Hello everyone. Hope everyone is doing well.

Keeping the Faith I agree wholeheartedly. It does get a little difficult to keep up when you miss even one day. Ow, back problems are never fun and in -15 windchill. Stay warm and take care of your self.

Gary You're so funny and colorful. I always get a chuckle or two from you and all I have to do is read your post and I am all caught up for the week. Kinda like the "soaps." Thanks.

Wilma Glad to hear that your son doesn't have asthma. Hopefully the doctors will be able to pinpoint exactly what it is soon. Allergies can be annoying, but at least you can take something to control the symptoms. I had them real bad when I was a child and had to take shots from age 3 - 10 twice a week. That was a long time ago. Then I built up a strong resistance for a long time until I hit my mid thirties. Actually it was shortly after I moved back to Houston. Hmmmm. Kinda makes me wonder. Minnesota has much cleaner air than Houston - ya think.

Lori Good to hear from you. Hopefully the medical results will be back soon for you. Waiting and not knowing can be just as difficult. At least when they come back you will know what needs to be done. Continued prayers.

Christine I have never watched a dog show before. I am partial to dogs, but it is 3 cats that we have. Mostly because my husband prefers cats. Next time around, I told him, I get to choose the pet. I like labs of all types. Mainly because I grew up with them. Black lab, yellow lab, lab mixes. They are always so good with kids.

Marilyn Way to go on the weight loss. Keep up the good work.

Fit Chick to B I can relate with the frustration. When I get home from work, the first place I usually go to is the kitchen. I cook dinner for the family and while it is cooking, I start munching. Not because I am hungry, but because I just do. And do you know what I am a big fat sucker for.........pickles. I am literally addicted to pickles. And if there isn't any pickles, then it is olives. I guess it is the salt. The last thing I need.

Bren Greetings girl. I hope all is well with you. A weekend in the middle of the week. Have fun.

Sami, Sue, Hillary Hello to all of you and those I didn't mention.

God Bless Everyone.

Hello Beth!
We must have been posting about the same time!
I will really enjoy my days off. I will get lots of good rest and just be good to me!
I'll cook some Taco soup in a bit..would love to have some of Gary's beans! I'd wanted to do some pintos and a pot of lentil stew..but I only have so much freezer space. Sine the HB meat is thawed, Taco soup it is!

Oh I would think Minnesota air HAS to be cleaner! I thought Alabama air was too! I lived in a woody area, Haleyville..loved it there! The trees cut down on dusty dirty days a LOT! If I could, I'd probably retire there. Assuming my dear friends live long enough for me to go play with them! They work so hard, that even tho they are only a few years older than me, they are wearing themselves out!
I will most likely hang out around here tho, as my only brother is in Albany and he and Mom are all the family I have left.

OH.....I went to the signature thing and we can only use 3FC or TickerFactory tickers..... that's why mine disappeared. I did a new one..I'll see if it "took".

Yep...that's it! I was using choose2lose and they were removed! Okey dokey..we're on! Marilyn, get your's up there!

Oh, i guess you aren't suppose to mention what eating plan you are on, but you can go to my blog if you like to see. My blog is listed on my profile.

Just a quick post before I go off to a meeting. Having a VERY stressful week and a very nerve-wracking time with my marriage. Nothing that can't be worked out in time, but we're having a bit of a rough time. Prayers much appreciated.

Gary ~ You crack me up! Boy, would I LOVE to BABY sit your doggies! I love retrievers of any kind. I am partial to labs, because I grew up with them, but Goldens are beautiful dogs! I am going to be trying some agility with one of my mother's labs. Amber, the lab, is very smart and kind of bored AND the local dog training center is starting up a beginner's class! I'm very excited about that!

Beth ~ I agree, labs are some of the best dogs in the world! My husband prefers cats and we live in an apartment, so that's what we have for now. I can't WAIT to have dogs again.

Michele ~ Welcome back! I will be praying for Denise's family.

Have a wonderful afternoon everyone!

Michele's back - yeah. Glad to see you again.

Marilyn That's weird. I just noticed the 1 ticker per page too.

HI GALS

Taking a few minutes to post while my hamburger cooks for burritos tonight. Easy dinner and NO! J-PEPPERS! BREN only some mild green diced chiles, salsa and some mild Taco Bell hot sauce. My son can handle that hot stuff Brenda, but the rest of us are not too found of it...a little kick is ok.

Angie just took off with the dogs for a short walk, then she will come back home to do some yoga in the gym. My daughter will be home around 5:30 then she will do a half hour of eliptical and a half hour of weights, son will be home around 6 to do an hour work-out, nephew said he was going for a jog but hasn't moved off the couch since he got home from school, other than a 15 minute run on his skateboard...well how about that! he just asked if he worked out in the gym could he watch the TV in there (he is on TV restriction)...sure. Step-d with her dad tonight but she will probably do something healthy. As for me, well I will probably try to lift another 12 oz. here pretty soon

KEEPINGTHEFAITH~ I hope your back feels better soon, my brother's is really bothering him right now. Working drywall with it sure hurts him, I feel so bad that he has to work with it but $$$ is needed. What a great deal for your DD!

BREN~ That place in Alabama sounds cool, never been there. My daughter has played several tennis matches in Georgia and Alabama but the closest I think I have been to Alabama is either Illinois or Virginia, without a map handy I am not sure what state is closer. Roll Tide. What do you put in your taco soup?

MICHELE~ Glad to have you back. Sorry it isn't working out so far with Junior (?) and your job search...prayers for you!! Sorry about your friend, prayers for you, your mom and the family. Our dear friendSUNNYDhasn't been back butSAMI posted and MARILYN has been steady on her return.

CHRISTINA~ I love labs too, my girlfriend way back in high school got me what was supposed to be a part black lab part german shepherd. He, Benji, never got over 10 pounds, even when he was 10 years old people thought he was a puppy sometimes. I love my two dogs dearly, I put my foot down for years on a pet but I finally gave in (OK~ ANGIE just went out and got a puppy!)...but since she is a LOT smarter than me, she just brought home a picture of her holding the little 2 week old RYLEE...that's it! I'm SOLD!!
Several weeks after we were able to bring her home a lady in the neighborhood came out to see her on a walk we were taking. She asked if we wanted another one, a month older, uh.....NO! Then whammo out the front screen of her house runs this big goofy golden retreiver all cute and cuddly...well, we brought her home for a trial week-end, named her REBA, and she has never gone back! I didn't want 1 dog (for the hassle~ we are never home with sports etc) then all of a sudden I have 2...they really changed my life the last 2 years! And I am not sure it was for the good

BE back......

CHRISTINA~ The golden in my signature looks just like REBA. If I was the one to pick (and I wouldn't trade my girls for the world!) I would get labs. If for no other reason than ~~ LESS HAIR!! in the house.

I will pray for your marraige issues, of course being married to two women, 10 years each, I am quite the expert

All I can tell you is if GOD is your foundation, and you BOTH want it to work~~ well, it will. Not saying it will be easy.

BETH~ Glad I can be of service on the posts Living in Houston what can you tell me about an area called Sugarland (?), I think it is...heard about it the other day...sounded interesting. I think it is southwest of you.

MARILYN~ You go girl! On your walking....each step is calories lost FOREVER!! I know how Koko feels, I went through it about 9 years ago
..tell him it isn't that bad!! Glad Len is better. Tell your DH to get those fingers in shape!!

Well it's time for dinner...takes me so long to type that Angie and Amanda are already in the gym doing yoga and Ron has finished his work-out! Ryan still at work...or at the girlfriends ...nah, work....they teach in classrooms right next to each other...how convienient for young love!

Prayers for all your concerns, Gary

Good morning crew......
Michele....it's good to see you back. I'm sorry to hear of Denise's passing. The family will be in prayers and thoughts in the days ahead. It's always a difficult and trying time, for all involved, as you all know. Hey..congrats on the 5.5 down. It feels good to see the scale slide that direction!

Marilyn, that is strange..the one ticker per page! LOL! OH well we know what we're up to I suppose!

Gary.....I whine about wimpy salsa sometimes, then I get the blow torch that wakes me up and realize, uhh mild can be GOOD! That jalapeno is still in the baggie and I think it's melted thru! I got a recipe off the net for general Taco soup directions. In the batch I made yesterday I used:
1# HB, a chopped onion, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can each of pinto beans and black beans, undrained...some frozen mexi-corn, the rest of my HOT salsa.....in place of Rotel, a small can of tomato sauce.....then a lot of chili powder, minced garlic, comino and a pkg. of Ranch dressing mix. I honestly don't know why it calls for the ranch dressing mix....ya can't "taste" it.....maybe it's to SELL more of it? I used the Lipton's. It calls for a can of diced chilis too, but I didn't have any. Fast n' nasty but oh so good. I got about 10 cups of soup. Will have 7 for the freezer......
I cheated and did up a box of red beans n' rice..Zatterain's...oh yum.....but now I want the pintos more than ever! I'll see if I can talk me into cooking them or my lentil stew today.....if not, there's next week, right?

Oh my truck is doing well too...I am praying the transmission NEVER goes out! When I said to my boss that "I expect to drive it the rest of my life", he said "you don' have a long life expectancy, do you?" Some folks can trade every year or two.....I can't nor do I want to!

I've got to get out for my nail appt. in a bit and make another Library run. My last book was one I'd already read! I thought the cover looked familiar!

Have a good day all...I'll be back!
Bren

I went to the doctors office today. I have to go back on Monday. They are going to do nerve testing. I think they will find that I have alot of them. Tee hee. Nothing catastrophic I don't think.

Bren Yummy recipe. I might try it. My family loves homemade soups. It sounds like it would clear the sinuses too. I agree with the vehicle trading bit. I have 160K miles on my Nissan and the only reason why my husband and I are looking for something new (or somewhat new) is because we have 3 teenagers that are just starting to drive or will be driving in the next few months.

Gary Sugarland is a nice town/suburb or Houston that is actually down the same highway I live on (about 30 miles). It was named for the Imperial Sugar factory, mill, or whatever they call it. There is also one of the many state prisons located there. My ex-husband did time there. Really. And several others throughout the state. They move prisoners around alot in this state. I am not sure why. My ex is an ex-con and my husband now is an ex-cop. Go figure.

Marilyn I am glad to hear that Len is doing well. Good job with the wager with DH. My mom and I walk at the local park sometimes. Today we are meeting after work. The weather is absolutely gorgeous. I love our park. It is my sanctuary away from the rest of this huge city. I go all the time and walk, sit, nap, read books, whatever. They even have a small zoo there with birds that talk to you. They are hilarious. One white cockatoo tells me "I love you" and makes kissing noises. Too cute and......... Ha, I been wanting to use that icon for so long.

Christine Prayers for you and DH. Hang in there. I know that with college apps and all, it must have been stressful. Now just enjoy each other for a while. You two are such a cute couple (I assume that he is the one with you in the pic) He looks alot like the actor....what's his name....Colin Something or Other. Can't think of it right now.

Michele I am so sorry to hear of Denise's passing. Prayers for her family. Good luck with your mom's doctors appointment. Prayers for you too. I am glad you are back. Way to go getting back into the swing of things. 5.5 lbs. That is awesome.

Greetings and God bless to the rest of you.

HI GALS

Don't want to wake anyone up ~~ sure is quiet here today.

I am waiting for American Idol to come on then LOST. ANGIE is at her monthly BUNKO with the girls. Ryan is running the clock, for the basketball team, at the high school he teaches at. Amanda went to bed early ~~ tummy, Ron is at a study group, Lara at her dad's. Just me and REBA and RYLEE ~~ they are being so good too .

Had pork chops, shredded with onions and gravy (crock-pot) over jasmine rice for dinner.

BREN~ the taco soup sounds good, I think I will try it. Angie makes two mexican soups, posole and tortilla soup, I love them both. Hope your nails turned out like you wanted, all puuurrrrty Now go get a NEW book! By the way, have you heard all the flack on that book Oprah had on her show? I forget the name off hand, it was about a guys personal life with drugs...investigated by the smoking gun and found out to be almost entirely false.

BETH~ Too bad about your ex. I heard that Sugarland was a good place to live. Weather, jobs, housing costs, etc. I was just curious since Angie and I are always looking for that retirement area...though we had it in Washington last year, not just yet. I had 300,000 on my Ford Ranger when I bought my new F150 a year and a half ago, it is still running ~~ gave it to my ex-wife because she needed a little truck to haul things from time to time. Besides, her significant other was the one that maintained it for the last 3 years, kept her running.

AUNT SUE~ Where U B girl?

Well gals...gonna scoot...hope all your prayers are being answered!

Gary

Hello everyone! It's nice to be here again. I've been busy with things lately.

Hey Brenda. I couldn't agree with you anymore. Humor is a beautiful thing. I know! I STILL haven't been to the gym but no time to do it. I really want to go tomorrow though.

Hi Garyyyyy, you are right.. as you see above I haven't been in a while^. I don't even know when I last went. I think you SHOULD keep an eye on me so I won't travel off track.

So many posts to read! I'll come back and try to catch up tomorrow but for now I need to sleep soon. *waves hi to Beth, Michele, Sami, Marilyn, Lori, Christina and everyone who hasn't posted in a bit*

OH! please, I ask your prayers for a member of my youth group.. he found out he has a heart murmur (hole in the heart) which people of course can live with it fine (one of the youth speakers has the same and was diganosed with it 22 years ago) but he is scared and he needs peace about it. Thank you all so much.