Re: Mike

[Guest guest]

Donna, Yep. We are pretty much back to the normal kibitzin', " the I wants " ,

the bad

words, and all the rest of it. However, I may get rich off the language

problem. LOL

At a buck a word, the boys had to give me most of the money they received for

Christmas. They were just all caught up and watching their words very well

when

the holidays ended, and now they are slipping back into bad habits. I have

put Randy

on phone restriction for the rest of this week, and Reesey is on for the next

two days,

as well as both of them owing me part of next weekend's pay for chores. They

just

aren't getting the message. I have tried the other way 'round, of rewarding

good

behavior with gift certificates for clean language, extra pay for extra

chores, etc.,

but they are still hoping I will wear out before they have to comply. To

quote a certain little yellow Tweety Bird, " They don't know me very well, do

they? " LOL

I can be so stubborn at times as to make the Rock of Gibraltar look like

quicksand.

Yep, I'm the Queen of Mean, according to the boys. Teehee.

I need to prune the roses soon, but the sun decided to come out today for the

first

time in weeks. Of course, that is just an excuse to put off the pruning for

another

day. Ain't I awful? I'd rather go to the trade-in bookstore and get some

more reading

material. I go through books so fast it's a wonder the pages don't smoke.

More later, and how are you today, Missy? Loving hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, hello we have not met yet, my name is Josie, I saw your message to Mike in regards to the state of Texas and the court system, I hope this is not true because I have to send my two neiece back there into foster care because I can't take care of them myself any longer I just got them from Texas after almost a year of trying and now I have to send them back which is killing me but the fear of thinking that the court might give them back to my sister is something I know I could not live with. I pray your wrong about the system there and that they will do the right thing by these two girls. Josie

Re: a

Donna, My youngest's former foster mom, , had a tiny baby girl with her at thetime I adopted my youngest. was told to take the baby to reunification visitswith the birth parents, and siblings each week, and did so for one year. At the endof that year, the baby was given back to the family. Within six months she was inthe ICU at a local pediatrics hospital, a human vegetable. She had been so badlyshaken that she is blind, almost deaf, and cannot move her arms and legs. She is ina full time care home, now, and is almost 9 years old. When told me what hadhappened, she stopped taking babies any more. She took three older kids when theirmother died of a drug overdose, and along with her adopted son, is raising them astheir guardian. She has cared for more than 50 foster children in her life, and raisedher own three and several step-children before that. Remarkable woman, and it issuch a shame that the courts don't get it. They keep pushing for reunification, in spite of the horrendous statistics that show it seldom works. I will offer up thisbaby to the Lord in prayer that he not be made to suffer long. Love to you, 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, hello we have not met yet, my name is Josie, I saw your message to Mike in regards to the state of Texas and the court system, I hope this is not true because I have to send my two neiece back there into foster care because I can't take care of them myself any longer I just got them from Texas after almost a year of trying and now I have to send them back which is killing me but the fear of thinking that the court might give them back to my sister is something I know I could not live with. I pray your wrong about the system there and that they will do the right thing by these two girls. Josie

Re: a

Donna, My youngest's former foster mom, , had a tiny baby girl with her at thetime I adopted my youngest. was told to take the baby to reunification visitswith the birth parents, and siblings each week, and did so for one year. At the endof that year, the baby was given back to the family. Within six months she was inthe ICU at a local pediatrics hospital, a human vegetable. She had been so badlyshaken that she is blind, almost deaf, and cannot move her arms and legs. She is ina full time care home, now, and is almost 9 years old. When told me what hadhappened, she stopped taking babies any more. She took three older kids when theirmother died of a drug overdose, and along with her adopted son, is raising them astheir guardian. She has cared for more than 50 foster children in her life, and raisedher own three and several step-children before that. Remarkable woman, and it issuch a shame that the courts don't get it. They keep pushing for reunification, in spite of the horrendous statistics that show it seldom works. I will offer up thisbaby to the Lord in prayer that he not be made to suffer long. Love to you, 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]

Hiya, Brat. I'll get my recipe box out later and email you with some more

recipes.

Gotta get ready to make Crab Choppino for a group today. Gonna have seven

here for

dinner. Almost was ten, but three are stuck doing the Academic Decathlon at

the

high school today. More later, MM

[Guest guest]

Hiya, Brat. I'll get my recipe box out later and email you with some more

recipes.

Gotta get ready to make Crab Choppino for a group today. Gonna have seven

here for

dinner. Almost was ten, but three are stuck doing the Academic Decathlon at

the

high school today. More later, MM

[Guest guest]

Brat, P.S. There is one really simple one...l jar spaghetti sauce of your

choice (I use

Prego or Barilla garlic and basil), l jar water or wine, 5 lb. boneless chuck

roast or

pot roast. Place roast in bottom of crock pot, add sauce and water, and turn

on high

setting until it gets going good, then turn to automatic setting so

temperature adjusts itself as it cooks to keep an even temperature. Leave it

until meat falls apart pretty easily. Serve with cooked pasta. How's that

for spur of the moment

slow cooking? Isn't that an oxymoron? LOL Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Brat, P.P.S. I usually get fresh tortellini, or ravioli (can use frozen,

also), and put it

in the pot for the last hour. Don't cook it first, just add it to the pot

and make sure it

is all under the sauce so it cooks through. Then you don't have to use any

other pots

or pans. MM

[Guest guest]

Brat, P.P.S. I usually get fresh tortellini, or ravioli (can use frozen,

also), and put it

in the pot for the last hour. Don't cook it first, just add it to the pot

and make sure it

is all under the sauce so it cooks through. Then you don't have to use any

other pots

or pans. MM

[Guest guest]

Brat, P.P.S. I usually get fresh tortellini, or ravioli (can use frozen,

also), and put it

in the pot for the last hour. Don't cook it first, just add it to the pot

and make sure it

is all under the sauce so it cooks through. Then you don't have to use any

other pots

or pans. MM

[Guest guest]

Hey, Brat, I miss you, too! I am running out of frost balls and you need to

start

throwing S**W balls at those cow pattie throwing westerners. You know who I

mean.

LOL Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Hey, Brat, I miss you, too! I am running out of frost balls and you need to

start

throwing S**W balls at those cow pattie throwing westerners. You know who I

mean.

LOL Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My

Reesey,

now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his

head

against the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

I had to

put giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole

house

awake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt

up in the

air and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids

are funny.

I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day.

And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San

Francisco, and

potato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank

you to

the " pick you up and carry you away " sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs,

MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My

Reesey,

now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his

head

against the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

I had to

put giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole

house

awake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt

up in the

air and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids

are funny.

I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day.

And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San

Francisco, and

potato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank

you to

the " pick you up and carry you away " sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs,

MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My

Reesey,

now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his

head

against the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night.

I had to

put giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole

house

awake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt

up in the

air and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids

are funny.

I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day.

And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San

Francisco, and

potato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank

you to

the " pick you up and carry you away " sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs,

MM

[Guest guest]

MM,

My brother did that rocking bit, drove us all nuts, lol.

Connie

Re: Mike

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My Reesey,now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his headagainst the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. I had toput giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole houseawake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt up in theair and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids are funny.I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day. And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San Francisco, andpotato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank you tothe "pick you up and carry you away" sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs, 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]

MM,

My brother did that rocking bit, drove us all nuts, lol.

Connie

Re: Mike

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My Reesey,now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his headagainst the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. I had toput giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole houseawake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt up in theair and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids are funny.I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day. And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San Francisco, andpotato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank you tothe "pick you up and carry you away" sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs, 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]

MM,

My brother did that rocking bit, drove us all nuts, lol.

Connie

Re: Mike

Donna, I know what you mean about kids sleeping in strange positions. My Reesey,now ten, when he was little used to rock on his hands and knees and bang his headagainst the side of the bed to go back to sleep in the middle of the night. I had toput giant bumper pads around his lower bunk bed because he kept the whole houseawake with the thumping. LOL He used to finally go to sleep with his butt up in theair and his head buried under all the covers at the foot of the bed. Kids are funny.I can barely get six hours of sleep altogether in 24 on a good day. And, we have tarantulas, here, supersize roaches in the city of San Francisco, andpotato bugs that make my skin crawl just lookin' at 'em. So, missy, no thank you tothe "pick you up and carry you away" sized bugs. Ish. 'night, honey. Hugs, 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]

Hi, Connie, Did he also, when he was awake, rock on his neck with his knees

up? My

son did that until he was about five years old, then I got him a large

rocking horse

for Christmas, and he rocked on it backwards, hanging his head upside down to

watch

TV. He is much too big for the horse, now, but he will still try to rock

this way

at times. He did it so much on the floor before he got that horse, he wore a

spot bald

on the back of his head! Now, he does this rolling somersault all over the

living room

while the commercials are on (leftover exercise from Gymnastics), and the way

he

puts his head on the floor is rubbing that same spot bald again. When the

kids at

school started teasing him about it, he started wearing a knit cap to protect

his head.

He even said he would wear his bike helmet if he had to, he loves rolling

over and over

so much. LOL Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Connie, Did he also, when he was awake, rock on his neck with his knees

up? My

son did that until he was about five years old, then I got him a large

rocking horse

for Christmas, and he rocked on it backwards, hanging his head upside down to

watch

TV. He is much too big for the horse, now, but he will still try to rock

this way

at times. He did it so much on the floor before he got that horse, he wore a

spot bald

on the back of his head! Now, he does this rolling somersault all over the

living room

while the commercials are on (leftover exercise from Gymnastics), and the way

he

puts his head on the floor is rubbing that same spot bald again. When the

kids at

school started teasing him about it, he started wearing a knit cap to protect

his head.

He even said he would wear his bike helmet if he had to, he loves rolling

over and over

so much. LOL Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Connie, Did he also, when he was awake, rock on his neck with his knees

up? My

son did that until he was about five years old, then I got him a large

rocking horse

for Christmas, and he rocked on it backwards, hanging his head upside down to

watch

TV. He is much too big for the horse, now, but he will still try to rock

this way

at times. He did it so much on the floor before he got that horse, he wore a

spot bald

on the back of his head! Now, he does this rolling somersault all over the

living room

while the commercials are on (leftover exercise from Gymnastics), and the way

he

puts his head on the floor is rubbing that same spot bald again. When the

kids at

school started teasing him about it, he started wearing a knit cap to protect

his head.

He even said he would wear his bike helmet if he had to, he loves rolling

over and over

so much. LOL Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Hey, Brat, did you get the one for Italian potroast? I have more, so I'll

get them out

today later and send some on. Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Brat, You can tell that I didn't get my driver's license until I

was 39. Yup,

I thought all those years that I had a phobia about driving, but after my

mother died I took a group counseling class for phobics. One of the things

you had to do was tell

the group what it was you feared the most, and why you thought you feared it.

Well,

this worked as long as you weren't afraid of speaking in public, I guess.

Anyway,

I told the group about the accident I had when practicing driving on my way

to get my

license the first time (I was about 19 at the time.). The other driver and

one of her

kids were killed. The accident wasn't my fault, she cut the curve on a blind

curve and

her VW bug was in my lane as I rounded the curve. I was driving an old,

heavy Chrysler sedan. I turned into the hillside on my side of the road to

avoid her, but she

still hit my car on the driver's side behind me. It just dented my car, but

totalled

hers. It didn't help me that the man who was teaching me to drive was operati

ng on

an expired license, himself, and I was put through a lot of hell getting it

all straight

with the cops. In the end, I was not held responsible, but I was traumatized

over it

for years.

At any rate, when I explained this to the counseling group, the leader, a

psychiatrist,

said I didn't have a phobia, I had a legitimate fear, and to get over it. It

was like an

immediate sense of relief. Weird, I know, but I went out the next day and

arranged

for driving lessons from an accredited school, took five lessons, practised

five nights

in my dad's car and went and got my license. Got 96% on the driving part of

the test,

and 100% on the written. I never looked back. Even got a couple of speeding

tickets

over the years since then, because I drive like my father did. I can scare

my sisters

half to death just pulling out into an intersection, but I have never had a

traffic

accident since that first one. Oh, except for the one in the school parking

lot, but

it wasn't in traffic, and it WAS the fault of the person who pulled in front

of me as I

was pulling away from the disabled parking spot. We have trouble every day

with

people ignoring the handicapped parking slots at the school and blocking them

so we

can't get out. This guy just pulled right in like I didn't exist and I was

already moving

when he entered the lot. Anyhow, my friends nearly never got over the

miracle of me

driving. All of them had provided transportation for me at various times

over the

years, so I try to pay back by giving rides to them, now, when they need

them, or by

taking other non-drivers around when I'm feeling ok. On days when my car is

in the

shop, I miss it so much, I marvel at how I got along without it so long. LOL

Well, I didn't intend to write a book, here. Hope you are getting some rest.

Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Hi, Brat, You can tell that I didn't get my driver's license until I

was 39. Yup,

I thought all those years that I had a phobia about driving, but after my

mother died I took a group counseling class for phobics. One of the things

you had to do was tell

the group what it was you feared the most, and why you thought you feared it.

Well,

this worked as long as you weren't afraid of speaking in public, I guess.

Anyway,

I told the group about the accident I had when practicing driving on my way

to get my

license the first time (I was about 19 at the time.). The other driver and

one of her

kids were killed. The accident wasn't my fault, she cut the curve on a blind

curve and

her VW bug was in my lane as I rounded the curve. I was driving an old,

heavy Chrysler sedan. I turned into the hillside on my side of the road to

avoid her, but she

still hit my car on the driver's side behind me. It just dented my car, but

totalled

hers. It didn't help me that the man who was teaching me to drive was operati

ng on

an expired license, himself, and I was put through a lot of hell getting it

all straight

with the cops. In the end, I was not held responsible, but I was traumatized

over it

for years.

At any rate, when I explained this to the counseling group, the leader, a

psychiatrist,

said I didn't have a phobia, I had a legitimate fear, and to get over it. It

was like an

immediate sense of relief. Weird, I know, but I went out the next day and

arranged

for driving lessons from an accredited school, took five lessons, practised

five nights

in my dad's car and went and got my license. Got 96% on the driving part of

the test,

and 100% on the written. I never looked back. Even got a couple of speeding

tickets

over the years since then, because I drive like my father did. I can scare

my sisters

half to death just pulling out into an intersection, but I have never had a

traffic

accident since that first one. Oh, except for the one in the school parking

lot, but

it wasn't in traffic, and it WAS the fault of the person who pulled in front

of me as I

was pulling away from the disabled parking spot. We have trouble every day

with

people ignoring the handicapped parking slots at the school and blocking them

so we

can't get out. This guy just pulled right in like I didn't exist and I was

already moving

when he entered the lot. Anyhow, my friends nearly never got over the

miracle of me

driving. All of them had provided transportation for me at various times

over the

years, so I try to pay back by giving rides to them, now, when they need

them, or by

taking other non-drivers around when I'm feeling ok. On days when my car is

in the

shop, I miss it so much, I marvel at how I got along without it so long. LOL

Well, I didn't intend to write a book, here. Hope you are getting some rest.

Love, MM

[Guest guest]

Donna, I don't know how much YOU know about the nunnery, but the Mother

Superior is

usually an elected office and fraught with stress. If I remember correctly,

Mother

Thaddeus from our own local St. Rose Parish Convent, an Ursuline Convent,

used to

lament that being in charge of so many women was a thankless job at time.

There

was so much cattiness. Sure you want the job? Oh Fearless One? LOL

There is also Lauds, Matins, Vespers, etc. and chorus to see to. Hmmm...I

don't want

the job, it's ok with me. Hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Brat, It took me a lot of years, I was 39 before I got my license, but I did

do it.

Now, my friends say they never can catch me at home. LOL

About the Italian Potroast...1 jar good pasta sauce (I use a garlic/onion

one), 1 jar

cold water or wine, 4-5 lb. boneless chuck roast or pot roast, 1 lb. dried

ravioli

or tortellini. Place roast in bottom of large crockpot, pout ravioli over

the top of it,pour over the sauce and water. Put the cover on the crockpot,

put temperature

control knob on alternating heat, if you have that setting, otherwise, start

it on high

for one hour while you get ready to leave, then turn it down to low and leave

it all

day. Roast will be falling apart, pasta will be soft, but delicious. My

boys just love

this one. Then, next day or day after, I add beef or chicken stock, veggies

(usually

a bag of frozen Italian style veggies), red pepper flakes and some pasta

shells and

make soup. It makes a great minestrone style soup served with sour French

bread

and a salad. We sprinkle a little Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.

There you go, two recipes for the price of one. LOL Love, MM