Pancho--It is SO good to see you back. We were worried about you, esp. with the heart health problems that you have dealt with. I totally understand your feelings of gloom and sadness. I have those too, and my heart is just wrenched every time I see those people camping out in the convention centers in Baton Rouge and in Texas. I have hardly been able to tear myself away from the TV, and even when we were up in Gainesville on Fri. and Sat. I felt a small blanket of sorrow enveloping me. And I can see how all that can highlight the broken relationship your parents have with you. Just let that brokenness be a springboard for something wonderful as you reach out to others who also need a family. God is in the heart-mending business and has demonstrated that he uses bad situations to bring unsurpassed good. Maybe he wants to use you and your situation for that.

All of us here really care about you; don't forget that.
My eating this past weekend was weird: at times it was so good and at other times so horrible! I am down 1 pound from last week, but still up one pound from my all time low, which I HOPE to reach next Monday. We left for Gainesville Friday afternoon, and had dinner at 8. Actually, we got to the restaurant at 8 and ate about 9! On Sat. the inn we stayed at served a lovely breakfast of waffles, fruit, egg casserole, etc. etc. We had lunch at a small party, and then supper at the president's box at the stadium right before the game at 6 pm. Now, I did great for breakfasts. I took my shredded wheat 'n bran and cut up fresh berries on it. Even for lunch, I had 1/2 sandwich on pumpernickel bread, with mustard, tomato, lettuce and roast beef. I slipped and had just a few chips. I even took iced tea, so I could avoid the colas. I had half of my husband's chocolate mousse at the restaurant, and had part of a dinner roll.

Where I went nuts was at the supper served at the box at the stadium. They had all sorts of goodies and I ended up having a small Hagan Daaz vanilla cup with whipped cream, a small (coffee cup size) choc. milk shake, a hot dog all the way, potato salad, and just "stuff" that I really did not need to eat. By the time I ate some of it, I wasn't really even that hungry. And there was salad there, with chopped chicken to put on it. I could have had iced tea, and even a small ice cream would not have been Horrible! But it was I was like one of those looters, just looting the buffet table and going crazy with all the food there. There was almost a disconnect between my ability to exercise reason with self control and my actions. And after the game, back at the inn, where everyone sits around and disects the game, I was even weirder: chicken wings, nacho chips, candy. I wasn't really even hungry. (All that fat must have sent my gall bladder into a tailspin! LOL) Since we are going up to Gainesville again this weekend, and will be going in future weekends, I need to figure out what is going on in my head. This coming weekend we will be going to several luncheons and dinners as they are dedicating the new law school at U of F. Sandra Day O'Conner will be the speaker. I will be somewhat at the mercy of what is being served. I know I can handle myself at breakfasts. Perhaps I need to take a good variety of snacks that will be satisfying and also "special" so that I will feel no deprivation and can approach meals with sanity. Any and all suggestions will be welcome!!

I'm gonna have to go through some recipes to get some good ideas.
I did do a lot of walking on Saturday, getting over 20000 steps.
We worked in the yard this morning, cleaning up all around our koi pond where the lady palms and aluminum plant are starting to take over. So got quite a bit of exercise. There is always something to do in the yard, and the weeds seem to grow faster than I want to keep up with them.
BOB--That's a good idea about phone numbers. Thanks for being such a guardian angel for our group.
Jackie--We watched part of the Ky game. I was just sick when the QB did that last fumble. Poor Wildcats. They just don't know how to win yet, even when victory is within their grasp. The Gators used to be like that b/f Spurrier. A 7-4 season was really a good year. But the Cats have mastered roundball, and I am happy to see them being almost a perenial participant in the final 4 for basketball.
Cindy--Enjoy the holiday today. You deserve a day off!
Well, I'm gonna go. Don't have much else going on. DH is at the office catching up on some work, and may play golf later. I have a steak thawing, and hope it will be thawed out by dinner time.
