Something wonderful today.

[Melissa]

This past weekend, I went and had my bra size measured and I guess I'm bigger than I thought.  I'm now wearing a 36C sized bra.  I was surprised by how well it fit.

[Christo]

I got my tatoo today.  a cobra on my right arm. its hella cool & I'm dancin'

[Suzy]

Have a new kitty in the family.  This is another Bengal.  (That makes two.)  Her owner had to move.  Too many pets, but couldn't let her go somewhere unloved.  She is gorgeous and very sweet but needs to adjust to the other kittlies in the house.  If you've never heard a Bengal growl, it's a little scary.  Because they are a cross-bred wild and domestic cat, they sound and look like a small leopard.

Kristi

[Maebh]

That's it! I got the tickets today. We are flying (my son, two daughters and myself) to Marseille early on Sunday Morning the 3rd of June and will pay a surprise visit to my mother (82) on that day which is Mother's day in France. When we land, pretending to be calling from Dublin, we will phone her from the airport to wish her Happy Mother's day. She is very sick and always complains that we are all so far away. As she lives close to Martigues in just a few minutes we will then be arriving on her doorsteps in the flesh. I can't wait to see the surprise on her face.
The children are excited too. My eldest daughter has cancelled a gig to be able to make it, my youngest one has found somebody to replace her for the first 2 days of her first summer job! and my son has organised a swap on his job roster. I have also rented a car so we can drive to Grasse to visit my Step-father (84) and Step-sister in Cannes the following day. I feel so good, I've just realised that despites everything she did I have forgiven her, I love her and want to give her some happiness. 
I feel very emotional and close to tears.
The healing of the relationship with my Step-father started 15 years ago when he appologised for what had happened and asked me to take his horse on a morning ramble. It was completed last summer when he came here to Ireland and we went for long drives and walks in the country. There I thanked him for the legacy he gave me with his deep appreciation of the wonders and bounty of nature and for sharing his skills in hunting, fishing and gathering. I told him about the pride and satisfaction I have felt about having passed them on to my own children.
I know that she will never change and that her way to survive is by denial and that's ok. When I recall what my Grand-mother (her mother) did to me I can only imagine what she did to her. I am just so glad that somehow I managed to break the cycle and didn't pass it on to the next generation. May be she didn't have the resources I have had or the abuse was too deep. I am sure that she always tried the best she could and I don't blame her anymore.
It seems just ironic that the child she never wanted and despised (me) is the one who has come to realise that she allways was like a child herself and that hopefully I can give her the love she deserves and that she had been deprived of.
   
HLL&R

Maebh

[cindianna_jones]

Maebh, I can feel the warmth eminating through the ethersphere! I hope you have a wonderful visit.  And I am so proud of you for "breaking the chain".  I believe that there is a lot of that happening in our generation.  Shoot, give us a couple more generations, and we just might break a lot of the bigotry and hatred in this world.

I've been having a wonderful day in the shop.  I've got all the doors and windows open and I'm not making any serious booboos!  That's a great day!

Cindi

[BeverlyAnn]

Today is our 37^th wedding anniversary.

Beverly & Dee

[Maebh]

Today is our 37^th wedding anniversary.

Beverly & Dee

Congratulations to you both.  You must have started very young then! 
Lets celebrate! There is to your health and happiness.


I'm backfrom the South of France . My mum insisted to be home for mother's day so she will go back to hospital tomorrow Friday to be operated on Monday. She was delighted with the visit, she cried and kept saying that it was the first time in her life (at 82) that she ever cried from happiness. So it made it all worth it. Also my brother who is on the run, phoned her, that was the icing on the cake and more tears of happiness! I went fishing with her husband and had a good man to man talk with him. He is trying his best but at 80 it is hard for him. Depending on how things go, I offered to come down and give a hand.
The children were brillant, during the travel we had plenty of time to be together and talk and share. I am so proud of them.
We went to see my step-father in Grasse and had a great time there too. He is 84 and had cooked a Corsican dinner for us, himself and his wife, my step sister (his daughter)  and her husband, his step daughter and her husband and her son, 11 people in all! Starting with Charcuterie made from wild Corsican boars meat and tomato salad (from his garden),  Soupe au pistou (Vegetables, from the garden too, and basil soup), Pasta e fajole (Lamb roast with beans and pasta), Corsican Cheeses, Corsican Wines, Fresh Fruits salad (fresh from the trees) laced with Aqua Vida (home made moonshine). Then we looked at photos, reminisced about things, sang songs and laughted and played cards until 4 o'clock in the morning. Of course the old fox was delighted with himself as he fleeced us all at poker. OhYea there is still some kick in the old sumere! Must be the fresh air and the good food...
All in all I am so glad of how well it went and the way the family is rallying around for each others. Who would have thought this was possible when, all these years ago, we all ran away as far as possible as soon as we could. We are even looking at some ways we could all chip-in to help my brother and his children from Texas to come over and visit too.
Of course I cried a lot too. For ages, swimming under the benigne silver smile of the full moon, I let all the old pains and hurts flow out to be washed away by the embracing sea.

HLLL&R

Maebh

[Melissa]

I discoved last night that due to my loose joints, I can do do some contortion with my body.  I put one arm around my neck and over my opposite shoulder and reached the other arm up behind my back and was able to clasp my fingers together.  It looked very distorted.  I'll have to take a picture of me doing that because it looks great, especially with my shoulder bones sticking way out.   I just need to figure out a good location for the camera and put it on auto capture.  Either that, or reach up with my leg and push the button using my toe.

[RebeccaFog]

I discoved last night that due to my loose joints, I can do do some contortion with my body.  I put one arm around my neck and over my opposite shoulder and reached the other arm up behind my back and was able to clasp my fingers together.  It looked very distorted.  I'll have to take a picture of me doing that because it looks great, especially with my shoulder bones sticking way out.   I just need to figure out a good location for the camera and put it on auto capture.  Either that, or reach up with my leg and push the button using my toe.

That's what's wrong with you young people. You're too lazy to push buttons with your tongue.  >

[cindianna_jones]

I discoved last night that due to my loose joints, I can do do some contortion with my body.  I put one arm around my neck and over my opposite shoulder and reached the other arm up behind my back and was able to clasp my fingers together.  It looked very distorted.  I'll have to take a picture of me doing that because it looks great, especially with my shoulder bones sticking way out.   I just need to figure out a good location for the camera and put it on auto capture.  Either that, or reach up with my leg and push the button using my toe.

Wow Melissa, I guess this means that you can scratch your own back.

Maebh, I found myself lost in your description! Wow... I would have loved to have been there with you.  The meal sounds fabu.  I'd love to try all that good stuff.

Cindi

[Melissa]

Ok, here's a picture of me doing it:


I had to make each shoulder come out of joint in a different direction to achieve this.  Don't worry, they come right out and go right back in effortlessly.

That's what's wrong with you young people. You're too lazy to push buttons with your tongue.  >

Actually, I did end up using my tongue to push the button.  I didn't want to fall on my butt and risk injuring myself while I had my arms in that position.

Wow Melissa, I guess this means that you can scratch your own back.

I've always been able to do that.  Same with lathering it in the shower.  I always wondered what the point of back scratchers was since I thought that was normal before.  Well, at least now I have photo proof that my body is just weird.

[cindianna_jones]

Okay Melissa, you win!  What can I say?

Cindi

[TheBattler]

I have been Happy all week and it has continued today. I hope I am done with depression - I hated it so I am glad top bit it farewell.

Alice

[Renae.Lupini]

My best friend from high school found my profile on classmates.com. He then searched MySpace for the name and found me. After seeing everything and knowing it was true, all he could think was, "But she was my best man."

We did the Marine Corps at the same time. I was in fact his best man in his wedding, and we raised a lot of hell when we were younger. He wanted to get in touch with me to let me know I had his complete support.

[BeverlyAnn]

My best friend from high school found my profile on classmates.com. He then searched MySpace for the name and found me. After seeing everything and knowing it was true, all he could think was, "But she was my best man."

We did the Marine Corps at the same time. I was in fact his best man in his wedding, and we raised a lot of hell when we were younger. He wanted to get in touch with me to let me know I had his complete support.

That's great coming from someone out of the past like that. 
Just think, it he and his wife redo their vows in the future, you can either be the best woman or a bridesmaid.

Ok, here's a picture of me doing it:

That makes my shoulder hurt just to look at it.   

Beverly

[Renae.Lupini]

I am just looking forward to their ten year anniversary in three years.

[Melissa]

Ok, here's a picture of me doing it:

That makes my shoulder hurt just to look at it.   

Good, objective achieved then.   I can't say there was no pain, but not really any more than when you stretch muscles to warmup for exercise.

[Maebh]

I have been Happy all week and it has continued today. I hope I am done with depression - I hate it so I am glad top bit it farewell.
Alice

  Good for you!   
As Laeticia Bonaparte used to say; " Pourvu que ca dure"  (May it last.)
At least you now know that you can.

HLLL&R

Maebh

[Kate]

A snippet from a most *incredible* day...

My wife brought the daughter of a friend over to meet Kate tonight. She's a very pretty and boy-crazed teenager. My wife explained what I was doing, so she'd know what to expect.

She was cool when we met, though it was a little awkward in the beginning. I found out later why.

She told my wife that she got totally confused when she walked in, as she saw a "a girl sitting on the couch... and she was pretty. Her hair, face, everything..." but couldn't figure out where Kate was. She said she was expecting to see a half-female/male kinda person, so she didn't know who the girl was on the couch, and where I was, lol.

This whole day has been like that. I whined and pleaded for validation for so long, and suddenly I'm just drowning in it, from everyone, everywhere. I just... can't... believe it...

~Kate~

[Suzy]

This whole day has been like that. I whined and pleaded for validation for so long, and suddenly I'm just drowning in it, from everyone, everywhere. I just... can't... believe it...
~Kate~

Why not?  The rest of us have for quite a while now.

I'm celebrating with you!

Kristi