God Bless America!

We want to invite everyone to join us in our journey.
We share laughter and tears.
We share what works for us and what doesn't.
We recently started a Topic of the Day.
Monday........Motivation Monday
Tuesday.......Tuesday Tips
Wednesday.....Wednesday Weigh ins
Thursday......Thankful Thursday
Friday........Friday Facials, Fingernails and Fun
Saturday.......Sit-up Saturdays - any physical activity
Sunday.........Soup and Salad Sunday - recipes

These are not required topics ...just ideas to share. We have found them very helpful. We also share heartaches and fears...joys and celebrations.

WELCOME!

Hi all!

Can't stay long. I'm having company tomorrow and there is oh so much to do! Not only do I have to get the house picked up, but my flower beds need dead-heading and out back is just in too bad a shape to even try to fix it up. Weeds everywhere. I've been so crazy busy this last month and a half with my mom that all I've had time for was keeping the front yard looking decent. No help, if you get my drift!

Honey is working on a report for work that's due on Monday. Of course he has to do it today when I'd rather have him helping me put stuff away. *mumble, grumble* The boys are still in bed. Big surprise. And of course when they get up they'll expect breakfast, which at this point is more like lunch!

I've got laundry going and my timer set for when to swap it from the washer to the dryer. If I don't set a timer, I forget about it. The dryer has a buzzer, but living in a quad, if I'm not on the same floor, which I never am, I can't hear it.

Well, I think that's all the whining I can do for one day. Sorry about that.

Chris: Sounds like you were treated to a really good night's sleep. Enjoy, they don't happen all that often. I remember when the boys were little, they'd choose a day when we had to be up early to sleep in and then on Saturday or Sunday when we could be a little lazy, they'd be up at the crack of dawn! KIDS! Gotta love 'em!!!

Mary: Sorry to hear you and hubby are down with a bug. Hope you feel better real soon.

Terri: That's too bad about hubby's neuropathy. I was really hoping that he was going to be able to ride. But there's no sense him being scared to death he'll fall off, that's no fun for either of you. Maybe you can look for an old race horse that can't run or something for him to ride. I used to go with a friend and the family had an acquaintence who had a retired race horse. I was allowed to groom him and ride him, but he wasn't allowed to run and he didn't care to anymore.

Andria: "if one more person says that to me, I might just go postal on them... " Ok, ok, I won't say that to you. I'm glad the Dr. thinks it will be ok. You must be in just terrible pain. [[[Hugs]]] Be good to yourself and take this time to heal.

Michelle: Wow, things are really rolling along for you! I'm glad that John got his transfer approved and you know for sure that he's going to have a job when he gets there. Is Andrew excited???

Pat: You've got to fly by more often and land for a moment. It's nice to know you're reading, but what's going on in YOUR life???

Katrina: "I ain't crazy!" You'd be surprised at how much fun driving is when you've got somebody to ride along with you. Susie and I had a great time on the road! Round up a couple of those East Coasters and drive on out!* Toby Keith! OMG, how cool. I hope you enjoyed the concert. I can't get Honey to go to anything that's "country" in nature. Of course now I don't fit in the seats anyway, so I don't even think about going.

Judy: Good advice. I wish I would/could follow it. If I'd just pick up every night, then these BIG scrambles to get the house in order would be a thing of the past. Sounds like you did some GOOD grocery shopping. That needs to happen around here too before I can get my act together.

Angela: Take your long weekend to get it together, even though that will be a tough task given your cold thing going on. BTW, what do you teach??? Hope it's not English as I really get carried away with the commas sometimes!

JoeAnne: You're very welcome! I'm glad it got you out of hiding! Sorry that life has been so full for you lately. Are you still walking every day? How are the kids?

CD: I'm glad you found you liked the WATP tapes. That was really ambitious doing two in one day! Good for you! * What's the artwork for? Tell us what you do.

BarbPA: Your Dr. story really ticked me off. It's bad enough that we (as larger women) have to hunt for a Dr. for ourselves that is compassionate and understanding of our situation, but then to have to be insulted and interrogated by someone you're not even a patient of!!! I'd be seeing RED too!

Barbg: I'm glad you were able to have a Fun Friday even if it was only because DH was out of the office!!! * Have you been feeling any better? I know last week wasn't a good one.

Skittles: That's cool about the girl on Survivor from your area. It makes it a bit more personal. One of the Survivor series we had 2 players from the Detroit area. That was neat. And when they came home they made personal appearances all around town.

2cute: I'm sure you're in the middle of the woods having a wonderful time right about now. Wish I was there!!!

Susie: I'm sorry you're feeling so down and out. [[[HUGS]]] I don't know what to say other than to give you another [[[Hug]]]. Just don't eat your way out of this one. You'll feel twice as bad and you won't have accomplished your goal anyway. Hope the rest of the weekend looks up for you.

Well, my dears, my timer has gone off and I need to go flip flop the laundry and get moving on this house. Especially seeing as I'm not going to get any help at it. Honey will be tied up with that damn report all day and then of course will need to sit down for 4 hours tonight to watch the Nascar race! Lovely!!!

I'll try to get back later, but there's no telling if I don't get the house put together. Hope you are all doing well on the challenge. I'm down a little bit, now to just not blow it for the rest of the weekend.

I'm leaving Tuesday morning early to go to Indiana. My aunt's (the one who passed away a couple of years ago) little sister lives in Fort Wayne so my cousin and I are going to see her. We'll stay at her house on Tuesday night and then get up early and go to Shipshewana on Wednesday, then come home on Thursday night. Gosh, the more I typed that, the more I felt like I had already told you all that! The mind is a terrible thing to lose!!

Anyway, I'm outta here for now. Hope you're all having a great weekend. Love ya bunches!

Hello Ladies!
I hope you are all having a nice weekend and hopefully most are getting an extra day off. We are moving slow around here. DH had to work part of yesterday and just left for the office today. I've been doing laundry and chores and stuff. This morning I am having a hard time getting started --- well, afternoon guess. Need to hop in the shower and go run a few errands. I'll take the dogs for a walk this evening.

Tommorrow will be more of the same - most likely DH working some and us hanging around the house. It's all fine with me! As long as I eat well and get in some exercise I feel accomplished!!!

Susie - I am so sorry for your frustration! HUGS!!! I know how difficult it all is.

Thin - Thank you for the Spring Fling II teaser! You know I'll be there if I can! (hopefully I can't - but you know what I mean.)

Sending big Hugs and Hellos to all!!! I think I am going to get my day started now that I've got a lil motivation going!

Love Ya!

THIN I am SO gealous. Shipshewana on Wednesday!! I tried to figure out how we could make
Shipshewana on Wednesday when we were on our trip to PA, but couldn't work out the details!!! It's been several years since I've been there, but I still talk about it. Think about me when you are there!!!

I was ust (can anyone guess what key on my keyboard will not work?)going to read and not reply until later in the day but Thin got me excited. Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend, and I'll try to be back later tonitght.

Enlighten me!

The show was very good. What we saw of it. We had lawn seats, which would have been fine if the two buttheads down in front of us had sat, on the lawn, like everyone else! The view of their ASSES was probably not as good as actually seeing Toby perform! And when those asses started to shake... well...I guess that's what the giant screen is for. Although, I could gotten the same effect if I had stayed home and watched TV! Oh, but then I wouldn't have heard the screaming drunks that sat right behind us! And all around us for that matter. Oh yes! And I wouldn't have been able to inhale all the second had smoke blowing around me even though the lawn seating was clearly marked as a NO SMOKING area! *sigh* I realize I sound like an old fuddy duddy, but I'm really not! I just hate crowds, especially crowds of drunk, obnoxious, rude, smelly people!

But the music was good. I even cried at the end when he did his very patriotic stuff (you don't think I remember the names of these songs, do you?) But the screen was superimposed with pictures of soldiers in Iraq and soldiers throughout the years, defending freedom. Really good. Terri Clark opened for him...I do like her song "Girls Lie Too!"

All in all, it was fun, we had a blast just watching and laughing at the crowd...when they weren't pissing me off! I didn't know there were so many country fans around here! Yee Ha!

I have to go make dinner for dh...he's working tonight. And go flip my laundry too...big Labor Day doings around here, as you can see!

Shoot, dryer buzzer just went off - (for my clothes, not Thin's) BRB

It took me over a half an hour to get here. S L O W isn't even the word for it. I shut down twice earlier and that didn't seem to help so this time I "toughed" it out. WAITING NOT so patiently.

I guess I might as well get on with my confession:

I was in the Cities Thursday. Three women I work with and I drove down late Wednesday, checked into our hotel, ate and went to the Mall of America for about 1 1/2 hours before heading back to the hotel and bed. On the way to the Cities we had Subway. I had a 6" tuna that I only ate half of with a Mug Root Beer. Dinner was at a Mexican resturant where I had a beer and a
Quesedilla (sp). I only ate half of the quesedilla, chicken without sour cream or "the green stuff I can't spell".

Thursday we had to attend a seminar where they served lunch - I had a tablespoon of potato salad (really, cause I could hear Dr. Phil in my head). Then I made my own turkey sandwich with mustard and, once again due to Dr. Phil talking to me (yep! I am hearing voices now) I picked two of the smallest pieces of bread to make my sandwich.
NOW, the bad part - desert!!! Even though I still could hear Dr. Phil I went along with my three co-workers and took a desert. Mine was decadent!! It was something like a chocolate cheese cake. Anyway, I ate it. THERE!!! I have confessed and feel better.

What I did Saturday I am still trying to cope with. I was a slug. I had two pieces of peanut butter toast, Lean Cusine Lagsana and 1 1/2 cups of sunflower seeds (in the shell). I don't know what happened but once I started on the sunflower seeds I couldn't stop. I felt a NEED for the salt.

Then the worst is I didn't exercise from Wednesday to Saturday. I know what I let happen. I have been stressed at work, my fibro has been flaring and the weather is terrible. I just gave in and up!!!

BUT, I am happy to report that I walked 3 miles today along with doing part of my "huge a$$ green ball tape" and another aerobic tape.

I told myself I couldn't post here until I got back on track.

I feel much better now.

Later, someones at the door.

I'm back, but just for a short stop. My back is killing me. I knew I should have hit the Chiropractor on Friday. Not hit hit him, just gone to him for an adjustment! Wouldn't want you all to think I was picking on my Doc!!!

Barbg: I'm sorry you didn't get to go to Shipshewana on your trip, but I can see where it would have been a MAJOR detour! When you fly in next year for Spring Fling you can stay a few extra days and we'll drive down there. They're open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Well, that's if they're even open when we schedule the Fling.

BarbPA: I hope you can't come either!!!! Just kidding, but you know EXACTLY what I mean!!!

Lucky: Geez, I didn't see you come and change my laundry. How'd you know my buzzer went off too??? I'm glad to hear you had a nice time and that you're now back on track.

Katrina: Shipshewana is this HUGE flea market. It's almost all vendors that go from town to town on the weekends and then are there in Northern Indiana on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. They also have some antiques and there's fruit and veggies offered by the local farmers. The place has really grown over the years and now there's hotels and restaurants and lots of shops too. It's in the middle of Amish and Menonite country so there is beautiful furniture and you get to see the Amish in their buggies going down the road everywhere. On the little map I sent, it's almost by the dot at the north end of Indiana where South Bend is.

Well, girls, break's over. Gotta get back to work. See ya.

OK someone tell me when the antibiotics kick in strong enough to kick the sore throat. I can't seem to get rid of it! Good for a diet but very painful! Hurts my ears when I swallow,I have to put my fingers in my ears to aleviate some of the pain! the fever is gone but the neck is still sore and I have a headache still and I feel like a slug still! Geeesh! Listen to me complain! I just want the pain to go away!

Good news is I mustered the strength to go to WW this morning and I lost 4.4 lbs. Thats 10 1/2 in two weeks...now if I could just keep doing that every week!! I know I know! Its not gonna happen but one can wish and fantasize can't they?????

Susie keep your chin up! Remember too that losing weight can help you concieve also! Some people have a hard time when they are heavier! So keep at your efforts and good things will happen!!

Kat...did you see my last post? About coming here saturday for a cookout! Just a small gathering! Please????

Thin...seems the only time my house is clean is when company is coming! At least company I know is coming! Then again for 2 days while the house was on the market it was spotless too! Now its starting to get trashed again! I try to keep it up but then John and Andrew take over! At least some of the packing is getting done!

Lucky don't give up! You need to treat yourself to a treat so you dont' feel deprived. Then you can go on! I let my self eat anything I wanted for dinner on weigh in night when I lost the 97 lbs. Even desert if thats what I wanted. Eventually I kept going back for the chinese steamed shrimp and veggies. We learn at some point! But still, you need a treat. You make good choices otherwise so that chocolate cheesecake (drooling) won't be your demise! Get back up on the horse!!

I really need to get in the shower and get to bed...my head really really aches! I didn't forget the rest of you, Barbg, Terri, and everyone else. I will catch up after this week for sure. I need you all to keep me motivated so I will hopefully get to post alot in between all the crap I need to do here!

TTFN Michelle

I did it.

I started scrapbooking.

I love it.

I did my first page - it took me two hours to get it designed with one picture. Now, if I can get healthy and live another 50 years I just may get all of my pictures into scrap books.



Michelle, thanks for the words of encouragement. I keep chanting to myself that one "HIGH" calorie food does not ruin me!!! Makes me mad but doesn't ruin me. I have made progress because I didn't miss a beat and got back to healthy foods and exercise - before I would use that chocolate cheese cake to give me the excuse to eat, eat, and eat some more - for weeks, months even years.

Hi all! Just checking in once again. I'm watching the Survivor preview on the TV guide channel. I'm also watching my closing eBay auctions as well as listing some new stuff. Cleaning is done for today as I just lost steam entirely.

My back is still killing me even after taking some 222's. I really want to go to bed early and get up early, but I know when morning comes, I won't get up. So might just as well stay up late.

Hi all--

Going a bit nuts in Illinois here. Trying to get caught up--thanks all for the support on that front--but meanwhile my Crush is giving me fits. Normally I see or hear from him pretty much daily. We work at the same place, we live in the same small town, and we exchange email on days when we don't see each other. He's usually better than me, returning my messages within a couple hours of when I write them. To top all that off, he was supposed to get some work-related things to me and a few others on Saturday (we're helping him apply for a merit raise). But the last I've heard from him is an email on Friday, saying he would try to get the materials to us Friday evening. Nothing since then. I've emailed him a couple times, and earlier today I left him a msg on his cell phone saying that I'm a bit worried not having heard from him, could he call and just let me know all's okay. That was, what, almost 5 hrs ago.

On one hand, I'm thinking, okay, it's a holiday weekend. He took off and went somewhere--but not in his car, which hasn't moved since Friday. But okay, so he's with some other woman--none of my business. But that seems really unlikely, I've been seeing a lot of him outside work and I think I'd know if there were someone he were going to spend the weekend with. So then I start thinking, something's wrong with him. And I think I should call his friends and see if any of them know where he is. But then, when he returns from his weekend with whoever, his friends will tell him I was asking. I don't want to seem to be keeping tabs on him. But I can't stop wondering if he's okay. Acccckkkk! And, to bring all this around to something on topic, I did give in and have chocolate. In fact I made it my dinner, so I could still be under my calorie count for the day. Anyone have opinions--try to find him or sit it out?????

Susie: So sorry you're feeling so down. Congrats on getting under 300, though, I haven't been there in so long I really envy you.

Michelle: Great progress! Good for you! Hope those antibiotics kick in soon.

Thin: I teach, um, literature and writing. Um, yeah, I teach literature and writing in English. I am, that dreaded thing, an English teacher. Gee I hate when I have to tell people that. I am NOT the comma police, really! I never even notice when a comma is wrong. (Well, I do, but I don't think any less of you, and I make plenty of mistakes myself.) Can y'all forgive me for being an English prof? I'll quote you poetry every day if that'll make up for it.

In fact, here, I'll give you a poem for today. This is one I know by heart, by Edna St. Vincent Millay. The punctuation may be off, cause I'm really doing this by memory. But the ending seemed appopriate for our list.

Love is not all. It is not meat nor drink,
nor slumber, nor shelter from the rain,
nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
and rise and sink, and rise and sink again.
Love cannot fill the thickened lung with breath,
nor clean the blood, nor set the broken bone.
Yet many a man is making friends with death
even as I speak, for lack of love alone.
It well may be, that in a difficult hour,
pinned down by pain and moaning for release,
or nagged by want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your love for peace
or trade the memory of this night for food.
It may well be. I do not think I would.

Well, I had just calmed myself down by dumping all my worries on y'all, and here came an email from him at long last. All's well, and he was out of town with a graduate student who's a good friend staying at his family's cabin. Guess I'm getting a touch overpossessive, huh?

Wow. I just read 3 threads and am eye tired. Hugs to all of us! We need it, through illness and crazy man stuff, busy lives, pain and heartache, fun and vacations, children and wacky weather, we can all use a hug!
Waiting for frances to make her way up here and blow things around. We have too many crappy pine trees on the property, my son cut some dead looking ones down already. They are weeds.
Ready for a day of rest Monday. I will try and veg out. It's been hectic with grandkids, cooking, laundry, housework, shopping, etc this day.
Nite, y'all!
Debra

Ok, one more time before I go to bed.

I'm glad to see everyone peaking in here and keeping the thread going through the holiday. That's a real good sign. Maybe if we're posting, we're not eating.

Debra: I know what you mean by having to read 3 threads to catch up. I have that problem all the time and it's the pitts. Of course today I'm trying to avoid running behind by being here every couple of hours.

Angela: There is no need to forgive you for being an English Prof as long as you don't play "comma police" with me. I actually liked English in school. I spell fairly decent and my Catholic grade school upbringing made me fairly decent at the parts of a sentence (you know that diagramming stuff with the red pen?). Boy, wasn't THAT sentence messed up. Loved the poem BTW.

Ok, off to bed. See ya tomorrow. Love ya bunches!