Last day of August, which always seems like the last day of summer to me. Where DID it go this year?

For all of our maintainers who don't have access to the forum over the weekend, Shannon announced her first anniversary of reaching goal and a year of successful maintenance, so we're all celebrating with her. Be sure to go back to last week's thread and check out her hot pix in her new dress!!

DH and I are frantically getting ready to leave for New Mexico on Thursday and since we both work through Wednesday, the cats and I packed yesterday. I tried to get everything into one big suitcase, which worked out fine until I weighed it and it was over 50 pounds. So now we have to pay for two suitcases.

One funny happening this weekend -- we had family in town this weekend and a group of us went out to dinner at a restaurant of my parents' choice. Several in the group ordered fried zucchini, fried calamari, and onion rings and got gigantic serving platters heaping full of fried goodness. I ordered a salad and got the world's tiniest salad. A minuscule plate of greens. No fair! It was pretty funny comparing the tiny salad to the mega-calorie fried platters. I would have loved to have eaten one of those huge heaping platters filled with greens since I usually eat my salads out of a popcorn bowl.

I'm off to the gym in a few minutes, groceries, then work.

How was your weekend? What's going on this week? Next weekend is Labor Day weekend here in the US -- anything going on?

I always wanted to go to Mew Mexico and see Georgia O'Keefe's ranch and the gallery dedicated to her work.

DH and I leave for our mini-vacation (visitng his folks up north) on Friday and we both have a million things to do before that. Most involved juggling the two cars so no exercise for me this week (except the dogwalking of course). I have to get DH up early three mornings this week and that will not be easy.

We'll be quite frazzled when we leave and first thing up on the vacation is a relaxing 6-hour highway drive.

The real vacation for me starts the day after Labour Day, when I do my staycation at home. I already have a bunch of things planned, as I don't get much of a chance to go out during the week in my own hometown!

One thing I will do is exercise every day as this has to go by the wayside this week.

Have a great week all!

Dagmar

Good morning Meg and Dagmar!

Congratulations, Shannon! You were hot in that dress!

We are going on a little vacation this week, too. We're leaving Thursday and I have a lot to do! I am sure I will get my exercise in, but my eating usually suffers when I am out of my routine.

Have a great week.

eta - Good morning, Jacque! I am glad your Mom is doing well!

Meg, Dagmar and Wardhog, have a good time on your vacations! After school starts is the perfect time for people without kids to take vacations.

Jacque, glad that your Mom is doing great!

We've been putting new baseboards up in our house--it's been baseboardless since we moved in last year. I've also been working on areas of my front and backyard. Swinging the pickaxe is definitely cardio! Also picking the yummy stuff from my garden--still no tomatoes, though, but the plants look better now. It's a race against time to see if they'll produce fruit before it freezes.

My daughter comes to visit on Thursday, staying for about five days. The four things we have planned so far are lunch with her brother on Friday, kayaking on Saturday, church on Sunday and going to the movies to see Julia and Julie and 500 Days of Summer. Other than that, I think we'll just hang out, plus she can visit friends.

Happy Monday, everyone!

I just realized it's my parent's anniversary. I talked to them yesterday and forgot to wish them a happy anniversary. I'll have to call them today. I forget how many years it has been, but I'm thinking it's like 62 years now. Can you imagine?

Sheila~have a nice visit with your daughter! We saw 500 Days of Summer on Saturday and it was a cute show. It was really interesting to see a relationship from the eyes of a guy instead of a girl--I mean, you typically see things from the woman's point of view instead of the guy's. Did you see The Proposal? It really focused on her story, not his and how he felt about the whole thing. Anyway, it was an enjoyable show.

Everyone have fun on their vacations! I'll think of you while I work!

Good morning all. Thanks again for the compliments on the dress! My mom loved it, which was a nice bonus. I sometimes feel like I'm not 'girly' enough for my mom... a sparkly purse and painted nails make her happy.

Meg - Funny about the huge plate of fried items and little plate of salad... Shows what sells, I guess! When DH and I make salad we end up using huge pasta bowls and still fuss about not having enough room. I think next time I'll use a mixing bowl! Enjoy your trip this week!

Dagmar - you enjoy your trip as well! And the 'staycation' next week! I have to plan something like that myself...

Joci - glad you mom is coming home! Yay!

Ward - You enjoy your trip, too! I'm jealous of everyone going places...

Sheila - I need to put up crown molding in my house... been there two years and still haven't done it. I do have baseboards, though... Enjoy your daughter's visit!

Allison - 62 years. I can't even imagine that. Happy anniversary to them!

to all, have a good day everyone!

Hi everyone,

Thanks everyone for always being supportive every single time I've said "I'm going to really get this extra weight off" over the past 2 years, because I know I've said it a lot. Once again I'm really trying (going to try not to talk about it too much and just do it) but I appreciate the support.

I had a fun weekend even though BF was gone - I was only a little lonely, mostly I just tried to take advantage of being able to sit and read a bunch and get chores done. Sat. went to a friend's house and we hung out, played w/ her adorable toddler, and then watched a movie after he went to sleep. Sun. afternoon I went to my friend's big 40th birthday bash. I had a good time just hanging out with friends and for once I didn't overeat at a party (that picture from my reunion was still fresh in my head). It looks like BF will indeed be back from his boat delivery this afternoon, just about the exact time I'll be leaving my office for a 2-3 day work trip. Oh well, we'll see each other in a few days.

We're going to do some scientific diving for hopefully just 2 days. Since we'll be on the boat I brought tuna packets and cut up veggies to eat for lunch, Kashi go lean bars for breakfast, etc. so I'll just need to keep myself in check for 2 dinners out. I'm bringing sneakers but with the diving and hauling gear I know I'll get a lot of activity just doing that.

Shannon, I'm so annoyed that my computer is blocking the pictures. It's got to do with the firewall here at the office. I hope I get to check them out later from another computer. I'm sure you look great!

Allison, wow, 62 years! Good for your parents! I haven't seen "500 days" but want to once it comes out on video. I did rent "Sunshine Cleaning" with my GFs Sat. I expected it to be more of a comedy from what I'd heard of it, but it was really good in a quirky kind of way.

Sheila, sounds like you've been getting a lot of exercise in around the house. Enjoy your visit w/ your DD.

Joci, I'm glad your mom is doing so well!

Dagmar, I hope you get everything done before your trip. I hope you have a nice visit w/ your in-laws.

Meg, that's why I hate to order salads at restaurants. I can make such better, more satisfying salads at home! But sometimes we do need to go out... was the tiny salad listed on the menu as a "dinner salad"? I'd send it back and ask for a bigger one!

Hi Ward! Hi everyone! I hope everyone has a great week.

Hi to all of you wonderful maintainers!

I only have a few minutes so I'll try to make this brief.

Saw Julie and Julia this weekend-- loved it. Dh brought dd's stuff to college and he is driving back. He will be here for a few days before leaving for a few weeks to Europe. He hasn't been around much lately. Miss him....

Yesterday at my WW meeting, we found out that members at our meeting (husband and wife) just lost their son in Afghanistan. It really put my trivial gripes into perspective for me. I can't stop thinking about them. He had a wife with two very small children and a third that he never saw (was born while he was over there).

My weight is finally good (got off the cruise weight) so I'm hoping not to blow it now. No time to relax or it will creep back on!

My eyes are bothering me a great deal and I am such a worrier that I immediately jump to conclusions. I have Graves Disease and apparently Graves Eye Disease (according to my new endocrinologist). He recommended seeing an eye specialist so I've been looking for one. They need a recommendation faxed before they'll see you, etc... so it takes time. In the meantime, I am having trouble focusing, seeing double, headaches, etc. Then I realized I haven't seen the regular eye doctor in awhile so maybe I just need a new prescription on my glasses (hopefully). So I made an eye appointment for Thursday and I'll see what he recommends.

Megan-- I always love reading about your life/work. It sounds so interesting. I took marine science in high school and it was my favorite class. I considered going into marine science but I was dead certain I wanted to be a vet and started off pre-vet. Ended up not doing that anyway....sigh....

Allison-- 62 years?!?! Do you have older siblings? Wow! My inlaws are going to be celebrating their 50th next year and are debating a big trip with all of us.

Sheila-- enjoy your dd! I already miss mine that went back to college. She wasn't home all summer though and we only saw her for a week of family vacation. I'm going to see her in October for family weekend and we're already thinking pedicures, etc.

Jacque-- so glad your mom is doing well. Yea!!

Sounds like lots of people have fun vacations coming up. None for me.

Have a great week. Chat later!

Michelle~yes, I am the youngest of three kids. My sister is 58, my brother is 50. I came a bit late and am just 46. Glad to hear your cruise weight is off, but I hope you get your eye troubles fixed soon. I very much dislike not seeing clearly and can imagine the headaches you're having. Yuck. And so sorry to hear about the couple who lost their son. Very sad. My neighbor has been back from Afghanistan for a couple of weeks now but I have yet to see him. I think his wife and kids whisked him out of town for a much needed vacation before he heads back to work.

Fly-by today -- I didn't have time to check 3FC at work because I had to actually do work all day Now I don't have time because dinner will be cooked in five minutes.

I ate a lot of crap this weekend. I admit it! Of course the scale is up as a result.

Shannon, your pics looked great! Congrats on the anniversary!

Megan - I know you can kick this weight. We can both do it, right?

A fly-by from me as well.

I leave on vacation tomorrow night, and I'm stressed about getting stuff done. Then we had a 3 hour meeting this morning on the upcoming year's capital projects which certainly cut into the time I needed to get stuff done at work. I'm already committed to working on my department's budgets while I'm gone. I've been downloading stuff I know I need, but I'm sure I'll be emailing my admin asst for more info. Sigh. I knew this was a bad time of year to leave, but I really feel like I need the time with my sister and while it's nice weather in New England.

to everyone.

I always get re-energized in fall.

So today I signed up for women-only Judo classes. I've wanted to take that particular martial art since I was a kid.

The classes start in October so I have something new to look forward to next month. I jioned a Japanese Canadian Cultural centre that offers the classes. They also have cokking classes which I probably will check out. DH doesn't like Japanese food so I'm hoping to make some new "dining" friends.

My vampirology (study of vampires) course starts in 3 weeks. Was inspired to take a "just for fun" class by watching True Blood. Should be an interesting fall.

Dagmar

Dagmar - I love True Blood... I'm behind, only seen up to about halfway through episode 8 this season, but hope to get more in tonight... I read all the books, too.

Another fly-by chick here: today was BUSY! And I need to get some things together for one of my classes tomorrow.

I visited a Bally's gym I was hoping to join and have decided against it. I'd never, ever go into their weight area and I really want to be able to work w/ free weights. I know I have no reason to be intimidated by the muscular grunting guys, but I can talk myself up till I'm blue in the face and I know I won't go in there! But I did get some time on the treadmill which was nice. Onward!

Have a great week, everyone!