Hi ladies,

I love early weekend mornings when its just me and the dog up. Especially if we're not having to race off somewhere. We'll be headed to church in a little while though. We're going back to the church we love even though its a distance away. We can go back to doing that now that I won't have to be spending my Saturday's down at mom's.

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day. Started off freezing in the house because we have not turned the heat on yet. So I bundled up in heavy socks, long sleeve shirt, layered jogging pants and my heavy boots. We went outside to work. The first thing to be changed was the long sleeve shirt into a regular t-shirt. By noon the layered jogging pants became jean shorts. Wasn't as cold outside as it was inside to start! We got the pool completely removed and stuff stored. DH and niece made a trip to the landfill as DH and I have no trouble with getting rid of stuff (unlike my mom!). I raked a few leaves and pulled up the tomato plants. It was just great to be outside.

Jeannie, the niece, brought out her young dog. The moron bought a pit bull which she is not a purebred but she still has pit bull in her. I told her not to get that kind of dog. She's been going on and on about how sweet she is and how great she minds and how gentle, . She's still a pit bull. I let Bear out but fortunately I had his head halter and leash on him. Roxie did not like Bear because if she kept trying to attack Bear. And it was real attack because she bit him on the head and wasn't going to let go. He wanted to play and she tried to kill him. No blood was drawn though. Jeannie got a good reminder of what her dog is capable of doing. She is a cute and sweet dog other than trying to kill Bear.

I have the makings of my first shiner. I was working with Peso yesterday evening. I needed to introduce her to the barn so that I can re-introduce her to being in a stall since we are taking her to a Paint horse sale this coming weekend. She didn't want to go into the barn so we were walking back and forth and she was acting like a total jackass. At one point, she threw her head and I knew it was going to happen but couldn't move. She clocked me right in the temple area hard and smashed the side of my glasses into the corner of my eye and then knocked them off. I think I saw stars there for a few seconds. Gads, it hurt. And DH was being mouthy about telling me what to do to get the horse into the barn. I wanted to kick his a$$ more than hers. She and I had a few disagreements but she wasn't going to get her way and get back into the pasture. Even though my head hurt like ****, I made her walk up and down the driveway with me and then walked circles in front of the barn. The only relief she got was when she got close to the barn door. I finally got her to walk into the garage part and through the barn. So we made several trips through and into the stall and out and then she got to eat in the barn and then back into the pasture. By then DH had finally shut up and let me do what I thought was right which was change her focus on something else besides being stubborn and she got smacked everytime she tried the head throwing thing again. I did jump DH's butt about not even asking if I was okay because he saw her clock me. I made him put his glasses on and take a good look at my eye because it is swollen underneath and its red where the glasses dug in. Fortunately, its not the eyeball but the surrounding bone that hurts. I was pissed at both of them.

Its raining this morning. A good kind of day to stay inside and work on bills this afternoon.

Thin - Woohoo for the Tigers!

Love the holiday smilies.

(that was me yesterday evening)

OUCH, TERRI! I hope that shiner heals up quickly. They sure are strong and quick - and MAN! do they have hard heads! I'd have been ready to thump them both, as well! Once again, I hope the sale goes well for you.

THIN - I LOVE the TIgers! Well, this year anyway. Wasn't it them that sent the Yankees crying back home? (Sorry Yankee fans, I know it's practically Un-American, but I'm not a Yankees fan.) I hope your Tiggers thump on Oakland, too!
GO T I G E R S ! ! !

LILION, Remember back last spring I think it was, when you and I were both visiting a thread that talked about whether, if we could, we would wake up tomorrow skinney, or go thru the process? There was a lot of discussion, like Thin said to me at the end of the last thread, 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger'? I stopped writing on or even visiting that thread. It totally freaked me out at the time. Even thinking of it caused me SO much distress that I'd lose sleep. But it wasn't because of the weight loss issue. It was because of the way it relates to this whole marraige issue that I'm going through. The freaky distress has passed and the resolve, though sad, is setting in. You said a lot of things back then that hit me, whether I liked them or not. I appreciate the truth. I don't always remember your exact words, but I remember the feelings you conveyed, and your honesty. Everyone here is so very, very supportive, but some things you've said made me really feel that I'm not alone in going thru this. I'm not the first, or the last. And most of all, there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is hope. I just wanted to say thank you for that. And if nothing else, at this point I promise myself, there is something better... and of course, I'll come out stronger.

Thank you to everyone - you've all been a rock of support, a spur when I needed one, and a safe port as well. HEY - AND YOU'RE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!

On to this getting skinny stuff!!! ...but first, I better go primp - I've got a BD party to go to for little Miss Aubrey - the girl with the mustang that I've talked about. Don't worry, I'm not in the mood for cake. ...I hope.

Valerie -

I didn't see the post you deleted. But I just wanted to say that I am so sorry that you are still going through distressful times. Seems like it has been that way for a lot of us. And that is what keeps me coming back here. As you said, you are not alone. It is a relief to see at times that we are not the only ones who feel the stress, disappointment, anger, sadness, loneliness, and absolute joy of this journey of life. A lot of that I've felt just in this weight loss journey that I don't seem to be gaining victory over. Here is somewhere where we can come and be totally honest about anything we are facing. Because we know its read without judgement. We each have grown to care very deeply for each other as if we are real sisters but we also don't have to worry about having had shared too much.

As you know, I've been going through very rough days at work. I got an email from DH's cousin. She is Christian so she sends me a lot of spiritual stuff. She sent me one that I needed and I keep hanging on to the images. It was a slideshow about how a man wanted a rose and a butterfly. That is all that he prayed to God for - a rose and a butterfly. But God gave him a cactus and a catepillar. He lamented over how all God gave him was something with thorns and was ugly. One day, he noticed that the cactus had a bloom. The most beautiful rose he had every seen and that the catepillar had turned into a beautiful butterfly. He realized that sometimes we have to live with the thorns and ugliness to get to beauty of this life that we've been given. So each time that I think I can't make it through the day at work, that I can't deal with the stress of deciding someone's future, or dealing with my own uncertainty - I remind myself that this is the thorn and ugly time and fully trust that I will make it through and one day it will be roses and butterflies again. Somehow, someway. We have to hang on to the roses and butterflies.

I've been moping around with a headache today. We ended up not going to church because of the rain. Not a very good excuse but my face hurts. My neck is sore too. Again, not good excuses for staying home.

I decided to treat myself to a jacuzzi bath this morning. I have only used it once since moving here but will be using it more often now that its cooling off. A good hot bubble bath! So there I am having this wonderful relaxing time and when I stand up to get out, I look over and see this huge spider in the corner by the oils. I yell for DH to come with the spider spray because I was afraid the damn thing was going to jump at me and I'd fall in the slippery bubbles (note to self, next time not so much Avon!). DH finally comes to kill it and the dog is laying outside the door looking perturbed that I had disturbed his slumber. I chastised him that Lassie would either have gone to get help or would have come in and eaten the spider. He just snorted. Talk about a mood killer. The joys of fall and living in the country - big spiders.

Tomorrow is Monday again. Another week. Another opportunity to get the week started right with exercise and healthy eating. I should be getting up and thinking that everyday. Everyday is an opportunity to make the right choices.

Time to feed the beasts. Sorry for getting philosophical.

Good Morning Ladies!

Well, I'm back from Six Flags and had a great, but COLD time! Thought I'd freeze for sure! The DS was very happy and that made it all worthwhile. Lines were long, as usual, but I actually FIT IN THE RIDES! That's new this year! DH actually was going to eat a live cockroach to let us skip to the start of the lines (what a good hubby!), but there was 30+ people in line to eat the roaches! And there was only a 1-hr period where they were let people do it and 20 min in they'd only done 3, so no bug-eating! Ate too much, got lots of walking exercise, screamed REALLY loud on the roller coaster (not even the scariest one.)

Valerie: I hate to admit it, but while I remember the thread about getting skinny overnight, I can't imagine what I said that made you feel that way. Especially since - HECK YEAH I'd wake up skinny! Seriously, I'm so sorry you are finding yourself at this crossroads. I know how hard it is to let go. No matter how bad things get, you still don't want to let go. I held on to my first until he left me...even though I'd done EVERYTHING and he'd done NOTHING to try to make it work. And even though I was relieved when it was over, it still hurt. I wish I was there to offer a real sholder to you.

Terri: I like to say that killing bugs for women is the last act of chivalry left to modern man. I love the sound of that bath! I've got one majorly pulled muscle from all the walking yesterday. Sorry your horse punched you! Hope that eye feels better soon!

Thin: Gee, would you happen to be a Tigers fan? Congrats! As for my defeatest attitude on the 2x2, I'm thinking it's just realistic at this point. I was at 236 to start. One week in I was at 238. This afternoon I was at 245. Granted, that was this afternoon after a weekend of fattening food and some serious digestive problems-kind of opposite of your mom's if you know what I mean... We'll see what a couple days OP do, but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna gain this time. But this isn't giving up! Merely acknowledging that I have some work to do!

Well ladies, Consider this a big HOWDY! to everyone else! I need to run and I'll be back!

Evening chickies,

Gosh, i've had a lot of trouble getting on here the last few days, had to give up posting a number of times.

Wow, looks like I've missed quite a bit. First I just wanted to say to

Mother, WAY TO GO!! I'm so proud of you!

Valerie and others, I too have had my share of dark times, but believe me it does get better. As stressed as I can get now, I feel blessed to have come out the other side. Within a matter of a couple of years I dealt with a forced move (by my husband) from one coast to the other leaving everything I knew to knowing no one, starting two new jobs (I worked around the clock), an abusive marriage and subsequent separation, the death of my mother, the estrangement of my entire family, and a bankruptcy. There were many times I wanted to give up but didn't. Valerie, you CAN get through this and it WILL get better!

Terri, you made me cry with the catus and caterpiller story. So true. I will continue to think about that. Thanks.

Lilion, I have a male friend that prides himself on being my spider getter!

Ladies, take care of yourselves, we all need you!

Good morning ladies,

Quiet day yesterday around here. Work wasn't too bad. Not much exercise - not enough anyway. It was one of those light rain just about all day long kind of days. My brother came out last night to help with Peso. He worked with her out in the rain. She got her first bath. Figured might as well do it in the rain so she won't know much different. It wasn't a good soaking kind of bath because she isn't used to the hose yet but I still got to scrub her with a brush and soap to get some of the old dust out. He brought his daughters out and stayed for dinner. I think DB needs to have some family time. Her daughters have gotten past the "want to beat them" stage and are kind of fun. I'm sure they still have their "beat them" days but they have grown into very pretty young ladies. Whose mouths don't ever quit.

Today is DH and my anniversary. Eight years. It will be pretty low key because DB is coming back out again tonight. Which is okay with DH and I. We're just happy to have this place and his good cooking and not worried about being anywhere else but here. Maybe the sun will shine for us today.

Not much else happening. to everyone!

LILION, It was mostly that you were talking about your first marraige and moving on. The bit about "No matter how bad things get, you still don't want to let go" is Oh, So true. But move on I shall! It's amazing, but focusing on the weight loss mission is actually quite comforting. Instead of wallowing in self-pity (which I have done as well) and consequently binging, I'm really grounded in the mission. The exercise itself makes me feel good, but knowing I'm going to do all the things I've ached to do for so long, is, I don't know how to put it - comforting? Inspiring? Centering? Whatever. I'm doing fine right now, in any case.

KAREN, Wow. I don't know what to say. What you've been through makes my little marital crisis seem so small by comparison. None of us should have to go through that kind of thing, but perhaps it makes the good times that much brighter and more appreciated. My she- SD is so spoiled and selfish, I've sometimes wished her a small tragedy in her life, not to harm her, but to help her grow up. Just enough to make her appreciate how good and how easy life is for her. She's never suffered through anything, and until you do, you often can't appreciate how much you have - She doesn't anyway. I digress. You've been through a lot, and are living proof that things do get better. I really have no doubt of that for myself, but knowing what will happen to him financially, and knowing that he'll be alone, those things really bother me. Even if I'm not the love of his life, I'm SOMEBODY... of course, therein lies the problem, huh? I can't stand being 'better than nothing.' There will be up days and down days, but I'm going to try to focus on the up days, work for the up days and base my belief in myself on the up days. So, as Mary Poppins said, Up, Up & away! (That WAS Mary Poppins, wasn't it?)

TERRI, I'm glad your DB is able to give you an extra set of hands in working with Peso. It's hard to get it all done in the short period of time that you have. It sounds like he's enjoying himself, too, and it's great that the girls have some time out there with dad, as well. So, if they're past the "wanna beat 'em" stage, what are they, in their thirties??

Ladies, I finally bumped a few more off the scale, and I'm so excited! I luv my treadmill i luv my treadmill i luv my treadmill!!! Just 2 more to go and I've broken another '0'. Gee, I bet I could almost fit into my wedding gown again... If I wanted to.

Good Morning Ladies!

Valerie - I believe "Up, up and away" was Superman, not Mary Poppins! Hey, Superman suits you better anyway! You don't seem like the English Nanny type! I'm glad you are doing okay, just sorry you have to go thru this at all!

Terri - You two haven't been married much longer than us. We'll hit 7 years next April. Sounds like you have a nice, quiet time planned. Happy Aniversary!

Karen - I agree with Valerie, no one should have to go thru so many hard times. Believe me, I know! But they do make the good times even better, don't they?

Well all, I'm back at work and hating every minute of it. Boy do I need to hit that lottery! Speaking of bad jobs - Barbara, you out there??? I could use some tales from the office from ****! No, really, hope that's going okay, it's just good for perspective!

And now I need to get back to it! Later my dear hens!

HaHaHaHaHa! So right, LILION - it was Superman! Silly me! It must be all this rain that had me thinking of umbrellas and Mary Poppins!

BARBARA - Yeah, what's going on???

THIN, How're those Tigers doing?

RUTH, What's up at your end? I hope your mom is OK.

Oh, and just to complicate life, Bill brought me back a present. It's a cute little pillow that says "No outfit is complete without dog hair." Alas, he knows me so well in some ways and not at all in others. It was sweet, tho.

Well, chickies, here's another good one!

I finally made my mini goal of 250! 60 pounds gone! I celebrated by spending money...so what else is new??? Just had to get a new copper core stainless steel cookware set, and boy howdie is it pretty!! Well, you know...how pretty can pots and pans be. And on to the next...yup, the license weight of 210! Another 40 pounds.

I'm actually on the school computer, so better get off. I'm sure they don't like this "outside" chatting stuff.

Off to work. Have a great day!

Hello my hen Friends, Just dropping in to give you an update on what is happening with me and my Mom.

I finally got n appt. with the GYN. He wanted a blood test done first to see if there were any cancer cells in my blood, thankfully there was not, so they changed over to a regular GYN Dr. instead of the cancer specialist. Having worked in a Dr.s office in Fl. I knew what was going on. It doesn't always help to know that!

As for my Mom, she is gaining strength, and since her new Dr. took her off some of the meds the hospital had her on she is more mentally aware. Still has short term memory problems, but then age has a lot to do with that. Shoot sometimes I can't remember what I went to the fridge for by the time I open it! (that could be a good thing, right?)

As for the "diet", eh hem, I have done a good bit of stress eating in the last few weeks, and have no excuse whatsoever for doing that. I have gained about 7 lbs and am lucky that is all. I have managed to pull myself back a couple of times and that has helped me keep it from going sky high. Something I can do so easily!

Well that is my pitiful tale. I have my appt. tomorrow morning. I will let you all know how that turns out. Maybe when I get this resloved I can get back to a normal life. Take care my hen friends! Ruth

Good Morning Ladies!

Well, another week has gone by and I've gained again. It's really, REALLY upsetting. Four weeks ago I decided I'd lallygagged long enough and it was time to get this DONE! Today I weigh more than I did then.

I really have been trying too, which is the part that ticks me off no end! I've gone over all my journals and I guess I have to stop counting my activity points. I show only a 20 pt difference per week (less than 3 pts per day average) in the weeks I've gained and the weeks I've lost. 20 pts that were swapped with activity points. So apparently that's the problem. I don't know what else it could be. It's incredibly annoying.

So...I'll change my sig weight after my "official" WI at 11:30 or so. How depressing.

Ruth-I'm glad that your test result was good and you don't have to worry about cancer! We've been worried about you! Glad your mom appears to be coming along too! A pity about the memory problems, but at 99 I'd say that's got to be pretty normal. I hear you on the gain from stress eating - heck, I've got a gain without all your stress! But under the circumstances, it looks like you've done pretty good. So hop back in the saddle - and we'll all get back to it!

Karen- on the 60 lbs! I'd say that deserves an obscene carrot chorus-line!


Valerie-MEN! (enough said)

Hey everyone! I guess you are all busy-busy lately but I hope everyone posts soon and gives us updates! (Mary, Thin, Celery, Barbara, and everyone else!!!)

For now I have to go! Have a terrific day ladies - I'm off to try, try again!

Glad to hear from you RUTH! Glad your mom seems to be doing better, gaining strength physically and mentally. Glad things are looking better for you as well. * One thing about losing weight, when we slide off plan it seems eager to come back ten times as fast as it did the time before. Our bodies get more efficient and those extra calories are just horded away on our hips in a FLASH! I hope some of that weight is just water & sodium, and I hope things settle down for you a little more.

KAREN - WTG! on making that 60 pound marker and hitting the two-five-oh! That's absolutely GREAT!!! I can hardly wait to be there myself - maybe by Christmas?

TERRI, I never said it, but I appreciated your rose and butterfly story. It's really so true. I hope things at work can settle down for you soon. Work is such a big part of our lives, the stress can be unbelievable. I wish you an uneventful and easy day today!

Well, the truck is in the shop and Bill won't even tell me what's wrong or how much it will cost. "Too much" is all he'll say. Things are pretty frosty here, but life goes on. I'm off now to trucker training school, and at $100 an hour, I hope I don't need more than one half day!!! At least I got him to pay for it, but that's all so far. I'm scared to death that the truck needed a whole new engine, and then we're talking (gulp) $20,000. In that case, he hasn't really got any $$$ to give me. What a mess.

Oh well, the good news is the scale is behaving still. As always, I wait until it's registered at or below a number for three days before I change my ticker, but it said "270". I'm SO close to those 260's that this is making me just a little obsessive!

I stole this from someone else here at 3FC and posted it on my refrigerator. Forgive me if I'm being repetitive, but it's something that helps me frequently when I'm faced with a challenge. It got me safely out of a McDonalds earlier this week, when I really only went in to use the rest room. Anyway:

Hi all, Just a quick check in. Valerie, so sorry for all the hard times you're going through. We love you!

Karen, Congrats!!!!

Ruth, So glad for the good news, both for you and mom.

Everyone I'm shamefully neglecting, Hello!

It just keeps getting busier and busier. I'm down to pre-TOM weight, but none below that, and I don't seem to have time or energy to do anything I know I should. But I'll try to keep checking in and see if I can motivate myself to do something right each day.