Sorry I've been absent the past few days. I fell completely off plan. I feel like a stuffed turkey myself right now. I knew I shouldn't of made those sweets the other night. I kept telling myself that while I was making them.

No use looking back....it's forward we go from here. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Any one go out to the Black Friday sales? They started at midnight here. Not me, I let my fingers do the walking on the internet for most of my Christmas shopping. Nothing like sitting in your pj's shopping from home. Although one of my friends sent a picture out of a line of people checking out at a store this morning and one person was in their pj's! My oh my.

I'm just getting back in town. I think I did pretty well over thanksgiving. I ate things not on plan, but I didn't stuff myself. It should be pretty easy getting back on track today. (So far so good.) We were meeting our daughter's future in-laws and saying at their home and we had an awesome time.

Now, it's back to reality and the paper I have to write for my class. Muscle fibers and actions anyone?

Muscle fibers sound good. I'll take some, maybe with a little action thrown in? Seriously, I'm so happy your meeting the future in-laws was as good as awesome. In some ways, it's always hit or miss, or it seems so until it happens. Still, what a really great outcome. You must be very happy. And exhausted.

Hi Iowa, I won't mention sweets but I'm considering cyber Monday, too. But what do you get people who need nothing? And I used to think my father was difficult to buy for. Well, actually, he was. Used to mention one or two things he might like then go out and buy them for himself. My poor mother who came of age at the height of the depression and raised a child during the rationing of the war was so-o-o delighted to buy little things for Rennie. I want to do that, too.

Actually, I'm kind of down tonight. Somebody called my pup Dumbo. Mind you, I'm used to people stopping us on the street and commenting. Schmetterling [butterfly] is appropriate; and I'm reconciled to Fledermaus [bat]. I guess I am. Yoda is mildly amusing. But Dumbo is going too far, however nicely it was said. I wish he wouldn't just lap it up.

That is sad, I don't think any one should call a dog that, that is just mean. Linden what kind of dog is he? Can you teach him to bite on command? Just kidding but bite on command when called dumbo would be good. My poor dog has so many names she comes to most... she is very much a people dog if she can get the person to throw a toy for her than she is happy to meet them... otherwise forget it, she just comes forward a little bit and than when they reach their hand out to pet her she turns her head like, I don't think so, it is PLAY time... (which in her world is all the time) When I adopted her, her name was Fiona! she didn't look like an ogre to me, so I changed it... because she is mixed breed, I wanted her to have a 3 title name like those snooty pure breds have... (not all are snooty but you know what I mean) so anyway her name is Spike's Rebel Red... hence the red dog, the rebel, sometimes she is ready, sometimes redel, baby etc... she comes to a lot... but not Fiona... I don't think she liked the name either. don't feel down about someone that doesn't understand our dogs like we do... we know they are special, and can see it every day... those that can't well that is THEIR problem.

Iowa - put down the sweets and step away from the kitchen... you can do this you know you have done it before...

Don't know where to start! Fiona. Before my granddaughter was born I PRAYED she wasn't given a Scottish name like Fiona to match her last name.
Didn't even make the ogre association.

My little, but to his way of thinking LARGE dog, is a Papillion -- an extremely gregarious, loving, agile (see them beat Border Collies at agility) and beautiful baby. He is pure breed, but the only unadoped animal I've ever taken care of. I waited 35 years, after seeing one in England, and getting a life style suitable to dogs, to get the breed or a cross breed. Then ended up in a very small state on a very small island with only one qualified breeder and island away. Was on a waiting list, was just about to fly to Australia to get one [only other place than England and Hawai'i that is rabies free so importable] when I got him.

The puppy-for-life and Andy the nineteen-year-old cat are the small animal loves of my life. And they travelled half way around the world to be just that. Pretty kind or them, yes?

Marion..so glad the new family gathering went well and that you did well over the holiday. It sometimes can be a great experience or sometimes it can turn south fast. I imagine that you would get along nicely with anyone though.

2Ride....did you happen to see the news about the beagles rescued from a lab in Spain? Unbelieveable. Makes me want to adopt one.

Linden....I always said you can judge a person by how they interact with animals. I'll take a dog over some people any day!

As to the shopping business...my daughter is easy to buy for, but those dang boys. A person can only use so many pair of jeans. But one son lights up over just plain socks. Go figure. For my parents, I always try and figure something out from their heritage. Be it shortbread from Scotland and a wool cap for my dad to a native american print for my mom. What a mixture. Scottish and Native American.

Happy to report I've been on program today, once again. Now let's get this show on the road

I didn't go out but I'm mostly done with my shopping already. I'm not a big crowd person. It's possible we'll go out later this weekend.

Some people are just rude, Linden. I'll apologize for them being idiots.

My paper still isn't written because my daughter was babysitting today and needed some mom help getting the little girl to sleep and then, I got a funeral call. It's the first time I've gone to a funeral home in jeans and a t-shirt, but it was better than the delay for me to dress up. It's always a little sad when someone dies on a holiday.

Anyway, if I wake up early I'll work on the paper tomorrow because we have another busy day tomorrow. We are going to spend some time measuring the hall where we are having my daughter's wedding reception so we can decide how we want to decorate and where we are going to put tables.

I'm sleepy! I pray you are all having a great weekend and still finding things to be thankful for... even when we don't have a national holiday.

I will be moving back in with my parents over Christmas and my mother wont keep any veggies in the house! She doesn't get the point of doing this diet! I am thinking about taking December off and starting back up in January when my dad starts again. Any thought or ideas? I am afraid I will be wasting money and effort over Christmas if she wont keep any veggies in the house... I have lost 45 lbs and have 45 left!

Woke up this morning with a headache....getting better though. Maybe my body is starving for those carbs I inhaled the other day. Tough I say.

I was going to attempt to put up my outdoor Christmas lights but it's a rainy day here in Iowa. I'm thinking of taking in a movie this afternoon by myself. Haven't been to one in at least a year. The popcorn will be calling me but I plan on taking only enough cash to get me in the door. I can't trust myself

Iowa, a movie sounds good. This rain just makes things gloomy. Do I remember correctly that you are down toward quad-cities? I'm in Marion--near Cedar Rapids.

I'm hoping we can get the decorations out and at least started today, but I'm still working on my paper and I seem to have a house full of unmotivated people. We shall see!

I absolutely wouldn't. You've got a really good momentum going. Is there any reason you can't buy lettuce and vegetables and cook them, other than possibly offending your mother?

There should be no reason why you can't have your own veggies, your mom doesn't have to eat them.
If your dad was on the plan she should be used to having veggies around.

You have done wonderfully well so far and I think you would be disappointed if you have to backtrack.

Pat

Don't stop! Get the foods you need and keep with the program...

kmrose...please don't stop! It's hard to get back on program. Look at all of us here restarting. Most are doing good and others like me keep falling off program. I think part of my problem is knowing that this program works so in the back of my mind I keep thinking that once I get in the groove, it will come right off. It's getting back in the groove that is the tough part. Could you make one shelf in the frig yours and keep your veggies on it? Surely your mom wouldn't object to that. Besides, they are healthy for everyone even if they aren't on a diet.

I survived the movie today. But, the theater was kinda empty but a couple decided to sit directly behind me and eat popcorn the whole time. I mean the whole length of the movie! I think it was free refills day if you bought a large bag for $7.50. Not only did I have to listen to them rattle the bag, the lady giggled at the most craziest thing the entire time. Then, everytime they got up they pulled my seat back with their hands while lifting their fannys out of their chairs. I should of gotten up and moved but didn't want to look rude. On top of all that the movie wasn't very good. I had heard reviews of it but decided to go anyway. I guess it at least kept me out of the kitchen and the sweets today.

Marion...I am south of Iowa City by about 40 miles. I went to Burlington to the theater all though Iowa City is easier to get to with the interstate. My uncle was superindentent at Prairie High in Cedar Rapids for a long time years ago. I still go to Cedar Rapids to Sam's and I fly out of the airport there when I travel. We're almost neighbors

We were actually closer a couple of summers ago when we were staying near Kalona! I'll send you a PM with my cell if you ever want to meet up sometime.

Marion