Good Morning! It is cold here! I am just now getting around and having some breakfast and then going to jump on the Wii---if nothing else it will warm me up!!!

Be back later!!

Just a really quicky...but have to tell some one....Dh has to eat what i eat or go hungry(except for his cheats when I'm at bridge). Anyway his BS past 3 morning have been 125, 115 and 84 this morning....TA DA! South Beach does it...k3

Good Morning Golden Girls,

I'm still feeling pretty good, except this annoying cough that just lingers! Just heard from my brother and and he just got a call to take his little one home. There is a big difference in ages here. He is younger than my son. Anyway, hubby came home this morning saying he isn't feeling great either. OH NO! Don't know if I would rather be sick myself or have a sick man in the house. When I'm sick, just leave me alone. He wants to be pampered and waited on.

Gayle, Love your bike and don't look like there is any reason for it to not be comfortable. Big wide seat and you could even put a cushion on that. Now you can go for bike rides with the kiddies.

finscher, When your wife comes she will be welcomed. Hope to see her soon. And we have had men from time to time also.

Lynn, Hope you ace that stress test.

NCNancy, snickers are my favorite too. I still have them often. I buy the fun size and that is enough to fix my cravings for chocolate. Not much for the fruity things either. Glad the little kitty is doing ok. I've read all the Aunt Diminity series and think they are good. I know I can ask my library and they will get the books for me. If you read them, start with the first of the series.

Karen31, If you like to ride I bet you would love a bike like Gayles. It would be a break and something different from the WIi and fun. I bike ride with the kids all summer. Lots of bike trails around here.

Z, like you, I was thinking that where I lived was pretty uninteresting. But i'm in suburb of Detroit and lots of things are going on here. Just have to think about it from someone elses perspective I guess.

Mary, I hope that you feel better soon. Horrible being in pain all the time.

Tea Granny, I didn't get a wedding picture. I'm glad you are finally getting to get yours.

Bobbi, We are getting worried about you. Please check in.

Karen3, I can see where the South Beach diet would be good for diabetics, since they have to really watch the carbs.

Freda

Hello GG's,

Another one of those not so good nights of sleep. Up at 3 am and layed there for an hour. Got up then and got on here. Guess that was good ~ got to get caught up on the posts :) Started feeling sleepy at 5 am, so back to bed then (like the other night) ~ not a nap really ~ I guess it was more like finishing my night of sleep.

Scale went the right direction at the weigh in. Creeping downward. Slow progress, but I'll take it. My head seems to be in the right place right now and I am determined to do this.

When I start to think about cookies or candy or what ever, I try to think of this losing weight like a car trip. I like going on the trip, but after while, I am ready to be done ~ I've had enough of the trip ~ tired of riding in the car and just want to arrive at my destination so I can get out and be done. So, that cookie or what ever is like a detour that might add hours to my trip when I am tired and wanting to be done. So far, that analogy has helped me. I know that I can't really be done with this trip ~ it is a lifestyle change that I need to keep up with from now on. So, maybe the being able to get out of the car is like a maintainence phase. Not being done, but taking a break on the trip. :)

Guess you have to do/think what ever works to keep you going.

Gotta go throw in some laundry and other stuff. I'll check back later.

Hope you all are having a good day.

Take care

Good Morning girls!
Freda...I'm still here and have been lurking. I'm always on the go with toooooooo many trips into town. I have those pesty chiropractor appointments 3 times a week. That takes up the whole mornings when I usually play on the computer. My DH has a brain that never, ever turns off. I signed us up for a month of meditation classes, hopefully so he can learn to relax. I'm not fond of meditation but if it helps him, then I'll do it. We have to meditate everyday for a least 15 minutes and work up to 30 minutes a day. Booooooooooring:dizzy:
Right now I have a zillion bills to pay and my computer desk is a mess. I can't stand when that happens so off I go.
P.S. Yesterday after I got home from the doc's, DH said the Visa rep called and stopped payment on a hotel reservation in Finland. He wanted to know if we charged this. Geeeeez, some weirdo got our credit card number which didn't surprise me since we ordered so many gifts online for Christmas. Scarry, so glad they canceled our card. We'll get a new card and number in 5 days so I'll have to pay cash for anything until those cards come in the mail.
Oh, KarenFla...I forgot to tell you about the tv channel magazine arrived. I wasn't impressed, probably because I'm not a fancy cook like you. I canceled it and order the light cooking magazine instead, Hope I like that one better.
Now I really do have to go.
Lynn...I'm going to answer your question about where we live eventually. I thought I'd take pictures of our place, especially the forlorn snow covered corn fields across from our house. You'll see how interesting our view is........NOT! :rofl:

Good morning Goldens!! A quick read and post before I go to work. Quarterly report time, aaaghhhh. Spare time will be gone for a week or too. Oh well, still reading to keep up.

Stay safe. Oh, and the temperature just rose above freezing here..but last night we had a foot of snow. Is it spring yet?

I'm back, just made out some checks for bills and saw this old quote from a friend. I cleaned up some of the words:o

Originally Posted by :

Friendship ~ None of that Sissy S***
Are you tired of those sissy 'friendship' poems that
always sound good, but never actually come close to
reality? Well, here is a series of promises that actually
speak of true friendship.
You will see no cute little smiley faces on this
Just the stone cold truth of our great friendship.

When you are sad ~ I will help you get drunk and
plot revenge against the sorry a$$ who made you
sad.
When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is
choking you.
When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something
that I would probably want to be involved in.

When you are scared ~ I will rag on you about it every
chance I get until you're NOT.
When you are worried ~ I will tell you
horrible stories about how much worse it could be until
you quit whining.

When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
When you are sick ~ Stay the heck away from me
until you are well again. I don't want whatever you
have.
When you fall ~ I will laugh at your clumsy butt, but I'll
help you up.

This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you
may ask ~ because you are my friend.
Friendship is like peeing your pants, everyone can see it,
but only you can feel the true warmth.

Send this to 10 of your closest friends (including the
one who sent it to you).

Then get depressed because you can only think of 4.

Good Morning Everyone,
Stress test went well – am all settled in my condo waiting for tonight’s snow. I hope it is not too much – my first photo class is tomorrow morning.
I REALLY enjoyed my volunteering yesterday. Beginning next week, I will be helping them out 2 days/week. I think this will be VERY good for me. Will DEFINITELY cut into my hours on the computer playing solitaire.
Lynn

Originally Posted by Karen31:
Hey Lynn, Here is the link to the video about Carthage.
http://www.visit-carthage.com/video.html And I have been in the courthouse and it is just fantastic. It even has one of the old fashioned elevators that is a "cage" with an older lady that operates it!! The mural on the wall, which is lifesize and takes a whole wall, has a button that you can push and it walks you through the story from left to right! The courthouse is made of marble. Oh, and the drive in is still open and shows movies all summer long!! Love it!!

Hi Karen,
I had not realized that the Civil War was fought as far west as MO. One of my ancestors from NY died in Raleigh, NC. He had been with General Sherman & died from dysentery JUST before the war ended.
Carthage was founded in 1883. The town I live in was founded in 1682. My DD’s B&B (about 10 minutes from me) was built before 1790.

Originally Posted by Karen3:
Have to laugh after moving down here from the MidAtlantic area the local historical group raises money for old bldgs.....like a 1930 road house. Just when you think how young Florida is something pops up....they found an old fort in St Augustine.....older then the old one there....Our local Indians sites are 300+ yrs old but there is nothing there since a rich guy in the 1920's stole everything and took back to Philadelphia. bye karen3

Hi Karen,
See my response to your namesake above.

Originally Posted by jess1:
Weight is steady, as long as I stay away from icky starches. I'm fighting them, because I was given a bag of Skittles as a gift, which I devoured in one sitting!, and now I'm having MAJOR cravings again. I think I'm a big ol' Skittle, inside! Anyway, if I can restrain my cravings, I'm way cool.

Hi Donna,
I’m with you. Just a couple of bites of sugar & I start bingeing (SP?).

Originally Posted by Bunti:
Morning Everyone!

Lynn- cool pics. And a great cause. Oh, and the author is Nancy Atherton. The series is a little different, but I thoroughly enjoy them.
Okay, about our neighborhood.
Juneau is inaccessible by road, and the only way in or out of town is boat or airplane.

Hi Bunti,
I will download one of Atherton’s books. Thank you for the tip.
I cannot imagine living in a place that I could get out of only by boat or plane. Does this mean that people mostly stay in the same city all the time?

Originally Posted by Karen31:
I also did the Free Run (the 10 minute one) twice, first time I did 1.899 miles in 10 minutes the second time was 1.635 for the 10 minutes. I kind of rotate doing things and get an hour in everyday.
Lynn, I didn't sign up for the Presidential challenge-- I thought about it but then decided not to. Just wanting to keep track here, on fitday and the Wii. That seems to be about enough for right now. I have been thinking about maybe getting a dance video to go with the Wii but will wait and make it a reward at some point. I don't want to give up on the wii fitness program right now..And I'm hoping to keep it up and then once I get a dance video use it ONLY after I have put my hour in with the WiiFitPlus. That way I can count it as my FUN! Were you able to open the video link for Carthage that I posted? Great Pictures of your DD--I dont' know if I would ever be able to do a marathon! Congratulate her for me.

Hi Karen,
I am impressed that you are running for 10 minutes. I can just about make 1 minute.
Yes – I watched the video – thank you for posting the link. I don’t know why I couldn’t find it.

Originally Posted by maryea:
My dh is doing so well...you'd never know he had a fx femur. His knee still gives him a little mild pain now and then but hopefully that will go away soon.
My back is still bothering me but hopefully it will be better soon too. The muscle relaxant makes my mouth so dry so I hate taking them but still feel I need it. I just make sure I always have water with me.
I watched my eating better yesterday...not really counting calories but mentally tracking my carbs and my weight dropped back down to where I was at the beginning of this trip at least.

Hi Mary,
Glad your DH’s knee is better – sorry to hear about your back.
I have been having a LOT of difficulty with carbs lately. I keep drifting upwards regarding carbs and downwards regarding protein.
I think I must get serious about becoming vegetarian – focusing on beans instead of meat. For whatever reason, meat is just NOT appealing to me anymore.

Originally Posted by Karen3:
I grew up not far from Lynn's home, but we moved here from Maryland's Eastern Shore. That's where Captain John Smith went first before he met ole Pricess Pokie.....So being down here is so different. This area had cedar trees and they literally cut them all down for pencils around 1900. Had another industry for hearts of palm, needless to say after you remove the heart the palm dies. Which now leaves only have some shrimpers, bay scallopers, crabbers. There are really no jobs except service industry for senior citizens....that runs from waiters, shops and health care. Our last industrial type work left for NC....Proline Boats. The town is about 2 blocks wide on either side of RT19. The streets are lined with Live Oaks that have moss hanging. Everybody says howdy to everybody and nobody's a stranger. Unlike further South we actaully have 3 seasons. Maybe a month of Winter, then Summer and 6 weeks of Fall......sometimes. Ponce De Leon was around here looking for that well and we had a few Civil War bashing. Mainly because they never figured out which side they were on. A sugar cane plantation that still had the mill stone etc. But we are mainly know for our mermaids better known as Manatees. Yes, they are still 1000lb poop machines! Any sailor who swam off to hear one of them sing was high on rum.
NancyNC....I love cozy mysteries. I go on ebay and buy lots of 10+. Find an author I haven't read and buy all of their series. Like having a 2000 page book. I read All of Donna Swanson, Sarah Graves, Laura Childs(teashop),Donna Andrews, Katherine Hall Page this past year. Good thing they are cheap on ebay. Oh and Sarah Donati and Valerie Wolzein. One a day makes me happy.

Hi Karen,
This summer, my sister and I went to Williamsburg & while there, we visited Jamestown. For Christmas, I got my sister a novel about Jamestown written by one of the archeologists who worked on excavating Jamestown.
Thank you for all the authors’ names. I will absolutely go on a spending spree at B&N online when I get off this site! BTW – after REALLY loving the Brad Meltzer book, I HATED the ending. Felt like he just got tired & wrote “The End.”

Originally Posted by the slim me:
Good Evening Golden Girls,

I am actually feeling so much better today (i'm whispering as I say this, in case the flu Gods are listening).
Lynn, Your daughter looks so (rightfully) proud after finishing the marathon!

Hi Freda,
I am glad you are feeling better. See another picture of PROUD daughter below.

Originally Posted by glynne:
I had a real stroke of luck this week, and now have one of those Granny cycles (three wheeled adult tricycle) with a comfortable seat. My DH helped me make some adujstments to it and I took it out for a spin today. I really enjoyed it.

Hi Gayle,
ENJOY your new bike!!!!

Originally Posted by Tea Granny:
Hi Everyone :) Today was such a horrid day at work - the kind that usually sends me into the kitchen to eat myself into a coma. So instead of going home right away I went and got my passport picture - which was an enraging hassle - and the picture is the usual - the only thing missing on it is a heading warning about a serial killer on the loose! While I was at the portrait studio there was a miniscule sign that said "ask about our free gift" so I did and it is for a free 8x10 portrait! I booked our wedding anniversary in June - we were so broke when we got married that there was no money for portraits, and then with kids and school and work we've NEVER had one done. I sure hope that this 6 month mini-goal works out! :) Should help keep me on track anyway. :) :)

Hi Tea,
Sorry you had a bad day. Are you planning to venture out of the country?

Originally Posted by Karen31:
Well, tonight American Idol starts again. Does anyone watch it? I'm kind of curious as to what it is going to be like with out Simon or Paula!! I've been watching Paula's new show too, Live to Dance and it has been pretty good. Well, I think I'm going to get a cup of hot tea and relax and watch some TV for a bit.

Hi Karen,
I tried. Watched it for about a half hour & gave up. Just not interesting to me without Simon.

Originally Posted by ellabella:
Okay, so THIS is what I think it was - my driving to work in that bad storm yesterday, I mean - I really think it had something to do with demonstrating to myself that I could still drive under adverse conditions - that I'm not too old, I mean. It really was a ridiculous thing to do, because I actually can work from home whenever I choose to, and I had no meetings scheduled, so there was no reason for me to spend six hours + on the road like that, other than to satisfy my own ego. :o I've already told them that if it snows again on Friday (6-12 inches predicted) I'll be working from home. I'm just lucky I didn't end up in a snow bank somewhere - there were a load of cars off the road.
[/B][/COLOR]and Lynn...) well, everybody's town seems a lot nicer than Worcester! Oh, we do have some very definite assets, I suppose...Elm Park, the oldest public park in the United States, and it really is a great place to spend a spring-summer-fall afternoon; not winter, though, but I don't want to be outside anywhere in the winter. My skiing, sledding & ice skating days are behind me, I'm afraid. And we do have a world class art museum, which is where I met my current dh...and some nice lakes and a bicycle & rail trail; lots of pretty hiking paths, actually, including some really neat ones owned by the Audubon Society. A great First Night celebration, Arts Worcester, which both DH & I belong to, the Hanover Theater that brings some amazing live performances to the city, Mechanics Hall, which is a beautifully restored historical venue for all kinds of events, Regatta Park with rowing teams competing all summer long.....oh, Jeeze...a LOT of pretty nice stuff, come to think of it. I suppose there are worse places to live...but not necessarily in winter when the seven hills of Worcester (Worcester is actually known as the City of Seven Hills) become slippery roller-coasters, and you take your life in your hands trying to run out for a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk.
Nice pictures of your daughter, Lynn! What a trouper! Such a pretty girl, too...I'm betting she looks a lot like you did at her age?GG's[/COLOR]!!!!
Z

Hi Zoe,
I kind of figured your CRAZY drive in the blizzard was something like that. OK – you now know you CAN do it – from now on we respectfully suggest that you CHOOSE to NOT do it!
I don’t know, your town sounds LOVELY to me.
Yes – my DD looks a LOT like I did at her age.

Originally Posted by maryea:
We usually get home toward the end of March, however we may go home earlier this year...when things were going so badly we said we'd go home as soon as the mountain road was safe, but now things are going better so I'm not sure. I am just leaving it up to dh as this maybe his last year to do this.

Hi Mary,
ENJOY it while you can – my favorite motto.

Originally Posted by Nancyoyo:
Lynn, great pics of your DD. She’s so pretty. Don’t think I’ve read any books by Kate Ellis. Maybe I’ll run across some in one of the thrift stores, if the library doesn’t have them. I only buy used books since new ones are so expensive. NCNancy

Hi Nancy,
Probably more likely to find her books on the internet than in thrift stores. Have you ever tried www.thriftbooks.com ?

Originally Posted by Karen3:
Just a really quicky...but have to tell some one....Dh has to eat what i eat or go hungry(except for his cheats when I'm at bridge). Anyway his BS past 3 morning have been 125, 115 and 84 this morning....TA DA! South Beach does it...k3

Hi Karen,
I REALLY need to get back to reducing my carbs. Only problem with South Beach is the amount of meat/fish. I’ve got to figure out a way to reduce carbs and increase protein without meat/fish.

Originally Posted by the slim me:
I'm still feeling pretty good, except this annoying cough that just lingers! Just heard from my brother and and he just got a call to take his little one home. There is a big difference in ages here. He is younger than my son. Anyway, hubby came home this morning saying he isn't feeling great either. OH NO! Don't know if I would rather be sick myself or have a sick man in the house. When I'm sick, just leave me alone. He wants to be pampered and waited on.
Lynn, Hope you ace that stress test. Freda

Hi Freda,
Hope you get rid of that cough soon. I did GREAT with the stress test – my cardiologist said everything is “perfect.”

Originally Posted by glynne:
When I start to think about cookies or candy or what ever, I try to think of this losing weight like a car trip. I like going on the trip, but after while, I am ready to be done ~ I've had enough of the trip ~ tired of riding in the car and just want to arrive at my destination so I can get out and be done. So, that cookie or what ever is like a detour that might add hours to my trip when I am tired and wanting to be done. So far, that analogy has helped me. I know that I can't really be done with this trip ~ it is a lifestyle change that I need to keep up with from now on. So, maybe the being able to get out of the car is like a maintainence phase. Not being done, but taking a break on the trip. :)

Hi Gayle,
I have always found it interesting that folks generally use travel analogies when they are dieting. Stay on/fall off the wagon; weightloss journey; one step at a time;…
For me, I see it as financing. Calories are like my cash on hand & exercise is like my income that enables me to “spend” more of my calories & my daily calorie/exercise goals are like my budget.

Originally Posted by Bobbolink:

P.S. Yesterday after I got home from the doc's, DH said the Visa rep called and stopped payment on a hotel reservation in Finland. He wanted to know if we charged this. Geeeeez, some weirdo got our credit card number which didn't surprise me since we ordered so many gifts online for Christmas. Scarry, so glad they canceled our card. We'll get a new card and number in 5 days so I'll have to pay cash for anything until those cards come in the mail.

Hi Bobbi,
My DD had her credit card stolen right before Christmas. Even after AmEx had cancelled the card, things kept being charged. Thieves travelled from Philadelphia where it was stolen to MA where they finally stopped charging. Before they stopped, they visited computer stores and bought over $6,000 worth of computers.

I'm making a list of the books, authors you all mention. I am needing to find some new ones to enjoy ~ a couple of my favorites aren't writing anymore new books.

Here are a few of my favorites:

The Cat Who......series by Lilian Jackson Braun. I think this would be one of the cozy mystery types. Start with the first one and read them in order. She is really elderly now (I think like in her 90's) and I don't think writing anymore. The web sites list a last book that was to be published, but then they decided not to. One of the websites had a message board that speculated (a couple years back) that maybe the last few books were written by someone else because they didn't seem as good as her first ones.

NCNancy ~ Lilian Jackson Braun lives in NC ~ west of Charlotte ~ right on the border of SC ~ I think the town was called Tryon ~ when I lived in NC, I kept wishing I could go there and visit her town.

The southern sisters series by Anne George. Another of the cozy mystery types. First one ~ Murder on a Girls' Night Out. About two sisters (golden girl aged). There are only eight of these ~ again ~ start with the first one. Sadly the author passed away and so there will be no more of these.

Then there were the Sadie Shapiro stories by Robert Kimmel Smith. Again start with the first one. There are only three of these. Wish there had been more ~ I loved Sadie (a senior citizen). They were funny and heart warming.

Take care all

Just me being quick again....Lynnn...lower protein by using beans...Feeding Dh about 3-4 oz of meat/fish aday, but lots of beans k3

Originally Posted by Karen3:
Just me being quick again....Lynnn...lower protein by using beans...Feeding Dh about 3-4 oz of meat/fish aday, but lots of beans k3

Hi Karen,

About 2 minutes before I read this, I got out my bean recipe book. I'll let you know if something turns out really good.

Lynn

Originally Posted by Bobbolink:
Who was it that gave me the site to down size pictures? I have a question.

I think it was Karen MO.

Lynn