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I am having a GREAT birthday so far!!

First, last night was the first night I felt I needed to turn on the heat. (Got down to 38F here in Florida) I had programmed the new-last-summer thermostat for heating a couple days ago, so it was all set to go. The furnace, -excuse me- heat pump ran all night. It was 78 when I got up! I called the help line, who promptly diagnosed that Home Depot had sold me the wrong kind of thermo- I needed one that would work with a heat pump. Ok, HD exchanged it no questions asked for the $35 more expensive heat pump model. Which I have now installed and it appears to work correctly.

During all that, friends stopped over with a present (not a snake :-( ) and I wanted to show Choco to them. I thought he would be where he is 95% of the time, under his moist hide which I leave in with him because he likes to sleep under it. Not there. Ok, then he must be on the heater. Nope. I eventually pull all hides and trees and vines out, sift through the aspen- no Choco!! I didn't see him last night- but I am positive that his lid was secure. DOH!! Forgot to look in the moist hide...He was quite irritated and musked my friend.

Then I thought I would check on my Fagalo, who is currently brumating outside for the first time. He'd been half burying himself for a few days before it got cold, so a few days ago in preparation for the cold weather I put in an 18" deep layer of peat, covered by dried pine needles and weeds and weathered cardboard. So he's under a huge pile in his hibernaculum. I get in his enclosure, and reach my arm in up to my shoulder at ground level and feel where I knew he had his scrape. No turtle. I feel all over the whole ground- no turtle. I check the sides to see if he has somehow burrowed out- but no- and he's not a digger anyway. So I pull off the pile of dried vegetation, and sift through all the peat and expose all the ground. No turtle. Then I sort through the pile of vegetation, and there he is! I put him back in his scrape and covered him up. He is doing fine. I probably should just leave him alone, but it's the first time he's brumated outside for me- and I know when people have them inside, in boxes, they get checked on weekly.

Anyway, that's my birthday so far!!

On the wine menu tonight is the first bottle of Chateau Neuf du Pape that I have ever drank. Also I have a Jepson white blend in the fridge. I drank the Jepson Screaming Rose (100% Grenache) last night and it was VERY dry. And there is also a bottle of Florida White Muscadine, the Magnolia Muscadine variety, which I have not drank before.

Not sure what is for dinner- BF is working 10AM till 3AM. Perhaps chocolate.

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

CWR,
It 's like Nanci said about the closed door thing.
One of my favorite sayings is:
We must give up the life we had planned
if we are to lead the life that lies before us.

Time will heal the heart. Take care of yourself.

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That's beautiful Lisa. You have such great words of wisdom.

[SIZE="4"]Happy Birthday Nanci!![/SIZE]

And Nanci, I have to confess that I didn't get the snake thing at first. I like how you explained it in one of your recent posts though and I understand. I can see their beauty in your pictures and how you talk about them. Thanks for sharing that and opening my mind to something new!

((((CWR))) It's all been said and my phone line and home are open to you any time. Love on that puppy and ride that bike - its very good therapy. Doing the right thing is never easy. My saying that helped me was "if He leads you to it, He'll lead you through it."

Went out with my friend Steve last night. Had a couple drinks but behaved myself - we did hold hands though. Slept in this morning then walked my dogs for 4 miles. Now I'm trying to catch up with you chatty TD'ers.
Did I tell you my chiro told me he'd get me to a point where I could run again and "then I'd be an athlete"? A$$hole. That pissed me off. I am an athlete with a winter layer on:p

Off to order my buffs then organize my closet while listening to Meatloaf and drinking a merlot. I'll check back later gators...

We are getting ready for the twins' birthday dinner. They can choose whatever they want and they chose food from DLM, so pasta salads all around. :) Saves me from cooking. :cool: While they are out I will be decorating then we are going to eat two cakes (one is a Killer Brownie cake the other is a Mile High Cheesecake), open gifts and watch the movie 8 Below.

Today has been a very lazy day for me. No exercise, no running. I know it is okay and even good to take a day off, yet I feel like a slug. I am not going to even think about the calories I shall be consuming tonight. :o

Who was it that made Chicken Stew not long ago? Was that you Knot? I have been craving it since I read about it. Do you have a recipe?

BMO3 - happy birthday to your twins! My youngest daughter turns 21 tomorrow. My older one will be 23 in ten days. How times flies....

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Originally Posted by mtbdarby

Went out with my friend Steve last night. Had a couple drinks but behaved myself - we did hold hands though. Slept in this morning then walked my dogs for 4 miles.

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It must have just been the way that lined up on my screen but I first read it as "I slept with my friend Steve last night." (Not that there's anything wrong with that. :) Had to go back and re-read it. Glad you held hands anyway. Touch is good for the soul. I have learned that in this new relationship. I had no idea how much I was missing simple physical contact.

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Originally Posted by kelownagirl

Who was it that made Chicken Stew not long ago? Was that you Knot? I have been craving it since I read about it. Do you have a recipe?

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I'm not much of a recipe person. I tend to just throw things together and adjust as needed.

Here's what I did:
*half a rotisserie chicken (the kind you buy precooked, it was the leftovers from dinner)

*3 or 4 or maybe 5 cubed potatoes

*5 or so sliced carrots

*3 heads of garlic (maybe 30 cloves?) peeled and left whole

*3 or 4 bay leaves

*heaping palmful of dried rosemary

*some paprika, just cuz it smelled good

*salt, pepper

Put it all in the crock pot and added some water, left it cooking about 12 hours. I did try to pick out the majority of the bones before serving it, but that's as "fancy" as I got with the prep.

Right now the crock pot is going with a new chicken and lentils. Gotta add some carrots and brown rice. Forgot to buy celery, which I really like in soups.

Next week I'm gonna make a beef stew. Since SKnot doesn't eat red meat, I'll cook it while he's at his dad's, and I can freeze some for later. The last beef stew I made was really good. Looooooove the crock pot!

Dar - how about going after your friend Steve? Hey, he held your hand and he wasn't under protest, right?

KG - touch is mighty fine for the soul. I'd rather have a fabulous cuddler than a fabulous lover, when all is said and done. And when you can get BOTH in the same person, whoooeeeee!:D

Thank you! Sounds delish and simple. Love the 3 heads of garlic! Think I'll do some crockpot chicken tonight, although I have no leftovers so will have to use some breasts from the freezer. Will remember your "non-recipe" for the next time we buy a rotisserie chicken, which is often :)

:mad: SH****T. I just wrote 4 report cards, saved them, and they didn't freaking save! That never happens to me. Only when I'm writing stupid report cards. And of course one of them was a difficult one that I agonized over the wording for awhile. Sh*t I hate comptuers sometimes... :mad: :mad:

Have a blast BMo3. Make sure you have a piece of each kind. You deserve to relax and blob all ya want.

I'm back from my ride and shower. Got a bit too chilly for me out there so I cut it short. I need shoe covers and warmer gloves.

Never acquired a taste for coffee. I'm an o.j. person in the morning. Gives me the same pick-me-up as coffee does for other people.

Well, I've got a date with the mall now. (blech, I hate shopping at the mall) Got a wedding to attend and I've trimmed up some parts lately so I think I deserve an nice, new dress for the nice, new bod. Hmmm, maybe some earrings and a necklace too. Oh, and I need another pair of boots. I've about worn my favorite ones out. Maybe a nice cashmere sweater for those cooler evenings. Can't have too many sweaters you know. I feel a CC meltdown coming. (it's good for the FF miles tho.)

Um, got your message just now. (((CWR)))

got home from work... feeling lousy today... I probably have been overdoing the caffeine. Can't eat, no sleep, and if I'm not thinking about it, I start to jiggle my leg or foot or drum my fingers. Ugh. UGH!!!
X- remembered weird subjects that came up last night. I don't think normal humans would understand. Good thing 'crazy' is a popular thing 'round here. I feel like I'm getting moreso every day. :o
I hate money. It's freedom and when you don't have it, it's a cold steel cuff around your leg.
blah blah. Found out one of my friends just got dumped by her gf of a couple years... gf took her son with her. Kind of one of those "I guess nothing *is* sacred" breakups- the type you never saw coming...
Going to see 007 tonight with DGF and one of her friends tonight. Nothing like a cheesy spy movie and rampant sexual innuendo to brighten a cr*ppy mood, huh? :cool:

Dar- so, tell us more about Steve? Is he a friend friend, or potential serious date material?

KG-Yes, cuddling is indeed good. Sorry about the report cards not saving. :(

Knot-you can cook for me anytime. What you are making tonight sounds fantastic.

X-I will have one of each. :D I am out of the loop.

(((((CWR))))))

Kit-I do hope you feel better. You need food and sleep. Let us know how you like the new Bond film. I am still not over Sean Connery not being Bond. :p

Looks as though it is almost time to eat, which means it is almost "cake" time. YUM!

Kit - I know how you feel. I do remember what we talked about. You have my sympathy and empathy as I'm sure I have yours. I'm gonna get completely tore up tonight. There's nothing else to say. See ya TD. (I need a f'ing break...)

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Originally Posted by Xrayted

Kit - I know how you feel. I do remember what we talked about. You have my sympathy and empathy as I'm sure I have yours. I'm gonna get completely tore up tonight. There's nothing else to say. See ya TD. (I need a f'ing break...)

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... I was talking about the '*deleted!*' section of the conversation. :D Though you do have my sympathy... and empathy. ...whatever that means there. :D *deleted!*. Yow!