Good morning. A wee dog was lonely at 4:30 - hadn't been petted since 10 PM - so I am up way too early. I suspect it was the call of the wild as there was a brilliant moon and the coyotes were having a party in the meadow.

Coffee is great this morning - I love my Keurig! I used it to wash down a couple of Tylenol for my blasted sore knees. I'm off to the gym as usual this morning - I go MWF - and will be working with my PT on a new routine as treamilling is a killer. Gotta get these legs in shape as all the trips I'm drooling over say "for the active traveller who can walk well"! My trainer is moving me onto bikes and other machines to work on the problem without putting weight on them. (I'm sure you didn't really need to know all this!)

Today we go to do Pet Therapy at the clinic which is always fun. The clients are just finished lunch when we arrive and usually save pudding or yogurt cups for doggie treats. Both dogs can be off leash and just love this visit although Jazz would just as soon sit on someone's lap and be petted. Disney, on the other hand, loves the food part - once a street dog, always a street dog, I guess. I guess after Katrina you just ate whenever there was a chance. There has been a lot of illness in the nursing homes around here and most of them have been closed to visitors. We should be back visiting later this week though.

I need to bang out some desk work today. Tax stuff is coming in and I need to get my act together for T4's for my Mill staff - due Feb. 29 which will sneak up fast. Nose to the grindstone before I get ready for the gym.

Hey! It's Hump Day! Hope it's just a gentle slope for you.

Good Morning

Ruth, thanks for getting us started! Yes, I do enjoy hearing about all your gym stuff. Its always great to hear how much progress you've made. I'm headed there myself this am...just haven't decided what to "do" yet. We're pool-side this morning so I could also go to a 7am aerobics and meet up with my friends.

I think coffee is just about ready so I'd better run. Bing is staring at the back door.

Sending supportive thoughts to Cyndi and Julie. The new treatment sure sounds promising and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you'll both be headed home very soon.

Loving my Keurig coffee, too.

I'm thinking I get plenty enough exercise running up and down several flights of stairs umpteen times a day. At least I can do it without getting breathless!

There's snow in our forecast later this afternoon, and I'm hoping I'm home before the roads get too dicey. We're only supposed to get a light coating, but it's going to be mixed with rain, which could complicate things. I don't really think it will be too bad, though. Other than that, food is going well, and I can't complain.

good morning ladies!

Ruth the residents must love the doggy visits so much. Is it OK for the dogs to have the people treats, it doesn't make them um, barf, later? best wishes with diff. therapy for your knees.

Debbie, ooo, you were poolside this morning, how nice!

cottage I hope you get home before the roads gets 'not fun'. Glad your food is going well!

I have off today and tomorrow, yay! My only 'have-to's are a hair appt today, and general cleaning up/laundry whenever. But I do have a room to tackle, it's become a dumping area and I need to reclaim it. At the very least get access to the window so Eddie the dog can look out it...he doesn't go in the room anymore since our younger son (moved out) put his drum set there and Eddie is scared of it.

hope everyone has a great, on=program day!

Linda, I know you get lots of exercise going up and down those stairs everyday. I was amazed to find I walk 4 miles at work on a normal shift. Have a good day I hope your weather doesn't get too bad.

Holly, I got a chuckle thinking about Eddie avoiding the room because of the drum set! BTW-I have a friend who just stuffs everything in one room and deals with it once a year. I'm trying to keep a little bit more current with the "stuff". Enjoy your days off!

Good morning We haven't heard what time we are checking in so just going about our usual morning routine. My only frustration is we finally have DW's tummy and blood sugar stable again and now it's back to the hospital with their yucky food and crazy schedule. hoping she will be back home by the weekend so it won't take long to get back on track.

Ruth - Good luck at the gym. I admire your dedication, could use a little of that myself.

Debbie - Pool side sounds nice this morning. I"m remembering your story the other day and planning to bring fresh juice to the hospital each day It has to help.

Cottage - My FitBit counts stairs so that's my new thing. The other day I was going up and down ours just to reach 10 I need to check our forecast I guess, hope there's no snow here.

Holly- Enjoy your days off!

Lots of lists to make so I better get to it.

ETA - anyone having any tips for dry fingers? My hands are in water so much that I have awful cracks on two fingers on my right hand, not on the end but on the pads themselves. Ouch!

good morning,

Cyndi sending positive thoughts your way.

Everyone else have a great day, today is busy.
take care
Sophie

Good morning everybody!

Two exciting things have already happened today-- 1). It snowed! and 2). The car door handle fairy (my husband) came while I was sleeping and fixed my car door handle!!! So now I don't have to reach through the window any more to open my car door! I think it's going to be an awesome day.

Cyndi, I hope things go smoothly for you two. I hate it that hospital food is so terrible. When someone's in the hospital for days or weeks it really takes a toll. I get cracked heels and the best things I've found are Aquaphor and Clinique Deep Comfort. The Clinique is expensive but non-greasy and a little goes a long way.

The drum set thing cracked me up too. Poor Eddie! One of our cats is absolutely terrified of my daughter's furry rainbow leg warmers. I hate to laugh at him, but it is hilarious!

Good morning!

Ruth - I hope you can find an exercise that works better for you. (And your knees.)

Debbie - Enjoy your workout.

Linda - I always wondered why my stairs are so hard yet I could do 90 minutes on the elliptical! Drive safe.

Holly - I'm chuckling at the image of your dog and the drums

Cyndi -

Sophie -

Taterhead - "Car door fairy" - Love that!

I have the house to myself this morning and really need to take advantage of the quiet to work on my blog. I've had writer's block lately; good thing I always have some posts drafted to fall back on! I made the broccoli cheese soup for breakfast today. I'm really trying to get back on track this week so digging out all sorts of recipes. Either 3fatchicks or my computer are acting up this morning so let's see if this even posts...

Hey all,
Cyndi, my husband gets those cracks in the winter too. It turns out that it can be a fungal infection, like a relative of athlete's foot. Try using some athletes foot cream on your hands. At night, soak them in warm water, use some Neutrogena Fisherman's hand cream (or generic equivalent) and put on a pair of breathable cotton gloves. Hope it all goes well today.

WaistingTime, just popping back in to say, I thumbed through your blog a little and whoa, so much I can identify with there! I'll definitely be reading more.

Have long enough for a quick, late good morning to all. We're getting rained on, but traveling to find snow this weekend (probably sounds crazy to some of you in the snowy-er states).

Kudos to everyone keeping up with working out - you are an inspiration to me who has yet to take up that part of my plan. The weight is coming off -- letting my happiness over that get the better of me. Literally can't rest on my laurels any longer!

Also wanted to pass on that the SBD has helped me move to a gluten-free diet -- it seemed so impossible before this. I didn't have any real problems with wheat and gluten, but I'm feeling better and a small, autoimmune condition has subsided.

Have a great rest of the week, all.

and this is why I can't make plans - hospital packed, no room until evening which makes no sense for us. Changed plan to Monday admission. This makes sense but we spent most of the day in waiting mode However she's had another good day, her blood sugar is great and her stomach is good. Looks like we will get all her calories from real food today so we are feeling pretty darned successful.

smarkey - Staying away from sugar and wheat has done wonders for my arthritis. I love finding those easy fixes.

thanks for all the thoughts everyone, I'll save them up for Monday

Hi Everyone, sure sounds like everyone had busy days.

I am so rushed in the mornings lately, can't even post on here. That needs to change. But you know when you got a little lap dog that will not eat dry food unless you mix something in it, (thanks to my DH, she is spoiled). So, I have to hunt for something to mix in. May have to just have canned food and give her a spoon full. I hate giving in to her. Because sometimes she picks the food out and I swear licks it off and leaves it lay!

Cyndi my wishes for you for Monday. hope all goes well.

Ruth, you just keep going don't ya, bum knee and all. Yeah!

Holly, I have to admit the drums and your dog is a good story. They don't forget do they.

And anyone getting snow, don't you dare send any our way. I don't want it.

A great evening to all.