ChasUFarley

Both he and dad got the football - he called me on John's cell phone to tell me the news. He's thrilled, of course! It's 10PM and they're not home yet... they're having a blast, I'm sure!

Dumb question, I'm sure.... Can you still drink on these diets? Like is an occasional beer or glass of wine or cocktail okay?

If I had to pick a song to define my life, this would be it.... honest.... and whether it's Joe Cocker, Elvis Costello, or whomever... Annie Lennox does it best...

Going to your first ball game must be a boy's rite of passage, right? Tonight Kristopher, who is now 7 years old, has gone to see the Manchester Fisher Cats with his dad... Andreas and I are holding down the fort but I can't wait to hear what Kris thinks of his first real ball game! Kris woke up at 6AM this morning just buzzing with excitement about the game! Oh, to be 7 years old!!!

Yes, I'm quite sure of it... It was 1989 and six teens were driving out to Fresno, CA in a van, a compact car, and a sedan. We were very low on money and even more low on hope. Since you only needed something like $400 back then to go WOW - no matter where you might be sent in the country - it seemed impossible that we'd make it to CA from OH on a little money and still have enough left to get an apartment and set up for our year in Fresno. Nonetheless, we stopped in AZ hoping to get some food, rest, and then back on the road. The family coordinator, who was maybe 17 at the time, stated we weren't to purchase food or that we could only spend $2/ea for food. Even in 1989, $2 didn't get much. I remember we futzed around the rest stop area and ended up talking with a really nice lady with long blonde hair. She was in her late 30's and was driving somewhere for a business conference. She happened to be a health food distributor and had a trunk load of food and juice - and when she learned what we were doing, she blessed us with a bunch of protein bars and juice drinks - really good fuel. She just seemed to want to get rid of it and my WOW brother, who had worked in a health food store prior to going WOW, knew the brand name and knew it was good stuff. He also knew it was really expensive stuff.... He commented, "She was an angel!" I didn't take it as being literal for some time... thinking back on it now, I'm sure he was right.

I love love love James Herriott's work. He's always been one of my favorite authors - maybe it's because my parents were both humane agents and they also liked reading his works. I remember reading "All Creatures Great & Small" at a young age. Wonderful story teller! Anyhow... Tanker was chosen as our dog because he was a compromise of what hubby and I both love. Hubby likes small dogs - his fav was a Lhasa Apso (sp?) whereas my favorite breed is German Shepherd. Because we have cats, I didn't want a sight hound or any type of breed that might go after cats. After careful consideration, I found that Cardigans were our best bet. We located Tanker through the Cardigan Welsh Corgi association website. Tanker even has his own MySpace page... before you think I've gone around the twist, this is so that he can keep in touch with his breeder, which is part of my adoption agreement with her.... He's got Tuxedo Junction by The Glenn Miller Orchestra as his music.... I thought it was fitting!

My favorite breed is Cardigan Welsh Corgi and I finally got my "wish" last year when we got Tanker: Tanker is a gem of a dog - he's great with the kids and cats. He's very smart and has been easy to train (he's the best behaved of my kids!) I get tons of comments on him everywhere we go because Cardis are rare in this area. I fell in love with Corgis when I lived in the south and didn't realize they were more regional than they are. Tanker is from Oklahoma and is a retired show dog. He was retired at just a year old because he's a "fluff" - long haired - which is a recessive gene that comes up every now and then - but he's pure CWC and has the best corgi personality!

I'm so very sorry for your loss... I don't have the words to express it.... Losing a parent is the absolute worst....

Having a nostalgic moment, I guess....

Thanks, I needed that...

Just to clarify... so y'all don't think I was being rude.... I asked an honest question to Mr. Z... I am also in NH, like Mr. Z and think our paths may have crossed... As far as his forum, Facebook, etc. go - I wish you luck, Mr. Z. I probably won't participate (and I do know what Facebook is - I do have a profile there too but under my real name.) But my participation is more about time than it is about interest... I'm simply too busy to get into anymore projects or forums.

Enjoy the new ride - we have the previous generation and upgraded the RAM to 3Gb on both mine & Hubby's iMacs. I love it - it's a total work horse... (And a fun toy!)

The guitar is a total custom deal - based on a harpguitar. It's a one-of-a-kind instrument built for that musician. The other instrument is called a "nykleharpa" - it's from Sweden, I think... sorta like a hurdy-gurdy that got busy with a guitar and keyboard....

Mike Z??? Is that you?

This afternoon, that little clip got the full attention of a 3 year old and a 7 year old! My boys LOVE TRAINS! Well done!

"Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake Tawny... my identical twin sister... %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% New Song: Well she's walking through the clouds...

Happy B-day BB!! Love, Krista & the family

Sudo - you mention the "short run" but how about the long run? Are there any studies or reports or anything? Just wondering... I'm considering this but felt some of the "side effects" might not make it worth it...

(((WG))) what a stressful time this must be for your family - my heart goes out to you on this one... I'm sorry to hear that your MIL has resigned to the fact she's actively dying and isn't willing to seek a second opinion or other options for her treatment. When someone reaches that point in their life stage it's best to let them go. The funeral planning is something you'll be thankful for later on. Your family won't be in the position of having to make major decisions at an already stressful, emotional time in their lives. They will be able to focus more on grieving. The planning also gives your MIL a way to still feel like she's in control of something in her life - something she still has a "say" in when it seems like so many other things aren't in her command anymore. As far as your feeling that you're "screwed" well... you're in good company, as you're here with all of us other cop outs. We're equally screwed. If TWI's leadership was any example as to how I should live life, I'd say I'm a far better person - a better Christian, even - WITHOUT THEM. No thanks. See, they're dead already - they've just forgotten to fall down. You can't live without a heart, right? Well.. you have a heart... you're alive... and I appreciate your sharing what's going on in your life now with this situation. I'm sorry you're going through this - man, I really am. Let us know what we can do for you - even if you just need to vent or share or whatever - we're here. Love, -Krista

My LC in TN used to talk about his wife who was one of devils spirits in the production and spoke about how she was one of the few AC only grads in the performance - I guess everyone had to be WC or some such standard... Anyhow, I about choked on my coffee when she responded to the question about which type of debbil spirut she was.... "sensual and alluring". Oh, whoot whoot. Put that on your spiritual resume and smoke it.... Glad you like my sig. What's "podunk"? As in, "small town America"? Good luck on that diner gig - sounds killer.

Yeah there is - with both things... P-Town ain't what it used to be and isn't exactly rated "G" anymore.... AOTS isn't exactly for kids either, even tho it was marketed as such.... coloring books, rainbow headbands and wrist bands for the kids.... if HQ Bookstore has anymore of those headbands and wristbands left over, maybe they can sell 'em in P-Town.

You're basically putting your body into ketosis with this, aren't you? Wouldn't that mean liver and kidney problems later on??

If you're really into P-Town, maybe AOTS is right up your ally.

I felt like I'd visited your town by the time I was done with your first post - great thread. Lovely town - I love small towns and country. This gal is too in-town for her tastes - I envy you.

Love it!