I am very cyclical in my hobbies. I love to crochet and scrapbook, but once I get something done I can put it away for a while. I just got finished with a afghan that I crocheted for my sister for a wedding present and will probably not crochet for a little while. I did a scrapbook for my mother for Christmas last year and haven't scrapbooked much since. I am planning on doing some of that this weekend....I have tons of Florida wedding and vacation pics I am dying to scrapbook.

Since neither of these can be considered "regular," I am going to go the cheesy route and say "hug my dogs." I realize that they are both getting up there in age and that I may not have them for a whole lot longer, but for now they are my life line. I adore them and my life will not be complete when they are gone. I'm gonna give this some more thought and may be back with another one later.

I do love me some tv.....addicted? Possibly......

Listen to music would be another. There's a girl I work with who said the other day that she rarely listens to music.....I just don't get that. I can't imagine what I'd do without music.

I am apparently a little wound up today .....must be an "upcoming 3 day weekend" high!

Karen - I'm on the same 3 day weekend high! I can't wait!

Diva - I woke up with hair that stands straight up and pillow wrinkles on my face. I think the phrase beauty sleep is D*mn Dirty Lie!

The thing I would find it hard to be without is reading, just like our leader. Even with work, the dogs, working out and studying, I still chug through 3 to 6 books a week.

I know there were more personals, but I'm stinky from the dog park and I'm going to hit the shower and then check some more!

This is the other personal I was thinking of!
Um...Ms Pacman? Do they play it on the Atari? Or is Ms Pacman available on a different platform? I haven't played Ms Pacman in years!

Is this a new addiction for Ms. Kelly????

Good morning ladies~ It's gonna be a beautiful day here today. I think the high is 75 with a nice breeze going through. It's so nice to have the windows open, and some fresh air blowing through my house. It's supposed to be really nice for the 4th tomorrow also. I'm excited to go celebrate my great-grandma's b-day. The 4th is always a fun holiday for us. It may be a bit interesting though since my mother is having it at her house and her and I had a bit of a tiff on my b-day. I won't even go into it, but it involves my mom being jealous of my MIL and me not answering to anyone at 29 where I was and why. I live 5 min. away from my MIL whom doesn't work, so if I wanna go over there on my b-day that is my business. My mom couldn't reach me and got mad when she found out where I was. Well ya know what she wasn't ringing me off the hook the day before making plans with me for my b-day so I don't know what she wanted me to do sit by the phone waiting for her to call. I guess I went into it, huh? Oh well if she starts anything tomorrow I'll tell her the same thing I just said I have 3 kids of my own, I'm married, pay my own bills, and I don't answer to my mother still about where I'm going and when. I just love that my sister is the one who's bf is in prison and can't take care of herself or the baby, but I'm the one always getting the grief. I've had it to be quite honest, and I'm just about ready to let my mother know it. I hope not to have to tomorrow though in front of the whole family, but if she puts me in that situation then so be it. She likes to make a scene, and I usually back down, but I won't this time. It really did put a damper on my b-day once I hung up with her, or should I say once she hung up on me!! I went for my first walk yesterday since coming home from vacation and I have to say it did feel great to move. My SIL and I are gonna go for another one today. I hope you all have a fantastic 4th of July. Be safe!

Tina - I LOVE the new avatar. You look so beautiful in it. Is it a Vegas pic? You look like you have a nice tan! Count me jealous!


Stacy - I think that photography is the one thing I would love to learn more about. I really appreciate beautiful artistic pictures. Even before my scrapbooking interest started, I was interested in photography. At my Florida vacation, I took 900 pictures...most of them with the thoughts of how I could incorporate them into scrapbook pages. I took pictures of a single shell on the sand, birds on the shore, etc. I just have a point and click digital camera so there isn't as much depth or artisticness (is that a word?) to them.

My guilty confession: last week I was online trying to get scrapbook page ideas and found some beautiful ones that were done digitally. I got a feather up my *** and purchased Adobe Photoshop Elements last weekend so that I could make some digital pages and do artistic things with the pics. Now I have the program installed and am wondering what in the heck I've gone and done.....I have no clue where to start or how to use the program. I have a book on the way but keep getting pangs of guilt for spending so much money on a whim.

Tina - I just re-read your post. I wonder if your mom gives you so much grief because you don't need her as much as your sister does. Maybe she wants you to need her.....just a thought from left field....may be way off!

They have Ms. Pacman on a little joystick box thingy (large coffee cup size) that you can buy at walmart, and plug into your tv. It has Ms. Pacman, Mappy, Galactica (sp), and a couple of other things. They also have one with Pacman, the old Galactica, DigDug, and something else. They've been using them for a couple of years. However I must warn you that they break almost immediately. Dad is an electrician, so whenever it stops working he's been able to pull it apart and make it work again, but I'm sure everybody doesn't have that capability. They really love them (so do the kids, I'm not into to video games), and I think that Dad bought a spare, just in case he can't get the original one working some time. My parents are a little crazy about Ms. Pacman. Last time we went to Spaghetti warehouse we could barely get them to eat!!

Toni – I’m not a fan of canned fruit or veggies. I use some like canned tomatoes for cooking but try to eat all fresh. I know prices suck right now but I’d really recommend finding a farmers market. I’m saving about $20/week for just myself by heading there.

Tina – Sorry I missed your birthday, I hope it was great!! Cute new pic also!

Kelly – holy smokes on the c25k speed. I walk at 3.8 and jog at 5.0. I’m starting week 5 on Saturday. It’s a great program though and really does help you increase your endurance.

Joyce – I’m sorry you were having a bad day but I think it’s great that you decided to go workout to deal with it! I have bouts of mild depression from time to time and working out really does help. Hope you have a great trip.

Shelby – no big deal just put the cookies down

Rennie – dear god woman get a maid!

Lonnie – yea! Fingers crossed that the scale remains nice and it will if you keep working out and stay on plan. I weigh almost every single day. I know “they” say not to but it keeps me accountable and on plan – I’ve just had to learn that some days I will go up just because and that it will go down.

Stacy – I’m glad you’re back on plan! Have a great trip; I personally cannot wait for 3pm today when I leave work.

MonteCristo – Hang in there, you’re working out the pounds will come off.

Roni– Cheer up pup. Yea for getting back on plan.

Karen – go out make friends! I know it’s not that easy but if you’re just going to work and then home you’re not going to meet people. Do you go to a gym? Book clubs? Volunteer work? All these things will get you out and around new people which I find to be a very valuable motivator and confidence boost.

Andi – 40 freaking pounds? That’s very inspiring. Way to go girl!

Counting Down – yea for grilled veggie kabobs! I’m having those and black bean burgers for my mini 4th celebration.

(warning blunt ***** alert)
Okay I understand about the personals and I hate some of you guys feel that way, however you can’t use that as an excuse to fall off the wagon. You have to take care of yourself first. The support on here is nice and has helped me many times but I don’t think it’s healthy to rely on the challenge or the team as the main support system. You need to find your inner strength to accomplish your goals. And whining about it is not going to help anything. I think it’s great that you guys got it off your chest but dwelling on it is pretty much a downer so lets just be a bit more positive. I personally can’t keep up with all the posts we do have! I mean no offense by this but consider it a bit of tough love because I do genuinely enjoy all of you guys and I’m glad I’m a part of the red team. And anyone I missed on personals it’s nothing personal!!!!



Are you struggling? If so in what area?
- Not terribly. I’ve had a few days where I want to eat more then my 1600 calories but I’m under control.

What do you think would help you?
- I’m taking volunteers to be my personal drill sergeant.

Are you excelling at something? If so what area?
- Taking one day at a time and not stressing the small stuff. Life happens. There will be days I can’t make it to the gym or days I have to eat out and may go over my calories but these will not kill my new lifestyle. Using them as excuses will.

I sort of feel the same way, but it takes time to become really familiar with people who you only know as words on a page (no offense). The thing that has helped me the most was getting involved in the Reluctant Exerciser's Group. There are only about 8 of us regulars, so we can keep up with each other fairly easily, and we can all notice if one of us disappears for a while. Perhaps you might try finding a smaller group (in addition to the Red Team) that has some common interests to get your foot in the door, so to speak. Or you could ask someone to be your accountability partner.

I've not been here very long, so I don't know that many people either, but I seriously doubt anybody is going to mind if you jump right in.

Karen- You may be right about my mom, but it just kinda feels like a slap in the face. I'm the one who has my crap straight, and I get all the crap from her. It just doesn't seem fair. I don't mean to sound like a 3 yr. old, but thats how I feel. I take care of my business and I would think she would be proud of Kev and I for coming as far as we have. I mean Kev and I had Joey while in highschool, so to have our family complete, be married, have a nice home, healthy kids, I don't know I just think if it were me I would be so proud of my child. She may of just been having a bad day though...I'll have to feel her out on the 4th. PS...that pic was taken in Vegas...I wanna go back so bad!LOL!

Stacy- I've tried watching that Flight of the Conchords, and I just couldn't get into it. I'll tell ya though my SIL and BIL love that show

Heather- My b-day was really nice. Thank you for asking. Well said Heather...I sure needed a little kick in the arse