Happy Wednesday morning -

I went to the doc yesterday and got everything done that I wanted to. He agreed that I should have another MRI to see why I'm still having difficulty walking, etc. and since it has been 4 years since the last MRI. He also recommended I go see a neurosurgeon to see if there's something pinching on my sciatic nerve (or any other nerves), so he gave me the name of a very good one who will only "cut" as an absolute last resort! PHEW! I got a prescription for WW, and have decided that I'm going to join WW at work. It's a little more expensive than the monthly pass deal WW has going on in my area...but the meetings are held over the lunch hour so it doesn't cut into my precious evening time at the gym or with DH.

Patty - Thanks for sharing about your back struggles. I went to a chiro several years ago for neck adjustments to help treat migraines, but I found that the adjustment only lasted a couple days to a week at most. I'm looking for, and am determined to find, long term relief. I already have significant pain relief most of the time compared to months ago....but I'm determined to be able to walk, hike and be more active again (without pain) before the summer is done. Sitting at a desk, or in a car, can really mess up your back. I try and be conscious of my posture, but sometimes I slip up and slouch and my back yells at me big time for that.

Happy - I agree with you that it doesn't make any sense that the health care flex spending will reimburse for WW but not for a gym. Good idea to add your mom to your cell phone plan. We added my DMIL to ours awhile back, and since everyone she talks to uses the same cell provider and gets free calls to/from them, she doesn't need many minutes. I did know about all cell phones being able to call 911. We donate our used phones to battered women's organizations so they can dial for help.

Mel - I hope you feel better very soon.

Annie - I hope you're doing better today. Did you get out your stress at Curves? Or relax it away at tanning?

Shad - I'm sorry you're having such a hassle with the reference checking place and the recruiter. I'm surprised you just can't fax the references in or give them the info over the phone. What a pain in the *#$%^&*! I really hope today and the rest of the week go better for you. I'm toasting you with the hard stuff as well. :toast:

Well, I'd better get to work.

Love and hugs to all,

Still not with the program today. Emotional evening with Tony last night, nothing bad, just emotional. I am drained today, brain hurts, the bridge is getting closer.

Annie - I'm sending you big hugs We're all here for you. Hang in there, my dear friend.

I just got done with this week's meeting of a free (work-sponsored) weight management workshop/weigh in, and I've lost 2 pounds in the past week! This totally surprised me as I had some Chicago deep dish pizza on Sunday (with leftovers yesterday). I guess the trips to the gym and all the walking at the zoo on Sunday really burned off some calories. Plus, I've been working on eating more veggies and drinking lots of water, which are two of my 3 challenges on RedBalloon's 21 day challenge thread.

Anyway, I was already in a good mood today, now I feel like dancing!

for you Michelle. 2 pounds is great, especially after deep dish pizza. Hope you like the WW at work. I was doing that for a bit this year too but $120 for 10 weeks got a bit pricy. The original group of people who started it do what they call lunch club. 5 of them got together and take turns. Every week 1 person makes lunch to come out to 5 servings and serves the group. This way you only have to make lunch once a week. And you get to try out other people's cooking. They agree ahead of time that lunch with be 5 points or whatever and that's what they stick to. They are very successful thusfar. They told us about it at the meeting but like many people here, will not let anyone else into their little click. And no one else in the group was interested in this so... once again, good idea gone kaput. One of the other reasons I dropped out was because they courted new people just to have enough to keep the WW at Work going (you needed a minimum number of people to join)but when it came to the meetings and discussions, the original clique ruled supreme. Even the WW leader favored them. I do hope you fare better at your place. Geez it sounds like you are really messed up in the back. Going to take alot of work to get your kinks out. I do hope they can find you some relief soon.

Annie I'm thinking you need one of these and here's a cup of some tea too Hope tomorrow morning sees more gold than blues for you.

Patty, I've been taking more notice of sitting in chairs too. Seems so easy to slouch. If you feel better with the chiro, then keep up with it. Some people swear by them for healing.

Shad, just tell them that you know me. That should take care of the need for references.

Mel, hope the belly is doing better. Here's some cammomile tea for you

Clinique stopped making the moisturizer I like for my face. Now I am back to experimenting and finding a new one and in the mean time, my face is like a pimply teenager because most moisturizers make me break out. Hate that. Also had a very disruptive week so far on the work front. Gotta slap on the headset, block out the noise and intrusions and put the pedal to the metal and knock some things out the rest of the week. I think I'm going to start by cleaning up the kitchen and getting to bed early tonight.

So goodnight ladies, hope Thursday is good for all of us.

Unfortunately no time to talk today.
Damned if I do and damned if I don't. The saying fits today.

Good morning all. Michelle, good luck with your back. I hope they can find out what is wrong soon. And congrats on the 2 pounds. Happy, I totally hear you on the moisturizer thing. My nose is the worst. I hold off on sunscreen, because if I put it on my nose, I got the biggest pimples. Blech!

I have been so tired lately - almost more tired than when school is in session, and I have been trying to focus on getting good sleep. I came home yesterday becasue I felt "off". I think I may have figured it out though. We shall see.

Have a good day all

Happy Thursday ladies -

I'm not too worried about my back. It's improving slowly. I just want to have the MRI and see the neurologist/neurosurgeon to make sure there's nothing else wrong. I am confident it will continue to improve with PT, losing weight and exercise. And hopefully, I'll be able to walk more by the time our County Fair rolls around at the end of next month and State Fair in early August. I think I'm going to stop acupuncture though. I don't feel like it's helping much, and laying for that long on my stomach actually aggravates it a bit. Plus, I can use the $$ for WW ($175 for 17 weeks of WW at Work). We need a minimum of 20 people to sign up. If we don't have that, then I'll just go to meetings outside of work and purchase the monthly passes.

I had a great workout last night. I've been doing 30-40 minutes of cardio, followed by 10 minutes of stretching on a Precor Stretch Trainer (back and leg stretching apparatus). The stretching after cardio leaves me with essentially no soreness after working out or even the next day. Tonight, I had an acupuncture appt scheduled, but I'm going to cancel and go to the gym instead.

Shad - I hope the situation in Sydney improves.

Annie - Thinking of you and sending you a big I hope things are going better for you.

Mel - I hope you're feeling better.

Happy - There are SO many people at my work, and I suppose there are some cliques, but mostly everyone is nice and friendly. Hopefully I won't have the same experience in WW at work as you did. Sorry to hear about your moisturizer. Hope you find one that works for you soon.

Jolly - As busy as you are, it's no wonder you're tired. I hope you get the rest you need soon. Take care of yourself.

Well, I'd better get to work. Here's to a great day...or at least a better day...for all of us!

Much love and big hugs,

Here's a photo of the Precor Stretch Trainer I use at the gym after my cardio workout to stretch out my back, glutes and legs. I wish they weren't so expensive, I'd buy one for home. Then again, I prefer to work out at the gym anyway...fewer distractions...it's like my own dedicated "me" time.

Morning....

Feeling a bit better today. Gray skies and one h*llava storm coming are way today. Really sticky and muggy out there. Yuck, gotta love Indiana weather. NOT.

Ms. Chelle...thank you for all your love, support and hugs, it does help. I am very proud of you with the exercising and joining WW. I know you can do this. WHen you get determined to do something, by golly, you do it.

Shad...sorry work is such a b*tch. It has to get better, or I think you may take that "one kill" a month my son talks about everyone should have.

MEL....wish you eyes would get better and stay that way. I miss you!

Jolly...you are always doing something....rest girl.

Happy...thanks for the hugs and the gold...hmmmmmm, if I only had some gold to sell...hehe

Patty...too much work and no play is not good for you.

Took the car in to have the windshield wiper motor replaced. God love Tony, he gave me a blank check to get them fixed. He said not to write the check for more than 3 grand. Like whatever...This is a huge thing for me to accept and I cried all evening TUesday about it.

Not much else going on. Hello to everyone.

Much love and many hugs,

HAPPY~ WE HAVE BEEN COLLECTING OLD PHONES FOR YEARS NOW TO DONATE TO WOMEN'S SHELTERS FOR THAT VERY REASON. YEARS AGO THE OLD PHONES HAD TO HAVE WORK DONE ON THEM IN ORDER TO ENABLE THE 911 THEY TOLD US. HOPE YOUR BELLYACHE WENT AWAY TOO HOW DID THE KITCHEN CLEANING GO? YOU CAN ALWAYS COME TO MY HOUSE AND PRACTICE CLEANING MINE!!

SHAD~ ENCRYPTED? HOPE IT MADE IT TO THE ADDRESSEE! SENDING YOU LOTS OF GOOD THOUGHTS AND HUGS.

MICHELLE~ I LOVE NEW BOOKS. ENJOY! GOOD IDEA WITH THE WW AT WORK. TIME WITH DH AND FAMILY ARE PRICELESS. NOW HOPE THEY FIND THE 20 PEEPS! THAT MACHINE IS SOMETHING ELSE! SENDING HEALING THOUGHTS YOUR WAY I LIVED WITH BACKPAIN ALL MY LIFE AND I HAVE TO SAY IT'S THE WORST OF ALL PAINS. I TRULY HOPE THEY FIND THE PROBLEM AND CAN HELP YOU MORE.

ANNIE~ I AM SORRY YOU HAD TO CRY ABOUT THE CHECK FROM TONY BUT HELP IS SOMETHING WE DESERVE TOO...NOT JUST GIVING TO OTHERS. BUT I KNOW THAT FEELING ALL TOO WELL.

JOLLY~ HOPE YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON AND FEEL BETTER.

PATTY~ GOOD LUCK WITH THE CHIRO. NOW YOU MENTION IT...I KEEP SLOUCHING AT THE COMPUTER!!! WHEN YOU SEE ME DOING THAT...JUST SMACKE ME!! FEEL BETTER.


NO SHOPPING...JUST POURING RAIN! I AM GLAD IN A WAY CAUSE YESTERDAY TURNED OUT TO BE A REALLY "POOPY" SITUATION IN THE "END" AND I JUST DON'T FEEL UP TO BOUNCING AROUND ON THE BUS. THE ONLY THING I NEED IS FRESH PRODUCE AND I DON'T THINK MY INNARDS COULD TAKE THAT STUFF RIGHT NOW ANYWAY! NOTHING NEW HERE. GOING TO DO ONLINE BANKING ETC AND CLEAR JUNK OFF THE DESK. GET A HEAD START TO THE WEEKEND.
HAPPY THURSDAY

I received low-carb recipe emails, and although I haven't tried the recipe below, I thought it looked pretty good and easy.

Veggie Pasta With Italian Chicken Sausage
Ingredients: Instructions:

1. Using a vegetable peeler and turning the zucchini as you go, slice the zucchini into ribbons.
2. In a skillet, over medium heat, sauté zucchini in 1 tablespoon of oil until it's soft and the edges are clear.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
4. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in another pan, over medium heat, and add garlic.
5. Sauté for a minute, then add the tomatoes and oregano.
6. Simmer for a few minutes, then stir in the sausage.
7. Spoon sauce over the zucchini. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

Makes 2 servings

Nutrition information per serving: 309 calories, 29 g total fat, 9 g carbohydrate, 28 g protein, 324 mg sodium.

Annie - We are also having humidity and severe t-storms for the next day or two. Hopefully nothing too severe as I've got plans tonight and tomorrow night. Thanks for your kind words! You are right about my determination. Sometimes it takes me awhile to really get my motivation/determination/drive going at 100%, but when it's there...I do succeed. Tony sounds like a truly great guy! He is definitely deserving of a wonderful, kind, loving chick like you! So nice of him to give you the money to get the windshild wiper motor fixed. Sounds like you'll need it with the storm that's coming. I was wondering what you meant when you said you had an emotional evening with Tony.

Shad - I agree with Annie - you should take "one kill" a month. We won't tell anyone.

Mel - I hope your peepers and belly are doing better.

Yeah Chelle...the wiper thing with Tony plus the fact he backed out of our long 4th of July weekend trip to St. Louis. I am going by myself. Tony's parents divorced before he was a year old. They gave custody of him to his grandparents (mother's side). Tony had little or no interaction with his real parents, only because they didn't come around much. In the past 10 years, Tony's mom and dad have been dating/relationship whatever you call it, with each other. Both remarried after their divorce and had additional children. SHe lives in North Carolina, his dad here. Tony has chosen to rekindle his relationship with no hard feelings to his parents and has been visiting, calling etc., for the past 10 or so years. He is such a great guy with a big heart. He holds no grudges. Anyway, his parents are taking Tony and two of his half sisters to Vegas for a week which includes the 4th weekend. I wasn't upset that he is going with them, I was upset cause he didn't tell me till Tuesday night, two weeks before our trip, when he has known for about 2 months. He said he didn't tell me because he had told them no, he couldn't go cause he had plans with me, up until last week and changed his mind because they had badgered and guilted him into it, and in Tony's defense, he didn't look real happy about going to Vegas either. I told him he should of told me from the beginning and not wait till all these plans were made, because more than likely I would of just told him to go with his parents anyway. That is how I roll. He learned a very big lesson about me (us), promising never to withhold info again. So far in the past, everything we discuss that I am unhappy with, which has been only one other thing...the not calling when expected...he has stopped doing that. I believe him when he says he will not do that again. All is better now, my tears have stopped, and he is most attentive and caring. I believe I may be in love. It has only been 9 mos, so give it lots of time. I have babbled enough and very sorry to bore all the chicklets with bs about my love life.

So appreciative of my worldlie chicks.

Much love and many hugs.

Sorry I have not been here in a couple of day's or has it been a week. We still do not have internet at work, and I have been to tired to get on my computer after work. All the storms this week have put a strain on my brain.

Shad
That is the way I feel at work every day.

Annie
I feel that way too. I'm not used to be on the receiving end.

Michelle
Good for you in getting the doctor to give you another mri. I've never had one Infact I'm 58 and never had a stress test nor an ekg. I'm thinking of switching doctor's. I like WW.

Hello to the rest. I'm trying to get 4 day's of work done to go to the uncles this afternoon.