Support Groups - Royal Run for the Roses

Perfect fall day, coolish and :sunny: Truth be told, I'd rather have it warmer but... still nice and the leaves are getting gorgeous. Our overnight temp's supposed to be down to the freezing mark within the next couple of days.

I'm just slugging back :coffee2: before a woods woggle. Then walking to tai chi class -- in the sunshine!

Official WI had me down .8 -- unoffically, I deserved more. Maybe next week...

I did have a message from someone that I haven't seen in a few years. She'd seen me walking down the street yesterday and said she hardly recognized me because I'd lost so much weight. So that made me feel a little better.

I'm hoping to get to see my hairdresser soon -- I finally found a potential new hairstyle. I've been wanting one for quite a while but not coming up with any ideas. And then I found this site online with tons of hairstyles for all different types of hair. I'm looking for something between this one (http://www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com/medium-style-curly-hair-13.html):

http://www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com/medium-style-curly-hair-13.html

and this one (http://www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com/curly-medium-hair-cut-08.html):

http://www.curly-hair-styles-magazine.com/curly-medium-hair-cut-08.html

Anagram, what did you decide about going blonde? :hyper:

The pix don't seem to be showing up for some reason so I added hyperlinks above.

K, :queen:lies, let's take this day we've been given and make the most of it!

Officially as of last night, the family woes are over. The books are closed, and I can finally breathe free. Time to dust out my corner of the palace and get back to a much more rewarding kind of work.
The disaster we had been dealing with here was CPS. The only way I can describe what was happening to us is that people who are so used to seeing evil in everything (because they see so much of it) just aren't willing to listen to normal people with normal, out-of-the-ordinary lives.
The case is finally closed as of last night! Wahoo! To be blunt, this has been a month of **** on Earth. CPS can ask anything they want, and ask you to do anything they want, and you don't dare refuse them because they instantly threaten to take your children away. All we could do was hunker down and be a family. Now, I think the entire family is going to need therapy to get over the trauma. I am not kidding. We are already looking up family therapists, and we have appointments set for the girls.
But seriously, I feel like a huge weight has been taken off my chest, and I can breathe again.

So, on to other mememe stuff of a much more positive nature. I don't know what's gotten into me of late, but I've been one straight appetite. I can't help wondering if it has a lot to do with cooler temperatures (I refuse to let stress be a cause--some call that DENIAL). To keep the appetite monster and the ensuing calories under control, I started taking a canned soup to lunch every day. There are some really good ones out there, they are fairly inexpensive, and if you check the labels, they can be a lot more healthy than most other lunch choices. My favorite so far is Progresso Lite. The entire can is about 160 calories. I usually bring along something crunchy like almonds and wheat thins or pretzels (or all three!), and the hunger beast is put at bay until after school. I have found that a healthy snack is mandatory as soon as I hit the house, though. If I don't, I'm munching the entire evening, and my weight will be up dramatically the next morning. I've actually been back up as high as 308 this last week, but this morning the scale registered an awfully nice looking 300.9. So close!
My plan today is to get to the gym and do a nice water workout. I have a huge amount of grading to do afterwards; my seniors just finished their first major exam. I'm actually looking forward to the grading. Their Beowulf essays were written about modern day "monsters", and they look truly promising so far. One student wrote about the war in Iraq being a modern day monster because it tears families apart and feeds on soldiers' lives. Wow! :) I can hardly wait to dig into these.

I can tell there is a lot going on in everyone else's lives here as well. It blows me away how gracefully you all move through and adapt.

Kaylets, I've been there with the job front before, although never on the scale you are talking. I do know it is frustrating and unsettling beyond belief, though. You are doing the right thing by working your contacts and looking outside the envelope for new opportunities. When my work situation had gone all crazy, it gave me the strength and the permission/opportunity to get my happy backside back to finish my degree. I keep crossing my fingers for you that your challenge will turn out to be an amazing opportunity just waiting to be uncovered.

wsw, I was reading about your a/c problems and just wondering how you manage to cope and still remain your sane, sweet self. I pray you have that pan by now. I wish I had the capability to manufacture one for you myself!

Kat, I'm sending pink vibrations your sister's direction. Because they caught all this early, there is a really good chance this will just be a small blip on the radar for her. If you have any questions about technical medical stuff, you know you can ask Tony. He would love to be of service, and I love being able to volunteer him. He actually gets his feelings hurt when friends don't ask.

Anagram, sounds like you have weathered current storms and come out on top! I forgot you use walking sticks until I read your last post. Please do tell what it is like using them. I've been dying to ask someone if they really do all they profess. Glad to hear your DD didn't end up in the hospital. Hope her woes are over and you are standing down, ready to relax out on your lovely patio. :) Oh, and is blonde the decision, or not?

Ceara, you traveling woman! Amarillo is a long way off from here, but it was fun hearing you had been in the same state as me. :) And I do have to say, there is one things Texans know for sure, and that is how to cook a steak. Good luck keeping the munch monster at bay!

Arabella, What an incredible and affirming message to receive! You really have worked hard, and you've come an awfully long way. I'm glad others around you are noticing and letting you know. :) Your woods woggle, tai chi, sound yoga, all of it, just keep reminding me of the calming, peaceful things I need to bring into my life. Thank you for the constant reminders of balance. I can't see the hairstyle pictures on this page, so I'm going to go back and look at them after posting. New season, new hairstyle. Sounds like fun to me!

I hope I didn't miss anyone from the last couple of weeks. If I did, please accept my apologies! It definitely wasn't intentional. There was so much catching up to do that I probably should have been keeping notes on a separate page! :dizzy:

Off to make breaky and get to the gym. :)

Andria

I seem to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. Totally recognizing it, though, which usually means that I'm going to work my way out of it and come out the other side. Feeling like I don't want to have to write about the symphony today (it's an immediate deadline because the performance date is close to publication date). I've just got a bad case of the don't wannas. I want to spend the day at a spa, go for a hike, do some yoga and tai chi, have a pedicure, etc.

I'm going for long Sunday walk with DH soon. And it's brilliantly :sunny: out there, even if cold. I'll have to see what self-pampering things I can bring into my day. Reiki would be a really good idea...

Andria, my goodness, what a nightmare! I'm so glad that's over for you and I can totally see how you'd need therapy. I'm very impressed that you made it through without losing ground weight-wise. Maybe you're like me -- in full-blown crisis, I don't really want to eat. It's that low-level ongoing kind of crap that gets me. :dz:

A few years ago my son had a psychotic episode and when we were with a psychiatrist one time he was referring to my son making what they call "loose associations" -- comments that aren't logically straightforward in a conversation, pun-like, cryptic. And I felt a little like "Well, if that's a symptom, lock me up in the rubber room." I said, "Well, that's just the way we talk in my family. We all understand each other and our friends understand us." To me, it's just a more complex and interesting way to communicate.

But it was peculiar then how aware I was of that kind of speech that could have been taken more than one way. And how I watched for it -- and everything else -- in my son for months, if not a year or more.

They didn't diagnose him as schizophrenic but that was what they hinted at -- just said that they didn't diagnose as readily as they used to. And he recovered very quickly. Decided to stop taking the medication and has been fine ever since. :shrug:

Anyway, thank goodness your nightmare is over and now sweet, routine life can begin again. But my gosh, what a time you've been through! :grouphug:

K, I'm off to try to adjust my attitude. Let's take this day we've been given and make the most of it. Let's be :queen:ly.

Andria, what a dreadful ordeal - on top of your other ordeals - but this one may have made the others seem "tolerable". Hope you and loved ones are able to "put it behind you" - not that I think you'll be able to forget, just that you are able to go on and rebuild your lives.

Hope you find right side of bed today, Arabella. Sounds like most of my last two weeks. But when the cold front came through, it helped me (somehow) to feel better. Had a frost last night but it's sunny and loverly out there right now. Going to go pull the killed coleus, impatiens, etc. Will put be in even a better frame of mind.

Re the blonde thing - still mulling - would only be a temporary thing at best. Trying to feel how I'd deal with "remarks" - not from my kids - last time I colored my hair they never noticed (Mom is Mom).

DS was here this weekend and it was nice. He was off w/his buddies from HS but still he was here some Friday afternoon, Sat morning and then yesterday. Did some things to the computer and will do more when he returns in eight days for my cataract surgery. Will do enough (he says) that he can work from here when needed ( he already has a fair leeway to work from home which has added at lot to his life - his DW already had that option but they generally choose to work at home on different days as it's more productive that way).

So off I go to second cuppa and sounding out with myself the blonde thing. I don't know what I expect to get from it - maybe just a leetle lift. It's way out of my box and I haven't come up with much else to do out of that comfort zone. I am just SO DULL. that's it - in a nutshell - SO DULL.

:belly:

Hello all....

Thanks for the kind words....

So glad you figured out which "World's Largest Insuere" I was talking about so I didnt have to spell it out........Yes, its definitely come to the point ( for me) that this situation is far, far out of my control and its onlly the holding on part that counts......

As for the OT, that ended in June so I am getting home regular hours..... And I would be very surprised to see any now that so much "spending excess" has hit the press. Suddenly, the little people who do NOT get bonuses or reward trips now have to account for every pencil.

Its almost like finding out your spouse has a whole other family or a parallel universe type of thing....

But again, its up to me to control what I can, not what I cannot so............

"Here we go, Tuesday , here we go!"


Glad to hear the books are closed Silver. A friend is adopting from Haiti and she was told straight out.... "We assume everyone is a crimiinal and work to prove otherwise, our first and only interest is protecting the children."
It's one way to know we are protecting our kids........


I am off to pack my lunch.... Hope everyone is well.


Here's our thought of the day:

*************
Thought of the day:

"Wisdom has two parts: 1)-Having a lot to say. 2)-Not saying it."
- Church billboard in Vermont


Question of the day:

"If time and money were no object, what would you like to learn?'

***********



;);)

Well, I did it. I'm blonde - sort of. I'd say I'm more orange. It will look better when I wash it but since they styled it (and nicely) I'm going to keep this shade for a few days. I picked a nice "caramel blonde" because it looked close to the color of Princess 8's hair and I've always teased her that some day I'd be blonde as well. But (as has always happened), my hair tends to take a reddish tone no matter what color I choose.

Oh well, it's something different for a few weeks. Doesn't look bad - just not the color I wanted yet. I don't think I really cared what color blonde - just didn't want orange ;)

DS put in more memory for me over the weekend and did a lot of other maintenace changes, etc. Helps.

Weather cooler, windier this week. Still lovely though. I LOVE OCTOBER, I LOVE, ETC.

Yes, Kaylets, wise to know when you can't change things. Just such a mess .

Anagram! Do you remember this commercial ? "Is it true blondes have more fun?"........ Ah yes. It is wonderful how a new hairdo can make us feel more alive..... Good for you Anagram!

Lots of more on the job things the past two days..... Even Cramer (Booyah!) got in the act and then even apologized at the end of a show a couple days later......

My division "realigned" more yesterday ( read layoffs) in response to last fall's merger. I am safe for time being but was told this "realignment" will make my divison easier to sell. Guess you could call it "Staging".


downside was hitting vending machine b/4 10 am and then again at 3.....then possilby the worst acid indigestion I have had in a long, long time......
Exactly how I feel mentally.....FULL UP......

So. Plan today....

Eat daintilly ( I love when WSW says that)
Listen to music.

That's all.


******

Thought of the day:

'No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.'
Aesop


Question of the day:

"Which Aesop fable do you remember?"

*******



;););)

:eek: Not a whole lot of time left until Halloween and it's going to take a :wizard: for me to get to my goal. On the other hand, I can still get pretty close I think so I'm still working at it. If I wasn't weighing myself I'd think I was doing pretty well. But then the danger is that I might go off-p, keep not weighing myself and end up regaining all the weight I've lost. So, continuing to WI.

And totally committed to going to WW every week no matter what. The big light bulb went on one day when I was looking over my WI booklets (two of them, going back to 2005. Seriously). You could see a stretch of time where I was going somewhat regularly and then there'd be a big (sometimes VERY big) gap. And then I'm back. And that's how it's taken me over 3 years to lose 41.6 pounds. I was just looking at the books again and realized that I stopped going between Nov. 06 and Feb. 08. And lost 5 pounds over that time period. :dz: Stopped again in July this year, back in September -- gained a pound over those months. If I had just kept going, I would not have let it slide like that. Never. So, no point in regrets but I can let that inform future behavior - no more missing WI. :nono:

Anagram, my strawberry blonde friend! Sounds lovely. :) I've got sort of the same issue. When the hairdresser inadvertently stripped my natural color, my hair went light orangey blonde-brown. Every time I put something on it it seems go go back to orangey as the color fades. This time, though I got a dark ash brown and it's pretty much my own color now, non-white roots coming out matching. Now to see if I continue to color... stay tuned!

Kaylets, I like your challenges. I think that's a fantastic approach to a stressful time. I sometimes think that if we forgot about weight loss goals and just looked at taking good care of ourselves, seeing our needs were met, that we would end up more successful at weight loss than if that was our primary goal. Hmmmm....

K, :queen:lies, let's make this a good one!

Ah...h...h...h.... My own bed! I'm home. Got into Canada about noon yesterday, and did laundry all afternoon before doing my evening shift.

The good news...and there are a few things.

First the biggie. :carrot:

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER GONE ON A TRIP WITH THE MUNCHMONKEY AND NOT GAINED!
Oops, I appear to be shouting. Sorry. But I am so elated! In fact I LOST! I would have lost more, but the trip back involved more food and bread than usual. No booze though and I really think that made a huge difference.:carrot:

Second...my girl won an award of merit. Now this is not as good as best in specialty or best of opposite sex, but it is right behind those....I am thrilled. I was the only "non-handler" left in the ring at the end...and the judge seemed to know all of them by name.. :dz: And the suit that was tight in June was very loose....YES!

Andria, I'm glad to hear that CPS woes are over. I had that happen once....thank goodness the worker realized that the report was bogus, and it only caused a lot of stress in my marriage (we were in counselling before the event), and a great deal of family angst....still. I believe to this day that my MIL did the reporting. And the kids are currently 25/22 respectively.

Kat...still hangin' in there?

Arabella, I forewent turkey...is that a word? I may just cook one here shortly. You are doing very well with the downward trend....don't look back and recriminate. Look back and rejoice at the progress!

Anagram, I love the sound of your colour! Good for you! and fortune to you with the surgery.

Kaylets...what a horrid time for you at work. You seem to be coping though. Have a :hug: and hang in there!

wsw...the voice of calm and reason. Is the pan made yet? I think the weather wasn't as bad as it could have been? Hope all is well.....

OK...I have a chiro appt this morning at 11 and want to woggle before that....so I must stir my dainty a$$ and get going. That trip was long....we went through MI, IL, MO, TX, NM, OK...I think those are all...1600 miles each way...Longer on the way out because we detoured up into OK for a show....

'k, I'm off!

Hello all!

IT's FRIDAY!!!!

Lesson.... even when someone calls on their way home to ask,
"Is there anything I can bring home?".... you're far better to say
"Flavored water" than "Ice cream".....

I was dozing off by time DH did get home and woke up, ate the icecream and then spent the night dreaming I was trying to escape from a cult.....

YIKES>.....

Some hidden meaning in there somewhere..... the Fat Cult vs the Sugar Cult....

YIKES...

YAY CEARA on all fronts! very exciting!

Hugs to all!

********
Thought of the day:

"Find your voice and inspire others to find theirs."
Steven Covey, the 8th Habit

Question of the day:

"What is the last thing you have misplaced? How long has it been missing?"

*********


;)

And we have made it through another week, more or less. Of course, I've got to work today but I think I'll be able to flit in and out of the office a bit, tidy the house, do the shopping. Get out there into the sunny day. I'm back from the gym and off to WI soon. Not looking like a loss this week but sometimes there's a discrepancy in my favor :crossed:

Went to sound yoga and tai chi last night. It really changes my perspective. :)

Tomorrow I get my new hairdo :hyper:


Ceara, congrats on the successful trip! Lost weight -- wow. And kudos to your girl too. :)

Kaylets, the last thing I misplaced was my passport... and realized I didn't know where it was just a few days before our trip :dz: AND it turned out to be in one of many compartments in my backpack that I tend to forget are there. Yikes. I should track it down right now and put it where it belongs.


:wave: to all, in the Palace or wandering.

K, Goilies, let's make it a good one! Must fly... :bat:

Thanks. It was a surprise to me...I was aiming for a maintain! But I'll take it!

I have picked up a supply shift today, so am at work...bored. Waiting for the delivery. Have already shovelled for 35 minutes this am....dug up the sweet potatoes, and moved some excavational dirt from the front of the house. When I get home I plan to groom and watch TV....at the same time!

QOD...everything/anything. I am constantly misplacing stuff. I printed off stuff for a meeting last night and left it at home! DUH.

Anyway, I should do something. Have a great day all!

I had another three week grading period to get through this week, and with all the stress off at home, I realized there was a lot of catching up to do at school! I'm finally through it, and I can relax a little while here in the palace. Is there a *sigh of relief* emoticon in there somewhere?
So, I have to share something huge, cool, and kind of scary that I did on Wednesday.

I hired a personal trainer. :lifter:

Wow, that is even a little scary for me to type out still. The gym offered me a free session (ah, the hook), and I loved it! This guy had me doing things I didn't think I was capable of, and I could still move the next day. Ok, most of the day. There was that bout with an hour and a half meeting to sit through, and every muscle in my backside screamed in protest as I tried to stand up to leave. But I still went back asking for more. They had offered me a good deal originally: the master pro trainer at the elite trainer price. I held off for a few days and went back in ready to sign up for a few of those, but I guess they decided I'd make a great showpiece if I succeed. They offered me the lowest price to train with their best trainer. I went for it. 30 sessions. My husband is not happy; he doesn't see the value in this, so I really need to prove something here. We don't have this kind of money to just throw around, and I know it.
Anyway, I'll be working with the trainer twice a week, and I'm supposed to be keeping up with 30 minutes of sustained activity every other day of the week. I'm embarrassed to admit that I couldn't even do 30 minutes on the exercise bike the other day. :ebike: My foot cramped up and is still recovering. Today I plan on hitting the pool at the gym, and we are going to either 6 Flags or the zoo. That on top of cleaning the house should be plenty of exercise for the day! Tomorrow is my first real session. I'm scared and nervous and excited all in one. I've never put myself up for this level of accountability before--that is the part that is scaring me, to tell the truth. Guess October is a good month for that sort of thing. :badbat::sklol::sklol::badbat:

Ceara, Congratulations on such a successful trip! Not only did your girl do well at the shows, but you lost weight! WAHOO!

Uh oh, postus interruptus... I'll try to be back later.

Andria

I woggled in the woods, got my hair cut and went to tai chi this morning. Hair turned out good, I think. A little wild looking right now but I think when I wash and let it air dry it'll be better.

At tai chi, there were no teachers this a.m. and nobody else wanted to lead so I said I would. And I got them through two sets successfully. :) Stepping out of my comfort zone... but then it felt good to have it work.

Ceara :fr: you scared me with that "shovelling" thing. You know what I thought. I'm thinking if I don't lollygag too much longer this aft i might just go out and do some gardening.

Andria :woohoo: on the personal trainer -- 15 weeks? I think this is going to be good. Talk about accountability, huh. I know that with tai chi, for example, when I do it on my own I'm much more lacksadaisical than when I'm in class. No comparison.


:badbat: Halloween kind of sneaked up on us this year. Seems like we've usually had a thread for it but maybe the roses were just to appealing to leave behind. Ne'ertheless, I'm thinking once we get beyond Halloween, it'll be just about 8 weeks to Christmas. How do :queen:lies feel about a festive thread?

K, must go have some lunch. Let's make this a good one!

Oooh, a festive thread sounds like the perfect thing! Not to mention, it is timed rather perfectly for a good push to end the year on a high note (or is that a low note--we are trying to lose weight here!).

Yesterday didn't go quite as planned, but it was still a very active day. We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned this house! Wow, it was amazing how much clutter we had managed to accumulate since our last big clean. We didn't even get down to as much deep cleaning as I would have liked because we were still getting through paper clutter. Ugh. Still, my sweetie got most of the downstairs carpets cleaned, and we got rid of a couple of boxes of stuff that needed sorting so they could be donated. We'll have to finish today if the house is going to be looking good before my MIL visits this week. Yes, there was a reason for the cleaning madness. :)

Today is the first day with trainer Jim. I'm kind of scared. I wasn't able to get to the gym every day for my 30 minutes, and he is going to chew my butt! I have explained to him that I have to incorporate activity into my day because I'm freakishly busy during the week, but I'm guessing he won't want to hear excuses. Wish me luck!

Arabella, I can hardly wait until I'm ready for woods woggling myself. They have a tai chi class at the gym, and I haven't really done any since my first go at college. I'll have to check out times and see if I can swing a class. I remember it being a wonderfully calming, centering activity for me. And all this hair discussion has me about ready to hit a salon. I'm not ready for coloring yet, but I do love having someone else wash my hair. The cut is always just a nice aside at that point. :) Do you still like your new do today? I know you were waiting for it to settle down a bit.

Kaylets, ah, the sugar-right-before-bed nightmares. Got to love those... ok, no, you really don't! I did remember your post yesterday though when DH offered ice cream after our lunch. The post also reminded me that I need to get back to journaling my foods. Accountability!
As far as misplacing stuff goes, I managed to lose an important stack of scantrons on Friday. I was so panicked that I was almost in tears! They were benchmark exams that had to be sent off to the state that day. I had gathered them together early and been ready to take them to my department head, but I was interrupted. When I finally had a break, the things had disappeared. I searched for half an hour and couldn't find them. Finally I had the common sense to leave the room, take a breath, and try it again. They were right in front of me the whole time! I had set a piece of paper on top of them, and it curled over the top just enough to camouflage the entire batch. Yeah... I was pretty embarrassed.

Anagram, wahoo for being blonde! Sounds like a nice step outside, even if it isn't exactly the color you want yet. :)

Ok, I'm out of time again. I seriously thought my honey was going to go back to bed, but now everyone is making breaky sounds. Better go manage the masses before it gets all scary out there!

:dracula::bat::sklol::spid:

Andria

Festive sounds good, right now. Been so much stress in the Palace that we seem to be much in need of festive.

206.2 this morning. Didn't get on scale twice or anything. Took it and ran! The lows never last but as long as they keep showing up once and a while it helps.

Oh, andria, sounds like you've had a lot of family cooperation in getting to the house. Can't imagine any one cared much about that when all the other stress was going on.

Yes, Wood Nymph, how is hairdo now? I know you wanted to try something new. I'm going for a cut tomorrow and would like something different but different usually somehow ends of about the same after a bit. Yes, andria, the color is way out of my box so in that I've achieved what I wanted. It's not as far away from what I wanted when I'm in daylight but artificial light brings out more red. And, so what, I says! No rash comments from anyone so far as I had expected might happen.

wsw and kaylets - hugs to you w/ongoing stresses. And, Arabella, no even thinking that four letter "s" word.

Lovely day outside and I'm going to go out for a while checking out a few things and hoping to catch some color en route. Debating a walk too - so many nice places to choose from.

I had been considering dropping gym as my aches and pains have precluded much activity. But when I got blood work results this week, my HDL had gone back up to a healthy 60 and I'm giving credit for that to the treadmill and also to my more frequent outdoor walks. So maybe I'll stick with it for now (my "trainer" has been out w/hip replacement so I've worked on little more than treadmill since should flared up again).

Anyway, overall bloodwork was good and all lipids improved. Still need to work on the LDL but triglycerides, HDL good so it's not so much what I'm eating - just need more movement, methinks. Anyway, at 206.2, certainly won't make it to onederland by Nov 15 but some progress (well, repair really) anyway. I'm ALMOST back to where I was at Christmas last year.

:ghost: :witch2: :ghost: :witch2::haphal:

Apparently, without the love and support that I receive here, I am completely incapable of losing weight, or even sticking to any sort of regimen! Since not checking in here on even a semi-regular basis, I have managed to rack up about 5 extra lbs. :chin: Correlation? :yes: Absolutely.

Not to mention that I miss all of you, and often find myself wondering what 'the girls' are up to lately!

My sister is doing well, she's already been in for two different consultations at this point, and both docs reassured her that she's in an early stage, hopefully even early enough to get away without chemotherapy, so that's good news. We walked in one of the many Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks last weekend with our sister in law, two nieces, three cousins and an aunt. It was awesome to be among that many people united in such a worthy cause, and also terrifying to think that the 10,000 or so people there had all been touched, in one way or another, by breast cancer. I assured Sissy that, next year, she'll be wearing a "survivor's" ribbon when she walks. In the meantime, I'm going to be crocheting everyone a pink scarf to wear... it's cold on the boardwalk in October!

I started my new class last week. Don't recall if I told you that before. Just two nights a week for three weeks. Actually, the class I meant to take doesn't start til January, but I need this pre-requisite. Not hard, just time consuming, and I should actually be doing homework right now instead of what I am doing... but that will have to wait. It was more important for me to get in here first... and then I'm heading outside for a glorious fall day walk. Yesterday was horrendous, with the rain and wind... today is 180 degrees from that and I'd be a fool to waste such a beautiful day on books!

I'm looking forward to getting back on track with 'a little help from my friends,' as they say! Dare I declare today Day 1? Maybe I should just make EVERYDAY day 1... I'd do much better.

So, it's good to be back. I will catch up on my reading when I get back from my walkies... may even get a "woggle" in!

Thanks for being here...

We've got a "gift" day here today, mild and not raining despite forecast. Getting on towards the end of the weekend,though. :(
Ah well, will just have to enjoy work week as well.

I've got more than my steps in and done some tai chi. Went to a book sale at the library and got a bunch of books -- kids' books, magazines, natural medicines. Plus borrowed a couple of good books about :ghost:ies.

I'm missing DGS something awful now he's not allowed sleepovers on schoolnights. I'm going to call and see if I can arrange a visit pre-tai chi on Tuesday.

KATRINA B. GOOD!!! I could have told you you needed us -- in fact, I almost did when you announced you might be on walkabout for a bit... Glad everything sounds so positive. :) Five pounds is not a bad place to catch things at. Those'll be gone in a twinkling. :wizard:

Anagram, meeeeeee too! I always want something different and my hairdressers always end up giving me the same :dz: Well, this time it's different (similar, if updated style to how it was when I was younger, but I haven't had it like this in quite a while). I'm liking it better today (seems to be arranging itself better) although I didn't wash it so haven't seen what it will do as a rule yet. I'm happy with it, though, feel more like "myself." And DH just said "Have I mentioned how stunning you look today?" So I'm thinking it works. :)


Andria, bet your trainer will just get you very motivated for the next week. MIL visit? Hope it goes well. My house really needs a visit from ... well, Mr. Clean, really. I should just give in and get someone in to do it for once and then -- I swear! -- I'd keep it up.

:wave: All!

I'm liking my color a bit more now too, Arabella. Also had it cut today - last time cut wasn't quite right. I too long to go back to a style of yesteryear and once in a while I try it but eventually my look goes back to same old, same old.

I'm missing the Princesses a bit too. It's been a bit longer than usual as they had to cancel a "driveby" visit the other week. Princess 12 is competing in Irish Dance this weekend about an hour away and the plan is I'll join them for that. HOWEVER, I'm having cataract surgery tomorrow and not sure just how all that will play out. DSis says she and DH will go and drive me as well - what would I ever do w/o her?

DS is supposed to arrive tonight to take me to surgery tomorrow. I feel so guilty "swamping" him - a death in his wife's family took him to Long Island Sunday and back yesterday, then here tonight, so it will be a short, short work week for him and he's off somewhere travelling next week. Sigh.........

Gymmed today, tai chi'd yesterday. Lunched yesterday with a brand new friend. Yes, finally. I met her at tai chi but it's another of those tales where we have so many, many things in common and can't believe we haven't met up before. Hope it weathers well.

Speaking of weather - ouch, it's cold and windy out there today. Ran some errands this a.m. and conceded I might need a light jacket over my sweatshirt. Ha - practically froze. But a few nice days to come again soon.

Kat, it's so good to hear that your sister is doing well and things are looking better. Best news I've had in a while.

I think I have everything done and ready for tomorrow. No makeup, no creams, no nail polish - yikes! Well, it is Halloween, almost!

:sklol::badbat::witch::badbat::sklol::badbat:

I can't believe how the days and weeks fly by. Thinking, again, this morning about how much I'd like a loooooooong holiday. Had almost an argument with DH over the -- purely theoretical -- viability of making a living as a freelance writer. I assured him that I wasn't thinking of quitting my day job, just that I thought I might be able to manage if I was in that situation. He was trying to talk me out of even imagining it could work. "Hey, stop stomping all over my dreams, Man!" I said. To no avail. But he really can't stop me from dreaming.

Diet and exercise going well. I've actually made the move towards our beloved WSW's dainty portions. This will work. :yes: I'm very happy to be back at tai chi, remembering how good it makes me feel. Went for a nice walk after the gym this a.m. It's unaccountably mild here the last few days and it's lovely to be out there in it.

Anagram, I'm glad your hair is suiting you better. I've got the best colour for me this time since I started coloring, post bleach fiasco. It's growing out so gracefully that DH accused me of colouring again when I hadn't. I had to get him to look at the top of my head in daylight to see that it was growing out.

Don't feel badly about things your kids do for you -- remember all that you did and do for them. And it's a tribute to how you raised them that they are there for you the way they are. :yes:

I'll be sending :goodvibes: for your surgery!

K, :queen:lies, let's make this a good one!

just wanted to check in. so much to catch up on, and i will. have been missing you all very much! pan did finally get made and installed, after long time, and much stress, but so glad it is now fixed! hadn't been feeling too well but definitely feeling better now. ok, will return to respond individually. please know i am thinking of you all, dear royals. :)

:dracula: :dracula: :haphal: :dracula: :dracula:

HI, :queen:LIES - SURGERY WENT WELL. I AM THRILLED BEYOND BELIEF WITH MY NEW ABILITIES - I WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND COULD ACTUALLY SEE THE CLOCK WITHOUT LOOKING FOR MY GLASSES.

And while he was here, that sweet DS installed DSL for me (courtesy of both kidlets) and actually thought I'd let them pay the monthly charge! Also did other mysterious things to computer which is now much more of a delight!

And dear bro took me to surgoen this a.m. for checkup. Doctor says I've exceeded his expectations re improved vision. Wow! Had good news re Monday's sonogram of neck and, a little plus, the tech checked my carotid arteries and called them PHENOMENAL. Now just how DARE I ever get down and grumpy with all that ringing in my ears?????????????????

wsw - so glad that stress is behind you but it has apparently taken its toll. Hope things go smoothly so you can get back on your track and feel better.

Thanks, Arabella, but it must have been their Dad. ;)

And keep your dream - you have your leetle feets in the door and one never knows what ways fate will take those leetle feets. Wonderful that you found the right color. DS didn't even notice my change of color until they took the cap off it in recovery. He had seen it the night before and earlier that morning. Still, better than last time I colored my hair when neither kid noticed at all ;)

Anyway, must take it calmer next few days but I'm on a high so will manage a few of the things I never get around to (hopefully).

Trick or Treat here tonight and I'm abstaining except for the dear little fellows next door and their baby sister. Wasn't sure how I'd feel surgerywise and while I'm ok, I still think this is a year to skip.

Cool and brisk again but not so windy and better weather coming in for next day or so. Won't walk today, but maybe tomorrow.

:dracula: :haphal: :dracula: :haphal: :dracula:

204.8 this morning, getting lower centimeter by centimeter. Tomorrow I'll post the festive challenge thread.

Busy Friday as us. here. I've got to nip out soon and pick up groceries and wine but first I'd better make a list if I don't want to forget a bunch of stuff. We've got friends coming to dinner tomorrow night and I'm not sure what I'm making. Thinking pizza, though... She's bringing a pear crisp. :) So... lesseee... apps. Hmmm... I'd like to do something different. Guess I'll think while I'm starting the shopping.

WSW, I'm glad you're feeling better! :hug:

Anagram, I'm thrilled at your news! How wonderful! I actually had caused a similar improvement in my own eyesight through Reiki but then slacked off on self-treatment and, sure enough, improvement went away again.


K, Dollings, I'd better fly :witch: Have a lovely and spooky evening!

:badbat: :spid: :haphal: :spid: :badbat:

What a thrilling number, Arabella!!!!! At 207 this a.m. but happy enough as menu has not been primo for me the last two days. In fact, I'm delighted with the 207.

Lovely day here today and I just came back from second "errand" trip of the day. Tested out driving earlier with shorter trip, then did longer. So far so good.

But for now, I think I'm going to try for a little siesta...............Did go through a few more things for clothing drive. Lots in trunk and all ready for next weekend. Maybe will look through a few more things between now and then (but maybe not too ;) ).

Enjoy your festive evening, Arabella. Sounds fun. Pear crisp sounds good too. Did I mention last week that I tried some applesauce bran muffins and wasn't thrilled with how they turned out. Threw them in freezer and ate some with DS here. Amazing how much their taste had improved somehow. May try them again and then just freeze them before eating any. Don't understand but, hey!

Siesta time.............................................. ..

Lovely weekend, Royalles!!

I am away again...but by myself. No munch monkey this week-end...next though.

Other friends and I ate at a local diner...good food...I had turkey...:turkey: real turkey, with baked potato, corn and greek salad. Very yummy and very filling! Fortunately I was too full to eat another morsel when I spotted the coconut creme pie....my fav...along with many others ;)

So I am catching up with internet stuff in my hotel room listening to "House" on the TV. Dog is conked out on the bed....very homey. Except for the dog part...she doesn't sleep on the bed at home!

:carrot::broc::broc::carrot:

November! Wow.

Time flies. Arabella..WTG on that low number....you rock!

WSW glad to hear that that pan finally went in...and your water issues are hopefully a thing of the past.

Anagram...what a delight that would be...not seeing a fuzzy world and fumbling for glasses. I've not been brave enough to check into the procedure.

Anyhow....thinking of the :queen: 's Have a great day all!

Indeed, 'tis November :shocksn: And now let's turn our thoughts toward the festive season ahead and think of how to maximize our joy.

New thread is here. (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155398) :xcheer: