Good Morning Everyone,

Today is the day I go up to northern NJ for my sister's dance recital. Several concerns -
1 - her spare bed mattress is HORRIBLE. I end up with no sleep and bad backache every time I stay there. Maybe I will pick up one of those blow-up mattresses on my way up.

2 - dinner - we will arrive in the late afternoon & must leave for the recital (she's the owner, so she must get there early) around 6 pm. Usually, we don't eat before we leave - there is a buffet at my niece's after the recital - around 11 pm. OK - I will pick up salads for Lucy (my little sister) and me (and my dd if she wants one) on the way to my sister's. We can eat those before we leave for the recital.

3 - the after-the-recital-buffet. NEVER anything healthy to eat. Lots of carbs. I'll pick up some caffeine-free, diet soda on the way up & stick to that (and salad if there is any) at the buffet.

I hate it that my first thoughts about going out are the challenges I will have to overcome. Getting old is a pain. However, I'm old enough to know that if I don't have a strategy to overcome them, the challenges will do me in.

OK, everyone, I'll be back home tomorrow evening. Check back in then.

Lynn

Ok, Zoe and Cat.....hummm, I'll have to get use to that!! I love both the names and wanted my daughter to name her baby Zoey if it was a girl (was a boy-Adam) and I have a friend called Cat.

Congrats on the 5 lbs. Karen.....I may have to look at that south beach diet, I have the book but then again I think I have ALL the diet books!

Zoe, how did you like the turkey sausage wrap? We loved it. I need to get to Walmart and buy some more wraps....I never did make the pizza with it. I did do the toasting and coating with ICNBIB spray and cinnamon/sugar sprinkled on...very tasty.

This is my third husband.....I was widowed twice. My first at age 28 and we had a son and daughter (5 & 2yrs) he was a Forester and was killed in an accident at work. My second was a brilliant man, made lots of money, was an alcoholic, unfaithfull and a terrible terrible marriage at the end. He went into rehab and had a seizure and hit his head on a tile floor and never came out of the coma, had brain surgury and then died 2 wks. later. I then had my 3 children at age 38, 2 boys and 1 girl.

Now I am married to the most wonderful, kind, loving man. We are retired and not a lot of retirement money, we have to watch our pennies but I wouldn't trade him or our life for the world. My kids love him and his two children love me, we have been married for 20 yrs. and still in love, I think that's a great statement and he has never complained about my weight either.

He is a keeper!!!!

I need to go eat something and I'll respond to more posts later.

Phyllis

GOOD MORNING LADIES!!!!! (that was my "good morning, Vietnam impression...how'd ya like it??

Nothing exiting happening here this morning...got up early to do some graphic stuff for a client, then went out and finished cutting the grass in the back with that reel mower (huff, puff) then I deadheaded some climbing roses on the back fence, then I spayed for mosquitos and also ended up spraying the puppy who ran under a "stream" of spray. She smells like a garlic furball now, so it's off to the bathtub for her and then me.

I thought I was going to be feeding an army today, but all of my (still sleeping) weekend visitors are scattering for the day, so I'm just defrosting some tuna steaks for Terry (husband) and I and will fix a caprese salad and saute a spaghetti squash with vidalia onions and red peppers. yum. Tomorrow my daughter and I are going to Baton Rouge to hit the Whole Food Market there and she wants to get some over priced new telephone that does everything but wipe...oh, never mind..but it's way to much money to spend on something that aggrivates you!
...Cat

Good Evening Everyone,

Hi Zoe, you know that teachers' exam that your sil just passed? I used to develop those when I worked at ETS. I think in MA, you may use one developed by another company, but we did most of the other states. 2 more lbs lost - a GREAT BIG CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Spaghetti squash is VERY easy - cut 1 in half - scoop the shells out - put the shelless halves in a glass baking dish - pour in some water (around a cup) - put into the microwave for 25 minutes. Be careful when it comes out is is VERY hot. When it cools a little, use a fork and scrape the halves to get the "spaghetti" out. Then, do what you will with it.
I like it with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese.

Hy Phyllis, I am SO happy that you now have such a wonderful dh. Your posts have always given me the impression that this was the case.

Hi Cat, does everyone walk around with a cell phone where you live? It's unbelievable on the east coast. Seems like every other person is walking around talking on one - EVEN when they are with someone else!

Pretty quiet around here. The recital was nice - kids all did VERY well. My sister had bought me a new mattress (I can return the one I bought at Bed, Bath, and Beyond). I had salad before the recital & didn't eat anything at my niece's. Only problem was that my Little Sister had a terrible cold and sore throat but came anyway. I am REALLY hoping that no one catches it - especially, my dd, sister, or me (all leaving for vacation today or Tuesday).

I'll be back tomorrow morning.

Take care everyone,

Lynn

Yes they do..drives me nuts. I used to go pick my husband up from work. He works in the Computer Dept. at our University. He got off right when classes were changing. His building is on a "circle" and kids with phones stuck in their ears would walk out right in front of the car. Every kid you see has a telephone in their face even if they are walking to the next class with another person.

Ella, do what Lynn said on the squash. For some reason yesterday's batch didn't turn out so great..it was ok, but I didn't save the leftovers.

Spent the day with my daughter today..we went to Target (I needed a new pepper mill) and got a couple of shirts there...and yahoo, I no longer wear an XL..kind of a loose L!!..I see a medium within the next few months! Then we went to World Market and got a salt box and a great smelling soap, then to Old Navy and Marie (daughter) found a precious madras dress and I got a rusty/rose colored spaghetti strap sundress...all on sale. My son would not let his girlfriend come with us (he said he saw her check book!) and she agreed, so we brought them back some matching edible fake teeth (they both love goofy stuff like that)and brought her back a really cute head band since Mr. Meanie didn't want her to go. This is my youngest son who until he met this little sweetie was going to be a priest.

Got home in time to cook the big Sunday dinner and now it's nothing but relaxing the rest of the evening..all in all, a great day.

Hi all you darling GOLDEN GIRLS -- missed you all -- funny though I didn't miss going near a computer the whole time I was away. First time I have had such limited access and it was rather nice. I promise to come back with a full report tomorrow -- right now just busy catching up with laundry, washing the car, getting settled. As I type I am uploading the 384 pictures we took on the trip -- thank goodness my sweetie had to delete about 100 when the memory card got too full.

I noticed that everyone is posting pics -- I will see if there is anything decent from this trip -- so lovely to see all of you that I hadn't seen face to face before. Theresa, Ella (my dear friend Zoe), and Lyn how nice to meet you all. I have only been able to scan through all the posts -- I know I have missed lots of interesting things - -I am sure there has been weight lost -- information shared and I am determined never to be away this long again LOL (famous last promises). My eating was semi abysimal -- I tried I really tried but not having access to a kitchen really makes it difficult - my excuse and I am sticking to it LOL.

Glad to be back -- catch up with all of you on Monday!!!!!

Cat wrote, "...today..we went to Target....and got a couple of shirts there...and yahoo, I no longer wear an XL..kind of a loose L!!..I see a medium within the next few months!"

: yay:

Isn't it great to need a smaller size?

I'm happy for you,

Lynn

This is me in my new outfit at my dd's B&B. They have a swimming pool in the ruins of an old stone barn - their house & property date back to before 1790. I'm standing inside the ruins.


Lynn

Hi Joanne,

One of the things we have done is make a birthday list. You and Moxie are the only 2 birthdays missing. (Just need month and day - no need for year).

Please post & I will update our list.

Lynn

Just need Moxie's. Where is Moxie? Anyone have her email address?

Lynn: You are beautiful. I love the color green. Very nice picture.
My birthday was June 18th. Thanks for including me on the list.

I have also been married 3 times.
1st husband: 12 years, physically and mentally abusive...my 2 children and I had to move from WVA to CA under police protection. Very hard but it made me strong.
2nd husband: We were engaged for 4 years and I came home early from work with a headache, one month after our wedding, to find him in bed with a woman he met at the bowling alley. Moved out the next day and got a divorce.
3rd husband: 20 years, unfaithful many, many times......you know the rest.
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

Hi Theresa: Oh, I laughed so hard when I read the Girls Night Out story. I'm going to share it at work tomorrow. It's priceless.

Hi Joanne. Welcome back. I'm a newbie and joined while you were on vacation. It's nice to meet you.