Just wanted to drop by and say hi - tomorrow starts a busy time at work and for the next couple of months it's going to be crazy. I am apprehensive, but I'll take it one day at a time and make it that way. Every year I say it's the last year - but the money and benefits are good, so here I am again.

Thanks for listening!

Morning ladies,

I'm kinda bleary eyed this morning. Lovely fall allergies. I'm up early but no exercise this morning. I'm trying to get to work really early because I have to leave at 3:30. Tonight I have a new farrier coming for the horses.

I got all my ironing caught up yesterday so this weeks focus will be on horses, walking dogs, and finish sorting out my office. That seems like a never ending task for some reason. I need to get more stuff on Ebay. Exercise is a must this week. And clean eating.

to all!

Good morning ladies, How are you today?

I am not sure how I am. I have been a little depressed lately. I have been dreaming about my Mom and I know that has a lot to do with my mood. I do miss her so much. Sometimes I wonder how she had a kid like me. She always put her health first. If the Dr. said you should eat this, or not eat that, that is exactly what she did! She never had to take meds for anything until she got the blood clot in her leg, and that was at age 99.

My on again off again dieting is driving me nuts! I am not gaining weight, but I am not losing weight. That is not where I want to be! ARGGGGH! Vent over.

Terri, I do admire your ability to do all of the things you do. I couldn't do half of them. I can remember being able to do all of that stuff though

rileydog, take a deep breath and relax. We just make ourselves crazy sometimes don't we? Life is a bear. One of my favorite sayings. (my kids hate it )

Lilion, I hope you are getting some rest too. There are some things that we can't control, and one of those is what other people do. Let it be on her head and not on you. You have gone above and beyond what most people would do.

Heather, Angela, Bearcub,Val and luja Everybody come on over and lets have coffee! Ta for now, Ruth

Ruth -- I'll be over for coffee! I hope you can feel better soon, but I think it's natural to grieve for a long time!

Terri -- You ARE busy!

Patti -- It's tough having a job you don't like. Good luck!

As for me -- lots of meetings and grading and class prep. Should be better than the last couple of weeks, however...

Good Afternoon Ladies!

I'm at work now - yuck! It's nearly noon so I suppose I better do something today - especially catch up my time sheets before they decide not to pay me!

I had a fairly good weekend all things considered. Saturday DH and I had to go to a funeral for a friend of his. It was very sad. A eulogy with lots of scripture, which was odd, because T believed in God and all, but didn't really belive in organized religion. Then they showed a long slide show of photos of him, then asked for people to speak, but only his neice and daughter got up for a moment. I didn't really know him, but kept thinking "I have to plan my service in advance, this is SO not what I want when I die." When we left, my DH said "That was exactly the opposite of what I want my funeral to be." We're so much alike it's scary! I've always said I want something like a old-fashioned Irish wake. I want people to eat and drink and visit with each other and really celebrate my life! Not just say they are there to do that and then sit and cry for a 1/2 hour.

Yesterday, my friend G and I both wanted to get out of our houses, DH was sleeping and DS with a friend, so we hit the mall. I never shop at Sears, but she suggested it. I SCORED! They had their clearance items at 10% of the lowest clearance price! I bought $25 worth of clothes and they filled two big bags! Nothing was over $3.00! I got tops and skirts and this cute black jersy dress. It was GREAT! I basically tried on anything that wasn't totally ugly and in the right size. Some of the stuff is a tad snug, but wearable, which is actually good because that way I can keep wearing it longer. Since I WILL lose some more weight, darnit! I also hit our new Kohls store and got a pair of pants for work for $20 after all the discounts (I applied for a credit card for more money off.) I was BEAT by the time I got home, but SO worth it!

Ruth: I SO understand how much you must miss your mother. I remember how I felt like it was yesterday. All I can say is, it DOES get easier! I am in your boat with the weight thing. I did really well for a week, then fell off again last week and was totally NOT OP for a week. I've got to get past this darn depression over everything and get started again!

As for RW, no word since that phone message, and that was over a week ago. She should have gotten her SS check direct deposited on the 3rd, so she should be back by now if she were coming. I drive by the place where I think she'll be staying every once in a while, but no car. I'm giving her only a small amount of time, then I'm going to aggressivlely work on selling her other car and put everything over top of the debt on to the one I'm having to pay for. I don't know what else to do. I dreamed this morning she showed up at my house with her boyfriend and his whole family and they were all homeless and wanted to stay with us. Like that would happen! But I'm sure that dream had some meaning.

Well, I best get to it if I'm not going to be here the rest of the day! Later ladies!

Well, I went to the doctor today convinced I had gained back some of the weight I had lost, but surprise! I actually had lost another 3 pounds. How did that happen? He still wants me to lose more each time, but I felt good at the loss. I'm now right on the edge of 300. Next time I want to be down in the 200's for the first time in a longgg time.
Maybe some of the work I've been doing around the house has been helping. Hmmm.
Lilion, hope you don't hear from RW again and you can get cleared up with this and move on.
Ruth, I saw a show, maybe Oprah? , with an author who was writing about the connection we women have with our mothers, and she said that we never get over the loss of our mothers - even those women who have bad relationships with mothers never get past it and those who have had close relationships are always affected by the loss. I have hanging on my wall three pictures of mom- one photo as young woman, one in her 70's and an oil painting her father did of her when she was 2 years old. I always feel she's watching over me. Our mothers never truly leave us. Maybe that's the legacy we can cling to when we are sad about the loss.
Well, it's time to head to bed. I have to get up early and go in for mentoring. I was up early today too -doing 10 loads of laundry!!!
Have a good week.
Bearcub

Morning ladies,

I don't even know what to say this morning but yawn. Yesterday was a much better day being OP. The scale is being really mean and I deserve it. The farrier turned out to be really good and cheap! He's coming back on Saturday to work on Ginger and he says there is no reason why I can't be riding her again soon. And I think in the spring I will be sending the boys to him for another round of training - this round a lot more time on the trail. So that was a success considering we have been pondering putting Ginger down and getting pressure from DH's cousin's wife that we should put her down like they did their horse with a similar situation.

It was such a beautiful night, I walked all five dogs. Not at once though. The first two trips was with Dixie and Daisy. I swear I need a cart to ride in and just let them pull me. Danni got to run along without being on a leash. Next was Duke and we went across the road into the field which is harder to walk in. Then Ruby also got to venture into the field. I jogged several times and had worked up a sweat. So it was good for me too. I need to get another harness that will fit the smaller girls. That really helps a lot since they pull so hard. It also worked wonders on Ruby because she didn't get away from me last night like she has the last two times.

Lilion - Sorry to hear about DH's friend and the funeral. I used to put all my stock in my "career" and let work define who I was until I sat in the funeral of my uncle and listened to all these people say what a wonderful giving man he was and all the great things he did for people. I realized that all people would say about me is that I worked really hard. I really started concentrating on finding things that I loved to do besides work. I also don't like it when a funeral becomes a chance to save souls unless that is specifically what that person wanted and truly believed in. Great score on the clothes. I finally posted the lasagna recipe over on the recipe thread and yes its there!

Bearcut - Congrats on being down at the doc's scale. That had to feel great considering you were expecting a gain.

Ruth - Believe it or not, but my ability to do things comes from my mom. My mom had to work like a man all her life because she always had to help dad do stuff because of his physical inabilities (weight, arthritus, bad knees, pain) and her shear stubborness to get in do things. I like being able to do things. I think it is also my own necessity to have to do things because if I can't, then who will? It is also a "nananananna" moment because DH is always telling me that I can't do it. Like on Saturday when I wanted a bale of straw on top of the hay stack to keep the tarp from flapping in the wind. I had him take it out on the four wheeler then I stood on the front of the four wheeler and hoisted the bale of straw over my head onto stack where I wanted it. All the time DH is flapping his jaws about how I wasn't going to be able to do it. I was able to say, see if you'd just shut up and assist me I can have things done in a shorter period of time than arguing about whether or not I can do it. Not much he could say to that.

Today is DH's birthday. I don't even have a card yet. I already bought his birthday present and he's been using it. I got him a set of Rachel Ray stainless steel cookware. Our Calphalon had seen better days and he was tired of it. Funny, but I remember telling the salesperson in Dillard's that I didn't want the heavy duty Calphalon that would last 20 years, that I wanted the nonstick that would only last 10 years because I might want a new set in 10 years. It wasn't me who used it the most but DH!

For not having much to say this morning, I have blathered on enough.

Have a good OP day!

Good Morning Ladies!

Just have a second. Work is utter chaos today! Ahhh - the day after a three-day weekend - always so much fun.

Terri - thanks for posting that recipe. It sounds delicious and incredibly fattening! If I run it thru Recipe Builder do you think it'll give me the points, or just say "You've got to be kidding!"

Bearcub - on that loss! You're well on your way to two-town!!!

Got to run. Later all!

HI all! I don't know if I posted it, but I'm having computer problems. The screen on my lap top is ka-putt. I can only get on-line at work, and it's limited there.

Gabe is doing great, and the treatments from my chiropractor have finally reached a point where all I feel is good. During the first few weeks while my neck was adjusting, it was really stiff and sore, but now I'm feeling more limber and not at all fragile, which is how I've felt for the past several weeks. Too fragile to ride, too fragile to exercise (sounds like a good escuse, doesn't it?) Just plain too fragile. OK - that's past now - YEAH! I even rode old Steega over the weekend. NOW I feel like I might be getting to a point where I can get on "The Big Guy." I'm going to visit again on Thursday, but I don't think I even want to get on him until next week. When Ken was riding him on Saturday, he'd be going along looking all relaxed, then something would startle him a bit and I could see his neck stiffen and he'd excellerate a couple of strides. That little exceleration is what could get my rolie-poly self killed. I'm just too old anymore, and it scares me to see it. I'm having some second thoughts about whether this is really an appropriate horse for me to own. We'll see. At least I enrolled in some health and life insurance this morning. <BG> Don't tell DH, but he gets double if I die in any kind of accident. I don't need him arena-side, clanging cymbols or something!

Back to work! Best wishes ladies. I'm sorry I'm not doing personals lately!! I AM reading an keeping up with you! SOme day I'll have to tell you about my Blazer's radiator dying, and the adventure I'm having driving DH's jeep - it's like driving a tin can balanced on a greased skateboard. Each corner my be my last.

Lilion - About the recipe, Rachel Ray does not provide nutritional info on her recipes. It is very very good. Not just because its lasagna but with the mushrooms and seasoned tomatoes, it is very updated. To be really honest, I think calories can be cut by not going with the pesto. A FF cottage cheese seasoned with lots of basil and Italian seasonings could replace it. Also, calories can be cut by using a low-fat mozzarella. DH wanted meat and not nuts so that is why I did the browned hamburger. Another thing I might try next time is cut even more of the mozzarella and have more seasoned tomatoes for more veggies.

Morning ladies,

Grudgingly I am up and have done some exercise this morning. I'm struggling with a sabotage slump right now. Its more like I have this thought that keeps coming back....why bother? Isn't it amazing how quickly you can go from feeling successful and encouraged to why bother?

Last nights dinner was good. Lobster and baked potato for DH's birthday choice. He said something about buying his own birthday cake. We've never had birthday cakes before for each other. I bought a small german chocolate cake at the grocery store (when I bought his card ). I had one small piece. Now he can eat or trash what is left. No more for me. It was the thought that counts.

The dogs are driving me crazy so I think I'll get off here, feed them outside and hit the shower.

Have a great OP hump day!

Good morning ladies, How is it going with all of you? I am hanging on to being op by the skin of my teeth. I am staying within my calorie count! You know the weekend is coming and I am hoping that I can act sane. I think an evil spirit takes over my body on weekends.

What would you do if you were me.....I have a relative, a cousin, that lives across the street from me. We have never been close, but our Moms were sisters. She lost her Mom about a year ago. (they lived together). Anyway for the last few months she has called wanting to borrow money. I hate to say no, I don't like to see anyone broke and in a bind, but where does this end? She has grown children but I don't guess they want to help her. I feel sorry for her and that is the problem. My Christain duty says I need to help her if I can, but now I am thinking that she is taking advantage of that. I don't know how well I am expressing this, but I really would like to know...what would you do? I feel that I need to put a stop to it, but then I worry. If she is broke by the ninth of the month, what is up with that?

I have had my hammer out again, putting up more pics. moving things around, vacuuming and mopping bathrooms, oh my aching back. AND I haven't even started to clean the rest of the house. Oh well, I have two more days before the weekend Sometimes I ask myself 'who cares!" If I could just teach my DH to pick up behind himself and for goodness sakes straighten up the hand towel in the bathroom! Ah, husbands, what would we do without them?

I need to go and check out the recipes terri posted. It is time to try something new, or different.

Ta for now. Ruth

Ruth, that's a toughie. You know my situation with lending money right now, so I can't say I'm for it with ANYONE. Is she working? Is she unable to pay bills or is it more like $10 here and there for groceries/gas? If it's the latter, maybe you can gently direct her to the food bank or a charity for assistance. I know I'm sure more likely to buy someone some groceries at Aldi's right now than to loan a penny...because it likely won't be a loan, it'll be a gift, pure and simple. And if it's a BIG loan - tell her you CAN'T afford it!

Terri, I'm sure that recipe will be wonderful with all kinds of substitutions, but I'd really like to try it with the almond pesto...I'm just an almond NUT! (no pun intended. ) I may need to schedule a spurge day, and maybe cut it in half, so there won't be days worth of left-overs. I'd really love to try to stew - but my DH doesn't like sweet potatoes - the sick little monkey! I love my yams!

Just popping in really, really fast. It's been an insane week so far. I've had advising meetings (about a half an hour each) with around 40 students since Monday. That's in addition to teaching my regular classes and making two flyers for two events I'm organizing and meeting with 3 graduate students to help them finalize proposals for their master's theses or independent studies, all of which are due next week. Plus I have a terrible cough and can't sleep; I got up at 2 a.m. today because lying there coughing was so miserable, and came in to the office at 3:30. And it's a short week--we have Friday off, and I'm taking tomorrow off, so that I can leave today and drive to Ohio, spend Friday and Saturday checking up on my mother, and then drive back Sunday so I can teach Monday morning at 8. WHEW! My scale is down, even though TOM never arrived. Weird, but I'll take it.

Hope all is well. I'll be MIA until next week, most likely. But I'll be thinking of you all.