Support Groups - It's a new dawn, a new day, a new life: Treating ourselves royally in 2010

The funk extends into Southern Ontario. It's been a dreadful summer, heat-wise here. 40C today, and it's the end of August. ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

Ah well. If there is one thing I learned this summer, it is that I am going to be very uncomfortable in ****. :devil:

Trying to get back in the swing of things here. "Winging it" is just not working, so I'm going back to counting points. I think I need the structure to get me back on track, so tomorrow I will buy myself a nice little journal at the dollar store and start writing it down. All of it. And I will be a more frequent visitor. I'm working on 10lbs by October 15. Perfectly reasonable if I get my ample rear in gear.

What do you say, girls? Let's shake it up!

hi wildfire! so nice to see you:) it is still 97 degrees here, so i'm right there with you on being ready for this heat to end.

i agree, let's shake it up. i lose weight so slowly that i can't realistically set number goals by certain dates, but i am trying to give myself some rewards for when i do hit certain numbers on the scale. case in point, tomorrow i am treating myself to a massage for having stayed op for the past month.

hi anagram!

hello arabella! and greetings to all royals. last night, i almost gave in and ate everything i wanted (which would have been a lot), but fortunately got hold of myself and stayed op instead. today, hung on by fingernail too, and glad that i did. well, need to return a few phone calls and get some paperwork done. hope all is well in and around the royal court.

hello royal dwellers one and all. hope everyone is having a good weekend. had hair colored yesterday (which was way past due) and feel like a new woman. the hair stylist was so sweet and really made me feel pampered, and knew what she was doing with haircut and getting rid of my pesky gray hair, so she sure is a keeper! the experience also reminded me how easy it is for me to move away from taking good care of myself, as i did when jumped off wagon most recently. i started to then spiral in to thoughts about well, if i hadn't slipped, then i would be so much further along with weight loss. what was different this time, though, was that i chose to stop that negative, useless line of thinking, and move on to remembering all the weight loss i have accomplished in this past 22 months (even with my upward blip). that healthier thinking and self-talk was an accomplishment in itself, and i am grateful that the trend is, and has, mostly gone in the right direction. i also noticed i did better with some positive self-talk the other day on my way to a gathering of folks i mostly did not know, and the result was that i had a lovely time, and didn't worry too much about any anticipated awkwardness i might experience when meeting new people. that is definitely a positive shift for me. ok, on that note, i must away. have to get condo tidied up before friends come over for a visit. wishing all a pleasant afternoon.

OOh, la, la on the color job, wsw. Sounds like that operator is a keeper. So hard to find consistency and pleasantness sometimes. Though I've been satisfied w/last several haircuts

Was 20l.8 this morning STILL. But that was a gift. The way I've been gorging,it could as easily have been 208.1. The last 3 days have been fall-like and lovely (or at least not so hot and humid and I had a lovely walk each day. Each in my favorite park for walking in the fall - mostly because someone had the foresight to plant maple after maple after maple. Several diff varieties so they don't all change color at the same rate. Little hints of color showing on some but it will be my "best walk" place from now through November. Broke out the walking sticks today too.

Still in cleanout mode. Little bits at a time but consistent.

Emotionally, a bit better as befits impending slowdown of allergies. Doing better on the med I decided to take this year but I feel it exaggerates moods and I'm sue not sleeping well. Well, tomorrow's another day......

Just can't seem to get any discipline into my life and that's not like me. I've been good at the rewarding but not the working.

Love seeing you here, Wildfire. Hope you can get the roof done reasonably, arabella. Had to replace a toidy last week. Well, didn't HAVE TO but felt I didn't want to put huge chunks into yet again repairing a 41 year old unit so splurged and have a new lo-water one. Just feel I've put so much into repairing things here lately and so much more likely to be needed in the near future. No, no. Must move.

Hoping it won't get too warm tomorrow - supposed to be lots higher than today. But it will soon be FALL and I must do better for my favoriet season.

Toodles -

:belly:

Life has a way of throwing curve balls at you just when you think you're gaining solid footing. But I am picking myself up, dusting myself off, and getting on with getting on.

Had a lovely weekend despite the rainy weather. It was perfect for hanging out and watching movies. Went to a potluck on Saturday night and enjoyed spending timed with friends. Sunday had a motorcycle ride at dawn, which is my favorite time - no traffic, leisurely ride through nearby "country" roads outside the city. Monday I spent cleaning out my office and shredding paper. It's contagious, Anagram!

Your walk among the maples sounds perfect, Anagram. Autumn is my favorite time of year, too.

wsw, it's great when you love what your hairdresser does. I'm currently not loving what mine did last - much shorter than I wanted - but it will grow. Glad to hear your self pep-talk did the trick and you enjoyed your afternoon meeting new people. So often we talk ourselves out of things because we make them so much worse in our mind than they really are.

Arabella, we had our roof replaced two summers ago and went with an aluminum roof. It is more expensive initially, but they last forever. It is guaranteed as long as we own the house, and the warranty transfers to the new owner as well. It was installed right over our shingled roof, so none of that went into the landfill, and it has lowered both our heating and air conditioning bills. The real bonus for me, though, was hearing the rain on it. It isn't noisy with the windows closed and the neighbors haven't noticed it being loud, but when it pours and I can lie in my bed with the window open and listen to the rain tapdancing off the roof, it was worth every penny.

It is wonderfully blustery out there tonight. Hot today, but it has cooled off and should be comfortably cool-ish for the rest of the week. You can feel Autumn in the air, and I'm loving it!

Hump day tomorrow already! Have a good one!

I may have mentioned, in the confines of the Palace, that I'd like to switch up being married to a half-time model? I'd said exactly that to a couple of friends. Well, guess what? DH has been assigned to manage an out-of-province project -- and they want him on it half-time. This will be good for him too -- he was sick of being in the office and doing management in there, dealing with the bosses who can be difficult. It's a win-win. :) Now I just need to ensure that I take advantage of the time. I could even possibly get some writing done...

There's a lot going on right now -- DS going back to school, financial uncertainty around that, I've still got two big projects to get through at work and freelancers aren't getting as much done as they should so I'm going to have to do more myself. But I do resolve to look after myself and make this thing I call my life WORK! :yes:

I woke up at 3:30 this morning (stress?), have done Reiki, showered and dressed, makeup on. I'm going to have breakfast and then go over to the offices when DH goes to the gym at 6:15. I'm facilitating the first fall meeting of the writing group tonight so I may see if I can grab a nap after lunch.


WSW, those "keeper" hairdressers are precious! Mine just moved to the other coast so I've got to find another. What shade is your hair? :)

Wildfire, your early morning bike ride sounds idyllic. Love those times! The aluminum roof sounds pretty good too. I don't know if I could talk DH into it but the heating savings might be convincing -- how much would you think you'd saved?

Anagram, we've got tons of other things around here that need $$ infusions too -- fixing up the basement, renovating the upstairs bathroom and dozens of little things. DH is determined to get them out of the way before he retires. Good thing he worries about money, I guess. :rolleyes:

K, better go get breakfast into me. Have a splendid day, :queen:ies!

Nice coolish morning after a bit of much needed rain yesterday - so it's a no excuses day, right?

Well, Royals, I am yet another year older. Left 3 days ago, spent a day with DD & family then moved on to DS. Came home yesterday and am just about to start out on my "reorganizing day". Am tempted to skip scale this a.m. because there was just too much good food this week.

But, if I've been doing little else, I have been scale monitoring and it will likely be a good shock to my system. Funk is improving as it does most years when that :devil: ish heat subsides. Also seeing my six most fave peeps always helps. But I am so tired still from the trip so will be moving slowly. At least at first. Strong tea has helped ;)

I too am promising to be more faithfully in the palace. That helps me more than almost anything.

:belly:

hi anagram. a happy belated birthday to you!!!! so glad you enjoyed your trip visiting with all your "fave peeps!"

arabella- hope your work projects are not too wildly time-consuming, and that you are indeed taking royal care of yourself.

wildfire-greetings. when you had described the rain on your roof, it reminded me of when i was growing up. i don't know what our roof was made of, but i do know i loved that sound of rain on the roof.

well, i have definitely not been eating daintily enough lately, but doing better once again. tomorrow, friends with 1+ year old baby will be visiting, and looking forward to that. as always, even when i am not able to post as often as i would like, i think of you all, dear royals, often and fondly. take care, and hope everyone has a pleasant day and evening.

And the :queen:lies are drifting back into the palace. Also getting very close to Fresh Start Fall, when new energy infuses the realm.

I could use some! I'm working on a new commitment to listening to the audio every day and eating only at the table when I'm alone. And I have got to say, I've had some moments of extreme struggle with the latter and just not making time for the former. The extreme struggle comes from not giving in, though, so that's a positive. Caving is easy. :dz:

It seems like such a harmless indulgence and such a treat to snuggle into the couch and watch a movie while I eat. And sometimes I can do that and only eat what I would have eaten at the table but it's a darned slippery slope. Which, on the whole, is much better avoided if one wants to change one's habits. Which I do. :yes:

Happy Belated, Anagram! :balloons: I did the dreaded WI on Thursday and am up about 3.5 from ticker. Which, in fact was not as bad as I feared but so much the wrong direction. Once again I swear I will never stop weighing in regularly again!

WSW, oh I LOVE the sound of rain on the roof -- so much nicer than the sound of rain on the living-room carpet. ;) Rain on the roof has to be one of the coziest, most relaxing sounds in the world. Maybe it has to do with the rhythm of the drops?

We have someone lined up to do our roof for, literally, about half of other estimates. He gets his materials at a steep discount because his wife runs a building supply store. I'd love to get an aluminum roof but it's just not in the immediate budget. Sounds wonderful, though.

Well, Dollings, I must get out there :running: and get back to be on with the rest of my day. I've got our sheets on the line, have listened to my audio.

Let's make this a good one!

So, Arabella, have you gone to the "half-married" program yet?

Did you get that young feeling from breathing in that "baby air", wsw? I held a six month old Sunday and felt instantly better.

Speaking of, how's that little girl in your life, Wildfire?

To be roaring hot again today - sort of a last hurrah for summer, I hope.


Realized one reason I'm not posting as much is that I have not been getting notices of others' posts. I'm signed on for them (always have been) but not getting them. Will re-sign-on today.

Weighed in yesterday at 201.6 - a real gift considering all the birthday celebrating I've been doing. Still lollygagging around in nightie today. Am in an RA flare and taking it easy. Forgot today was the Garage Sale and walked out in robe to put out mail. Oops!!!

Went to a killer seminar last night re RA and realized I've not been doing as much toward keeping that down as I used to do (pool closed, etc., tai chi cut backs, weather too hot for walking, etc., etc.) Have as many excuses for all of that as for losing weight. HOWEVER, the seminar was SO good, I feel motivated to do EVERYTHING.

Flare kept me from getting together even the Free things I was going to put out for garage sale. Still I'll get rid of them sooner or later now that they've identified. May put some on Freecycle.com.

Looking like BIL's cancer may have returned - still testing. So I'm not complaining about a flare - still if not settled down after next weather change will call dr. Just trying not to go on prednisone again (though he's told me not to try to tough it out). Hoping good living will do it.

So, Royal Sweethearts, I'm off to do a tad of filing and a few more things I don't want to do, then to the shower (and the scale). Haircut this afternoon.

A :rain: one it is, and the first one of Autumn. Here I am with :coffee2: gearing up to go for a run through the woods or inside on the :trampo: if it seems to be raining too hard.

I'm planning on trying out hot yoga this week. They've got an introductory special on for as many classes as you want to take and I'm thinking it would be interesting to try to go every day and see where I was at the end of the month. It's supposed to be good for just about everything, including weight loss.

I had one slip-up day last week -- had dinner in front of the TV and everything was fine. But then the next day it wasn't. And that's why I shouldn't do it, at least for now, even when I'm in control. Darn slippery slopes!

There's an open house today at the Vet college here. Thinking I'll round up DGS and take him. Then potentially going out to lunch with a sister and friends.

Anagram, a lot of people don't seem to be getting their notices. Maybe there was a system glitch.

Re: not doing as much as we should to make ourselves feel our best -- that's really the crux of this issue, isn't it. If we can get that one knocked, we'll be set. Speaking of which, I need a haircut too -- not to mention a pedi!

Sending good energy for BIL.

K, :queen:lies! Let's get out there and make this a good one. :)

anagram-as with arabella, i too am sending good energy for bil. sure hope your ra flare subsides as soon as is absolutely possible. sorry you are having to go through that. take sweet, royal care of yourself. yes, that "baby air" is good for the soul, indeed. :) will get to see another baby friend again today, and very pleased about that, needless to say.

arabella- not raining here yet, but expected for monday and tuesday, so will try to get a jump on early week errands so won't have to be out in wet weather too much, at least. oh by the way, i think you asked a long time ago---my hair (and eyes) are very dark brown. hair naturally also had some reddish tint to it, before began going gray, that is. one thing i always did like about myself was the color of my eyes and hair. oh, and i have nice hands too. i only mention that because with getting older, i often don't recognize a lot about my former, younger self but my eyes and my hands (well, even with age spots on hands now) still remind me of who i was, and am. (not sure if that made sense---hopefully, it did, though.)

hope you enjoy hot yoga. it sounds neat.

----and greetings to all our lovely royals, near and far!

still not (as consistently as i would like to be) eating dainty portions, but certainly on much better track than had been in early part of summer, at least. i can scarcely believe it is already officially fall now. once again, as always, i guess, i am amazed at how quickly time passes. speaking of which, i need to get back to chores so that i can enjoy my guests later with a nice, clean abode. hope everyone has a lovely saturday, queenlies. take care, all.

A beautiful Saturday morning 'tis here - more seasonal. And some smart lady ;) is patting herself on the back for (years ago) planting a dogwood centered in front of my front door so that I can now see the gorgeous color from my kitchen.

Feeling somewhat better today and have gathered together a bunch of that free stuff and listed it on freecycle. Who knows? I just hate to throw things in landfills. Have a bunch gathered for Goodwill too. Maybe Monday or Tuesday after I do another guick run through for more. It's so nice I wouldn't mind perusing what the neighbors have out for sale but I don't want to buy anything. Plus I pulled another bunch of books for the library sale.

Anyway, it was 201.4 this morning after a bump up yesterday. I have been between 201 and 204 for so long.........I look to wsw who has done so well after a longish plateau for inspiration.

After the haircut, I scheduled a pedi for Tuesday ;) We seem to be on the same beauty cycle, Arabella.

Big hugs to all Royals - in the Palace or not.

anagram- you are indeed one smart lady! :) glad to hear you are enjoying the view of your beautiful dogwood from your kitchen area. enjoy that haircut and pedicure this week.

did get all my necessary chores done yesterday, and then had fun with friends and their baby. what a cutie pie the baby is, and so good-natured. she loves playing peek-a-boo, and her giggle made me smile every time. cleaning up afterwards definitely wore me out, but now that is cleaning that is more than worthwhile! i found one of her cheerios in my easy chair late last night, and even that, made me smile.

think i will take my royal self to a movie this afternoon, and hit one of my favorite bookstores on the way home to browse for a while, and then sip some tea. yep, i think that sounds like a good sunday afternoon to me. well, royals, take care, and enjoy your sunday.

Slightly cloudy and very pleasant today. Cut back some of my tomato plants, still producing. Should start on leaves but.....

Took paperbacks to the library. Sale is next weekend - don't know if I'll gather up more but I should.

Scale up a little today - ignoring that part and just trying to be moderate. Got a nice walk in this a.m. at the cemetery.

Glad you had more of that baby medicine, wsw.

going to do just a little dusting then done for the day.

Tired out today -- had a resurgence of energy yesterday and kept going all day. I should know better! Tonight is choir practice and although I'm not fully recovered from respiratory thing I'd best go if I want to do the Remembrance Day concert. O/w, I'd just be able to start when they start for The Messiah.

Anagram, I'm enjoying your dogwood vicariously. This is the second week on the "half-married" program -- now I just need to start "half-working" to get some time. ;)

WSW, your weekend sounds lovely! Those baby giggles are so infectious. Loved the image of you plucking cheeri-o from the upholstery and smiling. :) There! Made me smile too.

Ok, torn about choir practice but I'll probably go. Have a lovely evening, :queen:lies!

Hello Lovies!!

Belated birthday wishes to you, Anagram! Any news on BIL yet? Sending good vibes. It's a shame your pool closed...nothing else in the area that you can substitute? Our little girl is such a sweetheart and doing well. She will be two on November 27th. She is a heartbreaker...she will come with her arms up and when you pick her up she wraps herself around your neck, cheek to cheek for a hug and says "Awwww". Most excellent hugs ever.

wsw, I find random cheerios in furniture, the car, my purse...and they make me smile, too! Sounds like a perfect Sunday afternoon...what movie did you see?

Arabella, this half-married thing sounds kinda neat. As much as we love 'em, it's nice to send them away now and then, isn't it? Sorry, didn't see your request for savings figures. I'd have to dig out bills and compare, but I see you got a good deal on a roof anyway.

I am back to counting points and two pounds down. Starting to feel like I'm back in control, and that is a good thing! 95 days left in the year. 54 days until my first Christmas party of the season. I want people to say "you've lost weight, you look great!" when I show up, looking fabulous of course...instead of trying to find something to wear and feeling frumpy.

Let's do this! :carrot:

I've been managing the not eating on the couch thing, getting plenty of exercise and drinking lots of water and the bump-up from salt is gone again. Now -- DOWNWARD.

I had DGS overnight last night. Today's picture day at school and he needed a haircut. He had a particular haircut in mind... and his mom may kill me ;) He wanted a MULLET! (All business in the front, all party in the back) There's a guy in a video game that he wants to be for Hallowe'en that has one. Fortunately, his hair wasn't long enough in the back to do a radical version. But the hairdresser did her best :lol: I might be in trouble.

Wildfire, no worries about not getting the figures -- these guys made us an offer we couldn't refuse anyway. Control is sweet, isn't it. Yup, we've got three solid months till the end of the year. Let's be fabulous this holiday season!

:queen:lies, let's get out there and make this a good one!

I went for a hike with a group of women (and one man) yesterday. I've been on the mailing list for this weekly hike for a while and suddenly thought I could juggle my schedule to do it. So I worked a little the night before, worked early the next morning and DID IT! :cp: :cp:

It was a perfect day for it (if a little warm -- humidex over 90, which is v. unusual for us this time of year). A couple of hours through the woods on a hilly trail. And I can tell you, it was enough. I was dripping sweat. Our humidex was over 90 and the trail is very hilly. It's natural interval training. I'm trying to talk DH into going for a hike tomorrow.

I was reading about a diet study in which half the dieters drank 2 cups of water before each meal. They found that those who did (all other things being equal) lost almost 50% more weight. I'm finding it works, food-wise. I'm less hungry. But I think there may be a little adjustment at the start, weight-wise. In fact, the morning before I started it I was down 3 pounds from my starting weigh-in (too bad I hadn't changed ticker -- only 1.2 down from ticker) and then the next morning I was back up 2.2 of them. But I'm sure it's just an adjustment. My skin looks better already, less dry. I always drink a lot of water but maybe the body absorbs it better this way?

Haven't got much planned for this weekend but next weekend is our Thanksgiving and we're doing dinner for 12 here. So cleaning, thinking about things to prepare ahead. :chin:

But first -- more :coffee2: Have a fantabulous Saturday, Wimmin. Let's make this day work for us! :dancer:

Yay Saturday!! :cp:

YAY for Saturday with the house to myself until dinner time!! :cb:

Enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee and feeling quite smug about another 3lb loss on the scale this morning. I did the whole weigh-three-times-because-you-don't-believe-it thing, too. Perfect motivation to stay OP for the weekend, which is so much harder than when I am at work all week. I will NOT give in to temptation!!

Hoping the forecasted rain for today will let up for a bit later so I can get out on my motorcycle. :bike: It won't be long before the season is over and I'll have to put it away for the winter. But then I have a brand new SUV to keep me happy while the snow flies...just got it on Thursday, so part of my "to do" list for today is to program bluetooth, navigation, satellite radio, and home link for garage door, house lights, and security system. It will give me something to do while it's raining, I guess, and if I get trapped in a downpour I can watch a movie in the truck! :corn:

Arabella, how did the mullet go over? Interesting, the water before meals. I usually have my water with my meal, but I think I'll try switching to see what happens. Hiking in 90 degree humidex? My hat's off to you, dear!

Alright, I'm off to accomplish many wonderful, amazing things. (laundry, vacuuming, changing sheets, etc) before I get to play with my toys.

Have a fabulous day, :queen:s!!

Hahaha -- that was 90 F, of course.

Good morning, my Awesome Friends who are on track and moving in the right direction.

Feeling better about all myself as I'm just back from a 25 minute walk (with poles) but in my neighborhood - not the park where I usually take the poles. Just didn't want to take the few minutes driving time as I want to get to another thing or too.

I even find a Cheerio here and there too - but not as smile giving ;) I occasionally have some of the chocolate ones as a little treat. Find both mood and body doing better now that we're having a wee bit of the beautiful fall weather. No wonder I love the Equinox though it was a tad late taking effect this year. But now I have two wonderful months (almost) to wallow in fall.

So many toys, Wildfire. Good for thee.

I love my new pedicure color. I chose what looked like a medium purple - slightly iridescent. The tech said I'd love it when I got in different light. Well, I liked it as was but when I hit the light outside, I was bowled over. It changes to bluish and then again back to a deeper purple depending on movement. In my home light, it's a deeper blue to a deeper purple. I'm like a toddler - moving my toes around to discover the different hues. Ah, the simple joys.......

Another joy - my cable company has about 64 (I think that's what they advertise) music channels. Well, Slowpoke finally got into the classical and easy listening ones a few months back but now I'm playing some of the others. I've always done better w/music in my life and these are turning out to be perfect. Choose as to mood. So far today it's been Blues - not that I'm blue but that I love those bod-shaking beats. Ready for a change now though. I'll surprise me ;)

Anyway, keep on inspiring me. I need it.

:belly:

We can still enjoy ourselves, right? Even if we have to work? Shall try. :coffee2: to the rescue. I talked DH into a hike yesterday, along with DS, his GF and DGS. It was a really nice hike and just hilly enough for good aerobic boost. We miscalculated a bit -- thought the trail looped back and DH realized after we were about an hour in that it didn't. So we headed off-trail to find our way to the road. Then we had brunch: scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, dill, red onion and capers. It was good!

The leaves are changing here, nice for Thanksgiving. I'll get DGS to help me gather some for decorations for the table. I'm going to try to get cleaning and food prep done ahead as much as possible so I don't suddenly realize on Sunday that the house is grubby and not a thing ready. Shall make a list, I shall. :yes:

All goes well here diet and exercise-wise. Now I'm just tapping my finger waiting for the fabled whoosh fairy.

Anagram, so glad you're feeling better! It's like a switch sometimes when the weather changes. I'm quite toddler-like with my toe polish colors too. Mine is burnished berry brown right now but your iridescent purple sounds divine! :cloud9: How lucky we are to be able to appreciate these things so much.

Woo-hoo :queen: Wildfire! Three more pounds is fantastic! :cp: :cp: I salute you for the toys, as well. Loving the picture of you flying along the roads.

Well, I haven't heard anything back about the mullet yet. It is pretty subtle. DS and his GF said they didn't really figure it out, just thought it looked like someone hadn't quite finished a haircut. He's very cute, anyway. :)

Right, then. It IS Monday and I should be getting some actual work done. Let's make this a good one, Lovelies!

And the loss is holding...I half expected to see the scale climb this morning, but I am still 5lbs down after the weekend's loss.

I've been having nasty headaches for a couple of weeks, since I really started following WW and counting and journalling. I realized that I hadn't had ANY chocolate in that time and wondered...could I be missing the chocolate? There are chemicals in it that our brains love...so I had a couple of the princess's mini eggs yesterday and within 30 minutes the headache was gone. Hmmm. Today whilst grocery-ing I picked up some Kit-Kat singles and Dairy Milk singles, 2 points a piece. I think I can force myself to work one in after dinner with coffee as a treat, in the name of headache-free days. ;)

I did manage to get a ride in before the rains caught up with me and forced me home. It was lovely, a deserted side road north of the city that bends and winds through farmland with stands of trees in their fall glory. Yes, the toys are fun...and the motorcycle is cheaper (and more fun!) than therapy. :D

Purple toenails are also fun, anagram!! And I love the digital music on our cable, too. I even put the "spa" type channels on while princess naps. They play classical music at her daycare during naptime and she settles right down when she hears it.

Arabella, Thanksgiving does kinda sneak up on us, doesn't it? I suppose I should buy a turkey this week if we're going to eat one. The hike with the family sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday morning. I'm sure I saw the Whoosh Fairy lurking...

wsw, how was your weekend?

Dinner calls, and I am answering! :hun:

I had one of those "oh this is EASY!" feelings yesterday morning, like I couldn't be shaken off plan. But just as I was about to express such feelings in a post I remembered how often that very sort of claim has been followed by an ugly incident. So. I was on guard and ready for the :devil: who was nipping at my heels yesterday. I was just hungry all day, which isn't problematic in itself -- hungry = eat -- but can cause problems if I don't have the right kind of stuff on hand. Anyway, got through and had a good day.

Had a good choir practice last night and I'm finding some audio practice files online to help. Thank goodness -- some of this stuff is very challenging. Thinking practicing might be a good idea? :chin:

Wildfire, I'm loving your descriptions of your drives, thanks for posting. I'm so enjoying it vicariously, that lovely feeling of being right out there in the landscape as you fly through it. Really quite magical.

How beith all my other :queen:lies? Let's take this day and make it WORK for us! :dancer: :dancer:

I, too, am living vicariously w/Wildfire - and with Arabella as we have little color change yet. Hearing it may not happen - that we've been too dry and the leaves will just drop. Hoping not and there has been a little here and there but not enough yet to inspire one of my leisurely tree searching rides. Anyway, bike rides and hikes are inspiring and both sound like fun.

Mullet sounds cute (and, I say, she who takes to barbershop gets to choose) and the thought of the little dear falling asleep to light classical brings a smile to my old face.

So cold and damp here yesterday - only somewhat better today but looking forward to some beautiful weather SOON.

On Monday I was down .6 pound from last Monday but today was up .2 fro last Monday. So the whoosh fairy is NOT in PA. But I am doing better and envying my two Northern Royals.

One advantage of your Thanksgiving being a month earlier than mine is that mine's not as likely to sneak up on me. But I still think I'd prefer your date. Did put out a (very) few pumpkin thingies.

Working on moving the cooler weather clothes around. Amazing how they always look good when you first get them ready but by spring, they are so blah. I don't really NEED anything but may go looking for a few fresh pieces and make me part with some usable but old things. Need inspiration whereever I can find it.

BIL is through his preliminary testing - biopsy tomorrow. They're still holding out a thread of optimism that what they're seeing might be "something else". Needless to say, I'm voting for that.

Don't work too hard, Arabella. Remember that sometimes does you in. I am still doing better than I had been for a while. Body not quite back to feeling pretty good but mood is MUCH better.

So I shall gambol out and pick up the mail............

Girls, do you realize that we three all joined here within months of each other, ten years ago? We've been battling the same battle for ten years. Some success along the way but I know I'm back to where I started. Let's make this the last time, yeah? :yes:

Arabella, good job outsmarting :devil:! I have always loved being on a motorcycle - been a passenger with someone or other since I was 16 and dated a guy who rode. Having my own is SO much fun! When I'm out on the bike it's just me, the fresh air, and the asphalt. No work, family, money, nada. It is the perfect escape. Ever thought about getting your license?

anagram, we have lots of bright golds on the trees - so beautiful against steel blue skies that only October brings. The reds on the sugar maples are a bit slow this year, but I've seen a few changing.

I'm a believer that every child should be exposed to classical and jazz just like I was growing up. Even if they decide they don't like it later, how will they ever know if not? I love the Siriusly Sinatra channel on my satellite radio. Such wonderful tunes of days gone by, not just Frank, but Rosemary Clooney, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, Nat King Cole, Count Basie...music that played in our house when I was growing up.

I really need to go through my closet, too. Been avoiding it because I know a lot of things are snug thanks to weight gained over the summer. But I suppose I could at least weed out summer things I know I won't wear again and get winter organized. Maybe this weekend since I have an extra day.

I'm voting for "something else", too, anagram!

Hump day tomorrow. Let's show it who's boss! :club:

Always sobering to think of that, Wildfire. And, in the"misery loves company" category, I'm just a couple of pounds down from where I started. I think that first year, I got down to 195. And then up again, although not as high as this. Then hovering around 204 for about a year. And now here I am again. Shocking. YES! Let's make this the last time. Onward!

Well, that's set the :flame: under me. There's no time to waste -- my new motto.

When DGS was a toddler, one Sunday morning DH and I were reading the papers and listening to music. Something by Tchaicovsky came on and the baby came running over to us, throwing his hands in the air and eyes wide, like "Do you HEAR this? It's INCREDIBLE!" It was such an intense and visceral experience for him. I've since used it in a symphony review to describe the power of one performance.

Anagram, the "mullet" IS cute -- and it amused me to let him have it. I probably wouldn't have, had his hair been long enough for a real one. Apparently there's something called a "fashion mullet" now -- that's what he's got. ;)

You're so right about the work thing -- I really needed a day off yesterday and should have just taken one. On the plus side, I asked for Friday off to go with Monday and was granted it so I've got a four-dayer coming up. Sending good energy for BIL!

DH is off to Halifax again today and I'm going to plan myself a "spa" evening. Supposed to be another :sunny: mild day here today. I'm going to head over to the offices earlyish and then get out for a longer walk later on.

Let's take this day we've been given and make it WORK for us!

Saturday again -- the weeks are flying. I'm trying to slow things down by paying attention and doing interesting things. I went on another hike with the group yesterday, just over 2 hours -- which is really enough for me at this point. I always feel like I should be able to do so much more. I guess the message is that I WILL be able to as long as I keep trying. Most of these women are very slim and fit so it's really not surprising that having to haul my avoirdupois would make it harder for me.

Stupid reality! The harshest part was that we shuffled cars to get one at the end of the trail and had to squeeze four women into a three-seater back seat. I tried to get into the back and couldn't get the door closed after cramming into the space they'd left. A plainspoken woman said "Maybe you should get in the front, Ivy." I just said "Yes, I guess I should. I've got the biggest bottom." Which was true but left me feeling a bit of nasty reality shock. Like I didn't know, huh. :rolleyes: Still feeling a bit bothered by it but picking up the pieces and getting on with life.

Anyway, I've been doing very well, food-wise and habit wise. This time when DH is away could have turned out to be disastrous that way so I've been more attentive. Woke up feeling slimmer this morning, tummy flatter. Pants were looser yesterday. I thought to myself -- I don't care what you say, :devil: scale, I've made progress. I'm thinking that to make the numbers move, I'm going to need to be more careful with food, although I'm doing better there too. Just doesn't seem to be translating to pounds down.

Today, I'm going to try to get as much done for tomorrow's dinner as possible. DH asked what needed doing other than the usual vacuuming and bathroom cleaning and I said the kitchen appliances and counters all need a good clean. He said his theory was to get people into the living room and give them a few drinks before they went into the kitchen. :cheers:

K, I'm just going to take another :coffee2: dunk and then get out for a run through the woods. Bright and :sunny: out there today, if cool.

Have a lovely weekend, Queenies!

happy thanksgiving, arabella and wildfire!!

anagram-thought of you and your fun purplish nail polish when i treated myself to a manicure and pedicure yesterday. i got a more basic fall-ish color(sort of brick color) but only because the choices weren't as fun as what you described.

hope bil's biopsy turned out ok after all.

have missed all our lovely royals. had a few pesky "ms technical difficulties" which definitely seem better now. op now, but these past many months are much sketchier than they could have been. demon scale definitely reflected my playing too footloose and fancy free with my food program. so, to put it on "paper" i am 191 now. this is after gaining weight, and losing some of those re-tread pounds. i feel like i am back on solid footing, but only time will tell. well, take care, all.

So here we go Tuesday! To be bright and :sunny: here today so I'll get my mom out leaf-peeping later. Then, probably back here for dinner. I've downloaded "Topper" and we'll watch that. Must look for more of her favorites. :)

I slacked over Thanksgiving and, to a lesser extent, yesterday. Today's the day, though, and away we go. Just about light enough for :running: through the woods. I'm suited up and ready to go.

WSW, brick sounds beautiful too, and very seasonal. Darn those technical difficulties!

It's always empowering to face reality. Can't really deal with it otherwise, which I guess is the point :chin: For me anway... on some level, I'm thinking if I don't acknowledge it I don't have to do anything about it. :dz: Then stupid reality comes along and bites me on my ample bee-hind.

And how beith other :queen:lies? Missing all the missing today and wishing them well wherever they roam.

Let's make this a good one!

arabella-hope you and your mom enjoyed recent leaf-peeping, and watching "topper" later. i loved the "topper" movies!

hi anagram!

greetings, wildfire!

staying on plan with food and exercise so far. still feeling harder than it had about 6 months ago, but not as challenging as it started to feel a few months ago. anyway, difficult or not, i plan to finish off the day op. period!

the recent weather has been so gorgeous. well, today was rainy and stormy, but this recent gift of beautiful weather here has been a real treat, and i have enjoyed every moment of it. well, hope all our lovely royals have a pleasant evening!

Ten years - and I'm still battling too. 200.6 this a.m. and that was a give from the demon. Sometimes we work on one thing - in this case, my "social" life which I had promised me I would do and the recent successes in that department have worked against me in the weight department ;)

But onward - I've not been deliberately lost - notices stopped again after working for a while so I'll have to "tax" my mind into remembering.

Brick polish may be my next choice - sounds perfect for now. Sorry about tech problems, wsw, and belated holiday greetings to w & a.

Unfortunately BILs cancer IS back. Still undergoing tests/visits. Not hearing much from DSis - I'm thinking she's gathering her strengths. Their DD & DSIL are in from West Coast and helping arrange all. Two competent youngsters and two strong shoulders for them to lean on albeit temporarily.

Am waiting for DS to arrive for a day or two. I'm assuming he's coming to work as well as visit so have a honey-do list ready. Weather here is glorious too today after some gloomies.

Went to tai chi today, found out it was cancelled for some reason. Maybe DS will be ready for a walk - but suspect he took a good run before heading up.

Anyway, I must learn to control portions of the healthy stuff I'm eating. Have blood work the end of the month and need to get some numbers in better shape.

Hugs and all that.

:rain: here today. DH and I went for a walk -- I opted for shorter and then came back to do yoga. I'll be out again later for the first symphony performance of the season, so that'll be another half-hour.

I've been pulling it together, adding new tools to the weight loss battle. And I KNOW this will eventually result in success. No change, :devil: scale-wise yet, but it's got to be a matter of time. I'm tracking my food again, after reading yet again how much more successful people who do it are. I can see already that it gives me pause when I have the impulse to eat something. Like I can kid myself about how much I'm eating until I put it down on paper. I can use an accountability :kickbutt:

I've started doing my full :yoga: instead of the half-set I'd been doing for about a year. Taking my coffee black. Getting back to the "looking after myself" theme that I started this year on. :yes: And building fun, rest and pleasure back into my days.

Somehow I've gotten into that mind-space where I'm allowing myself to waste time at the computer even when it does not in the least feel like what I want to do. So I've put a timelock program on Facebook and Twitter and resolve to GET UP from the computer when I know in my heart I need a break.

I managed a mani-pedi yesterday (same one I've been threatening for weeks :rolleyes: ). "Make mine mango" is the name of the color. I had trouble settling on one but thinking I might have to return to "Vixen" instead. I'd go for brick if I had that color - may have to purchase same. ;) We could be toe triplets!

WSW, yay for you being back on track! This thing isn't easy but it sure seems less difficult after we've been going for a little while. Nice catch staying in Onederland, anyway. It seems like a hard place to get out of! Glad you've been having some nice weather. :)

Anagram, so sorry to hear about BIL! Keeping you and yours in my thoughts.

You're doing so well hanging right around the border of Onederland. So wishing I had done the same instead of shooting back upwards in spurts. See, you could have been 25 pounds up. You're in a much better spot! Ah well, the only way is onward.

Have a nice visit with DS!

K, Lovelies, let's treat ourselves royally today!

Make way! Wayfaring Queen on a pilgrimage!

10 years, eh? That really struck me. I want to get to maintainence!

A few days ago I realized that if I could lose a mere 10 pounds [again!] I could wear all the lovely clothes in my closet, not just the few I'm favoring now. I'm using that as my motivation. That, and on a quest to move sugar out of my life, 'cause the last time I was at my magical goal weight I'd kicked refined sugar out.

anagram-kudos on recent success in social life arena!

sorry bil's cancer is back. sending good thoughts for you and your family.

hope you had fun with ds in town.

arabebella- i'm with you---"onward" is where i am headed too. also trying to add some new tools to my weight loss tool kit.

when you said we could be toe triplets on the pedicure scene, i was thinking how fun it would be to actually all be meeting and visiting in person. the thought put a big smile on my face.

hi eydie!

hello wildfire!

and greetings to all our marvelous royals!

eating dainty portions once again is definitely feeling much better. i hope i remember this the next time i start to stray. amazing to me how easy it is to gain some weight back, and how hard it is, and how much longer it takes, to get said weight back off again. note to self---please don't forget this no-brainer again. well, another gorgeous day, and have lots of errands to accomplish so must away. hope a good afternoon is had by all.

We've come down with an odd bug here. At 1 a.m. Saturday, DH woke up nauseous and feverish and then I repeated that at 1 a.m. Monday. Spent yesterday trailing listlessly from bed to couch to bathroom. I'm not quite as incapacitated today but still not back to normal. Maybe tomorrow.

Food is a non-issue, for sure. So rarely happens that I get sick and lose my appetite but this is one of those rare times. Now to just keep the lack of interest in food (beyond what's needed, anyway) going after I'm better again.

WSW, yes, if only we could remember those things at the moments when we're tempted to stray. I've heard of people gaining twenty pounds or more in a week -- I think when carbs are severely restricted and then they binge on them. Ugh.

Eydie, always nice to see you pop in!

Hope all goes well in all corners of the palace.

:wave:

sorry to hear you are sick, arabella! :( i hope you feel better a.s.a.p!

yet another gorgeous day here today. what a marvelous treat this weather has been.

definitely felt challenging today hanging on to dainty portions, but was able to, and glad about that. well, a good evening to all.

Beautiful here today, too, bright and :sunny: I'm considering this bout of the flu as a little boost to food/portion control and making sure I don't eat more than I need. Your portion control is such a simple and effective focus for this battle. I know it's illogical but I rarely think in terms of amounts -- like one bowl of soup may be 250 calories, so if I eat two it's 500. Duh.

Aiming to only eat to satisfy hunger. I rarely eat to the point of feeling stuffed any more but I bet I could cut 1/3 off my portions (other than veggies) and not suffer for it.

Feeling a bit better today. I packed up to come into the office, thinking a change of scene would do me good. Getting DGS this afternoon for a shleepover. We'll have leftovers for dinner and watch a movie so I don't have to exert too much energy.

Have a good one, Queenies!

Arabella, hope you and DS are feeling well and that DGS did not come down with same bug while with you.

Hi, Eydie. So glad to hear from you. Wish it were only ten lbs for me - but truly I'd be so thrilled w/ten lbs. I did lose in those early years but I'm at 200.6 again this morning (and grateful to be there). I have floated around this weight on and off for years now. Getting into Onederland ever so slightly and then right back over. Mostly I've been only going up to 204 (as vs. 210) or so before coming back but when I think where I could be........

Dear Sis has lost some wt w/whatever stomach problem she's had on and off since Christmas but I'd prefer the healthy way. Wakeup this a.m. - hip pain (slight). Hoping to get wt. down so that doesn't develop into a hip replacement. I was told years ago when I had knee replacements that I'd likely eventually need hips done as well.

Ooh, the mango sounds luscious. Was looking at something in that line before I found the blue/purple. Actually going in for next one Tuesday (will be the last of the "cheapies" as I didn't bid on any last time around).

And the thought of all (or some) of us in the pedicure mode at the same place and time just blew my mind! They'd probably be calling security ;)

Nice here today as well. Likely a nice walk - AFTER I finish rearranging my closet. Have some bread going in my new bread machine - having guests for lunch Monday so thought I'd use it again. (DS gave it to me for birthday.) Yes, I did enjoy DS last week - and the chores he did while he was here.

Bro coming in next mo from CA - Anxious to see him. Yes, social life has improved, lots of things gone from garage again. Now if I could just get down five pounds. Maybe before my doctor appt. Wednesday ;)


Cheers & :belly:

Just getting light here and, so far :sunny: We'll be out for a Sunday walk soon. I feel mostly better today but have to remember not to try to do everything, which is always the danger. So I'll keep it low-key -- putter, practice, visit my mom, maybe go for another little tootle around to leaf-peep. That'll do it. I've got turkey dinner leftovers in the freezer so that'll be easy.

Had a lovely visit with DGS -- a two-nighter because when I was driving him to school he said he'd kind-of like to stay at my place again that night.

All goes well on the diet front. I'm tracking food again and am down 3 pounds from the first time I braved the scale since the last hiatus. I know I've said it before, but I say it again -- I will NOT stop weighing myself again. Nuh-uh. That's how the 25 pounds sneaked on since last summer, a few at a time, when I wasn't looking. :s: Cannot turn one's back on :devil: scale.

Anagram, so happy to hear that your brother's going to visit! Will he be staying with you?

You're right -- if we were all together for pedicures, we might start a riot. But it would be worth it! Maybe someday... :cloud9:

K, I've got the bedding to hang on the line and then off for Sunday walk around the harbour. Let's make this a good one! :cb: :cb:

hello, lovely royals! have been thinking about you. had pneumonia and so was feeling crummy, but feeling much better now. actually stayed op, which i was pleased about. well, pretty tired right now, but will be back again soon, to catch up on posts. take care, all.

I let my mojo slip away for a few days. Leftover Halloween chocolate is all I'll say. Bah. Today, the madness ends. Coincidentally, leftover chocolate is also gone. :chin: Anyway, back to doing what I know works. And I'm going to build in a bit more control, yet -- not just journalling my food but also LIMITING it. Such a crazy idea, I know. :dz: Might just work. I mean, I was controlling it a bit but not enough to really shift the weight the way I'd like to. Committing NOW. :yes:

WSW, how miserable to have pneumonia! :hug: But my hat's off to you for staying OP. You rock! :cb: :cb:

K, I'm going to finish this :coffee: and get out for a run. Love to all, wherever you are... Let's make this a good one!

wsw, how miserable to have pneumonia and how wonderful you were able to stay op. I always need to reward me when I'm sick and "reward" always translates as "not good for me" stuff.

Yes, Arabella, bro will be w/me for some/most of his visit. At least as of now. SIL and niece from Arkansas will also be in the area most of the same time so there should be a good get together or two.

Sorry about that Halloween stuff. I had not had much until after Halloween and still it's only been a few snack size stuff. All in all, pretty good for me but I'm realizaing how large my "portiona" usually are and how grazing, even on good stuff, must be limited.

Been somewhat under the weather myself lately - all bloodwork good. Seeing dr. today. It's probably just me....but I had a chance to see DGDs this weekend and don't feel up to going so that's an indication I'm not up to par.

I wish I could get my notifications from 3FC going again. They work a time or two and then quit and I forget that I haven't been in for a while.

Rainy today which is okay. Sugar maple in backyard still looks scrumptious on a gray day.

Hope Thanksgiving was good, A & W.

Off to a little luncheon meeting. ;)

:belly:

Oh, 200.2 this a.m. I'm so sick of this hovering and it's all my own fault!!!!!!!

:rain: here too but abated for the moment. Windy, warm -- I'm planning to get out for a walk around the harbour.

The choir's Remembrance Day concert is next week. I have been practicing but I need to step it up a bit. The music is glorious - Arcadelt's Ave Maria, Brahms' How Lovely is thy Dwelling Place, Lauridsen's Lux Aeterna. I'm learning a lot and finding I'm picking stuff up more quickly than I had been. I guess this is four or five years in with the choir now. I'm sometimes reluctant to get out but always think, five minutes in, how much fun it is.

Anagram, hope you feel up to snuff soon. The fall just seems to be a good time for vague or precise ailments. Glad to hear about bloodwork!

Re: portions and "healthy" grazing -- me too.

WSW :hug:

Gotta scoot -- I get timed out soon. Let's make it a good one!

arabella- music for your choir's rememberence day concert sounds like it will be lovely. glad you are enjoying concert preps. understand about call of the chocolate recently. if any food type calls me hither, it is most especially and usually, chocolate.

anagram-sounds like it will be nice having bro in town next month, along with sil and niece get-togethers. sorry you are not feeling up to snuff physically. sure hope you are feeling in the pink a.s.a.p! glad bloodwork is good. sure understand about that number hovering on the scale. the number hovering on my scale is not thrilling me at this point. it seems like with all this hard work, scales should cooperate a lot more.

going to a memorial service this afternoon for my friend's father. i know it is important to her that i be there, so will see if i can get a little rest before i need to get ready to go. (still pretty dragged out, but so grateful to be feeling better!)

well, greetings to all our dear royals, near and far. take care, all, and a pleasant remainder of your weekend.

Tonight we practice in the church where the performance is to be. There'll be a TV crew there -- just remembered -- so I guess I want to make sure to spiff up a bit before-hand. The concert is Thursday night and after that we'll be preparing for The Messiah! :cloud9: Such a relief to practice music that I know and love.

Diet-wise, I'm hovering too. And have decided to go back to point-counting. I've been journalling for a bit but it hasn't actually led to weight loss yet. And I remember how nice it was counting points to be able to save points for an occasional indulgence and know that I was still on track. And it seemed like if I really counted diligently and actually stayed within my points I lost weight. Well, that would be a bonus wouldn't it.

We had SO much rain on the weekend. Thought it would never stop! But it has -- today is mild, too. I went to work without a jacket and was just the slightest bit cool. So when I was in the mall putting my check in the bank and saw a light-weight Indian shawl with palest pink with silver threads woven through, I picked it up. It's lovely -- and was on sale for $8, so I don't even feel guilty.

WSW, hope you're feeling better! Remember to pamper yourself... watch some good movies, read some good novels. :hug:

K, just going to have lunch with DH and then reattach nose to grindstone. Love to all!

Shawl sounds lovely - and a good price too. Having some computer/server issues so don't know how long I'll be on. Or if this will get out.

Have been doing better and was at 200.0 this morning. Honestly!

Second bloodwork not back but I have been feeling somewhat better. It's probably just the RA and I have not started taking the prednisone. How can I lose weight on that if I can't when I'm not on it.

Sad week last week. 13 yr old granddaughter of an acquaintance/friend took her own life. And dear friend who is closer to the grandmother shared a lot of their pain w/me. Glad to give them the chance but it was all so sad. And a day or so later a 14 year old boy (with whom I had no connection) stepped in front of a truck and took his too. Unrelated except for closeness in time but one accentuated the other. Those were not gr eat years for me either but I can't begin to relate to taking my own life. Both great kids apparently.

Well, wishing all well. Coolish here but great fall weather. Getting in walks and tai chi and going to loaf a bit tomorrow - if I don't have to do some more with this computer which I expect will be the case.

:belly:

Shoot! Just lost my post, my own fault too -- I've set up a net minder that shuts me out of my favorite non-work related sites at 9. Thought I could beat the clock but it beat me. I just went in and removed this one temporarily to come back.

I've been struggling a bit -- some days good, some days not so. Yesterday I let the day get away from me without getting out of the house or exercising. Guess how that one ended up? :dz: On the bright side, I did manage to get some family history stuff scanned and copied to files for sharing. That task has been nagging at me for a long time. Not done, but a start.

Anyhoo, I'm going to start following WW plan - have been tracking food but need to go beyond.

Anagram, my shawl is very pretty -- gossamer, very Indian looking, subtle pattern in gold, other parts shot through with silver.

So sad about the kids. They often lack the perspective to know that whatever they're going through is temporary and things can improve so radically. Have you seen the "It gets better" campaign videos? Essentially, grown-ups -- some well-known, some not -- talking about how, no matter how miserable you may be growing up, that you get through it and life gets better. :hug:

Hey, you're almost in Onederland! :woohoo:

K, I'd better get to work and not let this day slide by me. Let's make it a good one!

How was your concert, Wood Nymph? In rehersal now for Messiah?

Yep, I remember teen angst - my life sure improved. But as you say, they can't see it. Both were apparently talented and seemingly happy kids. Maybe sometimes, it can be better when teens do act out (or up).

Still plagued by tech difficulties (both kinds). Picked up script today, will start taking prednisone again on Monday if all tests are negative as I think they will be. Have been fighting taking it because of wt. gain but....... We'll see. Have actually been at 199.6 and (today) 199.8 but was going to wait until I felt more secure (giving my up and down history). If I start pred on Monday - well..........

Of course, I'd get more done....Lovely here today and will plan on a walk after lunch. Supposed to get to a more Nov. normal on Monday. Bro coming next week so should be fun. Did a little cooking binge yesterday to give me a tiny head start re uncertainties of meals during his visit and kids the following week. Might do something more today - MIGHT!!!!

The digging out and throwing out has slowed down a lot lately. I do SOMETHING alost every day but it's still only a little here and there. Still, it's starting to add up.

Well, off I go to think about lunch. Fortunately coming bro is a pretty healthy eater - of course (like all in my family) has battled weight forever. Sigh..........

:sunny: here, if cooler than it's been. I've laundered the sheets and line-dried. Tonight the bed will smell like heaven. :)

Oh, I am on vacation till a week from Tuesday! :cloud9: Almost giddy with it. Planning carefully to fill in just enough fun, just enough accomplishment and just enough relaxation.

Anagram, as you say, a little every day adds up. I'm trying to get into the mindset of trashing/recycling/putting in right place when my eyes light on something that calls for it.

The concert was okay, I think. Hard to tell when you're in the middle of it. I heard the choir practicing as I arrived, though, and they sounded wonderful -- thought it must be a recording. And, yes, on to TM now. Three weeks to practice... Yikes!

WSW, hope your energy is returning! There's nothing much worse than feeling too dragged out to do things.

Hope all :queen:lies are well and happy this day.

:sunny: Good morning! We were below freezing this morning, but there DH and I went for a 4-miler as the sun was just starting to color the horizon and stars still shining in the sky. The harbour is so beautiful. And now I'm home with the exercise under my belt and the day off ahead of me. Will do some raking of leaves, a little house tidying, practicing. And thinking now -- will make sure to meditate and get in some FUN!

Lyn, who writes Escape from Obesity (http://escapefromobesity.blogspot.com/), had an especially inspiring post the other day about making a plan for getting through the holidays. She has such a great perspective. I'm excerpting here but her blog is very worthwhile reading:

Working hard for 50 days to eat right is a lot to ask. So instead, how many days can you spare out of that 50 to make your life better?

Can you spare 40? How about 25? 10? Let's make a plan! Write it out!
I will eat healthy foods and work to lose weight on ___ days out of 50.
I will eat junk and gain weight on the remaining ____ days out of 50.
I am worth a ___ percent effort. (Take the first number and divide it by 50 to get your percent).

Well, looking at it that way kind of ruins that plan to eat crap all through Thanksgiving and Christmas and New Years, doesn't it? It's hard to admit you think you're only worth a 20% or 50% effort, but when we make those choices, that's what we're saying.

Aren't you worth 90%? Or 100%?

I mean, no one's perfect, but giving it our best effort *does* get the best results.

We each have the same 50 days til 2011. I am not a fortune teller. Maybe I will weigh 175 or more on that day. But I would wager not. I am working hard to reach my goals. Unless I flip out and binge, I should weigh 160 or less by then. How about you?

What would you *like* to weigh on January first?

Work towards that. Starting now. Don't spend seven weeks waiting for the Magic New Year to resolve to take care of you. Because if you do that, you may as well tack 10 or 15, maybe 20 pounds onto whatever you weigh right now instead of subtracting 10 or 15. Think about it.

If I work hard at losing weight, I might weigh _____ on January first. (Subtract 10 or 15 pounds from your current weight).
If I wait, and indulge instead, I might weigh ____ on January first. (Add 10 or 15 pounds to your current weight).

Seriously. Write it on a piece of paper. Think it over.

And then decide. (Here's a link to that full post (http://escapefromobesity.blogspot.com/2010/11/where-will-you-be.html))

Interesting to think about it that way but I've certainly seen both scenarios play out. Soooo... I filled it out. Decided that I'd work hard 48 out of 50 days. Two days reserved for just not worrying about it.

Let's make this a good one!

anagram-that is so very sad about the two teens! it sure is hard to know at a tender age that things won't always remain as hard as they may feel at a given time.

hope both types of technical difficulties improve for you a.s.a.p! i hate it whenever i have to take prednisone too, so believe me, i sympathize.

have fun with bro in town!

arabella- i hope you are enjoying your vacation! :) fun and relaxation are a must. the description of the harbor during your 4 miler this morning sounds beautiful.

the blog/post you mentioned was very interesting, and really resonated with me.

my portions were not dainty enough today, but will be so tomorrow. funny how easily i can justify feeling dragged out with the notion that somehow eating more will give me more energy. well, thinking of all our dear royals.

Choir practice was SO much fun last night -- just wonderful to know the music and feel confident enough to sing right out. I've made a list of things I'd like to accomplish this week. And, of course, acknowledge that it IS only a week.

So there are leaves waiting for me in the back yard... Fun/exercise gets a combo today -- going to Zumba with my sister. I'll report back on how it was.

WSW, fatigue makes everything SO hard. Takes away our ability to focus, makes us feel like we need food for energy or a treat. So often for me it's been almost automatic -- I'll be working, thinking how tired I am. What I should do is take a break but I don't and about 20 minutes later I'm going through the cupboards. I resolve, once more, to try to rest when I'm tired and look elsewhere for my treats.

Let's make this a good one!

arabella, glad choir practice was so much fun the other night.

we had beautiful, warm weather here yesterday, and what a treat that was. enjoyed being able to get out among 'em and do a few errands.

have a couple appointments today, and must get going. back to daintier portions again, and that is feeling much more like it. well, greetings to all royals, near and far.

Hi, :queen:lies - Oh, I do love your harbor, Wood Nymph.

Hi, wsw - I have managed (somehow) to get to a different place w/o the prednisone. Feel much more like myself but it was a hard, long effort and not sure it was worth it to skip the pills.

I have however seen more ones than twos on the scale this past week. But went bananas the last two days. Bro is here and what a treat!!! He's off visiting other sis at the moment and will leave me tomorrow but we've already had some really good talks.

SIL and niece were here (from Arkansas) yesterdaytoo - for lunch. Just too much food in my house at the moment. And will be the case all next week too. Tummy upset though and I think my body is telling me something - if only I'd be smart enough to listen.

Gorgeous outside (a little nippy) - must go breathe in some fresh air and clear out the foggy head.

Enjoy that great vacation, Arabella - have a fun weekend too, wsw.

:belly:

This is for you, WN. I loved it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU

L'il Bro has left me - sob. Nice, nice visit. BIL in hospital - chemo side effects.

Turning my thoughts now to Thanksgiving and all of that ;0 One little thing at a time and I'll get there.

So fallish again today - another walk this afternoon, hopefully. Barely in the ones today but still. Now if I can stop pigging out a bit. I've frozen most of the leftovers from bro visit into very small portions so that should help.

Great weekend, all.

:belly:

Immersed in Thanksgiving logistics. Enjoying it so far ;)

Back again. I overbooked myself over my week and then ended up just vegetating otherwise, when I'd intended to pamper myself properly. Ate too much, watched too much TV.

Back to looking after myself, though. DH and I had a long walk along a trail. Now some work -- and then a nice soak in the tub. :yes:

Anagram, I loved that flash performance ... wonder if I could talk choir into doing something similar? I'm glad you had such a good time with your brother. Time with our loved ones is the most precious thing.

WSW, I'm with you on those daintier portions. After all, a :queen: doesn't chow down. Nice that you had a weather reprieve. We had a big enough snowfall on Saturday that everything looked Christmassy. Not quite ready for that yet.

K, Lovelies, let's make this a good one! :wave:

Oh and.... :happ3: to my dear American Queenlies!
:turkey: :thanks2: :turkey:

Paying the holiday price a little but feeling good and hoping to be back where I was soon.

It's also getting to the end of the year 2010 and I'm assessing how I've fared in the "Treating Ourselves...." category. I think I've done fairly well with improving that. e.g., a mani-pedi again this week. I bid on some again and so will be getting both for about $25 for the next few months. Also bid on another nail service at another place and will have that cover pedis for the next months afterwards. AND - a longtime goal - I will be getting a facial - and via bid got that for half price too. Must schedule soon.

Hoping to get in a walk today after tai chi - might be in a big store though. ;)

Wasn't that a great singout, Arabella? Would loved to have been there. Are you back on track? You usually have such great holiday behavior tips.

Wsw, thinking of you and hope your "technical diffs" aren't too severe. Been cold and rainy here but I'm past the flare apparently and w/o pred but don't think I'll be so mean to me again.

Heading to Princessville tomorrow for at least two of the Nutcrackers that P10 will be doing. Larger role this year. May also be requested to go to some next weekend as well. Cuts into holiday prep time but they're young such a short time.

Hoping all is well with the abovementioned :queen:s and all unmentioned as well as any considering speaking to us.

Will be time soon to start new 2011 thread.

:wreath::wreath:

Final rehearsal for the Messiah today. It's not going to be on the actual stage where the concert is this year, though, which is too bad. But one has to accept these things. I guess.

Just checked out my outfit for the performance and the skirt fits okay -- snuggish, though, and was almost too loose the last time I wore it a year or so ago. Anyway, it's wearable, which is the main thing. And I do have a pretty new ruffled blouse to wear that is more flattering than its predecessors.

I'm back on track at long last, with a little more than a week under my belt and weight just about at ticker. My new perspective is gratitude that I don't have to overeat and be miserable any more. Gratitude that, in conjunction with that change and exercise, I don't have to ever worry about my weight again. It will just subside. :yes:

Anagram, good going on the mani-pedis! I really should just schedule some because I don't seem to have the patience/ability to give myself a really good pedi. Does get harder with age, does it not. :dz: Although I keep telling myself that with enough yoga I'll be able to get myself in the right position to be able to see properly and get the polish on straight. Yeah, maybe I should just schedule an appointment... :)

Re: self-care -- I didn't do as well as I might have but intend to try again. So much of it is just taking the time. I'm worth it!

K, I'd best scoot! Have a lovely weekend!

Someone sent me another link to a flashmob of Handel in a food court. How come I'm never lucky enough to be in the right place/right time? What a Joy. the looks on people's faces (esp. the wee ones) is so great.

Hope dress rehersal goes well - outfit sounds lovely. I was back at 200.6 today so feeling better. How about the pedi appt as a holiday gift to you? Mine are almost a medical necessity ;)

About ready to hit the road to Nutcrackerville. Later:

:wreath: :wreath: :wreath:

arabella- hope final rehearsal for messiah went well. definitely, give yourself a holiday gift of a pedicure---i'm with anagram.

anagram- glad you are past your flare now. toughing it out without prednisone sure must have been rough(er.) way to go on those mani/pedi deals. hope you will enjoy each and every one. hope you had fun in princessvile. :)

and hello to all our lovely queenlies!

snowed on saturday, and has been icey here since. i am already sick of winter, and it has just begun. granted, the first snowfall was pretty, and even i appreciated that, but i could be just fine now if it magically turned back to mild temps and stayed that way all winter. ah well, enough of fantasy.

hadn't done much at all recently (socially), but this week is very (pleasantly) busy. just wish it weren't so miserably cold, though. trying to stick to my dainty portions, but not as successful as i would have liked to have been in the past 3 days. back on track today. well, hope a good evening is had by one and all in and around the palace grounds.

Good to see you, wsw. I'm with you on wishing it would magically turn to spring time. Sooo cold here this week! Brrr!

Back in onederland the last three mornings. Stiill need to try harder.

Enjoyed Nutcracker twice - not going down for this weekend's performances. Getting there on the Christmas stuff. Hope to nail it all down on Sunday when we're to have REALLY blah weather.

When will we see your flash mob Messiah, Arabella?

The little indulgences after the Messiah, combined with having stopped tracking, letting myself eat on the couch = an out-of-control day on Monday and scrambling to get OP again since. And I find myself stressed and depressed -- so much for "treats," huh. Back to working it again and expect spirits to lift soon.

DH's staff party tonight. There'll be a buffet but I never have trouble with it. I'll get turkey and salad and veggies. And then they're treating us to a musical show. Bet we sneak away at intermission ;)

Anagram, I'm going to put the flash mob performance on the schedule for next year as a promotional event for the real one. This year the performance whooshed towards us and past. We do a sing-along Messiah the week after Christmas, so glad to have that still to look forward to. And we recorded a show that was on of a big sing-along one in Montreal.

WSW, I'm having trouble adjusting to winter temps too. We only really had one snowfall that stuck yet and it's gone again but :brrr: Let's make sure we stay cozy inside. I'm usually try to keep the heat on as low as possible but I'm thinking I'm ready to pamper myself a bit more.

K, I'd better get to work. Thinking of my dear :queen:lies, here and on walkabout. Let's make this a good one!

Bad morning here. Waiting to hear re Princess 14 who is in ER with abdominal pain. I'm much better when I can be there in person. Skipping tai chi and maybe cancelling Facial I'm giving me as a Christmas gift. DO NOT TURN TO FOOD, ANAGRAM! It won't help P14 - or me either. ;)

Oh, Anagram! Hope all is well with Princess 14 and the family. :hug:

Thanks, Arabella. It turns out she had a kidney stone, which she passed eventually. But it was a long morning here (and there too, I suspect). Both her parents are prone to kidney stones but she's so young..........She was to have been taking a math final but the school said she does not need to re schedule it as she's a good student, etc. So that made her happy.

I just love the idea of you doing a flash mob ;)

How'd you hold up at the staff party? I was at 199 even this morning but likely won't be tomorrow. Not that I've been really bad yet. Have some stew from the freezer to heat up.

Spent this rainy day wrapping gifts and decorating my tree. Enough of all that for now. Am going to curl up on the sofa and read the paper a bit. If I get any ambition later ..........naw, I'm not going to get any at this point.

Also watched my niece graduate from college via a webcast. Imagine. Was easier than sitting on bleachers ;) And I could walk away and hang balls during the speeches.

Has been cold/wintry/windy here too though just wet so far today. Tomorrow's to be more of the above.

Missed tai chi Friday because I didn't want to leave home until I knew what was going on. Was mentally preparing to go down if it were appendicitis or something like that. P10 had five performances of Nutcracker again this weekend so DD likely going wild. But I was glad to stay here and catchup a bit. So now I'm going to catch up on my reading and maybe, maybe fold a load of laundry. Such an exciting life ;)

:wreath: :wreath: :wreath:

Oooh, I did hear P14 was okay in time to go for my Facial. Aaaaah - it was a great way to end that stressful day. Besides the cost ;), why don't I do things like that more often. Even though I got it at an auction, it still cost me a fair amount. But it was my Christmas present to me.

:santa: :santa: :elf:

Busy one -- next one will be quieter, which is all to the good.

There was a "celebration of life" ceremony for a friend here. I didn't really know her all that well, hadn't spent a lot of time with her but she was a very authentic character. I ran into her occasionally, interviewed her once (she was a big figure in the arts community), I'd treated her with Reiki a few times. It was a wonderful ceremony. She was the best friend of my sound yoga teacher, so we did a chant for her. There were videos, lots of songs, a potluck afterwards.

:tree: :ginger: :tree:

I got the tree yesterday and we've got it standing nekkid in the livingroom. Tomorrow I'll get it dressed between this and that. Got to go out and get something to send to my brother, who'd planned to get home for Christmas but isn't able to get away. So the family is sending him a parcel. I'm thinking a couple of books and a note. He's the one whose wife died of pancreatic cancer earlier in the year. I know he wants to get home because he realizes that Mom's not going to be around forever. We celebrated her 87th birthday last weekend.

Now this week -- Thursday is DH's birthday. It's always a lovely occasion, people getting in the spirit. I made the hummingbird cake and pineapple flowers yesterday and got the filling for the steak and kidney pie on the go today, have his gift. So much better than freaking out on the day. :yes:

I'm thinking I'll get a start on wrapping gifties as well. I like wrapping on Christmas Eve but we have a standing engagement at my sister's so it generally ends up being frantic. Trying to avoid frantic this year.

We had a beautiful day today, sunny and just around the freezing mark. Tomorrow and Tuesday are supposed to be very mild and rainy. Huzzah for having the roof done!

Anagram, I'm so glad to hear that P14 is okay!

I behaved according to plan at the staff party. Desserts looked very good but I didn't waver. And have continued well-behaved throughout the weekend.

WSW :hug:

K, I think it's time to tuck in with my book for a little read before bedtime. Love!

It was a "good news, bad news" kind of week. I reached a new-in-the-last 20 years low of 196.8 one day and 197 the next but then I ate out - a very rich meal - and was at 201 today. Am not doing as well as I should be on avoiding "stuff" either though not gone totally bananas.

I'm so sorry your brother can't get home, WN. Would have been so good for all of you. Hope DHs birthday went well. Your Mom seems to do a lot for 87. Hope she can keep it up a long, long time.

I'm done decorating, wrapping, all that stuff except still baking. Just to give away mostly. And then I got the news that DD & crew won't be coming up. I will go there as I usually do but (at least as of now), they're going to stay close to home. I'm disappointed (would not have put up the larger tree) but do understand. Every year they've schlepped here then on to Long Isaland, then back here, etc.

Another disappointment - DS was supposed to come up this weekend (mostly to see friends but I've had time w/him as well). Then wasn't feeling well. I will see him Thursday as he and DW stop by overnight on there way North and then (usually) again on the way home.

At any rate, it will all be good, no matter how it turns out in the end. I'm off to church this evening, a little more (unnecessary) baking tomorrow. Maybe in the pm I'll check out the movie "How Do You Know" - P14 was an extra in one scene so I'm hoping it didn't make the cutting room floor.

At any rate, if I don't go starkers, I should be ending the year at least a tad below the beginning. Rah, rah, rah.

:wreath: :wreath: :wreath:

Strange little evening here. Not much left to do for Christmas - just delivering some baked goods to neighbors. Keep thinking I'm forgetting something. Probably am.

Tomorrow will be my last tai chi until the New Year. Then eye doctor. Will finish up whatever needs done on Wednesday, DS here Thursday, they and I will both leave Friday but in opposite directions.

Tea awaits. ;)

Shoot -- just lost a whole post. And it seemed like the page just closed and took me back to the forums list. :shrug:

Doldrumsy this a.m. and working to reclaim my spirit. I think eating wheat and sugar the last few days probably has something to do with it so I'm cutting that out RIGHT now. :yes: And will meditate, plan something uplifting (like pedicure), get some work done, straighten the house. Get over it...

:ginger: :tree: :ginger:

Anagram, that's FANTASTIC!!! 196.8 :woohoo: for you! We'll just ignore the temporary blip up. It'll be gone in no time.

We parallel yet again -- I'm to see eye doctor today as well.

WSW :hug:

K, let's see about making this day merry and bright.

Well, it was a lovely Christmas in Princessville. All the usual frivolity and plentisome gifts. That was after an overnighter by DS/DDIL as well. I left P'ville early to "beat the snow" and then never saw an inch. Didn't get much in Pville either and none until way after the time I'd normally have started home. So feeling a little low on Princess time.

Not sorry we didn't get snow here though.

A little leisurely so far this day. Thought I had a lunch date - found out it's tomorrow (I think it was friend's mistake though ;) ). So going to keep it leisurely and figure out the rest of my week.

I think the 196 was a blip, arabella. I have been falling back into all my old habits. However, I'm going to skip the scale a few days to give me a chance to get a little lower so I don't go into shock. Still, it was a great feeling while it lasted.

Funny how we seem to parallel so often. So let's parallel today as a great one. Hoping ouir wsw isn't too inconvenienced by that nasty storm.

Coming to the end of our "treating ourselves royally" year. In some ways, I succeeded. In the most important way, though, probably not as I'd hope to have been down at least a little more.

:newyear:

We missed both the big family parties, the first one because DH was very ill with what he thought was strep throat and the second one because DS got suddenly ill. When I say suddenly, I mean we'd picked him and his girlfriend up to go to my sister's place on Christmas Eve. I said "How are you two?" He said he had a headache and then a block later it was "Pull over!" So we spent Christmas Eve listening to the Messiah in our living room while DS lay in the big chair with blankets, too ill even to get back in the car to go home again. Once he started to feel a little better, I actually enjoyed it though, just being there quietly with my two guys.

His GF went home and he eventually felt well enough. They'd planned on sleeping over but came back Christmas morning and then DGS came too, for brunch.

I made the most spectacular cake to take to DSIL's -- Peppermint Meringue Cake with Chocolate Buttercream: three layers of peppermint meringue and two thin layers of peppermint-liqueur-moistened chocolate cake, all sandwiched together with chocolate buttercream into an oblong. Then, mint patty triangles, blackberries and mint leaves on top and strewn on the plate. I'll post a pic -- it really looked better than the pix with the recipe online.

The response was very gratifying -- everyone just gathered around the counter, stared and oohed and ahhhed (including the men!) for quite a while. Beat last year's buche de noel, which was a crowd-pleaser too.

Then had Mom in for turkey dinner last night, watched some episodes of Little Dorrit. All in all, a lovely Christmas. This week we've got the Sing-along Messiah, a New Year's Eve Eve party/dance, then a quiet night in on NYE itself (our 16th anniversary), a fancy NY brunch at a hotel with my mom and brother and his wife and a gathering for games on the Sunday to round things off. In between, a lot of lounging, reading, puttering. I'm off work! :cloud9:

:snowglo: Looks like a winter wonderland out there, for the second time this year. DH and I went out for a walk but it turned to hail and then to sleet, finishing up with rain. So we were soaked and chilled by the time we got home. Nothing that a big hot bath couldn't cure, though. :)

Ah yes, Anagram -- the end of the year. Shall try again next year! :yes: Definitely could have treated self more royally. Weight is just about where it was when I weighed in in January last year. Which was when I could bear to look again so I guess it would have been several pounds heavier.

I've been indulging but not over-indulging, which always feels okay. Not that I could keep it up with impunity. But a few more treats over this week and then going clean again. :yes:

WSW, hope all is well in your corner of the palace! :hug:

:tree: :ginger: :tree:

Happy holidays, all!

Dear Royals - I have received a sad message from Kaylets =

"I tried to log onto 3 Fat Chicks but had problems.

I wanted to let the ladies know that my husband passed on 12/16. He was very, very ill at the end; the cancer had moved to his brain and he was having a very difficult time breathing as well. We were sure the cancer was back in his lungs too but the tumor in his brain was all the doctors were focusing on. He was himself for the most part, although very heavily medicated up until about 6 hours before he passed. He remained sweet and kind and made us laugh the last few days.
........

I am sorry I couldn't get to the blog to post but the last year was very, very busy.
I hope everyone is doing well and knows I thought about them many, many times.

Kaye "

Should regular Palace residents want a link to John's obituary, kindly message me and I will send it to you.

Anagram

Anagram, thanks so much for sharing, however sad. My heart goes out to our dear Kaylets, along with hopes and prayers that she is supported and comforted. :hug: I've requested a link to John's obituary -- always so meaningful to get a sense of the person.

In one of those odd little synchronicities, the 16th was my DH's birthday.

Winter's arrived here. Although it's not much colder than it has been, we've had more snow than rain and it's a winter wonderland out there, albeit one with freezing drizzle coming down in it. :dz: I got a replacement pedometer for Christmas and am trying to get my 10,000 steps per day. 100% so far, which I'm hoping makes up for the indulgences to some extent.

This afternoon is the Sing-Along Messiah, which should be fun. Then we'll be on to practicing Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle for Good Friday.

Love to all!

Indeed it was terrible news from Kaylets and I hope she is able to find some solace at this start of a new year. It will be all new for her, I'm afraid.

Sorry illness plagued some of your festivities too, Arabella. Hope everybody's up and at it again. Your cake sounds postitively marvelous and has me salivating. How was the Sing along Messiah?

I too am about where I was a year ago. I was thinking I was down a lb or two but when I went back and reread early posts, it turned out to be about the same. I think I had made it to a pound and a half less for my new low. I was 201 this morning (200.8 yesterday). But, on the positive side, I have maintained a weight loss of almost 50 lbs for 8 or 9 years now.

I think I have treated me more royally this past year. Not that there couldn't be more ;). I have expanded social outlets somewhat, added more music, etc. So some goals have been somewhat met.

For the new year, I have found a new place to try for aquatic exercise - I've missed that. If it works out, it will likely be only one day a week, plus two of tai chi and whatever walking I'm able to get into.

I've had a good holiday season, it has yet to snow here, I'm ready to take down holiday decorations in a few days and then get on with living a hopefully full, healthy, contented life.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, ALL ROYALS.

:snowglo::snowglo::snowglo::snowglo:

And here we are. The "new" part of my New Year will start tomorrow -- today we have the last two parties of the holidays, one a drop-in to the neighbour and one a gathering for charades and other games with the Christmas party gang. I've been moderately indulgent all week but also got in lots of exercise. I know for a fact that I can't get away with moderate indulgence. Tomorrow begins the point counting again. :yes:

My single resolution this year is to meditate daily. There are lots of other areas that I'm striving to do better in, of course, and I expect that meditation will help there, too.

Anagram, the sing-along Messiah was SO much fun! I'm getting a little braver all the time about singing out and was rewarded by the woman next to me saying how much she enjoyed singing beside me. I had the same reaction from my neighbour at the main stage performance, who said she depended on me a lot. I take that as great encouragement!

I do love to sing and am planning to do more of it around the house this year. :)

Oh, here's that picture of the cake:

http://hauntedpei.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/peppermint-meringue-cake-with-chocolate-buttercream.jpg

Kaylets, as Anagram (who knows so well) says, this year may seem uncharted for you. May you be supported and comforted throughout. :hug:

WSW, as always sending you wishes for good health. I hope you had a nice Christmas!

All royals, whether within or without the Palace:

Let's all see about behaving like royalty and treating ourselves royally in 2011!

:cheers:

Hello my Royals,

I thank everyone for you kind thoughts and wishes.


Although things still are very much "from a distance" I am going back to work tomorrow. I need the schedule and feel as though the longer I wait, the harder it might be.

I am beginning to think I should start a food plan to make sure I do more than just graze and to help myself phyiscally thru this journey. I relied on my husband to do so much of the cooking, something he enjoyed even as recent as Thanksgiving week, that I have to make eating right a special priority.


And where else but with the Royals who were with me for so long???

Its going to be an interesting new year.



And goodness gracious, that cake is something!!

And I have decided on another resolution. I will eat ONLY at the table when alone, with no exceptions. In my heart, I know this single resolution will get me to goal -- why do I resist it so? No more!

The party was fun last night but a bit of a carb fest -- and I didn't stint. Back to healty eating TODAY. Enough with the sugar and wheat, esp. white. Shall track food and count. DH and I are off for a walk 'round the harbour to the gym.

Kaylets, it does my heart so much good to see you in the palace. You're very wise, I think, to go to work. Routine can be such a help while we grieve. :hug:

I'm going to have my oats and then hie me to the offices. Love to all!

Hello all.....


Although the morning was a blur, and I began crashing ( very little sleep last night) by noon, I caught a second wind about 2 and realized I would make it thru the day and that was the only goal.

Many people commented that it looked like I lost weight but we all know if I really did, how quickly it will pile back on once I regain my appetite.

Got an unexpected check in the mail today; it all made sense when it was explained to me--just didn't expect the disability insurance to make up the difference that SSDI had not. Interesting twist in the Fed law.... if you do not live the entire month, you do not get paid for any of it. Anyway, even the small checks are good when you don't expect them!


The new dogs were frantic when I got home. To be expected, this was the first time I had left them a full work day. This is why I was glad to get them together so they had each other's company while I was gone. Took them about 1.5 hrs to calm down and relax; by Friday, lets hope they take it more in stride that I will be coming home. Tough on these abandonned ones.....but they will realize soon that I do come back every day.

So. I will go find a piece of fruit to eat. Haven't had anything near plant life at all today.

Completely on plan yesterday, I was. I'm trying to get back to that nice mental space where I keep reminding myself that I don't have to overburden my body with excess and/or unhealthy food any more and, as a corollary, I don't ever have to worry about my weight again.

The walk around the harbour was a trifle on the brutal side this a.m. Dark, I don't mind. But much of it was ice, either flat or rock-like chunks that hurt my feet to walk on. So... I was glad to get home. Did a little yoga, had breakfast. Now for a nice hot and fragrant shower.

Kaylets, what are your new dogs like? Smart to get a couple. I always like to get a couple of cats. We used to have a couple of boys that were such good pals, grooming each other, sleeping curled up together. Our current kitty doesn't care for cats, though. We cat-sit the neighbour's tortoiseshell girl sometimes and our cat has let it be known that she is not best pleased.

Remember to take good care of yourself!

As we're into another year, I suppose we should start a new thread. Might just go with the same theme as last year, hey?

Love to all!

Ohh, Kaylets, so good to have you back so we can let you know how much you're loved. Please, please, kindness to self. Back to work is a good start but let others cater to you if they will. Methinks I tried too hard on the "being strong" part.

Two Poochies, eh? Good luck but they will be good company for the long nights.

Arabella, that cake is fab. Enough to make me want to go "off" (as if I'm ever really on).

However I did start redoing before the New year (with only a couple of slips) and was at 200 even this morning. This evening I went to a trial "ai chi in the water" class. Will see how I feel tomorrow before signing up for the next 7 weeks.

Somehow, sort of accidentally, got all the decoratons to the basement. Weekend will be time enough to pack all up.

Yes, I liked our 2010 theme well enough to repeat. It's broad enough to cover all of our goals.

:belly:

Okely-dokely. Have started new thread -- follow this breadcrumb trail to the palace (http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/support-groups/221541-treating-ourselves-royally-behaving-like-royalty-2011-a.html).

:ginger: