Good early morning to you all! I just woke up and felt rested so decided to come downstairs, then when Jack gets up I will go up, shower and make the bed. I want to go outside and walk today instead of the treadmill.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, (initials JB) is such a smarty pants. White glove....

When we went out Saturday, we saw that 3 condos down, two of the garage doors were destroyed, the mailbox mangled and the condo next to ours had a downspout missing. Come to find out, a drunk came home on New Year's Eve and plowed into them. Now, my thought was, HE HAD BEEN OUT ON THE ROAD DRIVING! That is why I don't make plans for New Year's to go anywhere because there are a lot of those kind out on the road.

I got absolutely nothing done yesterday. I don't know why, just couldn't get the oomph to do it. I am going to tackle it today though.

I knitted a couple inches of the stuff I bought for my top and it is going to be exactly what I want. It is beautiful colors, shiny, sparkly and will be perfect for something a little fancier to go to. I found some beautiful slacks to go with it, but am going to hold off buying until a couple months before vacation so see how much weight I have lost. I am making the top a full size to size 1/2 smaller to keep me on my toes with the weight loss.

Jean: Glad you could catch your sump pump before it got too out of hand. When I was a kid, we had a sump pump and I was terrified of it. I really didn't understand what it did, just knew there was this big hole with a machine in it that had water etc. I just hated the basement. I was scared to death to go down there even when I was a teenager. My grandparents basement was very organized, huge and had different rooms even. My grandmother canned and froze food and she had a whole room that was canning and freezers and I would have to go down and get something from time to time and get the shudders just having to do it.

Well, I need to go ahead and put dishes away and knit until Jack get up in an hour.

Have a great start of the week and you employed ladies, don't work too hard!

Faye

Good morning everybody! I have all my chores done, a shower, and am going out walking in just about 15 minutes. As you can see, I caved in and weighed myself and already made goal and even went over by 2 lbs. I expect within a week it will settle into a couple lbs a week as all the soft drinks and such are out of my body.

I have had a lightbulb moment with regards to weight loss I think. I think that my problem is more portion control than anything else. I don't seem to have problems with carbs, etc, but I notice that cutting back on portions seems to let me lose. On the good side, if I can control that, then I can not only lose weight, but I won't have to give up a lot.

Jean: Boy, sounds like sort of a convoluted mess just to use your washing machine. Don't you wonder how city planners and then engineers figure out these stupid things? Everytime I go out in the car I wonder what idiot thought up the way they laid out our interstate system here in town. It is THE biggest mess you have ever seen.

I finished the sweater and enclose a pic. I think I can the red hat done today then I can felt the hat tonight. I would like to wear it on Saturday to my luncheon if I can. I still have a ways to go on it, but it is all garter stitch so that knits up fast.

My sister called me yesterday morning to inform me that her son, who is an associate minister at a huge well known church in CA, up and quit his job, without another one. His wife works in a city school, 6 months pregnant with a high risk birth that might put her on bedrest at anytime, the baby is being taken in February sometime because of the risk it is under and she will be out of school without pay! They have two other children also! I know my sister is worried sick, but she should be kicking her son in the rear. What a stupid thing to do now. He won't even tell his parents exactly why he is quitting, just that he wants to start his own church. Brother, he has no idea what it is like starting a church. He is too immature as a minister to be a pastor anyway. He and his wife do things ie go to Africa so they can look good not for the correct reasons. They are very selfish self centered individuals without a trace of humility and treat his parents like crap. He has no business being a minister in my opinion if he doesn't act right with his own family. I feel for her, but he is a grown man not a child.

Susan: Hope you got the 500 steps in!!! You are doing great!

Well, the sidewalks call so I am getting out of here!

Have a good day everyone!

Faye

Good morning everyone! Where has everyone been? Jean and I are lonely just talking to each other!

I hope to have that darn hat done today so I can felt it tonight and get it blocked and dried to wear on Saturday. I have to get back to the baby blanket and get it done before I start another project though. It is slow going because it is pattern work so you can't knit and think about other stuff you have to concentrate on what you are doing. My mind tends to wander when I knit so I get bored doing the blanket!

Nothing exciting going on here either. Just the same day to day stuff! I did talk to my dil for about an hour yesterday. She said she is doing great and is finally getting a tummy. She has a dr appt the 19th then two weeks later will be her ultrasound and we should know what we are going to have then. She is such a sweetheart and we discussed things like day care and such. I told her I had been worried what they were going to do and she seemed to like the fact that I was interested. Thank goodness they have close long time friends that have 4 children and the mom is going to take care of the baby for them. I know the couple a bit so I can relax about that. She has already chosen the date for her baby shower and bless her, she took the date I suggested way back when so I could come for sure. I am just going alone so I will rent a car and leave here very early on Friday morning. Kelly said something about wanting to go with and that's fine, but we aren't going in her cracker box Sentra. I was uncomfortable going with her on short trips let alone a 10-12 hour one. Unless T is on spring break then, I doubt he will get to come with us. I need to get us a hotel room too, so I am going to ask her where she wants to stay so I can book it. I guess I better do that this morning.

Jean: Do you get MLK day off next Monday? I never remember whether you do or not. Fortune goes to the vet and the groomer that day and we are going to make a stab at the carpets again. We never did get them shampooed a few weeks ago. Good luck with your school schedule!

Have a good day everyone! I am off to finish morning chores before Jack gets up.

Post Script: 7AM You are gonna love this! . I sat and laughed my head off here at the computer after it was all said and done. I went out walking at 6:30 this morning and was coming back down the street towards the condo and the older (late 60's) man that has been staying across the street was sort of pacing out on the street. He was taking out the trash when I left to walk and said good morning to me and I responded back etc. Anyhow, I didn't say anything to him when I came back and when I got up about halfway to the back gate, he started walking across the drive and said, "Miss?" I turned around and he was pulling money out of his wallet and said, "Could you give me a little sugar?" Oh my
God, a masher! I was about ready to give him what for when he said, "I don't have any sugar for my coffee and can't leave right now!" I am still sitting here laughing about it. He was very nice. I told him sure, just a minute and came in and got a disposable cup and filled it with sugar and took it out to him. He introduced himself and pulled out all kinds of ID so I wouldn't be afraid of him (I never was in the first
place) and just talked on and on about being separated from his wife and living with his daughter in the condo until his son graduates from high school in June
etc etc. Only I would think the guy wanted you know what, but he WAS pulling out money! I should have figured it wasn't sex though, cause I am worth more
than a dollar! (only me, right gals?)
Faye

Good morning gals! Hope you are all well! I got an emal from my older sister yesterday asking if I could make a sweater and hat for her stepson's coming baby. I told her I didn't know if I would be able to because I have 3 projects going, but I would try. Well, her asking got me to looking for a pattern and I found one and couldn't just leave it alone. The picture below shows you what I did instead of the stuff I should be finishing up! Actually they didn't take long at all. The hardest part was before I could finish the hat, I had to teach myself to crochet! The edge is done in single crochet as well as the tie cords for the booties and hat. It didn't take me to long to get the hang of it. I think crocheting is probably easier than knitting.

Jean: We don't have BO, do we? Where did everyone go?? I am so sorry about your pin. I know that when this beautiful cross necklace Jack bought me as a graduation present disappeared I was crushed. That was a bazillion years ago and I think it was one of the movers who stole it because it came up missing after one of our many Navy moves. It was this tiny cross that was sterling silver but the cross was like twisted vines and had a diamond in the middle. I really loved that necklace out of all the things he ever bought me. Maybe your pin will turn up somewhere. Hope dinner and bell choir turned out ok.

Maybe I finally got the hang of this diet thing. I am doing really well and not cheating at all. Jack was dying for something sweet last night and I sent him out for lowfat ice cream and I had one scoop instead of a whole bowl as would have been normal for me and 1 tbs of syrup instead of emptying the bottle.

I have been walking again everyday too and actually kind of enjoy it. Only problem is whatever songs I take to listen to get stuck in my head and I sing them all day and all night long! Drives me nuts that I do that. Right now I have been singing Jim Croce's "Don't Mess Around with Jim" which I listened to yesterday.

Well, chores are calling and I am going to start cleaning again as I have Red Hat lunch and commissary besides haircuts, vet and carpet shampooing I want to wedge all into the weekend.

Have a great day gals, wherever you are!

Faye

Good morning ladies! One thing losing weight does with me is make me sleep better so I need less sleep. I am up and at 'em and feel perfectly rested since 4 AM this morning. I got online and ordered yarn and needles this morning. Since I haven't gotten that blasted shrug from my dd and she is on some trip is what I heard from Thomas, I had to order a skein to make the sweater to match the hat and booties for my sister. I also ordered yarn in a soft yellow to make a set for our baby to go with the blanket I made him (which isn't finished yet btw) for Alicia's baby shower. I also finally started my dd's sweater that I owe her and hate the stupid yarn. I hope the sweater turns out well because she is not a velour person and that is kind of what this yarn turned out to be but it was clearance so I can't send it back. I have 12 more pattern sections to do on the blanket and each one is 12 rows long then I have 10 rows of seed stitch to make the border on the bottom before I am done with it. Problem is, the blanket has become heavy and it is pretty big so the stitches are all smashed onto the needles. With the pattern being difficult, a lot of stitches on the needles and the blanket far enough along to be heavy, it makes my hands hurt after about 5 rows so I have to stop. So I am commiting myself to one panel of heart pattern (12 rows) each day until it is done. I do 3-4 rows then put it aside and do something else than go back to it. I am left handed and knit left-handed so that hand seems to hurt more than the right one. I did get another red hat finished and blocked. (see below)

Jean: Sounds to me like they ought to throw out the diversity day completely and start over as it seems to be wayyyyyyy out of hand. I know what you mean. We now are not only the bad guys, but we get slighted at every turn because every ethnic, gender based and nut case group seem to have to have their own "day," and they wonder why this country still has racial issues! DUH! As long as everything is divided, people don't come together. PERIOD!

Well, this is short except for my knitting rambling, but Jack will be up in just a few minutes and I need to get him some breakfast etc.

Have a good weekend everyone wherever you are! Jean and I are developing a complex here, aren't we Jean???

Faye

Good morning to you all! Today is Red Hat day and after that the trip to the commissary. I am going to wear all purple today as I am NOT going to the commissary in red and purple!

Got a letter from Maggie yesterday and it will be a couple 2-3 weeks before she might be able to get back in here. The woman they use for phone service to dial up has decided nicely I guess they use too much of her phone time so Maggie can't use it anymore and at first they said it would take a year to get a line out, but then they said 2-3 weeks so I expect we won't hear from her until the first of next month sometime at the earliest.

Susan, Gail and Gloria, hope you are all doing well. We haven't heard from any of you in awhile.

Jean: I was thrilled to see that you got your pin back and it wasn't damaged either. I was getting ready to order another one for you. I found a cute cat pin site with a beautiful calico cat. Aren't name badges the pits? I can see the custodial staff being irked about it. I mean they have it on their shirts, what they going to do, trade shirts so they have someone elses name??? You know, you can buy one of those clip things for badges at like Walmarts, Walgreens and places like that now if you look. I would think as long as you have it on, they can't make you wear it around your neck. The knitting not only provides me with great gifts, it keeps my hands busy and you can't snack when you knit. I have to put it down to even drink water so I think part of the reason I have really taken it on is to keep my hands busy.

I am doing the happy dance too! I got on the scale this morning and am down a total of 22lbs! I have been a very good girl except when we went to Chilis, then the next day cut back on any snacks I might have eaten to help with the extra calories from the night before. I looked at Rafferty's (the restaurant the hatters are eating at today) online and what their menu is like and have a few things that would be ok pretty much. I think I am going to go with:

Ranch Chicken Wrap
A spinach tortilla wrapped around grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and our homemade ranch dressing. Served with salsa and one side item.

Skip the side and tell them light dressing. It isn't perfect, but even their salads are loaded with junk and they have crummy dressings. I will eat a light breakfast, no snacks this morning and veggies instead of a potato with my steak tonight.

The commissary doesn't have a great selection of Lean Cuisine type dinners but Walmart has loads, LC, WW, Healthy Choice, SBDiet, and now Kashi. We bought some lunch selections for both of us, some WW desserts a couple boxes of WW ice cream treats and then some of the Nabisco 100 cal snacks so we are ready to go with all of that. I bought two packages of sf/ff twizzlers a couple weeks ago at the commissary and when I have a real attack of the munchies, grab a couple of those. They don't provide nutrition, but they are chewy enough to help out the munch attack. Overall, I am getting better each day about snacking. I haven't snacked at night once except what I have scheduled and even then I try to skip it if I can. I have only had snacks on my time schedule (8 am is breakfast, 10 am snack, 12 lunch, 2 snack, 4 dinner, 6-7 snack) and usually at 10 I have 8 oz of bloody mary mix with pretzels, crackers, etc because I get the spicy mix and it helps allay hunger a lot and provides veggie and it is basically tomato juice. I like it more than the spicy V-8 or tomato juice they sell and it is only 70 calories.

I am bound and determined to get into my great capris again that I bought for 2003 trip to Vegas. I have like 8 pairs and some long shorts and a couple nice pair of cotton slacks besides dress pants and I can't get into any of them. I would love to HAVE to buy a new swimsuit too, though I really do like the one I bought last year. I am going to buy another pair of my favorite Clark sandals, but in white this time so I can wear them with anything in Vegas and only take 2 pair of shoes.

I am slowly coming along with the blanket. I had one more row to finish last night while I was watching Las Vegas and my hands were hurting, but I was determined to get my whole pattern done yesterday so I continued and was miserable when I finished, but I am glad I persevered. I am going to try and break it up into 3-4 rows at a time instead of half and half. The first half is easy, but the second half has a more detailed pattern and more going back and forth between knit stitch and purl and your hands really do start to ache.

Well, I want to finish morning chores and around 6 or so get out and walk.

Have a great Saturday everyone!

Faye

Good morning gals! I had a nice time at the luncheon. I know I am not going to be buddies with any of these
ladies, but to have a lunch once a month with them is ok. I enjoyed it and won the first bingo prize so I posted a pic of what I got. Cute, huh? I am going to save it and put a pic of Jack and I on vacation in it. I have to say they do the lunches up big. I also got this cute snow man
votive lamp that was at each place setting. They have an auction every month to raise money for the coffers for flowers for sick, funeral, stuff like that. I get my hat pin next month for joining and I want to buy a regular stiff
brimmed straw hat for that. I need purple CLOTHES though. I have a 2 piece slinky knit pant suit thing, and 2 purple sweaters and that is it. You MUST wear purple and red only and I think I have a pair of red knit pants upstairs
but I know nothing else. I don't want to be buying clothes and losing weight, though. I also got some little book as did everyone. All in all it was a nice time and that is all I
expected from it.

The commissary was another thing! I got out of the luncheon at 2:30 and even then left before the auction, but I didn't want the stuff anyway as it was lotions and hair products and I am picky about that stuff, you know? I would rather just give a donation to the kitty. Anyway, it was pouring rain, foggy, as the devil and I found out we need new wind shield wipers on top of that. I
know why Jack has been dragging his feet. Our windshield wipers for this car cost like $40!!!!! That's what we get for buying a grand marquis I guess, but
oohlala the room! Anway, it is about 30 miles away, accidents every turn, traffic a nightmare and I get out there and it is PACKED! It was awful. I was tired and the shelves were half empty (I forgot military got paid
on Friday and probably cleaned them out then and they get deliveries on Thursdays so either had had time to restock or ran out) Anyway, I couldn't find this or that and I had one woman that **&^%%^&*( me off big time. Anyway, then I had to walk in the rain to my car and drive home in the horrible rain all wet and unload and put all the crap away. Jack told me in no uncertain terms he knew I was trying hard to lose weight but I was not cooking and we were going out to eat. We ended up at our favorite mexican restaurant and I didn't do well with the tortilla chips and cheese dip as this dip is to dye for and Jack won't eat it, BUT I didn't eat all the cheese or anything it was more the tortilla chips, I order the 2 cheese enchiladas with rice and beans, ate half an enchilada a forkful of the beans and more of the rice than anything. I
brought it home and threw it out! YEAH FOR ME!!!!! I was going to sit and eat it at home, but I got home and thought, NOPE! I also didn't eat any of the lowfat desserts I bought or snacks or anything, just went upstairs and watched tv until I went to bed. For lunch that day I did really well. I got a grilled chicken wrap in a spinach tortilla with ff ranch dressing and cottage cheese.
I ate the wrap and 2 forks of cottage cheese but didn't order dessert or anything. I really really want this and that is why I am trying so hard, I think. It is obviously paying off.

Jean: 6-8 inches! Even saying a light dusting you had to shovel off the driveway is enough to send me shivers! At least neither one of us has that horrible ice storm that Kansas and Oklahoma got. Now, I am sure you have wonderful talent singing if you were stinking drunk! Who knows? You might be one heck of a boogying bell ringer snockered! Amazing the things people do when they overimbibe. Disgusting, personally. I sent you an email with several sites I looked at so you can buy a bazillion kitty pins as they had all kinds. I just looked at the site where I buy my Clarks and they don't have the one I want in white. I want the exact sandal I have now only in white.

I have a bazillion things to accomplish today! Good luck with bells Jean!

Faye

Good Sunday Morning Ladies!
I haven't fallen off the world...just nothing exciting in my life...until now!
Right after the 1st of the year we heard from all 4 kids with the news that they will be having a 50th Anniversary Celebration the 2nd week of July of this year. Our Anniversary isn't until September but July works better for our son who will be up from NC. They have portioned out various chores and we were asked for a list of people we wanted to invite and have sent that off to DD#3. DS was going to go to California this Summer to visit with his wife's sister and her family but changed plans to come here and Cape Cod so his SIL and family will also come to Cape Cod and even his MIL will be here. It will be wonderful so see everybody all together again. We had a variety of Dr.'s appointments for the week in July and have been rescheduling them. I also have been rescheduling my hair appointments so I will have a hair cut just before that week so the I won't look like a wild woman. My hair grows so fast I can only go 4 weeks, max, between cuts.

Now I am thinking about getting new LR furniture before July...my set has faded so badly and the springs have sprung. Only 20 years old but it is the only room we use to watch TV, read, have company and anything else that needs comfortable seating.

FayeWow! You sure know how to lose once you start. That is such a good beginning. Your knitting is lovely and you are such a fast knitter. As for the Red Hat society! I don't belong but I love red and purple. I have a new sweatshirt that is purple with a red band around the neckline and an inset of a lovely red hat.

Jean I am so galad you found your cat pin. I have lost pieces of jewelry in the past and though it wasn't an expensive piece I still felt badly about it. My advise is stay away from your mailbox as long as possible so you can claim you know nothing about the piece of mail in there.

That is too bad about Maggie losing her internet connection. Hope she can get back on soon. It is always nice to hear how her life is progressing out there in the West.

Gloria in MA