Hello hello! What a fantastic thing to come back to see that Uber is back, Toasted is here still, and we have a new member, Jenni! And, of course, Diane, LemonThyme, and Lilion still faithfully posting!
I am not going to do personals, but I did skim through the last few pages, and wanted to quickly address a few things.
Uber - I am so excited you made the choice to do the sleeve! Doing weight loss surgery or not doing it are intensely personal decisions, and both are great choices, depending on the person and what she needs. I hope things go really well for you.
Toasted - I grew up in Wyoming! And my son is trying to talk me into going to visit his grandparents there. It's not a particularly good possibility, unless I do a round-trip with him over a weekend (12-hour drive each way), but I might could. If you plan a trip there, I would love to make recommendations. Or, if we want a rom-com ending to our #TLTMAS, I could meet you there and we could camp in Yellowstone or swim in the hot pools in Thermopolis or Saratoga. No Jackson Hole, though. That's just tourist trap, super-expensive, inauthentic Wyoming experience.
Just got back from 6 days in Puerta Vallarta. It was beautiful! As you all may remember, I made the decision to try the vegan thing. More precisely, I am doing a plant-based, whole foods (PBWF) diet. I listened to T. Colin Campbell's new book, Whole, then listened to his earlier book, The China Study, and topped it off with Michael Pollan's book In Defense of Food. My decision to actually follow the book's recommendations was pretty spontaneous, though. My son had offered to bring me Quizno's and we could have lunch together. Instead, I asked him if he would bring me spinach and blueberries, and he agreed to do the PBWF thing with me. I am so surprised at how much I am LOVING it. We were at an all-inclusive resort, and I ate so many plant foods there! I also indulged in some shrimp, cuz we were right by the ocean. I thought I might feel deprived, but I let myself eat some candy and cookies while there, but mostly, I just ate green veggies and baked potatoes and shrimp. They had some unusual dishes that I haven't ever tried, like chicken mole, but instead of getting the chicken, I just asked for a side of mole sauce so I could taste it and had it with my plant foods. The best part? Instead of feeling sluggish after meals, I was energized and ready to go. I ran, I swam, and I walked. A lot. Warm weather isn't particularly conducive to really heavy foods anyway. I gave myself permission to eat whatever I wanted, but when it came down to it, I really wanted the lighter, healthier foods that made me feel good. The downside is that I got hungry before the next meal, so I kept snacks to tide me over, mostly because I didn't want to interrupt my activities to sit down for a meal again. I ate fruit and nuts and seeds and Kashi cereal so that I wouldn't be ravenous. And I came back three pounds lighter than when I left. I don't know how often I need to remind myself of this, but . . . blueberries are delicious, and make me feel a lot better than when I seek candy. I'm in the honeymoon period, and I know it won't always be this easy or this enjoyable, but maybe if I can get patterns established, it will be easier to maintain. And for dinner last night, I made stirfry with veggies, shrimp, and a bit of brown rice, which my husband ate and claimed to enjoy. He, too, ate less than usual on vacation, and I think it was good for him.
Okay. Enough blathering. Can't wait to get back to my routine. Hope everyone has a fantastic day!
Diane: Love, Love, Love your hair! You have inspired me. I am going to set up an appointment for my hair in May that is around my birthday and hopefully I am past my half way point. It will be hard. I have red hair down to my booty...LOL Was your hair very long to start? It looks great!!!!! And YAY for the great weigh in.... I love when you get those whooshes! Are you doing a certain eating plan?
Lemon: Looks like a great weigh in, especially from being sick! I hope you are back to yourself this morning! You have a great plan in place
Uber: It wasn't my birthday, it was my middle daughter's! I was so excited to be able to say no to the cake. I will be having a piece on my birthday but that is in May! 19 pounds since mid January??? That is amazing!!!! You will get under 250 in no time! Are you still on the liquid diet? I hope you are healing well!
Lil: I hope you are fully recovered soon!
Toasted: Hope you are doing okay and work isn't too busy! Miss your comments!
Laurie: Hello! Not so much a new member, I was here a couple years ago and I do remember you. We talked about the 5K running app. I took a hiatus because my health went downhill. I was diagnosed with fibro and have autoimmune. I am now regaining my health. Through this I went to a new all time high weight of 276 and now I am down to 237-238. It looks like you met your goal weight....I am so proud of you. I know you inspired me when I was on here before!!!! Thanks for sharing on your vacation, it sounds wonderful! We are planning a trip to Hawaii this fall!
Jenni – WELCOME! Or maybe Welcome back! Happy to have you along on this mysterious journey we call weight loss.
Uber – WELCOME BACK! While I haven’t gone that route (yet – never say never right?) I know that life after gastric surgery is a whole new ballgame. I’ve known a few women who have had it, one the full-blown bypass, one the gastric sleeve, and one the lap band. They all (especially the first two) had amazing results. It’s hard. I remember that my work/friend with the bypass got hers while I was working on my 100 lb loss years and years ago and I was SO JEALOUS. I was fighting for every ounce and the weight just melted off her. But it’s not as though it was easy. She had to watch everything that went in her mouth and she worked out nearly every day to try to keep the skin sag to a minimum. Didn’t work. Understand, this lady is nearing 60 now so over 50 at the time and was about 5’3” and 380 lbs…and had lost 150 on Fen-Phen and regained before the bypass, so she had a LOT of skin issues. She did regain a little, but not that much in the grand scheme of things. I heard she finally (after at least 5 years post-loss) had the skin removed and, just because she finally could have a nice body, breast augmentation. All very pricey – she had planned on moving to Belize to retire and has scrapped that in favor of the surgery. I haven’t seen her, but hear she looks amazing. The person who had the sleeve did not have nearly the issues...perhaps because of the slower loss? But she still lost a lot of weight, met her goal, and is doing very well.
Anyways – all that was meant to be How Awesome For You that you took the plunge. Clearly, this can be a very good thing for you. I hope we see you here a lot.
Toasted – Good to see you! You’d been more or less absent before I took my week off! I hope you were doing exciting things.
Lemon – I laughed at the “plan” for the Lotto. My husband and I play once in a blue moon. We have decided we would: 1) call our accountant and have him recommend a financial planner and attorney, 2) call them 3) Book first class tickets someone awesome and out of the country if possible – the attorney and financial planner will take care of getting our money. Hubby says he’d find a job to work at as he would be bored being home - the fool . Traveling would be my life! Even if it was just in the states. Truthfully, I wouldn’t want to win the $100,000,000 type jackpot. I’d prefer just a few million – enough to pay off all our bills and buy us a little plot of land and not enough to have people hounding us for $$$. Yep. We’ve REALLY thought about this.
Diane – OMG how cute is your hair! I gave up on doing anything with mine ages ago. I have very dark brown hair and the gray…well…is gray. Actually, as gray goes I’m pretty happy with mine. It’s mostly at the temples – people pay to have white streaks like I grow naturally – think Rogue from the X-men. LOL But there’s enough salt elsewhere in the pepper that you can clearly tell it’s natural. I get it cut about every 3-4 MONTHS – I’m terrible about just letting it grow. I finally found a cut I really like, an asymmetrical bob, longer on one side than the other. I really do like that look on me.
Laurie – So glad you had a lovely vacation and you are enjoying the vegetarian life. I still think that animals are a bit too tasty for me to give up – but you sound like you are doing something great for yourself.
Whatever happened to Bookmark? Did we lose her?
So…today is my first day back at the office. I’m wearing my loosest pants and they’re okay. I’m technically not “released” to be here, but what they don’t know… So far I’ve taken someone’s hearing so they could go home before they cough up a lung and it gets on me, found out that two of my decisions with stupid mistakes got mailed that way and the boss wants to “talk” about it, someone took my parking spot that I was given for the week (he did apologize and much groveling was done), and I gained ½ lb while home. 272 now. So…yeah…back to work.
While home hubby got sick with this sinus infection/lung thing and all he wants to do when he’s sick is eat – comfort food. So there are donuts and cookies and fried things in the house. I did make a wonderful (if I do say so myself) stew yesterday – venison steak, wild mushrooms, carrots, potatoes, barley – yummy. No idea of the calories, but it can’t be much. I haven’t logged on MFP in a week+ and I’m finding it hard to care. I want to be home sleeping. Or sewing. I got so little done over the week! I really wanted to make a few gowns for the SCA War coming up in just a month – but nothing got made. I was just so lazy! Still, if I went home now I’d just sleep.
I guess I best get my car moved now so that I don’t get a ticket. So everyone, I’ll “talk” to you again soon.
Jenni - I am so glad you reminded me! I mostly meant a new member of this group, but it's great to have another veteran weight loss warrior with us! Your losses have been super impressive. Starting at 276 is so challenging, but I think having consistent losses month after month might be even more challenging, and you're conquering both. I have sort of met my goal. I was down to 140 a few months ago, then popped back up to 160. Honestly, 160 would be a great "forever weight," but we both know there's no such thing. Ideally, I think I'd like to be at 140, but mostly I just want to stay below 160. A few weeks ago, I was 160.6, and that made me quite nervous. It truly is a lifelong journey. Excited that you are here conquering it with us. Sorry to hear about your added challenges. Fibro and autoimmune are no joke. While I promise not to proselytize my eating plan (for a million reasons, not least of which is I don't know how consistent I can be with following it), I will tell you that T. Colin Campbell thinks that a plant-based whole foods diet can be helpful in controlling or eliminating the symptoms associated with both of those. Let me know if you want to hear about any of it. Otherwise, just very excited to have you around here!
Lilion - Ugh on the rough start back at work, especially when you're technically supposed to be vacationing still! 1/2 pound up when you're not focusing on the weight is not bad at all, though, and it's great that you're functioning enough to be able to be back at work. I always think of you as an ALJ, but I think your actual title is commissioner? I had a conversation with someone who used to work for the Missouri AG's office (like last week -- he just switched jobs), and we got onto the topic of how overworked the commissioners were. If he was describing your workload, I have even more admiration for you now! And yes - vegetarianism isn't for everyone. I'm not even 100% convinced it's for me in the long term. But, for now, my version of it (which, of course, isn't truly vegetarianism) is really working for me.
I went completely off-plan for dinner last night. Instead of Applebee's, we ended up getting grocery store Chinese. If I were with anyone other than my husband, I would have just purchased and consumed some produce. But my husband has been patient with my weird eating needs, so I decided to just order some crab rangoons. Delicious, but greasy and kind of unpleasant to eat because of that. And the aftereffects were awful. I felt sluggish and used it as an excuse to down chips and cookies. But I'm back on plan today, and will be trying to access that memory when I am tempted to stray again.
And returning to daily goals
1- 15000 Steps
2 - Run or weight lift today. Got a gym date with my son, actually.
3 - Stick to the plant-based whole foods agenda
4 - Do something just to help me feel good today unrelated to professional or family obligations.
Uber: Yeah, I like keeping my hair long. Even when it is gray, I'll be keeping it about this length, maybe a bit shorter. According to the stylist, we needed to get the brown out, and then just lighten it to the ashy blonde color this time. Then, as I understand it, she'll be able to go with a gray color from there, with possibly some darker streaks. I just couldn't deal with letting the gray grow out. It would take forever with my long hair. So, I'll get there at some point. Never have had light colored hair. I do like it!
Jen: She didn't cut too much off, so it is about as long as it has been for awhile. I can only handle so many changes at once! Ha! Thanks for the kudos on the weigh in. I really don't follow a plan of specific foods, just counting calories. I don't want to completely change the food I eat, but I do make better choices now. I don't want to have to cook different meals for my family, and I want this to be sustainable, so calorie counting made the most sense for me.
Lilion: Look at you getting back into the swing of things! You sound like you are feeling better now, so that's good! I know that it is hard to just stay home and rest. But, you'll get back to better activity and eating habits. You've been through a lot, so you have to give yourself credit for that!
Laurie: Welcome back! Sounds like you had a great vacation. I'm glad that your new eating plan is working for you and it makes you feel good. That's the important part!!
As for me, I didn't have a great day of food yesterday and my weigh in this morning is showing that, I think. Oh well! Doing better today. I went to the gym and lifted weights. I almost had myself talked out of it because of the weather, but I made it. I'm ready for spring.....
Laurie - My actual title is "Hearing Officer". When they say "Commissioner" they are usually talking about the Administrative Hearing Commission. That isn't us. We make decisions on behalf of the Director of the Dept. of Social Services only. In many states, our position would be an ALJ position. We tried to get them to give us the title years ago...no go. With the title comes perks and retirement benefits via the Judicial Retirement System and that's not in the budget - among other problems with it. We don't mind that much. Most people (including other lawyers who really should know better) still "Your Honor" us to our faces. lol
Diane: your hair turned out lovely! Go you. What did DH say? I know you were worried about his response.
Laurie: yeah for a nice trip. Good luck with the new eating. I too am not sure that’s something I could ever do completely. I don’t eat loads of meat, but I still find that I need to take in. Oh blueberries are always on hand here - wenpick them and then I freeeze so we can eat them year round. They are a burst of sunshine in your mouth!
Lil: glad you are healing on up! Your stew sounds good! Are you a spring hunter of mushrooms? Do you dry them or what method of preservation if they last that long?
Jen: good for you adding the movement to your day! I’ll get there eventually.
Uber: hope this journey goes quickly for you!
Toasted: how’s your Olympic watching?
Hello all!
AM: I got up and made everyone French toast. I had decorated the table and everyone got their little valentine box of chocolates and their cards and now I’m sending them out the door wearing their red!
I haven’t been on the scale the last few days as I’m not getting water in and this crud is still holding me down some. I’ve gone from feeling horrid to not being able to hear. I’d rather just feel better all around. The only good thing is that with having wonky taste buds eating is not good because my tastes are all opposite of what they should be and I have found I have one side of my
Mouth that all of a sudden is sensitive to anything (wondering if it corresponds to a sinus and not something worse like a cracked tooth).
When it rains it does pour.
You know what’s nice and lifts the mood? That now at 7am it’s so light out! It helps the mood but good.
Lil: Wow what a day! I'm sorry your first day back was so stressful! We have that position in Oregon Administrative Hearing Officer. Is that the same thing? I work for the state. Hopefully the next days go smoother! I sure hope you get full recovery soon. My hubby does the same thing and he has a big sweet tooth. I have actually silently thrown food away and pretend I didn't know what happened... LOL!
Diane: I do calorie counting on my higher carb days and I think it will be more sustainable when I get close to goal to just switch to that also. I allow myself treats on some days and just add in the calories. I'm sorry you had a not so good food day but hey that's why there is tomorrow and your still counting on! I am ready for spring too! It was a warmer winter here so not so excited about the bugs!
Laurie: My goal has been 160 but I have a feeling I won't be happy when I get there. It's funny how that happens. I really like your strategy of staying under 160. I would love to hear about plant based. I eat pretty clean now but I am assuming plant based excludes dairy and some meats? I will have to google Colin Campbell. Hey sometimes we need to splurge to make what we have done sustainable. We both know that eating healthy is great but if we restrict too much it makes you crave things more.
Lemon:. I sure hope you feel better soon. Zinc and Vitamin C too!
For me: I am traveling 2 hours for negotiations today. I am lucky that it's paid time. I will be packing healthy food so I am not tempted to pull over somewhere. My husband made dinner reservations at a nice restaurant so I have already stalked their menu online. You just never know calorie wise on things like this! Hope everyone has a wonderful Valentines Day!
Reason to lose weight #48 After surgery I was restricted from lifting more than 5 pounds for two weeks. Well, the two weeks are almost up, saw the surgeon today (he said I was fine btw), and asked about it...thinking that was a bit extreme. He EXTENDED it another two weeks! That's a total of 4 weeks unable to lift anything over 5 lbs. A jug of milk weighs 8 lbs! Why? Because of my weight. More blubber means more tissue to heal and therefore, it takes longer. Now...the weight limit isn't set in stone - he basically ended the visit with, "If it hurts, don't do it." But still!
Luckily, I have a job where I don't have to lift more than a file folder...though some of those people think they need to kill several trees to get their point across. But I can work. My upcoming camping trip, however, is going to be problematic. As most of you know, it's a medieval reenactment event and we don't camp in pop-up tents and sleeping bags. We camp in 18 x 13 medieval pavilions, with real beds and tables and chairs, etc. We don't eat cold pop-tarts, we bake bread in cast-iron dutch ovens over an open fire! We don't use backpacks...we use trucks and trailers to get our stuff there! Nothing weighs under 5 lbs. Heck, most weighs over 20. So...husband is going to be busy and sore. 3 weeks to vacation!
Lemon, I am a year-round hunter of shrooms. We own some acreage, but there are no spring mushrooms – Morels around here – to speak of on it. It saddens me. I’ve looked 3 years now and found a total of 5. The mushrooms I’m currently using are Hen of the Woods, also called Maitake or – if you want to be fancy - Grifola frondosa. They are fantastic fall mushrooms. They grow at the base of Oak trees generally and you can find them in the darndest spots. I get them along hiking trails in our big city park or even from neighborhood lawns! They are glorious and HUGE. I suggest you google them. I usually freeze them. They freeze beautifully. I dried some this year as well.
Jenni, your admin hearing officers may be the same as us. I do child support hearings specifically. Basically, if the state takes an action and you don’t like it, you ask for a hearing and it comes before one of the HO’s in our office.
No more time for anything…gotta get to work! And HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
...and Ash Wednesday. I wonder how many people who gave chocolate up for Lent will break that today? LOL
Lemon: Sounds like you can't shake this sickness stuff! That's frustrating! I hope it all starts coming together for you soon! I think you are wise not to get on the scale right now. I would bet that you are retaining water with being sick. I don't know that for a fact, but that's what I think would happen!! Oh, my husband really likes my hair. He's been very encouraging!
Jen: Yep, that's what I do, too. If I'm going out to eat, I always hope that the restaurant has an online menu/nutrition guide. Makes it so much easier to make good choices. By the way, I just read your signature quote: "Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts." I really like that. It is so true! I know that I took the success I had for granted and thought I didn't have to keep trying as hard. Well, evidently I do!! Ha!
Lilion: Oh boy. Not lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds is really limiting. There isn't much that isn't heavier than that! But, you also don't want to cause any other damage, so I'm sure you need to be careful. Hang in there! You're getting so close to your vacation!
As for me, yes... I am up on the scale again. I am reminding myself that this happened last week, too, so I'm trying not to overreact. I do think that some of it is from the lifting I do on Tuesdays. It seems like I retain a lot of water the next day. I don't think it is as bad when I'm lifting on Thursdays too, but I've missed a couple of workouts. Anyway, I'll just keep drinking lots of water. I was on plan yesterday with food, so I think I'm ok. I'm hoping it is just how I roll through the week.
I went to spin this morning, hoping that helps me have a better weigh in. Someone brought in some treats for Valentine's Day. They were tempting, but I've been ok without them!! Nothing planned for tonight, so I'll be able to stay on track.
Well I’m holding my own ok I guess. considering feeling still under the weather I guess I’ll take the 22 though I wouldn’t mind it magically turn to 19.
I watch the news this morning - sadness. When does this stop?
Lil: 5lbs isn’t a lot but you can make things work even if at little amounts. Are they letting you drive? If so, your lucky, I had that blocked for 6weeks with my surgery. At least you can go! For your trip - would a compression waist help you out? I know it shoves all in place - I used something post partum when I slept as my muscles were just feeling like a used slingshot and that helped with that feeling. It might be worth asking if it’s something that can aid you in movement as it heals without causing other issues.
Diane: good golly look at you go with your exercise! I’m proud of you keeping that going so well even through the hurt. Keep it up! I hope DH says your change makes you the super hottie! What a mood boost when you make a slight change - it puts a spring in your step to achieve a bit more and continue on your quest and you continue to slay!
Jen: safe travels for you and enjoy the foods you packed with. Isn’t road travel a hard one to avoid? Good thing I don’t do that often, otherwise I’d be as round as a doughnut. What’s next on your reno list?
Uber: what does your diet consist of? If I read right you will be adding more bulkier foods to your days soon?
Laurie: did you stay right on the water?
Toasted: how goes it?
Hello all!
Am: it just is today. My spunk is out the window as is my desire to eat well today. I’d love to gnosh on all things junk today. I’m kind of blue looking at the world - more personal then anything. I am more than ready for winter to leave as I think part of that gives me this feeling. I have worries upon worries that I don’t need to make for myself, yet I do as I go on with my day.
Oh to shake it off would be great - but I haven’t been able to.
Weight wise once this crud ships off my intent is to get back on the saddle and get it going again. What I didn’t realize is how this crud knocks you back on the energy level. Ugh. Bed time at 8 and I could probably sleep until 10am and still be tired.
The good news - we had a good melt yesterday. Of course it all became ice overnight. It can keep melting as far as I’m concerned. Like my weight - it can just go. What are some things you all look forward to with spring coming for your movement, diets and even life?
Help me think of some good things to look towards!
Lemon: I am so sorry you are still feeling yucky! I hope it goes away this weekend! Spring? I am looking forward to spring because I want more sun, see the flowers blooming, and to see some color on the trees. Sounds like you might have had a lot of snow? We didn't get any this year and it hasn't been too cold. I am nervous because I know it is going to be a horrible bug season....icky. We get some HUGE spiders when it doesn't get cold enough in the winter. Reno...still preparing to start the downstairs floor...this will take awhile as I work full time. I would love my kitchen redone but that requires a lot of funds...LOL
Diane: Yes! I totally took the success I had for granted multiple times, mostly because I felt it wasn't coming off fast enough. But in all honestly, how long did it take to put it all on??? I did have health issues this last time, but in all honestly I could have tried harder. I totally agree with you. I have had a horrible relationship with food. Emotionally wise it made me feel good. Getting to the root of the problem has helped a ton, but it is something that I have to work on daily. It's an addiction to be honest. And with food it is constantly around so it is hard for people to conquer. But this time a lot is for my health, eating to decrease inflammation etc.
Lil: That really sucks on the not lifting pounds. I hope you can find a way around that. We lift far more than we think on a daily basis. Your trip sounds amazing. I have always wanted to attend one of those reenactment events. I cannot wait to hear about it!!!!
For me: Well, didn't do too bad yesterday and didn't do too great. I stayed on plan through dinner and then the dessert was brought out. Cheesecake...my downfall. I had 3 bites (which wasn't too bad) but then I picked up a handful of peanut M&M's without realizing it. This is the thing with me and sugar once I have it I start it. So plan today is low carb and detox from what I did have yesterday. OHHHH I got a garmin vivofit. So I am starting trying to get 7500 steps and I will move it up once I am comfortable for that.
Lemon: It is a sad thing to look at the news anymore. Such madness in the world. And with the gloominess of the remaining winter, it doesn't help. And, then, with you just getting over being sick, it is hard to be filled with happiness! Soon, the sickness will be behind you and you can get back to focusing on other things!
Jen: Cool that you have the Garmin! Now you can watch all those steps that you'll get each day. And, you have a great attitude about moving on after the cheesecake/M&Ms. I feel like you can occasionally have treats like that, but then you just forgive yourself and move on. Here's to a better day of eating on plan!!
As for me, the scale was much better today. I am not sure why I have the fluctuations through the week, but if it keeps moving down overall, that will be ok! Ha! I had a couple of good days of eating on plan, and I think that helps. Keeping disciplined today, too.
I didn't go to the gym this morning. I felt that it was time for a rest day. I have plans for a lot of exercise throughout the weekend, so I thought it would be good to take off today. It would have been lifting weights today, and I felt like that it is ok to skip that occasionally.
Diane! You avoided the V-day chocolate trap! Good for you!
Lemon, I never thought about a compression waist... basically like the neoprene braces my husband wears for his knees? Only around my belly? I could ask I guess. Or I could corset myself up...LOL. Not my medieval period. As to the driving - I kind of didn't ask. I figured if they didn't want me to, they'd tell me so. They didn't, so I am. I only live 2 miles from work though, so not a big deal. I hope you feel better soon! I know what you mean about this crud cutting your energy levels. I don't have it now of course, but when I did...all I wanted to do was eat and sleep. Exhausted all the time!
Jenni -You only ate 3 bites? That's amazing. I'd have eaten the cheesecake. LOL But I am NOT good at avoiding sweets. Thank God I'm not one to really go on a binge. I'll have to post a few good photos from my vacation. It really is a lot of fun and you can learn some cool stuff!
Lil: no not neoprene (of course that around the belly might allow you to sweat off weight ). What I’m thinking tends to be more breathable and has a Velcro closure. It’s worth asking on - I know you should be using your own muscles to
Support your core but maybe to help yours heal this might be a fit. Of course running around in stays does not sound fun - but it would give you a bosom!
But I seem to recall the maids didn’t always bare the goods back in the medieval times. It sounds like DH is helping you through this all - maybe between the two of you you’ll come up with a good work around and you big can enjoy your vacay.
Diane: it’s sad. I think yesterday’s news makes me pause more since I’ve got growing kids. You send them out the door to school and then this in the news . School did one of those mass training events not long ago. Everything from a call to 911 and activating all the departments to respond. I listened to the scanner that day and I knew it was a test - yet here my heart was in my throat. They went through the entire evacuation and movement of kids to offsite care. They brought in medflights and all different emergency teams. It was a huge production and a great training opportunity - but the whole action was frightening to listen to and if it were real - knowing you’d not to be able to do a darn thing.
Jen: kitchens! Mine was designed by a bachelor I swear that only occasionally baked a frozen pizza. I mean when you have 2 feet total width of space on either side of the stove as your main prep area - enter a scream here - yes if I won the lotto no matter the size - I’d fix the kitchen! If you had opportunity for a dream one what would it be? Large? High end? I’d love a great pantry, lots of work surface, outlets!, space to store and a dishwasher. As is I make due with what I have and grumble a few times a year about the stupid layout and curse the bachelor.
Hello all!
Am: feeling better but that cough - dang nabbit! That beast won’t leave. I did get outside today and the fresh air I think with a change of location was a good help.
Got the taxes done - have to sign and pay and they’ll submit. Monies back is always nice. One day maybe it will be free money for fun - but for now it will be going to some purchases.
The diet today was on shaky ground as I made valentine cookies yesterday and you know my sordid tale of cookies and my diet. Let’s just say we enjoy each other but the scale mocks me thereafter. But I kept to a normal size batch which means less hanging around.
I hope all is well for you. May the start to the weekend come quickly and you all have a nice time of it.
. Traveling would be my life! Even if it was just in the states. Truthfully, I wouldn’t want to win the $100,000,000 type jackpot. I’d prefer just a few million – enough to pay off all our bills and buy us a little plot of land and not enough to have people hounding us for $$$. Yep. We’ve REALLY thought about this. 
That's a total of 4 weeks unable to lift anything over 5 lbs. A jug of milk weighs 8 lbs! Why? Because of my weight. More blubber means more tissue to heal and therefore, it takes longer. Now...the weight limit isn't set in stone - he basically ended the visit with, "If it hurts, don't do it." But still! 
. School did one of those mass training events not long ago. Everything from a call to 911 and activating all the departments to respond. I listened to the scanner that day and I knew it was a test - yet here my heart was in my throat. They went through the entire evacuation and movement of kids to offsite care. They brought in medflights and all different emergency teams. It was a huge production and a great training opportunity - but the whole action was frightening to listen to and if it were real - knowing you’d not to be able to do a darn thing. 