Good morning. I couldn't sleep at 8pm or 9pm so I decided to stay up. I watched General Hospital a bit and came online. I am feeling good and would love to reach goal in 15mths so I can welcome in 2012 being svelte. No matter how long it takes, I will rely on all of you for support. U mean the world to me, chicks! I have a therapist appointment at 3pm. I plan on eating beans for breakfast, yummo! I weigh myself at the general doctor's place tomorrow. I hope she tells me that I don't have to take bp medications and that I've lost at least 5lbs! Well, that's it, gonna catch some shut eye now.

Hi Okie!

Thanks for getting us started! I thought I was going to be the first one up this morning. I'm glad that you're feeling good and that you have come up with a realistic long term time frame/goal while at the same time focusing on your short term successes. I hope you are getting some good rest and I look forward to your checking in later.

Me, slept as long as I could and I'm up doing some meal planning and housework. I didn't get any exercise yesterday so I'm looking forward to the pool this morning. I'm going to try and focus on getting my part of the cookbook project done. It's dragging on and it makes me think about foods I don't really want to eat right now. I need to get back to the headspace where I put my eating/exercise plan first.

What's everyone up to this Thursday? Trailblazing....Stop by and say hello on your way to the trail!

Good morning Okie and Debbie!

I am just the opposite of both of you - I would have liked to stay in bed but the old alarm clock wouldn't let me. It's really starting to feel like Fall around here, pitch black at 5:30 a.m. and chilly when I get out from under the blankets.

I've got something weird going on with my wii balance board. I've changed the batteries, checked the little leg extender things (I use it on carpet) and checked online to see if others have had this issue but so far no luck. It's not as bad this morning as it was last night, but I don't know what to think. I'm hoping it will magically heal itself today while I'm at school today.

Enjoy your Thursday friends.

Hi Heidi! I've noticed the darkening mornings, too! I hope your Wii gets better. Perhaps someone will have some good advice!

Good morning early Chicks It's barely 40 here this morning that was fast! The only trails I'm blazing today are through the giant piles of things to get done before I go on vacation.

Okie - Hope you wake up with the same bright outlook. It makes morning so much easier.

Debbie - I'm also refocusing on my health. Here's to success for us both!

Heidi - I don't mind early mornings half as much when it's light out. I have never liked getting out of bed while it's still dark. Good luck with your Wii. I have only used mine a couple of times this summer but so far no balance board problems. What is yours doing or not doing?

So today is the big day. Boss from job #1 will announce that I have given notice. It will be a long transition because I agreed to work 1 day a week as a contractor through October to help with the transition, but having a plan makes me feel more sane already. It turns out that trying to work two full time jobs as if they were part time jobs is just insane. It got so bad I was lying awake for hours every night listing all the things I didn't get done. I'm still a little ambivalent about the new job but the only way I'll know if it's a good fit is to really throw myself into it. Time to leap.

Other than that it's all about getting as much as possible off my desks before I go on vacation. The list is huge but it will be so good to be on my way to the coast.

Enough babbling from me this morning. Some annoying person scheduled an 8 am meeting I need to be at so it's time to get moving.

Good morning girls! I was one of the ones who slept as long as I could. These darker mornings make me want to huddle under the covers until the last possible minute. At least I don't have to go in until noon today, so there's no rushing around.

OKIE, I hope you were able to sleep well and get some good news at your doctor's appointment today. Enjoy your beans for breakfast! How do you fix them?

DEBBIE, it sounds like that cookbook project was a major undertaking, but I know it will be well worth all the work when you're finally finished, and something your family will treasure forever. I hope your swim refreshes you and gives a new perspective on the day.

HEIDI, I hope you get your balance board problems straightened out, and maybe it will heal itself. I really, really need to get mine out and dust it off, as I haven't used it all summer. I'm sure it will give me a good scolding and lecture. Have a good day with the kiddies at school!

I'm going to try to get the house cleaned and make a meatloaf for Jake's supper before I have to leave for work. I already have the laundry going. As soon as it gets light enough, I should check the garden to see what needs picking, too. I know there are plenty of ripe tomatoes and a squash or two, plus beets, Swiss chard, and carrots. It looks like my morning is going to be busy.

ETA-

Good morning, CYNDI! Will the announcement today catch many people by surprise, or do most of them know you are leaving? Either way, I'm sure it will be a huge relief for you to have it made official, and I hope the transitioning goes smoothly. Two more days until your vacation!

Best wishes today, Cyndi! I didn't realize Job #1 didn't know yet....I hope this part of the transition makes things easier on you!

Linda, I'm a little envious of your ability to sleep in! Glad to hear you have the morning to get your own things done! I'm wondering if today is your Friday...hope so!

I'm going to try to catch a half hour nap before restarting my day. My kitchen is spiffy and I've had my breakfast drink and vitamins. Onward!

Well, I slept until after seven this morning so probably have missed the trail-blazing party. My meeting ran late last night and I didn't get home until nearly 11. I hate driving in the dark and had to relax for a bit before bed.

Right now I've got very low blood sugar and need to get breakfast into me to fix that. Back later.

Good morning. Thursdays are usually late arrival days at the HS here so in theory I can sleep later since the teen can as well Today his first school broadcast airs and he is one of the anchors. I won't see it until it is posted online tomorrow; can't wait. Hope to get in a bike ride; yesterday got rained out but at least the thunder started before we left the house. Bad eating again thanks to DH testing out a new cookie recipe after dinner. I know it is my, my responsibility, my willpower, my choice, etc. But it sure would help if there was nothing in the house to eat that tempted me!!

Have great day everyone.

Hello, chickies! I finished jury duty yesterday. We convicted the defendant of first degree murder. It was a very sad and chilling case, and I'm glad it's over. It turned out to be a really interesting life experience, though, but I hope not one I'll repeat any time soon. At least they can't call me up again in the next 3 years.

So now back to normal life, whatever that is! Lots of catching up to do with work and at home. I noticed the dark morning too - when my alarm went off I though my clock must have been set wrong.

Thanks for the idea Okie, I couldn't think of anything I wanted to eat for breakfast today, but beans sound just right.
Good morning Debbie, I hope you'll send us all copies of the cookbook when it's done!
Good luck with the Wii fairies today, Heidi.
Cyndi, I share your ambivalence about the new job. Part of my problem is that in the almost three weeks I've been on the job, I haven't been able to actually get to work yet, with training and then more than a week of jury duty. I hope I can jump into things now and start feeling more settled.
cottage, have fun in your garden this morning.
Good morning Ruth!
Karen, sometimes I can stand temptation in the house, but sometimes I just can't.

Have a great day all!

Well I managed to get an hour more of sleep! Good news for an insomniac.

Ruth, at least you DID sleep in . I hope your BS is normalizing by now!

Karen, I'm interested to hear about DS' project. I'm declaring a bake free zone through Sunday-we've been trying too many cookbook recipes!

Schmoodle, I hope you are able to slide back into a routine after all your jury duty.

OK, off to more housework!

Good Morning Chickies! I got my grouting done yesterday as well as the front yard mowed! I feel productive I am hoping that today is the same way..., Garden first and I think I may tackle the linen closet that is filled with all kinds of goodies, jewelry, lotions and potions, towels, anything that doesn't have a place in our small bathrooms is in there and I am not looking forward to this! BUT, I have put it off too long and today is the day to do all the little jobs I have been putting off! I will try to get that done this morning early before it gets too hot. Im proud of myself, its been almost 90 the past couple days and I haven't turned the air on... Its been warm but not too bad. Also have a HUGE pile of papers to go through, I am a hoarder of paper and idk why! recipes, receipts, lists, etc.

Cyndi- Good luck on your jumping in Im sure you are tired of doing both it will be a relief to actually have your old jub truly PT...

FO- Good luck at the DR today!

Debbie- I hope you get that cookbook done soon- I know going through cookbooks makes me hungry so I can't imagine trying to find all my favorite recipes and drooling all over the recipe cards! LOL

Ruth- sleeping in is a good thing occasionally- too bad mine is sleeping in till 9! I wish I was more a morning person...

Schmoodle- wow, I am not sure if I could sit through the details of a murder trial... especially if it was a gruesome one.

Karen- Broadcasting the school news sounds like it would be cool. I totally forgot they did that in high school!

Linda- sounds like a busy morning! Hope lots of goodies are waiting for you in the garden!

Well, off to make myself some breakfast and make dh's lunch! I'll pop back in later!

Hi Rikki! Catch ya' later-heading to the pool. Glad you got your grouting done!

Swamped but OP!