July Jewels

[dill]

Hello Star, so glad you had a good time with family! It is nice when everyone leaves as well, isn't it. Getting back to your routine is comforting. Your routine will be disrupted again this coming weekend. How much tme will you get to spend with your father? Will you get to see any of your brothers?

Cyn, when do you hit the road? Will Mr. Tree be with you during this busy month?

Lav, it is funny how the children grow and change, look like one person or another along the way. I'm really glad I have been able to experience both little boy and little girl grandchildren. It is such a delight. Viva la differnce!

Hello Pauly, I went to a movie theatre yesterday for a matinee. It was so hot and humid outside it was a nice escape. We rarely go to the movies but when we do it is usually to see one of those blockbuster type movies. The one we went to yesterday was Jurasic World. It was hokie but fun. Used to be I had to top off before I went to a theatre and then had to hurry home afterwards chasing the buzz. Wow, I'm glad I don't have that ball and chain to deal with anymore!

[Lavande]

Good Monday morning friends!

Still under severe heat warnings here, not my fav weather.
Had a seriously crappy night, couldn't sleep much & got up with a sore throat, uh oh. I think I may just stay home today & not spread germs around.

Star, glad you enjoyed your weekend as busy as it was
We all have good reason to be grateful for being AF!

Dill, I honestly do not remember the last time I was in a movie theater. I would guess the mid-90's!!!! I haven't been able to talk yB into going all these years.
I sure am grateful for my granddaughter, she is very entertaining, ha ha!!

Pauly, what are you up to today?

Cyn, I'll keep an eye out for you on FB

Papmom, I saw your video - great job with Koby!! Stop in when you have a minute.

Wishing everyone a great AF Monday.
Hopefully the ITs will be going home tonight - we'll see.

Lav

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Dill,I used to hate going to the movies for that very reason too,now I just hate going to the movies haha,its just a gamble if I'm gonna like it or not,we usually just wait for the DVD,actually here in Vegas a few theaters are serving wine and beer,anything to make that money I guess,we went to a place called Tulle Springs yesterday, let Louie feed the ducks and geese,see the peacocks, took a picnic of bagel sandwiches and chips,was gonna BBQcuz they have grills but hubs said he didn't feel like cooking, wimp!weather has been pretty decent so we're able to get out,hope everyone is well and we all have a Motivating Monday

[treegirl]

Hi all -

Motivating Monday - love it, Pauly!

I so agree with you Dill - the AL was a complete ball and chain, and ruled everything. Thank goodness for freedom.

Lav - I'm doing better at understanding that my environment is not going to match my vision of it...but I am glad that one thing I did early in the spring was to carve out a little of the wilderness and re-plant some big gorgeous hosta. I can see the nook of the yard from the dining room, and it gives me a little 'bump-up' everytime I see it. Which isn't often, since we don't use the dining room alot, but whatever! Hope you feel better as the day goes on. Staying in is a great idea; I just went out for an errand and now I'm totally sapped.

Dill - so interesting that you are having fun with the boy-ness and the girl-ness of your gkids.

Pap - congrats on your agility wins!

Star - great to hear how wonderful the weekend was. Hope you get caught up on your life this week before you have to head out.

Well, just finished helping HB pack up. I'm taking him to Kennedy airport late this afternoon, we'll see how that goes! We are both going to work at the same place, but he has to be there before me. I take this same red-eye flight next Tuesday. I'll be driving myself and leaving the car at a parking company, so I guess today is a good dry run...

Happy AF Motivated Monday all -

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Lav, hope you feel better. You have been super busy the last week or so, a good time to take a rest.

Dill, I will not see any siblings, they went back home. My Dad is getting stronger, but more chemo next week, so he'll get sick again. What a cycle.

Hey Pauly, what a fun day.

Cyn, have a safe trip.

Have a good one.

[dill]

Hello Friends,

Lav, I hope that sore throat didn't turn into anything more severe. I woke with a sore throat 3 weeks ago but luckily it moved on its way. Mr. D woke the same day with a sore throat and his turned into a chest cold. He is still coughing but the cough is getting better. Little granddaughter got it too but her cough is gone now thanks to the meds. Anyway, take it easy and take good care of yourself!

Pauly, I googled Tule Springs. What a nice park to visit. It sounds like a wonderful adventure for little Louie. A movie theatre selling wine and beer? I really don't like that concept. A person in recovery who is avoiding bars and events where alcohol is sold will have one less "safe" option for themselves. Movies are such a great distraction whey you are trying to get out of your own head, which is a lot of the time in the early days of desperately seeking sobriety.

Star, I finished the book about the teenagers descent into heroin addiction. I thought it was pretty well done in some ways but didn't really describe the true ordeal well enough so in some ways I guess he romanticised it too much and fell short of the mark for me. He made getting off it look hard for some and easy for others, leaving that door open for kids to think: I can do it, it won't take me down. I looked for that book you mentioned earlier on called Being Mortal but when I read the synopsis I decided it was just too heavy a subject for me at this particular time so I am not going to read it. I hope you understand. I know you wanted some feedback on it. I just received The Source from Amazon and am really excited about it!

Cyn, how did the dry run to Kennedy go? It will definitely help you next Tuesday to already have done that once. You really impress me with your ability to to get out and go! Especially going for long peirods of time. That's not something I have ever been comfortable with and I think I miss out on a lot of life experiences because of it. I also ca relate to your being pleased with looking out your window and seeing your little nook. It does give one a lift! I often go to the window to look out and see me herb garden off in the distance or my flower bed. It's a riot of Zinnias, Snapdragons and Marigolds. The colors are unbelievable. My Stargazer Lilies, planted in my lily bed in Star's honor, are blooming and the scent is exquisite!

Have a great day all. Stop and smell the roses! They smell so much better AF.

[Lavande]

Good Tuesday morning friends!

Overcast. hot & humid still, not very nice at all.
I woke up at 4 am with a hot flash & a severe headache, geez. My nose ran all day yesterday (in case you wanted to know, ha ha)!
My son finally got here at 10 pm last night to get his dogs so it will be a lot quieter here today. I'm not going to do anything today but work on getting rid of this headache

Cyn, I hope your trip went well yesterday.
I have an unusual but nice view from my kitchen window. Our Golden passed away 11 years ago, 1 year after we arrived here. We buried him in the back & my daughter planted hostas she started from seed. After all this time the hostas have created a huge mound that blooms this time of the year, so nice to see. Enjoy your view!

Star, I hope you have a good visit with your Dad. I'm sure having his children around has helped him a lot :hug:

Dill, I am just going to take it easy today - if I actually remember how, ha ha!
Honestly, I have spent very little time being sick since going AF. I think my immune system is working much better.
I haven't gotten into any heavy reading lately, don't seem to have the concentration for that stuff. I'm more of a constant article reader these days

Greetings Pauly, work today for you?

Papmom, hope you are OK!

Wishing everyone a great AF Tuesday!

Lav

[treegirl]

Morning all-

Lav, please take care of yourself - sounds like your body is saying 'enough!' What a sweet vision of your hostas.

Dill - love the thought of your 'riot' of color - that's sadly missing here, but maybe some summer. I can almost smell the Stargazers from your description...I'll plant some next year too, in Star's honor.

Star - glad to hear your Dad is stronger - maybe he'll tolerate the next round a little better. Good luck, thinking of you.

Pauly - take care today -

Made it to Kennedy and back again. Sheesh what an unpleasant trip, but oh well. Remember when I did it in May to get my Global Entry? Then in the stopandstop traffic i could look at the daffodils. Not yesterday, just hiway weeds, but I'm filled with gratitude for a safe trip there and back. Dill, I don't like being gone this much, even for a fancy trip abroad. I love being at home, I love my dogs, and every time I have to go away - especially for a long time like 3 weeks, it is really wrenching. But that's the way we have to roll right now, so I'm trying to make the best of it. Just keeping grateful for everything that I come into contact with, and everything that goes well. I figure the less stressed I am, the less stressed the dogs will be! They are always a good reminder to stay in the moment.

Take care all, and wishing you a safe, happy and healthy AF Tuesday.

[SnoopyC]

Good morning all...

Still trying to wake up, need more coffee.

Lav, hope you feel better with a little R & R.

Dill, that's OK about the book, Being Mortal. My cousin called me the other day and she HAD read it so we discussed it, in reference to our parents. I got my review! YOu will love the Source, it is such a good read, but alot, what 7-8 hundred pages? Worth every page.

Cyn, sometimes we just have times of being really busy. I am going through that now, then hopefully a spell of calm and normal routine.

Hey Pauly, hope you are doing well.

Thanks all for your continued support about my Dad, I am anxious about going to see him, even though I speak to him daily. Florida in the summer will be a new experience for me. I have not been there in July. Hot Hot Hot. Your flower, herb, and hosta gardens sound lovely. I miss my huge gardens buy have planted small areas here, with roses, begonias, some kind of daisy, hostas and grasses, so it is pretty in my back yard, but small. That's OK. I think of where I was last time this year and I am content.

Have a good one.

[dill]

This day got away from me for sure, but it is because of guests. Mr. D's sister arrived this morning and is staying one or two nights. My whole routine has been up-ended! It's almost worse than when the gkids are here! LOL!

Lav, I hope you are feeling well.

Hello to you, Cyn and Pauly.

Star, I don't envy you being in Florida in July, but it will do you good to get to sit with your Dad, I think.

Have a peaceful AF Hump Day evening.

[Lavande]

Hey friends,

Just getting around to checking in -
Woke up with the sinus headache still in place & had to be ready to deal with the boys by 8 am. I did OK & they left by noon so it wasn't too bad. I have had three doses of cold medicine today & will swallow a fourth dose before I go to bed. I don't usually need all that but this cold is a nasty one

Star, I hope you do OK on your trip to see your Dad. I have been in Florida in July & it certainly is hot, be careful.

Dill, having overnight company, lucky you, ha ha. I hope everything goes well.

Greetings to Cyn, Pauly & Papmom.
Have a peaceful night one & all.

Lav

[SnoopyC]

Good morning ladies...

Ready to go to work, then fly to Florida. Lav, I know it will be soooo hot, too hot, so will pack accordingly.

Dill, you are right, it will be great to see my Dad.

Hello to Cyn and Pauly. Have a good one.

[Lavande]

Good morning friends,

The bright sunshine that woke me up at 6 am is gone now, strange.
Grateful that my head feels a bit clearer but now I'm developing a cough - that's the way it goes I guess.

Star, wishing you a safe trip & hope you get to spend some quality time with your Dad :hug:

Greetings Dill, Cyn, Papmom & Pauly. I hope everyone is OK.
The boys are arriving around 10:30 this morning & will be here the rest of the day. Hoping my energy level holds up!

Wishing everyone a great AF Wednesday!

Lav

[treegirl]

Hi friends -

Star - sending lots of support your way for this time with your Dad. It will certainly lift his spirits to have you close by. Take care in the heat.

Dill - overnight guests? I hear ya - it really does completely change your schedule and routine. Good luck with that!

Lav - it sounds like the same virus that hit Mr Tree and me when we were traveling. He got hit really hard - the cough is tough, and as usual it sticks around for quite a while. I'm still doing ginger/cider vinegar/etc to treat the sinus part of it...it just doesn't want to go completely away. I hope you can get some rest - how can you get better when you're watching the kids?

Pauly - hope your're hanging in there!

Off to the races again today - I'm trying to do a new way of getting info to people - podcasts. Sheesh, what a technical challenge. I'm hoping to crack that problem today - yesterday I spent most of the day running around with errands, doc appt, etc. It will be good to stay in the office today. Gorgeous outside! At least I spend a moment or two on the deck at some point.

Cheers all for a great AF day -

[dill]

God gives us relatives; thank God, we can choose our friends.
~Addison Mizner

Yes, SIL just left and I am breathing a sigh of relief. So is Mr. D. Some family members are only to be taken in small doses!

Cyn, the podcast mention has me intrigued. I listen to them all the time of course, but it sounds to me like you are going to learn how to create one. Wow!

Lav, this summer cold that's been going around has been awful. I hope you can throw it off fast.

Star, I hope you find some comfort in seeing your Dad in person as opposed to just talking on the phone.

Hey Pauly!

I'm sorry to be so brief, but these past two days have been kind of fun, at the same time a big strain. I'm gonna watch a silly movie and then go to bed. Good to be AF, isn't it?!