The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

[rubywillow]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Nelz, not to worry, unless you look like Ned Beatty! A bunch of French guys in spandex made it through during the Olympic whitewater event, so I guess you're safe.

[NoraC]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Good morning family.
Getting ready for work but wanted to check in. :h

[rubywillow]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Biz, I'm SO aware of what you're saying. AND they have quotas to fill to keep the government hawks happy. No more job security. Hubs has a spotless work record, 34 years at company, and they came after him and several others his age 2 years ago; fired the others, he was put on probation, for forwarding an inoffensive joke. Not one problem since, but he was thisclose to being sent home. NOW they're worried he's going to retire soon.

[bird]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Hi all
just checking in and busy busy with the play then off to rubes sunday...later...sorry so short

[Barbara1234]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Ruby............OMG! :yuk::yuk::yuk: :H:H:H (The guys in Spandex)
Biz...You have 15 good years left, that is what employers don't think about. The integrity and work ethic that an experienced person has compared to younger candidates is far superior. Most 20 yr. olds don't stay 20 yrs. at the same job. You on the other hand would be steady and dependable. That's what I look at.
All of the subcontractors that work for me are over 53 and my business runs smooth as clockwork. I still look at us 50-somethings as prime candidates for jobs. Like you say we have at least 15 good years left.
Maybe you should re-write your cover page to reflect that.

[tlrgs]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

good morning and have a happy friday one and all

[rubywillow]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

OK, one chore done (notes to AB at camp), now the other girls are coming over. Trying to finish the house, planning, terrorizing the tenants, packing, soothing Hubs about being away (oh, and he sprung on me he's taking next week off!), pick the garden (Bird, you'll be fed a stready diet of cucumbers!). We all need a break, don't we??

[fennel]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

At mom's appointment....waiting. Feel like crud, but there's nobody else available to take her.

Rubes, if those spandex clad dudes are an example of the peeps hanging around your creek, I think I'll bow out of future meet ups! :H

[rubywillow]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Don't think any of those guys would fare well in my neck of the woods. It's mostly baggy swimsuits and cutoffs! Besides, all my swimsuits have holes in the knees!
You know, I really don't care about celebrities, but Lindsey Lohan is such a horrible example being thrown in our kids faces. Now she's in trouble, because instead of jail time, she got house arrest, and has been throwing wild parties on her roof. Her ankle monitor went off because someone poured a drink on it! Back to court, and judge practically called her an embarrassing fool, but kids see what she gets away with. If you or I stole a drink at Wal-Mart, we'd go to jail, but not her! Drinking, fighting, seducing everyone she could in court-ordered rehab? Can't help but think of that old cliche` 'Use your power for good instead of evil.'

There are five things that you cannot recover in life:

(1) The Stone...........after it's thrown,

(2) The Word...............after it's said,

(3) The Occasion......after it's missed, and

(4) The Time.............after it's gone.

(5) A person...............after they die

[sick of being sick]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Wow, Ruby, that's powerful and so true! I wish SO BAD I was going to your cabin! I need a break from this garden! Paul is on day 3 AF! His gout feels much better, but I couldn't leave him with the whole garden! Bird, I know you are going to have a wonderful time and you deserve it! Nelz, you really should go, they may need a man to help them with all those fish they are going to catch! Nora, it is so good to have you back. How are you doing? Melissa, you are so sweet and we are looking forward to getting to know you better. Yes, we do all love one another around here and most of us have been around a long time. Hey, Barbara, it is so good to see you again. Roger, you have benn awefully quiet lately. Are you doing okay? MB, so glad you could post some today! I couldn't figure out how to see your pics, but if you download them to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and it is real easy to do. I am getting so worried about Grateful! I have left several messages and she has not called me back, which is unlike her. She was suppose to be off today, too. HAS ANYONE TALKED TO HER? Sunni, Fen, everyone I missed, I love you all! Vicki

[RingingCedars]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Afternoon Jammers! Another workday almost done and thankful my doors are still open. Barbara I like your view on the 15 best productive years to offer the work force. Melissa--nice to meet you and look forward to getting to know you better too. I missed Hill this morning. I hope that derby went ok for you. Been wondering about Blonde, Scottish Lass and Jude--where'd y'all go?? So nice to see Nora and Mama more and looking forward to those pics Mama. Rubes and Bird and little Birds - have a great time--I know you will. Miss Sunshine that is great news about Maggie. Did you stop giving her those "treats"? Hi to all and wishing everyone a pleasant Friday evening. I think we've been transported to the Amazon forest here. I haven't seen it rain like this, so heavy and often in years.

[RingingCedars]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Off to pm Grateful. xo Swan it really would help if you opened up and shared more. You will get love, support and suggestions and it will lighten the load your carry. Promise. xo

[melissa27]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Life story - Chapter one

Hey there lovely folks,

Got to finally read all of your posts..! So good to meet all of you, each and everyone special! I don't want to feel like a complete stranger.. and it's my turn to tell you my story. Lots to say, I hope I dont bore you, but this is the first time I share and I think it's good to start from the very beginning, since everything has its roots.

I'm gonna start with chapter one, ?LIVING WITH AN ALCOHOLIC?. But, before I do, I'm going to say that I am an alcoholic and have been for the last 15 years!!! So, here it goes:

CHAPTER ONE
My name is Effie, I'm 45 and I was born in Greece and when I was 16 I immigrated to the States on a student visa. I don't know why, but I wanted to leave so much. Never liked the Greek mentality and I wanted a better future for myself. My dad felt it would be better if I stayed with his childhood buddy who was already in the States for years. To me he was like an uncle. I admired him and looked up to him a lot. He would come and visit with us in Greece every summer and I had known him ever since I was a baby.

Life was so good, I was going to school and working at the same time, but I never realized I was leaving with an alcoholic..! I didn't even know what that was...! He used to drink every day after work, but I never saw a problem in that. Mind you, I had never even tasted alcohol, I even hated the smell of it. What an irony!!

So.........one night, as drunk as he was, he came into my bedroom and forced himself on me..! I thought it was a nightmare! Does any of you know what it feels like to be outside of yourself, but yet looking at yourself...? I later found out that this is the way your conscience reacts when things you experience are too shocking to handle. I was 16 and he was 45.! I couldn't tell my Dad, God.. he would have a heart attack! So, I never told anyone and I kept this to myself for all these years! Continued to live with him for about one year, as it was very difficult for me to support myself on a part-time job plus all the college expenses. I got myself a baseball bat which I kept next to my bed and that's all I did. I have to say that living with an alcoholic is worse than living with someone who has Alzheimer's, or someone who is mentally ill!

Lots and lots of ugly experiences. I'm only going to share the one that has stayed with me the most! The place we lived in and shared was a condo, I had my room upstairs with my bathroom. One evening I came home to find all my clothes thrown out in the front yard! Boy, was I ready to kill him! I swormed into the house ready for everything, but he was passed out on the couch! I thought that God is watching out for me and it was a good thing he was in such a state. I remember counting just to cool myself down. I finally went up to my bedroom and soaked in the bathtub for a while. A couple of hours later, as I was blowdrying my hair, he busted my bedroom door down and he started yelling at me to pack up and leave! Well....., that blowdryer went flying across the room and got him right between the eyes! Boy, he got outraged, he came at me like a mad dog. In my effort to push him away from me, I had scratched the hell out of him. When he finally stopped, I thought that those two hours of sleep did it and he came to his senses and stopped and he left me alone and I was so thankful. Heart pounding, I went to bed. About 15 mibutes later I heard some voices saying ?where is she??And........... there were two cops standing by my bedside asking me kindly to get out of bed. What I saw was beyond me.! He was showing the scratches to the cops saying ?look, what she did to me? and when they handcuffed me and read my Miranda rights I was laughing... I couldn't believe what was happening!! One of the cops told me ?Sorry Mam, but we have to take you in?.... I spent the night in jail....AWFUL!!! Next morning he came to bail me out asking me to forgive him, telling me that he was too drunk and he wasnt himself! I moved out the same day and went to stay with a friend having no idea how I was going to make it. No alcohol in my life back then. It was 1983.
END OF CHAPTER ONE

I'll probably take up three pages if I go on.! Chapter two will come up shortly

Jan, it breaks my heart to hear about your IRS problems! That sucks! I pray that you'll get through this and stay strong. You have been so far, I haven't! You and I joined MWO the same time and you have made such a progress Look at me! Instead of moving on I stepped backwards, haven't been able to fight that monster called AL, BUT you have! You are a strong lady and I know that no matter what comes your way, you'll kick the shit out of it. I want you to know you have been on my mind and always thought of you. Your advice, your input and your wonderful sense of humor have been with me all this time. Don't feel embarassed about the help given to Bret. Good things happen to those who deserve it. Go past the embarassement and enjoy the gratefulness. Trust me, you'll have your turn. It comes around. Lots of love and hugs to you!

Ruby, loved your pics and those words of wisdom you posted on 6/9/11. You're so precious! Thank you so much!

Sunshine, how did those two weeks went by without your girls? You made it! Hands up for you! Thank you so much for being there and paying attention to me and everybody else here! Please continue to do so! I need you!

Vicky, loved your pics! Chloe is so adorable! You're so nice and sweet, always have something uplifting to say to everyone. You're a doll!

Rog, how's your job working out? That love affair with your truck? Did it finally surrender??

A note to Grateful: Everybody loves you here. Please, dont stay away! I need you too!

Scottish Lash and Sarah Jane, I can relate to you sooooo much! We need each other! Please!

Lots and lots of love to one and all! Sorry, if I forgot to address some of you, As I'm logging off I'm thinking of Blonde, Barbara, Jude, Nora.... Everybody. You're all in my heart!

Effie
:h:h:h

[mama bear]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

wow, melissa...you are one strong lady too. Childhood haunts us all our life...do you have kids?
Fennel it was so great to talk to you today. I feel so much closer...
I am tired and have to work tomorrow..not much to say.
I love you all and am doing ok
Jan

[sunshinedaisies]

The Journey begins here so get YOUR ASSES IN GEAR!!!! for june

Oh Melissa - my heart goes out to you. I know we all have our crosses to bear but when I read about others, I think mine were nothing in comparison. You have done so well - no matter where you are - you have survived! you have come to a wonderful place, you are with friends - we are always here to hold your hand, support you - no matter what you need, if ever you need me - PM me. I am here for you. Thank you for sharing with us. that must have been hard for you. Everyone will be here for you - just post and someone is here.

Love and hugs,

sun XX