I'll have ample opportunity this week to seek food to relieve the stress of initial work on my renovation.

Gotta keep reminding myself, "Food doesn't cure stress."

Bill As you're repeating "food doesn't cure stress" I'll be joining in up here - I'm working in the evening 4 days this week, including next Saturday. Good luck with your reno - it'll be wonderful once it's all done!

All the extra money I'm earning will be going toward my new car . I'm taking my first test drive next Saturday in a Hyundai Elantra Touring. Hope to also check out the Nissan Versa hatchback that day. Other contenders are the Mazda 3 hatchback, Ford Focus hatchback, and maybe the Toyota Matrix. My heart leans toward the Toyota but my wallet is definitely with the Hyundai.

I went to the ballet yesterday - "Alice in Wonderland". It was truly entertaining. The dancer in the principal role of Alice managed to convey a sense of youthfulness and enchantment. The costumes and sets were wonderful but the main focus was on her and she did an admirable job with the role.

I'm always amazed by these tiny slips of women floating effortlessly around on the big stage. Under those frilly costumes they have bodies of steel! The principal dancer was onstage for most of the two-hour long ballet, and she was rarely resting on the sidelines!

My workout for yesterday included another bike ride, down by the lake. I my bike!

Good Monday all!

Dagmar

There are some times I think I need to write this on an index card and stick it in my wallet. That, or tattoo it on my hands facing me, that way I could read it as I'm reaching for things I shouldn't be eating...

I had a really great gym workouts Friday and Saturday - I actually had to get kicked out of the gym as it was closing Saturday. I didn't want to leave! After some not-so-enthused workouts lately, it feels good to be in the groove again. One week of "really" being back OP both food and exercise-wise, and my pants are fitting much better. Sushi night with the girls was good fun as always Saturday! I had my little indulgence for the week and now back on the food straight-and-narrow.

Dagmar, car shopping sounds fun! Enjoy it! Ballet dancers definitely have amazing artistry, though I don't get to watch them too often. I was also really impressed when I saw a Cirque du Soleil performance. Their performers might have a bit more visible muscle than ballet dancers, but gosh, it's so impressive what they do with their bodies!

Bill, gl w the reno! Have fun and don't get too stressed!

How was everyone else's weekend?

Good luck with the renovation, Bill. I've been there, done that a few times. It can be stressful.

Dagmar~we bought the Hyundai Elantra for our son--it is a VERY nice car and is getting a lot of top marks in car magazines. It is a wise choice.

We had a nice weekend. Midnight in Paris movie Friday night, golf Saturday, baby shower Saturday, Super 8 movie Sunday. That and having DD home for the weekend made it great. The thing that wasn't so great was Buddy. He's getting worse. Saturday we noticed him tucking his tail between his legs when he walked around. Sunday he had difficulty walking. His laryngeal paralysis was really acting up (wheezing, coughing, gagging which makes him anxious which just makes all the symptoms worse and then he throws up). He had a 3 hour bout of LP during the night which kept me up worrying. But this morning he got himself up and walked to the garage for breakfast...so I don't know. We'll take it one day at a time, but I'm fairly certain this will be his last week....

I woke up this morning, to grayness & drizzle, stiff in my shoulders & neck from yesterday's workout, thinking, "This already doesn't feel like a good day."

Unfortunately, my e-mail inbox at work is just confirming it.

There's a major project launch due in two days. I've done one out of four of the assigned documents & today I got it back with a large number of changes -- it's been completely rewritten, even parts that should not have been.

A friend who wanted to stay with me for a few days in June finally wrote with the dates -- and it's tomorrow!

Our weird outsourced coffee machine from Dunkin' Donuts just quit. No coffee on Monday morning!

I have a therapist appointment tonight at 8:15, so the day is not ending early either.

Also, the spring party that my building threw yesterday wasn't all that fun. My antique white dress looked pretty on, but all the other women wore pants, so I felt overdressed. I am one of the youngest women living there & one of the few women who work. The others are mostly retired or lifelong housewives. I am not very comfortable chatting. I had a couple conversations & got advice on my rose bush from all those avid gardeners, but was at a loss for much of the time. Oh, and I did talk with one gentleman about his really great Chinese ancestor portrait. And my tricolor pasta salad with roasted vegetables just went over okay. I have lots of leftovers. (What a waste of nice roasted vegetables.) What a letdown. I wish I'd gone to see the Werner Herzog documentary & the new Woody Allen instead. But alas, one is supposed to socialize & to push oneself to mingle, rather than fleeing these things & doing what one actually wants to do.

I'm with Bill: "Food doesn't cure stress. Food doesn't cure stress. Food doesn't cure stress."

Hugs to you and Buddy Allison.
One of my good friends has a dog named Buddy and he also wasn't doing well over the weekend. I need to see how he is doing today.

Hi to everyone else. (hopefully) my last week at school but I have enough work for months so I'm off to work. I called a meeting this morning with my principal because I'm overwhelmed. Now I'm freaking out that I called the meeting so I hope it goes well!

My weight was super low (119) so I indulged over the weekend-- up to 122.6 so I can stop indulging now! I didn't even indulge much but that is all it takes for me.

My physical is tomorrow so I need to start working on my questions for the doctor.

I'll check back in soon! Take care everyone and have a great week!

Allison Buddy is almost 16 I think you said? He's had a wonderful, long, long life. It sounds like he is ready to let go and I think you're ready too.

People always say it's easier with older pets. Not true. They've been a part of our lives for such a long time it's hard to imagine life without them.

Whenever you make the decision it will be the best one for Buddy because you love him so much.

Dagmar

Hey Allison We're here for you.

You're absolutely right, Dagmar. He's either 16 or 17. Another bad night. His anxiety level gets so high and he can't sleep and neither can we. We're thinking he's disoriented--doesn't know where he is. He hasn't walked since yesterday morning and last night he had diarrhea from 5 PM until 5 AM. We're making the "call" this morning, but I know from experience they usually do this as the last appointment of the day.

Allison, my thoughts and prayers are with you today.

Oh, Allison. I'll be thinking of you and of Buddy today as you both get through the day & the hours leading up to that appointment.

Allison -

Hugs to you Allison.

Sweet Buddy. Good boy....

I am so sorry Allison...hugs and prayers to you and your family.