Jessica~the school district that DD attends has banned soft drink and candy machines and is supposedly offering healthier meals (but DD usually takes a salad or goes out to lunch). For several years they banned homebaked items (like if you were celebrating your kid's birthday, you had to buy store bought cupcakes rather than bake them yourself). I didn't really understand that one. But the district that DS attends has no such policies. (My kids attend two different districts because we moved and I allowed DD to stay at her old school.)

Oh, and we taped American Idol (2 hours with commercials vs 1 hr 15 minutes without commercials!!). We'll probably watch it tonight.

Jessica, I watched AI last night and tonite. I saw the obese girl and the mom. It was very sad. I was a little surprised AI didn't go ahead and put her through just for the publicity of it. KWIM. Like tonite, they put the girl through that had been in a really bad car wreck and had her face messed up. I sure didn't think she could sing and she got put through.

Hello--

Thought I'd show a photo of me in Maui at a luau before I chickened out. Was having a problem with my contacts so I wore my glasses, which always look tilted--wonder if that means my nose is off center or something? :dizzy: Anyway, I'm feeling kind of fat lately after excessive vacation eating so it's nice to be able to go back to my before face photo and see that, yes, I really have lost weight.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thursday!

Hi everybody. Waaaay too much to catch up on. Whoa.

But I've got to comment on Sheila's fabulous pics. Sheila you look so amazing!!! No need to feel fat - at all. You look super!

I just wanted to wish you all a great next 7 days. I'm headed out in about an hour or so. Be well everyone. "Talk" to you all when I get back from my vacation. Bye for now. :wave:

Sheila, amazing photos! :faint: Tell me your secret for losing years as well as weight!! You look fabulous and like you were having a blast. :carrot:

(it must have been a good trip since it looks like you managed to get lei'ed :lol:)

Would you think about posting your pictures in the Goal Photo Album forum?

Hello there! It's hard to catch up as well since, but that won't prevent me from hoping you all have a great day. (Mine will be filled with administrative stuff, a trip to the library to borrow books about Margaret Thatcher, and much studies-related stuff, because I still have too much to prepare for the second semester. I guess biking everywhere will be my exercise of the day, huh.)

Good morning!

GUESS WHAT, YA'LL! :D I got offered the job with the fire department AND I am scheduled for an interview for a different job that pays even better! If I get either job, my money problems will be completely gone. :D I feel so blessed to have something good actually happening to me. I know that sounds silly, but I'm pretty pessimistic and despite giving my all, I still expect the worst. I'm floored!

American Idol... I rarely ever watch that show. I watched the first season and enjoyed it, but it kind of lost its appeal after that, since I don't particularily care for cookie-cutter pop singers. But speaking of Idol, they came to DC a few years ago. I auditioned for that show as a joke (I was basically really bad and acted like a total nut job but I made people laugh when I didn't scare them ;)) and got on TV. I was hoping it would get me a gig with something like SNL or MadTV, but I had no such luck. Now, I am starting on filming a witty Jackass-type project... a little myspace/youtube type series with people pulling halfway intelligent pranks.

Sheila - yes you look amazing... and like a completely different person! I would never have recognized the "old" you. And you KNOW 92 pounds is an AMAZING accomplishment. :)

Yesterday it poured rain, blew a gale, and was generally icky. I got in my Stage 1B NRWL workout (and learned how to deadlift!), and 20 min. on the elliptical, and left the gym b/c there were no cardio machines available...the combination of January starters and snowbirds has made the gym much busier lately! My only off plan (but in control) eating was a packet of hot chocolate. I feel better this morning so I'm going to try and get a good run in this afternoon.

Shane, you are one of those people who have the crazy auditions! Aha! I caught the last few minutes of AI. To continue the conversation from the other day (I thought about this and meant to post, but by "thinking" I somehow figured I had magically telepathically sent the message to you already), I was going to say that these new jobs you're interviewing for would be a good step towards going on your auditions and all, since they pay more and you said you don't have the money right now. Once you have the job, you can figure out how much you need to earn/save to do what you really want, and in the meantime you can continue to work on the physique you're concerned about (for whatever reason, crazy woman :dizzy:). Perhaps a plan of action will make you feel better about the situation. Congrats on the job offer!!! :carrot:

Kery, biking everywhere definitely counts as your exercise! I need to ride my bike more often!

Robin, have a wonderful trip!

Allison, home baked was banned but not store bought? Huh? Did the local bakery pay the school to do that or something? Weird.

Jessica, I was watching Sara Snow's show on FitTV and she did a piece on Alice Waters. Sara Snow also went to another public school that taught elementary kids about organic farming, then to city homes that had transformed their entire small backyards into organic gardens or chicken coops. It was really interesting! I wish I were more settled so that I could expand my garden, and ever since I read Animal Vegetable Miracle, I've wanted a chicken coop! Or at least I wish I lived closer to a good farmer's market where I could buy fresher, more local foods.

Lily, sounds like you are doing awesome at the gym! :dancer:

Sheila, your before and after pictures are amazing. You look fantastic! Bravo on all of your hard work! And also you look like you're having a great time on your vacation.

"First" McDonalds in your town...hehe...my town doesn't HAVE a McDonalds. My county doesn't have one! I think that's the best measure of how rural an area of the USA I live in.

Have a wonderful Thursday everyone! :)

Sheila~beautiful photo! And crooked glasses either mean the glasses themselves are crooked or your ears aren't necessarily even. A good optician can fix it for you.

I've watched AI every season except the first. I think that the majority of the people they show at the beginning are the "weird" ones. Yeah, they do highlight some of the better ones, but I think they are just going for the entertainment factor in showing some of the people who only audition to get on TV.

Shane~congrats on the job!! Wouldn't it be great to have to choose between two great paying jobs?

Gotta run. Everyone have a great day.

Morning everyone!

Sheila, you certainly have lost weight! You look incredibly cute!

Shane, congrats on the job offer! Yay you. You deserve to have good things happen.

Megan, I had no idea that there were still counties in the US that didn't have McDs! I live in a pretty rural, remote area and we have 2 of the things (plus an array of other fast food chains). Actually, before I moved here, I had no idea that there were towns in the US that didn't have Indian restaurants. I was completely and totally shocked about that one. :o

I watched one or two seasons of American Idol but I don't love it. All those terrible songs! VH1 had an "America's Top Model" marathon new year's week and we DVRed a few seasons and have been watching those all month. The first 3 seasons were strangely good.

I'm still sick; actually I think I'm sicker. I was so stressed about that lecture yesterday and so focused on preparing for it that I think I staved off the worst of my cold for a few days. It hit full force again last night and I feel a bit butt-like. Ugh. I had to skip last night's cardio, but I think I'll go and lift weights this morning. I'm still feeling my tris from Tuesday's pushups!

Hi everyone,

Just popping in to say CONGRATULATIONS to shane about the job offer ! You ROCK !

Rabbit

Gah! Gah! The food-pusher roommate/co-worker who constantly vocalizes her disapproval of my lifestyle/inability to understand how I "eat food like that" all the time just felt the need to create commentary about my food journal consisting of the following: "Don't you get tired of writing it all down? I don't think I could do that! I think I would just say to myself 'that's too much work'."

me: "Well...I know that if I don't, I gain back weight. I've tried it."

her: "Do you plan to do that for the rest of your life?"

me: "I plan to do it for now."

her: "I just don't think I could do that!"

me (getting annoyed/frustrated): "well it doesn't matter to me what other people do. I'm doing it for me."

Why does it matter? I don't mind talking about my weight loss, eating habits, workout habits, etc. to people who are genuinely interested, but I don't wantt to talk about it to someone who is just being critical constantly! She is always getting sharp with other people when she thinks they are judging her - she always says "don't judge! don't judge!" Yet she 'judges' my food choices constantly. Next time she decides to judge me, I'm going to quote her directly and say "don't judge! don't judge!"


Oops, was that a rant? Um...thanks for listening. I think I've had quite a few about her since this person came into my life 8 months ago.

Sheila, great picture! My glasses are crooked because they're stretched out on one side. You can see it in the picture I posted of me and my husband around Christmas. I'll post it again so you can see, and also so you can tell me if you think I was already "glowing" then. I was already pregnant and didn't know it that day!

I'm glowing today because of the following two words: Snow Day!! Yep, I'm off today -- woohoo! Of course, I do have 90 essays and 40 quizzes to grade, among other things.

I love American Idol even though I know it's stupid. I don't like pop music very much either, but I certainly don't watch it for the music! Eek! Even in the later stages when people have a bit of talent, they usually sing horrible songs.

Hope everyone's day is good, and I hope I get another snow day tomorrow so I'll have a 5-day weekend (with MLK day)!

Shane, congratulations on the job offer!!

Shane, :congrat:! It's so well-deserved! Now, young lady, how are we going to get you to believe in yourself as much as we all believe in you? Could it be that you're not seeing what a remarkable, articulate, poised, and very special person you are? Hmm? :hug:

Rant on, Megan! You're a far more patient and tolerant person than I am!

It's a snowy day here too, but I have a 45 minute drive to the kitty cardiologist this afternoon so am hoping the roads don't get too bad. The last thing I need is to be stuck in traffic with an unhappy cat for several hours.

Lisa, lucky you! I'd love a snow day. We never get them around here. It never snows enough and everyone lives either on or very near to campus so they wouldn't close the place anyway.

Megan, you do in fact have the patience of a saint. I'd have told her to stop being a judgmental b*tch and to mind her own business long ago. Why do you live with this person?!