Arabella, sending healing energy to you and your "friend". I've heard you mention Dickens before---is he named after a favorite author or for his actions?

Evenin' all.

Punkin-me too! What's with that...I was so tired this a.m.

Arabella-I hope Dickens is Ok....

Kaylets-tell all....how'd your first speaking assignment go?

Just on my way to the water faucet....have done 3rd gym visit and minded my cals and carbs....another successful day! Today I liked my optimism.

Here's to ya!

Ceara

Just a drive-by from the land of lurkdom:

Anagram, sorry to hear about your sister, and I hope she'll be okay. Let us know when the surgery is so we can send concentrated good vibes to her.

Arabella, how is Dickens? I have two very dear kitties and I dread the day that anything happens to them. Sherlock has been through so much with me....she arrived shortly after my mother's death, was there through the beginning and end of my first marriage and several moves, including halfway across the country! She's been the one constant in my life. And Salem...he's my very special boy....what a character and total love sponge! Our pets become such a part of our lives, and they depend on us so completely, but can't tell us how they feel or what they want...it's so hard to have them unwell and not be able to fix it for them. I hope Dickens came through the surgery okay.

Amarantha, glad you retrieved your garbage can from its hostage situation! Wow, nothing like a little excitement in the morning!

to everyone...it's late and I have a thousand things to do!

Hello all!

Anagram- This is more than a cup of tea, this could use a whole pot. I think I would be in shock to find out someone else so close also was having health problems. This is now even more reason why you need to keep yourself strong so you can do all you want to do for your DH and sister too.

Arabella- Yes, that 'ash content" in regular dry food has no forgiveness for some cats. Its so frustrating when we think we understood what the vet, (doctor) told us and then find out we really didnt understand at all.

Sending prayers and good energy in both your directions.

Punkinseed-- Curves commercials are suddenly showing our way! So funny to say to my husband, "Punkinseed goes there." And he just looked at me and said..." Is that the one who did well at the auction.."

Everyone is becoming familiar to my husband too!

Dollar- Was starting to wonder if you had succumbed to the flu too! Glad you've found some time to "visit".

Ceara- I plan on visiting both O's site as well as the other one you mentioned- Sometimes its just the tiniest little gem that can reinspire !

Eydie- Good for you 7 days in a row! Your enthusiaism just glows right from the page!

Guinever! There you are!! Glad to see you too! Rewards are a good thing! But you're much braver than I am!

Wildfire- I've been meaning to ask for ages... about your avatar- were you able to download it here from a website or did you have to save it to a file and then bring over to 3FC??? As for the job, I know what its like. Believe me. Sometimes, as awful as this sounds, you just have to separate yourself and "get along to get along" at work even though you know you'd never socialize w/ most of the coworkers. I don' t mean doing anything illegal or unproffessional -- Other times, all you can do is document, cover your behind and just ( unfortunately) not trust anybody.
Hope things turn around for you one way or the other.

Frogger- Yes, we are close by- I am here in Northern Delaware- not sure where in VA you are- think we could fit 5 or 6 Delaware's in VA--Today wouldve been a great walking day in Delaware, was it for warmer in VA today too??

Empress A- Will have to go to your journal to decipher the initials-
I don't have a clue- As for the "shooting" , I think there are some good points about not knowing much about it-- that means you weren't close to the bullets.


As for the speech, the dress I wanted to wear is a 2 pc and just couldnt find the skirt! Couldve gotten myself highstrung and sweaty about it and I said, "No, lets not do that this morning- this is not worth it " I did take extra time w/ the mascara and blush though. The speech itself had to be edited as I spoke as the first 4 minutes went by in a flash- I felt my closing was one of the better points so I took a gamble and went on and stayed under the 6 minute deadline by 5 seconds! But that's still under!
My evaluation was very complimentary and later in the meeting, I won the Spark Plug award( for adding the most spark to the meeting) and then, Most Improved ( which I believe is a monthly award). But I have to tell you by the end of the speech, my legs were like rubber and my knees were knocking together. -- I wish I had done a lot better but for the first one -- what am I expecting??? And yes, Arabella, that is exactly why I joined Toastmasters --

So what I like about myself today is that I did it-- set a date and didnt back out even though the speech couldve used some practice-

West Wing's on now-- Til the am!

Hello all!

When you've had 2 short weeks in a row, the first full week back does make Thursday just wonderful!
How quickly I get can used to no schedule! Similarily--- how quickly I've just about stopped water! And the scale is up almost 3lbs to show the results-- I won't change my signature stats yet and will try and get back on that water wagon--

Still playing catch up from chores "on hold" from earlier this week ...


Today's thought is:


All people smile in the same language.

Till later!

Good Morning, Valentines!
Thanks for the for my furry sweetie. When I called to find out how he was, the attendant seemed a little surprised that I was so concerned (he seems to be fine, BTW), so I suspect that the danger wasn't as severe as the vet implied. I think he may have been trying to impress upon me how serious the consequences can be. I really didn't need it - knowing that it would cause him pain would be enough for me, let alone having his tract blocked and requiring $urgery. He'll never have another bite of the wrong kibble again! I'm just so glad he's okay!

I think I'm going to start counting points again today. Today I love about me that I always try to do the right thing.


Anagram, I'm so sorry about your sister's problem. Sending good wishes and healing thoughts. I surely hope that it is nothing serious. Remember to take care of you.

Kaylets, congrats on your speech yesterday, Miss Sparky! Sounds like you knocked 'em dead! I also am very grateful for the transformative power of makeup sometimes.

Eydie, Dickens is an adoptee. He was my son's ex-girlfriend's cat originally, and I believe his name is supposed to be dual purpose, although he leans more towards the "little dickens" than the literary type. He's a huge, fluffy orange guy with matching eyes. We lost his best pal last year, another huge fluffy tabby. They loved each other so much! They used to spend hours every day tussling, or grooming each other, or just sleeping peacefully together. I've almost thought of getting Dickens a kitten...

Wildfire, I hear you about cats not being able to tell us what they need. Dickens apparently went from being absolutely fine to being in severe distress. I wonder if the vet actually told me that Dickens could never have even a little bit of ordinary cat food and I just didn't remember. I guess it really varies from one cat to another whether/how quickly they get ill from the regular stuff. I sure won't forget again!

Valentines All: Let's make this one count! Love!

Arabella, I'm SO glad he's okay! Our 3 cats have to stay on the low-ash food too. Whenever we've went the other way, the male cat is affected immediately---pretty scary. Funny how they tell you when something's wrong--they'd always pee in the bathtub! It's like they knew that you couldn't miss the blood-tinged pee in the white tub! Well, that and the horrible yowling!

On to Day 9!!!!!

But it's still dark!

I'm glad that Dickens is fine....amazing how we get so emotionally tied to our pets. Actually if we couldn't we'd probably be non functional humans. Hmmmmm.

Eydie, the puppy is not at the fat toothy stage...she is 4 1/2 mos now and is at the pre-adolescent stage....toothless . Her teeth are falling out. I've threatened to return her to her breeder but that's kinda hard since I'm one of 'em. She is lots of fun though and still does appear pudgy...only because she needs a haircut and her negligent owner (me) hasn't had time to do it!!

Am happy to report only that the scale is moving in the right direction. Guess it knows when to co operate, eh?

Well, I'm off to the gym shortly. What I like about myself today...I am slightly stiff which means I am working those muscles!!!!

Glad all are doing well on such diverse endeavours...Senamay let us know your scale results tomorrow, and Kaylets what is the new topic? And have you found your skirt? Now that has implications......

Day 4 beginning

Ceara

One more thing---I keep putting this part off; what does that say about me? Hmmm.....
One of the things that I love about myself is I sincerely try to see the truth in a situation even if it reveals one of my magnificent flaws!

Good Morning Ladies! I'm sorry I didn't check in at all yesterday! I was so busy!
I will tell you that even though we had a continental breakfast yesterday, I stayed on track. I had 1 bagel with light veggie cream cheese and 4 bottles of water yesterday. That's about 46 oz of water to my calculations.
I tripped over my scale last night (I have it in the kitchen) and it went flying and I went flying. Let's just say it no longer works properly! Maybe I subconsciously don't want to weigh anymore. It has been sitting in the same spot for about a year now. Don't know why or how I tripped over it.

Kaylets- I live in woodbridge, about 30 miles south of DC. It was a lot nicer here yesterday. When we went for our walk at lunchtime, we were peeling off hats, gloves, scarves and jackets by the end! Today is supposed to be 60 degrees outside! But we are in for it because a real bad coldfront is coming through starting this weekend.

Oh I almost forgot!

What I like about myself today:
I'm really digging my new eyebrows!
I've just started having them waxed for the first time in my life. I just did it again the other day and I'm really liking them. I have Brook Sheilds eyebrows dark and heavy and although I've had them cleaned up and arched a little, I won't go pencil thin. But I like I like!!

Happy Friday-eve everyone!

Still exhausted... I was up until after midnight last night with a migraine. It's been a loooong time since one has visited me. So I ended up tossing and turning, trying the ice pack, accupressure, sudafed (hey it was worth a try), and my 3rd dose of Excedrine to no avail. At midnight I finally took a Zomig, which finally did the trick... I'm turning in EARLY tonight!!!!

My deposit envelope showed up in the mail yesterday! Good ol' Bend post office... Filled out the form Tuesday afternoon and it was in my mail Wednesday. That's speedy... if only the rest of our mail was that fast!

Guinever - Where in Oregon are ya going?? If you pass through Terrebonne, look west and wave!

Arabella - I'm SO glad Dickens is ok!!! What a relief... I'm sure the vet just wanted to prepair you in case the worst thing happened - but he could've been a little more positive maybe? Give the fuzzy kid a hug!

Kaylets - LOL! Funny how your hubby remembers us! I've heard that the Curves commercials are really playing, but I haven't seen one yet.
And you shouldn't have told us about the spark plug award - like Arabella, my first thought was "Sparky!!!" You may have just gotten yourself a nickname there!

Frogger - RIP to your scale. My 3 girls (my cats, all sisters) have dumped my Tanita scale off a 3 foot high pedestal a half dozen times and the damned thing won't break - ahem, I mean, thank goodness it's so sturdy!
I loooove the look/feel of waxed brows too. I treat myself every couple months, keep it up myself for awhile, then let my hairdresser do it again. Blissfully perfect brows are heaven...

Did you all catch Oprah yesterday? She was talking about how to be successful in weight loss or making yourself healthy & happy is to find that inner love. You have to love yourself.... Funny, that idea sounds oddly familiar...

What I love about me today: My ability to separate my *self* from physical pain. It allows me to take care of myself better, stay rational and function.

I think that's all from me for now. Not going to work much since my head is post-migraine sore from last night, so I'll probably be here a lot today.

Terri

One of the things that's working really well for me is making a tentative menu the night before. Nothing written in stone, just a general plan. That way, there's no last minute, 'just eat something' panic.

Kaylets, so happy your speech went well. Another non-scale victory and one I envy you.

Punkin - sorry about that migraine. I am having my late afternoon sloggy head and it reminds me of when I too had migraines.

Empress, how smart of you to know when you need a nap. I sometimes fight it too long and essentially fruitlessly because then I tend to fall asleep when I don't want to. In fact, could use a few minutes right now.

Have lately gone to eyebrows being waxed as well. Sort of one of my little rewards for some weight loss. And was having my hair done a bit more often as well.

Had a very "down" evening last night but reminded myself that a binge would not help. But decided I did need a "no guilt" day and that day was today. Have not gone totally bananas (no offense to our delightful dancing bananas) but just needed not to figure it all out today.

It was a good day here today. As weather was so good, I suggested to dh it was time for his first non-medical outing. (That's right - no doctors, no dialysis, nothing that absolutely had to get done today.) He went further and suggested we go out for lunch (hard to do on his diet but we managed fairly well, I think).

On the way home, we stopped in a park where we walk a lot. We didn't walk but spent time just enjoying the weather with the windows rolled down. Then went and rented
Signs to watch tonight.

All of this was a real upper for both of us. He also gassed up the car and has been doing more small things. He started up his car today in the garage and I suspect he was tempted to take it out for a spin but by that time he was tired out from the rest of the outing. He slept upstairs all of last night and so today we (well, I) tore down the bed set up in the den for his recuperation.

We're getting there, folks! And still no candy or evening snacking. Although last evening's start time was 8 instead of the usual 7:30. Dialysis nights we tend to eat later. We have changed his time to an hour earlier which should help. Makes for an earlier lunch for him but that's no biggie. And the new time will also make it possible for me to meet someone for lunch should I be so inclined. Actually I don't think it will be very long 'til he's feeling strong enough to drive himself.

What I like about me today is that I still love learning. Like to know lots of odd little factoids, etc. Sorry to say I haven't liked learning my most recent things I've had to learn but it's still learning.

I weighed in at 219 yesterday and so I guess that's what I'll use for my start weight. It seems sort of bogus to me somehow. I guess because I'm feeling puffy etc despite water. I suspect it's my lack of waterexercise and walking. I'm moving a lot (including lots of up and down steps) but I feel better with the more structured exercise. Plus I haven't had a Slimfast for a while. Maybe tomorrow.

Thanks for support re sister. She's the one who did the shopping for dh, etc. and I realize now she did it with all this on her mind. She's had a blood test which did not show cancer but they will have a gyn-oncologist standing by during the surgery to take over if pathology shows otherwise. Surgery set for 2/5.

250/219/219/215/????
journey start weight/challenge start wt/cw/challenge goal/goal