Aaaaah, Schatzi! Your trip sounded scrumptious. I forgot to give y'all details of our trip we made to Port Townsend. It wasn't a bit like Schatzi's trip. We got into town late on a friday afternoon. I called the visitor's center to get some recommendations on hotel accomodations. Person on the line said "this town is full up, you won't find a room". Panic. Called a hotel, they said "sure we have several rooms". We arrived, paid waaaay more than we were planning, but hey - it was a room in this town which supposedly was full to the brim. Opened door to our room and DH said "this isn't a hotel, it's a french whore house". The decor was someones idea of lavish, but it was really just tacky white and gold plastic. I'm not griping b/c it was new and had a jacuzzi the size of a jr. olympic pool in the middle of it. We heard one other couple as they opened the door to their room - the wife said "honey, this is a hootchie-coochie house". We went to a restaurant. DH asked for green salad w/ blue cheese dressing. They only served caesar or another house salad w/ raspberry vinagrette. DH gave me this look. I could see steam coming out of his ears. He asked for the caesar w/o the dressing and just add blue cheese. She said she couldn't accomodate him. I told him "DH, they have no blue cheese dressing in the kitchen. The salad is already made. Eat something else. He looked at the waitress dead on and said "you should have a plain salad w/ blue cheese." Have you ever seen a grown man just about lay down in the floor and throw a tantrum? Geeez. I told DH there is no way I'd ever travel to Europe w/ him b/c he can't even handle a trip to the next state. And that was my trip. Little different than Schatzi's, huh? I swear the happiest I saw DH that whole trip was when he was driving up the driveway to our house. cwazy mr. wabbit.

Hi Sugar, hope your cold is short-lived. Here's a good Pollyannaish suggestion: get going on those yoga tapes and you'll sweat all the bad germs out. What was the name of our Israeli friend in leopard print? That's what I really wanted to say instead of Pollyanna, but I can't think of her name. Perhaps before I finish this message.

Painty -- here's the lowdown on chinhair from my side of the reading glasses: I am fortunate enough to be both near-sighted and need reading glasses, so if I take out my contacts I can see up close very nicely. Otherwise it would require some high-powered lenses. I started a few years ago bleaching the 'stache because it was just getting too noticeable for my comfort. Then came the stray chinnychinchins. I plucked them out now and then. Then things got a little hairier, shall we say, so I tried the depilatory route. I decided that was not for me: first of all it would not get rid of some of the tougher little buggers, and secondly it left me with stubble in a few days almost as if I'd shaved. Yuk! So, yes, I have resorted to waxing. It's not fun, but it lasts a long time and there is no stubble. I still have to tweeze now and then.

Good for you on the diet efforts and the ruminations. Like Schatzi, I like when you share your thoughts, I can identify with a lot of it. By the way that scary risky feeling is good good good! Much like the feeling of hunger now and then. If you can tolerate it for a while, that = progress!

I'm afraid I have that same anger for similar reasons, but I don't share it. I can't bring myself to say "you doing what I want to do makes me angry and upset."

Ah, your Asheville visit sounds divine, Schatzi! Too bad you can't live there, it sounds ideal. Would you like to live in Cary? I'm working very hard to win the Martha Stewart KB Home for you. Of course you'd have to buy it from me...

Here are my pictures from the Nantahala. Circa 1974. I'm the one sitting in the front left seat, next to the girl in the bandanna (my best friend growing up).

Kiwi

oh my gawwwwwwwwwd those pics are sooooooooo cool kiwonkers!!! your dd looks like YOU!!! for sure-----i loooooooooved your vacation schatzi!!!! next year we are ALL going with you and your dh to the Biltmore---my sister was there and lovvvvvvvvved it---she brought me home a souvenir---i guess there were lots of those to be had!! and wabbs----------haaaaaaaaaaaaa on your dh's salad problems--------i know it likely wasn't that funny at the time but it made ME laugh!!----and to darling painty---I HEAR YAS~~~!!!!!=== the great thing is ---you DO know how to express yourself and i think that is what is lacking in alot of the familial relationships-----i think we could all use a seminar!!!!====i just had two mike's hard lemonades so i needs to go to BED!!!! however---one more think kiwonk-----------JUNE JUNE JUNE!!!! SHE WAS OUR POLITICALLY CORRECT,ANATOMICALLY PERFECT ,BROMIDE SPOUTING ,ZEN MASTER!!!!{ remember when we upset her by our delightful affirmations!!! " i am a fat cow and i always will be "

Ah, Wabbs-- Sometimes men are NOT all brave, flexible and calm like they'd have us be, are they. My darling DH had a verifiable conniption this evening b3ecause the traffic signal "skipped" our left turn arrow. Cussing, squealing tires, etc... and we'd ALREADY eaten, so it wasn't low blood sugar or anything. And some men bluster when their expectations are thwarted. I agree with DH that the restaurant should have been accomodating, or offered alternatives, or apologized... not just given flat "NO's".

Schatz-- what an adventure. I'm counseing a couple who had an "opportunity" to be married at the Biltmore in November... haven't heard how that came to be... they don't seem like hootchie cootchie types, or especially upscale/pretentiious... DS's wedding in small town Indiana is expensive... I can only imagine what it would be in a "venue."

Kiwi-- I found a huge amount of strength and courage I didn't know I had in me when I told DH how upset I was that he was doing something I wanted to do but was restricting. It was like telling the truth out loud. My truth. And I could trust him not to be (overly) defensive. (Maturity is a great thing in a marriage!)

Must be sure to go to bed after computer entries... no detour to what I bought at the store when I was HUNGRY.

No restricted foods... just wiser portion sizes and choices....

Hello well-traveled Cowies!

Wabby, sorry about your old dog. My pointer is now 13 and has all those weird little fat lumps that skinny old dogs get. Other than that, she acts like a puppy. The mutt will be 13 in January. She's on a diet, poor thing. We were at a picnic the other night where the hosts had a 14-year-old dog who basically couldn't do anything and lived in the utility room. I'm in denial about that happening with my darlings.

I have had chin hairs since as long as I can remember. I think it's genetic. I don't wax, I pluck. But I do occasionally wax my eyebrows because I get bored of plucking them.

I'm still at appx 85 kilos. Got to 83, but then went to the inlaws for Labor Day and drank pops and ate bad stuff. I have to get back to restricting my diet. The vegetarian part is easy, but keeping out of the high-fructose corn syrup is harder.

DH and I are still running at least twice a week. We get too tired by the end of the week to go the third time. Sigh.

And I hurt my shoulder. My right shoulder this time. I gained a bunch of weight last time this happened.

Painty, I definitely cannot shop when I'm hungry. It all goes out the window!

Oh, in the category of bad ideas, I'm now reading Candyfreak. Now I just want chocolate!

Interesting, I'm just the opposite. I can cut out sodas, most sweets, candy etc from my diet without too much effort. I can't get myself to eat large enough amounts of veggies to make any difference. I want my meat and cheese and salty fatty stuff. I'd rather have a can of Chef Boyardee than a bowl of ice cream. Demented, eh?

I think I'll change my weight to kilos. It'll be like I've lost a ton.

Hey, guess what -- exciting item for geeks like me: Google has a calculator function that works automatically. You can type any kind of measurement into the search box and get an instant conversion. ex: if you type in "145 pounds to kilos" and hit search, you'll get the answer right at the top of the search results page. You can even convert pounds to stone, if you want to feel especially light.

My adorable grownup nephew who got married a little over a year ago in Charleston has completely split up with his wife. Apparently she was seeing someone else for months and finally moved out and moved away with her new boyfriend. Unbelievable. She seemed like such a sincere, lovely person, and I know my nephew was very serious about being married and very happy, at least at first. It's sickening to find out that it was all an act and she was basically "trying on" the idea of being married and decided it wasn't what she wanted after all (she actually said something like this apparently).

Anyway, he is being transferred by his company and moving (from Charlotte) to Boston! I think this is great, DD will be able to connect with him and we can see him now and then too. He's a great guy, I hope he lands on his feet.

Kiwi

Great recommittment, Kiwi. I'd like to lose a ton, too.
So sorry about your nephew. Who does he work for... DD is there working for Fidelity.... Best wishes.

Hi cowies! I've read all yer news, both good and bad and will comment later, BUT our very own Peachblossom just mailed to to ask if I would post about her

NEW

BETTER

CLOSER

JOB!!!!!


Yaaaaayyyyyy! She said she was too excited to post right now but I'm sure she'll check in later.

Yayyyyy for Peachez!!!! That's wonderful news!! can't wait to hear more!

That's too bad about your nephew, Kiwi. It's hard to understand how someone can be so cavalier w/ someone else's life. We had a friend who got married and then found out after the fact that his wife had been dating some other guy (married) the entire time they'd been engaged, right on thru their first year of marriage. They split, obviously, but it took him years to get over her. Hopefully the nephew will rebound ok. The change of location will help.

I agree with you there, Cherry. I love my veggies (along with all other food on the planet) but all that processed food is just sooooo easy. give yourself a pat on the back for running the 2x's a week that you do. That's so much better than most ppl. Do you still do the Cathe tapes?

OOOOh- another Google gadget. I love it. Have you ever gone to zillow.com? you can input an address and it will tell you an estimated value, what the taxes are and even what the current owner paid for it (kinda big brotherish), plus usually an aerial map. Cooler than folding a t-shirt.

I'm so excited!!! Peachie has a good job!! Yay!
Come in here and tell us all about it RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Painty, I believe my mother said DNeph works for a division of Bank of America.

Hey, it's a beautiful sunny day! I should be outside, picking up dog poo or something!

Have a great day, everyone...

Kiwi

Yeah, it's sickening. He's such a nice guy too, he deserves better.

I'll have to go check out that zillow place. I love stalker-ware.

Kiwi

in the end---the nephew will be glad that he got out of it EARLY on ,had no children to tie him to that mean girl and will find a great woman cause he is such a sweet person!!! in the end----he is better off without her!!!! NOW---peachbat--get the **** over here and TELL US WHAT THE **** IS GOING ON!!! THIS NEEDS TO COME STRAIGHT FROM THE COW'S MOUTH!!! SNAP TO IT!!!!!!

Well, I don't know what to say. So sorry to hear about Kiwi-nephew. DS came home this weekend. He looked shaggy, unshaven and his tee shirt was a bit dirty. He was cuddly for a while then his phone rang and he spent the evening in another room ( like the old days) talking to lcp. He didn't look happy. This worries me.

I start working with 4-year-olds on Monday. Need advice. How is this done?

Bring lots of snacks and a wet wash cloth.

When I was doing my ESL teacher training thigie, one of the course leaders said the most important thing you could do in teaching was to "listen with your heart". I like that and I think it would work for 4 yr olds.

What wonderful news Peaches!!! I just know you will love this job!

That's just terrible news about DN Kiwi...but yes, better he found out early in the marriage than after children and more emotional financial investing. Nice that he will be close to DD , and hopefully this affords him a new beginning.

Cherry, you are doing so well!!

Painty, I like the idea of no restrictions just portion control.. I think that's what WW is mostly about.. I suffer from portion distortion.. so a serving to me looks like " You've GOT to be kidding!"

I am covered in chigger bites.. They are driving me mad! However, we are much closer to making a decision on some land. 10 acre tracts, 1 in a small one street development that will have about 17 homes on it... The other is part of an "Equestrian village" where I guess the theme here is horse farms.. We really took a shine to the realator.. and have asked him to represent us if we go for the other property.. Both are in a small growing town outside of Chapel Hill. Seems that surburbian trappings will be about a 10-20 minute drive...not bad.. We also found some house plans we like.. must say that the thought of building is both exciting and daunting.

Here's some pics of the biltmore, the smokeys, and a pic of me (I'm not glowing with radiance here girls, I'm just a shiny sweaty mess.)