Megan - make gazpacho! I don't have a recipe offhand but I'm sure you can find good ones online.

Megan - Oh yeah, totally annoyed at the person I'm picturing on the bag... You just don't know... and all the more annoyed because there is nothing I can do to change it... I was just typing in a thread about karma - all I can do is hope that the negative energy that she spews on me and my family comes back and chokes her one day, that sheer physics alone will pull negative energy in from all around her to replace what she pours out and it will be terrible. Wow that sounds mean, doesn't it... I'm in an angry place today. My mom keeps telling me I'm going to see my reward in Heaven for taking the high road, but as a non-believer that doesn't really help me... so right now I'm clinging to punching bags and some idea of balance eventually giving her something back.

Sorry for the rant - it occurred to me today that I really don't have a support network for this kind of thing and I really needed to vent a little... Thanks for reading it.

ETA: On the upside of beating on a bag for an hour, kickboxing does make me feel really hot. Not sweaty hot, but 'wow, look at that girl punching that bag' hot. Don't know why - maybe because it makes me feel strong and I like that feeling.

I had a bit of a stressful day yesterday but everything turned out just fine. My Mom had ovarian cancer a few years back, and her mother had breast cancer. So she jumped through some insurance hoops and had genetic screening done. I went to see the genetic counselor with her yesterday and she tested negative for BRCA1&2 mutations. If she had tested positive, I would have been tested next, and if I tested positive too, I would have had to have my ovaries removed. So, a big sigh of relief all around!

Ward - whew, glad that everything worked out for you guys! I know that made for a stressful day!

Ward Good news! Must have been a nerve-wracking wait for the test results.

Shannon The "strong woman" hot is the best kind. That's one of the things I love about my DH - he things muscular women are really sexy !

Speaking of DH it's amazing how our bodies all seem to be following a pattern. He fell off plan last night, 4 days into the diet! How many times have I done that? About 1000!

He has lost 7 lbs. so far . I am maintaining at 134 so he will probably "win" for this week. We are not "officially" competing but there is a chart on the wall with our weight loss goals.

He has his first "social" dieting experience tonite - BBQ with his band mates and myself. I will coach him beforehand but he makes his own choices at the table. Too embarrasing if I lecture him "in front of the guys".

Have a great Friday all!

Dagmar

Ooh, I should try gazpacho, thanks for the idea, Jessica! The cold soup would be really good in this heat. Last night I picked more off the bush, lol. I will probably be making a batch of sauce this weekend to freeze. Last night I sliced up a huge German Queen and a few small romas and roasted them with cooking spray, a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and ate them with dinner. I still don't like tons of raw tomatoes but roasted they're pretty good (as a kid I would not go within a 100-mile radius of a raw tomato, but naturally loved ketchup and all cooked sauces - have gotten much better about that).

Allison, I'm laughing that your DH "installs windows, doesn't clean them." I'll bet your glass did sparkle! Actually thinking back to the beach house I think I did clean them more than once. Besides the salt spray the old, wooden house had a lot of bugs and spiders that made webs in all the window corners. I did clean/vacuum them a few times (goodness knows my roommates wouldn't have dreamt of cleaning them!). I could have used a cleaning crew like the ones at your house for sure!

Shannon, vent away, we all need to vent sometimes! I feel the same way sometimes. "Karma will get them in the end" is all I can say to myself about some people. I think muscular women are hot too! I've had it with these skinny-fat waifs the media pushes on us. Of course I don't think even at my best I look muscular, it's just not in my genetics, but I can strive for it.

Dagmar, is your DH getting back "on the wagon"? We've all been there certainly! I'm sure a lot of that 7 lbs is water weight, and you don't have that water weight to lose, so don't feel bad that he "wins" this week. Remember every day you maintain is a victory!

Ward, glad to hear the good news. I'm sure knowing your family doesn't carry those genes relieves a lot of stress.

I don't have any definite plans this weekend. Other than staying OP, staying active, and not drinking alcohol, of course. I know next weekend (4th of July) will be a big weekend for me - 3 day weekend, 2 big parties, lots of friends, food, and alcohol around. It will be fun but reminds me that if I let myself indulge it will be next weekend, not right now. Does anyone have any big plans for this weekend?

Good morning!

I'm going to the Transformers movie on IMAX tomorrow morning, couples baby shower tomorrow afternoon, belated Father's Day party for my dad on Sunday... busy weekend for me. But, possibly the opportunity to show off my new two piece bathing suit at the party Sunday, so woo hoo! My SIL is trying to eat healthy so if I avoid the white chocolate and caramel layer cakes that we are having I should be fine foodwise - we will have some healthier options available.

Megan - I wouldn't eat tomatoes or ketchup, but would eat spaghetti sauces, tomato soup and drink tomato juice as a child. Weird...

Dagmar - good luck at the BBQ place tonight! DH will do just fine!

Gazpacho sounds good... Another thing I would never have eaten before...

to everyone else! Have a great weekend!

Great news Ward!!!

I am looking forward to an easy Friday with a nice lunch with DH and the kids. Then DD and I are going to hit the mall. I'm looking for easy packing clothes (nothing that would require ironing and that won't take up too much space). Although I don't consider myself a dress person, I'm thinking of getting a sundress or two. DS is going to see Transformers this afternoon with friends (even though we're planning to see it as a family on Sunday). I'd really rather see the Proposal--my friend said it was hilarious. And then there's always My Life in Ruins--I want to see that before I decide whether or not to plan a trip to Greece next year. I want to go, but then again I don't. I know. I'm weird.

Sunday I'll be packing for our trip to Washington DC. We leave on Monday to return the following Monday, and although I'll have my laptop with me I'll probably be a bit scarce around here.

Speaking of laptops, I was at Costco yesterday and they had the CUTEST little netbook for only $349. I really, really wanted to buy it. It weighs less than 3 pounds and would be so much nicer to lug around than my heavy laptop. Does anyone use a netbook? If so, how do you like it?

My best friend and his boyfriend both have the little netbooks, my friend is on the road a lot and his SO is a pilot so they both needed something easier to carry. They absolutely love love love them.

I leave tomorrow morning for Houston with my 14 y/o dd. We will be there until next Thursday, staying first with my best friend and then with my in-laws. I will have many food challenges ahead of me and probably will have some trouble getting exercise in--- I'll try to run in the mornings before it gets too hot but a lot will depend on what our plans are for the day. I know I'll probably come back up but I just hope it isn't too much. I have another small trip a couple of weeks later so my hope is to get my weight back to 124 before I leave again.

Tons to do today from packing, to errands, to housework.

Oh! I had a shopping splurge last night. I bought some adorable white Hudson shorts at Marshalls. Even though they were greatly discounted, they were more than I could ever have imagined spending on shorts! I'm still hoping to find some clothes in Houston too..... wish me luck with my in-laws! They don't know about my tattoo and really wouldn't approve so I'm hopefully going to hide it. However, it restricts what I can wear and it will be HOT there. I may give in and tell them so I can be comfortable....we'll see....

Hi there,

I really shouldn't be here - reading or posting; I just have way too much work today, but I need to be here for me, so....

The Hunger Monster (Munchie Monster) has been attacking me too too and the extra couple of lbs are still hanging out on my scale. I need to be here to stay motivated! I need to hear things like "don't make them feel welcome"! That cracked me up!!! Thank you for that!!

I'm a little down today - okay, maybe a lot down the past couple of days. This weekend we'll be celebrating my DD's 23rd birthday, plus the twins
have a jazz dance recital, and we're also going to be getting the wedding invitations addressed and ready to mail, so we'll have a lot of family hanging around all day Saturday. I was running around doing pre-company organizing and out of the corner of my eye I saw a picture of Ryan and for just a milli-second my heart got excited that I'd get to see him this weekend, then... well, it's kind of been that way all week. Family gatherings are wonderful, but hard.

Mudpie, my DH does the same, either he's so strick he's miserable (and making me the same) or he just eats whatever and then is frustrated when he gains. Men. LOL!

My back is feeling better (thanks) but now I have to get motivated to start working out for real again. The break was good, and needed, but it's hard to get back into the routine.

Lilly, wow, a Xanax overdose is a lot more dangerous than melatonin. I'm so glad she is okay and getting help! I hope and pray that what she learns there will stick with her. HUGS!! Also glad your reunion went well. I've never gone to one, but might someday.

Cleaning windows is one task the maid service doesn't do. We're having a potluck for our church small group on Sunday, and I noticed the windows are so dirty! Not sure if I care enough to do anything about it though.

Wardhog, so glad the test came back negative!

Shannon, my entire team went on a "field trip" from work to see the transformers movie. Honestly, I thought the reviews were kinder than I would have been, but I hope you enjoy it.

Alison, I have a Dell XT tablet for work. Honestly, I don't really use the tablet functionality (turn the screen around and write), but I love the smaller size and weight. It's still big compared to the really tiny ones you're talking about. I've wanted to buy one of those for me for at home, and I'd like to buy one for each of the girls, but DH nearly had a heart attack when I suggested buying them for the girls - something about 7 yr olds not needing their own tablet computer to carry around the house. I said it would be so much more convenient, but... I'll let him think about it a while then bring it up again.

Okay, well, I've managed to spend a very long time on this, and have enjoyed it very much, but I better get going now.

ttyl

Lily, a Xanax overdose--oh, my! That's pretty scary. It sounds like she's doing okay in the hospital, though, so that should relieve your mind a bit. I'm so glad you enjoyed your reunion.

Megan, I'm envious of the tomatoes. I still have to buy them, but I do have little green ones on some of my plants. It's been so cold here that the hot weather crops just aren't doing well, but I have lots of chard, beets and lettuce.

Allison, a sundress would definitely be useful for D.C. in July. Hope you had a fun Friday.

Shannon, strong is good. I like to flex my biceps every once in a while just because I have them now.

Ward, that's wonderful news!

Dagmar, hope your DH makes it through okay on his first social eating occasion.

Michele, have fun on your vacation. Will be interesting to hear if you had to tell them about the tattoo or were able to hide it.

Shanna, I can empathize. Sounds like you have a busy, busy weekend.

So I got my blood drawn the other day because I've had a problem with a low neutrophil count for months now. A neutrophil is a kind of white blood cell, according to what I've read. The count has been stable the last couple of blood draws, but that just means it hasn't gotten lower. The doctor said I could either wait and check it again in a couple of months or get a referral to a blood doctor. I hate choices like that, especially because I don't know how this is affecting me. I mean, isn't the doctor supposed to recommend something rather than leaving it up to me to decide? Grumble, grumble.

Have a nice weekend, everyone!

The is the dress I was going to get: Alfani short dress. But I didn't like how it showed my knees. This dress is exactly the same as a shirt I have, only in different colors, and I like how the shirt fits, but I prefer a longer dress. So I opted for a long Alfani dress in the same colors but different fabric/pattern. And of course, there is no photo of the one I got. But it's the "new" thing--t-shirt material, ankle length and the colors are olive and purple. It looked and felt great on, so that's what counts. I also got a new t-shirt that's really cute and of course I can't find a photo of that, either. Oh, well. But then at Express, I got this top--so cute on! ruched front top in pink pattern.

Unfortunately, DD did not find anything, but she got so much last shopping trip I don't feel too bad.