Well, Miss Clairol was busy so Miss Loreal came by. I only talked to her for five minutes and my highlights are gone. Boooooooo! Hopefully they'll lighten up a little so the poor girl next door doesn't think she wasted her time. Oh well, practice makes perfect right? She told me to go ahead and try it and leave it on for five minutes so I'll blame her. hahaha

Sox, so sorry to hear about your hands.

Sarah, enjoy your time alone. Hope the spasms go away.

Afternoon, all...
You girls are a hoot!! We should patent the dance we all do...what can we call it? Cross-legged 'choo? Thanks for the laughs...now I have to go change
Vonn, I really like your website. I'm going to put it on my faves so I can check on it occasionally. What a talented wiz you are!!
Trish, glad Dad's doing well...the pain will subside and he'll be itching to get out...prayers still going out...
Sox, make sure you ice that hand...you are no Paul Bunyan...take care
Sandy, sorry about the hair...you're a doll no matter what color it is!!

Went to the pcp so she could make sure I was okay after my spill last Friday...she liked my coloring around my eye. We talked about the meds, the sleep study, etc...trying to get a handle on what's going on with this sleepy body of mine...

What a miserable day!! I have layers of leaves all over the place...I used to love autumn. But not this year

Well, I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend...thanks for those laughs...makes a girl feel less alone when she can share about those stupid things that we experience...

alone with five kids sandy lol...but I will enjoy the week off from work!! haha

Sandy .. sorry to hear about losing your hi-lights ... talking does that!! ... don't try anything fancy like rubbing lemon-juice in your hair - or it may really ruin the overall blending .. you're so cute anyway - no matter what color your hair is, we still luv ya!!

Thanks, Debbie!! wow!! I made it to a 'favorites' button!! I need to get more quilts and things posted ... like pillows, pillowcases, doilies .... and aprons, and Christmas stockings! what the heck am I doing goofing around online!! oh, that's right, not taking any meds or melatonin to help me sleep ...

about the website - I don't know why I was so scared and procrastinated so much ... geez, louise!!

anyways - I updated the 'history' and 'about the artist' sections .. bit by bit .. it sure is fun to putz with, tho!!

nothing on the love-life front .. but, then again, I'm pretty busy to have a life after MS & fibro mess with me all day!! if living with chronic pain is something I have to deal with ... I'm not going to let it kick my butt!!

oh, Sox!! sorry about the tree falling .. but, if you're icing your hand and it still hurts ... can you run into the local clinic for a quick xray?? just in case?? please?? wish there was something I could do to help!!

Sandy -- I can't keep track of your and your hair. So does it now look the same as when you first started? I get my hair highlighted/colored on Wednesday. The gray is really starting to show.

Soxmom -- I was actually relieved when I read your post. I thought you were going to say that you fell asleep during a fire you built, and it caught something else on fire. I am sorry about your hand.

I could not sleep last night as I started to second guess myself on this whole retirement thing. But it is a little too late to do that since the Vice President and Dean have already set things in motion. The only way I can get the benefit of teaching for the two next summers and increasing my average salary was by declaring a firm retirement date. Plus, I will get reimbursed for about 25% of my sick days during my last year. The longer I teach the greater the possibility I might start using them.

I meet with a retirement counselor on Tuesday. I am taking a penalty for retiring before I am 60, but I seriously do not think I could make it until then. The penalty is a bit higher than I had anticipated, but if my calculations are right I will still make about 50% of my salary. Plus there is a 3% cost of living raise each year. At this point the state does not require us to pay for health care once you have retired and have 20 years. (Of course Illinois is 7 months in paying its insurance premiums right now.) I should be okay as I will have a decent savings account and a few other small annuities, etc, plus no debt, but this is still scary. If I had lasted until I was 60, I would have received about 72% of my final salary. And once you reach 30 years, you receive 80% which is the maximum. Since this is only my 21st year, I don't see how I could possibly do that. I am not sure I will make it the next 2 1/2 years. Am I making a huge mistake? Disability benefits and disability retirement are less.

Sorry for the long rant. I am just trying to think this through.

It's alot to think about, Barb. Will you qualify for SSDI in addition to the retirement?

I never in a million years thought I'd be walking this road alone. I always counted on DH's retirement income, plus mine, plus whatever we managed to save....which wasn't much. But at least when there's two of you there's at least something else coming in. And someone else to share the burden.

At the rate I'm going now I'll never, ever be able to save anything. It takes every cent I get each month just to keep afloat. I wish I had thought about this years ago and made provisions.....but hindsight is 20/20.

I've been thinking about this alot and what I'll do once both boys move out and I'm pulling all this load alone. I'll definitely have to move to a smaller place.....and get rid of some of this "stuff".

You have to decide what you think you're capable of....and factor in the unpredictability of this disease. What you've got is a sure thing right now. Who knows what course your disease will take over the next couple of years. It might remit and you might stabalize or it might not. We've always got this hanging over our heads.

I'm more of a "sure thing" type person. I want to know exactly how much I'm getting and when I'm getting it. I feel better with a plan in place. Albeit, my "plan" isn't much of a plan but it's all I have.

Good luck to you....I know you'll do what's right for you. My new motto is now "plan for the worst and hope for the best".

Well, DS is moving out on Wednesday. He's so excited. I'm a little sad. I'm glad he's doing something that makes him happy. It's a good situation for him and I'm really very happy for him. It makes me think of the future and what I'll do once they're both out of the house. Makes me sad because I definitely need to downsize and get a place that doesn't take every penny I get each month. I guess Christmas has me thinking about how much things have changed for me, too. Nothing like trying to figure out a gift list for your family to remind you that you're broke!

It's a cloudy, windy day here but at least the rain has stopped. I need to get a few things at the grocery but just don't feel like going anywhere. I'm just a poopy, downer person today.

I did manage to sweep, vacuum and dust this morning. So I feel like I accomplished a little something.

Ya'll don't forget to run your clocks back an hour tomorrow night. This time of year I always get a chuckle thinking about a girl I used to work with. She was a little ditzy.....and made the comment that she thought it was ridiculous to get up at 2 AM just to change the time. Yes, she really did say that....and NO it wasn't me!

Kitty, I think it's next weekend not this weekend that the time goes back. I wish it was this weekend though because that would mean payday! LOL

Speaking of income, I am starting to seriously think about what I can do to bring in extra income. I am researching craft ideas, painting, etc. Ideas that can generate money. Maybe personalized cards, plaques, I don't know. I really love stain glass projects, we're looking into that for sure. Do you know how many ideas for stain glass there is? It's endless! Jim and I love craft shows, trade shows, flea markets. We're looking into ideas so we can start making stuff to rent out a table and see how things go from there. We're not looking into being rich or anything, just a little extra income. I need to put this art degree to some good use.

That's about it for the day. Nothing else planned except researching on the computer. Hope everyone is having a good day.

Oops! You're right! And it would mean payday.....guess I was having some wishful thinking!

Hello all. It's been rainy windy and not so hot a day today. Sorry your a bit low at the moment Kitty sending you I have been trying to figer out money and gifts for this year not easy never enough cash. But it's the way it is so just do my best. I have had a headache all day just won't let up So I'm just relaxing watching tv. Good thoughts and for you all xxxxxxxxxx