Hi Ladies.

A beautiful sunny 60 degree day here, quite a nice change. Happy to report I have had 3 OP days in a row and looking pretty good so far for day 4. I showed such willpower..this morning my assistant began taking lunch orders from a local Chinese Restaraunt that I love..but I resisted. Tonight I'm going to get my hair cut and colored. I think I will go a little darker this time, I think my current color is making me look a little washed out. Since I'm not cooking tonight for anyone, DD is visiting my parents and having dinner with them and DH is working late, I'm sure I can remain OP today!!!

Lala how many people are you having for your pre Thanskgiving dinner? I've never had goose but have had duck and did not care for that at all. Too greasy tasting for me. Every year I've prepared the whole turkey and have used the carcass for soup that is one draw back in just using the breasts. My mom gave me an interesting recipe for chicken pot pie (not WW friendly at all) that I may try if I have any turkey leftovers. Congrats on biting the bullet and making the down payment on the boiler.

Susan My sister and I generally share the holiday cooking, she prepares Thanksgiving and I do Christmas. At Christmas I generally have 12 guests but this year could be more if my son and my nephew bring their respective girlfriends.

Lisa I hope your Mom is doing well. So glad to hear all your hurricane repair work is coming together. As I mentioned earlier the weather has been pretty nice this week and it looks like it might continue into the weekend. The snow we got last weekend has already melted!!

Melissa I was debating whether or not to stuff the breast, I think I will probably not. I cook for a finicky bunch and I don't want to throw too much change at them!!

Well ladies hope you all have a nice Thursday. If I get a chance I may sign back on later.

Hi everyone,

I hope that Lisa's mom is recovering nicely.

Things here are progressing. I have lots of work to do, class stuff and getting ready for the holidays.

This year our pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is only 11 people. Its soo small, but manageable. Our more boisterous friends are either in Italy or Chile, so its going to more sedate. Anyhow, they are still fun. We should be able to use silver and good dishes with fewer people and consume less vino.

Pam, DP loves goose, so that is what we have, she makes stock and then has goose sandwiches for the next week. The friends she stays with when she's in Oregon usually come up, but they can't because of their cats, so she'll take the rest of the goose down there for them to enjoy. I love the turkey carcass for stock, but we also cook whole chickens too.

Didn't make it to kickboxing yesterday. I was too tired. However, I did make it to the gym in the morning, so at least I got my star. Wasn't completely OP, but much better than most days past, so I'll give myself a 8 out of 10.

Need to start on the vitamins.

So, today I should here from the scheduler about boiler installation and radiator installation. Yikes. I hope its before we do the whole XMAS decorating, but I have a feeling not. This project is a major installation as they will be plumbing our whole house and its an interesting configuration. Sometimes I wish we lived in a new townhome without leaves, a yard and more modern conveyances.

I'll post pictures as we get to the big day!

Well, we also bought the plane tickets for our Rome trip in March. Should be fun, I'm spending one night in London and then flying to Rome for 10 days and DP will soon follow. The dollar is soo weak (Thanks Secretary Snow! ) , so I am opting for staying in one place and doing day trips.

Okay, off to try and work.

lala

edited for wrong smiley

so, we're up another 2 for thanksgiving.

yikes

Hello, lifers! Good news. My mother came through the surgery with flying colors; she will be in intensive care for a couple days and then a regular room. Yes, Thanksgiving will be especially a thankful time.

Susan, I love RED--maybe the new dress is some incentive. No power since the weekend--sounds like Florida (Ha!). I'm with you; don't really care for Cheetos; corn chips on the other hand...

lala, sorry about the down payment on the boiler. I can relate to the big payouts to contractors--oy!

Hi, Pam.

Melissa, congrats on the loss; I'll take any loss I can get these days.

Yeah for Lisa's mom!

Pam -- I am considering going darker for the winter. I'm only 1.5 shades away from my hair color, but I noticed all my friends at the wedding I went to on Saturday had gone back to a darker color.

Its cheaper too.

Great news about your mom Lisa. I'm sure it's such a relief. And yes, the dress is incentive. If I could shed 5 by the time of the dance (3 weeks), I might be able to pull it off -- er, that is, put it on

lala: I hear ya about older homes. I love the character and the workmanship, but things do get a bit hairy when you want to change anything. Still and all, it will all go well and you'll be glad you've done it, once it's behind you. I'm getting my hair cut and highlighted next Friday. I'm trying to get it all the same length and it's been a slog - always in my face. I have felt so unattractive through the whole process. I hope it's worth all the effort in the end. If I don't like the result, I'll have no problem whatsoever in cutting it all off again.

Congrats on the loss Melissa. The calendar is a great idea, and I already have all the stickers!!

Hi to Pam.

Any big weekend plans? I start a new volunteer match tomorrow. My new Mom is expecting her third child just before Christmas. The oldest is 21 months and almost blind, and the baby is 11 months old! Imagine having three kids under the age of 2!! Should be good for loads of activity points!!!

Lisa I'm so glad everything went well for your Mom.

Susan I'm going through the same thing with my hair. I decided to let the layers grow out and I'm really trying to get it all one length but it can be really frustrating at times. I went for a haircut yesterday and the stylist told me to be patient, I'm almost there. Some days I love it but others I'm ready to chop it off.

Lala I did it and went a little darker..so far I like it but as I mentioned above I'm having a bit of hair angst.

Hi to Melissa.

I don't have too much planned for the weekend. Hoping to go and see the new Bridget Jones movie on Sunday. The weather is awesome today another beautiful 60 degrees...last Friday it was snowing...AHHHHH New England. Take care ladies and have a great weekend.

Hi everyone,

Tired today. DP came home last night and cat yowled all night. I finally took her to her cat bed and covered her with a down blanket and she shut up.

Susan-- sounds like you will have your hands full with the match too!

Pam -- I hope you get over your hair angst. I would like to see the new bridget jones as I heart Colin Firth.

Lisa -- are you spending the weekend with your parents? Hope mom is feeling good enough to spurn hospital food.

Hi Melissa!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving. Going to pick up goose and turkey today, having blinds installed at 2 pm and hoping to deliver a tutorial to a user today. Now, we're up to 12 for thanksgiving.

Hoping to spend some quality time in front of the parentals tv set watching a dvd....

lala

Mom will get out of intensive care today--hooray! Then she will be able to eat something; hasn't eaten for 3 days. That's not my idea of a diet!

DH and I will be going there for Thanksgiving--small family get-together, but I'll be doing all of the cooking.

Had a pot-luck at work today--I was such a pig! I can't believe it. I had pecan pie and chocolate mousse pie on top of it. This is not the way to start the holidays.

On the repair front, the pool enclosure won't be done till January! (Oh, poo). No one's estimates time-wise are holding up. I'm still waiting for the soffit installer, the pool enclosure and the sheetrock replacement.

Susan, 5#, you could do it in your sleep! Keep thinking red dress, red dress.

lala, I thought your hair was already dark. I love my blonde hair. It's just so different for me. I keep running into people who haven't seen me with my new hair; it's funny to see their faces. Sometimes they just walk by me and don't realize it's me. Of course, I always say: "how many 6 foot women do you know?"

Pam, I want to see the movie "Polar Express." I heard the animation is amazing--great for kids, too. The new one with Nicholas Cage is supposed to be good, too.

Any one have plans for the weekend? I'll be working on things around the house and heading to an arts and crafts show. On Sunday I'll be going to a retirement party in the afternoon and then our church is having an organ dedication and recital (choir is singing). That's enough.

Hi, Melissa.

Lisa --

My DP is 6', but is going salt and pepper gray. that girl is not a girly girl at all.

I am dark, but I lightened for the summer and now I'm thinking I'll stay dark (let it grow out) for the winter. Remember, I have the world's shortest hair, so its 3 cuts and its gone.

Okay, i'm buying the girl a paraffin dip thing for xmas. I hate buying those kind of appliances, but I think she would love to dip her hands and feet in paraffin to soften them. I think. Its not the expense, its the storage.

Question: Do you and your DH/DP set spending limits on presents?

lala

Hi everyone! It's been a little crazy here in the office--the boss has been driving me over the wall with little things. He's such a planner! Anyway, I've been up to the other end of campus 3 times today (4 blocks away) and have had to get to the computer resource room (3rd floor) to do some PulseSurvey work. Go figure it's the only computer with the program on it. Great exercise!

Lisa: Glad to hear your mom is recovering nicely! I was doing good on the eating front for the most part then went to the coffee shop next door and came out not only with coffee but a chocolate croissant! I have to confess it tasted really good!

Pam: I got my hair cut today at noon. I've been using "Just for Men" to touch up those few errant gray hairs that keep popping up. My hairdresser told me about it and it works in 5 minutes...I'm all for saving time.

Susan: You can shed 5#!!! I tried to grow my hair into one length...didn't work for me, layers work best with my hair.

Tomorrow my mom, aunt and I have reservations for a Victorian Tea and then house tours of several mansions that will be decorated for the holidays. I'm looking forward to it. Sunday will be spent cleaning most likely for the upcoming week.

Have a great weekend everyone!