Off Topic Forum...

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

So for all of you folks that have driven through South Dakota, did you stop in at Wall drugs??

Nope. Been through South Dakota by bus (it wasn't too bad, one time the guy next to me was a murderer) and by auto. Saw all the signs (Sturgis, Mount Rushmore, etc.) and I kept thinking, "it must be Hell to have a breakdown out here." Let us never speak of South Dakota again.

You mean this?

Wow, I see Rapid City has gone urban.

Reminds me of the urban cowboy's refrain, "Home, Home, on the out-of-range."

We have a phone

So I ordered this phone, unlimited calling in the U.S. and to Canada for $20 a year (first year with shipping etc actually works out to around 50 some dollars)

Magic Jack

Looks promising.

[Krikit 1,165]

let us know how that magic jack works. I saw a few people in the OT have had and like it

Trailmix has already heard all this but my sister-in-law has two. (Damn. Wish I'd kept that email. Wouldn't have to rewrite it here. LOL) She gave one to her daughter who moved to Korea, and she has one for herself. When we go to my in-laws for family gatherings, she plugs the jack into the computer, plugs the phone into the jack, and we all get to talk to Antonia for free. (Either Sharon calls her, or she calls Sharon.) The thing is awesome. I have no idea why I haven't ordered one yet.

[trailmix 77]

So far I have called my Sister in nebbie and my Mom in Canada - works like a charm!

Few things to consider:

1. The area codes you have to choose from, when you choose your number, may not be local, for instance ours is for Dade County - not really near. Could be an issue if it is your primary phone and you have people calling you locally.

2. Call display - displays the number on the comp monitor rather than on your phone - not a big issue really.

I haven't set up the voice mail yet, but will report back in with my findings!!

[trailmix 77]

Voice mail set up - cool.

Edited April 24, 2008 by trailmix

[jundp 191]

Had lovely chat today with guy at Canadian customs. Why am I not emigrating to Canada? Seriously. So nice, answered my questions, and gave me advice at the same time.

If only USCIS were that nice....

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Well, I am smiling today:-) Earlier this afternoon I saw my first hummingbird of the season! It was hovering around the flowers on the rosemary bush at the back window, exciting the cats who were in crouch stalk position, their ears lowered sideways and making that chittering noise they make with their teeth. Of course, by the time I got my camera out he had flitted away. Still, it is good to know they are back, so I went and put the hummingbird feeder out again. And - our iris are blooming! We have a friend in Missouri who used to breed, show and sell iris professionally. A few years ago she started to cut back on her beds due to getting older and not being able to look after them all properly. She offered rhizomes to friends who would give them good homes and we took 100. They didn't bloom well the first year but last year was spectacular and this year they are doing even better! The smallest patch is in the front garden - all purple "Dusky Challengers" although 3 "Orange Popsicles" sneaked in too. There are currently 36 blooms either in blossom or about to blossom there. Out back along the left edge of the hill there are 160 blooms either in blossom or about to blossom - mixed colours of burgundy, pale blue, lavender, yellow, gold, violet tinged with purple and white. Over on the far right is a smaller patch mainly white and yellow and pale mauve with 103 blooms in blossom or about to blossom. It felt delightful out there tonight filling up the bird feeders and seeing these gorgeous flowers! And, one of the yucca plants in our dessert type hill garden is also about to bloom. What really is nice is that when I moved here it was just a barren, rivuleted, ugly clay hill where only weeds and kudzu grew. Slowly, we are making progress in reclaiming it:-). Tonight was one of those nights I just wanted to smile looking at it all:-).

Edited April 25, 2008 by Kathryn41

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Well, I am smiling today:-) Earlier this afternoon I saw my first hummingbird of the season! It was hovering around the flowers on the rosemary bush at the back window, exciting the cats who were in crouch stalk position, their ears lowered sideways and making that chittering noise they make with their teeth. Of course, by the time I got my camera out he had flitted away. Still, it is good to know they are back, so I went and put the hummingbird feeder out again. And - our iris are blooming! We have a friend in Missouri who used to breed, show and sell iris professionally. A few years ago she started to cut back on her beds due to getting older and not being able to look after them all properly. She offered rhizomes to friends who would give them good homes and we took 100. They didn't bloom well the first year but last year was spectacular and this year they are doing even better! The smallest patch is in the front garden - all purple "Dusky Challengers" although 3 "Orange Popsicles" sneaked in too. There are currently 36 blooms either in blossom or about to blossom there. Out back along the left edge of the hill there are 160 blooms either in blossom or about to blossom - mixed colours of burgundy, pale blue, lavender, yellow, gold, violet tinged with purple and white. Over on the far right is a smaller patch mainly white and yellow and pale mauve with 103 blooms in blossom or about to blossom. It felt delightful out there tonight filling up the bird feeders and seeing these gorgeous flowers! And, one of the yucca plants in our dessert type hill garden is also about to bloom. What really is nice is that when I moved here it was just a barren, rivuleted, ugly clay hill where only weeds and kudzu grew. Slowly, we are making progress in reclaiming it:-). Tonight was one of those nights I just wanted to smile looking at it all:-).

I'm partial to lilies myself but I know a bit about irises. Are they bearded, crested or beardless? Dusky Challenger and Orange Popsicle are both bearded I believe. A Dusky Challenger, I've never of that colour, only Go Mango, Plum Crazy, Banana Yellow and Panther Pink. Only daffodils are blooming around here. At least the figs are swelling in the basement and the frangipani and jasmines are going crazy, time for the boys to go out.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hmmm frangipani and jasmine! The Dusky Challengers are a deep rich purple and the Orange Popsicles are a nice shade of pale apricot -but they smell like orange popsicles, hence their name. yes, these are all tall, bearded iris. I do have a list of all of the different names and their colours in my files but I end up sending photos of them back to their breeder so she can tell me which are which:-) and I can remember what they look like:-).

Our daffodils are long gone and the azaleas are over as well, but the iris are late which is perfect since we had a cold spell about 10 days ago. Last year they were earlier and we had 3 nights below freezing just as they were coming into bloom and I lost quite a few even though I covered them - the temperature just got too cold for them:-(. Tomorrow I will be putting outside the outdoor plants that we winter inside as I think they will be safe now.

We have lots of day lilies and canna lilies as well - they are not in bloom yet but the day lilies will come in after the iris and along with the red hot pokers. The canna lilies will bloom all summer as well. I have to move some of the cannas up to the top of the hill but the garden bed isn't ready yet - we have had rainy weather the last number of weekends and haven't been able to get the work done that needs doing. They may not have a chance to get very big up there this year but next year they should be lovely again.

Edited April 25, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Krikit 1,165]

Oh, your garden sounds lovely, Kathryn. You need to post pictures.

[Delicia 1]

Hubby is booked to come see me and he will be here day after tomorrow. It is an unplanned visit of sorts and only initiated because all my labs came back bad earlier this week. Nothing life threatening, but all I can do is giggle and think: see what prolonged immigration will get ya? I am now borderline diabetic, got a hyper-something thyroid, blood pressure has almost tripled, horrible cholesterol levels and a brand new diagnosis of asthma to top it off. I haven't slept more that 4 hours a day in months and I seriously miss sleeping. The only thing working right seems to be my liver. Even my skin disorder is going nuts and now I have 'special soap' and lotion. Doc wrote me a pad full of scripts for this that and the other thing and I really don't want to start down that path. I will start the thyroid stuff, but am going to try hard to manage the other issues with diet/exercise changes first before I become a pill-popping fanatic.

Hubby has always been reluctant to brave both Canadian and U.S. Border Patrol and both hassle him equally so he was planning on not coming to the U.S. until the U.S. Congress deemed him 'acceptable' and sprinkled water on him and waved smoke around him while dancing in their tribal suits and ties. His work sites are pretty much closed to him due to a bad winter in Toronto all the new construction is behind schedule, so he is not working this week or next, so why not spend that time with me? He is coming down armed to the teeth with my new diet/exercise plan and willing to help train my somewhat disobedient dog (doggy boot camp of sorts) while I still have to go to work.

I am tired of life and the daily battle to stay sane and there never seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, except of course, for that on coming train. Perhaps by the time I come back next week to look at who's been approved and who hasn't, I will have moved up a spot or two on the list. For now, I think that elusive approval just isn't ever going to happen and he and I will be living in our own level of hell reserved for the foolish and hopeful idiots like us.

[Krikit 1,165]

((((((((((((((Delicia)))))))))))))))))

I hope you are feeling better soon and that your husband's visit will lift your spirits. (F)

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Hubby is booked to come see me and he will be here day after tomorrow. It is an unplanned visit of sorts and only initiated because all my labs came back bad earlier this week. Nothing life threatening, but all I can do is giggle and think: see what prolonged immigration will get ya? I am now borderline diabetic, got a hyper-something thyroid, blood pressure has almost tripled, horrible cholesterol levels and a brand new diagnosis of asthma to top it off. I haven't slept more that 4 hours a day in months and I seriously miss sleeping. The only thing working right seems to be my liver. Even my skin disorder is going nuts and now I have 'special soap' and lotion. Doc wrote me a pad full of scripts for this that and the other thing and I really don't want to start down that path. I will start the thyroid stuff, but am going to try hard to manage the other issues with diet/exercise changes first before I become a pill-popping fanatic.

Hubby has always been reluctant to brave both Canadian and U.S. Border Patrol and both hassle him equally so he was planning on not coming to the U.S. until the U.S. Congress deemed him 'acceptable' and sprinkled water on him and waved smoke around him while dancing in their tribal suits and ties. His work sites are pretty much closed to him due to a bad winter in Toronto all the new construction is behind schedule, so he is not working this week or next, so why not spend that time with me? He is coming down armed to the teeth with my new diet/exercise plan and willing to help train my somewhat disobedient dog (doggy boot camp of sorts) while I still have to go to work.

I am tired of life and the daily battle to stay sane and there never seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel, except of course, for that on coming train. Perhaps by the time I come back next week to look at who's been approved and who hasn't, I will have moved up a spot or two on the list. For now, I think that elusive approval just isn't ever going to happen and he and I will be living in our own level of hell reserved for the foolish and hopeful idiots like us.

My heart goes out to you. A hyperactive thyroid will have you crawling up the wall. I hope the rest of your health problems clear up and if you need a bit of succor, we'll do our best to provide it!!!! The hellacious imbroglio you find yourself in will end, so don't give up. That's exactly what the USCIS wants you to do, don't give those f*ckers the pleasure.

[Leafgal 3]

Good morning everyone.

[Ban Hammer 13,530]

Good morning everyone.

g'morning everyone. i see someone beat me to the coffee again. ya'll get up too early in the morning for me, i usually don't post on vj until i get to work

[Leafgal 3]

Well you will just have to start getting up a little earlier Charles and then post and then who knows what else you will have time for before you go to work lol. Have a great day, wish I could say I was at work, oh soon I am sure.