Hi all! I've been busy as a middle school guidance counselor doing all the end of year paperwork, scheduling, and filing--come home very weary and achy.

Ledom--Hope your costuming is progressing smoothly--would definitely be a challenge for me. Your Kayak trip--tell me more! I give you credit--I'd have been afraid to go off with 5 complete strangers!!!!!

Judi--I know exactly how it is pre-diet--everything looks like the Last Supper. I think we all go through that prior to THE-Day. . . eating our favs like we'll never see them again--least for a while.

Cheryl--How's your little tabby doing? I was reading an article just this past week that was lamenting how mannnny felines there were in the shelters needing adoption. Good for you!

Alice, Judi, Ledom, Cheryl--all have a great week remaining. I'm having to cook tonight for a chocolate dessert contest I entered in a moment of insanity. I've been successful in contests before but I have to drive an hour to enter this one (Preferred Peanut Buttery Brownies) tomorrow night and it really doesn't fit my schedule. I'll let you know how I fare.
--Cher

I'm going to pick up the cat this afternoon!! Whoo-hoo!! I'm so excited! I just hope that she and Baby like each other!

I lost 4 1/2 lbs. at my weigh-in last night! I figure that first week's loss is mostly water weight, but I'm still happy with it! My goal for next week is to lose the other 1/2 lb.

Ummmmm.....I want some Preferred Peanut-Buttery Brownies....I wonder what you'd have to do to be able to judge one of those contests......

Cheryl

cheryl - congrats on your 4 1/2 lbs. I'm jealous. Hope you are doing the happy dance cause that is fantastic.

Cher - ah, a guidance counselor. Good for you, well hope your final days go quickly and you enjoy your summer break when it starts. Yummmmm...those brownies sound good. Good luck w/ your contest.

Alice, I am glad you are finally getting to set out your plants. That always makes me feel great in the springtime. I am in the process of starting two new beds. I am VERY slow at this, but I do enjoy it.

judi, ah yes, the splurge before the diet begins. I know that feeling so well.

We'll be leaving for about a week next Wed., a week from today. I am so not looking forward to it. It will be ok once I get going but I'll miss my kitties and I'll never be able to keep my diet and exercise routine. On that front my decision is just to let it go and not worry about what I should be doing. I do plan, however, not to eat like a maniac. I'll try to keep as close to my diet as possible and get some walks in. When I get back it will be time to start cycle 3 and that is something I have been working toward.

The costuming has not really kicked in just yet. The costumes will be borrowed and next week we'll be going to try them on. I am sure that as the play gets closer, this will intensify. D is loving her theatre experience though backstage dynamics has her fighting off the men this summer. All older and inappropriate. I find this very stressful (as does she) and, to be honest, is the reason I let myself get involved in the first place-just so these pervs know that she has a big bad mama. Just when you try to let go, you realize they still need your help, a LOT! Anyway, she is focusing on her acting and I think maybe has fended off the brunt of the come-ons. Sigh!

Cheryl, that is wonderful about the cat!! Makes me want to go and get one too because the DH has taken our cat with him and I miss him SOOO MUCH (the cat!) But I don't think I should subject Marley to yet another cat presence since he is always contending for lap supremacy...he is loving it now that there is only him and me at home. Did you think of a name?

Alice, that is a hoot aout Lacee being such a good girl in Petco, it was because it was new and strange...take her there a few more times and she will take the place over

The MT hasn't arrived yet and I am ANXIOUSLY waiting, I can't wait to begin.

Cher I had a huge laugh at the "last supper" that is exactly what it is like!! Why am I making the job that much bigger for myself!

Do you all remember how I quit wine for Lent? Well, since Easter I have had maybe a bottle all told and then decided to drink ciders and beer which I don't like as much so rarely drink them. Well, listen to this the arthiritis in my hands has really subsided. Could it be because I quit the wine? I put a ring on my right hand that I haven't been able to fit there since the 80's. Do you think the wine was making the arth. worse???? My hands don't hurt at all now. What do you all think????

You will have so much fun on your trip Ledom. Best wishes to your D. Who is looking after the cats?

judi

Ohhhhh, y'all!!

Baby does not like the new addition to her family AT ALL I named the new cat Birdie ('cause she likes to sit on my shoulder). When I brought her home, I put her in my smaller bedroom, with her own litter box, food and water dish. I opened the door last night while I was playing with her. Baby would come to the door, look in and hiss and/or growl at Birdie. Of course, the whole time I was playing with Birdie, I was saying her name over and over again so she'd learn it.

This morning when I got up to get ready for work I couldn't find Birdie. I know she's still in the bedroom somewhere, she probably just found a dark corner in the closet (which I didn't have time to clean out to look for her this morning). Anyway, I was looking for her and calling "Birdie, Birdie-girl," and I noticed Baby hissing. Okay--my cat is SO SMART!! Baby already knows who "Birdie" is. Everytime I would say "Birdie" Baby would hiss and look toward the bed (because Birdie stayed under it last night). When I said "Birdie Birdie Birdie Birdie," Baby said "hiss---grrrrrrrrrrrl."

I hope that Baby's jealousy doesn't make me have to get rid of Birdie. She's such a good cat, too. As long as I shut Birdie's bedroom door and stayed outside with Baby, she was fine. She ate and purred when we went to bed and everything. She stuck CLOSE to me, though, which is a little unusual for her.

It'll be interesting to see how this cat thing plays itself out.....

Sorry for the boring "all-about-the-kids" post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheryl

Cheryl, sounds like our house. Tweeg has never accepted the other cats, though after about 4 years she has stopped hissing so much at Bea. Brody just ignores and still sticks his face up to hers. He actually might be the one to wear her down. Give them time, how long have you had Baby? I think the older they are the less accepting of new cats they are. I personally love cat dynamic stories so you aren't boring me. Just make sure you give Baby lots of attention too. Love the name Birdie.

I wanted to tell you guys about my new discovery. Pressed coffee. I bought a new french press coffee pot and I can not believe how good the coffee tastes. I have been buying chocolate swiss almond flavor coffee and it tastes like heaven.

Ledom, I have had Baby 2 years (in July). She was only about 4 weeks old when I brought her home, so she really is my Baby. Totally spoiled and, apparently, totally jealous! There's no way I could NOT give her lots of attention!

When I got Birdie from the Humane Society, the lady who worked there told me that they thought she was 9-months - 1-year-old. She's not phased by Baby at all (so far).

I've got to go home on my lunch break to see if she's come out of hiding yet.

It's raining again today...mostly showers...what else is new?? They say tomorrow is supposed to be a fantastic day, so hopefully DH & I can get outside and start planting our flowers and tomato plants. We're putting them in right in front of the house, where we took some bushes out last year. We went to Walmart this morning to get some fencing material so that her nibs can't get in that area

Cheryl, congratulations on your 4 1/2 lb. loss. Keep up the good work. Baby will get used to Birdie. It takes awhile, but it will happen. We had 2 cats when we got our last dog (the dog before Lacee), and the cats would hiss and growl at her. The puppy was such a tiny little thing they used to corner her, torment her, and frighten her to death. Then Mommy would come to the rescue. They eventually got along.

judi, I don't know what to think about the wine. Is there some way you can do a little research on the subject? HMMMM, that sounds very interesting.

ledom, you will have such a good time on your trip. It'll be more enjoyable for you not to be too concerned with your eating and exercising.

Cher, that's great you are a guidance counselor. I'm sure you must hand out a lot of good advice. How much longer do you have until your summer break? How did the dessert turn out? It sounds YUMMY!!!

Take care and enjoy the rest of the day.

Ledom--just wanted to check in with you and see how BRx is going. I haven't heard you say anything about it in awhile. Aren't you supposed to be getting close to Cycle 3?

Update, please.

Cheryl

Thanks for asking. Ahhhhh.....it is hard to know what to say. The thing I really need to do, lose weight, is not happening. Not yet anyway - fat burning or C3 starts on June 22 and I am really anxious to get to that point. I think I need to keep off the scale because not only am I not losing, some days I am up as much as 6 lbs. - it makes me wonder if I am doing it right, though I think I am.

I don't mean to sound negative, it's just that it seems to take the patience of Job. I will give you the positives. I am getting incredibly strong. My weights have increased more than I thought possible and my back and arms are really showing some nice definition. My arms when I flex, my back w/out flexing. OK, the other positive - there is no way one can experience hunger on this diet, quite the opposite in fact, sometimes I can barely get everything in and I don't eat near the carbs that are allowed. C3 will tell the tale for me. I look forward to being able to say whether it works or not - the investment of time before you get to that point is a lot. I will say that even if I don't lose, I can't discount how strong I have become and I don't think that can be a bad thing.

I post on the BRx page over at L&S quite a bit. Some of the ladies are having much better loss results than I in the early cycles. I don't know what to make of it other than perhaps they haven't been dieting for the last 1/2 year already and therefore they are having an easier time losing, at least that is what I tell myself. I did 2 cycles of BFL, lost 16 lbs. on the first challenge and none on the second.

So there you go, that's the latest.

Hi there! TGIF!!!! Soooo tired today with filing and paperwork before I'm off next Wednesday (for 5 weeks). We're still deciding what kind of vacation to take. . . at this rate we'll decide when I'm back to work!

Cheryl--Congrads on your weight loss! That's a great amount for a week! How do you get the info listed beneath your post about your weight data??? I need to do that--will keep me motivated I think.

I enjoy hearing about everyone's "kids"-expect some of my co-workers think/talk behind a friend's and my back about are seeming obsessive talk about our "kids" (she raises malamutes), but they bring so much joy--sometimes aggravation, ha!

Ledom--What a super mom you must be! Hang in their for your D! Parents can't be too proactive. I've never had pressed coffee--but I'm not one who likes it dark, DH does though. LA limits me to one cup. . . so that's my a.m. treat (stretched to 1 1/2). I have noticed that my GERD has improved with less coffee drinking. I was drinking 5-6 cups a day minimum--getting headaches by mid-morning without my fix.

Judi--I have no idea whether wine affects arthritis--will have to fill us in. I have a check-up the 12th and want to discuss my achy a.m. feet and my painful shoulder--suspect I've got some arthritis setting in. Seems like starting in to the 50s is taking its toll, but causes me to want to fight back, get thin again, gain strength to kayak, etc. Planning to go kayaking Sunday, weather permitting.


After being chosen to actually make my chocolate dessert (brownies), I didn't win--but had a pleasant evening at the vendor expo and went out to eat after. A rich looking chocolate cake, and small, individual chocolate/raspberry tortes took the prizes. I took brownies to work today and gave my daughter some--getting that temptation far away. One of the judges was Mr. Hoffman of Hoffman Chocolates, but I don't think the other two lady judges were as famous, note-worthy.

I apologize for being so long winded--guess I need to post more often and less. Have a great weekend!
Cher

Yesterday morning DH & I were out in the yard enlarging our garden. Tomorrow we plan on moving the lilies we have planted elsewhere in our yard to the "new and improved" garden. Physical labor like that makes one feel their age! After we finish with the lilies, we'll tackle the tomato plants we have to put along the front of the house. Yep, shoveling more dirt.

ledom, is cycle 3 the last cycle on BRx? If so, what will you do afterwards? You really have come a long way.

judi, did your MT come this week? I am really anxious to see how you like the plan.

Cheryl, is there any progress with Baby accepting Birdie yet?

Cher, glad you had a good time with the recipe contest. Enjoy your 5 week vacation.

Take care and have a great weekend.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Cher, did you get out in that kayak? I had the most wonderful paddle yesterday morning up my favorite creek. This area has the most concentrated varieties of wildflowers and they grow in big patches. Yesterday I found a new one, Lizard Tail - it was amazing. My school teacher friend went along w/ me celebrating her first weekend out of school.

I'm leaving in the morning for vacation. Somehow I had in my mind that we didn't leave until Wed. I was so disappointed to discover that I don't have an extra day to get ready. Must clean out fridge and pack today and probably a bunch of other things I haven't thought of yet.

I'll look forward to checking up on you all in a week or so though I will probably stop back into tonight for a last goodbye.

Have a wonderful time on your vacation, ledom. Looking forward to hearing all about it. Glad that you had a good paddle over the weekend. Our weekend was and still is a wet one. What else is new?? Take care and have a safe trip.

Hey ladies!!

Cheryl--go to the USER-CP at the top of the page and click on it. Once you get to your profile, you'll be allowed to add a signature line. I used to show mine, but I went through a "no-diet" phase and gained a ton. Maybe after I've lost a few more lbs. I'll update it and start showing it again.

Ledom--Enjoy your vacation!! My mom and I are going to Branson this weekend. Of course, it's supposed to rain--seems like it always does when we go there....

Alice--the girls seem to be getting along better. They were chasing each other through the house Friday night. Not sure it that's good or bad--I think they were playing......Baby will actually let Birdie get up to her nose to sniff at her before she hisses now. I take that as progress.

Judi-patootie--Where ya at, chick?

Cheryl