Ratkitten: Congrats on the New bike and all the exercise you are getting done! Way to go.

Xena: I hope you get to go to the wedding but if you can't afford it then I'm sure they will be good enough friends to understand. Hugs.

Realist: Hope your sinus infection gets better soon.

Nancy: Hugs and thanks for the compliments on my photo.

Ammi: I bet you won't be gaining too much after your tiny eating off plan. Hugs.

Debbie: Great job working out sweetie.

Teahoney: Sorry you are lonely for you guy. Welcome back though. I do remember you and I've wondered plenty how you are. Glad you are back!

Bodytoo: Great job at the fair on eating.

Meta: Welcome back hun.

Luan: Owchie. So sorry about your fall. Hope you heal quickly.

Heather: Wow, you spent your Saturday just like I did. lol. Lots of yard work.

Peggy: Great NSV about the booth! Thanks for the sweet compliments on my photo.

Catherine: Congrats to your DH on his weight loss. I'm excited for him. Hugs to you on all the schooling you are doing sweetie. Whew!

Ideal: Congrats on another -3 pounds.

PnW REd: Hope ou feel better really soon.

Val: Oh, sweetie, put the tape in hun. You never know. Huggies to you.

Lisa: Great NSV about the pink shirt. Congrats on loosing another 11!

Storey: Yipee to another -7 pounds. Have fun at the movies! I hear ya about not wanting to be 400 plus for another birthday. I will experience that next year!

Beck: Great job on not gaining.

John: Hope things brighten up for you real soon.

Patti: Hi sweetie pie.

Well, IF I didn't mention you by name sooooo sorry. Hugs to you all. I did post a photo on the photo page of me and my sweetheart Joel from Sunday at the Gondolas in Silver Mountain.

I have Two great NSV's. First one is I stepped on the scales this weekend. As most of you know I have to weigh on 2 scales at home to check my weight. Well, they were not adding up to over 400 pounds so I decided to see if I can weigh on the one scale. I stood there expecting to get an err message and it didnt' happen. Instead I got weighed at 398. I was so happy but not counting it on my ticker or for real until I get a for sure at the Dr. office on Thursday. If their scale says I am under 400 then I will celebrate. It was nice not to see the ERR message though even if it is wrong. lol.

The 2nd thing was my Gazelle that I have never been on since buying it last November because my hips were too wide, well, not anymore. I tried it out yesterday and I rode it for 10 minutes! Yeah me.

Blessings to you all,
Annie

Annie...you are the Goddess of Exercise. Keep up the good work. You are doing so great. Congrats on using ONE scale. I bet that the dr's scale reads in the 3's too!!

:hug::hug:

John -- Sorry things aren't going well.

BattleAx -- Great job on planning the perfect amount of food and not nibbling!!

Annie! Oh. My. Goodness.!!! Even if the Drs scale doesn't confirm. Even if the weight bops back up a little.... that is truly a victory!! You are doing sooooooooooo awesome!!!

Hi everyone!

Catherine - Yeah...I thought about using tomato juice, but as I was perusing the internet looking for de-scenting remedies, I kept reading that tomato juice wasn't really any more effective than anything else and it will dye their fur. Since he is a very very light (almost white) yellow lab, I decided I didn't want him to suffer the indignity of being pink along with stinking!! LOL! The perozide/baking soda/dish soap recipe worked fairly well. He only still kind of smells right near his eyes but there really isn't anything that is safe to use there so we just need to wait it out. It's not even bad at this point - or I'm just used to it!!

Annie - What a great picture of you and your husband! Your appointments seem to be going smoothly toward surgery - you must be so pleased! Is your niece going to still be living with you then?

Battle - I got my first (and only, so far) comment on my weight loss at about 28 pounds, from my in-laws. I was surprised that they noticed for the very reason you mentioned - at a certain point, 25 pounds isn't that noticable I guess. But YOU know what you have accomplished, and WE all know, too!

Wyllenn - Neither of my children lets me cut their hair! Well, DD is 11 so I don't expect she would at this point anyway, but she hasn't for several years because of a little incident with some crooked bangs. To this day, I maintain if she didn't wiggle so much we would have been fine! DS will let me if he is specifically looking for a buzz cut but other than that, he wants a pro to do it. I can't recall ever messing his up - maybe it's from years of hearing his sister complain! Tim shaves his head bald so he always takes care of his own.

Luan - Oh my! Are you hobbling around on crutches? I hope you are feeling better and aren't too sore!

I know I am missing people on personals and I apologize. I hope all of you are having good op days!

As for me, I just can't kick this cough. I had a bout of this almost three years ago, and at the time it was determined that I have asthma. I had a hard time buying into that diagnosis because it just didn't make sense - I never have breathing issues. However, with this bout, I am starting to think that maybe I do have at least a tendency toward it. I have finished the antibiotic and I no longer have a fever but the cough has held on. And it is almost constant. Good thing I work at home or I'd be driving my office mates crazy with the constant hacking! Every day seems a little better but it's been nearly two weeks and I have just had enough! I haven't excercised any of that time either becaue any activity makes the coughing worse. I am just itching to get back on that gazelle!

Hope you all are well!

Cris

Cris -- I grew up with asthma. No fun.

To change the topic -- I know you're a Red Sox fan. Are you as nervous as I am about their blown lead??? I can't believe their lead is only 4 games!!!

And hey, and Yankee fans around here -- what's your state of mind these days??? They are certainly on a tear, but those do not last forever. Do you think they'll pull into first place before all is said and done???

Hello all!

Yay Ideal!! -3 is fabulous!! I have been nickle and diming my way down. Anything above a pound is phenomenal! I once wondered what my reaction was if it was possible to lose 8-10 lbs a week, would it be enough? Of course not! Nothing is fast enough for me. I'm such a goof.

PNW, I'm glad your hubby is joining your on JC so you don't have to be tempted by his food. I hope your little one gets over his cold soon *hugs*. Healing vibes for your family!!

BigJohn, hang in there. I know you can do it. Un-derail yourself at anytime. You don't have to wait until tomorrow. I know when I'm off plan, I get very very tired. Sometimes I wish I had a cattle prod on those days that I can't get moving.

Aww Valerie, I bet you could still put your video in! Good job on the free weights!!

Lisa, it's good to see you again! Wow about your loss, you are doing GREAT. Keep up the good work!

Story, yay for your laptop baby being home! The best way to get your speakers to work is to uninstall them in the device manager (right click My Computer -> properties), then restart the computer and let the operating system find them. W00h00 about the movies!

Beck, that was hysterical! Thanks for the morning smile.

Congrats Tea!! There are many military support groups out there. I'm so sorry you are missing your honey.

Battle, yay!! Good food and lunch leftovers! You did GREAT. It took 50lbs before people I hadn't seen made a comment to keep up the good work. My immediate friends saw it around 30. Don't fret. You'll be there soon!

Annie, you go gurl! Excellent NSVs *flings stars* and yippie about the gazelle! I'm enjoying my new bicycle and have taken it out for a 5 mile ride every night since getting it. I am commuting with my old bike as well. You are doing so wonderful!!

Cris - oh my about da black and white striped kitty!! I'm glad the recipe worked reasonably well. Don't be surprised if you still smell da smell when your labkid gets wet months later. It'll eventually be shedded out. Healing vibes to you to get rid of that cough!! You might need another antibiotic.

Wyllen - I keep trying to remember my actions (eating) have consequences. I think it's slowly getting to my one remaining brain cell. I see your tag line and say "oh yeah". Thanks for that reminder!!

Hogs and Quiches to all,
Luv,
RK

Oh no Debbie!!

What a silly dog! Of course, ode de cow or dead things is a heavenly scent for all dogs. Good thing I don't live near a cow pasture. I know my goldens would right there in the thick of things!!! They are so goofy. Mine need a bath now because of dirt baths they've been giving themselves. They are funny to watch wiggle around on their backs with all 4 paws in the air scratching their backs in the dry dust (no rain here.. ugh). You can't keep those dogs clean.

Hope you got all da odor off Silly Sadie!

Luv,
Rat

Debbie--I have to say the food isn't too bad. The first few days I thought I was going to starve to death, but I very quickly adjusted. I have dishes I like more than others, but so far, nothing I can't stomach.

I prefer a little more whole food approach to eating, and I can't wait to stir-fry up some real chicken breast instead of the processed stuff, but I'm paying for the convenience, so I can't complain.

Hubby likes the meals so far too, though we're probably going to do our own breakfasts to help cut down on the cost. It's pretty spendy for both of us.

Wyllenn - Yeah, I'm a little nervous. The NESN guys all seem to think the Sox will still take the division and the Yankees will take the Wild Card. I am not so sure. Historically, the Sox play worse after the All-Star break and this year has been no different. Meanwhile, the Yankees are tearing it up with their offense. True, it can't last forever...but there is a mere six weeks left in the season...and six games vs. each other. I was very happy and comfortable with a 14 game lead! This 4 game lead makes me scared!

Cris

Cris -- I figured all of Red Sox Nation stood behind me in my nervousness!

And the Sox are coming to Chicago next week -- I have tickets for Thursday and Friday night! Hopefully there will be something to enjoy!!

Cubs fan here
 

Hi all,

Wyllen opened pandora's box. I am a true blue Chicago Cubs fan. I grew up in Illinois, and just recently moved here (Colorado). Yes, I know the Cubs don't win it all, but I LOVE then. Hail to the underdog. I tell my hubby it's loyalty, but I think he thinks it's stupidity. Anyway, hopefully when Soriano comes back, we will be back in it.

I am going to try to do better with personals here.

Ideal, Congrats on the 3lb loss. That's great!!

PNW, it definitely makes it easier to eat well when your spouse is doing the same. My DH isn't doing great, but trying.

Big John, you have done so well. Don't give up, just pick it up from where you are today.

Battleax, glad to hear you had a successful dinner. I am so nervous to do entertaining or be entertained while I am trying to behave. I have broken a dinner with the gals and lunch with a friend at work because we need to save money and I need to save fat!! I am trying to not avoid people, but I find that I have a hard time going somewhere and eating healthy. I want bad (i.e. tasty food) when I spend my hard earned money at a restaurant.

Annie, you are a true inspiration. Congrats to you!!

I still have another 10 days of antibiotics, and prednisone. It has made me HUNGRY, but I have managed to lose a couple of pounds. I pigged out Sunday, but such is life. The scale only bounced up 0.6 pounds. Yes, I am still working that off now. I have asthma as well, so when my sinuses suffer, so does my breathing. But...such is life. They have been worse, but I am tired of having no sense of smell. The sinuses inflame so much that the olfactory nerves are covered. I had sinus surgery a few years ago. Not so pleasant. Oh well.

That's it for me now. Take care all!!

Real...

Realist -- People used to think Red Sox fans were stupid for their loyalty too -- until 2004, when they won it all! Hopefully, the same will happen for the Cubs one day!

Kill the GOAT (and Bartman!!)
 

For you Cub fans out there....

The Curse of 'Billy The Goat' Sianis
As the story goes, Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant (from Paleopyrgos, Greece[1]), who owned a nearby tavern (the now-famous Billy Goat Tavern), had two $7.20 box seat tickets to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, and decided to bring along his pet goat, Murphy (or Sinovia according to some references), which Sianis had restored to health when the goat had fallen off a truck and subsequently limped into his tavern. The goat wore a blanket with a sign pinned to it which read "We got Detroit's goat". Sianis and the goat were allowed into Wrigley Field and even paraded about on the playing field before the game before ushers intervened and led them off the field. After a heated argument, both Sianis and the goat were permitted to stay in the stadium occupying the box seat for which he had tickets. At this point, Andy Frain (head of Wrigley Field's hired security company at the time), waved the goat's box-seat ticket in the air and proclaimed "If he eats the ticket that would solve everything." However, the goat did not. Before the game was over, Sianis and the goat were ejected from the stadium at the command of Cubs owner Philip Knight Wrigley due to the animal's objectionable odor. Sianis was outraged at the ejection and allegedly placed a curse upon the Cubs that they would never win another pennant or play in a World Series at Wrigley Field again because the Cubs organization had insulted his goat, and subsequently left the U.S. to vacation in his home in Greece.

The Cubs lost Game 4 and eventually the 1945 World Series, prompting Sianis to write to Wrigley from Greece, saying, "Who stinks now?" Following a third-place finish in the National League in 1946, the Cubs would finish in the league's second division for the next 20 consecutive years. This streak finally ended in 1967, the year after Leo Durocher became the club's manager. Since that time, the supposedly cursed Cubs have not won a National League pennant or played in a World Series – the longest pennant drought in Major League history. Sianis died in 1970.


Attempts to Break the Curse
Billy Sianis's nephew Sam Sianis has been brought out on the field with a goat multiple times in attempts to break the curse: on Opening Day in 1984 and 1989 (the Cubs won the division both years), in 1994 to stop a home losing streak, and in 1998 for the wild card play-in game (which the Cubs won).

A group of Cubs fans headed to Houston in 2003 with a Billy Goat named "Virgil Homer" and attempted to gain entrance to Minute Maid Park. After they were denied entrance, they unfurled a scroll and read a verse proclaiming they were "reversing the curse". Houston faded down the stretch allowing the Cubs to win the division. The Astros did win the NL pennant in 2005.

Before the 2004 season the Steve Bartman ball was ceremonially destroyed at Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago.


The Cure
According to an interview with Sam Sianis, William Sianis' nephew, the Curse of the Billy Goat can only be dispelled by the Chicago Cubs organization showing a true sincere fondness for goats, sincerely allowing them into Wrigley Field because they like them, and not simply for publicity reasons.

GO SOX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'nuff said...;)