Good morning Lounge

How are you today?

I am doing fine. My surgery on the toe wasn't as bad as I feared. No cutting, no stitches. I was home the last 3 days, laying on the couch, foot up. Sorry I didn't post but I don't have a laptop so hobbling over to the computer wasn't a real option to me. Thank you so much though for missing me :)

Also, I finally really started packing. A lot of boxes in my apartment, it looks awful. Getting more and more empty. I will be glad when the move is over with. I got an email from my RE lady yesterday, I will get the keys December 30th, in the afternoon.

Picture of the Day
Sneak preview of my Christmas Market pictures. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8337087&mesg_id=8337087

:hi:

:hi:

Thank you. Now the itching needs to stop too x(

back home for the holidays. :toast: :hi:

lucky you!! I have to work till the 23rd. No vacation left for this year.

:hi:

I'll be thinkin' about you on the 23rd and hoping you are having a good break, even short as it will be.
Take care of that foot.:hi:

:D

I'll be having off the first week in January. But it won't be relaxing ... it is moving time then.

Any plans till Christmas? What will you do with all your free time?

years, but it seems there's always something to do.I have two grandchildren (5 & 13) that let me enjoy Christmas to the max.,then I'll be off to the Carolina coast for a few days.Topsail Island is pretty deserted this time of year.The air is clear and the sunrise is totally spectacular.(well,somebody's gotta do it).:hi:

which Carolina? I've been to the Outer Banks once and loved it. Also I know the coast in Georgia and I know the Carolina coast is as beautiful. You better take your camera and post the pics here :hi:

:spank:

I am turning green with envy.

Merry Christmas!!!:toast: :toast: :toast:

Have wonderful holidays!!!

Good to see you! :hi: :toast: :fistbump:

Merry Christmas, my early bird friend!:toast: :toast: :toast: :hi:

Glad to hear your surgery went well. :)

I'm up too early today. Woke up a little before three... decided to just get up and start the day a little before four. :crazy:

ugh ... that is really early. I woke up last night too but was able to go back to sleep. Slept too much over the last days. Makes it hard to go back to work :crazy:

When do you normally get up?

It's not so bad though... now I'll have time to do a stretch routine after my workout. :hi:

I always wake up... haven't slept through the night since I dunno when... but usually can get back to sleep, too.

Here's hoping you luck out and get a snow day off work. :D

:(

But I have good hopes for a white Christmas in the Black Forest where my mom lives :)

You do workout in the morning? I am impressed. Not something I am able to do. :thumbsup:

But even if you do have to go to work, a white Christmas in the Black Forest sounds fanfrickintastic. :)


And yeah... early in the morning is the only time I can work out. If I put it off, it just won't happen. :P

What's shakin'? :D

did you see my pictures from the Christmas Market? :D

It makes me miss Germany all the more... :D

wouldn't want you to miss those pics. Even though there are no flowers :rofl:

And congrats to your last paper for this semester :)

This semester was a real bear...but I am getting closer to my goal. :woohoo:

how many more semester do you have to study?

Ooh, piece of candy. Ooh, piece of candy. :P

since there is an apple underneath there somewhere :)

:hi: Jamestine :hi:

:rofl:

:hi:

:hug:

We all missed you! And glad to hear that you're recouping well.

Simply, love, love, love your Christmas market pictures.

And finally . . . you've started to pack! :rofl:

I'm running late. Couldn't sleep last night, so I again got a lot of reading done. *sigh*

:hug: :hi: :loveya:

it is good to be back (like I've been gone ages :eyes: ) I missed you too.

Thanks for the compliment for the pics.

Yup, I really finally started packing. I have the feeling when I start going and pack more than 4 or 5 boxes at once I get my apartment empty pretty soon. Books will take the most boxes and those are packed fast.

Finished reading the book by Christopher Moore. You really need to read it. It is hilarious. Now I started Charles C. Mann "Ancient Americans" http://www.amazon.com/Ancient-Americans-Charles-C-Mann/dp/1862076170/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1229602879&sr=8-1

both of those to my book list.

I don't think I ever want to move again. It's a lot of work. ;) Fortunately the movers I hired put shrink wrap around my dressers and computer stand so I didn't have to pack up what what was in the drawers. That saved a lot of time, and a lot of boxes.

Looking forward to our staff party this afternoon. We get to cut our early! Well, for me only by half an hour, but at least that's something!

... hopefully. I mean I bought the condo with the idea of having a kid sometime in the future and having a room for it.

I am glad I hired a moving company too but I still have to pack everything in boxes. I cleaned out two small closets already and put away all my CD's and DVD's. It is a start. I think the worst will be the kitchen.

YAY!!! Good for you!! I wish you a lot of fun!! Will you have a Secret Santa? :D

boxes too. And you're right, the kitchen is by far the worst. My friends laughed at me about my box marking system. I knew what items were in each cabinet/drawer in my old place, so that's how I marked the boxes. Like, "upper cabinet, left side of sink". That way I knew in advance what was in each box, and made unpacking easy. At least it was a good system for me, as strange as it may seem.

Secret Santa? Yes, we've been doing that for the last couple of days. We purchase a small gift and secretly put in by our persons work area or in their mail slot, or somewhere they will discover it. At the party we all try to guess the identity of our Secret Santa. It's a lot of fun. We haven't done Secret Santa in a long time and my little department resurrected it this year. Everyone is having a grand time with it. We are a creative bunch.

Gotta head out for work.

Wishing you a grand day.

:hug:

:hug: :loveya: :hug:

Hmm ... that is an idea for marking the kitchen boxes. Thanks for the idea!!! I will have to figure out where to put everything in the new kitchen though. I will do some searching the first days till everything is in my brain :)

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Sorry you couldn't sleep. :hug: I know how that is. x(

I'm glad you are feeling better!


Personally, I'm having trouble believing today is Thursday and not Friday. It feels like a Friday.

:hi:

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

Thank you for covering up for me. That was really sweet of you!

I only have a 2 day week ... what can I say :D

I was missing the morning chats! :hug:


I'll only have a 2 1/2 day week next week and I'm off the whole week after that, so I guess I shouldn't complain. :rofl:


We had our staff holiday lunch yesterday - it was really nice. We went to a restaurant and exchanged gifts. Today feels like a bit of a letdown, because of the holiday atmosphere yesterday.

that sounds good!! I have to work to work till Tuesday next week and then again on the 29th and 30th. We are lucky in Germany, we have 3 Christmas holidays (24th ... Christmas Eve ... we get our presents that evening, 25th 1st Christmas day, 26th 2nd Christmas day) and then I am off in January till the 9th. Will back to work and DU on the 12th.

What did you get as present? And how was the food?

:D

I'm a little envious.

The food was fantastic, although there was really too much of it.

I got a "relaxation" kit with a bottle of wine, a bottle of bubble bath, and one of those massager things, the kind that roll. It's pretty cool.

while trying to get everything finished for the move :rofl:

Oh nice ... that is a good present. Now there is a good thing when you need to calm down after a long hard day ... or after putting together the DU calendar :rofl:

But once you move it will be wonderful!


It was a good gift. I think I ended up with the best gift possible. :D

with my mom and her bf. That helps a lot. They will be here the whole week.

Good for you and congrats :) What did you chose as present for the other person?

she really likes the movie, so I thought she would get a kick out of it.


Having the help is definitely a plus. I hate the packing part. And I still haven't unpacked the last few boxes (and it's been a couple of months)! :rofl:

:spank:

What you don't get done right away will never get done :rofl:

yeah, I guess I was bad.

But I thought it was pretty funny.

how did she react to it?

I have a feeling parts of it are going to end up on and around her desk :D

then you know she really liked it :D

:D


I gotta run, things are hopping here! :hi:

:hi: :hug:

How was your lunch yesterday?

Don't worry, it will be Friday soon enough ... like tomorrow. :silly:

Lunch was a lot of fun. The food was wonderful!

I wish Friday would come a little faster. I would like all of this work on my desk to be already done!

How are you?

:hi: :hug:

:bounce: I fondly remember Christmas lunches and parties from when I worked. Some of them were really fun.

Well, if Friday got here too soon, the work wouldn't have time to get done. :D

I'm fine, thanks. Feeling a lot better this week. :hug:

if it all got done and I just jumped forward so I wouldn't have to remember doing it, it would be worth it. :silly:


I'm glad you are feeling better! :hug:

Can't argue with that logic! :rofl:

Thanks. Gotta get myself going, though. Hope you have a fantastic day and all the work gets done and it's Friday afternoon before you know it. :hug: :hi:

:hi:

:hug:

We're getting snow, and rain. But mostly snow. :D

It's about time for a tea break.

snow?? Lucky you!! I want snow too *pounce* I have good hopes to have a white Christmas in the Black Forest.

Looks like your ski trip will work out with a lot of snow :)

How are you getting along with the video?

some people had dates/times stamped on pix, that is distracting from the beauty of the critters. LOL.

I thought my neighbor was coming for tea/lebkucken/biscotti -- alles prepariert, aber keine Nachbarin? I think we got our signals crossed, and I am too lazy to put on my coat again and truck across the street. She must think it's Monday then. :shrug:

SO, I am sitting here eating the little basket of cookies. :spank:

what pics of Sebastian and the Demon will you put in?

Oh sorry that she didn't come over. Why don't you give her a call? I bet the cookies taste yummy :D

not sure yet, probably the pics of them lounging on the porch from the summer. They were so cute out there.

Yeah, the cookies WERE good (past tense) LOL. I have a teaser headache, think I am going to take a Tylenol and chill for awhile. I don't want what T. has got. :scared:

:hug:

Go and rest for a while. Snuggle with your baby :D

Glad your toe is getting better and soon you'll be talking about the move in past tense. :woohoo:

I've had an amazing few days. Well, my grandson got his first cold but other than that.. great! :woohoo:

:hi:

:hi:

Believe me, I look forward to that day :woohoo:

Poor kid. Hope it wasn't a bad cold. Did you give it to him?

Oh, you didn't know? I'm tooo tough to get sick :eyes: :rofl:

:)

bad Inchworm dog :rofl:

What else did the last days make amazing? Did you see Santa?

People come in from all over and usually stop by to have a few beers since I usually have some. I even enjoyed the "company holiday party." I love the story-telling and taking in of others views face-to-face.

Oh my.. my scrooge (sp) is dying!! :)

That's why I love your morning threads and miss them when they aren't here.. or I sleep 'til 5pm :D

:hug:

:bounce: You're back! :woohoo:

I'm glad your surgery went well and you're up and running around now. :hug:

Fork over some of those goodies, will ya? :9

You should take some pics of your apartment now. :evilgrin:

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

:hug: :loveya: :hi:

Running around??? How about hobble around? I was so clever to let my shoe drop on my toe this morning .... yes, I am still alive x(

Come on over and get them yourself :D

There is an idea .... but it would be a bit embarrassing.

hobbling ... it's all the same to me these days. :rofl:

Ouch! I hope it wasn't a heavy shoe, but still. Owwwwwww! Here's a kiss to make it better. :*


OK, FINE! I'll get on the plane right now. :rofl:

Well, EVERYONE'S place looks bad when they're packing up to move. Or unpacking from a move. Or just cleaning out closets. Sometimes just living there makes it a mess. Why be embarrassed? I mean, talk about embarrassed ... once after some potential buyers had just left our house in FL, we discovered that one of the kitties had puked on the floor. :blush: Those buyers didn't like the house, but did we really want to sell it to someone who didn't understand that kitty puke can be wiped up? (Tile floors, no carpet -- no big deal.) :rofl:

and it was only a short distance but still ... it did hurt. My co-workers had the same reaction when I told them the story :rofl:

You do that!!! I'll be waiting at the arrival gate :bounce:

OK, OK just don't scream when I post the pics :rofl:

the most painful things when something happens. I broke my baby toe when I was a teenager and I remember saying to the doc that I'm glad it wasn't an arm or a leg because it hurt so damn bad ... and he said that toes hurt more than anything. I could sure believe that! x(

OK. I don't have time to pack. Can I wear something of yours when I get there? :D

I won't scream, I promise. It would make a nice contrast to when you're actually moved in. Hey, there's an idea -- take pics of the NEW place with all the unpacked boxes and then at every phase. You know, boxes partly unpacked, some books on the cases, some on the floors. Like that. :rofl:

I never broke anything so far ... and I prefer to keep it that way :D

Sure, I am sure my clothes will fit you ....

That is really an idea. I hope I remember to take pictures while packing and unpacking :rofl:

you don't have a sister to kick ... while you're only wearing sandals. :rofl: I couldn't believe she was tough enough to break my toe! Yeah, we were fighting about something. :blush:

Nothing fits me nowadays, so I'm used to it. Some stuff is too big and some stuff is too small. Need to exercise! x(

I take pics of everything, although I'm not so good at taking kitty pics for Simon's mom. :blush:

I need to exercise too. I have good intention for next year. I want to continue to climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator and taking the bike when I go shopping. Let's see if I will be able to keep those intentions.

You know I would love to see pics of my baby daily. I am jealous of you because you have him around you daily :blush:

:loveya::loveya:

I am so glad to hear the surgery went well. I am having a little surgery on my leg this coming Monday, so you and I can commiserate our maladies. :pals:

And congratulations on all the packing! :thumbsup: Packing for a move is really stressful, I know I am NOT moving for a very, very long time.

Little MB is getting very excited for Christmas.

I think she would love to dive right into your photo.

Have a terrific day!

:hi: :hug: :loveya:

I wish you the best on your surgery :hug: And yes, then we can compare which was worse :rofl:

I would say those sweets on the Christmas Market take up the most space. Next to the Glühwein :) Did you try to make it?

I wish you a wonderful day too!!!!

:(


I was without power from Thursday night until Saturday night. Add to that, I had the worst cold/fever/mung I have EVER had. I could barely walk because I was so disoriented from the fever.

Anyway, my friend (the ex DUer Distressed American) came to my rescue. He and his wife took care of me and Little MB, they welcomed us into their home and we spent our weekend there.

My dad is coming on 12/28, so I am hoping to make it for him then :D

:hug:

I didn't know that. I read about the ice storm in the New England States but didn't know you were in that mess. I am happy for you. DUers are the best :D

He has been a great friend to me for over 10 years now.

And yes, DUers are the best :pals:

glad to hear! :woohoo: :hi:

:hi: :loveya: :hug:

Thank you. :hug:

How are you doing? How was your weekend?

:hug:

my team lost at soccer, again, :( and I just started the renfest photo thread. How are you feeling?

:loveya:

I have to look right away :D

I am doing fine. Toe is itching and hurting a bit every now and then but other than that I can't complain :D

Sorry to hear that your soccer team lost :hug:

:loveya:

with few experienced soccer players, and fewer fit ones. This is purely for fun, not to be competitive and going for championships. It's easier to recruit without the pressure. :D

are you playing too?

and one of the few experienced players. When I go running, I run for everyone.

:P

:blush: Shame on me ....

It is nice that you play only for the fun. As you said, makes it a lot more enjoyable.

Glad your surgery went well.

I'm doing ok. My tire was flat this morning, which sucks. I'm in the process of getting a new one, so hopefully I will be able to go out relatively soon. I guess it's good that it went flat in the garage and not while I was out driving around yesterday.

It's always something. Now the car jack is missing! GAh!

:hug:

Ugh ... a flat tire is nasty. I am also glad that it went flat while standing and not while you were driving. Will you change the tire yourself?

You are such a nice DUer - glad you are better -

I absolutely love the photo!

Happy holidays and cheers to you on a new place. May your move go smoothly.

:hug:

Happy Holidays to you too!!!

I think the move will go smoothly. I have help from my mom and her bf. That means a lot to me. Also, I let a company make the move and carrying. A BIG plus :D

see you back! :hug:

:hug:

Good to see you too. I am amazed to see so many "new" faces on my morning thread .... and I like it a lot :D

:loveya: :hug: :hi: