Thanks, everyone for their best wishes. I survived Frances, that b*tch. That was one looooooooooooooong storm. I don't want to say that things have died down, because everytime I say that, the wind and the rains come back. Bastards!

Orlando got off pretty good, from various tv. reports. Unfortunately, I don't think things are that good at the coast. Just please keep your fingers crossed that Ivan will go somewhere else. However, with the luck that we've been having...

Hello all! Had a great weekend. Sunday we went up to Seabrook NH. There is a great seafood place, not far from the Hamptons, that we went to called Markeys I got claims. Yumm. Good stuff. We went to Hampton beach after to walk the board walk, and for some icecream. Today I went out with the dog, a 2 1/2 hour walk. This crazy dog wanted to keep going too. She loves to walk. My legs were dying, so she had to stop. Oh well, she had fun though.

Draadje Glad you made is through Frances ok. That was the slowest storm ever I think. My grandmother is in Springhill. We're waiting to hear from her. Hopefully tonight we'll be able to get through.

Yogi Happy Birthday!! I hope you had a great one. 25 right?

Jenn Welcome back to twop! I hope you are feeling better. Sounds like you had quite an ordeal while you were away. This is a great group. I can't wait for Survivor to start, and be able to talk to everyone about what is going on. This will be my first survivor since finding this board.

woodlock Well at least you know where your guy is. Now, just go back when you have no parentals around and talk to him. Is it a store you can get to easy? Something I used to try was-I'd ask the cute guy to get something off the top shelf for me- 'course you have to be careful what your asking help on. Let us know how you do wood

Hildy I hope your little one is ok, and Mr. Hildy. I've never been to Storyland my self, but my friend takes her kids there every year. They have a ball. I think Santa's village is there also. sounds like you all had a great time though.

Pip I got scared when i read boat, and your dad. hahaha. I'm glad everything went well. Never fails though, huh? Stuff always starts breaking down at the worst possible time. Two days before my graduation our Refridgerator broke down. My parents had bought tons of food. They raced out to buy another fridge, and they had bought the wrong one. We had an enclosed cabinet that the fridge was going into. My parents had to race back to the store and buy one that had the coils on the bottom of the Fridge. Long story short, Nothing spoiled, and a great time was had by all.

Aussiegirl I hope big little aussie gets his clothes in time. Routine is so important. ONe little thing can be devistating. i"m sure he'll have a great time at camp though. i'm sure little aussie will miss having his big brother around.

Everyone have agreat night

Oh my goodness, Yogi, what a wonderful week of celebration! That sounds like it's just about right--I don't think you can overcelebrate one's birthday, but then again I threw myself a large dinner party at my favorite restaurant a couple years ago. Because frankly, I knew that the person most like to get it just the way I wanted it was myself.

AussieGirl, are you going to be enjoying your relative solitude, or missing the heck out of BigLittleAussie, or a mixture of both?
I have to admit that I've never been to a Wal-Mart, but that doesn't mean that I don't advocate Woodlock prowling the aisles in search of cute Texan boy. What department does he work in? That should give you something to talk about....
Teena I used to hang out at Hampton Beach a fair amount--mostly went to see bands at the Club Casino....
Welcome to Jennifer C. and happy almost birthday to skagirl, it seems as though I was hearing about last year's birthday bash about 15 minutes ago. My mind, she is a collander....

Happy Birthday to Yogi!!!! Hugs!!
Hildy, you've never been to Wal*Mart!??! I am shocked and quite frankly, appauled. Everyone goes to Wal*Mart! At least, the do here. As a matter of fact, I was just there tonight. Buying a VCR. Which is now why I can't afford a dryer. Stupid overinflated prices.
Teena, I always worry when I hear boat.
draadje, I'm glad to hear you made it out okay! Poor Florida. If they get three hurricanes isn't that a record or something?

A very Happy Birthday to Yogi!!!! I wish we had known before the day, but now we do know, so look out next year! Glad you have had a relaxing time on your mountain, you really deserve it mate. And glad you had such a wonderful birthday. You sure know how to celebrate. Enjoy your Yogi family reunion!

Happy potential Birthday also to Skagirl. Come on, spill the beans. Is it, or isn't it?

Welcome to Jenn - we're glad you have joined us! Hope things calm down for you at work, so you can post as much as you want. And BTW, I don't think you're being at all unreasonable regarding not being disturbed during Survivor. I refuse to take phone calls, or even to do any kids stuff - Survivor time is my time, and everyone had better just get used to it! Hee. Some of my friends know this, and they deliberately call me during that time, just for a joke. Well the joke's on them when I won't come to the phone.

I too, cannot believe that Hildy has never been to a Walmart. Even I have, in the US, though we don't have them here. Sorry to hear Hildyboy got so sick, and I hope he is all recovered by now mate.

I am enjoying my solitude Hildy, I actually slept in to 8.20 this morning, and I am not missing doing the school run and afternoon homework thing at all. Littlest Aussie also slept in this morning, so that was nice. I am missing Big Little Aussie, but he is doing well. His school camp has a Survivor theme, he is on the Chapera tribe, and last night he won the Immunity Idol! (Better than winning Australian Idol, I guess - hee!) He did get his PJ's in time for bed last night, so that was one potential disaster averted. I shudder to think what would have happened otherwise. Life with an autistic boy is certainly never boring!

Draadje glad that Frances has passed, and hope your area didn't suffer too much damage. I also hope that Ivan goes elsewhere. We once had 6 almost-cyclones (hurricanes) in one week last summer, and that was just unbelievable.

Teena you got claims? I'm assuming you mean clams, girl, am I right? Hope your grandmother is okay mate.

Pinki you should see the prices of electrical goods here, mate! Just about everything costs much more here. Guess that's the price we have to pay to live in paradise!

Roll on Vanuatu! And my man Peachy (sorry Teena!).

Happy b-lated b-day, miss y.

Now back to the salt mines.

It's not for awhile - I really meant I was late, by three weeks! Hildy it probably seems like a lot of celebrations because I frequently end up the party planner for my friends' birthdays.

Well, I refuse to go to Wal*Mart just to be a crank at this point. It started out as a political protest, because they were well known around here for coming in and setting up shop on the outskirts of town, sucking all the business away from the local merchants downtown, and now I'm just boycotting to be stubborn. My family loves to taunt me with it. I frequently receive birthday presents wrapped in Wal*Mart bags.
Skagirl! Your birthday isn't 9/21 is it? Because that would just be too cool.
and poor Skamom--three weeks late is nobody's fun. I was ten days late with Hildygirl, and that was bad enough.

THREE WEEKS LATE! Ugh. Poor Skamom indeed! Little Yogi was also several weeks late during a horrible heat wave. When the time came for him to finally arrive, the nurse had to convince me over the phone to come to the hospital. I had given up on ever delivering him at that point.

Thanks for the nice birthday wishes, Gang at MM. It's nice because the celebration continues. This morning there was a gift from one of my favorite stores on my desk. My assistant sure knows what I like. It was very thoughtful.

I am having the opposite of Aussie Girl's day. No sleep, packing bags with various and sundry critical items, and sending faxes to get Little Yogi's schedule all organized. As always, nothing, and I mean nothing at all, is ever done in my absence. I tell you, how I dream of a little apartment of my own on mornings like this....

I used to feel the same way as you about Walmart for the same reason, Hildy, but I was seduced over to the dark side. Sadly, I have no Walmart easily accessable, so I haven't been to one in some time. So I go to many little shops to buy my assorted household items and dream of a huge barn filled with shelves of cheap merchandise... sigh.

I sadly admit to being a Walmart shopper. It is the only place where I can buy socks and golf balls and milk and ground beef and only write out one check! And with me, saving time is everything. I do not let that get in the way of patronizing small specialty stores though, so my consumerism guilt is slightly assuaged.

Happy birthday (belated) to dear Yogi! I am glad you had such a nice week away and are now reunited with Yogifamilia. Lots of hugs sent your way!

We saw kingfishers this weekend, chittering and swooping along the shoreline of our lake, angrily scolding anyone poaching on their fishing territory.

Birdlady, thanks for the advice re: Squirrel's reading teacher. We will try to keep Reading as a subject fun for him. The problem with the teacher is that she makes reading in general a misery for most of the students, not a joy. Squirrel, thank goodness, is a voracious reader, has a huge vocabulary and reads at the college level. But the teacher doesn't like boys (always expects the worst from them, it seems), and alienates those who like to think outside of her box (whose parameters seem to change depending on her mood and the student). Pah.

Hee, another Jenn. We'll take over the world yet!

I thought Wal Marts were great. Anything and everything you could want, all in the same place. I once bought a set of really nice sheets, (the fitted sheet of which actually fitted, as opposed to the ones I bought here, which used to infuriate me) and a pair of great shoes in Tulsa OK, and still use/wear both of them. We've also bought a child car seat, school lunch boxes and a digital camera from Wal Marts in Las Vegas and Montana. We do have K Mart here, but they're not nearly as good as Wal Mart. I think we should join the Hildy family and send her stuff in Wal Mart bags, heh.

Heidihug I'd love to see and hear the kingfishers on the lake. Sounds like a great sight.

Yogi, of course nothing is done in your absence, that's the way it is with mothers all over the world, don't you know? I hope that you get everything organised and glad that your birthday celebrations are continuing. But take it easy mate, it will all get done.

Wow, Ska 3 weeks late! I can't imagine being 10 months pregnant! Oh man, your poor mum. How much did you weigh? I was late also, though not to that extent. Each time mum went to the hospital, her labour stopped, and they sent her back home. Of course, when the real thing started, she refused to go back to the hospital, and I was almost born in a taxi.

I'm taking Littlest Aussie to my mum's today, and the three of us are going to have lunch. I don't often get a chance to do that, just hang out with mum, and only have one child to look after, so I'm looking forward to it.

Does anyone know where Samina got to? It's been awhile since she posted. And it's nice to see both Jenns here.

Hi everyone! I haven't been here for a while, so I'm popping in to see how everyone is. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. We were checking on our mom in Florida over the past week. She recently purchased a condo in South Florida, on the southeast coast - of course - and hadn't been there for a month when Frances struck. She evacuated to a relative's house that was further inland, and came through the hurricane just fine.

I'm going away with my family on Friday for a week, and I've been preparing for that also. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ivan stands a really good chance of fucking up our vacation, but what can you do. Sucks that I'm gonna miss the first epi of Survivor, but I'll get it taped. I haven't gotten with the DVR program as yet, but I really need to. Time Warner Cable rents DVR players for really cheap. When I get back, I'll do a thorough investigation.

Speaking of Survivor - Aussie Girl? Step AWAY from my man Peachy. Don't make me get ugly up in here! :)

Happy birthday, Yogi!

Welcome, Wassimerdude! You've jumped into a really friendly MM. Yes, these boards are addictive like crack, and you're among fellow junkies.

Hey guys! Long time no post. I didn't realize how busy the teaching gig would keep me. It's been a pretty awesome few first days. Teaching is exhausting, and sometimes I really feel like I don't know what I'm doing (this is only my first year teaching full time), but I still love it. I've got all of my students' names down (all 83, a fact about which I'm surprisingly proud for some reason), and for the most part they're good kids, but I also don't know whether they like me or think I'm a giant goon. Not that it matters, though, so long as they're willing to learn from me. A lot of the veteran teachers have been telling me that the first week is exciting, and the second week is always pretty rough, so hopefully I'll be able to stay upbeat for the rest of the week. It's already Tuesday, and I already canNOT wait for the weekend.

Labor Day was fun; I got a bit too drunk with a friend on Sunday night, and we ended up going to the beach at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, after having made plans to get there at 10:30 in the morning. Ha. But, the water was great, and it wasn't too blazingly hot, so that was cool.

Happy belated birthday to yogi! It sounds like you had a great time, and that the celebration is continuing! I've never been big on birthdays, b/c I was born in January, but as I've gotten older, they've been more and more fun. The next one is the big 'ole 25, which I guess is a milestone, so maybe I'll do something big.

I've only been to Walmart once, but I LOOOVE Target. I need to go there again some time soon.

The skiing season is starting in a bit, and I need to buy a season pass while they're cheap, but I'm poor right now. I do get paid next week, so I can get my pass and also sign up for the German classes I wanted to take. Can't wait!

Hey Meet Marketeers!


It's true, as I've gotten older, my birthday has become more meaningful to me on a personal level - sort of like "Wow, I can't believe I made it another year! Did I learn anything? Have I progressed? Stood still? Was it a waste? Was it a success?" I've learned that what I really need to celebrate is my own small victories a couple times a year. It helps me keep some perspective in a world that is only too happy to grind at me.

This year's birthday was particularly nice for me because my friends in California genuinely showered me with love. Overall, I'm pretty used to folks forgetting my birthday for most of my adult life. But this was a special year - you wouldn't believe the kind of terribly thoughtful, funny, whimsical things people did for me. For example, along with my complete princess get-up and new leapord print hip scarf, one woman gave me a ridiculous bright yellow toy koi to remind me of the fish I love so much to feed and paint along with some delicious bamboo candles for good luck. I'm not used to someone, much less several someones, remembering me and my personal silliness like that. Generally, I get a check from my Mom and something from Mr Yogi and that's about it. So, this was a really special year. I'll treasure it. Today, my folks are coming, the first year in memory, to celebrate with me. I'm really treasuring and enjoying these nice things, while at the same time sort of hardly believing it happening to me!

Let's face it, in other areas, things are not going so good. Yesterday, Little Yogi started school. All the promises his principal made to me last June seem to have been lies. I can't tell you... Though I want to call her up and just call her on it, what good would it do? What good would it do to ask, "Are you trying to destroy my child? Because you couldn't be any more doing a better job if you tried." But what does anger and confrontation ever achieve in a working relationship? Nothing. It's very unproductive, and I need to figure out a way to move him forward. I have no idea what to do, which is not a good place for a Virgo to be!

I don't know who here at MM suggested the film The Wedding Banquet, but I saw it recently because of the recommendation. The banquet itself looked like a nightmare to me - what excess! I had no idea what a Chinese wedding was like. I'm hoping this was an exaggeration - like my Big Fat Greek Wedding on steriods - so.much.foodanddrink! I've always associated Asian culture with austerity - but maybe that's a Japanese thing, zen and all that. The father in this film, what a great character. It really was film about the many forms that love can take, both obvious and subtle - in a quirky way, very sweet.

Fingers crossed that no holidays are ruined by impending storms, and that Draadje continues to elude those hurrican bastards! I'm sending good weather thoughts to us all!

Probably not. I haven't seen the movie, but I got a little taste of it (heh) when my friend got married when I was in college. She tried to get away with just a JP ceremony and a quiet potluck at home, but her parents insisted on having a proper reception at a local Chinese restaurant. Apart from the beautiful table arrangements, I think I made it through about six courses (at least two whole fish dishes, IIRC) before I had to bail and go to work - and that was about 1/2 way through the celebration! Oy. My stomach hurts just thinking about it. Or is that the bottle of Pinot Grigio I had last night while taunting the Fine Living channel?

Hang in there, yogi. Little yogi might not necessarily be appreciated by the school brass, but he will never forget that his mom went to bat for him every time.

draadje, have you heard from your folks on Aruba yet? Like everyone else, my thoughts are with you.

PS: Once you get past the food part, IKEA is a big barn filled with cheap merchandise! Honest!

PPS: hh, Yes, having an actual seat probably would have enhanced my Metalliperience. However, the Excel Energy Center has superb French fries, which I indulged in when the man was harshing my mellow too much.

PPPS: wmdude, I often felt the second week letdown as a student. It took about a week for the bullies to get their bearings at my school.

PSPSPSPSP: ska, I hope someone plans a big, special bash for you! You deserve it for being a good friend.

UGH! I just typed the LONGEST post...fart....where did it go???
Quickly - Yogi I hope things get resolved quickly for Little Yogi - you worked too hard & went through too much stress last year not to have him in a good place.

In utero - finally came out the 23rd, at only 8 lbs.

Sorry for all the storm people - we're receiving the rain finally, and I got caught in quite a downpour this morning on the way home from the gym.

wasimmerdude glad classes are going well - just double check your chair for tacks after you give out the first Pop Quiz!

Suctiony who opened for Metallica? I saw them years ago & would love to see them again.

Damn, I had like 7 more things...grrr..

Godsmack, who heidi loves, and I'm not so wild about. Still, they were much, much better than Limp Bizkit, who opened for them last time around. I actually volunteered to wait 45 minutes in the beer line so I wouldn't have to watch them.

Happy belated birthday to Yogi! Glad to hear that you had such a phenomenal celebration.
I really hope things work out at Little Yogi's school. You are such a wise woman.

I was three weeks early and had to be delivered by C-section. I was delivered in one of the most modern hospital of The Hague (The Netherlands), but in 1980 a C-section was such a big deal that students were brought to my mom's room for lectures. My mom was not amused.

Suctionprints, thanks for thinking about Aruba. Things are, well, not that good, I don't think. You see, Aruba has never had a hurricane make landfall in recorded history, and the last time we had a hurricane watch was in the 1960s. Hurricanes and / or Tropical Storms usually change tracks or die out right before hitting Aruba. So the government is being fairly lax. They did close the schools, but as far as I know they're telling me people to only expect seas a bit rougher than usual and a few windgusts. I doubt that people are staying home, but instead are enjoying this unexpected off day and are probably looking at the sea instead of clearing stuff from their yards, stocking up on water, etc, etc.

Just to be clear the weather reports say that Aruba won't get hurricane winds, but I think that the storm is too close to really count on that. Aruba will very likely to get Tropical Storm winds, which are very serious (exhibit A: Tampa, FL), but Arubans don't seem to realize it. My best friend is a district leader of the Red Cross and she says that the government is refusing to divulge the locations of the shelters and will not declare a state of emergency. I'm afraid that people think that the NHC weather bulletins are gospel, and that they are never wrong. Ft. Meyers learned that this is not the case the hard way.

Aaaand I think that was more than you wanted to know. Hugs to everyone!

Ughhh...todays commute sucked. Thanks to either the remnants of Frances or another storm half of the subways in NYC are flooded and not running, including all the lines on the Upper West Side. I ended up having to walk about 25 blocks to get a subway cross town (in the rain, in a suit, sweating like a pig) and got to work about 30 minutes late. I hope the subways are running tonight as my feet are killing me and I don't want to walk home (busses were so packed they weren't worth it).

My parents live in Tampa and have lost power and don't expect to get it back till Thursday (they are 1 of about 50 people in their area without power, so they are a lower priority). They are staying with my Aunt and Uncle because they need air-conditioning. We have 2 older dogs who are not taking the disruption well. Our German Shorthaired Pointer always inhales her dinner and she won't eat. Plus, they are having trouble with stairs as they are not used to them and they have to follow my Dad everywhere he goes. My Grandmother also lost power. Now I have to worry about Ivan. In the 18 years I lived there I only went through 1 tropical storm and never had to worry this much. I need a drink.

Happy Birthday Yogi! After having met you I am not surprised your friends went over the top in throwing you a birthday. I imagine you through one hell of a birthday party for your friends. Good Luck with Little Yogi.

Now I must dry off.

Actually, anyone who goes full term is 10 months pregnant, as 40 weeks is supposed to be the full duration.

And Doug I feel for you, man. No subways for me either this morning (since we live near each other), buses all full to capacity and not stopping, no cabs and pouring rain. While I was waiting for a bus and getting soaked despite my umbrella, I noticed all the cars on the road with only drivers in them. The next time the light turned red, I knocked on a window and hitched a ride down to 57th from a nice man in an SUV. The subways were running downtown (well, only the A) at Columbus Circle, so I took it to 42nd and then the 7 across town. The walk underground from Port Authority to Times Square was the stuff of claustrophobic nightmares. Overcrowded, hot tunnel, but I suppose it was better than walking 25 blocks in that rain. My shoes are still wet, but the rest of me is dry. Do yourself a favor tonight and treat yourself to a cab home.

doug, you poor baby, and your poor parents and your poor grandparents, and the poor canines. Hope things settle down soon and Ivan goes far, far away from us all.

wid, I think teachers are next to saints - I am in awe of you guys (My mother and mother-in-law were teachers, and thank goodness they loved their jobs because, as I'm sure you know, it's not like you can call it a day when the bell rings).

Ahem, all you Peachy lovers - I was a Peachy lover before Peachy was cool. We can share, can't we? Can I have just one dimple?

Target is the best. Fortunately, here in Minnesota you can't go five miles without finding another Target (its headquarters is in Minneapolis).

Well, not quite. It's a little more than nine months, but not ten. 40 weeks is 280 days. Assuming 31-day months, that's 9.03 months. Assuming all 30-day months, it's 9.33 months. So, somewhere in between. (Sorry for the math-geekiness.) At any rate, 3 weeks overdue, especially in the summer, must be horrible.

I kinda envy you guys who get to celebrate your birthdays for a week. I'm lucky if anyone outside my family acknowledges mine. December 23 is not a good day to be born if you expect anyone to make a fuss. Better than December 26, though - I've known a couple of people with that birthday, and no one remembers them.

I believe in Target, and am anti-Wal-mart because I don't love how it's taken over so much of small town USA, plus the ones I've been to have always been kind of grubby. I'm planning a subway-road-trip to the new Target in Brooklyn, yay!

The storm was pretty intense this morning. My roommate didn't believe me, but I knew because as I left the gym just after 7, the front desk attendant mentioned that it was getting bad...bad? My umbrella was totally useless, and my new shoes, which do not fit well & I need to exchange, plus my clothes, were soaked through, but as I was going home to shower, that part wasn't too bad. But, to top it off, my cell phone in my backpack got water logged - I've taken the battery off to dry, and I know it does work...let's see how well. This is my joy of the workout after being gym-avoidant for 3 weeks? Bad mojo this morning all around.

Minneapolis TAR Finale Getogether
Tuesday, September 21
6:30-10 p.m.
Billy's on Grand
857 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN
Phone: 651 292-9140

Note corrected time, and hope some of you can make it!

ETA: Well, draadje, I hope that your family at least move to safer ground, and that your public officials get a clue fast! That's just frightening to me! But then again, I get jumpy when I hear thunder.

ETAA: tracey, I alwayas make sure that I get cards or gifts to my sister and my niece because they have December birthdays. So what if their birthdays fall during Advent? They shouldn't be screwed out of a hard-earned b-day card!

Ok I tried posting last night apparently it didn't happen.
I was the opposite of skachicka, I came out three montes early.
Target does kick Walmarts ass all over the place problem is wal mart is open 24 hours which accomidates, my apparent disstaste for sleep.
WSdude, just don't tell your kids about your beach party ;)

I guess I was computing with the four weeks = one month scenario. I realize all months aren't like February, but I'm telling time these days by birth control pills, so a month is 28 days to me.

When is this rain going to end? I knew it was too nice for the first 10 days of the US Open, and we're paying for it now.

I would love to bop up to the TC for the TAR finale party, suction, but, alas, my schedule does not permit. Friends of ours invited us out to eat that evening to a fancy-schmancy place we have been wanting to try, so we had to say yes. Why, oh why, did it have to be that night? The best TV viewing night of the week, of the year so far? TAR finale, NYPDB season premiere, Gilmore Girls season premiere. *sigh*. Will have to tape GG and TAR and hope someone I know tapes NYPDB. And, if I had said no to dinner because I want to plant my butt in front of the TV all night, Mr HH and friends would have been seriously upset. Where are their priorities, I ask you, where?

Rut-roh. My head might explode. My phone really won't turn on...going to put a hair dryer on it...and now freaking that I'll have to upgrade to a Picture in Picture Spinning Technobob 3000 Model GZX with Optional Voice Recognition and Fortune Teller instead of a phone that dials out & receives calls. I really can't handle a technology upgrade right now after Baby Computer Mama Drama last week...ulcer...bubbling...surfacing...This is so dumb, too, because I always used to snerk at people for not memorizing phone numbers any more, but with so many friends changing locations & phone numbers in the last 2 years, I've been just as guilty. Stupid universe alligning to make me coocooer than usualer.

ETA: Sorry if this sounds whiney...it's just once you get something done or you think you're done with expenses, another doozy hits right smack at you. Not to mention discovering I did not receive two bills this month & ran in a tizzy this morning to pay by phone. Ugh.

Word, word, word! I've gotten sucked into the vortex that is Ikea. It's filled with all sorts of shiny, pretty things. Once you get those shiny, pretty things home, they just fall apart. Avoid this place by all means.

Thankfully, I dodged the bullet in my commute this morning. My train didn't seem to be affected by our mini-typhoon, and I got to work about five minutes late. I couldn't believe it when one of my colleagues said it took him 2 1/2 hours to get to the office. What I don't understand is why the subways just give out whenever we get a lot of rain; this happened at least once before, about four years ago.

Target rocks! The new one in Brooklyn is pretty awesome, skagirl. You can lose yourself for hours in that place. NYC is also getting a Home Depot on Friday. It's about time NYC gets the stores that everyone else has been able to enjoy for years.

I'm so sorry to hear that your families are suffering from the recent onslaught of hurricanes, Draadje and DouginTx. I was unprepared for the hurricane that hit our home in Georgia, and that? Was not a good thing. I hope that everyone is home and safe soon.

Don't worry about the cell phone, skagirl! Mr. Yogi has the most ancient cell phone in the world. Years ago, when it was still old, he dropped it into the ocean when he had to run in unexpectedly to grab Little Yogi. It didn't work for about four days, but on the fifth day, it rang once again. He is still using it - he just can't give it up. It's so reliable! So just put the phone down and try it again in a couple days. I bet it works fine.


Maybe you need to celebrate your half birthday in July, Tracey Bee? Folks must be all caught up in that whole Christ's birthday thing around that time. I have a niece and a nephew born right around Christmas. I always make sure they get great gifts wrapped in distinctive birthday paper. I think otherwise it's just too easy for the whole birthday/Christmas thing to blend.

I feel your pain on the whole planning things on the night of the TAR finale, Heidihug. Little Yogi's Parent/Teacher night is scheduled for that evening. Ugh. What's a mother to do? [tm. Tina] Go to school, of course, but oh, how I wish it was another night...

My mom was born on Valentine's Day. She hates it. I'm lucky; I'm not born on or around any holidays.
Sorry to hear about the hurricnae messing you guys up! That sure does suck.

I know several people born on Valentine's Day, and I think that is so cool! Imagine, always a wonderful theme on your birthday - flowers, hearts, chocolates, indulgences of all sorts. I would enjoy that. Plus, the people I know born on Valentine's Day are interesting and fun - creative Aquarians with agile minds. Is your mother like that too, PiP?

Sorry to hear of all the nasty weather those on the US east coast are experiencing, especially Draadje who's had more than her share already. I hope the rain stops and the sun starts doing some serious shining for you all.

And Yogi - what can I say? That's terrible. Did you get what the Principal said back then, in writing? There must be some way to get the school to honour their agreement. These children can't stand up for themselves, and we must do it on their behalf. My thoughts are with you mate, and I am hoping for a satisfactory resolution. Little Yogi deserves nothing less. And the same with you.

We have Target here, and I hate it! While they have cheaper prices, they don't actually put the price on anything, and the tags on the shelves somehow disappear, so you have to take it to a price station thingy to check how much it is. On top of that, nothing is ever in stock in the size you want, and of course, there is never, ever any assistants around to help you. Yuck! I last went there 2 weeks ago, looking for some stuff for Big Little Aussie's camp, and after spending an hour and a half there and getting nowhere, left vowing never to return. We went to another store, where a sales assistant actually helped us. We ended up spending all our money there. Raspberries all over Target!

One thing in my memory of Wal Mart - when we were nearing the check outs, a sales assistant came towards us, and invited us to go through her check out! No waiting! Man, I have.never.seen.anything.like.that.anywhere! I wish they'd do that here. It certainly impressed me enough to want to go back there, and I did.

Yeah iME I know about the 40 week = 10 month thing, having been pregnant a few times now. I've always wondered why they say 9 months, when it's actually, or seems to be, almost 10 months. I guess being 3 weeks overdue would make it closer to 11 months. Ughhhh.... Woody you were 3 months prem? Wow. How much did you weigh?

Jenn C, Almond Eyes, I'm quite willing to share the gorgeous Peachy with you all, I'm certainly not greedy. Man, I just love those dimples....sigh. Not long now....

Aussie Girl, I weight 2lbs and 11 oz., I had to be shipped to Ft. Worth, because Wichita Falls did not have the equipment to handle such a small child.

GASP!!! Blasphemy! I love Ikea! I almost wet myself visitng the 2 story one in Edmonton. And I'm very good at putting together the furniture, and it stays put together!

I love Ikea too! But not so much that I'm not realistic about what it really is! Still, I'll pretty much get everything except couches there - I know mr. s. has his heart set on one, but I like box springs and padding and suchlike. I've found couches at garage sales that were more comfortable than your average Ikea model. But, hey, for a barrel chair, a mouse pad or a wall cabinet - hell, yeah, I'll go there.

Hee...hh, I feel your pain. I went to a Tuesday night show my friend was putting on, and the opening band was terrible! I grumbled at him: "I'm missing Queer Eye for this?!?!?! That sucks!" Fortunately, the night got better. But...still...

Calm thoughts going out to those who have to deal with horrendous weather...

Greetings from The Soggy City where there are 90 year old pumps in the subways!

So yesterday, we went out to fish restaurants for both lunch and dinner. I'm here to tell you that a fish restaurant does not necessarily mean that one is going to eat something healthy. I'm also here to tell you, it's all in the sauce, baby! Must.Go.Running.Today... Wow, what a treat, though.

Speaking of babies, my goodness, Woodlock, you were a little one. Maybe you are an elf?

I own nothing from IKEA because you have to drive to the store and haul your purchases home. However, I always enjoy the sight of the Big Blue Barn of a Building when I land at Newark. I think they built that store right on the runway.

Stay dry, NYCers! Stay safe, Floridians and Arubans!

I know this wasn't the case, but I'm picturing a shoe box containing a tiny baby and a very confused UPS guy.

Aruba got off relatively good. There is some serious flooding at a few places, at least 4 beaches were washed out (and two of them were my favorite too, damn it).

I cannot even begin to tell you how much the government screwed this up. Right now, as I'm listening to a press conference, the guy says that flooding won't kill anyone. Huh?! Oh, and they're totally blaming the press about all the chaos. I better stop listening, because I'm about to go ballistic.

Anyway, forecasts place Ivan in FL. Yeah, whatever.

Eta: link to some pictures when Ivan was looming.

My parents are supposed to get power back today. One of our dogs is still not eating from the stress so I definitely hope they can go home today. They had to go yesterday and throw all the food out. Luckilly, my grandma got power back last night. Now I have to worry about Ivan. Actually, now I have to get rid of this headache. Damn the gin hit my hard last night.

Draadje, Dougintx - wishing you and your families the best with all of these hurricanes that are springing up like there's no tomorrow.



Hee! Years ago when I was into Ikea, I took a bus from Port Authority to the store, bought a whole buncha stuff, and had to lug it back to Brooklyn. That was NOT fun.

Greetings all
I hope everyone is doing well. I'm thinking of all of you down in Florida. I hope Ivan, or whatever the next hurricane's name is, completely misses you all. My grandmother is doing fine, she lives north of Tampa, I hear though that this next hurricane could be heading that way too. All I can say is "Enough Already"!!!

Wood I was a little baby too. I think about 2lbs 11ounces. I was 2 months premature. I ended up having to stay in the hospital about 2 weeks until i was strong enough to go home.

Aussiegirl What's up Mate? I hope all is well with you. How is big little aussie doing at camp? I bet he is having a ball.

Good luck to all the NewYorkers, Floridians, and Arubians, I hope no more terrible weather.
Gotta run and watch the Patriots play (Football, that is) Peace

Also sending love and good vibes to everyone in FL dealing with Ivan and Frances. I think the weather people upstairs owe you big after this is all over.


HEE!!!!

Wow, Woody,Teena 2lbs 11 ozs, that is small! A friend of mine was pregnant the same time as me with Little Big Aussie, she was due 6 weeks after me, but had her baby 5 weeks before me. Her baby weighed only about 900 grams (I'm not sure what the conversion is there). I thought for sure this little baby had no chance, but today he's doing fine. Little Big Aussie weighed in at 9lbs 2 ozs, which nearly killed me, I can tell you. His little brother was 8lbs, 2ozs, not nearly as bad. My god daughter just had a premature baby a couple of months back, and the baby is out of hospital and doing well.

Such awful news to you guys in FLA. I am hoping that there is not too much damage and that Ivan stays right away from you all. Thinking of you and your families.

Little Big Aussie comes back from his camp in just a couple of hours, and I am really looking forward to seeing him. He's had a wonderful time, he tried pretty much everything from abseiling to high ropes. He says it really was like the challenges in Survivor, bless his heart. He's my Survivor buddy, always watches with me. I'm really glad he lasted the entire camp, I wasn't sure he would. But the camp is intended to foster independence in the kids, and I think that is exactly what it did.

Hee! I probably would have easily fit in a box sadley enough, but when I was still fairly young one of my aunts kept me and I sleep in a drawer, she had it out of the rest of the cabinet, but for some reason when I think of it I can just see me sleeping in an open drawer :)
Oh and my mom just came and and showed me this thing where when I was 5 and a half, I weight 37lbs, I was a skinny skinny child.

Hurray for Big Little Aussie! I know what he did took an lot of courage. You must be very proud of him, Aussie Girl - I know that I am. And Hurray for you and the camp teachers for supporting him through this so that he could accomplish such an important goal. What an achievement!

I was a skinny kid too, Woodlock. I didn't weigh 50 pounds until I was over 9 years old. I wore a size 6 until then. It was embarassing. The school nurse couldn't believe it when she weighed me. She made someone come in to observe her do it a second time. Though I was very healthy, I looked like some sort of a starvation victim from some Eastern Eastern European or Scandinavian country with this very skinny body, lots of unruly blonde curls and enormous blue eyes. They could have put me on the cover of Life. Sadly, I don't look anything like that anymore....

I can't believe you shopped at IKEA from the bus, Almond Eyes! You are a crazy New Yorker - I can just see you trying to put an Armoire through the doors while you searched for your Metro card.

Those were some alarming photos, Draadje. Brought me right back to my own hurricane horrors. Really frightening. Best wishes to both you and Doug's family (especially the poor old pooch, bless his little heart.) I'm really hoping that it peters out before Florida. Enough!

TGIF, Gang at MM. Someone we love has a birthday this weekend... One of our very own. To get the party started, let me just wish
A very Happy Birthday Weekend to our dear Last Dodo. Honey, you are one hell of a bird! I wish you all good things for the day and the year to follow.

Last Dodo, what Yogi said! I hope you have a wonderful year.

Happy Birthday, Last Dodo! Now I'm really, really sorry I didn't stop by yesterday.

My friend had a baby 3 years ago last May who was very premature. Her due date was mid August and she was born mid May. She weighed 1 lb 9 oz at birth, which I think is 700 grams. Amazingly, she had no other problems at birth besides being so small. She was in the hospital until just about her actual due date, but she has made up for lost time. She is average for her age in height and weight and is the sweetest, most fun kid. She is so friendly and has no developmental delays besides being a little behind schedule with toilet training, but I think that's okay now as well. I was so shocked when I saw those first photos of her. She was literally the size of a beanie baby - there was one next to her in the incubator. The hospital staff said she was the smallest premie they ever had with no other issues (lungs, eyes, etc).

Medicine has come so far in the past ten years with stuff like this. It gives me such hope for being able to cure diseases that still plague us.

Happy birthday, Dodo! You will be dancing and partying this weekend, I hope.

Preemie babies are so amazing; and many end up suffering from few long-term effects thanks to today's incredible technology. My Beep, on the other hand, was two weeks overdue, then I had 32 hours of labor followed by an emergency C-section. Ugh. It's no wonder we didn't have another for more than 4 years - it took me that long to recover!

Boss lady is gone as of noon today, so I am free, free! Oh, wait, she left a pile of stuff for me to fax, FedEx, pack, read, file and follow-up on. Pah, work sucks. Hugs to ska for having a sucky week at work also.