Good morning ladies!

The weather can't decide if rain or shine today. I'm hoping for some afternoon sunshine and then it can rain.

Its time to winterize. I worked on cleaning the garage yesterday so that we can get our car and truck inside. I'm a wuss, I don't like jumping in a cold car in the mornings. We also pulled the pontoon off the lake on Friday. We took it to a car wash and hosed it down and yesterday I worked on tidying and vacumming. The carpet was still a bit damp so we still have to put the cover on for storage. I was hoping to get that done today. Lots of good activity yesterday.

DH had his weekly WI yesterday. Down another 1.4 pounds. So this new diabetes med seems to be working for him. I'm still stuck. But I feel PMS coming on which seems rather permanent. I have to see the doc in December for new prescrptions so I'll visit with her to see why this has become seemingly impossible. Since I turned 45 in July, I've done nothing but gain seven pounds and its really ticking me off. But I'll keep working on the exercise and keeping food under control.

We had a nice Friday night out. Richard and Linda (where we now board our horses) invited us out for dinner and we settled on Mexican. We had such a good time. They are so nice. Except they like to eat at 5 pm because they only eat but once a day. We normally eat around 7 pm. I chose chicken fajitas and didn't eat all of it. But I did have some margaritas. My one splurge meal this week.

I went to the store yesterday and stocked up with lots of veggies and lean meat. Last night was flank steak, salad, and small baked potato. We'll be making Taco Soup tomorrow night. I spent the morning yesterday watching FoodTV (my most favorite thing for Saturday morning) and got a few ideas for this week. I'll be trying a romaine, spring mix, white beans, red onion, and home made red wine vinegrette salad with the taco soup. I saw the salad on "Everyday Itailian" and it looked very refreshing. Except she used radicco (sp??) lettuce along with the romaine but I could not find it by itself. I also saw Rachel Ray make Giant Florentine Meatballs which are made with ground turkey and spinach. DH was even intrigued by them. She served them with a cheese sauce that we will substitute with something else. We'll serve them with veggies which I can't remember what is on the menu right now. I also saw a new show "Quick Meals with Robin" and she was doing a teriyaki chicken stir-fry that we'll do one night as well. Loads of good ideas.

Since Lost has been so intriguing and yes, weird, I've been watching the first season. I signed up for Blockbuster's online DVD rental and they have all the first season. Pretty intense! I'm about half-way through. Seeing the plane crash over and over again however doesn't make me want to get on a plane anytime soon.

2Cute - Its great to see you back here.

Michelle - Ditto! Get back in here and stick around!

Valerie - Good going for working the horses! That counts as activity! I hope to be able to get back to working mine soon too now that we might be past the strangles. Occassional special meals are okay as long as you feel good about it. No guilt and no regret! Sounds like a really fun time.

Lilion - You are doing great! Keep working at it as you are a great inspiration.

Barb.G - I'm so happy for Alvin and you! Now get back to the gym!

Thin - We're watching Survivor this fall too. Pretty good. I gave up on the Apprentice after the first season. Too obnoxious. Knock the fast food crap off! You don't want to undo the good that you have achieved. Where's that accountability with Susie? Huh? Huh?

Ruth - Hope you are having a good time with company!

Jen - I've got about the same goal too. Crap, at this point, I'd be happy to get under 240 but ultimately I'm shooting for 195. Maybe 175 in the very long term and maintain that. Good luck!

Sorry for the short replies. I need to get up and do something productive and then get ready for church. Think I'll head off to the ironing board and laundry.

Hidey Ho My Little Chickadees !!!!

Man, do I have my days and nights messed up. I fell asleep at 7:30pm and woke up at 10pm ready to go for the day. The problem is ... it is NIGHT. UGH !!!

Thinthinker... you mentioned needing a shivering smilie face and looking forward to snowmen smilies. Do you think there is a way for Suzanne to have the regular smilie AND a snowman smilie ??? Sometimes you just don't want a pumpkin face for a smilie. Just a thought ???

I see you went to the doctor last Thursday... how did that go ???

Has your son got his carpet yet ?? Last I heard he got it ordered.
Any progress on the other son's move in date ?? Does he still have some roommates lined up ??

Terri ... You sound like you are working hard around the house and getting back up to steam on your exercise. You always inspire me in that area. I bet you are happy to have another horse lover among us.

Lilion... It is great to see you again. WOW ... 71lbs lost and wearing the clothes from the back of your closet !!!! I am sooooo PROUD OF YOU !!!!
Today is your doctor's appointment. Be sure to let us know what he says.

Barbg ... I see you still add those great pics in your posts. I think we all just love them.
Glad to hear about Alvin finding a job and SIL surgery over and doing well.

Iwillbe/Ruth .... Thanks for missing me. I missed all of you too.
I did not peek in too often and even when I did .. I didn't read everything.
Just seeing who was still here. I guess I just needed a break. I almost didn't come back... I swore if I didn't lose weight this summer I wouldn't come back... but here I am anyways. I did maintain my weight loss all summer... but basicly that is all.

Hey STEPH !!!! It was nice seeing "bobsgal" popping in with me. I sure hope you come in often. Congratulations on your success. I see you have lost 22 lbs !!!

Jen415 ... good to meet you. I see you are fairly new too. I love having a face to put with a poster. I can relate to you concerning exercise...your quote..." I am so darn lazy." That pretty much describes me. The one thing I have learned from "The Biggest Loser" is THEY WORK HARD for their success.

Valerie/Nolifewithouthorses.... nice to meet you too. The horse in Zorro is just beautiful. I really enjoyed the movie. I was a big Zorro fan from childhood. I loved the first one when others didn't... and I like this one too.
The last time I rode a horse I looked like a Weeble. You remember those toys.. "Weebles wobble but they don't fall down" LOL LOL I was wobbling all over the place once the horse started running. LOL I am lucky I didn't fall off. LOL
Glad you get a chance to stay home for awhile. I cannot imagine driving a truck for a living. I am too much of a home body.

Michelle.... HEY GIRL ... where did you go ??? We have to help each other keep on track. You said you would come back if I did... well where are you now ???

Hopefully I have said hello to everyone from the last thread.
I now remember one reason why I left. IT IS TIME CONSUMING doing all of these replys. I am a slow reader and even a slower writer.

I sure wish I still had the post I lost. It told a LOT about me and my life ... but I am just out of time to go back and rewrite all of that now.
Last November I did a Turkey Day Challenge .... and I am doing that again this November.
I dug up the paper work I saved and I am going to hang it on my refrigerator in the morning.
It is a lot like the Halloween Challenge Barbg started on another thread.
I am determined to be accountable. I am determined to drink my water, exercise, eat healthy and journal.
I will weigh myself in the morning and I will work for a 10 lb loss in November

Hello chickies, I missed posting yesterday! Darn, darn, darn! I had made this commitment to stay OP and post daily, now I have messed up on both counts. I did pretty doggone well from Friday until yesterday and somehow I let myself go! Well, the company, except for my Mom, all left yesterday evening. I am planning my meals for today and will work on my weekly menu, and I WILL BE OP!

2cute, UMMM, look at my tracker, do you see any progress there for this year? That is because I have been up and down the scale with the same 10 lbs all year. I could scream at myself, but that doesn't do any good, so I just keep trying to find the right path and stick to it. It is time consumming to post and do replies, but I need to come here and make the connection with all of you that are in the same old leaky boat as me! If it doesn't seem to help, it sure can't hurt!

Terri, My goal these days is to get into the 2 hundred whatevers! I should be looking at the 1 hundreds by now and could have been if I had sewn my mouth shut! Glad to hear the horses are improving. Sounds like a lot of work taking care of them. A labor of love huh? I did enjoy my company this weekend, Love to see them come, and am always glad to wave goodbye

That is everyone on this thread so I can hush now. 2cute, see you catch the thread before it gets long and the replies are a piece of cake! See ya later, Iwillbe...Ruth

Good Monday morning!

I'm happy to say that I started my morning exercise at 5:45 am and did 45 minutes. I had a good workout with the weights, pilates and a good sweat on the spinner. My back just loves it when I do pilates. Amazing how tight the lower back muscles are.

Yesterday was more garage cleaning and barn cleaning. Richard put my round pen back up so I was able to get RT out of the stall. He's my youngest and wildest as he hasn't been handled much. He's only six months old. Richard has all his babies (eight of them) in the same small pasture as my other two. When I got RT in the round pen and had him going in circles, the ten on the outside where running and bucking with him. It was quite funny to see this herd of babies running and bucking and running having fun. Now that I can finally get back to working horses, its going to be dark too early. At least I'll have the weekends.

The good thing about it being dark early is now I can walk the dog much earlier. Since he is what he is (a big rott), I prefer to walk him when the kids are in for the night and there is less people traffic. Kids want to run up at him to pet him and while he's always a good dog; I don't want to run the risk of one of them scaring him and him biting. There is a dog that is just plain stupid. Its a very friendly yellow lab that seems to be running loose on a regular basis. This dog runs up at Bear and me and won't heed his warnings to back off. I'm sure that he is trying to protect me when the dog runs up at us. I think I finally figured out which house he belongs to and may have to call animal control because the dog should not be running loose.

Okay, this post because a bag of wind about nothing!! Time to hit the shower since I must go to work. BOOOOOO!

Have a good Halloween and remember that the candy is for the kids!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Just checking in real quick before I get going to work. I have a couple of audits to do. My ankles have been giving me fits for the past two days. I don't know what's up with them, but they feel like a bone is "catching" as I walk. I know that sounds crazy but it's very painful.

We worked a "showgirl" job this weekend at the last minute. It was good for $300 so I can't complain too much. We did not get to stay and watch anything....well, except Zathura, which I told you about the other day.

I took a tote bag full of candies to the theatre last night and let all of the kids (employees) Trick or Treat from it. I like to take little "somethings" in from time to time as all the kids are very nice to Honey and I. We know most of them by name as we've been doing this there for like 3 1/2 years.

Terri: I'm so glad you're back to working out. I know you feel so much better when you do. It's good to see you back up and running. Also happy that the horses are doing better. I'm sure that those workouts with the horses will be that additional exercise that you've been missing all this while that they've been sick.

Ruth: I'm sorry to hear that you let yourself go yesterday, but you know, it was ONLY YESTERDAY. It could have been worse, you could have been "off" ALL weekend. Count yourself as doing well and move on.

2cute: You seriously need to get your sleep patterns in order. My goodness, you're sleeping when you should be awake and awake when you should be sleeping. #1 Son has not moved in yet. He's waiting for his living room carpet to get here. The "baby" might should get his keys tonight. He talked to his seller yesterday and apparently she wanted to get out by last Saturday but her father passed away and so she told him she would try to finish up by yesterday and maybe give him his keys today. Both Real Estate agents have pretty much bailed on the situation and told him to contact the seller directly. I guess once they got THEIR checks, they didn't care anymore. He's thinking roommates by the first of the year. We need some time to get in there and assess what we need to do to get him up and running.

Valerie: That next play at the dinner theatre does sound like it will be a hoot! We're going to dinner theatre this Friday with some friends.
There's a local group that has been putting on comedies in different venues for alot of years. They're kind of fun to watch because they slip up occasionally and start laughing at each other and it's just fun.

Well girls, I think I'm caught up. I've gotta get outta here and get some work done. I'll see you all later. Love ya bunches!

Hi chicklets! I'm going to work hard to make this an OP WEEK!!! It has been a wild weekend--two adult halloween parties and picking up our friends from England at the airport. They'll be here for the whole winter--awesome!!

Happy Halloween Ladies!

Didn't manage to take any time to post this weekend, but I'll try to do better. I always have the intention to post on the weekends too, but somehow, sitting in front of the computer isn't something I manage.

Saturday we went to a get-together for one of the medieval groups we are into. It was just a small gathering of three couples and kids - and not long after we got there mine was the only kid - but it was nice. It was the puppies debut! They behaved very well, so I'm ready to take them other places now. We talked and ate - yep, ate - and did some archery. I've discovered I really enjoy archery, I'm just not terribly good at it. I also need a bow, since I keep borrowing one of the other fellows. My son, it turns out, is quite good at archery. He's had very little practice and seems to have a really good, instictive ability. One of our better archers actually suggested he compete against adults in a hundred arrow shoot! He did compete against adults a couple of years ago in a little tournament, coming in 9th out of 13, but when you consider the next youngest person was 16 and he was 9, that's not too bad. (Proud mama!)

Sunday was spent doing a bit of housework and sewing. I have a ton of sewing I need to get done before November 19 when our group holds it's annual Toys for Tots Tournament. It's a really big deal for the SCA folks in our kingdom. The two prior years I've been involved we've raised over 1200 toys each year, making us the largest single mid-Missouri contributor. It's a good time too, but I soooo want new clothes for it! I have a gown to finish. I actually started it two years ago and scrapped it because it was too small...now it's nearly to large! But it'll be new and comfortable. I just need to find time to sew 150 inches of hem! (and finish DH and DS's new garb and make an underdress for the gown. )

Dinner tonight is problematic. I'd planned on making a brisket someone gave us in the crockpot. Turns out it was a corned beef brisket. I thawed it out so I pretty much had to cook it. I just can't make myself throw away perfectly good food...but I don't really like corned beef, not to mention how fatty it usually is. I suspect we'll have sandwiches and DH will take the corned beef to work with him tomorrow. He works in a prison, and the inmate workers in his area love it when we have left-overs we don't really like. He took some stir-fry I made once that I didn't even like. There are inmates that think I'm Martha Stewart!

Thin: Owwie! Hope that ankle feels better, that sounds painful!

Terri: I had a roommate with a rottie once. He was a really great dog, but started being snappy and they found him a home. I could never handle such a big dog. I find it hard to get the little ones to see me as boss! Those meals you mentioned sound SO GOOD! But then again, most meals sound good to me!

Ruth: Don't you worry about one day off. It's only one day, not a lifetime and it's the lifetime that makes you fat! So, back on the horse! I'm working on that myself today, although I think I did pretty good this weekend. Weekends are always the hardest for me!

2Cute: Shame on you for thinking about quitting if you didn't lose this summer! Not losing is when you need this place the most! But hey, maintaining is something to be happy about. Until I started losing in Feb. I don't think I ever went thru a summer without gaining! I'm glad to see you back! And Michelle too! You ladies stop going away now!

Well, I know I'm missing folks from the last thread...but I say "Never Look Back!" Seriously, if I missed you I'm sorry. Consider this a big "Hi!"

BTW - has anyone been following the other thread? Catherine (HippyVanLady) is ENGAGED! Moving to Canada!! And possibly pregnant!!! Exciting stuff over there!

Well, I've wasted a large part of the morning at work - so I best go. Darn Halloween! There are brownies and candies and other nasty horrible yummies out there!!! Pray for strength for me!

I want to add my HAPPY HALLOWEEN too.

Thin... I wish I could get this sleep straighten up. I actually did fairly well this summer.. not perfect .. but better than the last couple of days. As you know... I woke up at 10 last night.. went to bed at 5 this morning. got a phone call just before 10 so I got almost 5 hours in.

Ruth.. I am taking your advice and replying before there are a lot of posters. LOL
Since we are in the boat together... we can help bail out the water for each other too.
I have my first bottle of water downed.... my goal is five 20oz bottles today.

Terri ... WAY TO GO on getting that exercise in early.
Since you know where that dog lives... maybe you could call them and tell them their dog is following you when walking your dog and give them a chance to put him/her up before calling the pound. If they don't keep him/her put up ... then call the pound.

Jen... I will stay on program all week with you.
It sounds great having friends here for the whole winter. Are they going to live with you... or do they have an apartment or something ???

Lilion ... I always thought those medival clothing was cool looking... but HOT wearing. Usually those festivals are in the summer aren't they ???
Do you have pics of them on the picture page ??

Okay... I have got to get busy.
I have drank my first bottle of water..
I have journaled my breakfast...
I have made contack with my support system ....
I have eaten LESS for breakfast but need to eliminate the butter from my toast.
I have hung in there for one more day... ONE DAY AT A TIME ... Progress not perfection.... JUST DO IT !!!!!

2Cute: Renaissance festivals, which are different from SCA events, are usually in the summer. For that matter, most SCA events are summer too, although there are some indoors in winter. Our tournament, for example, is an indoor event.

Since you asked, today I posted some photos from our summer event. My camera stinks and there is only one of me, but you get the idea.

A bit of explaination is in order on the medieval stuff.

What most people know about are Renaissance Festivals. Those are festivals put on with vendors, usually musical groups and jousting, costumed characters running about and yummy food. Anyone who pays admission can wander about and enjoy the show. People in costume mix freely with the mundane populace and a good time is had by all. True historical content is questionable.

Medieval recreation events, in my case the Society for Creative Anachronism (and a newer group the Adrian Empire) are organizations that have events that are member-only, for the most part. There are no spectators. While anyone could pay the entry fee and attend, you have to be in period clothing. No one puts on acts for the amusement of a crowd. Most summer events involve camping. The idea is to learn about medieval history by living it. Now that's very loosly enforced in many cases. The SCA in particular takes some flak from other medieval reinactor groups for not being really strict, but the idea is you go in garb, you learn by doing, and a good time is had by all.

I do both. I am on the committee that puts on our city's local Renaissance Festival, which is put on the the local Library and the city Parks dept. in association with the Renaissance Festival of Kansas City. It's a mini KCRenFest, with performers, muscial acts, jousts, games and vendors. I wear shorts and work my butt off coordinating the festival. I also belong to the SCA and soon the Adrian Empire. In those groups I wear the fancy outfits (well, not too fancy) and do a number of medieval type things. I do embroidery, sew, weave, etc. I'm planning on learning calligraphy. My husband makes chain maile armor and fights. In the SCA the fighters use wooden weapons. In the Adrian Empire the fighters use blunted steel weapons. I don't fight, although I am considering learning to fence. My husband and I are also learning to brew mead (honey based beer/wine). If it was done in the middle ages, from falconry to metalurgy, you can probably find someone in the SCA to teach you!


On a different note, my Dr. appt. yeilded more Dr. appts. I have to go Friday for an ultrasound. After that and a dozen blood tests, the Dr. may have something to tell me!

Good morning ladies, How did you do with the halloween candies? My DH handled the candy here, so I wasn't tempted! Sweets have never been my downfall, but pass the potatoes please Yep, those starches will get me every time.

My fall off the wagon Sunday had such a negative effect on me. All I wanted to do yesterday was eat! I had a lot of talks with myself. You don't want to know what I said to myself! Today my resolve is intact and I will do what I need to do, so there me!

2cute, bail faster!!! Good for you with drinking the water, I have such a hard time with that. I just plain don't like water! Of course I don't like exercise or dieting either, but it has to be done.

Lilion, I have a hard time with weekends too, but throw company in there and I am too doggone weak to say no to the food. I KNOW that I could say no, but I just keep saying

Terri, your dog alone would throw me into a panic, but if one ran up to me I would freak out. I was attacked by a part pit bull years ago and ever since then I am so afraid of dogs. That is one reason I don't get out and walk.

Jen, I hope you are having a good time with your friends that are visiting.

J,(nolifewithouthorses) did you get that nap you wanted?

Thin, Don't want to leave you out, I will be back later, gotta go for now. Iwillbe....Ruth

Morning all!

2Cute: Our English friends own a winter home that they purchased at the end of their trip last year. We'll be helping them fix it up and get it liveable. Until then, they are staying with us in our apartment. When our lease is up, we are moving in with THEM until our house is finished. We are all very close (like family--only better!) Since they are only here for six months, we'll be living in their house after they go back home. But I'm not even thinking about that now--they just got here!

On the health front, went food shopping last night, so I am armed and ready to have an OP week. I have discovered that I do my worst when I haven't planned ahead.

How did everyone do with Halloween? No worries here! Ruth, it looks like you had the right idea--let hubby handle it!

Will check in later!

Hi ladies,

Not much time to post. I didn't sleep well at all last night so no exercise this morning. I don't know what's up with the sleep problem but I moved to the couch to toss and turn for awhile. Finally turned on the TV to watch Halloween Resurrection. Then when I finally dozed off it was to have nightmares about Michael Myers.

We had lots of kids for Halloween last night. More so than before it seemed. I thought I had bought a huge amount of candy but didn't really have that much left over. If I had always given away two then I would have run out early. With the doorbell ringing so much, it about drove Bear nuts. He wanted to greet the kids too.

The taco soup last night was wonderful. Almost like chili. We like to put in some ground hamburger and do two cans of jalepeno pinto beans in place of the kidney beans. With some fresh chopped green onions and a dollop of FF sour cream on top, YUMMY! The salad mix was also good. It was a romaine lettuce mixed with a "spring mix", grape tomatoes, and green onions. DH acted like a butt over the taste of the red wine vinegrette and the white beans in the salad so we made some substitutions. Still a nice change from the old iceburg lettuce salad. I prefer a romaine lettuce to iceburg any day and DH is about the opposite.

Valerie - Five of the horses are APHA. I am so excited to have a baby of the current World Champion paint stallion. This is RT and he only lacks some white spots on him which I think should be able to spray paint on. However, that is why he was so cheap as opposed to the $12,500 other babies were selling for. He is my closest claim to horse fame. My 19 yo mare is the seasoned one of the bunch and she's an Appy. The rest are young and I'm learning to train them. Here's a link to online photos. Horses The first album named "Offspring.." are four of my horses. The first two are almost two yo and the next two are about six months. The other albums are of Richard's horses that I have posted to help him sell babies. Richard is where I bought these four. You asked about which seat I prefer. I've always ridden western and never had riding lessons until this past summer. I really enjoyed learning to ride differently. When my western saddles were stolen in early summer, I only had an english saddle that I had bought off ebay but never tried. I finally decided to try it if I was going to ride. I loved it. But I sold that mare that I used it on and I'm not sure I am ready to use it on my Appy mare. She's been trained as a cutting horse and if you're not careful, when she turns, she turns right underneath you and going the other direction before you know it. I definitely want to take more lessons and I may get the nerve to try it with her because it is such a great workout. Then I really want to learn how to ride bareback and stay on. Too much to learn; too little time. Just need to give up my day job.

Speaking of, I'm late and have to stop by the store for goodies. I'm buying either veggies or fruit. No candy crap.

Sorry for no replies to everyone else. I'll try tonight.