Good evening Chickies!!!

Paige I don't know if I should laugh or feel bad! It's probably a smart move that you wait til you get your ducks rounded up. Who knows, maybe the company will offer your DH the job again when you are ready. My kids look like battered children during football season, you should see people look at them. And we get lots of questions. You should see them showing off their battle scars, they are so proud and I could just crawl in a hole!

Marie, you may melt! 100 degrees, yuck!!! Although the ride sounds like fun, I think I'ld opt. for AC! Sounds like your having a great day, good for you! Rub some of that my way!!! I had to go to work today and it just s_cked!!!

Julie, have fun playing ball! Yea, that would be rough running around with a smelly melted ball under your car. I thought a skunk was bad, but I may reconsider that!

See Kerry, it's dopping off!! Wahoo!! And to all, no I would never race at a dirt track! They are all crazy, although I've come close to running a bus on the nights when they run the buses, but figured I best not since I usually was the only sober when in the gang and I drove the drunks down on a bus. If I wrecked I'm not sure how they would have all gotten home. I used to drag race in my younger days, and if we had the money we'd all be drag racing now. But for now we're all just watching.
These are sprint cars http://www.lernerville.net/Pictures/7805/DSC_0170.jpg
Here is a crapy bus picture, but you'll get the idea http://www.lernerville.net/Pictures/6705/DSC_5203.jpg
Ok dinners done and I need to work out!
Chat with ya all later!!!!

Morning girls!
I am at home this morning. I had some work to catch up on since I couldn't get anything done at work yesterday! All day long people at the office were driving me nuts and at 5 o'clock my boss comes in my office to chit chat (oh yea personal stuff) while I am frantically trying to finish up so I can meet my family for my husband's birthday dinner. So when 5:45 rolls around and my husband calls to ask where I am, my boss says oops sorry for keeping you...DO YOU THINK THE BIRTHDAY CAKE I HAD SITTING ON MY DESK WAS A HINT??????!!!! Not to mention the fact that the whole office knew it was my husbands birthday....oh well, Not sure what his deal is.
Dinner went well, I behaved and only had a tiny piece of cake.
Now we're off to the amusement park today....boy I'm starving! I have not had breakfast yet.

Paige-Sounds like you hands are full. Better to hold off until you guys are really ready. No sense in rushing into things if it is not the right time.

Marie-Sounds like you had a wonderful day! How was your jeep ride? I always thought it would be kind of cool to ride in one of those. By the way I am soooo jealous of your ability to tan. I am alot less paler than I use to be, but could stand to be a bit darker.

Kerry-You go girl! 138!!!! That is great! What kind of hoop are you guys getting? The pole kind or one that hangs above the garage? We have one that hangs above the garage. The guy hung it crooked at first and had to come back and fix it

Lori-Have fun at the track tonight!

Lori - DH was cracking up last night at the busses!! He said it brought back memories for him - I didn't know he had such!! Have fun! Thanks for the support on the lbs continuing to drop. I got on the scale again this morning to make sure and it said the same thing. How are things going for you getting back on track? I must say that I never really did get back on the exercise kick. I wish I could do what you do... I have no motivation right now to do it though.

Julie - My boss can easily pull that stuff with me too. It sounds like you ended up having fun though once you escaped. Enjoy your day today!! I guess we'll be getting one on a poll since we don't have a garage. I wonder how much that's going to set me back. It's always something. And we STILL haven't decided on Lazboys. I'm thinking we should just purchase one for now anyway. Decisions decisions....

Hi all, yesterday was great. Hot, ut great. The ride over the mnt. pass was fun. I slathered on the SPF 45 and sweated. Oh well. It was worth it. I don't like AC and I would have had to use it if I took the Durango. By the time we got home, I was wet - literally soaked the back of my clothes. So we went swimming and did a 1/4 mile. I won't go farther because then I'll start looking at my pool like it's work. A 1/4 mile is about right for an okay workout.

Today we took the dogs hiking and it was gorgeous. Had to get up early since it's supposed to be hot and we wanted the dogs to go in the cooler morning temps. I sure do raise my heart rate when we go up the mtn. Hopefully it'll help me shed a pound. I'll take them anyway that I can.

The sweater will be finished today. I'm almost done. I'm already thinking of the next project, but it wouldn't be done by next week for the cruise, so I'm not in a rush.

Lori, sorry about your day yesterday - TODAY IS FRIDAY!!! I think the reason I'm so happy is that I'm not working at the moment. I swear when I get rich, I'm quitting. This is truly the way to live.

Kerry, get both of the recliners - one for you and one for him. Problem solved.

Julie, I'll give you some of my tan. It's too dark. I'm hoping it'll fade in the next week, but playing in the pool sort of makes that hard.

Well, I will be back later, taters.

Hi everyone, I did it. I finished the sweater and here it is... BTW, it fits perfectly!

Good Morning Chickies !!!!

Ahhh, the weekend at last! We had a good time at the track last night, I have dirt and clay all through my hair from the dust they kick up! I'll be needing a shower asap this morning.

Marie, the sweater is just georgous. You'r really making me consider one of those fancy machines!!!! I had no idea it could produce such nice stuff! Remember take lots of pictures on your cruise, I'm very interested. We've kicked around an Alaskan cruise, but I'm so afraid to fly. Maybe someday!

Julie, Glad to hear you eventually got out of work. That always happens to me too, but it's not my boss. As soon as I'm in a hurry something goes wrong and needs my attenetion and I'm stuck at work. We have a big job that we're doing this morning that I set up so I'm just waiting for my phone to start ringing. Are drivers are some of the nicest people, but sometimes they can be real pin heads when it comes to making a decision. I always tell them your there and I'm not, do what you think is best and I'll back you up, just don't get stuck!

Kerry, the bus races are soooo much fun! My kids go nuts, they have to be careful during the powder-puff races, the girls are so much more agressive than the guys. They have a tendancy to roll them over and really smash them up. It's almost like a bus demolition derby! It's going to be on a Sat. night this year so I'll be going. Julie, you ought to come out, it's really not far at all. It's on Sept. 10th. Just follow 228 all the way out to 356 (sarver), hang a left and it's a few miles on your right on 356.

The diet swing went well this week, until last night. But I only had a couple slices of pizza and a hand full of nachos. Bad thing is I need to do a doulbe work out today to make up for what I missed last night and I skipped Tue. coz I thought my blood pressure was going to explode (our fixed van never got out of the driveway) It was stuck in second gear, screaming just another couple of hundred dollars. My mechanic (DH) almost had a stroke, we have reservations at a camp ground for next weekend and there is no way we can get all that crap in my car. DH & I settled down and ordered the part, but now I'm afraid to take it that far. I wanted to drive it for a week or two to see what else falls off it.

OK DS is up and his glasses are bent, so we have to go get them straightend!

Some of our vaction pictures! http://users.adelphia.net/~lmatis/

Where oh where to all the working stiffs go??? On vacation???

Anyway, Lori, thanks for the compliment. The sweater machine isn't too expensive - about 200 at joann.com. I saw at walmart a machine made by bond (the same manufacturer as mine) for 88. I don't know if it's as wide and such, but next time I go, I will look at it more carefully. I will post the cruise pictures on my website (www.mariesdogs.info) when I return. I think I'll bring the whole webpage with me so that I can redo it. I was playing with different dreamweaver functions and it made it sort of screwy. I learned a lot - which had been the goal - but now I want my site to look good.

Today was a great day. About 100 out but the humidity was only 19% so it didn't feel bad. I floated on the pool for about 1.5 hours with SPF45 protecting me this time. I'm also done dog sitting for a friend and that's a relief. There have been a few problems along the way during the owner's 16 day absence and I am very much a perfectionist when it comes to animals. So I'm not sure I like the responsibility. Besides my three pups weren't thrilled with me having the smell of other dogs on me.

Okay, that's about it. I also watched the nascar race and am totally bummed that Gordon had brake problems. I like wearing my new #24 shirt and hat - but I got them at the start of his slump and I'm thinking I should keep them in the drawer from now on.

TTYL.

Marie - Your sweater is awesome!!! That is some talent that is worth something or at least you have something to show for it.

Lori - Thanks for sharing the vacation photos! Looks like the boys had fun on the beach even if DH didn't

I'm a little down and out recently. Things are really out of sorts for us with the house, the move, etc. DH & I haven't been communicating well and I've let everything build up to the point where all I want to do is cry. Suprsingly I'm not inclined to binge and eat everything in sight. Quite, the opposite - no appetite.

I keep telling myself that it's going to get better, we're going to get moved, things will get organized, furniture will get purchased and DH will get less moody. But it is hard to convince myself of all this. I am usually so upbeat and happy, but I just feel so down right now.

Sorry to be a bummer. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hellloooo!!!!
My day off was nice...missed zoo camp though because hubby was dragging his feet. We had to reschedule for another day. Oh well....had fun at the park though....Lori you have been to Kennywood haven't you? Seems like they changed a few of the rides a little bit, like adding regular seat belts on some of the coasters and adding a no skid surface to the turtle ride...half the fun of that ride was sliding around the seat!!!
LOL...guess you have to have gone there to know what I am talking about, but anyway, it only rained for about 1/2 hour, which helped cool things off a bit. So the rest of the day was nice. I made some poor food choices, but I did not over eat, just had a taste of what hubby and son were eating here and there. I more than made up for it by doing 1hour of cardio the next day!

Lori the bus races sound like fun. I'll have to mention it to my husband and see what we have going on that night.

Marie, I love the sweater! Can't wait to see pics of your trip!

Kerry, Things will calm down I promise! Me and hubby fought all the time when we were moving. Once you get settled things will be ok! Hang in there. We all get down sometimes!

Today was a busy day! I took the kids to work with me this morning so I could plan our back to school staff development for our staff. It will be alot of fun. We got a grant this year so we are going to Kemah (close to Galveston) for a faculty retreat. The leadership team will go down on a Wed. and then the staff will come Thursday and stay through Friday afternoon. It should be alot of fun!!! The school (grant$$) will pay for the hotel and meals for everyone. We are going to focus on teamwork activities and tie them in to how this could help student achievement. Then I took the kids to McDonalds for lunch before DS had to go to his reading class at 2:00. We also went to Target so that the kids could pick out new lunch boxes and backpacks.

Tonight I need to clean out my closet. I know I have a bunch of stuff that I could send to the Salvation Army. Yesterday I went through all the kids clothes and toys and packed up a bunch of stuff to send. I need to call tomorrow and arrange for a pick up this week. I also need to make curtains for my living room this week. I was going to do it back in May and just haven't gotten around to it yet. Since I start back to work on Monday I guess I had better get them done this week.

Kerry- Moving can be really stressful!! But it will be so worth it once you guys get settled and things can get back to normal. Hang in there...I promise you will find light at the end of this tunnel!!!!!

Marie- The sweater is beautiful!!!! You are so talented! I am jealous of your 19% humidity!!! I would kill for that!!! If we end up moving in the next year I will certainly not miss the humidity here!!!!!!

Julie-it has something to do with Murphy's Law...It never fails on days that I have to get out of there early, a teacher or parent has to come in just as I am getting ready to leave and they stay...and stay...and stay....I feel your pain on that one!!!!!!! I'm glad you had a nice day at he amusement park.

Lori-I think in another life I was a race car driver of some kind...I'm not really into NASCAR and all that but I remember when I was in St. Louis at a wedding my BF and I were looking for something to do and we made a wrong turn and ended up a the drag races....it ended up being so much fun!!!!! I love to drive fast anyway!!!

Well I guess I should go fix dinner. DH just got home and I can already here him in the kitchen.

Good Evening Chickies!!!

Well I'm not going to whine to loud, but I stayed the same weight at weigh in today. The 133.5 came back, but yesterday afternoon I was 132.5, but that was after I sweated a gallon bucket! I drank 4 glasses of water before I went to bed and still slept all night! Yikes, I was a little de-hydrated! I scrubbed our van inside top to bottom and man was the humidity awful!!! But it looks great!

Kerry, don't let the communication be an issue! My DH is a real gabber, but very MOODY! I just keep yacking away and eventually he has to give in and talk back. Just hold back from pointing fingers (which can be extremely hard) When all else fails, give it up! I don't know what is wrong with men, but when they are all stressed out it seems to lighten them up. We women just want to talk and they just want a quickie! DH and I have many issues, and are exteme oppisites on alot of things, but the one thing that has changed with maturity is the ablility to step back and look at the whole picture. That and being open, as in he can tell me I'm actting like an _ss, and I may get irritated, but he is usually right (which I hate to admit) and that goes both ways. Smile, your getting a new house that you can do what ever you want to. DH probably feels like your stepping on his toes over the furniture and decorating. So to save the peace let him make the final decision, show him what you like and see if that works (just mention that it's not fair you don't get some comfy furniture). And if all else fails, let him get what he wants, nothing lasts forever. You'll eventually need new stuff. Trust me life is tooo short to fight over what your sitting on! And the next time around you can use "we spent $1000 on a chair that the dog won't even sit on!"

Julie, I love Kennywood, I haven't been there this year, but last year the turtle didn't have the skid proof seats. I'm assuming your talking about the Jack Rabbit coaster?? Regular seat belts would be an improvement for the young ones, but I get a hoot out of hopping out of my seat! Mention the bus races, your kids will go nuts! And they are fun!

Kuck Paige, back to work already!!!! Man where did the summer go??? Sounds like the little trip will be fun! At least your getting a hotel, DH is all into the tent thing we may never see a hotel room again. Wonder if he'd feel the same way about camping out at 7 springs in January. (our local ski resort) Love those drag races, I spent $50 a person for DH and I to see the Nationals in Ohio one year, best money I ever spent! I just have to remember ear plugs next time!

Marie, I wouldn't know what 19% humidity was!!! You mean no curly frizzy hair??? The closest we get to that low of humidity here in PA is in Feb. Wait till I tell DH that's why Jeff's not winning, you'll have to burn that shirt !!! Oh and the dogs are sooo sweet, but all that hair! You must have a dozen of those sticky roller deals to get that hair of you !! My friend had one husky and introduced me to the sticky rolly thing.

Ok I've have seriously blabbed tonight, I'm going to run! Busy week and I'm not getting a thing done sitting on this computer!

Hi, everybody! I almost have my life back....today was my first day at my new job. I'll be busy, but not crazed, and I have my own office again, so I can check in here briefly without people peering at my screen all day. I'll be leaving town for over a week soon, but by August 1, I plan to be a regular visitor again. Thanks for bearing with me!

There are too many post for me to catch up with. So I'll send a blanket cheer to all of you for being here and cheering the rest of us on. I feel like I have such a long way to go...but whenever I think of where I was (and how I felt) last winter, I am grateful for progress, no matter how slow. This has been a difficult year, but the transitions are nearly over (I hope!), and I know that the momentum will pick up again. I appreciate your support in getting this far.

hugs--judy

Judy - Great to see you and to hear such great things about the new job!! Sounds like things have really come around for you and you are in a much better frame of mind. I'm sure the weight will be easier to lose with life going more how you like it to.

Lori - You hit the nail on the head with DH & I You should be a marriage counselor or something!! You are right on about the furniture and house design as well. We have talked about it and I think it's better and I guess part of the issue is that he can't believe how much $$ we are spending and feel ok about it. (We've been broke for years) But things are better and I gave it up so I'm sure that helped too!! ----- And it is good that you've maintained through all the travel and family time, etc. Good for you!!

Paige - I can't believe it is time for the schools to start getting into gear to start in the fall. I was helping my mom last night find some of her materials she needs for curriculum. The summer has flown by! Enjoy the rest of it!! ---- and thanks for the support on the move. It will get better, bc it must!

Julie - it sounds like you've been having a lot of fun with your family. Thanks for sharing your experience moving with your DH. It is tough to get along when everything is a mess and out of order and decisions have to be made...

Marie - I forgot to say yesterday that I looked at the photos of your dogs as well and they are so gorgeous!!

Things did not improve with my mood yesterday since one of the old bittys that I work with decided to corner me to talk about "why we're not such good friends". I had to lay it on the line and tell her how it is - that I don't talk to her bc I don't trust her. She's all bent out of shape at me now and not speaking at ALL. The boss was out when she pulled the cornering move, so now I have to talk to the boss about it today. Again, I'm prolly going to he!! for it, but I wish those in their 70's would retire or just stop showing up I'll shutup now.

Didn't feel like eating much yesterday. Maybe that will help with a loss this week. I'm staying off the scale until we leave for the beach.

Good morning!!!!
Ok Lori, since you mentioned hair and humidity living here in wonderful PA here goes my whine. I hope I am being just paranoid here, but it seems that I have been losing alot of hair lately, I read somewhere, not sure if it is this board or another board that when you go below 1200 cals per day you can start to lose some hair. (I have been trying not to go below 1200) I have noticed a ton of hair in the drain after I wash it, and I wash it daily...I am probably being paranoid, I do shed alot this time of year my hair is fine, but I have a ton of it plus the fact that the humiditiy is so high my hair is extra flat...I don't frizz, my hair is too straight. So I went to get my hair cut last night because it is so limp anymore, that I can't even curl it with an iron, I thought it might help if it was shorter, but the girl talked me into going back on Saturday for a body wave...sure hope it doesn't make my hair fall out worse

Paige- I can't believe that it is time to start thinking about back to school already! The retreat sounds like fun! How did the closet cleaning go? I reallllly need to do that and I have only been in my house a year ....I'm such a slacker! Oh yea I drive really fast too...my hubby is always yelling at me to slow down!

Kerry-I agree with Lori that sometimes it is better to just keep the peace. I am the moody one in our relationship LOL hubby is the one who wants to talk everything out....that is why we argue sometimes. He hashes and rehashes everything to death to convince me of his way of thinking. Sometimes I just glaze over when he starts talking LOL...we are total opposites when it comes to likes and dislikes, but we are on the same page when it comes to the big picture. So sometimes I try to just let him do things his way and act enthusiastic about it. I know that may be wrong, but it saves me an ear beating. LOL Sorry you are still in a blue mood I can relate, I can't believe that woman cornered you like that. Hope things get better at work for you.

Judy- Hello! It is nice to have your own office...I do now sort of there is another desk in here, but it is only used as a "guest desk" when we have someone from our corporate office visiting which is only a few times a year.

Lori-great job on maintaining or should I say a possible loss! You never know, that 1lb may be a real loss!

Oh well...guess I better get back to work...I really have been a slacker, I have soooo much to do I don't know if I will ever get caught up!
Cya later!

Hi everyone, just a note to say that everything is going good. I started another sweater and have gottenpretty far on it today. I swam my laps and floated in the pool for about 2 hours. I used sunscreen and avoided a burn. I would have been toast if I floated that long in the sun but SPF45 let me listen to an audiobook while staying cool. It's about 100 out but the 17% humidity is still with us. So it's not unbearable.

Kerry, I think my dogs are cute, but it sure is great to have someone else say it - so thanks. I really hope the old biddy stays shut up. What is with work place politics anyways? It drives me nuts. And that's the last stressor you need in your life at the moment.

Julie, when I was on a very low cal diet with a place called Weight Loss Clinic, I lost weight fast and my hair feel out just as fast. I too have fine hair but lots of it. But I noticed that my ponytail was much smaller diameter and the drain was always plugged. You might want to make sure that you're taking vitamins and that you're really eating enough. Your hair is giving you a signal.

Judy, great to hear from you. I hope that you enjoy the new job and your life becomes more even keeled.

Lori, no frizzy hair. Mine's stick straight. It looks the same in humidity or no humidity. I definitely don't want to burn the shirt but I'm not wearing any Gordon paraphrenalia on Sunday. It's just so weird that his slide started when I got my shirt. So on the cruise (which I hope has TNT on Sunday) I will be wearing my cruise clothes and no Jeff Gordon stuff. If he still slumps then I'm free not to burn the clothes.

Paige, you only have a week left of summer vacation!?!?!?!? I still have 3 weeks. I would be in a real down mood if I had to go back in July. August is bad enough. The retreat sounds like fun and will be good for your staff. I thought of you yesterday when I read about the temperatures in Phoenix. Bet you're glad at the moment that you're not there. 115 degrees, humidity or not, is unbearable. I read it even got up to 125 in places. Yuck!

Well, I chat with you later. I'm going to go knit and see if I can finish a yellow sweater in less months than it took me to do the jade colored one. I took 5 months with the last one and they say you can finish one in 2 evenings. Ha, not me.