[septembersgoal]

Sandra, I appreciate you posting your idea. I have tried to do that before. Sometimes it is the only way I make it through the day, being thankful for as much as I can! But I think that you are one of the most positive people I know. So do you guys have a competition this weekend? I hope that you won't be gone long. I'm glad that you had a good day.
Oh, yes I was talking about that banana pudding. I'm planning on trying the peppermint pattie recipe this week, I meant to do it this weekend. I'm hoping that it's good. I'm glad you like that soup, I will have to try it.

[ontarget]

melissa, i work hard at being positive. thank you for the compliment. curtis and i do have the idaho open this coming sat/sun down in pocatella. we'll be leaving fri am. i promise you i will go to ww wed evening. i know i'll have a gain but what else is new, right?

let us know how the peppermint patties are.

have a good evening.

[septembersgoal]

Wow, I am a lonely boring person.

Sandra, why do you think that you will have a gain? I think that you are going to do great. Even if you have a gain this week, you'll make up for it by going HARD-CORE! Speaking of that, I should probably go pack up my food for tomorrow, since I have to go back to work.

[Froufy]

....so where's that cool pink core-vette zipping by to come pick me up? huh?

Yes missing in action - I was away this week on business - but also tired and sore throat and actually did not get on my computer for 5 whole days - which is like a first for me!

First of all sending get well wishes to all the sick chickies! Angela - hope you are feeling better. Congrats to your mom for her successful return to Core!

Vickie - I am so sorry to hear you are still in discomfort - I sure hope the dr has some further insights/treatments for you - no way should you be in pain again!

Kathy - How is the back feeling? laughed about the bowling invite! Shaun's room sounds just like dd's room - whrilwind of a mess - turns out she is home from school tomorrow as there was FIRE in the school office over the weekend - thankfully no one was there - no one hurt and all school records safe! She is thrilled to be home of course but is trying to earn $50 in the next 3 days (yes she is going to a concert wed night - dad bought her tickets - and of course wants some clothing - here we go again!).

Linda - I feel for your being so far from friends and family - but you could sure send some of that heat our way! Dh just came in from shovelling the driveway - 2nd time today! It is now OFFICIALLY winter and the white stuff is here to stay! I am just getting used to is - thank goodness for the new winter tires

Melissa - hope you had a great "vacation" and that your dh is feeling better!

Sandra - LOVED reading about your winter driving adventure - so exciting - but scary too I bet - I too would not have wanted to do that drive. But does sounds like the kids really enjoyed themselves - what a great memory for them to have!

...and I for one appreciate your "positiveness" - you really make me think about what is important and what we need to do to keep ourselves feeling good!

So very busy and stressed at work this week as we are now down one person and trying to maintain the excellent service we adhere to - and it's not easy - I am starting to freak out at the pressures! We also found out we are "moving" offices - to the adjacent tower! Just got floorplans and I'm telling you this just brings out the worse in people - lots of "discussion" on who gets a closed door office - who gets a window cubicle - no one wants a pillar in their space - and let's just say it ain't pretty! I of course want to be co-located w/my team - supposed to get an "interior closed office" but frankly won't fight too much about it - dont' mind a larger size cubicle, esp if I can get a window. Last floorplan I saw had me stuck in what is now a storage room? no windows or openings of any kind (okay a door). Not fit for any human - which explains why it's being used for a storage space - no thank you!

On thursday pm I headed out to Montreal on the bus - now I am not a prude or snooty but suffice it to say that the bus clientele were an "interesting" bunch!

My presentation was GREAT - I JUST LOVED IT AND HAD A SUPER TIME! It's so funny cuz on the bus down I was so tired - yawning and trying not to fall asleep and be dozy when I got there. But when i enter that room as the guest speaker - it's like I'm turned on - like someone turned a switch on and I become this funny chatty friendly person - I feel so in my element - how weird is that? I feel so confident and like I'm where I"m supposed to be!

I had a blast - mingling with the members before my speech - then did my presentation - the Montreal crowd was VERY SUPPORTIVE and interested in what we are doing - lots more questions than in Toronto (but the food was not as good!). Had great dinner conversation afterwards with a couple of gentlemen - one who was this hot shot consultant fellow - he drove me back to the airport where I was to catch my bus back home (at 10;20 pm!) - and has since sent me an email offering his consultant services (ya right!)

The bus ride back was uneventful as there were only 4 people on the ride home - except for the frantic cell phone call from my big ds asking if I had seen the house - of course I start freaking out. Big problem was dh and little ds strung up some blue lights across top of garage and the non-gentile contingent of the family was VERY UPSET - to see this xmas sign on the outside of the house. So here I am on the bus trying to calm ds down - called dh - who wanted to surprise me with the lights - and well - seeing as he has not done this in the past - he didn't realize he would ruffle so many feathers. Got home at 1 am and was so tired I could barely keep my head up!

I got more presents for my presentations (gosh this is fun) - I got a $50 gift certificate to Chapters/Indigo for my presentation in Toronto, and a $50 gift certificate to the liquor/wine store from Montreal! YIPPEE

Now for the very bad news - I am just eating whatever I want and feeling very badly about myself - I seem to have given up? Why? Well I really don't know? I don't seem to be caring that much - and I want to stop that and start eating the way I should. It seems that any excuse now is a good one - when a while ago I could be strong and turn things down? Is it just the sugar addiction? or something more? I am now seriously dreading my dr appt on tuesday - can't be any good news coming my way!

Tried to have a relaxing weekend - but lots of bad eating going on. Had a very sore throat yesterday - seems better today - except for a couple of shooting pains in my right ear - which is not a good sign!

Can't believe it's monday tomorrow - most of the office gone away on a 2 day conference so hopefully it will be quiet and not too stressful?

Frouf

[septembersgoal]

Frouf, we're glad to have you back! I guess we couldn't decide who got to ride in the corvette so the trip never got taken. I'm glad that you had a successful trip. I'm sorry that you aren't feeling well. I hope that you can rest some at work with everyone gone. Oh, and I hope that everything in your household settles down! I'm sure DH had no idea what he was starting. Have a good week!

[Katpo]

What she said. Welcome back! Seriously, we were about to send the Mounties out to look for you!

Well, before I went to bed, I just wanted to see if indeed our Frouf had checked in and now that I know you're safe ... nighty night, all! See you in the morning!

[Katpo]

Oh, one more thing. Guess who's in the 149s right now? (149.4) And what do we HOPE that means? Yep, it might mean 148 in the morning! Watch for the ticker.

So do you want to know the secret of my success? I have had NO beer since last week. I know, I know ... you're all wondering how I have survived. I think it's because I finally want the loss more than I want the beer, and after Mr. Drunkpants' escapades last night, well ... if I can just keep that stanky memory in my mind, I predict it will be a looooong time before I imbibe again.

[L.J.]

It's early morning...and almost time for me to leave...but I wanted to say THANK YOU Sandra for that post...I will do that moving forward..Great inspiration..
And by the way the BBQ was 'enjoyable' even laughed a few times
Sometimes I AM my worst enemy. I am putting my BEST foot forward today and taking Zigg advice. Being positive is a much better place to be.
So here I go...........off to be positive. Thanks Sandra.
It's funny because the first three are true, even #1 for me. I mean I do have a roof over my head, in the after math of Wilma, which hit us dead on!!
So THANK YOU Sandra!!
I have to get ready to leave, will try and writer more later........

[Katpo]

Yay! 148.8 -- which I will definitely be logging as 148. Anything after the decimal point is mine; I'm just dealing in whole numbers here and don't believe in rounding up. Especially when it comes to weight!

Linda, I'm glad you had a good time yesterday. I think if you keep those positive thoughts in your head, eventually they will become habit. It's like my mom used to tell me when I was little ... "perk up and you'll feel better." I always wondered how I was supposed to perk up when I didn't FEEL like it! Or how about "if you look good, you'll feel good." You know how good it feels to have a new haircut (sassy Sandra!) or a manicure or new clothes. Heck, even a full drawer of clean underwear is enough to put a smile on my face! Anyway, life is good like our perpetual cheerleader Sandra says. (Sandra, you must really be on my mind this morning!)

So let me expound on this thought ...

If we think about it, there are so many things to be thankful for. I woke up hot this morning, I think the heater must have been going full blast plus I was under a sheet, comforter and two blankets. I wonder how many people woke up freezing cold this morning? How many are worried today that their electricity will be shut off because they can't pay the bill -- and maybe they have small children that will be affected. How many people will be laid off from their job today, right here before Christmas? How many people will be killed in an auto accident today, when they left their home so innocently this morning not realizing it could be their last day on earth? How many children will cry themselves to sleep tonight because they're hungry? These are the things I think about. We are so blessed.

And so, my dear best buds, have a wonderful day. Count your many blessings ... name them one by one.

[aghiowa]

Kathy! Congrats on the 148! You've worked so hard to get there - keep it up.

I'm having a blast watching our next-door beagles. It's such a hoot! They have this storage shed in their backyard, and rabbits like to live under there. So the 2 beagles are frantically trying to squeeze under, digging, howling, and carrying on like there's no tomorrow. The smaller one finally managed to squish his body under the shed, but I didn't see any rabbits shooting out, and they're still going at it, so he must not have gotten anything. The girls were worried that he'd get out, but he did just fine.

I'm still struggling with my eating. It seems like any time a craving comes across my brain, I automatically give in to it.

Well, gotta feed kids and get ready for school.

Later!
Angela

[tanya123]

Froufy! It's good to have you back, and I'm glad you had a great presentation. (And at least they were blue lights! Doesn't he get any points for that?)

Congratulations on 148, Kathy! Woohoo!!!

[Itryharder]

Kathy,
for getting your weight down.
There's been a lot of heartfelt goings on here lately. I'm thankful for people who can reach out and help one another. You guys are the best.
Someone wasn't happy about steaks, threw them out, and was looking for a flank steak recipe. Here's what I do: Into a ziploc bag, put 3 minced cloves,
a tsp. of steak seasoning (pepper and salt and a few other cool ingredients),1/2 cup soy sauce. Add the steak and marinate in the bag in the fridge for at least an hour. Cook on grill pan that you've drizzled olive oil over. When you cut the steak, cut it on the bias on an angle so it's more tender. Enjoy!
Judy Itry
234.6/203.2/thinner into onederland

[Froufy]

I agree we all have a lot to be thankful for - and it's not a bad idea to take inventory once in a while! My most grateful thanks goes to good health - cuz if you don't have that - well everything else pales in comparison. I really try to appreciate all that I have - even tho I too sometimes whine about things. I know it is a good idea to change perspectives and think about how others less fortunate than us have to survive - it does help you realize how blessed you really are!

Kathy - MAJOR CONGRATS on your new ticker number - you must be thrilled - but don't go and celebrate with a beer! ha ha ha

Vickie - how are you feeling today? Hope some good news and respite from pain is on its way to you!

Angela - now you know you are COMPELLED to save those bunnies from those mean old dogs right? I just brought my new bunny calendar to work and can't wait to hang it up in my cubicle - it's all lop-eared bunnies (my favorite kind) and they are super cute! (Did I mention my office cubicle is decorated w/bunnie pics? and other bunny stuff? - yes I am even eating my oatmeal in my ceramic bunny bowl!)

Judy - that flank steak marinade/recipe sounds yummy - will have to try that!

Linda - glad you were able to enjoy the bbq - and I hope thinking positive helps you feel better!

Tanya - so far the blue lights are still up - told dh he can light them up when the kids are INSIDE the house and they won't even know they're on? ha ha ha ...and for those that know me better - they would know I would have preferred PINK LIGHTS on my house - ha ha ha

Melissa- are you back at work today? Hope you are managing okay.

I am all alone here today (well one of my staff is here) and we are struggling to get things done as our COMPUTERS cause problems - very sluggish and slow and so frustrating trying to get things done! It takes approx 2 minutes to open a document and then each command takes another 2 minutes - quite impossible to get work done! UGH!!!

At least it's quiet right?

Lots of snow on the ground today - dropped big dd at bus station on way to work as he is off to Toronto for a couple of days (concert), and tonight dh is out so I shall have to take little ds w/me while dd dances (8-9 pm) - will probably end up at Starbucks for a treat (he gets a cookie and I shall enjoy a nonfat decaf cappuccino).

I am TRYING very hard to stay on track today - almost lunchtime - have my greek salad to eat (w/some light greek dressing) - not sure if it will fill me up? I am feeling there is not enuf protein (like a sprinkle of feta on top! very stingy)....so may add a small can of tuna I have in my desk?

Still dreading my dr appt tomorrow pm - don't want to see that scale # (esp late afternoon and fully clothed!).... But the fun part begins tomorrow night as I am going to a xmas party at the CASINO - yes the CASINO (over the bridge in Hull, Quebec) - a very fancy lovely place. There is a buffet dinner (ya I know - be careful froufie), then some gambling fun! We are being bussed there and back - not sure how much $$ I can afford to lose? I am not a frequent gambler so I feel pretty embarrassed at my lack of knowledge - but want to try the blackjack tables at the very least. I know people don't talk but do "actions" so I will have to watch first before I participate! Good luck to me! ha ha ha

Frouf

[septembersgoal]

I'm just checking in really quickly...our internet has not worked until now. Will reply to all of my chickies later but just wanted to say
Kathy! Way to go! And that's for the no beer as well as the weight change. I know staying away from the beer has been a big challenge for you, a definite NSV. So it's a NSV and SV day for you!

[Katpo]

Thanks, Melissa! We are one big boring bunch today! I've checked in a time or two and there's nothing going on anywhere. I guess we're all pooped after the weekend.