Just Joy - June Week 2

[rustop59]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Hi everyone

Things have brightened up here again. To answer your question Star, summer in Ireland is nothing if not unpredictable!! We never get 3 months of sun, its mild and if we are lucky we get sunny spells. Sometimes we get a heatwave but we never know from one year to the next what will come.

Dill/Star/LBH and Jolie - your days sound wonderful. I had a laugh when I read about your uncle LBH, he is doing things his way :H

Lav - glad you are putting YB to good use and rightly so. I think you have it made, peace at home, no moods and he's on tap when needed. Your comment "there are times/instances where I would have been better off not trusting certain people.......people that I knew (not strangers). Leaves me a bit confused" struck a chord with me. I am going through something with a friend at the moment. I have known her for 10 years and thought I knew her really well, a really warm and open person but now I am seeing a completely different side. Traits that I thought was naievity, not fully clued in is in actual fact slyness. The situation is between her and another friend and their daughters and I am not directly involved. Being on the sidelines is very interesting!!!

Spent the morning in the garden, going to read the Sunday papers soon and just relax. Hope everyone has a brillant Sunday.

Rustop

[ladybirdheart]

Just Joy - June Week 2

I agree Star, living where we are in the moment, just being, brings us to an extraordinary place, no need for workshops, books, gurus, seeking, searching, it?s really quite inexpensive and convenient. When I used to backpack, one of my favorite parts was how it took really all day just to take care of elemental things, and how rather than being a problem or hindrance keeping me from what I ?really? wanted to be doing, this was just fine. I shall think of this today on my AF Sunday. I quite remember the advent of your seven Koi, Dill, you will probably soon be having surviving babies once they find a spot to hide out. I wish I could see your pond, mine is tiny. The best part of your pond, however, would be you. Enjoy the clearly mysterious, dark but intriguing chauffeur, Lav, maybe he will wear a cute uniform. Glad the sky is brighter, Rustop, I certainly wish I could be a fly on the wall with you as you observe the odd unmasking of your friend. Seems both unsettling and fascinating, and it is good to keep perspective. Happy Morning, Jolie, I trust you had a fine celebration with your honorary daughter. Love, Ladybird.

[Lavande]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Car transfer completed

This car of mine is an 'extra' & it has served the entire family well. I had it home about an hour when my son arrived to pick it up. It will likely be in his possession for the next year or more (another long story). It's a 98 Chevy, not sure how much life it has left but it sure does go!! I'm just happy to be able to help the kids out when they have car troubles

Dill, I've been thinking about your fish pond today! We had a small one at our former home, kind of miss the excitement of all that. Glad you are enjoying yours.

Rustop, we can never truly know what's in someone else's heart or mind. It's all about trust & when someone breaks that trust ~ things change! You are absolutely right about YB. I have to be honest, finding some mind peace, perhaps for the first time ever has been good.....very good. As long as I keep my thoughts in the present I amperfectly OK

LBH, I'd like to see a picture of you in your backpacking days!

I noticed the temperature hit 93 degrees (on my dashboard thermometer). Along with the super duper humidity = yuck!

Grateful for my AC tonight!

[sdlovespackers]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good Evening Everyone!

Hi Dill!! SO glad to see you back posting!! I had a hunch that once things settled down with school that you'd be back!! I'm glad I was right!!! :l Hope your back is feeling better!! Glad you got to get out and enjoy the nice weather, your pond and your grandkids!

Lav--I'm sure your kids love knowing that no matter how old they get they can always count on mom!! I know i love knowing that...even though someday I'd LOVE not to feel like I rely on my mom as much as I do....and mine is more for reassurance more than anything?!

LBH--I"m guessing you could tell many fascinating adventure stories that your life has taken you on!! You're such a neat lady!!! Where are some of the places you went backpacking??

Rustop--I know I've said this before, but someday I really want to go to Ireland...so when would you suggest is the best time to travel there...weather-wise?? My friend is having her family reunion over there in July....like 40+ people all meeting over there...how fun would that be!!! SHe can't come to our class reunion because of it which stinks but still...going to Ireland would be so cool!!

Star--you are sounding so happy and at peace these days!!! Summer does you well, huh!? I love summer!!! You mentioned getting a good parking place at the grocery store....that made me laugh....that can TOTALLY make my whole day when that happens!!! Funny, how it's the small things in life! Doesn't take much to make us happy, right!?

Jolie--glad you had a good time at the beach...gotta wear that sunscreen!! Sunburns on the tops of your feet are the WORST!!!! One time I burned my feet so bad that I couldn't even wear tennis shoes my feet swelled so bad!!! Never again!!! I always lather those little piggies good!!! LOL!!

Where is everyone this weekend??? Pap3, Rusty, Chill....just to name A FEW!!!

I went to our lake cabin on Friday for my birthday and then because it was so nice ended up staying until today. My son took a friend with us so they did a bunch of fishing and looking for crawfish. Got back this evening and went over and had diner with my mom and stepdad. It was a very nice weekend!! On Tuesday "my friend" and I are going to the play that is here in town...should be fun!! My son has his first summer league baseball game tomorrow....so we're off and running!!!

On a side note....at my parent's house tonight they took pictures (they made a birthday dinner and cake tonight for me and you have to wear a birthday hat...it's tradition)...anyway....a year ago I have pictures of me sitting in the same chair, same hat....but OMG!!!! A year ago I was A MESS!!! I look like total shit...I am fat, puffy so freakin' unhappy and I know the thoughts in my head we're God, just get this over so I can get home and have some wine!!! The other thoughts in my head that nights we're...."SD, if you don't get your shit together, you aren't going to be here next year to celebrate your birthday....or at least your son won't be with you!" It was my birthday that I started getting very, VERY scared...looking online for rehabs....asking my ex husband if there was anyway he'd be able to watch my son for the month of July, checking with my insurance on what they would cover and if they would tell my work.....I was terrified....and then what would I tell my son....where was I going....what would it do to him????

I'm SOO tempted to post those two pictures....and I never thought I'd ever post a picture of myself....but for anyone who wonders if they should stop drinking...or what 1 year AF looks like....I could show you....the transformation is UNBELIEVABLE!!! I can SEE IT now!!!! What makes me even happier is I can SEE IT when I look into my son's eyes!!!

HUGS to you ALL!!
SD:l

[Stargazerlily]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good morning to all...

SD, so amazing to hear that you are doing so well, especially in comparison to last year. It is cool to hear that things have positively changed for you...you son...family...and now a person you are dating. What made you take the plunge and how did you do it? I wondered if the supplements here were part of the program for you. Thanks so much for sharing your journey with its many ups and downs, but now more ups.

Lav, you are always so busy, you sound well. It is hard to trust others, I can have a great superficial relationship with someone, it takes so much more time to reveal anything personal, but I think that is just good judgement. It takes time to get to know someone. Also, we all make mistakes and goof up, sometimes it is hard to know when to keep up a relationship after something happens. Other times it is easy.

Rustop, thanks for the Irish weather report! Hope you have periods of sunshine this week and warmth too.

Dill, good you are off and able to take it easy.

LBH, your backpacking days sound so interesting. You are right, when we are outside taking care of the basics, we are in the moment, and it is usually a good place.

Off to work today, good thing too as I did too much outside, got lots of sun, and need to take it easier physically. To all, have a great day.

[dill]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good morning threadsters! So good to start the day unhung. What a gift. And to think, it was mine all along. Kind of like Dorothy in the Wizard: just had to click my heels together and I'd be there.

SD, I was so moved by your post. I would really like to see those pictures but understand if you don't want to post them. How would you feel about sending in an email? I think it would be very helpful for me to see the dramatic difference. And Happy Birthday!! You are a true inspiration and it's wonderful that you are here.:l:h

Jolie and Lav, very interesting turn around on the "stranger" theme. We can have strangers very close at hand it appears. We all possess the potential for both good and bad within ourselves. Just like so many things, it is a choice which one we act upon. None of us choose correctly all of the time and most often when the wrong choice is made it is made with people that are closest to us, or at least in our sphere. OMG! Where did all that come from!!! LOL!!! Sorry to wax so philosophical so early in the day!!:H

I'm going to try to post a picture of our pond. LBH's wish is my command!

Have a gread af day all. Attached files [img]/converted_files/1877827=6856-attachment.jpg[/img] [img]/converted_files/1877827=6857-attachment.jpg[/img] [img]/converted_files/1877827=6858-attachment.jpg[/img]

[dill]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Well, that didn't work out as planned. Sorry. I'm going to have to brush up on photobucket. It's been awhile. Anyway, sorry they didn't appear within the post.

[Lavande]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good morning all!

All I can say is we were in Ireland the first week of June 2003 & the weather was near perfect. I remember a few brief showers that really didn't interfere with anything......hope you get some nice weather this week rustop

SD, I've noticed the same thing in pictures, nice side effect, huh?
Glad you enjoyed your time away & birthday celebration!

Star, I think I've decided that my biggest issue is automatically wanting to trust people. But I end up hurt when they turn out to be such sneaky liars. I expect others to be as up front & honest about stuff as I am Hope you have a 'relaxing' day at work.

Hope to see some of the others today.
I'm off to Curves then back here for a bit of work. I have a babysitting gig at 7 am tomorrow - fabulous!

[rustop59]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Hi everyone

SD - you should be so so proud of yourself and what you are doing for your son. All I can say is be prepared for any kind of weather here and pack sun and rain gear. You can be lucky, we had a lovely May and early June is usually good. We got married in August and it was fabulous. Mother Nature likes to keep us on our toes :H

Lav - that is exactly how I am feeling at the moment. This friend did not do anything to me personally. Well pulled down the shutters and total silence but that was her decision. I have to admit I dont like the feeling of being frozen out and have much more sympathy for her husband being on the receiving end of that kind of treatment. What really upset me was that I had never seen this side of her before and I really did not like the way she treated our other friend. Oh well live and learn.

On the plus side the weather today was fab. Miss Layla went to the vet for her shot this morning so we had a short walk on the beach (daughter did not have proper shoes) and then in the afternoon I took the goldie on another walk by the river with friends. Pulled a wheelbarrow full of weeds and managed to get all the floors done. Productive day overall.

Big hello to all to come and have a great AF week.

Rustop

[Lavande]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Back again

Dill, we must have cross posted this morning. You pond is the real deal ~ nice!!!!
All we had was basically a concrete rectangle (installed by the former home owner). Actually, it had been filled in with dirt & we decided to dig it out & give it a shot - still it was nice. Your fish look great!

About trusting friends and/or strangers......
For me, the incidence of being hurt by friends far outweighs any stranger damage ever inflicted on me. That's why I remain confused - completely unsure whether it is in my best interest to ever trust anyone again.....except myself of course
I am completely at peace with the choices and subsequent actions I've taken regarding myself the past several years. At least I have that but I do often feel like I am traveling solo which scares me. No one on the planet knows what I am thinking or why I do what I do - except you guys. So thank you for being such good friends :l

Now I'm thinking about some of our MIA friends.....

[ladybirdheart]

Just Joy - June Week 2

SD your post will stay with me for a long, long time. I deeply thank dear you, and I too would love to see those photos in a PM or email (I?ll give you my address). Dill, your pond is beautiful and HUGE, around here that would be a small lake. Fat happy fish, and a good place to heal your back. Lav, I am like you with your natural tendency, at least until more recently, to trust; unless I get a rare weird vibe, I assume people are trustworthy and they tend to live up to the expectation, when they don?t it might be sad but it has nothing to do with me. I am basically a loner these days in any case, I just don't run into anyone who seems aligned with my inner self. I always feel surrounded by life even if there is nobody there (there is medication for that but I am not yet going to take it:H). Rustop, that puppy must be quite the significant new family member, in the corner of my eye I still see the little Jack named Beau belonging to my cousin and he lives two thousand miles away! Enjoy your work day, Star, after a weekend of taking care of things, I used to like the transition to something more cerebral (and lucrative), and it is nice to make a contribution through one?s vocation. On the home front, I am so happy to have had formal exercise this morning after three weeks of having the ancient pool closed for repairs; I move around a lot and walk everywhere but this is my best place for aerobic and resistance training, flexibility, and much laughing. A good start to my AF Monday. Love, Ladybird.

[Jolie]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Evening Junebirds

Lav - Don't know about you but there is a nice breeze blowing thru the windows (no - we still haven't turned the AC on). Looks like the rest of the week will be not so hot and humid - this menopausal lady is lovin it!

LBH - glad you have your pool and yes - it is wonderful excercise that is easy on the joints!

Rustop - love the name Layla and glad to hear your little puppy is doing well. My son has a golden retriever that is just shy of 2 and still a bundle of energy!

Dill - so right! Sometimes the ones we need to be wary of are the ones that are closer to us than any old stranger! Doesn't seem fair does it?

SD - sunburn subsided the next day thank goodness. Enough so that I'm ready to go back :H There is just something about the ocean . . . What an inspiration you are to me! Like those before me said - we would love to see those pictures - you should be very proud of yourself!

Star - hope you take it easy and enjoy your work week!

Short work-week for me - taking Friday and next Monday off - turning 50 on Saturday and I'm trying to remember - it's just a number, it's just a number. Dwelling on how old you are is just a waste of time - live in the moment and enjoy every one of them!

Hope everyone has a great night!

[papmom3]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Hi Everyone, sorry to be MIA for a few days but dealing with a friend's crisis and my vacation just flew by! Tough to go back to work.

For any Joyful Juners out there near Wilcox, AZ (the I-10), please click on the links below and try to help out anyway you can. There are posts to the FB page almost by the minute but time is running out. Just a short recap:

Elicia Calhoun(reknowned agility trainer) was involved in a terrible accident in Arizona today. Two of her dogs are missing in the desert. Three are in the hospital. Unfortunately, I heard that one died on impact. I don't know who that is (it was the new Kelpie puppy)Please, if you are anywhere near, please help Elicia find her dogs.

Two of her dogs are missing near Mile Marker 351 off the I-10 near Wilcox, Arizona. Please, keep an eye out for these poor dogs! Toby is a red/white border collie and Nika is a Merle-colored Aussie with only one eye and a tail.

Here are the links and a poster of the missing dogs:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/PetsWeekly/53486083507#!/groups/344888635582961/



The posts are coming in fast and furious on the FB page but so far no sitings.


Hugs to everyone!!

[Lavande]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good morning joyous people,

Not so sure how joyous I am since I've been babysitting duty since 7 am. It's now 9 am & I have to hang in until 2ish :H

That was a sad story about the woman & dogs in AZ Papmom. Hope they made some progress in their search & rescue efforts.

Jolie, there was no sign of a breeze at my house last night. Even with the AC on this post menopausal MiMom was hot & bothered :H :H

LBH, I also don't run into people who think like me. Is that normal or just weird? Am I that weird? Are we both weird?

EB wants to use my iPad. Should I let him? It's just amazing how much 3 year olds can do these days. I actually have a bunch of apps downloaded just or him!

Have a great day all!

[Rusty]

Just Joy - June Week 2

Good Morning June Friends,

I am at work in New Jersey so this will have to be quick (you're all probably relieved!:H)

Lav-

For me, the incidence of being hurt by friends far outweighs any stranger damage ever inflicted on me. That's why I remain confused - completely unsure whether it is in my best interest to ever trust anyone again.....except myself of course

. I hear you and agree wholeheartedly. Over the last year, I have found out that someone in my life claiming to be one of my dearest friends has been gossipping about me. At first, I was furious and heartbrooken, but now, I just don't care to have someone so poisonous in my life. I have unfortunately found the same thing out about my brother's wife....a woman I have loved since I was 15, and someone whom I thought loved me and my family. Not the case. I have found strangers to be much, much kinder. I am too trusting, though. I have been told that my whole life. Good job on making YB help you with that tire, Lav.

Rustop-I am so sorry you've been frozen out....and I'm glad you're handling it AF. I had the same experience a while back and tried to handle it drinking. Um, not a good move. Nothing got handled, of course.

LBH-the story about your uncle cracked me up.

SD-Awww....I loved how you told the story about your birthday party. You sound so energetic and I'm glad you are lovin' the AF life. And I am thrilled that you have found someone special in your life. Oh, how well I know the fright of those photos during my drinking days. I had a similar before and after horror-, but it was at weddings!!!! I'll show you my pics if you show me yours. My driver's license photo was taken when my drinking and my weight were at its worst. My face looked like a pumpkin and I had slits for eyes. That photo was taken during my committed relationship with Johnny Walker Black. UGH. I owe you a PM. Will work on that this week.

Pap-so sorry about your friends in AZ:upset:

Dill-of course, we will have you back! Gosh, I miss it when you're gone. This thread is not the same. I hope your back is feeling better! Are you and your husband planning on spending time on your boat this summer?

Ok, client is coming....I'll be back.