We took the doggie to the park today. Its overcast rather than sunny but there's no breeze and its humid so we were all panting by the time we got home. I started some jog intervals but kept stepping in holes with my right foot so I gave up quickly.

I did get out and do some fall planting and weeding yesterday, while a recovered Hubby cleaned out the garage {about time!}. Later we ate out and did some shopping.

Tonight we got out to eat with my parents for my Mom's Bday. Hopefully, Hubby and I can split a meal.

I'm thinking I might use a kettlebell as a treat for the mini-goal of 20lbs. I want a 20lb kb {think metal ball with a metal handle, like a dumbbell, used for weight training} so when I lose 20lbs I can buy one! That will give me time to save up the money also, because the stupid things are pricey for a hunk of metal. The one I want is at Target {GoFit brand} and comes with a DVD.

Petra, I'm a bit north of you but it only snows every few years here. Its very pretty when it does but the city shuts down . We don't have snow plows etc

Marie, Your trips sound wonderful. Yay for DS and future DIL!

Pres, whoo-hoo on the uprades to your gym! I hope you feel better soon!

Newleaf, I need to get in the habit of planning dinners again. That would probably help a lot! I know I do better with a schedule but every once in a while I rebel and try to wing it. Hello, penguins can't fly!

TLC, LOL, on the leader telling you your clothes are to big! Nice of her to notice!

Penguin-I'm originially from the Philadelphia, PA area and am going home for Christmas. You are right, it snows about once a decade here so I haven't seen snow since I moved here. I'm hoping I'll see some while I'm home for the holidays. Can't believe I miss snow, LOL

Penguin, sounds like it was a nice day at the park

Petra - I grew up in the suburbs of Philly (bucks county) - I want to move south -- tired of snow in NJ - we have a lot of dog lovers here...i have 3 rescues, and have been so lucky with them...great family members

Cruise- you continually amaze me and inspire me with your hikes...and nice visual of seeing how much you've lost!

Giv - congrats on another loss, and gld you enjoyed your girlfriend time

New Leaf- did you get your dinner plans together for the week?

Marie- i'll bet those costs were huge on New Years Eve! Congrats on the upcoming marriage (DS and DIL)

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We went to the running store finally yesterday and took care of my shoes...it's been a full weekend with my husband and the weather is being a nice treat here in November..we're sitting in the 60's which is fab! - it was across from Princeton University...what a gorgeous campus to walk around...was lovely - haven't seen it/been there in like 20 years

Excited - we were thinking our Feb trip to Disney would be pushing it since i'm doing the run in March - so instead, after the race, my DH will meet me down there and we'll stay on another week..happy for that. Going in Feb and March didn't make sense, but this - we can work this out

Counting down the days til my Thxgiving trip with my son to Disney - want flip-flops and swimming!

Just wanted to pop in and say hello. I've been running around making sure Mack has everything he needs before I go. Tomorrow will be spent doing laundry and packing and then Wednesday I'll clean house.

I'll make time in the morning for personals while I'm having my breakfast and tea.

Wow! What a busy place this has been! Hope you all had a great Monday. I have had another good day which makes me very happy. My neck is healing nicely, I am scheduled to have my stitches out on Thursday.

Cruise, your hike pictures are awesome! Hope you have a great trip!

Lambchop, we had temps in the 70's yesterday and today so I wore flip flops! Princeton is a besutiful campus, I remember visiting there as a teen.

Patch, I think the kettlebell sounds like a great reward!

Petra, We are glad to have you with us! This is a great group. Hope the storm passes with no problems for you!

Marie, Your travel plans sound fun! How's you burn?

Presmaggie, Hope you are feeling better. New gym stuff sounds great, will your old membership just transfer?

GivTLC, 2.2 pounds! That's terrific!

Newleaf, LOL about the hamster wheel. I feel like that sometimes too!

WLW, A gym with a trainer is a great perk! More employers should offer that!

Hi to anyone I missed! Have a great evening!

day 6 of 6 and up since 4am thanks to a whiny dog...I think I might want one - why?! hope everyone is having a great week!

Marie – That sucks about DH being put on swing shift; I would not be happy. How is the burn doing, did you see the doctor about it? Infection is common with burns.

Be sure to let us know how the “onion” turned out. Outback is one of my favorite restaurants and I love the blooming onion. Are you also making a sauce for it?

Petra – I would go nuts if I had to go under “lock down”; especially having to board the pups. I also have a yellow lab, Hogan; he is the smartest dog I have had but VERY stubborn. He came to us with his seven siblings when they were two days old as orphans. After fostering for 8 weeks Mack HAD to keep him. I really didn’t want a 5th dog but there was no way I could say no.

WLW – Have you thought about adopting an older dog from the shelter? There are so many in need of a home and the nice thing is you don’t have to deal with a puppy.

GivTLC – Woo Hoo on another 2 lbs. and on the size 12.

Heidi – LOL… I can relate to the “hamster wheel”. My sister seems to think because I don’t have a “real” job that I just sit on my butt all day and have all the time in the world to do stuff. Although I don’t have a paying job my volunteer work does keep me very busy.

Maggie – Glad you are feeling better. Way cool about the new gym equipment. It’s weird being in the desert I often forget what time of year it is; however, this year the ads on TV seem to have started early

Marie – You will LOVE scuba diving. Are you having surgery in Mexico or is that just where you are going to recoup? I know of little place about 5 hours south of Cancun that is Paradise that I could hook you up with a nice (very remote) inexpensive place to stay and a 5 star PADI dive shop where the staff is top notch. The area is not for everyone and as I said is VERY remote. Let me know if you want any information.

Patch – Love the kettlebell idea for a mini goal. I have to crack up at the people that reward their success with food. Don’t get me wrong I indulge but not as a reward.

Petra – I am originally from Virginia and on occasion I do miss the snow. The nice thing about the high desert is we do get it every few years; just enough to make things pretty and then melt and make a mess. The mountains are less than an hour away IF I really want to go play. I love sitting on my back porch when it’s 60+ and can see all the snow capped mountains. Last year I wanted to go up and play but realized I didn’t own a coat. This year I am prepared and even plan on doing some hiking in the snow; OK…. probably only one hike and more to play but at least I’m ready.

LC – I love your dedication and determination to complete your run.

Do you have any idea how crowded the parks will be that week. As much as we would like to “do” Disney the price is just outrageous. The plan for us is to do the 7 day/2 park pass for Universal for $99 vs $79 for a one day one park Disney ticket.

OMW – Glad you are healing and get to have your stitches out on Thursday.

WLW – Because a dog gives unconditional love and companionship.

GivTLC - Your dinner sounded very good. I might have to try that combination.

Becky….. Where are you????

Morning all! I'm not usually up this early today. I went to bed last night with a headache which quickly turned into a nauseus migraine. Mostly my head just hurts but this time I had the added bonus of a stomach ache; my digestive system shurs down with the migraine. I'm feeling much better now, but I was up until 2:30 {laying down made the whole thing worse...}. I can always go back to bed later if I need to.

For my Mom's Bday we went to J. Alexander's which is a place Hubby and I are nornally 'to cheap' to go, LOL. I gave her a notebook style calender, which is what I get her every year, she doesn't even have to ask anymore. Dad and Hubby spent the night talking about Dad's Mustang restoration project so Mom and I leaned close and talked about interesting things. Dad and Hubby also made a playdate for Sat, so Mom and I will do something interesting also, and probably end up at Panera's.

TLC, LOL, on the ball and chain idea! short Youtube video using kettlebell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzrB1...eature=related Hubby thinks I'm nuts; but he thought the same thing when I wanted P90x, my first Barbell set, and a pullup bar. Now, He just nods and smiles

WLW, Every time we take April to the park she whines with excitement the whole ride. we keep threatening to leave her there but we never do. Hang in there!

Cat, I can see how a food reward would be counterproductive, LOL

CAT- it's empty and quiet (as Disney can be) before Thanksgiving, but any day AFTER -- thurs afternoon to SUnday is crazy busy, then it gets quiet again

It is expensive - we have annual passes - so for us, tickets aren't as big of an issue, plus it gives me discounts on rooms

Also be aware if you buy a ticket (WITHOUT park hopper) you'll be going in ONE park only per day, can't buy a ticket and go from park to park without park hopper...they put a discount on tickets when you buy say 4-5+ days or longer...that's where the break comes in..multi day, but it would be close to like 250 bucks each for those multi-days...shame

Airboat rides are a fun way to spend part of a day...we went to boggy creek, about 20 mins from the area- it was a hoot

Want a taste of Disney, but not buying tickets/and the park, etc...go to Downtown Disney - a shopping complex that's nice to walk around and gives you some Disney magic...free parking, but go during the day, at night it gets mobbed

Another thought, make a reservation for a restaurant at one of the big themed hotels, example Animal Kingdom Lodge or Fort Wilderness and walk around the hotels...incredible themeing at the resorts and really such incredible detail...(hard to get last minute reservations, but worth calling and trying)

Miniature golf at SUmmerland/Winterland golf is fun - costly -- $13 person, so if you have a big group, yikes, but 1/2 price next day - it's a fun course with TONS of personality

Seaworld is also a neat place to visit, and I think Universal just bought them - not sure if it went through yet, so see if your ticket includes seaworld or if you would need other tickets...may be another choice

Have a great trip - talk to you when you get back

OnMyWay - I'm glad to hear your neck is healing well - that's great news!

WLW - 4am, OH MY GOSH, I'd climb right back into bed the second I could!

Giv - what part of PA are you in? I grew up in Bucks County...I'll bet sitting down with DH and planning together would be great - since he cooks

Penguin - glad the migraine is gone...hate those! Sounds like you had a nice dinner out, and that's awesome that everyone gets along so well

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Down another pound...1 more pound to reach my first personal mini goal....I start Week 4 of c25k today, and have a few websites to work on today...nothing major. I go to the DR for my official weigh-in, vitals, etc. (weekly appt)

My trip is in 2 weeks and I'm getting antsy - I can feel it in my mind - I'm more easily distracted as it gets closer. I NEED to get a few things done this week (my work) - so I'll try to stay true to the course, and wrap up those details. I know the few days before traveling, I'm not as good at pushing - so getting it out of the way now.

OK, I need to catch up all the way from the beginning of the week - and it's only Tuesday!

Petra - welcome! Stick with us - lots of support and the occasional (if requested) kick in the pants.

Patch/Cindy - Pizza has been really in the front of my mind lately. And I have no idea what "cheese in the crust and garlic balls" is ... but you've named off 3 of my very favorite foods.

Carol - keep it up! Let the momentum work! Very glad to hear your neck is doing well. Does sound like they were extra careful about getting everything off.

Cindy - Here I am! Agree - the cruise is the easier part. I'm grateful my family lives within an hour's drive on both sides - so we don't have to have extended visits. My MIL puts sugar in EVERYTHING! Even sweet corn! The hiking pictures are to die for - even getting "lost". Yes, envy ... Thank you for letting me live vicariously through those pictures - don't ever stop posting them!

Nell - 2 pounds in 1 week is terrific!

Marie - I hope the burn is improving. I agree - burns are among the worst injuries you can have. Even when they heal, it seems like they're sensitive for weeks. Re DH's swing shifts and my own experiences with heavy travel and opposite shifts - the pro is that you never have a chance to get sick of each other. The con is that it becomes easy to stop talking. Watch that one!

wlw - love your new avatar! And very cool that you're going to have a gym at your disposal!

giv - always fun when somebody else tells you it's time to move down a size! Congrats!

maggie - woohoo - new equipment! Good luck fighting off the bugs - zinc and Vit C work well for us.

patch - kettlebells have so much history. Great piece of equipment! Sounds like you're having good weather - always nice to get that when it could so easily go the other way this time of year. I'm kind of surprised we haven't seen snowflakes yet!

lambchop- Disney is so much fun, and what a great excuse to visit twice. I'd like to go back again with DS10 - he's old enough finally to appreciate EPCOT I think.

For those that have done the Myers-Briggs personality typing - this will make sense. I'm a stereotypical, unchallengeable INFJ - and I've been a little scarce lately because I'm noodling on my relationship issues, work, and the holidays. Just workin' it all out, y'know? My self-image has changed a lot for the positive with the loss of this weight, and that shift colors the way I interface ... which upsets the status quo. Not only am I adjusting to it, but it requires adjustment from my social circle as well. Not all of these are "harmonious". All I can say is that it's really good to be 42 and more in tune with how all this stuff works.

LC - Thanks for all the information and ideas. I hate crowds but I know the kids (son & DIL) will want to do the park at least a couple times. Noah is too young to really know/care where he is so Universal is a good deal for the $99. It would be great if it included SeaWorld but it is not listed, just their other two parks.

I love the idea of a meal at one of the hotels & going to Downtown Disney. Might even take in the new release of New Moon at the theater there.

I think I understand; I am an ISFJ but back in my younger days I was a ENFP (almost a total opposite). I can definitely see some of my old ways coming back. The one thing I know for sure is people change and grow.... and sometimes they grow apart. Appreciate the friendships for what they were and IF your paths go in different directions always remember that at one time that person held a special place in your life. Do that and understanding and respect will guide YOUR decisions (not necessarily the other persons).

Cindy - I tested INFJ my first year of college, when I started my career, and just a year ago! Too true that relationships are dynamic - it's a little unfortunate that the mythology of traditional marriage carries that "til death do us part." Some people seem to cling to that piece over the "love, honor and cherish," and fail to recognize the simple truth you've articulated.