What's happened to everyone else???????:?:

I'm alive - although I did spend 3 hours sweeping water off my screen room today to keep the rain from entering my home. Damn Tropical Storms. It's still non-stop rain and school was out today and tomorrow.

In any case, check out the photo of me at the clam bake from this weekend. Well, this was before the event because it was rainy at first and my hair looked like crap...so I'm sharing the before...because I felt very sexy! Please ignore my phony smile - it was before the party and I was taking photos of myself...not a real smile and I think it looks silly...but my outfit and body on the other hand make me happy!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h3..._1193_crop.jpg

Amanda ~ And so they should make you happy! You look absolutely amazing! Well done to you for all your hard work ... it's certainly paid off! Love the dress by the way.

I hope the weather improves for you soon. We missed a T8 typhoon when we were away on holiday and came back to a bit of devastation on the roof of our apartment ... plants and outdoor furniture scattered everywhere, but thankfully no damage. Hopefully it'll be a while before we have another one, but for some strange reason they always have a habit of coming on the first day of school term ... we shall see.

Well, my evening dress arrived and I am soooo p****d o**!! You know I said that I had erred on the side of caution and ordered one that I assumed would be a bit too big and I would have to get it altered? I carefully took all my measurements accurately, and the measurements that were given for the dress were definitely a good 2-3inchs bigger than me on the bust and waist and even bigger on the hips (but that didn't matter as it was a loose fitting dress on the hips). Well guess what? It's too bl**dy tight!!!!!:mad: I can't believe it. I've done this in the past and the dress has been a perfect fit. Why the **** do they state specific measurements for a dress in order that you can measure yourself to get the right size when the measurements are not accurate?!! I'm so disappointed because the dress is gorgeous, perfect style for my shape (disguises the belly, and if it were to fit me properly it would make me look slimmer!!) just what I wanted, and the colour suits me perfectly. I'm not going to send it back because the cost of the postage from US to HK and back again, plus a charge that they make for exchanges, would cost almost as much as the dress cost!! I can only hope that by 20 September I can shrink my body to fit the dress, but I somehow don't think that will happen as it's impossible to spot reduce in a specific area. In the meantime I will have to look around for another dress in HK, or order another one in an even bigger size ... doesn't do much for a girls ego!

oooooooooh Nichola - so sorry about your dress. I absolutely hated shopping for any clothes when I was larger - now a day rarely goes by that I'm not looking at something somewhere...it's really starting to effect my pocket! J/k! I have some self-control in that dept. The good news is that you are on track and losing again! :) Yay!

I'm doing well. Down to 148lbs this morning and I can feel it...unfortunately going to "Dancing in the Streets" party downtown tonight...rain or shine...should be fun....I'm hoping for some shine considering the weather of the past week....looks promising thus far in the day though! Will probably drink too much beer and will have to make up for that for a few days...but I'll manage to survive - which I've already started today and have had a bottle of water and a cup of tea....just pre-cautionary measures!

Well, I'm at work this fine Saturday morning...hope more of you check in soon!
~A

Signing back on. Sorry for the absence, I've had a lot going on. First of all, I got a job!!!!! I start on Monday and can't wait.

I had a few bad weeks of eating, but am back on track. On the up side, I'm doing 20 minutes on the elliptical 3x per week.

Glad you folks have been doing well.