Sandra, your mexican casserole sounds alot like a recipe that I got from my Niece called Polenta Pie. I LOVE it. I even slice it into serving pieces and freeze it for lunches. Jim wouldn't eat polenta either now that I think of it. I like polenta and couscous for lunch since he won't eat them and then I can still have my potato or pasta at dinner with him. He makes his own lunch and breakfast.

I really think the twice baked chicken sounds interesting. Would you serve it over rice? I always have to have a starch and a veggie at my dinner. Some kind of weird rule I have!

Sleeping Beauty checking in - so ya I did have a little trouble getting to sleep again (maybe feel asleep around midnight but had all these wild and scary dreams??). Still had trouble getting up today, but got to sleep in a bit due to dd's orthodontist appt - and no it does not look like she'll finish ON TIME. Braces supposed to be off in September or that was the original estimate - but of course they don't predict that's the case now! If she was more diligent at wearing her elastics of course we would be in a better position - so yes I will be on her case daily/hourly to make sure she has them on - just another drill sergeant job of mine!

TOM kinda here now but I decided to start my next round of bc pills early to avoid having TOM while on vacation - hope my strategy works! Still feeling kinda blah tho with some lower tummy pain.
...and yes I succumbed to a donut this morning - got to work late, grabbed a coffee, just made it to our meeting and there was the box of donuts and I was STARVING. It was yummy and I hope to continue my day more core-like with my planned lunch and snacks.

Angela - I love your job chart idea - wish it could work at my house! ha ha ha. And a trip to the water park sounds great to me as it is roasting again here today and the air at work is still not working well as I am pretty warm. Going to be around 90 again - and we did not have any rain last night so it's very muggy and windy out!

Sandra - sorry to hear you are in pain - hope you get to see the dr. soon! You need to be in top shape for this weekend! We are all rooting for you.

Vickie - I am so envious of your pool - man oh man I'd be out there all the time enjoy the sunshine and the water. Our backyard is disgusting w/ patches of crappy grass and lots of weeds. Dh has been pulling them religiously but it's a never ending job. Hoping for a delivery of topsoil this week so we can spread it and add more grass seed, and see what happens.

We also have an 8 x 10 "hole" where the patio is supposed to go - need to start working on that and getting the stones, etc to complete it - probably another summer without a backyard - how depressing. I would love to get a patio set w/umbrella and a bbq and really enjoy it - but we are on the 10 year plan it seems!

I don't want to work now! I am being a lazy and depressed Froufie

Hope you feel better soon, Frouf. Don't worry about the attack of the sugar monster. It happens, especially around TOM. Just try to stay Core the rest of today and I'm sure you'll be fine. I have NO plan for lunch or dinner and don't seem real concerned about making one. Not sure what is wrong with me but I better snap out of it soon!

I just finished my TOM yesterday and it's time for me to start taking my 10 days of progesterone Thursday. Meaning my next TOM could be 14 days away!!!!!!!!!

God Help poor Jim! Pre-menopause stinks.

Good morning.

Kathy, I'm sorry to hear about your sister. It's hard losing anyone, but especially someone young. Thank goodness for the rest of your family and for hospice. They've helped many people I know.

Froufy, maybe breaking rocks could be your exercise for the day. Go out there and shift stuff. Make sure you sing "16 Tons" in a loud deep voice and grunt frequently.

I've got the garlic chicken in the crockpot. I've made the very high fat version before, but never this one, so I'm looking forward to it. Plus, having something in the crockpot always makes me feel organized, which I could really use this week. My fingers still smell like garlic, though.

At my meeting on Saturday, we used storyboarding to set our goals for Labor Day, and mine is to real my WW goal and start maintenance. It's hard to believe that that's actually a realistic goal. The time I've spent doing WW has gone so fast, which has certainly not been the case in my past weight loss attempts.

melissa, i'm actually looking forward to friday's wi. now isn't that something? i taught high school the last 10 years before i retired. this is a lot of pressure for these kids, but it's sounding like they have the opportunity of a lifetime here.

vickie, sounds like you are pretty busy today. i haven't made the cola chicken in awhile. i may have to make it soon. yours sounds delish.

angie, what a clever idea! i'll bet your little ones are working hard today to get to go for a splash day.

Well, we got all our jobs done - in fact, I was the last one done, and the kids were hurrying me. So we got suited up, sunscreened, and made it to the splash pad a few minutes after it opened. But for some reason, it never turned on!!! Grrr. We ended up having to drive across town to another one. Oh well. They had fun eventually.

Now everyone's bugging me for some lunch, and I'm famished too, so off we go.

Angela

vickie, i haven't made the twice baked chicken yet but plan to soon. dh would probably eat it over rice but i doubt i would. i don't eat much rice. i'd probably have some potato with it, though. i think we were raised to have a starch with our meals, weren't we? my dh likes polenta better when i put some cayenne in it. he said it was "flat" before.

frouf, don't be depressed. you're going on vacation soon. when are you leaving? i can't remember. i've taken bc pills to help with trips before. it works. in fact, my gyn had me do it. vickie's giving you some good advice. just stay on core. you'll be all right.

cher, you have to be excited getting to goal soon. i'm happy for you.

i need to get off here and go mop the kitchen. doesn't that sound like fun? ya'll have a good day. i'll be back later.

Breaking plates and screaming at the top of my lungs is more like it!

Just found out from ds's guidance counsellor that he is actually NOT GOING to graduate from high school unless his math marks are in before end of June!!! THIS IS NOT GOOD. He does have conditional acceptances from 3 universities however they expect to receive a copy of his diploma by July and looks like that may not be happening!!!

He failed grade 11 math a couple of years ago - and he needs this credit to graduate. Yes he was enrolled in summer school but put it off, then said he would take night school and put it off - now said he would do it via internet/e-school which was put off until I recently called and paid for it. So while the course is 3 months long - I can't imagine he can complete it and take the exam in something like 2 weeks?

Of course he could have actually registered for the math at school last fall but NOOOOOO he could not be in a class w/GRADE ELEVENS - how demeaning that would be for him (and probably embarrassing too?). The school even offered to tutor him and we even offered to get a tutor for him!

So now I am biting my tongue and just letting go (on the advice of my friend who is a counsellor) - there is a natural consequence for every action - and a perfect way for kids to learn. But I can barely handle this. I know that he is supposed to send back the acceptance paperwork by June 13th and was going to discuss this w/him - but she said NO - let him work on this himself - HE WILL BE 19 YRS OLD ON SATURDAY - he is an adult she says (ya right) and should be capable of sending in the required forms etc on his own (NOT!).

He should also understand that by putting off the math course he has caused some major problems for himself - which are obviously affecting his future (but of course Mom wants to try and save his a$$ as usual!). Dh will go nuts when he hears about this one as ds has always been a great procrastinator and last minute guy! (and yes we have warned him that this won't fly at the university level!).

I guess I will not be attending his graduation ceremony on June 30th?? as he may not be walking down that aisle to get a diploma? I am so sad and so angry. But I agree w/my gf that he is not a mature 19 yr old and maybe he is not ready to go to university? Maybe he needs some more time to realize what he needs to do? I know that he just can't stay home come September, so hopefully he can get more hours at his pt job, or maybe find a full-time job somewhere so he can get some work experience??

I feel so depressed and upset - it seems so futile sometimes doesn't it? My child is so NOT LIKE me and I guess this is the hardest lesson to learn! I was so focussed and diligent at his age - and wanted so badly to go to university and succeed. I guess he's just not there yet? ...and might never be? It's mostly sad cuz he is actually a bright and charming kid - school president, leadership trainer, and has led and organized many events at school and spoken at parent meetings and attended special events here in Ottawa (Forum for Young Canadians) and even President's Classroom in Washington where he was chosen to do a speech for the whole assembly (and told me yesterday he might do a reprise as he is on the short list for class Valedictorian - well I guess that's no longer the case?).

I am so sad for him - I always said this is a child that would learn things the hard way!

Frouf

PS You will be happy to know I forced myself to eat my salmon, brown rice and peas even tho that chocolate donut in the box was calling my name!

PPS - Thanks for the opportunity to rant and rave!

That's rough, Froufy, but it may be that you and your gf are right that he isn't really ready for college. A year of working might be just the right thing. I taught college kids for a while and saw lots of kids who would have been better off maturing for a while before coming to school.

Is it possible to check with an actual admissions officer at one of the schools, though? Your ds sounds like a great catch and they might be willing to work it out somehow.

Frouf, vent anytime. That's what we're here fore. All this stress defintely affects your eating. Congratulations for staying on program. Cher is giving some good advice. Maybe the admissions offices will work with him. But...I'd make him make the calls while I stood over his shoulder!

Frouf - its so funny how your kids sound just like mine!!! My DD was to get her braces off last August, then it was "oh definitely by Christmas", then it was Spring and now she actually has an appt. to get them off tomorrow. It has been a long two years., now she is also getting her hair cut shoulder length (about 4 inches off) on Saturday and is going to try to lighten it with some lemon juice (really dark brown now) and says, "I'll be so hot for middle school"..............just what I need, a "hot" eleven year old. Also, slipped with the grades this year, because "hey, I passed", yeah but if you studied you would have gotten an A and not a C. Too busy socializing at school to care about the work. Told her this will all change next year or there will be no DANCING!!!! Kids!!! At least DS is still too young to cause any problems.

Lisa

lisa and frouf, they say grandchildren are your reward for not killing your children. that's what dh says anyway.

frouf, congratulations on not answering that calling donut. that's a good accomplishment right there. shows determination.

lisa, a hot 11 yr old? my first thought here is "aren't you proud she takes care in her looks?" my second thought is "get ready for the boys to be hanging around." it's good she has the dancing. that may help keep me feet on the ground.

Hey everybody, hope you're having good days! Things were okay with me today, nothing too exciting. Eating-wise things are okay, I've used about 3 wpas today though. Not too bad, except for my personal goal for the week. Oh well, it could be worse!
We still haven't heard anything about the job yet. Hopefully soon, we are just keeping our fingers crossed! Its a frustrating process though.

Vickie, thank you for your comments. My boss really doesn't care to communicate with anyone. She wants things done a certain way and wants you to read her mind. I would love for you to come and mediate for us, but I don't think it would do any good. Besides the fact that she would probably not ever agree to a mediation because she can't she that there is a problem. OK, enough of that.

Angela, your job chart idea is fantastic. I'm going to note that somewhere for when I have kiddos of my own.

Frouf, I'm so sorry for your stressful day. It can't be easy trying to deal with the situation with your DS. Someday he will learn to do things on his own. I think its great that you are trying to let him deal with the consequences of his actions. : to you!

Lisa, isn't it crazy how kids want to be so grown up so fast? I guess I was that way too, just in different ways than they are now. I see little tiny girls dressed like half-naked pop stars and I just don't understand. Good luck with adolescence!

Sandra, how was the mopping? I'm not sure that I would say that I'm looking forward to w/i on Friday, but I do like the idea of changing days. Hopefully it will help me stay op!!

Ladies I am tired tonight. I might pop back in later but I'm off for now! Keep your for me, pre-TOM eating is trying to rear its ugly head!!!!

melissa, the mopping went well. i don't think you could eat off the floor, though. i didn't want to overdo it and get it too clean.

speaking of "overdo", i walked 25 minutes on the treadmill and got both feet sore. i need to slow down. oh, well, life goes on.

i made ya'll's fried cornmeal chicken for dinner. i love it!!! dh asked me if it was fish fried chicken, but he ate all his and i think he liked it. now i need to check out some more recipes on the recipe board. there are a lot of great looking recipes here, aren't there? variety is very important for making any diet work. i like seeing all the recipes and all the menus posted here.

one of our archery students is here now with dh working to get ready for this weekend's tournament. i'm getting excited. i've been waiting on this tournament for a year. last year it was cold, raining, and very, very windy. not good for flinging arrows at long distances. i hope this year the weather will be better. so far it's looking like it may be a repeat of last year. my goal is to set a new state record for women 55 and older. i need good weather to do that. keep your fingers crossed for me.

Whew, I'm a worn out pup! Just got home not long ago and I'm not thinking about cooking, that's for sure. We are babysitting the inlaws' 3 big dogs and they got here tonight. So now we have 6 dogs and a cat? Are we crazy???

Frouf, you poor thing. It just never gets better, does it? I'd let him sink or swim -- that's what college will do. It's high time he buys a clue. I think Canada must be a little different from the US though; if a kid here fails a class, there's no way he'd be on ANY list for Valedictorian! My oldest DD graduated 13th in her class of 650 and had a GPA of 4.25 because of honors classes. Of course, the other two were mid-class, but that's okay too. Anyway back to the smart one. She had to stop taking classes in her senior year that weren't honors, because it was dragging her GPA down. She's the one who's a pharmacy tech and is pre-med. Thank God one of them will be able to support the rest of us losers when we're old! Anyway, good luck to him and you and whatever you decide. I'm so glad those years are behind me now.

The rest of you, have a great night. I have to convince my DH that we need to go out because I need comforting. Whether it's food or whatever, I need it.