Good morning chicks :coffee2:

It's so nice to see everyone again. Perhaps we were overdue for a change in scenery. And it never occured to me but Carla may be right - we did have a lot of not so good issues in Lapland.

Standing here in the land of the rising sun, breathing the fresh air, sitting quietly in the Zen garden (thanks for raking up Meadow!) and hearing the strains of happy songs about rainbows and inner strength -- I feel energized already! Thanks guys! :grouphug:

Mel, I promise a full report about Graceland. Shad - get a T-shirt to wear that indicates you are from overseas. It gets the crowd all pumped up to realize that people come from all over the world! Happy pedalling :ebike: sounds like you are ready to get back to basics again. Hope this is the turn around that you need :crossed:

Red - it was so nice to see you :hug: - was hoping you might stop by. Redballoon is my friend from another thread. She lives in Tokyo and gave us an assist when Shad was needing some help with her friend.

Sue - your trip sounds absolutely fabulous! I do hope that you can make it happen. You have enough time now to make even little changes that will add up. Paste a bunch of pictures on a large jar to remind everyone of your goals. If you use cents off coupons at the store, put the savings in the jar - after all, why else would they call it "savings" if you don't save it? :dunno: And the children are old enough to appreciate what they would get to see. I'm so excited for you!!!!! :hyper: I know what you mean about the long plane trip. It's the reason DH and I will probably never see Aus and NZ tho we would love to. In fact, I was thinking of a trip to Hawaii for our 30th anniversary this year but when we actually sat and talked about it - DH said he is REALLY not excited about an 9 hour plane ride (actually longer than that because we'd have to fly Memphis to Chicago and then in Chicago it would be 8 hours to Hawaii non stop. He also said he doesn't want to break up the trip and fly 4 hours to the west coast with a layover and then on to Hawaii for another 5 and a half hours. So I don't know what we'll do. But holy :cow: 24 hours on the plane :yikes: I'd go stir crazy even if I could get up and move about. Would have to pretend you're on a space flight! :lol: Sue, it almost sounds as if you have a new position on the job. Is that so? I'm referring to your comment about not knowing what was expected of you.

Carla, so it is true what they told us about gaining 10 pounds for the holidays? My weight has been erratic- up and down the same few pounds. I guess I have to bite the bullet and actually MEASURE everything that goes in my mouth. I really don't want to switch over to the CORE plan - it's more like low carb and I'm not sure I could stick with it for very long. But come on, no matter what, we can do this, right? After all... we're in a fresh, new place now. :)

Madcat - good. You can help us pick out the sushi. I will eat the California roll - no raw fish for me thank you. Did you get some snow? Huge wet cold front coming through the middle of the country, touching your parts up north too.

Holly - good to hear DD likes her spruced up room. A new coat of paint is always invigorating - really freshens the house up.

Ceejay - I can still get into yoga position - is that the Lotus position? :yoga: Trouble is someone has to help me "unfold" and then I can't stand up :lol: And I have too much on the thighs to do the child's pose. Something to work towards I suppose. Guess you're having the wet, gloomy weather we are too. Fortunately a lot of the rain is taking a path north one it hits the Mississipi river here so we're not getting quite as much rain as our western neighbors.

Meadow, I designate you official garden keeper. :) Glad to hear you escaped the chocolate shortbread showers at long last. It that whole or crushed flax seed you're using? I have been taking flax seed oil capsules. Helps with the achy joints. Helps even more when I remember to take them regularly :o

Rose - sending you some comforting thoughts :grouphug: 9 degrees you say :yikes: brrrrrrrr :( (that's blue as in icicle) Speaking of which, I'm sure your skies are bluer than blue and the stars at night spectacular. The skies get better looking the colder it gets. Stay warm and enjoy your natural picture show. Good to hear things are going well with your romance.

And so that leaves us to the missing Shad. Is she out enjoying the weekend? Is she wandering Fawlty Towers lost in a maze where no key works? Is it time to send out the bloodhounds and rescue St. Bernard dogs? woof, woof, sniff, sniff.

It's getting near the end of our football season so DH is glued to the TV set this afternoon - particularly since the team playing today is our old hometown Chicago Bears. I will get the laundry done and make a list for groceries. Afterwards I'm hoping we can go shopping together and stop at the running store and get fit for some sneakers. I happened upon another thread here talking about the right kinds of footwear for different activities and it had some very good information. I think we should go and get measured correctly - both of us need shoes. I can always return the ones I just bought - they have a 30 day return policy and I only wore them indoors enough to see if they were comfortable. They are almost there but not quite - perhaps there is something that would work a bit better. So as usual I have spent too much time on the computer. Time to go get some lunch and then get busy.

Have a good day everybody!

Carla - I really like your new avatar. We DO seem to be having a cat theme going on here, don't we? Entirely coincidental I'm sure. :D

It's been a quiet day at work. I'm getting a little bored.

Mel--Hope there is good news.

Suzi--Wow-- I'll be envious with your trip to Paris.

Carla, Madcat and Happy--Hello :wave:

I'm back,

Haven't read the last of the old thread yet but will get around to it soon I hope.

Can't stop, King Kong will be doing the rounds soon. Ever smiling, how was your weekend look on his face while searching for internet icons on the task bar.

Pleased to say that over the last week I have lost one kilo. ie on 7th Jan I weighed at 78.9 on 14th Jan I weighed at 77.9 and it should have been less, but I had a less than stellar eating weekend.

Okinawa in Japan - well it brought Red into the picture, maybe it will bring Tig out of retirement - who knows.

Gotta go. Be back to chat later.

Freezing rain here. everything covered in ice. Hubby is home, school is cancelled.....completely changes my day. I really look forward to Mondays to get the house tidy after the other 3 loafing about and leaving trails for 2 days. Wont happen today. I WILL do the office and DR and then work at Avon. I DID have an appt in the city too.

The weather channel showed this as the same weather system hitting Texas.
Letting the kids sleep in.

Coffee is good.

A good weekend. I did eat with abandon yesterday. Not sure i had a single veg.Didn't over stuff but really enjoyed some goat cheese and crackers, bacon and eggs........
Lots of salad stuff in the fridge. I will make a big salad to last a few days.
DDs' room is all finished. it is incredibly pretty.
Hubby was a complete a$$ on friday night and I just didn't let it. Guess I had had enough of his bullying. It was a huge argument but for me it felt great to get it all out. Things have been okay since. He picked a fight with DS yesterday. I mediated.
Not sure what today will bring. The roads seem fine right now, everything else is covered in ice.

HUGS!!!!!!

ALREADY ON PAGE 2! TIME FLIES. I AM LOVING THIS RAIN AND MAYBE WE CAN SEND SOME TO THE LAND OF OZ WHERE IT IS MUCH NEEDED. I AM SOGGY ALREADY.
ALL IS WELL IN MY CORNER OF THE WORLD. JUST THE USUAL SMOKE ALARMS WITH PEOPLE CONTINUALLY TRYING TO BURN THE BLDG DOWN :flame:
"AND MISS WHILE YOU ARE DOWN HERE CAN YOU MAKE THE TV'S REMOTE WORK?"
I ALWAYS HAVE BATTERIES FOR JUST SUCH OCCASSIONS!
THE KIDS AND I ARE NOT HAVING OUR WEEKEND OF SPANISH FOOD. NO ONE'S STOMACH COULD HANDLE IT....NOT EVEN RITCHIE'S!!! :rofl: CAN ANYONE SAY NIGHTMARES? OR MAYBE A BETTER WORD WOULD BE PANICMARES OR STRESSMARES. :hyper: DREAMING OF THINGS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE BEST NOT REMEMBERED.
I THINK I NEED TO TAKE UP DRINKING AND SMOKING AGAIN....MAYBE SOME POT TOO. I WAS SO TRANQUIL BACK THEN :faint: :cloud9: :dance:
I THINK FOR TODAY SOME PEDALS AND DVDS.
HAPPY MONDAY!! :angel:
:hb: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MLK!!!:balloons:

SHAD~ THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE A MONKEY ON YOUR BACK :jig: OR LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER I SHOULD SAY. WE WILL WAIT TILL YOU ARE HOME AGAIN!! LOL
HOPE YOU'RE NOT HAVING WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS WITHOUT THE FORUM DAILY READ AND POST!!:dizzy:
SENDING GOOD VIBES YOUR WAY!

CEEHAY~ I WAS WONDERING IF YOU ARE STILL USING E-DIETS? HOW GOES THE FIBER ADDITIONS? HOPE THE DIVERTICULI ARE BEING QUIET NOW! :hug:

HOLLY~ SEND THE SNOW HERE!!! BUT NOT THE KIDS!!! I CAN BARELY TAKE CARE OF ONE 16 OUNCE GRANDSON :rofl:

HAPPY~ WHEN I TALK TO JEN I HEAR THE FOOTBALL IN THE BACKGROUND. THAT IS WHY THE BIRD IS HERE. HE HATES WHISTLES AND SCREAMS ALL DAY LONG. THEY WAKE HIM UP AND HE NEEDS HIS BEAUTY SLEEP.
BORDER BOOKS SEND ME A E-MAIL WITH SUGGESTIONS ON IT AND I THOUGHT OF YOU AND THE CLUB. WHAT IS THE NEXT PICK? DID I MISS SEEING IT? HAPPY SHOPPING!! I WOULD LIKE SOME CHOCOLATE MOUSSE AND BAKED MACARONI....THE CHEESY KIND. :hungry:

:wave: HELLO EVERYONE ELSE LURKING IN THE SHADOWS

<-----I KNOW THESE TWO CATS FROM SOMEWHERE
BUT I JUST CANNOT REMEMBER WHERE I FIRST SAW THEM. MUST HAVE BEEN SOME ELSE'S AVATAR AT ONE TIME. Hmmmmmmmm

Mel, I think I saw your cats on a website I looked at last week - maybe animation.com? My cat avatar was actually part of an animation too, but for some reason the rest of the action didn't transfer. So you don't get to see wiggly kitty being flattened by a huge 10lb weight...

For the last 6 months or so there has been a construction crew at my building working intermittently on a problem with the east wall (my bedroom wall). They finally took the scaffolding down a few days ago, hurrah! But I rejoiced too soon. This morning at 9:10 am, in the middle of a snowstorm, it happened again: I looked up from reading the paper in bed to find large young men "driving" by on a swing stage and looking ito my bedroom. And me in my 'dis-habilly' as my dad used to say. :eek: Very disconcerting, and of course no prior notice, so how could I have known they'd show up and I should leave the curtains shut... (Communications in this condo are appalling, in spite of my best efforts to goose the Board - even offering to write up notices for them if they'll give me the info verbally...) They came back down as I was writing this, the curtsins drawn this time - gosh, maybe the only reason for the trip was to annoy me. Me, me, it's all about me!

Brief interruption there - a large grey furball had a sudden urge to climb on my chest for a little cuddle-fest, which doesn't happen too often. He prefers to play hard to get, makes me make all the advances...

Gotta go, need coffee and sustenance before I struggle into the old kimono. Maybe wash that cat dander off my chin before I break out in hives. (Now I have that song "Love hurts" running thru my head. Who knew I'd end up with a big neutered cat inspiring sad love songs... Sad, really.) :shrug:

Mel--The fiber intake is up some. Don't want to over do it all at once. Gave up E-diets months ago. I was paying to much for it and not using the sight. I' d thought about buying their food but it very expensive, like 700 dollars a month. The diverticuli are behaving today.

I've decided that I binge due to the fact that I'm not allowing myself enough calories. This year I'm going to find that happy medium with out obession. I'm just trying to stay healthy and no worrying about weight loss.

I'm making plans to go to the gym tonight. Hope it is not over run with new years resolution people.

Hello to the rest.

Yes, where is that Tig woman anyway? Probably off having fun with Painterwoman. We SHOULD see Tig - aren't the "thugs" in Japan? Well, we'll just make them call her then... :)

Ceejay - I know what you mean about paying for something and not using it. I was not using the Push website as much as I should too. I have given myself 2 months to use it or I will cancel my subscription.

Argh Carla - creepy men at the window. What an unpleasant surprise. Ick. Hey, cat's inspire all sorts of things in people. I go around the house saying 'STUPID CAT" alot. Actually we are the ones who are stupid as she has us wrapped around her furry little paw. I like your new avatar. Everyone is changing up, does this mean I have to switch too? I dont' feel like I got all the mileage out of Mr. Froggy head yet :cry: doan wanna *stomp, stomp*

Mel, I like your avatar too. If you decide to take up drinking and smoking again, come on down - cigs are pretty cheap here and I have a 3 year old pack in my purse :lol: I have a wetbar at the house with some liquour too. A couple of bottles of wine, some TGI Friday's Orange Dream stuff, Amaretto, Peach Schnapps, a bottle of Gin I think and maybe some Southern Comfort. That ought to be enough to get us singing :rofl: Actually in all honesty, I understand your comment too well. But of course, we won't act on it, just pretend, eh? ;) ;)

Tread carefully Holly. Would rather get 2 feet of snow than a half inch of ice. Brrr. Stay warm and upright.

Shad :cp: :carrot: :woohoo: on the weight loss. Could it be all the stairs you're climbing now since your door locks don't work as they should? Anyway that is wonderful news.

Short post for me. I have to hurry and get supper on. I want to do a bit of exercising this evening. Will chat later...

No Happy, don't change your froggy! I just switched mine in honour of our move to Japan. And, of course, my increasingly buddha-like physique.

That's all for now, just a quick drive-by post. :wave:

Morning all,
Good to see all this posting going on. And of course the kitty avatars. I should get around to changing mine, but like happy - i don wanna yet!!!! so there. By the way, Tig's thugs are in Okinawa - let's kidnap them and see if it gets her back here!

The keys are working, the lift is working, the pool is open, the air con decided to do something cool, don't know if I can stand the luxury. The one thing not working is the under sink muncher thingy, and I don't care about that since I think it is one of the most unenvironmentally sound things I have ever encountered. Indeed they are banned in Western Australia. And of course the cleaner doesn't work either!

Mel, I am still working on how to get hold of you from here for little money! DS2 gave me some info on a pre paid elcheapo card that has about 57 numbers I have to dial before I put in your number - but I can't find where I put it. Such is life. I'll get it all together in one place soon - but I will probably not remember why I got it all together! :rofl:

Holly - ICE!!!! Yuk - only like enough to filter my vodka through.

Ceejay - the CSIRO diet that I am on specifies 1500 - 1600 cals per day. Since I had been only eating 1200, I feel full most of the time on this eating plan. So maybe you are just not eating enough of the good stuff. Mind you eating the good stuff is expensive.

Carla - men at the window!!! Wait until you see the feet, then open the window and bash them in the shins!!! They'll stop and "chat" to you then!

There is no drinking and smoking on this site - and if you do don't tell me about it okay. I'm too far away for the prod at this time, but I may think bad thoughts. I notice nothing got mentioned about having any POT around!!! :eek: :stress:

Okay - gotta move. I call the monkey King Kong since his name is actually Kong Teh!!!!! You can call him an ape if you wish.

What? No drinking on this site? Does this mean I have to leave? :cry: :no: :faint: :stress:

Nope - it means you become a closet drinker.

Hey Carla - C'mon in this closet. I've got the good stuff in my cooler :lol: Are closet drinks anything like bathtub gin??

And in French that would be "cloz-say"... A fine light red. :wave: oh no. Is that the prod??? :lol: :lol: