Good morning everyone. How was your weekend?

A busy one here. Out for dinner Friday nite with the couple that we're going to Thailand with. We managed to clear up the last few questions and make plans for getting to the airport bright and early Friday morning (5 am - ugh!)

Out with another couple Saturday nite to see Colin James. The man is hot!

Did a bit of packing yesterday, then brought our small fish tank (containing our cleaner shrimp and hermit crabs) over to my sister so that she won't have to travel back and forth to feed them. We stayed for dinner - making three nights in a row that I didn't have to cook.

Time is getting short, and excitement is mounting. Can't wait to finish up here at work and turn my thoughts to leisurely activities. Warm ocean water and sun will feel good after this snowy, cold month.

Despite all of the restaurant eating, I've managed to eat reasonably so I'm looking forward to what the scale says tomorrow morning. I did 12 km on the treadmill yesterday morning - 93 minutes. Thank God for my iPod - music is a great distraction.

Whazzup with y'all?

Hi Susan --

Sounds like things are humming in your world! How long are you going to be gone?

I love my ipod mini, but I can't get into the groove of listening while on the treadmill or rowing, I have an armband, but is soo bulky compared to my little yepp mp3 player, but I should try again.

Not much of an exciting weekend here. We went to dinner on Friday night at the place that is doing the catering for my bd dinner. They comped us glasses of wine and desserts. The desserts were outstanding and the wine wasn't so bad either. The food was excellent too, so I think I've made a good choice.

DP spent most of the weekend in the air at the local cathedral playing with electricity for the huge son et lumiere they do before Lent. I spent it running around, looking for fabric, doing errands and reading really dry architectural criticism. I did manage to haul my butt to the gym each day, so I am happy.

I did also go to WW, the room was packed, so I'll go either tonight or tomorrow night for the lecture, but the scale had a M, so I'm glad I haven't gained anymore, but I'm seeing a number now about 18 lbs from the top of my goal range...

Oh well.

Other than that, nothing much, I am trying to have a better mental attitude today...and starting out the morning with oatmeal is helping...

How is everyone else?

lala

Went to dinner with DH Friday night. Worked at the rummage sale; got some bargains, too. Worked in the yard (weeds are winning again). Yesterday was rehearsal for the choral stuff I'm doing and then over to friends for dinner. Like you, Susan, didn't have to cook much which was fine with me.

Susan, sounds like you are staying on the right track. Who is Colin James? I'm probably out of it; I don't watch TV and I don't listen to pop radio. Your trip is coming up fast.

lala, what is this son et lumiere? Good for you for going to the gym each day. The restaurant for your BD sounds good.

Hello, Melissa and Pam.

Hi Ladies,

I had a really nice weekend in the Big Apple. Wicked was terrific...probably the best show we've seen in a long time. Of course one of my favorite movies is the Wizard of Oz.... The weather was very cold so we tried to stay inside as much as possible. We visited St Patrick's Catherdral, had lunch at Trump Tower where "the Donald's" face was plastered over everything including the bottled water! Toured NBC studios, watched the ice skaters and actually saw someone skating who lives in the same town as us!! Small world. For dinner we went to Ellen's Stardust Dinner which is known for it's singing waiters and waitresses who are trying to break into show biz. Our waiter was terrific and very talented grad of Juilliard. NYC is great...I love going .

Susan you must be getting excited about your trip. I read a story in Sunday's newspaper that said approximately 25% of Phuket was damaged in the tsunami and they are rebuilding quickly and need people to continue vacationing there. Sounds like you had a really busy weekend. My son use to have an aquarium with hermit crabs. Interesting little critters.

Lala glad you're happy with the place you will be having your birthday party. So how do you feel about turning 40??

Hi to Lisa and Melissa. Hope you had nice weekends.

Hi everyone! It's busy here--we're getting things set up for our Wellness Fair (I'm on the committee) tomorrow so it's a lot of last-minute details that needed to be ironed out. I got info from WW/Applebee's that we'll be able to put out for people if they're interested. I'll be glad when it's done so that we can take a breath. I'm also working on freshman 4-week grades and orientation advisor mailings so it's busy, can't complain though because I'd rather be busy than bored.

Had a quiet weekend for the most part--this weekend coming up is quite a different story. Just looking to get through Sunday and I'll be happy.

I did manage to get out for a walk today at noon--the sun is shining but it's a brisk 30--no snow in the forecast though

Pam, I am so envious. You did so much in one weekend. I knew you would like Wicked. I've never seen it, but I know the music--awesome. Who cares to see the Donald on everything? I think he is unattractive anyway.

Melissa, you sure are busy, too. Good for you for walking; that's pretty cold to walk around in.

Lisa, the music was unbelievable. I'm in awe of the talented actors. The theater was completely sold out and they were given a standing ovation at the end of the performance. It really was spectacular especially the actress who played the "wicked" witch.

I'm totally clueless about wicked. Guess I should read the arts section of the NYT more often...

lala

Hi all.

Tuesday is weigh-in day. I'm down a pound! I'm actually targeting 5 more while on vacation. We're usually very active, so I think that's reasonable.

lala: We arrive home on Feb. 26th, late in the evening. I've taken Monday off too as a recovery day. Return to work March 1st.

Lisa: Colin James is a Canadian rocker who has turned to blues in the past few years. This is the first time I've seen him in concert. It's apparent that he loves what he does.

Pam: Sounds like a great weekend in NYC. I've never heard of Wicked either. Will be on the lookout for it in TO.

Melissa: We're getting similar weather here. They're forecasting another nor'easter for Thurs/Fri but it will be bringing warm air with it this time, so we'll likely get rain instead of snow. That will be a nice change.

We have a day in Boston on Friday. Any suggestions on what to do??

It's cool this morning--we have strange weather here in Jan/Feb, but not as bad as up north. I had a rehearsal last night; it went well. Tonight I'm staying home (what a concept).

lala, Wicked is about a good witch and a wicked witch who become friends and the wicked witch starts to be good, but then can't handle it and turns wicked again. (Pam, I think I've captured the story line). The music is just great.

Susan, I am so proud of you. Another pound. What is your secret? What clicked for you to get in the right frame of mind? Re: Boston, go to Quincy Market, always lots to see there. Eat seafood somewhere downtown (can't think of a restaurant at the moment).

Lisa:

The "click" - my clothes were so tight I had nothing to wear - seriously. I made a promise to myself over five years ago that I would not keep "fat" clothes, so it was either lose weight or go naked. Given the weather here, losing weight was the sane choice (smile)

Susan -- Boston -- I would drop off your bags at hotel (assuming you are staying in one near the airport), take the T downtown, eat at Durgin Park, walk around the market area, maybe head over to the Gardner Museum and enjoy the art and the opulent surroundings. Its not the best of weather for much of anything else. If the water taxi is working from around the airport, you can avoid the T and take that to Downtown.

If not, head to cambridge, have some icecream, go to cafe algiers and have a nice mezze plate and pick up some books from the COOP for your trip.

However, this is all based on the fact you are not schleping your bags and the weather is decent.

Pam I'm sure can give you some good suggestions.

Sunny and nice here for now. I'm trying to finish up some loose ends so that I can tackle big project hanging over head. Need to get my seminar readings wrapped up tonight and the musings on it done so that I can concentrate fully on work...

I had a decent night last night, dragged myself back to gym to do step class with a friend then had a good low point dinner of TJ's punjab sauce with extra frozen spinach and chickpeas over a bit of brown rice. I even stayed out of the nutella.

Lent is coming up and that chocolate needs to go.

Lisa -- thanks for the synopsis of Wicked. I'm going to NYC/Jersey at the end of April, so maybe I'll go see that.

Susan -- that is one long vacation. Nice.

Hope everyone else is okay. I'll be back...

lala

It's a meeting kind of day; I'll try to stay awake.

Susan, lala gave you great ideas for Boston. I think it's a great city; however, I forgot how cold it will be. Then again you're used to that. : ) What clicked for you should click for all of us. I just went through my closet again and found more fat clothes. I don't know why I kept them except that they were very pretty. I finally got rid of them at the church rummage sale.

Lisa: Yes, Boston will be cold. I found a jacket at the second-hand shop on the weekend. Will wear it for the day, then give it to someone who can use it when we leave. I won't be needing it in Thailand or on the way home

lala: Thanks for the tips. We have the better part of Friday to take in the sights. Looking forward to it since I was only thereonce before and it was little more than passing through.

We're getting down to the wire. Suppose I'd better pack tonight since I'm sure I'll find something that I haven't done and be consumed with that tomorrow. I've had difficulty getting my head around packing. I've figured out that it's because I'm trying to pack summer clothes in a spare bedroom that's freezing cold. I'll turn the heat up tonight

Yikes - just missed an appointment with my boss - the guy who gets to decide whether I get to stay on this assignment or not. Not a very good move. Hope he'll understand that I'm a bit preoccupied right now. I've rescheduled for tomorrow.

Good morning! It's a brisk 21 here this morning but the forecasters are calling for warmer temps (30's) and even the 40's over the weekend. It'll be a nice change. I've been trying to get out and walk over my lunch hour for a bit even though it's not nearly enough. I figured something is better than nothing at all.

Susan: It's hard to believe your trip is just around the corner! Enjoy the weather and time away.

Lala: I'm having a hard time with the night time snacking--the past couple of weeks have been challenging. Nutella on pretzels is good although I don't indulge too often with that; I'd much rather eat tortilla chips, It's hard to believe that Lent starts next Wednesday.

Lisa: I actually have no meetings, no appointments and I'm happy! I'm tackling some folders on my desk that I've been "sitting" on and kind of "ignorning". The weather here has been sunny so it makes you "feel" warm even if it's not.

I'm heading to my meeting at noon so I'll post an update later on.