Niki, you are going to have a spectacular party! Try to leave some time for yourself before everyone arrives!

Morning,

I am at work - altho in pain - I have to sit at the edge of my chair so the back of my left upper leg does not touch the chair - cuz that still hurts. And I'm sure I'll end up with some other pains (back pain) from sitting like this all day?

I just took a couple of muscle relaxants w/ibuprofen in them - hope they work while I'm here (not supposed to take them while driving) - and wear off by the time I go home! Sleeping was a bit of a problem as my legs still felt funny all night - I don't feel rested at all.

Packed my gym stuff for after work - but will see how I'm feeling before I go.

Vickie - sounds like you did pretty good yesterday to me? Just a couple of blips - but you do have to enjoy life a bit - and the ball game is an important part of your life! Glad to hear you're back on track tho - and I know you're looking forward to using your pool more often!

Niki - I bet your garden looks great! Our weather forecast says 30 for saturday - which is over 90 degrees - so I'm sure everyone will be indoors for sure - too hot outside! Trying to keep our house clean for the next few days!

Kathy - have fun at the arcade - sounds like you are having a good time! Poor little Zuki will be glad when you come home I'm sure!

Sandra - guess I am not as patient as my doctor? and was expecting better bp results - I am sure if I lose more weight the results will be even better right?

And big scene w/dd last night - lying on the floor outside our bedroom just a crying and a wailing (and yes she is 14!). Came to see me around 11 pm as I was going to bed to ask if she could go to this concert with gf and gf's mother in Barrie (like 6 hours away - past Toronto!!!!!!!). Seems it is during the time my brother and sil are visiting so I said no - my reasons were a) you are too young b) I don't want you driving with someone in a car there and back for 12 hours (the mother was not staying overnight??? but going to drive there attend the concert and then drive back at 11 pm for 6 hours!!! - how insane is that?) - not safe c) your aunt and uncle will be here and we hardly get to see them (and she was whining the other day that she would be in camp during the day while they were here and wouldn't get to spend enuf time with them!).

So I close my bedroom door - and lock it - and she proceeds to stay out there crying and then starts banging on the door!!!! Just looking for trouble. We did great I think and managed to stay calm and kept telling her she was NOT being reasonable.

Of course told me I was mean and stupid - and she was being so good - why couldn't she go? I told her again - it had nothing to do with her behaviour - she would have ample opportunity when she was older to travel to concerts - it was unsafe, and family was visiting. I ended up taking away her Zen (ipod thing) and some of her new clothes (from her dad's trip) as a punishment - she just wasn't going to let us sleep! Kept lying at our door kicking it with her foot.

We never really yelled or raised our voices but you can bet I wanted to! She finally gave up - went to her room - and then lots of LOUD music for a while. We shall suffer the fallout today I guess? Of course took me a while to calm down and get to sleep - probably not good for my bp either?

Froufie

Frouf, I'm so sorry you're still hurting. I wouldn't go to the gym if I were you. That's so sad about DD last night. She certainly made you all suffer including herself. I'd be suspicious that the mother is even going to be there. No way would I have let her go either. Congratulations for sticking to your guns. That couldn't have been easy. You are a great Mom even though she won't admit it for a couple more years.

Vickie, sorry about your WS -- I can't believe we were both swept! We were SOOO upset over that game last night; the back and forth was killing us but we just couldn't do it. If Buck doesn't start acting sooner, there's going to be trouble. He will wait until it's too late to pull a pitcher like Cordero. Oh well, it'll either get better or not.

We just need to get on home so I can go to work Saturday, but want to be here tonight. The Montanans are also leaving in the morning but they have about a 15 hour drive (also driving straight thru with 3 children). At least they have the DVD player and lots of movies and games. They're good travelers.

Here's the lineup so I don't have to spell it out each time:
Montana SIL is Judd's sister Ellen
Montana BIL is Ellen's husband Kendal
Kids are John, Casey and Lauren

Colo Springs BIL is Judd's brother Brad
Colo Springs SIL is Brad's wife Amy
Kids are Ainsley and Shelby

Kendal's grandma lives here so they're all about to go see her. Amy and I are going to Super Target and Judd is watching Ainsley and Shelby. Tonight Judd and are cooking dinner for everybody: steak, mushroom, onion and pepper kabobs, chicken and pineapple kabobs, shrimp kabobs, rice (hopefully brown) and a salad. We brought them a bottle of Chateau Nuf de Pape for a housewarming gift (and a Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner!) so we're going to have that too. We'll go to the arcade after Montanans get back from seeing (great)grandma.

Niki, what a huge party!! I hope it goes well and the weather cooperates with you.

Frouf, good grief girl! I didn’t even see what happened! Is it a gym injury? Do you need to go to the doctor? It sounds like Emily has a raging case of PMS or something like that! You’re a better woman than I am, because I sure think I would have barged out and lit into her. Your method was probably way more effective in the long run.

Sandra, as you know, Hamilton is small so if you move there you will definitely be meeting the family. Ellen works at the high school and Kendal is a PhD chemist who works for Glaxo Smith-Kline. The kids are involved in sports and all are big hunters, campers and hikers. I’m sure Curtis and Kendal would get along famously!

Angela, I hope you’re much better and Melissa, I’ll place an order!!! Pampered Chef is the best stuff around! Saundra, that’s great about how much the lady has lost! I’m sure you were a tremendous influence on her.

I am really not happy about a gain but will start whittling it down starting on Saturday. And remember that I’m going to do a personal challenge starting Monday, which will run for the month of August no matter what! I will be now shooting to get back to 143 where I was before we left. GRRRR! I’m going to try for 2 pounds a week and hopefully can get back down there and then some. It all depends on what I weigh on Saturday morning.

Okay, Amy and I are leaving for Super Target now. It sounds like Judd is trying to back out of the babysitting so I’d better start yelling at him.

vickie, i was wondering if you were going to meetings. you're one of the main reasons i'm going to meetings now. they definitely help. i love reading about your and jim's outing at the game. i'm a cowboy's fan just like you're a sox fan. we have to help them when they're in slumps, don't we?

i'll go get a glass of water right now. thanks for the tip.

nikki, you're really busy. we don't have a bj's up here. we do have costco, though.

frouf, i'm not using any of the weight equipment (land stuff) at the club. i'm afraid i'll get injured. i hope you haven't injured yourself. are you going to the doctor to see what's up? that episode with dd was definitely not good for your bp. next time could you tell her to wait till the next day at a decent time to discuss things. right before bedtime is never good. nobody can get to sleep easily afterwards. (am i being a bossy know it all here? i apologize.)

kathy, did judd back out? how young are the kids? thank you for telling us about your family. we may be moving to victor about 10 miles from hamilton. bryan is drilling for water now. we'll know by the end of this week if he hits a good supply. if he does, he's selling us a piece of the land. tell ellen it's up sweathouse creek. wayyyyy up. bryan will be the last one on the road. we'll be just before his house. what does she do at the high school? i was talking to curtis about how i might want to see about signing up to sub if we move. i'm not sure yet if i will. well, i'm not sure we'll be moving.

i weeded 2 rosebeds this am before it got too hot. now i'm in till i go to w a. my weight is down this am. i was worried because i had a fuzzy navel malt cooler last night. i couldn't find pts for it anywhere in the companion book. i did find wine cooler. that would have been 4 pts. i'm thinking malt cooler is probably close to that.

a gf called today. she has an appt at the club and may begin w a soon. she'll mainly go in the am before work but she and i can meet on fri evenings to have our own w a. there are no scheduled w a classes then. life is good.

i got this at ww last week:

"Sometimes it's not good enough to do your best; you have to do what it takes." ----Winston Churchill

and here's another:

"Together
Everyone
Accomplishes
More"

and one more:

"Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it all away?"--C. Oddbody

Sandra - congrats on the weight down - I think the malt cooler helped and you should definitely have a couple more!

I agree that before bedtime is a bad time to get all riled up - but for whatever reason that seems to ALWAYS be the time when things happen - and of course with everyone being tired late at night it sure doesn't help! I tried very hard to remain level headed and not freak out too much cuz I knew that wouldn't help the situation at all.

And yes Kathy - my first instinct was to just open my bedroom door and kick her! How awful is that? I can't believe how immature and childish she was being.

Hope Judd fulfilled his babysitting duties and that you had a fun shopping experience! Did you get anything new and different?

Vickie - thanks for the kind words - it is hard to think I am doing the right thing when dd is more than happy to let me know how mean and stupid I am! I try not to let that push my buttons and keep my fingers crossed - my mantra is "...and this too shall pass"....(like when they were little - I kept muttering under my breath 'it's just a stage, it's just a stage.... )

I have decided NOT to go to the gym today - while my leg feels slightly better (might just be the drugs I took!) - I don't want to do anything at all that might slow down the healing process - so home and maybe put my feet up? At least I am not limping as much now.

EXCITING NEWS - remember those nasty awards I was trying for - having to fill out all sorts of paperwork and provide documents and all? Well my manager calls me into her office today to show me a letter she received saying CONGRATULATIONS - cuz my project/unit has been chosen as a FINALIST!!! (yes my database project made it - under National Awards - Information Management). How amazing is that? Of course she called an immediate meeting of our 'group' - for the announcement and everyone was very nice and congratulatory - now of course the news is making the rounds.

Now the letter was addressed to her - and I sure hope I GET TO GO TO THE GALA AWARDS DINNER ON OCT 23RD to see if we won (I think only 2 tickets are provided?). Don't really care if we win - being a finalist is quite exciting in of itself (and I hear it's a really great party!)

Hmmmm - guess I should tell dh so he can arrange some sort of special celebration? right?

Frouf

frouf, i could use a malt cooler now, but we're out and are trying to stay on a budget. maybe in a week or so. i'm proud of you for staying kewl. i know that wasn't easy. i'll bet your heart was beating fast.

a celebration is definitely needed. have you called dh yet? congratulations on being a finalist. we'll be waiting to hear what you won on october 23. you better get to go.

it's lonely here today. i have a question for those reading but not posting. is it helping you to read posts here? if so, we'd love to hear your success stories. if not, we'd like to help if we can.

Hey chicks,
its been too hot to sit and post on here lately. ..I have the fan blowing directly on me while I type now. ahhhh feels good. I can't get movitated to do my dvd this week,,,I plan to tomorrow and get back into it. Its been too hot for me...(ok enough whining)
vickie I have to thank you for that core chicken recipe..its sooooo good! Nice and crunchy too. I used the breasts though , I didnt have thighs, and I baked it in the oven. yum yum yum I tried something new with my potatoes as well,,,,I cut them into chunks, added my allowed oil, then sprinkled a spice of roasted red peppers and garlic seasoning on them. Covered them and nuked them in the microwave...omg they are sooooo good! THe seasoning isnt core but I use so little I dont count the points for it. Only a few shakes. Very tasty and something new.
Congrats on your excellent work Frouf! Crossing my fingers you get to go. You deserve it.
Kathy sounds like you having a blast on your holiday..
Sandra, before I started posting here,,I lurked..and it helped me. This is where I first learned about Core.
Angela how did the party turn out?

Is anyone watching RockStar:Supernova??? I love this show...I loved Rockstar:INXS last year and couldnt wait fo them to do it again...beats the heck out of Canadian and American Idol. (imho)
Well I think Im going to hit the couch and read with the fan on me...haha..can you tell I like my fan.
Have a great night everyone
ttyl

Hey Chicks! Sorry I couldn't be here today. We had errands and PT earlier today. Then while I was cooking dinner around 3:30/4:00 we had tornado sitings and were warned to go to the basement. I am SO afraid of storms and tornados. All is well but I think some hit down North and a bit east of us. At one point they were due to come right through my town. I'm very very tired from being so nervous.

I've eaten all Core today. Now tomorrow I hope to be able to get into the pool before we go out to meet our friends.

Sandra, I'm sorry you were lonely here today. I've had those days when I could be here and no one else is around. It's a bummer! And....I know you're right about the meetings. I don't know why I'm stalling. I think this menopause thing is freaking me out. I don't seem to be able to figure out how to stay motivated to do the program AND exercise to get the weight off. I just feel all out of sorts. I guess I need to start doing some reading. I've held off on the evening primrose and other natural remedies because of the prescription medicine that I take. With all of Jim's appointments, I haven't wanted to add any of my own. He comes first for now.

Patti, do you not have air conditioning? I think I'd die without it given my extra poundage and my hot flashes!

Frouf, I'm glad you didn't go to the gym. Let it rest and then you can get back to it. If you injure it worse then it might be a week before you can get back. Huge congratulations on your database being picked for the finals. I really hope your boss lets you go. Maybe you should tell her you'd really like to go before she decides to go herself. Play innocent and excited. That shouldn't be too hard. You should be very proud of yourself and your team. I remember how hard and frustrating the paperwork was for you!

Kath, I can't believe your coming home and going straight back to work. That really stinks. I know that exercise AND doing the program is the approach that is going to make the pounds come back off instantly. Maybe you should try that one first. Maybe I'll be motivated to do it with you.

Melissa, we miss you. Hope your training is going well. I know you are missing Aaron and the Murphster.

Well, I'm all worn out from worrying about the weather. I need to go to bed. Jim has an early ear doctor appointment so I probably won't be on until later tomorrow.

Just a quick hello before I go and pack. Bernie is out for a run and we plan to leave by 10:00.
I worked yesterday and it was uneventful, which is good. Last night, we took some LP's to a fellow who's going to convert them to CD's. Bernie has a huge jazz collection that he's getting done.

Vickie, I hope you got in the pool yesterday. I'm sure hoping to be in the pool in Tremblant, but I'm not sure how warm it will be there (in the mountains). Congratulations on you core day.

Speaking of contgrats, good job Frouf. You worked hard, but it paid off. I do hope that you get to go to the awards gala and step up to the podium. I've been a lower back sciatica person from way back, and it's miserable.

Patti, hope you've cooled down with the fan. We are spoiled with our air conditioning here. I remember in Windsor (humidity capital of Canada) growing up with no air conditioning. We didn't know any better.

Kathy, you've been a busy gal. Have a safe trip back.

Sandra, it's funny that when I'm home all day, all I want to do is sit at the computer. Now that I'm a little busier, it's harder to get here. Of course, I miss all of my buddies.

Nikki, have a ball at the birthday bash. I'm looking forward to pictures of the princess and her pirate.

Melissa, hope the course went well and that you have a relaxing weekend.

Okay, off to get ready for the road.....

good morning. i've been up about an hour already. now isn't that something? i have already cut a bouquet of roses for a friend we're going to visit after ww this am. speaking of ww, i think that's why i'm up early. i'm excited and anxious to hop on those scales. i didn't weigh beforehand today so i'll be surprised. please send blinks for a good surprise. i've worked hard this week and am hoping for a payoff on the scales. if i don't get it, that's all right because the payoff is coming in other ways. i'm in clothes now that have been "hanging around" for quite awhile cuz i couldn't get them on my body.

patti, your potato recipe sounds good. nuking them is a good idea for during this heat. thank you for the idea. thank you,also, for answering my question about people who come here to read. i'm soooooo glad it helped you learn about core. that makes my day. it's hot here, too. we're expecting temps to cool down beginning sunday. i hope we're over the hottest part of summer. (we probably are.)

i'm not watching rockstar:supernova. i don't know why, but i just haven't gotten into it. i am a reality show fan, though, and watch a lot of other reality tv.

vickie, congratulations for making healthy choices. you're probably right about menopause. i hope you can get yourself back to your old self soon. did i thank you yesterday for helping me make up my mind to go to meetings? that's what i was intending when i posted to you. you're sooooo right. going to meetings is very important even with all the support we get here. my leader told us that nobody wants to go to the meetings. and that, if the meetings weren't necessary none of us would be there including her. i do hope you get back to your meetings soon if you can. i'm sure you are being missed by a lot of folks.

when i was a little girl, my parents (mother especially) would wake my bro and me up in the middle of the night if a storm was coming and we'd head to a cellar. we'd go to my grandparents and stay close to their cellar with my gmother and mother watching the clouds. if they got close, we went down. those were not my scariest times during storms, though. when i was a 4th grade teacher and was responsible for 30+ children at school, we'd go to a big hallway with other classes. the kids would duck and cover. my son was there, too, with his class. one time while they were ducked and covered, some other teachers and i stood looking out the window at the clouds. i saw a big tail moving close to the ground. it was moving about a mile or so west going south so i knew it wasn't going to hit the school. but it looked like it was going to hit where my home was. it didn't, thank goodness. we had many many trips to that hallway. it's so hard to stay calm with all that going on, but we (teachers) had to because of the children.

about 10 years ago a tornado hit cleburne, texas just a few minutes before i left to drive to alvarado to teach. i guess i was right behind it. there was debris (buildings and trees) blocking one of the main streets that i was to drive down. i had to take an alternate street through downtown. electricity was out and all traffic signals were off. this was unnerving. the thing is my siamese cat, macy, had stalled me a few minutes. i was ready to leave and she was out for the day. when i went to the door, she was literally screaming for me to put her in so i put her in and got her some water and food for the day. if she hadn't slowed me down, i really believe i would have been in that twister. my mother never liked macy and didn't get along with her, but after that day she made a special attempt. she and i both gave macy credit for my safety. i definitely understand being afraid of storms. i am, too.

saundra, have a good time on your holiday. i love it how you and bernie take trips. that will keep you young.

i will be on the puter again later this afternoon. i'm going to ww then we're visiting a friend and going on to cracker barrel for lunch. have a great--op!!--day, everyone.

Good Morning Chicks! I can't stay since I have to get dressed to drive Jim to his appointment and run to the grocery store.

Sandra, I just wanted to send some good luck blinks for you even though I'm sure you don't need them!

I'll be back when I can. We have another full day. I MUST get into the pool this afternoon. Since we have dinner with friends out tonight, I only have this afternoon before I have to shower and get ready.

Sandra - I'm glad Macy was there to save you - all those tornado stories do sound pretty scary to me! Never really been close to one - only seen them on tv or movies. Waiting for the WW report!! Have a nice visit with your friend.

Vickie - hope the pool is being used? and you are not all busy with lots of errands again - some time to relax (esp when retired) is also nice! Congrats on staying core yesterday!

Niki - good luck w/the party - also would love to see pics of the 'guests' - bet they all look fantastic!

Melissa - are you home yet? Hope you had a good time and I know you are glad to be back?

Kathy - safe driving home - hope the trip is uneventful - I also think going back to work tomorrow sucks!

Saundra - have a wonderful time at Mont Tremblant - weather should be nice and hot so I know you will enjoy the pools!

Patti - my ds is avidly watching supernova (watch out if you are watching anything else while it is on!) - and is a big fan of the rock star shows! As for the seasoning is there a reason why it would not be core???

Hot and muggy today - kinda gray out - we have had clouds hanging overhead in this heat for days - and even a smog warning - which is kind of rare!!!

Good news is: my leg feels much better today - no drugs at all! Took 2 muscle relaxants before bed last night and my left leg almost feels normal today - I am considering getting to the gym after work.

Bad news is: dd was up late last night - big lights blaring - woke up dh - the ultimate of light sleepers - as she is very inconsiderate - so I had to have a 'talk' with her at 8 am this morning before going to work - yes I made sure to WAKE HER UP so she would know what it feels like! She is still in a pretty foul mood given the incident of the other day! Dh is also in a foul mood cuz he is a major insomniac - I am now telling him to try sleeping pills or something? He says he can't even catch up on his sleep during the daytime!!!

I did get into a bag of potato chips last night - but tried not to overdo it! Scale is still okay today - trying to drink lots of water tho. Getting ready for party tomorrow - dh has list: veggie trays, fruit trays, soft drinks, paper goods - cake gets picked up tomorrow! Need to do some minor cleaning up before guests arrive!

Will check in later - lunchtime and I'm starving!!!

Frouf