I'm for Happy keeping her snow but I'll take any cookies - getting colder here now but no snow yet - flurries expected today but then rain. I send out 70 some cards and they are done and will go into mail tomorrow. Been decorating since Friday (at my snail's pace) - aim to get done except for tree by today. Tree later in week. Maybe 80% done on gifts, half wrapped. Lots to go of course.

Stomach thing improving (I took a 7day vacation from one drug before endoscopy and then 9 days off another right afterwards which I think gave some healing a chance. But then joints started swelling so back on I went). Dr. is doing some studies again (he always is) and I have chance to go on another new one. Haven't read the literature yet and am somewhat reluctant because we have enough dr's appts, etc. However, the ones I've done in the past have always seemed helpful to me. (One was on Celebrex for a couple of years before it came on the market - hope they don't find too much wrong with it - but eventually the effect wore off). Interesting thing he said is they like volunteers like me who "aren't too complicated" - I thought I was terribly complicated but he says I should see some of the patients! Says so far some patients have had pretty good results and no bad side effects so far. So very tired allthe time almost anything should help, even if it's only being able to go off some things I'm on now.

I'm glad I don't have to shop for as many people as you do, Meme. I used to but not for a long time now. As usual, my big problem is finding something for DH. For his birthday I gave him his own remote for the tv. He was using an old one with lots of flaws while I had the new one by me. I'm such a big spender ($10) but it turns out to be one gift he really took to. My DD's b.d. is the 16th too. I need one gift yet for her. Whether it turns out to be a b.d.gift or a Christms gift all depends on what I find as I always end up switching them back and forth as I buy things.

Two and a half weeks to go - and parties coming up. Yikes!

Went to Son's kids Christmas program at their school tonight ... it was cute. Sure were a lot of people there! We got there 30 minutes early to get close seats and boy were the seats HARD! Church pews. They go to a private school in a Lutheran church. (But they aren't Lutheran) Their mother teaches there. Pretty church ... just added on to it ... but uncomfortable pews. Kaylyn had a speaking part with all her six missing teeth and Garrett played a tambourine.

It rained all morning and I hurt sooooo bad. We went to Shoney's to eat tonight and it felt like the air conditioning was on in there ... I was so cold by the time we left I was aching all over. I'd told hubby on the way to the play I'd rather have stayed home on my nice, comfortable couch with my feet up and my quilt over me and vegetated. But ... I kept seeing those little faces searching the crowd for their grandparents. The things we do for family!

I'm still taking Methotrexate. 8 a week. I used to take the gold shots until they stopped making it. They really helped. My ribs even hurt ... IN THE BACK EVEN! It hurts to sit in a hard chair and even in my van. I'm going to bed ... even if I can't sleep at least I can lay there in my soft water bed and be warm.

Hi everyone!!! Finally got our phone and got online and company left yesterday. Good trip down but we had to stop a lot-it's harder to travel with 4 people. But we had a good time. The camper is very crowded with 4 people-they had to pull out the couch and put the air mattres on every night-but they never compained. I saw that cute little Evan!!!!He is now studying me intensely.and I think he lokes me. But I am not babysitting. My back is killing me-gotta do things to make it heal. We went on a boat ride to the Everglades-the beach-the flea market-went to see the Red Sox trophy!!!Now we are busy getting things done like Brad fixing the broken toilet-at least you can still use it. Now we are on a search to buy a manufactured home. NEED MORE ROOM!!! Well, Candice, I wasn't sure what would happen with your Mom!!!!That's a good place for her-good care. It doesn't feel like Christmas here!!! That's a big adjustment!!!Can't decorate very much. Bye for now. Mima

Baked some tonight but hurting pretty bad, not sure I can do much more. Gotta get some rest and maybe take a break from baking and wrapping, my right arm is killing me form the shoulder down and in the ribs. Meme, I can't sit on hard chairs at all gotta be a lot of cushion! I have such a skiny little butt!

Glad you made it Mima. Envy you the warmth.

Candice... I know what you mean. I didn't used to have that problem until I lost all that weight. Hubby put his hand on my leg last night and called me "skinny legs." I frowned at him and said my legs aren't skinny ... he just laughed at me ... he said yes, they are, too. I'm not used to it, still. It sure makes a difference in sitting and in the cold, too ... I used to get cold (low blood) but now I just freeze!

Mima- So you made it down.. It has really been warm today but I hear we are going to get cool this weekend..Take care and I hope you find what you want in a larger place..
Meme- I am waiting for someone to call me skinny legs!!!My legs and butt are still too big..
Hello Everybody...Joanne

In my whole life-even at 90 pounds-I never had skinny legs-Thanks tyo my French grandmother. We found a gorgeous home in our price range and a gorgeous place to live but they were not in the same place!!!!Going back today to see if there is anything on sale-Went to a happy hour here-people are very nice but they are very nice everywhere. Put up a teensy tree outside-now to get my manger from under the bed. Still tired but sleeping well-waking up early.Hi to all. Mima

Hi all. Just wanted to say hello and that I'm still around. Just very busy. I'll be gone thill Sunday evening with friends. Have a great weekend!!

Still raining here ... cats and dogs. UGH! I'll be so glad when it stops. It thundered several times today ... in December! It's supposed to snow some tomorrow night.

We went out with friends for Mexican tonight and then we all went to the movies to see Christmas with the Kranks. Good, funny movie.

Gotta get my tree up tomorrow and, hopefully, finish most of my shopping. Have to go to dinner at hubby's aunt and uncle's tomorrow night. His uncle, bless his heart, has Alzheimer's and he asks me the same questions over and over. I had them over for dinner Thanksgiving and he sat by me. The stuffed eggs were on a tiered plate and he was trying to help me put them all on the bottom plate, then he picked them up and passed them to me to pass around. They came back to him and he sat them down and I noticed he just sat there and looked at them for a long time and then he looked up and said, " have the deviled eggs been passed around yet." I know that's kind of sad but it was soooo funny. I really DREAD tomorrow night!!!!!!!

Hope you all have a GREAT weekend ... I know I'm going to!!!

WEll...I have my thrid batch of chex mix in and got several batches of cookies made, some good some not so good..I did real well on the eating the first night and then I kept dropping some and had to eat them cause I will not throw anything out! did get on the tredmill tonight since DH ws gone to a friends house for a Christmas get together, they used to live her but moved to a big new fancy house south of here. He is my husbands cousin and the buick dealer and they are loaded and she knows how to spend! We used to be close but she got fed up with my not feeling well alot and she also got goofy in the head on pain pills for her mastectomy. I got tired of a one sided friendship..just no fun but she used to give nice gifts

My niece said mom got really ugly tonight and embarrased her.....getting back to her usually alzheimers self. That is so not my mom, she would never hurt anyone! Meme..mom used to sit and stare at the food on the table and ask if she had to eat all of it, cause she didn't think she could! When I told my doc I couldn't tolorate the cold since my weight loss he told that would not make me sensitive to the cold...he thinks he knows everything....I do not like him at all! I'm gald you are experienceing what I am with weightloss and Fibro...now do you have any more wrinkles cause I do!!!!!!!!!!!

Mima..good luck on finding a house you like.

Joanne, I have not butt..but I have a gut!!!!!!!!!!!

HI Tammy and Happy and Ally.......

Good morning!!!We are going back to look at the park model in another park-that's the ONLY problem with it -it's beautiful! Move in condition. I pray we are not impulsive. If we don't buy this, I would like to wait til after Christmas. The kids are comng in 9 days. We don't know where we are going to put them-actually one is the problem-we ahve space for 2. Brad already talked to the guy next door about taking Brett fishing. And Brad and the boys are going to the Everglades. We will ahve fun. Went Christmas shopping and bought NOTHING. Now Bobby wants a satellite radio and Suzanne wants money!!Brad's dad had Alzeimers and it broke his heart because he didn't know him anymore. Hi Tammy-have fun. I put up a teensy tree with my manger scene and antique church. On top of our refrigerator outside-how redneck is that!!!Oh well-Michael has a tree. One of the people in the other circle has a tree with blue lights and BEER cans hanging and strung up. I'm glad we are not across the street from him. We\are going to a cxHristmas program tomorrow night at Brad's church. Suppossed to be awesome-I bought 5 tickets. Mima

Hello Everybody... I still have a few things to buy for Christmas.. I have been to Tops Christmas party and it was nice. I just ordered the worst steak I have ever had. I can't believe I ate it.. But that is my problem with food. I will eat when I shouldn't.
I have been on the treadmil a lot lately. I am trying to get through the Holidays without a gain... My hubby was looking for chips the other day. I told him we don't have any and probably won't.He needs to lose a few too.I will probably find some in my cart when I go shopping..
Eleni(my sister) goes monday for the testing for her defib/pasemaker. Hopefully she will come home with it.. Otherwise she will have to wait till Jan. when the insurance rules change..
Have a good weekend...Joanne

Chips ... YUM ... eating some right now ... Ruffles reduced fat ... the best kind because not so greasy. I went to the dinner tonight. Hubby's uncle wasn't too bad. He asked several questions several times but was tolerable. We just answered him. Dinner was good ... and looooong.

Got my tree up but didn't have time to get my train and village put under it. Oh well, maybe next week. Have to get it up before the kids come. Going to friends for another dinner tomorrow. He called today and said he was going to grill my favorite for me ... pork chops! I'm going to get fat ... hubby's aunt had pumpkin dump cake and choc. pie tonight and I had BOTH!!! And that was after eating ham, 2 kinds of potatoes, stuffing, stuffed pears, corn and a roll. And this morning, hubby went down to the country station near here and brought me back a homemade porkloin biscuit for breakfast. I think they are all conspiring to get me to gain weight!!!

Yes, I get colder now that I've lost weight and yes, you have a dumb doctor! But, no, I don't have any more wrinkles anywhere except in my butt. Sorry!

I get colder since I've lost weight too. Someone's doctor needs a kick in the pants.

All the talk about food is making me hungry.
Just got back from a trip with 2 friends to a little town in Indiana. There are about 75 little shops in the town. We stay at a bed and breakfast. This is our 5th year going there. We have so much fun. We already have our reservations made for next year!!

Put the manger under the tree today (put tree up yesterday) and redid the greenery around the lights by the front door. So decorating is officially done! Well have to clean up the basement w/the boxes and all but tomorrow's another day. Cards are done and we finished up shopping yesterday. A very productive weekend. So I have two weeks to think of something for dh, finish my wrapping and baking. Candice, I finally baked some cookies this afternoon and hope to do another batch or two at most. And nut roll one more time if I get around to it - really probably have enough in the freezer to gift with but I never like to run short on it.

Dinner dance on Friday, ate two much and food wasn't even that great. Two parties this coming Sunday. Babysitting on Friday night so DD can go out for her birthday. Then we'll go back down on Christms Eve for a day or two. I'm really enjoying Christms this year. Last year I had walking pneumonia and was getting ready to leave for FL, the year before dh was so sick. So I'm enjoying it all this year. Hurting of course, fatigued as usual, stomach doing better.

Really cold here tonight and expected to be more wintry this coming week. Lunching w/friends Tuesday and Wednesday. I can't even pretend I'm going to be good.