Hello everyone. We are on our 5th of what they are predicting will be at least 9 days of 90+ temps with high humidity here in southern MN. We don't have air in our house, and normally I don't mind, but after this many days it warms up a bit!
Spent this am at the hospital - took DM in by ambulance, but eventually brought her back home again. She know there is not much they can do for her, but the amount of morphine she is on (I think?) sometimes causes her to become anxious and panic and think that she is near death. We don't know either- not a good feeling when you are wishing that someone you love dearly could just pass in peace. Makes you feel kind of guilty.

FAye and Susan - I really like Clark's, too. They are so comfy! The restaurant you have in mind sounds like great fun!! And since it is almost dinner time around here - it also sounds delicious!

HEy to Susan/VA, Carri and Amanda. I must now go and sit in front of my fan.
Marsha

THURSDAY: Today is Time for Us Thursday so be sure and take some time just for you today!

Morning gals! It is hot and muggy this morning already. I am sure I will continue to freeze in the pool as the water is really cold again and it usually take 2-3 weeks of hot sunny weather to warm it up!

I just did some serious ugliness to my dh's ccard! I bought shoes, bras and books for vacation this morning and paid my cell phone bill. Boy, I tell ya, it is hard sometimes to buy "big girl" bras in colors. Sheesh, you think I would be asking for the moon or something. Ahh, well, I did get a pretty pink one and really need white for a lot of my vacation clothes anyway. It is just dh who likes the colors, lace, satin etc. Course this is the same man who would prefer I go without one all the time for better access... I do in the house all the time, but I'll be darned if I am going to go out to the store and have someone point and say, "Hey, look at that lady, she has three stomachs!"

My burn is coming along, but it is at the new skin growth stage and very stiff. Hard to even bend my thumb and I usually open it back up when I try. I kept it in an antiseptic bandage for a couple days, then had to break the blisters so it is just the chain of things I guess.

My allergies were driving me nuts this morning and my adenoids were swollen so I have been up since 3 AM. I need to run some errands today so I don't know if I am going to get a nap or not. Us old folks need our naps!

Marsha: Hope mom is settled back in and I do understand both sides of the coin. My fil had a very fast growing cancer, found in Oct of one year and he was dead by Feb of the next. All he did was vomit from chemo and radiation sickness and lost so much weight. I loved him dearly and had only been married 3 years so didn't get to know him that well (we lived about 1000 miles away from each other) and my son was only 2 and the apple of his granddaddy's eye. BUT, with all that being said, I wanted God to take him to relieve his misery so I understand the guilt. I lived with terrible guilt for several years over something related to his passing that I thought I did. Stupid really when I look back on it, but you know how it goes. Hope you don't cook today. Our AC has been running almost non-stop for weeks now because of this heat. Our elec bill is going to be awful, but I can't stand the heat..so what do we do? Go on vacation to one of the hottest places in the country. Vegas is running around 110 degrees everyday! UGH! Glad we rented a car!

You gals have a great day!

Faye

So I'm not sure what happened, if the scale was wrong or what...but I have miraculously gained 3.5 pounds this week, as verified by TWO scales. I"m just pissed.

Susan: I say the scales are wrong! They have ganged up against you and are now plotting to...um..throw you off? (overthrow didn't work here! ) Don't sweat it and don't get mad. Remember you were the one that didn't want to weigh too often so don't stress it could be any number of things including your menstrual cycle!

I got to thinking and seems like Julie is the only one with kids in the home. I was going to ask if any of you were taking your kids to the bookstore at midnight tomorrow to get their Harry Potter book. This old kid ordered hers online to be shipped overnight. Love those crazy books for some reason!

Just popped in to see who had been here. have a good afternoon

Faye

Hi, ladies, my husband continues to improve so I am happy. I've been at 156 for 2 weeks now so I guess I've got it down to there. One more pound and I'll be back to my WW goal. Now that I'm there, I can see it is really a little too high for me (Doctor agrees) and so I'm setting my personal goal to 145...could take a couple of months, could be a year but eventually I'll get there. I have developed a good, healthy way of eating and getting a little better at the exercise so I'm pleased with my progress and not in a rush.

Hi all,

I got 2 points yesterday - went slightly over my cals but no big deal. We had our friend visit yesterday with his Brazilian fiancee and her 6 year old daughter. It was nice to meet them but they don't speak a word of English and we do not speak a word of Portugeuse, so it was hard work! Greg had to be translator, but would sometimes get mixed up and turn to us and translate in Portuguese!! They were really lovely though and the little girl was beautifully behaved and a credit to her mum which you don't see every day!

FAYE - 6 weeks will fly by in no time at all! I hear you about bra buying. I used to buy all the pretty bra's but they have very little support in the straps (unlike you, I LIKE my boobs well strapped in and lifted! ) I recently got some more supportive ones which aren't as sexy, but they really lift them up and instantly make me look slimmer and lifts my boobs from somewhere near my waist! I've decided that for the moment - support wins over sexiness!

MARSHA - Sorry to hear that your mother is so ill. I recently went throught the death of my partners mother, and I dread the day my mum gets ill. I know that when Nigel's mum was really sick and was no longer really there, we went outside and prayed for God to take her. I don't feel guilty for that at all as it was an act of unselfish love, and we thanked God when she went later that night. My heart goes out to you Marsha during this exceptionally difficult time.

SCUZIN - I can categorically tell you that your weight is up because you had your first visit to the gym. The weight will either be water retention which is normal when you first start training, or muscle. Don't worry about it. I was working out like a mad woman for a whole month before I showed any loss on the scale (although it was obvious that my shape was slimming and I was toning up). Just keep up the good work and don't focus too much on the scales for now.

SUSAN - Glad to hear your dh continues to gain in strength. You are so close to your WW target now!

Hi to Carri, Julie and Nikki!

Love Amanda x

FRIDAY: Today if Fabulous Friday Follies! What crazy thing have you done recently?

POINTS:

Amanda
Faye

Amanda: Had to be an interesting visit! At least you had a translator of some kind! Sounded like an I Love Lucy episode! Glad you are continuing to work so hard with your program! You are doing great BTW!

Susan/VA: Wonderful! Love hearing good news about your spouse doing better!

I am officially under 6 weeks til vacation today! WOOHOO!

I can hear rain, darn it! Hope it isn't raining too hard so I can go to the pool. I really should run a bunch of errands, but I may just wait until dh gets home and have him go with me. We both are pretty shaggy and need haircuts so we will do that tonight and some other shopping than tomorrow it is grocery shopping at the commissary, which I dread of course, but there isn't a thing in the house to eat except bad stuff. (update: Took my bum out to the pool in the rain and did an hour anyway!)

Brother I can't seem to get a break with my allergies. I don't take meds and I have problems and I take meds and I have problems. Last night I took some meds and now I have a sore throat (it dries me out) It will go away this morning, but it wakes me up during the night. I noticed the grass pollen is very high and is at an advisory level in Vegas (Vegas has grass?????? I never saw grass. It is after all smack dab in the middle of the desert) Anyway, I am highly allergic to grass so I hope none of the casinos has grass inside. Who cares? I will sit at the slots and sneeze if I have to!

Well, I hear Jack up so better get him some breakfast. I may go back to bed for awhile after he goes to work. I am pooped! Have a great weekend!

Faye

Good Morning!
Its 8:30 and boy is that early for me (hey, I'm a college student on summer vacation, gimme a break!) I'm on my way to a theme park today: The "Enchanted Forest" All fairy tale stuff, haven't been since I was 10.

Well I got back to the gym yesterday and pumped some iron and then ended up doing more walking around this town than I ever want to do again! I enjoyed the 1st half hour/45 minutes or so, but then I thought I was done, but it turned out I miscalculated the bus system and ended up having to walk another mile or so with my already tired body in the hot sun. OH well it will do me good in the long run.

Faye and Amanda, you are both so right. I know doing weight training makes the scale do funny things and I can't believe I didn't even think about TOM since its now HOURS away.

Have a good day!

Good Friday morning to all! We can't get a break from this blasted heat and humdity - I hate whiners, but this is getting ridiculous!

Thanks to all for all the support - you guys hardly know me, but your words were comforting. DM has been failing for a long time, but mentally, except for days when the meds are way high, she is right on. Makes it worse! I hate to keep burdening my friends and coworkers, although they are good about asking and doing things for me. Anyway, your support comes at a much needed time, and I thank you for it.

Faye - you are an exercise inspiration! You rarely miss a day in the pool - I just can't get out and walk in this heat. Maybe by Monday we are supposed to get a break into the mid 80's.

AManda - your visit sounds like it was fun. It is getting rarer these days to find truly well behaved children - and, being a teacher for 28 years, I do love kids! Our standards here in America have changed, and kids are allowed to behave differently than we did growing up.

Susan/VA - glad to hear DH continues to improve. I am seriously thinking about giving WW online a try. I do better when I am committed to a program. Have you ever done the online stuff?

Scuzin - quite the workout yesterday - intended or not! I am sure you will see the scales start to turn here soon.

Well, off to get ready to go for my MRI - kind of hope they find nothing, then on the other hand, hope they find something to tell me why it continues to hurt.

Talk to you all tomorrow.
Marsha

Afternoon Girls ... TGIF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the love of God, I could not take another day of work this week I am so proud of myself that I have been OP for four days now ... I know it seems small, but it is quite a feat for me as of late ... but I am not going to be congratulating myself just yet, if I can stay OP over the weekend then I will be really happy with myself.

Marsha - I hope your MRI goes well, good luck !!

Faye - Hope the rain stopped so that you could get in the pool ... I hear ya on the allergies, I thought mine were really bad until I keep hearing about yours...I hope you feel better real soon ...Also my dh LOVES the Harry Potter books and is really looking forward for it's release so I am sure we will be buying one this weekend.

Scuzin - You are doing so well with the exercising, keep it up!! I know that for some reason when I start exercising my weight goes up for a few days, just keep it up and I bet by next week you will see a good loss.

Amanda - Glad you had a good visit with your friends - it seems very hard these days to find a child that is well behaved, so she is a credit to her Mom.

Susan/Va - Great to hear that dh keeps improving, so glad ...

Nikki and Julie - Hi

Well I hope you all have a great weekend, should be another hot one here...I got my electric bill yesterday and it was twice what it normally is due to my A/C running all of the time, ughhhhh ... but like Faye said "what are you gonna do, I am not going to be hot" .... talk to you all later!!!!

Hello Ladies, Happy Saturday.
Just a quick check in for now, I'm about to take some body measurements. EEK! But I know it will help me show progress in the end. Check in later!

Hello all,

I got 4 points yesterday. I weighed myself this morning and I am down another 2lb - this makes 31lb in total - yay! Watch out Carri and Julie, I'm slowly catching you guys! In the UK we measure our weight in stones and pounds - it's so great to be able to say that I now weigh 16 stone 12lb, rather than 19 stone 1lb!!


SCUZIN - Seeing those measurements for the first time is never pleasant, but it will be worth it!

Have a great weekend

Love Amanda x

SATURDAY: Today is Sunny Thoughts Saturday. A day to throw all your cares to the wind and be happy!

POINTS:

Carri
Amanda
Faye

Amanda: Three cheers for you!!!!!!! I cannot tell you how proud of you I am! You are doing absolutely fabo!

Carri: My Harry Potter book was delivered while I was in the pool this AM! I had it shipped overnight but they said it wouldn't get here until Monday. Unfortunately, Jack got his hands on it and I had to go grocery shopping so I only got to read 2 chapters. While I am running around getting laundry done and straightening up, he is sitting reading MY BOOK!!!!!!!!

Marsha: We are nothing if not a very cohesive caring group. You can be sure that you will always find a compassionate and honest ear here for you and you can always pm me and I will send you my e-mail address if you need me for something.

Susan: I started concentrating more on my tape measure than my scale and have found I am losing inches even though my weight is not really going down (partly because I am not eating totally properly) I have confidence that you will have great tape results!

WooHoo I finally got into another pair of my new capris and even got the eye from two guys today! The first guy actually flirted with me in the grocery store. He was probably my son's age are maybe 5 years or so older for gosh sakes, but said how cute my outfit was and I looked ready for the beach! I almost dropped my frozen food! The other guy was when I was standing at my trunk as the bagger was loading in my groceries and he was pulling up to park. I looked up and he was looking at me and smiled then parked, got out and actually gave me the eye and a WINK and walked into the commissary. He was younger too and a pretty cute black man! Must be the big behind! I heard black men like big behinds more than white men do! You have to be flattered but I was also embarrassed!

Well to the laundry I go!

Have a great Saturday girls!

Faye

Saturday night and I am finally checking in here. Hope everyone's weekend is going well.

Faye - congrats on getting into the capris. Too funny!! I have a pair I can get on, but they are just a bit snug for comfort yet - hope to wear them when we go to the lake in August.

Carri - glad your work week is over, I do appreciate my summers off!

Amanda - WOW! Congrats on dropping two more pounds. You are really doing great.

Scuzin - I have yet to take my measurements. I think the numbers would scare me! It will be good to watch those numbers go down!

In the upper 90's here today - perhaps 100 tomorrow before cool front moves through. OK - this hot spell has been enoughto seriously make me want AC! It is not fun to just sit in the house and sweat! Not sure if it will even go below 80 overnight. MRI went ok - the open sided ones are sure better than that narrow tube I was in last time. Now we just wait for a call about the results and hope that if something needs to be done they can get at it before it is time to go back to school.
We are off to Minneapolis tomorrow for my great-neice's baptism. DM's health care aides are going to spend the day so that DF can go along. My DF and DM both have interesting names - DF is Clair, DM is Verba. Last name Meredith. Anyway, my DD's name is Meredith and now the next baby in the family is a little girl they named CLaire - kind of cool that we can use the family names. So far no one has used Verba yet though - just a little too weird!
Hope to check in tomorrow evening when we get back if it's not storming!
Marsha

Phew its hot here too! I don't have an AC either, I've always managed to tough it out with a fan.

Went to the gym again today. Last time I ventured for the 1st time into the freeweight section where I have always been afraid to go. Well I went and am never going back! Not because I was intimidated, not at all, but it SMELLED!!!! I don't know if the ventilation is poor on that side of the building or all the huge sweaty guys spend just enough time there not to let the air freshen...EW!

Taking those measurements made me realize just how much weight I had lost last year and how silly I am for stopping. I would like to ask you all a favor: DO NOT LET ME LEAVE! If I go more than a couple days without posting GET ON MY BACK ABOUT IT! Shoot, I'll give you my address, my #, **** even my credit card #, ok, not that...:P But anything for you to track me down and keep me in check if I get too "comfotable" and dissapear like I did last year.

Faye: I don't want to hear a word about what happens in Harry Potter till I have it in my own hands myself!!! NO SPOILERS!

Amanda: congrats on the loss!