Cheryl,
 

I think you and I must have been posting at the same time. Your cat sounds beautiful and precious. Animals love you unconditionally. I have a cousin who has 3 cats. Two of them are brother and sister. She had gotten both, intending to give one to her parents, but she didn't have the heart to break them apart. So, she ended up buying another kitty for her parents instead.
Take care.

Hi,
 

We are digging out from 20" of snow that fell Sat. DH was out plowing all day just coming in for quick meals. I'm ready to pack my bags and move south.:D We tried to let Lacee out at 7:00 am Sat. morning, but couldn't get the storm door open because of the snow piled in front of it. If we get anymore major snow storms I don't know where we'll put it.

ledom, judi, & cheryl, hope you guys had a better Sat. than we did.

Take care and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

OMG Alice,
 

I've been watching that storm on TV. It must feel like old times, like before global warming. Is it cozy in your house? Keep us posted. This would be a good time for big pot of soup I bet.

I am BACCCKKKK!!!!!
 

Hi Ledom, Alice and 4Myself!! SOOO HAPPY you have joined us!!

I couldn't post, there was chaos at my DH's work so I couldn't go in.

Sounds like you all had a nice Christmas. My dear Auntie gave me a strand of real salt water pearls...she was going to "will " them to me but then thought she would give them to me. I was so overwhelmed, other than a few rings they are my first piece of really GOOD jewellery. I have lots of funky stuff but this is the first thing that could actually be appraised!! I wore them Christmas Eve. We stayed in Vancouver on Christmas Eve and then on Christmas Day we took off in the RV. We went to San Fran. for a couple of days, opened our presents Christmas night.

We have very mild weather on the island, so I will be able to drive still...no sign of snow. How are you managing in the snow Alice?

Your cat sounds wonderful 4myself! Estaban who was the smallest thing when we found him (about a couple of months ago) is like a full size cat now and he isn't even 1/2 year old. We knew he would be big because of his monster feet and long tail.

You have been in the darkroom Ledom, good for you! I took along my good camera but didn't feel inspired at all. How was your week off? Are you back at school now? What are you developing pictures of???

Glad you like your new exercise thingy Alice. I have to get on the treadmill.

I didn't lose anything over the holidays, just stayed the same. I am glad to be focusing on our under 200 goal this year. I really want to do it. I am sure if we can get there we would be so encouraged to go the rest of the way.

Have a good MONDAY! Hey and HAPPY NEW YEAR:hat:

WELCOME BACK JUDI!!!!!
 

Hey judi, it's good to have you back. :balloons: Your pearls sound lovely, and how nice of your aunt to give them to you as a Christmas gift. Now you will have many more years to enjoy them. Did you have a nice Christmas on the road? Many years ago DH & I left for FL Christmas Day and we had the road practically to ourselves. Did Marley & Estaban go with you on this trip? That's wonderful that you stayed the same over the holidays :cp: I plan on attending WW tomorrow morning to get back my motivation. Actually, I am really looking forward to going.

ledom, global warming? What global warming?:lol: It's a little cozy in the house. This is the type of weather that I wish we had a fireplace. The way our house is layed out one isn't possible. As a matter of fact I make this really good vegetable soup, which for me, is 0 points. DH & I have been eating that and it really tastes good.:T I will be making a new batch later on this morning.

Hi Cheryl, hope you had a good weekend.

I did my workout yesterday on the Gazelle. I had skipped a day because I was so sore from my 20 min. workout, especially in the front of my thighs and lower back. Yesterday's workout I only did 10 min. even though I was still feeling the effects of the previous workout. After the 10 min. the soreness was all gone. I was totally amazed. So, I will take TL's advice and start with 10 min. every other day and work my way up to 30 min. every other day.

Have a great day everyone.

Good morning,
 

Welcome home judi! What a wonderful Christmas gift! And, good for you for not gaining over the holiday - that's great.

Cheryl, did you find the BFL book? What do you think about it? There is a "sticky" on the BFL thread that has a lot of the basics listed as well.

judi, I'm still off this week. I go back next Mon. I am still working on photos from the kayak. I think that is probably my life subject. So far it has proved to hold my interest, I am trying to go to some of the same place in different weather, light, and seasonal conditions.

Yesterday was a big exercise day. I hike in the morning w/ gf's, then I walked w/ D in the neighborhood and then in the afternoon another friend called and I went kayaking. I loved it! D has been dragging me out for hikes everyday in addition to my regualr workouts because she is trying to shed her christmas pounds. I don't think it will hurt me.

Alice, I am so happy you can still get out and about. If we had 20" or more of snow, the entire city would shut down. Nothing would meet, we probably wouldn't have electricity. You'd get a kick out of what a small amount of snow it takes to get us all in a fuss. Anyway, have fun at your meeting tomorrow.

Monday
 

Hello all! Hope that the week-end was great for the three of you!

Alice--- 20 INCHES OF SNOW?!?!?!?!?! Wow! We're lucky if we even get 2-3 that actually stick for more than an afternoon! Not that I think we'd be able to cope with any more than that. Ledom is right--we're just not equipped for it!

Ledom--- Yes, I found the BFL book. The library at Augusta had a copy of it, so on my lunch break I drove over and checked it out. (Had to get a new library card to do it--I have four of them now, not counting my student i.d.'s from school. It seems to be growing into a collection :) ) I read the book over the week-end, though not as in-depth as I would have liked. I think that it is definately do-able, and I plan to start in ernest next week. I went to GNC yesterday and bought flax seed oil and l-glutamine, but I need to grocery shop before I start so I can eat right. The biggest challenge, I think, I going to be the gym-time I'll have to put in. There is actually an athletic club here in the building where I work, but the hours are terrible. They open at 7 a.m. on M, W, & F and at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. I have to be at work at 8 a.m. and my afternoons are SOOOO full. I will have to figure out a way to make time to go down there right when I get off every other day. I took my measurements this morning :moo:, they shouldn't change that much between now and next Monday, but I'll probably do it again anyway.

Judi--- Ahhh, pearls. I am longing for a nice long strand of pearls. No one, that I know of, in my family has any. I guess I'll be the one to introduce them. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have a set to pass down to one of my nieces..... Good to hear from you, thanks for the welcome to the thread!!

Cheryl

A nice sunny day...
 

I went to my WW meeting earlier this morning. I really did better than I expected. I only gained about 1 1/2 lb. during the holidays. Quite a few of us were in the same boat, so I didn't feel all that bad about it.

ledom, how is the BFL challenge coming along so far? That's wonderful you can still go kayaking. I would have to put a sail on it to skim across the ice:lol: I bet your photos from your kayaking trips are awesome. Are you planning on doing another show this year?

Cheryl, good luck to you on your BFL challenge. I know you will do well. The piles of snow at the ends of streets are so high that it's extremely difficult to see around, so you have to inch your way out onto the main road. The town has to come by and wing it back.

judi, Are you back to counting your points? I needed that WW meeting to get me motivated again. Now, I'm raring to go:strong:

Have a great day everyone.

Alice,
 

I am glad you have sunshine today. We are supposed to have a springlike day tomorrow w/ highs around 66! Enjoy it while it lasts because the next day it is supposed to get cold again.

Good for you and your WW visit. Glad to hear you are fired up again.

Today is the end of week one for me. I have done it by the book, but I have to admit it has been a bit of a struggle on some days. Just getting back in the groove with the food mostly. But like I said, the structure is there for me and I have been able to maintain the diet. I too am still shedding those christmas lbs. but I think by the weekend I'll be back to where I was.

Cheryl, planning is a big part of BFL. If you have a place to workout that is great. Good luck making it work for you. I have a gym (weight bench and weights) set up in my basement and I do my cardio by walk/jogging in my neighborhood. It has worked out really well for me. Lots of folks swear by the public gym dynamic however.

judi, are you getting settled in?

Beatrice got a good grooming this past week. She is the kitty that actually likes water and baths. She sat like a little princess in a classic pose while she got her lavender bath. She is so soft and silky now and has a red bow on. So cute! She has also gotten much more affectionate of late. RM was an attention hog so I guess there is a little more love to go around to the less agressive these days. We sure miss our boy though.

WED.
 

Good morning all!

We are experiencing such beautiful spring like weather. It is wonderful.

Ledom, that is so cute about Bea liking a bath. Unusual for a cat. Estaban travels so well in the RV he sits in his bed on the dash and watches the road. Cats are fascinating...I am enjoying this cat so much. Mr. Marley has his big Lhasa coat on and looks like such a fine beast. It is a lot of work grooming wise though.

Good for you being back at WW Alice. I wish my friend would get here with my new diary. Any new food pts? I am counting points, for me it is the best thing.

I am getting all the Christmas things put away and sort of doing spring cleaning stuff. My cleaning lady is out of commission for awhile due to an injury so I have to get someone to fill in for her. I just CAN'T go back to doing my own house...I have two stacking tables loaded with books that I want to read.

Well, yesterday my D (who you all know has been slightly rebellious lately though I don't know if you really can call a 24 year old rebellious since she is legally an adult...but still it is my only kid) phoned me yesterday and told me she is back at university and wants to become a Catholic. Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather...she hasn't spoken to me for a month. So next Tuesday I am going with her to Catholic classes. Needless to say I am thrilled!!! My DH is also becoming a Catholic. Phew, it never rains but it pours. It was nice to be back at my mass yesterday. Though it was fun to go to the diff. churches in Oregon and Ca. and see the Christmas creches and decorations and all.

It must be wonderful to have a photographic subject that keeps yielding such inspiration, Ledom. I wish something could catch my imagination photographically again. It is like exercise once you stop it is hard to get going again. My darkroom/studio is now being slowly transformed into a holding area for stuff I don't know what to do with. I still have my mom's lifetime of photographs to put in albums too. My mom had a zillion cameras and photgraphed every moment in her life. Which does make for a marvelous record.

4Myself, are you doing the same diet that Ledom is on? What do you like to do for exercise?

Alice, Bentley isn't growing larger anymore (he is about 1 1/2 years now) just getting fatter. Is that normal for a Boston? I am thinking if I do get another dog I might get a Boston instead of a Frenchie...I just love those little mugs, I think I would like a girl too. How is Miz Lacee? I want to hold off on getting another dog though for Marley's sake for a bit. He still isn't thrilled about sharing attention with the cat.

Good afternoon,
 

We had about 1" of snow this morning before it cleared up. The sun is out now. We're supposed to get another 3"-4" by tomorrow noon. Will it ever end??? I envy you all your springlike temps.

judi, that's wonderful your DH & D want to become Catholics. How long are the classes? That's nice that they want to join the church, especially since in our area there has been so much scandal concerning certain priests and coverups. I'm sick about the whole thing.
Lacee has put on a lb. or two herself, as our other Boston's except for 1, did. I think it's lack of exercise especially this time of year. I've had to cut back on her food a little. Lacee is doing great. She's all curled up behind me in the chair, so that I'm teetering on the edge. Oh, well, just as long as one of us is comfortable:s: I'm glad to see that Estaban travels well. How do Estaban & Marley get along in close quarters? We haven't been told of any new point values. I did pick up a newer copy of the Food Companion book though, which says it has updated and newer point values.

ledom, that's great you have finished week 1 of the challenge. It must've been tough getting back doing everything, but you did it and that's the main thing. Those holiday lbs. will be off in no time. What did you eat for your free day? Are you at the point where you don't stray very far from your OP days?

Cheryl, how is the BFL coming along? Have you had 2 good days?

Enjoy the rest of the day.

Good morning girls,
 

How are you all doing?

Yesterday was so pretty that I did get out in my boat. Yeah, my photography subject is satisfying and it gives me the excuse to do something I love. I do hope to have another show this year Alice. I am working on finding that venue now.

I am working on another interesting photography project as well. A wealth woman in the community where I teach left her negatives and a $50,000 endowment to preserve her work. That job ended up in my lap and so a student and I have been working to put a show of her work together. That show will open with a special president's reception for the VIP's of the community on the 28th of this month. I woke up this morning dreaming about all the details that need to be taken care of. Ahhhh, work looms.

My diet is going fine. My D has taken up cooking the last couple of weeks. I am trying to get her to coordinate her efforts w/ my free day this week.

judi, so glad you heard from your D. I hope your family finds joy in going through this upcoming process together. I know you must be happy about it.

How is it going Cheryl?

Have a good day everyone.

mornin' all!
 

I love Lacee stories Alice. I am glad she is doing great! Bostons are such fine little beasts!!!

re:scandal - a few sinners caught all the press. The Catholic churches we have attended in the US (in San. Fran., Ashland, Roseburg, Eugene and Tehachapi) are all really vital. The priests that I have met are dedicated and good men. I noticed even here in Canada (because I didn't go to mass for count em'...2 and 1/2 decades!!!) mass attendance on a reg. day is like mass attendance used to be on Sunday and mass attendance on Sunday is like it used to be on Christmas in my girlhood. No matter what the media says it is my experience that the church is in good shape...what is that old saying?? "The Catholic Church burys all its undertakers!"

I have been ok on the diet because I think the extra protein really helps a lot. I also stopped noshing this and that in between meals. That 6 meal thing on Prevention never worked for me because I could never just eat 250 calories...it was like I was having six reg. meals. Now I have 3 meals and fruit or yogurt in between if I am hungry.

I get the WW magazine. I like it. I think it is worth getting. Do you get it?

My DH is going back to Ca. for a couple of weeks and is taking Estaban. DH has turned into a kook and his cat. Marley and I will be at home to do whatever:smug:

How is the week going Ledom?

Goodmorning 4myself and kitty!

posting at the same time...
 

Ledom, I just read your post. That is pretty exciting that the school will get that endowment. Do you and the students have to print the negatives? There is something to be said for wealth, eh?

I think it is great your D cooks. My D can clean but not cook. When she was growing up my kitchen was a "one woman" kitchen. Her BF cooks VERY well because both of his parents cook. His parents go to Europe on "eating" holidays a couple of times a year. I have been struggling with this diet for so long an eating holiday for me would be all the Kashi, nuts, cheese and wine I want while sitting on my couch. Actually I haven't had one of those binges for a long while. I KNOW why I am not losing faster BECAUSE I don't exercise:p :( !

Hello ladies,

Sorry for the long lapse between posts!
I haven't actually started the Body for Life program yet, I plan to do that next Monday. I'm one of those folks who likes to have EVERYthing together before I undertake any project! (Plus, I have to wait until payday to join the gym, buy healthy food, etc. :) ) For the last few days, I have been getting up early (for me) and doing aerobics and just trying to eat more sensibly. I took my measurements Monday and was just absolutely.... blown away at how big I have gotten. I knew that my gut had gotten larger since I quit Weight Watchers, but I'm still in the same jean size, so I didn't really put that much thought into it. My waist was around 42 inches, and my GUT is almost 45!!!!!!!!!! Three inches of nothing but FAT. UGH!! I am so ready to make that go away!

Ledom, I have a question for you, which I may post on the BfL thread as well: Are there any leg exercises, besides squats and lunges, that I can do without a work-out bench? Just in case I can't afford to join the gym next week (insurance is due this month :) ).

Moving on to a diff. subject (my favorite one--besides food, of course), Y'all have been discussing the size of your pets. I have decided that when I start my diet, Baby is going on one as well. I weighed her last night and she weighs 11 pounds. You can look at her, though and just TELL that she's too fat! I guess it's true that pets reflect their owners! The reason she's gotten so big is because a lot of times I go home over the week-end and I'll fill her food bowl so she'll have enough to last a day-and-a-half to two days. I don't really know how to solve that, but I'll have to figure out a way!

Alice and Judi--I really miss Weight Watchers at times. I miss the feeling of accountability that the meeting gave me. I've been going to a local TOPS meeting, but it's just not the same. There's no structure, everyone follows their own plan. I've gained and lost the same the same 7 pounds consistantly over the past 5 months :).

Talk to you all later!!

Cheryl