Hey all! And a good evening to each of you!!

It has been a nice day here. They were predicting rain here for the entire week, but most of today was pretty nice, sun shining, etc.

Gotta tell you a funny story: You know how when your car acts up and you tell hubby/boyfriend about it and it never acts up for them??? And then you take it to the shop and explain and it won't act up for them either??? Well my mini van is just the oposite. When my husband drives it, the automatic door locks keep unlocking! It happens all the time. When I'm driving, it doesn't do it. I was in the passenger seat all weekend with him driving and it was making us nuts. Everytime we re-locked them, they would unlock. Then Monday and Tuesday I drove all over town. From one side of the city to the other and back again several times, nothing. He got in it yesterday to run to the store and it did it like 50 times!!! It is sooooo funny! He took it to the dealership this morning and dropped it off and they can't figure it out!!! Now I'm driving a new S10 pick-up, playing cowgirl! Yeeehaaaaa!!! I have the S10 until my van is done! I told hubby that Bessy (the van) doesn't like how he drives, or his a-- in my seat!!!!

I can't believe it told me I used too many smilies! How dare it!!! Look for part 2.

Hello!!! Remember me? lol Well, I am still here! I have been super busy!!! Sorry for being gone for so long! I haven't been to a meeting because I ran out of those darn coupons..lol.. but I jumped on the scale and I seem to be the same weight so that's a plus!! Hopefully I can get back to the meetings soon before I go crazy!!
I don't have time tonight to post individually but you girls are all doing GREAT!!! Thanks for thinking of me!!!
Take care and I will post again when I can!
Angie

I'm Baaaaaack!

Brenda: WOW 100#'s! Yeah for you! I'm soooo impressed. I'm doing my happy dance for you. Good luck with the interview. What kind of work do you do????

Annie: Hey, nice to see you! I don't do beer either. But the Blackberry Brandy sounds great. Where'd you say you live, just north of Lansing??? I'll be right over.

Well, since you guys are such animal lovers, I have to tell you what happened to my poor kitty today. Max is an indoor cat who only goes out when I'm standing on the porch with him. He likes to roll on the cement for some reason. Any way, he likes to try to sneak out when the door is open so we really have to watch him. Well apparently, he snuck out and we didn't notice and my son and I left. When we came home about an hour later and I started for the porch, here comes Max running toward me, damp and cold. He was meowing so loud. He was so glad to see me. My son opened the front door and he couldn't wait to get back in. Usually we have to pick him up and put him in the house. I guess today he decided being left outside wasn't so much fun. Poor thing. I felt soooo bad. I'm sure he thought his family had locked him out!

I'm gonna run. You guys take care. Love to all.
Well, girls, guess I'll let you go. Have a great night.

Hi Angie: My computer wouldn't let me post Part 2 until awhile later. I had to re-boot my server. Oh well. Now I see you're here. Glad you're back. I saw that when you call the 800# they're giving week 17 and 18 free when you buy the 16 week pack of coupons. Just a thought!

Take care.

Anyway, Happy Thursday everyone!

I'm still having good OP days. Somehow I've gotten refocused and its lasted a whole 1-1/2 weeks. I think getting off the scale and setting a banked point goal has really helped me be positive about this.

Its been crazy here this week with the regular job plus our camper business. I had to go buy organizer software so I could put all the reservations in to make it easier see what's booked or available. Took me 1-1/2 hours last night between all the phone calls. Then I did it wrong, looks good online but when I print the calendar its blank. So I finally picked up the book and learned how I should have done it.

Allergies have gone wild here in the midwest. I had three people out yesterday with respitory problems and I went home with a migraine headache. Still have it today so I think I'm staying home.

Brenda - Good to see you back and congratulations on the 100 lb mark. That is so great and exciting. Keep up all the great work.

Geri - That is cool about your son and the cape. See, all that cussing was worth it. Poor kitty! Thank goodness he didn't get scared and run off. Bet he doesn't try to sneak out again! Are you sure your DH isn't leaning on the door lock??

Geri & Maggie - Sorry for the gains this week. I'll be sending out loser vibes and positive thoughts. Some weeks are just tougher to be OP than others. Its the long haul that counts most!

Maggie - Get the colts to a new home? That is still so terrible that you have to sell your babies because of stupid people.

Gina - You've got a tough week ahead it looks like. If you weren't trying to do WW, think about how much the gain would be? At least now, not every meal is off program so even though the evening meals have been a stumbling block, you can offset some of that by being OP for breakfast and lunch. Is there anything else in life going on that is different now? Sometimes its life stress that you don't realize is the cause. Do you write everything down that you eat? Maybe you could write down your emotions or how it felt to have that lack of control. Sometimes that helps jolt ya back to realization. You'll find your groove so just hang in there.

Angie - Good for you for hanging in there with a maintain. All that activity must be working!

Got to run. Have a good OP day ladies and be strong!

Okay. We swapped animal stories, now are we on to DH stories, or is that the same catagory?

thinthinker: When something is wrong with my car, DH says that it's the driver. Then it will happen to him and he says, "Oh. Hmph! I guess it DOES do that." Not "You were right", "I was wrong", etc, etc. Now I just tell him that it's the mechanic.

hannahntigger: Aren't coupons wonderful? I did see some for WW in a newspaper coupon booklet insert thingy (um . . . thingy is a technical term ). One coupon is for 40 cents off Kashi, one is for a free introductory offer and you can join for 1/2 off, the other one is for that Summer & Save package where you get the 17th and 18th week free if you buy the package plus you get Companion booklets or a box of 2-point bars.

determined: It always helps to read directions, so why is that the last thing we try? Hope your allergies settle down for you.

2oM (Annie)

Hello All,
I have excellent news! My appointment with the surgeon went excellent today! He discharged me! No more brace, no more x-rays! I just have to continue with physical therapy once a week. I am so happy! I just have an Ace Bandage on it now to keep the scar covered, but that is pretty comfortable...

Bart is still doing OK. We still need to see some improvement though. I am happy that he seems to be feeling better anyway...

A Beer Dinner is where a restaurant offers a 5 course dinner. All the courses and cooked with a type of Belgian beer and that beer is given to you as a compliment to each corresponding course. The food was great! I am not that big a beer drinker, but Brian is a beer snob, so he loved it! We went to one once before. It's great fun because by the second or third course everyone is tipsy!

Thin - Thanks for the advice on getting through this weekend. Enjoy that S-10 for a while! I once had a car that would not start for me if I had someone else in the car with me! It turned out that there was a sensor in the passenger seat and if the seat belt wasn't fastened the car wouldn't start (this was before the whole seat belt law thing). It took us weeks to figure it out! Sorry to hear about your kitty! Mine like to go out and roll on the cement too! It must feel good or something! One of mine got locked in the porch all night once. He was really freaked out!

Canadian - Congratulations on meeting that 100 mark! You are a true inspiration to us all! Thank you for giving us hope! Hey, I hope you did well on that job interview! Do tell!

2ofMe - That is so weird about your dog. Did they ever determine what it was? Thanks for the advice on my ice cream indiscretions! I LOL about the milk servings!

Hannah - Welcome back! I certainly remember you! Good job at maintaining your weight while you took a break. I hope you can get back to meetings soon!

Determined - I think it's the stress of the accident and going back to work that is keeping me off program. For now I am going to concentrate on visiting with you all for great support! I will get back on the wagon soon I promise!

Well, I'd better get to work!
GinaMarie

GinaMarie: Am so happy that the surgeon appointment went well. Things are looking up for you. One big, happy hug for you {{{{{{{ }}}}}}}}}}

The Beer Dinner is an interesting concept. Maybe ThinThinker and I could set up a Blackberry Brandy Dinner. (Webe neighbors, donchaknow.) Hey, maybe we could do that during the convention!

My dog is ALWAYS weird, just more so in the fall. Maybe she has a sensor that we don't know about!! They don't know why she gets so ill, but she gets transfusions each time. The kids will be devastated if/when we lose her. The three of them grew up together.

Don't know if I'll be popping back in tomorrow or not. I'm going to see what's going on at work. If it's going to be slow, I'll take the day off and get ready for DD's graduation ceremony. (We have about 20 people who want to see her graduate and so I can't just say, "See ya later", so I need to make food. I should have been smart and just had the party immediately following the ceremony. Now it'll be like having two parties.) Keep this in mind for future reference, ladies.

2oM (Annie)

Hi you guys!

You gotta love this: You know my story about the van??? Well, at 5:30 tonight, the dealership calls and says they can't find any problem and we should come and get the van. My husband says, 'what do you mean you can't find the problem?' 'Well sir, we can't get the van to do what you described. You'll have to just come and get your van.' My husband was furious! He asked the guy if he wanted him to come up in the morning (since they closed in a 1/2 hour, and it was rush hour traffic) and take the guy for a ride. The guy told him that would be fine. Well instead of waiting until the morning, we high tailed it up there and got there just as they were closing the doors. We talked to the Service Manager and took him for a ride. Oh course Bessy (the van) cooperated and showed her stuff. We told the guy that it only does it when my DH drives the van. Well, he asked if he could keep it and see what he could do with it tomorrow. I said 'sure, as long as you're still paying for the S-10 from Enterprise Rental. So I guess I get to play cowgirl for another day!

Annie: You know what's really sad??? I haven't had any booze to drink in I can't remember when. But my oldest son and I were browsing the liquor aisle today and I almost, almost bought a bottle of Blackberry Brandy. We've got a party to go to next weekend and that sounded soooooo good after our conversation here. Maybe I'll bank all my points next week and just drink on Saturday night!!!! DH doesn't drink much at all so maybe he'll be the designated driver!!! Hey, what did I miss??? What convention???

Gina: So glad your appointment went well and you're on your way to a full recovery! My youngest son was in an auto accident in his senior year in high school. He tore his posterior cruciate ligament and had to have surgery. He has a scar that's in the shape of a long 'z' down the back of his leg that's probably 16" long. He had a cast from his butt to his ankle for 6 weeks. In a wheelchair to go to school. Did physical therapy for 6 weeks and then was supposed to do exercises for it at home. Well, that's where his dedication failed and to this day he has trouble squatting and kneeling. So the moral of this story is - do what the physical therapist says and if they tell you to do stuff at home on your own, do it!!! Ok, that's my 'mom' speach for the day -- so sorry!!!! As it turns out, the only time my van acts up is when my DH is driving and has someone in the passenger seat. But I can drive it with someone in the passenger seat and it won't act up. Then it dawned on us that DH wears a seat belt and I don't. But tonight he unbuckled his belt and it still did it, so that's not the problem either.

Terri: You are on a roll! A week and a half is a great start and finding yourself at the end of the week with points in the bank is all the better. Keep up the good work. How many campers do you guys have to rent? Sounds like a big business if you have several employees. Also sounds like alot of scheduling to keep track of.

Gonna run. Nitey nite, ladies!

Hello Everyone!

2ofMe & Thin - Thanks for the warm wishes regarding my recovery! I am so glad that I am on my way back to normalcy!

Yeah! What convention?!?! I want in! Do tell!

2ofMe, Congratulations on your DD's Graduation! I am sure your party will go just fine!

Thin, I think your van is haunted! That is truly the strangest auto story I have ever heard! Please let us know what the cause is! And don't worry about giving mom speeches! I love my therapist and will do anything she tells me to do. I am determined to get my full range of motion back! My scar is about 12 inches long from my shoulder all the way down to the bottom of my elbow. YUCK!

Blackberry Brandy...yum! When I was living at home Blackberry Brandy was a cure all for what ailed ya. Especially an upset stomach!

Well, I don't know if I will have time to check back over the weekend, so if I don't... Happy Memorial Day to all!
GinaMarie

Hi everyone! Hope everyone is having a delightful holiday weekend! I'm sure you're all out doing 'fun' stuff while I'm home in front of the computer! It is cold and rainy here and just not a nice day to do anything fun!

Gina: Sorry about the scar!! Sounds bad! Glad that your injury is healing though and that's the important thing!! Cool house you liked in where Blackberry Brandy was the cure-all!!!

Well girls, I'm outta here. Gotta get something done today!

"You can become a winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge." - Damon Runyon

Wow! Everyone really is gone for the weekend. I feel sooo alone!!

Guess I'll just take care of business and start a new thread since I've gotten long here.

Don't post to this one when you do check in. Look for 'Countdown to 250...May 28 and Beyond'.