Morning ladies,

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week? Time is flying by. This is a great week to get focused on healthy eating. Never too early to prep for the big food day. Actually, if we start eating smaller portions now and drinking lots of water, it should help us not to be able to eat as much as we normally would. Lots of veggies this week and next too.

I've done my morning exercise. Although I did not want to get up. I had trouble going to sleep last night. Probably because of being out in the dust gave me a small allergy headache. And it was so stuffy in the house.

I'm going to feed the mutts and hit the shower. That should wake me up.

Have a great OP day and let's start making smart, healthy choices.

to all!

I'm with you on the healthy choices, Terri. We're trying to plan our Thanksgiving meal. Other than pie, it won't be too bad, I think. I also plan to hit the gym a little extra!

Today begins the last week of the term, with exams next week. Oy.

Good Morning Ladies!

Yeah, I've been awol, again. We had a long weekend with Veterans Day and I sure needed it, but still seemed to get nothing done! How does that happen?

Saturday I got my hair cut and colored - ($95! - I need to find a cheaper stylist!) Then I went shopping and got my DS a winter coat and scoped out some sales. I got a couple of tops for $5 each at Dillards. That was good. Then I worked on my gown for the event a bit more and didn't seem to accomplish much more. Sunday I got up and hit JoAnns Veterans Day sale. Score! I had to go help cook for our event next Saturday after that and spent a good portion of the day at a friends doing that. Monday I made it to the office for a couple hours, FINISHED my gown (It's so pretty!) and had to go to a meeting for the event. I can't WAIT until the event is over!

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I have to make my DH a new tunic (that'll take an evening at least) and clean my filthy house. We are hosting the after-party - so we'll have 50 or so strangers in our house Saturday night. Looks like my week is full.

I have to run now. Work calls!

Hi. Fast post. Gabe comes home tonight. My friend with cancer is STILL determined to cater a weddin this weekend, so I'm going to help her. Work is still good. Diet is going OK - but will be better when my horse is working me daily. Back to work!

Hi - just a quick checkin - so busy at work! Three more weeks and maybe I can take a breath! Why exactly did I start working retail?

Hi,All
I'm baaaaack! I'm back from the wilds of Ohio. My sister survived the surgery and is back home and recovering. She was in the hospital 11 days and developed that MRSA at one of her incission sites! They gave her the antibiotic of choice and sent her home. I had to help her a lot over the next week. Her wound ( an ugly and scary thing, I'll tell you) had to be packed twice a day and I did that - gloves and sterilizing routines each time. But the wound is healing from the inside out and progressing well. So I felt able to come home last Sunday and now I'm trying to catch up on everything I've been missing.
I wasn't real good on the diet plan because I ate whatever i fixed for her and fortunately she is able to eat anything and all is functioning well. But now that I'm home, I can get back on track. Thanksgiving will be easier because I'm going to a friends house and I won't have all that food sitting around my house. LOL Who am I kidding?
Have a good week all.
Bearcub

Hi All

Yikes Bearcub - MSRA is some scary stuff - glad she is recovering!

Val - Have Fun with Gabe!

Lilion - are you going to post pictures of the gown for the rest of us to ooh and aah over?

Terri - I always admire morning exercisers - don't know how you do it!

Heather - it's always good to be able to plan your own meal. You must be on a quarter system to be having finals already? Do you get a break before the next term starts?

Well I had my Thanksgiving all planned. We were staying home. It was going to be low key and healthy. Then my SIL calls and says she can't have her Mom over because by SIL's hubby is insisting they go to his family's this year. That is fair, because they haven't gone for three years. My MIL cannot pull off at Thanksgiving dinner anymore. So we are going over there and I am going to cook. I can control it somewhat - but DH's family is notoriously fussy so that makes it harder. I suppose I can cook what I want and they can eat it or go hungry. I ordered a pasture raised turkey from a farmer - that should be tasty and I'll try to balance his family's passion for white food with some of my need for actual vegetables :-).

Today was a great on plan day for me. I'm headed back down the right path.

Good to hear people working to stay on track. My eating has stabilized. I'd love to exercise a bit more, but am staying on track. I'm still working too hard tho!

Val-- You must be buzzing with excitement about Gabe

Lilion -- DRESS PICTURES!! Nuf said.

luja -- we are on a quarter system. The nice part of our system is that classes don't start up again till January. The problem is that I am still going to have to work hard in December... Ah well...

Hello there, My company just left. I enjoyed thier visit, but it is nice to have my house to myself again. It needs a good cleaning, but I am not ready to do that yet.

Ok, I have to admit that I didn't just fall off the wagon, I jumped off oh so willingly. I know it is going to be hard to talk myself into getting back on plan. No need to try to find the silver lining in that, just have to do it. GRRRR! So stupid!

I would love to linger and do replies, but I think I had better do some work first. See Ya later. Ruth

Ruth - we all fall off the wagon - I think I am climbing back on myself. I feel stupid as well. One step at a time and all that!
Luja - Isn't it amazing how fast the plans can change? It makes my head spin.
Bearcub - glad to hear your sister is recovering.

Tomorrow - will be a better day. We have a new beginning each day -

I'm trying to convince myself --- ha ha!!

Morning all,

Sorry for being AWOL this week but I've had to be at work by 8:00 am most days this week. Which doesn't sound that bad except for me, I have to leave before 7:00. Actually, I'm kinda liking getting here early. I may make that my goal. I'll have to work in 30 minutes of stationary bike and see if I can get organized to get out the door by 6:45 each day.

Time for my conference call. to all!

Hi all, just a quickie! I was MIA yesterday because I stayed home sick (tired, more likely) and then when I dragged my big old butt out of bed it got stuck to the couch for several hours and when I dragged it off of there I did some sewing and that was that. No computer time.

I'm just exhausted and not sleeping well. When the tournament is over and I have that one stress gone maybe I'll sleep.

You will get dress photos next week, I promise. I have too much to do to pose for photos this week, but when I'm in the get-up Saturday I'll make sure to get some digitals I can post.

Got to run!

Hi ladies,

I met my goal today. I was up early, did 40 minutes of exercise, out the door by 6:58 and in my office by 7:46. Now to just keep food on track and get some exercise tonight. I realize that I am going to have to start doing the WATP tapes at night or else make myself walk the dogs in the dark and cold. If I am going to get this fat gut off, I am going to have to get to walking.

On that cheery note, I must get back to work. Work has gone from depressing to way too much work to do but I am okay with being that busy.

Lilion - Good luck on your event and have a great time. You should have good weather this weekend.

Valerie - How's Gabe? Isn't it great to have your boy home? I must ride both boys this weekend.

to everyone!! Happy Friday!

I feel like a mole. It's so dark early now that I feel like I should be in bed by 8:00! The upside is that the fall color here on Maryland's eastern shore is absolutely the most spectacular I can remember in many years. It must have been the dry summer. Everytime I drive by a gorgeous red or orange tree or down a tree lined road it makes me want to stop and paint. I love painting fall scenes.
This is the time of year that I tend to eat too much though - chili in crock pot, vegetable soup, etc. you name it - all the comfort foods. Oh, well. One day at a time, huh?
WEll, off to the mole hole. Have a good weekend all!
Bearcub