Morning ladies,

Its a rainy, Monday morning. Perfect for sleeping in and not going to work. But since I am off next week, guess I'll have to this week.

I had a fairly productive weekend. One that was relaxing too. I worked on closing the pool; planting bushes; getting things on Ebay; watching movies; learning how to make VCR tapes from stuff I have on DVR; laundry; walking the dogs until we were all exhausted. It was a nice fall weekend. I can't believe that October is half over all ready.

Why is it that it seems that we'll not live through the heat of July and August and that it won't end and then September and October fly by so fast you feel that you missed them?

TOM finally arrived this weekend. About 10 days late. I hate it when it does that but it does it once in a while. That just means I have all the PMS symptons of heaviness and bloating for extra time. That should help with all the apathy feelings I have been having plus the desire to eat the house down.

Bearcub & Heather - Thank you for your kind words after my rant. It does help to let off steam.

I better get moving. I want to get to work early this week and get some things caught up and cleaned up before I leave on vacation. Not that I'm leaving to go anywhere but I won't be at the office!

Have a great Monday and let's work hard to make this a better, more in control week.

to all!

morning!!

I am mostly ready for my week. I got a lot done this weekend too, but am still behind in grading. ah well. I've got lots of good eats planned, and a way to get in exercise too. That's important for me.

Have a good monday, terri!! And looking forward to the week off makes the last week a little easier!

Terri, the first rule of who's right in the employment game is "He who grievances first is always right. Anything after that is retaliation." I have a friend who's going thru it right now. She was even physically threatened by another woman at work, but didn't report it. The other women, familiar with the game, claimed racial discrimination first. Since then, any claims my friend has, no matter what is said or done to her, she's totally disbelieved. If you're concerned with what the other women says and the way she treats you is UTTERLY unprofessional and unacceptable, it would probably be a good idea to file an official complaint before she does you any more damage in any other form. When you find yourself crying at work, especially because of the way you're treated, it's time to tell 'em to kiss your keister. You're competant, experienced, intellegent, professional and deserve to be treated with respect. I'm also sure that you aren't the only one she treats like that, so hopefully one or a few of her other victims will also blow her worthless butt in, and they can't ignore that SHE's the problem. Put her on speaker and have your boss listen, or tell her that she shouldn't let her hormones control her day - nobody cares if she's on the... um, you know. No matter what you decide to do, you deserve better!!! None of us can save the world. I know you've hung in there and tried to make things as easy as possible for co-workers, but you can't save that ship if it's capsizing. You can only be responsible for your own job and self, and it sounds like you aren't getting credit where it's due. ...It's a good thing our fur-babies love us. Life is still good.

Ruth, what a rock and a hard place you're in. For me it was one of my sisters, but she never repaid a dime. I finally had to end that relationship all together. To know her is to pay her. She doesn't waste time on anyone that isn't profitable to her. Very sad. I hope you can draw a line with your cousin without such an absolute event, but it also sounds like you didn't have much of a relationship to begin with, and much of it now is based on her needs and your ability and/or desire to provide.

Lilion, I continue to wish you good luck with your predicament, and I also wish you great fun and your event! What fun!

HELLO and hugs to everyone else!

My computer is with the computer doctor. Hopefully I'll have it back by Wednesday. Thursday I'm gonig to ride Gabriel. I got to ride twice this weekend - yesterday on a big paint/draft cross mare a friend of mine has. She's very cool, but very green as well. BUT - at least she doesn't tend to take off or buck. Well, not much anyway.

Lunch is over - back to work. I hope to be back here soon!

Good Afternoon Ladies!

As usual, I didn't get to my computer this weekend at all. I had a nice time at the event. I took a couple of dance classes, English Country and Italian. I discovered that I am Italian-dancing challenged. English was fun though. I also took a couple of other classes. I now have a recipe for rose beads, a pattern for a cool pouch and know how to make the embroidery stitches in the Bayoux Tapestry. (that's spelled wrong.)

Work kind of started with a bang - my immediate supervisor has announced his resignation. Quitting without even a job to go to, three little kids and a wife who only works part-time. That's how much his job stinks. The thing is, no one in this office wants to step up into it. And I mean NO ONE! Two of my collegues have already stepped down from that position and another, like me, wouldn't have it for double our current salaries. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like, not having someone who has a clue what we do in middle-management here.

I really need to find a new job.

Terri - As you can imagine, I feel for you. There's NO way anyone should treat you that way and I think Valerie is right. If there is some grievance proceduree, I'd use it. If you are worried that she'll make the upper management feel badly about you anyway, what's the difference? Take a long weekend, come stay with me and I'll pamper you for a couple days!

Valerie - Good for you - riding Gabe! That's great and I bet you'll look stunning up on that big boy!

Heather - Sounds like you are ready for the week.

My weekend was, as usual, fattening. I just blow it every weekend. I don't even remember what I ate on Friday, but I know it was bad. Saturday we did this fabulous Cajun restaurant - nothing like blackened redfish and some creamy seafood stuff to make the diet suffer. Sunday took the boy to Cici's pizza buffet.

I may not get much time to post this week - but know I'm thinking of each and every one of you!

Hi all, Haven't had much time to catch up, so I've only read this new thread.

Long, long weekend. I was in Ohio checking up on my mom. Pretty clearly she needs to come to live with me sometime before January. That means a lot of stuff to do--transferring her insurance to a plan that will cover her here, moving ME (because my apartment won't be accessible for her) and then moving her. And all this at the same time that my job is just crazy busy.

Speaking of which, though, does anyone know of a way to get someone up steepish steps other than building a ramp? I know the answer's probably no, but I just thought I'd ask. Building a ramp pretty clearly isn't an option for my apartment, but I really suspect that she'll be strong enough to do the front steps in a short time (she was doing steps in rehab, but hasn't had to do any for a couple of months)... if I could just get her in to start with, we could make the steps a goal. Any thoughts?

What a variety of weekends we had! When mine are tiring and work filled, as this one was, I enjoy getting a little vicarious Ren faire, blackened red fish, etc.

Can't believe I'm posting twice in one evening. Just finished trying out yoga, and you know, I think I'm finally starting to think of exercise as something I want to do. Not just because I enjoyed the beginner's yoga, but in general I'm feeling like exercise actually makes me feel better.

Sounds pretty obvious, I know, but part of the reason I had trouble getting motivated to exercise in the past was that everyone told me I would feel so much better, but at my size, when I started exercising all I felt was pain. It takes some time before you feel some benefits, at least it did for me.

Anyway. Lilion and Terri, you both have my sympathies. I no longer work in a snake-pit office, but I used to, for 15 years, and DH still does.

Valerie--Have fun riding Gabe!

Okay, ladies, one more piece of work--reading a grad student's thesis prospectus--then off to beddy bye for me. Sleep tight all!

Angela - you can get portable temporary ramps that might work. Depends on the steps of course!!

Isn't yoga great? It feels so good. There is a studio here that has a class called Big A@$ Yoga (with symbols and everything). It's geared towards the more zaftig of us and it's awesome.

Lilion and Terri - I sure hope work gets better soon. I've worked in insane places and it just makes like so miserable! I once had a boss pinch me really hard when I told her something she didn't want to hear.

Hi to everyone else!

I'm just in the doldrums and have fallen so far off the wagon that I can't even see it on the horizon. My sprained ankle is acting up again - I did an 8 mile walk on Saturday in preparation for the 1/2 marathon and then couldn't walk for two days. So I am bummed about that. I am contemplating wrapping it, taking the maximum dose of Aleve and doing it anyway. Food was a little better today. Still too many starches, but definitely fewer calories.

I really need to live closer to the equator. Barring that, a little sunshine would be nice. It's just been rain rain rain here.

Angela -- Feeling better after exercise definitely helps me get to exercise. I still often don't WANT to do it, but I tell myself to remember that I will feel better -- and I do! And it helps. You have to actively TELL YOURSELF and BELIEVE IT!

Though I have to say, I went to yoga last night and I while I felt great at the end, I can tell that I will be sooooo sore in the next day or two! Worth it, though.

Morning ladies,

Not much time this AM. Its going to be a nice day. Since TOM finally decided to make an appearance, my whole mood has improved. And so has the scale.

This week, I am going to concentrate on getting my food back in order and my journalling. That is so important to success and I really suck at it.

Valerie - How wonderful was it to ride Gabe? I was hooked when I first rode Spanky. Thanks for the HR advice. And you're right, the first one to tell is the one who is listened to most. My boss is going to Chicago tomorrow and their treatment of us is one of his topics of conversation.

Angela - The only thing I could suggest is the chair-lift on the stairs. But that may not be viable since you rent.

Luja - Come on girl, you've got that half-marathon coming up so get back on the wagon. Take care of that ankle but don't give up! When is it?

Lilion - You needed to have a good time this weeend with all the friend trauma you've been going through.

Better scoot and get to work.

Have a great OP day!

O no, Terri - I'm going to ride Gabe NEXT Thursday... gasp - two nights from tonight. I rode my friends big, springy horse on Sunday, and with all the UMPFF Gabe puts in to his trot, I'm just a little worried. He has HUGE impulsion, and I've been too used to my roley-moving, super-smooth QH for so long. It'll be an adventure - IF i trot. I think a walk and some leg yields will be just fine first time up. But after I've gotten off under my own power a time or two, I'm sure I'll be a lot more enthusiastic.

ANGELA - I've seen things, like in stairways in a church, that has a motorized seat attached to the wall. You just sit in it (back to the wall) and it lifts or lowers you up/down the staircase. Expensive of course, but maybe insurance can help? Just a thought.

OK, ladies - What shall we do or make? With as many intelegent, talented and disatisfied folks as we have here, we should start our own company. I'll handle payroll, Lilion can handle legal - I'm not sure what everyone else does, but as soon as we have a product, we're in business!! How 'bout a fat camp? With horseback riding & driving, jousting, sword fighting and massage center and spa, of course, to keep EVerybody happy! Who will we put in charge of the gourmet skinny-food kitchen? Volunteers anyone?

HA!

I think NOT! If Lilion starts a business she'll have NOTHING to do with the legal end of it, thank you very much!

Put me in the kitchen. That will be something to enjoy. I'll make low-fat bakery goods for you. Or maintenance. I'll be happy mopping the floor. Anything to NOT have to use my brain for a change. It's really ready to retire.

I always wanted to create a gym for fat girls only.

I could do the accounting.

Hi,All
I am going to camp for the weekend! Actually more than the weekend - it starts tomorrow morning and lasts until Sunday. I am hoping for cold so that we can sit around the fireplace, but even so, I plan on walking around the camp grounds at least twice a day and taking some pictures, reading, and doing some cross stitch. The trees are probably not too great because it's been dry and some have already dropped, but it will be beautiful anyway. The only "down" side, is that we always have a lot to eat during this weekend. Everyone brings something - my contribution is crab dip and hamburgers, cole slaw and french fries. It's all simple food, but lots of it and we eat non-stop. But, it's lots of good friends and laughter, so I can't feel too bad about it. This will help get me mentally ready for my sister's surgery. Am I a coward or what? My sister goes in for surgery next Monday and I'm the one that's scared to death. She's very upbeat about it and her doctor has given her the green light. It will be very rough for her - she's having a colon resectioning and hernia repair. Then she'll be in the hospital about 6 days and I'm going to Ohio Oct. 28 to help her for her first week back from the hospital. I'm driving about 12 hours to get there because I hate flying- too many delays etc. This way I can take what I want in my car and get there on my own schedule. Also, it's cheaper.
Take care and have a good week!
Bearcub

Ok - I'd like to join the move to get out of our crappy offices. No need to explain my situation, I'll just be ranting about what has already been discussed. In our new jobs together, my talent is organization and clerical work. I'd love to be of any help needed.

My goals for this week are taking control of my eating and holding myself accountable. I need to declutter my home. That'll keep me busy!