Hey gals. I got my training schedule yesterday for the Team in Training fundraising marathon. Yikes! It's really hitting me -- I'm going to be training for a marathon! I've started fundraising already...I got official permission from my family to say it's in memory of my cousin who died of leukemia at age 35 and in honor of my dad, who is a lymphoma survivor. So woo hoo! I'm psyched! Thanks again, Kim.

I was as lazy as I possibly could be yesterday...just unbelievable. Well, I did do some reading for school. Today I have to go to work not for my regular job but for a research project my boss kindly asked if I'd be interested in working on -- for mucho $$ per hour . More dinero for the savings account, thank God. Then I have to type. I was also planning to go to Macy's for their big blowout sale, and get some stuff to assist DD in her transition to college (luggage, bedding, towels) plus I need a vacuum cleaner since mine died (probably of neglect, LOL). Then my sister called yesterday to invite me over to watch the Super Bowl with her and her DD (who's 4 years old), and I couldn't really say no. Then I still have more school work. And now I'm wasting time when I should be out distributing fundraising flyers to my neighbors in my complex. So later, girls.

Hope everyone's well and feeling good about themselves!

Good evening everybody... We had an incredibly busy weekend, much fun, saw some owls at the Owl Prowl, and bought some seeds at Seedy Saturday. Two of my kids had speeches due tomorrow so I've been helping with homework for hours. Heading off to bed now.

I'll drop in in the morning,

Lois

Where in the world did my weekend go? On the good side, I have groceries in the house, my bills are paid and my taxes are done! I am almost ready for my first full day of work. We are unpacking stuff. Which is a good way to get comfortable with everyone and not worrying about making a goof. I have a healthy lunch packed. I colored my hair last night. I can't wear eye makeup becuase I have pink eye, but hopefully that will clear up soon. (I have gel for it). Chat again sometime when I find time. I am so not used to working ft!!!! ~flower

Have a WONDERFUL first day of work, Flower. Congrats Ruthie for your decision to take part in Team in Training. I can't imagine doing a marathon.

Today I am alone in the house, and loving it. Kids all back at school and it is so quiet here! I'm going to have a long soak in the tub and make some miso soup. Then homework, and errands in town.

On program today, stocked up on healthy groceries this weekend!

Hello to everyone else too!

Lois

Hello everyone!

Happy weigh in Monday! Are you ready for this????

~ 5 pounds gone ~

WooooHOOooooo!!!!! Ok, so keeping a journal and drinking gallons of water works... sheesh, every time I start to loose weight I wonder why I waited so long to get started... So I'm down a total of 6.5 now... yeah!

I sewed my table curtains this weekend and they turned out perfect! I was shocked that they weren't crooked or mishappen somehow... just amazed that they turned out exactly as I envisioned. Complete with velcro backing so I can take off individual panels to get under the table easier.

That's it for now... my weight loss treat today is to do some reading. I started the new John Edward book and so far it's really good!

Terri

Thanks for the inspiration, Punkinseed! 5 pounds--you must be feeling great!!!

What color is your hair now, Flower? I have a salt/pepper thing happening with my hair now and I'm toying with the idea of coloring mine--altho everytime I do I actually miss my grey hair!

My legs, feet and back hurt! I will need some time to get use to this. The freaking Rio offered me a position via email today. I declined. I may or may not regret this, but just the fact that he made me wait over 2 months was all the reason to stay with TGI. Even if I would make 2 more an hour. And it is closer. But my girlfriend quit there and I do not want to have to fill her shoes, nor do I want to have to deal with the politics. Besides I have lots of new black and white clothes!

My hair color is a copper mahogony. ~flower

Just a quick one, then I have to go type. Hey, I got recruited for additional research work (in addition to what I'm doing now on the weekends) for good $$, so thank God! I should be able to have a good chunk o' change when I (God willing) go to grad school. Just means I'll be doing nothing but studying or working for the next few months. Oh yeah, and walking -- gotta start today with an easy pace 3 miles, which is fine. In a month I'm supposed to be able to walk 10 miles . Fortunately, the weather should be getting warmer as I progress. The good thing about having so much to do is that it will keep me from eating, I suppose, and hopefully from feeling that low-level depression that I have decided is a result of my current life -- job that I hate, teenage kid, kid leaving soon, about to transition but not there yet, yadda yadda, you've heard it all before. I think (although I could be wrong) that once I quit my job I will be measurably happier.

Flower, give yourself time to get used to the job ... I'm sure you'll settle in ok.

Eydie, my former hairdresser used to beg to put a rinse in my hair to cover up the few strands of silver -- I just laughed at him. I EARNED those grays, damn it! Each one corresponds to some crazy escapade DD pulled!

Punkinseed, congrats on the loss! Go go go! Journaling, huh? I've been thinking ... anyone interested in reviving the journaling thread? I've been trying to get my nerve up to actually write down what I eat (scary sometimes), and if someone else wants to do a thread, I will too.

Lois, glad you got to do your Owl Prowl. I have been thinking that someday in my future (when I have a real life, not four jobs) I would like to join a local Audobon Society. I've been taken with birds all my life, but just with birds sort of generally; it might be nice to know which birds are what.

All right, didn't I say this would be short? I am such a blabbermouth. Gotta go now. Take care, everyone.

I'm baaaaccckkkkk! And guess what? I lost 3 lbs while I was in Montreal! All that walking and being too busy to eat other than when my stomach was growling....now if I can just keep that going.

Ruthie, I'll start posting on the food journal if you're game. Anyone else want to join in?

Punkin, congrats on the loss!

Flower, consider it fate that the Rio waited too long and you're unavailable now. It wasn't meant to be.

Lamorgan, Eydie, Venus, Amyjo....hello!

I'm home for the day since I already booked the time off. I got back from Montreal earlier than I'd planned. Now I have to run out for a few necessities...like TEA...because I came home to a messy apartment and no groceries. Grrrr.

I'll be back later.

Wildfire; the only thing I hate more than being out of tea, is making the tea and discovering that the nasty children used the last drop of milk in their cereal!

It's synchronicity Flower that the job offer came in after you had taken another job. Very poor of the management.

Ruthie, are you supposed to work up to 10 miles a day?? Or a week? I can see 3 miles a day, in good weather.

Congrats Pumpkinseed for the loss!

I have grey coming in too... I do feel I've earned them, and really don't want to colour to cover up the grey. Sometimes I get mesmerized gazing in the mirror at these grey hairs. They are so different from the others and I have to fight the impulse to pull them out so I can look at them closer. Weird, huh?? Anyway, I'm opting for some blond streaks in my hair. I used to be blond when I was younger, but in the past 10 years I wear hats in the summer so my hair doesn't really go light anymore. It's a light brown now, and I think the blond streaks would 'wake me up' a bit.

I like my grey, but don't like the mousy brown.

Saw a fabulous straw hat at the Royal Botanical Gardens last weekend, I love straw hats.

Think I'm going to get my eyelashes dyed this week.

I'd join in the food journal, although I still eat the same old, same old for breakfast every morning...

Lois

Good morning all...

Icky morning... woke up dizzy, tingly, chilly and nauseous. Not that I hate to "go out into the world", but it seems if I could just stay cooped up working in my Mom's front room like I have for 2 years, I wouldn't end up with some bug. Darn public! Oh well, chicken soup with rice for dinner (and lunch...).

If you start a journal thread, I'd post! There's nothing better to open your eyes about what you've been putting in your mouth than seeing it in writing!

Flower - You've inspired me to rev up my red. I'm gonna do a rinse and spice it up a bit. It IS time!

Ruthie - Congrats on the extra research money!

Wildfire - WoooHoooo on that loss!! A growly tummy feels kinda good doesn't it? I mean, not for long, but just feeling your body telling you "HEY! Did someone cut your throat or are we gonna EAT????"

Lamorgan - dying eyelashes?? Can you do that? Safely? Coooool.... Being a fair redhead mine are pretty invisible unless there's mascara on 'em. As for grey, mine is popping up in my eyebrows. I used to pull them out, but realized that the others sympathized and 5 more would turn grey out of respect for their newly plucked brethren.

S'all for now. Gonna work so I can go home early.

Terri

and Ruthie, the line I always use when someone comments on my grey hair is, 'it's not grey, it's silver!' Maybe when the urge to color it gets strong, I'll just buy one of those really wild, no committment, rinse-out colors!

Instead of walking on the treadmill and watching TV while I walk I've been going to a state park that's on the way home from work. It's a different feeling altogether on many levels--I'm living it! Going to be beautiful in the spring!

I was in an odd food mood today. I even bought a 3 musketeers bar--haven't had one in years. Oh well, it's done, just one of those things. I get my most intense chocolate cravings at the end of my period, strangely.

Wildfire, congrats on the weight loss!

Lamorgan, are you planning your garden?

Hi Punkinseed and Flower! Where are you, Amy and Venus?

Great to see some action on the food journal! I'm low today, but I'm feeling satisfied food-wise. Funny how I swing like that....for a while I eat non-stop it seems, then I don't want to eat.

Punkin, yes, that growly feeling is good sometimes. Reminds me that I'm the one in control, not my stomach! Hope you feel better soon! Oh, and glad your table skirts turned out so well.

Eydie, some vague memory somewhere in the back of mind is telling me that 3 Musketeers (yum!) is one of the lower-point chocolate bars, so don't sweat it!

Lamorgan, it was living with my nasty child who repeatedly would take the last of the milk so I couldn't have my tea in the morning and would have to sit on my hands not to strangle her that taught me to drink it black when necessary. I prefer just a splash of 1% milk for color, but if it's not there I'll have it black.

Flower, how was work?

Ruthie, did you get those three miles in?

Venus, come out and play!

Amyjo, we know you're busy, but if you're reading we're thinking about you!

Well, I went to the mall on the way home and got some new sweats as well as a pedometer, which I don't think I set right. I walked a route tonight (brrr) that I measured in my car as 3 miles, but my pedometer said I walked 1.2. I think I set my stride length too short; I tried to measure it myself and I'm not very smart about stuff like that. When DD gets home from work I'll have her help me. Or maybe there's something about the difference between measuring in a car and on foot that I don't know? Anyone?

Congrats on the loss, Wildfire!

I was climbing a very steep hill on my walk tonight and I started thinking to myself, you can do it, no distractions, just focus, no distractions, no excuses, and I thought how apt that is for so many things in my life. So that's my new motto: no distractions, no excuses.

Good morning, chicks. You will see by my food journal that I have fallen prey as usual to the evening snacking syndrome. I have to work work work on avoiding that! I can feel that I've made some strides in getting my feeble brain focused on the right things, so I feel confident that if I keep hammering away I'll break that habit, and eventually break the habit altogether of eating for comfort, which is why I think I do that. Last time I went grocery shopping I bought one of those little bear containers filled with honey, and I thought it was so cute, but it turns out he's an evil bear, calling to me night after night, wrecking my program...

I feel just a little, well stiff, not so much sore, this morning after my first walk in ages last night. Lois, to answer your question about the training...the 10 miles is on my "long" day, which is Sunday, not every day. The schedule goes like this, starting from Monday: rest-easy-medium-easy-rest-medium-long. The rest days, obviously, are no-walking days; easy means easy pace, working on technique more than speed; medium is a day focusing on speed; and long is the greatest distance day, which is always Sunday, the day of the week the marathon will be on. I definitely need to get that pedometer issue straightened out so I know how far I'm walking. I forgot to ask DD last night.

Last night during that climb up the hill I realized that there is potential for synthesis of all the goals I'm working towards right now, if I just narrow them down to the most important few (only so many balls I can juggle at one time) and stay focused. I've dropped the idea of the Guy altogether; he is a distraction, not a goal. I really flip flop on which I'd prefer, anyways; a single life or one complicated by a man . I have known a number of people who are single for years and years and perfectly content; I might want to think about that. At any rate, I just need to get DD successfully out of the house, work on my spiritual/religious self (that's a whole other message board, LOL), train for this marathon (as opposed to trying to lose weight), and successfully get my BS and get my butt into grad school or a job in journalism if I don't get into grad school. That's it ... that's all I'm thinking about now.

I'm calling out sick today -- been planning that for a few days. I need to get caught up on school work, and I need to refresh myself. That job is like a toxin. Starting next week, I'm off three Fridays in a row, so that will be good. Then I'll give notice.

Punkinseed, I hope you feel better!

Yeah, where are Amy and Venus?