Frouf, my poor friend. I do understand. Life can sure be overwhelming sometimes. You and I sound so much alike. We want everything to be just right and feel frustrated when we are not always in control. I wish I could find that "pledge" that my Sister has framed in her upstairs bathroom. It's pretty cool. It talks about living life and not sweating the small stuff that you can't control. I'm bad at this because I think everything is big. Work will resolve itself and so will your money situation. You seem like a smart, energetic woman. Try not to take everyone's troubles on your shoulders. As far as your weight loss efforts go, you'll get back in control when you're ready, just like me with the exercise. In the meantime, just be as good as you can and keep trying to get back on program. I'm going to give myself today and tomorrow and then it's back to the treadmill as long as I'm feeling ok physically. Just think about it....you could look like me. I'm currently 263 and only 5' 3", so I think we are about the same height. No matter what else, you have not let yourself get that far out of control. So don't panic....you'll be ok. Congratulations on being a Great Aunt. It is SO much fun to me. Jim really wants a home theater system too. We'll be shopping in the next couple of weeks to see what we can buy. He's decided he wants DLP. My eyes kinda glaze over with that stuff. Probably looking to buy between a 50-56 inch TV. Life is too short (at our age!) to not enjoy ourselves. We don't travel so we'll be splurging on the family room. We spend alot of time watching TV and movies.

Saundra, it's a relief that everyone arrived safe and sound! Enjoy your holiday. Thanks for the support on my tests. It's meant alot to me.

Sandra, I don't know how you could bake and not eat it. I couldn't do it. That's part of how I got in trouble this past week. Although, today on the scale at the testing facility, I was lower (with my shoes on even!) than I ever have been at WW. I decided it was just a nice scale!

Well, I just ate some farina and I'm heading back to watch TV. Jim rented us two movies for tomorrow; Must Love Dogs and Hitch. We are SO far behind on movies that we didn't see that we never have trouble finding some to rent. We'll stay up until midnight but nothing fancy. Frouf, you wanna come here?

All right,
Now you know I can't respond to all of this, but practice, practice, practice seems like great advice to all of us!
Judy Itry
234.6/206.5/thinner into onederland

vickie, i'm all right baking if i don't take that first bite. if i take it--i'm doomed. the brownies are out in the jeep. i didn't take that bite. curtis ate about 4, though.

vickie, you have much more willpower than i do. i am constantly amazed at what all you are able to do and stay true to core. you are an inspiration. (kathy, it's time to say, "get a room.")

sounds like they had some mighty fine scales at the doctor's today. that had to make you smile this am.

Sandra, that darned scale DID make me smile! I'm proud of you for not taking that first bite of brownie. I'm with you....one bite and I'm doomed.

I'm ready to go eat dinner now and lay down on my couch for the evening. Talk to you all later.

i'm ready to hop into the shower and get dressed to go fling arrows. everyone have a wonderful friday evening.

Go get em, Sandra!

I forgot to tell you that your saying you'd drink that barium for me if you could brought tears to my eyes. You're a good woman!

Hey chicks!!

Vickie, I was so looking forward to watching Must Love Dogs. We did a week or two ago and I was disappointed. It's cute but not as good as it could have been, I thought. I think Hitch is hilarious though.

Sandra, for staying out of the brownies! And my mom ALWAYS made us eat black eyed peas on the 1st. Even if we just had a cup full, we had to eat some. I like them now.

Saundra, glad to hear that your kids arrived safely. Have fun with them!

Frouf, It sounds like you are just having a "blah" time. Here's a and : that things will start looking up for you. Sometimes it's just hard to stay positive and motivated, isn't it? I feel that way a lot.

Well I think that we are going to watch a movie. We don't have any plans tomorrow except we are going to friends' house to hang out for a little while. We can't stay out late though, due to the fact that Aaron has to work on Sunday morning!

Sandra, I just saw your "get a room" comment. We are such a wacky bunch, aren't we? And it brought tears to MY eyes when I saw what Vickie wrote about you drinking her barium. Geez ... we are all an emotional bunch.

I guess I'll watch TV for a while and then maybe clean. People *might* be coming over tomorrow night ...

Kathy, who is coming over? Anyone we know?

Judd's rockstar friends ... you know, the ones who celebrate his "birthday" with him. I think there will only ( ) be maybe 4-5.

So you know how we are all famous for our trying new things. Well ... I picked up a copy of "First" -- that magazine that's at all the checkout stands. I noticed it because it said something like "lose 9 pounds in 3 days". I was thinking maybe it was a good detox plan, and goodness knows I could use that!

First day is a protein shake every two hours, and the next two days are fresh fruits every two hours and then a big salad for the final meal. If I had some protein powder, I'd consider it. I think I should have been born a guinea pig.

I had a subscription to that magazine for several years and loved reading those diet articles. Of course one time I posted some info from it here and got policed!
ANYWAY, a guinea pig? You are hilarious. I have some protein powder if you want to borrow. What goes in the shake?
Sounds like the rockstars won't mind a dirty house anyway. I wouldn't work too hard for them.

Well, at the risk of being policed ... !!!!

Protein powder and water.

I buy this magazine from time to time, but this one looks like a keeper!

That sounds truly nasty.

Aha! I don't think you know me! I just jumped up and put on some clothes, went to Walmart and got a chocolate protein powder. Tomorrow morning I will drink attempt to drink them every two hours and tomorrow night will have a big salad. Let's see how it works ... and believe me, I don't mind being the resident guinea pig!

I'll pass on the protein powder and water - and I once had to drink that barium too Vickie - when they thought I had an ulcer (it was my gall bladder by the way) - not fun!

Well it's pretty friggin cold out there tonight - just got home. Big disappointment for ds as they were sold out of the home theatre stuff - not sure when they will get more - we convinced him to wait and even get something better and not settle for something he doesn't want!

Then off for some more shopping - ds got a haircut, we got one of those HUGE plastic rubbermaid long tubs w/lid for the artificial tree - the box is kinda falilng apart..and some pants for dh and other odds and ends. Ended up taking the 'boys' to dinner at Red Lobster (dd is with her dad this weekend). Yes I ate too much (broiled fisherman's feast) but it was very yummy and we were all hungry as we had breakfast/brunch but no lunch to speak of.

Then to the liquor store (ds had to stock up for party out tomorrow night) and finally home. Already have some laundry going (yes I splattered stuff on my shirt!) and dh very excited and on the phone with an old high school buddy who just called - from Vancouver!

Kathy - have fun w/the rockstars - sounds like a wild party at your place! Guess it will be a quiet new year's eve here too - dh and I will probably rent some videos and order in a pizza. Little ds is going to a 'kids' new year's eve party tomorrow from 3-6 pm - so cute!...all kiddies are very excited!

Last chance is the "family" thing - dh will call his sister and mom to see what they are doing tomorrow night - I'm sure we'll get an invite if something is happening - maybe new baby jackson will be there too?

New year's day is an annual event - an open house at friend's place - standing invitation every year and the kids LOVE going there. Beautfiul big bungalow on the river - nice couple (actually friends of my ex husband which is how we originally met!), no kids. The basement is like a treasure trove of collections and full of stuff - I can't even begin to describe it!

Racks of dinky cars, piles of old magazines - those revolving display cases w/costume jewellery and knickknacks. Tony collects camels - so various types, sizes all over the place, a couple of old video arcade games, old lps, old toys, gun collection - it goes on and on.....of course kids of ALL ages love the place.

I remember taking dd there when she was 6 weeks old for her first 'open house'. This year I guess just us and the boys will attend. The saddest news it that we recently found out Tony has prostrate cancer and I was just devastated. I understand he has had chemo and is all clear for now and gone back to work but I don't know how I will avoid bawling my eyes out when I see him!

The bad news is of course the same people are there year after year (it's fun watching the kids grow up!), and I of course am still embarrassed by my size! I always wonder what they are thinking when they see me ballooning up or down...now I just look old and grey! This of course depresses me!

Anyhow - Tony is lebanese and makes the most amazing spread of food - Sue is north american and LOVES sweets so I always show up with some baking for her (and no Sandra I am rarely as strong as you are and some do end up in my mouth!). So Sunday will be a busy day.

Time to go put clothes in the dryer now!

Frouf