Well winter has arrived with a vengeance! It's blustery and snowy outside this morning and more is on the way. Lake Effect Snow warnings are up and we could get anywhere from 3-5 (City) 6-12" (snowbelt, which is above I-90). Thankfully I live in the city but then we've had it where the storm runs right along the lakeshore. I will say the trees look pretty with the snow on them

My trip to Chicago went okay--we ended up being delayed in Erie for over 3 hours because of fog in Cincinnati--not fun since our flight was supposed to leave at 6:15 and didn't get going until 9:45 a.m. Didn't get into Chicago until 1 p.m. Oh well, at least we got there. Mom & I headed for downtown and met one of my former student workers for lunch and then did some shopping but cut it short because it was raining. We decided we needed to go back down on Saturday and the weather was better (cold but nice). We got a lot of walking in Friday/Saturday so that should balance the eating. The hot mulled wine was delicious, as were the brats. I'm not a huge brat fan but the ones at the Christkindlmarket (http://www.christkindlmarket.com/) are out of this world--they're small (more like the breakfast sausage in diameter). Did do a little shopping--bought more Christmas ornaments and some chocolate from Marshall Fields. We walked Michigan Avenue but there were so many people you really couldn't do a whole lot. We were lucky enough to get out of Chicago before the winds hit yesterday morning. From what I heard after we got home they were having delays of 2 hours.

Well, just one more event to get through and then it should be clear sailing until Christmas. How was everyone else's weekend?

Pam: Hope your daughter is feeling better.

Susan: You'll have to let us know about the Dr. Phil CD you get.

Lala: Hope your trip was uneventful.

I had a busy weekend. I did lots of baking. I said I would do less this year and I did more! I painted our garage door; it turned out well. DH and I saw the movie, "Christmas with the Kranks." It was fair; it's mostly slapstick humor. DH and I went to a very nice Christmas Cafe at a local church. They put on a play and sang beautifully while we sat at tables and ate snacks, drank coffee and had dessert. It was well done, but a little long.

Melissa, oh brrr. Your weather doesn't sound very good. 'tis the season for flight delays (fa la la, etc...) I love Michigan Ave. I'm glad you had a chance to walk there when it wasn't raining.

lala, are you home yet? Why was your meeting contentious?

Pam, sorry about your daughter's flu. It hasn't really hit our area yet, but I know it's coming.

Susan, whatever you think will work for you, try it. I don't know much about Dr. Phil's method. Let us know.

Hiya everyone,

Its a quick one for me. I have a million things to do including finishing off my exam, briefing my boss and er, getting ready to go to France tomorrow.

Melissa -- yikes on the weather. I am glad you had a good brat (yuuum) and got to Marshall Fields. We went to the Berghoff when in Chicago. I could eat there weekly- I heart cabbage.

Lisa -- I love Christmas movies. I don't know why, but I do. I watched true lies, dave and anchorman on the way back from DC (it was a long flight). I should have skipped anchorman and seen home alone.

Busy weekend here, got back at 10 pm from DC on Friday, spent most of saturday on my exam, spent saturday night working on my cookies and finally getting a tree and sunday in the mayhem that was a cookie decorating party. It was really quite something and honestly, it was exhausting.... However, there are many small children running around seattle with pink frosting stuck in their hair today.

We did hippos, rhinoceros, penguins, polar bears, pelicans, moose, coyotes, chili peppers, trees, angels. It was fun as usual.

Okay, I am hoping that everyone has a most excellent Monday. I'll check in on you tomorrow while on my 4 hour layover in Chicago....which DP likes to say, "hey its better to layover while sipping a campari than be on a plane kicking the seat in front of you."

lala, you've got a lot done and it sounds like more to do. How long will you be in France? Agree with DP on the layover (4 hours is a long time.)

I like the cookie cutout ideas--very different.

You watched some of my favorite movies. I've never heard of Anchorman. I like Home Alone, Miracle on 34th St., National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Santa Clause, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer.

Good morning. Another rainy, windy day here. No snow yet, and none in the forecast.

Sounds like you all had productive weekends. Mine was OK until I drank too much at the Christmas party and spent Sunday in bed Live and learn...

lala: Your cookie party sounded like fun. Enjoy France.

Domina: Thanks for the review of Christmas with the Kranks. I really liked the audio book - Skipping Christmas - but I suspected the movie wouldn't work quite as well.

Melissa: How much snow did you get?

Hi Pam.

My Dr. Phil CD is on the way. If he can kick-start me back into the WW program, it will be well worth the $$s.

Went to WI last night and was down .5#. I was happy with that. I truly expected a gain the way I've been eating.

You're alll having your cold weather and we are having a cold snap, too. Tonight it will be about 36 degrees. That's cold for Florida. Looks like the wool coat comes out of the closet tomorrow!

Susan, somehow the movie is never like the book, don't you agree?

its 22 degrees in chicago, but its sunny and i am being warmed by my campari and soda....

Finally got everything done and now its time to party. Er, I don't know really if I can do it, but its starting to feel a bit more like christmas.

I will probably not be able to check in for the next week. I'll be thinking of you lovelies while I scout out my retirement village somewhere on the Normandy/Brittany border (dream, dream, dream) and eat lovely cancalian oysters.

Stay warm (even you Lisa!) and try and keep on program. I am going to try, but I am going to a hotel known for its food and DP and I are embarking on the most ground breaking study of comparative macaroon tastings in Paris.

However, I'm in the smaller of my pants (forgiving Nordys), so I will have to be a bit prudent. I appear to have packed only one sweater, so I may go shopping....

lalla

Afternoon ladies! We've gotten 12" of snow and it's still snowing periodically. We ended up with a lake effect storm (thanks to the lake not being frozen) and it mainly hit along the shoreline. It shifted later but didn't dump a whole lot in the traditional snowbelt area. The roads were really icy last evening when I left work so I didn't go out and do anything else. A lot of things were cancelled and there were a lot of accidents and motorists stranded because they couldn't get their cars moving on the ice. Welcome blustery weather!

Susan: I mixed hot wine and beer on Friday night and didn't feel too great when I went to bed...like you it's a "live and learn" thing. Hope you're feeling better!

Lala: Can you believe I haven't eaten at Berhoff's? DH and I went there for drinks but that was it.

Lisa: I saw on the weather channel that the cold was extending down into Florida. It's a cool 26 here. Congrats on the weight loss!! I agree, the books are usually better than the movies...I read Skipping Christmas last year and enjoyed it.

Pam: Hi! Hope everything is going well with you!

Well, DH and I are hoping to go out and look for a tree tonight--he got the Christmas lights up over the weekend so things are coming together. I need to get my presents wrapped and may tackle that tomorrow evening. I need to pick up a couple of little things and get stuff out in the mail. It'll all be done though.

Hi Ladies,

I guess it's cold everywhere this week. It's 25 and windy here..but should be back up to 40 on Thursday. So far we've been pretty fortunate and only have gotten about an inch of snow last month. Keeping my fingers crossed that we have a mild winter.
Lauren is feeling better so things are back to normal at home. So far I have not been feeling any flu like symptoms so it looks like I dodged that bullet!
Christmas shopping is almost complete, cards have been written out but still need to be mailed and I have not begun wrapping yet, I think that may be tomorrow night's project. Tonight we are going to a fall sports banquet at Lauren's school. It should be fun but I'm going to have to be careful what I eat since I've used up most of my points today on Christmas cookies

Melissa sorry about all the snow! My boss (who grew up in Buffalo) and I were just talking about lake effect storms. He was telling me how quickly they develop and how everyone looks forward to the lake freezing. A foot of snow is a lot to get hit with at once. I read Skipping Christmas last year and enjoyed it..this year I picked up The Christmas Thief (Mary Higgins Clark) for my Christmas read. Haven't started it yet but hopefully this weekend.

Lala have a wonderful time in Normandy looking for your retirement home Enjoy all the food and shopping. We'll miss you.

Lisa congrats on the loss..that is terrific especially at this time of year. I agree with all the Christmas movies you listed, those are some of my favorite's also.

Susan hope you are feeling better. What is the old saying........... wine before liquor, never been sicker...beer before wine, all is fine???

Have a great day ladies..talk to you later..

It is certainly cold in Florida today. I had to turn on the heat in the house. The wind is blowing from the north and that makes it colder. I had to dig out the old red wool coat (I've always liked that coat).

Pam, thanks for the information about drinking; I had not heard that saying before. This forum is so educational. ; )

Melissa, are you snowed in? That's a lot of snow.

Good afternoon!

Well the sun is shining but the roads are full of ruts and if you hit them right they toss your car around...not fun! Anyway, Lisa, to answer your question, no we're not snowed in. Business as usual here. It takes a lot to shut the city down. Temps are supposed to climb into the 30's/40's tomorrow so we'll be dealing with slush and the dirty snow *ugh*

Pam: The lake effect snows are quick and you never know which direction the wind is going to shift--Buffalo from what I heard lucked out on the storm that hit us. It's hard to plan any sort of travel for this time of year because it's too risky with the lake being warm.

Lala: Safe travels and have a wonderful time! Enjoy a macaroon for me

Hi Susan! Hope you're feeling better today!

I stayed the same with my weight today--I'm okay with that especially since TOM is due early next week and I did indulge in some extras over the weekend. I have a short week next week (M-Thurs) and an even shorter week the following week (Wed-Thur)...there are benefits to being employed by a Catholic university Have a great evening!

Hi Ladies,

It was a very cold day..don't think the temp got past 25 again. I'm hoping the weathermen will be right with their prediction that tomorrow will reach 40.
I'm looking forward to a short work week next week. Between having Friday off and the office party on Thursday I doubt too much will get done.

Melissa glad the weather in your area will warm up a little tomorrow too. I'm going to make your shrimp recipe on Saturday to bring to a family Christmas party. I may also make it again for the office party on Thursday. I'll let you know how it goes..

Lisa bet that red wool coat doesn't get a lot of use. How is your Mom's recovery coming along. Hope she is doing well.

Bonjour to Susan and Lala..hope you are both well.

Well almost 10:00 so it's past my bedtime. I'll talk to you tomorrow.

It will be in the 60's here today--much better. I'm having a friend over for dinner tonight and we will exchange gifts.

Pam, you're right that the red wool coat doesn't get much use, but I like having it when I need it. My mother is doing better, thanks. She just gets tired easily (which is understandable). I'm also looking forward to next week being short and fairly quiet at the office. Many people are taking off next week. I have the vacation, but I just don't want to use it. Besides DH isn't off of work.

Saturday we're going caroling and then to a party. On Sunday, I'm headed to a Messiah singalong which is always fun (if one is a singer). Then we have a Christmas party to attend, so it will be a busy weekend, 'tis the season.

What does everyone else have planned?

I hope lala enjoys France.

Pam: I hope you enjoy the shrimp recipe as much as I do! I'm planning on making it for the holidays as well. The weather didn't warm up too much yesterday--today it's supposed to be a little sunny so we'll see. The roads have a lot of "snow ruts" so it makes driving a little tricky in places. We're supposed to have a reprieve and then another blast on Sunday/Monday.

Lisa: I talked to one of my friends in FL (Oldsmar) the other night and she said it was supposed to get down into the 30's, which is really cold for that area. The cold front really dipped low this time. I hope it warms up for you!

As far as weekend plans--we're hoping to take a drive to Cleveland (OH) on Saturday, weather permitting, and do a little shopping. DH would like to go and if the weather is okay we'll leave early in the morning. It's about a 2 hour ride so it's not that far. I have a half day today and I took Monday off so it'll be a long weekend for me. We're planning on getting our tree inside today so we can decorate on Sunday. Monday I'll probably make my nutrolls as long as nothing comes up.

I had a really productive evening--I got most all my Christmas presents wrapped! What a great feeling! Usually I'm racing around Christmas Eve trying to get some last-minute stuff done. I still need to pick up some stocking stuffers but the big stuff is done.

Hi to Susan! I hope Lala is having a wonderful time.

On a eating note, I need to get back on track with keeping my journal--I've been terrible with that the past couple of days so I'm going to make that a priority!

Hi Ladies,

Just a quick post for me, I'm leaving work at noon today for a doctor's appt. Good news, at weigh in today I was down another pound!!! I'm so happy, I really feel like I can do this (and I really want the mirror I promised I would get myself).

Melissa looks like we're going to get hit with a N'oreaster on Monday..yikes better make sure all my shopping gets done this weekend. Have fun decorating your tree.

Lisa enjoy carolling and the sing a long this weekend.

Everyone else have a great weekend.