Sorry, girls, no post tonight. I just came in to clean up a couple of things and I'm now going to go out and die on the couch. Exhausted and ache like there's no tomorrow. I'll see ya later. Love ya bunches!

I knew it had been a while since I dropped in, but I didn't realize it had been as long as it had. My sjogren's has been acting up for a while, and I've felt really bad the last couple of weeks. Other than that, things are going well for us. OleAlvin likes his new job, the pressure of owning a business is over, and his benefits are fantastic.

Other than the way I've felt, everyone one else is doing good. Alvin's sister's surgery went well, and she is recouping pretty good. My brother's wife sugery went pretty well. The just did the lumptectomy, but becase of the size and type of the cancer, she is going to have to have chemo and radiation both.

Food has been ss/so, neither good, or bad, and exercise has been erratiac. I've gone some, but not nearly enough. Mother's estate sale is supposed to be next weekend. Hope it goes well.

Three of our four cats (DS decided he couldn't live without his, so he took her with him, and we only have 4 not 5) are getting along really well, but my little female has taken up living under my bed. She doesn't get out at all. She and the Black Shopcat do not get along at all and fight everytime they get close to each other. I'm hoping that finally they will calm down, but it doesn't look like it.

Thanksgiving was always at my mothers house, so this year, I'm going to have it here. My house is not as big as her's but it will have to do. My sister Valeria has decided to buy mom's house, so probally next year it will be at her house.

Mavis, I remember you from years ago. I don't remember what thread we were on together, but I remember you anyway.

I'll try not to be gone so long next time. Hope everyone has a great night!

Ok girls here is my smiling face Where is yours today? How is everybody doing?

I had a tiring day yesterday whew! We bought a new fridge and put the older one in the garage. We always keep an extra for any overflow, well our old one in the garage had quit working so this seemed like a good idea to start with...until...we found that we had to pay for delivery to our area(DH won't do that ) We have a truck, so he brought it home and manhandled it off the truck to the porch, then got the handtrucks and got it in the house. The thing is the size of a small mini-van for gosh sakes! Well, after removing the old one from its cubbyhole the new one didn't fit! (I had told him to measure first ) Next thing I know, he has the hammer and is tearing up the molding and anything else that is in the way. We finally got it in the hole and to make a long story short..I was pooped! Not just from the moving and switching all the stuff from one to the other, but the clean-up behind DH and the water from the icemaker.
Oh yeah, he did get evrything fixed back like it should be but in the meantime I was about to have a I shouldn't complain, it was my bright idea to begin with. I felt with the holidays coming up, I just had to have all that extra room!

I have a bunch of replies I need to do, but I think I will leave them until tomorrow. I hope you are all having a grand old time this weekend and that is the reason you aren't here. Later....Ruth

Ruth... sounds like a job from **** .... but now you have a great new BIG Refrigerator for the holidays. Count your blessings that you DH was able to make it fit and ENJOY it. We use to have an extra refrigerator in the garage but when our daughter needed one we gave it to them. We didn't use our that much.. except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well.. we did keep beer and pop and extra ice for company... but didn't really need to.
I thought we would be buying a new one a month or so ago ... but I fixed it myself.
It was draining water on the floor all the time. What a mess.
The tube that the automatic defrost uses to drain the melted ice got clogged with routine dust... so I boiled me some water .. got a baster ... and squirted the hot water through the tube to clear out the dirt or debris. Works like new now.... no more messes.

Barbg ... I am so happy that Alvin is happy with his new job. That helps sooo much.
And it is a special bonus that he has good benefits too. Those are hard to come by nowadays. Congrats.
I hope you get feeling better soon. What happens with "sjogren" ???
Glad your family's health problems are getting better too.
I will be thinking of you during Thanksgiving. Don't put too much stress on yourself.

Thin ... thanks for starting the new thread. I hate to hear you are hurting. All that remodeling takes a toll on our older bones. Sure miss you.

I just realized Desperate Housewives is coming on NOW... so I have to run.
Can't miss my show.

Good morning ladies, How are all of you this morning? We are having that warm weather again. First it is hot, then cool, then hot, and then cold, can't seem to make up its mind to be one or the other.

Today will be another busy day. laundry, vacuuming and mopping the kitchen await me Never ending!

Thin, I hope you got some much needed rest this weekend. When you get your guys settled into their own homes you will have loads of time for you Can be FUN! I lamented all over the place when mine left the nest, but I know I wouldn't want them coming back now.

2cute, I don't watch desperate housewives, but both my daughters are addicted to it. You were very clever to fix your fridge. We had one that would clog up ever so often, but DH handles all of that stuff.

Barb, good news about DH loving his new job. We had our own store for years and it can be a pain in the A$$ at times. Working for someone else and letting them deal with all of that paper work, taxes etc. can be a big relief. I was not sorry to close my store. Our lease ran out and the property owner wouldn't renew, so we were forced out. Worked for me! LOL! We would probably still be there if not for circumstances beyond our control.

Valarie, you asked me a question and I haven't posted a reply. We live in Georgia. What are you up to these days?

I have probably missed a bunch of you on the other post, but will answer when you post today Now come and post!! Have a good one girls. Later....Ruth

Morning Ruth and all!

I've re-set my ticker--it appears that my extra weight was more than just water ....BUT....I am starting again, with a new resolve to get healthy and reach my goals. I AM NOT GIVING UP!!

Not much chance to respond to everyone at the moment....will catch up with you all in a bit!

Good Morning Ladies:

It was a really busy weekend. Friday DH and I were both off work and we took a drive to the boonies to go to a "Dutch Country Store" we'd been told about. Many Mennonites in the area own small businesses. Anyway, we went because we'd been told you could get Lean Cuisine dinners for like 75 cents each. I was more than surprized to see the sign "Surplus, Salvage, Groceries". Turns out the place buys dented cans, overstocks, etc and sells dirt cheap. We didn't find what we were looking for, but got a ton of other stuff really cheap. Like Lipton Rice and Sauce packets for 30 cents each! Anyway, it was a good day, we had fun. Saturday we went to a fish fry. It was a fattening day! But we skipped lunch so it could have been worse I suppose. Between all that I went shopping three times - nothing like never remembering everything. And I sewed. I'm still trying to get medieval clothes done for our Toys for Tot's tournament that's coming up this weekend. Busy, busy. I'll try to get someone to take a picture of us all in the finery I made.

Food was so/so this weekend - fish fry notwithstanding. The scale says I'm up two pounds but I skipped WI again. I didn't mean to, I just forgot on Friday. I know there's some water retention going on, but I'll try again to WI this Friday and then we'll know for sure. If it's up...well, try, try again!

Oh, and I got outbid on the bow....but ordered a cheap one off the internet to practice with.

Must run ladies. Time to dispense justice. But first, I have to use the new smilie! A great big to you all!

Good morning my little chickadees.

I had a great weekend. Husband was out of town with son and son-in-law ... so my daughter and I did a lot of running around. I was going to use the weekend to jump back on my food plan... but didn't make it as good as hoped. BUT did not use it as an excuse to eat whatever either. I held my own and I made many good choices foodwise.

Ruth.... I adore my kids...but I don't really want them back either.
I enjoy my freedom. LOL
Don't work too hard today. But what you do have to do.... keep smiling that you are burning calories as you do them.

Jen.... I love your commitment... "I AM NOT GIVING UP !!"
With that attitude you will succeed !!!!

Lilion... we have a lot of Amish around here too. I LOVE their creme pies. OOppss
I don't buy them often.. only holidays... but oh so good.
They also open up their homes for large gatherings. Good comfort foods. Mmmm
We also have stores that sell dented and damaged packages. Be sure to watch for bad expiration dates too. A little expired usually doesn't hurt... but sometimes they will have stuff expired over a YEAR. Once I found somethings expired by several years. I like those places for laundry soap and such.

Okay... gotta run. I am going to get some goals completed TODAY !!!

Hi all! Still running at this end.

I'm headed to the "baby's" house as we smell gas in one of the cupboards in the kitchen. We're going to call the gas company and see if they'll come out and check it.

Honey is out of town. Back to Mexico for the week.

Hey, does anyone want to try and get together to chat this week? I'm pretty free any evening until Friday when Honey comes back home and might want to cuddle after being gone. I'm thinking for you central timers maybe 8:00 or 9:00???? I'm not sure about your time, Barb. Are you central? Anyway, somebody thow out a suggestion if you're interested. We have that 300+ chatroom that doesn't get used much.

Ok girls, I'm going to run. See you all later. Love ya bunches!

Good morning ladies, How are all of you this morning? I am doing "good" That is I am sticking as close to OP as I can muster. Boy, is that hard! Last night I had a taste for something salty and crunchy, unfortunatly there was a bag of frito corn chips here. I had some, but tried to limit the amount. Not the best idea I ever came up with.

Lilion, I hear you about trying again, and again! I get up every morning determined to be OP all day, and some days it works and some it don't! You have come a long way on your weight loss jouney though, you must have been doing something right. It is just a matter of finding that formula again, maybe?

Jen, How are you? You don't say much...you should be long winded like me That was a bummer to find that the weight gain wasn't water, but you will get back on track, BELIEVE!

Thin, I hope Babys gas leak wasn't anything serious, that is scarey. I don't know about the chat thing. I am so slow at typing and reading at the same time, I wouldn't keep up, not that I wouldn't love to chat with all of you. I will think about it if everyone can agree on a time.

2cute, In our area there are a lot of menonites, they make the best cakes I have ever eaten. They bake and sell them at Thanksgiving and Christmas. yummy! I used to go and get several every holiday, but I quit doing that a few years ago, cause I wound up eating the leftovers .

Well girls it is that time, time to exercise, or not! I am not in the mood to do anything this morning. See ya later! Ruth

Thin A chat sounds great. Yes I am in Central time. Wed nights I go to church but am home by about 8:30 so 9:00 will be great, or Thursday any time will be good. Let me know. And Ruth, you can keep up with Thin and me the last one we had Thin and I almost had a private chat because we couldn't keep up with the "younguns"

Donna, Sjorgens is an auto-immune disease like Rheumotoid Arthrits except you don't get the deformaties that you do with RA. The pain is the same, but it doesn 't "show" like RA does. Also with SjS the antibodies into your body attact the mositure producing glands so you have dry mouth, dry eyes, dry nasal cavity etc. It's not a life-threatening disease, just a nusiance!!!

Well, I have 3 cat sitting here looking at me wanting fed. See you all later.

Barb

Good morning ladies,

What a blustery, wintery day. May even snow in the area today. BOO!

Our supper club was a success and a blast. But wow, I felt like Valerie had run over me in her big truck on Sunday. Could have been all the house cleaning and then cooking or could have been the sangria and ouzo. All the food turned out great and everyone had a good time. I'm already thinking of fun themes for when it comes back to our house.

Yesterday, I got up and did my exercise. 20 minutes pilates and 36 minutes on the stationary bike. My goal is to be up to 45 minutes by weekend. Food was good during the day and was okay in the evening. Richard invited us to an equine clinic last night and they served BBQ brisket. Sounds bad but they served very small portions so no over indulging there. The clinic was very informative. I didn't walk the dog though when we got home as it was late and DH acted like a dumba## so I went to bed instead.

This morning, I slept in instead of exercising. With the weather change, my nose is all stuffed up and can't breathe. Plus I didn't sleep well. Gosh, was a good day to call in sick and stay on the sofa with a blanket and book. Something to dream about.

Tonight is Biggest Loser and the Country Music Awards. I'll have to tape one and watch the other. I should do something to make up for the missed exercise this morning too.

Thin - Hope the house stuff settles down soon. Chat sounds good. We probably have to do 8 pm so it isn't too late for east coasters.

I better get scootin' and get ready for work. Only a little over a week until Thanksgiving. Let's not forget our Christmas goals. Let's get food under control and get to moving. Its a choice what we eat and we CAN make healthy choices. Otherwise, we're choosing to be fat.

Have a good OP day!

Terri... I loved your last statement....
Otherwise we're choosing to be fat. WOW ... that's a slap in the face. I need to remind myself that every day.

Barbg.... thanks for the info. I remember now knowing that before... but I sure could not remember it on my own.

Ruth ... did you exercise or not ??? I could give all kinds of encouragement but I would feel like a hypocrite if I did. I REALLY need to focus on exercise more.

Thin... I am not a big Chat fan. As you know... I never did join in too often.
I think the inablility to keep up with everyone is mainly why.
Keep us informed on baby's gas leak.

Okay.. I am babysitting so can't stay longer. Just wanted to peek in.
My food choices are getting pretty good. I am really focusing on serving size. I am a "FORMER" volume eater.... I am making progress.

Good afternoon Chickie Poos!

I just had the most delicious lunch and all for 5 points! Has anyone tried the Michelinas Lean Gourmet Bowls? They are sooo good! I had the italian one, its mostly veggies, has a few beans, and some type of light cheese sauce you wouldn't even know is there its really light. The italian is 3 points the southwestern is 4 pts not sure of the greek one yet I haven't tried it! I also had a FF chocolate pudding cup for 2 pts and a 16 oz diet pepsi. I am so full!

2Cute...I'm with you on Teri's statement...I sat back after I read it and said WOW! She is so right about that...it was like something inside me finally woke up! We do choose to be fat if we continue to make the wrong choices and eat fattening foods! Its just as simple as THAT!

Teri that supper club sounds like fun! How does it work?

Hi Barb and Lillion!!

Ruth...I have a thing for the salty stuff too...more so than the sweet! I have a little tiny bag of fritos in my cupboard right now. Thats the safest size I could have in my house. I know I can have it if I want it..but right now the urge isn't strong enough to waste the points on it...I know someday soon it will be worth the points...just not right now! Willpower...I have very little but I am gaining it slowly but surely!

Jen good for you for not giving up! I have vowed to NOT give up this time around even if I have a set back! One step back doesn't mean failure! Picking up and moving forward means success! So thats what I am aiming for...success!

Well, tonight is WI and I feel confident I have a loss...not sure just how much of a loss but any loss is better than no loss or a gain at this point!

I'll try and check back in when I get home tonight! Talk at you all later!

Have a great day!
MichelleK