Hello Tops pals... where is everyone.... I know Lynard is in NYC .....I am on vacation this week so I got lots of time on my hands I am going to the casino later on the bus with some friends... havent done that in ages, looking forward to it.

Has everyone survived the holidays?? I did pretty good, lost a pound, we decided to have weigh ins the day after christmas and new years.. 12 people showed up to weigh in... with some good losses too....

Anyone got contest ideas for winter, we seem to be slacking off on contests, I think we need some incentive for the long cold days of NY .
The last of our snowbirds is heading south today.. we miss them, a very lively group of ladies .

I have to sign off, grandaughter wants to play with her new Ipod nano, whatever that is

India

Hi India,
Good for you for having a loss during the hoildays. I have my meeting this Thursday and I'm DETERMINED that I'm going in there with a loss. I want to end the old year on a good note and get ready to get to goal in the new year.

My chapter is going to have to think of a contest for the winter months as well. I keep thinking of using a snowball theme, but I'm not sure where to go with that.

I was contacting all my chapters last night by phone. It was fun to talk to most of them. I had a couple that I can tell just don't want me messing with there chapter. I don't intend to make any changes; I just want to support them.

Most everyone is geared up to go into the New Year and all the bright possibilities that it has. Did you receive your TOPS news yet? I got mine yesterday and flipped though it. It looks to be very motivating. I'm planning on spending some time with it at lunch today.

OK, I've got to get to work.
Susie

I'm back as of yesterday pm and we had a wonderful time. If you ever want an inexpensive place to stay right in the heart of the city, try The Madison Hotel on E27th St and Madison.($118/night) included breakfast! We could walk to everything including Times Square, Rockafeller Center (nice tree!!), and the village. Needless to say, I walked lots, but am still afraid to get on the scale! I ate very well. We even parked the car for free and were able to park right in front of the hotel (because parking rules were suspended from friday - monday. We saw 2 broadway shows..."The Producers" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" with John Lithgow. I loved every minute of it. Back to work today, and back to the fitness center this noon. It's been 2 weeks since I worked out and I felt it. Bye for now, everyone. Have a Happy New year!!

Lyn

Hi Susie... Hope you do show a loss... I just ate the last piece of pntbutter cheesecake.. hope its gone in a week ... hehe... looks terrible on my hips ..I get frustrated with all the rules Tops has and we do our best to follow closely as we can....We got scolded because several of the girls ordered wine with lunch at a function, I had no idea they had that rule... oh well.......

Lyn... Glad to hear you had a great time.... I have never been to the Big Apple, one of these days.... I do need to talk to you as Carole left f or Florida and needs a Travel Sheet.. and I think you need to have some input on that, I did get her address down there ......so will give you a call soon... India

Hello,
Tonight is my last weigh-in for 2005. I've worked hard all week to show a loss...I hope the scales show it. I know that I feel much better though since I've not filled up on sugar this week and I've worked out.

It's amazing how our bodies function better when we give it the proper fuel and take it for a spin!

India: I didn't know there was a rule about wine at a function. Personally I don't think it would be any worse for you to have it with a meal as it would be to have a soda.

Lynn: Your trip sounds wonderful. Thanks for the insite as to where to stay and such. I hope to make a trip to NY one day and when I do, I'm going to follow your advice.

Ladies, I must get busy and get to work. Have a great day!
Susie

India Who scolded you. If it was one of your food functions and you were at a restaurant you shold have been able to do whatever. We have two food functions per year.One at Christmas and one for installation of officers. Some of our ladies ordered wine with their meals. The members must pay for their own meals etc. You can not have alcoholic anything at a meeting. But you weren't at a meeting were you?
There are a lot of rules and that is why I always have my by-laws and chapter guide with me. I have to refer to them all the time.
I am working on the resumes which have to be sent in soon. Looks like we are going to have an average loss of around 3.3 per member.

Hi Eleni... We were at the Kops Honor Society Christmas lunceon, they always invite the Tops too.. Its a fundraiser and yes, we paid for our own luches, except for our Kops.. we paid hers... guess I will have to get more acquianted with the rules and it was our Area Captain that called the leader.....We can be a lively bunch Maybe these ladies arent used to us yet.. anyway, we dont plan to have wine with them anymore, just at our private parties... not at meeting, we drink green tea, sugar free cocoa ect Happy New year|!!! India

I finally got on the scale at home and it showed a 4 # Gain. I was thinking of not weighing in this Monday, but then remembered I need to go and pick up the information for the final year reports - so I'll face the music. I know there are 3 days left to lose, but with New Years celebrations I'm doubtful.

My computer at home is down for the count. Must have a virus as it won't even turn on now. Have called the computer medic, but won't have it fixed until late Monday. (I'm at work now). So...Happy new years - be safe.

Lyn

I survived the holidays, but I'm in no hurry to face the scale. My next weigh in is Wed so I have a few days to work on it.

Susie, a thought on a snowball theme contest. On a poster board you can have your members on one side with a 'pile of 1/4# snowballs' in front of them. When they lose, they can 'throw' them to the other side of the poster. The number they throw away would equal the amount of weight they lost. If they gain, the snowballs return to their pile in front of them. This idea just popped into my head and I'm going to offer to do the next one here. It can be a challange being an AC. For the most part, your chapters will be very happy to have your support and then there are those others. The hardest is when you have individuals that cause strife within their chapters and it splinters it apart and bad feelings exist. I wish you tremendous luck....you appear to be a very kind, thoughtful person. Keep that attribute.....and don't let anyone change you.

India, yep we've learned if we are going to have a 'good time' we don't have an official function. Unfortunately the KOPS Honor Society meeting was official. They [field staff] get real touchy when it comes to alcohol. I'll never forget an SRD a few years back where TOPS was having an official 'fun evening' at the host hotel. Some members ordered drinks in the bar........the regional director saw them and she landed into the coordinator and had her in tears......because she couldn't control 'her' members. I've learned a lot with all my years in TOPS ..............and unfortunately somes not very nice...........or tolerant.

Eleni, thanks for the "hi and greeting".........same back at you and I know it was a busy time around your place. We were down in the low lands and had a great time. No snow and Christmas day was 60. It has been so dry down in the Denver area that I watered the trees and grass......then when we came home Wed we had to shovel our way back into the driveway. Even dd's nurse that lives only 30 miles from here doesn't have any snow and we have just shy of 3 feet on the flat areas. It always amazes me what a difference a few miles makes. Hope your doing better............and may 2006 be good to you. I'm working on our Resume also....fun, fun, fun.

Lyn, you'll get that gain off soon. A New Year and A New Us will persevere!!!!

Must run....got so much to catch up on after being gone a week.

{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}
Summer

GOOD MORNING ALL.... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! THE COUNTDOWN FOR 2006 IS ON!!! I AM FEELING FRISKY TODAY AND VERY HOPEFUL FOR THE COMING YEAR....

LYN.... I NEED TO GET A TRAVEL SHEET FOR CAROL TOO, FACE THE MUSIC GIRLFRIEND... I WANT TO STICK MY HEAD IN THE SAND TOO, MANY TIMES.. THE SCALE IS BROKEN SO I DONT KNOW WHAT I WEIGH RIGHT NOW

THANKS SUMMER.... I DONT THINK THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL AT AN OFFICIAL MEETING.. .WE JUST DIDNT KNOW WE PLAN TO ATTEND THE SRD IN JUNE AND WILL BE GOOD GIRLS

HMM, A SNOWBALL GAME, WE SURE GET OUR SHARE HERE OF THE WHITE, EVIL STUFF HEHE....

I DID FIND A GAME FOR THE VALENTINES TIME OF THE YEAR, WITH HEARTS AND DEALING WITH HEALTHY HEART THEME...

HOPE EVERYONE HAS A WONDERFUL NEW YEARS ... WE ARE HAVING CRAB LEGS TONITE AND I PLAN TO HAVE ONE GLASS OF BLACKBERRY MERLOT.... WHAT IS E VERYONE ELSE EATING OR DOING TONITE?????