Just blew up the big ball. Am supposed to wait until tomorrow and then blow it up all the way.

Was worried that Mudpie might take an interest and "play" with it. No worries - she was cowering under DH's drums (did I mention he has 3 sets) and looking at the ever expanding ball with terror in her little eyes. I suspect Mishka (who is the hunter) might be the one making the big ball kill if DH forgets and leaves the gate open.

Just going to roll around on it for awhile, relaxing . Maybe it's going to be really good for naps?

Dagmar (it's a big ball)

No worries Susan...actually this was 4 years ago, he lived in PA and when he had a heart problem they realized he couldnt live on his own, he had advancing dementia, diabetes and multiple meds that he couldnt manage. We moved him out to a facility in Oregon, even though I hadn't seen him in 6 years, he wanted to be near my dd who was just a newborn. He had lung cancer that couldnt be addressed because of his heart meds....which couldnt be changed because the alternatives screwed with his diabetes meds...endless loop. He was only here 6 months before he passed. We werent close, but it kicked my *** as to what lifestyle diseases will do to you and here I am.

Everyone gets to whine about their job sometimes! And here goes mine...why wont that kid NAP already

Dagmar - I love the big ball...so good!

I was planning to start my new workout routine in the second week of April. Now I am doing extra cat sits and a sleep-over that week. time!

My new trainer lives next door to the sleep-over. Maybe the dogs and I can go to her house and play? (my favorite smilie ever)

Started this post with something completely different to say - SusanB are you sending those narcotics thru the web site?

Ah yes. I ate under 1200 calories yesterday in the belief that I could undo Tuesday's little anxiety whoopsie. My butt was dragging so badly this morning, on the first walk with only one well-behaved dog, that I felt I had to drop in at home and eat something to keep going.

Hard boiled egg and a diet Pepsi (yeah, yeah I know I have to quit that quaff sometime soon) did the trick.

Or was it all psychological? Will have to repeat the experiment without the 2 million calorie day.

I am sooo and I still have to swap all of the stuff from Bambi (DH's car and a manly one it is) into my little Raakii (pronounced Rocky). He has new tires, new brakes, coin box so no more hole in the dash, and I love him so. Will spend any extra pennies this weekend getting him cleaned.

Did I mention dogs are gross? Kinda like men . . .

Dagmar but

Aww, Susan, you remembered ...He's finishing his second year... but won't finish for another 2.5 years because he failed a class first semester and has to stay for an extra semester... He is soooooo dreaming in colour though, I can't wait for someone or real life to put him in his place, nothing I say helps... He'll learn in time ....

From what SusanB says he'll probably learn the first week on the job

Dagmar

Probably, Dagmar, probably ....

Dang it! I've got the stability ball, I've just figured out the first appointments with my trainer, and I ate like a again last night . We don't have anything damaging in the way of snacks so I improvised with a jar of brown sugar, low cal margarine and leftover burger buns .

And I know why, deep down in that little dark twisted place , I'm doing this! And it makes absolutely no sense except it follows in my pattern of failure.

I keep telling myself (not in my brain but somewhere from within my belly I think) that it's not April yet so I still have a couple of days to be "bad" .

STOP IT DAGMAR!!! THIS IS TOO STUPID!!

Everyone, please . Don't console me or tell me it's ok. KICK MY BUTT!! I know better!!!

This concludes my rant and whining for today. Thanks for listening.

Dagmar

Good morning, girls. I've been sparse this week due to yet another chaotic week full of long days. I have been thinking a lot about either a total career switch or just finding some way(s) to find sanity and balance in my life while still being a good (or preferably great) high school English teacher. It is simply not possible to do all the things that we need to do to be good teachers (creative lesson planning, teaching writing, GRADING writing, having some level of involvement with extracurriculars, etc. etc.) with the unreasonably demanding schedules we have at our school. One thing I have seriously considered is looking into teaching P.E. -- why didn't I think of that 15 years ago?? I LOVE teaching English, but it is 10x more demanding than what many of the other teachers do at our school (most other disciplines for example only give multiple choice type assignments and evaluations - NO grading!), yet we all yet paid the SAME. English teachers don't even get an extra planning period! So, I'm burned out, at the end of my roap, and am realizing that continuing to do what I'm doing may indeed be shortening my life. I know that sounds bleak, but it can be that grueling. Ok, rant over...I feel better getting that all out!

I walked 3 days this week so far and have been doing pushups and chair dips at home.

Dagmar - I've been so excited to read about your personal trainer. It's inspiring me to consider doing the same this summer. I was always envious hearing about Barb's workouts, but the gym I go to is swarming with students and parents, and I just couldn't see myself doing the trainer work outs there. But, why couldn't I get a BIG BALL :-) a few bands and hire a trainer to come here? It may be just what I need! Can't wait to hear about your first session!

Everyone else -- good morning and TGIF!!!! Here's to a weekend that is more relaxing than my week has been (for all)

Wow. ROPE. Not sure what a ROAP is

It's being too busy and having a chaotic week and not being able to think straight Claire. And no one can proof their own work. I did have a little, ironic chuckle though, when I saw that you were an English teacher.

Dagmar

Oh my goodness ... an English teacher? How on Earth do you stand reading on the internet? I don't remember much grammer, punctuation etc and it bothers me some days to read 'net-speak. We'll do our best for you Claire

A PE teacher? I think it would be very rewarding to be 'in on' forming healthier, more active young lives.

If you've been at this for a while (like me) ... do you find yourself drawn back to certain guidelines? No matter what I think looks good, would like to try, might work .... I find myself drawn back to BFL or BFFM sort of eating. I never got right into the exercise part although I have, for a while, done both cardio and weights.
I was gathering up recipes and ideas to head toward a more vegetarian, light, superfoods type arrangement. I'm going to Stratford today to shop around, get outta town. But my list is whittling down to what I remember works and is doable.
So, I'm either an old stick in the mud -or- my baser instincts know what I should do.
I think it's Ilene who Fat Smashes occassionally, right? How about the rest of you?

Might I add that it is a lovely day and if I'd kept my wits about me all winter, I coulda worn lean jeans, hiiigghh heels and a short coat ... coulda ... Oh my back probably would have complained anyway

Susan...I drift back to the core South Beach when I need to regroup...

I didnt run this morning ugh.

Dagmar - I am the same way...I am a self sabotager from the word go. I will eat stuff that doesnt even taste good, just to eat. It took all my will power yesterday not to eat cereal. Cereal is a major problem for me. I will open up the box and eat 5 or 6 bowls. Its the one trigger food I just cant get out of my house because of family.

I did go ahead and have a bowl of my flax cereal for breakfast...hopefully that will go ok.

Dagmar join us here Weekends are Hard!... to make a staying OP pact for the weekend... I am determined that if I stay OP for ONE freakin' weekend I will be able to continue on to the second week and ANOTHER weekend of staying OP....

Ennay, sorry to hear you didn't get to run, because I had an awesome run this morning... I ran to and from the gym, at the gym I had a great back and bi workout great way to start the weekend ...

Yep, Susan, I am back to basics today too... My back to basic plans are BFL and Fat Flush....

The reason I am sooo determined is that yesterday I tried on a pair of capris that fit last year and yesterday I could barely get them over my knees OMFG I flipped... THEN I measured my hips OMFG I did a double flip ... NUF of these EXCUSES, I'm and having a ..... It's funny but it's NOT....

Claire, just read your post, you're an English teacher... OMG how can you stand reading our stuff ... I'm a part time school secretary so I do know that some teachers give themselves 200% and others barely 50%, it's just not fair... I also have a g/f who teaches intermediate (7&8's) and she says the grading is ....

Claire - my son's 4th grade teacher made the move to PE this year. She has 2 years left until retirement and decided this would be a nice step in that direction. She loves it! No grading papers, lesson plans, and conferences. However, as a mom, we need all the great teachers we can what with all the outside influences. IMO you are in a most noble position. Thank you.