GEEZ I'M REALLY INTO QUICKIES LATELY

Another late night before I could get to the computer, but I just wanted to pop in before I head off to bed to say hello to my blog buddies. The ceiling is half done downstairs, and the second half is going to be a bitch, lots of measuring and cutting, as there's a ton of different angles. Poor hubby is working like a dog to try to get it done, bless his heart!

Busy day at work, going to be busy for me the next two as well, methinks. That's good though, as the days go by faster! Holy crap am I hot flashing a ton tonight or what?? You'd think it was summer out there, and it's not, it's only spring like weather, lol. If I'm this bad now, I can't wait for summer, OY. Goshdarn but it will be nice when this menopause crap is finally over with ~ I've been going through it now for almost 10 years! (well, not ALL of the symptoms, but in one way or another) Again, not complaining, there could be much worse happening, believe me. Just uncomfortable at the moment feeling so **@@##** hot!

Well before this turns into another "body parts" blog entry, I had better just call it a night and get my arse, and the rest of me too, to bed. Have a great Tuesday everyone, and if you are so inclined, please say a prayer for our friend Lors, who is going through some scary stuff of her own right now, health-wise. We're sending angels your way Lors!
Take care of yourselves everyone, and PEACE be yours ~~~~

Love Jude

JUST A QUICKIE

It's late and I'm off to bed soon, gotta try to get some rest for the Monday at the salt mines, dontcha know! Hubby is still banging away downstairs trying to get a ceiling in, and he's about to come upstairs for the night. Needless to say, there hasn't been much computer time and the house is still in an uproar.......but I'm certainly not complaining, it'll all get back to normal again. What's life without a little "waker-uper" now and then, right? I haven't been asked to hoist any buildings or anything over my head for the last 24 hours, so that's a good thing. I'm still married and haven't broken any body parts, lol. The one nice thing about it all is I've gotten to spend a whole lot more time with my sis Pammie, as she's upstairs with me mostly while the work is being done down there. (*can you tell I wuvs all my sisters a lot??*) It's a HUGE displacement for her, but I always enjoy her company and I love her little "girls" (doggies) so much, they are the lights of my life!

Hope you all have a good Monday, and I'll catch up with you again as soon as I can. Take care of each other ~~ PEACE!

Love Jude

WE'RE ALL STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN' TOO!!

My very funny and loveable cousin Brian just sent me this, and I loved it, it's so true! Most of you will relate to this, so enjoy!


To The Kids Who Were Born in the 30's, 40's, 50', 60's and 70's


First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and didn't get tested for diabetes.
After that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat. Even being pulled behind a car on a sled....
We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and no one actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no internet or internet chat rooms, sometimes, no t.v............WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms and dirt and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live in us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little league had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
- This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
- The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
- We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all!
- And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS! Please pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives for our own good.
- Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!


So many times I've thought how different things were then, and how we never had all the electronics so we did indeed PLAY OUTSIDE with our friends lots!! Have a great day everyone,

Love Jude

OH JUDE, HANG ONTO THIS CEILING, WILL YA?

Do I LOOK like a manual labourer?? Methinks not! 5'2" of out-of-shape, older, chubby, extremely achey and sore, tendonitis ridden, menopausal female. Hubby has bought some hardboard or some such called material, already finished in white. It comes in huge sheets like plywood, only it's thinner (it just LOVES to buckle on you) and yet it's still like trying to hold up a tractor trailer above your head for more than 3 seconds. So tonight when he asked me to help by holding one end up for him while he got it up to the ceiling, I all but ruined any semblance I had left of "not sore" muslces and joints. I'm grunting and groaning and hurting all over......and then the damn thing wouldn't fit anyway! So down it came, much measuring and cutting yet to be done. He might as well have asked me to lift 1,000 pounds, it sure felt like it. "Honey, hand me that piano, would ya? And then grab that old washer/dryer unit and pop it upstairs allrighty?" Yup sure okee dokee, I'll get right on that. Or not. Hoo boy I can see this is gonna be more fun than I bargained for folks! Well it's late now and he's called it quits for today anyway. So tomorrow we'll be working on all of that. I already feel a broken back coming on........ yoiks. Poor sister Pammie......she hasn't had a living room or kitchen for awhile now. (all her kitchen stuff is PILED into her living room, she has a sort of walkway in there and can barely get into her computer chair to at least get online once in awhile.) Hey Pammie, do ya still love me?????

This Sunday's baby shower I was supposed to go to just got postponed to next Sunday......but I won't be able to go now as next Saturday is our sister Brenda's birthday party. And I can only do one or the other.... what with all the shit I always have to get done on weekends. So regrettably, I am going to miss my good friend's baby shower!! WAH! So that kinda bummed me out today. I know she'll understand, but still, I wanted to be there, ya know?

A couple of years ago, we desperately needed a new fridge (our old one was SO OLD, it was brown!! Anyway, hubby went out and bought us one of those side-by-sides, a nice white one. It should have fit in the same space as the old one, but it didn't. So, we got rid of our kitchen table and chairs and put the new fridge across the kitchen there instead. Since then, we've had this somewhat ugly space that looks like a fridge obviously belongs in, where I just put our two trash containers (one for re-cycle, we're really good at that here in Edmonton) and such stuff. Well today I took a little shelf thingy that WAS in the laundry room before, and tried it in that space. It fit perfectly! So........ I had some fun with it. I put all of our different trash bags (green for garbage, blue for recycle, and white for small trash under the sink) under the shelving unit, and the trash containers in front of it. On top, I place some pretty little things: a small basket of sunflowers (my fav!!), a big picture that my friend Mae gave me that says "Like flowers on a windowsill, the human spirit leans toward the sunshine of freedom, for that is where we bloom the best.", a beautiful little plaque that my friend Michele gave me with sunflowers and scenery on it, all done in tile; AND my water fountain, that Mae also gave me, and it's gurgling and bubbling away so serenely there. And to top it off, I placed a little lamp there too. So now I have this little "cubby" in my kitchen that is pretty, inviting, and zen-like! I keep going into the kitchen to look at it, LOL. Doesn't take much to keep this ol' hippie chick entertained!!

Well folks it's about time I thought about getting to bed. Hubby is already in there, no doubt already snoring and snorting away. So I'll wish you all a goodnight, and a great weekend! I only hope in the night I don't hear him say "Honey, pass me that bureau, wouldya?" Cuz it just might land on his head. Oopies, honey!!

PEACE BE YOURS!
Love Jude

MY OWN SET OF TERROR TWINS

No not those ~ who put those there!!!

Yup, you guessed it folks! Another mention of the new appliances! Yesterday I caught up on all my laundry, and the two "newbies" did just fine, thank you very much. I had to laugh, there are so many dials, buttons, bells and whistles on these two giants...... and when the washer is doing it's final spin and begins to "wind down", it sounds exactly like a military jet's "whine"......and I, being born into the Airforce life ('THERE'S NO LIFE LIKE IT"... lol, old commercial) almost looked skyward when I heard that!! Don't get me wrong, the newbies are actually quiet, but I was standing right there the first time I heard it, and it made me long for the life with constant jets overhead. Anyhoo, the laundry is finally done, and I'm happy with the new purchase. END OF SAGA!!

I've a busy weekend ahead of me, not the usual. There's a baby shower I have to go to on Sunday, so that means having to get everything done on Saturday that I usually do on Sunday. No rest for the wicked!! And then on Monday, I have to be at work later (after hours) as it is month end. No biggie, it just makes for a bit of a longer day, especially on a Monday! ICK! Today I don't have a lot to get done, actually I've planned for a rather "lazy" day, which we all need sometimes. Other than some puttering around the house and having a nap sometime, the only thing I have to get done is bake something for Sunday's baby shower. Seeing as I have all the ingredients for Lemon Squares, I think I'll make them again. Besides, I love them so much I can steal a few to eat myself, LOL.

My hubby is driving me crazy. Let me set the scene. I am sitting here in my den, where the computer, TV, stereo (with complete set of Def Leppard) and MY glider rocker sits. This TV is my TV, and hubby has his own TV in our bedroom. Why? Because we appear to be one of those couples who are completely incompatible when it comes to watching anything on the boob tube. To clarify ~~ I like to watch SOMETHING on the telly, while he likes to watch EVERYTHING. I pick up the remote, set it to the channel I want, and sit the remote down again. He, on the other hand, picks up the remote and crazy-glues it to his hand, and watches every channel all at once. "Flip, flip, flip, flip...."
Which is fine for him, but I hate it, can't get anything in particular actually WATCHED that way, plus it makes me friggin' dizzy!! So here I sit, typing at you, and he sits in MY glider rocker behind me, flipping through channels on MY television. All I can hear is a mish-mash of sounds running into each other and ever changing...... one voice to the next, incomplete sentences..... now there's some cartoon, then there's a movie, next is a workout show....... AAARRGGHHH! I love him but I simply cannot watch TV with the man. *sigh* There could be worse things, I know. But his own friggin' TV is in the next room, ya know? LOL Methinks the older I get, the more peace I need around me. Except when I stick the headphones on and blast Leppy tunes into my being, that is. Now THAT'S when I rock!!

Well peeps that's my rather ho-hum post for this time, I'm afraid. I think I need another shot of morning coffee and then I'm off to do some baking. I hope you all have a really great day ~ be good to each other! ~~~PEACE~~~
Love Jude

EXCUSE ME, BUT YOUR HOUSE IS ABOUT TO BURN DOWN

I figured my newbie washer/dryer saga may be boring you all to the point of screaming (yes Kurt, you do that a lot anyway, lol) so instead I thought I'd share a story with you now and then. Like now.

Some of you already know that I have "connections" in the spirit world, so to speak. As one psychic calls it, she speaks with "D.P."s, or "dead people". All my life I guess I just somehow knew somewhere deep inside me that there is life after death, I just didn't really understand it or even really give it much thought. Some of you may not have the same beliefs, and that's totally okay. This is just my beliefs and faith. Anyway, although I always "knew" this, nothing ever happened or anything. Until I was 43 years old, and my beloved late husband, same age, had a sudden massive heart attack one morning at home, and passed away in my arms on the floor in our den. I loved this man with all my heart and soul. So needless to say, this was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life, or ever will. Anyway, naturally I was in a tremendous state of shock and overwraught with grief. This happened very early in the morning, 6:24 a.m. to be exact. May 16, 1995. Well after spending the next 16 hours in tears, I was completely exhausted, and went to bed at 10:30 p.m., my eyes almost swollen shut from crying. I remember standing next to our big kingsize bed, looking at it and feeling overwhelmed at how empty and BIG it looked. I crawled under the covers and said out loud to myself, "how in the world am I going to be able to sleep ever again?" My eyes were shut, I couldn't have opened them very much if I'd wanted to , they were so swollen. At the very moment that I said that out loud, there he was. My hubby's face, so full of love...... so close to me that it startled the crap out of me; it was as if he was there, and his face was only inches from mine. It didn't scare me...... it was HIM afterall, and he was the exact person I needed for comfort! But out loud I said something to the effect that "if that's you, that's wonderful, but you startled me!" And at THAT exact moment, he backed up so he appeared to be maybe a couple of feet away. It's hard to explain, I was seeing him, but not with my 2 eyes. And he was DEFINITELY there. He had come to stay with me for the night, so that I could sleep. And it worked, because I fell into a deep sleep immediately, knowing he was there.

After that, he was there constantly. Now I was also "hearing " him. Carrying on conversations with him, silently. It was difficult though, as it was so imperfect, but still I could sense what he was saying. To make a long story shorter, 6 weeks later I went for my very first ever private reading by a very gifted psychic, who became my reader for the next several years ~ I'd go every once in awhile. My hubby was there for every one of the readings, and I know he was, not only because I could "feel" him there, but you wouldn't believe the things my reader was telling me (that were coming from my hubby) that ONLY my hubby and I knew about. Private things. It was beautiful, and it sure made my healing a lot easier.

I knew that I had the wherewithall to communicate with the other side, obviously......because hubby was making that perfectly clear to me. So I got some "training" and worked at it, or "developed" it. It has changed my life. My spiritual journey has been beautiful, constant, and life changing. I can't imagine my life without the love, healing and support from loved ones on the other side.

So what about my burning house you ask? Never thought I'd get to that part did you, LOL. Well I thought I should give you an insight as to how this all took place first. So, now that I've done that, on to the story......Shortly after my hubby passed away, I was sleeping soundly very early one weekend morning. The house was silent, and my sister was asleep in her bed downstairs. I was suddenly awakened, I wasn't too clear on HOW I was awakened, or jolted out of a deep sleep...... but I sat upright in my bed and was "aware" that I was just supposed to listen. Half asleep, I was confused, but I just knew that I was supposed to be listening for something. And in the complete silence of the house, I suddenly heard a snapping, buzzing noise. I got out of bed and wandered around the house, and could hear that sound even clearer as I approached the kitchen. Directly underneath my kitchen is the laundry area downstairs. So I went down, and as I got to the laundry area I could smell electrical smoke......and looked behind the washer/dryer unit and there was the plug-in, smoking, sparking, and only seconds from flames...... I somehow reached behind it and unplugged it. The whole outlet was black and sooty, and I started shaking just thinking about what almost happened. Our house could have burned down, but somebody on the other side was watching out for me and woke me up, obviously telling me to listen for a sound that I needed to investigate. That was only the first time, there were other incidents too....another being another almost fire in another electrical outlet in the house. (sheesh, we've had our issues with electrical wiring in this place!! But it's all okay now.) Anyway, this one was much the same, they persisted until they got my attention, and when I checked the outlet in question this time, it was black and HOT.

There have been so very many loving and helpful connections with spirits in this house since all of this happened. It's a house full of it, and I am never lonely that's for sure! We who live here are so used to it and wouldn't have it any other way. (even my new hubby) It's so wonderful to be able to keep the love and relationships alive, even when our loved ones are someplace else, and to know that they're looking out for us and waiting patiently for our reunion someday. My life has changed so much. And for the better. Thanks for listening ~~ I am glad to have shared such an important part of me with you. Take good care of yourselves, and until next time, God bless!

Love Jude

MY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY!!

Just a short one this morning...... I'm getting ready for work, and today, thankfully, is my last workday of the week. I need to catch up on some rest and sleep so badly, so I'm looking forward to that! This week I am not ill, nor will we have a house full of plumbers, electricians, or Sears servicemen, lol. I just have to hope that the guy that is going to help hubby put in a new ceiling downstairs won't be here banging away for the next couple of days.

So!!! The new dryer saga continues....... it got fixed yesterday, and now I can use my "newbies" this week, finally. I'll probably throw a load or two in tomorrow or the next day, and I'll give my old set a nice hug first. I'm such a sucker. Do any of you have this front loading washer, the one that uses less water? The book that comes with it says you should use "High Efficiency", or "H.E." detergent, less suds. A friend of mine says she just uses her regular detergent, but much less of it. I need some feedback, if you don't mind, as I don't relish spending more on a detergent if it's not necessary. I have better things to spend my hard-earned money on...... like cigarettes, LOL. (hey, I don't drink and I don't do drugs, this is my only vice ~~ although I wish I'd never started ~ what an idiot. I was going to say "and I don't swear"..... but THAT would be a @@##** lie!!)

I have a busy weekend ahead of me, on Sunday I have a baby shower to go to, which means that Saturday I'll have to get everything done I usually do on Sundays. (Saturday is usually a day of R&R and a nap for me) So Saturday I'll be out doing the grocery/bank run ~ and the days before that I'll be catching up on laundry and trying to clean my house a bit, as much as I can anyway what with it still being a mess. Poor sister Pam's stuff is still all over the place until her ceiling is in and we can put everything back into her kitchen. Oh well it's not a big deal, there could be MUCH worse things happening. I just like to hear myself bitch and whine once in awhile, LOL

Well peeps have yourselves a great day and take care of each other! Until next time, PEACE BE YOURS........

Love Jude

ANOTHER MONDAY UNDER MY BELT

What is it about Mondays that suck so much? I think for a lot of us, it's coming off a weekend, and having to get back at it. Also, Mondays just seem to be busier on the job, I know at work the phones are busier, and more customers are coming in the doors. I guess a lot of them just figure they'll "get stuff done" cuz it's the beginning of a new week..... I dunno! And for me, today was the first day back after being off sick last week. With everything that is happening here at home and being away, it actually took some concentrated effort on my part to get my head space on the job instead of at home. It wasn't a bad day though, just busy and tiring. PLUS it's a full moon tomorrow. So when that's impending, I don't know about you guys, but we get the "crazies" coming in and phoning in. Whenever we notice bitchy customers, we all look at each other and say "CHECK YOUR CALENDARS PEOPLE! IS IT A FULL MOON??" And sure enough......... LOL

Okay so tomorrow Sears is sending a guy out to look (?) at our dryer, or fix it or something. I hope this doesn't take long......I haven't done laundry since the week before last and I NEED TO DO SOME! The worst part of it is, my old washer/dryer combo is still sitting down there, out of the way, all by it's lonesome in a corner. It's so sad too, cuz it can't be hooked up again now. You might think I'm completely nuts, but I feel sad! It's sitting there, all forelorn, thinking "I never gave you any problems, and you're getting rid of me? And this newbie doesn't even work??" That thing has washed and dried a lot of loads for me through thick and thin, good times and bad. And some of those bad times were about as bad as you can get too. Okay so I AM nuts. But stuff like that makes me get "attached" to things, ya know? This saga will never end, it seems. (probably for you especially, lol) Too bad! You come here, you gotta read what I type, capeesh?? ( Don't be giving me no flak either, my cuzzin Luigi will build you a real nice pair of cement shoes! ) LOL

I am LOVING this weather! It's 9:30 p.m. in January, and it's 41F here!!! It's spring out there! After what we had a few weeks ago, I can handle this, lemme tell ya. So yeah, even waaaaay up here, we get this nice stuff too. That's what I like about living up here, we get all the seasons and everything that comes with them, and we don't have to put up with hurricanes and earthquakes ~ just tornados, LOL. We get them, although not as often as some places. But they still kill when we do. AND, we don't have those icky gargantuous Florida bugs! EEWW!
Present Florida company please excuse me, I only mean that places with tropical weather get the bigger bugs...... and I hate bugs!! I hate them in Hawaii too..... anyway I'm digging myself in deeper so I'll just leave this topic and try to hang onto some friends, LOL......

Well peeps that's about it for this chicky tonight...... I'll wish you all a good day tomorrow, and we'll chat again soon ~ take care of each other!
PEACE!

Love Jude

OY VEY

As if just getting over being really sick wasn't enough.... bleah!!! Well at least some of the mess downstairs is cleaned up.... that being the chunks of ceiling that had to come down. But the dust from it is still everywhere. And now we still have to put in a new ceiling, so we can't really load everything back into her kitchen yet. Not sure when that'll be done, probably in the next week or two??? And today I'm back to work, no lazing around the house (albeit feeling sick while I was doing that, LOL) so no more rest for the wicked! We christened our new washer/dry last night, actually it was my sister Pammie who used it for the first time......the washer did well, and finally hubby and I had to get to bed. I got up this morning to find an email from Pammie, saying that the dryer doesn't work ~~ the light keeps coming on inside and making it stop drying. SO........ guess they'll be replacing the dryer! Fun and games huh?? LOL

It was a gloriously warm winter day yesterday when Pammie and I were out getting our grocery lists filled . It felt just like spring!! The only drawback to that is all the windshield washer fluid you have to go through...... for those of you who live in snowy climates you'll know what I mean! The roads are SLUSH and messy, and there's no sense washing your vehicle until it dries up ~ or snows and gets colder, whichever comes first! But we both found it lovely to be out in the fresh air and enjoying the mild temperatures. Especially me, having been totally housebound all last week. It was really nice.

Well peeps nothing exciting to chat about, and actually I should get my butt off here and start getting ready for work. I just wanted to catch up on everyone's blogs and post a "good morning" to you all ~~ hope you all have a great Monday, and I'll talk to you later! PEACE!

Love Jude

RENO DUST SUCKS!!!

Just a short one, I need to get to bed as I have to get up early to go for my blood tests.
Well the electrician was here today to give us the bad news, there's some work he needs to do. To make a long story shorter, today hubby had to rip out the entire ceiling downstairs in sister Pam's kitchen, so that the electrician can come in tomorrow and do some wiring and whatever electrician's do, from the laundry area through to the breaker box which happens to be at the far end of Pam's kitchen. Her ceiling was stucco, if you can believe that, UGH. Don't look at me, it was like that when we moved in, LOL. Anyway, can you say RENOVATION DUST??? It is throughout the house, even though hubby was so careful to use poly to keep that room totally enclosed. But that shit gets through anything I swear. Pam has asthma, and even though I don't, we both now have burning noses, lungs, and Pam's having a noticeable problem with the breathing. I HATE RENOVATION DUST!!!!! Not to mention that she has NO kitchen, and all her stuff is up here in my house. And we still obviously don't have a laundry area............ sigh.

Well peeps that's it, I have to get to bed. I'll catch up with you all tomorrow sometime hopefully. Have a great Sunday! PEACE

Love Jude

FOR MY GIRLFRIENDS

Some of you may have seen this or something similar before. My precious friend Mae had this printed out and framed and gave it to me for Christmas this year, and I really wanted to share it with all of you. I know that Mae won't mind at all.......

The Wonderful Women In My Circle

One friend's best is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend's best is needed when you're going through things with your children or parents. Another, when you want to dance, share, heal, joke or just be........
One friend will say let's pray together, another let's cry together, another let's walk away together........ One friend will meet your spiritual needs, your recipe needs, another your love for movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings. But whatever assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, whatever the day or whenever you need them..... Those are your best friends.
It may be wrapped up in one woman, but for many it's wrapped up in several..... one from 7th. grade, one from high school, a couple from old or present jobs, several from church, some days your sister and on some days it's just the one who would listen without judging.

Men are wonderful, husbands are excellent, male friends are priceless.... but if you've ever had a real good girlfriend, then you know there's nothing like her.
I thank God for girlfriends, those who honour intimacy, those who hold trust, and those who share their back with you when you feel like life is just too heavy.
I thank God for you.
The words we've shared, the prayers we've sent up, the laughs, tears, phone calls, emails, lunches, hugs, caring, the listening, honesty and truth.
Thank you for your friendship.

Thanks Mae.... and thank you, all my other girlfriends, including my blood sisters, who are my closest friends of all. I am so rich!!

PEACE!
Love Jude

YAWN!!

Howdy peeps, not much happening here I'm afraid ~~ my third day in a row of battling migraine headaches, from the soreness in my neck and shoulders from all the freakin' hacking and coughing. Sigh. I'll get better, it's just a pain, ya know?

SO....... problems with getting the new washer and dryer. Firstly, hubby got the new ones hauled downstairs, but now he can't get the old unit out. He tried but it's just too heavy and awkward. He's gonna need to get some male muscle help, as I'm of no use at all when it comes to heavy stuff. (me and my tendonitis) So there's not any room to move down there at the moment. Secondly, turns out that with the different type we bought, it doesn't use a 220 plug like we have (the old one ran off it), it uses 110, and looks like NOW he's going to have to get an electrician out here as well as the gas hook-up guy...... do we LOOK like we have the money for an electrician too??? NO. SO....... both myself AND sister Pam have a week's worth of laundry to be done, and when will we have ours hooked up to use??? WHO THE HELL KNOWS?? Laundry mat, here we come ~~ ugh. Not an exciting thought, when both her and I are so sick and don't really want to have to go out for that. I'll let ya know how things move along with the appliance saga, but it's not looking good at the moment. I just keep shaking my head.......

Remember just recently my talking about how we were in the deepfreeze with our temperatures? I mean, it was BRUTAL. Well, on top of all the snow we have, yesterday it RAINED all day and night. Real perfect conditions if you like ice-skating everywhere, LOL. And then today, still warmer, but it's snowing like CRAZY.......... geezlouise but what next? Anyway it's mighty treacherous out there right now! But at least it warmed up! I just hauled some bags out back to the garbage, and it's getting pretty deep. I love the snow, I just hope it doesn't get TOO bad, if ya know what I mean!

It feels so weird to be home for so long (I had to call in sick for the week) and NOT be on holidays...... I admit I would love to be home and not have to work for a living, although I would want to have things to do to keep me busy. I miss some of the people I work with when I don't see them, but hey, if I didn't have to work, I could always stop in and see them now and then, right? LOL I guess I just feel so "shut in" cuz it wasn't just a little "week off" at home, I've been feeling pretty shitty the whole time. CABIN FEVER! I guess I'll feel better about life again when I can stop worrying about plumber and electrician expenses (unkown at this point ~ scarey!!) and when I have my laundry facilities back!! In the meantime, I'm going to have to go enroll myself in some Rocket Science classes just to learn how to operate the new appliances once they're hooked up ~ there's so many bells, whistles, buttons and options, it's exciting but it makes my head spin. Mind you , it doesn't take much, LOL.

Well guys, I guess that's about it, and I'm off to bed to try and get some shut-eye. I hope you all have a good Friday ~~ until next time, PEACE!

Love,
Jude

WHAT KIND OF SOUL I AM

You Are a Prophet Soul

You are a gentle soul, with good intentions toward everyone.Selfless and kind, you have great faith in people.Sometimes this faith can lead to disappoinment in the long run.No matter what, you deal with everything in a calm and balanced way. You are a good interpreter, very sensitive, intuitive, caring, and gentle.Concerned about the world, you are good at predicting people's feelings.A seeker of wisdom, you are a life long learner looking for purpose and meaning.You are a great thinker and communicator, but not necessarily a doer. Souls you are most compatible with: Bright Star Soul and Dreaming Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

There's a few interesting quizzes around, and I thought I'd try this one! Have fun!

Love Jude

LAZY DAY

Not much happening today, still feeling about the same. Got myself a migraine last night just from the REALLY sore, stiff muscles in my neck and shoulders, from all the coughing and hacking.

Hubby bought us a new washer and dryer......and I think he might be picking them up today. I have one of those one-piece stacked units, I bought it brand new when we moved in here 12 yrs. ago, and I really like it. Never had any trouble with it either. However, hubby wants us to have the front loading washer that doesn't use as much water, and is gentler on your clothes than the agitator type. And he wants to have the dryer hooked up to gas......right now ours is electric. So...... not sure when, but all hell may be breaking loose in my house today if he shows up with them (he never has stuff delivered, he would rather save the money and pick up stuff himself) as I'll be moving little things and holding doors etc. So for now I'm sitting and just vegetating and trying NOT to get another migraine.....man, I'm so sore.

Well peeps I just heard him come in so I'm gonna run....... hope you're all having a good Hump Day! (No not THAT hump!! LOL)
PEACE Y'ALL!

Love Jude

REMIND YOU OF ANYONE??

So............ I just finished reading a book, an historical romance, it was actually quite a good story. But the reason I'm sharing this with you at all is because the picture of the story's hero looked out at me every time I opened the book to read, and (sorry gentlemen!) I would go into major "lust mode". Ladies of the Leppy fan world, who does this remind you of????
Hunky stuff or WHAT?? LOL I would look at this picture every time and I'd think about all the great fan fiction stories that my buddies Janna and Danni write, and I'd figure that this picture could certainly accompany any of their stories if they ever got published!! I mean, LOOK AT THESE EYES! 'Scuze me I think I'm overheating here, gasp, gasp! (**anybody seen my fan?**) Can you say, HUMMIN-A!!! Anyway I just had to share this with my Leppy fan gals and see if all of you see who I see in this picture. I saw it the MOMENT I first looked at it.......and almost ruined the picture entirely by drooling all over it, LOL.

Still home sick from work ~~ I phoned my boss early this morning again and decided on her agreement to just take this week off and get better before I go back to work next week. So for me, that constitutes taking off 3 days, Mon., Tues., and Wed. Anyway that's enough about that, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired, AND of talking about it. I'd like to thank all of you for your well-wishes though, my sisters included ~~ what a great bunch of online friends I've made! You're the best!

I've got the TV on this afternoon, and I've got it on HGTV (Home and Garden Channel) ~ you know, the channel with all of those great home decorating/designing/renovating shows..... I love this channel! I see so many wonderful things on these shows all the time, and now for the longest time I've had all these great ideas in my head of what I'd like to change in my house. Of course, that's the downfall, cuz I watch these shows and then I look around me and go "BLECH!!" lol I have a fairly nice place, but it's been decorated/furnished the same since I've been here. All of my stuff is SOOOO 1980's, and drives me crazy! What I WANT is hardwood (or wood laminate) floors, with absolutely no carpeting anywhere in my house. What I've got is carpeting, everywhere. And get this ~ it's light rose pink. EEWW! Great in it's day, but not for my house anymore thankewverymuch! And all of my furniture in the living room/dining room is blue and pink. Ech! With tons of brass. I have this really lovely brass and glass tea cart that my late hubby got for me years ago. I love it, but I wish I could change it from brass. In my bedroom, I've still got the old cream coloured satin bedding and window treatments. With rose pink blinds and toss cushions. Double Ech!! And the bedroom has oak furniture with brass hardware.......and more brass ~ brass cheval mirror, brass and glass vanity table and stool. What I'd love to do is take all of this brass furniture, including of course the tea cart, and refinish it in black, to resemble black wrought iron. Here's what I invision: whole house done in hardwood or wood laminate, with cork flooring in the bathroom and kitchen. (cork flooring is beautiful!) Living room/dining room, 2 red love seats (yes, RED!) and two small black arm chairs. Furniture, dark ebony wood. Splashes of gold/yellow and olive green.
Bedroom: black wrought iron, bedding in black and taupes/tans..... window treatments those rattan blinds in brown, 2 side panel drapes in black, and a window scarf in a leppy print. Toss cushions on bed, at least one leppy print, black and tan.
Kitchen: I've thought about this long and hard. I love the old 50's look with the chrome table/chairs, in RED. And a yellow, red and white theme happening. With rooster and sunflower accessories. However, I also love the new look with sleek honey coloured wood cupboards, dark counters, punches of black and stainless steel.
What to do?? What to do?? LOL Of course, this is all only possible when I win the gazillions in the lottery. Anyway here I sit in my 80's themed home, "Designs By Yuk", knowing what I WANT this place to look like and living with what I have instead. Not feeling sorry for myself or anything, just looking around in my head and saying "mmm nice" and looking around my house and saying "eeewww". LOL So that's what I'd like to do in here if I ever can. I'm open to donations, LOL.

So I'm sitting around today just resting and trying to get better, and not doing much of anything. I hope you are all having a decent Tuesday and are staying warm. It's much better here now, more like our average temperatures for this time of year. Right now it's -8C, or 18F. It's winter yeah, but it's bearable! I'll leave you all on that "warm" note, and say "God bless" and talk to you all again soon. PEACE!

Love,
Jude

A BLAH KINDA DAY

Well I stayed home from work today...... don't do that hardly EVER. But just couldn't get to sleep for coughing, not until about 5 a.m., so I re-set my alarm for 7:30 to wake up and call my boss. Which I did, and went back to bed for a few hours, and actually managed to fall asleep.

So today was a lazy day......I spent a lot of it in front of the computer, and the TV, just trying my damndest not to give in to my tiredness and go for a nap, cuz if I did, I wouldn't have half as much a chance of maybe sleeping tonight, so that I can go to work tomorrow. I'm supposed to spend the day in class on Wednesday too, it's to learn more about our computer system that we use at work for memberships. So I really don't want to miss that either if I can help it. Anyway, KNOCKING ON WOOD HERE..... today both the nose blowing (my poor nose!!) and the coughing aren't as bad as they were ~~~~ so maybe I'm seeing this friggin' cold start to change for the better??? Hope so!! I think I mentioned (??) that my sister Pam, who lives in the suite downstairs in my house, has exactly the same thing ~ and it's hilarious, cuz all along, I' ve been up here hacking my toenails up, and I can hear her downstairs doing the same thing! lol What a pair!!! Anyway, she shocked me by going in to work today, and on the way home she picked me up some cough syrup, so hopefully that will help tonight.

Anyway, onwards and upwards peeps...... it was a boring, non-eventful kinda day. I think this may be one of the shortest posts I've made, lol.
I wish you all a great Tuesday, talk to you again soon!
PEACE!!

Love Jude

***update: okay it's almost 2:00 a.m. and I can't sleep for coughing......it seems when I lay down, the hacking starts, and if I get up again, it stops, or at least slows to almost nothing. Can't win........ and if this keeps up I won't sleep AGAIN tonight, and will have to call in sick again. AARRGGHH!! (if I didn't have to work for a living I wouldn't give two shits, ya know?)

EH?? WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY???

Damn but I feel OLD when I'm sick! Not that I'm sick often, as a matter of fact I'm not used to this shit!! LOL But when I am feeling like this, I shuffle around like an old person, groaning and mumbling and ..... oh, wait a sec, I do that ANYWAY! That's just my ol' menopausal body.... heh heh. I am, however, groaning and sniffling and feeling like if I cough hard one more time I'm gonna piss all over myself. My sides are SO SORE from coughing that now when I cough, instead of a real "worker" cough, "HACK!!!"(you know, the kind where you almost yell with it to help get that lung stuff out) now I have to do a timid little scaredy-cat "hack? Ouch! hack? Ouch!" Geez. As if THAT'S doing any good, lol. "Woman, 52 but seemingly much much older, coughs and urinates all over. Dies of embarrasment. Film at 11".... Ah, I can see it all now....my name on T.V. at last...... Won't that make my family proud? Oy.

So, I've been having fun browsing through blogskins, as I mentioned earlier. I cannot find anything that I like better than this one so far, so that makes me feel good, lol. I have run across some skins that remind me of the sort that a couple of my friends, Janna and Danni, seem to like. With the girly-girl theme going on. Anyway the more I look at all these skins, the more I think I'd like to get myself what I need for programs and make my own. I think that would be really fun! Not to mention lots more computer time...... we're talkin' a possible buttroid again here, peeps!! LOL (see it??) LOL Some of these people who make them are really talented! I can see where you can start out with a gorgeous picture, but if you don't do everything else right, the blogskin won't look good anyway. Fascinating!

It's the end of the weekend, and I'm not usually like this, but I'm really not looking forward to going to work. I just feel so crappy, but I hate calling in sick unless it's absolutely necessary. It' s not like I can't work, you know? I'll just be doing that silly little "hack?" all bloody day. In any case, I don't appear to feel as poorly now as my poor sister Pam does. She's got the same thing, only she's worried that she may be getting worse instead of better. AND she works a full week, unlike me. So get better Pammie!! Hugs and healing for you!! So hubby and I went out today and did our grocery shopping. SuperStore was sooooo busy ~~ it was crowded and ugly. I can't stand people who barge and elbow their way around, or who just charge right on through an aisle while you are courteous enough to stop your own buggy and stand aside for them ~~ and then they don't even LOOK at you, let alone say anything as alien as 'thank you'!! Yup, even here in Canada, the "kinder and gentler nation" as we always hear, there are ignoramuses just like that. So it didn't make my outing any better, and I didn't feel up to going out at all as it was, LOL Oh well, we made it home and I'm settled in for the night. My lunch is made and I had my bath. And I just made myself a nice cuppa tea and had the last piece of that cherry cake I made that I told you about. What a little piglet..... LOL

Our weather has slowly been improving too, thankfully! It's after 7 p.m. and it's only -17C, which is 3F !!! So my bunyakas are still safe Janna Sista!! lol At least this week walking to work won't feel so.... "dangerous", if you know what I mean! I'm not breakin' out the bikini or anything yet though.... (who am I kidding? Do you REALIZE how long it's been since I owned one of those?) ......but at least I can enjoy my walk in the snow now.

New link on my blog!!! After welcoming a few people on my last post, one of them got herself a blog today! Sandy is now one of the Leppy Bloggers! I hope you have as much fun with it as I do Sandy! And speaking of links, I'd like to go check out everyone else's before bedtime tonight. So I'll leave you with a goodnight and a God bless ~~ until next time, PEACE BE YOURS ~~

Love Jude

BLECH

I'm officially SICK. I've been trying to just slough it off, "I got a cold"...... but you know, I'm really not a well person. I've still got some of the upsidedown runny thing happening, LOL, but now it's also in my lungs, to the point where I can't sleep for coughing. This is the SAME thing my poor sister Linda was going through when she was visiting here.
And I ache all over, probably from all the coughing and discomfort. I FEEL BLECH!!!!!! ......okay now I will stop whining about it.

Thank you for all the positive comments about my blogskin..... I too find it warm and sunny, which is just exactly what I wanted in the first place. When I chose this skin, it came with a white background. One of the first things I learned about HTML coding was how to change the colour, which I promptly did, and changed it to this nice yellow. Everything else I've since changed from the original skin; additions and add-ons, I learned as I went and had a ton of fun with it, I must say! But one thing I will NEVER forget is when I got too "cocky" and lost my entire skin, all because of a stupid mistake. I forgot to 'preview' first before I published a skin change. THAT scared me!! I thought the whole thing was gone, LOL. But again, I learned from it. Anyway learning HTML stuff, even what little I know, has been fun.

I haven't done this for awhile, I'm afraid my mentalpausal brain cells have forgotten ~~ but whenever there are new people hanging out at my blog I always like to welcome them. I don't even remember where I left off, doing this last time, sheesh! LOL So, I'll start with Kurt, welcome to you and Chad ~ and to Karen (KCfla) and to Peach..... and also to Rhonda Elizabeth and Sandy ~ thank you both for signing my guestbook! Welcome everyone, I truly enjoy all of your comments and your company here! Sandy...... maybe we'll get you blogging yourself yet! Rhonda Elizabeth, I hope you don't mind my linking you up here, which I'm going to do right away! I believe all of these newcomers are Leppy fans too!

Well peeps I don't have too much of an appetite, but I must say I'm starting to get the munchies anyway. So I think I'm off to my kitchen to go stare in my fridge for awhile and see what appeals to me. Not much for the ha-ha's here tonight I'm afraid, unless you might find the fact that my nose hurts from all the kleenex hilarious, lol. Maybe if I just gave up on the tissue and hung my head over the toilet for days on end I wouldn't have the sore schnozola at least. Eww, not a great picture of that in my mind..... Well on that note, have a great night everyone! PEACE!

Love Jude

AIN'T CHRISTMAS NO MORE

I know, I know....some of you will think I'm nuts, but I just finally finished getting my tree down and all the decorations put away! Last weekend was Ukranian Christmas and my tree NEVER comes down until that's gone by ~ and then of course I worked through the week so I didn't get to it until today. Anyway it's all done and as usual afterwards, my house looks so bare naked!!! It always makes me sad. I must have a real obsessive fixation with Christmas lights. That's the part I miss the most, and look forward to again the most. Anyway, it's over for another year and that's that.

Good heavens I won't believe it until I see it, but tomorrow is supposed to be warming up to -15C !! Far cry from -45C huh?? Yes it's sure been too freakin' cold for humans and animals alike, but I have to tell you it sure is beautiful out there when the sun is shining, the snow is sparkling like diamonds, and the frost on the windows makes gorgeous shapes. I really DO love winter too, I look forward to it just as much as I look forward to the change of all the seasons we get. I just don't like the extremes, when it's this cold, or when it's icey. OR when it's too friggin' hot! Anyway, (ya listening Kurt?) it's gettin' warmer!!! Hey Patty! Our igloos are gonna melt, girl! LOL

I think this cold is starting to move into my lungs now too...... I'm getting that cough that makes your muscles sore from hacking so much. And I already have a smoker's cough, how attractive is THAT. Maybe one of these days I'll be as brave as my NooYawk Sista Janna (linked on here) who is celebrating her 15th. anniversary of quitting the weed..... she just wrote a great post about it on her blog. Good on ya Janna, that is quite an accomplishment after smoking for years! Anyway it's a really great post (all her posts are) if you want a good read, peeps! Speaking of which, a few of my online blogging friends have changed their blogskins, some even more than once recently. It's kinda fun to go blogskin shopping actually, I like browsing through them sometimes. But I still haven't found one I like quite as much as this one, it suits me, having the sunflower theme especially. But it also has everything on one scroll bar, which I much prefer. There's other sunflower ones, but some of them are on dark backgrounds and I like mine lighter, others don't have some of the things on it that I need, and yet others have several scroll bars, including one along the bottom, which I find makes it hard to read ~~ you have to scroll back and forth continually on some blogs just to read the post. Don't get me wrong, they are really nice skins, I just don't prefer them for my own. Hmmmm now I've got the urge to go blog 'window shopping', LOL My sister Pam (also linked here) is rather talented and creative, and someday I know she wants to design her own blogskin. How fun would THAT be!!! You could have exactly what you want! I'd like to be that talented with HTML codes and stuff, and who knows, I've learned some things already just having this blog, so maybe someday !!

Well peeps that's about all for this time. Stay warm and safe everyone, and take care of each other! PEACE!

Love Jude