Dagmar, I wish I could take your husband aside and teach him my personal mantra for the past six months, which as I've said before, is: "You have to go through it to get through it." Same thing with getting a good job. A job that matches your training and expertise and also offers pay and benefits at the level you want is not something you're offered right off, when you're just entering a profession. But you may end up with one if you do well at the one you've got, and make contacts, and learn some things or accomplish some things you can add to your resume. Sometimes there is just no skipping the steps in between, no matter what your chronological age is.

Or maybe your husband is like me, and feels a little afraid of the feeling of hopeful optimism. On Monday night, at the meeting at the apartment complex with the project manager/architect and contractor, I and my fellow refugee ground-floor apartment residents heard that the renovation is **supposed to** be complete by the end of March. Yes, we're supposed to have liveable living quarters by that date. I'd been imagining a whole year passing. To hear that it could happen in three months' time filled me with hope and elation. But then I found myself frightened by this feeling, and fearing disappointment, so I tamped it down. My mind started up with the "Yeah, but ..." narrative. ("Yeah, but who's ever heard of a building project being completed on time?" "Yeah, but what about the weather? No one can say for sure it's going to continue to be so temperate and pleasant for guys working outside in unheated half-framed quarters." "Yeah, but what if they do a crummy job because they worked so quickly, and we have callbacks for another six months afterward?" "Yeah, but how do they define 'finished' and 'liveable'?") I know it's a self-protective reflex & a defense mechanism, but sometimes I think it keeps me worrying over things that don't come to pass or robs me of enjoyment of the present moment.

Everyone's account of their Christmas preparations is freaking me out. Because I've been buying & buying for ME, ME, ME, trying to replace stuff, and so I feel guilty for not having turned outward much. I'd better get some Christmas cards, at the very least, to thank people for their attention and kindness.

I am wiped out today from going nonstop since my drive down to the Pocano Mountain area and then over to New York on Sunday, my reunion with my old gym, a full day of work and the aforementioned meeting, and then my walk-through of my apartment with the contractor and his Sharpie pen, marking on the framing & making notes, and my visit to the furniture restorer. Then there was the five-hour drive back, with me eating an Energy Bar while steering around tractor trailers on Route 17. Why hasn't the weekend come yet?

It's weird how, when I am overtired, my signals get crossed & I want to eat. My appetite is endless on days like this.

DD's problem isn't with UPS, it's with USPS--the US Postal Service. I haven't talked to her today to see what she's doing, but she did mention that the package was first "attempted" to be delivered 2 weeks ago. I'm glad I have all my stuff sent to my office as there's always someone here to pick it up regardless of the shipping method.

DH and I are giving our 2nd generation Kindle's to his parents and he and I got the new Kindle Fire--which we LOVE! I'm keeping all four on my account so when I get a new book, I can push it to all four devices and if they want a new book, all they have to do is ask and I'll buy it for them. I'm also going to introduce them to the free services like Feed Books, etc. DD got herself the Kobo because she found it for so cheap, but I'm not sure where she gets her books.

As for phones, I was leaning toward the iPhone because I use a MacBook but the deciding factor was that the Razr is a hotspot for up to 8 devices and it is 4G and we're getting 4G in our area next year. My current android, I had rooted and was using it to tether to my computer when we're on vacation, but Verizon did an update that un-did my rooting AND disabled the tethering and as far as I can tell, they did it on purpose to end all the tethering (not that I abused it--I used it only on vacation). Hopefully the hotspot will work with my Kindle Fire so that I can download new books while on vacation AND be able to check my email on the Kindle so I don't have to take my little travel computer (which isn't really all that little).

Last night's birthday dinner for DH went well. My mac & cheese was a hit and MIL's cherry pie was delicious. We discovered that my MIL forgot to come let Carter out and give him his dinner Monday night while we were at a company dinner. Oops! Luckily Carter has a bladder and bowels of steel and had no accidents even though he'd been on his own in the house from 8am to 10pm. It was kind of funny because I had thought about calling to remind her, but then I always do that and I thought she might get annoyed with me doubting her ability to remember. But since apparently she is quite forgetful, next time I will call!

We also showed my SIL all of Carter's details, so she can have fun with him in the house while we're on vacation. She's going to come by tomorrow morning before we leave for the airport so that she will be there with Carter when we leave, rather than having to show up to the empty house and potentially freaking him out.

Dagmar, I'm so glad your DH got the job! If he's grouchy about it not paying enough or something, tell him he can look for another job WHILE he's working at the new job. There's no rule that you have to stay at a job forever once you get it!

Shannon, sorry about the school troubles. Hopefully your DH and his XW can get things worked out.

Saef, that's great news that they might be done by March!

Sontaikle, welcome! Do you have a preferred nickname? Sontaikle is kind of hard to type.

My parents are getting me a Kindle for xmas this year so I will soon join the ranks of ebook readers. As for phones, I really like my new T-Mobile MyTouch Q. It's running the latest Android OS and is super easy to use. I've played with my parents' iPhones and honestly I think the Android has a better/more intuitive UI. The voice activation is not as good as the iPhone's, but everything else is great. Plus we get 4G pretty much everywhere.

michele - My real name is Nicole, so everyone is free to call me that if they wish

I work with another teacher and we have students in grades 2-8. I specifically work with the students in grades 4, 5, 7, and 8, but will sometimes work with the other students if the schedules get a little haywire. I'm sure you know that happens quite a bit!

It's been interesting so far because the other teacher they hired is also right out of school like I am. We're learning together

I hope you get out of your funk

allinnell - Bah USPS always messes up. I'm constantly getting other houses' mail.

I wanted to choose an iPhone the first time around because I have a MacBook, but went with a Droid Incredible because Verizon didn't have the iPhone at the time. I've always wanted one though and all my friends and my fiancee are getting iPhones so it means I can use iMessage and lower my texting plan. I figure if I like android better I can always return it and get another phone. I actually wouldn't be surprised if I wind up doing that… The iPhone doesn't have built in navigation last I heard.

paperclippy - You can call me Nicole if you wish I don't really mind either way!

Kindles are so much fun I love to read and I'm a fast reader so instead of carrying a pile of books with me I can just carry around my little Kindle. It was great when I went to Florida last year…I was able to polish off the whole Harry Potter series in a few days!



I opened up my Mom's Kindle (we got her the new one without the keyboard) and loaded up all the Stephen King books (I found ALL of them) and I also put The Lovely Bones, Wicked and Son of a Witch on it. I hope she's surprised when she turns it on and finds all of those books! I was going to put Phantom of the Opera on it but I know that's free in the Kindle store.

My mother said that since I have a full time job now that I have to start contributing to the household. She said it wouldn't be a lot of money and I don't mind doing it, but I'm wondering if she wants me to move out. I keep getting mixed signals from her though because in one sentence she talks about going to a friend of ours about getting a grant for house ownership (I'm hispanic and there are grants to help us get houses in the area) when I'm ready and how I should save up money and yet in the next sentence mentions an article about twenty-somethings still living with their parents.

I'm thinking of just telling her to just say if she wants me to move out or not I don't care either way, I was just saving my money because I hoped to skip the apartment phase and go right into house ownership, but if I have to delay that then it's fine

Back to packages being delivered or not. In my example it was United Parcel who made the initial mistake but that could have been corrected with one phone call to United Parcel, or if I had reiceved someone elses package who lived so close and their name and proper address were on it (it was) I would have just walked it over. So United Parcel started the problem and the people who got it complicated it even further, needlessly, by keeping it. Before I moved I would frequently get mail for a neighbor 2 doors away. I would just walk it over and leave it or give it to her if she was at home. Others may not do that, they can't seem to figure out that someone is waiting for the package or sometimes it is important mail, that someone may need.

I am at red line again and don't know why. I have resisted over-eating in the evening (despite all sorts of upset) all week. My trend in the past has been to now abandon all hope and overeat on the weekend. I will NOT do that this weekend. Somehow I have finally moved beyond eating to soothe me.

It's taken me 43 years to do that. I am a slooow learner.

A similar thing happened both times I broke other long term unhealthy habits. I tried and tried and failed and failed . And then the "shift" happened. Something inside me changed. No logical explanation.

Dagmar

I totally hear you. I reached maintenance last fall and then spent the year trying to see how much I could eat without gaining (and I gained a few in the process). I tried EVERYTHING to get back on track, but I just kept failing. Then a couple weeks ago it clicked again, and not only am I back in the groove, I'm inches away from my red-line and I'm rethinking the whole where-I-want-to-be thing.

I really liked it when I was just under 135 last fall. Now I have a bigger butt and a jelly roll over the top of my pants. Not pretty. I hadn't been in the healthy weight range since the 9th grade when I gained most of my weight, so I wasn't sure if it was reasonable for me to be there (lack of self-confidence) and I had thought I might go lower than I got (but I stalled out due to stress in the latter part of the year).

Now that I'm on track again, I've decided it really was worth it to me to be lower in the healthy range and I've set my mind to get back there and do what it takes to stay there. This time I will buy real clothes when I get there (instead of sticking with transition clothes as I had been doing while I lost). I will also consider it permanent rather than the 'maybe this will last, maybe it isn't possible' mindset. I am very much at peace with this now, after struggling for over a year.

So hang in there - it will come back. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. You can do it!

I think you might have hit the nail on the head right there, Dagmar. You've been stressed out. Stress can certainly lead to weight gain! Or at least water retention. Don't forget that hormones also play a significant part in our bodies. But you're so right - overeating this weekend won't help that.

I admire all of you who have had that mental "click". I have had it in the past, but lately I go back and forth. It's a great place to be.

Here there are two unincorporated towns that share a zip code and post office. I live in one, on a certain "X" street. The other town has an "X" drive. I get lots of mail for a woman at the same house # on X Drive. We have both had packages go awry. I deliver her packages (in a timely fashion!) on my way to work. I don't think she does me the same courtesy.

I continue to chip away at my Christmas lists. Today I delivered pickles and jellies to co-workers, with just a few left to give to friends this weekend. I've gotten most of my Christmas shopping done! I went to the pet store yesterday and couldn't resist getting Emma an enormous bone over a foot long. Since I won't be with her on Christmas it will be her New years' treat.

Here's an odd question for everyone. I have some Protocol brand luggage I bought from JCPenney 11 years ago. It's in fine condition, except two of the (plastic) wheels are falling apart, and pretty soon it will be impossible to pull. The bigger suitcase is really too big to carry rather than wheel around. Does anyone have any idea where one can get replacement wheels??? Or get it fixed? I've done some googling but have come up with nothing so far.

This weekend I have a big Christmas bash on Saturday night. Other than that I plan on usual house chores and trying to wear the dog and myself out on the beach. I also pull out my suitcases and start organizing for my Christmas travels. I fly out next Friday and almost every evening next week I have Christmas parties, rehearsals, etc., so I need to start packing now.

How do you explain that the post office often delivers catalogs addressed to my HOUSE to my OFFICE? Granted they're both addressed in my name--and they're identical catalogs, but one addressed to my house and one addressed to my office and they both ended up at my office.

And I share a house # (73610) with a house on a different street--I'm always getting her mail. Sometimes DS will take it to her, sometimes I put a sticky note on it and put it back in the mailbox for the mail carrier to deliver correctly.

And yeah, stress. That'll get you every time.

I got my new phone!!! And I love it!!! And DH messed his up programming it, and they wouldn't let me help last night (DS and DH worked on it for an hour). So this morning, DH brings it to me and I fixed it!! They should have let me do it in the first place! LOL

Megan--- where are you flying? To see your parents?

I'm going to have to get serious and get presents wrapped and ready to mail so I can figure out if there's anything left I need to buy. I don't feel great today but I'm hoping it will "wear off" or something! It is my last day of work this year-- I can do it! Even though the kids will be wild and crazy! We are starting with a book exchange in the library-- where the kids bring books to exchange and then they get new ones-- plus some get donated. Should be fun.

I'm flying to DC, where my parents will also travel, and we're all going to have Christmas at my sis's & BIL's house. My niece is 1.5 now so I think she'll enjoy Christmas more this year! As opposed to last year, when at 5 months she stared at things...

My golf plans for the weekend were foiled by Mother Nature who decided that dark and blustery should be the weather for the day. We only had one day scheduled (today) and it looks quite miserable out there for a fair-weather golfer. In lieu of golf, we shall go see Sherlock Holmes.

And tomorrow we'll see Mission Impossible at the IMAX.

Megan~I was reading an article about some giant (12-inch or longer) shrimp that are causing problems in the gulf. Do you see those where you are? They said fishermen are throwing them back as they didn't deem them sellable, but I'd think they'd be right up there with any other shrimp especially seeing as though they're the size of lobsters!

A snowy egret just flew in and alit on our back wall. He flew off, though, before I could grab my camera. There are two egrets that seem to have taken up residence at our golf course. They're so pretty to watch. Much more so than those darn Canada Geese. (watch where you step when they're around).

I'm really enjoying my new smart phone. This morning it suggested I give it some "rules" such as turn itself silent at bedtime, so I don't have to remember to do it myself. Smart!

Everyone have a great weekend!!

They're coming closer! (picture some scary move music in here). A local fishing boat caught some, but were fishing at least a hundred miles from here. I've heard tiger shrimp are edible, so I agree, why not catch them and sell them too! I'm not in favor of introducing species to new areas bc the results are usually bad ecologically speaking, but if they're here... but we're keeping an eye out, and other fishing friends are also keeping an eye out.

We've also got a good population of lionfish going in the northern gulf. They are edible, but you've got to remove their venomous spines. A friend of a friend who is a hard-core spearfisherman started catching them bc he knows they're invasive. He accidentally brushed his hand against one of their spines, and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia and it took months to get his hearth rhythm correct again. He's lucky to be alive. You've got to be careful with invasive species!

Here's an article about tiger shrimp.

Allison, those Canadian geese poop everywhere! They always used to go all over my field hockey and lacrosse fields in middle & high school in PA. And I agree, you can never get your camera quickly enough when wildlife is around! I actually got a good shot of an owl next to my porch a few weeks ago, but I haven't been able to get the black bears that have been hanging out in our office parking lot.

Before people started feeding them Canada geese used to migrate. Now they hang around all year. And they love to feed on grass so golf courses are a "natural" habitat for them now.

Most of the labradors love the geese, as they provide not only lots of snacks but also great "face cream". Little Bella slid herself through a whole load of goose poop last week and I had to send her into the lake repeatedly before she was de-stinkefied.

Not my favourite birds. But the swans are worse! They do all that the geese do and then also attack kayaks, people, and swimming dogs. I nearly lost a lab to the darn geese years ago. 5 of them came after her and she barely made it back to shore. She needed many stitches to close the lacs on her head from those large powerful swan beaks.

And so ends our nature commentary for today.

Not quite. Is that a bear I hear snoring in the living room?

Dagmar