Mmmmm...shrimp! I loooove shrimp! I am so glad that although I have a violent reaction to clams I can still eat other kinds of shellfish.

Just dropping by to wave hi. My head is pounding this morning so I need to go fill my water up and then guzzle down some Advil. I had a Nessa breakfast bar this morning and some yogurt. YUM! I can now attest to the goodness that are these bars. I made apricot and walnut.

I was thrilled yesterday to find out Chester's second surgery was not nearly as expensive as it was mostly a reversal of the first. Pretty much he's gone through two surgeries to be exactly the same as before, except now we know he has a mast cell tumor. They are treating it with a mild chemo steroid. The vet said he hates this for Chester because he is one of the best cocker spaniels the vet's ever seen. And it's true. He is such a good dog. And good dogs are hard to find. Just like men...!

I really slacked yesterday on eating right, but I am back on the bandwagon today. I brought my walking shoes back into work so I can walk on one of my breaks since I seem to do a pitiful job of exercising once I get home. I forgot my iPod though, which keeps me walking longer. I make mixes of Broadway tunes and strut right along!

Good morning to all, hope it is a happy day.

Jess

Ah, Antoines!! Great Memories...that's one of the places my Dad used to take the family for "celebrations"

Some of my recent work revolves around an author who is part of the family that started the restaurant. Long story, but years ago he wrote a book called "The Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carré" and a new publishing company was going to republish it and wanted me to do the site. We had just really gotten into it when the hurricane hit and everyone involved was scattered all over the place. It took months for everyone to regroup and that's when the company had the idea to put the book completely "inside" of another book, Called Orléans Embrace with The Secret Gardens of the Vieux Carré. It's a really neat "coffee table" book and the original book is literally sandwiched in the middle of the new book. The book is now winning all kinds of awards and has had a ton of press, so the site has really kept me hopping daily, but I love it.

Ugh, I have a bug. (WHINE.) It started yesterday and won't go away. Slight fever, aches, no real "sick" feeling, but 100% exhausted. Apparently my old boss has it too because he left work early yesterday. I toughed it out, but I'm still wiped out today. I am sweaty so I assume my fever broke, but I still feel a little screwy, with a slight headache.

I'll try to tough it out simply because of gas prices. I live on the NE end and work on the west end. I have the orthopedic surgeon at 9:10 and physical therapy at 5:30, both on the west end. We'll see how I do today. Already warned my boss just in case.

Better shower and get ready, as I probably will be moving slowly today. Hope you girls have a good one.

Lisa

Good morning chicks,
I just sent niece off to DC with my SIL for sightseeing, so I have no tourguide duties to fulfill today, and that's a nice feeling! DD has her nose in a snit that she can't go along, but I'm not going to push my luck there. Lots of work today and hope I can get some cleaning and laundry in there too, I really haven't had time to do much of that since niece has been here. Looking forward to a calm and productive day (fingers crossed).

Morning Pacer, good luck with your houses.
Okay femme, let's get this straight! You have a man who comes to your house...with fresh shrimp? Do you live in seafood heaven? That's where I want to live! And how do you make your stock? How many shells do you need to make it strong enough? What else do you put in there?
Kara, I refuse to iron except in an emergency. I think it's the most pointless waste of time and I hate to do it. I think niece is a little shocked because her mother irons every night, as do all good french housewives, I think. But she also doesn't have a dryer.
Betty, best of luck with the interview!
Liannie, congrats on the poundage!
Ruth, hope you enjoy your quiet morning.
cottage, hope your arm feels better, have fun splashing around! Don't forget your sunscreen.
littlechick, good for you with the daughter. You are a good mom. Once they've got the license they think that means they know everything they need to about driving. The first thing my DD did was to go out and have a fender bender. With my neighbor. Your DD does need to drive some, but it should be in controlled circumstances to minimize risk, and that's just what you're doing. The stress is no fun for you, though.

Going to throw in some laundry, eat some turkey bacon (yum, I love it now), water the tomatoes, and get to work! Have a good one chicks.

Sorry, missed you Jessie and Weezle. Jessie, you sound in a much better mood today, I'm glad things are looking up and hope poor Chester is hanging in there. Weezle, that's miserable to have to go to work sick. Hope you can take it kinda easy. Feel better soon.

Mmmmmmm.....Cabana boys *drool* LC you just pulled me out of lurkdom and for that I must thank you!
Well, I've been back on P1 for 8 days now, so maybe it's safe to finally say (type?) it out loud. I'm been afraid of the many times I've said "I'm going back and going to stick to it" to only end up waaaayyyy off within 2 days. The scale's down, this morning I got up early and did 20 minutes of yoga and I'm hopeful that my small baby steps will work this time. I do have my long-term goals in mind but I'm trying not to focus on them so much b/c I get very discouraged when I don't reach them in a very short amount of time. It's only taken me about 30 years to learn this??? I feel motivated this time like I did the last time I took the weight off (between pregnancies with DD & DS). That's probably the fittest I've ever been and I *will* get back there.

Ruth - hope your stuff comes soon so you can get started on the rest of your day
Cottage - enjoy your vacation! I am very jealous
Kara - I so hear you on that roll.....I never had one until I had DS and now it bugs me everytime I look in the mirror....I am determined to get rid of it!
Pacer - Hope the closings go as smoothly as possible.
Betty - Good luck today
Liannie - Congrats on the 3 pounds!!
Creole & LC - have a great day

Thanks chicks you guys are the best. I had my ground on the treats, and killing my dd, she is still mad at me, wouldn't talk to me before she went babysitting this morning, but I am sure her dad had a chat with her this morning.

Weezle- did you check out the moose pics.
Kara- have you posted you inches lost in the sticky?
Ruth- Good for you on the martini.
pacergirl- I wish I had 10 teens. lol
Cat- I am sending the boy over now.
a big hello to the rest of you chicks.

Schmoodle- thanks I needed to hear that. Maybe our snitty dd should get together. lol

Morning Kelly J- glad you are enjoying the boy. Would you like me to send him over to rub you with sunscreen. LOL

Have a great day, Pacer. If you can handle this onslaught, you can get through anything!

Ruth, I think you're the busiest retired person I know!

I was excited to read about your shrimp, Cat, and I absolutely can't stand seafood! You made it sound so appealing!

Kara

Oooh, Jess, Broadway tunes sound like a fantastic idea! I might look like a nut dancing in the gym, though...

Feel better, Lisa! Take it easy on yourself, OK?

Schmoo, I'm glad I have a non-ironing buddy. My mom irons every day as well, and HER mom irons UNDERWEAR! I don't know how the gene missed me, but my practicality says that if my pants are going to be mussed or spit up on within five minutes of me putting them on, there's no point in spending fifteen minutes ironing them! (Rest assured, Mom-mom - as if she's reading this with no computer! - I *do* iron my church clothes!)

Kelly, welcome to the chat! We'll be belly roll buddies, but not for long because we're going to kick that yuck outahere! I tend to be impatient, too. Something I've realized about myself since I started this South Beach journey.

Laundry just finished so I'm going to hang it and hit the sack. Have a lovely Tuesday, all!

Kara

P.S. Thanks for all the encouraging words yesterday. My mad hormone swing seems to have subsided and I'm feeling relatively normal today.

Kara, It takes restraint for me not to sing along when I'm listening to Broadway. I'm not sure my neighbors would appreciate it while I'm walking through the neighborhood!

I've ironed something approximately three times in the last three years I've been married. That's what the dryer is for! I HATE IRONING.

Good morning ladies. Another migraine day for me. I'm not sure what this is all about, but it's really not helping my diet. I don't fee like eating at all. I hope this passes before tomorrow night or my vacation will be miserable. Please send some healthy vibes my way......

I hope everyone has a great day on the beach....enjoy the cabana boy!

Cheers!
Sheila

Yep...it's seafood heaven.(and people think we are crazy to live here!)
Ok, to make shrimp stock. you peel the shrimp and put all of the peels+heads in a big stock pot (yeah, I know it sounds gross, but you can't make a good etouffee without that good stock!) Then you cover the peels with just enough water to cover them..then add lemons, celery, onions, garlic, salt, pepper and whatever dry herbs/seasoning you want to throw in...last night I put in some cumin seeds, tarragon etc..just whatever floats your boat. You don't have to cut up the onions, garlic etc that much, just a couple of whacks with a knife and throw it in the pot in chunks. You bring it all up to a boil, then let it simmer with a lid on for about an hour, then turn off the stove and let it cool and soak some. Then pour that all though a strainer till all you have is the "juice"..Then you freeze that in smaller containers.

Well, I think that it is afternoon for many of you. I'm over here on the West Coast & not even dressed for work yet....

It is going to take me a little bit to get acquainted with everyone & remember who is who - but I will do my best! A few thoughts - LOVE the Cabana Boy image that the first post gave me & I will hold that all day as we are planning a trip to Mexico in November. Good thing to visualize as I muddle though this Phase One! I am a huge fan of Etouffe - so thanks for the stock recipe! One of these days I hope to get to Louisiana - I want to go to Mardi Gras and wear a pink BeeHive wig! And, taste true Creole as I do so.

I'm enjoying the friendly vibe here and appreciate the warm welcome!

Cheers!

Thanks for the recipe femme. I've made lots of meat stocks, but never seafood, and I really want to try that sometime.
Kara, my husband loves that I don't iron, because his mother also irons underwear and it drives him crazy when he goes to visit and she irons his! She irons sheets too, do you know how long it takes to iron a sheet? And then you sleep on it and it's wrinkly after the first night. Crazy!
Sheila I'm sorry you're having headaches. I get those too and it's no fun. I just realized though that I haven't had one since SBD (7 wks), so I wonder if mine were food allergy related? I hope it eases up soon.
Hi Kelly

Short message because I'm gearing up to go get allergy tested! Gross! But at least I'll know what's going on with my body, which is a good thing! I'll post the results (if I have them- do you find out the same day?) tonight!