Jude - congrats on your victory with the turkey dinner! That is AWESOME! Stay strong - you are doing GREAT!!!

Linda - trust me - you DON'T want to know what they are doing when you are sleeping - REALLY! I have gotten up in the middle of the night and witness the most amazing "cat" feats. They really DO have nine lives!!

Freda - I'm betting you will get more snow. Are you going to get the rain they are predicting for Sun/Mon? I'm not looking forward to THAT! We will have ice just like Linda does now

A good day here - finished the last of the shopping (gift certificates for the UPS and USPS carriers). I finished the last of my wrapping, and even got started on some gifts for other occasions that are coming up in January and February

DH and I are debating anniversary plans (30th on the 16th) - I'm thinking that we should just wait and do something special in the spring/fall (maybe a trip somewhere) - having an anniversary in December makes it tough to do much celebrating - if the weather isn't an issue, the business of the season is!

DS1 graduates from seminary in the the kids are planning a B&B getaway to celebrate. They have invited us (probably hoping we will help pay for it - LOL) and celebrating both events together sounds kinda fun.

My eating is going surprisingly well this month - I really seem to have changed my lifestyle in such a way that all the extra holiday foods in the break room aren't an issue. I never thought I would be able to say that!

Eating clean, eating often, and balancing my meals seems to work well

Hope you are all finding some time to take care of yourselves this busy holiday season!

OK, active over 50s, come out of the woodwork and let us know what you're up to!

meowee--do you use ice packs on your back? Take any anti-inflammatory medications? My lower back has been sore for a couple of weeks because I've been sitting in a chair all day long except when I get to the gym. There is no help for it--I work in a chair, period. But I try to take care of it with the "first aid" methods.

The gym doesn't make it worse. Sometimes it even feels better. It really is the sitting. I have a lumbar pillow that helps some, but what I need is to finish my work so I can get OUT of the chair!

Hey Jude! Glad to hear that the food stuff is getting sorted out. I've found that just about nobody wants to live their life the way I think they should! But I don't want to live the way others think I should, so why should anyone else be any different?

Well, we have found out that our aunt, whom we visited in Mass. in October, is on her way out. So, it really was probably the last time to see her. I'm glad we made the trip. I'd even eat another maple frosted donut with her, if she wanted me to. Anyway, there's nothing to be done that isn't being taken care of. We talk to her on the phone...

Laurie, yeah, you need to plan a getaway for your anniversary--maybe in January, come on down to Fla. where there is no snow and ice! We have it a bit cool today--that front that all of you got sort of slapped its tail on us. But hey, if you went further south than Tampa, say Ft. Myers, you could have a great time.

I gotta get back to work now. See ya!

Jay

Jay - try some yoga poses every couple hours while you are working. Even some stretching will help. I'm the same way when I get on a project. I forget to leave my chair for hours on end - and end up with a host of aches and pains.

Speaking of which - I am now the not so proud owner of a sore shoulder from too much golf and pinball on the wii (the family Christmas gift this year). I'm still trying to locate a Wii Fit that is REASONABLY priced. Thankfully, I'm not in a huge hurry. They are calling it the "Tickle Me Elmo" of 2008. OUTRAGEOUS prices abound - if you can find one in stock.

A friend waited in line on Thanksgiving for 5 hours and actually got one. I'm just not that dedicated (er - crazy).

Hope you all have a fun and sane weekend!

It seems we Canadians are famous (or maybe that's infamous) for talking about our weather; probably because we get so much of it.

AtlantiCa is on the same roller-coaster. Yesterday we broke fifty-year-old records by hitting +20 C (68F). Today -- our high is going to be -2C (+28F) with a little snow before we also head back to about +10/11 C (+37F) for tomorrow. Out in Cold Lake, Alberta (where my oldest son is) today's high is going to be -25C (-13F); so guess I should be thankful for small mercies.

Well, I really have to go out and brave the cold and the crowds for a bit today since the larder is looking a little bare and I do have one more gift to get. So I'd best get moving in the hopes of beating the snow.

If you can wait until after Christmas I'd bet you can find a WiiFit more easily then. I love mine, but haven't been using it lately since everything seems to bother the back right now.

Have a fun day, Chickies . . . try to keep things moving and shaking, but make some time for yourselves, too . . .

Quick fly-by to say hello and that I hope you had a productive AND fun weekend!

My microwave decided to die this afternoon, and I'm missing it already! Off to do some online research on a replacement.

Speaking of quick fly-bys... I'm off to jury duty this morning. Am packing food--and will try to stay away from the vending machines in the jury assembly room.

See ya!
Jay

Hope you get an interesting case, JAY . . . and a big for everybody.

Good Morning all,

Got out early this morning and got quite a lot done. Helped that DS finally gave me a list for Christmas. I got most of the stuff and a few other things, and I'll get in there and wrap them later. I've been wrapping as i go.

We got some rain over the weekend, and really cold weather. it just seems so much colder when it's wet.

Laurie, I hope your shoulder is feeling better. I would be lost without my microwave too. I remember when i first got one. I think I went through the first year and did nothing but melt butter in it. I've seen the WII Fit in several of the stores down here this week. Hope you find one.

Jay, I've never done jury duty. Hubby did and he loved it. he is the type that is soooo social concious. He made the jury go back into the judges chambers to have a point explained. Hope you get something really interesting.

Hi Linda, I hope you're feeling better.

Freda

Linda - hope you got a warm spell, cuz we are sending some cold weather your way! Hope you are doing better today. I think you are right about the Wii Fit - There will be plenty after Christmas - and since it is a gift for ME - I really don't care how long it takes to get one. I'm probably too busy to use it much right now anyway - unless I substitute it for my morning routing, which is not my plan.
Sore elbow today from too much wii bowling yesterday

Jay - hope you had an OP day at jury duty. I only served once, and I wasn't picked for that particular case - took about 3 hours and they sent me home.

Freda - we got the same weather - nasty, nasty - no school today since the back roads were way too icy to run the buses.

I just popped roasted veggies in the oven - one of the few things I actually bake these days - LOL. Oops - something just shattered in the kitchen - better go see what DH is up to

Have a great evening!

Hey Laurie I have to say that roasted veggies is a big thing that I do now. Thanks for the instructions. They are soo good. I make a batch and then have them a couple of days.
It is cold and icy here these days. The house is cold. We had some snow but not alot just enough to ice up the roads. I think there is more coming next weekend. That will be my last Saturday to work overtime for a while so that will be nice. Well it is my choice....

I am enrolled in a Chinese Zen meditation class for January. It is 3 classes and they are on Saturday in the afternoon so I am looking forward to that.
I would like to take a painting course as well but they are all at night. I am usually looking for something to do on the weekends. I would so love a class that was on Saturday or Sunday. But I guess it does not work out for everyone.

Laurie that Wii game sounds interesting. I think my son has one. A rock band thing or something. I am soooo technically behind the times. I don't even have a cell phone. Never thought I would say that.

Did make it to the gym today. Got new bike shorts and so had to use them. It was cold but glad I made it. Met a nice woman there that was from my home town. We exchanged hair dresser info. Too funny.

I am doing 50/50 with the food. Yesterday was not a good day. I ate breakfast at 11am and then went out and did not plan for lunch. That is one of my biggest downfalls for getting into junk food. Am doing great today. I would like to lose some more this month but may have to be just happy with holding. December is a tough month.

But I will try and have a great week this week. All the food planning is over here at work. My house is pretty safe place to be.

Hi to Jay. How long is the jury duty for. Do you get to come home? or are they just picking?

Looks like everyone is in a cold spell except for our Florida girl....

Hope you all are having a great day....my shopping is small so it is all done.
Cheers.....Jude

Hi!

Well, I was freed from jury duty--it was going to be a criminal trial, so I asked to be excused for hardship. Since I'm self-employed, a lengthy trial would essentially mean losing my contracts and no money... And the judge granted my request. I wouldn't have minded serving, but I can't go broke because of it.

I have to say, it was nice to be in the "big city" (downtown Tampa) walking around in business clothes. Call me crazy.

Oh hey, and I did good with the food, too! Packed up my supplies, and even though I didn't need them as it turned out, I felt more relaxed for having them. Oh, I also got on the internet the night before and looked up some restaurants. I found one walking distance away that I knew I could find something at. I love the internet!

The worst part of the whole thing was the drive because there is endless road construction near the airport. The only thing that saved it was that it was rush hour, so other people knew where they were going, and everyone wanted to get there. I would rather drive during rush hour than other times for that reason. Call me crazy again!

Zen meditation, Jude! Good for you! You know, you can sit on a chair if you need to. I don't know how flexible you are, but sitting on the floor, even with a cushion, can be hard at first.

So, it's back to the grind here...

Jay

Good Morning Everyone...I'm new here, have done the introduce yourself thing on the other page...then someone told me to go below the sticky..I had no idea what that ment...guess I finally figured it out. Hopefully now I'm in a correct spot. If not let me know and I'll keep searching...LOL
Didn't do so good yesterday with my food, but as always today is a new beginning...I'm really bad about grazing late, but I will get my act together again.
It has turned really cold overnight here in Kentucky, looks like everything is frozen out there, but expected snow on the ground this morning so it is better than anticipated. We're supposed to warm back up today and have more rain again...I know we need the rain but really hate gloomey days...
Hope you are all haveing great mornings!!! May drop back later if it is alright with everyone...

Catch ya later....Pat

Good Morning All,

Pat, Looking forward to getting to know you. I'm a KY. girl too. Or was. I've lived in Michigan since I was 18. I know you will enjoy it here, lots of nice people, good support.

Jude, I make the roasted vegetables all the time too. And I gave the recipe to my sister, who HATES most vegetables and she loves them too. A good way to get your servings in. Good luck on the class. Sounds like fun.

Jay, I didn't get to serve on jury duty either. With my bad back all that sitting would have been impossible. So, the Dr. wrote me an excuse. But a good thing you got out, some of those criminal cases can last a long time.

Laurie, Hope the elbow is feeling better.

Freda

. . . you definitely figured it out PAT . . .

Well thank heavens...beginning to think I was just a little brain dead
Freda...that is so funny, I was born in Buchanan, Mich. It really is a small world!!
Must share something really precious, My little dog, he weighs all of 6 lbs, tried to go out potty this morning,,,He couldn't stand up...poor little thing just kept falling, over and over again. I had to go out and bring him back to the porch...I guess it's not as cute in print. Oh well still 31 degrees out there so guess it won't thaw for a while...(DH took Skipper out through the garage to do his business)
Not going to be a very exciting day,,laundry. And sorta house bound...but will climb the stairs a hundred times...so good workout...
Have a Great day!~!...Pat