If you have 50 or more pounds to lose, jump on in and join us! You'll be sure to get a warm welcome!

Good morning everyone! We are a very quiet group lately- and I've certainly been one of the causes! I'll try to do better! Linda referred to my "cheery posts"- well, they wouldn't have been too cheery lately, which is why I hadn't posted.
We are having a real cold spell here- the temp fell to the upper 20's last night! Not a very springy first day of Daylight Savings!
Both my little sweeties are doing well, although dgs seem to be either getting a cold or suffering from his allergies. He is doing well as a big brother, although he has a lot of moments where he is being the typical 2 year old and testing every limit, especially at times when dgd is getting attention. Between the kids and the dogs it's like a 3 ring circus around here sometimes!
Yesterday I decided I needed a day of R & R, so I went to a big newish mall about an hour from us. I got a manicure, had my hair cut, tried out this neat water massage machine in the mall (you don't get wet and stay fully clothed- you are in a tube. I also bought a blazer, a blouse and a couple household things I wanted. It was fun, though I wish a friend could have gone with me. That sort of day is more fun when shared. However, going alone beat not going at all!
I also stoped at Trader Joe's- hadn't been there in ages, and I'm glad I went. Have you all seen/tried Kashi's newest cereal? It's called Good Friends Cinnamon Raisin Crunch, and it's really good! It's got 150 calories per cup, and only 1.5 gms of fat with 10 grams of fiber! I'm on the 1-2-3 points system, so love that high fiber!
Linda, I was reading the back posts- I wish I had known about garlic and roses some years back! We used to have a time with them, and I hate the powdery aphid sprays! Each radish seed only makes 1 radish??? I never know that. Congrats on the pound loss. If you will pm me your email, I'll send you a picture of my little sweeties. I haven't had time to set up a First Foto site album.
Jan, I got a kick out of your dh mentioning that your kayak rides higher in the water now! I'm glad all went well with your dad's last skin cancer surgery.
Joyce, how are you and dh feeling? I've been worried about you!! Please take care of yourself.
Texaslady, you did your appointment with the doctor go on Thursday? I sure hope you don't have to have that surgery! I'll try sending you another little sweetie picture- don't know what happened before.
Janet, where are you?(like I have a lot of room to talk). How are things with your nephew?
Saara and Kendra, please come on back.
Well, ladies, I'd better run. Have a good and peaceful Sunday.
Carol

Jan, I'm glad that you and dh are enjoying oat bran. I'm still having it every day, sometimes twice. I've found that if I spray the saucepan in which I cook it (I don't use the micro for it, guess I could) with a non-stick spray, it cleans up much better than if I don't. And it is so much less expensive than boxed cold cereals. I buy my oat bran at TJ's.

Carol, I PM'd you with my address. I hadn't heard of the new Good Friends Cinnamon Raisin Crunch, it sounds good, thanks for telling us about it. I was pleased to read that you took that R&R at the mall (the water massage sounds intriguing!) and that you had the manicure, bought some things for yourself and had your hair trimmed. Good for you, I imagine that this was a long time coming. (Keep up the good work.)

Make it a great Monday!

Hi girls...sorry to have been away for so long. There just never seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done!

I'm glad that everyone seems to be doing good. Thanks to all of you who continue to inquire about my nephew. Matthew is doing good. He is slowly improving, but still has swelling in one of his legs and is still pretty bruised up. The head injury will take some time to heal, but he seems like his old self. His appetite has improved, but still isn't what it used to be. He is anxious to get his new truck, so I guess the accident hasn't slowed him down in that respect.

I don't have much time right now to post, but I wanted to check in to let y'all know that I'm still here...eating everything in sight...but still here. I'm not usually a sweets eater, but I have reached for a piece of chocolate from DD's Easter basket that her grandmother gave her everytime I have walked past it. I'm not sure what is going on, but I need to get a grip.

Well, it'a a beautiful day and I had plans to work outside after Church, but chores inside need my attention. I keep hoping that some little housework fairy will come during the night, but every morning all the chores are still there.

Carol, I want to hear more about your water massage. I saw those in a mall in Florida. We stopped to watch, but didn't have time to try one. They look very relaxing!

Have a wonderful week!!

Janet (Kudzu)

Hi, Janet! so good to hear from you. You know, I found a wonderful website from which someone named "Flylady" sends emails several times a day every day to encourage us to do housework that is doable. For instance, a "27 Fling Boogie" (go around the house with a bag and pick up that many things to either donate or throw out or put away) and work on our "hot spots" (mine is the trunk next to my chair in the family room where lots of things collect) for only 5 minutes. Her premise is that we can do anything for 15 minutes (she even suggests wearing a timer around our necks), and I have found that by following her daily advice, our house is pretty much clutter-free most of the time and things are getting cleaned! Last week we worked on "Zone 1" which was the front porch, the entryway and the dining room. I washed the big dining room window, swept the porch, and actually washed our front doors and the two wooden benches which sit on it. In the entryway, I Windex'ed the glass on a little antique dresser we have and reset our old pendulum clocks (they hadn't been running for months). Next week is "Zone 2," which is the kitchen. She also sends out "testimonials" from "flyers" who have written to her telling her how their lives have changed since they began "flying" and taking her advice to do things in bursts, rather than seeing your whole house as a huge impossibility. Her website is www.FlyLady.net. Check it out, it sounds like you are feeling a little overwhelmed (as we all do so often) Oh, she calls herself "Flylady" because she teaches flyfishing at a college!

Blessings,

Hi girls! How's everyone doing? Again, I have to apologize for being awol for so long - sorry 'bout that! Thanks for thinking about me, though.

I had my follow-up appointment last week at the gastro specialist who promptly referred me to a surgical group. So it looks like that's the way it will be going - I have an appointment with the surgeon next Monday, the 15th. Meanwhile, I get to go in on Thursday for some more "wonderful" tests & pictures. Sounds like a barrell of fun...........NOT! I think the object of this is to make you so miserable that you are grateful for the surgery! Actually, I do feel fine - at least in respect to the colon problem. However, on Easter Sunday I began to have some pretty serious back pain that turned out to be a lower back sprain - don't ask me how I did it, I haven't a clue. But it was 5 days before I could walk standing straight up again. Now it is much, much better after yet another round of pills & drugs. I swear, if it isn't one thing, it's another! It's terrible to GET OLD!

Joyce - Hope you and dh are feeling much better now. That is some pretty serious stuff going around. You have a sweet family to take care of you - now, let them! It really does take these "old bodies" a while to re-group, afterall.

Linda - I hadn't heard of the housekeeping lady you referred to but I often practice that sort of thing myself. I give myself a certain amount of time to work on a "spot" and get it under control. Last Saturday it was the kitchen counter and on Sunday it my dd's old bedroom (which is still remarkably full of wedding parafanelia). I figured I needed to at least clear off her bed in case someone has to stay with me a few days after the surgery. I really hate housekeeping so anything that works is tops in my book!

Janet - I know that you are having bad weather today - that's because it swung through her (and probably Jan's) last night. We had horrible rain, thunder & lightening. There were some tonadoes but none in our immediately area.. However, the morning commute was certainly a lot of fun..... took me 1-1/2 hours to go about 22 miles. And just when I could have used some of that early morning sunshine - we had the dark of Daylight Savings! Yuck. However, right now it is sunny and 80 - go figure. Only in Texas, I guess.

Jan - How wonderful that you and dh got away for a fun week-end. I love the riverwalk - although it has been about 10 years since I have been there and I know it is constantly changing. When we moved to San Antonio about 1980, it was so lovely and small. But the last time we returned (years ago) it had gotten so much longer! Guess it's even bigger now. We stayed at the Hyatt on the Riverwalk last time we were there - the river actually runs through the bottom of the hotel - it was SO NEAT! Sounds like a good trip to Mexico, too! Yep, I guess it was just about a year ago we were all together. What a fun time we had - makes me smile just to think about it. Those were some good "ritas" we had there - much stronger than I expected!

Carol - Thanks so much for sending me the picture of the new baby (and the "old one" too!) What cutie pies they both are! I know that your dd appreciates your help but you need to take care of yourself too. Wish I could have been there to share your mall day with you! That massage tube sounds just too cool! Could you really feel like you have had a massage? How goes the Florida move? Are you job searching in ernest yet - Gosh, May is just a few weeks away. Is your house rented now? I was thinking about you this am when I was putting "cola chicken" in the crockpot. Actually, I didn't have any diet coke so I used diet Dr. Pepper instead - perhaps I should call it "Dr. Chicken" instead of "Cola Chicken"?? Oh well, I hope it will still be good. I have a friend who used diet root beer to make hers and she swears by it!

Finished my taxes and put them in the mail this morning. I will get a couple hundred dollars back - and that's about the way I like it. Don't like Uncle Sam having my money all year just to get a big refund so I work hard at making it "come out right" every year. And I really, really, really REALLY hate to have to pay him.!Seems like I did a good job of it this year - but I am not always successful!

Gotta go for now. Everyone have a great rest of the week. Tomorrow morning's commute has GOT to be better than today's.

Texaslady, good for you for already having devised a workable cleaning plan for yourself! Today I cleaned the cooktop and it was a breeze and so doable because I didn't have to spend any longer than 15 minutes on it. I'm sorry to hear that you will need the surgery, I have been through the "preparation" for things such as this, and it is no fun. I will be thinking about, and rooting for, you.

Texaslady, I am so sorry to hear that you will need the surgery after all! I am sure it will all go well, though, and be over and done with before you know it. (My surgery last summer is a vague memory now.) Will your dd come stay with you when you get home? Congrats on getting the taxes done! We usually file for an extension, but this year managed to get them done on time, for a change. Feels so good to get that out of the way!

JOYce, I hope you and your dh are getting better every day; be sure not to overdo, now! And thanks for the email with the great link; I'm showing that to my students as an example of web animation.

Linda, thanks for the tip on the spray; that will really help. Sure wish we had a TJ's around here! Have you tried the new Kashi Heart to Heart? I'm sure TJs would have it, though it's still hard to find around here. Kind of like Cheerios, but with lots of heart-healthy stuff.

Carol, what a fun day you had at the mall! Like Texaslady, I wish we could have been there with you. I've seen those massage things on TV, and they look like they'd really work; was it really like a massage? I guess your move to Florida is coming up very soon? Are you driving there?

Janet, so glad to hear Matthew is improving. Re: the housework fairy, I seem to be waiting for her too; my house is a wreck right now. I'll have to follow your lead and get going!

Took dh to the doctor yesterday; he has a painful eye infection, even stayed home from work today (which he seldom does). He's doing so well on WW, though, and lost another 2.1 pounds last week. I'm still about the same, well, .4 down, but nowhere near the 150 kerchunk I wanted to reach by tax day. But I'm not giving up!

Am reading the Volumetrics book now, which seems to echo everything WW says. So far the major points seem to be to have lots of broth-based soups and "low energy density" foods like fruits and vegetables. Will post more when I finish reading it all.

Hope everyone's having a great Tuesday!
Regards,
Jan

Jan, I hadn't heard of the new "Heart to Heart" Kashi cereal, but I will look for it at TJ's whenever I go because I *love* Cheerios! Thanks for the tip. This morning I made my oat bran in a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup in the microwave, and of course, cleaning it was a dream. I think I'll use the measuring cup rather than a saucepan to make my cereal as often as I can (read: when it is clean and back in the cupboard). Congrats to your DH for another big loss, and to you for your .4 loss; every ounce off counts! Hope his eye heals soon, that is too bad that he missed work because it was so bad.

I poked four root ends of green onions I used in tonight's dinner into some potting soil and set the pot in the garden where it will get watered every day. I read that you can grow your own green onions by doing that. I figured it wouldn't hurt to try. And you should see all of the garlic we have coming up! I planted a lot by the roses in front. Hope those aphids get a big whiff soon and fly off to parts unknown.

texaslady My thoughts and prayers are with youas you go to the surgeons appt on Monday. I'm so sorry to read that you will have to have surgery, but I know you will feel better when it is all over.

dh and I are slowly getting back to normal. (whatever that is!)
So now that I am feeling o.k., I made an appt with the oral surgeon for a post-op/pre-op check up. He will determine if I am ready for the bone graft. But that's not til next week.

Jan, I havent tried the Heart to Heart either, but I enjoy Cheerios, so will give em a try. I haven't been to TJ's in AGES!

Tomorrow, I will start selling tickets at church for our Ladies tea, that will be next month. I will sit on the church patio in my long dress and big hat, at a table with a teapot etc on it, always attract attention, they can't get by me!

I have some albacore in the oven so better go check on it. WE are about to run out. but dh has another trip planned in July.

Linda, I'd never heard that about green onions; what a great idea! I'll try that with our very next bunch. And thanks, dh's eye is getting better every day.

JOYce, hope you sold lots of tickets to the tea today! You always have such interesting events planned at your church. Glad to hear you and your dh are feeling better now; be sure not to overdo, though!

Dh and I did tons of work in the garden this morning (with Dad moving his lawn chair from site to site, to inspect the work!) Planted geraniums, more tomatoes, rosemary, parsley, portulaca, and salvia, all of which should do ok in the heat to come. Hope that burned off some points! Dh lost .6 at ww yesterday; he went by himself, so I could go to a herb seminar nearby. Learned not to overwater or use bark mulch, and that some herbs go dormant and look dead, but they're not; just resting. Isn't that odd!?

Hope everyone's having a great weekend! I'm up at school getting grades and lesson plans done this afternoon, at least I hope I will.

Hi to Texaslady, Janet, and Carol!

Jan

Jan, why is it we shouldn't use bark mulch? Sounds like you and DH did a lot of work in your garden, and I love that your DD followed with his lawn chair. I would really like to be able to meet him one day...maybe in our next lifetime?

Linda, the herb expert said that the bark mulch takes nutrients away from the herbs (as it decomposes) and harbors insects. She recommended granite or limestone as a mulch, since it "reminds" the herbs of their Mediterranean heritage, in rocky soil! I'm going to give it a try!

Re: meeting Dad, I know he'd love to meet you too! He really enjoyed our first 3fc reunion, and I hope as many as can come will be here in Oct. too! (If anyone has some Oct. weekends that are impossible, please email or pm me soon, so we can look at a date!)

Texaslady, hope all goes well with your appointment today!

Guess I'd better get back to work! Hope everyone's having a great Monday, in spite of the tax man!

Jan

Hi girls...I only have a second, but I wanted to know if anyone read in the paper about the woman who has sued Roberts Gourmet because the nutritional information was incorrect on Pirate's Booty. She is asking for...get this...$50 million!! She says that it caused her weight gain and mental distress. What is this world coming to????

Texaslady, you are in my thoughts and prayers today (actually you always are, but especially today).

Linda, thanks for the advice. Doing chores in small increments is how I have always approached housework, but lately I have forgotten that and have felt overwhelmed. Thank you so much for the reminder. I have been doing what you recommended for the last week or two and I have gotten so much more done. Thanks again!!

Hi to everyone else. I wish I had time to type more, but maybe later. I just had to mention the article I read in the paper yesterday. We are having a lot of debate here lately about tort reform. People just amaze me!!

Have a great week everyone!

Janet (Kudzu)

Janet, yes, I heard about that lady suing Pirate's Booty for that huge amount of money -- all I could figure out (to make her suit make any sense) was that someone from the company had come to her house every day and forced several bags' worth down her throat at gunpoint.

I'm glad that you got some good out of the "flylady" tips I gave to you, I know that my own house is much neater and cleaner ever since I signed up to receive her reminders. It is so nice to not care if someone drops by, then needs to use the restroom because I know it is clean!

Jan, thanks for the tip about the bark. I had no idea about that.

Texaslady, I am thinking about you. Take care.