Frouf, I do NOT think you can land at O'Hare at 1:40 (if you actually land then) and make a 2:15 connection. They would have to be at adjoining gates which rarely happens. And how could they get your luggage over there fast enough? The 2:15 flight would probably start to board about the time you land.

Saundra, wouldn't it be great if your DS put in a pool! You could swim during the day when everyone else is at work. Your trip sounds absolutely delightful. Maybe I should look for things nearby where Jim and I could go for a short while. We really need to get away. I've never had a massage. I hope yours was wonderfully relaxing. Oh BTW, congratulations on those SMALL jeans! Don't work too hard today.

Tammy, jump right in! None of us knew each other before we came to these boards. You'll be like one of our old friends in no time. We want to hear about your life and experiences as you struggle/succeed with Core. We really do get encouraged by Newbies. Look how excited Sandra's success is making us. Your 3 week loss is fantastic! Keep up the great work. Why don't you tell us how you are doing it. Maybe we all could use some new ideas. Or even if you don't want to chat maybe you could post your menus. You are OBVIOUSLY doing something right!

Sandra, thanks for the link to the brownie recipe. Reading the recipe, it's hard to imagine that they taste good. I'm willing to take a chance though. I'll look around the next shopping trip. I don't have all bran cereal around either. I'm not sure what kind of brownie mixes are out there. I know I tried No Pudge one time and didn't like it at all. I'm loving my water aerobics too. I should google some water exercises. How are the girls?

Kathy, you work too hard. Life is too short GF! Did you make those chips for yourself? Now there is something that I wouldn't be able to stop eating. If I know you though, you'd eat 2 and stop. How's your project coming?

Melissa, you sound busy but happy. I think Pampered chef will be good for you.

Ok..off to eat breakfast and shower to get ready for errands and appointments.

My project is ongoing -- actually it's just bits and pieces of the overall contract. I enjoy the work and if I have plenty of it, don't mind being here 50-55 hours a week.

The heat is a killer, I tell you. We have 106-107-108 and up every summer so this is really no big whoop to us. I guess you get used to it because I've lived in Texas all my life.

Finally our Walmart (the big one, not Neighborhood Market) has Kraft Free Mozzarella. I am so glad because I was having to make a special trip to Albertson's (Jewel to you) when I wanted it. And since that was all I bought there, it was a big pain.

Back to work...

So Kathy - someone told me on the weekend that in Texas your vents for a/c are on the ceiling? Is that true? Of course we all know hot air rises. Our heating/ac vents are on the floor - and in the summer we go into our (finished) basement (where big ds 'lives') and actually tape up the vents cuz it gets super cold down there! (of course chilly in the winter too despite the heating). Hope you can stay in and cool off - we are having SUPREME hot and humid weather today - probably over 40 degrees celsius with the humidity - which is over 100 as well! YIKES! (told dh not to let little ds out to bike today - he would just expire!).

Vickie - I am very proud of your pool exercising - I know it will pay off for you! Keep up the good work!

As for the O'hare connection - yes that was depressing news - I kinda figured we wouldn't make it - but the ever hopeful frouf in me wants to try! Travel agent said we could go ahead and change to the 3:40 pm flight (which we have a better chance of making!)...and I sure hope the airport can keep me busy for a couple of hours? ....but that means we don't get into Miami til 7:45 pm - (instead of 6:30) - so by the time we get our luggage and cab over to the hotel it will be at least 8:30 or later - then check in drop off bags and run like maniacs across the street to eat dinner and maybe do a bit of shopping (stores close at 10 pm!). Not ideal of course but doable? Who knows flight times could even change again before we leave!

Saundra - glad you had a nice weekend - I am dreaming of going to Tremblant this long weekend - but too much to do around the house in prep for my brother's visit next week - I am off of work next week too!

A 'pool' in the family would be awfully nice - so is it a pool sized lot? How's the new house? Did they manage to sell the old one yet?

Busy/crazy day at work again - just can't keep my head from spinning - need to relax and calm down! Did not go to the gym after work yesterday - too much yapping- so I didn't leave til 6 pm - too late - needed to get groceries and get home for dinner! Yes I ate everything in sight as still TOM issues - and no dinner prepared (which is my downfall) - and I even inhaled two of those 100 calorie Thins chocolate bars (mint chip - very good!).

At least we have some steaks prepped for tonight - and I am going to the gym. What I am NOT looking forward to is more bathing suit shopping with dd - needs a suit BY TOMORROW - and she is so picky - and there is not much left - it will be quite a challenge - so after gym and dinner we shall head out to the mall!

Wish me luck!

Frouf

Yes, a/c vents are in the ceiling. All of the duct work and usually the a/c unit itself too are in the attic. Since we have no basements here due to the type of soil, and the fact that the ground shifts and cracks open in the summer, there's no place to go. Most everyone has ceiling fans in each room though. We manage to stay cool (while paying $400-500 per month for electricity!).

Good luck on finding her a swimsuit!

i was going to costco this afternoon but it's looking like i'll be here waiting on the phone to ring. oh, well. i will go to w a this evening.

saundra, that would be great if ds put in a pool. you would love it, and the exercise would be fantastic.

kathy and melissa, i'm waving at you.

vickie, those medical bills are still coming. i'm trying to stay offline most of the day to wait on a call from our agent. thank goodness insurance pays well. there was an "oops" with one bill that we have to take care of. the place i had my mri and 2 cats done is on my insurance network, but they hadn't put the correct info into their computer before i had the tests. i'm hoping insurance will pay more.

vickie, the girls are fine. i'm wearing a tie around the neck suit today. hope it keeps them in check. when you make the brownies, be sure to use the "sit" times that are suggested. if you don't let the cereal soak in the water at least 5 min before adding the brownie mix, it doesn't blend in well and is yucky. also use the sit time for the baking powder so it can activate before baking. the brownies are good right after you bake them, but they are much much better the next day and the next and the next. be careful not to eat too many. also, drink plenty of fluid when you eat them.

frouf, a/c vents are in the ceilings in texas. the houses don't have basements. sometimes people will have a cellar out back but that's not common any more. it's a thing of the past mostly.

Insurance makes me crazy!

I've already paid about $800 out of pocket for my surgery (but the total was around $30,000 so THANK GOD for insurance when you need it!) ... except the other day I got a bill from the ambulance company for $500. The total was $750 -- by the time it was all sorted out and the ambulance people realized that they have a preferred provider agreement with Aetna, I owed $24. For what, you ask? Insurance wouldn't pay for the morphine shots and IV that they started in the ambulance so that they could take me straight into surgery when we arrived at the second hospital. It's not like I asked for a Coke and a Snickers, for heaven's sake! It was DRUGS and quite necessary at the time!! GRRRR!

Good evening ladies, sorry I haven't been on in a while, dh is on vacation this week and we have been doing alot of day trips with the kids and he gets a little cranky if I spend more time on the computer than with him (wawa)

I will catch up with everyones posts and tell you about dd's party, it was alot of fun.

Hey, Niki! We were wondering about you!!

I'm finally home from work and just took my bath. Red potatoes and onions are broiling in the oven right now and the pinto beans are done. I'm just going to make myself a plate to take to work tomorrow for lunch. I'm hot and tired and cranky and think I'll go to bed early. It was a loooong day today -- although I only worked for 10 hours, it seems like much more. Tomorrow I'm getting there by 6:30 so I can get 11 in. If I can have my 40 by the end of Thursday, then all of Friday will go on next week and if I work Saturday, I should get my 50+ for next week. This week I got jacked up when the system went down Sunday.

Okay, off to check on dinner. I'll see you tomorrow!

Hey Chicks! I'm didn't get into the pool until 4:30 because I had so many errands. I was in the pool until around 6:15 and got into the house to cook around 6:30. We just finished dinner. I'm about to go sit on the couch and watch the ball game. I'm afraid I won't be awake very long. I'll catch up with you all in the morning.

Have a great evening!

My poor aching feet - and headache - and of course cranky as any shopping trip with dd will make me! Got home from the gym at 6:30 pm - made and inhaled my supper - then off again at 7:30 to the mall!

First argument about bathing suit top #1 - seems she loves it - but it is not suitable for camp (needs to be somewhat conservative) but can she have it for her 'beach' bathing suit? so this is the first I have heard about a beach bathing suit - ya the one she is gonig to wear when she goes to the beach with her friends? What's this? Has she morphed into Gidget? Since when does she go to the beach? (and if you remember our city beaches on the river generally are closed due to high bacterial counts!) - ya like I"m letting you go into that water.

Oh and did I forget to mention that this beach bathing suit is missing the bottom? so need to have it priced and off she goes to find this non-matching bottom which she LOVES (and I hate - us froufs are matching maniacs!).

So now she's almost crying of course as I try to focus on the camp bathing suit - not the 'beach' bathing suit. Next stop bikini village - nothing there that she likes - they are all proclaimed to be 'ugly'!

Then to sport experts (more ugly ones there), then to Aqua - nothing there either - okay she likes one but it has a very ugly plastic thing/ring between the cups which just won't do!

Back to the Bay - found a black/white swirly tankini top - again those bottoms that she LOVES! But this time only one pair in her size - and there is a rip on the belt seam (yes I get an additional 10% off of the already half price piece).....she doesn't look happy - but under duress - and the store is CLOSING as it's 9 pm - we buy these two pieces.

Did I mention how I am now getting blisters on my feet and my feet are hot and puffy and I have a headache - ...and it's like 100 degress out? And now we need to find a open drugstore (the one in the mall is of course now closed)...so off we go to the late nght one cuz she has RUN OUT OF FOUNDATION!! God forbid - can't go to camp without all of our makeup on - and yes coincidentally also needs eyeliner, mascara, olay body ribbons, allergy medicine and sunscreen - and I get a bottle of flavored water - whoopee!

So I am home now - oh and I have already completed the sewing/fix on the bathing suit bottom - so maybe just maybe I can settle down and relax now? Is that even possible?

Frouf

Hey Chicks! It's 1:30 a.m. and I can't sleep. Went to bed, exhausted, at 10:30 and slept fitfully until 12:30. I laid in bed until 1:15 trying to go back to sleep to no avail. I think it's partially hormonal and partially my shoulder. I've been doing some healthy lifting (or unhealthy lifting) the past couple of weeks and I think I strained something in my shoulder. I was at Sam's yesterday buying bottled water. I think it's a case of 24 or 30 24 ounce bottles. It was really heavy. So...I'm sitting here with Jim's ice bag on my shoulder (the same shoulder as his sore one). I don't want to take any ibuprofen. I generally don't take anything but tylenol because of my very sensitive stomach. I'm hoping that the ice works. Sigh.

The good news is that I can go check up on all of you!

Kathy, I've never been able to try the Kraft FF cheeses. No one has them here. All I can get is the Albertson's/Jewel brand. They're ok but I'd love to try the Kraft someday. I don't have a Super Walmart yet. They're working on it. I can't wait to grocery shop there. All I can buy there now are some staples. I just got SF/FF instant pudding for .62 yesterday. They only have a couple of flavors. I stocked up on chocolate fudge for Frosty smoothies. I did not know that people in Texas do not have basements. Pretty interesting stuff. It is rare here for people to NOT have basements. Jim's surgery is also going to be around $30,000, including the PT. We don't know how much he'll have to pay yet since the biggest of the bills is still pending. It will all depend how much the insurance company cuts back the bill since everyone/everything we used are preferred providers. Time will tell! In the meantime, we're trying to save money and not stress eat over it. BTW, thanks ALOT for beating those pesky Twins!

Frouf, our AC and heating vents are on the floor too. Our basement is warm in the winter and cold in the summer. I've tried and tried to get them to plug up what we are wasting down there to no avail. My basement is unfinished and just used for storage so I don't want to waste heating/cooling down there. With the size of O'Hare, you won't have much time to kill. There are many good restaurants/bars in the airport. It's not like some of the rinky dink ones that I've flown into. Keep me posted in the event that you really end up with a long delay. What day will you be flying in? Congrats on finally finding DD a bathing suit. Ours have been picked over for weeks. Obviously, she must be in a normal size or she wouldn't have had a prayer at this point. You really sound like you kept your cool! BTW, did you know that Wicked is at the Canon Theater in Toronto? I'm going to see it for the second time on September 2nd and I can't wait!

Sandra, I hope your insurance snafu gets cleared up. Thanks for the information about the instructions on the brownies. I pretty religiously follow recipes so I probably would have been ok. I am curious though. What happens if you eat too many? You can PM me if it's too gross!

Niki, I'd been asking about you. I'm glad all is well and I look forward to hearing about the party.

No Melissa, last night. Hope all is well.

I'll be back in a while to check to see if there are any other insomniacs here. Actually, I hope you are all happily in dreamland.

Yep, I'm still here....still awake. I've searched all over the internet to try to find a great baby's first christmas ornament. I found a couple that have potential. I've cleaned out some of my internet folders. Jim just got up to check on me and I sent him back to bed.

I forgot to tell you all my great news. GF has a match for her bone marrow transplant. It is from an umbilical cord. It's a 5 point out of 6 match. 4 points are acceptable. I'm very excited. Now we just have to wait for her to go through all the tests to make sure that she is physically able to have the transplant. I am very hopeful for her.

No PT for Jim today but Cassie has a Vet appointment this afternoon. She's having a follow up to see if her thyroid medicine is working. It's been 6 weeks already. My plan was to have an early lunch and swim for a while before having to get ready for Cassie's 3:30 appoinment. As it stands now, I'll probably be napping.

Angela, it looks like some heavy duty weather coming my way on I 80. Of course, it'll probably be in your neighborhood soon. How are you feeling? Are you on the wagon?

Yes....I'm still awake but I'm off now to go take Cassie out and feed her. I'm going to stop coming back here to talk to myself now!