ANOTHER TRUE STORY!!

The first mammogram is the worst. Especially when the machine catches on
fire. That's what happened to me. The technician, Gail, positioned me
exactly as she wanted me (think a really complicated game of Twister -
right hand on the blue, left shoulder on the yellow, right breast as far
away as humanly possible from the rest of your body). Then she clamped
the machine down so tight, I think my breast actually turned inside out.
I'm pretty sure Victoria's Secret doesn't have a bra for that.

Suddenly there was a loud popping noise. I looked down at my right
breast to make sure it hadn't exploded. Nope, it was still flat as a pancake
and still attached to my body.

"Oh no!" Gail said loudly. These are perhaps, the words you least want to
hear from any health professional. Suddenly, she came flying past me,
her lab coat whipping behind her, on her way out the door. She yelled
over her shoulder, "The machine's on fire, I'm going to get help!"

OK, I was wrong, 'The machine's on fire,' are the worst words you
can hear from a health professional. Especially if you're all alone and
semi-permanently attached to a machine and don't know if it's the
machine in question. I struggled for a few seconds trying to get free,
but even Houdini couldn't have escaped.

I decided to go to plan B: yelling at the top of my lung (the one that was
still
working). I hadn't seen anything on fire, so my panic hadn't quite
reached epic proportions. But then I started to smell smoke coming from
behind the partition. "This is ridiculous," I thought. I can't die like
this. What would they put in my obituary? Cause of death: breast
entrapment?

I may have inhaled some fumes because I started to hallucinate.
An imaginary fireman rushed in with a fire hose and a hatchet.
"Howdy, ma'am," he said. "What's happened here?" he asked,
averting his eyes.

"My breasts were too hot for the machine," I quipped, as my
imaginary fireman ran out of the room again. "This is gonna take
the Jaws of Life!"

In reality, Gail returned with a fire extinguisher and put out the fire.
She gave me a big smile and released me from the machine.
"Sorry! That's the first time that's ever happened. Why don't you
take a few minutes to relax before we finish up?"

I think that's what she said. I was running across the parking lot in
my backless paper gown at the time. After I'd relaxed for a few years,
I figured I might go back. But I was bringing my own fire extinguisher.

Morning, springettes. Up .2 this week, so still near the bottom of my two month roller coaster ride. Might have had a loss without those jelly beans.

Trying to make hay while we have another nice day and my joints arent aching. Rain/cold to come back so I won't be as ambitious tomorrow.

Almost really lost it foodwise yesterday but after an excessive lunch reined myself in, did lots of water, walked, etc. etc. Am much happier today than I would have been otherwise. Might not have managed it if today were not weigh in day.

I'm baaaaaaack!!!!!

Had fun this morning catching up on posts and can't wait to go check out Amarantha's new thread! Always up for a challenge - especially now that I've begun packing to leave Plateauville...

On a related topic - I've left Curves. When I noticed more strength and definition coming from the work I'm doing at home, the price of gas and the value of my time (1 hour round trip to center), I decided I could and would find something else.

Had a great visit with my girlfriends. My goddaughter (will be 12 in June), who came along, just amazes me - in good, funny ways and in the ways in which it's so obvious she's growing into quite an amazing young lady. She had just had her first (shhhh, you have to whisper) period and was mortified that everyone knew. I love how she's called me "Auntie" from the moment she could speak. Some people get depressed watching children grow because it reminds them that they're aging - I love it because it's been such an honor watching her go from 2 months premature, weighing 2 pounds and not knowing if she was going to make it - to talking about what she wants to do when she's older, what kind of family she wants, etc. Cool kid...

We played a 'for women only' game called "Go Goddess". You should look for it - it was like an hour long combination of counseling session, deep looking within and generous self-worth discovery - all done with my best friends. There was a lot of talk on what we've learned about ourselves, our parents, our relationships.... wonderful game (I hesitate to even call it a "game").

Enough mememe!

Amarantha - Good to "see" you again! Congrats on the new techy toys!

Eydie - Hugs to Lupin, what a great name! Hopefully being a lab/hound mix he'll howl better than our lab who was *taught* by our old hound how to howl. Poor boy can't stay in tune to save his life!
Take care of yourself too! Hopefully it's just a short case of vertigo or something??

Kaylets - Good luck to DH. It does sound like it's smart to jump ship before it sinks.... Congrats on the NSV too! I don't know if I can go through the candy section - I'm still avoiding it!

Wildfire - Ooooh, you are SO right! No one should be touching your kid like that! Glad to hear of DD passing marks. She's so blessed to have the support she does from you, her cousin and was it an aunt now too?

Anagram - Ya know, when it comes to family problems, if it's affecting you the way it was, then it's real and needs to be remedied. I'm glad things seem to be smoothing out. Pity we can't pick our family members sometimes isn't it?

Frogger - Hun, I didn't have a bridal shower and felt robbed. I hope someone steps up. Your MOH is probably feeling a bit overwhelmed with being out of work. Maybe if it doesn't happen you can *heavily* suggest someone have a post-wedding girls only celebration??? Hey, we could all send you a risque e-stripper, virtual cake and champagne over the internet!!!!

to everyone! Since it's Wednesday I need to get scootin' on my billing (normally done on Monday) and get the week (and myself) settled.

Toodles,

Terri

(side note: Still no kitty. She's been gone almost 3 weeks now... I've had a couple dreams about her coming back but I don't know if that's just wishful thinking or ?????)

Kaylets, did that happen to you? I'm having my first mammogram this summer and that's not what I need to hear!

Frogger, I was very sorry to hear about your co-worker's passing. When it's so sudden it's always a shock.

Punkin, Glad you had a good visit with your friends, but I'm glad you're back. You were missed! [Thanks for the missing kitty update. I was wondering but didn't want to ask.]

I'm having difficulties staying with my plan lately---too much mindless eating, and I'm feeling a little puffier than usual. I hate this feeling--so maybe I'll mosey over to the 1-week thread and see if I can get a little extra juice there. And I've got to start posting my food journal here again. I'll put it this way, when I don't that's a sign that I've been eating things I don't want you to know about. Bad sign! The madness stops now!

Ceara, you out there?

Oh, Punkin, the family thing is forever and will probably be so. The people involved are good people - just are not used to the idea that "the strong one" could sometimes use a little support herself. It's been bothering me because of dh's illness. However they both came here yesterday and were as loving as they can be. = still didn't mention his illness or how am I faring = but they came. really hard for the one physically to ride an hour in a car and the other lives in Alaska (flew back today).

Dr. Phil had a show today on birth order and how it affects you. Not a new subject but reinforced some patterns I've known in my family for years. Only saw part of it. He was talking about first born females (moi!) (Alpha females, he called them) and how hard it is to break patterns even when you recognize them and want to change them. I've been working on this for years. I've changed me. It's others I cannot change. This is also the situation which I referred to when I mentioned getting others to reduce their expectations.

Anyway, the tiger's back in the cage for now. I plan to take the first plane out of Plateauville first thing Monday morning. I did buy my peanut butter Easter egg today and it is sitting in my freezer to be devoured sunday evening. I've never had an Easter without my pb egg and I decided not to let this year be the first. I will be able to continue to withstand chocolate, etc. if I know I'm going to have my most choice treat. But then it's do or die time and I'll need to get rolling toward my big breakthrough. I'm still hoping for that day to be July 4th but will really have to hustle for that. But I can hustle - just need to pull myself together starting Fresh Start monday.

Kaylets, this body image thing affects so many of us in so many ways...even the skinny ones! I don't know a woman alive who is completely satisfied with how she looks. Personally, I envision myself much larger than I actually am. I've seen large women when DH and I are out and about and have remarked that I looked like them or I'm bigger than them, and he tells me I need my eyes checked because I'm no where near their size. Same with my girlfriends. Growing up I was insecure and always thought I was HUGE, therefore spent quite a bit of time and energy trying to small and insignificant and unnoticed. I guess I still feel that way to some extent. I hate my 36DD chest, and other women are having surgery to get bigger boobs......just doesn't make sense, does it?

Punkin, glad your visit went well. Yes, it's my sister who is taking DD to live with her and hopefully remove her from a lot of the influence and opportunities that present themselves living in a big city. There's just not a lot to do back home, other than high school dances and cruising the drag! I feel the school system is much more geared for the students there, rather than the interests of the teachers. About the kitty...she could still come home. My Cactus (adorable little grey cat, I had her and her brother, Casey) went missing for four months! One night I heard this terrific crash at the back screen door, and when I opened it, she was stuck to the screen. She bolted inside, just about chewed my hand off when I tried to fill the food dish, ate her fill, then hopped up on the couch to get washed like nothing was out of the ordinary. She smelled really musty, like she'd been in a damp garage or basement. It was winter, so we figured she'd gotten in somewhere and got shut in. She was a little thin, but no worse for wear - we figure because she was an excellent hunter. She must have survived on field mice and voles that wandered into wherever she was.

Eydie, I've been sufferring the same problems as you lately. This one-week challenge is working for me, though. And when this week is over, I'll start another!

Anagram, enjoy that peanut butter egg! Your family members probably are used to you being the strong one and figure you're handling it all just fine. I've been through the same thing.

Gotta run, time to watch Angel and walk on the treadmill.

Hello all!

Last day of the long hours and then tomorrow off!! And the desk is really beginning to show the improvements! My company offers a filing service to clients and the progress of the filing is available "live" from our website. Timeliness is top priority so system crashes, late mail deliveries etc can really make a difference. And isnt it always the way-- the clients are always more interested in the "effective date" than the "Invoice date"-- But I'm not complaining if that's what it sounds like, its a never boring!!

Wouldn't it be great if everything only took a few "long" days to show such instant results?? But how much really is like that?

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Today's thought is:

"You are everything you see," Max Lucado.

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Question of the day:

"Why am I the only one who ever changes the roll of toliet paper? " from Table Topics

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Sometimes holidays on these threads are very quiet. I expect to be around most of the weekend and will do my best to keep the thread "Hot". Some of us get really homesick, lonesome, etc when during the holidays. Is anyone else staying near their computers this weekend??

We have a Good Luck Brunch for a member of our unit transferring to another unit. I'm bringing strawberries and pineapple. No dressing. Just have to wrap the bowl.


Take care all!

I'm making this my 'fresh start 'day. I'm just feeling so bad these days and I know it comes from all the mindless eating and then I feel bloated and weird and I know what I have to do. I dread the first few days of struggling to get back on my plan. I know, same old story--but some golden day I'll get this thing right!

I wish that I could be gentler with myself. It's all or nothing with me. When my exercise plan falls apart, my food plan falls apart, and vice versa.

Today's the day! I'll journal it all later--this is it--I mean it this time!

Happy Friday-eve everyone!

Good for you Eydie on making today the day! I'm with you... I know the reason I feel like I've been hit by a truck is because I'm eating junk - pure junk.... Other than my salad at lunch time, there are no fruits or veggies. No wonder I feel like a slug! I look forward to seeing your journal and getting some inpirational vibes!

Anagram - My bags are packed too - just the last minute stuff left to throw in there! I've already started drinking my water for the trip! I can't wait to leave this blasted place...

Wildfire - I agree, getting your daughter out of a big city may be good. My brother completely changed when he moved to Yosemite (from the SF bay area). Got him out of his element and away from the people influencing him.
Thanks for you MIA kitty story. I've had 3 dreams where she's outside and I open the door and say "get your butt in here" and she's really dirty, but ok. More than anything I'm hoping someone took her in, or she's in someone's barn since it's been snowing and hovering around freezing at night.

My Mom said yesterday when she took the other cat to the vet for her check-up, that she'd seen a beautiful cat up for adoption. I asked if she was already thinking of getting another cat and she said not yet, she wasn't ready to give up yet. That she even had the thought though, is both encouraging and sad.

Kaylets - I'm jealous! Enjoy your day off... I'm hoping with it being Good Friday that a lot of people are working 1/2 day so it'll be quiet at work.

As for the question of the day ~ Irritates the **** outta me. I moved out almost 2 years ago and I *still* am the one who changes the roll here at my Mom's house! WHY balance the new full roll on top of the empty one???? WHY!?!?!?!?!? My other question is why my Mother keeps the fresh rolls in the hallway - outside the bathroom and around the corner.... mighty inconvenient if you run out - or sit down before you realize that yet again, you must do the change out....
I think I've said enough on this topic!

Have a great day everyone!

Terri

Day 1 of my epic struggle to get back on my plan and I must say I'm doing great! [knock wood.]
Have had really "sincere" workouts today and my energy level is up and here's the miraculous thing, I even feel thinner. Hmmmm, overeating and feeling bloated, could there be a connection?!

wsw, thanks for checking in with us!

About the delicate toilet paper connection, thankfully I live with someone who doesn't mind changing it out. But the folks I work with--it's like they think they'll turn to stone if they turn their wrists to do anything like that. I'm not bitter.....

Forgot to mention that doing Pilates with a new puppy in the house is a little challenging. Kind of hard to do with a needy little puppy wanting to drape himself over your face, and when I did kickbacks he'd sink his little needle teeth into my leg and that was a bit distracting, but I soldiered on. Love that fresh new dawg!

I posted a photo of my dress on the alternachicks thread. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday. I leave for Vegas early Saturday and I have a ton of stuff to do tomorrow...so i won't have many more chances to post. See ya'll in May.

Hello all!!

Hope everyone is well !!

Two days we ago we moved the thermostat to "air conditioning", yesterday morning moved it back to "heat" and this am the heat isnt enough ! Its raw and damp so I've thrown a throw over me as I type. Another lesson in how little control we really have ..... but that's an entirely different subject.

Think I proved yesterday that I am much more of a stress eater than I ever realized. Had a small yogurt/cereal breakfast yesterday and then at the brunch, 1/2 a bagel, serving a egg/cheese quiche ( no crust) and big serving of pineapple/ strawberries. The entire rest of the day, I had to really fight to stay away from the leftovers as I was feeling real, stomach growling hunger. I did have a bowl of Italian soup ( it had a tiny amt of sausage to flavor) and the other 1/2 of the bagel but within 30 minutes I had eaten 2 small pieces of a quick bread. At first I said,"Carb cravings" but now I'm wondering if its both- Stress + Carb/Sugar = Almost Uncontrollable Cravings. Luckily the donuts were all gone and the other entrees were spicy Caribean or Deep Fried Chicken. And also, luckily, some of the folks who keep candy dishes full on their desks, were empty.
And yes, I was tired from long hours all week-- and frustrated because the long hours weren' t paying off as quickly as expected.

Guess I set myself up. Hmmmm-- beginning to see this as a actually a NSV -- I could've done much worse considering.

Which in part is why I was drawn to today's thought:

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Today's thought:

"To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it," Mother Teresa

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Today's question is:

"Do you know how to whistle? When did you learn? " from Table Topics

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Ok, button's been pushed- yesterday's done--

Flower- I went to Alternachiks- couldnt find you there- perhaps if I search by your name--- hmmmm--
Best to you and your Fiancee-- I know everything will be just beautiful!! Am looking forward to hearing the details when you come back!!


Not sure if I asked this yesterday or just meant to--
Will many of us be near our computers this weekend? Sometime s in the past, we've done "special Holiday" threads as the holidays come with Extra Stress-- from all directions!!
Shall we have special Holiday thread ??


Also, I have a thought-- Empress are you there??? ....

I recently found a stash of books and in rereading some of them, am amazed at how I see things in an entirely new light--- That thought led me to thinking perhaps if we moved to the Empress'
"Just One Week" thread it may give a give us all a fresh perspective. Anyone opposed??


I'll be back -- need to run to the grocery store!


Take care!

As for an Easter thread, I put in a vote for no--just because I don't think I can absorb another thread. About the moving to the One Week Challenge thread, I'm up for that. I just don't want our core group to lose touch.

So whatever is decided, leave a trail of breadcrumbs and I'll find you!

And I never learned to whistle! It seems miraculous to me when other people do it---maybe I need to get out more.....