Mad
Same thing happened to me .

Happy
Darn sorry to hear about the tooth. That a pain when you have other things to do.

Ruth
You may need to go in and calibrate the mouse. That will pick up the speed of how it works.


Carla
Oh I am so sorry. Back up back up back up, that is the answer. Retire is always a great idea for everyone. Wish everyone could do that if they wanted to. I retired years ago before I had anything to retire from lol.

Shad
Needs vacation time lol.

Hello to Shad who just got off and to Rennie who is still on and like me should be going to bed!

Glad you've booked a trip for you and TB/TH Madcat. Something to look forward too- will you be visiting IGOR? (If so, don't tell Mel or Carla )

Carla I so CAN blame you guys for the cold. They said on the weather channel - Canadian air mass... tho today they are blaming the artic so you are off the hook. How cool to be able to watch the falcons. Enjoy them for me too - just not when they are eating

I'm with Ceejay today - just canNOT get warm. Brrrr. Hot tea, fleece jacket, warm socks. Nada. Supposed to warm up to be kissing 60 degrees by Monday. What rollercoaster weather we've had. The stars were brilliant tonight.

Shad I love the countdown ticker. Wish you could go back home to sleep too everyone is talking about how much harder it is to come back to work after each holiday

Did you hit the pedals today Mel? I love the idea of you peddling across the world again.

I have followed suite with the new thread and did my exercise video today. I bought a new one - The You on a Diet Doctors - Stay Young exercise video. I forgot about it until I saw it reviewed on the home page here. Nothing like a new exercise video to remind you how much bulk you're trudging along. I got through it and let's say there is room to improve! Also tried the dong chi / ding dong / yoga type workout they have too. After getting used to the moves I think I will like it. I had my workout shoes on for the workout tape, that was better done in bare feet so I took them off. Then did the dong chi which I thought would favor no shoes and dang, needed the shoes. Oof duh.

One more night and we're off to Las Vegas. I am looking forward to it. Will probably be kinda busy tomorrow so I won't be able to chat much. Hope you ladies have a nice weekend. I will get out and walk more in the spirit of keeping up with you with exercise. They will probably confiscate my exercise bands if I try and bring them with me. Got to get to bed now. Good night all. At least the cold is good for one thing - sleeping soundly!

Have a wonderful holiday and how about just keep flying west and south instead of east on the way back. I'll be here waiting for you.

Keep safe and keep well. Enjoy Vegas.

Well, I have done practically nothing today. Can't get into a lot of the things and places in the system that I need. Gotta love projects. If it can go wrong, it will - presumably at the wrong time and wrong place.

See you later. Now go to bed.

Crikey Happy,
It's after midnight your time - get to bed. You too Rennie. Go NOW. You will never get up in the morning!!!!

Shad
I don't have to get up in the morning. lol I have to get up when I want to get up. My kids are 17 and 20 I don't have to take care of them per say.

Morning chicks,

See --- I got out of bed. Albeit not too willingly but that had more to do with it being cold outside of the warm, snuggly bed more than anything. First thought was ugghh - will have to get up REALLY early tomorrow to get to the airport on time. Also have to get there early as this airline puts everyone in the middle row seats and then charges you extra to move to an aisle seat. I'm sure the flight is totally full and which means one of us will be in a middle seat anyway. Guess I have to beat DH getting on the plane

Shy - I live for the day when I can get up when I want to.

Thanks for the good wishes Shad. Believe me, if DH and I could tolerate the crazy long flight, we'd be knocking at your door. Would love to see your part of town. Not even sure I could manage it in a first class seat. I know, I know, check with you - you have lots of ideas to occupy one's time when sailing through the air in a long metal tube at 500 miles per hour At this point in your project, don't bang your head on the wall - do what you can and be done with it. I hope these last few weeks are tolerable for you. Scurry the chickens

Madcat - we are staying next door at the Mirage. I will wave to Ceasar's for you as we go in the door. Hope you are feeling better with your cold. Hard to avoid getting one with the extra contact over the holidays - particularly those who are out and about who should be quarantined! Did you have a redhead worthy New Year's?

Ruth - Hope your PC problems clear up. Rule number 1 - don't let people touch your PC -

Carla - sorry that your laptop broke and that you want to eat Mel's avatar As we speak I am looking over at the external drive DH bought for each of us, thinking - I SHOULD be backing this puppy up. But like all good I.T. people, I will cuss it out when it breaks down. Hope your aches are easing up too.

I'd best get out of here - drive all the way to work, stay there a few hours and drive all the way back and see the dentist at 11. Then I am home free until Tuesday. Well actually running like a crazy woman getting all the last minute tasks done but it's for a worthwhile cause

Hello to Ceejay and Holly.

Have a good one chicks of the world.

THEY SHOULD BOTH BE IN BED...BUT GUESS RENNIE CAN SLEEP BUT NOT HAPPY!

SHAD~ I AM GLAD THE TIMER IS WORKING! LOL YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN ME TRYING TO GET IT HERE. ROFLMAO I AM SURPRISED THAT 3FC SITE DIDN'T THROW ME OFF HERE FOR THAT MANY ATTEMPTS. AT ONE POINT I LOST AOL.... WISH WE HAD A "GET OUT OF JAIL CARD" TO SEND TO YOU!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!!! HAPPY SHOULD FLY EAST...THEN PICK ME UP AND THEN WE WILL FLY SOUTH!!!! BRING THE RAMP!!!!


CARLA~ NOW TELL THE TRUTH...YOU'RE REALLY WATCHING THAT APARTMENT WITH THE GUY THAT DOES EXERCISES IN HIS FRUIT OF THE LOOMS WITH THOSE BINOCS, RIGHT? YOU CAN TELL YOUR SISTERS THE TRUTH. YOU KNOW WE'LL BELIEVE WHATEVER YOU SAY AND STAND BEHIND YOU !

RUTH~ DID MEL INSTALL THE MOUSE WITH A CD ALSO. ONE OTHER THING....IF THE BATTERIES AREN'T GOOD THE MOUSE GOES NUTS ALSO. HAD A FRIEND WHOSE BATTERIES WERE NEW OR SO SHE THOUGHT....BUT WHEN SHE CHANGED THEM THE MOUSE WAS FINE. TRUE TOO THAT I HAD TO GO INTO THE PC AND SET THE MOUSE TO MY OWN SPEED. IT WAS SET TOO "SENSITIVE" FOR MY HAND. GOOD LUCK!!

MADCAT~ I AM ENVIOUS OF YOUR GETTING TO SEE IGOR!! AND IN MARCH TOO! HOW WONDERFUL AND A GREAT THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO!! MAYBE HAPPY WILL WIN ENOUGH MONEY IN VEGAS AND FLY US ALL DOWN THERE

JUST THINKING OF MEXICO MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.
AND BEFORE I FORGET....NO M&M'S CARLA!!!! I WILL FIND A NON-FOOD AVATAR!!! DAMN IT'S COLD OUT. THE WIND WAS TRYING TO RIP OFF THE SCREENS LAST NIGHT. I FEEL FOR THE POOR CONSTRUCTION MEN. MAYBE I SHOULD BRING THEM ALL IN AND HELP ALL MY FELLOW MEN TO GET WARM
CAN'T BELIEVE WE ARE ON PAGE 3 ALREADY EITHER. HOPE I REMEMBERED EVERYONE AFTER I TURNED THE PAGE. THAT'S WHY PEOPLE LIKE ME SHOULD "GO ADVANCED" THEN YOU DON'T MISS ANYTHING OR ONE.
NOTHING NEW SINCE LAST NIGHT AND NOTHING TO DO UNTIL LATER ON SO I BETTER GET A GRIP ON THE CLEANING. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, , AFTER 3 1/2 DAYS OF THE LAUNDRY ROOM BEING SHUT OFF FROM ALL THOSE PEOPLE AND THEIR HOMEMAKERS, IT'S BEEN PACKED!!!
SOMETIME THIS WEEKEND IT SHOULD SLOW DOWN AND BE BACK TO NORMAL. THAT'S OK WITH ME. GIVES ME AN EXCUSE TO WAIT TILL NEXT WEEK!
HAPPY THURSDAY

BYE MISS HAPPY AND GOOD LUCK IN THE DENTIST CHAIR!!!!!

So far I have done nothing but contemplate my weight and what I should do about it. It’s been a couple of years since i have actively tried to do anything about. Too much other stuff to keep on top of. This is the first time in 9 years both hubby and DS are in a good space. Do ya think I might be able to take care of me for a bit?? Something beyond basic survival?

I ,sadly, dont know where to start or feel like I really have the motivation. I just know the insane amount of angst here is less and I am not scrambling to keep everyone else stable.I still have a HUGE work load here.
I find it interesting that my boss at the shop is is lazy and needy. It is easier to have boundaries with her. But she does not clean a damn thing, ever. I always go 15 min early to clean up her mess from the night before so I can do my own clients. She is the poster girl for what not to do when raising your kids, LOL! Her parents still do EVERYTHING for her ( age 23) and cant understand why she is irresponsible. When I was 23 I had lived on my own for 6 years and worked my way thru hairdressing school and then 3 years of college. And my parents thought i was immature and lazy. LOL!!

I do have a plan, as of yesterday, to log my food intake( and finances) daily. I know I need to move more. I KNOW all the basic stuff. It is doing it that is the problem. During the day I am pretty good with food intake. I pack lunches for work that are balanced. Breaky is either a scrambled egg or cream of wheat and fruit. Late night is my issue. Always has been. It is the cheese.Beautiful cheese. Never met a cheese I didn’t like....
Cheese is expensive. I could save lots of $ if i didn’t eat cheese.

For this week( well til Sunday) I will log everything I eat. I will not eat cheese after 7pm. I will do some kind of intentional exercise every day. Even if for a few min.

Holly
That is a good start. Sitting down and deciding that has to be done today, what is important and when do I make others take care of them selfs is hard. Many of us wake up years older and are no further ahead on some of those decisions. Don't buy cheese lol that might be another helpful thing.

Happy
Your avatar makes me smile. It is so full of energy.

Melody
Was colder here than a Witches..well you know what. Thought the darn house was going to fall down on me with the winds hitting it.

RENNIE I CAN IMAGINE HOW COLD IT IS THERE!

HOLLY THAT A GOOD A PLACE TO START AS ANY.
BABY STEPS WHILE YOU ENJOY THE PEACE OF MIND. GOOD LUCK!!

I THOUGHT THINGS WERE GOING TO WELL FOR JANUARY SO I DECIDED TO EAT LUNCH AND CRACK MY MOLAR. IT'S THE LAST ONE ON THE LEFT BOTTOM TOO! DANG! NOW I HAVE 2 CRACKED TEETH. THE DENTAL SCHOOL CAN TAKE ME MONDAY AT 2PM. LET US HOPE IT DOESN'T ACHE BEFORE THEN!! I SAID TO THE GIR...OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO DO FOR 4 DAYS! SHE SAID EAT BABY FOOD!! TOMORROW I AM GOING TO THE STORE AND GET SOUPS AND BABY FOOD!
AND I AM LUCKY BOTH ARE ON SALE IN PATHMARK THIS WEEK MAINTENANCE WILL BE HAPPY...I CANNOT TALK WITHOUT CUTTING MY TONGUE TO RIBBONS!! BUT I CAN STILL USE MY FINGER!!!
I TOOK AN EMORY BOARD AND TRIED TO GENTLY FILE THE ROUGHEST PART. IT WAS STABBING ME.
THIS IS A GOOD LESSON IN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET PROCRASTINATION RULE YOUR LIFE

Howdy chicks,

Quick sneek in while DH goes to get his haircut at the cheap place that cuts it crooked. His regular barber could not take him today. And I just wasn't up to giving haircuts today.

Glad you like the avatar Rennie. I've had it for a long time. 3FC relaxed the rules on avatars. When I first got it, it was too big to post on the site. Glad to see it fits now. Stay warm. I hear relief is on the way as the weekend moves in.

Mel - just cuz we're sisters separated at birth and just cuz I broke a tooth doesn't mean you have to go and break two are you empathizing with me or trying to OUTDO me Got mine patched up - I'm grinding my teeth again - must be so happy to be back at work. Back to the night guard for me before I need to remortgage my house for my teeth. Ouchie, ouchie Mel -the idea of filing your own teeth - ouwwwwww. There's this dental caulk stuff that I've used before. You can't eat with it but it does cover the tooth from air and your tongue constantly going over it. And what's up with that????? You kinda cover the tooth and then you can take it out when you eat or sleep. Hope you get fixed soon and that it's not too costly, here it looked like you were just getting on your feet again.

Just because right now I can say this to you GO TO BED SHAD. Actually, you're about an hour or so from waking up as I post this.

Holly - all I can say in response to your post is the same harsh lecture I gave myself New Year's eve. And it rings true with everyone who is posting successes on this forum today and yesterday when comparing last new year's to this one. You have to get over yourself. You have to stop making excuses. You have to just accept that change needs to happen. You have to stop telling yourself it's ok this one time, that you'll start tomorrow, that you deserve this bad thing you want to eat or to spend 30 minutes on the couch or whatever the enabling habit is. The solution is simple - make better food choices, eat less of it, move more and breathe. Like it or not, there is no substitute for regular exercise - even standing on your feet for 8 hours or chasing toddlers doesn't do it right. Until you accept that, nothing will change. So when I'm thinking about exercising and I'm finding ways to procrastinate, I go to the TV, turn on the video and get my routine behind me. I had to dump the cheese, painful as it seemed to waste. I love cheese too like you do and outside of the light spreadable flavored cheese for bagels, won't eat the low fat stuff. Would rather have 2 dice worth of a good cheddar with an apple than a bag of the low cal stuff. The boards are full of success stories. What makes them different than me? They chose to step up and do something about it. This is the year I stop making excuses too. So far so good. And that's the way it is.

One thing I'm also doing this year is making a list of things that need doing so I can feel some sense of accomplishment each night. So now I'm going to go mend those 2 shirts and a pair of socks while I contemplate what to pack.

Have a good weekend chicks. Take care

So Happy is flying away to Vegas but not yet! Airline charges you extra to move seats???? Crikey, I can check in over the internet 24 hours in advance. I can move my seat from the allocated one to the one I choose and print out my boarding pass before I leave for the airport - no queues for this chicken - except at &^%&* security. Since Qantas already have on file that I prefer aisle and then window, I usually get aisle but fairly often down the back of the plane. I then shift myself up to a seat behind a bulkhead or in the overwing exit row where there is more room for my junk and me!!!
I don't have a lot of ideas for a long flight in the metal tube. I just try to sleep as and where I can, and it helps if the person next to you is polite and friendly - time goes faster then. Also pays not to go to the movies for some months before you fly otherwise you will have seen all the inflight entertainment. Air NZ have games machines on their individual tv's in the back of the seats but they are fairly mindless. I wish they would put crosswords or sudoku on the menu. I always have a couple of books to read - one mind boggling and one mind numbing so I can match whatever mood (going home is mind numbing reading) I am in. Anyway, if you can make Vegas and make a fortune - charter a flight with a gym installed in the plane - next to the loo!! You can then run all the way!

Mel - so we are page 3 girls already? My word the January jogging is working well. Come south - have ramp, will fetch from airport! - but not Perth airport - too many stairs and escalators here.
Glad you have changed your avatar for Carla. We can't put temptation in her way. She must do a spin class before any M & M passes her lips.
Bring in the Construction workers - yeah!!!!! Shall I come over and make them witchety grubs and huhu bugs for supper??

Holly - well past time you took a deep breath and said 'this time is mine'. I agree with the others that much as I love cheese, it is not a good idea to have it in the house. Too much temptation that way - ditto icecream. Much as I love both. Choose to have food in the house that always requires preparation - other than salad veges and fruit. That way you will lose interest in eating before you get to the food itself. Keep the bread in the freezer - or in the case of Canada, you could probably bury it on the deck for a month or two. You'll forget about it in the time it takes to thaw out.
I'm going back to my old mantra - if you are hungry, have a large glass of water. If you are still hungry after 20 minutes - eat. Really works.

Rennie you are so right about not keeping the foods that cause you angst in the house. Lucky you to be able to just do your own thing in the mornings!

I'm not bashing my head around over this project any more. I have two courses to finish and I can't finish them until someone else supplies some information. I have asked, I have requested, I have demanded, yesterday I threatened and today I will be going down there and sitting with the person until I have the answers I require. I may not be back for a week. It will not be my head you hear banging up against the walls.

Last night I went to the Hopman Cup Tennis. Watched Serbia play Argentinia. It was fun but ended up not getting home until midnight and it was very hard to get out of bed this morning. Lucky it is Friday hey!

And with that I'm off to murder and generally cause mayhem among the population down on the fourth floor.

Hello there. This may be a short one ..

Happy, enjoy your trip. If you win really, really, big, you'll be able to quit the fun job, retire where you want to be, fly home to see mom once a month, pay the extra for reserved non-centre seats, hosting (and financing) a week-long gathering of all worldly chicks at a fully accessible spa somewhere... My fingers will be crossed until we hear from you again.

Shad, I think you must have a few extra privileges with Qantas as a frequent flyer. I know that here we pay extra to reserve a seat when we book, except at higher fare rates.
Your idea of water if you think you're hungry is a good one, as is doing a few minutes physical activity, which often takes the edge off my appetite. I also find, although I hate to admit it, that entering everything in FitDay does help somewhat - keeps me so busy I forget to eat.
As for your job, I'd be tempted to send out one more request for the info, and then sit and do Sudokus and post on 3fc until it's time to go home.

Holly, I'm with you on cheese. Somehow it just seems to be the perfect snack. Like Happy I always opt for the real stuff too, and try to keep the quantities down. Of course if I have lots of (chocolate) around the cheese is completely safe with me.

Mel, you didn't have to change your avatar! I just thought it was funny, sort of a subliminal ad for the candy that doesn't melt in your hand. But I quite like the new avatar too.
What the heck were you eating that did in your tooth?? Many years ago I broke a molar eating Smarties, a Canadian and British candy similar to... M&M's. I think there's a theme emerging here... Anyway, if you can borrow a little denture adhesive or sugar-free gum or something and just daub it over the sharp bit, that might save your tongue from getting scratched. But do not try to file it down. You could end up breaking a whole wall of the tooth off. Bad Mel!! Bad!

Shy, I still have hope that the stuff on the laptop can be salvaged, including all my digital photos, but I'm avoiding dealing with it for now. Very careless of me to keep so much on a single hard drive! As a firm believer in closing barn doors after horses long gone, I've dug out a flash drive and am copying anything new to it.

Ruth, have you conquered that skittish mouse yet? Do we have to start looking for a better mousetrap?

If I have to wait until after I've done a spin class before munching on Mel's previous avatar, it may be a long wait - the back is only okay as long as I'm careful, and I think I'll wait until Monday before risking a spin. Maybe a walk instead?
Trying to work with my tiny screen is tiresome, so I'll say bye for now.

carla
I sure hope they can retrieve everything for you. that is just terrible when that happens. I was in the middle of converting vhs tapes of home moves to dvd and had about 15 of them done when I lost my drive. Oh my gosh it had taken me hours to do that stuff. was a lot of work. I sure back up each one when I am finished now.


Shad
You need to take it easy a bit. You let them get to you. I do my thing all day long and make everyone else do my thing too lol. They are finding, as they get older. If you do Mom's thing you are done and have the rest of the day free lol.

Happy
Yes it is suppose to be in the low 40's this weekend. I am the queen of lists. I have a master list of the lists I make for everyone else. I don't go to bed until everything on my list for the day is done. It is the only way I can stay organized. I feel a sense of accomplishment when everything is checked off.