Sox, glad to hear DS is doing so much better. :)

Kitty, hope you get the energy to do some cookies. Sounds yummy! :hug:

Barb, hope the thumb continues to improve. :hug:

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Morning all :) Officially winter now that patches of white stuff has stayed on the ground. brrrrr. Just trying to wake up with the help of coffee. Trying to decide what to do today since my puttering yesterday has my dragging right now.

I'll figure something out, I know it. :)

Take care everyone! :grouphug::grouphug:

Hi all...actually went Christmas shopping instead of exercising this morning and found something that I thought would be impossible, so it was a fruitful trip...also found some nice jewelry for me:rolleyes:

Sandy, depending on what appts I have to take inlaws to, I'll be able to meet up with you all...you let me know the date, time and place and I'll try my best to be there.

Sox, glad to hear DS is doing better:hug:

Hope everyone has a good evening...stay warm!

Last batch of oatmeal raisin cookies are in the oven. I tried this new recipe and they are soooo good. You'd think an oatmeal raisin cookie would be the same regardless of what recipe you use but these are really exceptional. I'll have to keep this one for future use!

Well, I broke down and moved the stray kitties "buffet line" to the back porch. The back yard is so wet and soggy from all the recent rain and I didn't want to tromp through all the mud back to the barn.....so I put out food and water underneath the patio furniture. I know I'll never get rid of them by doing this but I just can't let them starve. Plus, it's so cold out. They all run whenever I open the door so catching them is impossible. They seem content to just have food and water left out for them......so that's what I'll do. It just breaks my heart to see them shivering in the cold. :(

The police are having to keep a 24/7 watch on the subdivision that was hit by the tornado. They said that numerous people have tried to get into the neighborhood (people who don't live there) so they are requiring all those who enter to show ID. It's a shame they have to use manpower to do this because some folks want to take advantage of people during a crisis. :rolleyes:

Another gloomy and cold day here. They are forecasting measurable snow for Saturday (I guess this means they do not know how much:rolleyes:) and then next week the highs are only going to be in the 20s. I just found out today that I will have a deaf student in my American government course in the spring. If a sign language interpreter is not available, I will have to use a a computer technology where I talk into a mike, there is an interpreter a few hundred miles away that signs and the student gets it through a computer program on their laptop. I hope it is not too technical, and I do not screw up. I go for a training session next week. I have lots of questions for them such as how do I handle videos and small group discussions.

Hi every one, it's still white over out side roads locally are ok'ish but looks like I'm stuck in for time being. Was hopeing to get some gift shopping done :( hopefully it will be gone soon. :confused: Hope your all warm and well as can be. Love to you all xxxxxx :hug::grouphug::hug::grouphug:

Everyone must be busy this morning...happy Friday anyway...

Our greatest Cub Booster, Ron Santo, passed on this morning:(:( never got into the Hal of Fame, never got to see his Cubs win a World Series...but now he's at rest after battling diabetes his whole life...

Not much going on today...slept in again...the one nice thing about not having a dog is not having to get up to let him out...but I miss him so much I'm crying off and on...thought it would get easier with time, but it's not.:(

Well, for those of you in piles of snow or are about to be, hang in there...it's only about 4 more months:eek:

Have a good weekend, all...

Good (BRRR) Morning! TGIF!!!We are only supposed to get an inch or so of snow down here, but I still do not like it. I only have about 12 more papers to grade this weekend and then I get papers from my grad class on Monday. The end is in sight.:D I hate complaining; no I really do:rolleyes:, but I wish I had more than three weeks off before next semester starts. I know there are people that only get a few weeks off per year (my older sister constantly reminds me of this). Those three weeks will go by so quickly since I am traveling to Austin for Christmas, and I have prep work to do during that time.

I am waiting for a phone call from a counselor about one of my students. I guess someone is experiencing mental health problems. I am not sure which student. I hope it is not too serious.

Hello! :) I'm sitting here sipping coffee and listening to White Christmas by Bing Crosby. I just love the old classics. Makes me think of my Mom and Christmas with her. She always made it seem so magical and special. Guess I'm just missing her and the umpteen other family members who have gone on to a better life. It makes me feel better to know that they are celebrating together. :Sigh:

I love the old christmas tunes too Kel. I have an Elvis cd and I love
to listen to him sing blue christmas...I also have a duet with David Bowie
and Bing Crosby that I like. Enjoy yourself!!:hug:

Missing your family members this time of year is so hard...Im sure you enjoy the
memories just as much as you miss them...big hugs to you

This was always my mom's favorite time of year, Kel...I usually get very depressed due to missing her, but I have such great memories of her baking and enjoying having fam and friends over that I just get a smile on my face when the memories click through my brain...I was blessed!!