Renee-I just had hardwoods installed this week. My worst fear is that something will happen to muck them up before we move! As they were leaving today, I asked them about what would happen if we had a damaged board (as if my darlings would ever think of puking on my new floors....). He said that they can just pull out a single board and replace it. Hopefully your landlord has a few extra boards leftover.

Hey all! Just popping in to say hello! Carolyn, I love your studio and I want one now. I better get busy. Renee, sorry about the floors. I hope your housekeeper can fix it. I hope everyone is having a good day.

I am planning for more snow today. Gosh, will it ever end? At least it's only 3 inches. Mom saw the neurosurgeon today and she needs to see an eye doctor. I tried to explain that this can be claimed on her medical rather than vision since it's from the surgery but she doesn't understand what I mean. He told her she can go home and be by herself now but can't drive for 4 more weeks. She is not a happy camper.

Well, I made it back home from Austin. I am already missing my niece and the warm weather. Anya (my 2 year old niece) woke her parents up at 4:00 a.m. to ask where Aunt Barbara was. She also wanted to know if it was dark in Illinois and if I was playing with my toys. She tole me on the phone last night that she missed me and that she loved me. AHHH!

Well I am off to the doctors in a little while. I am still fighting this crud (bronchitis ...) and I am going to ask for a referral to see a dermatologist for a mole scan. All of these negative posts about tysabri lately are really starting to stress me out. (melanoma and now liver damage):eek: I am also dealing with a little eye pain and floaters in one eye. I know I should call my neurologist, but I also know he will not be back in the office until Tuesday. I am scheduled for my next tysabri infusion next Wednesday.

I hope everyone is doing well. I was going to try to catch up with everyone by reading all of the posts I missed, but I do not have the energy to do so at this point.

Barb welcome back! I know you enjoyed your niece but are ready to be rid of the crud!

I think the whole melanoma thing with TY is being blown out of proportion...it was two cases who coincidentally happened in the same place,we should all be observant of any skin changes but my bets are that these women would have had melanoma either way. As for the liver damage we all know it is a side effect of any of the meds we take...yet another reason to be vigilant about having our labs done!

oooooh oooooh ooooooooooh !!!

here's some pix for the kiddies lookin' over your shoulders!

check these out!

yesterday, my friend went to the Belize Zoo (which has only "rescue" animals, and animals from movie-making that couldn't be released back into the wild)

some of the pix he just sent me:

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5598/dsc2837ec9hl6.jpg
JAGUAR

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4...baruvs3mc7.jpg
JABIRU

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/30/harpydh6zt7.jpg
HARPY EAGLE

wow, I take photos that good in my DREAMS !!

Cool pixs! Carolyn, I received your postcard today. Thank You!!!

another one, here's an Ocelot:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/4...olotll8jl2.jpg

Barb, your little Anya sounds adorable... hope you're feeling better soon.

NaeNae, one of the kids spilled something, and cleaned up up, but didn't realize the sofa legs were wet, maybe?

argh! I hated hated hated living in rentals with small children... it makes one so TENSE!

TK: abstract, lol, I know whatcha mean! hope it gets fixed to your satisfaction...

San: remote-control management of ailing parental units is difficult... especially after something so serious, and with her cognitive functioning possibly impaired...

is there anyone who lives closer that can do the (admittedly horrendous) insurance paperwork FOR her?

:grouphug:

Thanks Sandy! I love my studio and am so glad it is complete and I can actually work in it now! Sorry your Mom is having some residual issues post surgery. I hope things clear up soon for her!

On the snow thing, we're getting another 7 inches or so Friday night into Saturday. I am soooo ready for spring!

Renee, I know there is something you can do with baking soda on black rings on the floor. I just have to find it in my book of household remedies for you!

On another note. I checked my bank account this afternoon and I am overdrafted on my account. Now how the heck did that happen:eek: Grrrrr. It was only by $6, but they are charging me an extra $25 for the overdraft. Crap:mad:!!!

Carolyn :hug:

Sandy, :hug: Sorry to hear that your mom is still having some issues after surgery, but hope everything gets better soon.

Barb, Awww, you're neice is so sweet. I'm glad you had a chance to visit with her. Sorry to hear you're still not feeling well. Hope it clears up soon.

Kay, thanks for the pics as always. Those are some nice animals. It's rather interesting that the zoo is mainly for rescue animals.

Carolyn, Ugh, I hate it when overdrafts happen. Hope that everything's going well besides that.

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Trying to wake up without coffee this morning. Not that easy to do, LOL. Hmm, maybe addicted? :D

It's a snowing again, so it's gonna be a fun day. It's supposed to warm up and change to sleet and rain, then back to snow. Yippee. :)

Hope everyone has a great day today. :)

Kay - Those are great pictures. Thanks.

Carolyn - I hate it when I make those calculation errors. They cost too much.

Fin - Good luck today. I'll be thinking of you.

Barb - How are you doing today? I do hope you start feeling better soon.

Renee - Thanks for the information. I have to get blood tests regularly too. As much as it is a pain in the neck, I understand why. I am on Copaxone which I was under the impression that it didn't mess up you liver. But somewhere at the other place I read that it can. YIKES!!!!

Sandy - Saying a prayer for your mom. I can sympathize with her though. It would be hard on me if they said you can go home but you can't drive. What the, heck. There is no way I could be housebound like that and so dependent on others. Maybe your aunt could go stay with your mom for a bit? That way your mom will be home, which would be better for healing, and your aunt is there to help out. Just an idea. Don't know the whole situation so it may not be feasible.

Greta - You are so right. Renting with little ones is so stressful. You panic about everything. What always amazes me is that they put carpet in the dining area. This doesn't make sense when you have kids and/or messy eaters. After we moved from the townhouse, I rented an apartment that did have vinyl flooring in the dining area. It was great.

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Didn't touch the painting yesterday. I am still thinking of how to "fix" the mistake. I did, however, work on the painting for my brother. It is almost done I just need to add a few small details and create more movement in it. You know, the whole Z thing.

I took down one of the pictures on my wall and hung the painting up. I keep sitting on the couch, closing my eyes, then opening them to see where my eyes "go." DD's thought I was nuts until I had them do it with a few pictures in the house as well as the painting. Then they understood.

Hope everyone has a good day.