Kay, Glad to hear you live in a safe area. How do you deal with the heat?

Vonn, I did go to see Indiana Jones and you are right. Harrison Ford still looks pretty good.

in 2005, we set up wind-socks to locate the breeziest part of the property, and determine the wind direction...

then, we built the house so it catches even the smallest breeze... the whole east and south sides are screened porch, and the roof overhangs are wide, giving shade to the house... plus, there's 50-foot tall mango trees all around, for extra shade.

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7691/dscn4230mx0.jpg

the windows are just sturdy screens, (no glass) with heavy-duty bolt-down shutters.

the ceilings are *very* tall (ten feet) which gives room for the hot air to rise, then, we have powerful ceiling fans, and a venting cupola, that sucks the hot air right out through screened opening in the ceiling, and lets it out at the top of the roof.

the last thing that keeps the house so cool is the underground cistern.

we excavated a huge pit, lined it with double rows of cement blocks, and triple rebar for strength... then we sealed it, painted it with Dam-Tite (like in a swimming pool), put in an access hatch, and built the house right on top of the 15 thousand gallon water storage cistern.

the roof-edges all have gutters that catch the rain, filter it, and funnel it into the cistern, and all that cool water under the house makes the tiled floor nice and COOL for the bare feet.

we have no air conditioning, and we just made it through the hottest months here (April and May) in the tropics... we were comfortable.

this was a project with many years of thought and loving care in every detail...

thanks for asking Barb... now, have I bored you to tears?

:o :D :o

Just popped in for a tic and saw that everyone's been on storm alert. I'm glad that you're all safe, and that the worst of all the storms have passed you by. Please let them not come back!

Looks like there's just you for us to worry about right now Kay. http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/i.../umbrela43.gif

Please take care. We'll all be waiting to hear that you're safe. :hug:

Kay, glad your still hanging in there with the storm!

Frank, I am assuming all went well. No news is good news.

I spoke with Renee today and she is swamped packing up the house but hanging in there as best as she can. Her mom should be getting in tomorrow to help her get out of there.

Kay ... watched the nightly news and they talked about Belize in the storm - I felt a bit smug because YOU already filled us in on it already this afternoon!!

finished homework for both classes, worked on 2 4th of July runners ... and made a floppy hat ...

I didn't think that making a 'clothing' item was for me ... but I cut it out (with lining) and got it all sewn ... and added some decorative tacks (my Harley ones and one that I got from Alaska, the Royal Gorge and the Brewers!)

if it wasn't for my legs (thigh area) tightening up and in constant pain - I wouldn't think I was a sick-o ... is this how it starts?? the pain is everyday all day long - and just walk slow ... and in public, like a drunk at 10am without a drink!

oh yeah!

isn't it *fun* knowing the news before it shows up on the news?

:D :hug::D

and, unlike most Americans, YOU guys actually know exactly where Belize is, AND you know somebody who lives there !!

:cool::winky::cool:

I've gotten "those" looks... from total strangers.

like... "Isn't it a bit EARLY to be hittin' the bottle, lady?"

I know exactly what you mean, Vonn... my legs feel like tightened piano strings.

even the *skin* feels taut... and the muscles are all sproinged... ka-boing.

but mine isn't in my thighs, it's my calves.

I only wish the tightness would extend further down, to my ankles...

naturally, (this being the MS we all know and love) my ankles tend to fold up like accordion pleats and collapse outward without the slightest warning.

this rain-rain-endless-rain thing hath its advantages though.

I'm wearing heavy-gauge knee-high farm boots, and they keep my ankles stiff during my outdoor chores...

after work, we sit down to dinner (he cooks every night), and watch a movie downloaded from the web.

tonight was an oldie "Runaway Train" with Rebecca De Mornay.

the rain is still falling, hammering on the zinc roof... my friend calls it "freight train rain"

:):rolleyes::)

Kay,

When I read your posts, I just want to move there and build a little farmette. :) Thanks for sharing with us!

so, would that mean, The Wiz is off to see the tropics?

:D

actually, I don't recommend visiting or moving here, unless you can handle the *most* unbelievable amount, variety, and strangeness of BUGS, snakes, spiders, scorpions, tarantulas, and worse.

I've promised several members that I won't put up any pictures of some of the crawly things... but sometimes it's gotta be seen to be believed.

on the other hand, there's ALSO a huge array of hummingbirds, unbelievably beautiful butterflies flying everywhere, and the most colorful birds on the planet.

I got to see my first Ara Macao (Scarlet Macaw) two weeks ago, and nearly SWOONED with joy !!

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/4928/bux19jxbcd9.jpg

(the above is *not* my picture, whoopsie-daisy - mine came out all blurry, this is one I found online.)

morning all .. having my sunday morning coffee ... enjoying the sunshine .. suppose to get to 70+ today .. with a breeze .. anything more than that .. I'm not good.

hope everyone has a nice sunday wherever they are!!

HAPPY JUNE!

Good morning all. Had a stomach issue yesterday :p Not sure if it was something I ate or one of those short lived jobbers. Did sleep untill 11 today. :eek:

Hope everyone's doing ok with all the weird storm weather going around. Think I can pack up my rain dancing gear. :grouphug:

so it was YOU, Finny !!

:p:D:p

:Wave-Hello: Hi everyone. I just threw a ham in my roaster oven and I'm running off to the last baseball game of the weekend. I enjoyed reading everyone's posts, but don't really have time to say more than hi today.

happy june all

yes we are ok here sandy

kay i love your post, glad so far so good well besides the 8" of rain

everyone who drops in howdy howdy howdy

my daily check in: it's still raining here.

but at least the bug-hatchings are DONE.

on the bright side, 20 ducklings hatched...

pix tomorrow, if it stops raining, lol.

:cool:

Kay's gonna-go-nappy-time.

:o

Just logged in for a quick "Hi Everyone." It is my busy time for work so I will be typing away for the rest of the day. Oh, except for a good 2 hour nap. :p LOL. Then again, may be not. DD16 just got her license on Friday and today is the 1st day she will have the car. She drove this morning by herself to school (summer school - she's trying to get a head a little bit as well as increase her chances at getting in to what ever 4 year college she chooses). I probably will not nap until she gets home around noonish. Typical worry wort mom. lol

Hope everyone is doing well and you all have a good day.

TK -- glad to hear you are doing ok.

Sandy -- Sorry to hear about your freezer and your mom. I'm not sure which is more aggravating.

Not much is going on here. My little sister (12 years younger than me -- I was the youngest until she came along) is flying into St. Louis this Thursday with my adorable 2 1/2 year old niece, Anya. So I am going to pick them up (150 miles each way). Then we are driving to Ohio (another 500 miles each way) on Saturday for my mom's 80th birthday celebration on Sunday. Alot of the family will be there. We will probably drive back to Illinois on Thursday, and then I have to take them back to the St. Louis airport on Sunday, the 15th . Anyone want to guess how much this is going to cost me in gasoline? I am really looking forward to seeing everyone and spending time with my sis and incredibly smart niece, but I am getting exhausted just thinking about it.

Well, if I assume you get 20 mpg, that would be 25 gallons of gas each way multiplied by $4 per gallon and I come up with $200!:eek:

Hi all :)

A little late reading the updates today. Had an IPIR this morning from my copax. Haven't had one in almost a year, so took me by surprise. But at least I managed to stay calm and it passed quickly. Ugh! I was so hoping I wouldn't get another one ever again. :mad: Took a little while to recover from it. It's amazing how something so seemingly small can wear one out!

I'm also amazed at how busy I'm starting to get. :eek: Next week I begin my water aerobics at the Y. I signed up for a "Moving Forward" seminar sponsored by the NMSS society on the 17th. And then my dad and stepmom are coming around the 22nd. LOL, apparently I am finding new ways to keep busy.

Hope everyone's doing ok today. :grouphug:

Just checking in. I got a call from the hospital and they want me to come in for more films and a possible ultrasound. Please say a prayer for me tomorrow.

Finn, Those IPIR's can be really nasty. Glad to hear that you are doing ok.:hug:

Sandy -- Prayer being said; I also posted on the whine thread.:hug:

Sandy, You've got my prayers, hun :hug:

You know u have my prayers!!

thanks for the reminder to call my attorney...of course I didn't hear anything!

All packed up and ready to roll out at 6 am tomorrow, my neighbor and I have been drinking and commisurating for the last 2 days!

Just heard from the nurse at my doctors and she said that my colonoscopy results did show 2 normal polyps and one that was pre cancerous. She explained that this meant it had the potential to develop into cancer; it may not have. I will now have to have colonoscopies every few years instead of the usual five. I also need to get serious about adding more veg's and fruits to my diet.

yeah, Finny... so many of us worry what we will DO after stopping work.

but it all works out, and we find stuff to occupy our minds and lives.

NaeNae, drive SAFE, will be thinking about you and praying all day, honey!

Barb, sorry 'bout dem polyps, but glad it was only PRE- and not bad news.

San, most re-films are just 'cause ya MOVED, and the pic is fuzzy.

skeeters are harder to film than molehills or mountains.

look on the bright side, at least the sonogram doesn't smash things all up.

and I'll be sending out prayers for you too, lovey

my newsy-news:

Tropical Storm Arthur brought us a total of 10 inches of rain, the pond filled up and overflowed, and my 10 thousand gallon cistern is nearly FULL... YAY !!

here's my pond (took three shots to GET it all) and a few HAPPY ducks:

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8294/dscn5541dz2.jpg
the pond - all filled up, yay !!

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/9464/dscn5542fp3.jpg
what was formerly the right bank is now an island.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4222/dscn5538fc2.jpg
and here's the overflow, to the right.

Sandy & Barb - Saying prayers for you both.

we got off lightly, dear...just lots and lots of rain and wind.

and bucketloads of mangoes were knocked down from the trees.

south of us, they REALLY got hit hard, by Arthur AND Alma, on the other side, a double whammy:

COVERAGE OF TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3...bridge9ic3.png

Kendal Bridge Flood Picture Courtesy of Jordan Zabaneh

Report filed by Harry Arzu, Love FM News Correspondent in Dangriga Town.

As a result of Tropical Depression Arthur a number of people have lost their lives in the Stann Creek District. There are reports of deaths in the Hummingbird Area and Sittee River Village. At this time there is no confirmation on how many people are dead officially. Furthermore, as a result of the storm, reports continue to come in on structural damage to roads, bridges and houses, including farmlands and crops.

The Kendal Bridge in the south near Maya Center has been reported damaged and a culvert in the Hummingbird area was also reported washed away. Some areas reported that are affected by this storm include Sarawee Village, Hope Creek, Gales Point, Mullins River, Sittee River and Seine Bight.

http://www.lovefm.com/love_fm_programs.php

this means that our friends out on the coast are STRANDED, with the bridge wiped out, unless they take a three-hour detour on a muddy road, to get food and stuff.

my heart goes out to them.

Kay, I went through this five years ago and everything was fine. I do have two lumps on each side but they are/were too small to biopsy at the time. Since then I have had three unchanged mammos so I am hoping it's just to see them closer to be sure. Somehow my films were lost from back then too so they can't compare sizes except what's on the report from 2002/2003. Whatever it is, I am strong and will get through whatever happens. I am healthy for the most part and should do fine. That's my reminder and pep talk. lol

I am praying for your friends too. Hopefully they will be able to get out soon to get what they need. Do they have any assistance to drop off supplies near them?

You take good care of yourself. You've held it together so well - I hope that things get a little easier sooner rather than later.:hug:

Sounds like that was an excellent investment in your health and a good reminder of how important those things are whether we like it or not!! Glad you're ok!

Will do. :hug:

Sandy, I went back to see where the doctor wanted the ultrasound and could not find it.

If it is your breast, or even if it is somewhere else, it just means the doctor wants a better look. Scary yes.

My breasts have had 4-5 benign tumors drained. I have more but they are too small to drain. The ultrasound just got a better look at them.

So, although it is hard not to worry, just know that it is PROBABLY nothing at all.

same here... mine turned out to be fibroid masses, not dangerous.

it's gonna take a TRACTOR to get through that "detour" mudslick road the back way in.

there's a tiny airport out there that can land small planes, and that should help, bringing in rice, and flour, and staples until they can repair/replace the Kendal Bridge.

and small boats can bring a limited amount of stuff up and down the coast.

they're outta luck for anything bigger for a while... and I've heard they're running out of BEER !! oh noes !!

:D

Thanks Aarcyn, that's exactly what happened five years ago for me too. I have fibrocycstic breast so somtimes it's hard to get a good reading. Thanks for reminding me to relax and worry when it's necessary. The four lumps I had back then were too small to drain or biopsy so they have been watching them for changes.

NO BEER KAY???? Say it isn't so! I think we should call Miller or someone. If anyone deserves a beer it's your friends and those affected by the storm.

Good evening everyone, First and foremost Sandy:hug:and Barb :hug:you both are deep in my thoughts prayers and well wishes

Second, Kay did you start building an ark?:Sinking:

hello trica tk t i sure hope you are ok:hug::hug::hug:

hey vonnie renee fin :wink::hug:

everybody else I hope you all have a good night :hug:



peace

OK, I brought a pitcher of margaritas - sounds like we need them.

Sandy, I said a prayer for you for your additional tests - I'm hoping its the fibrocystic stuff. Mine are that way and they had to do extra films when I had my mammo. I also said one for Renee for her trip and one for Kay and the people in Belize dealing with the storms.

Barb - I'm so glad your polyp was caught in time. Reminds me that I really need to listen to my doc and get that test done - I'm only 38, but there is family history. My mom died at age 60 because she never had the test done. If she had regular screening starting at 50, she would probably still be alive.

I'm kind of struggling here right now. My 8 year old is really testing me and I don't have the energy for it. I've also lost total control of all the paperwork, scheduling, etc. that I used to just handle. I can't keep track of the smallest things anymore. I was so cranky today and just really wanted to run away from it all.

As difficult as this trip this weekend is going to be, in a way it sounds like relief from being here! Then, I really think about it and know that I don't want to go flying across the country and then driving 4 hours on top of that all to go and work my butt off packing and dealing with some family issues that could either go fine or be brutally unpleasant. I'm really uncertain what is going to happen, but I'm going to lean on my faith and trust God to protect us.

Well, it's beyond bed time for me.

Hang in there everyone. I really hope I didn't forget to pray for anyone that needs it. I guess I will also just do a general prayer for the forum friends here who need God's protection and strength.

The margarita pitcher is magic and keeps refilling itself automatically, so drink up!!

1/3 of my 6 acres is under water, but we're all doing okay.

thank the Lord.

the folks I worry about are south of me...

it's badly flooded, the bridges are out, the roads out, and food is running out...

see, in this teensy-tiny country, there's only ONE main north-south PAVED road through the jungle, and here's what's happened to it:

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3909/flooding1he2.jpg
the Kendall Bridge, wiped out completely

http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/9...oding11nm7.jpg
the Hummingbird Highway, split across the road.

more flood damage pictures here:

http://www.nemo.org.bz/nemonews/news...rticle_335.php

the Belize Red Cross is desperate for donations, they need clothes, diapers and food:

RED CROSS SEEKS ASSISTANCE FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

June 02, 2008

http://www.lovefm.com/ndisplay.php?nid=7965


:grouphug::hug::grouphug:

Oh My! I think that magaritas are in order. :D It seems it's been crazy for all of us. :Crazy 2:

It's supposed to rain all day here, so trying to come up with an indoor project to get started on. LOL, I need to choose just one. There is a ton I could do.

I hope and pray everyone's ok today. :grouphug: