Good morning, Beauties. It's supposed to rain today but the sunrise doesn't look like it. It's still very dark but the East is sort of greenish blue. We'll see what happens. The weatherman lies!

I had such a good weekend! The scale didn't bop me on the head this morning either. I'm still 201.5 but this is the week I'll be back in ONEderland! I have turkey soup in the simmer right now so that's a good start for lunches this week.

The Furry Monsters are still sleeping downstairs! The new sleeping arrangements are working very well and I sure appreciate my nights of solid sleep! Lucy is still not eating much - skinny little girlie! I may throw a ladle of soup stock on her food and see if that works. Spoiled brat! Hersh will eat anything and is very quick to scoff down her daughter's food. Mealtimes need a dog referee!

I'm dressed and ready to roll. Have a good Tuesday.

Ruth, I'm so excited for you! I'm going to do well this week, too! And so is Den. And Rowan. And Twodog... and Lizzie, and... EVERYONE!!
Soup! Good idea! Den, get out your crockpot! We're making soup!

I made chicken broth last week and forgot to freeze it. Will it still be okay, or should I toss it?

Why the heck am I so cheery?

Rowan, I like what you said about "Having a Communication". Thank you.
I hope the grocery strike is soon resolved.

Twodog...thank you. I'm sorry about the weight gain, hon. This is going to be a good week for us... okay?

Lizzie, you, too! And yes... my MIL is her own worst enemy. You hit it right on the head.

Den, I don't want you to die. Pull yourself together.
We are making soup today!! Hear me!?

Get out your soup pots, ladies!

Oh, please Ellis, anything but SOUP! I just can't face another bowl of the stuff! I know it is the stock of life and all that, but I am so sick and tired of it! Last night I made mini-meatloafs...I used mushrooms instead of breadcrumbs...they were delish! AND I could actually eat them! LOL!

I'm back OP after my mini-blow out at work last Friday night. It was definately a pity party, but I'm over it now.

Confession time: One reason I have been so cranky is I am trying to quit smoking. All these good things I do for myself and the one horrible addiction I have not been able to kick is cigarettes. I have smoked since I was 12 years old so it is a huge stone around my neck. I have to do this, and I know I have to do this, but it doesn't make it any easier. When I have quit in the past I have fallen into a deep depression and ended up on meds. Of course if I was thin I gained weight, and if I was heavy I just got heavier. I REALLY don't want that to happen this time, so I am being very careful and taking is slowly. Wish me luck!


I'm off to bed dear chicks. Have a wonderful day!

Good Morning Girls

Ruth~So glad you are sleeping well, what a diff. it makes in our moods.

Ellis ~ I still have not got a crock pot yet...maybe this week. How is the yoga going? Ditto GOOD WEEK FOR EVERYONE!

Rowan~ I too loved the communication comment, you have such a good outlook on things.

Franny~ I am quitting also. Dr. put me on welbutrin to help me. I was reading the Dr. phil book, something he said that stood out. He said something to the effect that you need to do something that contradicts (sp?) your eating & lack of exercise, for example if your raking leaves you can't be eating. I think smoking is keeping me from getting real with exercise. So I will try to apply that, if I am exercising, I can't be smoking etc... very hard to do, it's not luck it is hard work.... So if you want to buddy up just let me know and maybe we can help each other

FYI... I made turkey breast over the weekend & it was sooo good
maybe I will try turkey soup

Have a great day all!

Geepers, Sflake! Congratulations on the turkey breast! Knowing your reputation, I'm VERY impressed.
Go and get a crockpot, girl. But you don't need one to join us in making SOUP!
Missed yoga this week because of Thanksgiving hours. I bought myself a really good yoga book last week... I should do sme practicing this week...

Mornin ladies! Ya know it's gonna be a good day when you go out walking before work and get soaked! Luckily I wore a jacket with a hood. But geesh now I got what's called a really bad hair day They are calling for rain all day today so we'll have to see. As long as it rains now and goes away before this weekend. We play Alabama this weekend in football...I can't wait!

Hope your day starts out better than mine

By the way, when I make soup stock, I let it cook overnight either on very low or in the crockpot.

Ellis, when last week did you make the stock? It may still be OK, especially if it was sealed with a layer of chicken fat. If it stinks, pitch it.

The Girls and I have walked down for the paper for Harry who was up and dressed by 8 this morning! Yippee! It's a bit cloudy now but still gorgeous out there. Stupid weatherman.

Sflake, you will be turning into a regular Julia Child. Get the damned crockpot this week, OK? You'll love it.

Frannymae, I have not smoked since I was 22 but do remember how hard it was to quit. Hang in there! It can happen. Noranoranora tried many times and has been off the stuff for two years now.

Catch y'all later.

Good morning ladies....I have been so out of pocket this month...Oct. is always a busy month here....we have 3 birthdays, festival, that I am envoled in...Oct is my month to be hostess for my garden club...(thank goodness it is over and went wonderfully). This next weekend is festival and the boss will be here...(my 5 yr old GD) Next weekend is a BIG craft show in OKC and then Sunday it is off to Tulsa for GS birthday...Sunday is also DH birthday.... The last weekend of Oct. is free(thank goodness) and then the first weekend of Nov. is my transformation day....haha I will explain.
Over the years my eyes have taken on the look of a hound dog. They are so droopy. Well.....might as well spit it out. I am going to have my eyes done and a brow lift. My droopiness has gotten so severe that it interfere's with my vision....BAD. So bad, in fact, that my insurance is paying for it all!! I am going to have the ultimate lift and tuck!! haha Now....wish I could talk my insurance into doing a tummy tuck!! haha
The Doctor said that have the excess skin taken away from the upper eyelid does not hurt at all but, the brow lift is a big owie
I will be so glad to be able to have a full range of sight AND, it will take at least 10 years off of me...this is good 'cause I look 10 years older than I am.
Insurance does not usually pay for this except in extreme cases...so, you can guess how bad it is. The bad thing is I can't taken my pain medication for two weeks before my procedure so, my back is going to be awful... (Oh well, I have been through worse.)
anywho....I have to run....cards today....and Ruth the b**** is BACK!!!! Good luck to you guys that are trying to quit the ciggy habit...I have not had a smoke in a year....I still want one. Love you guys!!!

Wow! You have been busy and the rest of the month looks busy too. Did the doggage get over their hay fever?
The eye job sounds great - and insurance will pay for it. Yippee! Here's to a speedy recover.
Nice to see you back and posting again. Now don't take any crap from that ***** at cards!

the girls are much better Ruth...they are still taking there pills though...Tango takes hers like a big girl but, Sargie keeps spitting hers out. If we would just have a good frost, they would improve much faster...it is the ragweed!!!

G'morning all!

I'm blue! Nothing is going smoothly in my life so you gals better get more of your usual good stuff on here to cheer me. I need to be happy vicariously!!! Kick it up a notch from soup, ok? soup is good, but either get more excited about it, or at least share what kind of soup, and add the recipies to the forum so we can all access your yummy op ideas!

How 'bout lovely Thanksgiving news from Canada? Anyone do anything exciting for the Columbus Day weekend? Any new babies or even puppies on the way?

My sister just got engaged...we THINK we like the guy... he's not here as legally as he should be, and his country's culture is VERY different from ours. (Both ethnocentric, I think!) I hope they are doing the right thing for the right reasons!

Whimsey, That's really exciting!!!! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and lots of good "reflections"!!! Take a before and after picture for yourself! happy birthday to everyone there! I'm an October baby too. Maybe that's part of the blues...?

Ellis, I hate to waste food that took a long time to prepare! Especially when prepared with love, but when I'm not sure, I toss it. Why take chances with health!? One week is the max.lifespan of 'fridge foods here.

Ruth, Sounds like Harry is improving daily! Up and dressed by 8am is more than I want to handle these days!

congrats to all you Beauties who are trying to quit smoking!!! I am rooting for you and proud of you! What a great gift you are giving yourselves! It's a tough road, but worth the struggle! Keep strong! Maybe start another support thread!!! x-smokers on the beach or something!

Hope you are having a positive, OP day!


Hugs,

J&LMom, I hope the road of life smooths out a bit for you soon! Those bumpy patches don't last forever. What kind of soup do you want?

Frass! The smell you smell is from my big pot of chicken stock which boiled dry! Duh! I usually boil it down before I freeze it in muffin cups for use when you need stock in a recipe. HOWEVER this is really boiled down and has ruined my favourite pot too.

BUT eating crap for lunch will not fix my pot so.....Caesar salad with a chicken breast?

Ruth-Sorry to hear about the broth and pan....BUMMER!!

J&LMOM-Sorry you are feeling blue sweetie! not much exciting going on around here. Just hope you feel better soon!!

Whimsey-WOW! It is great that the insurance company is paying for the surgery! That is pretty darn rare!! October is busy for me too.....

Ms24-It is raining here too, and all I want to do is go back to bed!!!

Sflake and Franny-Good luck to BOTH of you with quiting smoking. It is supposed to be one of the most difficult things to quit, so be patient with yourselves. I KNOW YOU CAN BOTH DO IT!!!!

Ellis-I'm not going to die sweetie. I'm too stubborn!! Seriously though, I am just borderline, and I am taking it seriously.

Sflake and Frannie: You can do it!! My DD quit, and she used nicorette gum for a while, and then gradually cut down on how much she chewed until now she is off completely. She knows a gal at her work that has chewed the gum for 4 years.

Whimsey: Been there and done that last year. I didn't need the eyebrow lift, but I was amazed at how much better I can see now especially poriferally. Just doing the pre-tests amazed me at the difference. And he is right. The eyelids do not hurt at all. But you will be all lovely shades of purple as the swelling goes down. You will look younger. My DD hadn't seen me for several months, and so when she got the first look, she thought I had lost weight, but then I flashed my eyelashes at her and she realzised the difference. My insurance paid also. But the Dr. took pictures of the before and the after for the insurance.

Ruth: sorry about the pot and the lost stock. Hope it wasn't your favorite pot. Great about Harry being up at 8:00. I love turkey soup, but DH hates it. In fact he is not a 'soup' man so I get to eat it all myself. I made some cream of asparagus for me today.

Robin: Hope as the day progressed you perked up. My most exciting news was that my bloodwork was all good. Had a check today, and Cholesterol, tryglycerides, etc. are all great. This WOE is a positive health influence.

"See ' you tomorrow. Lizzie

Good Evening everyone,
It has been a hectic day, my main gal, who is like my daughter, sprainned her ankle, and my guy had lasix eye surgery this afternoon, on top of one day away from final taxes being done!!!

I did this post about willpower, but it really was how I quit smoking -- I thought to post it here as a hopeful inspiraiton to you all....smoking is nasty, and I really made up my mind after watching my Mom go through Chemotherapy....it was eye opening. BTW she still smokes. ...

Good luck to all of you, and YOU CAN DO IT

Over the years I have re-defined will power for myself. I was a consistent one pack a day smoker and I quit. I woke up one morning and decided that I was no longer a smoker. I threw out my cigarettes, I had my carpets cleaned, my bedding, curtains and coats all dry cleaned, I took out the ash trays in my car, I got the inside of my car detailed and I removed all evidence that I smoked, I got rid of my matches and lighters, and no one was allowed to smoke inside my house, they would have to go outside. In essence I started my life as a non smoker.

This had nothing to do with will power, it had to do with commitment and finding the right set of tools to support that decision. In that one day I made my mind up to live like a non-smoker.

Good Luck to everyone and do whatever it takes...one hint that really worked for me......when I was really craving, I took deep breathes, just as if I was having a cigarette, it really worked.

rb