~Off Topic Thread~

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Kris is still trying to get used to the heat here in Texas. So far things have been great. We had 2 weeks solid before I had to go back to work. WE've done what we needed to to sort the place out and now its just waiting to do his biometrics this friday and so on. Only thing i'm wanting now is for my youngest to return from his dad's in Florida. That's been beyond hard.

[Jeraly 4]

Oooh - biometrics appointment already?! You have wedding piccies too?!?!?!?! Haven't seen you in ages!! Jeremy only had one day off and we still only have one room with furniture in - our living room consists of computer parts, cushions from the sofa (that is still in storage) and an overturned box that is making a temporary computer desk

I am soooo glad we have our bedroom though NOT like that - it is just nice to have one room that is almost up together - just need curtains and a curtain rail now!!

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Oooh - biometrics appointment already?! You have wedding piccies too?!?!?!?! Haven't seen you in ages!! Jeremy only had one day off and we still only have one room with furniture in - our living room consists of computer parts, cushions from the sofa (that is still in storage) and an overturned box that is making a temporary computer desk

I am soooo glad we have our bedroom though NOT like that - it is just nice to have one room that is almost up together - just need curtains and a curtain rail now!!

Yep. We got married 6/6 and sent the package off for AOS on 6/7. If all goes well he should have his EAD by the time my bday rolls around. Yep. Need more pics IMO.. Heat is horrid here and I'm still renting a duplex so my house already had furniture. Just arranging things to suit us all. LOL Hence being MIA. (that and finishing edits LOL)

[greeneyedgirlfl 0]

So happy that everything's going well for you both!!!

Darren's arriving tomorrow...I am cleaning as much as can get done....

[Jeraly 4]

It's kinda nice to have a blank canvas as it were with the apartment but at the same time it was tough not having a "home" right away - it's nice though because we get to build it together so it is ours And we were only without a bed for two nights which wasn't too bad

Hah! Jeremy just came home with a mahoosive bunch of flowers and loads of chocolate including cadbury's for me AND a bottle of red wine!!!

Also we managed to find Carrs cheese melts, boursin and other cheeses in Stater Brothers (very expensive though). We also managed to find filled pasta that wasn't the buitoni (sp?) stuff that is normally $6 a pack!! AND I have found a cereal close to the one I had back home... all in all life is good right now

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Well, howdy folks. I finally have internet access again. It felt like I was living in 1992 or something. Anyway, we are in California now, just over the border from Arizona, in a little town called Blythe. Jeraly (by the way -- welcome to America!) -- I read your posts about Palm Springs heat and hoooooo boy, do I know what you're talking about. It was about 115F when we arrived today. Bleh.

We are getting into LA tomorrow afternoon, and we already have two viewings lined up. One's a house in Echo Park with a basement and piano, and the other is a little house in West Hollywood with a garage. Slim pickings on Westside Rentals at the moment, probably due to the holiday weekend. Bruce is convinced we aren't ever going to find anything, and even proposed moving to Burbank at one point. I am so not kidding.

Louisiana was not a high point. We hit a massive storm outside Baton Rouge, and I thought we were going to wipe out. I posted a short video of it on YouTube:

. Our motel in Lafayette stank of industrial cleaner and nearly flooded when another storm came. The best part was when I figured out how to order a pizza online from Domino's. For reals.

However, Texas was awesome -- one night in Galveston with my uncle Mike and his partner Jerry. They took us on the grand tour of the island, peppering the scenery with history and politics, and followed it with a veritable feast of seafood down by the sea wall. Then a night in Texas Hill Country, followed by several days in El Paso with family. I got to see my grandmother for the first time in the better part of a decade. When she took me in her arms, I broke down in tears of joy. It was just so wonderful. We had a cookout at my Aunt Judy's and my grandma and her sister, Tia Angela, came by as well. We also fit in a trip to a Western wear shop, and Bruce got kitted out with a cowboy hat and boots, and a western shirt.

Last night was Tucson, then on to Blythe today. Tomorrow is the final trip. This has been totally amazing, even the crappy bits (Taco Bell from Hell in Alabama, traffic in the rain in Houston, bickering in just about every state). If you haven't done the coast-to-coast drive, and you have even the tiniest bit of wanderlust in you, I can't recommend it more.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

But the desert heat is a dry heat, you know, kind of like a blow torch.

Why must the 3 day weekend end, why? And why can't I get any sleep tonight?

[ginger1981 0]

Hehe - she has a partner, refuses to get married and is fiercely independent following her divorce from my dad 17 years ago. That is what is so horrible for me - seeing her like this is totally out of character for her so it makes me feel worse Her other half loves her to death though so I am not worried about that but it is whether she will let him support her

I really really hope that the bloat goes!! I mean I need to lose weight anyway but ballooning up like the michelin man is not my idea of a good look - after Tuesday it is diet time for us!! I have to get fit and lose weight but we gave ourselves until the end of Tuesday as Jeremy has Monday and Tuesday off - holiday time will be over and we need to be more sensible with what we eat... better make the most of it... hmmm - any ideas folks?!

I lost about 30 lbs (2 stone) earlier this year...damn it is tough but if both of you support each other it is much easier. In my case I joined Weight Watchers but different things work for different people.

If you want to eat better cooking at home is the best! Not only can you spend time together preparing the meal, but you can control what goes into the dish. I use low fat stuff whenever possible and turkey meat instead of red meat. We don't really deny ourselves anything...like we'll have a few chocolates or a couple cadbury's digestives after dinner...we just cut back in certain areas.

Welcome back Jeraly. You'll get adjusted....after a month your body should be better adjusted to the heat so you won't have the lovely non-menstrual bloat :-p I'm assuming your mum is single? Maybe your moving will motivate her to start dating again...even just to meet someone as a companion.

When my kids left home I decided to get married.

i thought you was like 25

I am. Well.... maybe more like 35.

Seriously, though. I got married and had children when I was still a kid. Mind you, that's not what I thought back then. Back then, I knew everything. In my head I had it all planned out. I would marry, have children, and live happily ever after. Well, I married and had children, but then my husband died when the kids were just toddlers, and I found out that I knew nothing at all.

I thought you were 25 or so too! I guess the best thing about having kids young is that when they are grown you are still young yourself!

Edited July 7, 2008 by ginger1981

[Ban Hammer 13,206]

g'morning everyone.

[Jeraly 4]

Maven!!! Will you be making it to Palm Springs?!?!!?! Lemme know cause we can make plans - we are meant to be going to Yucaipa to visit Jeremy's family today but if you are skipping PS to stick on the I-10 then maybe we could hook up in Yucaipa which is right next to the interstate We know a great Thai place we can get lunch And when you drive through Cabazon (where all the construction is - they are putting in roundabouts of all things ) you can see A&W next to the casino - Jeremy is the manager at A&W Ooooh I hope we get to meet up!!

Hehe - she has a partner, refuses to get married and is fiercely independent following her divorce from my dad 17 years ago. That is what is so horrible for me - seeing her like this is totally out of character for her so it makes me feel worse Her other half loves her to death though so I am not worried about that but it is whether she will let him support her

I really really hope that the bloat goes!! I mean I need to lose weight anyway but ballooning up like the michelin man is not my idea of a good look - after Tuesday it is diet time for us!! I have to get fit and lose weight but we gave ourselves until the end of Tuesday as Jeremy has Monday and Tuesday off - holiday time will be over and we need to be more sensible with what we eat... better make the most of it... hmmm - any ideas folks?!

I lost about 30 lbs (2 stone) earlier this year...damn it is tough but if both of you support each other it is much easier. In my case I joined Weight Watchers but different things work for different people.

If you want to eat better cooking at home is the best! Not only can you spend time together preparing the meal, but you can control what goes into the dish. I use low fat stuff whenever possible and turkey meat instead of red meat. We don't really deny ourselves anything...like we'll have a few chocolates or a couple cadbury's digestives after dinner...we just cut back in certain areas.

Yeah - we will be doing a lot of home cooking - thing is things tend to be a lot more stodgy here and I am not sure why - even making a "light" stir-fry turns into a plate of carbs and nothing else (potatoes and noodles anyone?!) when Jeremy is at the stove!! It all tastes delicious but he just hasn't grown up with the food I have so he is learning too - a lot of his family are obese and his dad died at the age of 46 from morbid obesity (and Jeremy is hardly small) because they just didn't know how to eat properly. Maybe we'll get a recipe book of healthy things to use as a guide then it will give us both an idea of what we need to use so it becomes easier to improvise

I used weightwatchers when I lost 2st too - I didn't go to any meetings but used the points system which really worked for me. Thing is I have to be stronger willed

[Laura+Tom 2]

Hey all, anyone else really bored at work? Dunno why I'm in this job, have hardly anything to do. It's bad as I thrive on being busy. Luckily VJ is one of the few websites not blocked here.

[Jeraly 4]

Oh and Maven - check your PMs for Jeremy's cell number - we are off out to Yucaipa now

[no name 1]

Good morning folks.

I had a great weekend but pulled my back (again) & my chiro/acupuncturist is on vacation all week.

Welcome to LA, Maven! When are drinks???

[Robyn-n-Kris 72]

Hey all, anyone else really bored at work? Dunno why I'm in this job, have hardly anything to do. It's bad as I thrive on being busy. Luckily VJ is one of the few websites not blocked here.

Bored and don't want to be here today. Hard to leave Kris in the mornings! <sigh> Poor guy still isn't used to the heat yet!

[ginger1981 0]

Hey all, anyone else really bored at work? Dunno why I'm in this job, have hardly anything to do. It's bad as I thrive on being busy. Luckily VJ is one of the few websites not blocked here.

Bored and don't want to be here today. Hard to leave Kris in the mornings! <sigh> Poor guy still isn't used to the heat yet!

At least the summer hasn't been brutal here...yet. I did buy Nicky a few pairs of shorts before he moved here as I don't think he has ever owned a pair...not like he needed a pair in the far North! But he's been adjusting better than I expected.