Well today was my yearly docs appointment. THANK G it is over!! I had him also do a diabetes screening and I mentioned that my mom took DES while carrying me so he did a screening for that as well..
Easter went well I didnt buy junk at all instead the kids wanted a Ninetendo64 so thats what they got..I went to my moms for Easter dinner and had alot of salad but had to have a sandwhich and I also guzzled 5 16 ounces glasses of water..
I picked up my "baby" .. My 1987 Plymouth Horizon.. I missed my car.. Outta habit when I got home sunday night I stepped on the scale I thought I was gonna get sick .. I THOUGHT i gained all I lost just by eating.. Luckily this morning I reweighed myself and I am still 259.5 although my docs scale said 259.0 / Whooo cares I didnt gain thats all I worry about..
I had a lot of thinking to do this weekend as well.. Almost thought myself of staying offline forever.. But I didnt.. (as you can tell) I would miss my online "family" too much..
Wildfire I will have to suggest that Petsmart water system to my mom . She has 4 cats it would be good for them.. Yes that first big drop feels REAL GOOD now my focus is to keep that and gett more off..
Speaking about those cats the one that adopted me all that time when I lived with her pretty much gave me the cold shoulder all Sunday.. I felt so guilty for leaving him there ( even though the cat was NEVER my cat) I think I will have to visit him more often..
Punkin I like Haley too. But I am glad your gonna spend some time with her to see if she is a "Haley" .. I think you might have a "Comet" on your hands though.. You will know I am sure of it..Way to go on the 2 poiund loss!!!!
Flower I hope you get over that "bug" soon.. Here I been dealing with DH and DS and DD all have the flu I am trying to be helping and kind and still remain sane and healthy..I cant afford to get sick plus everyone is too sick to cater to me ( which NEVER happens)
Well my moms Croakasis (sp?) are bloomed and it was nice out for a few days in a row.. I am hoping it to continue until at least tomorrow.. I have a big limb to saw up in the back yard plus a whole lotta stuff to clear up (leaves and debris and over all JUNK) I have remenants of what I think is a shed to gt rid of....Fun fun fun.. But I want to get it done and over with so I can fix it up to enjoy..I want a BBQ grill and outdoor furniture.. ( I used to grill year round .. Even in snow)
Well it is late and I gotta end here talk to yall manyana
Take Care
Sheila

Hey there, everyone! I do still pop in from time to time ... Doing some new job interviews, helping friends with their Leukemia & Lymphoma Society fundraising, daily weight training at the gym, marathon training every day as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/nati...es-Weight.html

WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAMS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE, SAYS IRS

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The cost of weight-loss programs that are part of the treatment for obesity are tax deductible, the Internal Revenue Service ruled Tuesday.

``Obesity is medically accepted to be a disease in its own right,'' the IRS said.

Taxpayers who participate in these programs for medically valid reasons will now be able to deduct amounts above 7.5 percent of their adjusted gross income, similar to any other medical expense not covered by insurance or other reimbursement. A taxpayer's spouse and dependents would also be covered.

Still not deductible, however, are the costs of weight control programs intended ``to improve the taxpayer's appearance, general health and sense of well-being.''

Diet foods also are not be deductible, even though they are often an integral part of a weight control program under a physician's supervision. The IRS reasons that people have to pay for food whether or not they are trying to lose weight.

Fees, diet menus and literature and other costs would be deductible.

The IRS has previously permitted deductions for weight-loss programs recommended by a physician for treatment of a disease such as high blood pressure. But the agency has never specifically cited obesity itself as a disease.

The American Obesity Association estimates that 39 million Americans are obese, causing 300,000 unnecessary deaths in the United States each year.

The ruling applies not only to 2001 income tax returns -- which are due April 15 in most of the country -- but as far back as 1998. Taxpayers who want to take the deduction need only file an amended return for the tax year in question.

The IRS also recently included smoking cessation programs as deductible medical expenses, as are treatment and other costs for alcoholism.

^------

On the Net:

IRS:http://www.irs.gov

Hello, hello! What a nasty day outside. Snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain. All of the above, ever changing.

Eating on track today.

Feel empty of words though.

Have a great day,

:sheep:

L

Ok I had a long winded post earlier and before I could submit my PC was unplugged.Grrrrr
.LaMorganSorry for the bad weather.. The Northeast section of the US is in need of rain since we didnt get much in the way of snow this year..It was GREAT outside earlier now its beginning to cold up and cool off.. But it is needed..I hate having a drought in the summer so I dont mind..
VenusThank you so much for the info you provided.. I will have to read more on it later
Punkin So whats the verdict?? Do you have a Haley or a Comet??
Ruthie??? WHERE are you just drop a line to let us know how you are doing OK??
Wildfire Hope all is well with you too. I sent my mom the site she hasnt gotten back to me yet..
I went to the store today and bought some good stuff BUT I also bought some bad stuff.. Some how a bag of Easter Peanut Butter eggs and York easter peppermint patties and some easter Reeses minis got in my cart..And I also bought the kids some Easter Cookie dough , you know the kind you cut and bake.. It was on sale 3 tubes for $1
But I did buy 2 bags of golden delishous apples and salad fixings and a nice grilling steak and some fresh mushrooms and yogurt and bagels as well.
Dh and DD and DS are all home with stomach bug.. I am trying to stay healthy and sane while I tend to them.
Well all I got to go all this tending to everyone is really tiring me out..
Take Care and I will write soon
Sheila

Yea, I'm here too... just being quiet.

I'm so freakin' tired I could scream (or cry, or both) - one of the neighbor's dogs woke me up at 1:15am and at 2:15 I called animal control (a nice lady, around my age, who gave me her personal cell number and told me to call *any time* day or night to let me know what the 2 neighbor's, 13 total, dogs are up to). She's warned the one dip $h!t that if she gets more phone calls about his dogs he's going to be fined $250 per call/complaint. Finally at 3:30am, the dogs shut up - I fell asleep at 4:15 and the alarm goes off at 5:05.... (and the one neighbor wonders why someone shot one of his dogs?????)

After work I have to go to town (45 min. away) to pick up my candle party stuff. WHY they made such a huge deal about my mailing address then turned around and shipped it to the host is beyond me... I'm also going to see the kitten and take a picture. Then I'm going home, taking a Benadryl (they knock me out) and going to bed. If I hear 13 dogs barking again at 1am I'm going the the idots house myself...

Oooohh....It's gonna be a looooooong day.

Terri

Hey guys. Sorry for the absence. I guess I had a mini-meltdown. Sometimes I just can't juggle all the balls and I have to drop something, and this time around it was this board -- and walking, unfortunately. I have been so much more focused on fundraising for the marathon I haven't been walking, ironically! I am putting together a benefit concert at a local tavern, and although I have two musician friends helping me, it's still 90% my project, and taking up a lot of time along with the other crap I've been doing. Well, not all crap ... I did find an apartment in Boston . It's a tiny studio with 2 rooms, one very small that could probably only be used as a study, and one that will be the living room/bedroom. Then it has a tiny tiny kitchen and a tiny tiny bathroom, and one disproportionately big closet. I drove up to Boston to see it on Sunday, put in an application on Monday, and got approved yesterday. They're sending my lease in the mail. I'm also beginning to transition myself from admin assistant to journalist, getting involved little by little with the professional organizations and so forth. I have four weeks left on my full-time job, and I am beginning finally, thank God, to see the fruit of all my hard work both in school and in all the hours of part-time work I put in to save money toward the future.

Things I'm not doing so well: school is lagging behind. I have senior slump, and I just keep reminding myself I only have to pass to graduate -- in fact, I only have to pass to graduate with honors. Also, good eating and exercise are right out the window. Hopefully if I return to posting I will be more aware? I'm not sure.

So that's what's going on with me. Sounds like people are generally doing well -- congrats to those who lost! Hopefully I'll be chiming in more often. Thanks for asking about me. Take care everyone.

Good morning all...

I finally got some sleep last night... however, I still feel icky. If I'm catching my Mom's cold I'm going to be SO mad! I have friends coming from California next Friday!!

Sheila - I'm not sure still. I got to visit my little one yesterday and hold her for the first time. She's a little butterball and so much more cute than she was at 1 week. I'll keep looking for names, and probably won't settle until she's home with me May 1st.

Gonna go read my newspaper now... I this this week at work is just gonna be a wash.

Terri

Punkin if you think you are showing signs of a cold try Vitamin C and Zinc (if you cant find zinc try echinathia (sp?) with goldenseal. Ask a pharmasist they can tell you exactly what I mean.. ) I know it takes time to learn the personality of kitties..
OK I am in another thread and they are trying to guess hair eye colr length of hair and height.. So far they have guessed I am a blondie.. ( for those who know me by pic please dont say anything YET) never know they may try to find other ways of inside info LOL ..I really stink at guessing so I think I am off on all..Afterall is said and done I will post my pic so they can see if they are right..I usually dont like my pic posted since I hate being photographed but I will there
Anyway today is gonna be a LONGGGGG day .. everyone still sick ( so far I am not *knock on wood*) I am exhausted due to little sleep so I havent done my tape yet this week I feel a gain in the works if I cant get the energy up by friday..
I am gonna sneak a nap to try to get this nappy feeling lessen and I will check back later tonight
Take Care
Sheila

My stepfather just came home with some Laci Le Beau dieter's tea. He's planning on taking it to loose weight.... Have I mentioned he's got colitis???? I think he's trying to kill himself....

I even printed out the article that contained the lawsuit involving one of the *4* women who died drinking that tea... I'm sure he'll decided I'm on crack and drink it and be sick as a dog...

So be it.

Just thought I'd share my frustration d'jour

Terri

Punkin - I used that when I was actively bulimic... it is a grand cathartic..... I use it now on occasion when I am having retrograde constipation.. which is a left over affect of laxative abuse your bowels "get lazy" as my Dr. says but they end up loosing muscle tone due to the abuse. I can't imagine using now for losing weight, I would never be able to leave home because making to the bathroom isn't too easy when that stuff acts!

Amy

Good morning to you all. Sounds like we're all dealing with that slump that happens around a season change...

I got called in to work tomorrow, and had to juggle ideas to find a place for Evan to stay for the day. He goes to school every 2 days, and Friday was his home day. I think he'll have fun with his school-mate Sarah. Ironically, Sarah is the youngest sibling of a nasty grade nine boy who has been teasing Mat, but I'm not going to say anything to his mother yet hoping the school can straighten it out.

Morris had a trip to the vet yesterday and is on Amoxcil, already he can put a little weight on his sore leg but isn't happy about being an inside cat. He think the medicine tastes great which is really silly. It was a $100.00 visit to the vet, and he has to go back on Monday night for a check-up.

Today I'm going to hang out here, do some baking and make some low-point chili. Eating has been better but still not completely on track.

I'm tired too and may sneak a nap today...



Lois

Yesterday my best girlfriend decides she and her boyfriend of 3.5 years are gonna get married on Saturday. Mind you, a simple dress, say a left over from Easter perhaps would not do. She had to go get a real wedding gown! So we spent my day off at the mall. We first hit Davids bridal. Mind you I look like CRAP! I had just gotton back from Costco. I hadn't showered. It is 80 at 10 am. I have racoon eyes from left over mascara. And we go into a place that has mirrors and florescent lighting everywhere. If you ever want a wakeup call, that is the place to go. I could not have looked worse if I had too. I was in a pair of black sweat shorts and a ratty "whatever" t w/ holes in it. She is trying on size 4 gowns. Strapless and spagethhi. She ended up w/ a 6 size in a white satin tank style. Her back is wider than her waist, so the zipper was not gonna budge on a 4. Very simple but she looks like a princess. I realized that I would be trying on size 24's in gowns and I wasn't the one getting married. But I was a trooper and did my best for my friend. We then went to the mall and looked at rings. I think she will be getting a 1/2 car set in platnium. (Her boyfriend made 60 k last year) Then we had to find thigh high stockings, and rhinestone jewelry, a wedding gift for hubby, purse, shoes, a dress for her daughter and shoes. She still has to pay for the rings, book a chapel (we have hundreds in Vegas), rent a tux and tell me what color to make her bouquet. She origionally wanted all red roses but her daughter got a yellow dress. Lets add the expenses up, 500(dress and alteration charge for bustling it, slip, corset), ring 2000, costume jewelry 30, thigh highs 13, wedding gift 30, purse 14, manicure/pedicure 40, hairdersser 75, tux rental 50, daughter dress and shoes 40, chapel ? between 300-1000 depending on extras.... I can not believe how expensive this is for a 15 minute ta do. Then taking everyone out to drink, dance and eat afterwards. Anyways, I am feeling o so frumpy today. I worked out before bed, my upper arms are sore today. I am going out w/ a work friend to her husbands Irish bar for fish and chips tonight.

Sping/or summer is definately here. We really only have 2 seasons in Vegas. The bugs are coming in to see me. I am not squeemish about creepy crawelers, but there is something unsettleing about a very large black widow sitting in my bathtub as I am about to start a bath! Yes, it got squished. I will live with the consequences! ~flower

Hello everyone!

I finally feel like my sleep reserves are full again. I went home yesterday, slept for an hour, made dinner and went to bed at 8:30pm.
I'm going to finish putting up my craft room shelves today (now that I have a stud finder). I'm getting SO excited about my friends from CA coming to visit next weekend!!!!

Lamorgan - I hope Morris is feeling better soon. I have 2 different low point chili recipes... one is Wendy's chili from 'top secret recipes.com' and the other is an old WW taco soup that is soooo good. Let me know if you want that one.... Good winter food actually.

Flower - Wow, talk about a split second wedding! I always thought part of the fun (ok, most of the fun) of weddings was the planning! I hope it's a beautiful wedding...
As for the black widow - I always tell them "sorry, but it's you or me". I squish 'em too - I feel bad, but if I'm in danger or my pets are - they've got to go...

Talk to ya all later!

Terri

Hi everyone
I am less tired today which is good DD is better and in school but DH and DS are still sick . DH has an appt to go to taday which I have to go with him..
Last night I could only get thru 15 minutes of my walking tape I was completed dragged out all day but I tried to finish One major asthma attack made me realize I pushed a bit hard. So I will do the tape twice today I guess to make up for the slacking I did all week..
Flower : Your friend sounds like she will have one **** of a wedding!! 500 on a gown ? I spent $66 on my wedding dress (in 1985 actually a prom dress tea length ivory lace victoria neckline with silk liner) 30 for both rings ( no diamonds , I am not a stone wearer) the hall was free the JP was 30 and the veil was hand made maybe 25 tops and floral arragnments were also home made another 25 the bought was 75 for both the real and the fake ones .. I guess I just like simple things.. The band was our real regret, friends of my moms and the guy who gave me away ( not my dad he passed away in 1983) they were 70 years old and they were a coutry western band..(I am taking OLD country like Ernest Tubbs type..Yeeeeeech. I shudder to remember) I had a whole 2 weeks to plan this out..LOL . ( I was 16 I guess I was in a hurry) And about that spider dont feel bad he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time..
Punkin Glad to see your refreshed.. And found a stud finder.. I dont have one of those I just usually look for the old drywall nails and measure out 18 inches (unless your house is older then it is every 15-16) Forunately I havent missed YET using this concept ..(knock on wood)
La Morgan Hope Morris is feeling better soon He likes the taste of the vet?? Okkkk whatever twitchs his whiskers I guess.$100 on a vet visit?? My doctors visits are cheaper then that!!!! I guess you get paid less if the pateint talks..
Well I am off to do some stuff while DH is sleeping and DS is playing Nintendo.. It is sooo nice out finally I plan to get outside and take in some clean air ( as I air out the germ infested house.) I am think of buying / Renting a steam cleaner to clean all the rugs and mattresses and couches and stuff so I will be calling all over the place
Take Care
Sheila

Well, Morris didn't taste the vet, he likes his meds. Morris is a very dominate male pussy-cat, but at the vet he was completely docile. At home he wouldn't let us get near his leg but the vet could manipulate it and press and not a twitch out of the cat. And he had his temp taken; not a twitch, and same for the antibiotic shop to jump-start the infection. Yet the big, gentle Smokey (at home) does not tolerate the vet at all. Go figure. This is Canada, and a visit to the vet is $34.00 to look at the doctor. If the animal needs anything else, the costs rapidly accumulate. Immunization is at least $60.00, and an x-ray is $80.00. I was so relieved it wasn't a broken leg or fracture, my bill would've been $200.00 minimum.

I'd love the Wendy's chili recipe, I think I have the old Taco soup one if it's the one from the Homestyle Cookbook published in the early 90's.

Haven't done anything today but did snooze on the couch for 2 hours. Felt so lovely. This afternoon I will bustle, get my errands done and help out in the Kindergarten class at 2pm.
Survivor tonight, who will go this week?? We are hoping Sean or Rob, or soon I'll kick the television in frustration. John didn't watch the other ones, but is quite hooked this time.

My wedding dress (in 1984) cost around $250.00, we had a traditional wedding with the flowers and tux's for the guys... If I could do it all over I'd have a simple ceremony in the woods, a pot-luck after and a Celtic band... I'd wear anything but white!!! I hate white. I'd be in bare feet with rings on my fingers and bells on my toes....

:sheep: