I just caught up with reading. Sounds like things are going well out there, Arabella and Anagram.
There is catching up to do on my end, but I just don't have the energy. It isn't a huge or surprising saga. I'm dealing with some depression, and I'm trying to dig my way out already at school. My weight is yo-yoing up and down about 5 pounds every other day, and I don't know whether I'm coming or going any longer.
Pretty much sums it up. Wow, I'm a freaking bundle of sunshine...
Reading here did lighten me up, though. I love the image of Anagram tooling around town in her new hotness. Did I tell you guys that Tony and I went out and bought a Camry to celebrate my contract signing? Can't remember. Anyway, I adore it, and Anagram, I get the feeling that you feel the same way about yours. As for Arabella and the singing, I totally get what you are saying about the singing being "good for you." How does singing soothe the soul like it does? I caught myself belting out Christmas carols in the car the other day. Hey, they need practicing too!
Ok, I think my husby is patiently waiting for me to finish clicking away here and come to bed.
Have a good night, all.

Andria

206.6 again today. Liking it and getting hopeful. Probably the result of so many people blowing me off for lunch/dinner this week Three people were going to "call" about lunch this week. One is for tomorrow so there's a possibility she (usually reliable) will or maybe all three will call for the same day.

And today is the third day in a row for a possible movie/dinner. This one has had a physical problem though. I'm thinking if she doesn't go tonight, I'm a big enough girl to go myself because the film might change tomorrow and it's one we both missed in the first run.

I'm going to have to find another outlet for my social activity - I need more but don't want anything with responsibility involved. At least not right now. Sort of trying to avoid "work" too because those things always seem to "grow". Low 70s today so maybe an outside trot instead of treadmill. No tai chi tomorrow either. Teacher away celebrating his first anniversary . Weekend plans up in air too. I think that's what's bugging me. Everything seems so unsettled including the fact that I'm waiting here for a time challenged person who's 45 minutes late right now. Sigh........................

But am remembering all this is petty.....dear neighbor got his kidney transplant two and a half weeks ago and is now back in hospital after energency surgery yesterday for a blood clot. His even dearer wife and I have had amazingly parallel lives but neither of us needed this one - DH passed away after an abdominal blood clot related to surgery for his kidney problems.I talked to her only briefly as she left for hospital this a.m. and felt like I was sitting in her skin.

So lack of lunch dates and later service people - yep, all petty. Perspective, perspective. And it's kept me from fighting the salt battle after each "eating out".

Hello all!

I see that folks are doing lots of interesting things....
As for me, I started digging around in the family geneaology,(Dh's side), found enough to keep me interested, then took a break and got interested in a couple of gaps in my own family. My mom kept telling me about her frustration in finding a couple of things and I decided to take a look. Well, at one point, I was actually reading page by page of the the St Paul, MN 1885 census but it was worth the blood shot eyes. The names were so mangled, no search engine would've worked as we'd never try the name as with an L and a K instead of an R and a B.....

What I learned mostly was about myself....that as long as it looks as though I've got a tiny chance of finding what I'm looking for.....or even when it looks hopeless.... Some might say persitent... others....might say obsessed....


So....new cars and singing? Hey, at least I can drive and hum....


Lots of coughing and sneezing in the kingdom.... I have been avoiding it but have it all around.....

So. I am back in the world of the living. I need to start limiting my time in the census. Its not good to be so glued to the screen.

What's else is new ??

Bringing some cool news to the palace!
I am a great auntie! My eldest niece just delivered her baby by c-section. Cyri (I think that is the spelling?) had to be delivered early due to some complications with preeclampsia, but when my sister called last, everything was looking good.
Wow, does it feel good to have some life affirming stuff going on!

Andria

Andria, so glad to hear of new baby! They sort of change the world, don't they? Nice sometimes to remember that we too were once new babies and world gladdeners.

Kaylets, your searches sound great. I was into it for a while too (with my Dad) but now my sis is the family guru on that - took it up when she retired and went in deep-diving.

Arabella, so proud of you. I admire your total dedication (little side forays excluded, of course). So Royal of you.

205.4 this morning - won't see it again soon, I suspect, but nonetheless so much mor encouraging than a 210 or so of a few weeks back.

Rainy here today. Probably off to grocery store. DS coming next two days but he's my healthy eater so he'll eat what I eat - or is it that I'll eat whatever he eats? Whatever - looking forward to his visit.

So - FRIDAY it is - whatever kind you want - Frivolous, Fat Frightening, Fantastic, FUN - it's our to make what we will of. Weekend Plans?

Hey all... wow, have I missed y'all! I can't believe I've been home for almost two weeks now and this is my first post. Not for lack of trying, I have started several posts and get called away, sidetracked, re-routed, etc. I'm actually at work now, trying to get myself up to speed with my pile of charts. The week after I got home, another girl went on vacation, so we're all a bit behind, but the nice thing here is there is no pressure to get things done NOW/A WEEK AGO. I've been staying over a few hours each day and should finally be all caught up when I'm done here today. (I'm on a break at the moment!)

So, may I just say that IRELAND IS WONDERFUL, I CAN'T WAIT TO GO BACK! Without children this time. Good grief, what were we thinking? They say they enjoyed themselves, but it was hard to tell sometimes. DH and I had a grand time, however! It was beautiful, just beautiful. Easy to see why it's so green, too... RAIN! Lots and lots of rain! But it was nice rain... Soft and misty, totally tolerable and inoffensive! There were flowers everywhere and they were breathtaking. I thank the rain.

We happened upon a castle originally inhabited by a clan with my maiden name! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunguaire_Castle Descended from a king, no less! Maybe I really AM a !! Mind you, there's pretty much a castle, or ruins of such 'round almost every other bend! After 7,000 pictures, even I got tired of "ooh! A castle! Get the camera!"

Driving was challenging, to say the least... though I did not drive at all. (for which we were all thankful) Dh did a fine job, eventually... first two days were extremely stressful, though!


We covered a lot of ground, saw and did a lot, ate well, drank some (mmm, Guinness!) and I have since declared this to be my favorite vacation... so far!

What with all the hiking and hill climbing and traipsing hither and yon, I came home having gained nary a pound! Standing firm on 268. I saw a few fluctuations up, but am currently there. Gee... I guess that means that regular exercise allows one to eat well and not gain weight... so, therefore, if I increase the exercise somewhat and curb the eating a bit... I'LL LOSE WEIGHT! Wow! Who knew? As I sit here in my office, there is a 5k race, sponsored by the hospital, going on outside. I have made it my goal to participate in next year's event. No, really! I WILL be there. You heard it here first! Only 364 days to train!

I have a lot of reading to do to catch up with all queenly pursuits, but must get back to work. I've gone 15 minutes over the time that I had allotted for "playtime."

Here's hoping that everyone has a happy, restful, lazy, productive, whatever-you-need-it-to-be weekend!!

I've just come to the realization that it is high time I did something new. I'm feeling pretty darn good today. We were supposed to have horrible rain and wind this weekend, but the hurricane to the south of us decided to not be so awful. Instead of clouds we have sunshine, and I can feel those bright rays all the way inside my heart. I'm starting to get back on top of things at school, and I've been doing some cleaning around the house today. Nothing seems as gloomy and dark as it has. It feels like somehow my soul has been set free and I can BE again. What an incredible gift!
My husby has set plans for our first real family vacation this Christmas. We will be flying to Orlando and spending a week at several different theme parks. I am so excited! I've never in my life been able to take this kind of vacation before.
When I woke up this morning, I told my sweetie that I would like to lose enough weight before the vacation that I don't have to wear a seatbelt extension on the airplane. That would also make it possible for me to fit on more rides in the parks. It seems like a very worthy goal, and the timing couldn't be much better. I will need to lose somewhere between 2-4 inches around my belly to reach that goal. I have no idea how much weight that would mean losing, but I guess the inches and all would probably come out about right if I refocus on my year end goal. I've let the last couple of months slide away from me, but it is time to focus and get rid of the excuses. No more excuses! ...I'll probably have to come up with a better mantra than that, huh.

Arabella, grats on scoring concert season passes! There is something about being paid for doing something you love that just can't be beat. Also, pre-congratulations for you WW goal!

Kat, WAHOO! So glad to see you back in the palace! Sounds like Ireland was as incredible as you hoped and maybe a bit more. Also, you get a wild round of applause from me for not gaining on the trip. Impressive!

Anagram, Hope you are having a wonderful time with healthy foods and your DS.

Kaylets, oooh, you have stepped foot into one dangerously fun obsession, from the sound of things. I remember spending two days in a row pouring over microfiche in the genealogical library in Salt Lake City when I was a young teenager. My mom and I were looking for some records that family had lost, and when we found them, you would have thought we'd found a buried treasure chest! As much fun as it was though, I'm ever so grateful that all those records can be found in more easily accessible ways now.

I'd better be getting out of here. I'm trying to get in some rest time, then I need to get some more school and house work done. My birthday is Monday, and I do NOT want to spend even a single portion of it cleaning up.

Andria