Hi everyone!

Sorry to hear the your little dog is ailing some LaDean but as you say you still have him and that is the important thing. My little dog had so many things wrong with her before she died but she was so upbeat and always had her little doggie smile on her face. Such a sweet little thing.

I plan to get back on the plan when I am home...ww, that is.

Yesterday we walked by the White House and had a look. They were putting up a Christmas tree on the south side in the park across from it. It was kind of a thrill (for a Canadian) to be walking down Pennsylvania Ave. We drove around and looked at things...there are SO many interesting things to see, I can see you have to come here MANY times so I am not going to get into a fret about what I didn't have the energy to see. It really is a marvelous place.

I left my cameras in the RV. so I couldn't take pictures. I wrecked the digital one at Niagara Falls (water got in it) but the 35mm had become a bossy monster...every time I would take a picture, I would see at least 3 better angles to take it from but the opp. had gone by...or I would be ...snapping, snapping, snapping then put the thing away in its case and then huge vistas would unfold that I "should" have taken pictures of. I was viewing a large part of the trip thru the lens...then I would develop some pictures...and it was "Hey, this IS NOT what I saw". Ledom, being a photographer, do you ever feel your camera is in charge and not doing what you want? Anyway the whole thing was getting frustrating so I think I am going to forgo photography for awhile and just enjoy the trip itself.

How are you enjoying Florida Alice? We were quite tempted to go down there with the other Canadian snow birds but there it is the "on" season for RV'ers and we thought it would be too expensive. Here and in Canada it is the "off" season so things are a bit cheaper.

Hey girls - sorry I have been MIA lately. Just a whole lot going on. Last weekend I had the most beautiful time. Went camping, hiking, and paddling on the Buffalo River with some of the best people on this earth. It was just what the doctor ordered.

Unfortunately, on Monday when I got back to work, I was blind sided by a student with horribly hateful and hurtful comments. It escalated to a point where the Dean of Security had to be called in as well as my Dean and Chairperson. No matter how snowy white you might be, when someone throws mud at you, you get dirty. It was one of those things that happens, but it has never happend to me. I am mending my dignity now. The student has been administratively dropped from my class and banned from any future classes. After all the things she said to me and about me she had enrolled to take another class w/ me next semester! I will say this, the University structure stood behind me 100% and for that I am so very thankful.

And, oh yes judi, I do often feel that way about the camera. I'd say for every 5 rolls of film I shoot I get one image that is worth working on. That's just how it is. And I SELDOM take photographs on trips. Like you said, I'd rather experience the place totally rather than have a camera in front of my face. When I photograph it is because I have planned an outing for that pupose alone. I am looking for nice light above all things and that happens early in the day and late in the day or during certain weather conditions. That dictates a lot for me.

Was doing great on diet and exercise but not so great the last 3 days w/ stress as a huge factor in all that. On the road to recovery of the good habits though.

Hi,

LaDean, I hope Tuffy is getting around better. Boston's are small enough that you can carry them around. When our Boston, the one before we got Lacee, had cataracts and was having severe heart trouble, we would carry her just about everywhere. She liked to walk on the dirt road we used to live on so I would carry her a good distance and let her walk a few steps. I did this up and down our street.

ledom, I am so sorry you had to go through that awful experience. I hope the student was severely reprimanded. That is good the university backed you 100%. Glad that you had a nice time camping. You haven't mentioned kayaking lately and I was wondering if you were still going.

judi, you sound like you're having a wonderful time on your trip. Washington DC is really a wonderful place to visit. DH & I went there a few years ago with a tour group. Have you gotten to any of the museums? DH & I wanted to go into the Holocaust Museum, but it had just opened up and the lines were well down the block. We did go to the Smithsonian and an Air and Space Museum. We also visitied the Vietnam War Memorial, but we were unable to spend much time there because we were too early to wherever we were going and we were just killing time. I honestly don't know how expensive RV Parks are down here in the winter months. Being mobile like that you could go to several different parks. I do like it down here. I absolutely love the weather. But, I'm a tad bit homesick. I miss my family and friends up north. I suppose once they all start camping on my doorstep I'll be singing a different tune.

Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

Aleka, thanks so much for sharing. tuffy is doing some better has his days. but its his back end. he cannot stand long times. so sits and then scoots on his bottom around. so neat the way they can manage. yes i am so thankful i can carry him and all. he loves to take his little walk. so i will like you did carry him some and then he will stop when hes tired. i am so thankful we care share our bostons's. they are great babies. ha glad lacee is ok and all.
well for my eating plan.. i gained 1.50 this week. but its life. i am just trying and taking it day at a time. i had potlucks at church this week and then pizza Halloween with grandbabies. so its the carbs. to many. so today i am back to my 2 weeks introduction... my friend said she did this and it helped. so back to it. I am glad all is going good for you and also you Judi and Ledom.. its fun to have all of you as friends and share everything..THANKS...LaDean

Happy Sat. morning girls. It is a glorious fall Saturday and I am cooking for the week. Tonight DD and I are going to Little Rock to see a play, will be just what the Dr. ordered for both us. A little escape from the week from he!!. Next week has got to be better, on the same day that I was having conferences w/ all my bosses a student turned in work that I recongized from another student a couple years back and another instructor threw a hissy fit over a photograph a student had on display involving nudity. Sheesh, where is that moon? We gotta get aligned again!

Anyway, I received the kindest note from one of my fellow art professors late in the week and it just unleashed the best cry. Up to then I was holding it all in. After all was said and done, the one good thing that came out of the week is that I work with some of the best people in the world and they are there for me when I need them.

OK will shut up about my bad week. It is OVER!

Alice, your journey to a different part of the country is so interesting to follow. You and DH are brave to set out on a new path, I can understand missing your friends. You'll make new ones though, and as you said, I bet you'll be seeing some of those old ones as well.

judi, your trip sounds like a dream to me. Good for you and DH for getting out there and seeing the world.

LaDean, you're such a good mommy to Tuffy. My new kitty Buster, is a strange one. He is a little wild still. I don't know if he'll ever be a cat that comes when you call or wants to be fooled with. He is, however, very beautiful and growing very fast. DD is home this weekend and he seems to like having 2 people in the house and has slightly warmed up to her. Maybe during the holidays when she is home more we'll be able to tease him out of his fraidy cat ways.

Oh yeah, I am still paddling Alice, I have been out the last 2 weekends. Maybe not as often as a couple years back but it is very important to me and I enjoy it so much.

Ledom. thanks so much. our babies are so precious to us right? ha got to take care of them. i am glad your new kitty is doing good. your a great mama to also to him. so glad you have your paddling to do. sounds like alot of fun. my son went out once and he loved it. daughter would have loved to but never has. me i am scared of water.ha so not for me. glad your week went good and all.
Its so neat to come on here and share and be here for one another. i love it. thanks all of you my online friends. your all the greatest. LaDean

Oh i forgot to share the most important thing today. My grandbabies were over. well there getting at age to be called grandkids. but always grandbabies to me. ha ha well we celebrated sons and grandpas birthdays today.. was fun. then we got into a game of soccer. they love it. but both want there aunt for a partner. so grandaughter had to have grandma. well i was so happy i could join in. i have loss wt and can do things like this now. its the greatest. then they both played with aunt against me, son and wife. now we all got a laugh out of that one. they kept it coming my way. ha ha i finally got a kick and the winning one. ha ha oh what fun. so thankful i have loss my wt. we had pizza and i can eat it sensibly now. that is also a great feeling. then i go over to play with the outdoor dog after they leave. she gets lose and head straight to the gate me yelling out it she goes. well i got exercise down the road. fianlly she came to me. ha so that is excited around my house today. just had to share. have a good sunday to all of you.. LaDean

Aleka, Ledom, and Judi... i am having a good day. got up and walked both days now. i feel so good to be back with it. watching the carbs better to. guess when i got so close to goal i just said oh i am there. then gained a couple back. but that ended fast so no more got on.. so doing good. scales down a bit this morning.. so early in week. by friday hope to have a loss. good one. I hope that this good new day that its going the same for all 3 of you and anyone else that might drop in... THANKS all of you for being here for me.. tuffy is better today. the weather has alot to do with him and his back end. he plays even alittle bit now and then. Oh i am so thankful to have him. I love this board because we can share our babies to. (animals. ha ) well heres hoping your all having that great day... nice weather here and just perfect my kind. LaDean

Good morning,

LaDean, you must have been thrilled to be able to play soccer with your grandchildren. Glad that Tuffy is doing better. You sound like your doing great.

Ledom, hope you're having a good week so far. I'm glad to see that you're still kayaking. I know how much you love it. That was awfully nice of your fellow professors to write such a nice letter to you. I bet it more than made up for the awful way you were treated by that student.

judi, hope you're still having a wonderful trip.

The dieting part is going pretty well for me. I'm eating when I'm hungry and stopping when full. Last night we had pasta. I always measure mine out, 1 cup. I was about1/2-3/4 of the way through it when I noticed I had had enough. Usually no matter how full I was I would've eaten the whole thing. By doing it this way, I don't feel deprived and don't obsess about food. Weight loss will be a lot slower this way, but that's ok.

Enjoy the day!

Aleka, hey so happy your doing good on your plan. thats the right way to go. as we have to watch portions. so glad your doing good. its so less stressful to have what works isn't it?? i am this morning less then 2 lbs away from goal. so really being strick today and tomorrow. Yes it was a great feeling to play with grandbabies and not be worn out.

I hope everyone has a great day. together we can lose .. its fun... Have a great day to all. LaDean

Yeah Alice - good for you. Boy I am on here this morning in an effort to turn myself around. I'd say I have had a pretty bad month diet wise. I have kinda fallen into that "I'll start Monday" mentality lately and every area of my life is suffering for it. I feel kinda out of control and uncentered from it. So, today I am eating by the clock. BFL style, a carb and a protein. I don't want to slip to a place I really regret on the scale. I would say the SBD experiment set me off on this slippery slope. Not for me, I felt too denied and have counteracted with a vengenance. Exercise has fallen away as well. Today I am just concentrating on a perfect eating day - will attack exercise soon.

ledom, exercise for me has fallen away too. We walked faithfully for 2 weeks, then some things came up last week and we weren't able to do our walks. Now, it's very difficult to get back into it. You enjoyed eating the BFL way and you did so well with it. You will get back in the swing of things very soon. Let us know how BFL is going. I have found out that I need a "mix" when I eat. I have to have a carb with protein, otherwise I feel

Hey LaDean, hope you and Tuffy are having a good day.

Ledom. good for you. getting back to a plan is what its all about. have a good day..

My scales were down alot yesterday. then fixed hubby a roast dinner for birthday and i had a few potatoes. knowing darn well there a NO NO.. but were good. so scales are still down not jsut as much. but today a new and good day.. tomorrow weigh in.. i am getting ready for a walk. been back with it. that helps me alot to

aleka, have a good day you and lacee. tuffy is doing ok.. wooofffff to lacee.I tryed to put a picture of him on here but do not know how to do it.. i will hopefully figure it out.

judi..... still traveling...???? well have fun.

i wish all of you a great day.. LaDean

Morning girls, yesterday was not perfect but much, much better. It did help to get on here and state my delimma. Got up this a.m. and did a leg workout and walked a mile in my neighborhood. Watch out - I'm making a comeback!

Hope ya'll have a great day.

Good morning,

In yesterday's mail we got a Thanksgiving pkg. from our former neighbors in NH, as you recall, they were our only neighbors. There were a lot of fall stuff in the pkg., amongst everything, a jar of apple butter from one of our local orchards, 2 mini loaves of pumpkin bread that she baked, and a very nice Thanksgiving card. I called to thank them and she said she was going to put in some fallen leaves, but they had crumbled. I told her it was ok, she could have put anything in except snow. Then she told me we hadn't gotten our Dec. pkg. yet. I thought it was very thoughtful of them to do that. I have decided to send them a Christmas pkg. with a lot of little FL items.

ledom, Taking baby steps is the right way to make your comeback. Good for you!

LaDean, that's great your scales are down. Congratulations!

Have a good day!