Speaking of canadian bacon, I was just going to ask today - Why do they call it Canadian bacon? Is it some special thing they do in Canada?

OK you romantic people ... I need help. I'm not very romantic, but I want to make my surprise overnight trip really nice for dh, and he likes that romantc stuff. So here's what's going to happen. I think I'm going to have my mom drop me off at his workplace right before quitting time (4:00 pm), unbeknownst to him. I was thinking of bringing flowers or something with me, although where would we put them afterwards?? Then I'll tell him to get in his car (where I've already stashed our overnight stuff) and start driving. He knows we're doing something on Friday, because I had him take the day off work. But he DOESN'T know that it starts on Thursday afternoon, so this should be a big surprise for him. Anyway, it takes about 40 minutes to get to our destination. I made dinner reservations at the best restaurant down there, (for 6:30) - they're famous for their hearty German-style food. (I'm thinking a lean steak, salad, and sauerkraut for me) I'm just not sure on the timing thing. We can check in to the hotel as soon as we get there -(probably around 5:00), but then I don't have anything planned till 6:30, although I bet I can come up with SOMETHING to do during that time. I wish I could have the hotel room all decked out with flowers & candles and stuff beforehand, but I don't see how I could. It's too far away for me to go during the day - and besides, check-in isn't till 4:00 anyway. Any other ideas? I don't want to bring stuff with me and set it up there while he waits. After dinner though, we can go to the water park in the hotel, which should be really fun. So I really have everything planned schedule-wise, but what do I do to make it special?

I know you all are great at this romance thing...help!

Angela

Get over here Vickie - DISAPPOINTMENT IS NOT ALLOWED! (do I have to get out my rolling pin again??? - don't tempt me... )

You have done a SUPER JOB and it shows - congrats on the great loss - are u kidding?

Lisa - CONGRATULATIONS to you too - any loss is a GREAT LOSS - way to go!!!

Lisa , re exercise I agree that is is probably the intensity as your goal is probably fat-burning and if your heart rate is in the right range you will certainly get that benefit!

Thanks Vickie for the kind words - I guess I like to talk and get my point across - I hate wasting time and brain power so I tend to jump in and explain things and move on to the next issue - probably rubs "some" people the wrong way? Headache is gone now - not due to the sugar (had the pralines after major headache had already developed) and not due to caffeine withdrawal (I am a decaffeinated Froufie - I'm exciting enuf - I certainly don't need caffeine )

I agree the "pralines" were not a good choice (at least there were nuts in there? ) and this has only reminded me that I am one of those people who can't have "just one"......I need to show some restraint or else!

I was honestly thinking of taking tomorrow off - but have so much to finish up that I can't enjoy that luxury right now - Deborah- you're right I should be looking forward to my lovely valentine's day dinner on sat (also getting my nails done which is also fun)....and should I be looking forward to my saturday morning weigh-in too???

Froufie

Me again- CONGRATS TO FRANNIE on a great loss despite your bug! Good for you!

Do you mean the EATON CENTRE IN TORONTO??? I love that place - great shopping and so much fun - where r u staying? Anything else planned while you're there ??(the SHOWS!!!).

Angela - I think your dh will already think what you've done is pretty special - but I too would want to "decorate". Is there a possibility of ordering a balloon bouquet or something like that to the hotel and have them place it in the room prior to your arrival?? ..I'm sure they could arrange to have a bottle of bubbly chilling for you? (some hotels have "romance packages" - last yr dh whisked me off to an in-town hotel for our anniversary and in the room there was already arranged - a chilled bottle of champagne w/flute glasses, chocolate covered strawberries and a red rose!).

Otherwise just bring along a blindfold (he'll think you're awfully kinky) haul out your (prepacked) stuff and fix it the room while he ponders what exactly is going on!!!

I can't wait to hear what happens (okay not EVERYTHING that happens - but at least his reaction!).

Froufie

Tee hee Froufie, you're funny. Don't worry, I won't go into gory details. I like both those ideas. The blindfold would appeal to him - he always says I'm not spontaneous enough. We don't drink, so the champagne wouldn't work, but I wonder if I could have flowers delivered to the hotel... I'll have to see if there's a florist in town. If I do chocolates, there will only be a FEW. Maybe I could splurge and get a tiny box of really delicious ones. Although with my sugar "problem," maybe I shouldn't.

Thanks Froufie! Sorry to hear about your headache (the one in your head and the one at work!) Hope you feel better tomorrow.

Congrats Vickie, and anyone else, on a great weigh-in!! Hugs to you all, you are doing fantastic!

Angela

Vickie and Frannie Well done!

Good luck to tomorrows weighers. :

Off now to watch ER. Catch you in the morning.
I think I will do the PResidents challenge too.

Thanks.
Lisa

Frannie, congrats on your WI too! It's great that all the Thursday WIs were good ones. Take care of yourself tomorrow. Maybe with some more enforced rest you'll be able to shake off your cold/flu before it gets much worse. Stay warm!

Angela, I'm not much of a romantic so I was very impressed by the plans you've already made. It sounds like Froufie had some good ideas. Have a wonderful time with DH ... I'm sure it will be a Valentine's Day neither of you will forget!

Resident lush checking in ...

Okay, so the going-away thing for the coworker was at the local bar. Woohoo!! Just kidding. Anyway, DH drank water. (He's such a good boy.) I, on the other hand, feeling quite smug from my great day of eating, went straight for the pitcher of beer. One and two and well who knows? So then we came home and DH wants dinner so I made him this very awesome concoction of black beans, corn, green onions, and mozzarella cheese ... all in a flour tortilla ... made quesadillas and he was in heaven! And wanted more! I ate a teeny piece and I must admit it was quite good.

Now I'm checking the board to see what all I missed, and will go to bed soon because I have to work this weekend. I'm usually off every other Friday because we have a 9/80 schedule ... too tired to explain it now ... but anyway, I'm working tomorrow (should be an off-Friday) for overtime.

See you tomorrow!!!

Boy, Kathy, I can't think of anything much worse than giving up my weekend to work. At least the extra OT bucks are some consolation.

DD was feeling better this morning so off to school she goes and off to work I went. Can't say I'm thrilled to be here either but that's my new bad attitude about their deactivation plan. I'll have to work on overcoming that. Will probably look for other government jobs on-line and start brushing up on my paperwork. I can't tell you how many years it's been since I completed an application for a job. Selling myself has never been easy for me.

But, on the positive side, another good WI for me this morning. Another 5 lb. loss!!! I was amazed since I was positive the most I could hope for would be 2 or 3. I'm a little nervous about these uncharacteristic scale victories. I'm sure the honeymoon will be over next WI! Maybe exercising every day contributed to the big numbers? If so, it's a good motivation for me to keep everything kicked into high gear.

Congratulations Deborah! Great job on the 5 pounds. It will probably slow down later, but enjoy these while they come! Way to go on the exercising too.

Angela

Way to go Deborah! It sure does motivate you when the scale goes down. It's taken me 12 weeks to lose 5.6 lbs. , of course some of that was over Christmas and I gained 3 back. Anyway, last 3 weeks lost 1lb. each, so I think I'm on a roll.

Angela, have fun tonight!!

Froufy, hope you're feeling better today. It's Friday

Check in later.

Lisa


one for every 5lb. loss

Deborah, Woo Hoo! Congratulations! Five pounds is remarkable. And you thought you were eating too much. The exercise DEFINITELY makes a difference. So keep up the good work. I never lost 5 pounds in one week, let alone two!

Deborah, you sounds just like me when we learned that our office was being closed and moved to Dallas. My Hubby retired almost right away but I kept working for another 18 months. With him gone I could be the Director of the office and work on my high 3 for retirement. If he had stayed I wouldn't have gotten the Director job because he couldn't be in my Management chain. It was literally the longest 18 months of my career. I hadn't done a resume or an application in 16 years. I don't envy you but don't sell yourself short. You have a lot to offer an organization. Thanks for the encouragement about my weigh in loss. I couldn't be happier. You know the Frannie rolling pin makes you happier! BTW, I see from your bio that we are both baseball nuts.

Kathy, doesn't sound like you were too bad although I admit that I don't know how many points beer are. Remember me? I'm the one that thinks it tastes like raw pizza dough in alka seltzer! We used to have 5/4/9 at work. In a two week period, employees worked 8 nine hour days, 1 eight hour day, and were off on the 10 day. I couldn't do it because I was a manager. At least you're getting some extra $$$$$. The hard part is going to be getting up after those brews!

Angela, thanks for the ecouragement! Most hotels will arrange for flower, candy, wine. I think it will be very romantic if you arrange for something before you get there. Have fun!

Frannie, Congratulations! 1.8 down is marvelous especially considering that you were sick much of othe week. I'm glad you're not going in to work today. It will give you time to recover over the weekend.

I've gotta get off because I'm going with Jim and our friend that we used to work with to a Brazilian Steakhouse. It's called Sal Carvao's and it's one of those places that you pick your sides and they come around and serve you all the meat you can eat and more. I've researched it thoroughly and they say they only cook the meat with salt and charcoal and they do have filet mignon and a salad bar so I should be okey dokey. This girfriend really likes to eat so much of the socialization is around food with her. I've finally convinced everyone that I will not go to places where I can't get Core food. At first they gave me a hard time but I held my ground. They acted like I was refusing to go out with them. I assured them that all I was refusing to do was to continue to be their fat friend! Those that are my good friends will stay around.

To all of us, slow and easy! As my hubby Jim says, this is a marathon not a sprint!

See youse (that's the Chicago south sider y'all) later!

Congratulations Vickie, Lisa, Frannie and Deborah on your weigh-ins!!! Great job. Way to go.

.

Wow Deborah - way to go - you've done an awesome job this week and should be very proud of yourself! Keep up the good work!

I know how nervous you might be - but it is time to haul out that resume and brush it up - definitely SELL yourself - your resume is your marketing tool and I know it's hard but time to play up all your experience and accomplishments - I'm sure you'll find something absolutely suitable!

Vickie - your lunch sounds great (I think I might be somewhat hungry?) and it looks like a "core-friendly" place - enjoy!

Kathy - Hope you are fine and well this morning and not too "affected" by last night's indulgences - I too am not a beer lover so not sure how much, if any, damage was done!

Thanks for everyone's concern - I am feeling better today altho still a bit puffy eyed? (doesn't makeup do wonders? ). It's a sunny/bright (but cold) day and actually seeing blue sky and sunshine helps!

I know I still need more sleep tho (tried to go to bed a bit earlier last night) and allowed myself to "sleep in" til 7:30 am! Today is WATER GUZZLING DAY - time to purge the system of salt/sugar/fat and anything else that might impede tomorrow's weighin - keeping fingers crossed that I don't stay the same for another week!

Hoping for a relaxing stress-free weekend (is there such a thing? )

Frouf

Thanks everybody! I'm definitely enjoying these good WI's while they last. I really expect a dramatic slow down in losses next week.

Yum, Vickie ... that restaurant sounds scrumptious. Good for you on sticking to your guns with your friends. I know the friends you care about can surely understand your point of view. After all, why should you have to eat unhealthy just to socialize with them? Thanks for the encouragement on the job application process. Such hard decisions to make!

Angela, I know you're getting excited about your special weekend. I hope you and DH have a wonderful time!

I hope everyone has a great Friday!

Froufie, I think we were posting at the same time ... thank you also for your words of encouragement in dragging out the ole resume. Ugh! I hate to do it but I might as well start now while there's not a sense of desperate urgency.

Chug-a-lug that water! You're going to have a terrific WI tomorrow! I can feel it in my bones. And if I can feel it in these bones ... under all these many inches of "fluff" ... it's got to be true!