Shane-sorry for the crappy bosses but so glad to see you back. I was wondering if we'd ticked you off.

Barbara-I loved the lite chevre too.

Baffled-Hang in there.

Everyone else:goodvibes

Today is my ds's 7th birthday. I've got little first grade boys coming after school. My plan was for them to play outside but its gotten cold and sleeted so I think I better bomb (er boy) proof the house. I'm working on my mantra-~no cake ~no cake~no cake

Next week is my kids' spring break. Hopefully we'll have time to do something fun. Florida for 9 was not in the budget this year. I'm thinking science museum, bowling, swimming. Keep them tired. A week of xbox and texting friends is out.

Hi everyone,

I am royally upset today. Remember I have 2 roommates in a 3 br/2 ba house that we rent. One of them has 4 friends visiting from college for a long weekend. They went to the bar last night and got extremely drunk (actually, they were drunk before they went to the bar), came home at midnight with some strangers they met at the bar and proceeded to yell across the house for 2 hours, bang around in the kitchen, and our walls are very thin. The other roommate came home from her second job, and invited a bunch of her coworkers over and they were also yelling. I asked them calmly if they could please keep it down but I was so upset I was shaking and didn't get to sleep until 3 AM, and had to get up at 6:30 for work. I just couldn't believe how inconsiderate they could be. I would never make that kind of noise on a work night when I knew people were trying to sleep. Even though it's the weekend so it's not as big a deal, I'm spending the rest of the weekend at my BF's.

I'm starting to keep an eye out for a single apt. in the town. It is a very expensive place, so it will be really hard to find something I can afford and like. But I just can't put up with loud, inconsiderate roommates any more! I'm tired of living like I'm in a frat house all the time.

Thanks for listening to me vent. Since I work with them I can't complain to my co-workers!

Joy, happy bday to your son! Enjoy the party.

Michele, I live on a tight budget so I only shop when stores are having big sales, or at outlets (Banana Republic & Anne Taylor outlets have some very nice things), or at discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, TJMax. There are great deals to be had!

Shane, hi! I can't believe how unfair they were to you. Geez, especially after you went through all those stressful medical tests to qualify for the job! It continually makes me upset how judgemental and prejudice people can be. I hope that your job situation is looking up soon. Good for you for maintaining your loss through all that stress. We are all here to support each other, don't worry about "bringing us down" when things aren't going well!

I'm taking some university researchers out today so I've got to get moving. It is supposed to be sunny and calm. I hope the nice weather lifts my mood.

Megan, that's absolutely outrageous! How incredibly thoughtless of your roommates. :frypan: It would be well worth the money to have your own place and a little piece and quiet. Good luck on finding something that's reasonably priced ASAP!

Happy Friday, Everyone!
What a beautiful day! It's really Spring here with everything blooming. My poor hubby has hay fever now, though. Anyway, I fed my birdie friends, planned my menu, will exercise after I post this and am looking forward to a great weekend. We're going out to dinner tonite. Great chance for me to dress up. Here's wishing everyone a great weekend!
Hugs, Dena

Megan~I hope you're able to find a single at a good cost. I don't think I could tolerate roommates after college. During college it was fine as we were on the same wavelength but once you hit the working world, it all changes.

Shane~so sorry to hear about the problems on the job front. Yes, I was one of those that wondered where you'd run off to. Hoping it gets better for you.

Lisa~a houseful of 7 year old boys! And a newborn! You've got courage!!! Have a fun time.

Dena~my DH is suffering from hay fever, too. Just a little rain here in the desert and everything blooms in the spring! It smells beautiful and looks even better, but for the sufferers it is agony.

Michelle~a second vote for Ann Taylor. I shop there a lot, although I have to admit I like Talbots a lot, too (a lot of people think they're for the more "mature" woman--IDK). Chico's is good, too. I like Ann Taylor because they're more modern--they have a lot of pants with the lower waist. Talbots all have high waists which for some reason aren't comfortable to me any more. I prefer something under my belly button rather than riding on it. Chico's has a mix of both. Now if only Nordstrom would get their act together and get a store here! They finally committed, said they'd open in 2009, and now they're postponing until 2011! It's been 18 years since I've lived near a Nordstrom. So very sad.

I'm having problems. I don't really know why it's happening. I'm eating on plan, I'm exercising. Yet I keep gaining. Yes, DH and I did go out for an unplanned dinner Wednesday night--we had a political fund raiser to attend (cocktails and hors d'oeuvres--of which I got ONE itty bitty pizza). It was still early so we went to Tommy Bahama's. Crab cakes over a kind of soy-sauced slaw for an appetizer and I had shrimp and scallops (4 each) on a rice pilaf. I really didn't think that was too much over the top. Anyway, I'm kind of down because of the gain. I look back to where I was 1.5 years ago and I don't like the thought of all that work it will take to get back there. On the other hand, I sure don't want to be where I was 3 years ago (and it would take over 25 pounds of gaining to get back there). Oh, thought--TOM. Yes, that's it--I always gain a couple pounds the week before. Why didn't I think of that? Must really buckle down this weekend and then next week it will all disappear. Must have confidence!!!

Shane - Welcome back! :fr: That is ridiculous what they did to you. :hug: I hope you find a new job soon!

Megan - I'm like Allison, as soon as I was out of college I decided I'd never live with a roommate again. I moved in with my BF (now DH) but he's never really counted as a "roommate." ;) He is soooooo much easier to live with than any roommate I've ever had.

Hi to everyone else! No loss for me this week. Not sure if it's from eating too much or from having my exercise cut down to the recumbent bike. I'm guessing it's the bike though since I don't feel like I get a really good workout on it (I can't up the resistance too much because I might hurt my knees again). Maybe I'll start looking for an indoor pool. It would kind of suck though since I'm already paid up for this whole year of gym membership.

DH and I are off to St Louis tonight! We're going down for the weekend to check out the botanical garden and the AKC museum of the dog, plus seeing the arch and other St Louis activities. It's like a mini-vacation since we have so little vacation time. No idea what my eating will be like. I brought snacks for the drive (it's about 4 hours) but I know we will be stopping for dinner somewhere and then eating out the rest of the weekend. My goal is to make good choices at all the places we go. Luckily nowadays McDonald's has salads so if we stop at a truck stop for dinner I can at least get that.

Good... afternoon! I spent five hours last night working on a web site for a client and will probably spend at least five more today on the same site... woohoo! A couple days ago, I went out drinking with my old friend. It was All You Can Drink Night, so I drank my weight in beer and paid for it yesterday. I felt too crappy to work out... well... that was my excuse. ;) I don't do very well with geting drunk anymore - I used to have a great tolerance and never got hangovers while previously thin (nor did it bother me in any other way outside of feeling a little crappy from dehydration), but after I got fat then lost weight, I turned into a cheap drunk. Has this happened to anyone else?

Allison - It's great that you don't wear high-waisted pants - people of my generation call those "Mom pants" and we stay far away! I bet you shave a few years off by not wearing them (not to mention you really do look a lot younger anyway :p). You're right; they're also uncomfortable. There's just something wrong with pants where you feel like if they were to go any higher, they'd swallow your ribcage. *Ends "Mom pants" rant*
Here's a big :hug: for your weight gain... like everyone else here will say, I know you can get rid of the weight again! I'm sure it's extremely frustrating. Weight is SO unpredictable. Whoever said you need to eat 3,500 extra calories to gain a pound just might be full of crap! ;)

Megan - EUGH, what lovely roommates you have! :mad: That's absolutely despicable and it sounds like they are quite inconsiderate. All but one of my personal roommate situations have ended up being negative experiences. I know how hard it is these days to find an affordable place - it's one of the reasons why I am probably going to renew my lease despite the fact the landlord is going to add a hefty $80 more a month to my rent :eek: Most other places will charge around what she is going to charge, PLUS the moving expenses which, in many cases, means first, last, deposit, and moving costs.

joyofsix - No, NO! 3FC could NEVER tick me off; I LOVE this place ;) I just didn't want to tick everyone else off with my (what would be) continuous ranting. Heh heh. :)

baffled - congrats for quitting smoking! I am SO proud of you! :D

BlueToBlue - What an idiot he was to ask you to LOSE the tattoo! Doesn't he know that tattoo removal is an expensive and painful process? Plus, you had the tattoo before he entered your life, it means something to you, and there is no reason to get rid of it just for a JOB! My bosses kept insisting for me to lose the piercings. The problem is that with facial piercings (unlike ear ones, which you can just take out as long as you have had them for awhile), if you don't use 'em, you lose 'em. If I keep my plastic retainers out for even a few hours, the holes will close back up and potentially get infected when I try to put them in. Besides, we paid for our tattoos and piercings and we're not going to let that money go to waste just for some tight wad butthead who is intimidated by anything or anyone different! :mad: I'm glad most people are accepting of your tattoo. A lot of people here are complimentary of my piercings (and my style that goes along with it, too), though most in authoritative positions are less than thrilled and think I'm going to be an uneducated delinquent all because I look a little "alternative."

Elisa - hey! Nope, I don't think we've been e-introduced, though I used to post a lot in this forum. I'm Aidyn. Nice to e-meet you! :)

Traveling Michele - you could always get a tattoo on one of your shoulder blades, or between your shoulder blades, or somewhere in the middle of your back, or your lower back (though I know some just dismiss this as a "tramp stamp"), or on one of your arms... the possibilities are endless and don't have to involve your hips to still be in a sexy spot if you don't feel comfortable having it there. Good luck on finding something meaningful to you! :)

Shane - I have a ridiculous question that I'm hoping you can answer since you have piercings. I have always wondered two things: do you have to stick your fingers up your nose to insert/remove a nose piercing? Also, what do you do with nose piercings if you have a cold? Personally I only have one piercing in my ears, but I know a lot of people with more (my sister's girlfriend has a nose piercing) and I was always afraid to ask.

Michelle: I've lived here for 14 years and still haven't gone outlet shopping (when I went with my sister, it was in IL, where she lives). But I know there are outlets in Vacaville and Gilroy and they do have an Ann Taylor (I googled them). Where did you live before CA?

alinnell: I love Talbots! :love: I know it is supposed to be a Grandma store and it is true that they do have some stuff that it a little old for me, but I've gotten some very stylish stuff there too. They are great for business suits--stylish but not trendy and the suits fit really well. I also got a pair of khakis there once that I loved. They were so hip no one believed me that they from Talbots.

I'm sure the weight gain is just TOM. If you are eating on plan, you are bound to start seeing a loss. Sometimes it just takes a couple of weeks to kick in. Whenever I've gained and am trying to lose again, I always get panicked that I'm somehow not going to be able to do it (I think that somehow my metabolism has gotten screwed up and I won't be able to lose the weight :crazy:), but I always find that if I just stick with it, it eventually comes off.

Megan: It's tough living with roommates. I only had one roommate after I got out of college and even so I was relieved to finally get my own place. I know everyone says it's different when your in love, but, I swear, I have trouble living with my SO. His stuff is everywhere and... well, it's a long list of complaints.

Shane: I know! "Lose the tattoo": how ridiculous! People will say anything on an anonymous evaluation form; I've actually gotten far more hurtful comments (e.g., comments about my hair or appearance). I've learned that I just have to let it go. Your situation would be a lot more frustrating. I do think people are more threatened by facial piercings than by the tattoo on my wrist, so you probably do encounter more resistance than I do. It's too bad that their short-comings end up impacting you (unlike the evaluations forms that I get that I can just ignore). Hopefully you will find a good fit job-wise with people that are more open-minded.

paperclippy: maybe try your local park districts, high schools, or community colleges for pools. Sometimes they offer lap swim hours and don't charge that much. I belong to a gym but I swim at a local park district pool once a week. They charge $3.50. If I swam there every day, it would be expensive, but just going once a week it's fine. There's a local high school that opens their pool for lap swim during the summer and they only charge $2. So if you look around, you might find something that isn't too expensive. I found both pools by googling "swimming pools" and the name of my town.

joyofsix: Sigh. I suppose I'll get over losing my beloved chevre lite eventually. But it hasn't been a good month in terms of my favorite foods. Penny's low fat muffins has also discontinued my favorite muffin flavors. Honestly, I wish these food manufacturers understood that once they get me hooked on a product, they have an obligation to keep producing it! :trantrum:

Hey ya'll......I'm still trying to figure out the posting here. Is there an easy way to reply the way you do with each person's name, etc.?

Barbara-- we lived in South Africa before moving to CA. We lived there for 2.5 years in Johannesburg, and we've been in CA for almost 2.5 years. Before that, we lived in Houston forever and ever. We are going to go to San Leandro-- they do have an Ann Taylor there.

I tried Chicos yesterday for the first time. I was hilarious trying to figure out the sizing. I kept trying on different pairs of pants trying to figure out my size. I tried on everything from a 0 to a 2 and decided I was a 0, but that I didn't like the pants that much for $80!

alinnell-- definitely sounds like TOM to me! I've been very good this week and have fluctuated 4 pounds and have no idea why so I'm trying not to dwell on it. I have my weigh in tomorrow so I'll hit the gym hard today and hope for the best.

Megan-- I hope you can find something you can afford for yourself. I can't imagine living with roommates again. When I did in college, I was so amazingly annoyed by their habits. I never did live with anyone after college except dh and even his habits annoy me!

We've had a good morning so far. I took my dd for her driving test and she finally passed after a couple of times not passing. I was so nervous for her and of course, she was too! We knew she was a good driver but when you get nervous it is so easy to have silly mistakes.

Now off to shop with my girls. Later we will hit the gym and see the Other Boleyn Girl tonight. My dh has been out of the country (Belgium) all week and he returns late tomorrow night.

Michele

This made me laugh! My Dad wears his pants up WAY TOO HIGH--you know, like up under the armpit! It seems like something old guys do, but he's worn his pants like this his whole life!

Thanks for the kind words about the roommates everyone. I really tried to question myself about whether I was being too sensitive before I asked them to quiet down. Nice to know I'm not totally crazy.

I just had a really nice sampling trip on the boat. The sun was shining, and it was beautiful out. My work day is just about over and I'm going to go home, pack my bags, and run away to BF's house. He is so sweet, he brought me flowers last night, so I'm bringing them too so I can enjoy them. :p And then I'm going to take a nap.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Jessica - :lol: nice question! ;) The answer is no, unless you are wearing a piercing with two pieces and an inner screw. I think piercings with the L screw are easiest - you stick the first part in your nose, then turn it to fit the rest. You remove it in a similar fashion. If you have a cold, you can just leave the nose piercing in. A runny nose will most likely not affect it either way, though as a precaution, it might be a good idea to clean the piercing a little more if you're snotting everywhere :p Do you want any facial piercings? :D

Barbera - I think you might be right in that people are more threatened by facial piercings than they are to a wrist tattoo, though I am not sure why. What's so threatening about facial piercings, anyway? I'm actually a very nice person. I'm extremely polite and I smile all the time, so it always baffles me to find out that some people think I'm intimidating before they get to know me :eek:

Megan - I'm glad you had a good sampling trip and that you got flowers. You deserve that after having to deal with your crappy roommate situation! :mad: :)

Allison, where in the desert do you live? I live in the desert, too... Las Vegas area. I think I'm the only one here who doesn't drink and go to buffets. :lol:
Otherwise, it's a fun place. I used to live in So CA, but we couldn't afford a decent house. We have a really nice one here.
Hugs, Dena

That would never, ever happen to me. Does that make me a bad person?

Thanks Shane. It's been a real b*tch and I gained nearly 10 lb (in 5 weeks!!!) but I'm getting it all back together again, slowly but surely. :)

You've lost a bunch more pounds! Are there pictures??!

I had a nose ring for about a million years. Actually, it was more like 13 years. I got it at 18 and took it out last year when I was 31. I liked it. But no, you insert and remove the thing from the outside. The only thing is that most of the nose rings have a curled rather than straight post, and if you aren't careful, the post will drop down into the lower part of your nostril and be visible to all. I would touch the inside of the tip of my nose on a regular basis to reassure myself that the post wasn't showing. But that didn't require sticking fingers up there. :) When you have a cold, you leave it be. It hurts to put it back in if you leave it out for more than a few hours.

I've been wanting to get a tattoo for years. I want one in what I call the 'girl spot'--on my lower back. That way I figure that it is up to me whether or not people see it. And my students would never know it was there. It's just a matter, for me, of settling on the right tattoo.

I am tired and discombobulated this evening. Bf has plans in which I am not included (which almost NEVER happens), so I am going to spend the night relaxing alone and will probably go to bed early. There is always tomorrow.

(And seriously. What is it about quitting smoking that makes it seem as though all the sunshine has been sucked out of the universe??!?!?!?)