Happy First Day of Spring, Cottage! It was SO cold this morning with a very brisk wind. Oh well...hopefully March will learn to "go out like lamb" by next week! ;) Cindy doesn't actually "hunt" foxes, does she? :eek:

Hey, LC! Your night sounds like SO much fun--games and crafts are my favorite things to do with other friends! (well, that and eating...and shopping, too. :lol: ) You know, I haven't done a vision board, but I really want to. I'm not sure how to make myself set aside the time for it. Since I have NO idea what my visions/dreams are, I know it'll be really time consuming. :( Are you planning on doing one?

:yay: YAY, Ruth!!! :yay: That's great news about schlepping the trash without your cane! You're on your way back to our usual, perky Ruthie! :goodvibes Your dinner sounds divine! I'm SO bad at hand quilting...I think I get 3 stitches per inch. Good for you for working on it, though--I hear it's a wonderful skill to have because then you can quilt anywhere and anytime! :D

Oh, Nessa, it sounds like you need a hug, hon! :hug: :grouphug: I'm so sorry things are so *%#$y right now. I hope Bri heals. My mom has cellulitis and besides being painful and itchy, it just looks horrible, so I imagine it's worse for her than it probably is. Hon, are you weighing yourself correctly? I just got a great e-mail that explained how to weigh yourself--I've been doing it wrong for years! Here's the illustration:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...rner/scale.jpg

Don't you worry about that scale. Really. There's a gazillion things that can make the number go up, but one thing you know for sure is that you DIDN'T gain 1.2 lbs overnight! :rolleyes: When you're stressed, it can definitely mess with your metabolism and weight loss. It sounds like you have a lot of stress. Just drink water, fit in some time for exercise (a great natural stress-reliever!), and get some sleep. Okay? :hug:

Hey, Cat! Enjoy the time off, hon! :D

Kim, I think the candy temptation makes sense. After so much darkness and cold, you want something cheerful and yummy to make you feel better. Valentine's is so close to the beginning of the year and our renewed determination to diet that it doesn't seem to get the same feeelings going. Plus, on V-day you're supposed to wait for someone to give the candy to you. On Easter, as an adult, you can just go get it! :devil: It's my favorite holiday and so I'm always tempted more by the candy at this time of year. You're amazing--I find prep work for painting (and the painting itself) to be SOOOO time-consuming and annoying that I avoid it at all costs. It takes me forever once I actually start--I'm always painting like crazy to try to finish before the week is up and the tape becomes more permanently stuck! :lol: What color are you doing in the bathroom?

Glad to hear you sounding more cheerful, Kara! :hug: I hope you continue to feel better. I love your offer to "whomp" Nessa's scale. Can I send you mine, too? ;) It's so great that you have a grandmother who can show you how to craft. My Bobie's hands were too arthritic by the time I was old enough for her to show me how to knit--a terrible shame since she was a very accomplished knitter! BTW, we had the egg/smell thing one year too--Mom lost it, even WITH a map! :lol3:

Wow, Pohai, the situation with the move would drive me BATTY!!! :tantrum: I'm not a fan of stupidity...bet you aren't either. ;) I hope it turns out better than you think. Germany is an AMAZING country and I'd love to live there for a while. I hope you get a chance to enjoy it. Lucky, lucky you, you'll be there for the weinachtsmarkts (Christmas Markets)! They are totally divine... :love: Do have a glass of gluhwein and some roasted nuts for me! Here's a website that lists markets, just to get you dreaming. :D

Me:
Off to the gym after work today, then home for the normal routine. Holy Thursday service tonight--our church has a "washing of the feet" ceremony with 12 people, one of whom will be me this year. I have to remember not to wear tights! :lol: After the feet washing, I'll run up to the choir loft to join in the singing. It's a long service, but I'll be looking forward to getting home and just relaxing with DH and the dog.

I have tomorrow off, but I have tons to do. I really need to brush the bunnies, who are molting, big time. I have to brush them outdoors, which I hate to do this time of year, since it's so cold for them...but there's nothing else for it. I can't take the chance that they'll get hairballs! Then I'm planning on doing some shopping for an Easter dress (I wish I had a smaller body to clothe...) and a couple final gifts for my sponsor. Then there's Good Friday service at 3, I have to make and eat dinner, and then I have group therapy.

Hope everyone has a good day and stays warm! :wave: to all the people who posted while I was writing this!

Fluffy: Good luck with those last two pounds this month! You can do it! :cheer2:

Kara: I completely admire your attitude! You are one strong woman!! I hate washing the walls as well, but if I don't I know the paint won't stick. Sigh. The costs of redecorating!!

Browneyedgirl: Hope things start swinging your way. It's so great that you haven't gained - you get to "start from scratch'!

LC: I had a great time making mine. I'm going to update it as soon as I start redoing the guest/office room. Have fun with yours!!

Laurie: You're probably right. Stupid Easter candy! I think the biggest problem is that my office-mates have suddenly taken to refilling the jar every week as opposed to once a month like they used to.

I hate the prep work for painting as well, but it's got to be done. Usually I don't even tape, I'm pretty good at cutting in, but the bathroom's a whole different story. I don't want to mess up the white tile shower surround! The bathroom right now has a white tile floor, white (fake) tile on the lower half of the walls, a white vanity, a white medicine cabinet, a white tile shower surround and white shower/window curtains. Combine that with blinding vanity lights and you've got an ugly bathroom! We're painting it the blue of the focal wall in our bedroom. It's the leftover paint, which is flat, but I'm okay with not having glossy bathroom walls since we'll be gutting it in a few years anyhow.

I'm actually leaving work early today. They are letting everyone leave at 2 since it is a long weekend but I had to leave early today for a dental cleaning anyway. Tomorrow is a holiday but Brian wants to go to day care to play with his friends so I'll probably spend the day cleaning and maybe working on yardwork.

I've agreed to let Brian spend Saturday night with his dad. He's really spending it with his friend, Raphael, it is just that his dad lives there too now. It is a tradition for Brian to spend most of the Easter weekend at their house and I'm not going to tell him he can't sleepover with his friend just because his dad is there. It does leave me with a lot of free time I hadn't counted on but there are things that I can be doing. Maybe I'll stop by the library and pick up a new book too. That would be relaxing. And I do need to get some more lava rock to put down. We did get some erosion when the pool overflowed in the dirt areas that still need lava rock.

:wave:, Barb! We were simul-posting! I hope you enjoy your free time this weekend! I think a trip to the library is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning.

I just got a call from the blood center saying they are short of my blood type so I've scheduled that for tomorrow afternoon. I'll have to get that heavy lifting of lava rock done in the morning! They are down to 43 pints of B+ I've found it hard to make time to donate this year so I'm going to take advantage of not having to work tomorrow.

Kim, love the color! How pretty!

Barb, I hope you find tons of peace and comfort in getting a little "you" time. :hug: I think the library is a WONDERFUL place...it's second only to the candy store, IMHO! ;) I also love watching sappy chick flicks when I'm on my own for a bit.

Well, the kids' rooms and the kitchen are cleaned now. The study is half done. Have to do Living Room, bathrooms and my bedroom. Might actually be done by tonight if I don't poop out. (I'm wanting to, that's for sure!)

Have to hit Dollar Tree this evening for some little party "stuff".

Hello everyone. Haven't been here this week. DH works nights this week and it's hard for me to get on the computer when he's home. Got my hair done today. This is probably the first time in about a year maybe. I never get to do anything for myself and I feel weird doing it. And on top of it all, whenever I get to do something nice for myself, DH has to find something to get upset about and I don't ever get to enjoy my "pampering". I hate it. And that I one big reason why I don't do anything for myself because he always gets mad about something. When I came home and he seen my hair he complained about how short it is and he is unhappy because I colored it. It's not even highlights, it's 2 shades lighter than my natural color. What the ****?! Whatever. I never get to do it so I'm going to enjoy it no matter what he says. I don't have time for myself and he's not pampering me so I've got to do it myself!!! Everyone---have a wonderful day

Pohai, I'm so glad you got a chance to check in! Where are you guys headed in Germany again? Maybe you'll end up at Landstul and be right by us at Ramstein!!! How much fun would that be?! We lived in TLF for two months last year because our house fell apart (not really, just the ductwork underneath it) and it really wasn't that bad. They come and change your sheets for you and dust and vacuum (although I vacuumed and swept myself every day anyway). Too bad they don't do dishes... Good luck! When are you leaving?

Laurie, I do hope you find a smashing Easter dress! I got a ton of compliments on my $5 clearance rack skirt I got from Target that I wore last Sunday, so I'm sending vibes your way.

Kim, that blue is gorgeous! I love it!!!

Barbara, I didn't hear about your pool overflow! Hope you have a nice relaxing weekend!

Krystal, I'm sending you energy vibes to finish up the rest of your cleaning and party prep! Let us know how it goes!

Tawnya, I am sure that your hair is just beautiful! It'll grow out and change back to its normal color anyway, so I don't understand why people get so up in arms about hair. Enjoy your special time! You deserve it!

Well, both girls are napping and Connor is off playing with my brother so I have some free time. What do I do but log on here! I've got some chick peas I just roasted that are begging to be snacked on and then I'm going to turn on the TV and catch up on some programs I've taped and haven't watched yet. The house is picked up and the dishes are all done, so it's nice to have a couple minutes!

Kara

TKGlenn, have you talked to your husband about how much his comments hurt you? :( If he doesn't listen, have you considered writing him your feelings in a letter or perhaps going to counseling? If he won't do counseling, maybe you can go on your own. It won't fix what he's doing, but it could help you figure out how to handle it so you can enjoy your life without him bothering you so much. I'm sure you look gorgeous! Most women I know get their hair done at least four times a year, even if it's only a brief sojourn to Super Cuts or Cost Cutters or whatever. Many women get their nails done weekly and lots of women get other beauty treatments regularly. You certainly deserve to do the things that make you feel good. :hug: I don't know if it's true for you, but I do know that I reward myself and comfort myself with food--I need to learn to reward and comfort myself with the things that I usually tell myself are too expensive or too time consuming, like massages, just sitting for a half hour and reading a good book, etc.

Kara - We had over 5 inches of rain on Tuesday and that was enough to overfill the pool. No major problems though since there are drains in the decking around the pool. It was just the back where it is dirt that eroded some and put water in the alley. It could be worse. My coworker in Missouri had his basement flood and had many momentos destroyed.

Yeah, I just don't get it. Besides, I heard that they will cut it just alittle shorter than asked because in a couple of weeks is when it'll show the true results of the cut. It'll grow back and the color will grow out, what's the big deal anyway? I think he likes it but he doesn't like me changing my looks for the better in fear of me leaving him or someone else coming along!!!! I wish he would realize that I am doing this for myself. I don't get pampered (which I believe I should---I have 4 kids and I am a stay at home mom) and I believe I have every right to be pampered. Uuuuuughhhh. Anyways, I will enjoy my "new" look. Tonight I have a cake meeting in which I have to take all 4 of my kids with me (one has ADHD and I really don't know how things will be with him there). Well, I'm off to the shower to get rid of all the loose hair and to get the "salon" smell out. It's kind of making me sick.

beachgal-yeah, I've tried talking to him about how much he hurts me when he makes his comments but according to him, he's not saying anything negative. He goes to couseling for his PTSD but that's it. He's actually been doing really good up till this morning. I know he was upset at first because it was getting so close to him having to leave for work but I told him before I left what time I would be home. Then when I talk to him on the phone he kept hanging up on me for no reason then when I get home and he sees my hair he complains about it being too short and the color. Whatever I guess. yeah, I tend to pamper myself with food---whether it's pampering or emotional eating, I still turn to food. I get depressed, I eat. I'm happy about something, I eat. I'm stressed, I eat. I'm bored, I eat. Wish it would stop.

Originally Posted by tkglenn:
Hello everyone. Haven't been here this week. DH works nights this week and it's hard for me to get on the computer when he's home. Got my hair done today. This is probably the first time in about a year maybe. I never get to do anything for myself and I feel weird doing it. And on top of it all, whenever I get to do something nice for myself, DH has to find something to get upset about and I don't ever get to enjoy my "pampering". I hate it. And that I one big reason why I don't do anything for myself because he always gets mad about something. When I came home and he seen my hair he complained about how short it is and he is unhappy because I colored it. It's not even highlights, it's 2 shades lighter than my natural color. What the ****?! Whatever. I never get to do it so I'm going to enjoy it no matter what he says. I don't have time for myself and he's not pampering me so I've got to do it myself!!! Everyone---have a wonderful day

oh i'm so sorry your husband is being this way....

TK - Guys like that drive me nuts. I have no advice, because I have never heard of any of them getting nicer. Maybe counseling will help, but I dunno. Enjoy yourself and be strong - you aren't defined by what he thinks. If he's using you as his emotional punching bag, he obviously has insecurity issues. Good luck on that meeting tonight. My oldest always had "issues" like your son... I always dreaded going out with him. With some major behavior management, I am happy to say that he is now just a normal kid. (He's just turning 11)

Kara - what do roasted chick peas taste like? I've never heard of them. Your energy vibes must be helping, because we just finished the living room. I'm giving the kids a little break, then time to tackle the study/computer room.