"Sittin' round the Pot Belly Stove!"

[Skywatch_NC]

Thank you very much, Mary!

This year it'll be just my folks and I celebrating since my sister Retha and her family live up in Roanoke Rapids, NC...they'll be sending me some money in a birthday card though! Folks are getting me a book on Hurricane Katrina that was recommended by another online Wxbuddy at another wx site!

What are your birthday plans, Shannon?

Eric

[Pburgh]

Ok, Happy Birthday to both of you. Eric you know Furry, she's probably going to take a 3 day Disney Cruise while visiting in Florida. I swear that girl loves those big boats!!!!

By the way, that book sounds facinating Eric.

Anyway ((HUGS)) to both of you on your special day.

Furry, I always celebrate mine for a month too!!!!! I love birthdays!!

[furluvcats]

Eric, that sounds lovely. Good family, good times! :O)

I'll be in Daytona with my husband and kids, visiting all of my family there!!! I'm having a big birthday party at a fav. restraunt and 28 friends and family are invited. I invited old school friends, some old friends from church, and 2 families whose children grew up with my children, when they were young and we lived in daytona. Should be quite a mix!! I'm really looking forward to it. We'll be there 11 days, so we have lots planned! St. Augustine...Epcot...etc.... I'm really excited and I think it'll be the BEST birthday ever! Just imagine, I'll have a friend there who was also at my 10th birthday party!!!!! How cool is that? On the last day of our visit, my grandparents are throwing a big party/cook out for us at their house, with all the family invited...what fun! Brett and Chloe will get to see their dad too, and his parents!

[azskyman]

Hey....I'll take some of that cake too! Two great longtime weather friends are worth a couple of thousand cybercalories!!

Happy Birthday to both of you!

And Shannon, just found out my stylist (how can she be a stylist? I hardly have any hair!!) will be at Disney world from this Saturday through next Wednesday! So she can have some cake too!!!

Enjoy the birthdays as always. Family, friends, and good food are all part of it!

Steve

[furluvcats]

Neat Steve! Sounds like kathy (cajunmama) will be there too. "Its a small world...." hee hee

Looking forward to getting away, and seeing everyone. Thanks for the birthday wishes.....36 candles this year....I'm gettin there quick!!! lol

[O Town]

Good evening everyone! It has been a while since I stopped by the PBS. Well Fur sounds like you have awesome B-day festivites going on. Hope you have a blast with all your old friends and family in my home state. And Happy 36th!

And here is an early Birthday greeting going out to Eric too! I think I would like a slice of cake as well.

Have a great evening everyone, and don't forget to say a prayer for our buddy Dennis as he and his family help his father make a peaceful transition.
~Kelly

[Pburgh]

OTown, you are so right. Our friend Dennis built this nice cozy place for us and he needs our prayers right now.

I'm going to get out Granny's afgan and put a few of Dennis' alligator logs on the fire so it's nice and cozy in case he drops by.

Hey, David, I brought some KK's. You might want to share those chocolate covered one with Dennis.

Ok, I need to get back to work. Have a great day everyone.
Karan

[vbhoutex]

Good idea Karan!! I'll keep an eye out for Dennis and make sure he gets everything he needs.

YUM!! That chocolate covered KK was GREAT!!!! I think Crouton must still be out cruising in his costume!! There wasn't even a pig walk by while I was enjoying my KK!!!

Dennis does need our prayers right now. It is indeed a tough time no matter how it happens or what the final outcome is. BTDT and the prayers help immensely. Dennis and Michelle we are keeping a special place just for you and the family.

I gotta get back to work too!!!

[breeze]

David, I think I saw Crouton cruising outside, getting
warm & fuzzy nuzzling "ooh's and ahhh's" by folks coming in
and leaving - LOL, I don't think he even knew about
the chocolate KK's!

I got the new Heat/AC system - house is warm, again.
Car came out of the shop after an antifreeze leak.
Ahhhh....it all truly could have been worse!

Dennis & Michelle and family truly have our prayers, tonight.
Any of us who've lost a parent can look back and
understand the heartache and pain that they are
experiencing, right now.

Haved a Blessed night, wxbuddies!

~Annette~

[arkess7]

Good evening everyone!! Havent visted the PBS in a while!!!!!
Hope everyone is doing well!
I cant wait till they fix this scroll issue...
so i dont have to keep hitting enter!!!

Well took my daughter to Chucky E. Cheese
this evening.....WE had a blast playing all those games!
I think I will have her 6th bday party there this July!!!

I left some KKs by the stove......plain glazed and chocolate ones too!!!

Have a nice evening yall!

[Miss Mary]

Well, after today we become a family of three again.....driving my oldest, college freshman daughter back to campus today. Ah, but it's all good, she's looking forward to getting back to school, seeing her college friends again, writing for the school newspaper (they gave Nina a regular beat now!) so that's when as a parent you say to yourself - I'm glad she's so happy with school. Taking her back is so much easier when you know they're happy there! I'll be sad but not as sad as I was last August. This time, I've announced to my family, we are not going 9 weeks without seeing her. I will drive down for the day, if I have to (after of course checking with her and her schedule). Wouldn't dream of just showing up w/o first calling!

We had snowfall overnight but only an inch or two. Temps hovering in mid 30s today but roads are fine I've heard. We're having an unusally warm January so the snow is melting, since ground temps are warm. Normally I'd be doing this drive in more icing conditions so I am grateful I'm not.

Have a nice Wednesday everyone!

Mary

[Pburgh]

Mary, have a safe drive. Glad to hear that it's getting better every time. We've been having some really warm temps here in the Burgh too. But today the rain has turned to snow and the temps have dropped from 45° this morning to 29° right now.

Thanks for the kk's arkess. I could use some instant energy this morning.

Well, I'll stoke the fire and put on a pot of Earl Grey. Hope everyone has a great day.
Karan

[therock1811]

Had about 3" of snow here this morning. Now THIS is January in Cincinnati! Ah, but it won't last...supposed to go back up to the 50's tomorrow.

[coriolis]

Yeah, isn't this weather crazy? My budget likes it though. I think that I can put off filling the oil tank for another month.

We had lots of rain, and then it started to freeze. I fell on my @$$ taking the garbage out last night. Actually, I fell on my hip. Nothing broken though. Then, I walked, er, skated to the store to get smokes for my wife and I hit an icy patch, and one leg went one way and the other leg went the other way. I nearly did a split right out in public, but recovered and pulled a muscle in my leg in the process. I'm still sore in both places.

[Miss Mary]

Ed - you'd better crawl from now on! Or walk very carefully.....I've sprained my ankles so many times, I walk so carefully now, looking down and never up. Or conversing with someone who's walking beside me. My last sprain was 2004 and I'd like to keep it that way. So I feel for ya....cause your spills are things I tend to do! Hope you feel better and glad they weren't serious.....

I am just wiped out from that 450 mile round trip to Bowling Green, KY and back. I was sipping a large coffee from McDonald's for the ride back, traveling with semi's. You have to really stay alert traveling with so many trucks! I had the A/C blasting too so when I pulled in (temps in low 30s), I was so cold, but hyped up on caffeine. I guess I'd make a poor long distance truck driver!!!

Thought I'd do okay dropping my daughter Nina off this time. It is second semester and we'll see her in a few weeks, short weekend break. I could barely get to the car and the tears started. Drove for an hour, all teary eyed and then the cell rang. Nina. She was crying too. I think because it was a holiday break, we just didn't have the down time we thought we'd have. Dang Christmas! So I made a mental note not to overbook our schedule next December. And I will hold myself to that! She said it's good to be back and get into that class routine but was still homesick for the dog, her bed and well, just us. We were third on that list....he he But I'll take #3! At least she does miss us......

Mary

[StormCrazyIowan]

Hi all!!

I really need to get in here more often! It's so hard anymore!! Being a mom takes more time then I could have ever imagined!! Can you all believe I am the proud momma of a now 7 month old?? Turned 7 months today actually! That little man is my life! He now has 4 teeth, some red hair (just like mine) coming in, and just today said his first true word: MOM My husband and I were both sitting there, we looked at eachother, laughed and then we were like "Did he really just say that?", and on cue he said it again!! Managed to pop it out one more time to, in front of my mom... how cute it was!

In other news, my husband was laid off his job, which really strained us for a bit, but got hired this week to work for a little company you might have heard of... Oscar Meyer.. So hopefully we dont have to panic anymore!! And the better news? We're moving into a bigger place in 10 days!! And I can't WAIT!!

That's about all.... I miss my friends here!! I wish you all the best in the coming days! Hope to talk to you all again soon!

[Skywatch_NC]

WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU, JACKI!!!! ((((HUGS))))

What is your son's name? Next he'll learn to master the word DAD!

Has he learned to say NO yet? I know my cousin Cherie and her husband Gary in Sarasota, FL are now going through a child-challenging parents stage with their cute as a button 2 yr-old Madeline.

Congratulations to Justin at his new job with Oscar Meyer!

The VERY best on your next move!

Hope that everywxone has a great night and a Fantastic Friday!

Eric

[Pburgh]

Jacki, it's great to hear from you. I can't believe that little guy is 7 months old already. I bet you never thought you could love anyone or anything that much, right?? Children - God's greatest gift to us.

Glad your hubby is back to work and I hope your move goes well.

I brought some KK's for all. (Remember to leave the chocolate covered ones for David.)

Ed, I'm sending up some warm weather and ace bandages.

Miss Mary, I think you need a stiff cup of Earl Grey. You'll get to be an expert at driving and crying. ((HUGS)) for you. It does get easier. I promise.

Ok, I have a novel idea!!!! I think I'll get some work done today. lol
Have a great day everyone.
Karan

[vbhoutex]

Jacki!!!!!! This is too strange. I was thinking about you yesterday and wondering what was going on with you and then you post!!! glad to know that basically things are on an even keel for you and Justin and the baby!!!! Please don't be so scarce!!!

Karan, that sounds like just the prescription for Ed along with some soft pillows!!!

Mary, Karan is right, it does get easier.

Thanks for the KK's Karan!! Not very good for weight loss, but ALWAYS appreciated!!!!

Update on the MIL. She is in a regular room now and improving, but we still aren't sure how soon she will be able to go home. Lots more to this story, but way too little time to discuss it. Just keep us in your prayers please as she heals.

Yeh!! What you said Karan.

[Miss Mary]

David - hang in there with your MIL. You sound like such a devoted SIL, it speaks volumes of your character. Of which, we know a little something about anyways......as I posted on your prayer request thread for her, having any surgery in the GI area is painful, it takes time for this area also to calm down. Lots of nerve endings, that don't like to be messed with. Did you know when they operate, they open you up and remove it all, yes, a doctor told me this, they just take all your organs out that they can, laying them on your stomach and work on the area that needs attending. Then they put you back together but they can't quite do it the way Mother Nature did. I swelled up like I was 7 months pregnant, my kids could not stop staring at my stomach. I walked around saying I wish I was just preggers.....that would have beat the severe, intense, all internal pain I had just walking, sitting in a chair, trying to turn over in bed, take a shower (bending down for the soap I dropped, yikes any movement brought severe shooting pains). In time it does pass, my pain left after 4 weeks. It was there every single day. I would pray as I went to sleep, please God let it be gone by morning. I'd wake up, swing my feet over the side of the bed, gingerly get up and there it was as if to say - I'm back. I was known to utter a few choice words back then. I could dull the pain with Tylenol, that was it but it was always there. I couldn't remain on strong pain killers (Percoset or Vicodin), b/c in time you can become addicted to them. I just had to muddle thru and I did. It was just not easy. So if your MIL's road to recovery seems to be taking a long time, trust me, this is normal, from what I was told. I also remember looking at my swollen stomach and wondering - did they put my spleen back where it should go? Silly thoughts go thru your mind. I lost so much weight in time, that I got down to a size 4, my stomach did flatten out, so everything did go back where it should have. That was comforting to know!

Well, I probably cleared the room with that little speech but your post brought it out of me. Took me back to almost 7 years ago! Hang in there. I'm praying still. Always.

Karan - thanks for your kind note, I will get the hang of driving and crying. LOL By the time she's a Senior huh? he he Well, by then she'll have her own car and I won't be doing the to and from drive. More tears alert!!!! Naw, I'll still visit, once a semester maybe.....

Jackie - nice to hear from you. So sorry to hear of your husband's job situation. I'll pray her finds a new job, very soon.

Mary