Hi Vickie, just missed you. I knew that the kids would be great medicine for you both. Isn't it great being married to a senior? I take advantage of every possible discount.

Actually Passover and Easter are possibly the only 2 holidays that 'sync' up. The jewish calendar is very different and so our holidays are never on the same days of the year. Most christian holidays are on the same days (i.e. christmas on dec 25th), however Easter is always 'moving' and is never on the same date - but usually falls on the same days as Passover! Very interesting!

Saundra is right it is absolutely gorgeous here today - and the only reason I know that is cuz I had to go to a meeting in another building so got a 5 min walk there and back!

Have been into the easter chocolate eggs tho and it's not pretty! I am also feeling tired and draggy which doesn't help.

Vickie - I also LOVE the Wizard of Oz movie and would have loved to sing along with you. Do you ever have those family sing along movies where u live? I believe once in a while somewhere here they screen some 'singalong' movies such as Rocky Horror Picture show, Wizard of Oz and The Sound Of music - I think the words to the songs are on the screen and people come dressed up and w/props - sounds like lots of fun! (They also do this on the Caribbean Princess cruise ship - with a HUGE screen outdoors on top deck over the pool. At night they screen movies there - complete with blankets on the lounge chairs, and popcorn and movie snacks - one of the favorites is the Wizard of Oz - everyone gets a back of goodies: including a fairy wand and other props - and the crew comes dressed up as the characters - everyone always enjoys this evening!).

Hope nothing serious to report after your dr appt and that Jim is on the mend too! And congrats on your loss - that is awesome given all the stress you've been experiencing - keep up the good work!

Melissa - sounds like you are definitely feeling better. Glad you can keep some food down - don't go crazy with the packing.

Kathy - Hope you are home and relaxing - how is the foot today - hope it got a good view of the clouds as it was propped way up high!

Saundra - hope you can learn to walk properly again (???). I do try to keep Passover altho dh is not jewish so we keep a 'stash' for him - I usually start out loving all that matzah and gefitle fish, etc but by day 4 or 5 it does get pretty boring and I'm ready for a change!

Patti - I hope you too are getting some sunshine and enjoying it!

Just about time to head home - need to do my 'dishes' and pack up....off to find passover goodies then home.

Later,

Frouf

I am back home and the short-term disability has been extended indefinitely. The doctor says I can't go to work if I can't properly extend my leg, and the wheelchair doesn't go that high. It has hurt too much and I can't take it anymore.

I had called this morning to try and get back into the doctor but he didn't have any openings until a week from Friday. The doctor and his nurse are in surgery on Tuesday and Thursday so they weren't available to talk to me at the moment. They asked if I wanted to see another doctor and I said sure, if I can get in earlier. Well, they took down the info and next thing I know, the nurse was on the phone. She had been flying out the door to surgery and I suppose heard them discussing it. She said no doctor has ever seen an injury like this so there was no need in going to one of the other doctors in the practice -- and that it was the worst and most unusual ankle injury they had ever had. Also said it was just going to take a while before it starts feeling better. So here I am.

I got home around noon and slept until 4. Now I will at least get up and figure out which kids are here, and give them chores. Judd is on the warpath with Shaun not doing anything but doesn't tell Shaun, he tells me. I can't bear the tension so I figure maybe if I have a nervous breakdown or heart attack, I could at least get out of the house for a while. It is terrible.

Buzz kill, huh? I read all the posts but am just too tired right now to reply. I hope to be back later.

Check out this post I ran across. It is SO good -- deals with maintenance. Meg says a lot of things about maintenance that I never thought about.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...8&postcount=10

i made those ziploc omelets today. we loved them. i highly recommend them. cleanup afterwards was almost nill. that's always a plus,

i just finished vacuuming the house--even the stairs. i am now going to be a queen on her throne rest of the day. i'm going to polish my toenails so my podiatrist will be surprised tomorrow.

we have had a good day. we went to the indoor archery range and shot awhile. then we came home to lunch. we had moose roast and tossed salads. curtis gained a pound this week so he's following my lead a little closer now and eating more like i am.

i think i'm going to have a good wi this fri. last night i had trouble going to sleep, so i ran a "movie" in my mind of what i plan to weigh each month. looks like 5 lbs a month (more or less) will get my 40 lbs off by christmas. that's the plan. also, i'll be 60 in january. i'm not dreading it at all. in fact, i'm excited that 60 will put me into a different age group with one archery organization. this year i had to compete with women almost 10 years younger than i am. next year i'll be one of the baby chicks. to top that off i'd love to be at goal at 60.

frouf, sounds like you have everything worked out for the week. that's good. are you watching "the apprentice"? a young candidate, lee, is jewish. he appears to be a very thoughtful, religious young fellow. he's my choice. he won me over this week. sure hope he wins.

kathy, did you stay home today? i hope you're feeling better. guess what i had for dinner last night? grilled cheese made with diet bread and ff cheese on the pancake griddle. i sprayed the bread with butter-flavored pam and thought i was eating something decadent. so? i completely understand your love of cheese toast.

melissa, are you feeling better today? i hope so. i bought something yesterday you might be interested in considering, zantac-3. it's loaded with caffeine. i normally don't use caffeine products but my main focus right now is weightloss--not archery. i am only going to take 2 per day. one before bfast and one before lunch. if i can't sleep, i'll cut back to 1 per day. i'm hoping this gives me a muchneeded boost in losing. 84 of them come in a bottle. i got it at albertson's. they were kind of pricey, but i sort of forget the cost when it is included in with all the groceries. i'll let you know how i do on them. i'm eating ww flore also.

vickie, how are you and jim today? have you ever made the 7 layer mexican dip? i'm taking the griddle and quesadilla fixings to the archery shop thursday to feed the guys working there. i'm thinking of taking the dip and chips, too. of course, i'll make it coreish.

angela, did you check out the ziploc omelet? we're planning to make them next time the grands spend the night and let them "create" their own omelets.

saundra, are you losing this month? do you plan to keep losing for awhile or are you at your goal? curious minds want to know.

kathy, i just read your post. i am glad you are going to stay at home till you're much better. thank you for the website. i plan to get to maintenance by the end of the year. now won't that be something?

patti, it's good to see you here. i miss you when you're away.

frouf, today i'm just having sf strawberry/kiwi jello and maybe some cool whip. not sure yet about the cw.

Kathy, that was a good read. It just confirms where I am right now. Sandra, no, I don't want to lose any more, but I am being so careful that it still is coming off a bit. I'm not as nervous to ad points to the core here and there, but I am mostly just doing what I did before. I guess I want to be another Meg, and the only way that I know how is to "stick with the program".

I am so glad that you're going to stay off work Kathy, it makes so much more sense. From what I've seen at physio, gals with your kind of injuries have taken months off. Try to relax when you're home alone, and it will be easier to cope with the "family issues."

BTW Vickie, congrats on your loss, it is great that you are losing during all this. Hope the appointment went well.

Sandra, I sent the omelette recipe to a gf and she also thought it was cool. I'll have to do it when we do a family brunch.

Frouf, we're doing a good job of teaching the religion course, maybe we'll call U of O and see if they have any vacancies.

Okay, time to do my exercises.....

Sandra, I'm glad you had a good day and are encouraged about your loss. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for a good weigh-in on Friday. You seem very focused!

Vickie, congratulations on your loss too! That is definitely a NSV to go to that later meeting. I'm glad you didn't wait until next week, because now you probably feel encouraged. I hope Jim is a little better, and that the doctor had some answers for you.

Frouf, I'd be leaving some kids home too if I were you (that is, if they decide not to go with their dad). You probably need a happy and peaceful meal and dragging two unwilling kids sure won't contribute to the peacefulness! Of course, if your friend really is all that hyper, it might be fun to take them to her house. It's a selfish thought on my part, but I'm sure we would have an entertaining story the next day! (Okay, I'll behave now.)

Melissa, how is the tummy now?

Saundra, enjoy your pretty weather and youngest! What is it about the youngest that's so delightful? Mine is a joy and I can tell she always will be.

frouf, i meant to tell you i'm just having jello plain because this is lo from the other day and i'm not going to let myself make any more concoctions till it's gone. hopefully, it will be gone tonight. curtis is going to eat some, too.

vickie, i meant to congratulate you, too. i am so happy you found a meeting to attend and don't have to wait for another week. i also forgot to answer your question about my hair the other day. i have had it really really short for several months now. some months i like it; some i don't. i am thinking of letting it grow a little longer during this new makeover i'm doing on my bod. it's so simple to have it short, though, as curtis is allergic to most hair products. i have gotten used to no spray or gel.

kathy, you sound in better spirits. i guess you're accepting the idea of not going back to work soon. i am proud you are able to do what's best. hang in there. we want you back to 100% asap.

Sandra, I'm that way with the pudding. It takes up so much space in the fridge, that it's one pkg at a time. Have you tried white chocolate, it's delic. I'm so proud of your commitment. You've begun your journey and you will see the results. Every day is special along the way.

Have you tried the cheesecake pudding? When added to sliced strawberries, you'd swear you were eating the worst cheating food in the world! It is unspeakably awesome.

Sandra, I just have to resign myself to 75% pay for a while, being laid up, having a nasty house, and not being able to do anything about any of it. I'll just play with the hand I've been dealt.

I agree, the cheesecake with strawberries is excellent. It's easy to get your "sugar fix" from the puddings. I also ad a couple of teaspoons of sf pudidng to yogurt and fruit for something sweet and different.

Kathy, I gave up very good earnings in order to retire. The company had no pension plan. Having said that, I wouldn't go back. The peace of mind is wonderful. I understand about the pay cut, but your health is priceless.

saundra, thank you for your encouragement. i have to tell you--i'm having fun. so far this has been easy. i expect that to continue. i have made the white chocolate. it's yummy.

kathy, the cheesecake pud/strawberries sound good, too. i'll get some next time. i'm sort of tight and wait for sf pudding to go on sale. sure got a good deal on the sf jellos.

kathy, that's the best attitude. just go with the flow. are you able to make potholders or do one of your other crafts?

Vickie, congrats on the loss! That is so amazing. I'm very proud and impressed that you went to w/i with everything that you have going on.

Sandra, I missed the omelette recipe. You sound like you are so resolved. It's inspiring! I'm going to look up that stuff you said you bought. I tell you what, spring being in the air makes me more resolved to stay op.

Kathy, I know you hate it, but I'm so glad that you are going to take some more time off of work. I just don't know how you could do it. And it would definitely not be worth it if you found out you could have prevented some problems by taking more time off. I'm sorry to hear about Judd and Shuan too. Why is Judd so scared of talking to the kids?

Saundra, you are so diligent. You're a great example of maintenance.

My stomach is feeling much better. I think I'm going to have to go walk the dog, he's whining like crazy. Ah, to have a yard...
Speaking of that, I'm hoping to pack at least one more box tonight. I think I only have one more box! I need to get some more.