Ceejay - I think you have something there about night weighing with clothes on. After all, we KNOW we weigh less than that - never thought about the obsessing but you are absolutely right!

This sucks! I'm obviously eating more points than I'm burning as I'm up 3.2 pounds. Granted, I ate some high sodium things yesterday...but I gotta be real. I was SO hungry after clearing snow yesterday that I ate and ate. Drat! This really sucks. Tonight I'm going to the gym before I go pet sitting. I'm going to really work on this. I'm really ticked off at myself now. I'm tired of seeing the numbers on the scale go up. Right before the WW meeting, I was thinking that if I really get committed to using the Wii Fit daily, perhaps I should cancel my gym membership and save the $600/year. But at the same time, I really like the instructors and the classes. And now, I've just got to keep moving, cut the sodium and eat better.

Annie - Glad to hear you're going home early and that you suggested your boss do the same. Happy's right, the bugger virus or whatever just drains your energy...and you gotta rest, rest, rest to get over it.

Happy - I could never live in northern Wisconsin. In fact, I was thinking yesterday that I would either like to win the lottery to have my summer home here and a winter home in San Diego...or become a famous published author (or some type of high paying, stay at home job) so I could stay indoors in the winter. I think we're all behind in Christmas cards. I've only gotten a couple as well, and we send ours out every year usually by the first week in December. So much to do so little time. BTW, you probably wouldn't like my card...as I do a Christmas letter...all typed out but signed by hand. And the card is signed by hand too. But the address labels are typed. Sometimes I include photos of us or the doggies...but probably not this year as I'm too fat and fairly ashamed by how I look (just like last year). The Hallmark lady is Maxine...I just love her, but I'm not sure I could write in her style.

Ceejay - I like the idea of night weighing as well. And I'm giving up only weighing once a week...I don't want anymore 3 pound surprises. Unless it's 3 pounds in the GOOD direction.

I'm in a grumbly mood....it's a good thing I'm going to the gym. I think I'll need a bunch of cardio to improve my mood.

I'm here, just super busy and an internet connection that officially SUCKS.

Back tonight with all the gory details

ANNIE~ HOPE YOU WILL BE FEELING BETTER SOON. GOOD DAY TO TAKE OFF. PRAYERS FOR YOUR ROOF!!!! HOPE YOU GT THE REST YOU NEEDED! LOVE TO MOM TOO.


MICHELLE~ YIKES ONN THE SNOW!!! I NEED ME SOME OF THAT!!! SORRY ABOUT THE SCALE. IS IT THE EATINGOR THE CHANGE IN CLOTHES? ...LIKE WINTER STUFF. NEXT WEEK WILL BE BETTER. GLAD THE PENGUINS MADE IT THRU THE STORM!!! YAY!!! I WAS THINKINGOF DOING THE Wii THING FOR THE KIDS TOO. EVERYONE THEY KNOW HAS ONE!!!! KEEP US POSTED. SO....DI YOU WORK OFF THE GRUMPY MOOD??? HANG IN THERE. DON'T FORGET YOUR BODY HAS BEEN THRU A LOT THIS YEAR AND A LOT OF MEDS TOO...NOT MAKING EXCUSES FOR THE SCALE BUT JUST SAYIN'

LAURA~ YOUR ;OST REMINDED ME WHY I DON'T BAKE ANYMORE BUT I WAS SORRY FOR THE BURNT ONES!!! LOL SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE SOME GOOD CHRISTMASSY THINGS TO DO OVER THE 4 DAY WEEKEND. HAVE FUN.

HAPPY~ DANG THAT'S COLD FOR TENN!!! HOPE YOU AND DH STAY WARM AND HE'S NOT GETTING SICK FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!! HOW GOES THE FOOT??? HOPE THAT WILL BE OVER SOON TOO. I HAD A LAUGH ABOUT MOM...LOTS OF THAT CHIT GOING ON OVER HERE THEY JUST OPEN THEIR MOUTHS AND IT ALL FALLS OUT!!! LOLOLOL

CEEJAY~ I AGREE ABOUT THE PORTION THING...IF I OBSESS ABOUT HOW MUCH I AM EATING...IT CAN SEND ME INTO "I'M STARVING" MODE. THE POWER OF SUGGESTION!!! I WEIGHED ONCE WITH ALL MY CLOTHES ON AT NIGHT AND WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN!

SHAD...GOOD BUSY I HOPE. SORRY THE INTERNET CONN SUCKS.

I WENT DOWN TO THE OFFICE TODAY. JUST FINISHED AFTER 3:30. I GOT A LOT DONE TODAY. A BUNCH OF NEEDY SENIORS THIS TIME OF YEAR,,,,AND GOT A LOT OF HUGS AND TEARY THANK YOUS. MAKES A BODY FEEL GOOD.
IT'S FREEZING WITH THIS WIND KICKING UP. JEN AND RICHIE WENT BACK OUT SHOPPING JUST IN CASE WE DO GET A FREAKY STORM. THEY KEEP PREDICTING WACKY WEATHER. SO FAR IT'S PASSED BY US. WEEKEND LOOKING VERY COLD.
NOT MUCH ELSE IS NEW. IT WOULDN'T BE THE HOLIDAYS WITHOUT MORE DRAMA FROM RICHIE'S DAD. NOW HE'S TRYING TO FORCE THEM TO GO DOWN TO FLORIDA FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND USING RICHIE'S KIDS LIKE PAWNS. VERY SAD.
THEY CANNOT POSSIBLY GO...NONE OF US HAVE THE FINANCES TO SUPPORT A LAST MINUTE TRIP. BESIDES...THE KIDS WERE JUST HERE ALL FRIGGING SUMMER. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO GUESS WHAT OUR TOTAL FOR ALL THAT WAS!!!
NOW I EARNED SOME DOWN TIME AND I AM OFF TO PEDAL, SHOWER AND EAT DINNER. BEEN A VERY LONG DAY. HAVE A GREAT NIGHT

HOLY CRAP...IS THIS GRAPHIC TOO BIG??? OR IS IT MY ENLARGED COMPUTER SETTING??

well Mel - your graphics ARE getting larger each day

Ok, cue the song "Can't Get Next to You" by the Temptations.

Lead in... people cheering and clapping in the background. Dude comes on and says "Hey everybody... hold it... hold it. Listen..." This is for you Michelle. I know you are bummed at the weight gain BUT. You worked extra hard yesterday shovelling all that heavy, wet snow. I'm kind of thinking that maybe today was not the best day to weigh. I am no expert but I thought after a extra hard workout that your muscles might be holding on to water and nutrients to feed them after you expended so much energy. So maybe wait an extra day and check again.

I do understand what you mean about falling off plan eating though. I did the same this week. Made some homemade macaroni and cheese trying to use up the food I have left in the refrigerator. Of course then I ate it for dinner 3 nights in a row. Small bowl but that was all I ate. No vegetables. Alot of salt and fat. And I was up 2 pounds this morning when up to last Saturday I was holding down a nice loss. Told myself today that I had to do better and that if the temptation was too much for certain things, then stay away from them. And I can remember coming in from a long bout in the cold - you're tired, some parts are cold, other parts are hot and sweaty and I think you're in a vunerable state. You'll grab the first thing you can see. So let it go and start again with a renewed committment. As for cancelling the gym, I know it's tempting to save the money but you really, I mean REALLY enjoy the classes. The Wii Fit is fun but maybe ease your way into it, and if you are fine with it as a substitute then decide. Do you have a month to month renewal on the gym membership that you could extend for just a little longer? Some people have said that paying for a membership they were more prone to actually go there and use it because they were paying for it. If nothing else, you zip my lip and I'll zip yours, ok?

I ordered some fudge from a small cheese shop in Wisconsin that we used to frequent - a friend had a cabin on the lake she would let us use. It was my mom's favorite fudge so I ordered some for her for a Christmas gift, a flavor for DH and a flavor for me of course. Had a piece tonight and the first 2 bites were good, the rest was icky sweet. I guess I'll give it all to my Mom. I used to wonder about people who preferred savory over sweet - took me the longest time just to figure out what savory meant. I think Shad finally taught me

Shad - sorry your Internet connection sucks. Looking forward to hearing about the new job.

Mel - what's this with Ritchie's dad? Is he getting the kids all excited about coming to Florida? Bad grandpa. Hey, you can't always get what you want. And evil temptation comes in all kinds of forms. That was very nice of you to help the seniors. I hope that someday there is a young buck in waiting who will be helping out Miss Mel to repay the kindness

Ok, it's 9pm. My stamps came today so I am all ready to do the Christmas cards - provided I write the letter first. And Michelle, I think I was not clear enough. I was trying to say that I hate the impersonalness of a card that is sent off to a printer and stamped with a name and then they slap and address label on the front. Nothing personal about it, kind of like you get from the dry cleaner I love Christmas letters - always good to hear how people are doing through the year.

Anyway, let me get busy here before it's midnight - just checking in.

Afternoon all,
Since the internet connection is free, I shouldn't complain about the speed. All I have to do is to sit near the window and the connection is there to hook onto. It's not as bad as I made out, sometimes it is even positively speedy, but I guess that everyone in the area is latching onto it so it gets a bit slow at times.

I'm in the State of Victoria, in a place called Lilydale which is more or less in the Dandenong Ranges and can be a little cool from time to time. The town is bigger than but not unlike that wee place we went to in Arkansas (?) when you and DH kindly took me to the caves. Lots of bush, hills to walk/ run up and plenty of places to eat. No Daisy Mae but I think I got Ramen Sirdar the other day - at least that is more or less the name I heard and understood.

The job is going along reasonably well. I have been familiarising myself with their system and find that they are Basic, Basic, Basic. So I have to dumb down the training because half the stuff I am used to, is not being used or they haven't bought yet. People seem nice and some of them are champing at the bit to get onto the new system - suckers!!! However there are some very intelligent people who are embracing it wholeheartedly - and of course those who hate change and can't see how it will work.

Yesterday, I went across town in the train to the other site. It took 1.45 Hrs. My butt was square at the end. We did a full days testing there, and then I went to my friends place and we went out for dinner. One thing and another and time passed and I went to catch a train home, looked at the timetable and swore very long and loud since there wasn't a connecting train and it meant over 2 hours to get home. Raced in to the motel room just after midnight and fell asleep still in my clothes until the alarm made me get up this morning.

I don't think I can make it back for the personals - sorry.
I know Annie is sick and her roof is too. I should come over and help you put a new roof on the house. I need the exercise.
Happy is blaming me for her changing tastes. Not my fault lady. But once you lose that taste for sweet, you may find the weight comes off easier, just don't get stuck into the cheese.
Michelle is stiff and sore from snow raking. Not surprising. I bet that burnt up some calories. Here we rake the leaves off the roof and gutters!!!
Laura is baking cookies and eating the dough - hence the pound. Did you figure out what to have for dessert for the dinner?
Hi Ceejay. Patty. Haven't heard from her for a while. Better figure out what she is doing!
Mel - Stupid ffil. Note the 2 f's - not a mistake. Such a stupid man. It's all those drugs he is taking. Refuse to take his phone calls, don't reply to the mail. Stay at home and recoup and recuperate Richie and Jen.

And with that, I need to go stretch out on the bed for a while and then get ready for a swim or a run. Don't know which yet.
Have a good day/ night whatever you are up to.

HAPPY!!! FUDGE!!!! IS THAT WW FRIENDLY??? MOM IS GOING TO LOVE THE EXTRAS!! SOMETIMES YOU CRACK ME UP.

SHAD~ GLAD THE JOB IS RINNING ON SCHEDULE EVEN IF YOU AREN'T IN SYNC WITH THE TRAINS!! I HOPE THEY ALL GET TO LIKE THE NEW "TEACHER".

SORRY THIS IS SHORT. I AM ON MY WAY NDOWN. SHORTHANDED AT THE LAST MINUTE. YEAH RIGHT. BE BACK LATER OR MANANA. LOVE TO ALL FOR A VERY HAPPY FRIDAY/SATURDAY

Hi chicks,

Another cool one this morning. Coffee cooled especially quick. Stupid cat kept banging at the door to be let out (she had already gone out once, took a sniff and ran back in) so out she went for good. Hope she likes frosty grass

Shad - sounds like you new place is rather nice - save the train trips - did you at least see some nice countryside? Made for a long night though. We were in Mountain View I think and yes, it was Arkansas. Daisy said hey when we were there earlier this year.

Mel - the fudge was real honest Wisconsin fudge - the GOOD stuff. about a bazillion WW points. The kind of stuff you can eat but the rest of the day all you can eat is celery and water Don't work it too hard in the office young lady

We have a get together tonight at one of my co-workers houses - our team holiday celebration. For the second time this year, I will be drinking wine. (First time was at her house when we went another time ) I am looking forward to it. Am bringing grapes (1 point) and a cheese plate (3 points), some cold cooked shrimp (1 point) and some cocktail sauce (1 point). So the worst I can do is the cheese. Will be mindful of that.

Annie - hope you are feeling a bit better today. Hope you will continue to rest as you can't get better in one day

Michelle - hope you are not walking around like Igor today - Frankenstein's Igor not Carla and Mel's Igor Please have all snow melted by next Saturday. I really (I mean REALLY) don't want to see that or single digit temps.

Laura - I think you said your weekend starts today - enjoy it!

Gotta get hopping here - a big good morning to Ceejay, Patty and Ruth

Hello my Worldly sistas -

Happy Friday! TGIF!! I've got a busy weekend ahead with pet sitting and website work. I have to do a pet sitting visit tonight around 8 or 8:30 pm, and then 4 visits tomorrow and 4 more on Sunday. But the doggies I sit for are cute and fun and love all the attention I give them. I'm also going to the store tonight to re-stock up on foods that help my weight loss.

I didn't get to the gym last night because my eyes have been red and itchy - my boss told me to go to the doctor since it looked like pink eye...sure enough...it's conjunctivitis in both eyes. He gave me some drops but told me to avoid the gym for at least a few days to a week so I'm not spreading it to everything I touch. But I did the Wii Fit last night. It was fun, and , for Christmas - we opened it early. Anyway, I did 45 minutes of Step and Boxing last night and got a decent workout. And I tried some of the balance exercises - slalom skiing, ski jump, etc....it says I'm unbalanced - not sure if that's physically or mentally/emotionally - either way it's no surprise!

Mel - Tomorrow I think I will dig out the penguins so we can light them back up. Right now, you can only see the tips of their little heads. Thanks for the kind words about the scale, and yes, I did work off the grumpy mood. The Wii Fit games are fun, as are the other Wii games I've played since we hooked it up. That sucks that Richie's dad is trying to force them to go down to Florida when no one can afford it. Hopefully, the dad will ease up and quit pushing. BTW, I love the graphic!! And your graphics may be getting larger each day, but then so is my waistline apparently!! Don't work too hard in the office!

Shad - Sorry to hear that the internet connection is so lousy. Glad the job is going well so far, and that the people are bright and eager to learn. That's too bad that the trains take so long to get from one place to another. Sheesh! Do you have to work this weekend? Or will you have time to go exploring? We rake leaves and clear gutters here too....twice a year....in spring and autumn. Hope you're enjoying your swims/runs!

Happy - Thanks for the song, and the cheering and clapping. "Can't Get Next to You" by the Temptations...that's cute!! And yes, you are right...when you work muscles extra hard, they do retain water. That's what my WW leader AND my personal trainer have both told me. Maybe that's the reason for the extra weight. But I haven't been exactly on the straight and narrow either. Not that I've been horribly "bad"...I just haven't been doing the program 100%. I need a reality check when it comes to portions, among other things. And you're right...when I came in from the cold after shoveling, I was hungry, completely exhausted, cold and just wanted comfort food. Lots and lots of comfort food. As for the gym....I do REALLY enjoy the classes. And my membership is month to month...so I can cancel at any time. I don't need to decide now. The fudge sounds good, so nice of you to give it to your mom. I can only have one or two bites of fudge before it gets icky sweet for me as well. But brownies are a different story altogether. They are a food I definitely need to avoid as I could eat at least 1/2 pan by myself. Did you get your letter written? That's on my to do list for this weekend. My pups are like your cat...they aren't staying out for very long when they do go out. They do their business and rush right back in. Enjoy your holiday celebration this evening! Good for you for pre-calculating your points! Are you coming up to WI next Saturday or just making it as far as IL? I think we'll still have snow. According to the long range forecast, which I've learned never to trust, we've got another round of bitter cold coming the middle of next week, but "warming" up to the 20s and 30s for Dec. 19-25. Hopefully you won't experience any single digit actual temps, but no guarantees about the wind chills.

Laura - Enjoy your long weekend and holiday preparations and celebrations!!

Annie - I hope you're feeling better and that you're able to stay home and rest again today.

Ceejay - Are you enjoying your days off?

A big to Patty and Ruth!!

Signing off for now, but I'll try and get back later!

Love and hugs,

I WAS DONE BEFORE I GOT STARTED. ALL HEADS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR. THEY GOT THE WRONG DATE. DUH!!!!!!!!!!! JEN AND I SPENT TIME WITH MY FRIEND. IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. SHE'S HAPPY TODAY. I WAS LOSING THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT BUT SOMEHOW IT CAME BACK TO ME AFTER I HAD A DREAM ABOUT BEING AT SOME KIND OF CELEBRATION WITH A ROOM FULL OF HASIDIC JEWS(SP) IT MUST HAVE BEEN BECAUSE I WATCHED A SHOW ABOUT CHANUKAH BEFORE BED. MY EX MIL STILL CELEBRATES THOSE HOLIDAYS SINCE HER BF DIED. LOTS OF GOD MEMORIES THERE TOO.

HAPPY~ HAVE A GOOD TIME AND YOUR WW POINTS SOUND GREAT. SAVE ME A PLATE(AND SOME FUDGE) I HEAR YA ON THE GAZILLION POINTS!! ROFLMAO YOU MADE ME LAUGH OUTLOUD WITH THE CELERY AND WATER !!!! SO GLAD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE

MICHELLE~ YOU WILL DO FINE WITH THE WEIGHTLOSS. I HAVE FAITH IN YHOU. HOPE THE EYES FEEL MUCH BETTER SOON. THE GYM IS PROBABLY WHERE YOU GOT IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!! GIVE IT BACK TO THEM AND TELL THEM NO THANKS!! JUST ,KIDDING. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND WITH THE DOGGIES AND HOPE YOU HAVE SOME SHELLY TIME

Mel - So glad you didn't have to work in the office today, but instead were able to spend time with your friend!! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

LORD GIVE ME A FRIGGING BREAK...JUST GOT THE MAIL AND SOC SECURITY WANTS ME TO PAY BACK AN OVERPAYMENT AT $70.32 @ MONTH. LIKE WTF!!! SOMEHOW EITHER I DIDN'T READ THE LETTER OR THEY NEVER SENT ONE AND NOW I AM PAST THE TIME ALOTTED FOR REBUTTAL(SP) SO I CALLED AND GOT MY FRIEND(THANK GOD) AND HE LOWERED IT ONCE AGAIN TO $35 @ MONTH. I TOLD HIM IF HE EVER WANTED TO KNOW IF HE MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN ANYONE'S LIFE THAT HE CERTAINLY DOES WITH JEN AND I. HE JUST STRAIGHTENED ALL OF JEN'S PROBLEMS OUT LAST MONTH. HE TOLD ME I JUST MADE HIS DAY.
OK....DONE VENTING. YOU CAN ALL COME BACK OUT NOW

Mel - The gov't just never lets you alone!! Makes me so angry that deserving, honest people like you and Jen get hassled at every turn while so many fraud, cheat and scam the gov't. Sheesh!! I'm glad you were able to get in touch with your friend so he could lower it. Still unfair that you have to pay extra...but $35 is better than $70. Phew!