Just a quick flyby before we leave for our Passover meal with our friends...

My eye is loads better. I bought Similisan pink eye relief drops at the store and they cleared up everything. I am going to give it a few more days with my glasses and then try contacts again. it is my own fault..I left my lenses in wayyyy too long. Now I have a weird rash on my elbow.

Debbie...DH and I are karaoke junkies too!!

I made my kugel (casserole) with the shiratake yam flour noodles..the flavor is good but the noodls texture is always a little off..and i am scared that the family while gripe...so I am going back to the grocery tonight to get ingredients to make a 2nd one tomorrow with regular Passover noodles (made from matza meal and not regular flour). UGH.

G'nite all...

Hiya Peeps - gotta share a story since we've recently had so much talk about the social recluse club.

Last night DH and I went to a local bar and grill for a bite. In the booth next to us were 3 young women from my office - all of them relatively new employees. We visited a little as they were getting ready to head downtown for a bit livelier evening. All 3 of these gals, all under 30, all very slim and attractive - said - we have no friends - we just stay home all the time. I just smiled and realized it's another one of those things we think is unique to those of us who have carried all this excess weight. Hey - I've got all of you!

Don't feel like I worked as hard as normal in the pool today - seemed like we were all off kilter a bit. tomorrow brings the first yard work of the season and I will discover the joys of my own personal treadmill too.

Hope you all have had a wonderful, water drinking OP day.

Hugs to all,
Carol

Johnnie: I think it is so important for you to take photos. Even if you are the only one who sees them. I have a photo for each month. I take a progress photo on the first of the month along with my new measurements. Congrats on another -2 pounds.

Anne: I'm so glad that you are enjoying your pool Have fun.

heatherdw: Woo hoo to being -18 down. You are doing so well walking around town too.

Carol: I think I will go talk to the senior group. Thank you for sharing your thin girl recluse story too. I guess we all have issues.

Catherine: Feel better very soon.

debimitch: Woo hoo on being down another 2 pounds. Way to go.

Debbie: Congrats to Jim on his win and to your prize too. I'm so glad that your son and DIL came to be with you guys too. Yes, I have seen the Wii fit. I may have to check into it more.

Julee: have a wonderful dinner tomorrow and please don't worry so about your dishes you are preparing. I'm sure they will turn out lovely.

Well, Hugs to you all.

Blessings,
Annie

ladies ...as many of you know my husband suffers from severe bipolar disorder. He is in a manic stage right now. We are in desperate need of your prayers. He takes his meds faithfully!! They just havent found the right combonation in 5 yrs. Its a very stressful time . He goes to his dr on tuesday. Im hoping they will adjust something to slow him down. HE isnt sleeping at night at all. He gets all kinds of wild ideas in his head when he is like this.
debi

Hi Debi: You are in my thoughts -- my husband is being treated for depression and anxiety, so although I can't imagine what you're going through with a manic episode, I do know what it's like living with someone who's unpredictable and at times completely irrational. Heck, the difficulties we've had with his illness have been a major -- ok, THE major -- non-body chemistry reason behind my weight. I'm sending you and your husband peaceful and calm thoughts (and a hug for you).

Debi...I am sorry you are going through this right now. My brother is unmedicated bi-polar and is complettely estranged from the family. he continues to violate the restraining order my parents were forced to take out against him...so i get updates from time to time.

So like the stupid people-pleaser that I am I went tothe store last night at 11:30 to buy the ingredients I needed to make the 2nd kugel. Even though I used FF cottage cheese and sour cream, ICBINB and Splenda baking blend...it's still ridiculously high in calories. The stupid noodles are made from potato flour whole eggs and oil....it smells heavently...I have to go take it from the oven in a sec...but in all likelihood I won't eat it. I just made it becuase I feared they would not like the first one I made....I wish I knew why I cared so much.

Happy day to all....Happy Earth Day!

debimitch: I stopped and prayed for your DH and your family. I will continue to pray that God touches him and gives you strength to hang in there. Hugs to you hun.

Julee: I hope that your kugel is just as great as it sounds. You care because you are a caring person. I'm sure they will all love it and if they don't poo to them. Hugs and happy Earthday right back at cha.

DH had to go to Sears to get wheels for lawn mower and I went with him and ran into Bath and Body works. I got their new scent that smells like lemons and vanilla frosting. It smells so yummy. We also went to a new church this morning. It was lovely although wayyyy bigger than we usually like. It is just a couple of houses and a field down so we walked there. It seems that quite a few of our neighbors do that also as we were walking home with quite a bunch of people.

I have testing tomorrow for a county job and on Wednesday I have an interview with the state for a job at the JR. College. I also see that the brand new Krock Center/Salvation Army club that opens next year is now hiring for PT Administrative assistant. I would love to get on there because then I could join that club for a lot less. It will have quite a few pools, workout rooms, gym, all kinds of things. I am going to call tomorrow to see how I go about applying as the paper didn't mention how to apply just had a phone number. Hopefully they will want me to come in for an interview and I can dazzle them with my charm. lol.

Well all, I hope you are enjoying your weekend and getting geared up for another op, water drinking behind moving week.

Blessings all,
Annie

Julee, I don't sing buy Jim does and pretty well, I might add....of course I'm a bit biased. What genre of music do you like to sing to most? Jim's is country.
I'm sure both of the kugels are going to be delicious.

Carol, I've heard that really beautiful girls have trouble getting dates and stuff too but never thought of a bunch of girls not having friends. I think todays world is so hard to get out there and meet people just because there are so many weirdos out there.
Have fun in the yard and the treadmill time.

Debi, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Is there some way you can get him to the doctor tomorrow instead of Tuesday? Sounds like it's somewhat of an emergency if you ask me.

Annie, ok, now I'm gonna have to go to the mall and B&B and get the new scent. It sounds heavenly! I hope that your interviews go great and you also get to go interview at that last place you mentioned. It sounds like it's right up your alley.

Thanks all for the congrats for Jim. I'll tell him. I forgot about one other prize he got, that I WANT TO FORGET. It's a $40 gift certificate to the chinese restuarant. Just the thought of going there makes my body hang on to water. We don't plan on using it until my parents birthdays in May though. I just don't have a clue on what to order there without it being full of salt and fat. As for the I-sing MP3, we tried to charge it and for some reason it says it was malfunctioning so we called the lady that put on the contest and she is ordering another one. She said when she got the one we have, she could tell the package had been opened and even called the place she got it from, and told them that if it didn't work, that she was sending it back. So now we have to wait a couple of weeks to get the new one.
Still had snow yet again this morning, but it's all melted and we have bits of sun peeking out every once in a while. Suppose to be more rain though until Wednesday.
My maters are getting bigger and bigger. I think I might have to put them in a little bit bigger peat pot soon. The other veggies are growing better too since we moved the light closer to them.
Hope all are having a great Sunday and drinkin, movin' and groovin'.
Debbie

Debi - my prayers are with you all. Big hugs to you as you hold it together for everyone.

Julee - sounds just like something I would have done - even though there will be enough food my contribution has to be just right. Somewhere along the line we have to learn to please ourselves.

Annie - what a nice pick me up - what product did you get? I bet the lotion is awesome - nice and light for summer. Sounds like you are filling the funnel with job opportunities to see what trickles out - good luck on the testing. And how nice to walk to church - sounds wonderful.

Debbie - sounds like a great idea to use the gift card to the restaurant for your parents birthdays. So how big are the tomatoe plants now? I have decided I am going to try them in pots.

We opened the pool today - didn't even have to add any water - first time ever. Primed the pump and off she went. Will take a few days of cleaning to look good - didn't stop Gracie - as soon as the cover was off - in she went - silly dog. Gypsy just lays in the steps like a Hollywood starlet.

I didn't make it to the treadmill but I did much stretching, lifting, bending and moving. I already feel it - apparently I haven't been using all the muscles I thought I had. I also got 2 flowerbeds cleaned out completely - only 3 more to go. I am going to try to work on one tomorrow night - if the rain will stay away.

Thinking of you all,
Carol

Debi-The Szechuan restaurant down the street makes this squid thing that is awesome. They take the big ones, and cut hatch marks down it, and stir fry with just some red pepper flakes. It doesn't have any salt added, or I'd know it immediately. They can make small dishes at a time. Just ask them to not put any sauce on yours, and order steamed rice.

Thanks for all the prayers. I am keeping a close watch on things and changing a med he takes at night. Seems like he sleeps better on a small dose of it. its one he takes for sleep and dr gave us free reign with it.

julee- glad your eyes are better!! I think bipolar disorder is in almost every family somewhere. Hubby had no signs of it till 10 yrs ago. It started as mild depression followed by him buying alot of things we couldnt afford.It seems like it has just gotten worse and worse. He follows drs orders to the T . I think that is why its so hard to handle.

annie_ glad you went to the new church.I am also able to walk to church. I havent been in a few weeks because hubby isnt doing good and i dont leave him alone when he is like this!I will have to check out the new scent at bath and body. We have so much of it on hand...the girls get it as gifts and never use it...so i get it all

walrus_ thanks for the prayers and im glad your husbands is doing better!!

debbie_ If he was a danger to himself or someone it would be an emergency. Right now its jsut wait till he gets his levels of meds tommorow and see what the dr wants to do. I may take off tuesday afternoon if i can and go with him to the dr. His dr is in the town daughter goes to college in. She may try to go if i cant. She was home yesterday and saw how he was acting. He is alot calmer this evening. The dr wont do anything till he gets med levels. So i just have to try and keep him calm and safe until then.

carol_ im jealous of your pool. I want one!!!!

We planted seeds today in the garden. I sure hope they come up.We still have stuff starting to sprout in the container inside. The forcast looks pretty warm this whole week. I may try and get to walmart and buy a few flowers before they get so picked over.
Well everyone please continue to pray. I am doing things different this time,,,i am not stressing out. If he has to go to the hospital he has to go!! I am not letting this round get me down as in the past! Its not my fault and i have worked hard to keep him well! I am eating right and cooking right. If he chooses to eat to much food its not my fault. I can only make choices for myself. I have to take care of myself first and not put myself on hold again.
Seems like i have spent my whole adult life putting someone else first...adult life...husband then kids. Now its time for ME!!!! I know that sounds selfish...but i have to take care of me...becasue no one else will.
sorry to have a rant!!
debi

Debi: Thanks for your kind words All we can do is try, right?

Speaking of, I'm not so much happy right now. This project is kicking me around. I have until noon tomorrow, but I think I'm going to need until tomorrow night. So I have to plead for another extension. I hate this!!! How could I have been so far off in my estimate of how long it would take me? I have three other projects that are waiting for me -- one that's also due tomorrow -- that have had to be pushed back because of this nightmare. AGH! Plus, it's raining here, which I love, but now my worse knee and hip are just throbbing. I have been getting maybe 2 hours of sleep a night this week and maybe 2 more during the day in 30-minute cat naps, so I'm TIRED. And I'm hungry, too. Maybe it's because I've been up for so long, but I've been hungry all day and all day yesterday. I've been over my calorie goal every day this week, but every day I end up still hungry. I know that most of this is self-inflicted, but I'm still hurting here. I'm not getting to snuggle in with my sweetie at night, either, which is definitely adding to my bad mood. I want my life back!!!

[pant, pant, pant...]

Ok, rant over (for now!). I'm just trying so hard to do my work and not go eat something and I'm not sure I'm going to make it through the night without having more food. This sort of work stress happens maybe once or twice a year, at most, but it's the most horrific thing when it does happen...

Ok, silver lining...you know, there's got to be one in there somewhere, but I'm just not seeing it -- looooots of dark clouds (damage to my professional reputation, lack of sleep, lack of snuggling, bad dietary habits...yes, yes, yes, yes...) but no silver. Maybe tomorrow...

Carol, the tomato plants are about 5 inches tall now with quite a few leaves on them. I had to raise the light over them because they are getting so tall. I can just see those two crazy dogs in the water......to cold!!!!

Debi, I hope your hubby is getting better tonight. I'll be thinking of you and saying prayers.
You deserve the time you are taking for yourself now so don't you dare think that you are selfish. If it wasn't for you, your family would not be as strong as they are.

Walrus, just hang in there kiddo...this will pass

night everyone
Debbie

Annie: I bought the body wash and the spray last weekend..it sprays on like lemons and dries like pounda cake. I also have an amazing lotion that smells like vanilla cupcakes that I wear with my perfume that smells like chocolate frosting. I'm a walking bakery...but DH has commented how nice I smell a lot lately.

Debbie: I will sing anything...DH sticks to his standards but is branching out more. I love showtune...Carole King & Carly Simon and old 60's girl groups...my fave songs to sing are "Will you love me tomorrow", "You don't own me" and "Be my baby".

WELL....we have survived dinner...and I did snap at one point..but not at who I thought I would. The peach kugel (the new one) was amazing...people were fighting to take home the leftovers. The cherry one...eh...it works in smaller batches but when I expanded the recipe (and didn't drain the noodles well enough or cut them) it was just eh. People ate some and the rest went into the trash. No loss. My fish was delicious...aparently the brisket was dry anyways. HA.
BUT...at one point during dinner...FIL started talking about people havign children and grandchildren (amazingly it wasn't MIL but after our talk she knows better). DH tried to tell him to stop but he wouldn't, so I piped up:

"Pete, with all due respect and because I love you...blow it out your A$$."

And that was the end of that. Later in the evening people were looking at old pictures and he was making comments about people's weight and who is/was fat....this coming from the man who looks like he has a keg stuffed under his shirt. So DH told him he was being an a$$ and then we decided to go home so we didn't have to watch everyone eat dessert.

All in all..not a disaster...

Good night friends...have a happy new week.

Julee-Surviving a holiday with the family and lots of food is always a victory. I don't think it is a coincidence that I had my original angina attack the day before Thanksgiving. Being in ICU is the best excuse I ever had to avoid the circus.