Ginny....Did I ever PM you my snail addy? I'm brain dead and can't remember and don't want to OVER send it! LOL

Too much junk.....not enough time........ NO time for me.... laundry, dirty kitchen, school work await.... I'm REALLY getting sick of this! It is 9:45 and this is the first time I've sat down all day AND I have sooo much I should be doing instead of writing this...... sigh

I'm an emotional mess..... which only comes out in my food consumption. I know this. Fix it? I feel so powerless over this JUNK.....

gonna run before I get deeper into this funk....
tomorrow is another day..... clean house or not.... everyone has clean underwear for tomorrow... I think I should feel successful! LOL They EVEN have clean towels!
thanks for listening...

take care.....
meeee
Ginny, I save my thank you notes... I really do!

BIG hugs there, Robyn. Try not to feel overwhelmed, as very tempting as it is!!! Catch your breath......you made great strides this weekend cleaning out stuff. It is usually our stuff that gets the best of us, and purging is such a freeing experience.
No, you did not send me your email. Please do so, and sometime toward the end of this week (thursday looks like a good chance) I can get to the library and copy the appropriate stuff. One thing I did read.....and it does work. Pick out some small area....one drawer, one shelf....one whatever.....clean it out- be merciless. Pick an area that will take 15 minutes to do. Try to do that once a day. Ok, the article (actually book) mentioned that this process will take almost 3- 4 months to get thru the whole house. Ok, I have not completed the whole house, or even gotten close, but this has helped me a bit. Hang in there, my friend.

Actually, hang in there my friends.......Friday is coming....anyone have election day off?? (just something to look foward to!, no I do not have the whole day off, one of my schools is open) Probably will not be able to check in later, have to pick up Ds from school and I WILL get to WW tonite. Take good care.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
I am going to try posting here again. I have tried for the last two evenings and my computer boots me off. I had a nice weekend. I was able to attend my workshop and even go home to see my family for the weekend. So I was a happy camper. But I have fallen right back in the thick of things with school and home for another week. I went to TOPS tonight. Once again I gained weight. But only 1/4 of a pound. The one lady said she really thinks it is muscle gain because I am firming up and slimming down really nicely. I think that is what it is too. But I wonder how much longer it is going to take before I start to lose weight again. This makes it 4 3/4 pounds in the last month. Well I best be off to bed. I think I am getting a cold on top of everything else. So I just took some Nyquil and it is kicking in fast. I will get more personal with everyone tomorrow. Have a great day on Wednesday!
Kerry

...thanks for the kind encouraging words Ginny! I wish it were as easy as cleaning out a drawer! BUT you are right...pick one thing and FIX IT! I know this. I know this. I know this! I did well with eating UNTIL I became an emotional basketcase around 8 pm... I KNOW that this happens repeatedly and yet I don't prepare for it nor do I fight it. I hate being a mental mess....


"If you want to be somebody else,
If you're tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else
Change your mind..."

anybody else know my favorite Sister Hazel song?! I KNOW that this is true. I must get this stuff FIXED in my head.... but for tonight...I've got school work to mess with! You guys know how it is! Report cards are due next week. We have a work day on Monday and a Staff development day on Tuesday. 2 work days in a row without kids! These are the first days off without kids since the year began...AND they are the first days without kids that I've had since the fall of 2003 as last year ALL the work days were sucked up by the hurricane and its fun!

enough babble from me.

.....change your mind...
take care...
~meeeeee

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR........
Kerry, I feel your pain. I gained too, second week in a row for me and I was expecting to lose (had been pretty good). So, I am angry- furious.......and back to keeping very strict rules for myself. Gosh I fought so darned hard to get these #'s off and I won't let them creep back on. b
Sorry not to get personal right now, I wanted to check in and say hello and then go out for another walk. See ya later.
Ginny

In a better mood........at least for now. (TOM is due soon too, so who knows what kind of mood I'll be in). Just as I was preparing to go for that walk an old friend from this site called me, have not heard from her in almost a year. Gee, it was great to hear from her~ really picked my mood up!!!!! And I did some painting in the living room today- Dh finally noticed after dinner and apparently does not like the color I picked out (too bad). FYI, it is a soft butter yellow, which does match everything else we have. I thought I would get a little bit gutsy.....no it is NOT school bus yellow- or anything that bright. Butter yellow (possibly a bit more muted than that even) is a good description.
Better go help Dd with her math. And you are all sick of me babbling. See ya tomorrow!
Ginny

Hi all.
Did the 2nd field trip to Safeway today... And boy, how did Safeway treat us! They treated those kids so well... gave them a huge tour, and talked to all the department managers, samples in nearly every department, including cookies in the bakery, fruit in produce, and meat/cheese in deli... then "goodie bags" when we left with HIGH SCHOOL AGE APPROPRIatE stuff! Hats, water-mugs, granola bars and water.
They even gave me batteries... the digital camera batteries died in the middle of the tour... I'd planned to use a school camera today, but had mine just in case, and good thing because the school cameras were all checked out. But my rechargable batteries died... I had planned to pay for them, but the store gave us the batteries.
The kids did really well, and I think they learned a lot.
That's the good news.
The iffy news is my endocrinologist wants to talk to me; she'd ordered some bloodwork done, and has the results, but we're playing phone tag. I was surprised that she got the results so fast, and by the message she left saying that she wanted to talk to me and "see where we go next". Her nurse says that's become a standard message for her, and not to worry too much... but I'm so busy on Thursdays, and she's in surgery on Fridays.
The bad news is what the school has done to our health insurance. I understand WHY they've done it and why its happening, but that doesn't make it any easier on me. They used to pay 100% of up to $500 for diagnostic imaging and X-rays. I don't *think* that includes bloodwork, because I've never gotten a bill for that. I do get bills for my ultrasounds, though, and one for the endoscopy. Originally, once they paid the $500, you'd meet your deductible and then they'd pay 90%. Now, we start right off with having to meet the deductible and then the 90%. That's tough on me, ultrasounds are EXPENSIVE! I think I am going to be okay, if I can get my endocrinologist to move the ultrasound and annual exam to later in the year, because I upped my health care spending account a LOT to cover the insurance short-falls and prescription costs.
We'll see. Its also up in the air if she is going to be considered a "specialist", since she's both a reproductive endocrinologist & infertility specialist, and a GYN. When I was in Fairfax, they considered her a specialist under my HMO. But I didn't need a referral to see her because she was also a GYN. I'm not sure what my current plan will consider her. I HOPE they aren't going to drop her, because they've stopped paying for in-vitro fertilization, and I'm pretty sure that is one of her main avenues of practice. Although, strangely enough, despite also being a GYN, I don't think she actually delivers babies.
Anyway... gotta run. ITs nearly 8, and I still haven't done anything about dinner.

OHHHH!!!! And for those into this: checkout the new SlimFast Optima drinks. I hated regular SlimFast because it was just way too sweet and thick. The Optima has 50% less sugar, and is thinner. I had a coupon, so I figured I'd give 'em a try. The cappucino is pretty good. And they're cheaper than the other shakes I'd been drinking... they do have 80 more calories, though. But its still only 180.

Mouse- I find all this healthcare stuff mind boggling!!! (it sure would be nice if they would STOP changing the rules as they go, so that we could plan accordingly). Our benefits are changing too......8 years ago we had the 90% coverage, which was wonderful. Now we have to meet deductible and then pay 20%. Gets so pricey. And yes sono's are lots of $$$$$. Hope you succeed getting hold of the Dr. The waiting game is no fun at all. GLad you like the new slimfast stuff. They have changed their entire line (dropped the snack bars that were only 2 WW points.....boo hoo). Sounds like a nice treat for you.

Not much new here.....got 2 walks in (total of 35 minutes, probably 2.5 miles) and got the second coat of paint up on the first wall......first coat on the second wall. I LOVE this color. Gotta go pick up the critters.....I was asked to take someone elses critters home too so it will be a busier than normal afternoon. Hope everyone is doing great! See ya later.
Ginny

Evening Ladies,
Just a short visit for me. I have to work on my IEP progress reports tonight, so they can go home tomorrow afternoon with my kids report cards. Nothing new here. Just busy with school and trying to get over a cold my kids gave me.
Mouse that is crappy what they did with your health insurance. I hope that they cover your specialist. That would be one less worry for you.
Ginny I am glad that you got to reconnect with an old friend. That always puts you in a better mood when you get to chat with them. Glad that your painting is coming along so well. Even if your dh doesn't like the color.
Hi Robyn and SUmmer. Hope all is going well with you two.
Have a great Friday.
Talk to you later.
Kerry

Hi, all.
Finally reached the endocrinologist. She says that she is a specialist. She's not a standard GYN because she doesn't deliver babies as well. She's a specialist gynecologist/endocrinologist, because there are some patients who can't see a standard GYN. Which is true: a standard GYN wouldn't be able to do anything for me except the annual exam, and maybe not even that because they might not understand the impact of the screwed up hormones on the reproductive system and other body systems.
And remember that horrible plastic surgeon who was so very very rude???? And that he was going to charge me becuase he didn't want to bill the insurance? I think I posted that the total was $65, and I paid my $15 co-pay, they assured me that if the insurance company turned them down I'd only have to pay the $40. The insurance company accepted and processed the bill. Okay, now, two things: He was so rude that he was with me, MAX of 5 minutes. I walked out of his office. And remember, it wasn't going to be the full fee: he submitted a bill of $330!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you all read that correctly. $330! He did NOTHING. He didn't even use up a pair of gloves on me.
And if I had paid it myself, it would've been $65 or so. Where does he get off submitting $330? Fortunately, they denied most of it...but they still paid over $100 to him.
And people wonder why health insurance is costing so much? You better believe that I'm going to notify my insurance company. I hope they can bust him for fraud!
My endocrinologist who spends so very much time with me, mostly on the phone which she CANNOT bill for, never submits bills that high. I wish I had my medical binder in the house, I'd look up one of her bills. I'm just livid.
Anyway... HAPPY HALLOWEEN ALL!

Hey all. I'm so sorry I've been MIA. It has been one heck of a busy week. Every single night, I had to go somewhere or do something. Then add homework, schoolwork, cooking, and sleeping, I had not a minute left to myself. My house looks like a tornado hit it.

On Monday, I had to get some things at the store, and get DD's uniform and other ecoutrements ready for Brownies. On Tuesday, DD had her investiture ceremony, and then we went out with her friends for ice cream. Then I had to bake brownies for the fire fighters who were coming on Wednesday with their fire truck to do a fire safety presentation to my class. On Wednesday, I had to do Halloween preparations and shopping. On Thursday, I had to bake more brownies for DD's after school program, and finish making my costume. On Friday, I was so friggin' exhausted and fried that I was in bed before DD was. Today, I have done laundry, laundry, laundry, and some house-cleaning. I am still exhausted. DD's teacher is giving double homework now which takes a long time since her directions are extremely vague, and she is an anal retentive a**hole who actually returns DD's homework to be corrected for small/tiny/minor things like not leaving enough white space between her first and last name. I want to wrap my fingers around this chick's neck and tell her to "CHILL THE F*CK OUT!" So, it was a very long busy week, and I'm wishing I married a wealthy man so I could have a clean house and spend my free time (I would have free time) volunteering.

DD's school system decided that there would be no costumes or parties for Halloween this year. So, I left my house yesterday morning in costume while my kid wasn't allowed to wear one. Thankfully, the YMCA's after school program had a party for the kids, so she didn't totally miss out. In my school, if someone doesn't celebrate Halloween for religious reasons, we give them the option of staying home or going to another room in the building. Every year I get someone who doesn't celebrate, and the parent has always chosen to keep the child home so they don't feel left out. This year, I had a student whose mother had planned on keeping him home, but at the last minute became very confrontational and told me it was her right to send him to school. I put on my diplomatic smile and replied, "Of course, we will set him up with a paraprofessional in the Library with some activities." I didn't take the bait and argue with her. She was definitely looking for a fight. The sad thing is that he had to see the other children, my aide, and I in our costumes, and wasn't allowed (by his mother) to take home a goodie bag at the end of the day. I think it is pretty crappy to use your child to make a political statement. Yes, she has her rights. What about her child's rights to not have his feelings hurt? What about every other child's rights to celebrate an American holiday tradition that has been around longer than I can say? AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I promise to catch up with all of you over the weekend. I have a lot of reading and responding to do.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Don't you hate those using their kids for their own agenda??????? Sorry that happened to you Summer. You handled it like a pro.

Mouse- now why is it that you have met every crummy MD in the east coast?????
Gee, I know that there are some good ones........I forgot about the endocrinologist.
Hang in there.......this has to get better.

Off to continue painting, which BTW, Dh is now helping me, and even is beginning to like the color. (looks more gorgeous by the minute, in my eyes.)
Sorry to be short, gotta go. Hi to Kerry and Robyn.
Ginny

I haven't met EVERY crummy MD... and this isn't a new one, this is the twit I posted about the end of September.

The last two years, students were permitted to wear costumes (no masks), and in my middle school it was encouraged. Last year, however, at my school, admin sent out a notice that we should report students who "felt the need" to wear a costume to their therapists, because this IS high school.
This year, it wasn't encouraged because we had the Today Show and executives from NBC and the hospital that runs our program touring. There is allegedly some series the Today show will be doing on students with autism, and we were picked.

Hi. My name is Melody and I am a 3rd year teacher. I taught 2 years at a public middle school and now I teacher English to grades 7-10. I have also struggled with my weight for quite a while and would like to lose it once and for all. What plans do you guys use? I am going to use Slim Fast because I am always on the go.