Hey Marie did you get an appt. for the new doc? Will be interesting to see what they have to say. Sometimes we get to comfy going to the same one for awhile and its good to get a second opinion on things especially metabolism. Good luck.
Auntie g just do a bit more exercise I think and eat that special meal. Maybe you can be especially good the day before and after to make up the difference.
I think that bloated feeling and gaining a couple of months ago had to do with my menopause really sending me into a tail spin. I feel better and no that I will get where I want to be. I feel sure that its going to be alot of work but do able. My extra walking at work will help a few days a week. I am despite my few ooops this week doing better. Before I just couldn't get it together and thought oh my what the h--- is this!! But I know if I want it bad enough its going to happen.
Talk to you all soon gotta fly again oh hurrah its friday. Hubby and I have an evening to ourselves and next weekend a long weekend away hopefully nice enough to kayak.

Hey, there, I'm back! Sort of. I'm at work for a while today. I haven't had time to set up my office and reconnect my DSL service.

Tuesday's move went well. The movers used a trailer and an oversized pick-up truck. I felt like the Beverly Hillbillies, driving slowly down the interstate with my lamps and whatnot stacked precariously atop my furniture. Wednesday my new bedroom furniture arrived. I'll have to send the mattress back, though. It's too firm (and I like a firm mattress). I thought I was gonna die from exhaustion, but by Thursday night I began to feel human again. There's still congestion in my ears , but otherwise the meds seemed to have helped qith that infection.

This weekend I'll be pushing furniture around (arrgh) and shopping (yaay!). I need a few new container-shelf type things before I can finish unpacking. I won't be totally done for several weeks, because I'll be away a lot. I'm not handy with drills, so I will get someone to come later on to help hang the pictures,etc., on the walls (they'll need to be anchored into the concrete), and a medicine cabinet in the bathroom. Don't ask me why I don't have one already.

It's good to be back here with everyone! I sounds like everyone is focusing on upcoming challenges. Carol, I'm worried about these aggressive pumpkin cookies, I'll have to watch out for them. I've had a similar problem with chocolate for several weeks. Maybe I should wear protective mittens?

Auntie G, I hope you reach your goal soon! It will light a fire under me. 200 has eluded me for quite a while. It's like there's an invisible force field that bounces me way back

Penny, all this talk about crockpots lately--and the autumn chill in the air--means that I'll dig mine out of the moving box this weekend and cook something up! Something with lots of garlic....

Marie,I really appreciate how you persevere with exercise, and find a work-around for various aches and pains. It's easy to give up and not do anything. I'm looking forward to getting back into my workout habits this weekend.

Okay, time for lunch! judy

Judy - I'm glad your move went well. A comfortable mattress is very important, so you are wise to exchange it rather than have it affect your sleep. Something garlicky sounds good to cook in your crock pot when you find it amongst your possessions. I'm going to make some Hungarian gulasch - I bought some good paprika for it.

Carol - I need to sort out my fall clothes too. This year the change of seasons kind of caught me by surprise. I don't think I'll buy much new stuff, just mix and match the old stuff more creatively!

Auntie G - I hope you enjoy your long weekend and your dinner at the Olive Garden. Have what you like to eat - it's the other 363 days of the year that makes the difference!

Marie - It's funny how Kai nips you if you lay on the ground. Maybe she sees that as a submissive pose and wants to assert herself to be the new Alpha Female! You have quite a "pack" to keep in line. I hope you enjoyed your lunch with your friends.

I splurged and went to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch today and will skip dinner to make up for it (maybe I'll have a yogurt or oatmeal if I get hungry). It's hard to be "good" there so I decided to be choosy but have only my favorite salads, a soup and a smallish ice cream. I did an extra workout at Curves this week, so hopefully that will count. I still have some problems with my shoulder, but it seems a bit better.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi everyone, this is going to be short (word wise) but long picture wise. I got my doggies portraits today. I scanned them and I knew you all are just DYING to see them. I will write more tomorrow morning.

Three Huskies...


Blizzard Bear (Marie's Soul Doggie and Best-est Friend)


Kodiak Bear (Prince Charming aka Jacka$$)


Kai Bear (Mommy's Little Goofy Puppy)

Marie - Your pups have such human expressions! Kody looks like a mischievous boy and Blizzie is a cuddly teddy bear. Baby Kai resembles a debutante in her photo - a sophisticated young lady! No wonder you are so proud of your "fur babies". It's rainy here too so I did the housework and got quite a workout. Vacuuming was hard on my shoulder, but at least it's not crunchy underfoot any more around the house. For the gulasch I used 1-1/2 pounds cubed stew meat and 1/2 large onion cut up in chunks. Mix 3 tbsp. paprika with 3 tbsp. flour (add a little water to make a paste) stir into 1 cup of water. Put the flour/paprika/water mix into the crock pot with the beef & onion and give it a stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. After cooking 1 hr. on high stir in 1 carton sliced mushrooms and 8 oz. sour cream and cook on low for 3 hrs or until beef is very tender. Add more water if sauce is too thick.

Hi,

I saw this thread and thought to myself, "This is exactly what I need!", so if y'all don't mind I would like to join in.

I just started my diet and exercise program and I currently weigh 358. I don't have any furry kids, but I do have 6 two legged ones, ranging in age from 24 to 11, so I definitely am not lonely without the doggies.

I am still trying to learn to use all the cool forum stuff so soon I'll have my profile all decked out to look nice like the rest of you. I have to make 25 posts to get to put in a ticker, so I need to post more too!

I hope to get to know all of you better, and thank you for the place to hold myself accountable.

Hi, Jillian! Welcome! I'm looking forward to getting to know you. If you can get into the habit of checking in here nearly everyday, even when you don't really feel like it, have been bad, or just don't have much to say, it will really help you keep on track over the long haul.

Auntie and Marie, thanks for the family photos. Carol, now it's your turn, we need to see your little Bear. All you animal lovers will appreciate a new book by Gene Weingarten's article in this past Sunday's Washington Post Magazine, called "Old Dogs are the Best Dogs." There's a lovely photo gallery on the website. Here's the link, which perhaps our friendly moderator won't delete: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092602860.html.

Penny, I don't think they'll let me return my new mattress, 'cuz although the tags are still on it, the delivery guys took the plastic off when they set up the bed. I will find time to compose a letter the the store manager, throwing myself at his or her mercy, but I will be lucky if I can work out any sort of deal. I may need to sell it on Craig's List or something and buy a new mattress .

I know you're tired of reading my whining posts! Things are home are looking better, but still topsy-turvy. My shoulders and hands still ache, but the rest of me is getting back to normal. Still haven't been working out. I almost can't wait to head out of town again on Wednesday, just so's I can get a good night's sleep in a neat hotel room, then wander over to the exercise room

judy

I will have to get Bear's picture on here soon. Loved the doggies oh Kia just stole my heart. Oh so cute. They are all beautiful and keep us busy with the care and love they not only need but demand!!! As Bear just brought in a toy and wants me to shoot it for him.
The weekend went too fast I lots to do. Use up some more pears the kids loved my pear bread and I made another pear cake for a birthday cake. Everyone said they loved them and now their almost gone gave some away. Still have over a half of bushel of pears left. Made pear sauce as well kind of like applesauce a bit gritty though. Still takes good.
This weekend coming up we are going on a kayaking trip to the Adirondacks about 2 hrs. away. It is called Indian Lake in the Adirondacks if you care to google. We are renting a cabin with our friends. Will beable to enjoy it as the weather is suppose to be really nice this weekend coming up. The leaves are going to be in peak changing so beautifully so this will be a great time to relax. Yes I said relax!! I do that once in awhile yah know.
I have been doing pretty good with my food intake. Made some blk bean soup for my lunches this week. Ate a good breakfast this morning and stayed on task with my cals today.
Jillian welcome and hope you get as much enjoyment from this site as we do. Company is always welcome and hopefully we can get you to join on a regular basis. We all slip up from time to time, but overall its a great support system and we keep each other motivated. Judy glad your move is past you now. I was told today I am one of the first to get a computer and then eventually a laptop to follow up with for my out of the office stuff. Yeah now we are getting somewhere. Give us some decent tools to work with make our jobs a bit easier. Wish list is something the new director has requested so I am thinking hard... a hand held scanner would be nice for documentations like S.S cards, birthcert. etc. when doing intakes. Oh I must think what could make life easier?????
Didn't exercise other than walking in and out and up and down the stairs no elevator!!
Judy good luck on the mattress what a pain that is oh yeah on your back too....
Auntie g your doggie is a sweetie...
Penny nice recipe I will have to try it. Any type of paprika???
Well gotta go get my pjs on they are now in the dryer oh warm and cozy!
Bought a new book Nicholas Sparks: The Lucky One
He is my favorite author and has a movie coming out this month too. I splurged on the book.
Take care hope your all relaxing too. Maybe a glass of wine might be in order as well they say its healthy in moderation one glass can't hurt raspberry flavor.

Welcome Jillian I'm looking forward to hearing from you again.

Auntie G - Congrats on the smaller size! You're coming down and I'm going up! I'm getting close to 200 again and the munchy monster has me under it's control! I've been having terrible carb cravings and just heard on the news that lots of people are reaching for "comfort foods" in these difficult times. I really need to get this under control as it's certainly not "comforting" to be gaining weight. I loved the pic of your doggie too. She looks so comfy - it's a dogs life!

Judy - I hope they are nice about exchanging your mattress - it's worth a try. I don't think you are whining at all. You always seem so upbeat despite having several health and stress issues. I think it does all of us good to 'unload' now and then - that's what we're here for .

Marie - I don't usually do pasta in the crock pot as it gets a bit mushy, but you could cook the macaroni separately. I serve mine with egg noodles. We had some goulash for dinner when my DH got home from Switzerland and he said it was the best thing he's had to eat since he went on his trip! I must say it turned out really good. I hope your scale keeps being nice and that your foot gets better now you have your new orthotic.

Carol - I'm looking forward to seeing a photo of Bear too! I can just picture him in my mind's eye when he's up to his antics. All your lovely pear recipes are making me drool ! For the goulash I use Kalocsa sweet Hungarian Paprika that I just picked up at my grocery store. I'm sure there are lots of similar ones out there - the main thing is that it's fresh. Oooh, cozy pj's out of the dryer, a glass of wine and a new book to read - heaven! I hope you and your DH have a nice time kayaking in the Adirondacks.

I have a big meeting tomorrow to start organizing our Fall Bazaar & Tea - I can't believe it's that time of the year already! I get a bit frustrated convincing people to volunteer for the various jobs. It's like pulling teeth sometimes! I'm going to be out of action for a while after my sinus surgery on the 15th so somebody else will have to keep the ball rolling.

We are starting to get concerned about what the future holds with the economy in trouble. We've had hardly any business calls the last few weeks and it looks like everything is slowing down. Good thing my DH turns 65 tomorrow, so at least we are now eligible for SS! We're going to stock up on food a bit, just in case inflation gets totally out of control. We're thinking about getting a small freezer as our side-by-side fridge is pretty useless for storage. Maybe I'll start a veggie garden next Spring!