Thanks Amarantha and Aria! Long day...filled with company, lovely presents, good food, really good wine, beautiful weather....and every single dish in my cupboards was dirty when they all left shortly before 10pm. Kitchen is back in order now, though, and I am happily heading off to bed.
My neighbor brought me the most beautiful royal blue roses, yes real ones...I had never seen blue like this before. I've seen a very pale bluish tinged rose, but nothing this vibrant! I'll take pictures tomorrow.
Healin' vibes waftin' in the direction o' thy father, E!!!
Froggie, hope you are able to blow the popstand soon!!!!
s, I just had some more sad news re a sort of coworker ... don't want identity to slip through, but this person died ... her obesity contributed and again I am rededicating myself to this struggle ... as I could easily be where she is.
Okay, okay, yours truly will start a Halloween thread tomorrow a.m. - as I'm off and out the door to donate blood (how fitting huh?). Shall we call it "Sprint o' the Spirits?" Ooooh, I'll think of something!
It's the last they'll get from me for the next 6 months since mums, bestest OR friend and I are all getting tattoos on 8/27. Last I heard they were considering dropping the 6 month ban on donating after tattoos/piercings, but I don't think that's happened yet....
wildfire-happy birthday!!!! have never seen blue roses, but they sound lovely.
eydie-glad your dad's surgery went well, and i'm sending good thoughts your way for his recovery period.
amarantha-sad about your coworker's death. it definitely reinforces my rededication resolve too.
arabella-hope you are recovering from thy business trip from ****!
hi kaylets, anagram, punkin, aria, frogger, and to all the royals! blasted scale still stuck at same number it has been for the past month+, despite my noble efforts. just have to redouble my efforts and figure out what needs tweaking in order to jumpstart my poor old bod in to rembering how to lose weight. even though i wanted to toss scale out the window this morning, i will stay strong! have kept up with lowered cals, daily exercise, and healthy food choices. well, have a good evening, all. take care.
I'm recovering, bit by bit, from my trip. It wasn't all bad, and I do feel like I got a fair amount out of it, although much of that was taught by the great teacher, Pain. I feel, still, sadder and wiser. I think that the former editor has had a great deal of loss in her life and is going through a hard time right now. No excuse for how she treated me, but maybe a partial explanation. In any case, I'll never rely on her again. She's never been very dependable, but in other instances she's really done a lot for me. I don't think I'd be editor today without the support she's given me. So -- it's a take the bad with the good kind of situation. My feeling, when you get right down to it, is that you weigh the good and bad and your awareness of all that determines your relationship.
I'm tired again today, will try not to push too hard. I took myself to the beach on Sunday -- invited DH but he said, upon reflection, that he'd prefer to stay home. I can't just let my life be constrained by his task-orientation and desire to sit around. I feel like I've got to assert myself, take care of my own needs in this relationship or I don't think I'll be able to stay in it.
Wildfire, a belated but very happy birthday to you! I thank the Universe for bringing you here and hope this year is everything you want it to be! Ah, blue roses and a wild Irishman -- that's a pretty good start And your coleus is GORGEOUS!!! I've got to try to duplicate that -- what a glorious addition to a flower bed.
Kaylets, how go the work and home battles? Has the episode with auditors blown over? DS is gone again, I think? Hope you're finding some time for JOY! BTW, where are you located? (curious, also thinking of next trip to Boston). I understand, though, if you don't want to say. Some people don't, for reasons of anonymity.
wsw, you and me both -- let's hit it! This weight loss thing, I mean. Sounds like you've been doing very well, and it's just a matter of time before the scale cooperates. I know when the weather cools off, we sometimes lose a bit. It sure feels like it, anyway
Amarantha, you're right, that could have been you! (And I should beware, it could be me!) And you could have stayed at your top weight, or gone up -- but HOLY SMOKES!!! Look at where you are -- a very healthy, nice weight and a pretty healthy lifestyle! Kudos to you, Empress!
I really liked your note about apologies, too. I know, oft-times, my tendency can be to be defensive if I know I've erred, and it's so much better, cleaner, healthier and more healing to say, "Oh, I was wrong -- and I'm sorry."
Anagram, so nice to see a long postie from you and so glad to hear that your darling seems to be rebounding. What an ordeal this has been for you! We generally forget the fact that life has a number of these in store for us and just glide along oblivious until we're delivered into one. I'm so glad that the violets stayed with you -- they've certainly become an integral part of my inner world. Peace!
Punkin, I'm very excited for the challenge -- this is going to be GOOD, I can just feel it Reclaiming self, losing excess baggage. I actually quite like "Sprint O' the Spirits!" Love your tattoo image!
Beautiful Eydie! Oh, some women WILL be tiny fairy princesses One supposes they can't help it. Nevertheless, I suspect there is not so much difference between you and them as you feel there is.
Ceara, dost thou lurk?
Love to all, mentioned or un- Let's take this day and do our level best with it!
Yes Arabella, I dost lurk this faire morn...I had many pages to catch up on...I was outta it from page 4 on...took me a half hour!
Condolences to Amarantha and Frogger on losses of dear ones...Happy Birthdays to Arabella and Wildfire. Hugs for Anagram...I hope DH keeps spiralling upwards in his recovery!
Have been very tired....and use the "anatheasia" excuse for it and any mental memory lapses I have. I have been back at work since the 11th of July and am still cleaning up messes from being gone......six weeks is a lot of time for screw ups to multiply. However, I am lifting more things, judiciously, and starting to do more stuff...actually cut grass for a bit on the rider mower...can do the push one yet. The incision is pinchy...and I know that I'm still swollen....don't like this poochy feeling. However onwards and upwards.
I will look at the flower and tats links later...I think that DD wants the phone. We still have dial-up......
Anyway, I hope to check in a little more regularly......who's running the boot camp?
Did we decide on a title yet for the new challenge? I think it'a about time to start don't you girls? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of looking at my lumpy, bumpy self. What do ya say???
Kitchen is back in order now, though, and I am happily heading off to bed.
Gee, I seem to be off a day for everything around here! LOL 
s, I just had some more sad news re a sort of coworker ... don't want identity to slip through, but this person died ... her obesity contributed and again I am rededicating myself to this struggle ... as I could easily be where she is.
Ooooh, I'll think of something!
Good morning, Royal Ones!
I thank the Universe for bringing you here and hope this year is everything you want it to be! Ah, blue roses and a wild Irishman -- that's a pretty good start 
And your coleus is GORGEOUS!!! I've got to try to duplicate that -- what a glorious addition to a flower bed. 
Reclaiming self, losing excess baggage. I actually quite like "Sprint O' the Spirits!" Love your tattoo image!
One supposes they can't help it. Nevertheless, I suspect there is not so much difference between you and them as you feel there is. 
to all 