Thread Drift

salsa,

yes it's pretty typical. I've been through a few home remodels and I'd say they all either took twice as long or cost twice as much....or both.

The most extensive started as a bathroom remodel only on a 3 story, 2b, 3 B house in Berkeley. At one point we were down to one room, everything else was being worked on.

It can also be very hard on a relationship so the fact yours & your sense of humor is intact...that's a good thing.

I vowed all I'd do is paint my condo but the floors and kitchen are abysmal so I don't think I can get away with not doing something whether I stay here and enjoy them or turn the joint.

oooh, I found out that a guy in my dojo is a triathlete, a burnt out triathlete, one who says he will never swim, run or......bike again....and he's 5'1".

He actually offered me his bikes; a Felt, Trek and a Cervelo and they are my size. I said "why don'tcha think about it, you may want to go again". Do I really need 6 bikes? I'd have to add another room :D

All right. I am throwing a scavenger hunt. First person that finds me Hershey's Cinnamon Chips wins. Can't find 'em in the local grocery stores, and online all I can find is large quantities, I just need a bag or two.

Maybe X could get some factory-fresh ones for you..? ;)

Harking back to the ADD/ADHD/actually normal kids coversation... Bright, active little boys who misbehave with no agenda other than their genuine desire to be out exploring and playing rather than sitting still are absolutely some of my favourite kids to teach - they always seem to have an individual and slightly zany perspective that is great fun.

oh DirtDiva
my sons were zany irrepressible individuals, that's for sure!

now they're a little more laid back.
snort

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Originally Posted by snapdragen

All right. I am throwing a scavenger hunt. First person that finds me Hershey's Cinnamon Chips wins. Can't find 'em in the local grocery stores, and online all I can find is large quantities, I just need a bag or two.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by DirtDiva

Maybe X could get some factory-fresh ones for you..?

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Gimme a day, I'll see what I can do. :D When I find you some do you want me to mail them out?

You shouldn't have mentioned the Hershey Christmas lights - I would probably forgotten that you lived in PA if you hadn't. :p

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

Gimme a day, I'll see what I can do. :D When I find you some do you want me to mail them out?

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X - if you can find them I will love you forever! And I will send you cookies!

You got it. PM me what you want and where to. They are great to drop in your hot chocolate too. :cool:

S.O.'s bro used to work for Hershey as an engineer and then as an exec. Now he is a CEO of a company that supplies cocoa to them. I have connections for some serious chocolate... I get tons for xmas every year. I love that guy!

How about some Wilbur Buds? Ask BMo3 how she likes them... Mmmmm. (so much better than Hershey) We also have an M&M Mars factory around here too and tons of independents. You have no idea how hard it is to live in this area when you're a chocoholic like myself. :eek: Honestly, I don't know why I'm not at least 800lbs right now...

-X.

Happy Birthday MP!!!!

mmm Wilbur Buds..... in my former life I spent many many weekends in Myerstown over about a 7 yr period. Each trip usually included an afternoon excursion to Littitz & to visit the Wilbur chocloate factory. I half expected to see Lucy and Ethel in the back room there where they demonstrated chocolate dipping. :)

Martha

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

You got it. PM me what you want and where to. They are great to drop in your hot chocolate too. :cool:

S.O.'s bro used to work for Hershey as an engineer and then as an exec. Now he is a CEO of a company that supplies cocoa to them. I have connections for some serious chocolate... I get tons for xmas every year. I love that guy!

How about some Wilbur Buds? Ask BMo3 how she likes them... Mmmmm. (so much better than Hershey) We also have an M&M Mars factory around here too and tons of independents. You have no idea how hard it is to live in this area when you're a chocoholic like myself. :eek: Honestly, I don't know why I'm not at least 800lbs right now...

-X.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

How about some Wilbur Buds? Ask BMo3 how she likes them... Mmmmm.
-X.

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Oh Wilbur Buds how I love them! (insert smilie drooling chocolate) Next time (see I assume I will get more-can I buy them online?), I refuse to share them, I will hide them from my chocolate eating family!

Wow, do you know just how many pounds of Wilbur Buds I need to order to justify the S/H? I gues I shall just need to eat them morning, noon, and night. :D

WHOA...Guys..I didn't ride for a whole 12hrs..I'm a slug..not a machine!!! Do you think i'm that fit??? HAHAHAHAH:eek: :(

I was on a 3 person team & we each did 3 laps....I managed to disorient myself about 1km to the end of the course on my second lap..:confused:

I need to just about kill myself while training now..i'm not going hard enough...:(

Ian on the other hand did the event solo :eek: and did 10laps (130km) !!! I'll post the pic of him after the event later.

The march flies were really bad on Saturday afternoon but they disappeared later on...!!!!!

c

On Knot's iTunes this evening:
RuPaul's Christmas album "Ho Ho Ho" (pun, I'm sure, intentional)

No, I haven't even STARTED my essay for grad school. But I got a cute little purple thumb drive... does that count? And I figured out another person to beg to write me a reference letter.

And I went for a run and ate a lot of chocolate. Writer's prep, eh?:D

happy birthday MP



but what is a Wilbur Bud?? I don't remember them from when i lived in New Jersey Nevada , California, Idaho or Washington.

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Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

Wow, do you know just how many pounds of Wilbur Buds I need to order to justify the S/H? I gues I shall just need to eat them morning, noon, and night. :D

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Hey Jennifer, I think you may be onto something here. If you Google: [chocolate +stroke +prevent] you will find some great new findings about the benefits of eating chocolate!!! Talk about an enjoyable health habit!
We always keep a couple of bars of good quality dark chocolate on the counter- we take nips from it regularly, calling it our "medicinal chocolate". :D

I dutifully read all the latest pages of TD, but it's impossible to respond to all of it- too much stuff! :eek:
My news is that DH got his beautiful bike, and I put up a few photos on the webpage in my signature below (you have to first scroll through the dopey pix of me posing- note to self- get some action shots soon!). He's so HAPPY!!! I am so happy for him- he deserves all that and so much more.
He's almost over his cold/cough, and I am still working on it but feelinga bit better each day (not fast enough). But we still wake up every night about 4am for a mutual mucilage-laden cough-a-thon. So gross even the cats abandon the bed in disgust! :( Well it can't last forever...at least I can read TD for twisted entertainment.

Ugh, here it is only 10:30 and I'm totaly shot for the night- gotta take some cough med and go to bed....

BMo3 - Ok woman, that's it!!! No more messing around. I've got a 3 day w/e coming up on the 16-18th. I'm coming out to see ya in Ohio and I'm packin' some chocolate. No arguments! You need a fun time with a TE'er and I'm gonna show it to you. And I'm stuffin' yer piehole with some Buds and yer gonna like it or else. So there!
And this time, lock 'em up will ya? Find a good hiding spot and keep those boys outta them.

So, all I need now is a hotel nearby... hint, hint. *tapping my foot impatiently*

-X.

X-you are not wasting a lovely 3 day vacation coming out to see me! You said you were going to the ocean. I am very flattered and I already told you, you never need an invite to visit. :)

Hey X..how long will it take to drive from your house to jen;s in Ohio?

Wheré's my map of the US?? off to look...

I have an interview this afternoon..wish me luck..It's just an admin position with Cycling WA...

c

CC,

It is over a 7 hour drive from her home to mine.

Best of luck on your interview today! Keep us posted. :)

What are Wilbur Buds?

What are march flies? Do they bite?

Knot has done critical pre-application work; that is plain to see.

Trek420, thanks. You always make me laugh, except for the many times you say wonderfully mensch-like stuff, and then you make me smile anyway. I did not kill the contractor during our meeting tonight. We docked him $6000 of his profit, though, according to an agreement we made that if he didn't make his deadline and didn't call beforehand to explain why he couldn't, he'd only get half his profit margin. You'd think that for $6000 he'd manage to just make the call to explain, but no, so he got docked. It helped. The $15,000 overrun was sort of typical project stuff, like the electricians having to rewire parts of the house they thought they wouldn't have to, etc. I WILL BE VERY VERY GLAD WHEN THIS IS OVER. WHICH BY MY GUESS WON'T BE FOR SEVERAL MORE MONTHS. AUGHH. But enough about this for now...

Wishing TD a very nice week ahead.

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Originally Posted by salsabike

What are Wilbur Buds?

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They are delicious chocolates. Here is the link.

http://www.wilburbuds.com/docs/category/wilburbuds.html

salsa, no no no, don't kill the contractor. The contractor drives you crazy and you end up divorcing or abandoning your family.

I had a contractor so finicky (how picky was he?) he'd check the drywall at night, dimming lights and shining a flashlight on the wall at an angle, marking anywhere the slightest indication of a nail could be seen and making his guys do it over.

So his two best guys quit in the middle of the job....and I said something like:

I don't care about the nail blips, I can't see them, finish the d*&^ kitchen

more politey of course :o

Even the best remodels don't feel like something you do...it feels like something that's being done to you.

Salsa - renovating. Ugh big time. I've always been married to the DIY-type so rarely have to deal with that sorta crap but I don't think I've ever heard a good remo story...

Lisa - Checked out dh's new bike - nice! He reminds me of my hubby - beard-wise I guess. Yours is longer (well Brian's is. :p ) I always think of sheep when I see your bike. That's not a bad thing. I used have some ramboulliet cross on the farm... :)

CC - GOOD LUCK!

Knot - Hope all your prep is effective. I think the chocolate will help immensely. Just be sure to wipe your fingers before you touch the paper.

DD and Mimi - I love the boys in my class for that very reason. They are a bunch of rolly-polly puppies even if they do drive me nuts sometimes.
And Mimi - I have seen kids who go glassy-eyed from ritalin and I have told parents it wasn't worth it. And I've seen others who have no side effects and benefit immensely. Mine included. Sadly my DD wasn't diagnosed until she was in grade 7 (partly due to my resistance to the diagnosis) and she had suffered terribly through school up until that time, lots of tears, even though she was a bright girl. She started on ritalin in the last term and went from a C or C- average to A's and B's in all her academic subjects. She took the meds on and off during highschool but finally realized she needed it like a diabetic needs insulin. In university, she took it during her academic courses, but not during her studio art courses.

My DS was clearly adhd in kindergarten but I resisted starting him on ritalin until he began to show signs of frustration near the end of grade 2. In particular, he was beginning to have peer problems because he was such a pita to be around (bugging kids, impulsivity etc). He started on slow release ritalin, had no problems with appetite or sleep and changed his attitude toward school when he began to feel success. This is his first year with letter grades (grade 4) and he's an A/B student now. He has become proud and confident. More importantly, he has positive interactions with other children and adults so we managed to nip the potential social problems in the bud.

I so agree that school isn't made for these kinds of kids, actually, not for any active kid, adhd or not. I am a teacher and I don't know how to change it though. When you have 24 8 yo's in one room, it's hard to let them be as "active" as they need to be. Think a 5 hour birthday party, 5 days a week... :eek: I wish "school" was different...

nervous breakdown time at the Knot household.

SKnot lost his phone, sometime last week, he thought it was here, it's not.
I stepped on the dog.
No application work has been done.
I need to sleep, but am too upset to do so.
Poor Trek listened to me rant on the phone, and now she secretly hates me. (I just know it)
I have done NOTHING for Christmas yet, and ain't no-one getting Christmas cards from me this year.


I have to get EVERYTHING done by tomorrow night, because I'm leaving immediately after work for SF on Tuesday. (I haven't packed my stuff, or packed up stuff for the dog for the dogsitter, either)

I still don't know how to use my thumb drive.

AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And my phone is still shocking me and the battery only lasts about 10 hrs but Verizon is gonna make me pay for a new phone and battery. Phone is still under warrantee. I don't get it.

CC - She's right, only about 7-8 hours or so one way. We are basically on the same latitude line with each other. Good luck on the interview. Kick shin woman!

BMo3 - I can't believe you think I'd be wasting my time coming to see you. :confused: While it's true that I love the ocean, it's only a place not a person. Not nearly the same value dear. Besides, do you know how many Buds I can pack in my Jeep? :eek: :D
(Wilbur Buds not Bud Lights. Well, actually either way is good. :rolleyes:)

Salsa - Sorry the remodel is such a pain in the azz. I did my own on a house while I lived in it but I didn't have to go through all of that. Wow! No major building, just semi-gutting and restoring a farmhouse. Although there were times I would have been more comfy in the garage/barn. I loved that place. Wish I still had it sometimes. *sigh*

KG - I'm glad you had a good outcome with the kids on meds. If the meds hadn't made the boys into zombies, I may have felt differently. Thing is, they got better grades and participated in life so much more without them. They weren't out of control in school, more of the class clown kind of stuff. They responded very well to "personal control lessons" for lack of a better term and were great kids without the meds. It was a total knee-jerk reaction. Unwarranted. The easy road for everyone but the kids. I can't keep my trap shut when it comes to stiffling kids and their potential. So I spoke up and pushed the issue. I was treated badly for a while but it was worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

AG - welcome back!! How was the vacation??

Hey ladies, I need advice on an airport near the Cinderella ride. I'll be flying SW if that helps. I'm looking at riding Napa and/or SF area in the days preceding so out of San Jose, Sacramento or Oakland, which is my best bet? I'll be flying out for another destination maybe the day after Cindy. Any thoughts from you CA girls are appreciated. Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Trek420

salsa, no no no, don't kill the contractor. The contractor drives you crazy and you end up divorcing or abandoning your family.

I had a contractor so finicky (how picky was he?) he'd check the drywall at night, dimming lights and shining a flashlight on the wall at an angle, marking anywhere the slightest indication of a nail could be seen and making his guys do it over.

So his two best guys quit in the middle of the job....and I said something like:

I don't care about the nail blips, I can't see them, finish the d*&^ kitchen

more politey of course :o

Even the best remodels don't feel like something you do...it feels like something that's being done to you.

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But I WANT to ki..okay. I'll try to get this part right next time. Don't kill contractor, instead blow up marriage...okay. And re the finicky/quitting thing, the carpenter told me this week that he got about 20 calls one day this summer from the contractor, and ended up throwing his cell phone in the lake.

I know it will be very cool when it's done. Is this purgatory?

Knot, you'll be okay. X, are you really going to Ohio? How great.

Okay, just to make myself shut up about this remodel thing, two more Garden D'Lights pictures--pampas grass and my favorite, the wisteria arbor (that's me in there, btw). For you PNWers, it's open through Dec. 31.

Attachment 2285

Attachment 2286

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

CC
KG - I'm glad you had a good outcome with the kids on meds. If the meds hadn't made the boys into zombies, I may have felt differently. Thing is, they got better grades and participated in life so much more without them. They weren't out of control in school, more of the class clown kind of stuff. They responded very well to "personal control lessons" for lack of a better term and were great kids without the meds. It was a total knee-jerk reaction. Unwarranted. The easy road for everyone but the kids. I can't keep my trap shut when it comes to stiffling kids and their potential. So I spoke up and pushed the issue. I was treated badly for a while but it was worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

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X - I totally understand what you mean. I've seen kids who turn into total zombies from the meds too. In fact, even different meds work differently on different kids (did I use the word "different enough in that sentence?) My little guy has been doing great on his current med but this fall the doctor thought he might benefit from a new one that is supposed to be more even release. My little guy hated it. He said it didn't work. He couldn't concentrate, it made him dizzy and spaced out, and it affected his appetite. We gave it a good two week try and then I said forget it, and went back to his regular meds. The doctor said every kid is different and what is effective with one wouldn't help another.

March flies-They're more freakin annoying more than anything else..and they're huge!!!!

OOOOHHH...a pic of me in action...YOu'll have to do a search though...sorry kids..

http://www.picturegraph.com.au/Home.htm

Go to events-Perth mtb 12hr.. & i'm on index page 15 second row...I'm the one with the AV jersey!!!

If you're really interested...Page 17-second guy to the left (362) was my team mate Graeme..& the lady on the end is Linda & is part of our riding gang too-
If you've looked through all the photos..don't stop at page 10..My team mate ellie's in the second row..rider # 360

Page 22 -Ian is guy with rider plate 6..

Page 24-Ya gotta see this guy!! Amazing chap! He had the heaviest & oldest bike you could imagine with no suspension at all, it was his first mtn bike event and did the event solo!!!! He won a new bike at the awards ceremony...Awesome..

Then there was the dude who towed a trailer with a christmas tree on the back..!!!! http://www.perthmtb.com/modules.php?...ewtopic&t=2100

Anywho..

The interview went well thanks. Am not holding my breath & won't find out until later in the week if i was successful or not.

Whoops..I forgot to give you my good news..I went to the doc today to get my TSH test results & it's at a nice & reasonable level. My tsh level is .04 which is leaning towards hyper thyroidism so the thyroxin dose can go down to 150microgrms.

My dear dr is going to have a chat with an endo friend of his about my tsh levels going from dangerous to almost normal in 8 weeks..:)


c

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Originally Posted by Bikingmomof3

I am alive and well. If it had been truly serious or worse, DH would have let everyone on TD know. I did miss the concert. :( The boys and DH did not. :) The prayers and well wishes meant a lot to me. Lise, you placed my avatar pic next to the Virgin of Guadalupe for some extra loving help? Thank You! ((((HUGS to all of you!))))

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HEY! I'm finally getting in a bit of catching up on TD. I have pages and pages to go yet, but I am so happy to see Jennifer back on TD!!! You'd better believe that your avatar pic is right there next to la Virgen. And it will go right back up there anytime you scare us like that again! ;) I'm at work right now--a decent night shift, got about 3 hr sleep. Going to examine a pt now, then home in 1.5 hr. Someday I'll get caught up on TD!:rolleyes:

Had a lovely, lovely weekend with J. Went through some difficult feelings for both of us, talked about it, feel closer than ever. This is a new and wonderful experience for me.

Trek--I love the Chloe-wet-and-dancing-with-loofah-dog image!

Nanci--remember when you offered to make PR come down and hug me when I was stressing out over money? I send the same sentiment to you, except maybe it would be...Chris Noth? Salsa's right, you're one of a kind, and we're lucky to know you.

OK! OK! I'm getting back to work! :p

CC - good news about the TSH!

Not so grumpy and frantic this morning. (sorry for venting before...:o )

No minutes have been used on SKnot's phone, so it's probably lost in my house or his dad's house. If he'd charged the battery once in a while we could just call it and listen for the ring, but nooooo.

Got some of my grad app essay written at midnight: scribbled into a notebook in bed cuz I woke up with my brain full. Went back to sleep, but I think I wrote enough to get me going.

Made 2 less than one minute phone calls this morning, and my battery instantly drained. May have to go buy a new phone and battery (still don't understand why I have to *buy* it) before I leave tomorrow.

Decided I really won't send out xmas cards this year.

Sigh.

Knot your phone troubles are too much! what jerks! it doesn't work, it's no good, and you just bought the thing! i don't get it.

Sorry your son lost his phone, sounds like a typical kid problem. when my kids were that age, they didn't even KNOW they wanted a cellphone. THings HAVE changed a little since then.

hey Lise, how cool is it that you are talking about feelings with a GUY :rolleyes:
that's why mine is a keeper.

March flies - they sound gross.
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/entomology/...ch%20Flies.jpg
March flies

I've never had nor heard of a wilbur bud.. is this something you guys ate as penny candy? or what?

Ok quick note as I head out to get Snap her chips... I'll buy a couple of pounds of Buds so if any TD'ers want some, let me know. First come, first served. PM me an address and I'll send ya a sample. You've got until Friday to let me know cuz I'm going away for the weekend. You should get them before the holiday. Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!!! Now, I've gotta go...

Have a fantastic day and be safe

-X.

Found 'em. http://www.wilburbuds.com/docs/category/wilburbuds.html
Not a California thing, I guess. I lived there for 20 years and never heard of 'em before, but apparently they've been on the market for over a century (well, not the same packet, of course. I'm sure they don't outsit their shelf life.) The things one can learn on TE!:D

Just a note- These Wilbur buds look yummy, but i don't think they are the type of chocolate that does all the wonderful medical benefits for you. Too much milk and lecethin and added wax and sugar. Got to look for the dark chocolate with at least 50% cacao- up to 80%!- I get mine in my local health food store- they have lOTS of great brands nowadays! Also- you can't eat more than 2 or 3 pieces of it, it's that strong. It really is medicinal, and it satisfies choc. cravings in the first couple of bites. (This coming from someone who used to have to eat an entire BAG of Hershey's Kisses to get my choc. craving satisfied!) :eek:

Lisa,
shall we start a chocolate thread? I have that kind of chocolate at my house.
But I need to try ALL kinds of chocolate, not just the good kinds.!

I'm afraid I'm hopelessly behind on TD, so just a drive-by hello, how are ya', see ya' later wave.