The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 13

[Cinderumbrella]

thats awesome--that is the time i went last year (the 28th of sept to 3rd of october)...
i think were going to do May 16-23....i graduate college on the 11th!

ahhh, college graduation........ it was 10 years this past May since I graduated college....

 

[KMH1]

Kristin, isn't time for a shameless post?!!

 

[ReAnSt]

Do you like Dr. Pepper? Diet Dr. Pepper really does taste darn close to regular Dr. Pepper....

Any of you try the Jazz diet sodas by Pepsi. They are delicious and I hate diet soda. They come in Cherry-Vanilla and Strawberries and Cream.

 

[tinker1bell]

Sometimes I feel like I have that cloud over my head, following me around.

You Too? It is over my head permanently

 

[marcij]

We've tried the elastiband type pants and while we can make the waist fit, the legs and butt are so wide that they look aweful. This is the first year that we've run into trouble. It seems that the juniors or whatever they call it for boys are cut much more generously then the boys sizes. My mom gave me a couple of boxes of Levi's that my brother and I wore as kids. They are cut much slimmer so hopefully I will find some in there that fit. I'm washing them now. I think that clothes were made smaller in the 70's and 80's then they are now. A size 12 then had a 24 inch waist, I bet that they are at least a 28 inch waist now as kids are so much bigger.

Deb

Deb -- we had that same problem! I finally found the slimmest cut at Gap (they have 4 or more different cuts) and that worked for Andrew. I hope you have success with your box of jeans! I agree -- clothes (and people) seem to be getting bigger for the most part. I have to confess, though, there are a lot of cute Disney shirts for women they are cut on the small size. These 36DDs don't fit in some of them....

 

[tmfranlk]

OMG I'm so excited! I got my gas bill today! (never thought you'd hear those two sentances together did ya? )
To give you a back story...we have a gas line that goes behind our house to our barn. About three years ago, the line broke (small leak but enough to scare the crap out of us) and it was deemed our fault because it's a private line not the public gas line. Since we are on budget our gas bill shot through the roof for a year and a half (the leak wasn't noticed for almost two weeks.) It was at $172 for a year, then dropped to $98 then this year it's been at $66. (Becuase we were on budget, we have to pay a set amount each month; because of the leak, it went up alot and we've had a HUGE balance since then.) They just refigured our balance again (budget up in August) and we *still* have a huge balance with the gas company, they dropped our budget to $25!!!
It's hard not to close the account and get the $ that they've been sitting on, but it'll be a live saver this winter knowing we only have to pay $25.
That's my exciting news for today.

YEAH!!! That is great news.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Kristin, isn't time for a shameless post?!!

How could I forget!

Shamless post

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Hey, does anyone (READ: AMY!!) know how to spell smackeral, as in "a smackeral of honey"....?

 

[tmfranlk]

I posted it! Glad you liked it! I wonder if you could add tomato paste or sauce and still get the tomato taste without the texture that kids don't seem to like. It's a really good meal, though. Instead of the beans you could add a can of corn. My kids like the beans, though, so I add them. It also helps to stretch the meat a bit.

Tammi - We use chili (with or without beans) and tomato sauce in our version. It works for me because I don't like the chunks of tomatoes either.

 

[tinker1bell]

Bob took a bunch of pictures of me tonight. No pix of smaller pants, and I think the hair looks the same in every single one of these! But I promised to share so here you go. One shot:

Elin,

You look great---------but of course you did when we saw you in DC

 

[tmfranlk]

Well, I figured out why I was so sluggish, etc., all day long. I FORGOT TO TAKE MY VITAMIN!!! I can't believe it makes so much difference, but it really does! I guess I was just frazzled with babysitting my niece's 2 little boys this morning. I just let my schedule get all wonky. I won't make that mistake again!

Well, I'm off for a while to make dinner! Tonight I'm trying a new Hot dog/baked bean recipe. Sounded good, and it matched our end of the month food budget. I'll let you know if it's any good. I'm also reheating leftovers from last night. Sweet potato Curry in a Hurry! It was wonderful! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know!

I would love it if you haven't posted it already (I'm a little behind). It sounds delicious!

 

[KMH1]

Hey, does anyone (READ: AMY!!) know how to spell smackeral, as in "a smackeral of honey"....?

Dictionary.com refuses to acknowledge it's a word, but the fish is spelled mackerel, so I'd just add the s in front of it.

 

[lmartin2711]

I'm impatiently waiting for Dawn to call back with an update, but meanwhile I found a picture that is making me do this

Guess who's married to the mean lookin' guy!

That hunka hunka belongs to Marti

 

[UP Disney]

Hey, does anyone (READ: AMY!!) know how to spell smackeral, as in "a smackeral of honey"....?

I did a search on the web and there were at least three websites about Pooh that spelled it the way you did above.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

I did a search on the web and there were at least three websites about Pooh that spelled it the way you did above.

What, I actually spelled a word right???

Kyle is sleeping or else I would check out one of his Pooh books and see!

 

[tmfranlk]

Bob took a bunch of pictures of me tonight. No pix of smaller pants, and I think the hair looks the same in every single one of these! But I promised to share so here you go. One shot:

You look marvelous!!!

 

[tmfranlk]

The trip was to Lansing and I'm still here. It is going fine so far. I got my 360 review results back. That is where your boss, peers & direct reports review you. I was very happy with my results. The scale is 1-6 with 6 being the best. I got above a 5 on everything. I did get a couple of 4's from my boss, peers & direct reports but they are in the areas that I knew I had to work on. I'm very happy with the results. The written comments were very positive as well. The negative comments were basically that I need to be patient and realize that things don't happen overnight but not to give up. My favorite "single greatest strengh" comments were "Having the will and courage to speak out about issues concerning the department to make a better place to work. I like that in her!" and "She has many, but a combination of her positive attitude and a desire to move the organization foreward are foremost."

The funny thing is that the presenter said not to be concerned if my numbers were lower than last year because that is the trend. My numbers were just about the same or even better. I think he was surprised but then they were surprised last year as well when I got such good numbers. I guess I'm doing something right!

Wow! Way to go, Vicki! Sounds like a great review.

 

[Tammi67]

You look marvelous!!!

That's 3 votes for marvelous!

 

[my3princes]

Is anyone here familiar with the "Flat Stanley" Project??

In a nut shell: (this is our letter)

Hi there!!
As part of our integrated Reading, Writing, Language, Social Studies, and Mathematics programs we have read a funny book called Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. The book is about a young boy named Stanley who is accidentally squished "as flat as a pancake" when a bulletin board falls on him. Stanley is very, very flat but otherwise fine. The story goes on to tell how Stanley discovers some real advantages to being flat. He can slide under doors, go down into sidewalk grates, and even fold himself up small enough to fit into an envelope and be mailed to California for an exciting vacation.
We are sending FLAT STANLEY to visit cities all over America and the WORLD. I have selected you to be FLAT STANLEY's "host family" and hope that you will send him back to me after a short visit. We would also appreciate it if you could snap a few pictures of Stanley’s visit so we can put them in our journal.
Thank you for letting my FLAT STANLEY come to visit you!

I am looking for volunteers!! Anyone willing to take on a Stanley??

We're up for the challenge. If he comes soon he can hang out with Pal Mickey (Nicky).

Deb

 

[KristineN]

Thanks to all who volunteered to take Stanley!! The kids are very excited. I will PM you for your addresses....

Just got a call from Jonathan...he's coming home this weekend. I am very surprised...