6/25 Quick post

I worked 12 hours today so am in a hurry. Great news from Kris and Brian--a baby is on the way. We are all thrilled.

Tonight's quick article--Why do we mourn when celebrities die?

6/22 I didn't win

Went to the Hyundai/Honda dealer to check my numbers from the newspaper and guess what? I didn't win $50,000. Okay, check that off my to-do list.

Enjoyed work today. I really think I helped some people. Found someone else who sees Jane for medical services. Lots of people seek mental health services after seeing Jane. You do the math.

Tonight's article is Chris Brown plea bargains a deal.

Now for dinner--thanks, Cindy, for the pasta salad. I can't wait to dive in.

6/21 A super fathers' day

We had a good time at the Gustison Family Reunion. Lots of visiting, games and food. Wow. I'm still full. Looking forward to the next time. Gussie had a great time too.


Tonight's article is Rihanna a reluctant witness against Chris Brown.

6/20 Rainy days

Note this is not a complaint, merely an observation: I slept a lot of the day asleep because I have a migraine. The weather has played havoc with most of my body, head, back, hips, leg, shoulders, etc. This is the gift of arthritis. Mix it with rainy weather and voila!

Jan called. She, Tim, Joe and Cindy are going to Junefest to meet some other family members, but I just didn't feel like going. They'll have a good time, I'm sure.

Tomorrow is the Gustison family reunion. Sure hope the rain stays away so we can have a great time. It's always fun when the family gets together.

Tonight's article is Psychologists and torture

6/15 Weird tv

Our cable network has our local CBS affiliate as the ABC station too. Does anyone know about this? I spent 40 minutes in an online chat with Comcast personnel and they told me about it. I was just reporting that our ABC affiliate seemed to be gone.

Maybe someone else in Quincy knew about this. Did you?

And tonight Gussie met the blind miniature dachshund across the street, Johnson.


Tonight's article is: Another family dead in murder suicide

6/14 I love weekends

Yesterday WW told me I stayed the same. And after two weeks of family events I'm pretty darn proud of that. Now to get back to really working on getting healthy.

Last night was St. Francis Parish Picnic. Absolutely perfect weather. It's great to see people you went to school with and their parents, spouses, and kids. I love it. Trouble is--last year was my first year back and I was in the midst of really bad back pain so just stayed a short while. (Plus ate a giant sno cone and onion rings. Boy did that ever make me sick.)

So I was really looking forward to last night. Unfortunately my back was a problem. I didn't eat or drink anything and stayed a little more than an hour. I'd been doing well for a few months, but I think dancing at two weddings in a row might have done me in. Today it's still bad, so I'm hoping a little rest (but not too much) will help.

I can tell you this because I don't have my "no complaint" bracelet on yet. At work we got purple bracelets from a Complaint Free World. Here are the "rules":

"Suggested Rules

Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist.

When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable."

On the website it also says that you can say something with a negative connotation as long as there's no ego involved in it. You can tell the waiter that your soup is cold--that's just a statement of fact. It's the comments to your friend afterward that's complaining. It's okay for me to say my back hurts, but when I say my back hurts and I didn't get to stay at the picnic and everyone else was having a good time without me and I didn't even get to have one beer, etc. That's complaining. Which is why, if I had my bracelet on, I would have moved it to the other wrist. I'm trying to go 21 days straight without complaining. Not easy. But I've gone several days, then just mess up. The nice thing is that the bracelet isn't judgmental. :)

Last night's article is Reality show junkie?

6/10 Good and bad

So many great things have happened and also so many crummy things. It's life--up and down, in and out, sick and well, life and death. Humans are both the best and worst of the species on the earth.

Tonight's article is the shortest one I've written and has the longest title.

Anxious and depressed because of lack of sleep: Maybe it's all in your genes

6/3 I'm alive

Yes, I'm alive, but still very tired. Started my new job on Monday of this week. But that was after a wonderfully fun-filled week and weekend with family. Kris and Brian's wedding was beautiful and the reception was off the hook. (Never thought I'd use that phrase.)

I loved every minute of Rob and Beata's visit and they are safely back in North Carolina now. Miss you guys already.


Tonight's article is Texting: Good, bad, or neutral for your kids?

5/26 Getting close

They aren't here yet, but are getting close.

Tonight's article is Update: Parents agree to chemo treatment for son

5/25 So much excitement

Rob and Beata (and Chilli) are on the road and should arrive tomorrow sometime. I can't wait.

Have been straightening up the house and have put in some more flowers in the yard. But I'll need help with more of them. The last poppy faded into oblivion--the storm knocked off the petals, so that made me sad. Wanted R and B to see those huge orange blooms. And of course Gussie had to pee on the rug. He's not had an accident in weeks. Guess this is to greet Chilli and let him know whose house it is.

Article tonight is Update: Arrest warrant lifted on cancer patient's mother

5-23-09 A great start to the weekend

Went to WW this morning and lost another three pounds so that makes me smile.

After breakfast with Jane and family, Gus and I went to work for a few hours. I have my new office pretty well organized. Now I just need to get some work done, which I'll do on Memorial Day.

Tonight we went for dinner at Jan and Tim's. Oh my it was so good and the weather was perfect. Gus had fun with their three dogs.

Tonight's article: The 90-years-plus club

5/20 Just everything

The poppies are blooming and will soon be gone. Some of the columbine are blooming with many more to come. The peonies are glorious and cheer me when I come home from work. Thanks so much Kris and Jan for making my beautiful little oasis.

My contributions are helping too. The only bad news is that the pole holding the birdhouse and flowers fell over during a bad storm. Jan thought she had it so far in the ground that it wouldn't dare fall over. Too bad. You tried, Sis.

I'll have Rob re-pot it. :) Plus he gets to put together my patio table and chairs.

He and Beata should be here Tuesday sometime. I'm taking off Wednesday and Friday, plus Thursday morning. I'm so excited.

Article tonight is--Update: Is it okay to let your child die?

5/18 Yum

Had another hard day at work, and Jane gave me some homemade soup. I don't have to cook tonight. As soon as I'm finished publishing this, I'm diving in. And she gave me a WW dessert too. Yay.

Tonight's article is Mothers have great influence over children's social skills

5/17 A beautiful day

What a gorgeous day, huh? Gussie and I walked for a mile or so. Then we went to Panera where Gussie held court again. My oh my he is so popular, and he behaves perfectly there. Quite unlike at home. I mean he's good at home but when a person comes in he jumps all over them. Not at Panera. He is a perfect gentleman. I love it and I'm happy he's so popular.

Tonight's article is Is it okay to let your child die?

Just a little over a week and Rob and Beatka will be here. I can't wait.

5/16 A good (and lazy) Saturday

Jane and I weighed in at WW and both did very well. Then Gussie and I went to the office for more than three hours. Afterward I came home and have been sleeping off and on. Have a terrible headache--a sure sign the weather will get bad again. Maybe it's a stress headache though and not related to weather at all. We'll see. And stress is probably why I'm so tired. But I move offices on Wednesday even though I'm still "the boss" until June 1.

Am on call right now so my slumber has been interrupted by crisis calls. How dare they! :)

Tonight's article is In the military you don't want anyone to think you're "crazy" (Hey, I have to have interesting titles to get people to read the articles.)

5/12 Storm's a'comin'

The air looks a weird shade of green outside my house. Don't know how I'd get all my pets in the basement if necessary. But I'd do it. Anyway, I think the really bad storms won't come until tomorrow night. We'll see....

Tonight's article is When a pet dies: Grieving is grieving and love is love

5/11 A good lunch and more

We had a healthy lunch at work for all of us who signed up for the getting fit program. It was a wonderful salad bar. But the fun was afterward. We got a lesson in Tai Chi. I've wanted to try that for a long time. And it was actually enjoyable. Very slow but I can feel that we did it.

Everyone says that Tai Chi is really good for your overall health, and the teacher talked a lot about arthritis and bad backs, so I know it was for me.

Tonight's article is New type of workplace violence: Women bullying women

5/10 Happy Mothers' Day

I've had a great day. Bought some outside furniture. (Thanks, Pete, for unloading it for me.) Gus and I sat outside while I started reading Twilight. I LOVE IT!

Rob and Beata called me today and so did Jill, so my Mothers' Day was perfect. Plus I got a package from B and R with a lovely turquoise necklace and earrings. Additionally, a shout out on Facebook, an email, and a text. How connected is that? I'm so grateful. Love you all so much.

Last night was tons of fun at Kris's bachelorette party. It started at 4 and I was done by 8. This is a real down side of being old. But it sure was fun while it lasted. :)

Tonight's article is Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi: Moms trust them most and so do I

5/8/09 A great day

My sister and brother-in-law (Jan and Tim) are celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary. That's really something to celebrate!

And 54 years ago today I made my first Communion. Another day to celebrate. :) I remember it very clearly. Feeling like a 7-year-old bride in my white dress and veil. It was such a special feeling. After the Mass, we went home and had a really big party and I got so many presents. I remember my godfather, Uncle Bob, gave me a statue of Mary and I treasured that for many years. Don't know what happened to it, but probably one of my five brothers broke it. When in doubt, blame it on your brother.

Tonight's article is Feel-good Friday: Use this plate to lose some weight

5/6 Last class

Tonight was the last class at QU for this semester. I love teaching, but it will be nice to have my Wednesdays back for a while. Thanks, Cindy, for taking care of Gussie all these weeks. You'll have some time off too. :)

Today was so crazy at work. I keep saying to myself--June 1 isn't that far away. The stress just exhausts me.

Tonight's article is a "feel-good" one for me--Katrina students graduate