Lilion -- Yay for staying OP through ALL this! :hug: :hug:

Lilion, hang tough. Do NOT let this person back into your life. If you enable her dependency she will not grow up and it will never stop. If you really want to be a friend, make her take reponsibility, even if it hurts. See if you can find some sort of a neutral half-way house, or shelter where she could go if she needs it. Be ready to give her an address in case she suddenly leaves her boyfriend and wants to come stay with you. And let the police handle the credit card investigation. You have to protect your own financial security.
Sorry if I sound a little wound up - it's been that kind of day. The school system has decided it wants to have a more formal evaluation process for the RETIRED mentor teachers. Did I say retired? As in, we don't really have to do this work? Well, now they want us to be evaluated twice a year by both the teachers we work with ( isnt' that great for a warm and trusting relationship?) and by the principal. I'm not against quality control, but we already have several different pieces of evaluation already in place, including monthly accounts of time and logs of discussions, biyearly assessments of key instructional topics and an end of year evaluation. So my fellow mentors and I are feeling kind of insulted by this. Afterall, we are each considered master teachers in our fields. In fact, I have many more years experience in the classroom than either the superintendent or assistant superintendent in the county. I have probably read more professional resources in my field than either of them as well. the only reason I only have a Masters + 30 is that I spent all my time either in the classroom or on the stage working with kids rather than polishing my butt in a chair in some college classroom. :lol: Oh, I'd better shut up. I am on a roll!:devil: :dizzy: I think I need some chocolate, but I'll eat a pear instead.

Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler so I'm going to get out and walk around the block even if I have to stop and rest several times.
By the way, Terri, I used to think I'd love to have a dog because then I would HAVE to get up and walk. And I do love dogs. But I can see myself pulled over by a dog and rolling on the ground like some great turtle unable to right itself.:o:D So I guess I'll settle for cats that DO NOT have to be taken for walks and i will just take myself for a walk. More power to you!:^:
Lilion, go with your instincts - make your friend stand on her own two feet. She'll be grateful in the long run.
Bearcub

Morning ladies,

TGIF! Yes, I know I've only worked two days this week but still TGIF! :lol:

I'm going to try to get in to work early and see if I can't meet with my boss to review this stupid rebuttal I'm writing and get it done. I'm sick of it.

So I did no exercise this morning.

Last night, I worked Phoenix. I have to admit that I have gotten a touch of fear about riding him. He is so goosey. I haven't ridden him in geez, can't be 3 weeks can it??? That surely doesn't help. But I worked him in the round pen for at least 20 minutes trying to burn off his excess energy. I spent time before I saddled him and then after I saddled him having him go round and round. Then when I got on, I told myself, get on with confidence. So I threw my leg over and he goosed off before I had my foot in the other stirrup and wasn't doing whoa very well. I did wonder what the :censored: I am doing at 47 yo and 255 pounds riding a young thing like that. But we both settled down and relaxed. I remembered something I learned by watching Craig Cameron (a trainer on TV) yell at his riding students during a clinic, pick up the rein and stop pulling back. I tried that techinque and what a difference it made. We both had a good ride after that. While it wasn't good cardio exercise, it is good to strengthen my back and abs plus its not sitting on the couch like a blob. Which will soon happen as the days get shorter. The other thing it does for me is that it is such a confidence builder in myself and my physical capabilities. We all need those boosters in this journey to good health. To know that we can do things that less overweight people do.

Lilion - I can only offer you a big :hug: for this continuing drama. I was so hoping for you that life would settle down and get a little less stressful. You need to be having real fun when you're not at work instead of all this other trauma. Plus sounds like its time to step up the efforts to find another job. But hey, :bravo: on those 7 days OP!

Bearcub - That is rather insulting about those evaluations. People in positions of power often lose their minds.

Heather - Sounds like a good goal and something you CAN achieve.

I better get moving or else it will be 9 am when I get to work yet again.

Have a good OP day. And did I say TGIF?? :rofl:

Good Morning Ladies!

I have to get working right away today. Work piled MORE on us at like 4:30 yesterday, after every one of us told the bosses we're about to crack with the amount on us now...I was so disgusted I just went home without looking at my files for today. The Hearing Officer in the office next to me at this very moment is throwing a tantrum, :tantrum: literally, over yet more work given to him this morning. We are all on the verge of quitting - if it wasn't for that pesky need for food and shelter. :rolleyes:

I’m debating whether to say I was OP yesterday. We went out to Red Lobster. I had a LOT of food, and a glass of wine, and after logging my points I still have 9 flex points left for the week, which ends tomorrow. I DID eat two mozzarella sticks I didn’t log, but I can’t imagine they were 9 pts! They’re pretty small. And a couple of bites of my son’s alfredo, but just bites, literally. DO I still have flex points? SHOULD I say I stayed OP for the 7th day? What'cha think?

Thank you all for your kind words about the card situation. I just...can't even complete a sentance about it right now. I'm incredibly tired of all the drama in my life. Running away from home sounds like a real good plan right now. Wonder if I could get my DH and DS to pack up and go with me? :)

And my day just gets better and better. :mad: Not the card this time - THE CAR! Seems my dear friend (and I AM being sarcastic) bounced not one, not two, but THREE car payments. Got a call was from collections - a last ditch attempt to get payment instead of repossessing the car. I was LIVID! Not only that SHE didn't tell me, the the COMPANY NEVER CALLED ME! I've NEVER let that car go more than 30 days. I've ALWAYS watched it so it wouldn't hurt my credit! And what happens? Apparently, they somehow no longer had my home number, which they've called continuously to the point of harrassment over the years, and had thought I wanted my address taken OFF their records back in March because I asked the payments to go to HER house. Of course, I got statements as recently as July, but that doesn't appear to register with them. Have I mentioned how much I HATE WELLS FARGO!

Not that it matters much. My husband didn't go to bed until noon because he had to go send a money gram to the company (No checks! because she's bounced them!) $765.66! I'm still positivly so angry I'm SHAKING! I swear by all that's holy, when she's back in this town, that car is MINE. It's not worth $2000.00 and has $4000.00 left to pay and I'm taking that car. I won't deal with this crap anymore. And then I'm DONE with her. Completely and totally DONE!

And I just keep thinking, "How stupid AM I? How could I have EVER agreed to co-sign a car loan?" It's been FOUR YEARS almost and I've only paid about three of the payments before now - How the heck is there so much left??? It wasn't that expensive of a car! I'll refinace the :censored: thing and get the interest rate down to something I can live with and pay the sucker off.

There's no longer even a single doubt in my mind that she forged my name on that credit application. She's lied to me for years! It's one thing to be trusting, another entirely to be gullible. After I get that car I NEVER want to see her again, ever, as long as I live. I've worried about her and taken care of her and paid bills for her and run her to and from the hospital and asked if she's eating right and bugged her to test her blood sugar and tried to get her to take care of herself and she does this to ME? I will NEVER EVER forgive her for this!

And I'm getting that fricken tattoo I got with her covered since I can't afford to have it removed! (I also paid for 1/2 of hers!)

Oh - Lilion - how awful to be taken advantage of so badly by someone you thought was a dear friend. It's hard to imagine that someone could do that to someone who has been so good to them over the years!

Hi to everyone else. I was just running through to log exercise minutes. I have to work this evening. I am walking the Alz. Walk tomorrow - hope you all have a good weekend!

Ummmm, Lilion? I'll be ur new best friend. :D I'd gladly pay you Wednesday for a hamburger today? (Remember Whimpy? ...on Popeye, I think)
:^: Sorry. Couldn't help it. I hope you will take that in the spirit of cheering you up, cuz I know where you're coming from. I had a 'friend' that got me back into horses when I'd been away from them thru college. In the end she took me for about $7000 over a year & half or two. I was covering her bad checks, buying her toilet paper and smokes (and I don't even smoke myself) and found out she was even driving my truck... without a license. In the end I loaded up all my horses and a couple we 'co-owned' and got the flock outa there. Good decision. There comes a time to say 'absolutely no more', and you're there... or way past there. I'm so sorry you've been used and hurt like that. You deserve far better, which you know!
Ya know, I could still use a new horse trailer. Hey - what's ur x-friend's name? I could call Wells Fargo and buy it in her name! :rofl: It's not like they'd catch on any time soon! :lol3:

I can't remember if I mentioned it yet - finally got in touch with the trainer and I'm going out to see Gabe next Tuesday. He said Gabe's been a little spooky, but he's getting over it and will be just fine. I asked if he should stay there longer but Ken said nah, Gabe'll be fine to bring home on the 20th like we planned. I'm still skeert to get on him tho - TERRI - I hear ya on that 'touch of fear.' I'm not really ready to ride him yet at this weight, but it's coming off pretty good right now and I'm behaving. I just GOTTA get back into more exercise, but at least I've been walking the hospital halls on my lunch break.

Bill's coming home tonight, and that's great, but it's screwed up my plans for the evening that I'd made with other people. I better go fix what I can before he gets here. He'll be leaving tomorrow for California - he's carrying a London (yes, England) taxi-cab. Someone was driving it across the U.S. (can you imagine what the fare on THAT ride was???), and the Ohio state trooper that stopped him was not impressed with license, registration and insurance all from the U.K. So, they're putting it on a truck to transport, and Bill got the job.

Horse show on Sunday. The kids are excited. They've been talking about it for weeks.

Lilion, I am so angry for you! I hope your friend gets prosecuted for the card forgery and has the book thrown at her. Now you don't have to waver the least bit about how to handle her return. Friendship over. On to friends who are honest, trustworthy, and know how to give as well as take. Good riddance to bad rubbish!

Valerie: enjoy the horse show

Hi everyone else. Have a great weekend.

Hi ladies,

I just figured out why I can't access 3FC from work. I was reading another thread and someone else mentioned that at work, it said it was a porno site. They mentioned fatchicks.com being active again. Sure enough, that is a real porno site. Guess I better quick checking at work. :lol:

Lilion - I am so sorry that your friend has done this to you. Try not to let all the stress get to you and undo your 7 days of being OP. Don't give her that power.

Valerie - I just noticed your ticker. You are doing great. You'll be riding Gabe in no time. I better get my butt in gear with you. Have fun at the show.

I'm off to bed. :wave: to all!

Lilion -- :hug: Cause you need it! Keep strong and use your anger -- don't let her wheedle her way back, but Terri's right -- don't give her power over you!

Morning ladies,

It is a beautiful Saturday morning. A touch of coolness and sunshine. I'm sitting here comtemplating what to do. We're having family down for dinner tomorrow. MIL has been whining about wanting to come see the place so MIL and BIL are coming as well as DH's cousins that live close. So there is housework to be done. I want to go to town and buy mums. I need to ride both horses. I should use the string mower. I should start taking out the garden. I should finish cleaning the barn. DH has golf on so that kind of kills my "could sit here and watch cooking shows" thought. I will get up and enjoy this beautiful fall day. My DS and BIL are in KC for Nascar so we're meeting them in the city for dinner tonight. I better work hard today because we're eating at Olive Garden.

Have a fabulous Saturday!

Terri -- I hate days with too many "shoulds". Today I should grade papers, clean the house and do some cooking. We'll see!

Just got back from the Alz. walk. My SIL and I did the three mile loop. Just as we got on the shuttle bus it started pouring. How unfortunate since mowing was on my to do list today :-)

I did not have a very good OP day yesterday. I shoud have - I packed a lunch and had fruit with me. But somehow I ended up in the Subway parking lot and just had to have fritos, a spicy italian sandwich AND two double chocolate chip cookies. It is always a work in progress isn't it? I did walk an hour yesterday so maybe I burned off one of the cookies.

Well since the weather changed my plans, I guess I'll use that as an excuse to read on the books in my to read pile.

Hello!
 

Hello chickies, Remember last week when I told you I woke up with the blahs, well it turned into a real nasty bout with whatever the heck I had. I spent a miserable few days and nights (it seems longer). Feeling a little better now, but not that great.

The scale doesn't show any gain or loss. Phooey on the no loss. I felt like I should have lost at least five lbs. Eating was not very high on my list of things to do!:p

Lilion, I second what a lot of the ladies said to you. I am so sorry your friend took advantage of you that way. I know it has to be hard to let go. The phrase kick them to the curb comes to mind though.

Terri, I think I got that site by mistake one time:o It didn't take me long to get out of there! LOL! Good job on the op days.

luja, Walking is good! Now if I could just do that maybe I would burn some calories too. Ah, Subway, don't you just love it. SHHHH! They have healthy too.;)

Val, glad you are loving the new job. I don't ride horses or even like them very much, but I can remember the sheer terror of my Dad trying to put me on a mean little pinto pony we had when I was a child. I think that did it for me and horses. LOL! I would ride with him in fornt of the saddle though.

Hello to you other fine ladies, Bearcub, Heather, Battleax, and anyone else I may have missed. Have a super weekend. Ruth

:bravo: Luja for the three mile walk. :woohoo: for rain and reading! :lol:

:wave: Ruth and glad to see you're feeling better.

:wave: Heather.

I didn't do quite so well on my shoulds. Got six beautiful mums. The ground is too hard to plant and I'm hoping for rain tomorrow. It is so windy today that its not a good day to ride the young ones. I'm resting now before I hit the shower and get ready to go out tonight.

Ta ta!