It is beautiful here--should be in the low 80's. Yes, last week it was quite cold; we are on the rollercoaster time of year for weather.

I had a great weekend. I volunteered at a race and it was very cold in the early morning. Then I went shopping and found some great bargains including a pretty skirt with two different tops for Easter.

The Beethoven/Mendelssohn concert was yesterday and it went well. Thank God my voice was all right. So many people had colds and/or congestion and it was difficult for them to sing. I had my own bout because DH brought it home after his trip to New Orleans.

Well, WI is tomorrow night. I think I'll be all right. It would be nice to see a loss, but then there was that strawberry shortcake this past weekend. The strawberries were luscious. I used FF Cool Whip, but it's the cake part--mmmm.

So, how is everyone else?

Good morning Lisa and everyone else.

My weekend was subdued. I managed to get out of the house a few times but I was still weak from the flu bug so had to curtail my activity. I'm at work today but still not 100%; the cough and runny nose persist.

Lost six pounds last week but four returned with normal eating. Haven't run in 4 weeks, and the half-marathon date is approaching quickly. I may have to forfeit the entry fee if my lung capacity doesn't return to normal soon. I don't want to have an unreasonable goal - that's a perfect recipe for injury in my experience.

Hi everyone,

Lisa sounds like the concert was a success. Next time have DH bring you a voodoo doll or some beads from NOLA, not a cold.

Susan, take it easy and make sure you are completely hydrated before you start running and that your lungs are better. The flu really knocks it out of you. Did DH get sick too? Take it easy.

Well, I can't really say anything outstandingly positive about the weekend other than I didn't have to work on any papers or school work which was lovely. I did garden a bunch, pruned all the raspberries which were overdue, mulched, planted some seeds, deadheaded and but back old growth and started dealing with compost. I am going to run home early tonight and mow for the first time. As our lawn is full of crocuses and narcissus, it'll be interesting, but I don't want to wait until our return after Easter...

Other than that, eating was atrocious, did exercise though.

Dinner out today and tomorrow and then Wednesday all day on plane to London.....

ack.

Hi to Melissa and Pam!

lala

It's still cold here but at least the sun is shining and has been for the past couple of days We're still running 20 degrees below our normal temps for this time of the year!

I had a fairly quiet weekend--didn't do a whole lot. My eating was so-so; Sunday I kind of got a little crazy and it was my own doing. I took DS #2 to a bowling tournament on Sunday and everyone was eating fries. They looked SO good and I fought the urge to get some--well let's just say I would've been better off had I gotten them out of my system! Anyway, back on track and doing okay.

Lisa: I love a good bargain! It sounds like your weather is wonderful!

Susan: Hope you're feeling better. It takes a long time to get back to normal after having the flu...just take it easy so you don't have a relapse.

Lala: It's too cold here to get outside and do any pruning. My daffodils are popping up and hopefully we'll be getting some warmer weather so that they'll bloom. I love Spring!! Good for you for exercising--don't beat yourself up over the eating...just move forward. Have fun in London!

It's been busy here--daffodils will be arriving on campus tomorrow and Thursday; today we have our Women's History Month Tea...this week will be crazy and next week is a short week for me. Monday I'm off because my mom has surgery and then I'm off for Easter break Thurs-Mon.

Melissa, you're certainly busy. I hope your mother does well post-surgery. Ah, Easter break, that would be soooo nice. I wish I could send you some of our warm weather. C'mon spring!

Susan, if I were you, I'd probably forego the 1/2 marathon. As Melissa said, the flu really takes a lot out of you.

All of you keep talking about flowers; I need to be planting some.

Tonight is WI; I wish I could have the same result as Melissa, but I'll be happy if I stay the same.

Hi everyone,


Lisa, get out there and plant some flowers or at least some tomatoes. I have tomato envy right now. Good luck on weigh in, I'm sure you will do fine.


Melissa -- I hope your mom's surgery goes smoothly and that she recovers quickly. What a load of stress with mom and dad both needing medical care. Please take care of yourself too. I wish you luck selling all the daffodils and getting the tea taken care of. That sounds like fun, better than just sending out a memo on national women's history month!

Hi to Pam and Lisa, hope everyone is well.

I'm here most of the day, but then gone tomorrow. I'll be in a teleconference on the way to the airport and right after checkin and security. Did I tell you how much I love my job? I look forward to chucking work reading until Monday morning on the plane back to Cambridge. London should be fun, if short, Rome should be lovely and Cambridge should be work like. I look forward to flying back to Rome to finish my vacation and seeing Rome at Easter.

I will take pics.

Other than that, my mom sent me three skirts from tj maxx yesterday, they are pretty darn cute, but one pair has skorts. Do you think I can cut them out? The skirt print is very lilly pullitzer,so its very lala for the summer. They are all too big, so vanity sizing strikes again, because everything from last year at the same size are too tight.

Oh well, they are cute and I appreciate my personal shopper.

Take care ladies, I'll post from somewhere.. Seattle, New York, London, Rome, Cambridge....

lala

Hi Ladies,

An uneventfull weekend for me. I also did a little shopping. I got 2 pairs of slacks, one casual and one for work and a very nice pair of shoes at a terrific price I also bought a blazer in a color that is quite different for me. It is very spring like and the color is that light green (kind of a lemony green) that seems to be very popular this year. Lauren thought it looked nice but I'm just not use to wearing pastel like colors. Oh well time for a change.
The weather here is still very chilly but at least no snow in the forecast this week. There is still about 2 feet of the white stuff on the ground, hopefully some of which will melt this week.
I'm still trying to catch up on things here are work..after being gone for so long it is actually kind of nice to be back. I really enjoy my job and the people I work with.

Melissa you really have a lot going on with both of your parents. I hope your Mom's surgery goes smoothly. French fries are my all time worst enemy..I think as a child I was addicted to them and I continue to eat way too many now. I love them smothered in ketchup with a little salt and pepper. I also love the sweet potato fries...I've got to stop, I'm making myself hungry. We are also having the daffodil drive at my office..I can't wait until they come in..it always makes it feel like spring is on the way.

Lala I'm envious of your weekend activities, pruning, mowing the lawn it seems like the weather will never be ready for that here. Have a nice time in London.

Susan Hope you're feeling better today. I agree don't push the running until you are fully recovered.

Well ladies, I'm off to bring Lauren to her weekly doctors appointment. Hope you all have a terrific day and I'll talk to your tomorrow which happens to be my 43rd birthday.

Pam, it's good to hear from you. Still two feet on the ground--yuck. I hope Lauren has a good doctor's report. So you have a daffodil sale too? That's interesting. The light green is really in this year. One of the blouses I bought this weekend is the same color. I would never have worn it till I turned blonde.

lala, I am so envious of your trip. Rome at Easter--how wonderful. Why do you want to cut out the shorts in the skirt? I like skorts especially on the golf course.

Hi ladies.

I appreciate the counsel re running. I've pretty much decided to forego the 1/2 in May - perhaps I can catch one in the fall that will allow me to train properly. I'm disappointed of course, but it is the sane thing to do since I'm still dragging myself and hacking like a maniac.

Bon voyage lala.

Happy Birthday Pam! Hope the doc has good news on Lauren.

Thinking of you and your Mom Melissa and sending good vibes your way.

Lisa - how was your weigh-in? Now, get out there and plant something for me since it will be mid June before I can get anything in the ground!!

Susan

I'm happy. I was down 1/2#. I'll take it, as I said I had been eating strawberry shortcake this past weekend and salted nuts (red light food). DH goes to WI this morning; I hope he has a good one.

Pam, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you Please let us know how Lauren did at the doctor's.

Susan, I think you are smart to put off that 1/2. It's no use hurting yourself more and you know that you can't possibly get in the training that you need.

lala, yes, bon voyage. Have some good gelato and an espresso for me.

Melissa, I can't believe that you have both of your parents to worry about. We're all at that age though when our parents start having problems.

Have any of you ever been to St. Maarten? It's an island in the Caribbean. My parents gave us a timeshare as a gift and it's located there, so our first timeshare use will be the original place (June). Then next year we'll trade and go somewhere else. I'm a little disappointed in the airfares. I've been searching for the past few weeks and the prices are terrible. I've not been to the Caribbean except for a short stay in the Bahamas.

Happy Birthday, Pam!!! I'm right behind you...I turn 43 in June. I hope Lauren's appointment goes well and that you have a wonderful birthday!!!

Lisa: I've been watching the airfares and they've been staying the same pretty much. The week before my dad went into the hospital Delta was offering a great fare of 145 RT from here and I completely forgot about booking it with everything that was going on and now it's 185 RT which still isn't bad. It looks like I'm just going to book at that rate and not worry about it. I don't want to miss out on the trip down south! Congrats on your weight loss!! WTG! I have never been any further south than FL so I can't help you there.

Lala Have a wonderful time in London--it should be nice with the flowers blooming. Have a scone for me I miss Pret A Manger...they had the best sandwiches. The tea yesterday was wonderful and it was so relaxing! The ladies from the library do a great job with making the tea sandwiches--everyone else donated desserts/cookies and it was so nice!

Pam: Take care of yourself and don't push too hard. The flu is still hanging around here and there's lots of respiratory infections too. So far I've been lucky and haven't had either.

Well ladies I better get moving here this morning--we're still working on that mailing and the daffodils will be arriving...we are also working on our "Striders" (pedometer) program so I've been kept busy these past few weeks. More later on.

It's raining and raining here today (and yesterday and the day before). I swear soon we'll see Noah building an ark! I feel so bad for the people who haven't had their roofs replaced yet (from the hurricanes).

I had a horrible day yesterday eating-wise. I tend to do that; the day after WI I sort of go nuts. I even ate a piece of carrot cake, which I normally would pass up! Today's another day.

Tomorrow's an off day, so I'll be playing golf. I hope to get in a movie on Saturday, either Million Dollar Baby or The Aviator.

How's everyone else? Any special plans for the weekend?

Good morning ladies! It's a beautiful sunny day here in PA--I'm heading out at noon for a walk. Temps are holding at around 37 so it's not too bad out. I need to get moving.

My WI did not go well yesterday...it showed a 2.4# gain! I have no clue why it jumped that much and I'm a little puzzled. If I had eaten the french fries I could say it was because I had them

No major plans for the weekend--have a WW meeting on Saturday afternoon and that'll tie up the afternoon (1-4) and Sunday I'll work the meeting in the morning and later in the day we're heading down to the Pittsburgh area for my mom's surgery. She finally decided it would be better to be there the night before (phew) and that way I won't have to be up at in the middle of the night to drive if her surgery is first thing in the morning. It's about a 2 hour drive for us and it's through a hilly area.

Pam: I hope you had a happy birthday!
Susan: Hope you're feeling better today.
Lala: Hope your flights were uneventful.

Melissa, sorry about the weight gain. It could be anything; I tend to think stress causes us to gain weight and you've had your share. You'll lose it!! Good luck with Mom.