Good Morning!

I'm off to get breakfast and do some work! Gonna be a busy week.

Morning ladies,

I got quite a few things done that I had listed. I'm off today and more to do. We've managed not to have rain the whole weekend so my mood is much better.

I started on my spring muscle building project. For two years now I have been in a quandry of how to landscape around the pool. I'm one of those people that I have to have a vision of what I want and once I do, I can work. Usually, it takes a while for me to get these visions. We have this area between the house and the garage that the previous owner put a lot of river rock. Which is very difficult to walk in and impossible for DH to use the side door to the garage because of his disability. He's wanted to make that concrete for a long time and I've said, too expensive. I finally got the wild hair (er, vision) to move the river rock to the pool area so I don't have to fight the weeds around the pool. I got my utlity cart fixed on Saturday so yesterday I started moving river rock. OMG. I did two cartfuls and have many more to go. I could feel it in my butt, back, arms, and shoulders. When I get the river rock moved, then we can put down normal gravel to create a solid base. Kills two birds with one (or many) stones. Plus I get the exercise. OMG.

I need to go monitor what the doggies are doing and make sure we don't have an attack on Ruby in the house this morning. Those are never fun. Especially for Ruby!

Hello Ladies. It's occured to me that I didn't post all last week!

Well, the tile was put in almost on schedule, he finished on Tuesday instead of Monday. I love it, but I'll be doing a LOT more sweeping and mopping now. You couldn't see dirt on the old floors. We finally got the fridge put back in the kitchen on Wednesday. Being unable to really work in the kitchen did a number on the diet and I've gained again. Not much, but enough to be depressing. So I'm trying to arrest that now. We still don't have the baseboards back down or the table and chairs back in the dining room. I still have to fix the paint messies on the ceiling. So we can use the kitchen again, but that's it.

Unfortunately, more stress has appeared. I had a garage sale with my oldest and dearest friend Saturday. We've known each other over 40 years! The sale was exhausting and DH and I ended up eating terribly (and spending out meger $66 we got) and I was just about to fall into bed when she called and her mother was being brought by ambulance to the hospital nearest my house. Everyone had thought stroke...but it's nothing so good actually. They've found 4 tumors in her brain and are doing a full body and bone scan today, so apparently they think it has spread to the brain from elsewhere. No one's said the C-word, but I think everyone knows that's what they are talking about. So I was at the hospital until 2 a.m. Sunday and then back on and off all day. Today I have to be at work and it kills me I can't be with my friend. She does have a brother there, but he's really completely useless when it comes to this stuff, so she has to be completely in charge and I so wish I was there for her to lean on. I've known this woman since I was 5. She was my brownie leader. I practically grew up at her house. I lost my own mom 23 years ago, but Patti was always there if I needed a mom. This is really hard.

How I wish I didn't eat when stressed...but losing weight is the last thing on my mind. I'm spending too much time trying to get my friend to rest and eat. On the up side, when I'm this upset I really can't sit either. I came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon and mowed, edged and trimmed the boxwoods, working myself out. I slept last night like the dead, but I'm still exhausted. That's what stress does.

Ladies, if anyone of you say prayers, I'd appreciate you thinking of my friend's mom, her name is Patti. And my friend Gina.

Got to go...much to do. Work doesn't go away just because I can't keep my mind on it.

Morning ladies. Well, a few more minutes worth of morning, anyway.

This morning I made a list of things we need to accomplish before we leave for Ohio and read it to my mother. She made a face when I read "Make a plan about where we will live next year, possibly look at new places to live." And now she's laid down on the couch sleeping. Sigh.

Lilion, Good thoughts going out to Patti and Gina and you, too.

Georgia, I live in a small town that is not my hometown. I don't really notice staring, but a friend who grew up in Hawaii and then lived a decade in NYC before moving here complains about it all the time. I mean, I guess I notice it, but I don't really notice it enough to think, oh, that person is staring at me. Usually it's when I'm walking in the neighborhood or something, and I see someone looking at me, and I look up to see if I know them, and I realize I don't, but I smile and say hello, and then they usually smile and say hello too. In my case my small town is also a college town, and I suspect the local folk who don't work at the university know "one of those EIU people" when they see us, and kind of wonder whether we're nice or evil. So I always smile and say hello. On the other hand, it might just be how they treat anyone here, I dunno.

Terri--Take care of your back lifting all those rocks!

Heather--How much longer until summer for you? We're into finals week here, though that means little to me since I'm still sabbatical woman.

Oh, Lilion needs a big

Angela -- Our schedule is great at other times of year, but we get out late in summer. We have another 5 weeks before exams are done! But then, we don't start back til mid-September...

Lilion -

I can't let myself stop to chat....trying to catch up on some work at home tonight.

Lilion - hugs to you all. I'm glad Gina has you to lean on - it means so much at these times.

Terri - sounds like a great project. I love those that accomplish two things at once.

Not sure what else will happen before DH gets home - today's thing is Gracie the lab broke her tail and it has to be "amputated" - why did he have to use that word - he could have said cut off, bobbed - anything but amputate. Friday the new fridge had a leaky water line - Saturday our construction trash (all 6 pieces of it) had a formal complaint filed with the city by a neighbor who has a personal goal to keep the city busy. He also filed complaints on another neighbor for empty flower pots.

The scale is being incredibly nice to me - I'm working very hard at this not to say it isn't without effort though. I'm hoping to keep doing whatever it is. Food has been "easy" while DH has been gone not having to make sure he has something he likes too. When he is back he may just start eating what I eat and I won't worry about supplementing his plate.

Carol -- Oh, your poor Gracie!!!! Swift recovery to her!!! And good luck with everything else!

I'm up late tonight, after a day of laying low and working on the post-weekend detox. I weighed in at a gain of 2 lbs. I'm actually relieved that's all the damage I did over the weekend. I have some new achievements to report...I can actually go to a restaurant and agree to split an order of a single meal with someone, and turn down dessert as well. I ate considerably less than my 130 lb. girlfriend (this is a new thing!). I also didn't feel compelled to drink alcohol with her when she ordered it. And today I craved vegetables, specifically, dandelion greens and spinach. That was new!

I'll continue with the veggies tomorrow. I'm listening to my body and this is what it's telling me to do, along with plenty of water.

Georgia

Wow its been a whirlwind here lately. A dear friend and neighbor died yesterday. She had a heart attack on thursday and was taken off life support on sunday. Its sad and she is so young only 58.
Had a great visit from my BFF on sat and we spent the day yardsaling and hitting the antique store. It was a good day but full of food. Sunday calories were to low and yesterday was back on track.
The sun is out today..I think its been almost a week since we last saw it!!! MOre rain is heading in tommorow and the rest of the week. MY garden is looking good but I had to replant a few squash plants that had washed away.
I plan on getting in as much exercise as possible today while the sun is out.
hugs to all

Happy Tuesday to you all. It's HOT here. Must spend some time outside to work on acclimating myself to the warmer weather. Think I'll do it after dinner when it's a bit cooler, though.

Carol--It *IS* bobbing. Vets, like all docs, are just not as sensitive as the rest of us. Hugs to Gracie!

Heather--Sorry, hang in there.

DG--So sorry about your neighbor and friend. Losing people suddenly is so difficult.

Morning ladies,

I've been up early the last two days and am happy to report that I have exercised before work each day. Its a start.

DH's oldest son came out last night and got started on the garden beds. Not exactly in the way that I was planning but beggars can't be choosers when its free labor. Not sure why DH and son decided that I didn't need one end on the beds. Sigh. Something I can fix later. Okay, for you gardeners, can I get by this summer with a bed 8 inches deep? I'm only planning on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. My plants are small now. I'm planning on putting landscape paper down and then fill the beds with dirt. I really wanted to go one higher but see my comment about free labor above. I can get another layer added after this season.

Debi - for the loss of your friend. Very sad to hear about.

Carol - OMG, poor Gracie. Yeah, using the "A" word by the vet was a bit dufus. Bobbing is much easier to hear. Geez, you have had a rough several days. Neighbors like that are why I love the country so much.

Georgia - Never in my wildest dreams have I craved dandelion greens and spinach. Great job on your achievements! It can be done!

Lilion - for you too. You are such a good friend. I'll say a prayer for your friend's mother and for her too. Take care and keep us posted on how she's doing.

Angela - Did you get out and start getting acclimated? We're having the weirdest spring with either cool weather or unseasonably hot. Not sure whether to turn off the heat or turn on the A/C.

Better get this posted. Heather, Barb, and everyone else - !

Terri, in order to crave the greens and spinach, you have to have been brainwashed from your youth that these are normal foods to eat! Greeks love boiled greens...well, Greek adults love boiled greens. When I was a kid, I recall choking on them and making terrible faces and tried to find ways not to eat them at all. But I love them now.

All sorts of greens are available now in the markets that weren't years ago. At least in California, where the population is really culturally diverse. I like going to the farmers' market in Stockton. There's one that is strictly Asian and I can get baby gai lan there, which is awesome with oyster sauce and garlic. Here in Lodi, there's a big Greek population, and some of them have illegally brought in amaranth seeds and have spread them through some of the vineyards in the area. They're a big favorite with the local Greeks.

Do you remember hearing how Martha Stewart picked dandelion greens from the prison yard to augment her meals? Even Martha likes them! They're really good boiled in salted water, then drained, topped with olive oil and lemon juice. Ya'll should try them!

I have to admit I have eaten dandelion greens also. I grew up living with my grandmother and she loved them.I remember sitting in the backyard helping pick them. She also loved poke which is a weed to most people. Guess when she grew up(born 1899) you ate what you could find. She just added salt to the water and a bit of vinegar. Maybe if we ate more natural things we would be alot healthier!!