If you have 50 or so pounds to lose, or are losing, this is the group for you! So jump on in and join; you'll be sure to get a warm welcome!

Linda, today is the day, right? Hope you enjoy your meeting, and have an inspiring leader & fun group of members. Thanks for asking about dh; he is "up and about," so to speak, but is taking it easy. (With lots of nagging from me, of course; he keeps trying to take out the trash, etc. when he isn't supposed to lift anything!)

Y'all, it looks like we'll have to postpone our reunion; the time just isn't right, and it turns out no one will be able to make it down here this time. One of these days, though, we'll make it happen again! In the meantime, let's keep our board active and keep supporting each other all the way to goal!

Texaslady, sounds like this is your busy season with the homecoming mums! I hope it's a little less hectic now that you aren't having to plan for a wedding as well!

Carol, are you still enjoying that pool at your neighborhood center?

JOYce, you know that our prayers are with you and your sister. I hope the chemo treatments help, and aren't too hard to take. Does she live nearby, or will you be on the road a lot now?

Janet, is your dd enjoying her new classes this fall?

Today has been such a sad day, remembering last September's tragedy. My students seemed to handle it well, with such maturity. We did some short & easy technology projects in class, with a patriotic theme, and had an assembly; tonight there will be a candlelight memorial service at the stadium.

Hope everyone's making it through the day ok! Drop by and say hello when you can ..

Regards,
Jan

Thanks Jan, for your kind words.
My sis lives 200 miles north of us, I'll get really used to that road in the next weeks and months. I will go as many weekends as feasible, (I need to be here to provide transportaion for dgd during the week.)

Today is sis's second chemo and her first radiation on her brain tumor. She had a patriotic outfit ready to wear, and a bag of those little heart flag pins that I made last year, to give to other patients and nurses. She is very pleased with the treatment she is getting, and has great faith in God.

Linda invited me to go back to meetings with her today, but I decided I better wait til I am not so stressed. I am having days that I binge and days that I have no appetite.

My virus free computer is back up and running and on line!
<<<sigh>>> Life is good.
It is so nice to be able to sit in my own little office to e-mail.

Sis is doing fine, her first radiation was uneventful, no side effects.
She is having her second treatment as I type. She has such a great attitude!

I'm trying to eat right, but I did finish off some peach ice cream last night. but did not gain any weight on the wedding trip! Pretty good I think!!

I'm turning my church duties over to others, not taking any more on...that was hard to do. I'll finish helping with 2 projects then let others do it ALL.

ttys

JOYce, I'm glad to hear that your sister isn't having any side effects, and that her outlook is so positive. I'm sure that having you to support her through this is a great help!

Way to go on maintaining throughout all the wedding/trip activities! That is quite an accomplishment, and you should be proud of yourself. And kudos also for taking a respite from your church activitities. I know that must have been difficult for you, but it makes a lot of sense right now.

Here in S.Texas, it is dark and rainy; a great Sunday to be inside with a book! Dh and I are making some lowfat fish chowder and a spinach salad for lunch over at Dad's.

What's everybody else doing this weekend?

Regards,
Jan

Thanks again Jan for all the kind words and thoughts!

We went to diner with Linda and her dh the other night,she gave me several photos that she took at THE wedding. some really good ones and some that show my true size Soooo, I have decided to go back to meetings with her starting Wed.
For dinner we went to IHOP and she and I ordered salads, very yummy!

I just came from a Bridal shower. The groom's sisters gave it for the bride. One of his sisters has lost a whole lot of weight since I saw her last. She looks great! I asked her how she did it and she replied " just doing what I am supposed to do, eating right and exercising"......AAARRRGGHHH!
Her dh has been in Afghanistan for several months, so he will be more than pleased when she meets him at the airport upon his return this week! She says he has lost weight too. I guess we could say he did it by doing what he had to do for our country.

It's been hot and sunny in Calif today. I am going to church tonight to fix my last Sunday Supper for a while. I have all the makings for an enchilada casserole, that was a big hit last time I did it.

ttys

Hi all! I hope this Sunday evening finds everyone doing well.
Joyce, I am so sorry that your sister's prognosis is grim, but applaud her wonderful positive attitude. That kind of attitude is the stuff that promotes miraculous recoveries- I have seen it more than once in my 36+ years of nursing! She is in my thoughts and prayers daily, as are you. Please remember to look after your own health as you are going through this stressful time. I am so glad you gave up some of your church activities. Also, I am glad you have decided to go back to WW with Linda even though the stress makes it difficult right now. I'm betting the support of that group will help you, not just with weight control but with getting through the stressful days.
Jan, I'm glad dh is mending well. Please give him my best, and the same to your dear dad. I'm sorry the reunion fell through, but am hopeful that when we reschedule it I will be in a better position financially to take part in it.
Janet, how are you? I'm still awaiting that call you promised me about 6 weeks ago! I have given up trying to catch up with you at home!! How are things going with dd?
Texaslady, how are things going with the new/old job? Are you feeling as if you have fully recovered from your surgery? Sometimes it can take 6 months to truly get back from the effects of anesthesia.

Things are pretty simple here, and I am still enjoying Florida. I work more than I want to but less than I need to I guess. I work 9 hour days Mon-Thurs and a 4 hour day Friday- plus my commute of 50 minutes each way. When I get home I'm pretty tired, so I don't do much, and don't get in the pool as much as I'd like.When exdh isn't on the road, we eat our meals together and run errands or share babysitting duties on the weekends, which is nice. He'll be on the road for about the next 3 weeks- PA and MD and part of VA. The kids are fine, and my little sweeties are both growing like weeds and thriving in Florida. Dgs's asthma seems much better down here- knock on wood. DD is teaching piano and voice in a music store/studio and making what she did in MD without the hassle of having to bill students. Dsil is doing well at his job- he's a good worker. I am going to do a flu shot campaign down here for the same company I did it for the last 3 years in MD. I thought long and hard, but I need the money. I'm only going to do 4 clinics, though, because the others I could do with my full time work schedule were already taken. The good news and the bad news I guess. My job has it's ups and downs, but I do enjoy the work and the problem areas will hopefully work themselves out.

Well, gotta go, friends. Take care, and have a good Monday.
Carol

Carol So good to hear from you, the board has been really quiet.
I know and believe what you said about attitude. Miracles happen!
Sounds like you are really keeping busy. I'm sorry too, that I had to back out of the reunion, but didn't seem right to go there instead of spend precious time with sis. I knew you would all understand.
You are right too, I was originally not going back to meetings because of the stress, but know that i must do it!
I'm also taking some morning craft classes, which keep my mind on other things, sitting around the house can be very destructful, emotionally....besides, when I'm cutting glass 2 mornings a week, I can't be eating!! ground glass is not good for the system!
I'm also continuing with the ceramic class, I think tomorrow is when my Chinese friend will teach me how she makes a ceramic basket.

more later

JOYce, what is that cute icon below your name? I suppose I could go get a magnifying glass, but I am too lazy. I think it looks like either three babies in blankets, or three monkeys, two with masks over their mouths. ??? How far off am I?

YAY FOR JOYCE! I am reJOYcing that you have decided to do a little back pedaling at church. I think that the timing is right for you to stop doing so many things for so many people--for the rest of you, anytime anything needs to be done at church (food distribution, decorating, luncheons, dinners, teas, dessert auctions, small group functions, what have you) dear JOYce is always the person they call. You are doing the right thing.

I am praising the Lord that our country got through 9-11 unscathed. Dh and I went downtown to see a nice plaque dedicated in front of our police and fire stations. Living in a small town such as ours, there is always a close community feeling when the townsfolk gather for something special in town.

Carol, I am so glad to read that dgs's asthma seems to be getting better in that new climate. What a wonderful turn of events. I'm glad that you enjoy your job, even with the long hours. What a gift it is to have a career you like!

Jan, thanks for asking about my WW meeting. My first WI showed that I need to lose 17 pounds to get back down to goal. My next WI is this Wednesday (I am so glad that JOYce will be there, too; I think we both can use the support of the other) and I honestly don't expect good news; last week was my birthday and I went out to lunch and dinner several times to celebrate, to the detriment of my points range.

JOYce, let me add my congrats too on your decision to go to WW with Linda. During these stressful times, I feel sure the program will help you to cope with all the challenges, because you'll have so much more energy and better health in general. Your glass and ceramics classes sound like fun! I am in awe of all your many talents and interests.

Carol, so glad to hear that Florida agrees so well with your family! That's great news about dgs's asthma getting better. But nine hour days, oh my! And flu clinics on top of that?! Remember to schedule in some time for yourself whenever you can!

Linda, good luck at your meeting tonight! It's wonderful that you and JOYce will be going together; so much more fun with a friend. And happy belated birthday!

This week has been pretty quiet so far; have been strictly OP the last four days, as I want to weigh in for Sept. this Saturday, and not be quite so close to the line! Am taking Dad to SA tomorrow and Victoria (a little farther) Friday, so will have to plan ahead to avoid those deadly "car snacks."

Hope everyone's having a good week! Hi to Texaslady and Janet!

Regards,
Jan

Jan, thanks for the belated birthday wishes, I am now closer to 60 than I am to 50! JOYce and I were at WW together at noon today, and I was shocked to see that I had gained only .2, after my many meals out last week. I am wondering tonight if perhaps it will show up at next week's WI, I hope not! Today it wasn't hard at all to stay OP, it just takes careful planning, doesn't it??? (Duh! Wouldn't you think I would have remembered that, and followed it all along?)

Dh redid all of the wiring in the library-to-be today. Yesterday and the day before he took out the ceiling and all of the rafters. He is working so hard on this project. He's keeping a journal of what he does every day and how much he is spending, and we figured tonight that it probably would have cost us 10 times as much as we have spent up to now if we were paying someone else to do it. I am so glad that he is so able! JOYce's dh is the same way.

Linda, way to go on maintaining through all the birthday parties! And no, I don't think it will show up next week; you were probably more careful than you think, even eating out. How fortunate you are that your DH is so good with projects! Sounds like things are reallyprogressing on that!

Gotta run! ttyl,
Jan

Thanks, Jan, for your ever-present cheers when any one of us does something positive (such as my gaining only a little after last week), you are very faithful to be so enthusiastic for all of of us, and I really appreciate that. How was SA today, did you buy anything neat? Did you eat good stuff? Did your dd enjoy the trip?

It's very smoky here (in the La Verne/San Dimas area), there must be a fire in the mountains somewhere. We were gone all day long to the town of Ojai with my sister (shopping at our favorite used bookstore for treasures), and when we came home, the smoke was just hanging over our valley. We are keeping our windows closed and the a/c on, even though it is after 9 at night so we won't be breathing it. There have been so many fires this year because we've had so little rain.

BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LINDA!!! And congrats on the very minimal gain after all the celebration! You and Jan are such good role models!
Carol

Thanks, Carol, for your kind words. I need all of the encouragement I can get! How are all of you doing there? How are the sweeties?

JOYce has gone to see her sister and her Mom this weekend. She is so faithful, isn't she. JOYce is one of the kindest people I have ever met, how I wish that all of you could meet her!

Hi, ladies! I just read on the "WW food and points issues" that Zatarain's Chicken Creole mix is only 3 points per cup. I put it on my shopping list, I'm going to check it out. Just a "heads up."