Hi ladies,

A bitterly cold day we had today. BRRRRR! Darn near froze while feeding the horses tonight. We've got a fire going and watching the Olympics. Anybody see the Snowboarding Cross event? Looks like a blast.

I got three loads of stuff over to the storage tonight. Cripes, this isn't even moving out - just the extra stuff. I should just leave it all over there and abandon it! Well, except for my horse stuff! Tomorrow night is attacking the kitchen.

Food was good today. I keep thinking about "eating for health" - (what do I need to eat for health). I had a great salad - apple, walnut, cheddar salad that was so filling. Just enough protein too with the nuts and cheese. DH baked a half-chicken for dinner. He used to bake a whole chicken but he's making the effort to cut down on our portions.

I'd love to post during the day but we're not supposed to post to forums at work. I have done it once or twice but don't want to have it trigger something and get in trouble. For my position, that would be embarassing. We need to recruit some ladies that are available to post during the day!

Lilion - Shame on you for the nachos! Although they do sound darn good. Hang in there and don't lose it. Even though you're a bit frustrated now, you have done such an awesome job. Remember - Catherine had a five month plateau. Wait and see what that new exercise machine will do for you.

Thin - Thank you, thank you thank you. I have truly missed seeing your posts. That's good about your ebay account but not good about having to redo all that. I've decided to postpone putting stuff up for sale until either we've moved or have a contract on the house. Just too time consuming. Your Valentine's sounds wonderful.

Okay, that's it for posters since this morning. I hope I remember not to eat anything tomorrow morning since I'm having blood drawn at 9:10 am.

Goodnight!

Lillion, I not only can't post during the day, I can't even get on the internet unless it is a 'legal" site and "unlocked" by my supervisor, so unless I get up early and post before I leave, it's night time before I get a change to check in. And sometimes, I just read, cause like tonight there's nothing to say.

That's when I just decorate my posts with graphics!!

Howdy friends. ... I have been busy busy busy lately.
Babysat most of the day....cleaned half of the garage.
Loaded up my car with donations and took them to Goodwill.
I got my hair cut and it does look pretty good.
Went shopping for a couple of hours and then ...
visited a dear friend for an hour or so too.
Tonight I attended our homeowners association meeting and volunteered to do the newsletters. They announce over a year ago we would have monthly newsletters but only recieved 2 all year long .. and even those did NOT have important information in them. I figured instead of complaining... I would offer to do it myself. Now I have to follow thru. LOL

Well I kept my food fairly good for 3 of the 4 days my daughter was home... but now I am having the hardest time getting discplined again.
Tomorrow is a new day and I will try AGAIN.

I have been in bed before midnight each day... and I only have one minute left to get there again tonight. That is one thing I am doing right.

Hello ladies, How is everyone this morning? Our posters seem to be getting fewer and futher between, so where did everybody go? Ok silly, I didn't mean you! I know you are here, I meant all of the newer ones that started after the first of the year. Michelle, It is time to come and check in now! I suppose Valerie is on the road again? Come out, come out whereever you are!

Good morning Terri, I can count on you to be here, thank goodness! It sounds as if you are making progress with the "what the heck am I keeping this for" stuff! I have a lot of that myself. I put everything back in the cabinets and gave up on any idea of getting rid of some of it. I know I will never use most of it but I just couldn't give it away! Don't even mention selling it on Ebay, I have already sold everything I wanted to give up. Yep, packrat would describe me too!

2cute, It was so cool that your daughter caught you by surprise for your birthday. Now it is time to get serious again. Cleaning out the garage was good exercise right? Oh, and at least you gave it to goodwill, see some of us aren't packrats. LOL! Sounds as if you had a full day. Nice.

Barb, sorry you can't post with us during the day. There is always evening though, right? Love your graphics!

Hi Thin! I think I want to wait to put on a new tracker until I actually lose some weight! I am going to start it from where I am now, not where I was the first of last year. I can't believe I wasted a whole year going up and down! I only have 14 lbs to show for all of 2005! That is so pathetic! Sure I lost weight, but it was the same weight over and over! ARGGGGH!

Well, ladies it is time for me to move, cleaning day you know. Take care, Ruth

Good morning ladies,

I'm sitting here watching a Hip Hop dance exercise video. M ight be a bit much for this early in the morning. The doc said to find exercise that is fun and to have variety. I decided that it would be fun to try different videos from Netflix since they have such a huge variety and I don't have to buy them. I'm not sure I'm physically capable of hip hop. I did try some and it is fun. Maybe I need a country dance video.

Ruth - Nothing wrong with 14 pounds down! Better than being up!! Just keep plugging away. Remember its about lifelong changes and improvements to your health.

So far I've remembered not to eat. I miss my cappuccino!

Have a good OP day!

Morning, ladies! Yes, it's me and it's early.

Actually, I was rudely awakened at 7:39 this morning by the phone with my mom telling me she had been driving to the Dr. and a girl hit her.

She wanted me to call the Dr. and say she would be late because they charge if you don't show up. Well, the dang Dr.'s office doesn't answer it's phone, till after 8:00, or so I thought. But even after 8:00 they didn't answer the phone so I left a message in their "general mailbox". They best not be planning on charging mom as it was extenuating circumstances.

She's ok, but she was hit from behind. She says the girl swung out behind her and slipped on the ice and hit her as she (mom) was making a right hand turn. Mom is adament that it is NOT her fault. Cop seems to think it was and told her so, and gave her the ticket.

Here we go.................. did the cop give her the ticket because she's 84 years old? Did the girl indeed pull out and was already on the road my mom pulled out on? It was also early morning sun, in just the right position, did mom just not see her? Is mom's driving bad enough, after just this one incident, to pull her off the road? eiyeeee!!!!

Terri: Good for you getting up every morning and working out. I'm so impressed! The cleaning and organizing is also inspirational, not enough to make ME start, but inspirational nonetheless!

Ruth: You early morning person you! 14 pounds is nothing to grouse about. You did fine. It's in the right direction, right? It's better than not losing anything, like yours truly, right? Hold your head up high. On the subject of the tracker, I surely understand that you want to wait on redoing it, just know that the one you have will disappear soon as they're all transfered to the new server.

2cute: Good to see you! And good for you climbing in bed by midnight. It will become a habit in no time. I've been back to my late night habit and it's making me nutts, especially since the last couple of mornings have been early ones.

BarbG: You haven't said much about work lately. Are you glad you took this job? It's been what? 6 months? It kind of sounds like it's working out good for you, but you haven't said much.....well, except for dining with the drug dealers.

Lilion: "aHEM! Wondering WHY no one has posted today since 10 a.m.! It is very, very sad." Hey, what about me? I posted after 10 a.m. yesterday and it was a reply to YOU. Hope you're doing well today.

What ever happened to Elaine/Elmay? Haven't seen you in awhile..

Michelle: Any good new jobs lately? I'm getting sorta the same old stuff. The ice cream stores are coming back up now. I'm going to try and behave.

Well girls, I'm out to lunch with mom today and I told her I would take her to see that new movie about the sled dogs, 8 Below. We'll see how she feels after she gets home and relaxes a little bit. I told her she needed to call the chiropractor and get her neck checked out since she was hit from the rear.

Talk to you all later. Love ya bunches!

I over slept, so I d on't have time to say more.

Good Morning Ladies!

Well, I suppose I'll have to forgive you for leaving me all lonely if you aren't allowed to access the internet from work! Have to admit...I'd get a heck of a lot more done if my boss did that!

Terri: Was it really 60+ two days ago! What happened to the weather??? Oh, yeah, Missouri! Glad to see that you are getting your things packed up. You know, I've lived in my house four or five years now...and I still have boxes I haven't opened since I moved in! In fact....I moved them packed from the last place I lived and I'm not sure I opened them then! I can't imagine doing a hip-hop exercise video. I can't imagine watching a hip-hop exercise video. My 10 yr old would probably think it's cool...but I suspect I'm just too - dull? old? midwest? - NOT my type of music.

Barbara: Your graphics speak louder than words!

2Cute: Sounds like you had a blast while your daughter was here! I think I may have been celebrating with you in spirit...not exactly OP these last few days! Here we go...back OP today!!!

Ruth: Hey, 14 lbs down a year is a heck of a lot better than up! That's how I got to 328 - 17 lbs a year. Didn't seem like much, 17 lbs...who worries about 17 lbs? But do that for six years and you're UP 102! So think of it that way. 14 lbs down may not seem like alot...but it adds up if you do it over and over!

Well, I agree with Ruth that I wish our newer ladies would post more...we can't get to know you if you don't post! And Michelle we need updates on that adorable child! And Valerie we all want to know where our traveling woman goes!

Must run...that time again! Time to protect the innocent and the oppressed!

Good morning!!

I just have to say I LOVE TARGET! I got some good deals there yesterday! THe clearance sales plus coupons on hair color, shampoo and conditioner, coffee, sugar free iced tea packs you put in your water bottles and lots of other stuff. Plus I got some shorts and t shirts for Andrew for the summer for $3.99 each!

Speaking of the little devil...he spent the night at my parent's house last night. He hasn't been wanting to stay over and I couldn't figure out why. But last night while he was there he said he wanted to go home...but then he told my father that if he gave him 2 malted balls he would stay! Little turd! He had them laughing at that one! THe kid is only 5 and he is already resorting to bribery!

Well this morning we got to sleep in...me till 8 and John till 9...then we took the dog to petsmart for her pedicure. I had to buy a new leash for her too because I just put and brand new leash on her this morning cause she chewed through her last one, and I went to get my purse and before I got back to the door she was sitting there and already chewed through it! I just took the darn tag off of it 2 minutes before! Geeesh! I got a chain one this time!! I also signed her up for training classes beginning March 10th! She is a jumper and I can't stand it. I go to the mailbox after being in with her all day and she jumps like crazy when I come in the door like she hasn't seen me all darn day! And she jumps on everyone who walks in the door! She is too strong to be doing that. They say they can train her not to jump and to not do that destructive chewing! We'll see! LOL

My son just called to say he is staying at grandma's house again tonight! Lucky us! LOL I miss him though! He's my buddy! Jamie misses him too...she keeps running in his room periodically looking for him. I bought her a big ole bone and she is happy chewing on that! Ooops! Just as I looked over at her I see she swiped the baby oil gel off my night stand...I guess she didn't like that bone afterall! LOL

OK I need to get some housework done and some laundry now! I'll check back later so y'all better come out and post now!

MichelleK

It is time to get moving now, calling all old hens Where are you? Come out, come out!

Not much going on here today. It is rainy and on the cool side. Yesterday our temp. got up to 72, ahhhh! Felt like spring. Very nice and now that is over and it is going to turn nasty again, phooey!

Thin, our trackers have already disappeared haven't they? I don't see mine on the bottom of the page. I can always go in and make another one, right?

I have absolutely nothing to write about! Come on in here and gossip for a while so I will have something to respond to OK? I shall return! Ruth

Good morning ladies,

Well at least for the next 15 minutes!

I am being possessed today about getting this house in order. I NEED to see some progress here so that I know there is sort of light at the end of the tunnel. So far, I've drug just about everything out of the cat room closet and have it packed in boxes now. I've cleaned the ceiling fan in there and vacuumed. I've just about finished turning it into the exercise room. One more piece of equipement and its ready. I've pulled the throw rugs and extra stuff out of the futon room and moved the small dresser. Need to clean that ceiling fan, throw on a quilt and it should be ready. Well, I might change the direction of the futon and move the dresser again. I need to finish reorganizing the linen closet. I'm sitting here relaxing while I watch Barefoot Contessa and letting my knees rest. Then I'll jump up and carry boxes down to the Escape and make DH go with me to the storage unit. We're going to look at a place DH saw on Thursday and liked. But I refused to go until late this afternoon.

This is all counting as exercise.

DH made the most wonderful stew last night. Gosh, I hadn't had a good stew in so long. He hated it though. We figure that he doesn't like tomato paste so he won't be doing that recipe again. Something tasted burnt to him but it wasn't so we're guessing its the tomato paste. He loves tomatoes and salsa but he's really finicky about tomato sauces and stuff. Go figure. What a pain! I loved it though.

I'm not sure what's on tonights dinner.

Time to get back to packing and cleaning. Have a good Saturday!

Today is oleAlvin's birthday, and I made him a cake. I don't remember if I have EVER made a cake completley from scratch. If I have it's been so long ago I don't remember it. This particular cake is an Applesauce cake that my Grandmother used to make, then my mother took up the tradition and would make it for my Dad's birthday. After Dad died, Mom would make it for Alvin every once in a while, so I dedided I'd make it. I didn't realize it would take all morning I t hought I had bought everything I needed for it last night after work, but halfway through I saw it call for 2T Cocoa???? Cocoa??? in an applesauce cake??? so I had to stop in the middle and go to Walmart for Cocoa!!! Then the icing didn't turn out like mothers did. Don't have a clue what I did there! Well, it's the thought that counts.... Right???

Nothing much going on around here. I finally did get color on my hair. Maybe that will raise my spirits. If I don't look like an old woman, maybe I won't feel like one.

Good morning, everyone!

Crazy Texas weather! Thursday it was a record high here of 85, now it is 31 degrees and icy! I'm originally from Iowa, so I don't mind the cold weather, but I worry about my daughter driving on ice, as she has only had her license since October. It's becoming obvious that I probably spend way too much time worrying about my daughter - but since she had so many problems while growing up with depression (she has been on antidepressants since the age of 10 - was suicidal before going on them), now that she is 18 and doing pretty well in most respects, I still haven't gotten out of the habit of worrying all the time. Thanks - Zelma, Lilion, Terri and Thin - for your responses to my earlier post about her regarding her boyfriend and the use of my car. I know that I'm too easy on her sometimes (see above), plus because it's just the two of us at home, I probably give her too much power -after all, we're not equals, even though she would like to think so. I'm still the mother and earn most of the money to keep this household going.

MichelleK, since I've only been reading these posts for a little while, I'm curious - what kind of dog do you have? I have three - and my lab/border collie mix is also a jumper. She only weighs about 55 pounds, so I don't mind too much, but I know it really annoys other people, especially if they come to the door and have on nice clothes. No one wants rough, dirty dog feet on their nice blouse! I have heard that kneeing the dog in the chest will cure them of the jumping up, but for some reason, I just keep saying, "No, Sadie, get off!" even though it does no good. Let me know if the training you plan on doing works.

I'm still eating Valentine's Day candy. I don't have a special someone, so I bought it at Target when it was half off the day after Valentine's Day for myself. But considering that I'm a sugar junkie and I need to lose so much weight, the question is whether I'm really treating myself or ultimately punishing myself. That's why I think I need to give up the stuff altogether (sugar), but the thought still makes me depressed. Do any of you who love sweets manage to eat just a little, once in a while, successfully?

Laelle...I had to laugh! Do you have my dog? LOL She is a black lab/border collie and she is I'm guessing around 55 lbs but she is strong and her nails hurt! I heard the kneeing in the chest too but then she thinks I'm playing and keeps coming back for more! I'll let you know what we learn in class...I sure hope it works. We don't start till March 10th and its for 8 weeks so I don't know when they will work on that part! I always tell her no, down and she still get so excited she can't help herself! I hold her collar and say go ahead and get your wiggle out...she just wiggles all over from head to toe until she gets it out of her system!

Barb...yes, its the thought that counts! I bet that cake taste good anyway!

Ruth..we had 71 degree weather this week for a couple of days...it got cold last night though and today it was wet and cold. I love the 71 degrees in February! In Philadelphia they got like 18 inches of snow last weekend! I sure am not missing that!

Teri...I hate cleaning and packing...I hope this is our last move ever cause I already have a ton of junk and we have only been here just over a year now!

Tonight we had a Spirit Night at JellyBeans, the rollerskating rink to earn money for the PTA. I had to go and sell raffle tickets. My son didn't go cause he wanted to stay at my parent's house again tonight so I went and I bought $10 worth of tickets. I got to draw the first 5 tickets and wouldnt' you know I drew my own name first! I got to pick the first prize..lucky me..I took the $25 gift card to O'Dwyer's Pub. Then my partner in crime picked the next 7 tickets...wouldnt' you know she picked my name too! I told her to put it back and pick another one. Then we had separate tickets for a $75 portrait package at a local Studio, and Beth, the mom who organized this event drew that ticket. I think she was going to pee her pants when she saw she drew my name! LOL I was soooo lucky tonight! I did keep that prize! I really wanted it!

Well Chickies...the rest of ya gotta come out of hiding and post!
I need to do some more laundry...it never ends.

Have a great night! MichelleK