU football game. Go Sooners!!! Sunday is open, though I have multiple projects I could start/finish and yardwork that could be done. The Le Creuset thread has me tempted to go to the outlet store on the other side of the metroplex and check out their stuff. :D

Peggy-love the picture of Otis! He's such a cutie! Good luck on the fence. I had mine replaced this past spring, and was shocked at how much they can cost!!

Leigh-so sorry about your job situation. Good luck on the interview next week. I bet you'll do great!

Loren-your vacation with your daughter sounds like it was a great time! That's on my list of places to visit one of these days. Really, I'd be happy visiting anywhere in the Northeast, but Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are high on the list. COngrats on your kitchen remodel!

Kathryn-Pesto, yum! I may decide to make me some this weekend as well.

Good morning Molli, Debie, Sue, Shirley, and anyone who came along as I was typing!

[gertdog]

Good morning all!

Peggy, glad you'll be getting that fence! It's a nice (and all too rare) occasion when an estimate comes in BELOW what you're expecting. :)

Debie, can't remember how old your dogs are- are they still in puppy teething phase?

Loren, glad you and DD had a nice time on Martha's Vineyard. I'll have to go read about your kitchen plans- I missed that you'd decided to go ahead with the renovation! Congrats and have fun picking stuff out!

Sue, glad the move went well!

Shirley, enjoy Newport News. What kind of airshow is it?

Molli, I keep reading the thread on those brownies and am dying to make them but the ingredient list just kills me. I need an occasion to make them for so I can feed them all to other people!

Kathryn, enjoy the new food processor! I too will be making pesto today if time permits.

Leigh, hugs to you. And good luck with those interviews- I have my fingers crossed for you.

Sandy, good luck with your mom's move!

Hi to anyone I've missed!

We will have a quiet weekend. Gertie had her surgery yesterday. The doctor says it went fine- yay! We can pick her up this afternoon. She has to wear one of those plastic cone collars for the next two weeks, so I need to pick up the house and move breakables off low tables to make it easy for her to move around our little apartment. We'll stay home for the most part to make sure she's feeling okay, etc. Sunday, if Gertie is doing okay, we are going to go to Benihana for dinner. I haven't been there in a loooong time! DH won a "free dinner" bet with me and my dad back in March, and he is finally collecting on it. I should have set an expiration date. :p

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
debie let your DH out of the doghouse long enough to cozy up to him during the game tonight. And then you can throw him back in! Atleast you'll stay warm at the game!

tee hee hee:D Good idea. It's all about me:D

Sandy, have safe travel this weekend.

Molli, save me a brownie!!

Loren - what kind of jewelry did you buy (the jewelry ho asks impatiently):)

Leigh - didn't know about your job sit. but hope a new position works out for you, and soon!

Hi to everyone else.

Debie

[JackieO]

I have a few minutes to klatch today! Yay! That's because my afternoon meeting down in Milwaukee was cancelled, so I have several hours of "found" time today!

I've missed you all this last month or so when I was busy moving. But I'm happy to say that I feel rather settled (well, at least as settled as one can be nine days into a new house!) Sue, I can relate to getting your internet service back....I'd much rather be chatting here (or even working out) than unpacking more boxes. Fortunately, I don't have too much more to unpack. Finding a place for everything is another matter. Did you lose much in the move? So far, I know I've lost a tv remote and a pair of shoes. :rolleyes: :(

Peggy How could you NOT love the O-man?? He looks so sweet -- money pit or not. Our cocker-type mutt who lived to be 15 was a really low-maintenance dog until he was 10. THEN he was run over by a car -- no organ damage but he had four pelvic fractures and we spent a small fortune putting him through pins-and-plates surgery! The vet surgeon was so good, however, that the dog never even limped after that. A few years later, he was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, and he spent the last years of his life taking Enalapril (?) -- about $50 a month. The pharmacist at first was reluctant to fill the prescription! But he was a joy.

Leigh Hugs...hope your employment situation resolves itself soon.

Kathryn Was it last week you said you would be standing along the highway waving your basil? I was so jealous -- I only transported one plant to my new house and it was my basil plant. It is still a plant, however. Not a "tree." But it is yielding enough for my purposes (I haven't been cooking much lately!) :o

As for weekend plans, DSD is driving over here from St. Paul tomorrow to see our new house and spend a little time with us. DH is inviting colleagues to come over to watch the Packer game Sunday (this place is NUTS about football!) and I'm going to make Monterrey CHicken (see Great Food board) for a half-time meal. (Guess I better go shopping..)

Hi, everyone! There were only 15 posts when I signed on, but I'm sure the thread has grown since I started this.

[SueK]

Peggy- I love that picture of Otis! He's such a cutie.
Our old street is a dead end, so we always have the picnic on the closed part of it (the dead part? :))

Sandy- Unfortunately, DH's boss is not real understanding of why he doesn't want to travel out of the country again until next year. His company is a foreign based company and so it's very hard sometimes to overcome cultural differences in how each of our societies view everyone's role in the family. (Does that make sense?)But fortunately, his boss really values DH's work, so he is going along with his wishes. :)

Stephanie -glad Gertie's surgery went well! Those collars alwyas remind me of the Jetsons for some reason!

[KristinK]

Good morning everyone! I've been out the past couple Fridays, but I'm back now.

Peggy - Have fun with Emily! Have you made any specific plans yet?

Debie - It cooled down around here too after a week of rain and thunderstorms, but the sun finally decided to come out again. We're in for a gorgeous weekend around here - but I know summer is still slipping away :(

Loren - Welcome back! Glad to hear you had a wonderful vacation. I hope you do get a relaxing weekend - or as they say, a vacation from vacation!

Sue and Kathryn - Enjoy your picnics!

Shirley - The air show sounds like fun. Have you been to one before?

Leigh - I must have missed what happened with you at work. It sounds horrible. I'm so sorry that you have to deal with such an unfair situation. Best of luck getting this resolved and finding a better position.

Sandy - Good luck with the move. Hopefully things will settle down for you soon enough.

Jen - Good luck with your TNT kick-off. I ran my first race (just a 7-miler) last weekend, and the TNT group there made me think of you :)

Stephanie - I'm happy to hear Gertie's surgery went well. Poor pup! I do hope you make it to Benihana and have a great time. I've heard great things about it!

Jackie - I hope you'll be back regularly soon! Um, I've been in my new apartment for almost 2 months - and I still have some things that need to be put away. I hate unpacking!

I'm not sure what our plans are for this weekend - either way, I'm also in for a quiet one. The weekend is supposed to be so nice, DBF and I might go down the shore tomorrow morning. It depends on whether or not my uncle plans to use the house, because my (big) family owes his (small) family a couple weekends alone since all of us together can be pretty overwhelming.

If we stay home, we'll probably do some stuff around the apartment. Fun stuff, like cleaning the bathroom! and clearing out the closet that we stuffed with miscellaneous cr@p! and finally getting some pictures hung! :rolleyes: I need to buy my Dad a birthday present, and get the rest of DBF's present too. And maybe pick up a few new things for myself while I'm out - the one thing I like about the cooler weather is buying new sweaters!

Hello to anyone I missed!

[SandyM]

Yay Stephanie!! I'm SO glad Gertie's surgery went well. I giggle when I say that name, because it's my mom's nickname! :D

[Shirley Panek]

Gertdog - It's the NAS Oceana Regional Air Show (www.neptuneairshow.com). My DH and DS went last year and saw Robosaurus (some kind of transforming robot/dinosaur thing that "breathes" fire). The Blue Angels will be there and the B2 (stealth) Bomber as well as bunch of other things. Glad to hear Gertie's surgery went well. I remember when Max would have to wear those big Elizabethan collars. He would just stand there with his head hanging down and not moving like he was embarrassed to have this big thing around his neck! LOL! :D

Leigh - sorry to hear about your job. That stinks! :mad: Hope your interview pans out and you are much happier.

[Molli526]

Have a safe trip Sandy! The four of us should get together when everything is calmed down for you.

[KathrynY]

Leigh, I am so sorry about your job situation - that stinks. I’m glad to hear you have some other opportunities popping up though. :)

Peggy, I got my KA refurbished food processor on ebay. The advice I received was to go with the 11-cup so that’s what I ordered, and I’m glad I did because it’s not as big as I thought it would be. The base is HUGE though – very heavy and powerful (and it should be for the price ;)). I can’t wait to give it something really challenging – basil seems too tame for this beast. :D

Sandy, have a safe trip to Buffalo and back. Sending you good thoughts for a positive moving experience. It’s really sweet that your parents miss each other so much – they will be so much happier once they are back together.

Stephanie, I’m glad to hear Gertie’s surgery went well, and I know you’re looking forward to having her home. Enjoy spoiling her this weekend ;).

Hi Shirley! The peach smoothie was my own concoction – two fresh peeled peaches, a carton of vanilla yogurt, a splash of orange juice, and a handful of strawberries. It wasn’t bad for a throw-together-all-the-fruit-that’s-about-to-spoil kinda thing. :p

Jen, enjoy the time with your DBF! And good luck with the TNT kickoff :).

Molli, have a nice weekend and enjoy your baking. I love it when there’s enough time to make some things ahead and put in the freezer. I don’t know how I missed the fact that you went to MSU? That’s where DH did his graduate work. :)

Jackie, I think it was MrsReber who was offering to wave basil by the highway last week, although I could certainly stand to give some away too! It has rained so much here this year, and I have not been diligent about trimming my basil regularly, so some of my plants are 4 feet high :eek:. I am giggling about your Packer comments - there is no place quite like the midwest for football enthusiasts. You guys are really serious about your football!

Hi Kristin - have a nice weekend, and I hope you have time to shop for those new sweaters ;).

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by gertdog
Debie, can't remember how old your dogs are- are they still in puppy teething phase? [/B]

Ummmmmmm, no:( Unfortunately. They're just naughty. Oh well.

Glad Gertie is doing okay!

Debie

[The O Man]

Originally posted by SandyM


[b]Peggy Otis is just too precious for words - and that picture does NOT make you look like hillbillies, for goodness sakes!! I just want to squeeze that face!!

Hey! Slow down, don't damage the merchandise. :D

Otis

[lhall]

Thanks for the hugs. Most of my errands were done. I had run reading to the kids. I ready Click Clack Moo, Cows that type, and they seemed to enjoy it. Then I went to Target. I got some clothes for me & the kids as well as the things I needed :D

Stephanie,
((((Gertie)))) I'm glad her surgery went well.

Kristin,
I'm not being offered a contract for next year and am no longer eligible for tenure (I have all the qualifications for tenure). My boss refuses to tell me why she didn't renew my contract, but I think it's because she doesn't like me. Almost everything she does is for personal reasons.

Peggy,
Otis is just the handsomest dog ever! :D

Molli,
Have fun at your party. With such wonderful hosts I know it will be great. :D

Sandy,
YEAH! I'm sure everyone will be happy to be together again.

Jackie,
Have fun during the game. :D I just can't imagine why anyone in Wisconson would be nuts over football. :p

Jen,
Have fun tonight, and I'm glad to hear you and DBF will get some time together (finally).

Oh, I'm making milk chocolate chip cookies. Nothing special.

Hi Shirley and anyone else that I've missed.

Leigh

[lhall]

Peggy,
Have fun meeting Emily! She's great. Say Hi for me.

Leigh

[Molli526]

Peggy, (or anyone else)

My girlfriend registered for a 14-Cup FP by Cuisinart, and when they gave her the printout, it was on Clearance. It is $49.97 . Maybe some of the Marshall Fields around you still have one. Worth a call.

CUISINART CUSTOM 14 BC FD PROCES, CAPRESSO


395- 01- 0219 $49.97

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Chefzhat


Ummmmmmm, no:( Unfortunately. They're just naughty. Oh well.


That's weird, it seems like it was just recently you were housebreaking them? Or am I remembering two other cute little puppies? Are yours shitzus?

Shirley, thanks for the info about the airshow. My dad used to take me to airshows when I was little. I have memories of standing in the crisp fall air watching the planes fly overhead. I haven't seen one in a long time- I think it would be a fun thing to do again!

[badunnin]

Good morning all! I've been absent for the last 2 klatches (I have a signed note from Peggy!) so I figured I'd better check in.

This weekend is still up in the air. I have class tomorrow morning (can we say eeew? History of Education on a Saturday AM?) then... I'm not sure. I may be canning, or I might go up north. I have a ton of things I want to can, and it may be best if I stay here alone and do it. With all the travel I've done lately, it may be best for me to just stay in one place for a while!

[MrsReber]

Hi everyone! Yes, it was me who offered to stand on the highway with my basil. I had to go pick some in the rain the other night because it's killing me to see it all go to waste. It's growing like crazy. We've had rain all week. I have to sneak out the garden periodically to keep the pumpkin plants in check. They like to strangle the tomatoes when I'm not looking.

Quiet weekend here. At least so far. No plans, but I hear it's going to be beautiful all weekend, with the exception of Fabian churning up the water at the beach. DH may go out hunting tomorrow. I can't believe the season is opening so early. Gives you an idea of the deer population around these parts. It's bow only.

Leigh, so sorry to hear about the job. I just know something better will come your way, though. It sounds like you have some very good prospects. How fun to be the mystery reader. I want to do that some day! And your cookies will be very special. All cookies made by moms are special! I wish my mom was home baking me cookies when I went to school. Big sigh. Actually, I wish she were home baking me cookies right now. I keep passing on buying cookies at the store because I think I'm actually going to have the time to make some. Ha ha ha! When will I learn? It's better not to have them in the house anyway. I did make brownies last night. The kids were torturing me, as they have been each night this week. They don't like the changes at daycare. I figured some brownies were in order to make ME feel better!

[Molli526]

Originally posted by KathrynY

Molli, have a nice weekend and enjoy your baking. I love it when there’s enough time to make some things ahead and put in the freezer. I don’t know how I missed the fact that you went to MSU? That’s where DH did his graduate work. :)


Oh yes. I am a Spartan through and through. Where I met DH. My grandparents met at MSU as well. I was one of those people who applied to UofM to turn them down :o

[KathrynY]

Hi Bethany! Ugh, a Saturday morning class - my sympathies :(. I was supposed to be taking a web design course this semester Wednesday evenings, but my section was cancelled. The only other option for me since I work full-time was a Saturday morning class (5 hours!) and I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'll just wait until next semester and try again.

Hi Susan! If you're looking to use up some basil and tomatoes, I tried CL's Creamy Pesto Rigatoni from the recipe finder last night, and we really enjoyed it. There are some reviews floating around on the board too.

[KristinK]

Hi Bethany, Susan, and Molli (how did I miss you?)!

Leigh, that is just terrible. It's women like that, that give us all a bad name in the professional world. I hope you really stick it to her - and find yourself a better position along the way.

Peggy, that picture of Otis is great!

As for Gertie, those collars make me think of that movie where the little dog has to wear one. I can picture the little mutt running around, but can't remember the movie! And I know it's something really obvious too...

[JackieO]

Originally posted by lhall
Thanks for the hugs.
I'm not being offered a contract for next year and am no longer eligible for tenure (I have all the qualifications for tenure). My boss refuses to tell me why she didn't renew my contract, but I think it's because she doesn't like me. Almost everything she does is for personal reasons.

Jackie,
Have fun during the game. :D I just can't imagine why anyone in Wisconson would be nuts over football. :p

Leigh

IMHO, colleges are the most political work environments around and tenure decisions are the MOST political decisions made there! DH was denied tenure at Marquette in the early 90s, and absolutely no reason was given for it. He figures he was knifed by two women who had gone up for tenure the previous two years and received it -- they didn't think his particular research area was "worthy" of their discipline, so they screwed him over in the department-level vote, despite his having passed through the various other committees with flying colors. His denial letter was exactly one sentence long, telling him he was denied. (I have a graduate degree from MU and you should have heard me light into the poor student who called me looking for a contribution after that!) :o

As for football, the 10 pm news last night started with 10 minutes worth of Packer hype, followed by one minute devoted to Iraq, a local car crash and the weather, then more Packers preview. Sheesh....I'm going to get my news off the internet in the foreseeable future!:(

[badunnin]

Originally posted by KathrynY
Hi Bethany! Ugh, a Saturday morning class - my sympathies :(. I was supposed to be taking a web design course this semester Wednesday evenings, but my section was cancelled. The only other option for me since I work full-time was a Saturday morning class (5 hours!) and I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'll just wait until next semester and try again.

Hi Kathryn! Yes, I'm not looking forward to it, but it's only 15 weeks. All my other classes are evenings (4:30 start) and going into the city it's rough. One of them is at an extension, and while the drive isn't any shorter, it's more pleasant, and I don't have to pay for parking, which will save me $50 over the course of a semester.

[KathrynY]

Originally posted by Molli526
I was one of those people who applied to UofM to turn them down :o

LOL! DH turned U of M down too, although it was really because the program he wanted was much better at MSU.

[Molli526]

Bethany,

I forgot already :rolleyes: what nights do you have classes?

[Chefzhat]

Originally posted by gertdog
That's weird, it seems like it was just recently you were housebreaking them? Or am I remembering two other cute little puppies? Are yours shitzus?

Yes, they are shih tsus - but they are a year old now and should know better than to chew their bedding, the couch, corners of walls (they have a taste for drywall), any shoe available, my underpretties:o - ya know?? My dh is campaigning to get rid of them he's so frustrated.

Debie

[MrsReber]

Debie, I can sympathize. My dog is 11 1/2 years old. She STILL chews up underwear (really grosses me out) and will eat our carpet. Yep, just start at the wall, rip it up and eat. What a tasty treats for humans to leave on the floor. She still is crated whenever we leave the house and all night long or she'd just destroy everything. Sadly, some dogs never learn. It seems to me that the smaller breeds are always much more high maintenance and much more troublesome. DH wanted to get rid of my dog when we first lived together. It was and still is, the cause of many fights. I hold out, though. I made a commitment to that animal, as stupid as she is. :rolleyes:

[Molli526]

Excellent. So it looks like Wednesdays would be open for dining around metro Detroit :)

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Molli526
Bethany,

I forgot already :rolleyes: what nights do you have classes?

Monday Tuesday Wednesday. Wednesday I'm done at 6pm, MT at 7:30.

[Chefzhat]

Mrs. Reber - thank goodness it's not only my dh that is saying "those dogs have got to go!!". This chewing thing is getting bothersome.

Well, gotta hop ladies - go write a spanish composition, then do a few errands (groceries) and pick up kiddies from school (bus problems, huge issue, still ongoing, debie very frustrated). Then off to football.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Debie

[aggie94]

Good morning!!! Happy Friday! :D

Peggy, great news on the fence! That was one of our summer projects that didn't quite get done. But it's VERY high on our list of priorities. Hopefully we can work on it on the weekends (we're doing it ourselves) and get it done before winter. BTW, Otis is sooooooo adorable. Oh yeah, and put me in the long line for a hug from Emily. :p

Debie, our beagles are the king and queen of getting into the trash. :mad: They once ate an entire chicken carcass, and I had to stay home from work to make sure they were OK. I hope your pups are OK.

Loren, congratulations on starting your remodel! You must be so excited to have things finally underway. Can't wait to see before and after pictures!

Sue and Jackie, welcome back! Glad you guys survived your moves.

Kathryn, do you have a favorite pesto recipe? I made the CL pesto recipe from last month earlier this week, and I was a little disappointed - it was way too watery/runny for my taste.

Shirley, hope the weather stays great for your air show this weekend. Have fun!

Molli, have fun with your shower! I've never been to a couples shower, but it seems like it would be more fun than a traditional one, at least for me.

Leigh, I'm sorry to hear about your work situation. I hope you can get some resolution, and I'm crossing my fingers for you that a better opportunity comes your way.

Sandy, have a safe trip to NY this weekend, and hang in there. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise.

Jennifer, enjoy your weekend with DBF!

Stephanie, I'm so glad to hear that Gertie's surgery went well. I hope the recovery goes well and that she's feeling better soon. My puppies send their love.

Kristin, enjoy your quiet weekend, either at home or at the shore.

Bethany, my sympathies too that you have to suffer through class on a Saturday. :( I hope you can enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Susan, gotta love those weekends with no plans! Enjoy your time at home with the kids. :)

I'm jealous of all of you with fall weather, but it sounds like we will be getting our own "cold" (more like "cool") front this weekend - lows in the 60s! :) Hey, I'll take whatever I can get!

Tomorrow night, our nephew arrives to live with us indefinitely. :eek: You guys probably remember that my BIL came to live with us last month, and now his 18-year-old son is joining us. :eek: We still have some furniture rearranging to get done tomorrow. And Sunday, we will probably go down to see DH's parents, because they'll want to see their oldest grandson and DH and BIL need to finish the yardwork they started there last weekend. Other than that, we'll probably just be trying to relax at home, watching college football and movies. And catching up on sleep. :o

[Molli526]

Originally posted by Chefzhat

my underpretties:o


My dog will chew on mine sometimes too, when he is very upset. I read somewhere they chew them b/c it smells like you.

[KathrynY]

Hi Eva! I was going to try one (or more!) of the pesto recipes that Stephanie (gertdog) posted on last week's klatch thread. But I've only made pesto once before and didn't care too much for that recipe, so I'm hoping to have better luck this time! Good luck getting everyone settled in this weekend. Hey, on the up side, now you'll have a couple of extra sets of hands to help with the house work and yard work ;).

[SandyM]

Hi Eva,

I was wondering how things are going there with BIL and such. And I will send to you the advice just given to me, just a few short paragraphs ago:

Hang in there. There's a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise.


:) My best to you and Che.

[MrsReber]

Originally posted by Molli526


My dog will chew on mine sometimes too, when he is very upset. I read somewhere they chew them b/c it smells like you.

Gak! Do I smell like dirty underwear?? :p :D Sorry, I couldn't resist....

[Molli526]

Originally posted by MrsReber


Gak! Do I smell like dirty underwear?? :p :D Sorry, I couldn't resist....

You know what I mean :o

[MKSquared]

**sniffle, snort, honk** I'm still fighting a headcold, and although I've just read through everyone's posts this morning, I swear I can remember about half of it. If that. Ugh. How can a little cold end up messing with your mental capacity, too?

Today's a gorgeous, blue-sky, cool, crisp day, and there are lots of apples for the picking. I'm debating about going myself, sicky and all. Either that, or I make jelly with the 13# of peaches and the 2 quarts of jalapenos I bought yesterday. Bethany's a bad influence. :p

Heddo, everboddy. :cool:

[Gracie]

Wow - so much to catch up on!

Suek I would love to go to Japan or China, especially for work since it would be expensed! I can understand why he isn't real keen on going right now, though. It is interesting how different cultures feel differently about family issues.

Molli the shower sounds like fun. I've never made the Outrageous Brownies. Once I made the Farm from Beverly Hills ones, I was finished with other recipes. But I might have to try them out, in the name of research, of course! :D

Peggy the Otis pic is adorable!

Leigh I missed all the information about your job. There aren't words to describe bosses like that. I have also found through personal experience that it's usually female bosses that make life the most miserable. They all give women a bad name. I'll be pulling for you in your interview.

Stephanie I'm glad Gertie's surgery went well.

MrsReber you must have a huge garden to have room for pumpkins. Our garden this year wasn't great due to our inordinate amount of rain, then drought, and my neighbor's (who shares it with me) husband had open-heart surgery so our crops leave a lot to be desired. What were the changes at daycare? Kids are so structured - anything will really upset them.

Eva I also missed that you and DH took in BIL and your nephew. I hope your house is laid out such that you all will be successful living together.

For all of you that asked, I bought opal drop earrings set in sterling. They are the darker blue opals that I prefer to the milky white ones. Not quite as nice as the black opals, but the color is really nice. DD has a thing for adirondack chairs (who knows why??) and so she got an adirondack chair as a sterling charm for a pendant and as sterling drop earrings (which are adorable). She also got an MV sweatshirt with embroidered adirondack chairs, a visor and a beanie baby-style bear that said Martha's Vineyard.

Hi also to Kathryn, Shirley, Debie, Sandy, Jennifer, Kristin, Jackie and Bethany! and anyone else I might has missed.

Loren

[Peggy C.]

Now I know how the left coasters feel!

Thanks for all the comments on Otis and congrats on the fence. Hopefully it will make life easier and save him from looking like a POW.

Stephanie I'm glad gertie is doing well. Otis hated that collar also. He walked straight up to a wall and rested it there and wouldn't move. It was pathetic! He looked like he was suction cupped to the wall.

Molli and Kathryn thanks for the info on the KA and cuisinart FP's. Unfortunately we do not have a Marshall Field's, but I'll keep an eye out. Is it something that Sur La Table will carry when they open?

Debie you cracked me up with the underpretties comment.

Sandy drive carefully this weekend. I'm glad your parents seem to be adjusting to the move (your dad) and the idea of it. (your mom) Have you taken A&B to see your dad yet? If so how did it go?

Eva don't feel bad about not getting the fence done (although doing it in the fall will probably be a lot more tolerable.) it took us a couple of years. Also you really should get it done while you've got a couple of extra sets of hands living there!

Jennifer I'm glad you'll beable to (finally:D) spend some time with your DBF this weekend. Enjoy the football game and party.

Susan I remember you saying that your DH usually gets about 6 deers a year. Where do you store all that meat? Or do you go on a venison only diet for a while? What is your favorite way to prepare it? I've only had venison a couple of times, but I really enjoyed it.

Jackie that is incredible about the news! Even Cleveland isn't (quite) that, hmmm what's the word I'm looking for, bad, fanatical, devoted, focused? I think you get the picture.

Hope I didn't miss anybody.:D

[Peggy C.]

Loren all the jewelry sounds beautiful. Right up my alley.

My sister has a jacket that is kind of heavy canvas with adirondack chairs silk screened all over it in bright colors. Your DD would love it!

[Molli526]

Good Morning Mary Kate! Nice to see you up ;) :p

[gertdog]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Stephanie I'm glad gertie is doing well. Otis hated that collar also. He walked straight up to a wall and rested it there and wouldn't move. It was pathetic! He looked like he was suction cupped to the wall.


This made me laugh out loud! (Sorry, Otis :D ) Gertie will probably do something similar. She is pretty cautious and easily embarrassed. Between having half her head shaved and a Jetsons cone on it, I can't imagine she's going to enjoy the next two weeks.

Debie, your pups are probably still at the tail end of puppy chewing, if that's any consolation. Teething can end anywhere from 9 months to a year, I think. Or maybe they're just naughty like you said. :p

We had a lhasa apso when I was young and he would eat socks and underthings- then vomit them up in the yard. Nasty.

Kathryn- eek, if you didn't like your previous pesto recipes, I hope the ones I posted fill the bill. If not you can flog me with one of MrsReber's basil bunches. :p One new thing I tried last week that worked really well- to prevent the pesto from darkening, stir in 1 tsp. of plain yogurt (into a full batch of pesto). The acid really does prevent the pesto from turning brown, but you can't taste the yogurt at all.

Feel better, Mary Kate!

Eva, good luck with your nephew's move-in. It may have been said before, but I think you are an awesome and generous person to welcome people into your home.

[lhall]

Hi all. We still have to do a coat of paint in the interior trim & sidelights, but here's a picture of the new door & storm door. We really like it.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid77/p3de5ae0a5e55f428c926f4592c0b3ccb/fb2d58a1.jpg

The parade was totaly disorganized. I don't remember the other ones being this way. It was 'Celebrating Diversity', which is a great idea but we were given almost no notice so not many people showed up.

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Mk sorry you aren't feeling well. However I did get a good laugh out of the heddo!

Leigh the door looks incredible!

Stephanie it was a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure I laughed until I cried it was so sad!

[Gracie]

Leigh we have the same storm door! I love the all-glass look.

Mary Kate, I hope you feel better!

Peggy I also laughed at the suction-cup visual.

Loren

[Shirley Panek]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Otis hated that collar also. He walked straight up to a wall and rested it there and wouldn't move. It was pathetic! He looked like he was suction cupped to the wall.

LOL! That image is just too funny! I'll probably be laughing to myself all day. Thanks, Peggy! :D

Leigh - Your door is beautiful.

MaryKate - I hope you're feeling better soon. ((:())

And if anyone wants to get rid of their basil, they can toss some my way! ;) :D

[KathrynY]

Leigh, that door is beautiful! We're hoping to replace ours with an all-glass (or mostly glass - we need a screen too) model so the cat can look outside. :rolleyes: ;)

Stephanie, I'm sure your recipes will be much better than my previous attempt. I think I used a really low-fat recipe and that was the problem - pesto just needs oil and pine nuts!! :p

Must leave the office and get some lunch - I will never get any peace today until I get out of this building!

[MrsReber]

Molli, sorry, yes I do know what you mean :D !

Leigh, that door is beautiful! I wish my DH would do something nice like that for our house. He did actually measure some windows so we might actually get new ones before the kids graduate from college!

They moved DD up one class at daycare. I think that's why we're having these problems. She does not adjust well to change. She'll seem okay, but there's a lot going on in that little head of hers, poor girl. I was so sad last night because she told me she cried at daycare because of "mommy". What she was trying to say is that she wanted mommy to come pick her up. She's with Grandma today (my mom) so she was quite happy when I dropped her off this morning. She did want DS to stay with me, though. She told me several times that this was "MY Grandma" and her brother could have me.

The suction cup thing is rather funny. Poor Gertie! At least she'll be at home with mom and dad.

Yes, DH does get quite a few deer. We have a chest freezer and another freezer downstairs. I told him we needed a chest freezer after the other freezer was left open and we lost a ton of meat! DH saves all the meat and then, at the end of hunting season, he'll use his friend's grinder and make lots of chop meat. He does butcher it all himself since he doesn't trust the butchers- they'll either cut off too much or leave in the gross stuff. We had 80 lbs of chop meat one year! The deer here aren't huge, but they're a decent size. We're curious to see how many he'll be allowed this season since the population seems to have exploded. I mostly use the chop meat. DH mixes in some pork so that it isn't so dry. He is in charge of making jerky (awesome) and making any roasts or fried cutlets. He's been getting better. He used to marinate it in ketchup, garlic, soy sauce and whatever else he could find. Now that he actually uses recipes, it tastes much better. The mere smell of that concoction used to make me sick!

[jjsooner73]

I'd love to know what was going through Otis' mind when he was suction-cupped to the wall. :)

Stephanie, glad to hear that Gertie is doing well. I'm sure you'll be amazed at how fast she bounces back!!


Harley had to wear one of those halos after both hip surgeries and it was so sad. He's so big, thus the halo was huge and he'd get stuck in hallways and was always running into things. He can't easily turn around in a hallway normally, and the halo made it impossible, so if he changed his mind he'd just have to back out.

http://www.angelfire.com/oz/jen/images/Harley/lamp.jpg


I love this before/after shot. It cracks me up. Because my carpet is so light, he looks headless in the after shot. :D

http://www.angelfire.com/oz/jen/images/Harley/bef_aft.jpg

Leigh, I love the storm door! I need one of those, but I can't see paying around $150 for installation and don't know anyone who can do it. That may not be so bad, but knowing that my parents had it done for $30 bugs me.

[KathrynY]

I forgot to say HI MARY KATE! Hope you're feeling better soon :).

[SandyM]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Now I know how the left coasters feel!

Have you taken A&B to see your dad yet? If so how did it go?


Boy, I feel the same way as you, Peggy - miss a few hours, miss a lot!!!

MaryKate Feel bedduh soon k? :D You crack me up, even when not feeling well.

Peggy - I took Bailey in to see my dad a few weeks ago, I think - I'm losing track of time. ;) Abbie responds to me better, so it was my preference to take her, but Bailey is my dad's favorite, so I went with her (Jim was occupied with other things and couldn't come with me). She was a nervous wreck, as can be imagined. Abbie is, by nature, calmer, but Bailey is walking on a high wire all the time. We could only stay a half hour because it was just getting to be too much. With time, she'll get used to it and it'll feel natural.

Thanks for asking! :)

[Molli526]

I'm jealous Ohio has all these SLT. What about Michigan? We have a nice chi-chi Collection (read: mall) that a SLT would fit right in.

[JackieO]

Originally posted by KathrynY
Stephanie, I'm sure your recipes will be much better than my previous attempt. I think I used a really low-fat recipe and that was the problem - pesto just needs oil and pine nuts!! :p



You and I must have tried the same recipe -- I think it was in CL last summer -- as I was underwhelmed, also.

Let us know how the recipe with "the good stuff" turns out!

[MKSquared]

Awwww. You guys rock.

Jen, I love the Harley shots. :D Poor pup. (Oooh, had major issues typing that, coming up with "poop" many times.) I hope Gertie recovers soon, and without too much mental anguish about her new collar. :D

I just prepped about 30 jalapeno peppers. I got to wondering if the UN weapons inspectors ever worked with mass amounts of chiles, because the ribs and seeds could sure do a bunch of damage, and the boiling peppers make a pretty nice toxic cloud. ;)

Peggy, did I tell you - or anyone else, for that matter - that I went to our Sur la Table yesterday? OMG, it's Williams-Sonoma on steroids. It's incredible. What a very neat store. I walked in there and felt a little overwhelmed at first. And their prices weren't nearly as inflated as I expected! :cool:

[SandyM]

Originally posted by Molli526
I'm jealous Ohio has all these SLT. What about Michigan? We have a nice chi-chi Collection (read: mall) that a SLT would fit right in.

I know - my thoughts too, Molli. I checked their website, though, and we're not even close. :(

[lhall]

or anyone else, for that matter - that I went to our Sur la Table yesterday? OMG, it's Williams-Sonoma on steroids.

MK,
Don't tell me that. I may just have to go visit Peggy so I can go to SLT! I do hope you are feeling better soon. We can't get any date gossip if you're too sick to go out. :p Oh, did you sell your 50 beers?

Kathryn,
The door we have can be glass or screen. There are edge things that snap in and out. You can switch from glass to screen easily, and it does come with both pieces.

Jen,
Love the headless dog! LOL. :D
$150 for storm door installation. That's almost as much as we paid for the door.

Leigh

[Molli526]

And they have a Penzeys! :mad: :p

[Canice]

Good morning, everyone!
Whew, all caught up! (Well, mostly). Anyone else unable to get on the boards this morning? I was thinking "oh no, I'll never catch up if this thing is down any longer!" :rolleyes: :p
Leigh, your door is so pretty! May I ask a stupid question? So is the storm door a clear outer door (as in how you'd have a screen door)? Did someone say they're made of glass? My question being, wouldn't a storm door have to be really sturdy? (I'd never heard of one before and don't actually know what they do) :o

[lhall]

Canice,

Our new door is all wood and needs to be protected from the elements.

The storm door we have is aluminum frame with a styrofoam core and a full pane of glass. It is very sturdy, but the glass pane is removable. The door comes with a screen you can put in if you want too.

There are some storm doors that have 2 panes like regular windows and the slide up or down. These doors have screens too, but they don't come out.

Molli,
You're mean. :D

Leigh

[Canice]

Oh yea, and Peggy, I sure hope you get to hook up with Emily! I had lunch with her earlier this week and am still flirting with the idea of going to her dinner in Vancouver. That girl gets around! (so to speak :p )

[MKSquared]

Well, for the longest time, the only SLT in Ohio was near Cincinnati. The Columbus one just opened up two months ago - so I couldn't have taken the group in Feb. there - and the others aren't even open yet. :D Keep in mind that the only thing to DO in Columbus is shop ... ;)

Leigh, date gossip I think will be at a miminum for a while. While he's super nice, and really sweet, I'm obviously not feeling as much as he is, and it's not fair to let it go on any more like it is. Must have A Talk, and I'm not looking forward to it, 'cause I like him ... just not like-like. ;) And no, I didn't get up to 50 beers. I have lots of people rolling their eyes at me now, though, telling me I should have told them earlier. My plan was to sit someone down on my last shift of the month and just BUY the remainder that I needed for them, and I've had lots of retroactive volunteers for that position. ("If I'd known you'd buy me 10 beers, I would have been there!") :rolleyes:

Loren, your opal earrings sound gorgeous! I love opals. :) And how odd that your daughter's into Adriondack chairs. :D They're cool, but I'm sure I didn't have a clue what they were at her age.

Kathryn, I love hearing about your student/faculty picnic every year. :D Any idea what you're bringing this time around?

[lhall]

MK,
I'm just teasing you. I totally understand and it's good that you are going to break it to him gently. I know that won't be an easy conversation.

Leigh

[Gracie]

Leigh now I know we have the same door. We chose it both for its sturdiness and for the ease of changing from screen to glass. Even I can do it without swearing! :D

The screen part has a piece of the white metal that goes across the middle of the screen horizontally about door-handle-height on the inside so that you have something to lean on when you're opening the door and you don't put your hand/arm through the screen. It also gives the screen something to latch onto so it doesn't sag.

Jen - loved the dog pics! I'm glad he's back to normal now. And the image of him backing down the hall since he couldn't turn around was too funny!

MK - what's this about 50 beers? Inquiring minds want to know! ;)

Loren

[MKSquared]

Loren, Sam Adams was running a contest in our restaurant, promising a $250 gift certificate to the top Sam Adams seller iin the store for the month of August. The deal was that the server (no bartenders could play - that's too easy!) had to sell 50 Sams. I didn't sell my first one until the middle of the month, but I was on top of everyone else. I sent out an invite during the last few days, inviting everyone to buy a beer from me. :) While I'm sure I won, my managers haven't even told us who the top seller was, and I'm very grumpy about that. Blah.

[colleency]

Otis is so cute. He looks like the kind of dog you can lay down in the sun with and nap with your head on him.

I'm thinking of adopting an older mini Schnauzer, I hope they can be trained not to chew. DH is always leaving "collectibles" on the floor.

Leigh, I love your door. A storm door would be a little out of place in Los Angeles, though. :D

I always find SLT to be way too overwhelming, but it has tons of great stuff.

MaryKate, feel bedduh!

Loren, those earrings sound pretty.

We're going to a poker party tonight, even though DH and I don't really play cards. We'll just go to hang out. Tomorrow I'm hoping to catch up on sleep from my Toronto trip. (Staying up until between 3 and 5 in the morning is getting to be a little much for me.) In the afternoon I have to run to the fabric store to buy material for a skirt to wear tomorrow night (sew faster!). And tomorrow night we're going to a live action role playing game. Sunday was supposed to be rest, but we may switch our cleaning day here, so we can drive down to visit my mom in San Diego next weekend.

[Canice]

Hey, Leigh, have you started making birthday plans yet? :D
Seems to me we share a birthday!

[Gracie]

Mary Kate - congratulations! DH is always telling me about the bar promotions in his restaurant.

Right now there's a food promotion - if the restaurant buys X number of "points" worth of non-perishable foods over a period of time, the food service will award a trip to a ranch in Arizona! It really is a lot of food, according to DH. Then he has to reconcile all that inventory with his food cost. DH's restaurant will probably buy enough, but DH will give the trip to his #2 manager since the #2's in the company don't get bonuses or trips (both of which he gets as General Manager). He's too nice to his staff! I'd love to go to Arizona.

Loren

[lhall]

Canice,

No I haven't made any plans yet. I'm off (mostly because I don't want to be at the ****hole I work in that day) and I work the following sunday. I'm going to be a Mystery Reader again and DH's family always likes to go out for birthdays.

I'm debating asking DH for the Cuispro food mill as a gift though. I want to make some more apple butter. :D

Leigh

[badunnin]

Originally posted by MKSquared
Today's a gorgeous, blue-sky, cool, crisp day, and there are lots of apples for the picking. I'm debating about going myself, sicky and all. Either that, or I make jelly with the 13# of peaches and the 2 quarts of jalapenos I bought yesterday. Bethany's a bad influence. :p


Stop trying to blame your compulsions on me! ;)

I'll have all of you know that I got a phone call yesterday afternoon where I heard "Heddo? Bethany, guess where I am. Sur La Table." Yes, Mary Kate called to TAUNT me from SLT. :eek: ;) :D

[jjsooner73]

Leigh, what exaclty is a Mystery Reader? I understand that you go read a book, but what's the "mystery"? Or is that the book?

Ducking because this sounds like a stupid question :)

[MKSquared]

I do believe I need a culinary intervention.

Bethany seems to think we should hold it at SLT.

Who's in? :p

[Molli526]

In my mom's classroom, it was *mystery* to the students who would be doing the am reading time.

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by badunnin
I'll have all of you know that I got a phone call yesterday afternoon where I heard "Heddo?

BWHAHAHAAH!!!! LOL!

[MKSquared]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
Leigh, what exaclty is a Mystery Reader? I understand that you go read a book, but what's the "mystery"? Or is that the book?

Ducking because this sounds like a stupid question :)

I've been wondering the same thing, and I've taken three different children's reading classes! :o

[Molli526]

Originally posted by badunnin


"Heddo? Bethany, guess where I am. Sur La Table." Yes, Mary Kate called to TAUNT me from SLT. :eek: ;) :D

That is rude, crude, and socialably unacceptable! :p

[badunnin]

Originally posted by Molli526


That is rude, crude, and socialably unacceptable! :p

*nodding emphatically* I know! I could barely get out of the fetal position to type my post, I was so traumatized!

[Gracie]

Originally posted by MKSquared


I've been wondering the same thing, and I've taken three different children's reading classes! :o

I'm not Leigh, but Molli is correct, at least in our town! The mystery is who the reader is for the kids.

Loren

[lhall]

Hi all.
Sorry, I had to run pick up Mariel from daycare before the bus comes.

Canice, I did mean to ask about your birthday plans. Honest.

Yes indeed, the Mystery is who the reader is. Ginger figured it out, but I'd told her she was going to have a special visitor today. They were all very well behaved, but I was surprised to find out that none of them had heard of Click Clack Moo.

MK,
At least now I know you're not just mean to me. :D

Leigh

[badunnin]

Molli - I just tried to find the FP at Hudson's (I refuse to call it Field's. I was a 3rd generation Hudson's employee) and they said that they went on clearance several weeks ago, and there most likely aren't any left. I asked if they could check the computer, and she said that once they go clearance, quantities aren't tracked in the computer. Drat.

[Canice]

Oh, that's OK, Leigh - I don't have any plans! Don't know why I was thinking of BD's this morning anyhow. DBF and I had an amazing dinner at this place http://chezspencer.com/ a few weeks ago, and I'd thought maybe it would be a good place to go for my birthday. But he and I haven't spoken all week (:( :( ) so no point planning on anything. I always count on the BB for my vicarious living! :p

[Gracie]

Help me do something fun at work! I'm really bored and Friday afternoon just drags, especially today. I can just play so much "Mummy Maze" on MSN Games. Thank goodness for the klatch!

Any cool websites?

Loren

[Peggy C.]

Jennifer poor harley the headless dog! Great pics though.

Sandy I'm sure Bailey will adjust and learn to relax when she's there. Maybe bringing her a rawhide will help. She could settle down with it.

MK SLT sounds like a place I'm going to love! Have you ever been to SS Kemp, here in Cleveland? It's a rest. supply store. It's pretty cool but has really inconvenient hours.

Leigh you are welcome here any time! I have to confirm the opening date though first. According to the website it is supposed to open late summer 2003...it doesn't get much later than this! All you MI gals can make a trek too, if you'd like! Hey and don't begrudge me this..you guys got the TJ's first.

Canice I read that you got to meet Em earlier this week. How great, and you're right she really does get around.:D She pm'd me a little while ago and it looks like we're getting together on Sat. night. I'll call her during my next break and decide on the time and place.

Colleen thanks for the compliment on O. He is actually a really weird dog. He really appreciates his personal space.:rolleyes: He not mean or snappy about it but if you lounge on him he'll jump and move. Now in the middle of the night when he throws his body across my legs it's a different story! Ok I have a weird question for you. Have we ever seen a pic of you? If we have I can't remember what you look like, because I've decided that the avatar IS you. Anyone else think that? I love the avatar btw.

Leigh you can take your b-day off, but you have to check in here because I'll make a b-day cake for the 2 of you.:D Plus we'll want to hear how the MIL manipulates dinner plans.:p

That is rude, crude, and socialably unacceptable! Actually I was thinking about this kind of thing at lunch time, because of the other thread today. And I don't mean this in a rude or belitteling (sp?) fashion, but I also love the way some foreign speaking people turn a phrase. For example at the drugstore in the mall the man that runs it always says "I hope you have the luck" when he sells a lottery ticket. I just love it. And trust me I know that if I were in a foreign country I'd butcher the heck out the language like most Americans.

[MrsReber]

"Mummy Maze"???

[KathrynY]

Mary Kate, I'm not sure what I'm bringing to the picnic yet. I really want to make brownies or cookies, something non-light since I don't make desserts very often. Most of our grad students live in dorms and do very little cooking so I know they'd love something homemade. It has to be easy to transport, since I think DH and I are riding the motorcycle and whatever it is will have to fit in the saddlebags without getting smooshed. I'm looking at the Outrageous Oreo Crunch Brownies at the moment, but I'm still browsing the BB too. Any suggestions? :)

[jjsooner73]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Actually I was thinking about this kind of thing at lunch time, because of the other thread today. And I don't mean this in a rude or belitteling (sp?) fashion, but I also love the way some foreign speaking people turn a phrase. For example at the drugstore in the mall the man that runs it always says "I hope you have the luck" when he sells a lottery ticket. I just love it. And trust me I know that if I were in a foreign country I'd butcher the heck out the language like most Americans.

That reminds me-there was an Irish guy in a computer class I took last week. He's lived in the states for about a year. Since our class was small (5), and only my coworker and I were local, I drove everyone to lunch one day. When I parked and everyone piled out, he stopped at the rear of my SUV, studied it a sec, and asked, "How do you find this?". My first thought was, "Well, I know what my car looks like, there's not alot of them that color", but then I realized he meant, "HOw do you like this". I thought his question was an odd way of phrasing it. :)

And, about SLT--there is one in Dallas. I think I walked through it one time about 2 years ago. Am I going to get banned??? It's just that it's in a high traffic area that I hate to go to. Ugh. I hate traffic.

[Kayaksoup]

Originally posted by MrsReber
"Mummy Maze"???
I love this. although I can't seem to get passed about the third or fourth level. Guess I don't play enough:p

[MrsReber]

Okay, stop it! I do NOT need to know about things like "Mummy Maze", especially if it is lots of fun and might take me away from doing my job :p !! Oh, the things I learn here!

[Kayaksoup]

MSN games site is a good place to waste time;)

[Shirley Panek]

Okay. This is kind of goofy (in a geeky sort of way), but I think it's pretty fun. :D
Doom Funnel Chasers (http://www.bigideafun.com/penguins/arcade/doom_funnel/info.htm)

[Canice]

Originally posted by jjsooner73
... he stopped at the rear of my SUV, studied it a sec, and asked, "How do you find this?". My first thought was, "Well, I know what my car looks like, there's not alot of them that color", but then I realized he meant, "HOw do you like this". I thought his question was an odd way of phrasing it. :)

It's funny, Jen, that is exactly how the question would be phrased in Italian! Speaking of which, I used to have an Italian boyfriend who was here for grad school. He said that for AGES he was perplexed by the question, "Are you here for good?" He said his standard reply was "it's very nice" because he thought maybe they were asking if he thought it was good here! :p

Peggy, I think that's very sweet about the gentleman in the mall! :)

[Molli526]

Originally posted by badunnin
Molli - I just tried to find the FP at Hudson's (I refuse to call it Field's. I was a 3rd generation Hudson's employee) and they said that they went on clearance several weeks ago, and there most likely aren't any left. I asked if they could check the computer, and she said that once they go clearance, quantities aren't tracked in the computer. Drat.

I know, I call it Hudson's too. I know not everyone else does though.

My friend, Diana, who you will meet at supper club, got hers at the Troy store 2 weeks ago. Last one. What a steal!

[Gracie]

Originally posted by MrsReber
"Mummy Maze"???

Here you are! Mummy Maze (http://zone.msn.com/mummymaze/default.asp?TAd=1)

If that doesn't work, go HERE (http://zone.msn.com/hub_flog.asp), click on Mummy Maze, then the gray GO button then choose a difficulty level to begin!

I have to turn the sound off on my computer, though, so I don't get caught. :rolleyes:

Editing to add that I've only made to the top of the pyramid (15 mazes) ONCE. I was dying to know what you get when you get to the top. I won't spoil the surprise for Kayaksoup.

Loren

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by Canice



Peggy, I think that's very sweet about the gentleman in the mall! :)

I do too. I was afraid someone might think I was being derogatory though.

Loren go to www.snopes.com they have some pretty interesting storie re. urban legends and folklore.

[Kayaksoup]

Originally posted by Gracie


Editing to add that I've only made to the top of the pyramid (15 mazes) ONCE. I was dying to know what you get when you get to the top. I won't spoil the surprise for Kayaksoup.

Loren
Thanks, now I HAVE to keep trying:rolleyes: :p

[KathrynY]

Mummy Maze - great! :rolleyes: As if the BB wasn't enough of a distraction... I have sooooo much work to do today... :p

[Gracie]

I'm signing off here. I'll be out of here at 3:30 and have to tie up some loose ends (actually do work).

Everyone have a great weekend and good luck on Mummy Maze! The mummy and the guy are so cute! If you take too long making a move, the little guy starts reading a newspaper!

Loren

[lhall]

Bye Loren, Have a great weekend.

Well, Ginger made it home on the bus just fine. She's playing with the girl across the street now.


Leigh

[colleency]

Peggy,
:o My avatar is a drawing of me done by DH. Here is the full picture (it is what HE thinks I look like :rolleyes: ) http:\\www.shawnandcolleen.com

I keep deleting this post when I try to find an actual picture of me.
...And now I can't remember how to post a picture. Oh, well. The avatar is actually fairly close to what my face looks like.
:p

[MKSquared]

Holy boobs, Batman! Colleen in the Elvira dress! :cool: Your costumes are incredible, girl! I'm having lots of fun looking through your site.

[colleency]

ROTFL :o :D Thank you!

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by MKSquared
Holy boobs, Batman! Colleen in the Elvira dress! :cool: Your costumes are incredible, girl! I'm having lots of fun looking through your site.

LOL MK! You are too funny!

colleen your site is great...I'm glad I saw the elvira costume (and the Princess L one) before I read that!

[Peggy C.]

...ah that time of day when this place turns into the Bermuda triangle.:(

[lhall]

I'm still here Peggy,

Great costumes Colleen!

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by lhall
I'm still here Peggy,

Great costumes Colleen!

Leigh

I should have clarified, I meant here at work. I know that you leigh would never just abandon me!:D

Did Ginger like riding the bus?

[lhall]

Peggy,

Yes, Ginger likes the bus. She loves riding it to school in the morning, but has been asking to ride it home since school started. I figured that she could do it on the days that I'm off.

Leigh

[Molli526]

Have a nice weekend ladies!

[gertdog]

Bye Molli!

Gertie's home! She looks pretty frightful but she was really happy to see us. They told us she had a good appetite, and she drank two full bowls of water when she got home- that's my girl!

Jennifer, the before/after pictures of Harley are so funny! I will have to show my DH when he gets home.

Mary Kate, I can't believe you taunted Bethany like that. How cruel! However, I feel certain that Bethany will find a way to get you back... :p

I have to say that every time I see SLT in these posts I initially think someone is writing about me, because those are my initials. I use my initials a lot when writing memos and stuff for work, so I tend to assume they refer to ME rather than Sur La Table- oops!A little egocentric, perhaps... :o :p

I hear Gertie's cone clonking into something in the next room, so perhaps I should go investigate...

[Peggy C.]

Yay I'm so glad she is doing well. Be careful though sometimes too much water on an empty tummy will make you (or in this case gertie) sick. Pamper her tonight. (I know you will!)

Not egocentric at all. Sorry I'm just too lazy to type the whole thing.:o

[lhall]

Poor Gertie! I'm glad she's drinking & moving around.

Bye Molli!

Leigh

[Peggy C.]

Leigh I'm glad ginger likes the bus. Cool that you let her take it occasionally. That's where all the good gossip is, but probably not at her age!

Did I tell you guys that they are finally locking the door that leads to my area so that people can't just walk in? Anyway they are, but they also installed an intercom...time to mess with the people leaving for the day, most of them don't know it's there so I can eaves drop on their conversations or just start talking like a voice from beyond. Muahahahaha!:D

[Peggy C.]

Kathryn that was so nice of that student!

How is the strike going btw?

[KathrynY]

Stephanie, glad to hear Gertie's back at home with you!

Ok, I was having a pretty hectic day, my assistant is out on strike and it's the first week of classes so I'm swimming in paperwork right now - my desk looks like a bomb hit it - then one of our students who was back home in China over the summer brought me a small gift. It's the cutest little red embroidered cell phone case I've ever seen!! :)

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by KathrynY


Peggy, you wouldn't do that, would you? ;) ;) :D

Hmmm honestly? Probably not, unless it looked like a really heated debate or something. ;)

[colleency]

Yay Gertie!

[KathrynY]

Originally posted by Peggy C.
Anyway they are, but they also installed an intercom...time to mess with the people leaving for the day, most of them don't know it's there so I can eaves drop on their conversations or just start talking like a voice from beyond. Muahahahaha!:D

Peggy, you wouldn't do that, would you? ;) ;) :D

[lhall]

I'm gonna have to go. Someone wants the computer. Have a nice weekend everyone!

Peggy,
That's hilarious about the intercom. Have fun. :D

Leigh

Ok, nevermind. Mariel doesn't want to play with the computer anymore and I forgot the CD on this machine is broken. Add to that the fact that our neice scratched up the age 2-4 computer games we lent her so now they will only work on this computer.

Leigh

[KathrynY]

Wow - gremlins.

Peggy, the strike is lingering on - it's been 7 days now. I haven't heard that there's an end date in sight, so it could be several days or even weeks longer :(.

[Peggy C.]

I'm very psychot err I mean psychic today.:D

[Peggy C.]

By Leigh oh and Molli too, I didn't see you duck out!:D

Kathryn that's too bad that it is taking so long. How horrible will it be for you if it continues on and on?

[Peggy C.]

Originally posted by Peggy C.

Kathryn that's too bad that it is taking so long. How horrible will it be for you if it continues on and on?

Then again you are already buried so don't answer that, I'll assume it's pretty bad.

Have a great weekend everyone and I'll pass along all of your heddos :D and hugs to emily.

Kathryn I see you were able to sneak in an answer, I'm glad there are options if it continues. NOw get back to work.:D

[jjsooner73]

Yay gertie! Glad to hear she's home and OK.

If it were feasible, I'd have Harley send her a get well card. :) Last year, my coworker's lab/dashund mix had back surgery, so Harley gave her a card with his paw print in it done in kid's finger paint. He was all relaxed, but as soon as his paw hit that wet paint, he got a bit nervous and I had to do some fast talking to make sure I didn't end up with blue pawprints across the living room. Anyhow.

You be nice with that intercom, Peggy!

Have a great weekend everyone. :D