angela, i saw your photo. i used your link to see it.

kathy, all i saw when i clicked google was a larger google. is that what i was supposed to see?

angela, i love it!!! enjoy your challenge tonight.

Sandra, I don't know. I don't use the paperclip, but use the button down below where it says manage attachments. I upload it there.

Yes, a bigger Google would be what you should see. I was making sure that it would attach right. Your picture should be in an attachment box like mine.

Sandra, that was better I was able to view it a little bigger, nice to put a face to a name. Nice looking Bunch :D

thanks, nikki. i'm glad it's showing up. i now know how large to make the photo. the attachment won't allow me to do a very big one.

it's time for ai. gotta run.

I must be crazy -- I still don't see a picture. Sandra, if you come down here this summer I'll show you how I attach a picture and finish off a potholder. How's that? :lol:

I have to say that Taylor is just awesome! He's MY MAN! He could sing the alphabet and phone book and I would stand in line to buy the CD.

I fell asleep around 8:30 and just now woke up. The pain is pretty bad tonight, I guess from being on it so much.

Judd's being a butthead and won't let me get him anything for his birthday because he said those golfclubs were supposed to be his gift. I'm going to go shopping after work tomorrow and buy him some shirts. He needs new clothes because of losing so much weight. Everything is loose; he wanted to wait a while until he had lost more but I think that's crazy, so I'm getting some things. I think I'll get Shaun some things too. He hasn't had new clothes in such a long time.

The pain pills must be making me nuts. :rofl:

Hi ladies, if I am correct I remember seeing people eating Dr. Praegers (sp?) veggie Burgers & Tex Mex Burgers. Well on the News last night they had a special about how they were supposed to be pulled off the shelves because the nutritional information is incorrect, they have more than double the fat labeled. Whwn you microwave them on a paper plate, the plate is almost transparent from all the oil. They interviewed the Dr. and he seemed to have alot of excuses. :o

Lovely pics! Sandra you and your bunch look awesome....and Angela - a serious gaming picture of you by the computer (I agree 5 yr old is a natural). Good luck at reaching that highest level - we know you can do it!!!

Kathy - I'm sure Judd will appreciate some new golf shirts to go with the new clubs? Any other bday celebration happening? How is work coming along? and more importantly how are you feeling and how is your foot?

I am at work today but feeling so blue still? Am I depressed? Is this some sort of mid-life crisis? Feel like I have no purpose in life, nothing to look forward too. I am lethargic and overwhelmed by everything and of course this is reflected in my eating. I just don't seem to care about anything anymore? What's up with that? (and it's a gloomy/rainy day out there which matches my mood exactly!)

I saw a bumper sticker this morning tho and it did seem to affect me (and I"m not really a hugely religious person): "why worry? God's in control." Well I thought, that's a great idea! I shall stop worrying and let God control things!! maybe that will help?

Need to go downstairs and use payphone and try to locate new york city child - has not called home and I want to make sure he is okay.

Oh ya - my ex says he wants to take dd for the month of July - we are both thinking this might be good for her - but get this - he of course wants her 'share' of the child support payment for the month, HOWEVER does not want to pay for her camp that month and wants me to 'help out'? I don't think so!!!

I use that $$ for all of her activities (dancing, movies, parties, gifts), some of her needs (makeup, hair, toiletries, clothing, shoes) and in the summer obviously for camps and such. If he is taking her for the month of July AND he is getting the monthly payment should he not be paying for camp? Am I crazy??? (he was always a cheap @#$#@).

Have a therapist appt w/dd - seems she wants to see me and dd for the next 3 weeks together (decided to stop working on relationship w/dd and my dh and I'm not sure why? probably cuz it was fruitless - claims working on her relationship w/me will help that of dh?????? I am of course skeptical)...so we'll see how that goes.

Dh playing tonight at local restaurant/bar place with his 'cuban' band (playing conga drums) - can't go see him unless I take little ds with me (as big ds is away and dd at art class). Not sure it's worth the trip cuz if I take the little guy I will probably only stay from 8-9 pm? Besides Amazing Race finale is on tonight and I don't want to miss it!

Later,

Good Morning Chicks! I had a great rest last night after sleeping so badly the night before. I actually got 9 hours last night. Today is looking sunny with blue skies, something we haven't had around here lately. I'm looking forward to walking on the treadmill with the blinds and windows open. I shall pretend I'm outside.

Cassie's Vet report wasn't great but it wasn't horrible either so Jim, I, and the Vet have decided not to completely over react. Her level of concentration is less than it was last time and not as high as it needs to be. But her bloodwork looks good. So the plan is to periodically measure her water intake to make sure it hasn't increased hugely and, of course, if she starts to show signs of UTI we'll go in immediately. Aside from that, she'll have another complete bloodwork and urinalysis in September when her vaccines are due. So I guess I just need to relax awhile about her. The test that the Vet last talked about doing sounds extreme and horrible. It's some kind of 18 hour deprivation test where she is not allowed to eat, drink, and maybe even urinate to see if when deprived she can concentrate her urine. I know this is WAY too much information but it sort of explains why I've been a little freaky about her. She and the cat are like my children!

Great News about Baby Sarah! For those of you who don't know, she is my preemie Great Niece who was born on April 20th at 4 pounds 5 ounces. She dropped to 3 pounds 15 ounces after birth. At her recent Doctor visit she now weighs 5 pounds 7 ounces!!!!! Yay. Bright and happy news. I'm going to go try to visit her this week when I'm sure that my respiratory thingy is gone.

Tomorrow, Jim and I are going to the gambling boats to play video poker. Gambling is only legal in Illinois on the water and we have about 6 boats near the Chicago Area. We'll be going to one of the ones in Joliet (less than 10 miles from where Prison Break is filmed). We are REALLY looking forward to it. We make a day of it. We go out early for breakfast and then get there when the place opens at 8:00. We play until lunch time and then go to the buffet (Danger, Danger Will Robinson!) and then go back and play some more. Cassie will get two visits from the pet sitters while we are out. They come and take her out and play with her for 30 minutes each time. Pretty good deal.

I don't have a great plan for the buffet yet but I'll try to eat as Core as possible. I've gone before and it isn't horrible. There is at least a salad bar and at least one brothy soup. I could be really bad if I wanted to. Jim says their fried chicken is pretty darned good.

Jim and I went for eye exams yesterday and are having 4 pairs of glasses made (all trifocals...are we old or what?). The cost staggered me since we have no vision coverage. Oh Well.....better win on Thursday!

Ok, I've been pretty chatty about my little life. So now I'll go and see what's up with all of you.

Niki, I had read about the Dr. Praegger's california burgers this morning and was praying it isn't true. I'm eating them every day for lunch and just bought two boxes. I'm thinking they are still Core. I cannot believe that there are more than 2 teaspoons of Canola in them. I won't buy anymore until I hear the outcome. Here's an article I found on Hungry Girl. I have NO idea if it's true. It figures though since I like them!

Burger Bummer!
HG ALERT!!! Problems for Praeger...

It's a very sad day here at Hungry Girl. We recently learned that Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burger, a patty very near and dear to our hearts, may in fact contain more fat and calories than the nutrition label claims. In two independent tests, the burgers were found to have approximately twice the fat, and a significant number of calories (20-30%) more than the doc's label states. Since the discovery was made, the company has been ordered to remove their American Heart Association endorsement from all boxes. Dr. Praeger's says the fat content has gone up temporarily due to the water levels in the vegetables. So what steps will be taken next? The burgers will be re-formulated and re-tested. Our advice? Know what you're getting into...and when dealing with any of Doc P's products, play it safe and blot the excess oil off of the item before eating (we've noticed the greasiness and fear that some of their other products may have more fat than what's listed, too). More details on this as they become available...

Sandra, you make me laugh! You are just like me trying to get the picture thing down. I could see all of your pictures except for the first one but it wasn't big enough for me to get a good look. When you "attach" like Kathy is explaining you have to make them 500 x 500 pixels or they are too big. I'd love to know how Kathy, Melissa and some of the others get the picture to be right in the message.....not attached....and so big. Every once in a while I experiment and I cannot do anything but the attached thumbnail. At least with picturetrail or webshots, you'd have a link to insert in your message and we could see a big picture. I'm thinking you are the cute short one in the hot black dress. I think your hair looks really nice longer.

Kathy, how does it feel to be surrounded by the computer impaired?! :D :o I knew you'd be thrilled about Taylor. For me, he's much better when I don't look at him. :o Anyway, I voted for Elliott non-stop for 2 hours. I got through 6 times. I just do NOT like Katherine and wanted to give Elliott my Chris vote. I really don't care who wins anymore now that Chris is off the show. I'm sorry you're hurting but not surprised with all you did yesterday. It's nice that you are buying Judd and Shaun some new clothes. I need some too! ;)

Angela, I know you'll get back on the wagon. You look so adorable and wholesome in your picture. Everytime I see one of you I think Ivory Girl! Your 5 year old took that picture? Pretty darned amazing and much better than my pictures!

Frouf, you and I are, I believe, in the same perimenopause boat! I have exactly the same feelings. I just told Jim yesterday that I feel SO blue and I have the same feelings of being overwhelmed. Not a darn thing is bad in my life right now. I think it's our hormones. I never thought I'd say this but it's been a little better for me since I got back on Core and started exercising again. I'm not saying I feel great, but better. I think bouncing around and eating bad food here and there was affecting me as well. I'm about 2 weeks from my TOM and figure the hormones are just raging. As for your Ex....he's nuts....and cheap! If he gets her July portion back then he should foot the whole bill for her. I would not give him an extra dime and welcome him to your world! I do think it would be great for all of you if she was gone for a month. She might have a better appreciation for you and DH when she returns. Give the therapist a chance. Maybe Emily has led her to make this adjustment. Maybe Emily wants to work on her relationship with you. That would be exciting. I hope you feel less blue soon. I'm going to see if I can find some books about perimenopause. I have a great one but it's kind of old now. It is by Dr. Suan Love and it's called the Hormone Book, Making Informed Choices About Menopause. It's not completely alternative but gives great explanations about what we are going through. I felt much relieved when I looked at the page full of symptoms. Suddenly, I didn't feel so weird or alone!

Time for breakfast!

Morning chickies,,,
the sun is trying to come out..we'll see. Off to work here shortly..ususally Im there already but I have so many banked hours I took the morning off and relaxed. I dug out some summer clothes this morning hoping this warm weather will stick around now...(I tried on a shirt from last year and it fits very well....when I tried it in march it was tight) I heading to the city in two weeks to replenish my wardrobe. It really sucks not having clothing stores around here.
Vickie glad you got a good nights sleep last night. Those burgers may solve the mystery of your recent weight gain,,,,,,, maybe they arnt core after all?? Great news about baby Sarah!!
Frouf seeing as how you are feeling these days...I think a visit to Dd's therapist would be a good thing for you.......maybe it would be a good time to tell her how you are feeling lately...stress does funny things to your body and mind. You need someone to talk to. Go with an open mind
Hi Niki,,,welcome to the core board!!
Hey Sandra,,,,that was too funny with your pics...lol
ok i better get going here...have to have some soup before I head out...
have a great day everyone! ttyl

Patti, I wish I could blame it on the burgers but I didn't have any last week. I just had one yesterday for the first time in a long time since I was out of them. I'm counting it as my healthy oil and then any more that day has to come out of points. I think I'll be ok. It's great that you had the morning to yourself. Huge congratulations on making that blouse fit better!

Froufie and Vickie, I'd blame hormones too. At least once a month, I feel that way, and I felt that way for weeks after all my children were born. Of course, I also felt panicky and cried for no apparent reason excessively after all my kids too, so who knows. I think I had some kind of post-partum depression thing going on. You know, if it weren't for that horrible month or two after the baby is born, I would love to have more kiddos. But it's got me so scared and freaked out, I think we're done at 3.

So as long as we're all being introspective here, I'm going to jump in. Just in the last day or two I've been feeling like I'm incredibly naive. I expect people to be decent, good people, and I'm always shocked when they aren't. Am I just that out of touch with society that I haven't figured that out about people? Some of my good gaming friends have recently turned out to be not at all what I thought they were. Anyhoo, that's my thoughts of the day.

We planted peas and lettuce in the greenhouse today. It's starting to look really "greenhousey" in there now. :) It's still too wet to plant directly in the garden yet. It's been a really wet, warm spring here.

Later,
Angela

Oh Angela, how sad that your friends misrepresented themselves! You must feel betrayed. I'd be crushed if my cyber friends turned out to not be what I though. Hormones are powerful things, aren't they?! I'm so jealous of your greenhouse. Veggies are SO much easier to eat when they are freshly grown and picked.