Well, we were up around 12 pts and the last 5 minutes, things went south in a hurry. Mavs lost by 2, but we're still 2-1 in the series and I have no doubt at all that we can come back and win it.

Congrats on that pound! If you think it's not much, go look at four sticks of butter and that'll change your tune in a hurry!

I'm about to go to a classified computer for a while so I won't be on much this morning. Have a great day!

Wow, am I exhausted, I just swept my driveway which can fit 4 cars and my 2 walkways this morning, for 2 hours I was out there in this humidity. I filled 2 huge garbage bags full of stuff that falls from the trees, I don't know what it is called. But I surely feel good, I got a great workout.


Paula great to hear that WW is starting back at work for you & dh

Kathy hope the Mavs do good for you.

Vickie hope that you had a wonderful time

Sandra I finally got some exercise in Yeah! Yes life is good, I hate when i pms every little thing seems so much worse.

Melissa congrats on the pound loss, way to go!

Good morning girls... I'm a little behind, but hopefully I'll make sense as I go along...

You were talking about ME time: if only we could bottle it up and sell it we would be millionaires!! The funny thing is when I decide to have some ME time, I end up feeling guilty because I just know there's a ton of things I'm supposed to be doing: I'll just have to work on that...

Since we don't have the 94% FF microwave popcorn here, I tried the folded bag recipe (thank you for sharing) and considering it was my first batch, it was almost ok (the truth is I burned them a little bit...): I put the power level at 60% for 3 minutes, so maybe next time I'll try 50% and 2 minutes and see how they turn out...

About those annuals, we have very temperate climate year around, not very hot (thankfully) and our winters are mild, so I try to have annuals that reseed themselves liberally, and they flower all year... there's water shortage though and that gives me some trouble (we collect rain water during rainy season and mostly use that for the gardens).

I just hate earthquakes: when I was about 9, a big earthquake almost destroyed my parents house in Acapulco and ever since I freak at the smallest shake. Concerning hurricanes, last year we were in the Mayan Riviera on vacation and suddenly hurricane Wilma decides to join the party... What an experience... We were staying at one of the big resorts and they had their own shelter, but we were told that we would stay there for 8 hours at the most, and turns out that we stayed for 72!! Let me tell you I don't take electricity and running water for granted after that... There were 1600 guests and the hotel staff was great, but still you couldn't help but feeling trapped... Nature can turn on you any minute and destroy so much....

I really have to go do laundry and clean up the place (no cleaning lady, sniff...), so I'll try to come back later... have a great day..

Maggie

paula, that's good news about ww at work. i'm happy for you.

melissa, congratulations gf. i am so proud of you. i'm not on track eatingwise but will be soon. i do have the exercise down now. i set exercise goal for the 4th cuz i am determined to win a challenge. or should i say meet a challenge. this will be my first. i've not finished any of the others we've had. okay, we're on a roll. let's not hit any bumps.

kathy, we watched the 4th quarter. coach curtis fussed at those mavs for several minutes. for someone who's not into basketball, he really got into that game. guess it's his texas blood pumping.

nikki, been there done that. that old pms is something, isn't it?

maggie, i'm very envious of your flowers. could you post a photo of your gardens?

we're going out for lunch and a movie today. sort of a date. we're going to finally see the da vinci code. it's raining outside. good day for a movie.

gotta go make breakfast. have a good day.

Niki, sounds like you've been working hard. It is rewarding to get everything cleaned up. When we go back to our old neighbourhood, our next door neighbour still complains about the stuff that falls off of the large silver maple onto his property.

Maggie, we go to the Iberostar Lindo, and were there after Wilma. We saw the difference and heard the stories about the devastation. They did a wonderful job cleaning it up, but we found a big change in the beach. I do love the area, and look forward to our two weeks in January.

Sandra, hope you like the movie. Did you read the book? I'll await your review, have fun.

Kathy, I'm so glad that the boys are with your db and sil. I don't remember, do they have kids of their own? Would they like to adopt? My sister and bil fostered and then adopted a little boy with downs and only one arm. They read about him and requested to care for him. He is now a joy to them 23 years later. They have four other kids who were also a great help.

Frouf, isn't the sun grand? Gf is coming over and we're going for a walk soon. I need to get the old body moving. My physio gal recommended yoga. I'm going to look into it soon.

Okay, better have a bite to eat now,

Sandra I am having a Lucy moment, I can't find my coffee!
I am searching the whole house and I have no idea where I put it

Saundra I am trying, there is so much to do, I figure a few hours each morning will get things done and I will also get a good workout in. Tomorrow I go for my weigh in so hopefully my 2 hr yard work will show on the scale.

But more importantly did you find your COFFEE? Good luck at your WI tomorrow!

Where's Vickie? recuperating from the Great Slumber Party of 2006 no doubt?

Melissa - congrats on being down 1 pd - I still am not anywhere near my 'tracker' weight - but you will surely hear about it when I get there. So how are the neighbours?

Sandra - rainy day is excellent movie watching weather - let us know how you liked the da vinci code!

Saundra - enjoy the walk and gorgeous weather we're having. I was planning to walk at lunchtime (brought my runners and walkman) but got caught up in some cruise planning which took up most of the time (then I realized I also had to eat lunch too!).

So there is a 'friend' at work - single young lady (probably a bit younger than myself) - we have in the past few months hit it off at work - she is quite sweet and nice - not married or anything - fairly active (bikes to work, plays in some soccer league). LOVES hearing all my stories and anecdotes - about life in general and my kids and such. Recently we have been 'visiting' offices almost daily.

Anyhow - I of course sometimes talk about my travels and such and she says she loves to travel. She was esp interested in all my cruise stories. So I say if she is looking for a cruise buddy I am always ready to go! I was not sure how seriously she would take me - and while I do like to travel w/dh he is definitely not the travel bug that I am - and also it would be much cheaper for one of us to travel than both of us!

I had sent her a couple of links and info on cruises and it sure feels like she is also getting the bug - came to see me around lunchtime saying she wants to do the Mediterranean!!! Of course I would love to do that too- but it is super expensive and I'm not quite ready for that ....so I steered her towards some more 'reasonably' priced caribbean cruises.

So firstly she didn't realize that 'sharing' a cabin would be involved - I showed her the 'single' price and then she realized her mistake..... for me the benefit would be finding someone to share a cabin with to get the double occupancy rate - no savings or reason to go if you have to pay almost double with the single supplement.

She still seems very interested - and I am a fairly easygoing person - but I need to really investigate this and ensure that we are compatible and would make good travelmates (altho for all intents and purpose we do seem to get along quite nicely). Of course I must tell her that I snore (at least that's what I've been told ) - that I don't want to be joined at the hip - like doing my own thing once in a while - being independent or just vegging out if I so choose. As for excursions - I would emphasize that we don't HAVE to go together if she doesn't want to (remember she's the 'active' one) - like if she wants to go 'ziplining' thru the trees or dirt biking I certainly won't be offended if left behind. I am a late to bed girl too (altho I do have my booklight) and don't sleep in too late so need to ensure that works as well?

We are still in 'research' mode - hoping to go in Sept/oct? Ya I know it's hurricane season but that's what makes it so exciting!

Frouf

Hey Chicks! I just got on for the first time since yesterday late morning. We took the Great Niece home at 11:00 and my Niece wanted me to stay for a few minutes while she got a shower. Then Jim and I went for a huge stock up trip to Walmart. I'm trying to get stocked before his surgery so I can just run for little things here and there while he's having therapy. We went out for lunch and just got home. I'm going to go lay down on the couch. My Great Niece is VERY high maintenance and wants my attention 24 hours. It was fun but there is a reason God doesn't give us 5 year olds when we are 50! Not that it's not possible......

Anyway......I sped read and see that you are all pretty well. I'll be back later!

It's been a constructive afternoon. We walked for over half an hour, which isn't bad considering my foot. We've decided to do it at least once a week. After that, I made dinner consisting of salmon salad, tuna salad and a combo of egg/avacado salad. I then made a larged tossed salad, and they are all in the fridge. I'm working tonight and won't get home until after eight, so Bernie will be all set. Gee, I'm a good wife.

Frouf, I can hear the excitement in your voice. It sounds like a great idea. I'm already thinking about late January, and I'm sure that we'll have something booked by August. We're actually thinking of Jamaica this year as the Spanish chains have opened places there, and it is one of our very favourite spots.

Vickie, you sound tired. I bet Juliana wore you out, but now you can rest and put your feet up.

Spoke to dil and there is a new daycare opening not too far. Glad to see things are working out for them. Of course, they still have their house to sell!

Sun keeps going in and out, but it is a really nice day, hope it is where you are too.

I'm off to bed chicks! I'm really tired. I made Jim eggs and toast for dinner. I have to be up early tomorrow because I am going to a research center to taste.....mashed potatoes! I'm getting $25 for my 30 minutes of time so I feel like it's worth the points! Anyway...I'll be up and out early. Then LaZBoy is coming between 9-11 to fix our sofa and loveseat. Then more shopping errands. Sigh!

Hope you are all great and now that I'll be back to spend time as soon as I can!

Hey gals. Checking in -- good grief, I sure know about being tired! I'm about to drop!

I worked my 9 hours, went to Home Depot to exchange the pots for the front porch, then started dinner. I made baked chicken with breadcrumbs and parmesan, and steamed mushrooms, onions, yellow squash, zucchini, red peppers and garlic. Then I made 12 of the 24 wands and am now resting. I think I'll go take a bath and will do the others after that. OR ... I might make the other 12 tomorrow night and make her come pick them up on Friday. Either way, it's a good thing I already have a secret security clearance because I don't think I have any fingerprints left.

It sounds like everybody had a good day though. Saundra, that's good that you're able to walk. I hope to be able to soon, at least before summer is over. I'd like to get a little bit of exercise.

I'll see you all in the morning.

Here are the wands I'm making. There's a whole lot of glitter and glue involved. Judd even found a little piece of glitter on his tomato slice tonight.

Love the princess wands - esp the pink one But Kathy - remember to slow down, breathe and take a break once in a while!

Vickie - glad you survived the big slumber party - and guess what ALL kids want your attention 24 hours per day! (then multiply by 3 - ha ha ha ...or even 4 if you count dh!). I would LOVE to do a taste test for mashed potatoes - heck I would pay them! Hope the reclining thingies get fixed!

Saundra - sounds like you had a very lovely walk - good idea but be careful of your foot! As for Jamaica - if you are thinking of the RIU chain - they are lovely. We stayed at the Riu Negril last March and friends of mine stayed at the brand new Riu Ocho Rios this year and loved it (both are nicer than the RIU tropical bay - also in Negril - walking distance from the other RIu).

Now for the VERY BAD NEWS! I am very very very very sad to report that I am on a diuretic now to try and reduce my blood pressure. I am kinda freaked out about this altho I know it is pretty common! Hydrochlorothiazide - 1/2 of a 25 mg pill (they are so tiny and hard to cut in half!), one per day in the am! I did mention my concern to dr regarding arm size and accurate readings - she did agree - she has a larger cuff in her office - my readings are always fairly high there - while the drugstore readings (for those with skinny minny arms) were not that bad - she agreed that this might distort the readings.

Of course she also weighed me! YIKES! and asked about the 'stresses' in my life - I brought her up to date on the unemployed dh, and the 14 yr dark child - and my job issues - and she said well looks like those things aren't gonig to change overnight (like stress in my life till dd turns 18 or so?) so should try some medication - esp after inquiring about my family history - mom had high bp, diabetes and angina and a couple of heart attacks - I guess that was enuf to make her write out a prescription. I go back end of July to see how I'm doing.

Oh ya - I'm supposed to WATCH WHAT I'M EATING - lots of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, stay away from salt and processed foods! well duh! I told her how for the last month or so I have been on a downward spiral due to the stress - which makes me eat - which makes me gain weight - she agreed it was a vicious cycle - and to try to rest more, eat better. I also mentioned that I started exercising again and she was pleased with that.

Then off to closing ceremony for jewish extra curriculum high school art class dd attends. There was a minor graduation ceremony (like 6 kids) some speeches and dd and her class had their 'art' on display...and in fact dd won an award from her teacher - a gorgeous big fat art book - lots of pics and info! Got to take the artwork home - and yes I have acquired the large pink floral picture for my office!

Then off to the pot luck dinner with my woman's group - ate too much but it was yummy (greek salad, caesar salad, poached salmon, 1/2 bagel, smoked salmon, pasta) - commiserated with my gf who has been taking bp meds for about 6 months now with very excellent results - in fact turns out we are trying to chop up the same tiny pale coral pills! She is also a travel agent so i told her I would email her tomorrow to get some pricing.

Turns out I may be going on two cruises - at least I hope so! Found a good deal on a novemeber cruise - so asked dh if he wanted to go on a birthday cruise - and he is quite interested (altho need to figure out kiddie logistics). I still want to go w/my gf possibly August or sept - so this may be my cruising year! Wouldn't that be just amazing? Of course I am hoping to get into better shape (at least back in onederland) before any cruising happens!

Bedtime!

Frouf

Good morning everyone. It is very early but we are leaving in a few min to go pick blackberries. My parents are going with us so we have to pick them up first. They live about 20 min from us. It will take 2 hours to get to the berry farm so I hope they are plentiful and delicious. Have a good day everyone.