Morning, all!!

This is my last week of "freedom" -- classes start NEXT week. But this week is a lot of meetings, and orientations and the like. I'm hoping that means I'll be on more of a schedule. I've been kind of freewheeling things this past month, and in some ways prefer a bit more of a schedule (though, I don't prefer the stress of a term in full tilt!)

Hope you are all doing well!

It was a long and fattening weekend, as my weekends are prone to being.

Cassie: Saturday's festival was good - and fattening. It wasn't a renaissance fair. It was just a town festival, but they like us there. I belong to two difference medieval groups. This one was the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) which is an international group - our local chapter put on a demo at the festival. Basically, the group has events, where everyone there is a participant - there are no "patrons" and we don't put on a show - we learn history by doing. For example, some practice combat techinques - sword and shield, battle axe, etc. Some weave, some sew, some make cheese and wines, etc. I know people who make cloth, right down to raising the sheep. You get the idea. A demo is just an event on a small scale that is open to the public. If anyone wants to see some photos: http://gallery.me.com/randybisig#100023

I ate a lot of fair food and am still tired from the weekend. DH had more right to be - he fought all day. I just did embroidery and sat around. Still, set-up and tear-down is a pain.

They brought cupcakes for my birthday!

Sunday I pretty much just sat around and watched TV. DH got me the 2nd season of Supernatural on DVD. I love that show. I did some shopping and unloaded the car a bit - but I was a bit of a slug.

DS is home in bed today. Says he doesn't feel good - but it could be just that he didn't want to go to school. Just the same, I wish I was home too - so I let him stay.

Got to run. Hope you all have a great week!

Howdy everyone and welcome to Cassie!

Heather -- I know what you mean about having a schedule -- I find I do a lot better with a routine as well.

Lilion -- Happy Birthday! Sounds like you had a great weekend!

Cassie -- Bummer about your modem getting fried. Here's hoping the rain and storms pass you by!

Terri -- Glad you were able to find a chiropractor that works for you -- it seems to be a little individual -- some types work better for me than others. I hope the work stress is lessening now.

Annie -- I am so sorry about your dog -- that is just awful .

Rene -- Hope after that hike up and down the cliff the fishing was worth it .

Ruth -- How scary! I'm glad they weren't able to break in, but what a fright!

Anne -- Good luck in school! What program are you in?

Speaking of school, I graduated from my MBA program on Friday! Woo hoo! It has been a long two years, but worth it.

Last week was crazy. On Sunday morning (the day before labor day), my boss's boss called me at home and asked to meet with me. I figured it was in regards to the strategy project we've been working on (that's been driving me crazy) this past month. It turns out, she wanted to offer me a new job -- working for her -- developing business plans for new ventures for Tektronix. I was surprised, but intrigued. I told her I needed to talk with my boss and think about it, but I would probably say yes.

Then, I went home to a message from Marie (who was camping up in Washington) saying that no one knew where Andre was -- he was with his biological father (who he just met in person this past month) and the guy wasn't answering his phone. Andre was in California for the month of August visiting family -- his grandpa, great grandma, mom, etc... He was supposed to fly home on the Sunday before Labor Day so that he could start kindergarten. A few hours later, we heard that he was safe, but that his father had no intention of giving him back to us . I just lost it. I was so upset, angry, worried, and sad. I went to bed that night exhausted from crying and not knowing when I would see my little boy again. Around 11pm, I was awakened by a call saying that Andre was with his mom. I got in my car and drove 600 miles down to CA to get him, then turned around and drove 600 miles home. He was so glad to see me.

It turns out that this man bad-mouthed Marie and I to Andre and told Andre that he wanted to raise him. Andre told him he wanted to come home. I hope that there is no lasting damage from all this . It will be a cold day in **** before this man is allowed unsupervised contact with Andre again.

So, the rest of the week was getting Andre settled back at home, getting him to his kindergarten orientation (his teacher said he was smart ), getting a new job, finishing college, and now I am back in California on vacation! Whew!

Yesterday, I got together with my mom & dad & brother & his wife for my dad's birthday. He turns 76 at the end of this week. I haven't seen my brother in a couple of years -- last time I saw him, he was throwing me out of his house -- so I was a little nervous. We were both good for Dad's sake though. Today, I drive up to Yosemite and tomorrow I go backpacking. I'm going on a three day trip, then come out for a day or so at a motel (shower, soft bed ), then back out for four days, then a night in a motel, then back out for three days and then home. I am really looking forward to this trip. It has been many years since I have been backpacking in the Sierras and two of the places I'm going are places I have been wanting to go for years.

Have a good week everyone!

morning ladies...well my food journaling starts today..I have to make myself journal even if I dont start counting the calories right away.

It is a beautiful day today...cooler with an overcast!! I really need to move to a state with more days like this...puts in me in the best moods!!!

My goal today....drinik more water..that in itself will be a challenge!

Toodles...have a great day everyone!

Drat! I need to catch up with everyone. I have been letting the computer have a rest and when I come back on I find I have missed out on all of the doings.

First of all....Happy birthday Lilion. don't they come around often? Seems like you just had one. LOL! Mine is barreling down on me too. (again!)

Elmay congrats on finishing your program! Glad everything turned out ok with Andre. Have a good time on your backpacking trip, sounds fun.

Heather, what can I say, except good luck with the new school year. Glad it is you instead of me.

azcyn, I also have a hard time with drinking the water. I don't know why, but it makes me feel ill.

Well, our burglar came back Sat. night. I was not sleeping and I heard a noise, so I went to the door and peeped out the shade, there was a guy trying to get into the garage door off the breezeway. He was very brazen to do that because the porch light was on! I saw him clearly right down to the fact he had a scarf over his face. I had the gun in my hand and being the nut that I am, I jerked the door open and he ran like the wind. I was standing out there yelling at him. It wasn't very nice either. LOL! I am surprised all of the neighbors didn't hear me. I told him in no uncertain terms what I would do for him. He had broken the glass out of the door and was trying to move the curtain I have over the inside of the door. I don't know what he thinks is in the garage that he wants so badly. My car, and my husbands car, and of course a lot of tools, and the freezer. I called 911 and by the time the cops came that nut was probably at home under the bed. Our next door neighbor was broken into also. They had better catch that guy before he winds up dead. My Dh slept right through my yelling and I had to go and get him up, can you imagine?

I guess I have rambled on long enough. Take care everybody. Ta! Ruth

Morning ladies and Elliott!

Dang, it was a day to stay in bed. Its gloomy and a bit rainy; perfect snoozing weather.

The weekend was pretty good. I was really inspired to get the house clean this weekend and did a pretty thorough job. Usually I get some of it done but get distracted by something and don't get it all done. I even washed windows. I still have more that I want to do and should be able to finish it up this week. We're having DH's cousin's out for dinner on Friday night and I don't want the house to look like six dogs cruise through the house.

Yesterday, DH watched football and I watched Bridezilla while I cleaned the master bedroom and bath. Geez, if those brides were bridezilla for real, I'd be leaving them at the altar if I were the fiance. What a bunch of witches.

I baked a struesel cake yesterday to bring to work for goodie day today. I have gotten into a baking mode. Not so much to eat it but the creative part. I got a Duncan Hines "butter recipe golden" cake mix and the struesel recipe was on the side. Holy cow, it is good. Hope they eat most of it today and I only take a little bit home to DH. I also got online and ordered a few things for spiffing up the house. A few horse themed things for the back living room and some rooster artwork for the dining room. I take all these positive inspirations to work on the house to be good signs of getting the work stress under control.

Speaking of that, I did get an email from my new boss on Friday where the Chief Operating Officer had written to her to say how wonderful my attitude is and how professional and so helpful I am regarding a new project. It was nice to get positive feedback but then part of me if thinking, geez, why are you guys so surprised or were you expecting me to be uncooperative? I'll take it as positive feedback and just move on.

I got my new bathroom scale on Friday. My other one went nuts so I decided to get a WW scale that also does body fat. I don't really care that the body fat may or may not be 100% accurate, but its a starting point and as long as that number is coming down, that is what is important. So my weight this morning was 257.2 and 41.3%. I've lost my focus and that kinda ticks me off. I've got my stuff to go to the fitness center on my way home tonight.

Heather - Enjoy your week and getting back into a routine. I'm not so good with freewheeling either. Lends to too much procrastination.

Lilion - I wondered how your weekend went as we had rain off and on Saturday. Glad that you had a good time and a good birthday! Thanks for sharing the pictures. Those are really good.

Elmay - First, how you must be relieved that Andre is back and safe. What a jerk father. I can only imagine how terrifying that had to have been. Is there any way he can take any legal action? Second, on being finished with your MBA. That is such an achievement and its already paying off with the new job offer. Will it be less stressful? All your hiking sounds wonderful. Have a great time!

Cyn - Thanks for the reminder about journaling the food. Just what I need to remember to keep me from grazing at the goodie stuff all day long. Drink up!

I better get this posted. to all!

Ruth, you and I were posting at the same time.

Holy cow. I'm not sure what to say holy cow about first. The fact that the stupid burgler came back or you jumping out the door with a gun. Very brazen and stupid. I would have done the same darn thing and then think how risky that was afterwards. Except I probably would have run after the damn fool firing the gun. Also, for your DH sleeping through the whole thing. Mine would have done the same thing.

I'm glad that you're okay and you need a barking dog in that garage. Hope they catch the idiot soon.

Good morning everyone, we have a lovely start to the morning here but I know it will be hotter this afternoon. My WI is this afternoon and I'm nervous about it because I haven't been as careful as I could have been and also have been feeling off the last couple of days. I'm supposed to walk the treadmill today but haven't been able to get myself onto it yet.

Lilion, thanks for making it clear about your weekend. I'm going to enjoy looking at your pictures!

Elmary, how scary what happened to Andre! How is he now? I hope that iwhat his bio father did doesn't affect him in the long run. And good luck with that job offer and congrats on finishing your MBA!

Ruth, you're braver than I am! What did the police say when they came? I'm so glad the burglar didn't have a gun too. It's especially scary that your DH slept through it, yikes!

Terri, way to go on the feedback from work!

My goal for the day is like Cyn's--drink more water. I have one of the old WW cups that holds 32 oz (why did they get rid of that?) and am going to fill it up and drink from it until it's gone.

My other goal is to try and take it easy on myself. I feel kind of queasy so I don't think I'll make it on the treadmill and I just want to not beat myself up about it or if I have a gain.

Cassie

Elmay: What a horrible experience with the little guy's father. I'm very glad he's home again and safe. I hope that you like the new job – assuming you take it. Right now I'd take about anything to get out of mine. I'm sorry you had such a trying week! Maybe it'll get a lot easier on you now though.

Cyn: Good girl journaling! You can do it.

Ruth: WOW! You are one BRAVE lady! Gun or no, I'm sure I wouldn't have opened that door! I bet that man needed to change his shorts! I hope they catch this low-life – takes big old cahones to try again – and with lights on.

Terri: I don't bake anymore – because I eat it all! I had two of the tiny cupcakes the group brought for my birthday yesterday – and THEN looked at the calories. Stupid! But I only have two left and if they aren't eaten – by someone OTHER than me tonight – they're going in the trash!

Thanks to everyone for the birthday greetings. I feel rather old today!

WOW! to both Elmay and Ruth!!!!!! That's the kind of excitement we can all do WITHOUT!!

Barb -- Of course!! WELCOME BACK!!

Both the joys and tragedies of life can be stressful times when we forget to take care of ourselves. Sounds like you're fully back in the groove!! Congrats!

Barb! Welcome back! I remember you!

I'm so sorry to hear of all your sorrows, yet happy to hear you have been blessed with your two adopted children. I think there is a special place in heaven for those who adopt.

WTG on getting back into the groove! You have done so well and seem so motivated now - It will be a great to have you back and posting again.

Hi ladies and lurking Elliott!

Its Wednesday isn't it? We are having hurricane gloominess up here in MO so its hard to be alert. Perfect sleeping weather. I spent all day in meetings yesterday so that always throws me off too. Can't exactly say that I don't have anything to do anymore. But I am getting past all the trauma and starting to enjoy the work again. About dang time.

I have a chiropractor appointment tonight. Sitting in a horrible chair for so many hours yesterday has my back all jacked up again. Mainly, its my neck. Also got to be from weak muscles too. I really need to focus on back strengthening exercise more than I do. Particularly in pulling my shoulders back and down for proper alignment.

Barb - Welcome back!! Of course you can join back in! You have done fantastic. Question though. How much cardio do you do each day? Also, what kinds? I'm trying to get back into a routine and am trying to decide between how much time each day to spend on strengthing and on cardio for maximum benefits and is achievable.

Cassie - How did you do with the water? I didn't do well at all yesterday with sitting in the all day meeting. Must do better today. Did you make it on to the treadmill yesterday?

Elliott - How are you doing? Still getting in daily walks? Drop us a post occassionally because you are definitely inspiring.

Better get busy. to all!