Dear So and So

[emily_in_nc]

Dear body,
Why are you so tired from xcountry skiing? It was so fun, but I am exhausted.

That means you got an excellent full-body workout! I love that kind of exhaustion...

[Pax]

Pax, sorry to hear about your mom. How old is she? I hope her illness can be managed. When we found my grandmother had the same thing, we thought it was a death sentence. But it was not.

She is 77, and prior to this downturn in her health she was very active, so I hope that will help with recovery.

She is looking better and better, they took her off O2 today and her sats stayed up around 95! Cath on Monday will tell us more.

Once this is over, I bet she'll feel sooooo much better, maybe even start enjoying life again.

[OakLeaf]

Good news so far! Keeping you both in my thoughts.

[goride]

Pax - hoping the best for a good recovery for your mom.

[indysteel]

Good news so far! Keeping you both in my thoughts.

+1, Pax. It sounds encouraging so far. Sending healing vibes your way!

[PamNY]

Pax best wishes to your Mom (and you as well).

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear all, I need song recommendations for kids between 10 to 14. What do kids these days listen to? Barney is way too young for them but I don't want them listening to Justin Bebier and (shudder) Glee. In fact, half of the music I've heard targeted at pre-teens have so much messages of s*x and other things I'd prefer kids only hearing about when guided by a teacher or parent. Disney is so far the only option I have but there HAS to be something else. Right????

[lph]

Alexis - maybe you don't need songs that are specifically targeted at pre-teens. Our now 14-yr.old now listens to a fair bit of "the new stuff kids listen to", but before that he liked a lot of our old favourites. Elvis, Queen, anything upbeat and catchy and uncomplicated, really. Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, even Frank Sinatra. Oh, and Green Day.

But then, his English wasn't too hot so we didn't worry too much about the lyrics :D

There's a series released here called "Hits for Kids" which seems to be the same sort of music, a mix of new hits and remakes of classic rock'n'roll songs.

[sgtiger]

Dear Powers That Be,

I can not even begin to express the gratitude I feel that she doesn't have breast cancer. Would it be too much to ask you, though, to help guide her doctors to find a treatment for her other conditions that doesn't knock her on her a$$.

Sincerely,

A concerned friend

[Bethany1]

Dear Gas Company,

Thank you for fixing my heater but finding out that I may have to pay because it's flood related makes my Service Guard program a waste of money. I would like a 10 year refund on this service.

Even if I had flood insurance, they'd probably not help because it wasn't a natural disaster.


Dear Accountant,

Please get my taxes figured out. If I owe, I need to find out now to make arrangements.

Dear Self,

Depression sucks. Get over it.

[bmccasland]

Dear Gas Company,

Thank you for fixing my heater but finding out that I may have to pay because it's flood related makes my Service Guard program a waste of money. I would like a 10 year refund on this service.

Even if I had flood insurance, they'd probably not help because it wasn't a natural disaster.


Dear Accountant,

Please get my taxes figured out. If I owe, I need to find out now to make arrangements.

Dear Self,

Depression sucks. Get over it.

Bethany - big hugs to you. Won't your homeowner's insurance cover it? Floods are generally rising waters from either a rainfall event, rivers bursting their banks, oceans kicking up some really wild waves (tsunami). If it's water inside the house, and origniated inside the house, then your homeowners should cover it.
Of course, insurance companies like to find someone else to pay the bill. How else do they afford owning football stadiums.

[OakLeaf]

+1 - we had a basement flood from a busted pipe a few years ago, and our homeowners insurance covered it no problem. Be sure to itemize all your damaged property - even if each individual item is small, it can add up quickly.

And I know you know that just telling yourself "get over it" is a symptom, not a solution. Be gentle with yourself. Your depression isn't your fault. (((((Bethany1)))))

[Owlie]

Dear inside of cheek:
I'm sorry I bit you last night. Purely an accident, I assure you. Now, could you not be all swollen and hurty? I need to eat...

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear Universe, I've had enough of tantrums in my classroom. If you can do something to put a good stop to it, or hurl me an instruction manual of some kind to put an end to it, I'll be thankful. I can't imagine the next 30 odd weeks of this year dealing with at least one tantrum a day in class.

[Crankin]

Alexis, don't you have a behavior management protocol at your school? I thought you were working at a therapeutic school.
PM me for some ideas.

[malkin]

Even with a good team and a protocol, behaviors can be exhausting.
Good luck!

[Biciclista]

What a strange day. for the first time since D's cancer diagnosis, he's going out of town without me. I took him to the train station this morning, he's going to visit our son in Canada and won't be home until Sunday night. Gotta tell you, that feels VERY odd.. He's nervous and excited too.

[indysteel]

What a strange day. for the first time since D's cancer diagnosis, he's going out of town without me. I took him to the train station this morning, he's going to visit our son in Canada and won't be home until Sunday night. Gotta tell you, that feels VERY odd.. He's nervous and excited too.

I hope he has a good trip and visit with your son and that you enjoy the bit of solitude this affords you. And if solitude isn't your thing, perhaps this weekend is a good opportunity to spend some time with friends.

[Biciclista]

yes, i am going to spend saturday with a gf and on sunday... i haven't told you guys about my mother and her boyfriend... I don't know where to start. i am going to visit them on Sunday and am very uncomfortable about them, they are acting like teenagers. What do teenagers do? (blush) and use (blush) and when she does these things it compromises her mental state because she's in early stages of alzheimers...

[channlluv]

I thought you meant, "use condoms," and I thought, good for her, but how would that affect her mental state, and then I thought maybe you meant something more of the herbal variety.

I'm sorry they make you uncomfortable. If she's in danger, though, or being endangered by her behavior, could you bring it up with her? Is she in a care facility or does she live on her own?

Roxy

[indysteel]

Oh, wow, Mimi. That's wacky. My question is the same as Roxy's. Is she at risk of hurting herself from this or is she sufficiently supervised.

[Biciclista]

she lives in her own home and her boyfriend moved in two weeks ago. He seems really nice (i even did a background check on him!) but she does seem to be very vulnerable. My sister now has the passwords to my mother's money market accounts at my urging...
I've been "bringing up" my mother most of my adult life... but at least then she had her full wits about her. She's still a willful person... and fiercely independent too.
We were actually relieved when she found this guy, he's a winner compared to the others. And she's the kind of woman who needs a man.

[limewave]

yes, i am going to spend saturday with a gf and on sunday... i haven't told you guys about my mother and her boyfriend... I don't know where to start. i am going to visit them on Sunday and am very uncomfortable about them, they are acting like teenagers. What do teenagers do? (blush) and use (blush) and when she does these things it compromises her mental state because she's in early stages of alzheimers...

Mimi--my grandmother dated, quite a bit after my grandfather passed away. Which was odd--they were married over 50 years (and he was her second husband)! First she dated Stormin' Norman as we called him. They went to weekly dances. And then she moved back to MI, not sure what happened with Norman. And she started dating Bill from her "Assisted Living" complex. Bill became sick and passed away after about 2 years. And then . . . she dated and eventually married Don. Which we all had reservations about this. Of course, they had a pre-nup. It was weird visiting Grandma and her boyfriends and eventual new husband.

I tease DH that he is just first of several husbands I'll have in my lifetime. My grandmother dated far more than I ever did (I married the first man I dated).

But, I have to say, Don (although I never got used to him) was very kind to my grandmother. When she became too ill and had to move to a nursing home, he visited her every single day. Read to her, helped feed her, etc. He was very sweet.

Anywho . . . as odd and uncomfortable as it was, I eventally found I was happy for my grandma. Hopefully this situation with your mom is a good one and that her new beau brings her much joy :)

[Biciclista]

thanks Limewave, I hope the same as you. :-) My mother has had A LOT of husbands!

[Crankin]

Malkin, of course behaviors are exhausting! I spent the morning with a 4 year old who was tantruming after a few months of progress. I really would rather be counseling adults at times like this.
I just thought that it sounded like Alexis had no support at all and could use some alternative strategies.
Mimi, my dad's mom had a "younger" boyfriend. She was 89 and he was 72. All the other yentas at Century Village were extremely jealous. I never met him, but my dad did. She outlasted him :).

[bmccasland]

Dear Brain,
Please sort yourself out, I have plans for tomorrow and sunday and they don't include waking up with another migraine. Someone has to help me eat the King Cake that MMac sent.

Sign me,
the person who is really tired of your blood vessel cramps.

[Biciclista]

Mimi, my dad's mom had a "younger" boyfriend. She was 89 and he was 72. All the other yentas at Century Village were extremely jealous. I never met him, but my dad did. She outlasted him :).

The boyfriend is 6 years younger than my 81 year old mother. He said "age is just a number" but she won't tell him her age...

[VeganBikeChick]

Dear Young 20somethings I work with,

Yes, it did make me feel left out when you all went to breakfast this morning and didn't invite me, while talking about it loudly in front of me. But rest assured I would have definitely turned you down as being malicious and gossipping about others is not one of my favorite pasttimes.

Sincerely,

An observant coworker who believes in karma

[jessmarimba]

Dear United Airlines:

AAAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :mad:

That is all.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Crankin' and Malkin, we have some kind of behavioral intervention plans for each child in school but with my students, what worked 3 months ago most likely doesn't work now which is the situation I've been facing since this school year started. I'm about at my wit's end with the situation and consultation with the school psych and my supervisor doesn't really add anything to help with the situation. Crankin', I'll definitely PM you, thanks for your offer. :)

[Owlie]

Dear neighbors:
Could you have sexytime on a less squeaky piece of furniture? I really don't care what you do. I just don't want to know that you're doing it.

[Roadtrip]

Could you have sexytime on a less squeaky piece of furniture?

ROFL. I know exactly how you feel... My first appt had very, very thin walls and you knew exactly what your neighbors were up to.

Good luck!

[Biciclista]

Dear neighbors:
Could you have sexytime on a less squeaky piece of furniture? I really don't care what you do. I just don't want to know that you're doing it.

reminds me of an unforgettable night we had in a motel in Phoenix. Early to bed, we were most surprised to clearly hear the couple next door come home around 1am and then proceed to squeak, thump, ETC for HOURS and HOURS...

We about went nuts. The funny part was, we let another cyclist share our room with us and at first she thought it was us.. We all laid there snickering for a long time...

[Sky King]

OH man, going a bit more off topic. When my DD was looking at colleges we spent a weekend in the Pearl District in Portland I kept hearing this awkward noise during the night - my imagination going wild and hoping she wouldn't wake up. In the morning I discovered it was the pigeons outside our window - I was laughing so hard, took my mind right out of the gutter

reminds me of an unforgettable night we had in a motel in Phoenix. Early to bed, we were most surprised to clearly hear the couple next door come home around 1am and then proceed to squeak, thump, ETC for HOURS and HOURS...

We about went nuts. The funny part was, we let another cyclist share our room with us and at first she thought it was us.. We all laid there snickering for a long time...

[Sky King]

my Dad's GF is as least 5 years older than he is (she won't say) She is very sweet but quite blind and frail. Her daughter is my challenge as my father enjoys his evening cocktail and she has an absolute fit about her mother drinking. Both dad and the gf have dementia so telling him not to fix her a cocktail is a waste of time. I figure it is the only pleasure he has left and who am I to judge, the daughter "says" she understands but I avoid her whenever I see her at the assisted living as I don't need the lecture. She belongs to a religion that believes alcohol is a sin...
As he has aged, his filter is really going, one of his favorite sayings is "can't get it up, can't get it out" Way TMI for me

The boyfriend is 6 years younger than my 81 year old mother. He said "age is just a number" but she won't tell him her age...

[malkin]

Sorry Crankin. I didn't intend any snark or to belittle behavior plans and support. Just putting it out there that tantrums (and other behaviors) can be exhausting even in the best of circumstances.

[Reesha]

Dear internets,

Thank you for making the Gaerne G.Emma mtb shoe available to US shoppers. I love you.

:cue angels singing:
http://www.magazinuldebiciclete.ro/files/2023/1-1-jpg.jpg

[Biciclista]

wow, that's quite the shoe! too bad it's white

[Reesha]

Of course the men's colors are amazing-- electric blue, fire red (http://www.bikebling.com/Gaerne-Carbon-G-Mythos-p/gaerne-carbong-mythos.htm). It really burns my biscuit. But I'll be using this on the road for my bike tour so with any luck they'll stay white-ish ;)

[Biciclista]

to whom it may concern.
Women actually do like colors other than pink and white.
SHEESSSHHH

[Reesha]

I'm going to color in the pink part with a sharpie. Something more awesome ;)

[spokewench]

Don't anyone fall off their bikes today, but I actually sat on my trainer for 40 minutes! Who knows, maybe I'll come back from the dark side of tennis and ride my bike a bit more this year?:eek:

[Crankin]

I rode 21 miles today. In February. Geez, the grass is still green in some places.

[Becky]

Dear self-

Get back in the pool already.

Me

[Crankin]

Dear Self,
Give me strength to get through tonight's dinner with "the crazy friend." I know, as a mental health professional, this is an awful thing to say, but I shouldn't feel like I am at work on social occasions. Well, I call this my charity work. At least the food will be great!

[Owlie]

Don't anyone fall off their bikes today, but I actually sat on my trainer for 40 minutes! Who knows, maybe I'll come back from the dark side of tennis and ride my bike a bit more this year?:eek:

But did you actually pedal? :D

Crankin,
I rode today too, and I was surprised to see green grass in places. And robins.

Dear woodchuck:
You nearly made me fall off my bike. Also, staring at me was not going to make me go away. I wasn't planning on sticking around anyway. (PS: Tell your relatives to stop eating my parents' tomatoes.)

Dear adorable little gray kitten:
The middle of the bike trail is not a good place for you. Hopefully you have a home. If not, I hope you find one. Stay safe, little guy.

[OakLeaf]

Dear woodchuck:

Dear Owlie,

That's weird. There's a very distinct geographical boundary between where they're called "woodchucks" and where they're called "groundhogs," but I seriously thought all of Ohio was squarely in "groundhog" territory. Whoa. I learned something today, but I'm not sure what it is. :p

[Bethany1]

Dear Self,

Go to bed and quit worrying so much. Also get on your bike tomorrow. It's nice outside.

So go to bed so you can ride your bike tomorrow.

[Reesha]

Dear self,

Quit eating the bad stuff and get back on track. Two months is a long time to be on someone's program, but being satisfied with the results thus far is no reason to stop. You're only a third of the way to your goal weight.

[Owlie]

Dear self,

Quit eating the bad stuff and get back on track. Two months is a long time to be on someone's program, but being satisfied with the results thus far is no reason to stop. You're only a third of the way to your goal weight.

Solution: send me the bad stuff!

[alexis_the_tiny]

to whom it may concern.
Women actually do like colors other than pink and white.
SHEESSSHHH

WORD!! I miss the days when you couldn't tell a women's shoe from a men's shoe except for the size. My solution is to ride with my shoes in all kinds of crap until the white and baby blue have turned some kind of icky unidentifiable color that looks nowhere near feminine. :D

[lph]

Hey, alexis? You have a really cool blog. I like :)

[channlluv]

+1

Interesting observation on the juicing color mixing.

Roxy

[Eden]

to whom it may concern.
Women actually do like colors other than pink and white.
SHEESSSHHH

After having his toes actually *burned* by wearing black shoes on a 90+ degree ride my hubby would kill to be able to get some white shoes.... (he'd probably even wear pink ones)

[Owlie]

Dear brain:
Stop hurting. There is more math to learn.

[marni]

three words, keene biking sandals.

My almost all year around biking shoes unless it is pouring down rain, then I wear shimano hard toes. I ride all summer in 90 + temps and have never had hot toes. Plus they are not pink or white.

marni

[Owlie]

three words, keene biking sandals.

My almost all year around biking shoes unless it is pouring down rain, then I wear shimano hard toes. I ride all summer in 90 + temps and have never had hot toes. Plus they are not pink or white.

marni

I wanted a pair so badly (I rode in my regular Keens before I went clipless), but as it turns out a I need a stiff sole, and these are apparently quite flexible. :(

[alexis_the_tiny]

Thanks, lph and Roxy! Always nice to know someone likes reading my scribblings. :D Roxy, the juicing thing is visually fascinating. I suspect that I juice partly to be entertained by the results of tossing random produce into the juicer, one of these days, I'm tossing a chili in there to see what happens. :p

[marni]

if you are in a juicing chili mood, mix a bit of smoked ancho or poblano (New Mexican style chili) in with mango and a touch of pineapple. Nom nom.

marni

[OakLeaf]

Oh man does that sound good!

[Owlie]

if you are in a juicing chili mood, mix a bit of smoked ancho or poblano (New Mexican style chili) in with mango and a touch of pineapple. Nom nom.

marni

Ooh. I've developed a fondness for dried mangoes covered in chili powder. This is unfortunate, because I can't find them up here! (DBF acts as my mule. It's terrible.)

[limewave]

Dear Client,

I will not apologize for the bill I sent you. Updating and making changes to your website is not a mere matter of clicking some magic button. Believe it or not, it actually requires some real work. This is not a charity or a hobby, this is my business--the very one I use to provide food and shelter for my family. So eat your snarky little email and get my check in the mail.

Peace,
Limewave

[redrhodie]

Dear me,

Never agree to do anymore barters. Someone always gets a better deal, and usually it's the other guy. There are these funny green paper things with pictures of old men that you can get, and use almost anywhere. Get some of those instead.

[limewave]

Dear me,

Never agree to do anymore barters. Someone always gets a better deal, and usually it's the other guy. There are these funny green paper things with pictures of old men that you can get, and use almost anywhere. Get some of those instead.

My DH can be a know-it-all whoopidy-doo sometimes, but he did tell me to never, ever barter. And that is one thing I have NOT regretted :)

[Veronica]

Dear Parent,

Do you really think it's a good idea to let you 11 year old son decide if he should take medicine for his ADD or not? etc....

Veronica

Dear 11 Year Old Student,

I am so proud of how you have turned yourself around since this meeting. I really thought it was going to be a waste of my time and nothing was going to change. I am THRILLED that I was wrong. Your attitude has been so much better, and you have taken responsibility for your self and your learning. You have become exactly the kind of student I knew you could be.

I'll admit, how you perch in your chair still drives me nuts :D. But it's a small price to pay to see you smiling, happy and eager to learn.

Your very happy teacher

[Owlie]

Dear 11 Year Old Student,

I am so proud of how you have turned yourself around since this meeting. I really thought it was going to be a waste of my time and nothing was going to change. I am THRILLED that I was wrong. Your attitude has been so much better, and you have taken responsibility for your self and your learning. You have become exactly the kind of student I knew you could be.

I'll admit, how you perch in your chair still drives me nuts :D. But it's a small price to pay to see you smiling, happy and eager to learn.

Your very happy teacher

:)

Dear prof--
I'm trying to answer your questions. I really am. But I cannot find a third characteristic. I've searched 4 or 5 papers--far more than I should need to for an UNGRADED project--and I cannot find anything. Unless you mean that the fact that the two characteristics that I've already come up with leave obvious marks is in itself a characteristic. :confused:

[Bethany1]

Dear Cat,

While cleaning up fabric, I realized you had peed all over it. I had wondered why you were pawing around the past couple of days but didn't think much of it.

Out of curiosity since you do this by bed and have a pile of cycling clothes I checked them and that it was indeed a litter box.

Why did you do this? DH is ready to toss you out into the cold because of it.

What's up buddy? You okay?

At least I know why my bedroom smells funny now and my house. Eww.

Are my cycling clothes ruined and will washing them get rid of the urine? I'm heading to Lincoln tomorrow so if there's something via Petsmart or Petco let me know.


The Mom

[goldfinch]

Are my cycling clothes ruined and will washing them get rid of the urine? I'm heading to Lincoln tomorrow so if there's something via Petsmart or Petco let me know.


The Mom

You could try an enzyme cleaner. They have stuff like that at Petco/Petsmart. I'd dump it on full strength. Let it sit for a bit. Then wash.

[malkin]

We did the enzyme cleaner stuff on bike clothes and everything else when (the late) Tiger T. Cat made it necessary. I think he was letting me know that using piles on the floor as an organizational strategy had gotten out of hand. It really did encourage me to keep the place picked up after that.

[Bethany1]

Got everything cleaned up. Hopefully he starts doing better. It doesn't appear to be a UTI as of now.

Dear Public School,

I am tired of you asking for money for everything. Last week my kids came home saying they needed money for their sheet music and lunch for some college thing the day before this trip. This ended up costing me 35 dollars total.

A couple of weeks before I had to buy sheet music for a Disney theme choir show for your stupid fundraiser that charged 20 dollars a ticket. I don't have 40 dollars for my DH and I to give away.

My son came home needing money for nice restaurants (15+ dollars) for the honor choir trip for lunch and dinner for two two separate days that same week. What happened to McD's? While I'm glad the choir made 1st, I'm broke.

What happened to a sheet of paper that I need to sign and give money before my kids go on a trip a week or more before? That's how it worked when I was a kid.



Dear Loud-Mouthed Old Lady,

Call me whatever you want, but I meant it when I said "Geez lady, Shut up because no one cares" after you kept harassing the assistant manager while I making my purchase.

From,

the Lady Who Said What Everyone Else Wanted to Say



I just made sure to get out of the parking lot ASAP because I knew she'd be crazy enough to ram into my car or follow me around town. She did follow me out yelling something I couldn't make out but I was in the car before she could do anything.

My DD said the manager's jaw dropped and he about fell over in laughter as she tried not to die of embarrassment right behind me.

I get customer service and retail, but no manager should have to deal with crazy customers like this.


Dear Nature's Miracle Cat Cleaner,

This stuff is awesome. My house smells so much better.

From,

Able To Breathe Now

[Crankin]

Bethany,
Are you OK?
Please pardon my big mouth, but you sound stressed and irritable.

[Trek420]

Dear so called management at the company I've been happy to work for these umpteen years,

You've insulted a friend when two of you joked about her weight and called her fat. It's unprofessional, rude, and possibly fireable at your level. You've truly exceeded your level of competence. It's rude, mean, uncalled for and so against policy it's not funny.

[BodhiTree]

You've insulted a friend when two of you joked about her weight and called her fat. It's unprofessional, rude, and possibly fireable at your level. You've truly exceeded your level of competence. It's rude, mean, uncalled for and so against policy it's not funny.


Report it.

[Trek420]

Report it.

Will advise her to do that! It's hearsay from me but I will get her the number for EEO.

[malkin]

I learned it can still be harassment or hostile environment if I overhear something at work even if it wasn't directed at me.

[Trek420]

I learned it can still be harassment or hostile environment if I overhear something at work even if it wasn't directed at me.

But I can't report it because the two ditwad so-called managers (one has a pattern of being just plain mean) were talking in the vicinity of a friend of ours who reported the conversation to her. But I did not hear the two dimwits talking.

I trust both sources, good reps, honest people, ethical, especially the one who actually heard the managers. So I believe the conversation happened.

But a report from me is hearsay? I may be too far removed.

So I advised both to call EEO department, talk to the union if they want, whistle-blowers need not fear retaliation, and that if they still fear to do so it can be anonymous.

[Crankin]

Dear Self,

Nooooo. Don't get sick. Please. I am still taking antibiotics for the sinus stuff and I am even finishing them, even though it's been 8 days (2 more to go). Woke up this morning with a funny feeling in my back, suspiciously like bronchitis or pneumonia starting. We are leaving for 4 days in Craftsbury VT on Wednesday and I am going to get some cross country skiing in, if it kills me.
Luckily, we have winds gusting up to 50 mph today, with tree debris everywhere, so I spent the afternoon buying a new pair of stylish and funky glasses instead of riding. I was going to get on the trainer when I got home, but I am being good and taking a rest day.
Why does this always happen before I go away?

[marni]

Why does this always happen before I go away?

Back in the days when it was still possible I used to get my period the day before a performance, and on the day if travel whenever we went anywhere. You are not alone but it is still not fun. Hope you feel better.

Dear right shoulder,

thank you so much for finally allowing the trapezius muscle to stop going into spasms and hurting so much I couldn't move my arm, and thank you for no longer hurting. Although it was only 48 hours it felt like a lifetime, and being able to take off the t shirt I had been wearing for two days shower and put on a clean shirt was pure bliss.

Now if I just knew what I did to irritate you.marni

[Crankin]

Ha, I had my period for every school dance or first date in middle school and high school.

[Owlie]

The worst day of my period somehow managed to fall on move-out day every year of college, and when I moved into my apartment in Cleveland. That was fun,

[Biciclista]

to whom it may concern
seriously?
This feels like a shell game. And someone's cheating; not us.

[Bethany1]

Bethany,
Are you OK?
Please pardon my big mouth, but you sound stressed and irritable.

I've been stressed for about a month. It's like everything hit at once and my body and mind hasn't adjusted. Between my basement flooding, not having heat for 3 days, schools begging for money, anxiety/depression, a significant drop in income and the last straw was finding my cat had (has been) peed all over my cycling clothes has me completely frazzled. I had washed them a couple of times and they still reeked of cat urine. I lashed out at the lady in the pet store only because I was trying to purchase cat cleaner and couldn't think straight with her yelling at the manager who was doing my sale.

Turns out apple cider vinegar mixed with laundry detergent does the trick and my cycling clothes are back to normal. At least I feel better about that.

Today the weather was nice and doing about 2 miles before my body gave out helped with the stress. I'm wondering if I have exercise induced asthma and need to see a doc. Either that or I somehow manage to burn through energy so fast I bonk and don't know why. I have a love/hate relationship with cycling.

[Owlie]

I've been stressed for about a month. It's like everything hit at once and my body and mind hasn't adjusted. Between my basement flooding, not having heat for 3 days, schools begging for money, anxiety/depression, a significant drop in income and the last straw was finding my cat had (has been) peed all over my cycling clothes has me completely frazzled. I had washed them a couple of times and they still reeked of cat urine. I lashed out at the lady in the pet store only because I was trying to purchase cat cleaner and couldn't think straight with her yelling at the manager who was doing my sale.

Turns out apple cider vinegar mixed with laundry detergent does the trick and my cycling clothes are back to normal. At least I feel better about that.

Today the weather was nice and doing about 2 miles before my body gave out helped with the stress. I'm wondering if I have exercise induced asthma and need to see a doc. Either that or I somehow manage to burn through energy so fast I bonk and don't know why. I have a love/hate relationship with cycling.
Have you been sick recently? Food? Either way, ((hugs)). That's a lot to throw at you in one go.

Dear parents:
Why, for the first 15 or so years of my life, were you convinced that the only way to cook vegetables was to boil the living daylight out of them? I would have eaten far more vegetables had they been roasted! (Roasted cauliflower is delicious, everyone!)
Me.

[tangentgirl]

Dear parents:
Why, for the first 15 or so years of my life, were you convinced that the only way to cook vegetables was to boil the living daylight out of them? I would have eaten far more vegetables had they been roasted! (Roasted cauliflower is delicious, everyone!)
Me.

No idea what they were thinking back in the day. None. Why won't tangentgirl eat her veggies? Oh, because boiled frozen peas are freakin disgusting. How was that enjoyable to them, as adults?

+100 on the roasted veggies. And sauteed, and grilled. And lightly steamed.

[OakLeaf]

Roasted parsnips. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Just sayin'.

[snapdragen]

Roasted anything! I recently did roasted baby bok choy -- yum!

[Biciclista]

Gosh, Owlie
your parents are pretty old school. most of us figured out how to cook veggies in the 1970's!!!

[jessmarimba]

I'm pretty sure most of my veggies growing up came out of a can.

Then again, most of the food I remember from my childhood is "camping" food, and Mom didn't make anything too complex in the motor home.

[ultraviolet]

(Roasted cauliflower is delicious, everyone!)


Curry roasted cauliflower is one of my favorite snacks. I alternate it with roasted kale "chips" as a popcorn/chip substitute when watching movies at home.

[OakLeaf]

What's the trick to keep kale chips from getting bitter? I usually wind up with a pile that are half delicious and half nearly inedible, and I don't know what makes the difference.

[indysteel]

Roasted parsnips. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Just sayin'.

+1. I like to roast a mixture of carrots, parsnips, new potatoes and red onions together with just a bit of olive oil, kosher salt and pepper.

[Becky]

We roasted some cabbage wedges last night- fabulous! In fact, I think I liked them more than the roasted brussel sprouts that accompanied the cabbage...

[indysteel]

We roasted some cabbage wedges last night- fabulous! In fact, I think I liked them more than the roasted brussel sprouts that accompanied the cabbage...

Red or green cabbage?

[Becky]

Red or green cabbage?

Green, but I think it would work just as well with red. It was just cabbage, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

In our house, red cabbage usually gets made into "Grandma cabbage", a dish that DH's grandmother taught him (hence the name :)). It's this recipe (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Red-Cabbage-and-Apples/), more or less, with tweaks to suit the ingredients we have on hand.

[Sky King]

Grrrr, I knew I should have bought the airline tickets on Friday, As a so called "preferred customer" it sure would be nice to get an email saying heads up, we're increasing our price, but I know I am in dreamland.

[indysteel]

Green, but I think it would work just as well with red. It was just cabbage, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

In our house, red cabbage usually gets made into "Grandma cabbage", a dish that DH's grandmother taught him (hence the name :)). It's this recipe (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Red-Cabbage-and-Apples/), more or less, with tweaks to suit the ingredients we have on hand.

That looks good, Becky. I'll have to try that some time. But I'm also going to take your recommendation for the roasted cabbage. I buy cabbage generally just to make either slaw or my vegetable soup. For the soup, I only end up using a small part of the head, so it'll be nice to try something new with the rest of it.

I'm so excited. We bought a small freezer for our basement. DH still has some work to do on our electrical to accommodate it, but now I have some space to store leftovers, to make my own stock and to keep a lot more stuff on hand.

[bmccasland]

Grrrr, I knew I should have bought the airline tickets on Friday, As a so called "preferred customer" it sure would be nice to get an email saying heads up, we're increasing our price, but I know I am in dreamland.

Seems I remember the best days to buy tickets are tuesday and wednesday. Prices seem to change around the weekend. That said, I was buying my plane tickets yesterday too. But at least the price hadn't changed from my first glance at prices a month ago.

[Blueberry]

Seems I remember the best days to buy tickets are tuesday and wednesday. Prices seem to change around the weekend. That said, I was buying my plane tickets yesterday too. But at least the price hadn't changed from my first glance at prices a month ago.

I've heard that - but I have actually been noticing price *increases* on Tuesday and Wednesday. I really hate that it's such a cr@p shoot - sometimes they go up; sometimes they go down.

[Sky King]

Yes, my thought too, I will look again tomorrow. flight isn't until May but with oil and gas prices rising makes me nervous

Seems I remember the best days to buy tickets are tuesday and wednesday. Prices seem to change around the weekend. That said, I was buying my plane tickets yesterday too. But at least the price hadn't changed from my first glance at prices a month ago.

[tulip]

What's the trick to keep kale chips from getting bitter? I usually wind up with a pile that are half delicious and half nearly inedible, and I don't know what makes the difference.

What's your starting kale like? I made a huge batch over the weekend and it was so awesome. I used the last of my winter kale from the garden. Most of the leaves were pretty small. I spined them, tossed them in a bit of olive oil and sea salt, spread them on a cookie sheet and baked them at 350F for 15 minutes. How are you making yours? Is your kale fresh?

[jessmarimba]

Regarding airline tickets, searching "City A to City B flights" on Google will give you an option to see daily prices 6 months in advance. The Google travel thingamajigger has all kinds of cool bar graphs.

Dear cat:
I love you dearly, but I'm sleeping with my right shoulder up because it's sore. When you decide to come make biscuits on that shoulder while I'm sleeping, it's not going to be a happy response. I'd love a foot massage though!

[Biciclista]

I wonder if you shouldn't taste the kale before you cook it. Some Kale is pretty sweet,some isn't

[Reesha]

Dear Gaerne cycling products,

THANK YOU for switching your G.Emma shoes from pink to red. I ordered them planning to sharpie in the pink parts to a more preferable color, but was delighted to discover I won't have to.

Woo!

http://p.gzhls.at/610635.jpg

[Reesha]

What's the trick to keep kale chips from getting bitter? I usually wind up with a pile that are half delicious and half nearly inedible, and I don't know what makes the difference.

I have a dehydrator and have tried the oven method. The oven tends to yield more bitter chips, but in a dehydrator (I just have the massive Cabela's one), they come out perfect everytime dehydrated for a few hours at 120 degrees F. I also spritz with olive oil, season with chili powder and lime juice... they concentrate in flavor during dehydration!

Sadly I do not make them that often. Very labor intensive and gone in ten minutes flat :D

[tulip]

I have a dehydrator and have tried the oven method. The oven tends to yield more bitter chips, but in a dehydrator (I just have the massive Cabela's one), they come out perfect everytime dehydrated for a few hours at 120 degrees F. I also spritz with olive oil, season with chili powder and lime juice... they concentrate in flavor during dehydration!

Sadly I do not make them that often. Very labor intensive and gone in ten minutes flat :D

I didn't find making them labor intensive at all. Is a dehydrator more labor intensive than an oven? I agree with you about being gone in 10 minutes flat, though!

I had three heads of kale left in my garden, which equaled six cookie trays worth of kale chips. None were bitter; my kale was fresh out of the garden so maybe that's the reason. Some friends helped me devour the first two batches; the rest I took care of myself the next day.

[Reesha]

I think the bitter taste was more a function of my oven than anything. They just tasted cooked and less fresh.

Yes on the dehydrator though! They do taste 150% more delicious in the dehydrator but packing them into the trays is tedious. I only make them once or twice a month. Usually this is two normal grocery store heads of kale... and they fill a big bowl, but DBF and I can charge through them in a sitting ;)

[Owlie]

Dear people next door:
First off, who the heck has a party involving a beer-like substance on MONDAY night? What is wrong with you? Do you not actually go to class ever? Second, on no planet are slippers acceptable to wear anywhere. You're not three. Third, I know for a fact that at least one of you is under the age of 21. Yeah, illegal. Also illegal for your...whatever he is to buy it for you. Fourth, if you're going to drink, drink actual beer and not whatever pigswill that is that you're drinking. Fifth, stop leaving your trash on your porch. Not only is that against complex rules, but everyone else has to deal with the fallout, from beer cans to being accosted by squirrels every morning. I'm surprised the raccoons haven't shown up. Maybe they're intimidated by the classiness of your place.:rolleyes:

Finally, judging by snippets of conversation between your friends (with benefits)/whatever... Trading cigarettes and sex for pot and beer? There's a name for that. It's called prostitution.

Trying to see whether or not I care enough to get you kicked out,
Me.


Also: Chrome's spellcheck doesn't recognize the plural of "raccoon"

[OakLeaf]

Dear Apple Store,

The warranty repair you were supposed to do was to replace a piece of hardware. Not scr*w up my operating system. I wasn't even having any software issues BEFORE I took my computer in for repair. Thank goodness my DH is a genius, because the people behind the Genius Bar sure aren't. (P.S. - Sunday until the following Tuesday is longer than three to five days the last time I checked.)

Dear running store,

Seriously? You're going to put me in shoes that are way too narrow and then argue with me when I explain about my ingrown toenails and tailor's bunion? I know my feet are difficult to fit, but that's not a reason to sell me shoes that don't. I'll shop somewhere else thankyouverymuch.




PS - It was kale from my garden, fresh, tender, and delicious steamed or in soups, both times. I don't know what happens when I try to turn it into chips. But I do have a dehydrator, I'll try it that way next time - thanks!

[marni]

For those of you who like roasted vegetables, the BEST SEASONING IN THE WORLD! for them is Ras Al Hanaut seasoning. This is a Moroccan spice blend that can easily be made at home. It also does amazing things for left over meats stewed with vegetables, nuts, raisins etc in curry, tangines etc. as well. It sits on my counter next to the salt pepper and chile powder as daily use seasoning.

The name means "top or best of the shop."

marni

[Reesha]

PS - It was kale from my garden, fresh, tender, and delicious steamed or in soups, both times. I don't know what happens when I try to turn it into chips. But I do have a dehydrator, I'll try it that way next time - thanks!

And do try the chili powder and lime juice seasoning. It is insanely delicious!

[alexis_the_tiny]

Roasted veggies, mmmm. I have dreams of roasted broccoli and cauliflower now that my place doesn't have an oven. My colleague just told me to try cutting the broccoli so they look like little 2D trees and roasting them for the more...erm...imaginative (a.k.a playing with food) effect. :D

Dear research paper,

I spent 4 years in college writing about literature. Why on earth are you still so difficult to write? Why do I have no clue where to start? Why am I having nightmares of failing??!!

Dear food center near my house,

Why do you sell such delicious and cheap food? I must live in one of the only places on earth where it's really cheaper to eat out than cook.

[Blueberry]

Dear Contractors:

I thought the economy sucked and you needed work. We need 2 things done to our house before it goes on the market (which is soon!). None of you will even return my phone calls. You were all recommended by neighbors or real estate agents. What's up with that?

Dear Self:

Panicking about the amount of work to be done before the target market date will not help. Put the stuff that has emotional baggage attached to it in boxes. Put the boxes in storage. We are definitely at a point where we need to deal with that later.

[withm]

[QUOTE=alexis_the_tiny;627129]Roasted veggies, mmmm. I have dreams of roasted broccoli and cauliflower now that my place doesn't have an oven. My colleague just told me to try cutting the broccoli so they look like little 2D trees and roasting them for the more...erm...imaginative (a.k.a playing with food) effect. :D

I roast my veggies in the toaster oven. I like the idea of slicing the broccoli thin and roasting. I'll try it next week. This week I'm alternating roasted asparagus or brussels sprouts. Roast at around 400 in toaster oven until nicely browned and then a squirt of balsamic reduction. Heaven.

[limewave]

I could live a very happy life with only 2 kitchen appliances: blender and toaster oven. Toaster Oven is the best thing ever.

[SadieKate]

Dear Contractors:

I thought the economy sucked and you needed work. We need 2 things done to our house before it goes on the market (which is soon!). None of you will even return my phone calls. You were all recommended by neighbors or real estate agents. What's up with that?

Dear Blueberry - Find your self a real estate agent who deals with the contractors himself (or herself - whatever:rolleyes:). If they want to get your house on the market and make some money, let them be the nag. It shouldn't be your problem unless you are getting once heck of discount on the commission.

[Biciclista]

To whom it may concern
what DO you do when you have to go to the bathroom after waiting 30 minutes on hold after several different attempts and finally getting the right extension?

[OakLeaf]

LOL, Trek and I had that conversation a few months back. I just go, and if they have to listen to it, TFB. :cool::p Though I'm pretty careful with my phone, since I lost one in a portajohn a couple of years back when I wasn't even using it. :rolleyes:

[jessmarimba]

Haha, yeah, me too. Just put it on mute in case they happen to answer, but whatever. Obviously leaving someone on hold for 30 minutes isn't exactly polite, so I figure I'm just returning the favor if they happen to pick up while I'm in there!

[Biciclista]

oh wait... and it's a land line!

[Bethany1]

Dear Self,

You got today and rode 4-5 miles. It may not be much, but you got out and enjoyed yourself. You will conquer that killer hill this summer. If not, there's always next summer.

Feeling so much better today. Cycling really does help with depression.

Now to figure out why my two of my cogs in my cassette aren't catching the chain right.

[Trek420]

Dear Blueberry - Find your self a real estate agent who deals with the contractors himself (or herself - whatever:rolleyes:). If they want to get your house on the market and make some money, let them be the nag.

That's a good idea. The economy is tough, contractors want work but they are looking for big projects; ones that keep the cash flow flowing.

The smaller your project the harder it is to find someone good.

Your realtor has contacts for smaller jobs whether to fix for quick sale, stage or fix after a sale. S/he wants to keep them busy so they stick around and work for him or her.

[Owlie]

Dear trees:
Ah. It's been nice, so you're taking it as license to do whatever foul, depraved things that you trees do. I really don't care what you do, but I must draw the line when it ends up in my nostrils, eyes, and so forth. So now I have to go on the loopy pills until May. Loopy pills are expensive. I don't want to be poor and loopy! You could have at least provided some warning. :mad:
Yours,
The person who thinks tree condoms might be a good idea.

[Roadtrip]

The person who thinks tree condoms might be a good idea.

LOL. I've been hearing alot about this lately. Allergies that is and an earlier start to the "season."

[marni]

Dear trees:

The person who thinks tree condoms might be a good idea.

Every year at about this time I feel like I am bleeding to death through my eyes. I have to manually unseal my eyelids when I get out of bed and after rinsing them out with warm water, they drip and water all day long to the point to where I look like I am crying all of the time. At this point not even allergy pills help. Soooo glad we are expecting some rain later in the week.
Other than the eyes, the allergy pills take care of everything else except the blahs from having my eyes burning all of the time so I guess I shouldn't complain.

allergy seasons are miserable.

marni

[OakLeaf]

Patanol. Seriously, if your insurance will cover it, Patanol. For all my allergies I never really had conjunctivitis until last year when it looked like I was draining a sinus infection out of my left eye. :p It was so bad I thought it was infected, but my doctor took one look and told me it was allergic.

[Blueberry]

Patanol. Seriously, if your insurance will cover it, Patanol. For all my allergies I never really had conjunctivitis until last year when it looked like I was draining a sinus infection out of my left eye. :p It was so bad I thought it was infected, but my doctor took one look and told me it was allergic.

+1 I need them for about 4 days a year, but I really need them for those days.

My eye doc suggested Alaway as a less expensive alternative, if insurance wouldn't cover Patanol. Per her - not quite as good, but works sort of the same way.

Of course, check with your doc.

[Blueberry]

Thanks, all.

We're down to 2 in the selection process. None of the ones we've talked to (and we've talked to a lot) would actually hire someone (or, perhaps more accurately, coordinate someone) to do the repairs. I'm working from their contacts. I think we're just in a really busy real estate season here. Houses are going under contract in a week or less fairly often.

[tulip]

Blueberry, are you moving away or just moving around? Best wishes on the speedy sale of your house. It's a cutie!

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear research paper, Y U NO write yourself??!?!!! And where have all my gender theory stuff from four years ago gone to??

Not Much Love,
my poor eyes that are fuzzy from reading all those studies

[Sky King]

dear snow gods,
really, snow today? The one day we have to drive through Idaho and Nevada on a two lane road. Me thinks you could have waited one day.

[Reesha]

Dear research paper, Y U NO write yourself??!?!!!

I loled :D

[Blueberry]

Blueberry, are you moving away or just moving around? Best wishes on the speedy sale of your house. It's a cutie!

Thanks:) We hope someone else will think so!

We are staying in town for now - downsizing in a big way. Our plan is to rent a small apartment for a while. We need less house to maintain for right now. I'm planning to go back to school and my DH has a soft money job, so flexibility is good!

[limewave]

Dear Checking Account:

I need a few hundred dollars to materialize between now and tomorrow morning. Please. I have two big races that I need to register DH, myself and DD for this week.

That is all,
Limewave

[Biciclista]

what's a soft money job, Blueberry?

[Blueberry]

He is an employee of a big university, but his position is grant funded. So, if the grant funding doesn't get renewed, he doesn't have a job anymore. His position is odd - it looks like a post doc, but he doesn't have a phd.

[indysteel]

Dear convoluted and thorny legal issue: You're making my head hurt. I know I get paid to sort this kind of a thing out, but could the Westlaw gods please drop a case in my lap that's directly on-point? Thanks.

[bmccasland]

Dear Landscape Architect that graced us with her presence at today's project meeting:

1. You are NOT, repeat NOT the Project Manager. So nit-picking about other department's project schedule doesn't matter.
2. The project is a ecosystem restoration project, NOT an urban landscape project. Therefore beavers and flooding could happen, get over it.

Dear Self,
Next project team meeting, sit next to the Sargent Major - his calm demeanor will keep you from throttling the Landscape Architect as mentioned above.

Dear Sargent Major,
I'm really glad that life landed you in our office.


Self again - remember to play nice in the sandbox. You can't throw the sand in someone's eyes. :rolleyes:

[lph]

Therefore beavers and flooding could happen, get over it.


You're funny :D Sounds like some of our meetings. "Yes, power plants are visible. No, it doesn't necessarily help slapping ye olde fashion panelling on the outside and grass on the roof."

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear lovely people on this thread,

you all made me LOL big time which I really needed after my week.

Dear work,

My room has some kids with really, really high behavioral needs. And I say that after having observed classes elsewhere. Sure, my kids can read and write but some of them STILL HAVE BIG BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. I can get maybe 15 minutes of teaching in a 4 hour day and those 15 minutes are conducted trying to make myself heard over the singing, screaming, flying objects and things being pushed over in the class. "You guys are still doing pretty ok" is NOT what I expect to hear from the intervention specialists simply because there are management issues.

[lph]

Dear applicants to the position of my closest co-worker:

why, oh why are you applying for a position where you have to write - lots, coherently, and building up to a logically bombproof conclusion - if you can't even write a half-page application well? I've really tried to be nice, I know many of you are young and inexperienced, but the amount of crap I've had to wade through is just appalling. Youth is no excuse for being a pompous a**. Or writing sentences without a verb.

[Catrin]

Dear Neck/Cervical Spine,

Thank you for improving as much as you have. You are probably 85% healed from the mtb trail fall/whiplash injury last October. I've been good, though I should do more stretching - that has fallen by the wayside since I was released from PT. Time to get back to it.

Bottom line, I want to ride my mountain bike this year and NOT on the road! Please don't make make me start wondering if I sold the wrong bike, it would be a shame if I only had one lonely mountain bike season because of you.

:( :o :mad:

[shootingstar]

Bloggers: Please don't put on your home page, a menu selection: "My Bucket List". Life isn't always like neat, perfect checklist.

Actually reading someone else's to do list in life...is not what I came to visit your blog. I want to read about how you are experiencing life --in the now/recent past.

[Owlie]

Dear heart (in general, not mine):
Why are you so vulnerable to toxic effects? Could you work on that, so that I don't have quite so much to memorize in two weeks?

Love,
A student

[shootingstar]

And I wish only more cycling women-bloggers could comment on my cyclewrite blog (I'll comment on yours too. But I've nearly given up...since very rare others comment on mine.)

It's very ironic: I get way more comments from other people, but it's very rare from cyclists. :confused:

Let me know what I'm doing wrong. :confused:

[Blueberry]

And I wish only more cycling women-bloggers could comment on my cyclewrite blog (I'll comment on yours too. But I've nearly given up...since very rare others comment on mine.)

It's very ironic: I get way more comments from other people, but it's very rare from cyclists. :confused:

Let me know what I'm doing wrong. :confused:

Maybe cyclists are too busy riding? Seriously, I have very little time to read blogs. I ignore lots of the new threads on TE that seem to be started "for the sake of discussion." I gate myself a lot more on the internet than I used to to preserve time for other things (I'm working tonight, and taking a break - the only reason I'm on TE now). I really don't read many cycling blogs - I'm very picky. I also tend to read what I read through an RSS feed - and commenting requires opening in a web browser - which I usually don't do.

Are you inviting comments? I tend to see blogs are one way conversations, not two way. I've never considered commenting an obligation, or a badge of honor. Why does it matter to you if people comment on your blog? Or your forum posts?

PS - I like Bucket Lists. I see them as goals - or a roadmap for how I want to live life going forward. No - life might not fit perfectly into them, but.... If you don't like that perspective, maybe read other blogs?

[shootingstar]

I like Bucket Lists. I see them as goals - or a roadmap for how I want to live life going forward. No - life might not fit perfectly into them, but.... If you don't like that perspective, maybe read other blogs?

That's what I do: I leave the blog.
I see participating in TE forums in whatever "goals" we discuss very different since it's casual conversation. Not flashing the bucket list every time one logs into the TE forums.

I guess once I leave my job (where I have to aim towards specific goals/deadlines), I tend to adopt a totally different attitude when reading other people's blogs for leisure/recreation.

No, it's not a big deal that very few cyclists (which was what I was referring specifically), comment on mine. After all, I tell other bloggers (who don't cycle), that's my 1 of my other passions -- cycling :)
Most likely because sometimes I write on other topics which others just aren't interested enough to comment. Oh well.

I read only 2-3 cycling-related blogs per month. Others I look and then leave. Maybe never to return again. I don't visit cycling blogs that are a person's training blog.

[Blueberry]

I guess once I leave my job (where I have to aim towards specific goals/deadlines), I tend to adopt a totally different attitude when reading other people's blogs for leisure/recreation.

This is an interesting, and I think very accurate perspective for me too.

I tend to avoid contentious topics on TE - and elsewhere - because I deal with conflict for my job. Hmmm....might require more thought:)

[Blueberry]

Dear TE:

Please forgive me if I'm grumpy. I don't deal well with stress, but the future plans to reduce it are causing more of it right now. And I'm not getting my bike endorphins:(

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear self, remember: the potential of the person, not the paperwork. That's what you're here to achieve. Try not to let management get to your head too much these days, it can be very depressing. Kids learn skills over years, not in the space of 9 months. Now, go and ride.

[Pax]

Dear TE,

Update on my mom: she is now 2.5 weeks post op on her surgery (aortic valve replacement and triple bypass), she is at a rehab center and it is slow going. She wants more than anything, to go home and have her life back, but they're trying to control her BP and she's just tired all the time.

On a personal note, I'm exhausted and would really like my life back too.

Signed,

So, so tired TE'er

[Biciclista]

ah {{{{{Pax}}}}} It is SO hard... try to take a day off, even an afternoon off. Believe me, your mother will understand.

Thanks for the update.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((Pax)))))))


Mimi, how are you and Don doing?

[indysteel]

(((Pax))). What Mimi said. Try to carve out a bit of time for yourself.

[NbyNW]

(((Pax))) Please take good care of yourself.

[Pax]

I got a day off yesterday, my brother took a turn. It was awesome, my honey and I went to the gym, I got in a fantastic swim, we had a nice lunch, did the grocery shopping, and then went home and watched a movie. It was heavenly!!

My brother is having eye surgery at Northwestern on Thursday so it will be my last break for a while, but as mom improves the visits are a bit less stressful. Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

[spokewench]

I got a day off yesterday, my brother took a turn. It was awesome, my honey and I went to the gym, I got in a fantastic swim, we had a nice lunch, did the grocery shopping, and then went home and watched a movie. It was heavenly!!

My brother is having eye surgery at Northwestern on Thursday so it will be my last break for a while, but as mom improves the visits are a bit less stressful. Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

PAX - Hang in there girl. Sounds like things are slowly on the mend for your Mom.

[PamNY]

Pax, I'm glad you got a break. Best wishes to you and your family.

[Catrin]

Hang in there Pax.

I think this is the stage of things that become more wearing than earlier stages. She is starting to feel better but her body isn't quite ready to do what she wants it to do... My mom has been in this place for almost 2 months now, it is hard on her.

[Owlie]

I got a day off yesterday, my brother took a turn. It was awesome, my honey and I went to the gym, I got in a fantastic swim, we had a nice lunch, did the grocery shopping, and then went home and watched a movie. It was heavenly!!

My brother is having eye surgery at Northwestern on Thursday so it will be my last break for a while, but as mom improves the visits are a bit less stressful. Thanks for the good thoughts everyone.

More good thoughts for you. I'm glad you got a break. And good thoughts to your brother for his surgery.

[Pax]

Thanks everyone, I'm trying to take a zen approach to all of this. It's just a snapshot in time.

[Biciclista]

How are Raleighdon and me doing? he's in chemo right now for the day. By tomorrow he will feel like a ragdoll; by SUnday he will feel like going for a bike ride. It's a tough road he has but he realizes now that he WILL have good days, and that life is worth living.
Me, i'm doing ok too.

[OakLeaf]

((((((Don & Mimi)))))) I'm so glad Don is feeling it's worth it. Hang in there, both of you.

Pax, take good care - do try to take at least a little of your life back.

[indysteel]

((((Mimi and Don)))). I hope you both find all the strength, encouragement, support, and care you need on this journey.

[SheFly]

Dear self -

Your life is fine. So you hate your job - no big deal. Yes it sucks, but things could definitely be worse. HTFU, buttercup.

SheFly

p.s.
Hugs to Pax, and Mimi and Don!

[jobob]

Dear self -

Your life is fine. So you hate your job - no big deal. Yes it sucks, but things could definitely be worse. HTFU, buttercup.

A great philosopher once said, "If work were fun they'd make you buy tickets."

:cool:

[Crankin]

I am glad to hear Don is adjusting to the treatments and you are feeling good, Mimi.
She Fly, no one should hate their job, since we spend so much time there. You have desirable skills. Start looking. And thank God that you can focus on cycling most of the time!

[Owlie]

Dear body:
No no no no. You are not allowed to get sick. Finals are in a week, and I still have studying to do. No. Not allowed. No.
I hope this is just a holdover from this morning. Although this would explain why I've had such a bad time with trainer workouts for the past week...

[tulip]

She Fly, no one should hate their job, since we spend so much time there. You have desirable skills. Start looking. And thank God that you can focus on cycling most of the time!

Absolutely! Hating the thing we spend the most time doing is not a very pleasant way to live. Been there, done that. Never again.

[azfiddle]

Mimi- I was just thinking about you and Don...this is just one more hurdle but it sounds like you guys will get through it. Hang in there on the rollercoaster ride until it all calms down.

Pax- sounds like you have a lot on your plate. Hugs.

Sharon

[SheFly]

Thanks, jobob, Crankin and Tulip! I have started looking, but there's not a lot out there right now. Part of my issue is being picky on location - I don't want to commute like I am now.

I'm usually pretty good about not complaining because I know I have it pretty good. Yesterday was just a REALLY bad day.

Thanks for letting me vent :D.

SheFly

p.s.
A really hard hill interval ride after work last night definitely helped!

[Crankin]

Yea, the location thing is wearing on me, too. Maybe my world was smaller when I lived in Boxborough and commuted to Hudson, but life seemed easier. I don't have traffic to deal with (thankfully), unless there's some unusual situation, but I live for Wednesdays and Fridays when I don't go to the office and I only see one, maybe two clients, who live near me.
This morning I am seeing parents who live 5 miles from my house, in Carlisle... I am going to ride my bike :).

[NbyNW]

Dear fellow committee member (aka Mr. Windbag),

I'm tired of your tendency to over-promise and under-deliver, not to mention your obstructive attitude towards the goals of this committee.

If you truly don't have the time, please don't volunteer it. You are taking up valuable, needed space. It's time to let someone else step up.

Thank you for all the favors that you have offered but have failed to bring to fruition.

NbyNW

[Owlie]

Dear self:
Watching The Lion King at this time of the month would be the worst plan ever, unless you want to be calling your BF, sobbing, and explain that you need cheering up because you were watching a Disney movie.
Also, don't listen to the soundtrack from that part of the movie. Just. don't.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Dear body:
No no no no. You are not allowed to get sick. Finals are in a week, and I still have studying to do. No. Not allowed. No.

Owlie, I just said the exact same thing to my body today. 3 days ago, I was just recovering from a viral infection that was making it hard to breathe. Then a kid sneezed into my face. And now, hellooo sore throat, headache and sniffles. My job is not giving me enough health insurance for this!

Dear life in general,

quit kicking my butt. Seriously. I walk around with a frown ALL the time because I'm stressed about work, school and well, work. I don't know how to handle the new behaviors in my classroom. I don't know how to set up my dang classroom. I don't know how to defend the decisions I make in my classroom to my co-teacher. And depressingly enough, yes, she's right, all I have are theories because neither of us have ANY reliable training in teaching special ed so I can't exactly demand that she go along with trying my ideas. Also, that flat tire that came when I was about to head off to school was NOT welcome.

[malkin]

Dear Contractor:

Since you have already wrecked the hardwood floors, the piano, and all the electronics in the house it might be better for you to go ahead and burn the place down to the ground. That way I could have all the trauma all at once, collect some money from insurance, and I could be finished with you.

[emily_in_nc]

Dear Contractor:

Since you have already wrecked the hardwood floors, the piano, and all the electronics in the house it might be better for you to go ahead and burn the place down to the ground. That way I could have all the trauma all at once, collect some money from insurance, and I could be finished with you.

OMG, malkin...what in the world -- how did he do all that damage?! :mad: :eek: :confused: :(

[Reesha]

Dear children on my cycling team,

You are the best. The bomb. Today you worked so hard in those sprints... you cheered each other on constantly. You laughed, you enjoyed yourselves. This is what a team should be.

Gosh I'm so proud of them. :) :) :)

[Owlie]

Alexis: Sorry you're sick. In my case, it wasn't the plague. Apparently chills and general "sick" feeling is now the new PMS.

Malkin: :eek:

Dear children on my cycling team,

You are the best. The bomb. Today you worked so hard in those sprints... you cheered each other on constantly. You laughed, you enjoyed yourselves. This is what a team should be.

Gosh I'm so proud of them. :) :) :)

Awww.

Dear Self:
Jalapeno hummus is best not followed immediately by a bowl of cereal. It makes everything taste funny.

[malkin]

OMG, malkin...what in the world -- how did he do all that damage?! :mad: :eek: :confused: :(

He normally does new construction and didn't do anything differently in our house to protect any of our stuff. Discovered the mess when we got home from a difficult Europe trip (my dad is 82, recovering from stroke and bypass surgery, lives in obscure village--no--we are not from there, just long story).

Anyway, I pretty much melted down walking in the house after the long trip home. That was last Sunday.

This weekend, my brother is in Vegas to watch basketball, so Brewer drove me down here to see my brother and to get me out of our 'house.'

[alexis_the_tiny]

Owlie, that's a horrible feeling. Hope you feel better soon.

Malkin, your contractor's a real gem. Please pass along his number for when some people need help towards a nervous breakdown. Jeez. I hope you had a good break while in Vegas. You sound like you need it awfully.

[malkin]

Dear Gods of Clean:
Wowee!

Clean clothes!
Clean sheets!
Clean hotel room! (except for our stuff strewn everywhere!)

Dear everyone:
Thanks for the good wishes. We rode our new foldies for about 15 mi around Lake Mead this morning. I'm still getting used to the gearing, and haven't got the fit adjusted quite right yet, but still it feels like heaven!

Also, it's Nevada, so we can load up the car with pleasant forms of ETOH, because maybe the only way to survive our construction/destruction is by drinking!

[Crankin]

First time I've seen ETOH noted somewhere other than an assessment or treatment plan...

[emily_in_nc]

Okay, I'm lost. What's ETOH? :confused:

Malkin, so sorry about your contractor from hell. Hope you can put a notation in on angie's list or something similar so others don't suffer the same fate. Glad you were able to get away for awhile and have fun! :)

[solobiker]

I have seen ETOH in medical charts which means alcohol abuse. And it is the first time for me to see it other then in a medical chart too.

[OakLeaf]

It just stands for ethyl alcohol aka ethanol aka the kind you drink (-OH is an alcohol, the full chemical symbol for ethanol is CH₃CH₂OH) - doesn't necessarily denote abuse. I've used the abbreviation in my own notations to myself - don't have much call to use it now that I'm retired. The abbreviation, not the substance. :)

[tulip]

Dear Tulip,
Wow, you are doing so wonderfully with your finances...you are really getting it! Did you really budget and fund all your bills and expenses THROUGH APRIL already?? Funding and budgeting two months ahead is AWESOME! And saving for all those rainy day categories really makes life easier. Ahhhh...

Congratulations, and enjoy those Arkel panniers--you deserve them (and you saved for them and budgeted for them!). Oh, and that upcoming bike vacation--all saved for and budgeted, too. Have fun and congratulations, again!

-Tulip

[Owlie]

I have seen ETOH in medical charts which means alcohol abuse. And it is the first time for me to see it other then in a medical chart too.

I use it all the time in my notes...not to drink! Of course, having done my undergrad in chemistry and being in grad school for toxicology (where the favorite example of one of my professors is ethanol toxicity), it gets used fairly often.

It's pretty common to use MeOH (methanol) and EtOH in science because we're lazy. Then we go out for EtOH produced by some very lovely fungi on Fridays!

[crazycanuck]

Dear body,

Thank you for all your hard work today :D. I never thought i'd ever enter and finish a 1/2 marathon but today I did :D

2:46 was my official time & did it by walk/run/walk/run/walk etc...

I had heaps o fun & can't wait for the next one...(soon :D)

Thank you

back to lurking

[Blueberry]

Dear Tulip:

Congratulations!!! You rock:)

Enjoy those panniers, your vacation, and the satisfaction of being in control of your life!

[azfiddle]

Dear DH- I am very proud of you for completing a 400k rando ride, and doing it in about 19 hours. (Even though I think this randonneuring stuff is a bit extreme). Way to go.

[Blueberry]

Dear Real Estate Agent:

We are not happy with you. The "too busy to deal with us on Sunday" when you know we leave town tomorrow act is getting old. It's not like we're not addressing things you told us about yesterday. As is the "add this to your to do list" at 48 hours until listing. Something like painting the front steps is something you could have told us a while ago (you know, when you gave us the long to do list we have busted our butts to accomplish). And the wunderkind painter that you recommended for the porch - yeah - we're still cleaning up his mess. Not going to let you bring him back for more work.

We haven't signed a contract with you (that's part of what you don't have time to deal with on Sunday), and we're already t!cked.

Signed,

The person who thought you would make her life easier and now has no confidence in you

[tulip]

Blueberry, sending you a PM about recommended RE agent there.

[snapdragen]

Congratulations CC! Well done!


Dear body,

Thank you for all your hard work today :D. I never thought i'd ever enter and finish a 1/2 marathon but today I did :D

2:46 was my official time & did it by walk/run/walk/run/walk etc...

I had heaps o fun & can't wait for the next one...(soon :D)

Thank you

back to lurking

[jobob]

Dear body,

Thank you for all your hard work today :D. I never thought i'd ever enter and finish a 1/2 marathon but today I did :D


Way cool. :cool:

[emily_in_nc]

Blueberry -- good thing you found out about that RE agent before you signed. RUN far away! There are plenty of excellent agents in the Triangle area, no need to settle for someone annoying, snooty, or who otherwise acts like helping you get your house ready to list is a waste of his/her time.

STRONG recommendation for Melanie Girard, now at Allen Tate (Chapel Hill, but off 15-501 on the way to Durham, and I suspect she does listings for both cities; she worked in Carrboro when we hired her). She was a dream to work with (almost everything could be done via email, which we appreciated), and got our house sold in 60 days in spring of 2010, when the market was at its worst:

http://local.yahoo.com/info-55680671-allen-tate-realtorsmelanie-girard-chapel-hill

Good luck!

[emily_in_nc]

Congratulations, crazycanuck! I don't know if a half is ever in my future, but it is exciting to hear about anyone doing their first one. You rock! :cool:

[marni]

Dear body,

Thank you for all your hard work today :D. I never thought i'd ever enter and finish a 1/2 marathon but today I did :D

2:46 was my official time & did it by walk/run/walk/run/walk etc...

I had heaps o fun & can't wait for the next one...(soon :D)

Thank you

back to lurking

Great job and congratulations. I aspire someday to actually do a 5 k.

marni

[Owlie]

Dear body,

Thank you for all your hard work today :D. I never thought i'd ever enter and finish a 1/2 marathon but today I did :D

2:46 was my official time & did it by walk/run/walk/run/walk etc...

I had heaps o fun & can't wait for the next one...(soon :D)

Thank you

back to lurking

YAY! Congratulations!

[Becky]

Dear Tulip,
Wow, you are doing so wonderfully with your finances...you are really getting it! Did you really budget and fund all your bills and expenses THROUGH APRIL already?? Funding and budgeting two months ahead is AWESOME! And saving for all those rainy day categories really makes life easier. Ahhhh...

Awesome! We're still plugging away at getting that buffer built up, but we're doing a great job of saving for rainy-day categories. No more scrambling to pay the heating oil bill! Any suggestions for buffer building?

[alexis_the_tiny]

Yay for Crazycanuk and Tulip! By the way, Tulip, ever since you mentioned budgeting software, I had a good hunt around and have been using a budgeting app. It's terrific, knowing I have a few thousand dollars stashed away is nice (even if that amount isn't a lot).

Dear friend, thank you for coming up and nudging me off the ledge of fear I've started to teeter on. Thank you for reminding me that now that I'm physically away from that person, they can only hurt me as much as I allow them to.

[Pax]

Awesome! We're still plugging away at getting that buffer built up, but we're doing a great job of saving for rainy-day categories. No more scrambling to pay the heating oil bill! Any suggestions for buffer building?

We decided to become a one car family again, our old Ranger is paid for and cheap to maintain so we're getting rid of the Wrangler. We're also stopping the extra payments on our house, we plan on selling it in the next 2-3 years so the money would be better saved.

The payments on the Wrangler and house are small but by making those changes we put ourselves in the place where we can put over $2000 a month into savings (which for us is huge).

I realize a LOT of people can't do the one car thing though, it's just doable for us because we live in a small college town.

[indysteel]

Dear fashion retailers: Why, oh why, are your skirts so short? You used to cater to professional women. I can understand the trend toward more casual business attire, but mini skirts? Is everybody but me able to wear such things to work and does everybody but me look get in them? I don't think so. So why are they so prevalent? And those that aren't mid-thigh length are pencil skirts. While they're not quite as unflattering or work inappropriate, I find them totally uncomfortable for summer. Please, return skirts to a more modest length and offer them in an a-line cut. Thank you.

[Becky]

We decided to become a one car family again, our old Ranger is paid for and cheap to maintain so we're getting rid of the Wrangler. We're also stopping the extra payments on our house, we plan on selling it in the next 2-3 years so the money would be better saved.

The payments on the Wrangler and house are small but by making those changes we put ourselves in the place where we can put over $2000 a month into savings (which for us is huge).

I realize a LOT of people can't do the one car thing though, it's just doable for us because we live in a small college town.

We did the one-car thing for awhile and it just doesn't work for us. DH's car is more than paid for (due to be replaced, even), and mine will be paid off in 2 months. The plan is to save up a significant chunk of money towards his car before we begin shopping.

I think part of this may be changing my mindset about long-term savings goals, in order to fund the buffer first and allow us to budget further ahead (like Tulip has done). We've been socking aside significant savings to severals goals, but maybe I need to free up those funds for the buffer and delay our other goals.

I have to confess: budgeting in YNAB is fun for me. :D:eek: I love seeing each dollar do a job, sitting down on payday to assign jobs to those checks, and prioritizing our needs each month.

[Pax]

We did the one-car thing for awhile and it just doesn't work for us. DH's car is more than paid for (due to be replaced, even), and mine will be paid off in 2 months. The plan is to save up a significant chunk of money towards his car before we begin shopping.

I think part of this may be changing my mindset about long-term savings goals, in order to fund the buffer first and allow us to budget further ahead (like Tulip has done). We've been socking aside significant savings to severals goals, but maybe I need to free up those funds for the buffer and delay our other goals.

I have to confess: budgeting in YNAB is fun for me. :D:eek: I love seeing each dollar do a job, sitting down on payday to assign jobs to those checks, and prioritizing our needs each month.

We don't use YNAB, but I have kept us on a budget sheet for many years. I have to say, it's MUCH more fun budgeting when you actually have "extra" money; rather than the old version of "holy cow, how are we going to pay the power bill this month!". :p

[tulip]

Awesome! We're still plugging away at getting that buffer built up, but we're doing a great job of saving for rainy-day categories. No more scrambling to pay the heating oil bill! Any suggestions for buffer building?

Becky, it took me a year to get my buffer. I started out with a small emergency fund, and then just kept growing it until it reached my buffer amount. Then I rebuilt the emergency fund, so I have a buffer and a separate emergency fund. Now I'm building up my rainy day categories, and it's going nicely. I have taken on some side work that I really enjoy, and that has helped pad out my rainy day funds. I could not have done this without YNAB, but now I find it really alot of fun and it's very empowering to me to be in control of my money instead of the other way around.

Alexis-the-Tiny, I'm glad you found something that works for you. If I can inspire one person to take control of his or her finances, it's a win for everyone. If I can do it, anyone can, that's for sure.

[Becky]

Becky, it took me a year to get my buffer. I started out with a small emergency fund, and then just kept growing it until it reached my buffer amount. Then I rebuilt the emergency fund, so I have a buffer and a separate emergency fund. Now I'm building up my rainy day categories, and it's going nicely. I have taken on some side work that I really enjoy, and that has helped pad out my rainy day funds. I could not have done this without YNAB, but now I find it really alot of fun and it's very empowering to me to be in control of my money instead of the other way around.

Tulip, thanks for sharing. This makes me feel loads better about not having a fully-funded buffer yet. :)

[alexis_the_tiny]

Tulip, you know what was REALLY fun? Realizing that at 16, I had on a 600 dollar a month allowance (I was living alone with no family, not a spoilt teenager) and now? I'm still doing 600 bucks a month. Well that's before I factor in rent. But I love knowing that in 10 years, I can still do with the same amount of money. :p On some level, it makes the financially paranoid side of me feel so, so, much safer.

[indysteel]

Becky, it took me a year to get my buffer. I started out with a small emergency fund, and then just kept growing it until it reached my buffer amount. Then I rebuilt the emergency fund, so I have a buffer and a separate emergency fund. Now I'm building up my rainy day categories, and it's going nicely. I have taken on some side work that I really enjoy, and that has helped pad out my rainy day funds. I could not have done this without YNAB, but now I find it really alot of fun and it's very empowering to me to be in control of my money instead of the other way around.

Thumb's up, Tulip. That's awesome! I'm really thrilled for you.

[ultraviolet]

Please, return skirts to a more modest length and offer them in an a-line cut.

The Calvin Klein line has knee-length a-line skirt this year. Macy's has it for about $55. (link (http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-skirt-a-line-suit?ID=613132&CategoryID=131#fn=BRAND%3DCalvin%20Klein%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D15%26ruleId%3D65%26slotId%3D1))

[indysteel]

The Calvin Klein line has knee-length a-line skirt this year. Macy's has it for about $55. (link (http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-skirt-a-line-suit?ID=613132&CategoryID=131#fn=BRAND%3DCalvin%20Klein%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D15%26ruleId%3D65%26slotId%3D1))

Thanks for the suggestion.

[Catrin]

Dear Neck,

Please stop complaining because I dared to ride my bike two days in a row. You aren't even complaining very much, which is nice, but please stop all of it. I do thank you for allowing me to finish both rides without pain!

Ok, so it was a little windy yesterday...had to be for me to have a max HR of 173 - on the road :eek: I knew I was fighting a pretty stiff breeze across the fields but sheesh! Ok, I guess you had a right to complain, but please stop now!

Regards

Your body

[Crankin]

Ugh, I hate knee length skirts and dresses. They make me look dowdy. I'd have to wear 4 inch heels. I want skirts to hit above the knee for work or a little higher for casual wear.
I bought a new dress Friday for the first time since last summer. A petite xx small should not be too long.

[indysteel]

Ugh, I hate knee length skirts and dresses. They make me look dowdy. I'd have to wear 4 inch heels. I want skirts to hit above the knee for work or a little higher for casual wear.
I bought a new dress Friday for the first time since last summer. A petite xx small should not be too long.

I don't look dowdy with skirts that hit at my knee if they're a-line. If they're cut a little straighter, the look better right above my knee. What I can't wear are true minis. Unflattering at best (on me) and unprofessional in my legal setting. You and I are different heights and have different frames judging from your weight.

[Catrin]

I don't know if it is a carryover from the many years when I was so large, but I seem to like skirts that hit mid-calf. I feel neekid in skirts that hit above the knee :o This is funny considering I've no problem hitting the streets on my bike in spandex shorts and no-sleeve jerseys :-)

I like that A-line skirt however...it might be time to expand my wardrobe...

[Crankin]

Oh, I know, Indy. I just find it so frustrating that everything seems to be getting longer. I think I have an unnatural fear of turning into a "Cambridge lady," i.e. a therapist who wears calf to ankle length skirts, Dansko clogs, lots of scarves, big flowing jackets, and chunky jewelry.
I wouldn't wear mini skirts to work, either, but I do wear them (or short dresses) instead of shorts in the summer, for non-work time. I hate shorts, except bike shorts, of course.
I do love pencil skirts.

[Becky]

At least when it's too long, it can be hemmed or altered.

[indysteel]

I don't know if it is a carryover from the many years when I was so large, but I seem to like skirts that hit mid-calf. I feel neekid in skirts that hit above the knee :o This is funny considering I've no problem hitting the streets on my bike in spandex shorts and no-sleeve jerseys :-)

I like that A-line skirt however...it might be time to expand my wardrobe...

You should wear shorter skirts. You have really good legs.

[indysteel]

Oh, I know, Indy. I just find it so frustrating that everything seems to be getting longer. I think I have an unnatural fear of turning into a "Cambridge lady," i.e. a therapist who wears calf to ankle length skirts, Dansko clogs, lots of scarves, big flowing jackets, and chunky jewelry.
I wouldn't wear mini skirts to work, either, but I do wear them (or short dresses) instead of shorts in the summer, for non-work time. I hate shorts, except bike shorts, of course.
I do love pencil skirts.

I'm surprised you feel like skirts are getting longer. Nearly every online store I looked at yesterday (the Loft, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, J. Crew) mostly had two offerings: minis or pencil skirts. Only Boden seems to be offering a variety of skirts that hit right at or slightly above the knee. Most of the skirts I've bought in recent years are from Boden, but their fit has gotten kind of wonky of late, which is frustrating. I'm lucky in that I can get away with more business casual attire at work when I don't have court, which means the average pencil skirt is somewhat dressier than I like. I do like that look as a general rule though. You have such a petite frame, so it doesn't surprise me that you find somewhat shorter skirts flattering. I veer towards being a pear, which is why a-lines work better. They flatter a lot of women though, which is why I think it's odd that they're hard to find.

The bottom line is that I hate buying clothes for work. I'm in an in between age (not young, not old) and I think it's become increasingly difficult to find the right niche shop that also offers clothes that actually fit. I'd rather shop for running, cycling, hiking clothes. :rolleyes:

But as per usual, my venting in this thread shouldn't be mistaken for a real problem.

[Pax]

All this skirt talk makes me giggle, I haven't worn a skirt or dress since sometime in the 80's. Sundresses look like fun though.

[indysteel]

All this skirt talk makes me giggle, I haven't worn a skirt or dress since sometime in the 80's. Sundresses look like fun though.

LOL. I have a hard time finding pants that fit me, especially since there's a trend toward shorter rises. My butt and thighs are just too out of proportion to the rest of me. Plus, I almost always have to get them hemmed. With skirts, I can get away with not having them altered and they're often more forgiving of my figure flaws. Plus, they look dressier for work without necesssarily being dressy.

My job is kind of funny. Most of the time, I'm hidden away in my office behind locked doors. Few people see me. But I also often have to go to court certain days. I sit behind a bench that's right outside the chambers door to the courtroom, so people barely get a glimpse of what I'm wearing. I always feel bad that I don't dress up more, but it just seems sort of pointless. Still, I was reminded that there is an accepted dress code when my boss got on a male attorney who showed up to court without a suit jacket and tie. My guess is that my boss has held his tongue about my wardrobe for years.

[Blueberry]

Update on the Real Estate Agent Saga:

When I posted, we had less than 24 hours before we were headed out of town for a week, and we had been told my lots of people that we needed to be on the market by 3/15 (or the weekend after) - so we didn't have long to make a decision and get everything lined up.

We talked to the agent who was the other finalist - and that I think we both felt like we should have gone with from the start. She was able to instantly tell us when she could list (photos, etc) and give us a timeline. We are much happier, and I'm VERY confident in the new person. Crossing our fingers for a quick sale!

[Pax]

That would be rough! I wore uniforms for years, then switched to a job with very casual business dress, now the only "dress code" I have is having to wear something on my feet. Seriously, I could wear a swimsuit to work and they couldn't say a word. It cracks me up! :p

[indysteel]

Update on the Real Estate Agent Saga:

When I posted, we had less than 24 hours before we were headed out of town for a week, and we had been told my lots of people that we needed to be on the market by 3/15 (or the weekend after) - so we didn't have long to make a decision and get everything lined up.

We talked to the agent who was the other finalist - and that I think we both felt like we should have gone with from the start. She was able to instantly tell us when she could list (photos, etc) and give us a timeline. We are much happier, and I'm VERY confident in the new person. Crossing our fingers for a quick sale!

Crossin' my fingers, too! I thought buying a home was stressful...until I later had to sell one. The latter is much worse, at least in this market. I hope it goes well for you!

[emily_in_nc]

Crossin' my fingers, too! I thought buying a home was stressful...until I later had to sell one. The latter is much worse, at least in this market. I hope it goes well for you!

Ditto! Selling is much more stressful -- have to keep things perfect all the time, be ready to leave for a showing at a moment's notice. Then the stress of the inspection -- what do they want you to fix?

I would MUCH rather be a buyer. So many choices, so many possibilities, so much power. Such fun! Of course, it's been a buyer's market for quite some time. In a seller's market, I might feel different.

Good luck, blueberry, and glad you went with the other agent!

[Catrin]

You should wear shorter skirts. You have really good legs.

Thanks for the encouragement Indy, I DID buy a shorter dress last year that I've worn an entire one time...and I will make a point to bring it out when the hot weather hits. I would far rather buy bike/fitness clothing. One nice thing about being a much smaller person these days is I've more hope of finding something at Good Will or consignment shops. I never had luck when I was size 20+. Not that they didn't have anything that size, I just didn't like any of it.


Crossin' my fingers, too! I thought buying a home was stressful...until I later had to sell one. The latter is much worse, at least in this market. I hope it goes well for you!

Good luck to all trying to buy and sell homes. I've never been a homeowner, and at this stage of it all I am content with that. I've a good landlord that fixes things when they break...I may not have equity, but I don't have to fix things either. It is a balance.

[Crankin]

Until I had this job, I almost never wore pants to work.
Indy, I'm a bit of a pear, too, but it's so much less than before, I'm ok with it.
I spend way more on sports clothes, but I still love dressing up.

[Reesha]

For classy clothes I always look at Garnet Hill and I keep my eye on Isda and Co. Isda has super comfy clothes-- pricey, but really good looking stuff.

[bmccasland]

Ditto! Selling is much more stressful -- have to keep things perfect all the time, be ready to leave for a showing at a moment's notice. Then the stress of the inspection -- what do they want you to fix?

I would MUCH rather be a buyer. So many choices, so many possibilities, so much power. Such fun! Of course, it's been a buyer's market for quite some time. In a seller's market, I might feel different.

Good luck, blueberry, and glad you went with the other agent!

I'm in the same, selling, boat with Indy. Have a realtor I'm happy with, but getting a buyer is another issue. We're entering month #3. Yes the stress is getting to me, had a 2-day migraine (yesterday & sunday). Doesn't help that I torture myself looking at properties to buy, when I can't do anything until the house sells. ARRRGGGH :mad:

[Blueberry]

I'm in the same, selling, boat with Indy. Have a realtor I'm happy with, but getting a buyer is another issue. We're entering month #3. Yes the stress is getting to me, had a 2-day migraine (yesterday & sunday). Doesn't help that I torture myself looking at properties to buy, when I can't do anything until the house sells. ARRRGGGH :mad:

Oh Beth-

I so feel for you, and I'm really, really hoping we aren't there in a few months. The good news is we don't have to move until it sells - the bad news is we have to live with the issues of being "on the market" - showings, etc. With pets.

I feel really fortunate - our house is in a good neighborhood that seems to be bucking most of the market difficulties. The house behind us (very similar) went on the market a few weeks ago and had 4 offers the first day. I REALLY want that to be us.

Our plan is to rent for a while. Let someone else deal with the repair issues, etc. We will own again - but not anytime soon, I think.

[Pax]

... Our plan is to rent for a while. Let someone else deal with the repair issues, etc. We will own again - but not anytime soon, I think.

That is our plan once we sell as well. The house will go on the market in about two years (I can take my early retirement pittance in 2.5 years). If the house sells quickly we'll look for a short term rental locally, if not we'll just keep living there until it sells... then head to warmer climes and rent there. We're both burned out on maintenance and upkeep so renting sounds like a nice choice for a while.

[indysteel]

Just to clarify that I'm not currently buying or selling. I sold my house in downtown Indy in early 2010....but the experience is still fresh in my mind. I was lucky at least that the house was vacant while I was trying to sell it, so I didn't have to worry about my pets or keeping it tidy. Of course, not living in a house you're trying to sell can also be challenging. It seemed like we got a heavy snow every time I had a showing scheduled.

In any event, I became obsessive about comps to make sure I was priced right. That was hard because downtown properties are unique in a lot of ways and their values can vary widely based on what block it's on.

So, that's my advice for anybody selling. As hard as it is to swallow the decrease in property values, try to be realistic about what your house is worth. Also be prepared to be lowballed. Every buyer out there is convinced they're going to get a smokin' deal right now, even if your house is otherwise priced well. Make sure your realtor really understands the comps and can persuasively argue for or against a certain price. Having worked with a handful of realtors over the years, I've included that some are better than others at the actual negotiation part of buying/selling.

[indysteel]

The house behind us (very similar) went on the market a few weeks ago and had 4 offers the first day. I REALLY want that to be us.

Our plan is to rent for a while. Let someone else deal with the repair issues, etc. We will own again - but not anytime soon, I think.

Well, that's encouraging. Here's hoping.

I fantasize about renting again. Homeownership can be such a drag.

[Blueberry]

With the agent change, I am very confident we have a great negotiator (with my career, that's a hard thing for me to delegate - but I realize necessary in this case).

We are priced at the high end of the range that agents have given us - but within the range. We also have an urban house that is very unique. It's hard to know, but we're definitely being realistic on the price with the advice we're getting. Our agent is very comfortable with it (important to me!).

Now - off for my first bike ride in LA:eek::eek:

[Crankin]

Wow. My son is trying to buy his first home and here we have bidding wars and people offering way over asking price. He was so happy he got pre approved for first time buyer's financing and now is so discouraged.
We had a great agent who died :(. We aren't planning on selling for 5-7 yrs. but not sure what we will do without her.

[indysteel]

I rue the day we have to sell our current home. It's in a smallish town where home values have decreased a fair amount since we bought in 2009. Because the volume of sales is low, even at the best of times, it will take a very long time before the market can rebound given how stingy appraisers have become. It will be very difficult to support even a modest increase in price with sold comps.

All the while, we have to put money into the house to keep it liveable for us. It's a losing proposition. At least our mortgage is relatively small.

[Crankin]

My son and his wife had their offer accepted!
Much more exciting than having a grandchild.

[Reesha]

ooo congrats!

[Crankin]

Yeah, I am pretty proud, knowing how he saved and has no debt, got approved for a special MA first time buyer's loan, considering how much freakin' money houses here cost, compared to other parts of the country.
Sometimes I want to strangle parents who think the only way their kids can be successful is to spend 200K on their college and let them live at home afterwards, so they don't have these experiences.

[OakLeaf]

Dear men,

Did it ever occur to you that when you "shake," those droplets don't magically disappear? Would you please, just once, wipe your OWN dried urine off the walls, floors and sides of the commode? Why can't you just use toilet paper like normal human beings?

[murielalex]

Dear Ivan the Cat,

I know you hate it when men visit, but must you always poop in the middle of the floor just to make that point?

Sincerely,

Your poop-cleaning slave



BTW, been reading this thread for the past few days. Love it!

[bmccasland]

Dear esteemed colleagues offering real estate advice at lunch today,
You have no idea how completely disheartened I am about my "situation". Telling me that I should go for a drive, check out other neighborhoods isn't very helpful. What I would like to hear is an invitation to join you to check our your lovely neighborhood - as I'm not familiar with this city, as you well know.

Living in real estate limbo sux. :(

[Trek420]

Dear esteemed colleagues offering real estate advice at lunch today,
You have no idea how completely disheartened I am about my "situation". Telling me that I should go for a drive, check out other neighborhoods isn't very helpful. What I would like to hear is an invitation to join you to check our your lovely neighborhood - as I'm not familiar with this city, as you well know.

Living in real estate limbo sux. :(

I'd go for a bike ride not a drive. Explore the bike and ped accessible areas of your city (there are lots of delightful ones!) I might be up there soon, real soon. A couple weeks. Maybe a TE neighborhood exploration ride is in order :D

[NbyNW]

Beth, I'd love to plug my neighborhood and take you for a tour of it but I fear it might be too far north for you ...

Might be fun to hang out regardless. Trek's idea is a good one.

I'm currently limited to riding on my trainer but would be open to meeting up with TE-ers for post-ride treats and libations.

[shootingstar]

Here we go again, more change in the dept. where I work. This time, I'm wondering if it's going to affect my job because a similar position is being posted. :confused:

So I have figure out a path or paths, when I get more info. Or I'll just resign myself for ride without stressing myself...over more change.

I'm getting a bit tired of change, just have had to live through alot of major personal change in past 1.5 yrs.

[Biciclista]

Bike riding weather has been scarce in our neighborhood lately for all but the toughest of riders. Temps hovering near freezing, wind, snow, sleet, rain... Not easy for a gal from New Orleans for sure.

[bmccasland]

Bike riding weather has been scarce in our neighborhood lately for all but the toughest of riders. Temps hovering near freezing, wind, snow, sleet, rain... Not easy for a gal from New Orleans for sure.

Darn tootin right! :D
(even if I do own 1 thermal long sleeved jersey and 1 pr of thermal tights) :rolleyes:

And y'all are right, a bike ride through a neighborhood would be much better than a drive. Even a walk is better than a drive. In this "lovely" weather I'd rather walk than ride. Yes, I'm a wimp. I admit it. :p

[azfiddle]

Dear self
Yes it is going to be another near perfect day to be outside and yes, it's spring break but you have ridden 146 miles since Saturday and all the routine house chores have been put off long enough, not to mention any project that takes longer than 20 minutes. Besides, the muscles are requesting a day off no matter how perfect it is outside for a spin up to Saguaro National Park. Get to work and ride tomorrow!

Love, me

[Catrin]

Darn tootin right! :D
(even if I do own 1 thermal long sleeved jersey and 1 pr of thermal tights) :rolleyes:

And y'all are right, a bike ride through a neighborhood would be much better than a drive. Even a walk is better than a drive. In this "lovely" weather I'd rather walk than ride. Yes, I'm a wimp. I admit it. :p

All I can say is that, as a southern woman who now lives in central Indiana - PI Amfib tights + bib shorts + PI Barrier shoe covers + smartwool base layer + smartwool LS jersey + thermal jacket makes a fine combination and keeps me warm in colder temps :cool: I hope it gets warmer for you soon.

I won't rub in the 78 degree temps they are calling for today. Not at all :)

[Owlie]

All I can say is that, as a southern woman who now lives in central Indiana - PI Amfib tights + bib shorts + PI Barrier shoe covers + smartwool base layer + smartwool LS jersey + thermal jacket makes a fine combination and keeps me warm in colder temps :cool: I hope it gets warmer for you soon.

I won't rub in the 78 degree temps they are calling for today. Not at all :)

Why is it so warm? And more importantly, why is it so warm around finals so that I can't go out and enjoy it? Grump.

[Blueberry]

Dear Bike Friday:

What is it that you don't like about Southern Californa? Last time we were here, you destroyed your connections to the nice generator hub I got for you and went through 3 tubes in a week. This time, you've blown a spoke in a rear wheel. I know you don't like TSA, but really? We're adventuring! Good thing we have an understanding bike shop willing to get you rolling again ASAP (and a good friend to transport you)!

Your owner