Re: Mike

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Brat. I try to remember that when I get to feeling low about him.

Mostly, I

just wish he wasn't such a bundle of wasted potential. You know? MM P.S.

going to

try to get some more shuteye, now. Nighty night.

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you and the boys had a wonderful day yesterday! I just love

the ocean. You are so lucky to be able to see it when ever you want.

When Adam has a cold, he stuffs kleenex up his nose when he goes to

sleep. He says this way they aren't draining when he's sleeping and

doesn't have to keep getting up to blow his nose. If he says so, it must

be. But I haven't tried it!

http://community.webtv.net/sandra504/Serenity

[Guest guest]

Good night and good luck!

http://community.webtv.net/sandra504/Serenity

[Guest guest]

Hi, Brat, Now, THAT'S funny. I feel stuffy enough without stuffing Kleenex

up my nose. Sheesh. I use Vancanase nasal spray to keep them open better,

and use a strong

cough drop with menthol to give 'em a blast once in a while. I'm feeling ok,

except

for being uncomfortable and coughing. That does make me more tired. I have

so much

to do in the cooking department before tomorrow night, but you'll never guess

what

happened at 5 a.m. when I was getting ready to go back to bed. The power

went out in

half the house. And, not just lamps, but the major appliances like fridge,

freezer,

dryer, and dishwasher. I tried for hours to get the damn things up and

running before

I figured out it could be the circuit breakers, so went out in the icy

weather to check

those, they were fine. I called the power company, they told me it could

take all

day to get a guy out here, so I was just looking for an interior fuse box to

see if that

could be the problem when I found the damned thing in my own bedroom closet!

Well,

I have an excuse, the last time we blew a fuse, I was in the hospital, and a

friend

fixed it. So, just as I was about to call PGand E back to say don't send the

guy, he

rings the front doorbell! I couldn't believe it. They NEVER get a guy to

you in the same day, much less the same hour. Anyway, he put in a new fuse,

I gave him a jar

of homemade jam, and everybody was happy. So, in the meantime, because I

didn't

think anyone would show up today, I cancelled tonight's dinner visit with

Randy's old

foster family, so he is not talking to me. This means he has to wait for his

presents

until next Friday. Poor kid, he's so abused. Then I added insult to injury

by making

the boys clean up the patio and put all the dead leaves and crud on the

compost

pile. He's still grumbling, but he did earn back $5 of what he owes me for

bad words.

LOL

Anyhoo, I can relax a bit, now that they aren't coming, and I can get the

rest of the

cooking done for tomorrow night's family gathering without pooping myself out

so

bad. Glad yours was fun. Take care, honey, and watch out for faulty fuses.

Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Dear

Yes, the ocean is beautiful. When I lived in Norfolk you could come out of my apartment and turn left and you could see the Atlantic Ocean--could walk about 600 feet and be there. I would not do that because I was always afraid that Tyler would get away from me and into the Ocean and I'd loose him. I had a neighbor at the end of the complex who told me that anytime I wanted to let him play on her side of the yard he could. There was only a weak fence there, almost like chicken wire so I never did do that because he would not listen to me. I do miss Norfolk and Virginia Beach very much. got on her high horse Sunday and I told her that I made a mistake of leaving Virginia Beach in the first place and that was my 1st choice when I left Florida but I let everyone up here talk me into coming here instead of doing and going where I REALLY WANTED TO BE AT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

We are expecting a hellacious S*** Storm here 10-16 INCHES and in the higher elevations up by where Gail lives they could get from 2 feet up to 4 feet---!!!!YUCK YUCK AND MORE YUCK!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that you all have a very Merry Christmas--Tyler is sick so we shall see--He picked up the stomach virus and the doctor said that the vomiting lasts anywhere from 24-48 hours and then they just want to lay around and do nothing for anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. I sure hope not. Then Tyler and Kalab got into it the other day and I have told before Kalab is going to keep on messing with Tyler and he will get Kalab back--Well he did but in a really bad way-he went to hit Kalab back the other day and scratched his eyeball near the pupil and he cried all night Sunday night so yesterday morning she took him to the ER and today she has to take him to an eye specialist--Now maybe he will leave Tyler alone. Of course she bitched at me about it and I told her it was no different than when Kalab hits Tyler in the face and messes up his glasses to the point that I have to take them to get them adjusted--SHE SCREAMED BACK AT ME THAT SHE DOES NOT CARE!!!!!!!!! She has been in a shitty mood lately and every day she complains to that he does not do anything here. Then when he does do something it is not right --so go figure!!!!!!!!!!Oh well I will get off of my soap box crap for now but I really needed to vent. I have had a headache for 5 days now and can not get rid of it.

Oh well take care and have a great holiday!!!!!!!LOLDorothy

-- Re: Mike

Sounds like you and the boys had a wonderful day yesterday! I just lovethe ocean. You are so lucky to be able to see it when ever you want.When Adam has a cold, he stuffs kleenex up his nose when he goes tosleep. He says this way they aren't draining when he's sleeping anddoesn't have to keep getting up to blow his nose. If he says so, it mustbe. But I haven't tried it!http://community.webtv.net/sandra504/Serenity"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

Has anyone heard from Normi lately? I was wondering how she is doing.

a

[Guest guest]

Donna, Actually, I slept most of the day away, and have a killer headache.

But, the

cough and runny nose are a bit better, so I'm hoping that I am better. At

least, I am

crabby, and that usually means I am on the mend. LOL Just like a little

kid. Now my

teenager has been cranky all day, so I'm half afraid he is coming down with

it, too.

Hope not. He usually can avoid germs pretty well, but he got that stomach

bug while

we were away at Thanksgiving, too. Life is never dull around here. Hope you

continue

to feel better every day. I'll probably be better in the morning, as this

kind of thing

usually lasts about two weeks with me, while the boys are sick for a couple

of days.

I always get things in spades. LOL

Take care, Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Dorothy, I am feeling better today, and had promised to take the boys to see

Harry

Potter, but it is storming so bad, I don't know if we'll get out at all.

High winds,

heavy rains, sleet, and etc. Just don't want to get stuck at the north end

of town with

no clear roads to get home. So, we'll see how it goes. With luck, it will

let up by

2 p.m. and we can go. The boys are itching to spend their gift cards, too.

They both

got $40 in Target cards, and another $30 in Toys R Us cards. Both of them

made out

like bandits. Randy got his MP3 player and a Norelco shaver (his first), and

Reesey

got his mountain bike " with gears " . They only got what they asked " Santa "

for because I got some cash piece work correcting English papers for a

professor friend.

Sure came in handy. We were about flat after all those car repairs. Now we

are back

to paycheck to paycheck, and that means I can make all the monthly expenses

and a

few extra credit card payments. I just hate the way they " bait and switch "

on the

interest rates. We got a card and transferred balances from one high

interest card

to one that was supposed to stay at 9.99% as long as you made payments on

time, and

for, at least, the minimum payment listed. I have always made payments at 1

1/2

the minimum or greater, and always on time, but they have raised the interest

rate

to almost 30%! I called them to get it reduced back to the original per my

contract,

but so far they are refusing. I have reported them to the SEC and CCC, and

the Gov.

Accounting Office. We'll see if I get any action on this. In the meantime,

my balance

is growing instead of reducing, even though I am making double payments.

Can't wait

for my tax refund, then I can pay off at least two thirds of the balance, in

spite of

their cheating ways.

Well, gotta answer the rest of my mail. Got over 200 yesterday, so I guess

Yahoo is

up and running again. You take care, and keep up the good work with Tyler.

Don't let

other dysfunctional people get you down, honey. You can do this. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

HI MARY MIKE, DID YOU GET TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SEE HARRY POTTER AND LET THEM SPEND THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFT CERTIFICATES?DID THE WEATHER GET BETTER? HUGS, LINDA - http://www.cafeshops.com/awsomepawsome

[Guest guest]

Hi, Donna, Harry Potter II was great. I really enjoyed it more than the

first one. Less explanatory footage needed to get one into the story, and

more action. The boys,

even the teenager, loved it, too. It takes three hours, but worth all the

sitting down.

Kept my ADHD kid enthralled for the whole three hours. Of course, I made

them eat

a snack and take their pills just before it started, but he still wouldn't

have sat

through something THAT long if it wasn't very interesting.

I'm feeling much better today, so will take the boys shopping later to spend

their

gift cards from Christmas. They made out like bandits. They collected over

$90 each

in cards for Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us. Of course, they are burning a

hole in

both kids' pockets. LOL

I have to pay the bills today before I can go shopping for anything else,

though. So

with Randy at the movies with a friend today, and Reesey playing outside,

they can

wait to spend their dough. Our PC disc drive died over the weekend, so

before they can play any of the games they got for Christmas, we have to get

a new drive. My

niece's fiance is a computer whiz, and he told me to get a new drive that

will burn

cd's and then Randy can get more use out of the MP3 player he received. I

don't get

half the stuff he can do with it, if he has the right software, but he seems

to get

it all, and that's what counts, I guess. Reesey spends every spare minute

when it isn't raining out on his new bike. It's too big for him, but he's

determined to ride it,

and has figured out how to do it without killing himself. He's small and

wiry, and

looks so funny perched up on top of that mountain of a mountain bike. LOL

Hope your holiday was good to you all. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

, Well, the weather was pretty bad, but the roads were not flooding too

bad,

so we went to the movie. It was great. The boys both loved it, too. We are

going

tonight, since it has stopped raining for now, for them to spend their gift

cards. They

collected over $90 each in cards for Walmart, Target, and Toys R Us. Little

bandits.

LOL I'll let you know how it goes. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Dorothy, Yup, a good time was had by all, and today Randy's old foster

family came for their annual Christmas visit. We see them often throughout

the year, but

they always bring gifts at this time, and the boys get spoiled rotten. LOL

I thought

they had already taken care of the gifts when they sent the boys each a $30

gift card

for Toys R Us, but here they came today with big packages for everyone, on

top of it.

Each of the boys got a racing set with track and all, and I have yet to open

my gift.

It's still in the living room. I just am not a good " receiver " , I'd rather

make and give

to everybody else. It's how I get my jollies, I guess. LOL

Glad Tyler is doing well today. Tell him hi from us. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, Yesterday it was clear most of the day, so I got most of the shopping

done for

our annual open house on New Year's Day. The boys got to spend most of their

gift

cards, and so they are happy campers. Randy achieved a fourteen year old

ambition,

he got himself a lava lamp. Yup. Seems these kids think this is something

new under

the sun. I had to laugh, and showed him a pic of me at 18 with my " hippie "

friends

gazing at a very similar one. That was almost 37 years ago. LOL Boy, was

he surprised. Too funny. Hope you have a great New Year's Eve, and stay

pain free. Love,

hugs, and smoochies, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi Mike,

So Randy got a lava lamp!!! LOL My kids also think they have just been invented for the last couple of years.

I can't believe it!! Those things have been around since our "hippy" days, haven't they? This is just too funny.

Well, I am happy that Randy and Reese got to spend their Christmas money. How nice of their foster family to bring gifts for everyone. I am like you. I feel much more comfortable on the giving end of things than on the receiving end. Have you opened your gift yet?

We have thunder and lightning here at our house. We just got home from the movie "2 Week Notice" with Bullock. It was very cute. I liked it better than "Maid in Manhattan". Since we have several older kids, they are always wanting to see all the movies when they come out. They saw "Lord of the Rings II" on Christmas Eve, but I skipped that one and stayed home with our 4 year old. Have your boys wanted to see it?

Glad the weather is nice there. Enjoy your company and tell Randy I bet I had a lava lamp just like his!! LOL

Love ya lots, Donna

Re: Mike

Donna, Yesterday it was clear most of the day, so I got most of the shopping done forour annual open house on New Year's Day. The boys got to spend most of their giftcards, and so they are happy campers. Randy achieved a fourteen year old ambition,he got himself a lava lamp. Yup. Seems these kids think this is something new underthe sun. I had to laugh, and showed him a pic of me at 18 with my "hippie" friendsgazing at a very similar one. That was almost 37 years ago. LOL Boy, was he surprised. Too funny. Hope you have a great New Year's Eve, and stay pain free. Love,hugs, and smoochies, MM"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

Donna, Well, our nice weather is definitely over. It's storming to beat the

band out

there tonight. High winds, heavy rains, and cold...brrrrr. More high surf

advisories

up tonight, too. Flood warnings near all the creeks and rivers. Not a fit

night for man

nor beast, as the saying goes.

Randy saw Lord of the Rings II yesterday with his friend, the friend's

girlfriend, and

HER friend. A sort of surprise double date. Randy came home all charged up,

had a

great time, and didn't use the " F " word once. Now, that's the way I like to

see a kid

come home from a fun time. Clean, sober, and happy without being nasty

mouthed. I

am appalled at the way these boys treat their female friends, though, and

even more

that the girls put up with it. I would have slapped their faces but good,

even in our

era of free love and all that jazz if some guy had referred to me as his

" woman " at

that age. Sheesh!

Anyhow, Randy's former foster parents came today, bringing their three current

foster boys, and more gifts, like I said. They are much too generous, and

it's too much

" stuff " to have to try to live with. So, the boys will be doing their annual

cleaning

out next month. We usually take a large load to the homeless shelter in

October, and

again in January or February, once the new stuff is put away. I think my

boys have

been spoiled too much with too much, if you get my drift. I don't buy them a

lot of

stuff, but my family, friends, and their former families send gifts, or bring

them for

every holiday, birthday, etc. I finally told some of them to please get them

a savings

bond, if they felt the need to give them something. It lasts longer, will

help with

college or career of choice later on, and not end up broken or stuffed in a

drawer and

forgotten. Not as much fun as a Hotwheels race track I'll grant you, but

better in the

long run. Guess I'm too practical for my own good. LOL

Anyway, that's the latest from the Byers household. Glad you got out to see

a film

or two. Nice isn't it? Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna

I have an older brother that was raised in a foster home that the last time I knew he lived in San . He is retired from the Air Force. I was wondering if you could look in the phone book for an address and phone number. I have seen him once about 35 maybe 37 years ago and would love to be able to talk to him

His name is Francis Prusky

Thanks

Hope you have a great day

Take care

Dorothy

-- Mike

Hi Mike,

Well, how unusual for South Texas this time of year! We have had a couple of tornadoes touch down in the San area in the last few minutes.

This is extremely odd for Dec/Jan. The sun is out and I had no idea anything was going on until my son called from work. We are getting weather bulletins every few minutes on the tv.

I just heard a little thunder rumbling, so I guess I will get off the puter for a while. Hope your weather is better.

Talk to you later. Love, Donna"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

Ok, Brat, YES, they did explain those " weird " feelings, but these are

different " weird "

feelings. You little devil, you. LOL MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Brat, No, the rain stopped until this coming weekend. The forecast is

for more

rain starting Saturday. Windy at night, though. Lots of limbs being blown

down. And,

with the ground saturated from last week's rains, a lot of old trees are in

danger of

falling, too. My Randy's former foster family were here for a visit just

before

Christmas, and told me that their neighbor came over and asked if they had

noticed

that the big tree in their side yard was leaning a bit more every day. They

said, no,

they hadn't, so everyone went to look, and sure enough, it was only about a

foot from

leaning right on the house! Seems the wet weather loosened it up, and it

just decided

to give up the ghost slowly and painfully. They got a chainsaw right away,

and cut

it down. She says they have a couple of cords of firewood now.

They were lucky the neighbor was so alert. Many families are still without

power

because of trees hitting houses and high wires. In town, most of the wires

are buried

underground. But, out in the country areas, they are still strung on poles.

Today, the fog lifted early, and the sun is shining. It makes my joints feel

better,

but I can't be out in it. Oh, fart! Isn't that the pits? Anyhow, hope your

day goes

well, and that you don't get too tired tonight. Take care, my friend, MM

[Guest guest]

Hiya, Brat, Yeah, I'm feeling a little better, so I'm pretty sure it was the

anemia

rearing its ugly head again. I started right back on iron last week, and it

seems to

be doing the trick. I'm still cold all the time, but that could be because

it hasn't gone

above 40F for a week. For us, that is damned cold, since it is also foggy

and damp.

The cold just goes straight through to the bone and stays there. It is

actually warmer

feeling when the weather is very dry and much colder, temperature-wise. I've

known

it to get down to 11F, but dry, and it feels good. This dampness just eats

away at

you.

Had to go pick up the boys' computer this morning from repair shop. Somehow,

the

CD-rom drive quit on us, and it was driving the boys nuts that they couldn't

play the

new games they got for Christmas. Needless to say, it was driving ME nuts to

listen

to them whining about it. LOL Cost almost $100 in repairs. Had to have a

new drive

installed, and not being able to use my hands like I used to, I couldn't do

the labor

myself. Too bad, because half of it was labor.

Need to go to the P.O. soon and mail off my eldest son's birthday gifts. I

had to wait

until the youth center gave me permission to send the stuff to him. Just a

watch

and pair of pants, but they are funny about things coming in to the patients,

and I can't say as I blame them. Some of these kids are truly bizarre, like

my .

More later, hope you are doing alright, and that work doesn't drag you down.

Here's to

warmer weather for both of us. Love, MM