[Marie]

It's an amazing fact, but I actually got my email down to zero and my task list has all items crossed off. I'm leaving work in 16 minutes, then DH and I are driving to Reno, the first leg of the trip. DD and I leave tomorrow morning. I'm very pleased that the headlines aren't blaring Bangkok anymore. I feel better. I'm basically packed but have a couple items to throw in the suitcase when I get home to say goodbye to my beloved doggies. I did get Skype set up on DH computer and my laptop so that we can video phone call for free. I told him he'll need to aim the camera at the doggies for a doggie fix. Three weeks away from them is about 2 weeks more than I've ever done. BTW it is snow here and in Bangkok it's 90 degress. Hmmm... there is a plus. But by the weekend it's supposed to be sunny and 70.

Penny, I don't get twitter or facebook either. I'm on facebook but rarely click the bookmark and rarely type anything in it. It is sort of cool to see what my nieces are up to because of the daily blurb. Good job on the no gain.

Judy, reading does that to me - I keep going because I MUST finish the book. And if I don't I lay in bed and mull over the story. Reading does not work to put me to sleep.

Carol, good luck on eradicating the white and making lots of fabulous jewelry. Well, I better finish a couple things up and then go. I will try to log in from Thailand.
Marie

[auntie g]

Hi everyone! No time for a full post, will catch up when I can. Just wanted to pop in quick and say "have a safe and successful trip, Marie!"

[judydc]

Bye, Marie! I hope everything goes smoothly. I'm on my way to Las Vegas for a few days. I'm not casino person, but maybe I'll get lucky. The main thing is to hang out with Mom and Grandma for a few days. I won't take a laptop, or I'll be tempted to work, but I will try to check in here via my BlackBerry, which works sometimes, sometimes not. Gotta make good choices at the buffets, and take my workout clothes.

Have a great Thursday, ladies!

judy

[Marie]

Just a quick hi to let you know we made it to Bangkok without problems. I've hardly eaten in two days so I'm thinking the diet is going good. No exercise, but I think I'm going to go up to the pool to swim. DD is sleeping as I did most of the day. I'm on West Coast time still as it's 7 in the morning at home. Here it's nearly 10 pm and I'm wide awake. TTYL.
Marie

[penpal]

Hi Marie - I'm glad you made it there safely. I hope you're soon over the jet lag so you can enjoy the pool. Have they got 'western' food at your hotel? I hope your wrist is better.

I hope everyone else is doing well. I've been very busy with my DH away, so I'm looking forward to a restful weekend and it's even supposed to be sunny !

[judydc]

Happy Friday! I'm spending the wandering around with my mom. So far I've done pretty well with food. I went to the hotel's fitness center for a 30-minute workout this morning, and I'll try for another one this evening (when ir isn't so crowded).

More later--judy

[auntie g]

Yay everybody! I'm so far off the wagon that I can't even see it on the horizon. We're going to have beautiful weather tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get out and do something physical to get me back on track.

Have a great weekend!!!

[cacmsc54]

Marie enjoy your trip hope you heal just fine. The vacation might do you well its nice to get away. I have to setup my acct. for that free video phone skpe thing. My HI family has sent it I just need to do it. I will this weekend it will be nice to see you doggies while away good thing to have a family member caring for your babies.... Enjoy your trip!
Judy oh have a little fun at the casino. I hear that the old casino's pay better what ever that means someone shared that info. Enjoy your family and great working out while you are away and I am sure your exploring that is a calorie burner.
Penny yes its garden time hurray! I just went out to feed the birds. I have a large window in my Adirondack room with bird feeders right next to the windows. Bear and I are enjoying watching the woodpeckers come down to eat. We spent bird funds last night so their all happy now. My spring flowers are looking great. With the help of my daughter and grandgirls we got a nice start on our gardens. This week we finished trimming my orchard. The hubby finally understands yah gotta trim the trees back. I am looking into what we need to spray with and how often the apple trees I hope give us some fruit this year. Now wouldn't that be lovely last year we got lots of pears. I am going to really take my intake seriously its time to get on the ball and stop letting little things slip in. I think if I had stuck with my diet wow I would be exactly to my goal now but oh well never to late. Just have to be brave and strong minded I guess.
Have you been making any soaps? I found mine that we lost for awhile and have been enjoying them. Nice to have for a little gift giving. Last week I gave my mom a necklace made with rose quartz and fresh water pearls. I thought it would be better than a plant. She liked it and wore it right away. Even at my age its nice to hear mom liked something you created. This weekend I will work on my friends wedding necklace and bracelet. It will be out of fresh water pearls from Arizona jewelry show and crystal beads 2 strands very elegant looking for the special lady. Well gotta fly take care and everyone enjoy your vacations and I can't wait to take one myself.

[judydc]

Leaving Las Vegas in the morning! It has been fun spending so much time with the matriarchs. I also got to see two of my uncles. I won more at the slots then I spent, netting about $60, but I don't much care for the atmosphere of the casinos. I've only been about 75 percent on target w/food. I worked out twice. We've done a little walking, but really slowly, overall it's been a lot of sitting around.

Carol, you are a woman of many talents! Your mom's necklace sounds beautiful.

Auntie, Penny, have a good Monday. Marie, hope the trip continues to go well.

judy

[penpal]

Judy - Sounds like you had a relaxing time with your family in Vegas.

Auntie - I've been off the wagon the last couple of days too, but I've been getting a lot of exercise doing gardening. It's been so nice the last few days and it may even hit 80 deg. today! I ate my lunch outside on the patio yesterday. It was lovely surrounded by all the birds flitting about.

Carol - Luckily my DH already pruned our fruit trees - that's a job that's beyond me with my bad shoulder and back. The grass is growing very fast and he'll be busy with mowing when he gets back - we have a great crop of dandelions! Your jewelry creations with the pearls, etc. sound fabulous. Maybe one day you could post a photo. I am making embedded soaps right now for a fund raiser. They turned out quite nicely. I am making them with family crests or photos. Just about any image will work. It's pretty tricky and I still get a lot of rejects, but I'm getting better at it. They are fun and very popular with photos of grandkids in them - as you can imagine! I have given them to friends who are "new grandmas". It's a matter getting the soap temperature right and it's a two-part process. The images also have to be prepared carefully. Here are pictures of a couple of them:


Marie - I hope everything is going well. We're looking forward to hearing from you when you get a chance to log in.

I'm keeping busy in the office with my DH away in Europe. I had a relaxing weekend and attended the 100th Anniversary celebration of my group. I won a prize in our hat competition for the best "futuristic hat". It was a lot of fun and nice to get together with friends in our organization without having any business meeting to conduct. The weather has been great and I've managed to get a lot of yard work done. My DH's trip is going well and he's going to spend a couple of days with his family in Switzerland before he comes home on Thursday.

Have a great week everyone!

[Marie]

Hi everyone, things are going okay in Bangkok. DD's surgery just started within the last 1/2 hour. Customs here are very different and I'm to wait at the hotel, so here I am. DD isn't using the internet for once. We've had to share the one connection.

Penny, the soaps are neat. I actually like the emblem better than the photo. I'd like hummingbird photos in mine. Or orange blossoms.

Judy, I never do the casino thing. DD works for the company that makes slot machines so I hear all the stats. Hence, I don't play but I didn't before hand either.

Auntie, you'll find the wagon when you're ready.

Carol, sounds like you're having fun with the jewelry. That's great.

I've exercised most days - not today. I was going to this evening but I'm tired. I still might but as I'm a bit on the nervous side, perhaps not. Food is interesting as I've found a couple things I can eat. Like? Not quite, but will eat. I'd say I'm not overeating in anyway. I should be fine diet wise upon return.

TTYL.
Marie

[judydc]

Hooray, I'm back home. I have to stop by the office for a bit this afternoon, and I have a meeting all day Wednesday. Some vacation, huh? But I still have Thursday through Saturday all to myself. I have a long list of projects to tackle, but just getting a few of them taken care of will feel great.

Marie, good luck to you and your daughter today!

Penny, those soaps are cute! I'd feel badly washing with someone's face, but I feel the same way about cakes with photos on them. Now please send a picture of your "futuristic" hat, I can't imagine what that could be.

Carol, Auntie, hope you're doing well today.

I worked out for 40 minutes on the cardio machines. I'm going to eat as low on the food chain as I can this week. I feel bloated from too much salty and fatty food while I was away, and not enough veggies (plenty of iceberg lettuce, though!). One of chores at the top of this week's priorities is to go through my warmer-weather clothes, which will help me glue my expanding onto the wagon.

judy

[penpal]

Marie - I hope everything is going ok over there. The first few days after surgery are always the hardest. My best wishes to you and your DD .

Judy - I'm glad you're managing to get back on track with your busy schedule. I started back at Curves this week after a couple of weeks absence. I was busy with my DH away, but realized I was using that as a bit of an excuse not to exercise! I'm going to have to get some of those trendy long tops to cover my rear end, which seems to be ever-expanding!

Auntie & Carol - I hope everything is going well for you both.

My DH gets back from his trip to Europe today. The time went very fast as I've been quite busy. He's a good influence on me food-wise as he watches what he eats. I've been splurging a bit in his absence - but will now try to get back on the wagon.

[judydc]

Hi, chickies!

Marie, I hope all is well with your daughter post-surgery.

I'm enjoying being at home today! I'm away so much it's a bit of a treat just to be in my own little apartment. I slept in, then did a cardio workout this morning. I've been a major 'vegetable-tarian' so my body feels much better than it has in a few weeks. I need to buy groceries, though--I have no fresh produce to speak of, except for some incredibly good California oranges from my uncle, pulled fresh off a tree last week

Penny, there's a Curves near my apartment. I'm thinking of wandering by to check out the atmosphere and the membership fee. I stopped going to the one near my office over a year ago. If this one seems good, I might sign up.

judy

[auntie g]

Hi all! Sorry for being AWOL, but my wagon is nowhere in sight, and I just haven't had the time or the guts to get back in here on a daily basis. I'm hoping to get a good grocery shopping trip in this weekend and make another serious attempt.

I'm too far behind on the details again, so I'll just say I hope everyone is doing well, and I'll be trying to get a grip again soon.

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!