Hi -- wanted to pop in fast & say good morning! Ok now I am leaving as my students are graduation today so I sorta need to be there!

Have a great day!

Good morning ladies Happy Thursday!

Woke up waaaay too early this morning. Tim has a hard time getting up, so he sets an alarm radio across the room to go off, then keeps getting up and snoozing it. This morning after it went off the first time at 4:45 I couldn't get back to sleep, tossed and turned for a while, then finally gave up and got up to take a hot shower. Now he's gone to work and I'm feeling sleepy and have to go to work in a couple of hours. Arrrgh...think I'll try to go catch another 20 winks maybe...

Angie, I think I missed something. What are you on the wait list for with this new doctor? 'Cause I know you just had surgery a couple of months ago, around the time I did. I've had a few friends at work that had really good results from the surgery for carpal tunnel. My problem was weird -- radial tunnel problems are typically up in the elbow and down the whole forearm, and the procedure is a lot more invasive, the recovery time longer, and the outcome is a lot more iffy. If that's what's going on with Monte, find out as much as you can -- I tried a lot of things before finally giving in and having the surgery. Feel free to PM or email me.

Marti, maybe you are putting on muscle? I know, everyone always says that, but muscle really does weigh more than fat. If you are feeling better, and stronger, and your clothes are fitting better (not counting TOM, of course, LOL), then that's a good thing. I have such a hard time motivating myself to exercise, and unfortunately my hobbies don't involve rock climbing or jogging...more like...curling up with a good book and a soft blankie... Or another hobby: sitting around a campfire in my friend's backyard, singing really awful Girl Scout Camp songs...badly... while my friend strums her guitar...badly... Still coming to SF this summer?

Michelle, yep, everytime I go to Amazon, the deals are so good, and it's so easy to add on "just one more" to get that free shipping, heehee... Cute new avatar!

Jane, page 9, huh??? Kiddo, you're a star! Do you know if anywhere else is carrying the book besides Amazon? I have something like $120 in gift certificates for Borders and was planning on ordering something from there this week. But if it's only on Amazon, I guess I'll just make the sacrifice and put in an Amazon order, too...you know what torture it is and how I suffer when I'm forced to shop for books. (Can you see how pale and weak I looked when I wrote that? I'm staggering around and look like I might actually faint or get the vapors or something dramatic like that...)

Hi Robin, my husband is from MI, near Detroit...his mom lives in Bay City, what a pretty little town. She sent us Spartan sweatshirts a couple of years ago for Christmas

Well, shoot...no more time for 20 winks. Maybe 10? Or maybe I'll just give up and go to work sleepy... Hi to all the rest of the ladies, and I'll catch ya later...

Hugs,
Mary Kate

Stopping in for a real quick "hi!" Lots of work today so I am here on break and need to get checking yesterdays entry!!

Good morning, ladies! I'm still here, it has just been a busy week! But with that being said, I am now down almost ten pounds! YAY!

Someone was asking about what we eat for breakfast. I'm kind of boring as it is usually a bowl of Special K or Smart Start with a banana and 2% milk. Some days, when cereal is not sounding good, I'll stop at Dunkin Doughnuts on my way to work for coffee and a lowfat blueberry muffin. Not too often though, as the muffin doesn't stay with me as long as the cereal does!

This weekend is the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and I'm very excited! As a knitter, this will be my first festival and I am looking forward to some serious yarn porn! I'm worried about food options there and want to be very careful! I've been doing well and don't want to get out of control on a day when I am out of my current regiment!

Just thought I'd share my amusing pet picture. We have a small trashcan that sits on our counter in the kitchen and one morning a few weeks ago, we woke up to this:

I'm back, ladies,

Robin - have fun at the graduation today.

MaryKate - if I were you, I'd go to the Border's website and see if the book is available there. I feel certain it would be available everywhere. The admins will even be doing a book tour. How exciting! Sorry you didn't get enough sleep, sweetie. When that happens to me, I take an Excederin PM to make sure I get better sleep the next night.

Jules - hi Jules, and bye Jules, lol. Come back when you can stay longer, lol.

Kim - OMG, I laughed my butt off when I saw the pic of your cat. Too funny!! Speaking of sheep, (well, you were!) my SIL and BIL used to raise them. They sheared them, and she even had her own spinning wheel. About food at the festival, do you know what will be available? If not, maybe you should have something light before you go so you won't be so tempted.

Cristina - aww, thanks. You know, I really think I'm going to have to take the easy chair out of the alcove in our bedroom, and replace it with a treadmill. It would stick out into the room somewhat, but that really wouldn't look too bad, would it? I did so much better with the food and everything before I blew out the motor on my last treadmill.

Michelle - hope your grandma gets ok. At least the xrays didn't show anything. You know what they say, No news is good news.

Neal has been putting border blocks and mulch around the house for out flowers. One of the guys working on the porch tromped in some of my impatiens, and so we're hoping if we do this now, they'll get a clue. The cement blocks that go around the porch are in, and they're letting it "set" for a couple of days. It will be nice-sized - 22' x 8'. Lots of porch-sittin' room, lol.

Someone asked about our house. It's a modular home, and we got to say lots about the quality of the construction of it, and most of the details, like quality of the carpet, etc. One thing they didn't want to do was put the window over the tub - said it's against regulations - but in the end, they did it. Everyone who comes here can't believe we just moved in. But I'm one of those people who can't stand living out of boxes! Anyway, I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Any Jaded Lady who needs to get away from the rat race, come and stay in my guest room. It's very serene.

Gotta run,

Welcome Robin!!

Mary Kate--try not to overdo at work and make sure you get your sleep in

Kimberly--I love that picture!! Where's the Festival you are going too? Boonsboro Days is in September and the last couple of years they have had a lady with her sheep showing how she spins the yarn with a spinning wheel--very cool. June 9, 10 & 11 is the Mountain Heritage Festival. It's a huge field with about 8-12 big tents filled with every kind of craft you can imagine. The have it every year in June & September. (Here's the website http://www.jeffersoncounty.com/festival/crafter.html) It's between Charlestown and HarpersFerry. I have been picking up a few pieces each time from Bay Pottery. The one glaze they do is a blue-purple and another is lavender--love them both.

Crisitina--I have been bad this week about going to Slim-n-Tone. I am definitely going in the morning.

Michelle--so sorry again about your grandmother

Jane--my husbands Dad & step-mom live in Fort Wayne and his half sister and her family live in Indianapolis. There's some hot rod thing that FIL wants us to come to this summer. We might just have to get together for lunch. We are still talking about AZ this fall.

I might check back later if not everyone have a good night and I'll talk to you in the morning.

Jules - I would be very interested in meeting you for lunch if you get over/down this way. Just let me know when, ok?

Neal and I are taking off in the morning to meander in Amish country. You've heard me mention the really good restaurants they have. Although they have some not-so-healthy choices, there's plenty available that is good for you, too. What's even more fun are the general stores and flea market. I love that Neal is retired and we can do this kind of thing on an impulse. I've been spending too much time on the computer this week, and feel the need to go do something fun with my hubby.

I'll be back tomorrow night, or sometime Saturday.

Kim,,,is that a tupperware container on your cats head?...lol Poor thing will she be poking her nose in that box again?

Jane,,,have fun tomorrow realx...and enjoy time with Neil

Jules,,,my old neighbour collects that type of pottery didn't know it was called that. Very nice. Specially since her house has a bit of a nautical look about it. The blue just accents it well.

Tanner is done is play...*sniff it was a success, with alot of parents just in awe of their children's talent. Tanner had a few theatre friends come and watch...
Im exhausted and will now spend part of this weekend washing costumes. We plan to go to Sylvan for my neighbours birthday party.
Then i think Im going to bury myself in healthy books,,,first off Body For Life since I have it,,,Dr. Phil's since I have that one too. And will look for that 3fc book also at Chapters. I figure if I surround myself in good,,,only good will come of it. I went shopping today,,,had to go 1 size up, not a good thing and have to admit I knew I have gained weight this past month. I don't think you can call how Im feeling depressed or even anger. Just a bit feeling out of control. So with everything out of the way,,,maybe i can regain the control. Our house is in shambles, still. We are thinking of buying land and building on it then selling it. The housing boom here is rediculous. Our home just jumped another 40 grand from 2 months ago.
There is so much happening or has happened in our home,.,,can't even think of where to start. But know that the eating needs to be curbed,,,
And that Ladies is me in a nut shell....

Jane--My Mom was raised Mennonite (similar to the Amish). Her grandmother made the best Shoo fly pie. It's made with Molasses and very rich but good, but probably very fattenining too.

Angie-There are several pottery crafters at that craft fair and I think each one has there own distinctive glazes. Bay Pottery is my personal favorite--(http://baypottery.com/) The website doesn't do the colors justice. The gas prices have stalled some of the buying/selling around her since the only ones that can afford to buy at the prices they are asking are from the Baltimore & DC area and with gas so high to have to travel up to 2 hours one way in stop and go traffic--I think the distance is being rethought. One house on our road sold in less than a week last summer, there are three more for sale and have been for quite some time. You'll have to give me more detail on making the BFL work without gym equipment. I have not gained but I have not lost either I have stalled once again. I am thinking about trying calorie counting.

Marti--there are all kinds of fun festivals in this area. There is a huge one that I have never been too but have seen advertised called the Sugarloaf Mountain Festival. Then in the fall along with the craft show that overtakes the park where I grew up is several Aplle Butter festivals where there are all kinds of crafts and apple butter made to be sold right in front of you. Very neat. My mom and I went to a craft show in PA--there were actually alot of school kids at that one since almost all the artisans were there showing how their specific craft is done. The parents of a friend travel all around to these shows as her makes the sterling silver spoon jewelry.

Hi to everyone else. I am usually off on Fridays, but I wil be going in a few hours today. I am going to do a early morning workout at Slim-n-Tone first.

What Jonah is wearing around his neck is the lid of a little dollar store trash can that I keep on the counter for quick small things to throw away (used tea bags, bread tabs, etc). He loves the things that you have to take off the milk countainers to open them (those round things...I don't know what the proper name is) and he may have been looking for one when he got his head stuck in the lid.

The festival is at the Howard County Fairgrounds in Maryland. I've never been there before as I've only been knitting for a year (So I can't answer the sweater question yet as I haven't gotten up the courage to knit a sweater yet!). I know they have lots of yarn and other items, sheep shearing, rovings, sheep herding etc. I'll have a full report after tomorrow! I'm very excited!

Hope everyone is doing well! I have no idea what kind of food the festival will have. I plan on eating breakfast at home, but that leaves lunch up there, so I'm just going to be careful. I would definately think lamb is on the menu though up there and I do like lamb if I don't think about the cute little sheep from which it came. (but then I have the same trouble with all meats. If I were a more committed person, I would probably be a vegatarian for that reason alone!)

Oh and I got my 3FChicks book in the mail yesterday! YAY! I also bought "Without You" by Anthony Rapp, as I am a theater person and he was one of the original leads in "Rent" on Broadway. I'm looking forward to reading both if I ever finish "The Witness"!

Hello everyone!

Will be quick today as I'm running behind!
Today is Hubby's birthday and tonight I pick up Jhanai!

Kimberly--Wish I had my 3FC book! It hasn't arrived yet....waiting patiently.

Jules--mmmm...Applebutter festival sounds yummy! We have a blackberry jam festival around here....but no blackberry jam! Why not? Was not a fun event IMO.

ok...must get going. I'll check in later

Hugs to all and have a great afternoon.

just stopped at Chapters and picked the book up...it wasn't even unpacked completely...but I got one of 4 books,,,yay!

Hop over to thread #187 for a frest start for the weekend. See you there!