Poor MEL. God love ya... Silly ole eye.

Had Arni's for lunch. Baked stuffed mushrooms with mozzerella cheese and marinara sauce. YUM YUNM

Ladies...I am thinking about joining Curves again. They have the new Smartcard start or something. Where you put your tag in the machine and a green light comes on when you are pushing yourself hard enough to do some good.

What are ya'lls thoughts on Curves......be honest.

Hi Annie - I was thinking about joining Curves...but I really prefer "classes" - like Step, kickboxing, dance - you know, all the things I can't do right now. Plus, I like having access to a pool and hot tub.

If you like circuit training (aerobics stations and resistance training machines), then it would be okay. I thought I'd get bored with only being able to do that. Of course, I got my info off the website and never actually checked out a location.

Good luck with your research!

Hey, thanks for your input Michelle...I used to belong to Curves a couple of years ago, but that was before the tag thing to check your status. I think I will go by there on Saturday morning and check it out. I have heard you can now join and go on a month to month basis, instead of joining for a whole year. I just don't want to commit to a year, knowing my desire to exercise, and no, paying for it does not encourage me to go.

Once again, no time for posting. Gotta get this finished. Will be back tomorrow with any news I can find after I get back from the markets.

Well we knew it was coming eventually. DH has become a casualty of this sucky economy. He was one of the 5,000 job cuts today at his company. At least he made his 25 years. We will be ok - just have to refigure things a bit. His last day is my birthday. Ain't that ironic?

Annie - used to be that many Curves would give you a free week's pass to try out the facility. I'm sure like anything, they are also hurting for business. Might want to check that out before you shell out money. Also ask about the hours - many of them - the one by me included are small franchises and more accomodating to women who don't work for a living and have their day free. Make sure it works into your schedule. In any event, 30 minutes of something is way better than 30 minutes of nothing.

I'm really tired now. Heading to bed. Will catch up in the morning. Goodnight all...

TGIF Worldlies.......

Happy....So sorry to hear of your DHs job loss. I am a firm believer in everything happens for a reason and there is something better down the road for him. I know it is all cliche', but very true. Goodluck with all before you and hubby.....I did check the hours of the specific CURVES I am thinking about. The hours are till 8 pm every evening. It should work for me. Also they have hours till 1 pm on Saturday. Most days I am very excited about doing this, then a few days I am not. Just depends on the state of tiredness of the day. ;^)

Nothing exciting happening this weekend, Kind of a let down after last weeks vacation in Texas. May useit to catch up on things around the house. Trying to find someone to rototill my little garden, free, of course. Still have time on that.

Have a great Friday all.

Love and Hugs

Happy Friday ladies -

I'm glad the work week is nearing the end. And I'm leaving at 12:45 today because I'm going to get a shot in my back. The Sports Med doc said that with my back injury/issue (SI joint pain), the two best courses of treatment are physical therapy which I've been doing, and steroid injections. I've had them before and they typically last around 6 months. I'm happy to be getting it done. I was hoping that PT would be enough...but it just wasn't. So now the doc wants me to put PT on hold for a few weeks, but I can still go to the gym and work out starting Sunday (nothing jarring though). He and I are hoping that the shot will alleviate the pain so that I will be able to be more active, get my weight down and get my core fitter/stronger. So that's my goal between today and 6 months....to hopefully lose 20+ pounds...get a strong back and core and hopefully not have to have any more shots.

Happy - I'm soooo sorry to hear about your DH being laid off. That's awful. After 25 years?? Go figure. At least he made his 25 years. I'm glad to hear you're feeling that you'll be okay. That's a big relief. Big for you and your DH as you "refigure" things. As for his last day being your b'day...life is so dang ironic - sometimes it does kinda suck though. When we bought this house a few years ago, my DH got laid off on the day escrow closed. But he found a job quickly (thank heavens for contract jobs). That's smart of you to do the heavy cleaning now since you may not be up to it next weekend! Good for you! How nice that your azaleas are blooming. We don't have any flowers blooming yet...which I guess is good because they're predicting snow tomorrow. I definitely agree that tight/weak "innards" can be the root of many aches and pains....so I'm going to commit to adding stretching to my daily routine, even on days I don't get to the gym. You have a very good point about the Alli...I don't eat too many fatty foods...just occasionally....so it might not help a lot, and is it worth the messy and embarassing risks?

Annie - Scary about your nephew's emergency apendectomy surgery, but glad to hear he's doing okay. And, yes, you are GREAT! I completely agree with Happy that you should check out Curves, including their hours, before you shell out money. The Curves by me is only open from 8 am until 6 or 7 pm and very limited hours on the weekends...not really accommodating to the working woman's schedule.

Mel - Looks like we'll both be on steroids...you for your eye and me for my back. But they do usually provide relief. Hang in there.

Ruth - I hope you're having a good day today!

Ceejay - Are you going to Paragould this weekend?

Shad - I hope you get to relax and have fun this weekend.

Love and big hugs to all,

Annie - you posted above me, you little devil! Glad to hear that the hours of your Curves will work for you. I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend puttering around the house. Can Tony rototil your garden in exchange for a marvelous dinner or something else?

Happy
I don't blame you in choosing the cardiac cath. I'd want to know if there is any blockage or not also. Sorry to hear the news about dh's job.

I'm not sure who mentioned Ali weight loss. My doctor recommended this to me at one time. You do have to watch the fat grams very closely.

Michelle
Good for you on getting in the exercise. I haven't had any problems with FB yet but I try not to do all those extra things. I have a paid subscription and don't have near the problems I used to due to the advertising on 3fc

Annie
I for one like to know how I'm doing when exercising. I'd love to have a BodyBugg like they use on the Biggest Loser. That's why I wear the pedometer and the exercise bike I have at home counts burned calories, miles etc.

Mel
Rest, We will hear from you later.

Shad
Hope things get better for you.

Early Thursday Morning we had rain but this morning around 3.30 a.m. I woke up to the loudest thunder that actually shook the house. Still raining when I took out the garbage.
I cleaned up the kitchen yesterday and did most of the laundry. The grass was still a little wet but decided to mow the yard. My mower is needing a new blade. I'm sore this morning. It took me a little over 2 hours, the grass was taller than I realized, but I had 18,318 steps and 3.7 miles. I'm sore this morning. I love to be outside.

Have a good day.

Michelle
Probably will not go to Paragould. I'm filling in for L Sunday. It's getting to be a gbig hassle if I go for one night.

Hello ladies,

I updated my PC to IE8 last night and it's very sluggish. That and the network was down today also. Not going to be a great day I think. I am off today - kind of glad about that because my head is swimming with everything that is going on. I was supposed to clean out the garage today and it is raining like crazy - was kind of hoping to drag boxes from the garage to the patio so I can dig through them in better light. I don't want to find any surprise spiders in the boxes I guess I could focus on the inside of the house today and do the garage tomorrow.

Thanks for the support about DH. It's kind of hitting home today - lots to think about. I guess that's a good frame of mind to be in when you are cleaning!

Ceejay - I think you can get the lawnmower blade sharpened rather than replacing it. I'm not sure - think DH runs a stone over ours. The blade does get dull over time. I think we are in for lots of April rain around these parts.

Ack Michelle - sounds like you are really in a world of hurt right now. I'm sorry to hear about that Hope the shot will help you. That was frightful about DH losing his job as you closed on a house! I think I'd panic but as you say - you just have to push forward. I must say I cringed when you mentioned predictions of snow this weekend. I'm sure you are so ready for spring.

Annie - sounds like you found yourself a more accomodating Curves outlet. If for nothing else, at least it gets you back in the habit of exercising. I can relate to that. I'm good on food, terrible when it comes to the routine of formal exercise. I suppose you have to set up a routine for yourself - know when you are going to go - some people are early exercisers, some are ok going after work. Then they say you must commit to it without fail. One of the good things about Curves is the comraderie you build up with the other ladies as opposed to the somewhat impersonal experience of just you at the gym. Since you have already lost the weight, Curves would probably be a good option for toning and fitness. Good luck!

Shad - sorry to hear you are so rushed. By now the work week should be over. Hope you get something tasty at the markets.

Mel - rest up and take care of yourself. Sorry to hear about your eye.

I guess I'm going to try and get something done this morning so let me get off here and get busy. I'll be back later.

Ceejay - Good for you for getting in all that yard work/cleaning/exercise! Thanks for your thoughts about Alli. Happy is correct, it is possible to have lawn mower blades sharpened and if I recall it doesn't cost that much.

Happy - Having been where you are in terms of dealing with layoffs, I totally understand what you mean about your head swimming. That plus, your catheter procedure. That's a lot to deal with. But you just have to push forward and hope for better days ahead. As for my pain...it comes and goes, and luckily does not keep me from working...but it does keep me from enjoying life outside of work as it really limits what I can do. And frankly, I'm tired of the Catch 22...that my back will hurt less, and many of my medical problems will be alleviated when I lose weight...but I can't work out without pain so it's difficult to take off the weight. Catch 22. So with the shot...I'll be able to do a lot more without pain (as long as I remember to not be stupid and do too much lifting or bending, etc.). You're right about the importance of committing to exercise. I'm much better on exercise than on food. That being said, it's REALLY easy for me to talk myself out of going to the gym. But this week, even though I was a bit sore, I forced myself to go every day except Monday (because I was just in too much pain on Monday), and I the combination of cardio, abs, and stretching was just the ticket for my stiff and aching back. And I just have to remind myself when I try and think of excuses not to go to the gym that not only will I feel better afterwards due to endorphins, my back will loosen up and probably hurt less if I work out sensibly.

Eewww Michelle, a shot in the back, I wouldn't even get an epidural to have a baby, I went natural, cause I was scared of the shot in the back...Yikes.

Ceejay....wish it would get warm enough to cut the grass here. It is supposed to rain all weekend and maybe flurry early SUnday morning. I wish mother nature would quit teasing us and just let it be warm.

Happy....being unemployed not too long ago, I can relate to your DH and your head swimming also. Bless your heart. Peace sister.

Not too much going on...I found my gift card for the movies, I would like to go see Duplicity, Tony is want to see 12 Rounds or something like that. We may have 13 Rounds, deciding. hahahha. He is being extra nice today, nice he has been in a foul mood over work all week. He apoligized for being a "Dick" on the phone earlier in the week. He wasn't really a dick to me at all, but I accepted his apology anyway...keep him in practice for apolgies... hahaha

I think Hella Bella is coming out of her depression. She was full of crap this morning wanting to play ball. It only took about a week for her to get over missing Tony and the boys.

Tony's boy's half brother, (Tony's ex-wife's kid by new husband) was a bit of a hero yesterday. He went into his buddy's burning house and saved the baby. The baby ended up with burns on 30 percent of it's body and the half brother just had burns on his arms. The baby is in the burn unit in Indy. THe half brother was treated and released. The dad of the baby was burnt on 70 percent of his body and is also in the burn unit in Indy. Tragic but a great story. Did that make any sense? Confusing....

Anyway, have a great night-morning.

Love and Hugs

Wow Annie - what a hero you have in the family.

Happy - what can I say. DH saw it coming a while back, however it's never over till it's over and now you have got to that stage. Please pass on my sympathies. No doubt I will get to chat to him on facebook, but no matter how hard you try, the final cut still hurts. After 25 years, it's a severe surgical removal.

Michelle hope that back improves very soon with the steroid shots. You are right - it's always a catch 22 situation. Things hurt because we put too much weight on weak joints, and we need to move those weak joints to move the weight.

DS2 rang me today to say that he thought DB2 was back gambling again. I rang DB2 and had a chat with him, but he was buying bits to fix his dishwasher which locked everything inside during it's cycle. It seems the DW has been repaired with some dodgy parts at some point in the past. I guess they are in for a new dishwasher now. That means they have replaced the washing machine, fridge, and oven since they moved into the place. Such is life.

Iwent to the market this morning. Walked up there, caught the tram back. I got some lovely veges and some fantastic bread. I also bought ham, some dried fruit and looked lovingly at the wonderful cheeses, but was very good and left them behind.

The Australian Grand Prix is on here in Melbourne this weekend. It adds to the noise around the place as well as the helicopters and F18 or whatever it is buzzing over head - this is already one really noisy place!!!!

I've been to the gym and the pool today. Like Michelle I need to get some of this weight off my ankle and knee joints. I think I need to get a trainer to get me really started again. The gym here is okay but not great and the pool is becoming somewhat cool. I hope they start heating it soon.

Anyway, I'd better go and put some dinner on. Steak with salad tonight and some of that fantastic sourdough multigrain bread I bought.