kathy, those dipped spoons sound fantastic!!!

melissa, i missed something here. are you going back to college?

frouf, you go, girl! have fun at the bday lunch today. work your plan. you're doing great!

vickie, don't you just hate nights like that? i hope you are able to get some rest today. you have had a lot of pain lately. do they have you on any anti-depressants for dealing with pain? just wondering. you might need some.

angela, your gas bill sounds low to me. ours is included with our electricity. i'm going to be afraid to open the envelope when it gets here. i imagine it will be around $300.

melissa, sounds like a long day for you. do you keep any sf bars at work? i keep some in the jeep for emergencies.

it's about time for us to go to the archery shop. we're going to shoot a different style of target today just for a change of pace. should be fun. also, a lot of folks are starting to hang around at the shop now that christmas is near. i've been seeing more women in there. that's neat, too.

did i tell ya'll i'm going to be featured in the next issue of "big sky news"? it's a sports newspaper that is on the stands at businesses around the state. they are running "almost" the same article that ran down in texas. (kathy, did you see a copy?) it's just been made more montanaish for up here.

Frouf, you're doing great! I was planning to copy you and do exercises in the morning but so far it's a no go.

Sandra, you just keep on getting more famous, don't you!? You'll have to send us web links so that we can read all about you. I've already gone through college, I'm going back to grad school. DH and I were going in NC when we moved back to KY in the middle. So we are both enrolling for the spring. I'm looking forward to it and dreading it all at the same time. I'm only taking one class though. And yeah, I keep SF bars at work as well as snacks. And we always have food around, so I'll find something decent to eat. I have to say though I don't know how good I'm doing on SF. I haven't lost anything and am staying at a solid, nasty 192. I'm hoping that after TOM says good-bye that things will start looking up (or down, I suppose).

I have switched back to SF thru eDiets since I'll be home for the next (nearly) 2 weeks. It'll help me a lot if I'm doing the same thing Judd's doing. I'm a little tired of packing two different lunches.

Sandra, I couldn't find the paper. They also have an online version but it was already updated by the time I found out about it, and nothing was in the archives. I'll watch for the Big Sky News though. How cool is that??

I hate utility bills! My water was $96 this month but that's the lowest it has been in a long time. It's usually $150. Electricity (alone) is $400 and the gas bill runs anywhere from $50 to $200. We do average billing though, so I pay $300 on electricity and $100 on gas, year 'round. My mom freaks out everytime I mention it because I think they pay like 14 cents a year or something.

I was hoping that the guards would want to go home and might walk around and shut us down early. I guess since we've already charged the day, we'll have to work it. Those news stories on $50 hammers and $200 toilet seats sure put the crack-down on military contracts. I wish I had a dollar (or in military contract world, $50) for every time I've heard "charge what you work and work what you charge." Ugh. Leave me alone already!

Nearly time to go find some lunch. I think I'll have a spoon of PB.

Thanks girls. I got about 2 hours of sleep between 4 and 6 after I had a cup of chammomile (sp) tea. I've been cleaning ever since. My system is so messed up that I'm kind of afraid to eat. But I had my oatmeal this morning with no fruit and I'm going to eat some prunes in an hour or so. I need to figure out what to eat for dinner. Now my stomach is hurting all across my ribcage after I eat anything. Sheesh. I CANNOT wait to see my Internist tomorrow. Sandra, I doubt he'll give me any anti-depressents or anything else. The last time I tried to get anxiety medicine from him and told him how stressed I was, he told me to get a hobby! I'm going to be firm with him though. I've been obedient and gone to the Specialists. Now he needs to help me.

Back to work!

Sorry I'm not posting much. It's not because I don't care.

melissa, my scales have stopped at 191.5-191.0 also. i'm happy, though. kathy is right. i have more energy. i was just telling curtis about my energy level today. we watch our energy cuz of shooting. when i'm tired or weak, i can't hold the bow steady. i'm a rock right now. life is good. i'm glad you have sf bars handy. i love this candy diet. (that's what curtis calls it.)

kathy, "big sky news" is a montana paper. i'll see if they're running the story online. if they are, i'll let ya'll know. isn't it awful how bashful i am? did you see where i told melissa about my energy on sf? i'm loving this. i'll bet you get to the 140's by the end of the holidays.

vickie, i am proud that you're being firm with your doctor. you're paying him to help you. he needs to get with the program. we know you care about us. we are just worried about you. don't let getting online here cause you any stress. we love you.

i'm going to make black beans/rice for dinner. it's sf/core. life is good.

Vickie - hope you got another nap in today - cuz we know more sleep will help improve your outlook and mood. Definitely tell the dr what's going on and hopefully he can provide some kind of relief!

Kathy - so just slip out when the guards aren't looking? ha ha ha

Melissa - how's the car doing? Hope you don't get stranded anywhere. Did you find adequate food for dinner?

Sandra - I am so honored to know you - such a famous person in our midst!

Well almost time to go home and it's like a blizzard out there - started really snowing a few hours ago and does not look like it's going to stop - supposed to go out and finish our shopping tonight and not sure how that will work?

Lunch was not a total breakdown altho I did OVERDOSE on the hot crusty rolls w/butter (like 3 of them?), had the house salad, a bowl of borscht (beet/vegetable soup) and one cabbage roll (from co-worker's plate of 4!!). Also sipped some hot minted herbal tea throughout the meal - very warming and yummy. I am proud to report that I DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THE CHOCOLATE BIRTHDAY CAKE BACK AT THE OFFICE!..and I am really chomping and chewing on my piece of spearmint gum for the last couple of hours! At least it's keeping me from eating more (but not doing too well w/my water!)

Hoping to go to mall w/dh and little ds and praying the daycare is not full so we can drop him off there while we shop for christmukkah presents . As dh did NOT defrost anything for dinner will probably eat there - something safe of course. Good options include the japanese grill place, subway or maybe I can try the new Soupman outlet depending on what they are serving?

Instead of gift certificates I am leaning towards nice tins of hot chocolate (different flavors) for co-workers?

Later,

Frouf

frouf, christmuskkah? i love it! i think you did well today. just think what it would have been a couple of weeks ago. you're on your way, girl! have fun at the mall.

Thanks girls....you made me get all teary eyed. I hate that I'm not enjoying this season. It is my very favorite time of year and all I'm doing is forcing myself through it.

I got most of the cleaning finished today. Just have the kitchen left but I'm waiting until I'm done baking. I'll be baking tomorrow (before and after the Doctor) and Friday. I'm afraid the Doctor is going to blow me off to another Specialist (the gastro guy). Jim always goes in with me so he'll vouch for me that I'm not just trying to score drugs. This is REALLY affecting the quality of my life in a very negative way (and his!).

I did have a little smile today. I thought about how fun it would be to hear all of your voices. I'm sure that Angela and I have our little midwestern twangs. Kathy, Sandra, and Melissa.....probably some southern tones? Frouf, how about you? Do you sound like a Canadian or do you still have your states sound? I don't know what made me think about it.

Jim went to get our meal to bring home. I'm going to eat, shower, and lay on the couch with my heating pad. I didn't get any more sleep today so I'm sure I'll either be going to bed early or napping on the couch.

I love you all too!

Vickie, we love you too! I am just sick that you feel bad ... but let me tell you I've thought about wondering how you guys sound too! I've even gone so far as to try and look people up on Yahoo people search and surprise you with a phone call! I guess you can tell that hasn't happened yet. I have the cutest little Texas accent you've ever heard. I imagine Sandra and Melissa do too. And I picture Frouf saying "eh?" and it cracks me up.

Now ... you all have a good night. Here's what I'm doing: nothing. Judd is bowling tonight, and all kids are working. I AM OFF WORK FOR THE NEXT 12 DAYS!! Is that just spectacular or WHAT? Judd and I are going to a movie tomorrow (King Kong). My first movie in years -- so hopefully I remember how to act and don't embarrass him by falling asleep. I plan on staying up very late tonight just to celebrate.

Oh and as for that Body Wrap? I am seriously considering it for Friday afternoon.

http://www.bodywrapdallas.com/

So I feel like rambling for a minute.

Well, I bought a new olive oil yesterday and I must tell you, it is FABULOUS! I usually get Bertolli or one of those brands, but for some reason, I decided to try and find one with a plastic bottle. Not sure why. Anyway, I bought Crisco brand, 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It is just great. I am planning ONE day of splurge where I make some foccacia bread and dip-dip-dip in OO and roasted garlic to my heart's desire. I can't wait.

Kate's bf's dad lost his job week before last. They aren't having Christmas at their house and I feel sooo bad for him. They said they're waiting until his dad gets another job but good Lord, they have 6 kids and 6 grandkids and they're postponing CHRISTMAS? I'm trying to decide what to get him. I ran a few ideas by Kate and she okayed them all, said just anything would be fine. I'm leaning toward 5 different $10 gift cards: 7-11, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Sonic, and Chevron (gas -- that is, if I can find it). She said his car needs premium gas and he likes Chevon but it's expensive. He's a very hard worker and pays for his schooling on his own because they don't contribute anything. Last semester he and Kate took the exact same 4 classes so they could ride together and share books to save money. I just love this boy so much because he's the reason she (1) stopped smoking and hanging out with trashy people, (2) went back to college, and (3) is more responsible and has pulled her head out of her butt, i.e. she pays attention to detail now. I give him 75% of the credit for all that since he was the major influence, and she can take the other 25% for actually implementing the changes. Generous, aren't I?

I'm trying to stop myself from getting another dog. Look at this little cutie:

Sweetie

I just want to slurp this baby girl up. She is SO cute!

vickie, i'm glad our voices brought a smile to you today. you need some smiles. i'm glad jim is going with you. tell him to be tough for you. okay, here's my voice. i am very country/southern. when i was growing up half my family was country and the other half thought they were city. i had a wonderful aunt who when she said , "kid." it was a 2 syllable word. "kee yud." all rubbed off onto me. "kee yud ain't it purrrrrrty?"

kathy, maybe we could just pm each other our phone numbers. i wouldn't want to post mine on a public board, but i wouldn't mind pm'ing it. i imagine most of us have cell phones with national minutes. my problem with that is i'm in the mountain zone and 9 pm here is too late to call all of you. (i don't think anyone is further west than i am, but i'm not sure.) anyway, folks could call me on my house phone and i could make my calls on the weekend. as frank barone would say, "I'M IN!"

Oh, you got THAT right! I'd never post my phone number for every crazy perv in the world to have!!!

We should try to talk. I think it would be such fun!

Believe it or not, I don't have long distance on my home phone or on my cell phone. Jim and I are very frugal as far as that stuff goes and we really don't have anyone out of town. I always have a long distance calling card though from Sam's. I'm expecting a new card in my stocking from Santa!

Kathy, enjoy your vacation because I remember....they fly by! I can hear the joy in your voice and I'm very happy for you. I couldn't do the body wrap, too claustrophobic. I bet on someone your size it could really make a difference. Pamper yourself! I think your idea for the BF is very generous and would probably be met with much delight. I'm guessing it would also mean alot to him. You sure do like your teenie pups, don't you? Sweetie is adorable! Mine always come with short legs but lots of muscle.

Sandra, I'm not sure what country is but it sounds cute!

I'm done for the night and all clean just like most of my house. I'm about to go lay down on the couch to watch Designed to Sell and Cash in the Attic with my honey lamb. Trying not to be nervous about the Dcotor tomorrow.