Morning gals,

I almost forgot its Monday. We are actually off work today, which is a new holiday for us since all the integration. However, I should be in the office and will be doing things from home off and on.

The farrier is coming this morning and there is a wicked cold wind outside. BRRR! Gosh, I have barely fooled with the boys for what seems like a long time because of the weather.

I got involved in a puzzle yesterday and now my shoulder and back muscles are very tight and sore. I haven't done a puzzle in years but this is a beautiful horse scene that mom gave us for Christmas. I was obsessed about finishing the border. Its a 1000 piece, 20 x 27 inch puzzle. And I can't find two border pieces. Wonder how many months this will take me?? And how successful will I be in keeping dogs from eating the pieces! ??

Karsta - Welcome to the group. Yep, I'm a MO gal. So is Lilion. I'm on the western side. I look forward to getting to know you better on this journey!

Heather - How was your day off? I am sort of doing that this 3-day weekend. Sometimes you just have to give yourself a break.

Anne - Still, 90 minutes a day is very good. Not only just from the "ability" to do it but from the commitment to actually do it. I am impressed.

I just finished writing a review that was due on Friday so I better get this posted and move around. to all!

Howdy all,

Last week looks like it was crazy for everyone.

I'm still focusing on trying to get the chaos under control. Making slow progress, I guess.

No classes today, which means I miss my once-a-week class, which is a huge boon of time.

I'm working on my to-do list. I got a nice hard-back notebook; each project gets its own page. The list isn't yet complete... I work on it and then I work on tasks that I think I should be working on instead of spending time on making a list

Val--So sorry about your friend. It's terrible to lose people too early. Much love to you.

Heather--Does your personnel committee include hiring? That's way too much.

Terri - it was hard to start (the exercise), but with the weather (cold) and my employment situation (none) there really isn't any excuses. The usual ones like being too tired at the end of the day, or not finding enough time, just aren't acceptable for me at the moment. Although I did manage to screw around for a few months in the fall before committing to it. I usually find the food easier to change than adding regular exercise. I'm not really sure why this time is different.

I did actually find a job that I will apply to this week. It's short-term, although I'm overqualified for it, but I figure if it's not permanent they might overlook that. I went through the interview process for the same type of job in the summer. It was close to home, with poor pay, but when you're unemployed you're less picky. I just couldn't convince the person hiring that I wouldn't be looking to jump ship for something better. I mean she was probably right, but since it's six months later and I'm still looking I'd still be there. It might have taken me years to find something. In the end I hope getting into school won't be a problem, as it's a good long-term change.

Vortex - my chaos is self-inflicted this week. I'm low on soup choices (I make a freeze a lot of stuff ahead), and I've decided to start spring cleaning (or at least starting to go through the junk and thin it out).

Good Evening Ladies!

Yes, it's really late for me to be posting, but I've been so busy at work lately I haven't gotten much of a chance. And then I skipped the whole weekend! I can't believe I haven't posted since Thursday. I've been OP all week. I got on the Infernal Machine Friday, took the weekend off, then did 24 minutes this morning before heading to the office. (On a HOLIDAY! And they don't think I work hard enough! ) Anyway, I've exceeded my exercise goal - which was only set at 300 minutes, but I figured I'd rather set an easy one and exceed it than a hard one, not get it, and get discouraged. Tough Love doesn't work for me.

Karsta, I'm also from Missouri, in our lovely little capital! Nice to see another Missouri gal!

Valerie Wow! You had a ROUGH week, bless you!

Angela You sound like you are getting organized - or at least working toward it! I'm a major list maker - problem is I keep finding the lists months later and I haven't done a darn thing on them. But I keep thinking about getting organized!

CdN Good luck on the job search! I can't imagine how I'd get by without one - but the way my office is right now I may find out and it scares me to death!

Well, I best go now and get to bed. Got to spend a whole day at the office tomorrow, instead of 1/2 a day with no one else there like I did today. I really can't think of too many things I'd rather do less than go in tomorrow, I have hearings from But I suppose someone has to do them.

Good morning ladies, not much going on around here. Nothing to write about!

Terri, the casserole was very good, but I am not sure how it would be with sweetpotatoes. I like sweet potatoes most any way you cook them, and my DH loves them fried, natch.


I did forget to mention that the hamburger meat was cooked first. I always cook up a batch for the freezer. I buy lean hamburger, put it in a plastic colander in a bowl and micro until it is done, stirring it up to break it up. That takes all water, grease etc. out of the meat. Makes it a little dry, but better for you. I do the same with white meat turkey.

Well, ladies, I need to get going this morning. Have errands to take care of today. I hope you are all doing well. See Ya later, Ruth

Morning gals,

Not much to blab about this morning. I was up at 5:09 for exercise. I had to force myself but I feel much better for having done so. Two things I plan to focus on this week: portions and quantity of food and intensity of exercise. I need to decrase one and increase the other.

I'm trying to get to work earlier this week. Lots to do and I don't want to be staying late every night. Blah.

to all!

Something happened to my dog this morning. She's a rescue, so not sure of her exact age, but the vet said when I got her she was about 1-1/2 yrs old. I've had her for about 14 years, so she's up there. She's been on Rymadyl for arthritis for a few months. This morning, she was walking o.k., a little wobbly, which has been normal as of late. I went to get dressed for the day and when I came into the living room, she was plopped down on her hind legs, shaking and there was a small amount of vomit on the floor. She doesn't seem to be in any kind of pain, but I can see she may be confused. She is still taking treats and food. I had to harness her rear to take her out so she could relieve herself, and she urinated, but no poop. She had diarrhea yesterday, also. She seems to be her normal self, personality wise, she just can't lift her back end.

I am calling the Vet this afternoon to see if she can be seen.

This dog is my best bud. She's been with me through thick and thin and actually has slept with me in bed most of her life, until the arthritis set in. If I loose her, I will be devastated. It will take a while to get over it. I've had lots of pets through my life and I've loved them all, but never, ever one like this. My heart is breaking, I can't type anymore.

Just got the washer and drier delivered. Of course there's something else... the closet that the hook ups are in is not quite wide enough, so I can't open the washing machine door as wide as it goes. So now I have to ask my landlord if they'll take the doors off the darn closet. Still, I'm washing clothes in a washing machine that didn't require me put quarters in it, so I'm pretty excited about that.

Got lots of school work to do today, plus errands to run, plus a fiction reading to go to at 5... so must get running.

Karen--Hope all goes well at the vet. Much love to you.

Anne--Good luck with the interview. Being "between jobs" is no fun, though it sounds like you're putting the time to good use.

Lilion--Exercising AND staying OP. You rock! Thinking about getting organized is good enough if it's not causing you any problems.

Terri--I wish I could get up and going that early! Hope you can get home at a reasonable time.

Oh Karen. Please kiss that sweet old pup for me. I hope she's better and has lots more time with you. I understand, and I just wish there were words to comfort you. Losing Peter was the worst thing in my life. What's her name?

Friends, I'm alive. Had a WONderful night at the barn last night, in spite of the cold. The boys had all had outside socialization time, I got to kiss on Gabe and even work with him a bit (YEAH!) and both my girls were there and got a real live actual lesson, instead of the hurry-up-&-ride-while-I-do-stalls that they've gotten for the last two months. There were no unfriendly faces to deal with, no friction. It feels SO good to be back there!

I'm taking the night off tonight to work out and get more sleep. OK, and watch BL, too. Gotta get back to work right now.

Terri - I've found an appropriate box, and I SWEAR I'll get to the post office Saturday. Won't really have a chance before that.

Karen - best wishes for the dog. It's so hard once they reach a certain age. After the last cat died it took me almost two years to decide to get a new one (actually got two). We kept all of them as long as we could. I hope this is something that is either transient, or can be dealt with.

On the job front it turns out I will go see them next week. I get the enthusiastic vibe (but it's from a headhunter, they're often clueless, sometimes just happy they found someone to send). I think I am slightly nuts being out of work, over analyzing and over organizing. The freezer has never been so well stocked with cooked meals and soup for lunches. The only good thing that came out of it is (maybe) a decision to try and go back to school, which would allow me to move more into the process side of manufacturing (from quality). I actually prefer to fix the problems, instead of just highlight them.

And although I know it's not rational, there's part of me that thinks I could use this to reinvent myself. Three years of school could mean that I'm finished with the weight loss before going back out into the workplace. Although I can't say that I've ever felt discriminated about because of it (but who knows).

Terri -- My day off was lovely!

Angela -- No, the personnel committee doesn't also involve hiring. I am just ALSO on TWO searches! Right now I'm the only full time female in the department and I thought it was important for the search that it represent what little diversity there is. Looks like we'll be hiring one female at least, so that's good!

Wow, missing a once a week class on a 10 week term is almost a disaster for me!

Karen -- Oh, honey, get the poor baby to the vet. I sooo sympathize. Our dogs are our babies, and the older one especially is going to be devastating when he goes. He's also on rymadyl. It made a huge difference in his life.

Well, I've had a really crazy busy start to the week and am starting to see how I might make it through the week.

I actually got up and went to work out BEFORE work this morning. It took some real determination - I LOVE my pillow - but I did it. Tonight: Stall cleaning. If I keep the intake down, I should burn some tonage before the day is out.

I hope all is well with you my friends. Take care of yourselves as you would a loved one.

Good morning ladies, How are all of you this morning?

I am okey dokey, but not making any progress on the scales. Probably because I keep getting sidetracked. Not gaining, not losing. I have got to do something about that! I find that I can do three or four weeks of being op and then, for wahtever reason, start to drift away from it. I am sure I need a shrink to explain that to me. but for today I am commited to doing things right. Had a good op day yesterday too.

I tried to post yesterday but couldn't. I am not sure what that was either. My SIL said my mother board is going bad, so maybe that is why I couldn't do anything on here. He is buildng me a new tower. He has kept me in computers for the last several years. Any time I have a problem, I call him. LOL! He is a chemical Engineer, not a computer whiz, but he loves to work on the computers. Thank goodness! I just have to wait for them to visit.

Youngest daughter is driving me nuts! She and her DH are divorcing. Long story! She is working two jobs, so I know she doesn't have a lot of time at home, but I can't get her to stay in touch. I could just shake her! KIDS! No matter how old they get, we still want to know they are all right.

Take care, ruth

Morning ladies,

I'm here and not too awake. Last night, I lost my whole evening to being on the phone. I do not like that. We talked to our friend in Boston who had lap-band surgery last fall. DH and I both are going in for a first consultation appointment in February. I decided yesterday that I've tried for years and not achieved what I want and that I am going to be just like my dad. 300 pounds when he passed away five years ago and they had to get a large size casket. I know its not an easy fix and that I still have to do the work but if it will help me be successful then great. We will have to deal with the insurance company and that could be the stumbling block. But we'll see.

I ordered myself a new pair of cross-training shoes this week. Got 'em last night and they feel great. I had attempted to do the Biggest Loser low impact cardio workout and my feet didn't like it; so new shoes were in order. Now I'm ready to go!

Karen - My heart broke for you as I read your post. What did the vet say? It is so hard to have to face when they get older and have health problems. Let us know how she's doing. Our hearts are right there with you.

Angela - Hoorah for the W&D! Having it not fit quite right sounds like something we'd do. But at least its in and functioning.

Valerie - That's great that the boys are all moved and its a much less stressful situation. That must be a big burden off your mind. Good job on the workout!

I better get moving. to Heather, Ruth and everyone!