[Maggie]

GOOD EVENING MAGNOLIAS

I showed a whopping .2 loss today but am not a bit unhappy with it for it is going in the right direction. So I have lost a total of 5.2 so far this year. Hope February will show equal losses.

JOYCE there is a nice paved area which is down by the beach that is so neat you would love it. CONGRATULATIONS on your loss ~ that is totally awsome.

JEAN bats indangered Didn't know that.

I am sleepy and tired and going to go to bed. I should have opened this box up earlier but was watching some news programs. Have a great Friday!

[jackslady]

Good morning everyone. Sorry I didn't see the new thread so I am transferring this one from the last.

We were having trouble with our internet user again so it wouldn't let me post yesterday at all.

Jean: The picture was at Christmas so it was one of my gifts. we are taking a much needed vacation to Vegas. Jack already has reservations at this fancy restaurant called The Palm and tickets to a show for my birthday. My sister and brother-in-law are driving over from L.A. and going with us. I am so excited!

IowaJean: Bats, heaven help us. I would be moving out for sure! If that was so about the bats/cats how come they came in then?

Joyce: three cheers for your weight loss. That is great!

I got to sit for my grandson last evening. I always love that so much and don't get to do it very often because his other grandma lives next door. She is a lot older than I though so we definitely have different approaches to "grandmothering." I am the hip one! lol

Well, gotta finish my other posts and get up and going for the day.

Donna

[Joyce in CO]

Good Morning

Had a great dinner out. I got to color with my gd4 and chat with gs9. I had a LowFat Chicken Quesadilla for 14 points. Had a WW dessert when we got home. I finished the day at 28 points. Love this program!!!!

Jean - Bats!! I know thay are not dangerousand supposedly they aren't out to hurt anyone, but those things SCARE me. Too many scary movies I guess. And they are one of those things that lurk out there in the dark....

Donna - Your trip sounds like a lot of fun. Are you going to any special show?

Maggie - 5.2 for the month is grand!!!!!

BBL

[Maggie]

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

It is supposed to get up to the high 80's once again today. Cowboy is finishing up a saddle for a young girl and we will be able to deliver it tomorrow. Needless she is so excited. I am going to get to work on some glass today ~ quiet still work that doesn't call for much movement to stay cool. I don't want to turn on the air conditioner ~ much prefer the windows open.

DONNA Lost Wages can be a fun place I guess. We don't gamble but have been through there when traveling and those lights at night are a sight to be hold. And the food. We found places where the "locals" eat and it was the best for sure. I am sure you will find neat things to do and look at and have fun especially if you are having folks meet you there.

JOYCE your dinner sounds delicious. I love those things. This is an 18 point day for me and I am going to grill some chicken and bake a yam and have a nice green salad for dinner. I got one of those cast iorn grill pans from Lodge and it is the best ever I have had. Nice and heavy and leaves those delicious looking lines. I tried one of the Foreman grills and all it did was steam the food ~ and I don't like my meats steamed that way. I like my meat and veggies grilled. I know folks who love their Foreman and that is fine for them and I certainly don't put them down for it. I just prefer a grill pan to that method. Life is good.

[jackslady]

My daughter and family went to Vegas last May and brought back the most incredible pics so we decided to go there. I didn't realize how much there is to see that is NOT gambling. There are lion habitats, shark tanks, Madame Tussaud's Wax museum, a replica of King Tut's tomb, M & M World (uh-oh), great shopping, eating ooopppsss, and all kinds of free and paid shows to go see. We are going to a Luau too which should be fun!

Joyce: We are going to Lance Burton's magic show for sure. The hotel we are staying in has a lot of re-occurring acts and lots of "oldies" groups which I love. I am keeping my fingers crossed that we might be lucky enough that Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will be there. I know they are performing in March.

Speaking of Vegas, one of the very very best shows I have ever seen is Wayne Newton's. He was here at the casinos in Tunica and we got 4th row center seats. He really plays to the audience big time. He did this wonderful thing. He had everyone that was a veteran of any kind stand up and then he went across the stage and saluted to them all. Being a retired Navy wife, I cried of course. One of the reasons is a personal experience. He flew out to my husband's ship around 1983 or so and gave them a show for Christmas. THEN, he told some 5000+ men that if they would give their wife's name and home phone # to his assistants he would see that each one would get a phone call for Christmas from him and HE DID IT! So, he is tops on my list of performers and boy does he have a following! All these little old ladies bringing him cookies and stuff. It is so cute to here them talking about him and how many concerts they have gone to, etc.

Well, this is not getting done what I need to do.
Donna

[Jean]

Good Evening, Flowers!
It is almost time for bed but I wanted to check in here first. I am waiting for my bed to "preheat!" We had drizzly mist this morning along with fog; the sun never did peek out today.

We went to Sioux City this afternoon and did some Target and Penneys shopping! Also got to spend some quality time with Jason, Amanda, and #1 Ian! He is smiling and "talking" more each time we see him. He is such a happy little guy. I have a picture if I ever figure out how to work the scanner!

Donna -- What a neat story about Wayne Newton. He is one of my favorites too. We've not heard any more bat noises so I'm hoping it/they moved on. The batman told Bob to check the roof vents and make sure they have the screen (?) in place. They can squeeze through the tiniest space though. I'm looking forward to a visit to LV, I just don't know when!

Maggie -- Congratulations on losing .2#! Any loss is a GREAT loss and the scale is going in the right direction; that is what is important! I noticed you put Saturday on your post and I thought I had missed a day! It did seem like Saturday to me. I was going to try a GF grill that I bought for a Christmas gift only to find out they already had one. Guess I could still return it to WM; I like grilled rather than steamed too.

Joyce -- I put bats in the same category as snakes! We've had trouble with garter snakes in the past and I told DH if one ever got in the house I would be gone and he could visit me at the apartment! Since I've been feeding the stray cats we haven't seen any and I hope to keep it that way. As for the bats, as I told DH, if we get it/them out of the attic/wall (??) they'll just be hanging out in the trees and I don't want them there either. A friend told us to put pans of anti-freeze in the attic which will kill them if they drink it. I guess that is what Bob is going to do. To get into the attic, he has to crawl through a tiny hole in a bedroom closet. Since the hole is covered by a board, I told him I was going to put the board back in place while he was in the attic! It is creepy in there!

Tomorrow is the baby shower and regular Saturday chores so I suppose I will be late getting in here. Have a relaxing weekend, Flowers!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[jackslady]

I am up with some aches and pains this early am so I decided to come and chat.

Jean: A baby shower, what fun! I don't even get to buy my grandson clothes as his mother shops a season ahead, buys a ton of clothes and tells me not to get him anything. (that of course doesn't totally stop me) He loves the movie Monsters, Inc. so for Christmas I bought him glow in the dark "Mike" pajamas. If you know the movie then you know Mike is this great big green eyeball monster. We have our Christmas with the kids Christmas eve. I put them on him to see if they fit and took him into the downstairs bath which has no window so we could see them glow. Here was this big green eyeball staring at you. He loved them and refused to wear his "regulation" Christmas pj's to his other grandma's the next morning so all the Christmas pics from her house this year he is proudly wearing Mike! lol

Maggie: I am so sorry I didn't recognize your weight loss. I am such a blabber mouth sometimes I forget. Way to go!

Well, I am yawning and have to drive to the commissary for groceries in the morning so nighty night!

Donna

[Maggie]

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

It was really hotter than I thought yesterday. We hit an all time high ~ 94 degrees . It was the highest ever recorded for that date since they started tracking in 1927. This morning I am cooking a huge pot of spaghetti sauce. Cowboy wants it for lunch so I am making enough for a meal and to freeze. I love having sauce to use later on English muffins or garlic bread and a salad. Good low point meals. Always with a huge green salad. It smells so good simmering away on the stove. I won't do things like this on my very low point days but this one is a 24 pointer so I won't do any damage.

JEAN I certainly hope you get your bat woes taken care of soon. Those pesky little things are disese ridden. That is so neat that you live close enough that you get to see Ian grow. Enjoy him while you can.

DONNA not to worry ~ we all miss things now and then and I don't trip. Those jammies you got for your little one sound like a hoot. Those Christmas pictures will be fun years down the road ~ memories are made of this. Sorry to hear you have aches and pains. Are they exercise induced?

Everyone have a wonderful weekend and if you like new beginnings for a lagging program this is the first day of a brand new month. Make of it what you will.

[jackslady]

Maggie: I am on the menstrual/menopause fence and the aches and pains are from that and sure does make exercising a shore sometimes. I can usually put up with it, but sometimes it does interrupt my sleep. I stayed up til 4 and then went back to bed and slept until 7:30. It usually helps to get up and sit in a good chair for awhile. My sister lives in Ca and was bragging about it being hot while I was freezing! We seem to be getting some of your warmer weather though. It is supposed to be near 70 tomorrow. Nice walking weather.

Let's try and remember our astronauts' families in prayer this weekend and our president. He was so sweet in his message from the White House. He sure has had a lot on his plate to deal with in his administration.

Gotta run. I want to get a couple more things done today to prepare for church tomorrow.

Love to you all, Donna

[Maggie]

DONNA ok girl ~ you will see a light at the end of the tunnel one day and be able to get off that fence. If you want to believe the weather man I do think he said we were actually hotter then where your sis is. I agree with what you said about George W. etc.

Got my sauce in serving size packets into the freezer for a later day.

[Jean]

Good Afternoon, Flowers!
I put a roast in the crock pot this morning and figured, according to the directions, it should cook about 8 hours so we could eat around 5:30. We got home from the shower at 4 and it was done! So much for following the directions and now I know why I always like to cook a roast on the stove! The flavor is not the same for some reason. Oh well, Beth and Bob thought it was good so that is what counts.

I feel like I haven't gotten anything done today. Spent the morning getting ready for the shower and picking up around the house. You would think with two people, things would stay in their assigned places. The laundry is waiting and I am heading that direction next.

Donna -- The "Mike" pjs do sound fun! Ian got so many "newborn" sized clothes that some he only wore once. I bought all 3 month and up sizes because I figured with his parents both being 6', he would be long too! They have such cute boy things now. I hope you are feeling better as the day goes along.

Maggie -- We haven't heard anything from the bat since the first night. I'm hoping he found a new home! It's hard to believe that part of the US is having 90 degree days while we have been so cold. It was 55 today and sure felt like spring. We didn't even wear coats to the shower. Most of the snow is gone again but the confused weatherman says we are to get a measurable amount tomorrow starting around noon. We shall see.

I wonder if they will ever figure out what happened to the space shuttle. Hard to believe that they could be in space for so long and then have this happen so close to being back home again.

Have a relaxing evening and a super Sunday, Flowers!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[nanacas]

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

We had a surprise this AM upon waking. I heard what I thought was a car with a problem on the next street over. Looked out the back window of our room and it was the plow doing our driveway. It had snowed overnight and we didn't expect it. We have a contract to have the drive plowed as it is a very long double wide drive. This man is so good that he also shovels the front walk and stairs and will come back later today and redo anything that was snowed in if the snowfall warrents. Good man.

We had the "Flurries" on Fri. nite and it didn't snow but we had a light mist which did not stop the neighbors at all. About 34 people managed to come and we had a delightful time. I was very careful not to over indulge either with the appetiizers of the desserts and managed to have a very small taste of all the Entrees. Only dessert I had was a Trifle and it was made with lite cool whip so it wasn't all that bad.

Very sad about the astronauts and the whole NASA program and keeping them in our prayers. George W. has had a lot to deal with during his administration and we will also pray for him.

JEAN: I haven't used my crock pot on a regular basis for your very reason. It is hard to know when things will be ready. Also since it is just the two of us I very seldom cook in quantity. With 6' foot parents Ian will be growing in leaps and bounds...soon he will be in 1 yr size. Our 1yr old, Catalina, is going to be petite and at 1 yr is in 1 yr sizes. Glad that bat is gone. We had one flying around the living room one year and after he was 'gone' we have never seen another. That's the way I like it.

DONNA: Those "Mike" PJ's are a hoot. I love to find something that the grandkids are fond of and give them gifts with those themes. They appreciate the gift all the more. Hope your aches and pains will be soon gone. I was one of the more fortunate of women as I got through the change with hardly any problems. Now it is all a distant memory.

Maggie: That's such a good idea to make a batch and freeze for later. You are one smart lady. No wonder you are losing so consistantly.

Gloria in MA......enjoying the snow from the inside. Have a good Sunday, all

[Jean]

Good Afternoon, Flowers!
Beth helped me to figure out how to scan pictures and we could get them to my email but couldn't get them to post on the web. Any ideas why?

It is VERY windy here today; cloudy and gloomy. We were supposed to get rain changing to snow starting around noon but so far nothing. The weather map shows the snow in MN but not even close to the border so maybe it will blow on by.

I am NOT looking forward to the coming week. It is Winterfest Week which is a week of silly fun (costume themes) and games similar to Homecoming in the fall. We have assemblies and class competitions each day and on Thursday is our BIG Diversity Day celebration. We have speakers come in and the various ethnic groups prepare food for the students to buy. There are games and dancing by the different cultures; you name it, we've got it. We have over 600 students of our own and this year invited another 300 neighboring high school students to join us as well as an open invitation to the general public. There are various "classes" the students register for and we have to take roll and monitor behavior while the speakers speak. To add insult to injury midterm deficiencies are due by Friday at 3:30 -- wonder how much "they" think the kids are going to accomplish academically this week. It will be interesting because the parking lot is not big enough to handle our own student body . . . wonder where the rest will park? We are right across the street from the fire station and police station so people are pretty careful to park legally.

Gloria -- I'm glad you enjoyed your evening with the Flurries! That sounds like so much fun! I watch the weather map to see what kind of weather the eastern part of the US is having -- our winter has been especially mild and we need rain badly. I agree about the space shuttle -- I wonder if they will ever figure out what really happened. To be so close to home but yet so far is sad.

My dryer is buzzing so I had better go fold some clothes.

Have a great week, Flowers!

Jean -- from Iowa!

[Maggie]

GOOD AFTERNOON MAGNOLIAS

Another lovely warm sunny day here on the coast. Didn't get too hot today ~ mid 80's and supposed to be in the 70's tomorrow. I can live with that! I just had the best throw together salad. Used leftover spaghetti (sans sauce)which I had sprayed with butter flavor Pam before putting it in a zip lock into the fridge yesterday and sprinkled it with fresh ground parmesan reggino cheese and a tad of garlic powder. Today I tossed it with a can of drained water pack white chunk tuna and sprinkled a smidgen of Olive Garden salad dressing on it and it was totally delicious. I will do it again on purpose. I love it when a throw together comes together and works. Things of this sort help my program.

GLORIA your get together sounds like a good event with your good planning for your food intake. You had your FOUCUS with you handy sounds like. You go girl for that is how it is done.

JEAN once again poor planning at school prevails. Sure puts you teachers on the line when different schedules have to be met during such a hub-bub. Handy for you being across from the cop shop.

Everyone have a wonderful Sunday evening.

[jackslady]

Good Morning everyone!

Just a few moments to post. Today is scrapbooking with daughter so I have to get all my program stuff done early and for once the temp is nice and balmy so want to get out there and exercise before we bottom out!

It is amazing how good you can feel taking off some pounds! I sent a friend my one month pic and she was astounded. I told her it really had not been a struggle for me and that I really felt good and I do except for aches and pains from getting older.

Well gotta go. Will try and post more later.
Donna