CHELLE and LAURA posting over my head!

Annie - LOVE Bonefish! Did you have any bang bang shrimp?

So I have to say I am SUPER happy I am in the 240's for the first time since probably 2007ish! Weighed in on Sunday morning I have had a bit of a rought two days though lol but you know what? Sometimes you have to indulge and get over it, which I am! Hope everyone had a great weekend

AMBER...yes indeed, I did have the bang bang shrimp...YUM'

I'm getting excited to see my sister this week end and hearing about their cruise. Don't really want to go their reunion. I told them I would on Saturday night. I'll be stuck in my hotel room on Friday night but that's okay. I need some me time.

Michelle
Good for you in opting to go to the OA meeting. Your dinner sounds good.

more later


Terra
Think I'll bring out a DVD to get in some exercise tonight.

Hi Everyone. I put in 8 hours of OT last week. Still not caught up but it is now manageable. I'm ok with the OT. DH's push mower bit the dust so it will help with that unexpected expense.

I was pleased when I went to TOPS on Thursday I had a 1lb loss after vacation.

Michelle: I think you have set a good goal for yourself. What did you think of OA?

Happy: What did you think of the butterfly garden? We have a conservatory in Cincinnati that does a butterfly show every year. I went once and it was really exciting.

Terra: Do you like your new DVD?

Dee, how did camping go with the grand-babies?

Amber: Congratulations on being in the 240's.

Annie: it is ok to talk with God about those things. He tells us to cry out to him.

Laura: I hope you aren't too itchy after the allergy test. How is the cold?

Annie and Laura: what do you say we do KI on Oct 3?

Ceejay: I'm glad you got the fitbit returned. Does your pedometer track when you ride the exercise bike?

Hi Shad!

I am heading to bed. See you all tomorrow or maybe Wednesday. We have a meeting from noon to 5 tomorrow. That is going to wear me out!

Evening everyone,

Started this early and got distracted so finishing up now...

Got up this morning - they were predicting the possibility of heavy thunderstorms but all we got was rain and big wind gusts. Sitting at the computer and suddenly pop, pop, fizzzzz. The power goes out. DH calls and they estimate it being up again in 2 hours. The thing is, without power we have no water as the well is power dependent. I had 6 gallons of water in jugs in the basement so hauled 3 upstairs - one for washing and 2 for toilet. Glad we got a new toilet that only takes 1 gallon to flush! DH read a book, I should have but the cataract eye is fuzzy and it's annoying to read so I just took a nap instead. Now it's gray outside, the rain has moved on but I am feeling lazy or maybe just tired and I don't feel like doing much other than the laundry. I should go into town to mail some cards and I just realized it's Farmer's Market Day - we ordered a big steak for a special recipe and I was hoping that the lady would notify me when she has it rather than me having to check each week. I suppose I will ride in with DH. *Update - stopped what I was doing, went into town with DH. THey did not have my steak - next week she said. Did get some meat, some FABULOUS fresh tomatoes and cucumbers. Some rhubarb too. And farm fresh eggs from happy chickens that are allowed to roam free. We had a delicious salad with my garden and farmers market components. DH raved about it tasting so fresh.

The Customer Appreciation event at the Thrift Shop did well. That's good. The current building owners are doing some siding repair and they replaced the under part of the roof over the back door. It was raining on Saturday and we noticed that there is a river of leaking right where they "repaired" the roof. I think they hired cheap and schlocky labor just to get it done knowing they are selling the building and it's going to haunt us later. BUT no one in power wants to say anything so I shut up and ignore it too. We went to the butterfly garden yesterday - got up at 4:30am and a 6 hour round trip drive. Ugh. It was nice but a long trip. We walked around for about 2 hours and I was done. The biggest problem I have is finding shoes that are comfortable to wear for the long haul. Many of them tend to rub on my right foot after a while. I even tried the sneakers brand you guys recommended a while back - those are no better than my New Balance. I sure do wish I could wear springs. I did have a pair of MBT sneakers I bought years ago - they are in a box somewhere in the garage. Need to find them. I was hoping being Father's Day that more families would have stayed at home to celebrate but no, looks like they all came to the zoo!

Let me post and then read back for personals.

Still here,
Seem to have caught a cold and feeling somewhat miserable. Seems like the rest of you are going along okay and that is good.

Still working long hours. I keep telling them with every sneeze that I am allergic to work. No one takes any notice.

Weather is so cold. NZ is in the grip of a real winter and even Auckland at the top of the North Island is getting low, low temps. It's been sunny today but that wind would freeze the balls off............ the billiard table. I'm all bundled up in my heavy coat. What a blessing spending a horrible about of money on that thing was.

Anyway, I'm off to bed to get warm and hopefully knock this thing off. It was going well today, but with the nightfall, I now feel miserable again.

Susie - the butterfly garden was nice. They had lots of one particular kind of butterfly so I hope more will hatch later on. They have a really nice permanent "exhibit" in one of the lakefront nature museums in downtown Chicago. It was one of our favorite places. I'm glad to hear you are managing the overtime for now. Be careful as it does tend to extend your normal day more and more. How is your hip feeling?

Ceejay- have fun visiting with your sister. Maybe you can jump in the whirlpool at the hotel and have some relaxing time to yourself.

Amber - congrats on getting to a goal!

Annie - smiled at C getting fishing stuff. Reminds me of my brother in law who never rolls eyes at what someone buys with a gift card - he says get what YOU want, not what someone thinks you should get. Sorry your butterfly exhibit was lame. I think when they do the outside ones they are so touch and go - weather issues, do they have the right plants, etc. And then people touch them although that hurts the butterfly and then they step on them because sometimes they rest on the sidewalk. It kind of pains me to go to those things, truth be told. I'm glad you did not get struck by lightning - sometimes we have to yell - I call it "being passionate"

Michelle - your food sounds delicious. I'm glad you are working on it. Wish we had OA up this way. How are you liking it? 100 pounds down - wow - that sounds like it would be amazing. Keep working on it, you are doing well. Thanks for the explanation on the honey - bummer that you can't have it any more.

Laura - thanks for the tip on HD offering mulch on sale. I am debating putting it in the garden - lots of weeds blowing around - hard to keep the veggie beds clean but I don't want to put wood mulch in something I have to dig up later. I think of that more for flowers. Also don't want the newsprint ink getting into my tomatoes that I eat. Yum - beer cheese soup - haven't had that in a long time - it's very filling. I'm glad BF decided not to waste your offering!

Terra - I wonder if you could get some old seasons of One Day at A Time at the library on loan? It's fun to watch old series.

Hi Shad and Dee

Supposed to be a northern lights viewing tonight. I am nervous standing on the deck at night since that bear was roaming around. Looking out the window - I don't see anything of interest so I'm going to bed instead. Night all

Good Morning My Friends.

Today's song stuck in head and you can all join me. Good morning, morning. Hello sleepy head, why did I move that bojangled clock so far away from the bed...Ann Murray. Not sure the order of the words but that is how they are stuck in this blonde head. ba haha.

Today is my Wednesday, taking PTO on Friday, yep getting the babies Thursday night through Sunday eve. Sam and Chris are going on a short, ADULT mini-vacation to Dale Hollow on a houseboat trip with 3 other couples. Ended up only costing them 200.00 a couple. The kids are catching a ride with one of the other couples so they only have to pitch in on gas. I will be taking the babes to Chris' parents on Sunday evening as the kids will not be home until Monday and I have to work. Sam doesn't really like leaving them there but it will only be for a night and day. Chris' dad is ok, his mom for being so intelligent, she can be dingy. Plus with the pool in the backyard, that kind of freaks me.

Sis and I went to look for shoes for the wedding last night. Ainsley went with us. We had a good time, found the cutest shoes and then went to dinner at Don Pablo's. YUM. I had spinach and mushroom quesodilla (sp). Came home and went to bed.

Posting will do personals in a few, hafta potty.

Glad I posted and didn't get to far with this post that I just lost due to spilling my decaf on part of my keyboard. Surprised it still works correctly. Immediatly turned the keyboard upside down to drain the coffee and then took that dust blower stuff and blew it out. Wow what a way to start the morning.

HAPPY...I agree with spending gift cards on things you really want. I also nabbed onto a white v-neck tank top with lace around the v-neck to wear under jackets and see through blouses. On sale for 8 bucks. Not a total wasted trip when I get something too. I paid for that, not the GC. haha. You butterfly garden sounds gorgeous. That is what I am going to be in my next life..a butterfly. lol. Glad the customer appreciation day went well at the thrift shop. When is your cateract surgery again...I mean dates? My dad went through that at 80 and did very well with it, I suspect you will do just fine my sweet sister, here is an extra hug.

SHADDIE...just what is the temps there where you are?? Is it like Indiana, 5 below zero? Sorry you have developed all of our US colds that are going on over here. Hope you get to feeling better soon...Nyquil!

CEEG...hoping you have a fabulous time with your sister and I am sure she will have some great stories for you. Safe travels girl.

SUSIE/LAURA..October 3rd looks to be a good weekend for me also.

SUSIE....good job on 1 lb down, especially after a vacation. Now that is awesome. Wish we had OT here, but nope.

LAURA...how are you feeling my friend?

CHELLE...how are you doing with the sugar addiction? How was OA? Did you get all moved back home? Is Santa glad to be home?

Hello's to the rest of you! Hugs

Annie - you don't want to be a butterfly. They only live about 3 days. I think the same is true for dragonflies - we see them for about a week or so and then they are gone.

Sorry you spilled on the keyboard. I hope you take your coffee black, otherwise the keys will eventually start sticking and the I.T. guy will know EXACTLY what happened

Sounds like a fun weekend with the kids. I would be nervous with a dingbat and a pool and little kids too. Lovable but dingy - I get it.

Cataract surgery is July 29 (right eye) and August 12 (left eye). August 3 is our big fundraiser where we stand out in public with buckets and collect for tag day. The lady who chairs it is in the hospital - just had part of her colon and intestines removed and I will have 2 goofy eyes that don't work together correctly. This is not good. I will have to solicit someone fast to help work with me. Always something!!!

I have to get to the thrift shop before the person I'm meeting leave so I will be back later to catch up.

Well HAPPY...the way I look at being a butterfly, if I don't like being a butterfly, it won't last long, on the other hand (bright side) if I do like it, I will just keep coming back as a butterfly. Or do you have to be something different each time? haha, don't know the rules on reincarnation nor that I believe it either. Just sayin'.

Maybe DH can stand out there with you at the fundraiswer and take goofy pictures of goofy people. lol.

I drink my coffee naked and it is decaf, so hopefully I won't have any issues. It only got on the escape, help and tab keys and all seem to be working at this time.

Later my dear!

super quick post as I have a ton of stuff to do. I'm trying to create a new website design based on the specs marketing gave us, which involves using a different background color for each box in a dynamically created grid. If it sounds confusing or like a PITA, that's because it is.

I had a good workout with my trainer yesterday. Today, I'll be going for a long brisk walk with a friend.

OA is good. It's weird doing the 12 Steps when it comes to food. Like I have to make a list of all the people my addiction has negatively impacted and make amends. I understand doing that if you have an addiction to drugs or alcohol...but to food? Really? Maybe if I had kids and modeled unhealthy eating habits to my children. But I can't think of anyone I've hurt except myself. I probably need to do more self-reflection. Just being aware of how addictive food/sugar is is helping me deal with my compulsive eating and find realistic alternatives.

I'm also reading a book called "Weight Loss for People who Feel too much". It's specifically for people who not only use food to stuff down or numb out from their own emotions, but people who also feel such empathy for others that when those close to them are stressed or sad or have a serious illness, we soak up those emotions and use food to comfort from those. Anyway, it's a good book with some interesting ideas for people like me who have "boundary" issues.

===========================

Happy - I'm sure you'll do fine with the cataract surgery. Your DH didn't have any problems did he? My boyfriend's surgery went very well when he had it done. It wouldn't hurt though to rustle up some more help for the tag day fundraiser.

Annie - Yep, Santa and I are moved back home. He's a bit happier than I am mostly because with all the stuff I took over to my friends' and then brought back, the house looks like a tornado went through. So I need to get that straightened out and soon. Santa is very happy to be home and in his own bed (my bed). He doesn't even seem to mind being at day care. A butterfly would be a good (albeit short) life, but I'd rather come back as a dog or cat as long as I lived with someone who spoils their furbabies. I'm doing good with the sugar addiction. Yesterday, before my workout, I had some beef jerky and after workout I knew I needed something with carbs, so I had a protein bar. Probably the same calories as ice cream, but fewer carbs and it has protein. I was still pretty full by the time I got home from the dog park, so I just had a Greek yogurt for dinner and a sugar-free popsicle for dessert. Sam & Chris' mini-vacay sounds great! And you get to hang with the boys for a long weekend...it's a win-win for everyone.

Ceejay - I ended up not making the salad for dinner last night, so I'll make it tonight and I'll probably have sliced strawberries for dessert.

Gotta sign off for now.

Much love and big hugs,

BIZZARE HAPPENINGS....when I dialed the phone number that my parent's had the last 27 years at there house (reminder, we had it disconnected after daddy passed), it now rings to Westminster Rehab center that dad was at before he passed. THe twilight zone...dad making contact....

Morning all. Gorgeous day out there. Got out for a bit at lunch.

Annie – It was good luck for you not frying your keyboard with the spilled coffee! Maybe buy a lottery ticket today, lol. I’m happy to say that I don’t know the song you mentioned, so no earworm for me! How nice that S&C will get a mini vacay, and that it’s not very costly for them. I hope you enjoy having the grandbabies over the weekend – are they recovered from whatever illness it was? As for me, I’m gradually getting better. Still have some mild congestion, post nasal drip and coughing (when I try to talk, of course), but I’m feeling much better. Unfortunately, the admin may have caught it – she had the beginning of it yesterday and is out sick today. She had something like it a few weeks ago, but I don’t think it developed into anything – kind of like my first go-round with it. It was the 2nd time that it hit hard. Oy, so much of this going around. Soooo....why were you dialing a phone number that was disconnected? Odd coincidence though...

Happy – You know what? I’ve never been to the Notebaert nature museum by LP Zoo. Maybe I need to make a point of getting there this summer! Anyway, your trip sounded long, but I’m glad the butterfly garden was nice. Re mulch – in the veg garden I used the black weed cloth this year and last and it worked/is working fine. I’ve used newspaper a couple times in the past as well. Yeh I guess the ink would leach into the soil, but here’s a link to an article about the safety aspect of doing that: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2...nk-soybean-oil I did only a quick scan and bottom line is that it’s not hazardous. I’ll have to print this and read it later. Anyway, I don’t think I’d use mulch in the veg garden – like you say, you’ll be digging that soil later. I know it’s probably hard not to be anxious about your upcoming cataract surgery – after all those are the only eyes you have! But try not to worry – you probably know several people who’ve had it and come through it great. But it’ll be a good idea to get someone to help with the HS tag day…

Shad – Sorry you’ve caught a cold. I hope you feel better soon. I’m glad you’ve got a warm coat to wear in that cold weather. I know I appreciate mine! And sometimes I wish I could just wear it indoors too, LOL.

Susie – Awesome that you didn’t gain and actually lost a pound at your post-vacay weigh-in! Looks like Oct. 3 works for me for KI. Hope you get through the loooong meeting tomorrow.

Hi Ceejay!

Amber – Congrats on meeting one of your goals! Yes, I think balance is very important to this never-ending journey.

Michelle – Wow, 100 pounds is fantastic! I’m glad OA was good. I think it’s good to do something that forces us to engage in introspection. After all, if we were already facing our thoughts and emotions, we might not have the issue of turning to food to avoid doing that. Sounds like you’re working hard to get past the sweets problem. It takes diligence to maintain the habits and routines that keep us on the right path.
Hellos to the rest of you.
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Nothing much to report on my end, so I’ll get this posted before more interruptions.