Hi everyone! 5 days ago I pledged no more caffine or artificial sweetners. I didn't realize how hungry I would be without them! I have probably back tracked a pound but hope that damage can be undone this week. I am not so much anti soda and anti coffee as I am pro water and as long as I can find other no or low point beverages I skip the water. I figured if I cut the coffee and diet soda habit I would Have to drink water. I am drinking water. I can still do better. I have gone over my points several times but I have logged everything anyways.

Thinking lovely thoughts for each of you.

Went to the Tut exhibit Tuesday, loved it. Enjoyed trip - maybe because it was the first in a long time.

Then yesterday, went to spend time w/BIL and to encourage him to eat (at Sis request). I think it went well. Poor guy. Then drove by Mom's old house and stopped at cemetery (Sis & BIL live in my hometown an hour away). Then stopped at grocery on way home (as well as before I went so I could pick up some things BIL requested). So an unexpectedly long day. It was the first day of MY BIRTHDAY CHALLENGE and it didn't go quite according to plan but I still managed to do fairly well considering.

This morning I get stitches removed, have eye doc appt and then this afternoon, DD & Co arrive. Her DH coming this evening. They'll leave in the morning en route to his mother's. Coming back Sunday. ALL CONSTITUTES A FOOD CHALLENGE - but then what doesn't?

Too hot here to do much outside. Can't pool because of neck wound. I think I need to fall into the mental hammock - it's August, after all.

Hope you're feeling better, Arabella.

Glad you're with us, ceara. Was missing you.

flower, I have fallen in love this summer with Crystal Lite's Peach Tea. I too tire of water though have had a lot the last few days.

How's Dad, kat? And have respite plans been firmed?

wsw - thinking of you.

And Kaylets - roasting too, I assume.

Well, off on the rounds of the day. May have one of those "in between appointments" things where there's not enough time to come home but too much to go from one to the other. So I'm taking my bottle of water and the newspaper and may head to a park for a hopefully peaceful while. Meditation always good - too hot to move around and wouldn't want to be sweaty for next appt.

Hello all.....

yes, its very hot in this kingdom too.... and then yesterday, queasy nearly all day long.... food? maybe.... but then again, seems like the daycares are calling all the moms.... could one of those moms passed something along to me?

I feel much better today... might be Friday as well as going to bed last night very early .....


I go to Minneapolis for a convention in 2 weeks.... Wonder if I'll see the where the bridge went down.

Anyway....

HERE WE FRIDAY!


****


Thought of the day :

"If you focus on results, you'll never change,
but if you focus on change, you'll get results."


Question of the day :

"Are you nervous to drive over bridges?"

****


Here's to us, Royals through and through!

G'morning, Queenlies! Still ill here but managed to get a full night's sleep last night, which is good. I've been waking up at 2:30 for some reason and sometimes up for the day then. Last night I woke, but I took some aspirin and read for a bit and was able to drop off again.

No sound yoga retreat for me. I do feel sorry for myself. Ah, well, things could be a lot worse. And maybe I can finagle a visit out to the locale some other time...

Can't exercise but also don't want to eat much. I'll be looking forward to being able to run and go to the gym again. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be able to go for a walk.

Anagram, we were simulposting yesterday. Ahhhh... I'm enjoying virtually being with you at the King Tut exhibit. Those things always affect me profoundly. I feel like they put me in touch with something deep and eternal.

Kaylets, maybe you encountered the bug and vanquished it? Bridges? Very slightly nervous, minimal.

K, Lovelies, happy Friday! (I'm gonna go look for Punkinseed one of these days)

[color=limegreen]Huzzah to all, I'm on the run 'n just a fly-bye!!!

Hope ye feel better soon, Wood Nymph!!!

Yea, my puppy is a joy, actually. Lots o' work, though.

My race dreams are in the category o' fallen ash right now due to a work situation that leaves me with no one to cover me and since it would not help my fitness goals if I could not work, I will sadly have to find another race to run. I do intend to get one in before year's end and my fitness goals, especially the getting to the goal weights, are paramount to me ... always have been as I believe I can live a better life NOT in an overweight, outta shape bod and also mayhap someday serve as an example to others if nothing else. So the goals are in place, but they will not be served by my getting upset because I miss doing an assignment. There's just no one else competent I can get to do it.

So no race but 130s IN AUGUST! Sis boom 'n bah! Rah!

Hello all....... Heat wave continues....My office has the a/c pumping full blast....so much so, I walk around with a lightweight 'wrap'.....and then when I get outside.... YIKES.....

Nausea etc, is better.... I am thinking might be related to the heat-- going in and out of it ....
For the most part, I feel fine and we'll leave it at that....


WoodNymph.... it is disppointing when something you really looked forward to attending falls through.... maybe you can think of an alternative as a 'consolation prize'....

And same thought for you too, Empress.... since your job schedule won't allow for the race, what else is there that would make a great consolation prize?

hmmmm..... guess my first instinct would be food .... which of course, is better than some choices but on the other hand.... I can think of some great choices myself..... Don't know why during a heat wave, I keep thinking about the sauna at the gym.....


To all royals not mentioned yet, Anagram, WSW, Ceara, Wildfire, Flower, and anyone I am missing..... lets just decide that no matter what happens today,
our first reaction is ....

Deep breath in
deep breath out...

We can do this!

Heat queasiness with me off and on too, Kaylets. Outside activity to an absolute minimum but still there are those times one must..............

Quicky visit by DDs family came on day I had (1) stitches removed from neck, (2) wrenched my shoulder again while lying down to have stitches removed, (3) had eyes examined and the subsequent light sensitivity, etc. Seven arrived crying because she wasn't allowed to do something eleven got to do. Too hot to function. All was chaos. They got off yesterday by ten and by 11:30 I had shovelled out major messes, done a load of laundry, had shoulder xrayed and got book on tape back to library by due date.

the rest of the day I followed that do a little, rest a little thing. And things are more looking like my realm again - just in time for another whirlwind visit on their way home tomorrow. Sort of like my weight loss program - doing the same things over and over again.

I've not been doing as well as I would have liked but not all that bad either. I really can't go by scale as it's so up and down. Am going out to farm this a.m. for corn, peppers, berries, etc. Then some odd groceries. But mostly it'll be nursing the shoulder and small odds and ends. Can't think of anything exciting enough to do in the heat. Do have 'THE FULL MONTY' to look forward to mid month. And Seven's birthday when she'll really be SEVEN. Feeling strong need to clear out a few more things today - well, maybe Monday

Have a glorious weekend, all - if circumstances allow "glorious". If not, make do with the best one can come up with. Health - to all.

hi all! i have missed everyone, and am glad to be back in the palace. i am hopelessly behind on posts, but it is so good to see everyone. i hope all who are ailing will feel better soon. kaylets-i really needed to be reminded to breathe deeply. as always, i hear so much of what i need to in the royal kingdom. hi amarantha-glad to hear you are enjoying your new puppy! congrats. well, just wanted to quickly check in and let you know i am still around, and thinking of you. i took another spill off the wagon, but once again have dusted self off, and jumping back on. well, take care, everyone.

I'm so glad I tried a last minute, late night check in. Because WSW IS WITH US IN THE PALACE TONIGHT. Huzzah!

I love the magikal Irish shawl. Does it work on other chores as well?

How lovely to have the chance to go to the retreat resort. An inspiration to regain health quickly. And do I feel vibes of "guilt", arabella? If you're not well, all of the things you mentioned can wait. You might give Mom your illness if you go visit. Lounge, have tea, think of magical, inspirational resorts. We need you happily back at life, not dizzy, not feeling less than good. C'mon now, you know what you'd tell us. Goes for you too.

Too bad, Empress! I could use one that blocks out all sorts of stuff too.

Much nicer here this morning. Not nearly as humid. Read a lot of the paper on the peaceful patio before I started my day. Only three more "must" things before DD/crew arrive for dinner. It will be a whirlwind stop as it's basically to pick up a car they left on their way up. But may as well eat here as somewhere else, I say. If not, I'll have a lot of leftovers for the week

My one tomato plant has suddenly decided to become prolific. Hope they ripen before frost Have a very few red leaves on my pink dogwood. And yesterday driving along, I had the sense that everything is just about ready to start the autumn dance. However, at least another week of HOT coming up here.

So off I go to do one more thing, then more patio time, then another thing, more patio time, and then the last thing. then a GOOD rest before whirlwind time.

Enjoy whatsoever thou can find to be gratifying today!