Hey GGs,
Had a really good day today, & yesterday. I’m just feeling happy. Maybe it’s the weather, it’s been really nice the last couple of days. And, it is so beautiful around here this time of year. Maybe it’s also that I have so much more energy now. This is my first spring without those extra 100 lbs., that I’ve been carrying around for years. I feel sort of like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon (is that silly?). Anyway, I feel goood.
Also, have a feeling of accomplishment, since my SO & I finished several outdoor projects this weekend.

Zoe, sounds like you got plenty of exercise today. Loved the story. So funny! And true, we readers are smart!

Maureen & Mary & Sherry, I’m glad you are also enjoying good weather & can get outside. KarenFL, sounds like the bugs & heat might be keeping you inside (do the no see’ums at least leave you alone when you’re in the pool?). Guess I won’t be missing FL too much until Nov. or Dec. Poor Bobbi, rain & then wind! Hope you managed to get your flowers planted. Does your SIL have insurance on that warehouse, & what was in it?

Rie, I really like your idea of a pamper day, but I never seem to find the right time (& I could if I really wanted to!). Gayle, I’m sorry you don’t get more time to spend at home. Hope your return to work wasn’t too bad. I am so lucky that I don’t have a job. We don’t have much money, but we have everything we really need, & I’m so much happier than when I was working. I just wish we could afford for SO to quit his job, but one of us has to have one, & he usually doesn’t mind it.

Lynn, & Rie, it’s nice when you turn something negative into something positive. And you both seem to have gotten into very healthy lifestyles!

Freda, hope you enjoyed your busy day with your “football princess”.

Donna, I love the new avatar pic of you & SamCat. Both of you are lookin’ good! Glad your scale is being a little more friendly. And, hope you’re soon over your shingles. My mom said when she had shingles (& she thought hers was spider bites at first), it only lasted about 2 weeks after she started taking medicine for it.

Rosey, you’re lookin’ good, & I love what you did with that t-shirt! I sometimes like decorating mine, but I’m lazy - I just get the iron-on ones that you can make with your printer. Then I just add a little glittery fabric paint.

Before I go, I have to mention that instead of gaining this week because of Easter, I managed to lose half a pound. Yay! Now, time for my nightly snack - my new thing is mixing sugar-free pudding mix with non-fat yogurt & some cool whip. Really yummy! My favorite, so far, is the chocolate pudding mix with raspberry yogurt. Bye y'all.
NCNancy

A beautiful spring day.spent some time on the deck without ajacket or sweater. my dh wanted salad for dinner so we went to town to get some lettuce (and at the price of gas that was expensive lettuce ) anyways it was to nice to stay home.as it was a short trip i didnt take my wheel chair or walker,on the way home we decided to visit the mil. and i had nsv. i hung unto my dh and walked into the care center i was so proud of myself and amazed my mil and bril.. i felt tall and strong even at 4ft 9 inches tall thanks for the compliments on my t-shirt..its a tunic t-shirt and a little flared but it skims my lower curves and its not to tight. im narrow shouldered and until it washed afew times it looks big..i do have trouble with sizes tho so 1x here i come hope your weekend was sunny and nice rosey

Good evening everyone! I've been running around all day but wanted to check in. I intended to work in my little hill of a front yard today but by the time I got home from shopping I was tired. So I took a short nap. Got up and did manage to feed my climbing rose and my bleeding heart and my lilacs.

I also got in some exercise today. I've decided to try and get something in every day. I put on Paul Simon's Rhytm of the Saints and just danced around through the whole thing. Then I got on my inversioin table. I should do that every day.

I appologize in advance if I do not acknowledge all of you. Between menopause, hypothyroid, ADHD, and the cataract that is making its presence known in my right eye, I have a hard time keeping up. But I do enjoy reading about what you are all doing.

I tried making some on plan, sugar free icecream tonight in a little icecream maker. It was interasting. I think I need to work on the recipe.

Rie, that pampering sounds wonderful. I may follow your example soon. Plus I could use a good massage.

Well I 'm off to bed. Have to get up early and be at work by 7:30.

Night all,

Awesome Rosey ~ congrats on the NSV walking without the walker

Happy May, y’all! I am SO glad to be getting outside again, even though it’s not exactly super-warm hereabouts just yet. High 50’s, low 60’s, but hey, I’ll take it! Bright sunshine here this morning even though the prediction for the week is cool and cloudy, with rain on and off. NO SNOW. Yipee! So dh & I took the grandkiddos to the Southwick Zoo yesterday. The place is HUGE! We walked and walked – for five solid hours! Well – a lot of stops and starts, so no speed-walking that could increase our heart rates. Just a lot of plodding with a few stops for refreshments along the way. Dh and I did, however, do some more energetic walking on Saturday out at the reservoir not far from our house. There are a lot of walking paths around it, and a lot of up and down-hill walking. After an hour and a half, I was getting pretty short of breath on the uphill slopes. I sure turned into a slug over the winter months!

Nona, don’t worry about acknowledging everybody; none of us manages that very well, and for mostly the same reasons as you described. I love Lilacs! In the house where I raised my kids, I had five huge Lilac bushes across my back yard. In spring, the air smelled so sweet that I would sometimes just sit out there with my eyes closed and let it wash over me.
Omigod, Rosey! You did it without your walker! I am SO happy for you! Such a great accomplishment! And the best part is that there is so much more progress ahead!
Nancy, you have every right – and every reason – to feel absolutely fantastic! What an achievement! I have to admit that I’m a little envious of your not having to work, but I keep telling myself that it’s just a matter of MONTHS for me, now, and that I can do it standing on my head. (Well, that would be if I COULD stand on my head, you understand….I’m for sure not the most limber person around. I’m thinking I should try yoga, but I’ll probably keep right on thinking I should without doing anything about it for a very long time…)
Mary, I’m wanting to plant some tomatoes and eggplant this year. I do all my planting in big urns; it’s just easier, and I have them arranged nicely in little pathways around the yard along with some flowering shrubs and such. So do you think eggpant would work in a big urn, or do the roots need more room to grow?
Rie, when I was a young social worker, not too long out of college, I carried around quite a savior complex. (Didn’t we all?) As the years have passed and I moved on from social work to therapy in a clinical setting to administration, and now writing, I, too have learned to take care of myself first and foremost, because if I don’t take care of myself, there isn’t much that I can do for anyone else. I love the kind of pamper sessions you describe. I’m still using Calgon Bath beads…when my kids were growing up, there was an advertising slogan: “Calgon, take me away…” and it still does. I love sitting in a hot tub for an hour or more (adding more hot water as needed) and then showering off after the fact. Heavenly.
Happy puttering, Maureen!
Karen3, I’m so glad that you’ve managed to master “No” – at least some of the time. I’m working on it – sometimes with some success, other times, not so much. Oh – about those bugs driving you crazy? If you can stand it, try eating lots of garlic, or take Garlic capsules. I remember once eating a very garlicky meal, and was later outside playing softball with the kids and grandkids. I SWEAR a bug flew right up to my face, got within about a foot of my mouth, and did a quick right turn and flew away as fast as his little wings could take him. Of course, PEOPLE tended to back away as well…
Love your new avatar, PT, and glad the scale is being more cooperative these days.
Hi Gayle….oh, yeah. Joyful people really are supposed to be healthier and happier. I figure I’ll be pretty joyful once I’m through working – if I make it that far, that is. Bit of a pessimist, here, I’m afraid.
Hope your planting went well, Bobbi!
Sorry about all your rainy weather, Freda (and Bobbi) – I believe I may have mentioned already that if we get one of those rainy summers after the rotten winter we had, I may end up doing something quite drastic. (Filing a complaint? Does anybody know who to file it with?)
Have a great Monday, everybody!

Z

Just a quick fly by this morning:

Rosey - What a great victory! Congrats!

Will post later, I have a busy day

Good Morning lovely ladies,

It was a fun, fast, weekend! It seems like it was here and gone so quickly I have to stop and think about what we did! Lots of running. Sunday Morning Church for DGD's first communion (and she did look like a little princess). Went out for brekfast afterwards and then on to the football games. They both won their first games. And DGD was, again, the only girl on her team.
dgd also has a girl on his team, and both girls are getting quite the reputation for being "just as good as the boys". of course, they have to be much better to be accepted! We women know that!

Nancy, It's awsome that you managed to lose 1/2 lb. during Easter. No small accomplishment. It's a time when we all usually manage to over eat and pack on a couple of pounds, at least. And it's not silly at all to think that you have emerged from a cocoon and become a butterfly! Try picking up 100 lb. of anything and carry it around for awhile. Losing that much would have to give you so much more energy. And again, YEAH for you!

Rosie, An AH HA moment! Going shopping without your cane. Get used to it lady, the best is yet to come! You're going to have many more ah ha moments.

Nona, Don't appologize for not remembering all of us. It takes awhile. And we still forget sometimes. Glad to have you here.

Hi Gayle, Hope work is going well for you.

Bobbi, Don't watch that show. Not sure I could take that much of "the Donald".

Rie, I don't pamper myself nearly enough. I like the idea, but never quite get around to it. I do good to keep my legs shaved! And that's in the summer time. Something I should surely work on.

Z, Sounds like you have lots of fun this weekend and got in lots of exercise too. They can go together!

Mary, I can't wait to get outside and play in the dirt. I don't have much room, just around the back fence, but I'm thinking of expanding it some. we love to garden so much, and really enjoy the things we grow. Mostly just tomatoes, but I love summer squash and I'm thinking of one of those too. Maybe a zucchini. One plant of each should be plenty for us. And some dill also. love dill, and i just throw some between some tomato vines. It grows like weeds. I do so envy people with room for a large garden.

Everyone, make it a good day,

Freda

Didn't sleep well last night so it was kinda hard to get up and go to the gym but I did it. Then we stopped for a few groceries and to get our cash from our CU. I'm tired now. Have much to do today too. I have most of my daily work done but need to "bless" my whole house today. With such a late start it may not get all "blessed," though.

I did really well yesterday on my eating plan...but the scale went up...that's all right... I know all about the flucuations by now. Don't always understand them but I know about them. Hopefully If I do well today it will be much better tomorrow.

Freda - We only plant one or two plants. Definitely only one for zucchini! Sometimes two of tomatoes, and peppers. We do have enough room for plenty but we can't eat it and it's too much work. What we do is just about right...enough for us and still some to give to others...if things grow well. Last few years our garden has not done as well as it used to, not sure why but my dh continues to hope for better and keeps working on the soil.

Zoe - If it were just me, I'd plant in urns too. Just seems easier esp since we don't grow a lot even though we do have room for more. I don't know much about eggplant as last year was our first time and didn't do well. We got one small eggplant but a slug or something got to it.

Bobbi - doubt that the cost will decline now that Osama is gone. It is likely his second in command or someone will rise to take his place. Evil goes on and we will have to continue to fight it. Such is the way of this present earth.
Really too bad, isn't it?!!

Nona - not sure I remember you...but name does sound kind of familiar. Don't worry about knowing us all..just stop in when you can for some encouragement and to share how you're doing if you like.

Nancy - congrats on the weight loss and over a holiday too!

Hi Everyone,

"Worked" all day today at LLS. When I got home, I started work on a syllabus for the new course I will be teaching.

Getting into my Spring "clearning" (NOT really cleaning - more organizing) mood. Clearing out cabinets and closets and moving clothes around. Always makes me feel REALLY righteous.

Have a great evening,

Lynn

Yes, mentioning that would be ok.

Good evening ~ almost good night

Day off tomorrow ~ yippee. Long day today ~ went over by 2 1/2 hours. Frustrating ~ seems no way to do it that doesn't end up being frustrating. If they try to get the admissions up by 4pm so I can process them before I leave at 6pm ~ then they are pushing and pushing ~ and it makes it a head spinning ~ dizzy pace. If they don't hurry it ~ then the admission comes late and I end up staying late. I asked my boss ~ what I should do ~ stay or leave when 6pm (my quitting time) comes ~ she said if I wanted to stay I could, but I didn't have to. But I feel bad for my coworkers ~ if I leave with the admission undone, and the desk piled up with charts with orders and those nurses have to start their shift ~ having to take care of that mess right off the bat ~ it makes for a horrible start to their shift. Then the whole rest of the night they feel behind. The poor day time charge nurse ~ sweetest person there is ~ is getting growly from being pushed and pushed.

Karen FL ~ must be the season for appliances going kaput. Our refrigerator/freezer ~ the other day ~ the food started to thaw. We called the repair people ~ they said that dust had built up on the back of it and caused it to over heat and shut off. So they cleaned it and it started back up again. Tonight when I went to get something for supper ~ it felt kind of soft ~ then I knew something wasn't right when I got out one of those weight watchers raspberry dark chocolate icecream bars (the ones Zoe mentioned in an earlier post) and took a bite and the raspberry ice cream drizzled out.

So, we have just spent the last hour transferring stuff from the freezer compartment of the fridge ~ to the big freezer. Thank goodness we have that. DH called the repair people to come back again tomorrow. Something's just not right.

Ok, guess I'd better get off to bed.

Have a good rest everyone.

Happy May, all! I hope the month is starting off strong for you.

I have a question. Does anyone Zumba? I was watching the commercials yesterday and thought it looked like a blast. I was wondering what you think. Is it something that a nearly-58-year-old-overweight-but-getting-better woman could do? Enjoy? Fill me in. Is it worth the investment? Thanks!!!! - Annie

Freda - great stories about the girls adventures! I have small raised garden beds. I usually plant one roma tomato, two hybrid "burpless" (like english cukes) cucumber plants and lots of herbs like basil. It starts slow but I can't eat them all when they get going.

Nona - I haven't tried zumba. Lots of excercise dvd's are available on netflix for trial if you are a member. Lord knows I have lots of videos that I have bought and never use because I don't like them.

Gayle - hang in there. I totally understand your desire to spare the next shift extra work.

Lynne - could you send some of that cleaning bug my way? LOL I seriously need to clean out my closet and send the giant pile of big clothes to goodwill !

Mary - it sounds like you had a tiring day but good for you - you stayed on plan. Container gardening is easier to maintain with weeding, etc, but you have to be careful to water and feed.

Some plants that need a little more room can be grown in a barrel or half barrel. Even potatoes can be grown this way. Old timers used to grow potatoes in a barrel, adding dirt as the plant moved up.

Donna How are you doing? Are you feeling better?

Sorry if I missed anyone. Have a good day.

Good Morning Girls,

Not too much going on today. Rained again last night and the ground is soaked. We're supposed to go to the kids first soccer games today and the coaches called last night and said that we would need boots. I've sat through almost everything, weather wise, with their games.

Donna, hope you're feeling better.

Gayle, Sorry you're still having to work so many hours. Isn't there an afternoon shift unit clerk? I know our admissions don't start coming in untill around 3. And we sometimes get at many as 6, so there is no way you could get all those done.

OKAnnie, Yes, i've done Zumba. LOVE it! Of course I do it at Curves and it's not the hardest. Not the easiest either. Kind of middle of the road. Do you have a Curves near you? I know some of the classes are more than I could manage. But we dance for an hour and it's actually fun. I'm dripping wet by the time we finish but I could go on. OH, and I'm 63, so i'm sure you can manage.

Rie, You can tell spring is coming, we all getting anxious to get out there and play in the dirt. Like I said, we don't plant much, but I want to try some more of the old tomatoes. And maybe some of the new breeds too, like the purple ones. Just for the way they look.

Lynn, I get in those moods occasionally. It's a good thing, that's probably the only reason my house stays liveable!

Everyone, have a good day,

Freda