Hi ladies,

Sorry Heather, I totally forgot that today is Monday! We were up early and out of the house before 7 am. We met MIL and BIL up in the city for breakfast. This was in lieu of doing a big dinner tomorrow. Then we made a trip to the grocery store. A lot of not very nice people out there today! So we're in for the rest of the holiday.

DH is making a ham for this evening. We'll have that along with broccoli salad, skinny mashed potatoes and some other veggies. Tomorrow we're doing brunch.

I jumped on the scale this morning. Holding in there at 258.8. That means so far I've not gained during the holiday season.

Heather - I think we are saying the same thing about the "here and now". My biggest fault (IMHO) is procrastination. I'll clean house tomorrow, I'll do laundry tomorrow, I'll exercise tomorrow, I'll eat better tomorrow, etc. I want to be focusing on what I can do today that has no real reason to be postponed for tomorrow.

Ruth - Enjoy your company!

to everyone! Merry Christmas Eve!

Look at the wonderful email I just got. Isn't this fabulous and just in time for Christmas!

Due to your effort, sincerity, courage and trustworthiness you showed at the course of the transaction I want to compensate you and show my gratitude to you with the sum of $1,000,000.00 One Million United State Of America Dollars I have authorized Mr. Nick Brown where I deposited my money to issue you international certified bank draft cashable at your bank.

What's sad is that I get 4-5 of these a day and some people fall for it and respond.

Monday? Only Monday?? I worked all day yesterday, and between that and having tomorrow off, I don't think I'll know what day it is for - 2 more weeks or so.

I have a few minutes before we start the next phase of payroll, so I'm checkin' in. These past few days, the whooooole food thing has gone down the drain. My drain I'm afraid. I sure wish I could get tired of chocolate for more than an hour at a time. I DID make a civilized dinner for DH & myself last night - baked chicken, yam, peas - but my stars, I've never seen such a flow of goodies in my life as here at work. I'm still wishing I could get back to Curves for a couple months just to get me back in the exercise swing. I just can't bring myself to use the treadmill for what it was designed for.

I rode last night. I also let Shelby, the 14yo who rides my little Cody (morgan-arab) get on Gabriel for the very first time. They both did great, and you should have seen her face. She was floating - speechless even. She couldn't find the words to describe him, and I could totally understand. I just had her on the lunge line, walking and practicing halts. Once or twice I kissed to him to engage his walk more, and her eyes would about pop when he swung those long, strong legs forward under him more. But she never stopped grinning like an idiot. It was delightful!! Gabe was a bit concerned to have a stranger up there, but I think he didn't mind that she's a tiny thing, light as a feather. Perhaps he was just looking around at her to be sure there was, in fact, someone actually ON his back. After 'mom', Shelby is just a whisp, but she could still shift her shoulders back just an inch or two and he would halt on the spot, just as he should. I love that boy!

I wonder if she's stopped grinning yet?

The MERRIEST of CHRISTMAS'S to those of you who celebrate it. To both those that do & don't, I wish you peace, laughter and love today and always.

TERRI - You snuck in on me! You sincere & trustworthy millionaire, you! HaHa!

As for doing all that housework tomorrow, I don't see the problem. I just checked my schedule, and yup, 'tomorrow' is when it's all scheduled! What? Don't you think it will be there tomorrow??

Terri -- I was confused that it was monday today too -- and I do think we're saying the same thing. Getting "discipline" is about a lot more than food, it seems, for both of us!!

Happy holidays to those who celebrate! I'm off for my holiday soon but will pop in a bit this week.

Up late playing on line and doing last-minute wrapping, and had to stop in and say...

A Very Merry Christmas to all my 3FC Friends! May your holiday be the BEST!

I love you all!

Merry christmas everybody!. From my family to yours...Ruth

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to stop in and wish everyone a

Very Merry Christmas
and the most
Wonderful New Year!

I think of you guys often and hope you are all doing well.

Love ya bunches!

Merry Christmas everyone! Have a wonderful day!

Its a "no guilt" day. That means if you do go nuts with food, no bad feelings over it. No regrets. Tomorrow starts anew.

Morning gals,

Did everyone have a great holiday? Ours was so quiet and we loved it. There was nothing on TV so we watched The Sopranos Season 1 DVD's all day. In between episodes, I'd get up and do some procrastinated cleaning and laundry. We talked to several family members so that was good. Our brunch was yummy even if DH didn't like the scones we made. Too dry for him. But I was satisfied just to make them and try it. DH and I are pretty good about being satisfied with getting our fill and then throwing the rest away. That's going in the trash this morning and not on my butt.

Daisy has decided that she's my girl. She loves to get up on the couch with me and sleep right beside me. Heaven forbid that anyone else gets to the couch before she does. I told DH that we need another couch. One for the dogs and one for us. Funny, we never used to let Bear up on the couch but we do these. Although I am not too lenient about them using the furniture as part of their play and its not a mountain to stand on top of and leap on others from.

This will be a short week. Yahoo!!! Then my family is getting together for Christmas on Saturday. One more big food day to get through. The problem with my family getting together after the big holiday is that everyone brings all their leftover cookies and candies and there will be mounds of bad things to eat.

I was so into non-buying mode this year that I forgot to get something for my mother. I realized that yesterday when I was talking with her on the phone. I can't believe I did that. And her birthday is on the 1st too. At least I've got until Saturday.

This week begins budget training for DH. I am so excited to be turning that over.

That will give me time to figure out how to use the Ipod Nano DH bought me for Christmas. He wasn't supposed to buy anything because that was the agreement. We had agreed that we would go to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and invest in a shiatsu chair massager that will hopefully make his back a little less painful and get one of the new George Foreman grills to help him cook healthier for us. I was very surprised when he handed me the Ipod. Because its a good one and that he picked it out since he is not into all the electronic toys and gadgets. Now I just need a 10 yo to teach me what to do.

Since its back to work today, I best get moving. At least it will be quiet in the office today. My boss is out this week so I won't be staying late!

Have a great day! to all!

TERRI, I understand about forgetting a gift for someone important. As I pulled in to my drive Christmas eve night, I realized that with thinking of every place I was going and who I'd see and checking those people off my list, I forgot my dear, dear friend who LIVES with us! Thankfully she was spending a couple days with family and I was able to redeem myself today before I was caught. As far as my mom, I mailed the package Saturday. The guys said it could be there Wednesday for $10. I said "How much for a Monday delivery?" He said "$50." I said "Wednesday will be fine. If it weren't late, she'd think it wasn't coming." Everyone else in line with late packages cracked up. I guess I'm not the only one. At least I sent flowers early. The real hold up was trying to find a gift for my dear step-dad, but inspiration came at the last moment.

We, Bill & I, weren't supposed to be spending any money on each other either. I bought him a few shirts he really needed for the truck and a book he happened to mention wanting. But when I got home from work on Monday night, he had TOTALLY cleaned and rearranged my back two rooms, putting in new clothes & shoe racks and everything. It was AMAZING! He must have busted his wonderful buns all day. He seriously earned the DH of the year award.

Because we worked Sunday and another whole day Monday (payroll must go on) they let us go home early today with pay. That was definately cool. Of course, the taxes still have to be paid on time, and tomorrow will be one long panic, but oh well.

I stopped by my old Curves tonight and am considering rejoining. I'd have to get there before work, or it wouldn't get done. It would cost money when I have a perfectly good treadmill, weights, exercise ball & work out DVD's right in my own livingroom. But it was fun, and it would give me a place to go and do some commited exercising. I'm still thinking about it. Until the 20th of Jan, when the horses are moved and have full care (so I don't have to do stalls EVERY night) I don't know what I'll be able to do on my own.

Have fun with the iPod, Terri. I hope everyone is having fun with new toys.

Hi ladies,

I'm sitting here at work looking out at another couple of inches of snow that we got yesterday. This is the first time in years that we've had four weeks straight of sleet and snow. More snow again tonight. Sure is wrecking havoc on my horse riding and dog walking.

I did decide that doggies and I can do obedience training in the evenings. I have to take each one to the bedroom to limit the distractions. Ruby, especially, needs to be worked to make her more adoptable. Not like I'm missing anything good on TV.

I figured out how to download for the Ipod. Now I am going to have to work on getting my CDs transferred over to it. 99 cents per song will add up too quick.

DH talked to the doctor this morning about lap band surgery. With his disabilities and health issues, I think it could be good for him. But its a big step so he needs to think it through carefully. We do know someone that has had it done recently so he can call and talk to him. Then to fight with the insurance company to get it covered.

I don't know much else. to everyone!

Hi! Can I (re)join in? (I was here a few months ago, but drifted away.)

I just restarted WW online today -- I'm a teacher and I wanted to take advantage of the Christmas break, when I have more control over my schedule. Made it through one day within points, which to me is a victory

Glad to be here, and look forward to meeting you all.

Well, semi good morning. We are getting some much needed rain this morning.

I am not feeling very chatty this morning, and most of you must not be either. LOL!

Hi bloomer, glad you made it back to us. Things move a little slow here, but stick around.

The one thing I have been careful of is to keep that darn scale under the dreaded 3 mark. Ouchie, this morning it eased up a fraction over again! That mens I gained nearly 7 lbs for my holiday madness. I don't think it is all weight, but then I have been putting away a lot of sweets I don't normally eat at all. tick tock, time to get real with myself again

Hope you are all well and enjoying the holiday season. Ruth

Ah, Ruth, I know how you feel. At least the hardest part of the season with almost all the goodies is over. Just step away from the cookies, and here we go again!

WELCOME BACK, Bloomer! What grade/subject do you teach? That's certainly not an easy field to be in, but the rewards can be great. It's something I wish I hadn't let my dad talk me out of when i was young enough to get started at it. Congrats on the Day 1, and I hope Day 2 is going well for you. Getting started can be the hardest part, can't it?

TERRI, what a great thing to work on while the weather is so ugly - your doggy obedience I mean. I've always said if I had to choose between an indoor arena and an outdoor, I'd take the outdoor because I'm not a winter person. But I have been taking advantage of the indoor this year, far more than usual, just because of Gabe. It stinks not having our own place (as you might remember) but at least the indoor arena is one advantage.

Planning ahead today meant throwing the last 2 baked chicken tenders in a container, pouring green beans in as would fit, and topping it with some salsa. A bit of shredded cheese would have been nice. I grabbed an orange to go with it. Very fast & simple. Gee, how can I convince myself that eating right is too hard and time consuming??

After a week of sugar binging leading up to the holiday, I'm dealing with some withdrawal. This morning I was having a terrible time staying away and getting my work done. I finally did have ONE small piece of candy, and then remembered the vitamin B caplets in my desk, so I chased the sugar down with that. I'm feeling infinately better at this point. Needing something to have on hand in the future, without taking in any straight sugar, I bought a pack of cheese & crackers. I like them, but not enough to be overwhelmed with craving. If I need a small carb pick-me-up, next time I can settle for a cracker or two, instead of a far worse demon.

Now, all I have to do is face my step-mom's temptations over the weekend. hopefully she won't do anything special - like go to the bread shop and pick up something especially awesome. I'm not 100% back on target - for instance I had some of the pizza that I brought home for Dh last night. But I am trying really hard and am doing well, overall. I want to build on that momentum, not start over again next Monday!

If I can't check in until then, have a wonderful, successful weekend everyone!