Happy Monday morning, everyone!
The weekend just flew by and I didn't get enough done at home. A fleeting moment crossed my mind this morning...thought I should maybe call in sick....but here I am at work, slaving away.
I had a great OP weekend until yesterday afternoon when I got into a box of chocolates. What is it about chocolates - and nuts - that I can't stop at one or two. The whole box needs to be eaten in one sitting. However, my weight stayed the same overnight, so there has been no damage. Must have been all the exercise (and I don't mean the planned exercise, either) over the weekend.
We started to re-build the island in the kitchen. Carrying boards, cutting into smaller pieces - hubby even let me use the jigsaw and the table saw. Oh well, we will recut those boards tonight

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Our son was home from Winnipeg this weekend. He's the one with the carpentry training. Funny how he was indisposed for the entire weekend except when we went to visit our puppy. He even stayed away overnight... I don't know what would ever give him the impression that we would be building things in the middle of the night. I guess I can't really chastise him too much. He worked all day Friday in Winnipeg, drove all night to get to Edmonton, dumped off his dog and headed out to play with the military reserve band in central Alberta. He used to play with the band before moving to Winnipeg, and they asked him to come play on Saturday because they were short with people on holidays. He wants to keep his connections there because he is moving back to Edmonton next year and wants to transfer back. It is a great part-time job for him while he finishes university.
By the way, I have a pic of the puppy that I will post tomorrow. She still doesn't have her eyes open, but, boy is she ever fat. The little boy runt in the litter looks like he will make it, but he is so skinny. The breeder let me hold him yesterday and I could feel all his bones. But he's a fighter so should be OK.
I was just reading the WW newletter this morning and was reminded that this is the best time of year to get out of funks and get moving on the weight lost. They posted a whole bunch of interesting salad and dip recipes. The main dish salad recipes are only about 4 points, so my plan is to make a conentrated effort to try to take advantage of the fresh veggies that are available now and eat some of the salads for lunches. I find that when I am working and take my lunch with me, I tend to eat more healthy than if I decide what I am going to eat at lunch time. The intentions, of course, are always good with the notion that I won't have much at supper, but when supper comes, I want something big then, too. I just have to get back to the routine from winter, where my meals during the day were fairly low point, and I could splurge a bit on suppers. I know that is my bad time, so like to have the flexibility to eat in the evenings. The other thing that I have not been doing is journalling. I find that I can maintain my weight by not journalling, but if I want to lose that last 10 pounds, I have to get back to the discipline. Starting tomorrow... I still have the Labour Day challenge to meet, and I intend to be down to goal by then.
Carolyn - I really admire you on your volunteerism with the parole board. That is a field that I have been interested in for a long time, but there is no opportunity to volunteer in this community. Hubby and I used to get called to sponsor parolees when they were released from prison, but the last one really burned us. The man had been in on murder charges (which we were not privvy to at the time of his release), and ended up stalking us when he was at large, or out of jail. After he violated parole during our sponsorship, we didn't have any conact with him so weren't aware that he had been released from jail. We did notice one week, though, that there were RCMP vehicles patrolling up and down the streets where we live. We arrived home from work one Friday night and received a call from the RCMP advising us that the man was at large again and that a lady that he was living with had informed them he was stalking us and another friend of ours. The lady that informed them had moved away for her own safety, but we were left like sitting ducks. Anyway, the police were looking for this friend of ours and couldn't find her, so they were worried. As it turned out, she had been out of town visiting her kids (which we knew), but was on her way home that evening because she was graduating from college the next day. Such complication. Anyway, we went to the grad, and low and behold, if there weren't undercover police swarming the place. Some hanging around our friend, some sitting in the same row with us, etc. Buuut they caught the guy at the grad. Another piece of excitement for the day. We heard from him one more time after that when he called from jail, told me a whole bunch of lies and stuff, then phoned hubby the next night and told him that he had told me all these lies. His parole was revoked until the completion of his term - life. I think that term is over in about 2011. I don't think he will live that long with the health problems that he had even 10 years ago, so he could be dead even now. By 2011, I think we will have moved away, and the lady that he was stalking is retiring now, so will be moving to another city. With any luck, that period of our life is over.
Great to hear that your WW meeting went well. Even though there were only 3, it is still enough to be a support to each other and to have your own meetings. I found the journalling very hard, too. The only way that I could consistently manage the journalling was to carry the flippin' thing with me everywhere. I used a daytimer, and I wasn't seen without it for about 10 months. I finally quit journalling because I wasn't really serious about losing and am doing OK without writing everything down, but will need to get back at journalling if I intend to lose the last 10 pounds. Try making a commitment to journal every day for a month. You will find that if you commit and discipline yourself, after a month you won't find the journalling so hard. It becomes a habit (you know, the 21 day habit forming stuff).
Sharon - I wish I could get pumped exercising. That is really one of my great downfalls. I hate, hate, hate exercising. I don't know...I find it boring and unenjoyable when I HAVE to do it. Just ends up being part of the 'chore' list and I really don't enjoy chores, either.

Good for you if you can keep up with the aerobics tapes. Go for it.
CJ - Where are you? I know you are there somewhere (evidence is in the first message

) Let us know how you are doing and what more mischief you are up to. Take care.
Hope everyone has a great week. Sorry this is soooooo long. I just got a rambling and didn't know when to sit down and keep my BIG mouth shut. I will send a pic of the new puppy...I think it may even include her new owner????? Y'all will have to check back tomorrow.