Maintainers Weekly Chat Aug 2-8
 

Where are our early risers today? I don't think I've ever logged in and had to start the thread before! :lol: Back with a longer post later...

Monday already?
 

hmmmm . . .

I know one early riser who flat out forgot to start the thread, LOL.

My brain this morning was busy trying to figure out what to bring to work for my lunch since I also didn't make anything yesterday as is my want.

Finally found some (rather old) leftover kale with onions in the fridge - still smells good - so that's lunch. Along with my regular Man Salad.

Kinda an NSV that I consider a wad of kale to be a plausible lunch. Wonder if I should find the application blank to apply to be a vegetarian, LOL.

LOL Bill, I don't know if I'd consider just plain kale a lunch, but I have had chard with some beans in it for lunch before!

My triathlon yesterday was GREAT! :D Full race report on the triathlon chat thread here. I met all my goals on this one and did this race a full half hour faster than last year. Too bad I can't improve by that much every year going forward, I'd be winning the race in two more years. ;) But it was a really big improvement and I'm really happy with the results. I'll post the photos later.

Working from home today so that I could sleep in after having to get up so early for the tri yesterday. Of course Carter got confused and tried to wake us up at 5am today. Yesterday we got up at 5 and he was super sleepy, then today he's whining at the side of the bed. I was like, Carter, just because we got up at 5 yesterday doesn't mean we want to today! Luckily he went back to sleep after we petted him some. So far this morning he's been doing his usual routine of alternating sleeping in the library and in the sunny spot by the back door.

Just catching up on the weekend notes...

On the Sushi front, I'm also a novice, but had my GF who is an expert "teach" me the ways. I do like some sushi but others not so much. Eel is really good, but I don't like tuna too much. And California rolls are just boring. I absolutely LOVE a bowl of steamed edamame to start with, though! I've been known to have that for breakfast. I don't know if that's a good thing or not.

DD was home from school this weekend and we hoped to bring our kitty home, but it was not to be. My friend decided it would be best to keep them another week, take them to the vet for their first shots and let the vet determine if they're okay to be separated from the mom. I think she's most worried about the fact that all the kittens sleep in a big pile together and she doesn't think they'd like to be separated. They've been eating dry food for over 2 weeks and the mom is barely feeding them any more. We'll see, but I'm sure it'll be next weekend.

Megan~I sure hope that they've got enough oil cleaned up that it doesn't affect your area, but now they're concerned that too much dispersant was used. How would that affect what you do?

Ok, gotta run and get my hair done before I leave for work. I may check in later.

Jessica:carrot::carrot: Woot! Way to go - great race.

Way to go Jessica!

Allison - sorry you couldn't get the kitty home this weekend.

Bill - kale with onions sounds yummy to me. Don't know if I want to apply to be a vegetarian yet, though.

This weekend was a food trainwreck for me. Wowza. I ate pizza on Saturday, then had an evening snack that I totally didn't have the calories for, then ate everything I got my hands on all day yesterday. I don't have any idea why. I had a nice healthy salad for lunch, vindaloo chicken for dinner, also a healthy entree. Topped the two healthy meals off with candy, pringles and junk. Ick. Headachey now, figure it is from the sugar. Eating yogurt for breakfast now, will see if that helps.

Good day everyone!

Good morning all!
 

I completely forgot about starting the thread as I'm still on holiday. I was awake but distracted.

The cats got me up at 5 again (they really like this purring beside my head routine) and they will be sorry little monkeys tomorrow as DH is back and they are banned from the bedroom again.

I've been having a pretty good weekend re food and the weigh-in reflects this. No gain over a 4-day holiday - that's excellent for me.

I did succumb to having a beer and some popcorn last night while watching a movie. We can buy single beers here now and that's what I did. I tend to buy a premium brand since I'm only having one. That makes the splurge worth it.

I washed the windows on the eastern half of the house this morning (got too hot to finish) and they look darn good. Must do that more often.

This afternoon I'm going to treat myself to a walk down at the waterfront without any dogs. Depending on how far I walk I will then consider having an ice cream treat after dinner.

Great Monday all! It is Monday, right? Not used to this life of leisure but I'd love to have more of it.

Dagmar :beach:

Hi all, quick post from our trip. So far, diet has been a train wreck as Shannon put it. It is not difficult to see why I was fat. My family revolves around food. I don't think I can add so high as to the number of calories. If there is a place to add fat, voila there's a quarter cup of butter. You should have seen the toast yesterday - at least 1 T of butter on an unsuspecting slice of rye toast. I tried to scrape some off but it was melting in. I leave my parents' house on Wednesday and DH's family isn't so food insane.

On the exercise front - all is excellent. DH and I biked a very hilly 21 miles yesterday and a flatter 22 miles today. We took some pics with my iphone today so I will post them and put a link up later.

Megan, I'm glad the oil hasn't hit you yet.

Sushi, yuck. I couldn't do that one.

Dagmar, a walk without dogs??!?!?! What's the point of walking if it is without canine companions?
Marie

PS It is humid in Minnesota but my parents are freezing me. The set the AC at 75 and it is SO cold. I go outside onto the deck to warm up and they don't like that because I'm anitsocial and it's too hot out there. I lose either way. If I am ever dumb enough to visit in the summer again, I will bring a parka and long johns. :rofl:

Here are some of today's bike ride. The pics were taken along the West Bank of the Mississippi in Minneapolis. The first is of me...

http://www.mariesdogs.com/images/100802-Marie.jpg

The 2nd is of some of the steel remains from the 35W Bridge Collapse that happened on Aug 1, 2009. Scary how twisted the metal is.
http://www.mariesdogs.com/images/100802-35W.jpg
The 3rd is overlooking the St Anthony Falls and Locks on the Mississippi.
http://www.mariesdogs.com/images/100...thonyFalls.jpg
The last I thought was appropriate for here. DH and I were touring the area on bikes. Here's the lazy way to do it... one Segways.
http://www.mariesdogs.com/images/100802-LazyOnes.jpg
I'll probably post more on upcoming rides...
Marie

Bill, I grew kale for the first time this year, and it's great stuff. Don't know, however, if I'd call an old wad of kale a lunch, but hope it was good.

Jessica, awesome!! That must be so satisfying to have met your goals.

Allison, sorry you didn't get your kitten yet. They'd probably sleep in a pile for as long as they are together. Did your friend ever say why she let her cat have kittens? I wish I could survey everyone because I'd like to know how to help people make sure that their cat is fixed. My friend who works at the shelter thinks it's because people don't care enough about cats--they're second-class citizens of the pet world.

Shannon, hope you're feeling better. Saturday I didn't sleep very well because of what I ate. *Sigh*

Excellent job, Dagmar! Have fun on your walk.

Marie, you didn't tell us that you're related to Paula Deen! :lol: on the Segways. Definitely looks humid there with that cloud cover. Good for you for going on such long bike rides. Great way to see the area.

My DH's birthday was on Saturday, and I ate cake. Not gluten-free cake either. My goal this week is to eat as well as I can while going out to lunch once and dinner twice and to go to the gym four times. Already got gym workout number 1 out of the way, and I did very well at lunch. My son wants to make monthly lunch dates with me--I was very touched. He's a great kid (okay, he's almost 40, but he's still MY kid).

Sheila, it's my friend's daughter's cat and the daughter didn't think it'd get pregnant so young. She was not even a year old. And she hadn't gotten around to spaying her. And she got out of her apartment. Apparently the person next door has several cats, and well, you know.

My friend IS going to have the cat spayed for her daughter. She's had numerous animals over the years and has always spayed or neutered, but she didn't have a lot of say over this one as it lived away from her. She was really quite nervous about the whole thing as she'd never had any of her animals give birth (and she'll never do it again! LOL).

I don't know about cats being second class citizens, but I know there are a lot more feral cats here than most people think and unless they're caught and fixed they just add to the kitten population in most shelters.

Thanks for finding out! That's a good piece of information to know because I'm betting if one person doesn't realize a cat can get pregnant so young, there are other people who don't know that, too. I'm really into trying to educate people so making sure people with kittens know when they should get them spayed/neutered (4 months is optimal; it can be done at 2 lbs., which is about 8-9 weeks) would be good to add to the education arsenal.

Howdy!

Sheila - the shelter here (which has just become a "no kill" shelter, yay!) won't let you take home an unneutered animal. You pay for it, they take it to the vet and you pick it up from there. They used to reimburse you for the cost, but too many people were "forgetting" to have it done. When we got our last kitty, my older cat was freaked that (a) there was another cat in her house, and (b) it smelled like the vet! But, she got over it.... :lol:

TOok DH to the airport this monring. He's gone to Glacier Bay for a week with some friends of ours who live aboard their boat in the summer. I was invited, but their permit dates overlapped the only week this summer I had other plans. Darn. I'm leaving next Monday for a road trip with 3 GFs (and we had to pay for the hotel/event reservations awhile ago). DH comes home on Tues, so at least we removed the house/pet sitting necessity.

Had a very exciting shopping trip after he left. I mean, a whole afternoon in the city...... :) Got some secondhand books, some yarn, new "wipe your feet" rugs for by the door, new sheets, a new memory foam contoured pillow (1/2 price at Kohls), and - drum roll - a new iPad! I've been wanting one, and making pro/con lists for it vs. a kindle and a new MP3, but this will also replace lugging my laptop when I travel (it's about 5 yrs old and quite heavy). It's still charging so I can't play yet.... I have played with a friend's several times, and bombarded the sales guy at the Mac store for quite some time today, so I'm pretty happy with my decision. (DH will gripe more about the flowered sheets - just wait! :lol: )

Good Morning!
 

My computer is running at a snail's pace this morning so I'll post in a more lengthy fashion tonite.

I'm really missing the dogs - 4 days without seeing them. I LOVE my job! Watched "Dirty Jobs" (Mike Rowe is a hottie!) last night. It was about a guy who has to trap and remove wildlife, which includes crawling around in enclosed spaces and removing dead, rotting skunks, possum cadavers, etc. Eeew!!!

I LOVE my job!

Great Tuesday all!

Dagmar :sunny:

Well, my "old wad of kale" for lunch was terrific.

You know, those studies that say we're influenced by those around us might just be right. I've watched the vegetarian of Middle Eastern birth who uses the same microwave as I do at work heat up a wee small dish of some veggie thing for his lunch every day. He maintains an admirable male build - without ever discussing it or diet with me. Just his veggie dish day, after day, after day.

It's contagious. Begins to make me believe that a small lunch might suffice.

Dagmar - it gladdens my heart to hear you say "I LOVE my job!" People tend to look at me strange when I say that -like it's a crime to be paid and have a good time both.

MMMM! I love kale! I'm planning to grow some this fall. Now, old kale? Not so sure...

Jessica, congrats on the tri! Boy, did you smash your times from last year. :broc:

Pat, soooo jealous of the iPad! I just saw one "in person" for the first time last week and I am itching for one. Kind of the perfect compromise between a bulky laptop (lol -- when did laptops become bulky?) and too-small-for-some-stuff smartphone.

Marie, 20+ mile bike rides sound like the perfect way to counter the stress of staying with family. :) I might have to bring a bike to my in-laws next week...

I'm still losing a bit of weight -- down to 120.6 for the past two days. I don't want to go below 120, as it is none of my old clothes fit, and I think that would just be too low. Who would have thought it would be so hard to eat more?!?!?

I guess I should get over my fear of kale. I can't say I've ever tasted it, and I can say that I really don't know how to prepare it. Thank goodness for the internet! I can google some recipes.

I'm taking my car into the dealership this morning as it is on some sort of recall. As I understand, all they need to do is reprogram something in the computer, so I'm taking my kindle and will wait for it there. Of course, I may have to do some "window shopping!"

My weight is just flustering me. Last week I thought I was finally on a losing streak but this morning proved otherwise.

The kittens are getting their shots Saturday, so I hope we'll be bringing Ringo home on Sunday.

Marie, great photos!

Bill, lunch is usually one of my smaller meals of the day. I usually have a relatively small breakfast and lunch, a few small snacks in the afternoon, and then a big dinner. Dinner is usually twice as many calories as lunch for me. It seems to work out pretty well -- I feel gross if I eat too much more in the middle of the day.

Our shelter here also requires the pets to be neutered before they go home. Same deal, you pay, they take the pet to the vet to be neutered, then when it's done you can pick them up. Obviously if the pet is already neutered (like Carter was, and often the case with adult animals) you can skip this step, but they do not let intact animals go home.

Speaking of no-kill shelters, there was a kerfluffle a while back about that here in Indy. The Indianapolis Humane Society didn't want to euthanize any more dogs, so they made a deal with the Animal Control where basically all of the adoptable dogs get sent to the Humane Society, and the dogs that are harder to adopt stay at Animal Control. That way all the euthanizing happens at Animal Control and the Humane Society can say they either don't euthanize or only euthanize a small number of animals. It seems like a cheat to me to say, "We don't kill animals," but then only take in animals that you know will be adopted quickly.

Allison, I have a great recipe for a kale and red lentil soup, I'll have to look it up and post it when I'm home. I basically treat kale like spinach or chard -- leafy greens that I can sneak into just about anything. It takes a bit longer to cook though. The biggest problem with it is that it's hard to wash thoroughly since it's so curly. DH started refusing to eat kale because once I didn't wash thoroughly enough and he found a bug in it. :p Dinosaur kale is easier, it's not curly.

Now I'm getting hungry for lunch! :lol: Speaking of sneaking in greens, I snuck beet greens into my lunch today.

I've only had kale once now, I used Amanda's recipe I think and cooked it with some broth and spices and stuff. Yummy. I really want to try the kale chips, too.

I am starving today - good day calorie wise yesterday, though a little low on protein. I think that is why I'm starving....

Shoulder feels a little better (or at least not any worse), did some stretches when I got home yesterday, some nice shoulder opener yoga last night and this morning.

Supposed to be in the high 90's with a heat index well over 100 from the moisture in the air here today. Ick. Guess I'll run on the treadmill if any running is done... I just can't handle the humidity -drains me right out.

Jessica - that does seem like cheating of the Humane Society.

Allison - sorry today wasn't a good scale day... and hope that Ringo comes home this weekend!

Same7 - I am so sorry, I lost your name in my head again... I initially had the same problem with needing to eat more, I lost down to 117 at one point, and it was way too low. Don't have that problem as much now! :dizzy:

Bill - I know a lot of folks who eat small, vegetable lunches and look and feel fantastic. Even some larger men who look like they would be starving all day.

Dagmar - I love to hear that you love your job as well. In HR I often hear things quite different...

Pat - iPad! Woohoo! The other stuff sounds great too, but I can't get past iPad! Woohoo!

Sheila - does the gluten make you sick?

Marie - fabulous pics!You are rocking those bike shorts! And great job on the exercise in face of the food chaos! :)

:wave: Good day everyone!

Marie, I was born and raised in Minnesota , a magnificently beautiful state, but it is hot and humid in the summer and freezing cold in the winter. Must be why I now live in California.

Jessica, congrats on the tri! Great time!

Bill, I used to be a vegetarian and I really think the lunches I made then were the best - maybe I should do veggie lunches again for awhile.

Marie, love the segway photo... I think they look so silly. Biking definitely sounds like the better option! My BF really wants to take a segway tour of the city but I refuse. I have zero interest in ever riding one of those things.

The "no kill" humane league is definitely cheating... grrr. I guess if it helps them to adopt out more pets by having the no-kill title it isn't too bad. It just seems like a lie.

I'm having an extreme "fat day" today. Yesterday was ok food-wise so I'm thinking it's just the aftermath of my weekend indulgences. At any rate, the pants I was going to wear wouldn't close and my shirt feels tight around my midsection. Probably bloat, but ick. :(

:lol: Shannon! The iPad is charged, but I need to figure out how to "unlock" my wireless. Right now it only recognizes my laptop... I did wash the sheets and put them on the bed, and they are lovely and soft (and flowered - DH may not like that too well :) ), and the new pillow is terrific!! The rugs obviously are on the floor and the old ones in the trash. I have a ton of stuff to get done before I leave on vacation next Monday (yes, the iPad is coming with).

Kale - I think I'm in the minority here. I don't care for it. I will eat it in soups/stews, but not on its own. I haven't tried kale chips which everyone raves about. I like other greens fine, esp spinach and chard.

Pat, I don't eat straight up kale either, or straight up spinach, chard, etc. Too bitter! But I do enjoy all of them when they're mixed into other things like pasta, soups, stir fries, and other things where you can't really taste them! :lol:

separate kitchens
 

DH has announced that, for his weight-loss program, he has to become a vegetarian.

I am in total agreement. Different things work for different people so why not?

He does have to buy his own groceries, store and sort his own food, cook for himself, and CLEAN UP the kitchen afterwards.

This should be interesting.

I'm hoping we can still have dinner together some nights as I'm willing to eat vegetarian if it's not really high cal.

It's hump day already! I'm liking these loong weekends :p

Dagmar :dance:

Well I had a post all done and lost my cursor, hit backspace, and it disappeared. Oh, well.

My weight is back up, can't see why though. Not that I write everything down, but I do keep within limits for all meals and I haven't been stopping by the office candy jar. Oh, well.

Neither of those things really matter. My DD is upset with me and that is upsetting me. She went to the dentist Monday and has 3 cavities. She writes to tell me that she hasn't been taking care of herself lately (which I see but don't comment on because she doesn't take criticism well). Anyway, I guess I was a bit harsh in my response to her (said something to the effect of it not being that difficult to take 2 minutes twice a day to wash your face and brush your teeth and obviously I haven't done my job as a parent to ensure that she and her brother do these simple tasks). So now she thinks I'm disappointed in her and she's not responding to me. She's gained more weight and says she can't get into the habit of working out (despite the brand new free gym at school). I say absolutely nothing about her weight (Michele will understand this one!) and don't offer any unsolicited advice either. So anyway, I'm in the doghouse and I'm feeling a bit blue.

I did get up and do my workout this morning. I've been very good for the past few weeks to do my workout at least 3 times a week. I know in the past I wanted to up it to my 3 mornings and 5 afternoons but it's so hot and I don't relish the idea of showering twice a day LOL! I can't keep making excuses though.

Anyway, everyone have a great day!

Dagmar, good luck to your DH! Remind him that while cheese pizza is vegetarian it's not going to help him lose weight. ;) Cake and ice cream are vegetarian too. :lol:

Allison, sorry your DD is upset with you. On the upside, maybe being upset about it will make her do something about it? (I know, it's not likely, but you never know.) Maybe you could suggest doing some kind of challenge with her, to help both of you with your workouts. Like, you have to work out howevermany times a week, and text each other when you arrive and leave so you know you did it. Then whoever has done more work at the end of x many weeks gets a gift from the other person. You could phrase it as saying that you are doing this challenge with yourself since you've been slacking, and since she mentioned she was having trouble getting into a rhythm you thought she might want to do it with you. That way it doesn't sound like you're trying to force her to work out?

Dagmar, hope your DH doesn't go overboard on the cheese and other dairy. Increasing the beans and legumes is great, but when you start adding the cheese, well, that's when it all goes downhill, IMHO.

7lbs, oh, to have that particular food issue! No, I really do get that going too low is unhealthy besides having the clothes issue.

Allison, kale is kind of bitter if you don't cook it right. My Oregon trainer always stuck some sugar in the water. I just stir fry it so it's doused with soy sauce. Kids! You think it gets easier when they become adults, but it doesn't. Always some new minefield to avoid. I agree with staying out of the weight issue. My DD is at least 50 lbs. overweight, and when she eats chips and fast food, I want to say something, but I just zip it because I remember how my dad saying stuff about my weight made me just eat more.

Jessica, sad to say, but it's like that with most, if not all, no-kill shelters if you look behind the scenes. That's why I think no-kill is a misnomer. And it does a disservice to facilities that are trying to adopt out animals and do practice euthanasia because they have to. People will always donate to a no-kill shelter rather than to what is called a "kill" shelter, even though the "kill" shelter is euthanizing animals from the "no-kill" shelter.

I'm doing my own "challenge" this week by giving myself a reward for getting to the gym four times. Since my DH has a retreat on Saturday, I may even try for five. I'm really tired of not being able to fit into my size 10 jeans, even though I weigh the same. When I quit weightlifting as diligently as I had been when I lived in Oregon (where I really liked my gym), my muscles really got flabby. Muscle really does take up less room than fat--at least in my clothes.

Have a good Wednesday, everyone! Looking for triple digits tomorrow where I live.

Shannon, I forgot to add that gluten doesn't make me sick per se, but by going gluten-free, I've reduced my acid reflux so much that I've been able to go off the proton pump inhibitor. When I originally lost 100 lbs., I thought my acid reflux would be gone, but it wasn't. By no longer taking the medication, I should be able to absorb calcium better and hopefully quit the progression of osteoporosis. Fingers crossed!

Sheila~you're right. I remember my Mom saying things like "only skinny girls can wear that" when we'd be shopping for clothes and I'd want to try something on. And I also am right there with you on the not fitting in clothes just right. Although I'm tall and can lose or gain without really changing a clothing size, some things just don't fit as well. And besides that, I feel "jiggly."

Boy am I having a busy day at work today! Better get back to it.

LOL, Sheila, I know, poor me. :) But seriously, after 18 years of trying to lose weight, I never thought I'd tell the scale, "STOP!" when it's on its way down. Ah, my new reality. And on the no-kill... I used to work at a shelter where we took pains to avoid the term "no-kill" and described ourselves as a "shelter that does not euthanize adoptable animals." Then of course you get into the whole tangle of what "adoptable" means, but generally for us it was any animal without demonstrated aggression or medical issues that severely compromised its quality of life. We adopted out 18-year-old dogs and created eyelids for kittens born without (can you believe a shelter with multiple full-time vets?). It was a pretty cool place to work. But I always said that animal people are crazy, and sometimes it's good crazy and sometimes it's bad crazy!

Allison, I'm sorry about your fight with your daughter. I hope this isn't too personal, but, do you think she's suffering from depression? When someone isn't taking care of themselves, that to me is a red flag (and I apologize if this is a too-well-traveled road for you and I'm just digging up old dirt).

My sister taught me to always add an acid to kale, like a squeeze of lemon, to remove the bitterness. I think you can also use vinegar but I like the lemon best. My kale usually has a lemon seed or two lurking in it.

I am exhausted from my workout today and need to get to bed! Why is it that I'm always dying to go to sleep in the middle of the day and ready to stay up all night by 10 pm? ~sigh~ the curse of the night owl. Good night, everyone!

Amy (trying to remember to sign my posts!)

Amy~wow, I hadn't thought of depression, but that might be a part of it. I know she's really undecided on what she wants to do with her life after college. She's a music major and has decided not to get her teaching certificate as she suddenly decided she doesn't want to teach. For a while she was thinking of going into the military or applying for the police academy (that passed, thank goodness and to tell the truth I don't think she'd make it through boot camp or through the application process for police). You know people who say they work out but never break a sweat? That's her....Anyway, she often says she's sad, so perhaps there is some underlying depression going on. Now I need to figure out a way to address it without her thinking it's criticism. UGH.

Thanks!

Allison, that's a tough issue with your daughter. I had some serious depression issues in undergrad but was really touchy (think powder keg) when my mom mentioned it to me... I'm trying to think back if there's anything that would have helped that I wouldn't have found abrasive - I'll let you know if something comes to mind.

I make a kale dish with tomatoes (acid!) and onion - impressively got my friend's husband who does not like veggies to eat it. I haven't had any kale for awhile, though... I need to start getting some more interesting veggies again. I'm in such a broccoli, spinach, and peas rut!

DW picked a HUGE mess of kale yesterday.

Just thought I'd report - here on the Maintaining Kale Thread, LOL.

You can ship some of that kale to my now vegetarian DH if you're overwhelmed by it.

DH brought home some of his "vegetarian" (sorry I'm sure you can all hear me snickering) food last night. Ice cream, chocolate croissants, and rice chips. :lol3:

He seems to be eating everything in sight to counter the :stress: of his exam coming up. His plan is to magically start dieting the day after he writes the exam.

No method, no planning other than to say he's going to be a vegetarian.

I :angel: am keeping quiet (venting here instead) and letting him find his own way. I hope he is successful with whatever method he arrives at for dieting. I'm not even going to mention the maintenance part of things to him yet - too overwhelming! :faint:

TGI (almost) F!

Dagmar :rofl:

Dagmar~that "vegetarian" diet reminds me of DD's exboyfriend. He once went vegetarian and all he'd eat was bread and cheese. He doesn't like vegetables! Of course, this is the kid that once put marshmallows on his cheeseburger (yes, I witnessed it--it was a BBQ at our house!).

Yesterday was one busy day! I got a lot done here at the office, but that means there isn't as much to do today. I'm feeling a bit bored. At least I'm going to be forced to go to the store at lunch as I was too lazy to fix a salad for DH and myself. Don't know yet what I'll get, but they do have a great salad bar for us working folk.

Hi all,

A huge project has been taken off my shoulders at work - cancelled altogether in light of the lessening amount of oil, and lack of any immediate landfall to my beaches - and I just cannot tell you how much less stress I'm under, how relaxed I became in just 24 hours. Of course it's all subject to change, but for now I'm back to normal workload and pretty normal working hours, too. Ahhhh. That is my huge sigh of relief. What good timing, too. I'm taking tomorrow off and going to New Orleans for the weekend with my book club. We decided we wanted to go to New Orleans so we read a book set there. We've established a good tradition now with our second August travelling book club "meeting". I've never been to NO, and I can't wait!

Google "kale chips recipe" and see all the blogging recipes that come up. I always read about kale chips in the blogging world, though I haven't made any myself despite planning to several times.

A pit/boxer mix and beagle wandered to our office about 3 weeks ago, obviously uncared for... so people started feeding them. We've finally gotten the beagle adopted, but not the pit mix. She is such a sweet, friendly dog. I really want to take her home. Of course we've tried the local "no kill" humane society (yes, animal control right next door takes care of the killing part) and they won't take her b/c she's part pit bull. We know she needs medical attention but it's really frustrating the shelter won't take her. Stupid "no pit bulls" rule. Does anyone watch "Pit Boss" on Animal Planet? Too bad Shorty's pit rescue is in LA, it's too far from me.

Dagmar, I'm laughing along with you re: your husband's vegetarian "diet". :rolleyes: I mean... yeah... I've had many friends who were vegetarian for moral reasons, but didn't maintain a very "healthy" diet and were certainly not slender. Well, at least he doesn't usually stay on any diet for very long, right?

Allison, that is tough about your daughter. Maybe you could talk to a professional who might be able to give you some advice on how to encourage and support her? Hang in there - you're doing your best, and you are a good mom!

Jessica, great job on the tri!

Have a great long weekend everyone!

Hi all!
Just a quick check in from Maine!!
Eating lots of lobster........
some bad stuff too.....
Have run every day though-- lots of blisters and sore muscles-- trying hard not to gain on my trip. Tummy still looks big to me though-- whatever the damage is-- I'll attack when I get home. I go back to work in a week or so and can get back to my regular routine.

Allison-- I'm so sorry about your dd and can definitely relate. My dd also has suffered depression-- that is what started her weight issues-- she was depressed and got on meds and gained 50 pounds. Then she went off to college and gained more. We are trying so hard not to repeat the same problems with our younger dd. Our older dd said we told her she was fat which we definitely didn't but she somehow got that message anyway.

Tonight is our big celebration for the inlaws 50th anniversary and we're going out fancy. God only knows what they'll have but hopefully some fish or lobster!

I've had more than enough family by the way to last a lifetime-- everyone is driving me crazy (except my own family)-- we're staying in a big old house together.

Last night we had some real excitement though! Somehow a bat got in the house and dh and I spent over an hour chasing it around the house trying to get it outside. Everyone else hid in their rooms and were no help! Dh hates birds and apparently bats even more! He was running around squealing and screaming and I alternately laughed and tried to help. It kept dive bombing us! We finally got it out. Did we get kudos? No-- everyone griped that we were too loud and scaring everyone.... Hello!? Dd looked it up on the internet while we were trying to catch it and found that 1% of bats in the wild are rabid but 10% that get in your house are rabid. And you aren't supposed to try to catch it yourself-- you're supposed to call the police or animal control! She didn't tell us that until AFTER we got it out because she was afraid to leave her room!!!

Gotta go--- champagne time!!

Michele Usually the bats sonar is all messed up when people chase it, screaming and yelling, etc.

I had a bat come in one night, much to the excitement of the cats. New pet, new pet!!!

I locked my furballs downstairs and opened several windows and went to sit down. The bat flew straight at one of the windows I'd just opened and was gone. All they want is to get away from us. We must seem like hideous shrieking giant predators to them.

Had the walk from **** with my late afternoon girlie dogs today. Poor things! Sand so hot they cried crossing it to the lake. And biting flies descended on us so badly we had to turn back and go over the sand again so no releif in the water. Poor lab's ears were bleeding by the time I got her back to the car. She never complains - I love her for that.

I was tempted to drop in at the grocery store and get some consolation ice cream for myself (my car temp gauge read 38C - over 100F for most of the afternoon). I got cherries instead.

Will offer some of them to my budding vegetarian :lol3: when I get back from an interview with a new client.

Have a great evening all!

Dagmar :flame:

Megan, I'm glad to hear work is calming down for you. Sad about the pit - they are very nice dogs by nature (as a breed), but get a bad wrap because people train them to be mean and fight. My friend had a great pit who recently passed away... if she wasn't in PA I'd try to hook her up with you for adoption. It's been over 6 months now and she's ready for another dog (her husband maybe not, though).

Yikes, Michele! I like watching bats outdoors but I'd prefer they stay there and not come in my house.

Dagmar, sounds like it's as hot in Canada as in Arizona! Poor dogs!
Good luck with you DHs new diet plan. I was at my thinnest when I was a vegetarian, but I definitely have to credit the fact that I ran 3 miles every day at the time as well. Eating out healthy as a vegetarian was really hard - usually the dishes that didn't have meat had oodles of cheese.

interpreting vegetarianism
 

I took a trip to Peru in 2002. There were 2 vegetarians with us in the tour group that went to the jungle. The Peruvians were still quite new to tourism but they had learned to ask about vegetarianism.

When these two women said they were vegetarian they meant hard core :drill: veganism - no eggs, no dairy etc. So at every meal they were given a choice from a huge plate of vegetables and fruit.

They were adamant :soap: about maintaining their vegan diet but then complained about what they were offered. No direction was given to the kitchen staff who could have supplied them with rice, legumes, nuts, cheese etc. had they only asked.

DH is not so hard core :coach: about anything so I'm hoping his future diet is a bit easier to accomodate.

I'm up 1.8 lbs, although I have been totally within my maintenance calories all week. :tantrum:

But it's much, much cooler outside today. That hint of autumn beginning in the air. I sat on the patio to drink my cup of tea just now and actually enjoyed it! The dogs will be sooo happy today - ME TOO!

TGIF!!!

Dagmar :cool:

So my DD isn't as mad at me as I thought--she got us tickets to go see a taping of Ellen Degeneres!!!! I've wanted to do that for so long! She got 3 tickets for the October 12th taping, in hopes that my MIL will be back by then, but I don't think they plan on coming back until the 15th. But I'm happy!

I've finally started thinking of a mini vacation for me and DH. We're thinking late October up in Napa/Sonoma area. I have a friend who is up there now and the place she's staying at sounds perfect. My friend that I went to Italy with wants to make it a double date as she's hoping her BF will be back in the US by then (he's been living in Australia for several years). This is where I want to stay: Carneros Inn. We'll do the double date thing as she wants to introduce us. We all went to college together and I'm sure I met him back then. They dated back then, too, and just reconnected on Facebook and hit it off. She went to visit him in Australia a couple months ago.

I just had to go rescue my old dog as he was stuck on the floor. Or should I say he'd fallen and couldn't get up? Poor thing just has no traction on the tile. And now he's walked into the kitchen and walked right into a chair. Shows just how blind he is.

Well, off to work...Happy Friday everyone!!!