Another August AF-Week 2

[Rusty]

Another August AF-Week 2

Hi Everybody,

Blonde:l, it's great to see you back with us. I always enjoyed your posts. Good for you for getting back on the AF bus.

Witts-I did the same thing you did with my phone, and then thought I lost it, when all the time it was in my car, underneath the 3rd seat bench. Unfortunately I went out and bought a new Iphone anyway. I think we've all had similar experiences. Thanks for being brave enough to share your story with us. Loved it.

Lav, FINALLY, you got some nice weather. I read on the Daily Thread that you are getting a whole new batch of chicks. How fun!

Dill:h Thank you for allaying my fears. I, too, am grateful for our thread.

Star-I bet connecting with some of our dear, former threadmates on FB would be really good for you. I know you miss Chill and Papmom, and on FB you could see them for real.

I have the next two days at home and I am going to enjoy them.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful AF night.

[Lavande]

Another August AF-Week 2

Yep Rusty -
I have ordered 25 Buff Orpingtons & 5 Araucanas (blue eggers)
Spent a little time gathering my chick feeder, water bottles, heat lamp & stuff this afternoon. I told YB to go pick up a refrigerator box or something just as large to use for their very first home. When they are older & feathered out I move them into the nursery section of the chicken house (away from the older birds). When they outgrow that space then I have to bite the bullet & take the old birds to the Amish guy (henchman). I don't like that part very much but it has to be done

This nice weather is supposed to hang around for 1 more day then the humidity returns........

[Rusty]

Another August AF-Week 2

Lav-If I had chickens I wouldn't want to take them to the Amish farmer either.:upset: Good for you for putting YB to work with this project. I so hope your nice weather continues....it must be so depressing to have day after day of rain and thunderstorms.

I forgot to tell everyone my big news of the day. I was part of a team of two people, working with a new client today, a young woman. She is very nice. She's single, and she has some unusual pets: RATS!!!!:eeks::egad::scratchinhead: She has FIVE of them....domesticated rats. She said they are very sweet and affectionate. In my opinion, that is SICK, SICK, SICK!!!! All I could think about was the episode of "Hoarders: Buried Alive" where the guy hoarded rats and there were THOUSANDS of them in his home.

Ok, off my soapbox now. See you in the morning.

[witts end]

Another August AF-Week 2

rusty i have to agree rats ......ughhhh
lav I just got 4 khaki cambells ducks to-day ......will worry about hubby when i get home
I already have 12 chooks starting to lay and resued another 18 from the egg farm ... hope they are starting to lay again ....... I'm starting to think of all the work waiting for me at home
will have to get the spring gardening happening ....hoefully i can get a handle on the weeds this year
did you get you purse back dill
hello everyone else good

[dill]

Another August AF-Week 2

Hello everyone,
Witts, no I did not get my purse back yet, but I will in the next day or so. Lucky for me there is nothing vital in it. Most expensive item in there is my Ipod, but I'm not worried about it.

Lav, I did sign up for Rick Hanson's Just one thing newsletter. It's good you have the amish farmer who is willing to take your old hens. I wonder what he does with them. I assume they are for food, but one time we tried taking our old hens to be processed and put in the freezer. When we tried to eat them they were awful! Have you heard the expression "tough old bird"? That came to mind while we were trying to chew our way through one. We had to pitch the rest.

Rusty, Rats?! Disgusting! Please tell me she kept them in cages!:H:H I can't stand the sight, smell, or anything! I think humans are genetically hard-wired to loathe rats for self survival. There is something really wrong about keeping them as pets.

Star, your list of enjoyable activities is similar to mine. It is the simple things that brings me pleasure and peace. I am having to find new avenues these days because I'm not afforded the luxury of those things you described. You can't do those things with young children underfoot. Sorry for the whine, I'll stop now!

The weather here is so cool and beautiful! It feels like October but looks like May! Happy AF Thursday.

[Lavande]

Another August AF-Week 2

Good morning friends,

Nice morning here, cool temps & the sun is here ~ nice!

Rusty, rats? Really??
I'm afraid that girl has at least one loose screw :H :H

Witts, I've never had ducks, how cool!
I had some rescued chooks myself years ago. They were pretty sad looking when they first arrived with their trimmed beaks, they were small & underfed too. But they did catch up & did pretty well
Good luck with your flock!

I have the morning free to do whatever I need to do then my granddaughter returns around lunch time. My daughter is happy this is her last class tonight

Wishing everyone a great AF Thursday!
Lav

[Lavande]

Another August AF-Week 2

Cross post Dill
I'm not even interested in knowing what the Amish guy does with the chickens. I just can't handle that stuff, I'm not a farmer

Enjoy the JOT emails!
I think you will find a lot of useful info in them that you can put to good use

[Stargazerlily]

Another August AF-Week 2

Good morning...

Rusty, I get the creeps from rats as pets, too. Just hate rodents, and with my cats, they would not last long in my house! Any plans for your two days off? I think the weather is supposed to be cool and sunny.

Lav, finally you have some the perfect Midwest weather. Enjoy. Thanks for the pm.

Dill, you are not whining, just expressing your feelings. It is OK to talk about the good and bad of having grandchildren live with you. You are a wonderful mother and grandmother, and that is not always easy. Just ask Lav.

Shorter day today, and I can barely wait. I am making Zuchinni Cassarole, Vienna Bread and Seasoned Olive Oil as a side, when I get home. This weather is making me happy. A bike ride later may be in order, too. Hope you all have a glorious AF day. It is so awesome to feel healthy and strong. I was reading on newbie's nest a story of a bike ride/pub crawl. That would be so dangerous and drinking would be counterproductive to the exercise. Feedback, please.

[Lavande]

Another August AF-Week 2

Star, that bike ride/pub crawl talk in the NN is frightening
The Brits seem to be very fond of them. I wasn't thrilled when my son told me years ago that they were doing the same thing in the NJ shore town Wildwood. He worked in the fire depts. there while he was in college. There's way too much traffic here to do that sort of thing safely.

Enjoy your short day today

[BlondeAFAmbition]

Another August AF-Week 2

Hi Gang,

Thank you for the welcome "backs" everyone. It's been a good week and now I have some vacation time for the next few days. Just staying local...no trips planned this time. I hope everyone is having a great Thursday. The sun is shining here and it does wonders to uplift my spirits. Amazing what an affect the weather can have on us, isn't it? I hope you all enjoy your day and that the sun is shining in your part of the world

[Rusty]

Another August AF-Week 2

Good Morning, AF Thursday Friends!

It feels sooooo good to awake, unhung, full of energy, happy.

Blonde-I love New England. You may remember (or not) that my mom's family is from Maine, and we used to go there every summer as kids. Most of my mom's family live in ME, NH, and MA. New England has the MOST beautiful fall colors. I'll be going to CT in about a month. I'm glad you have a few days off. PM me if you want to chat because I have today and tomorrow off, too, and like you, will enjoy the lovely weather.

Star-I hate rodents, too, although I had hamsters and gerbils as a kid. Now, just the thought makes me cringe. Plans for my days off. Yes, yes, yes. My good friend's daughter is getting married Saturday and I'm getting my nails done today, returning clothes at Kohl's, exercising, and doing some business-related stuff....and at my own pace. Tomorrow, it's Spray-On Tan Day and getting my hair cut and colored....so I am beautified for the wedding. Can you tell it takes A LOT of work to make me beautiful?:H Regarding the bike/pub crawl....My first job out of college was in public relations, and I was working in downtown Milwaukee, and pub crawls were very popular. My clients would always ask me to join them in the crawl. I never did. How stupid is that? In northern WI and MI, the pub crawls are very popular in the winter, and people go on snowmobiles. One of my client's friends went on a "sled crawl" while completely wasted, and was decapitated when he ran into a barbed wire fence. Fortunately, tavern owners have become more responsible by offering free rides home to patrons who are drunk, and around here anyway, it has cut down on the number of drunk driving arrests and deaths. But do I think they're a great idea? Hell no...especially when the people participating are our age. Don't you just kind of outgrow that kind of behavior?

Dill-I've forgotten my purse at places, too....and UGH, the feeling of vulnerability being without it. I'm glad you'll get it back soon. I think you're handling your babysitting situation very well and you're doing ANYTHING but whining. I don't think you're capable of whining.

Star-your casserole sounds delicious! Wish I could be there to share it with you.

Witts-I like ducks! I love that you got them without asking permission from your HB.:H Please let us know his reaction.

Lav-Star-Dill-when that woman told me that she had pet rats, I tried to hide my disgust, but my face gave me away, and I could just tell that it didn't go over well with her. I was supposed to "inherit" this client from my partner whom I worked with yesterday, but she said in our closing meeting that she would fight to keep him. When my partner said "Rusty is easy to work with and very good at what she does, " she pursed her lips, shook her head, and said, "No offense to you, Rusty, but I've worked with Jim a long time (3 yrs) and I just want to keep him." Fine. Keep him. Wow, my popularity has taken a real dive this summer, according to Public Opinion Polls!:H

Cyntree-where are you? I'll be in CT in a month.

Ok, now must do a few business tasks.

Have a fabulous AF Thursday!!

[dill]

Another August AF-Week 2

What's a bike walk/pub crawl? Never heard of it!

Rusty, You are very popular here!
Blonde, yes the sun is shining here and the weather is actually just like the weather I have experienced on vacations in Maine in August. Wonderful!
Star, glad you have a short day. I'm enjoying the weather right there with you! It does feel good to feel healthy and strong and also well-rested.
Lav, I hope you enjoyed your morning freedom. My morning blew up in my face when the daycare called and said g-daughter had a temp of 101. Sigh. There went my only "me" time.
Witts, I'll have to google chooks.

[FlyAway]

Another August AF-Week 2

Just jumping into the middle of the conversation; hope you all don't mind.

Dill--older hens are used as soup and stew hens. The older they are the tougher they are, but they are good for making stocks. I grew up on a farm and we used to chop the heads off chickens. I guess I didn't think about it then, having grown up doing it. But now there is no way. I would be a bawling mess.

Add me to the list of those not interested in having a rat as a pet. Nor a snake. Yuck.

Pub crawls--unfortunately I've been on a few. My husband belongs to a beer club and they do this regularly. I have gone on a few as a non-drinker, just to hang out with friends. But when various members of the group get falling down drunk I don't get the point.

Rusty I can guarantee that no one stopped posting here because of you. You are one of my favorite peeps! I stopped posting for a while just because I feel so far removed from alcohol now. I often feel I have nothing to contribute.

[papmom3]

Another August AF-Week 2

HELLO MY WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, CHERISHED FRIENDS!!!

I am so sorry I haven't posted in a month. Please believe me it had NOTHING to do with any of you! Life has just gotten in the way (mostly good) and there were some nights I didn't even turn on the computer I was so bushed. You all were never far from my thoughts and I've been feeling very anxious that another nite would pass without my posting. I could never continue this journey without you guys, believe me!!

I have read back on this week but that's all I can do right now.

Rusty-I PM'd you. Rats? ugh!!

Blondie-welcome back friend!! I'm very glad to see you back here-I wondered what had happened to you!! Please know we are all here for you and will help however we can.

Lav-didn't you just get the last batch of chicks last year??? What about Stella-does she go to the amish guy to? :upset: I can't even imagine how hard this will be to do but it is life. On the happy side-new chicks!!

I too like my Vizio very much. No complaints so far!

Witt-I have lost my phone too and now carry a cheap pay by the minute phone that I can reactivate at anytime. It's my insurance policy. Doesn't have my contact info in it so I might be out of luck trying to contact people but if I can get on FB or email I can always use that. Glad you found yours. Good luck with the new chicks (chooks?) and ducks!! I would have liked to have seen the quilts from the 1800s!!

Star-isn't it unbelievable that school is starting up again already!!! You are being so good to yourself with the yoga, bike riding and swimming. Maybe you will motivate me. Please feel free to PM me and I will give you my FB info. That goes for anyone who would like to connect via FB. I'm not a big status poster so be forewarned. I do love seeing what my friends are up to tho.

Dill-I hope you are able to carve out some "me" time and that you have settled into a routine with your Gkids. And no, you didn't sound like you were whining.

Fly-good to see you again!! Can you stick around?

So what is up with Cyn?

I haven't seen Kas post on FB in a very long time. I better check to see that I'm still on her friend list!! Haven't heard much from TDN either. I see her "like" something everyonce in a while.

OK, so here is my very long update.

First off-the weather had finally turned to my liking!! The heat and humidity have disappeared and being outside is pleasant once more.

So, the month of July was very very busy. I haven't work at my demo job in 4 weeks but I haven't been lying around eating bon bons either! :H

I have had time off to do things around the house, got together with pap friends, had a sail with my dad, bro and his family and last but not least, had my big agility weekend. Now, the trial itself was fabulous despite the very hot weather. However, the traveling part with my hoarder friend was a nightmare. We are barely speaking now although I am training her 8 month old border collie puppy in Obedience every Monday nite. I am also still sitting next to her in Quilt class but that is it.
On the day of our trip to Maine she showed up 1.5 hours late. I was already packing up my car to do the trip myself when she finally showed up. She was supposed to be at my house at 10am. At 10:30 I texted then called her. She said would be there in 20 min. I texted her back and said if she wasn't there by 11 don't bother coming. She showed up at 11:30. I told her to go home and when she didn't I totally totally lost it. I never knew there was that much anger in me!! To this day I don't know why I backed down-I had everything paid for so could have gone by myself. It took us over 2 hours in the pouring rain to pack her van and get on the road. To make matters worse, we encountered the worst traffic ever seen plus a huge accident on the way up. It took us 3 hours to get to the border of NH when it usually takes 1 hour and 10 min. Needless to say, instead of arriving at the campsite by 5pm , we got there at 9 and had to unpack and set up the potty yard in the pitch black. By the time we got to bed it was 11:30 and I was emotionally and physically exhausted (it took us 7 hours to make the trip and I did all the driving). I had to constantly ask my friend to help unpack and set up. She has no initiative and would just stand there watching me kill myself. I pretty much ignored her the rest of the weekend. I just concentrated on my guys and doing as well as I could at the trial. DD and I qualified and came in either 1st or 2nd 5 out of 8 runs. Pretty darn good for taking a year off! I reconnected with a number of people and pretty much enjoyed myself. the trial ended Sunday afternoon and after helping the club pack everything up we had the campground/fairgrounds to ourselves as everyone else left. That was kind of scary. I turned in very early and read my book. Monday morning it was more of the same. I started packing up everything and she sat there eating breakfast. I lost it once again. I did calm down much faster and we took our time going home. We stopped in Freeport to visit a quilt shop we found (very nice) and stopped in Old Orchard Beach for lunch (big mistake). By the time we got to MA it was around 3 and as luck would have it we got caught in yet another major accident and had to go back roads. Not counting the 2 stops in Maine, it again took us over 7 hours to get home. I was never so glad to say goodbye to someone!!

Last weekend I went to a nice quilt show with another friend and had a fabulous time. Its amazing how wonderful non dysfunctional relationships are!! Sunday was my day to work on the yard and chill.

I go back to my demo job this weekend and get to start off by meeting my old work friend for lunch after the demo. Can't wait!!

On the family news front we are moving forward in getting my dad's condo on the market around Sept 1. If all goes well he'll be in his cottage at the assisted living complex by the holidays.

My little nephew is turning 8 and we're all getting together at my bro's house on the 24th for a big party. I'm making him 2 pillowcases with hockey motif fabric for the cuffs. I'll also buy him 2 books to wrap in the pillowcases. He's a voracious reader just like I was at his age.

My 90 year old Aunt (my dad's sister) is coming for a visit in September. She's had some serious health issues over the past year but seems to be on the mend. We had tried to make a group trip down to SC to be with her on her birthday but $$ and time constraints got in the way. We are thrilled she is well enough to make the trip and will be having a family get together on the 22nd. I haven't seen her in maybe 10 years and it could be the last time we see her.

Everything is well with my sis and her family although things are still strained with the youngest son and his "business" pursuits. Haven't seen any of them in while they've all been so busy. It will be nice to catch up on the 24th.

Work is going ok. Its very busy and my boss and I have turned a corner I think. She has been praising my work as project manager which makes me uncomfortable because #1 its my job and #2 I've NEVER been praised by a boss before. I'm not sure why all of a sudden I'm doing such a good job but I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth!! The work can still be very boring sometimes and when this project is over in October I'm not sure what I'll do. I can take a lot but mind numbing boredom is not one of them!!

I am planning on going back up to Maine for another agility trial the weekend before Columbus Day. This time in Bar Harbor. I have the possibility of finishing our Level 2 title with this trial so I'm very excited. No 30 foot trailer on site this time. I'll be moteling it 10 min away.

My little LM had his annual last month. Although he still has his kidney condition (and will never recover), he is doing great and doesn't exhibit any outward signs. He's as sassy as ever (and loud!!). I take it one day at a time knowing things can change in a heartbeat with this thing. Mickey is doing well-he even humors me and plays on the agility equipment in the backyard every once in a while. They both had a wonderful time in Maine-lots of walks and attention when I wasn't running.
DD is doing great. Still a PIA but we're having fun practicing in this great weather in the backyard.
Freddy the kitty is still very missed. Timica has been very vocal lately but I just don't have it in me to find her a new friend. Maybe in a few months but not right now. In the meantime I try to give her more attention than normal. If she would just get over her fear of DD, she could become part of the family again but that will never happen. Its funny, she can be in the same room as Mickey and LM but the minute DD comes into view she runs. Oh well.

So, that is it. Should have warned you all to make a sandwhich before reading this!!

I promise I will keep in touch much better than I did this past month.

:h :l

[Lavande]

Another August AF-Week 2

Good God papmom :H
When I asked you to stop by & let us know how you were doing - you really did :H
I'm munching some multigrain Tostitos - no sandwich needed! Glad you are doing OK & I hope you continue to do so!
My last batch of chicks was in Sept 2010 - they are three years old now (almost) & getting tired as far as egg production

Dill, sorry to hear your granddaughter picked up some (likely) virus - daycare is famous for that, don't you think? I hope she's better very soon & I hope you get a day off very soon as well.

Rusty, sounds like you are making good use of your time.

Greetings Blondie & FlyAway!
I actually continue to post daily on the threads because I really enjoy being able to talk to people about anything. My real life friends are few & far at this point so I enjoy the interaction here

Have a good night all!