What a glorious weekend here in Florida; the weather could not have been better. The wedding on Saturday went off without a hitch. The concert was not well-attended, but it went very well. Those who attended were happy. WI is tonight--wish me luck.

Hi, Melissa, Susan, Pam and lala.

Domina: Thanks for getting the thread up and running today! Good luck with your WI tonight!

Weather over the weekend was pretty good--Saturday night we had some storms roll through and we had thunderstorms most of the evening. Sunday started out cloudy but turned out sunny & warm. Today it's sunny and the humidity is creeping up and the temp is up to 84!! Nothing like skipping Spring!

I had a horrible evening of eating on Saturday (the PMS monster is rearing it's ugly head) and I went from one thing to another. Sunday wasn't too bad with eating but it wasn't anything spectacular. Today I'm back on track.

Susan: How's everything going with you? Is your leg any better?

Hi to Pam, Lala!

Hope everyone had a good weekend!

Hi everyone.

Well, the news isn't good as far as my leg is concerned. I tried to run the 20km on Sunday but could only manage 13.5; the pain was pretty bad and I kept worrying about doing major damage and putting the whole race into jeopardy.

As luck would have it, I was seeing my doctor anyway this morning. She referred me to physiotherapy. Went for an assessment at lunchtime. He thinks he can whip me into shape in time for the race, however I can't keep running so will have to find another way to keep the cardio fitness up. I'm thinking maybe swimming. I'll talk with the clinic instructor tomorrow night and see if she has any advice. I'm also on anti-inflammatory med.

Received a huge bouquet of flowers from DH on Saturday for our 12th anniversary which was yesterday. He also called late yesterday afternoon; it was great to hear his voice!

I did not weigh in on Saturday due to a number of chores that needed doing, but my home scale is registering a loss from last week. Now if I can just stay OP until the weekend...

Good luck with weigh-in Domina. Hope the TOM monster has eased off Melissa. Hi lala and Pam.

Hi everyone,

I'm back from sunny San Diego. I had a nice weekend and managed to stay in control even at PF Changs (where everything is deep fried (ugh)) and Fleming's Steak house.

Susan -- I am sending you good thought for healing. Nice husband too.

Melissa -- I hope you don't wilt in the humidity.

Domina -- I know it was an appreciative audience.

Everyone else, its a short and sweet message. Talk to you later...

lala

Hi Everyone,

Well back to work after a really nice relaxing weekend. I went to my sister's house for Mother's Day, my parents were there also. It was nice, even though it rained like crazy and we had to move the cookout inside
My daughter got me a beautiful plant for Mother's Day and my son got me the DVD of "Love Actually". What a nice movie. I saw it in the theater around Thanksgiving and it is one of those movies I could easily watch again and again. Eating wise not too bad, though I probably had a few too many potato chips at the cookout. I'm really going to try and keep it between 20 - 25 points this week even though, like Melissa, TOM is on the way.

Domina I hope you had a good WI today. Glad the wedding went well.

Susan I hope your recovery goes smoothly. Congratulations on your 12 year anniversary.

Melissa I hope you had a nice Mother's Day weekend.

Lala hope you had a nice visit with your parents this weekend. Did you mention last week that your Mom would be joining you on your trip to Iran?

Well I should get going, my daughter just asked me to check her geometry homework, Yikes, that could take awhile!! Take care I'll talk to you soon.

Hi everyone,

Back at work after dropping DP off at the train station. I'm going to hit the gym after I finish my yearly performance plan review. First time in four years, we are doing these... Hmmm.

Pam -- I am going with my mom. I am sort of relieved as the getting into the country sort of freaks me out. I'm glad someone with better language skills can prompt me. She is a lucky duck. There was one biz. award seat left on my LHR-THR flight and she got it. We're going to meet at the airport in London and travel together. She'll stay three days longer and go see my grandmother's grave in Qom. (where Khomeni is buried, I don't think I could handle the politics).

We had a good visit and I scored some outstanding clothing purchases. I have finally found a normal jean skirt --- not acid washed, not frayed, not all skanky and flared.

Well, I guess I better wrap this up and get to the gym. I see a treadmill with my name on it.

lala

I lost one pound at WI. I was happy; actually I thought I had lost more, but that's all right. I'll take it. I was so surprised to see our WW room. They spruced it up. It looks very nice: new shelving and paint.

Melissa, TOM always used to be so difficult especially with the munchies, I always craved salt and chocolate. Nowadays, I'm perimenopausal and it's comme ci, comme ca. I hope you had a nice Mother's Day.

Pam, I've heard that there was a lot of rain up there. We finally got a little bit yesterday; we need it here badly. Please tell me about that movie; is it really good?

Susan, I'm so sorry to hear that you're injured. What is the exact diagnosis? I can't tell you how many times that has happened to my husband right before a big race. Swimming is good for cardio fitness. How nice of your DH to send you flowers.

lala, I can't believe you're headed to Iran. I don't think I could go there. Will you need to wear special clothing? Will you need a male escort?

I'm glad you had a nice visit in San Diego. Re: the jean skirt, I thought I was the only one who was disgusted with the new ones. They are so ugly. I wish I could find a nice one here.

Well, more later.

It's a dreary day here, and I'm having a hard time to stay alert after another bad night's sleep. This always happens when DH is away

My leg feels somewhat better today. I iced it several times last nite and did the physio exercises as directed.

Domina: Congrats on the 1-lb loss. Regarding the diagnosis, the physiotherapist says posterior shin splints, altho he didn't put me through the exhaustive testing that would have been necessary if this were a compensation claim. I think he's right; symptoms certainly fit with what I've been reading.

lala: I assume you've visited Iran in the past and know the routine. Still and all, it must be somewhat intimidating. I would have difficulty remembering that the rules are different for females. How do you do it?

Melissa: Can you send some of that warm weather this way?

Pam: Sounds like you had a very nice Mother's Day. I spoke with my mom on Sunday; she was in great "spirits" after a glass of wine

I seem to be holding my own on the eating front. I'm starting to wonder if the onset of menopause is affecting my appetite. My period has been so irregular that it's now impossible to predict a) when it will start and b) when it will end. This age thing is getting to me

Good afternoon everyone,

A sunny, beautiful, warm day here in New England. I'm so happy I'm leaving the office at 3:00 today so I can enjoy the sunshine!!

Lala was your Mom born in Iran? I only made one trip to the Middle East, I went to Turkey a few years ago. It was a little scary. We were told not to wear shorts and to dress as modestly as possible. I remember going to an outdoor market in Kushadasi and almost every time I bought something that was somewhat expensive the vendor would ask me if it was "OK" with my husband!! Quite a different culture. I remember when the Shah of Iran was exiled, I believe at least one of his children went to college here in Amherst.

Susan I sometimes find it difficult to get a good nights sleep when I am alone. I hope the swimming works as part of your therapy.

Hi to Melissa and Domina hope all is well.

Well I should get back to work since I'll be leaving soon. Talk to you later.

Good afternoon!

I've been a little busy the past couple of days and it should quiet down a little, kind of the calm before the storm.

It's sunny and warm here (71) for the time being. The past couple of evenings we've had some good thunderstorms and that's pretty much the forecast for the entire week! Tomorrow we're supposed to hit 80. So much for a nice Spring. I have been getting out for a walk on my lunch hour though

Susan: I hope your leg is getting better. You never realize how much you use something until it hurts. I'll send the warm weather your way--the humidity is rising as well.

Lala They actually still make normal jean skirts? I've been looking for one and haven't been able to find anything decent. The styles out now are disgusting!

Domina: The TOM monster/munchies seemed to have ebbed and now the restless sleep pattern has begun...it's like clockwork for me. I'll be glad to start because I'll be able to sleep better. I've asked the doctor before about being perimenopausal but the test was negative.

Pam: Lucky you leaving early! I could use a "mental health day" I had a nice Mother's day--didn't do anything spectacular. The boys got me a Boyd's bear to add to my collection and a nice card.

Not too much else happening around here. Have a great evening!

Hi again,

Susan as I was driving home from work I stopped at the gas station and couldn't believe the price of gas. It is up to $1.95 a gallon here for the lowest grade. I just remembered you asked me that question last week and I forgot to reply. I've heard some scary reports that by mid summer it could be up to almost $3 per gallon. Glad I'm driving my little VW and not a big SUV.

Domina The movie Love Actually is soooo good. All British actors who are all excellent, even Hugh Grant who I generally do not like. The story looks at several different relationships and it is interesting how they all come together in the end.

Gas price report -- Seattle 2.22 gallon regular/self serve and a 7-11 to boot.
Up the street, 2.25-2.35. Yikes.

La Jolla, CA 2.25- 2.45 Self Serve

Susan -- glad to hear its just shin splints, I've never heard of posterior ones.

Domina-- the skirt is izod. Its pretty simple. Its a petite and dark indigo. I still have my size 4 calvin klein from high school. THat would be a goal to get into. A size four from way back when. Congrats on the loss.

Pam -- I love the idea of warm and sunny. I really loved the big common in the middle of Amherst. I am somewhat bummed I didn't end up going to Holyoke. I got in, but stayed in state.

Melissa -- I love Boyd's bears. I have a few myself. Fremont, Micro, Clem and Albert. My mom has knit fremont a few sweaters over the years.

Re -- Iran. I haven't been back in 34 years. I was born there and lucky for you, I can't be president here. Women are pretty much treated like men, that is they hold the same rights as far as the gov't is concerned in the constitution. How its all interpreted by the Islamic scholars is another story. I have the manteau (basically my raincoat) and ru-sari (scarf) all picked out. My aunties are taking us shopping as soon as we get there for lighter weight versions of the ones we have.

My hair is short,so I'm not concerned about it showing too much. The only thing that will be strange is that we're travelling as mother and daughter and the only guy that is with us is not related. However, he's pushing 70 so he's not a threat.

Its not like saudi arabia or oman.

I just bought two more memory cards and a battery for my camera, so I should have quite the collection of pics. My picture on my identity card and passport are sooo bad. I look awful and bigger.

Should be fun....

lala

It's cloudy and sprinkly here today, but we need the rain. Had to take the car in for a brake job this morning; not bad ($), it was caught early.

Gas here? $2-$2.05/gal. self serve. It's disgusting. I don't know how lower-income households budget for it. You know darn well that all prices will be rising because of transportation costs. lala, I can't believe the prices in Seattle; no wonder my SIL is moving from there.

Pam, thanks for the info about that movie; I'll need to rent it.

Susan, how's the leg? I can't believe the marathons are almost here.

lala, I think you're brave for going to Iran. I think it would be interesting, but also unnerving.

I saw a normal jean skirt last night at our Beall's Department Store. I'm not sure if they're located anywhere outside Florida.

I also just bought a new memory card for my camera; the one that came with the camera was too limited.

Melissa, I'm mad at you. Now my TOM started and I haven't had one in a while. You must have jinxed me. ; )

More later.

Depending on which side of town you're on the gas prices range from 1.91 to 1.98 for the lowest grade. One of the grocery stores here has "fuel perks" that you can accumulate. For every $50 you spend you get 10 cents off per gallon at the pump. I had 20 cents off last night...every little bit helps!

It's a beautiful sunny day here...highs are supposed to be in the mid-80's with t'storms a possibility as the humidity is rising. Can do without that! My allergies/sinuses are suffering from the change and I've had a headache for 3 days now!

Domina: Sorry about jinxing you...I wouldn't wish TOM on anyone!

Lala I have a few bears and I collect the Yesterday's Child--I have the girl on the swing, girl running with raincoat in rain, and a couple others. I'm sure the trip to Iran will be interesting for you.

Susan: Hi! Hope the leg is feeling better and that you're getting some sleep.

Pam: I agree, I'm glad I'm driving my small car and not a SUV. I don't do a whole lot of driving to/from work so it's not too bad with gas at this point. I'm sure the prices are going to spike over the next week or so with the Memorial Day holiday.

Hi all.

The leg feels better thanks. I have a physio apptmnt tonight and another on Friday. Think I'll try the stationary bike tonight for a cardio workout.

On the price of gas..
I've gone through some mental gymnastics trying to sort out litres vs gallons and US vs CD dollars, but I think I'm correct in saying that gas in my area is about $4.00 a gallon CD or somewhere about $3.00 US. (It's 0.99 CD per litre for regular unleaded. I think there are roughly 4 litres in a gallon?)

On jean skirts...
I gave up a few months ago on finding a plain one and bought one that's kinda faded looking but still fairly plain. Why is this so difficult?

On sleepless nights...
They continue..sigh.

I'm out of town to a meeting tomorrow and off on Friday. No big plans for the weekend - perhaps a movie on Saturday night. I'll be lost without the regular runs, but we're supposed to be tapering anyway for the run-up to the race so I guess the timing isn't so bad.