thanks for the 'clean' pages Kathy!

Vickie - I hate when you order something and you get it and it DOESN'T work right! I would be mad - hope you can get the screws fixed or whatever so you can recline to your heart's content!

As for shampoos - right now I am using John Frieda blonde highlight enhancing VOLUMIZING shampoo (yes it's a yellow color) - comes in two tones: I use caramel to honey - and I believe the other is like champagne to platinum? Just got the 'matching' conditioner and will see how that works. I will report back on the new mousse - but I also use marc anthony thickening creme (pale orange) which generally works well as a backup (put a dollop/quarter size? amount on hand and work thru damp hair before blow drying!).

They have also just come up with those new hair glazes - supposed to use those between colorings - helps with fading, etc. I got the nice and easy one (on sale for $9.99) and will try it in a couple of weeks if required. (got the dark blonde color to match my highlights).

Kathy - so are you hyper yet? I bet the quilt will be finished by morning! Hope the new meds work and you can get some proper rest.

Melissa - I was just going to suggest you simply feed Aaron core foods - and slowly stop brining non-core stuff into the house and see what happens?

Saundra - glad you found your specs! Were you at Zola's for dinner?

Maggie - super big congrats on your great loss - you must feel wonderful. Keep up the good work - I also read that exercising in the morning puts you in a better mood for the whole day! Sure wish I was going to Acapulco for the weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGELA! Hope you had a wonderful day!

Niki - your dd does sound like a character - good luck! Just remember the terrible two's lead to the terrific three's! Have a great time ALONE at the shower!

Paula - sounds like you did great at the restaurant! Hope you don't have too tiring a weekend!

Rose - bet you are looking forward to the cottage - and definitely come back to the 'big city' - there is so much going on here in the summer.

This weekend is actually "open doors' where many major venues and homes are open to the public - it is great fun and you can visit many places that you normally would not have access to! I have the flyer from today's paper and will try and highlight a few places I might like to see this year.

I also stayed home today - bad night and sore throat. Big ds who left for Toronto at 5 am this morning was up at 3:30 am ironing his shirt - and the laundry room is right outside our bedroom. Of course dh who is a very light sleeper was awakened by this - pretty cranky of course - this in turn woke me up - and I could not fall back asleep (oh yes we also had a mini-blackout around midnight - had all the flashlights out and everything). So I had a heck of a time trying to wake up this morning and also a burning in throat and sinues. Took 2 advil and an anti-bacterial lozenge and went back to bed.

Obviously did not do much today - also had a nap on family room couch this afternoon! Big ds back from Toronto around 8:30 pm - asked dh go to pick him up from the school (I was still in my jammies) - lots of complaining of course (like a 5 min drive) and he came home crabbier than ever! Big ds had a great time - they won almost every award for their high school paper and he should be in the Toronto star tomorrow (need to try and find a copy somewhere!).

Then dd calls (she is at friend's house working on french project). Needs to be picked up at 9:45! Okay - look up place on map - not that far 10 mins? but complicated map - lots of side streets. Dh keeps asking about her pickup and of course I say don't worry about it. At 9:35 he is like making himself a bagel and going upstairs to eat it - at which point I just get my jacket (over my jammies) get in my van to go get her.

So here I am driving around trying not to get lost - (my rant of the day : CAN PEOPLE NOT ILLUMINATE THEIR ADDRESSES PLEASE? I kid you not - each and every house on the street was dark and I could not find an address with which to orient myself with!). Anyhow I pull into a driveway to try and find number and doesn't dh pull in behind me! How crazy is that?

Says he was going to go get her so why did I go? Told him he looked pretty busy with his bagel toasting/eating thing - but claims he was going to go when he was done. (Sure let's waste all that EXPENSIVE gas with both of us going to get her - how childish is that?). So i turn around and go home so he can pick her up! No I am NOT in a very good mood right now!

Do plan to go to work tomorrow - and going to see Chicago tomorrow night with gf. She is taking me out for dinner first so I need to be home and ready to leave around 5:30 pm - so we can have dinner around 6 and catch the show at 8 pm!

Temps are much cooler now which is nice altho still gloomy today. We did not turn our air off tho - turned it 'up' and frankly if it cools off the outdoor sensor shuts it off as required.

I should really go to bed now!

hi, chickies. we've been on the go all day. i did 30 min on the bike this am while curtis was busy on the puter. then all afternoon we were at the outdoor archery range. curtis weedeated while i practiced shooting at 60 yds. i had him help me figure how much exersie time and he suggested 30 min even though i was out therre over 2 hours. i did figure the walking and it was over a mile just going back and forth to the target. lol

my feet are better today. i'm thinking the bowling was what did me in earlier. i don't remember if i vented here yesterday but i was feeling like i needed to be on a walker. it was like i was crippled just all of a sudden. of course, i had a meltdown and cried a lot. some would say that wouldn't help, but it did. i felt better emotionally afterwards. weird, eh? anyway, my bowling days are over --at least for awhile.

melissa, please please find another job. i worry about you so much. life's too short to be unhappy.

saundra, i'm sorry you didn't get to work today but you sound like you had a good day anyway. i have never bowfished before. curtis did have me practice shooting at a target. i'll be using an old bow with a "reel" attached. the arrow has a line on it. guess i'm supposed to shoot at a fish with it. lol

vickie, that's a bummer about the recliners. i hope you get things worked out soon. i don't fish as much as i hunt. i am glad to know i'll be staying onshore fishing this weekend. i was worried about falling out of the canoe lucystyle with my bow and arrows.

rose, we are very relieved about curtis' medical report. we've both been"overloaded" lately. it's been a rough week. you'll be heading to the cottage while we're having the senior olympics. your schedule will be more relaxing than ours. enjoy your times there. i understand what you're saying about not knowing how much longer. you'll be able to do all this. just have all the fun you can and keep smiling.

kathy, i think that's a wonderful idea about folks donating their unused days off to others. what did you decide on for the quilt?

saundra, i'm glad you had good results from your pt. you're right--little steps. i've tried to leap and that didn't work.

paula, welcome back. congratulations on losing those 30 lbs. slow and easy--that's the way.

maggie, woo hoo!!! congratulations! and acapulco!! i am impressed. have fun.



niki, how's your day going? i remember the time i couldn't go to the bathroom. my son wanted me to be around him all the time.

man! am i behind!! i think i've been reading 4 or 5 pages. amazing!

kathy, are you feeling all right? how's your foot?

melissa, dh doing core? awesome!!

curtis just went to bed. i'm next. it's been a long day. if i don't see ya'll in the am--have a wonderful weekend.

Morning chicks!

Paula, thanks for that tip!! I knew I would get great advice from you ladies. I hope that the weekend away from your honey passes quickly. I always hate it when my DH and I are separated.

Sandra, I had no idea you were so miserable the other day. I'm so sorry! I'm glad that you were feeling better though. Stay away from that bowling! It really is hard on the body. My knees hurt every time I do it. And thank you, I am going to really try to find another job. I need to be commited to doing something for myself. I was reading some "flylady" email last night and she was talking about self-care and how important it is. I already knew that but guess I haven't thought about it in relation to my job. Oops. sorry for rambling.

Frouf, I'm sorry that you weren't feeling good yesterday. But I'm glad to hear that you are going to "Chicago" after all. I would love to see a show! Sounds like so much fun. I hope that you really enjoy yourself. And yes, I was planning on sneaking core into DH, just thought that if he agreed to it then it would be easier.

No Vickie this morning? She usually beats me here.

Well I guess I ought to get busy doing something. My two co-worker friends are gone today so I'm feeling a little bit lost. I hope that you all have great days!

Good Morning Chicks! I slept a little later today and now I'm having my first morning coffee.

We decided spontaneously yesterday afternoon to go out for dinner. The Niece called and wanted to go to my favorite Core restaurant so we agreed. I'm always willing to go out to eat, especially there, and especially if I can see my Great Nieces and Nephew. Baby Sarah is now cleared to go out in public. She weighs 6 pounds 5 ounces. She still seems very tiny to me! They came over after dinner for a while. I was too tired to get on the computer.

I've got more errands to do today so I'll be a busy girl again. The weekend is busy for me too. I have a graduation party for the oldest DS of my friend who is waiting for the bone marrow transplant. She's very excited about seeing him graduate. So am I. Then Sunday my Sister and I are going to a baby shower for the Son/DIL of one of our cousins that we are still close with. It should be fun but busy.

I'm going to go see what you were all up to.

Good morning! I'm just stopping by quickly -- am running a little late getting to work but since it's really an off day it doesn't matter. There won't be but a handful of people there anyway.

I'll check in once I get to the office. Happy day to you all!

Vickie, where are you?

Melissa, you sound better today. It will be good for you and Aaron to be on the same eating page, a lot easier for menu planning. Sounds like you got good advice for veggie garden.

Frouf, I hope that you're feeling better. We went to Grafitti's last night. We should be restaurant critics. Glad ds had fun in TO and got home safely. Is the Citizen doing a story?

Sandra, maybe our age plays in our recovery. It's good the you are recognizing your limitations. Just take it a little easier, and things WILL progress. You just go and have a fun weekend.

Kathy, how are the new meds working? Hope you're not too hyper. Having had a very hyper thyroid in my past, it brings back bad stuff. Hope you get to come home early.

Paula, I'm alone during the day both tomorrow and Sunday, and am looking forward to Monday with Bernie. It is suppose to be nice and sunny, so we'll probably go for a nice country drive. Hope you have some good time off together to make of for the weekend.

Niki, have fun at your shower. I am a firm believer in time well spent.

The movie was lousy, just not our type, but we did manage to sit through it.
I've got a WW meeting tonight, so Bern is on his own for dinner. I'm making him a shrimp and avacado salad, so he's happy. I'll probably offer my services to stay with Natan tomorrow or Sunday. The kids might as well get out and have some fun. Ds in Kitchener hasn't sold yet, and is now thinking of renting it. Hope they figure it out soon, as they get Ottawa house August 1st.

Time to shower and do my hair. I'm using Biolage shampoo and conditioner for colour treated hair, but they say it is good to change once in a while. My hair is so thick, that my problem is cleaning my bathroom daily. I don't know where it all comes from, but I'm not complaining.

Kathy, I don't know how you do it. You have the energy of like.....5 women. I admire you but don't think I want to be as tired as you either. I pushed myself hard for 30 years. So now I think a day full of errands is hard! I hope you don't stay at work too long today. Did the new medicine help? How is Judd feeling this morning? I think you should look for your capris in your car. That's where Saundra and I find our missing stuff. Did your team win last night? Oh, BTW, I hear the Rangers are coming to town this weekend. We've been playing badly and you guys are hot!

Melissa, sorry I can't help you with the hair since mine is exactly the same way. Ok...now there are at least 3 of us (me, you and Frouf) who need volume. Perhaps Kathy CAN share. That would really be awesome if Aaron would eat Core, especially at dinner. That's kind of what Jim does. I don't make his breakfast and lunch but it would be darned hard if he didn't eat the dinner that I made. And I am not going to make more than one meal. So I'd be doing what you are trying to do now. Maybe his knowing that it would make your life easier will make him decide to try it. Then you could pull out all of those great Core recipes. Jim really likes the Froufie roast.

Niki, we'll both be at baby showers on Sunday! Except, I don't have to leave as early for mine as you do. Ok, now I'm officially worried because I had not given one thought to what I would wear on Sunday or Saturday. I guess I better give it some thought! Yikes.

Saundra, I just KNEW those darn glasses would show up one day. We lost an extra key for our front door. I thought I lost it in the car and we ripped the car apart but could not find it. Months later, Jim took the car for a car wash and the guys who vacuumed the interior left it hanging on the stick shift. I don't get it!

Paula, I love the Roadhouse and am quite lucky in eating there and staying Core. You just have to tell them not to put butter on your meat when they take it off of the grill. And, tell them no butter on the veggies. I also have taken to eating a sweet potato since I never get them any other time. I love to go out to eat.

Frouf, my stylist had a FIT when I mentioned the home glazings. I'll be intersted in hearing how you like them. I'm sure she's just trying to alarm me about them so that I'll have her do a professional glaze. Actually, I might let her do it next time since she says she'll only charge $15 if I get it done with my other color service. I hope you're feeling much better today and that you are well enough to go look at houses. Are you just going for ideas or are you tempted to move? Congratulations to big DS! You must be very proud. You might be able to send us a newspaper link. I'll be proud cyberaunt to read his story. Your DH is an odd duck. It's funny that he went to pick up Emily and so did you! I'm personally glad that you're going out to dinner with GF and to Chicago. I think you need to get out and have fun.

Sandra, I need to start exercising again too. I haven't really exercised since I did all that heavy cleaning on the house. Time for me to set up a Fourth of July goal and get with it! You and Curtis are as on the go as Jim and I are. I'm SO glad that all is well with Curtis and that you have some fun plans to look forward to.

Ok chickies! Time for me to make some phone calls.

Saundra, a shrimp and avocado salad sounds wonderful. What else goes in there? I used to use Biolage a long time ago. Maybe I'll try it again since I used to like it. I also heard that we need to switch our products every once in a while. I hope you have a great meeting tonight. Will this be the first on your own?

Vickie, I'm so glad that you had a good evening with your family. It sounds like you're going to have a fun weekend too! Oh and DH does eat whatever I cook, so that isn't a problem. I just keep thinking if he understood the program and was trying to do it too then he wouldn't "tempt" me unknowingly. I really feel like I just need to start making large quantities of things on the weekend and then using it for lunch through the week.

Saundra, you are one busy gal! I hope that you have a good experience at your WW meeting tonight.

This is going to be a LONG day!!!

Vickie, this is a meeting for employees. Apparently, the first thing you do is get weighed. Luckily, this isn't an issue for me right now, as I'm below goal. You also have a monthly weigh in which is sent to head office. They are stickly about employees not being over, but some are. I think they will also have motivation sessions and discuss business. I'm going with a young girly who I've been learning from, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Okay, for the salad, I mix the avacado with hard boiled egg and a little ff mayo and Miracle Whip, just enough to make it mushy. It is so good. I'll serve the shrimp whole, but I've also cut them up and put them into the avacado. Of course, the mixture is served on top of a regular plate of salad ingredients and some good bread, which Bernie just loves.

Oh, btw, I just got a call from gf's cleaning lady, and she's coming on Tuesday. I'm going to shoot for 3 hours every two weeks. Hope by doing this the place will be REALLY clean.

You're right Melissa, working as a "team" will be a good thing.

I sure am having a hard time keeping up to you gals of course some of you are about the age of my daughter. lol

Sandra, go away and have fun this weekend, but--- take care of those feet. We only get 2 in a life time. Orders from headquarters.

This makes me cross, posted and now I can not find it. It went to cyberspace I guess. I hope whoever finds it enjoys.

Froufie I love reading your posts, they are so well written. You have a gift for writing.

Saundra, did you receive all the pictures I sent, or just the one. I was worried you would not be able to open after I sent them.
That salad you posted sounds real good. Do you know how many points it would be. I keep track of points also.

Now we have solved the missing glasses, we have to find Kathy's pants. Hmm, hope we don't find them where Saundra or Vicki found their items. lol

Angela, hope you had a great birthday.

Melissa, that is nice your hubby will not be tempting you any more, well at least with food. lol

Vicki, I have also heard that you should switch your hair products. I wonder why? I have noticed I will like a certain shampoo for a while and then I don't care for it as much.

Paula and Saundra, I was alone many weekends and holidays, hubby worked for the Airlines and of course was working many weekends. He retired at 56 and it has been wonderful to have him home.

Well friends have invited us out for lunch so guess I better put my face on. It seems to take me longer these days. lol

Take care all, I will come back later and read.
Blue Skies,
Rose

Whew! Finally I'm here! I had to do my fairy delivery and then jump right on a few things when I got in ... don't they know I'm supposed to check in with you guys as soon as possible??

Judd didn't sleep very well, and so neither did I. He snored and moaned and laughed and yelled, and every time he did any of it I woke right up. He went back to bed for a while this morning; I decided I shouldn't so I came on in to work.

I hope to not stay very long though; I need to get home and start working on things. The medicine didn't make me hyper, I just couldn't sleep. Maybe tonight I will.

The Mavericks won so Saturday night is a biggie. Right now the series is 3-2 and if we can win Saturday, we go on to the finals. We are all so excited!

Rangers and White Sox this weekend ... hoo boy! We'll see how that goes but I have given up predicting anything sports-related!

The Hair Report: well yes I USED to have thick lovely hair (like dd now has) but since birth of last ds - started losing hair!!!! and the rest is history. I am always on the lookout for good products for volume! I do use a BIG round brush and 'pouf' my hair up (altho it does 'relax' during the day) so it looks like more hair.

I am not extremely impressed with the new product I tried today (by l'oreal - hot volumizing mousse - hot pink can)....it does add volume but not 'strong' enuf in my opinion so I still have some waves and curles where I shouldn't? (I think the fructis xxl mousse is even better than this). I would still like to try the volumizing mousse made by La Coupe at some point. I will try this product a few more times tho (luckily it's not a big can) before I decide it doesn't work for me!

Almost time for a glaze too (will let you know how that turns out). My colorist suggested a color boosting shampoo - you can only get them in beauty supply stores - she uses this on my hair after my color (I think it's called L'oreal professional color glossing shampoo? comes in several shades and the one I get I think is either amber or copper?). Could not find this brand but did find a wella balsam 'color' shampoo (golden amber) which I use every few washings (leave it on for 3-4 mins then rinse) helps keep highlights/color in!

So back at work today - altho neck hurts when I turn to the left. Very quiet here today which is good.

Kathy - hope you don't stay too long and that your pain meds are working. How is Judd feeling?

Vickie - busy busy girl - enjoy your weekend outings!

Saundra - have fun at the meeting - the salad sounds great (I heard this farmboy recipe on the radio the other day - avocado, asparagus and strawberry salad which sounded divine!).

No coverage in the Citizen? at least not that I know of? (and now that I think of it - they should do a write up on a local high school that won all these provincial awards!). Trying to get a copy of the Toronto star to see what they have written up.

Sandra - hope your tootsies are feeling better today - I can't imagine bow fishing off a boat - I too would probably fall in!

Rose - thanks for the compliment - I do enjoy writing (look for froufie's memoirs coming out in a few years! ha ha ha).

Have to get home directly after work to beautify myself and change into my fancier duds and head out for hopefully a very nice evening. Going to the National Arts centre to see Chicago tonight! First having dinner - probably there at Le Cafe (makes it easier to say the least) then upstairs to the theatre! Should be fun and we have great seats!

"open doors' is not for house viewing - but for local 'places of interest" - mainly old churches - some embassies (in older heritage homes), many museums, art galleries and facitilies (the control centre in the Canada post building is something out of a james bond movie - looks like a space mission control center - I could hardly believe I was in Canada, let alone Ottawa when I first saw it!). Very cool - hard to get into this one tho and I would like to take little ds! There is even a guided tour of the newly renovated/opened Library at the Parliament buildings (but you need to get numbered tickets for each tour and those will also go very quickly).

The Ottawa children's festival is also on this weekend (lots of play/shows for kids) but not sure if we can make it to that. Tomorrow night going to niece's (20 yr old) dance recital (7 pm til maybe 11?) with dh, dd and little ds so I am looking forward to that!

Almost lunchtime - going for a walk to the local 'newspaper' store where I believe they carry out of town papers? Will pick up some lunch on the way back!

Good morning ladies! So far, I'm having a nice birthday. My church activity thing last night went very well. We donated services, and then auctioned them off using play money. It was a lot of fun. And several people mentioned afterwards how much they liked the angel food/strawberries refreshments.

This morning, I took my girls to Krispy Kreme as an "end of the school year" treat. I am happy to report that I didn't not even taste a single doughnut. I brought my mom, and she slapped my hand and I slapped hers. I am just relaxing this morning, playing on the computer.

I do need to do the dishes eventually, but hey, it's my birthday, right?

Later,
Angela