dagmar, enjoy your weekend! DH hopefully will settle into things. Long commutes can make one feel like there's a lot of wasted life - I've got about the same amount of time on the road. Audio books are terrific, or new music. Some little "garnishment" for the car, like a new steering wheel cover, can make the commute less arduous. He'll adapt. I look at the drive time as a firm break between my work and non-work lives. By the time I get to where I'm going, my head's in the right spot to be "where I am". At least, that's what I'm working toward.

allison - sorry to hear that Chico is hurting. I hope the specialist can recommend something that makes a big difference. Poor guy! The ticket prices took my breath away! Good grief!

shannon - been there with the times when you stare at the calendar and it's just crammed with "necessary stuff" that eats your whole week. :\ Plow through it!

MBN - a little technique in the pool can make a whole lot of difference! You're absolutely right about needing someone to watch. Video is even better! Swimming is my favorite form of exercise; I've been sidelined for a while with a shoulder issue, but it's back to 90% and I may just need to learn to deal with it.

jessica, I'm crossing fingers and hoping that all those tendon issues resolve! What a bonus that would be! Probably all sorts of new discoveries in store for you.

For me, TOM arrived 4 days ahead of schedule, explaining my dark mood and the resurgence of salty/crunchy demons. Life has just been kind of irritating plus we had a return to normal (cold/cloudy) weather at the same time. I'm feeling stuck in the low 150's. Time to make a more robust *plan* to bust through it.

Hungry. I am hungry. I am fighting the demon in my head that says it'll be okay to fix myself a hot breakfast instead of heading into work and eating my Nutrisystem breakfast which is going to be either cold cereal or a bagel. I have to fight the demon because we leave for Phoenix today and will be off plan for the rest of the weekend. I can't start out bad. But yeah, my tummy is growling and coffee just isn't hitting that spot this morning.

My scale isn't cooperating, either. I'm still seeing that 1 pound blip up from the past weekend. I know that next week will be extra tough due to a weekend off plan.

And to think that tomorrow DH and I are planning to hit the pool after our round of golf. I'm not sure if I'm really swimsuit ready yet.

Allison, I'm sure a bowl of oatmeal would be as healthy as your nutrisystem breakfast. If you need hot food, you need hot food.

MBN, I took adult group swim lessons a couple years ago and it really helped improve my stroke. I had no idea how incorrectly I had been swimming! Are you thinking of trying a triathlon? (I ask because you mentioned distance swimming and running...)

Dagmar, have a good dog sit!

Becky, good luck on coming up with a new plan!

We dropped off Carter at the dog hotel for a one-day trial this morning. He let the employees pet him with no problem, but then he barked when they tried to put a leash on him (the kind with a loop that they slip over his head). So they took his regular leash to take him back to his room and he had no problem and pretty much pulled the poor guy down the hallway. They are going to try him in half day daycare and hopefully he won't eat anybody. I am fighting the urge to call and ask how he's doing -- he's only been there for an hour! Saturday we are meeting with a potential in-home dog sitter. Not sure what we are going to end up doing.

Jessica, you remind of the mother who takes her child to school for the first time, you know the ones I mean, the Mom who can't bear to leave.
I understand about your concern , though. People who don't have pets don't understand how much they mean to us.

Allison-- I hope Chico is feeling better! Wow!! Those are expensive tickets. I would be afraid I'd fall asleep and waste the money!! I've fallen asleep in performances before or at least had to fight off sleep.

Jessica-- let us know how Carter does. I won't even tell you how bad I was with older dd and separation issues. It's a wonder she can live out of state without me!!

Speaking of dd-- she comes home tonight for the fundraising dinner/concert we are hosting on Saturday for her service dog. We have so much to do that I'm a little overwhelmed!

This morning I have 2-3 people coming to the house to interview me for 90 minutes about my credit union-- and my use of the ipad, iphone app, etc for the credit union. They will pay me $125 when they're done. I'm hoping it isn't too painful! I figure that will help offset some of the costs we are having for the dinner Saturday. I told them I have two dogs and they said they're used to it-- I hope so! It is rainy here so the dogs will be in our faces most likely.

MAYBE thinking, just a little ... way in the back of my mind somewhere. I'm not sayin' it out loud though!

Hi everyone,

Let me rephrase what I meant to say-- I am/was in a really nice groove. Am/was waiting for the other shoe to drop. (is that the right expression?)

In the moment of my basking in my clear day moment, I neglected to remember/state it's not JUST hormones that can push one/me downhill.. and those demons are knocking at my door

So, I'm checking in and catching up

Jess, I have to agree, you are a GREAT dog mom

Shannon, yes, I'd like to feel the universe was on my side most of the time instead of at fleeting moments This month is beyond in-freakin-sane for me. SO get that.

Michelle, were you part of a focus group? Hope it was fun

Dagmar, hope all is well on your dog sitting weekend (I have a self pitying dh, often)

Allison, hoping chico is well and the oatmeal worked for you

Bargoo, send us all good vibes from the goal achievement zone!

MBN, so nice to hear from you again. Have wondered if you were still around

Becky, did TOM leave- you cool?

Kramp- tantrum for me, a bit, wouldya?? I have no time to do it!

Saef, hope your furniture is turning up great finds at greater prices

And, I'm out. Laters, Babes (who gets this? think popular fiction )

Jessica~the hot breakfast I was imagining was two eggs, sunny-side up, served on a piece of toast (you know, so the yolk can get all over the bread). I managed to make it into work and eat a bowl of cereal. I was still hungry so I ate the hard-boiled egg that was supposed to be my snack two hours later...It's now two hours later and I'm thinking I won't make it to lunch without another snack. I'll see if I can hold out a little longer so I don't go over my calorie budget.

kittycat, I wish I had good vibes to send . Getting to goal and staying there is a never ending battle, as an example out of the last 41 days I was at goal or under goal 8 of those days. I don't think that is a very good achievement.
It is a challenge every day .

Bargoo, I definitely feel like a mother leaving her child at school or daycare for the first time!

I couldn't resist, I called them up a couple hours ago to see how he was doing. They said he was fine (I asked if he was trying to chew his way out of his room and she laughed and said no). They tried him in the morning daycare and he was fine for a while, but then acted like he'd had enough. She didn't say what specifically that meant but I'm guessing he started being more growly with the other dogs. So they took him back to his room and were going to try him again in the afternoon daycare. I think now I can handle not calling to check on him again until we pick him up tomorrow morning.

MBN, do it! If I can do a triathlon, anyone can. The sprint distance is pretty short, it's all I've ever managed to do.

Well, I had a fun long weekend with my friend visiting. Lots of walking... and eating and drinking. But at least there was walking in there! It was really interesting because I have been friends with her since the first grade and we are both so different now! I'm really not sure if we just met recently if we'd have become friends.

Jessica, I am a also a concerned "dog mom" even with my fosters... I was so worried when I had to leave my poor little shy girl at the vet for a surgery. Anyway, I hope you can find a good situation for Carter while you're on vacation!

Dagmar, I hope your dh can settle into his new routine a bit... sounds like he isn't adjusting so well =(

Allison, I hope the specialist can help Chico feel better.

Well, I did not make my run last night. DH & XW had a meeting yesterday morning at school about our continuing drama with DSS. When I talked to him on the way home he just sounded beaten and tired. He told me to go ahead and go run and not to worry about him, but I just couldn't do it. I decided that I needed to spend that time trying to help him wrap his head around everything and trying to help him feel better. It was the better choice. I got in a few miles today on my lunch break, it was fine. Everything will be fine. Just keep saying that until I believe it....

Weight is coming down in smidges from the weekend's food debauchery. DH & I are going to a wine tasting and art walk tomorrow night with friends. At least there will be walking to counter balance the wine tasting. LOL

to everyone!

So far the weekend is going well. DH and I went to the lobby bar for a drink or two and a light dinner. While they had the sushi bar going....DH said that the BLT salad looked better, so we both ordered that. Chopped Romaine, avocado, bacon and sun dried tomato with a blue cheese dressing--and not overly done with the dressing. I feel proud!
Shannon, sorry you missed your run. Sorry about all the problems with DSS. ((HUGS))

Bargoo, I think the achievement is not that you have been at or under goal 8 out of 41 days (which is awesome!), but that you've been trying to get to goal 41 of those 41 days. That is why we're all here, supporting each other. It's not about the number on the scale, it's about our intent to lead healthy lifestyles. Well done!

Shannon, you are a great stepmom. Enjoy the wine tasting and art walk. They are so fun!

Iris, glad you had a fun time w your friend. I understand what you mean. I have a friend from the sandbox who I also probably wouldn't be friends w if we met now, but we have been through so much together, we are still good friends.

Jessica, I second it, you're a great dog mom! Glad Carter is doing fine and you can rest easy. I'll bet he comes home very tired, too.

Allison, did you make it through the morning? When I'm that hungry I let myself have a healthy, filling snack, log it, and move on.

Kitty, glad you're doing well. As a planner I suppose I also often am waiting for the other shoe to drop, but I try to remind myself it does no good worrying about waiting. I create a "plan b" and then try to wait to deal with it when/if it happens.

MBN... we would cheer you on if you did that thing that you're not talking about but thinking about in the back of your head.

I have to work all weekend so I took today off. On the docket are workouts for the dog and myself, maybe some work in the garden, and finishing the great closet clean-out. I probably won't be able to walk Emma, let alone go to the gym, for the next 8-9 days. I will try to look at it as a rest for my muscles. I will pack my healthy calorically balanced meals and snacks each morning for my long day away from home, and when I get home early enough, I will wog Emma for both of our sakes. (Don't worry, BF will be taking care of her the rest of the time, she will go outside, he's just not into the long walks like I am). If I'm not around much, it's bc I'm on a boat a lot!

Another day over goal. To top that off my Keurig died but it is till under warranty and they are sending me a new one but it will be a few days before it gets here. I suppose I will have to make coffee the old fashioned way. How lazy can ine get ? Fortunately I saved my old coffee pot and I think I have a few coffee beans in the freezer.