Okay Chickies - some fresh new pages to 'write' on!

Vickie - definitely a visit to the gambling boat is in order! Need to have some fun (well when your tummy feels all better!).

Paula - how is Sara's eye - but more importantly how was the party?

Angela - how is the weather there? Hope you hang onto your power!

Sandra - practicing today? or water aerobics? or ???

Niki - what's new and exciting?

Donna - how are the UFO's coming along? Have not heard about them in a while?

Coco - how are you doing today? Are you snowed in too?

Kathy - did you bake the bread? There is nothing like the smell of baking bread! I would just eat the whole loaf (with butter of course!).

Dd still a but stuffed up but a PD day at school so she is home today. Ds got home from Dominican Republic late last night - I have yet to see him but did talk to him on his cell when he landed! And my co-worker is home sick - she sounded awful on her phone message - and I want to ENCOURAGE her to stay home until she is all better - I dare not get sick (still sniffling a bit by the way! will definitely take drugs before getting on the plane!).

I AM PACKED - yes unbelievable as it seems the suitcase SHOULD close - I have yet to weigh it tho but I did put all the heavier stuff (shoes/purses, snorkel/mask, toiletries, makeup) in the smaller weekend bag (which I shall also check!) so hopefully it will all work. I still have to add socks/undies and bathing suits but these should not be a problem? Dh (and I) did iron everything last night - and once I check my final list I can relax and stay calm!

Bad news is right now extended weather forecast has snow coming this Thursday and more snow and possibly freezing rain on Friday! Of course things can change between now and then right?

And here's a pic of my cute sandal/shoe things I got the other day - I just love them - very comfy! http://www.payless.com/Catalog/produ...icsPerformance

Did not dare get on the scale this morning after my olivefest and popcorn yesterday - feeling very puffy today - need to drink lots more water and eat less!!!

Going around asking for 'hair opinions' at work - so far no one seems to think I have yellow stripes in my hair (except for me! ).....

Need to focus now on finishing work projects and clearing off my desk in the next 4 days! Wish me luck!

Later,

Frouf

Good morning all. Happy to say we had a wonderful day yesterday for Sarah's birthday party. She was in all her glory! I did OK with food - ordered in pizza and I made a big salad. I did plan on eating pizza and cake and I did so-- its the one time we order something other than cheese and they were good. The scale was up a bit this morning, 178, but still down PLUS TOM is looming. I also found out our WW leader is away this week so we won't have a meeting on Wednesday and she'll add a week to the end.

Things are just good today -- I feel very happy!

Kathy, that storm is creepy! We don't get fog like that up north....how are you feeling today? I hope better. Also, I was thinking about the comments some of you co-workers make regarding your eating. Don't let those comments get to you--if we got to goal and then went back to our old ways we would (and I have in the past) gained it all back.

Frouf, I'm excited for you.....sun, sun and cocktails!!! I'm amazed you are packed already. What a busy little froufy!

Off to post my menu, BBL

Hi All:

Love the shoes, Frouf! And, I do wish you luck getting work in order. I am "behind the 8 ball" after the weekend spent doing other important things. So, I'm at home working on my various projects

It's snowing here now...beautiful, really. Last night we had lots of wind and snow, but today the snow is falling gently without any wind behind it.

DH didn't get the wallpaper up yesterday but he's doing it now. He tried to do it last night, but he mixed the wall preparation stuff in my litre measuring cup. I was doing dishes, picked it up, thought "I don't remember using this" and dumped it all out That was all he needed to stop work!!

Back to work here for now


Rhonda

Too funny about the wall paper stuff! I'm sure any excuse would do. So what does the wallpaper look like? (inquiring minds want to know!).

A very very busy froufie - starting to make phone calls and final emails to confirm everything is in order. Still need to pack my travel purse and carryon with all my gear (ipod, tissues, gum, books, magazines, ear things for the plane, meds, paperwork, snacks, etc)....Hope I don't forget anything!

Paula - glad the party went well - bet Sarah had a blast and is enjoying all her new 'goodies'. Sounds like you had a good plan and followed it!

Rhonda - considering getting a pair in black as well? (and I swear I saw some pink ones on the website too?).

Trying to focus on work - but it's not easy! Did I mention someone else from our team is leaving for a new job? It's getting pretty depressing around here!

Frouf

Hi All:

Snow, snow, snow today. Thank goodness that I don't drive for a living, or even have to be someplace today.

There is good news on the former in-law front. A social worker is coming tomorrow to do an assessment for long-term care. I do hope they can move quickly to get her into a higher level care and get him some respite. She is literally yelling at him all day long. Poor souls.

The wallpaper is the paintable kind from Graham & Brown, bought at Home Depot. The pattern is a vertical, squigly one that shouldn't offend too many people's taste. I'll paint it and the adjoining room a neutral color/colour. That is not my normal taste, but I'm thinking resale, resale, resale. I have lots of art work that is full of color/colour so I won't suffer.

Frouf, buy more shoes! Pink ones, black ones...you buy them!

howdy there, chickies. we're home from training. the arrows have finally learned where to go. life is good. tonight we're chillin in front of the tv. plus, i'll do some other "stuff" to help us get ready to leave thurs. i'm planning to take the old laptop so i can check in each day to see how ya'll are doing. (of course, i'll be posting updates.) speaking of updates, this past weekend's scores should be posted by midweek. this tournament we're shooting is taking place all over the nation over a 3 week period. week 1 scores should be posted by thursday or friday.

it's snowing here, too. certainly is beautiful. i love it.

frouf, curtis is getting his gear ready to fly to colo springs. he's doing like you and getting it all packed early. this will be the first time he's left me to go somewhere. i flew to texas without him a couple of times for family emergencies, but this is his first. i almost had to push him out the door. now i think he's getting excited. (so am i)

rhonda, i'm glad your former in-laws are getting some help. bless their hearts.

paula, pizza sounds good. i'm glad you figured some in your program. events need to be celebrated in style. happy birthday, sarah!!

I am having a very sad day. I just can't stop thinking about life and death and how very blessed we are to be alive and healthy!

A coworker lost his son on Saturday due to an accident last Thursday. The boy, Chris, was a pitcher on his baseball team and was warming up before a tournament. He was in a cage. There was an adjacent cage where the same thing was going on. Nobody knew that there was a little hole in each cage's netting. The batter in the adjacent cage hit a hard line drive, where the ball went thru the hole in his netting, thru the hole in the next netting, and hit Chris in the back of the head. He fell, then sat up. He was conscious while they were rushing to him to give aid, then lost consciousness. He had surgery that night but was in grave condition. And he passed away Saturday afternoon.

He was 17 years old. He has a MySpace page that he had logged into Thursday morning, and then Thursday afternoon it was practically all over. In just a matter of minutes! My best feeling while reading his page was where it says "Heroes" and he had answered "Parents." At least his mom and dad knew that he loved them very much. He had also recently signed up to be an organ and tissue donor. A little 10-year old girl in Arkansas got his heart and she had literally hours to live before receiving the transplant.

It is just so difficult to understand why these things happen. His dad is the nicest man imaginable. He had recently moved into an office outside of our B-2 area and after he was settled in, I stopped in to introduce myself and welcome him to the "neighborhood."

I just can't stop thinking about it.

Okay, as for me: I was at 139.0 this morning and was mighty unhappy about it. I don't allow very much of a regain before going into super diligent mode, so it's time. I have never lost and regained and refuse to do it now.

So starting tomorrow morning, I'm hard core. I have fallen off the wagon over the weekend because (1) Friday Judd and FIL called to say meet us at the Mexican restaurant down the road. I did. (2) Saturday we had to drop by inlaws to pick things up, and they said let's go eat. Joe's Crab Shack, here we come. (3) Yesterday we were out all day and stopped into Taco Bell between errands.

Those three days, combined with not drinking enough water, managed to put two pounds back on. That is unacceptable so I'm mad, which is a good thing. I can turn that anger into resolve and get past this little bump in the road.

Kathy, that's a horrible thing that happened to that young man. I understand your sadness.

I have really been struggling with sick kids. Yes, they've been sick (AGAIN) all this last week, and the youngest is just driving me nuts. She wants to cling to me all the time, and much as I love her, I don't need a 3 year old attached to me constantly! She's an anxious little soul, so being sick probably really bothers her. Anyway, at least they are generally healthy, and living. I should be glad for that.

Angela

Kathy, I'm so sorry for your coworker's loss. Life is SO precious.

Oh, Kathy, I just read your posts and the link. Horrible. I'm so sorry. When I was in high school, three good friends went hunting and you know the story from there. The gun of one discharged, killing one of the other two. The entire town was devastated, and, as you can see, we still talk about it.

You're right too. It doesn't take much to put a few pounds back on. Hopefully, they'll be off just a quickly.

Yes, Angela, be grateful. It's hard when our patience is being tried, but count your blessings! I can remember when my late husband died, that when friends complained about arguments with their partners, I would always think how lucky they were to have a partner to argue with!

The snow is still falling here, but it is slowing. The wallpaper is 2/3 finished!

Good night all,
Rhonda

Kathy - I can certainly understand your sadness - what a loss and in such an awful way! I certainly hope the cages are inspected/repaired as required - there was no need for this tragedy. Makes me sad just thinking about it.

Rhonda - good job w/the wallpaper - full steam ahead. (and yes I did go into another Payless but alas no black or pink shoes for this froufie!).

Sandra - glad Curtis is getting ready for his trip - I bet he will be super excited to go and very happy to get back home to you too! Good luck in your upcoming tournament! I will be thinking of you!

Angela - sorry the kiddies are not feeling well - and yes no one wants a clingy child - but being sick I'm sure she is more needy than usual? Hope she gets better fast!

Walked the mall while dd danced - got her a new $50!!! makeup case for dance competitions (and yet she complains cuz there is no built in mirror!)....and she window shopped mainly - luckily my suitcase is packed so no excuse to buy anything else (okay looking for a pair of red fuzzy slipper socks to go with my nightie - my goodness this is hard to find!). Of course another invoice (for costume jewellery) when I picked her up $48 and she informed me that her tutu for her ballet costume is going to cost $150!!! Can you believe that? This is insane - I will certainly be contacting the school about this - how can anyone afford this? I explained to dd - you know those spring clothes you wanted in March - well guess what? you're getting a tutu instead - she was not too pleased - but told her she had to make a choice! WOW! I guess I should go to the basement and my printing press rolling so I can make some more money!

And the strangest thing happened today - I had trouble sleeping last night - tossing and turning and had a flash of 'intelligence' - for some reason I thought I should check the expiration date on my epipen (carry it due to nut/peanut allergy) - not sure why I thought this as I rarely even look at it (thank god). Now sometime this afternoon I finally remembered this 'thought' and checked the pen and lo and behold it expires in March 2007!! (they're usually good for a couple of years). How freaky is that? I am SO GLAD I checked it as it would not be very smart to travel w/expired medication (altho I'm sure it would probably be good to the end of the month?) - but not taking any chances so called in prescription for a fresh one for my trip! I just find this so freaky!

Ds a bit sunburned but otherwise in good shape - had a very good time - but with realistic expectations - while others complained alot about the food, etc - I kept asking him if anyone got sick or anything he said no. Then asked him to return the Immodium I gave him (just in case) so I could take it with me - well he had to use it - several times? So you weren't sick? Na - maybe too many drinks? Ya right! Anyhow he seems to have survived - now to get him to unpack, do his laundry and put luggage away - wish me luck!

Frouf

that is so sad, kathy. i can't imagine losing a child. i am proud of you for getting back on program. i need to do the same.

angela, i hope your dd's get better soon.

rhonda, 2/3 through? that's good. tell doyle i talked to derik today. kennedy is going to be a page for 1/2 a day in the texas house of representatives. (she's 8 years old.) derik thinks she'll do this during spring break.

frouf, that is weird. good thing you are psychic. i got a list of tsa acceptable/non acceptable items for curtis. he's been scrambling getting all ready.

Good morning all.

Kathy, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of such a young man. It seems like such a feak accident....I do think it very generous of the family to donate his organs though. When our son was so sick, his only chance was a heart transplant, which for an infant is very scarce. My freinds daughter has gotten 2 double lung transplants in her short 10 year old life - she is a miracle and doing wonderful. I hope the family can find some peace in the fact that he is living on... I know it won't take away the pain, I'll say a prayer for them and for you. Don't let the scale discourage you - today is a new day - for me as well!!!

Frouf, its woman's intuituion! I do strongly believe that. Good thing you thought of it with time to get a new one.

Angela, hugs to you with the sick kids. I get stressed out enough with just one, I can only imagine it with 3!

Well, off to post my menu, start a beef stew, call in a few perscriptions and get ready for the day! BBL