That awards thing kind of got on my nerves. How long is this episode? Two hours? They really know how to milk this for all its worth, don't they?

Two hours. I can see bringing back some of the top 12 just to get viewers excited about the summer tour, but lots of this hokey stuff is unnecessary. In my opinion, that is.

I tell you what though, that Carrie can sing. She's really good, I'm glad she won last year.

Is Toni Braxton weird, or is it just me? She was trying to get a piece of Taylor, there wearing her nighty. I don't think his dad was amused a bit.

:dunno:

AND OH MY WORD!!! CLAY!!!

Um, was it just me, or did he look a little bit...girly?? :eek: I didn't know who he was at first.

Did you see I made a very unrealistic goal for DH's HS reunion? I'm shopping online for a cute "goal" dress. :D

Yes, I must say he did. I looked and looked and looked, and still it was a while before I figured it out. And I'm a BIG Clay fan but I haven't seen him in a while. They make fun of me because I probably have everything he's ever sang! :lol:

I don't think that's unrealistic for a goal. How many weeks is it?

I must admit I wanted Clay to win that season instead of Ruben. That was the first season I really watched, and I just saw the end. :)

8 weeks, I was aiming high for 2 pounds/week. I really want to feel better about myself, and that's what this boils down to, you know? I know you understand what I mean.
I don't know if Aaron even wants to go to his reunion, but just in case! Plus I really want to think about baby-making this summer :o and I want to be down to at least that point before then.

I totally agree. You can do it if you stick with it and while I'm a bad one to give out advice (need to take some of it myself) I think you can do it.

Kelly Clarkson is from here so I watched from Season 1 because it was all over the radio. Of course, after that I was hooked so I saw Season 2 thru its entirety and was glad when Clay was brought back as a wildcard, which I didn't understand and haven't seen yet, but oh well. I voted for him nonstop every week and on the final week, I NEVER got in. NEVER. My cousin works for a company in south Texas whose home office is in Birmingham, and they were all sent emails to watch and vote for Ruben, even if they'd never seen the show and didn't know Ruben from a squirrel on the street. I was really ticked when Clay didn't win but glad that he's gone on and done well.

Thanks Kathy!!

Well DH just got home so I'm going to spend some time chatting with him. I'm sure Taylor is going to win tonight. Have a good one!

I just now stopped screaming long enough to stop in and say SOUL PATROL! WOOHOO!!!!

I'm glad he won, though I'm not surprised! :D

finally american idol got it right!!!!!!!!! I think I heard you screaming from here in Canada Kathy.....

Way to go, Taylor! He seems like a really, really, nice guy! And, Toni Braxton seemed high. I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Sheesh, and Simon told Bucky to enunciate!

I'm very tired today. It was a big day. I think I'll be heading off to bed in a short while. I want to get up early and get cleaning so I can go shopping without feeling guilty.

Hey, Kath, how is Shaun feeling? Last time you mentioned him, he was sick.

He has two more days of antibiotics but he says he's feeling better. Hopefully he's eating more too. Thanks for asking!

Here I am - yes I ACTUALLY got home by 8:30 - an unusal thing for a dress rehearsal! Could hardly believe it when the finale number came on - checked my watch a few times cuz I thought it must have stopped!

Came home early - had a bagel and cold cuts and tomato before leaving - and brought a bag of lf poppoed microwave popcorn with me and a diet pepsi for snacking just in case! Parking was a bit of an issue but I am blessed with great parallel parking skills even with my big van so I found a spot to squeeze into. Show was fun - but they kept fooling around with the lights which was very annoying - and I did munch on some of the popcorn.

Also got some FABULOUS pics of dd from picture day - got a shot of each group she's in (four of them) and some singles as well - so very very cute - one of her in her black velvet outfit w/her rhinestone covered bowler hat tipped diagonally on her head and she's blowing a kiss!

Bad news is she broke her barette tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which means having to shell out another $15 for a new one (which I have to get asap assuming there are any left!) - for her recital.

Feeling a teeny bit of a headache but trying not to take notice of it. I was hungry just now so had a bowl of cereal as I could find nothing else that appealed to me! Yes I have been decaffeinated for a while now - but I do know that caffeine helps headaches so I 'use' it as a remedy if required.

Melissa - I think the goal is reasonable if you stay focused - what fun to shop for a new 'goal' dress - and good idea to lose the weight before babymaking!

Kathy - we all knew your man Taylor would win - I did catch the last part of the finale - loved seeing burt bacharach and dionne (altho her singing was a big flat) - she looks amazing! How old is she? Not a wrinkle on her!

Vickie - hope your windows are all sparkling clean and you found something yummy to eat for dinner. We had our windows done last summer - I don't think we have as many as you - and I think it cost around $80 or so?

Patti - are you getting sunshine too? We had a gorgeous day today - finally! Altho I think rain is again expected by the end of the week! Hopefully weekend will be sunny and warm! We actually have our windows open tonight which is a rarity given the recent cold weather.

Did not have my planned lunch as I wanted to get out of the office and enjoy the sunshine - and as I was out of my favorite decaf coffee I drove to the nearby Starbucks and got a turkey sandwich there, some iced coffee and decaf for the office. Funniest was this woman in line who said I looked so familiar - so while we stood there waiting for our drinks we tried to figure out any possible connection (called 'jewish geography') finally she told me her name which I recognized (she was principal of local jewish day school - altho my kids did not go there - she was aware of them!). Small world! Had a nice lunch at my table out in the sunshine with my library book!

Tomorrow we have an 'open house' party at work (2-4 pm) as we recently 'moved' so inviting our 'directorate' to come visit our new digs. I signed up to bring some goodies so must remember to stop by store on way to work. I have to leave at 2:45 tho to take dd to therapist appt - altho she is refusing to go - says she doesn't like her anymore.

Of course I had to threaten to disconnect her computer if she wasn't going - I'm hoping this will change her mind!

Time to get ready for bed so I can try to meet my deadline - this is getting hard to do! Not enuf time for a frouf to fool around!

Frouf, I hope you find the replacement barrette to avoid any drama with DD. Any chance with could see the cute bowler hat picture? I'd enjoy it for sure. I hope the headache stays away and that you actually get to sleep at a decent hour. Everything is harder to take/deal with when one is tired.

Kathy, I'm glad Shaun is feeling better. Poor guy.

kathy, i thought you were talking about the tv show lost tonight. :lol: we taped it while watching ai.

melissa, the oven fried shrimp are coconut shrimp. i get them in the frozen foods at albertson's. i melted a little apricot spreadable fruit with water for dipping. sure was good. we had a 3 pt pork egg roll, too.

kathy, we thought toni braxton looked like she was drunk and was lip sincing. weird, eh? we got excited about clay. he's looking very different, isn't he? put on some weight, too.

melissa, i am going to check out your reunion goal. i don't think there's any such thing as an "unrealistic" goal. what's that saying about aim at the stars?

vickie, i feel like we were all together watching ai tonight. i was like kathy hollering when taylor won. i was sooooooo afraid for him. and yes, he makes me proud.

patti, curtis and i were screaming, too. life is good.

frouf, sounds like you had good day. i hope you can get the barrette tomorrow. your meals always sound tastier than mine. i need to eat with you.

lucy moment alert!!!!!

i was looking everywhere for melissa's post about her reunion goal--even went to her profile and pulled up her threads for the past couple of days.

(then i found it on her signature tracker. my face is red.)

however, melissa, you can do this!!!! get that dress ready.

:lol: Sandra you are so hilarious. Sounds like something I would do! Thanks for the encouragement. I'm hoping to get somewhere sometime soon!!!

I'm feeling quite determined this morning really. Tried on some capris last night that were too small. I have probably already told you all this, but about two years ago I bought (well I should say my mom bought) SEVERAL pairs of capris. I'm talking about a lot. It must have been the first year I got into wearing them or something. Anyway, right after I bought them I gained a lot of weight--some of them have never been worn at all. I am determined to wear at least some of them this summer. It's ridiculous to have all of those clothes just wasting away in my closet!! I'm putting my foot down. :)

Vickie, I hope that you got some good rest last night.

Frouf, it sounds like you had a good time last night, and I'm glad! And a relaxing lunch too. I think that if I could take a nice stress-free lunch everyday that work would be easier, don't you?

Well I am teaching a parenting group this morning so I need to go prepare. Just had to get my 3fc fix. :lol:

Good Morning Chicks! I just got up and am having my first cup of coffee made for me by Honey Lamb. :coffee: He makes the best coffee which is pretty amazing since all he drinks is Tab!

I slept ok Sandra. It was warm and humid here and we didn't want to turn on the air since it was only in the low 70's. Humidity and I do NOT get along. :^: It always seems to make my sinuses and my allergies worse.

Melissa, it's funny that you mentioned your capris. My Sister was just telling me yesterday that she'll probably be in jeans all summer because she doesn't think that anything from last year will fit her. I felt bad for her but, really until we are ready to be on program there's not much someone else can do to motivate another. I hear some heavy duty determination in your voice. You can do it. Try to make some of the dishes that I make that will get you another dinner serving or maybe even two to freeze. That way, you cook once but have a meal that just has to be defrosted on another night. I know it's hard when you are working. My sirloin meat sauce freezes fabulous and then I just make fresh pasta and veggies to go with it. You and Aaron would probably get 3 dinners out of it (we only get two since Jim is a bigger eater). My chicken chili, smothered barley chicken, and my beef sirloin chili also freeze great. I make fresh corncakes to go with the leftover chicken chili. But, with the beef sirloin chili, I freeze the leftover cornbread and don't have to make anything fresh on that night. The smothered barley chicken just needs veggies. Just a couple of ideas to help you on those nights that you know you will be too busy and tired to cook. Wow! I guess your enthusiasm got me going too!

BTW, Frouf, I almost flunked driver's education because I was NOT good at parking. I prefer the suburban type of spots to pull into. If I know parallel parking is required, I make someone else drive! I hope you slept well and that the headache is gone.

I have to devise my plan today and figure out how late I can clean and still meet my Sister after lunch. I'll go make a menu thread.

Aaagh! We didn't realize Lost was a 2 hour special last night, so we only got the first hour on DVR. :p We'll have to find someone who taped it or something.

We're thinking of trying something new in the garden this year...square foot gardening. I don't know if anyone has heard of it, but it seems really cool. They have a website, just google Square Foot Gardening. Anyway, seems very space efficient, and good for us, because the soil in our garden isn't very good yet. Somehow, building a house right next to it, and turning everything upside down a few years ago didn't help it.

I am about ready to cry "uncle," and go to my doctor for prescription allergy medicine. This year is about do do me in. I am just so itchy everywhere, especially when I spend time outdoors. The insides of my elbows are all scaly and red from scratching, and I get a rash on my lower arms whenever I go out. Not fun!

Time to get the 2nd kid bus going...later all.
Angela

Poor you Angela - definitely get yourself to a dr and get something for your allergies - they sound very nasty and I'm sure it's making you cranky and uncomfortable (at least it would do that to me!).

I have actually heard of and looked into the square foot gardening - looks very intriguing and seems to work. Not sure if I will do that this year tho as I need to do the whole front yard landscape thing - I do have some earth along side of the house (sunny all day long) and I"m thinking of planting some tomato plants and peppers to see how it goes!

Vickie - I think someone has absconded with the dance pics! (namely dd?). Had them near my 'work bag' last night to bring to work and show off - and when I got here I noticed the were NOT in my bag....hmmmmm.....I will see if I can get someone to scan a pic for me. (as if I actually know how to post or attach it? ha ha ha).

Melissa - we all know you can do it! I agree w/Vickie - and I will take her advice to heart as well - need to plan ahead - we all know that's one of the keys to weight loss success! Bet you can't wait to get into those capris!

As for relaxing lunches - I agree - will try to work more of those into my schedule!

Kathy - so how is your throat today after all that yelling? ha ha ha

I am at work and procrastinating - have to complete all these nominations forms (yes me and my bright ideas - trying to win a gov hi tech award for our new database). Seemed like a good idea at the time - now I have reams of papers to complete and documents to find and attach - deadline is Friday at midnight! Wish me luck.

Today's challenge - open house party (2-4 pm) with MEGA GOODIES (I hear we are even having a chocolate fountain w/fresh fruit for dipping!) Luckily I have to leave early (3 pm) to take dd to therapist appt (assuming my threats worked!). I intend to eat a very good/filling lunch - so at least I won't be hungry.

My strategies include: sipping on diet soda, eating fruit (and staying away from the chips, cookies, muffins, cake, etc), and if all else fails chewing on a piece of gum to avoid eating!

Tonight dd has dance class yet again - extra long (6-9:30) as they have a LOT of work to do on their tap number (as they all wandered around the stage at some point wondering what they should be doing!). Might go to movie w/dh if big ds home to babysit. Dh has been hankering to see the Poseidon adventure - now of course I really don't want to see it - don't want to be turned off of cruising for any reason :) - but he really has his heart set on it (and I agree it will be much more powerful on the big screen than at home on our tv) so will see if we can make it.

Lights out late of course (11:28) mostly because dh was yapping too much!

Okay, I'm back.:) :) :)

Niagara was great! The weather didn't cooperate, but we had a wonderful time. B&B was a challenge, I missed my oatmeal. I gained 2 pounds, and have lost 1.5 since being back.
We saw Hight Society, which we really liked. The critics have panned it, but I guess our tastes are low-ball.

My sister's surprise birthday was wonderful. It was in London, and my best friend from Windsor came, as well as kid sister from Toronto. It was so wonderful having all the "special" people at one place. The party was on Sunday, which was down right cold (7 degrees C). I put socks on with my new sandals for the car ride from Kitchener, as well as a heavy jacket. When we got there, everything came off and I wore a pair of capris and jewel trimmed T. Did you know that brown is the new black? Fashion tip from those in the know.;)

So, it's back to normal for me. I worked at WW yesterday and again tonight. I still am not comfortable with all of it, but will hang in for a while.

Missed you guys, and am glad to be back home.:grouphug:

Welcome back to us, Saundra! It sounds like you've had a busy few weeks -- and isn't your aunt due to come visit soon too? I have also discovered jewel trimmed tops; in fact I'm wearing a turquoise rib-knit tank right now that has them all over. I've been at work for 30 minutes and already several people have said "cute top." :lol: Must be! I'll also have to go find some brown stuff now.

I just stopped in before getting started. I will be back soon though. Promise.

Hi ladies, sorry I haven't posted, my dd has been sick,her adnoids are swollen so I have her on nasonex, now she has a terrible cough. I have a feeling both my kids are going to need their tonsils out soon :(

I was flipping back & forth between AI and Lost after 9pm so I didn't get to see Toni Braxton, she was freaky? I also didn't see Clay.

Melissa, Live is a band that was around in the early - mid 90's I believe, I do have one of their cd's which is great, I will look for it and tell you the title.
24 was soooo good, I knew it would be sooner or later that the Chinese would get him, now I can't wait till next season.

Kathy I heard your woohoo's all the way here in NY :)

Everyone else hello, I will be back, I am being paiged, I hear my dughter screaming mommiiiiiieeeeee!! :dizzy:

OHMYGOD - WHAT A SPREAD! Dare I go into the boardroom? (I already had to eat a broken oatmeal cookie!). I can't believe the amount of food (sugar) in there. The table is LADEN with platters of cookies, muffins, nanaimo bars, cake/squares, 2 cheesecakes, fruit platters, veggies and dip, salsa and chips, potato chips, pretzels and in the corner a magnificent CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN - w/fresh fruit and cookies for dipping. (can you tell I do a good inventory?)

So I have just finished lunch so I am not really hungry - but my eyes sure are! I might nibble on some fruit or veggies to be sociable - but the temptation to eat something bad may become overwhelming (people are still streaming by my office w/their food contributions!). YIKES!!

I do have more work to do so don't plan on partying too much but as my office is right on the path to the party boardroom I presume I will have many visitors?

Niki - hope dd is feeling better soon! My little guy has been coughing a bit last night and this morning so may need to dose him with something as well?

Saundra - welcome back - we missed you - sounds like you have a wonderful time w/your family - those events are so much fun! Of course we had crappy weather here as well but at least the past couple of days have been a bit warmer and sunnier!

Spoke w/dh about what he was preparing/defrosting for dinner - ha ha ha - says we're going out for dinner - ya right! Looks like no babysitter so will take little ds w/us after we drop dd off dancing? Not sure what the plan is.

Not looking forward to dragging dd to therapist - hope we are not too traumatized after this!

Later,

P.S. Despite popular belief FROUFS do not wear brown! I am definitely a 'winter' frouf and brown does nothing for my complexion (altho I am a big fan of BLACK AND WHITE!).

Its probable *9 inch nails* Niki... I liked that group too...
I agree with the Toni Braxton thing too Vickie, Im sure she was on something. my god that was awful. And I have to point out as good as Mary J Blidge is she totally took over poor Elliots last performance..he didtn get a chance to sing ...and their voices did not go together at all...... you would think as a *singing* show they would realize that ...hello?? Now I love Meatloaf.....he has been on of my favourite performers from way........... back (and Im talking over 25 years) but didnt you think Katherine looked a little scared of him??? haha...too funny. I loved Prince though and Im not sure how the heck they got him to perform on AI but kudos for them.
ok just had to add my two cents gals...I love music as you can see..haha

hi there. i went to ww today instead of tomorrow. i was up .4 lb. that's all right. i weighed without taking my daily diuretic heart meds so i think i had really lost at least a pound.

melissa, i'm glad you're putting your foot down. you'll be getting both feet into those capris soon. today's meeting was about "lapses vs collapses." example: lapse--eating 6 cookies instead of 2 . collapse--eating whole bag of cookies. gist of the meeting was to realize lapses occur. just don't let them evolve into collapses.

vickie, i'm glad you got some good rest last night. i guess there was hollering all around, don't you? lol

angela, i hope you get to see lost. it was weird (as usual)

frouf, you sound very determined. makes me smile.

saundra, welcome back. we've missed you. sounds like you had a good time and are getting back in your groove again.

nikki, take care of those kiddos. you didn't miss a thing not seeing braxton. she was freakish.

patti, i agree with what you said about the singers, too. things just didn't mesh that well, did they? i did enjoy dionne warwick and prince. and clay, too. do you get the feeling that the idol contestants are a lot better than some of the "stars"?

Hi friends, just checking in before leaving work. I'm so completely and utterly brain-dead right now that I can't even respond to posts! :dizzy: Today has been a heck of a day and I just want to go through a drive-thru...but I won't. I'm going to go home and find something healthy to eat!

way to go, melissa. :write: i'm sorry your brain died.

i have a "sort of" nsv. today i put on a pair of button/zip ladies' size 14 shorts that had been too little till now. they felt so good that i didn't change before working in the rosebeds. i crawled all over the yard on my knees pulling weeds. now i normally wear very big/loose fitting elastic shorts for yardwork. i'm feeling pretty cocky right now.:lol3:

Yeyyy! I was admited into tthe internet ww program!! I just need to figure how it all works and do some reading (all the links and stuff), but I already started my Core diet (actually since tuesday I decided to switch from South Beach (it was too much for me to stay away from all carbs for two whole weeks: it`s mango season in Mexico, and I just love them!!) to Core, even if I did not have the whole information yet... I`m very happy with the program, and yes, it may be a little harder with not so many fat free, sugar free options in the market, but since I`m not used to having them anyway, I won`t miss them so much.
I have earned my activities points (about 3 of them, but well, every little bit helps...): I`m a little concerned about using them plus the 35 bonus points in a week... still, I noticed that a lot of the seasonings I use (like season all and nature season have some sugar added, should I discount points when using them? Maybe I should set aside, say 5 points a week for seasoning purposes?

Well, just wanted to let you know that I`ll be around: thanks for having me and I`ll keep in touch.

Maggie

Maggie, where in Mexico do you live? I'm in Texas and so I'm interested as that's where we usually vacation. We have good friends in Cozumel that we visit every year. The husband was our divemaster for many years and although his wife speaks no English, we still go to their house for dinner when we are in the area. We love visiting them.

I spent my 30 minutes in the little pool and am ready to see what sort of dinner needs to be made. I will be back in a while, but right now I should try and cool off.

Oh and no, don't count any of those seasonings. Spices are freebies.

maggie, enjoy those mangos, girl. i couldn't do sb either. it's almost time for cherries up here and i couldn't stand to miss them.

I was filling my profile... We live in the volcano`'s valley, about 2 hours from Mexico city (I grew up in Acapulco and my family still lives there, but my mother was from the border, so we always spend our summers vacationing in San Antonio, Texas, and I absolutelly loved it there, We just came back last week and bought lotto tickets, so maybe we`ll be lucky and win the megamillions and will buy a ranch there: lol)

Mangos, cherries, it sounds oh so good.

Sandra, I'm so glad that you're doing so well. Bravo on your shorts!

When I was at the reception desk tonight, a new member came in and told me how thin I am. She said that was just what she needed for motivation. Things like that are what's keeping me from quitting.

Melissa, so glad that you are loving your new home. Good girl to skip the fast food.

Vicky, I know what you mean about the humidity. I'm originally from Windsor (across from Detroit), and it has to be the worst humidity of all. I had a terrible sinus condition as a kid, combination of car plant polution and weather.

Kathy, we'll have to exchange pic's of our outfits. I've got to stop going to the stores, enough in enough.

Okay, time to relax, glad that nothing is planned for tomorrow.

Saundra, Windsor is the only place in Canada that I've ever been! Judd and I were yanked up and sent to Detroit (actually Troy) to work on a UAW project once. We had only been married for about six months, and our boss was told to find someone. She called me in one morning and said "I need you and Judd to go fix a problem in Troy" and I said, "Sure thing, when do you need it?" Imagine my shock when she said, "This afternoon." We scrambled and found someone to watch Kate, who was in elementary school, and left town in a hurry. We had a little bit of down time while there, though, so we went across the border into Windsor. I have a Christmas ornament that I bought in the casino gift shop and every year when we put it on the tree, we talk about what a great trip that was.

Hi all: Just got back from Ottawa, what a BEAUTIFUL City, I have travelled lots and I do not think you can beat it. I find it is so clean, every time I go I remark on the clean streets. Our son is moving from C. Bay to Kanada and it is very nice also. He is going to miss being on the water but he will get up to our cottage often I would think. He works in Ottawa and it was getting a drag to get to work, especially in the winter.
We took our son and grandson out to dinner to Tuckers Market Place downtown. It was very nice and of course the grandson loved all the food.
Well I must go read all about your goings and comings.
Blue skies.
Rose