Dear Anagram...if only the palace was in real-time and we could all keep each other company in the dark of night when elusive sleep is beyond our grasp. A nice pot of tea and a friend to chat with would make the unknown a little less burdensome. As our wise Amarantha says, you can only do as much as you are able. This is all part of a greater plan than we will ever have the privvy to determine. Glad that you are getting some help next week. You need some time to look after you, too, and the time you do spend with your beloved will be more enjoyable because you can focus on him and not the mental list of things you still need to do for him that day. Have I ever told you what a courageous, strong woman you are? You are truly an inspiration.

Amarantha, I plan to reach 140 sometime in 2006. Certainly not by New Year's, but before the end of the year.

Missing s...Cerise, of course, our Punkin is AWOL again, I remember Seecat...there were others who came and didn't stay, but I don't recall names...It's really been "us" for the most part.

Think I'll work on a menu plan for the coming week.

Last night I was just too tired to do anything but be a slug on the sofa. Tonight I'm going for a bike ride. SO relieved the work week is over!

Thanks for the response on the "meditation," Wildfire!!! What great and noble numbers we are conjurin' up for the comin' year ... methinks all goals are wonderful and inspirin' ... we all have varied numbers floatin' like sugarplums in our heads for the comin' holidays, but the gist o' it all is the same ... healthy bodies!!!

My "number" for today is in the 1500s, exercise as previously announced was just work stuff ... two days left on my plateau-bustin' seven and then I think I will do another, but with a NO SUGAR focus ... had TWO donuts today ... what's up with that?

Wildfire, I also hope to see Punkin soon ... sometimes I am awol also but during the Christmas Lite season I hope to be around more and dedicate meself to the CHALLENGE ... I also remember Seecat ... Molly, I thought her name was ... I think she still posts at 3FC ... also there was a Yahoo from England? And Virginia Woolf? And way back with the Lites there was Joanie and also JoJo, who is a regular poster in the land far far ... a wonderful lady ...

Have fun on thy bike ride, I WISH my work week were over but it's just beginning ... I need to get control o' that job ... today stayed away from office and just did the streets ... was wonderful as I did not have some of the toxic stress from coworker ... I did not go seek out people that I fight with (re job) and that was also great ... got done two hours early and came right home without just sittin' in the office gettin' all stressed ...

I will be gettin' my nephew's car soon, probably next week.

A plan, a plan - at last I have a toehold to start my climb back to the wagon. The occupational therapist who came yesterday suggested I take her time here as an opportunity to bolt (well, my word - not hers). Too short for any real errands but ideal in my mind for a walk. So Tuesdays and Thursdays for the next 3-4 weeks I will be planning a walk whate'er the weather. I'm hoping for great central PA fall weather - we've had none so far. Of course, those are the same days I have someone coming in mornings so I can do real errands. That is changeable of course but I'll see how the first week goes. Won't be going anywhere the first Tuesday as far as the errands are concerned. But looking forward to haircut, pedicure and other "necessities" of life.

Thanks for the kind words, Wildfire, but 'tis just being queenly, doing what one knows one must, and putting that one foot in front of the other. And that other queenly trait - hanging on by the screechy fingernails.

So happy to see ceara back - have been wondering how you're recuperating. Glad you were ok for a vaction even if it turned out to be "tvfh". How great to have a gran with such great genes. All the more reason for you to ride the wagon. Does she have any longevity secrets? Esp. any pleasurable ones like a wine or two a day? Or is it just her sheer joy of living?

Empress, glad to see your enthusiasm again relected in vibrant colors and challenges!!You fuel my faltering engine. As do Kaylet's inspirational musings. Missing Cerise as well, and Punkin - two primo queens. So happy to hear from Wildfire and Wood Nymph though. And concerned about wsw with all this rainy weather her way - can't be good for her technical difficulties. Frogger's Sydney reports brighten the way and remind us of the joy of renewed life and all the excitement ahead for both of them.

Aaah - such comfort in the palace. Later.

This is a little late but my floating golden numbers read 133 pounds! I'll take it!

I'll hop on later---must away now!

Yoeth! My floating golden number for 2006 doth read 165, the number at which, coincidentally, I do look my slender and lovely best (Hey Froggie!). I can't be disturbed by the fact that I am now heavier than I was when I joined this site. I had a hard few years, dropped down 30 odd pounds and then bounced back more when life turned difficult. However, the major factor in my gain was NOT weighing in for looooong periods of time. I would never have allowed it to happen if I had allowed myself to see that it WAS happening. Never again

So, here I am parked in a Comfort Inn in Scarborough. Going to go for a walk, do some tai chi and yoga. Tonight's the big party for MIL. Despite crushing fatigue yesterday I held strong and ate wisely and got a good walk in, besides the endless airport trudging. Today I will do likewise and tonight I'll make wise selections.

Anyhoo, I must away, else the day will escape me. Love to all!!!

Oh, for got to say -- Empress - love the idea of a long route to Christmas, broken into weekly challenges. Really think a weekly (if not dayly or hourly) goal to hocuspokusfocus is what I need! I'd go so far as to suggest a WI thread, to be updated weekly? What sayest thee, Faire Amarantha?

Quick reply as I am supposed to be in the shower and getting dressed to run errands with DH. Heading to the Reuse Center to rummage for a couple of old lamps I can clean up, rewire, then put lovely new beaded lampshades on. Why pay retail when I can get a pair for about $5.00 AND the satisfaction of putting my personal touch into the finishing? Also going to buy the dreaded halloween candies to make treat bags for the many goblins who stop here for Trick or Treating. My plan is to buy stuff I don't like so I won't be tempted.

I like the ongoing Christmas challenge, too. Of course, my personal challenge will be Dec 9. I like a weekly weigh-in to keep up all honest, too, whether it's here or in another thread. Let's get serious!

Much to do today, better scoot before I get in trouble! I'll be back tonight.

Yes, and yes and yes...

That is, I agree, would love to see a Sign in sheet of all royalty who come by....... and I'll be first to extend my hand for the virtual brownies... can you believe even though I know they are virtual, my mouth is watering!

and I also agree that our Q Anagram is very courageous and very wise to take advantage of the time the Royal Assistants are there .... and yes, twice a week plan to only walk, nothing else... walk and ok.... perhaps to think but of nothing worrisome... that is a very wise plan... hmmmm.....

and the third affirmative is about the Holiday Lite thread w/ weekly weighins

makes so much sense....

How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time....

hmmmm

got myself a brand new electric pressure cooker yesterday for $10....
never used. still in its wrapping...

Now...
anyone got any tips?/

Its my first pressure cooker experience!

Ooooh, Kaylets---a pressure cooker! I love mine! What size is it? You're going to love it. You'll be able to make the most succulent bean soups in no time. I can make a lentil soup in 45 minutes that tastes like it's been simmering for days.

First rule is to forget all those horror stories you've heard about pressure cookers. The new ones have so many safety features now.

Have fun!

I'm really excited to have all the extra queenly support during the holidays!

I'm in a silly giggle mode at the moment. Read Kaylets "how do you eat an elephant? ..." and my mind changed it to "How do you become an elephant? One bite at a time." So a bite less here and there and I won't need to worry about becoming an elephant.

Do I sound silly giddy? Feel it. Prince Charming (in the guise of ds) showed up yesterday and gave me some time to run around - got the haircut and got brows waxed, got cash, food, took some sickroom supplies back, bought two new fall items for kitchen, PLUS a Powerball ticket. Must check and see how much I won.

Anyway, I hadn't been expecting him and I don't think he was planning to come until I mentioned in an email that Friday had been tough. Then he wasn't planning to stay overnight but ended up doing so and I had the best night's sleep in a while. Whether because he was here or because dh didn't seem to be fighting as many demons in his sleep or what, but I am grateful for it. The plan was that he and DDIL would come next week and we'd all take dh on a leaf-peeping tour. Some may remember we're loony on that topic and dh so wants to go. Fingers crossed.

And I'm looking forward to so many improvements this week - well, let's just say I'm giddy.

So thrilled too to see so many weekend posts. I think it's the season when our s become ever so lively and glad to see resurgence of spirits (of all kinds).

May have some out of state family drop by but other than that it's football/sleep for dh except for meals, meds, dialysis. And all time in between is my own. I'm going to try to stay away from that list of "musts' and look for more normal stuff (like lots of thank you notes, etc. to do).

On the "nice" side - last year i bought a pair of black slacks and could get into them if I didn't try too hard to breath. Ended up not wearing them. Have them on now, very comfy. So even though I haven't lost much, it's still going, an oz. here and an oz. there.

Looks like my kind of weather outside - may sneak in and out and do an outdoor chore for the joy of it.

Huzzah, all!!! Anagramatic, it be so wonderful to read o' thy fun day and of thy recent accomplishment re the "comfy" black slacks!!! That's the way to do 'er!!! You're doin' great!!!

Re the resurgency o' the ly spirit that lately hath come about in the royal environs, methinks it be the crisp autumn air and the waft o' holidays to come in the air, along with a reminder by our E that we'd better start a'thinkin' o' that "deadline" to come ... 2006 ... once we get past the Halloween candy season and the season o' ho ho ho, let's eat mo' ... hmmm, anyhow ... here's my challenge report:

Amarantha's Seven Day Plateau Bustin' challenge was successful (except for a tiny .10 of a pound that she didn't lose) and her weight is 1.2 pounds lower ... not perfect but we are callin' it good in A's house. When everyone else in the challenge reacheth their seven days, please announce it and pm me with an address, as A meaneth it when she said she'd send a card through the actual mail ... can ya believe they still mail stuff that way these days ... oh well!