Hi everyone!

Yes, we are finally getting some nice weather here in southern Alberta. It's supposed to be 25 on Monday. Yay! I'm wearing capris and sandals to work!

Well, DH is back home from a one week golfing vacation in Scotland with his buddy. It was awful having him gone that long. I really missed him. And with having both of our sons living on the other end of the country, it was very lonely around here. And I ate like crap. I guess I still turn to food for comfort.

Anyway son #2 is due here today. He has been on a bike trip from Vancouver to home here in Lethbridge with his friend. It will be so good to see him. Then we have to drive him to Calgary on Sunday to catch the plane back to Toronto.

Rosebud, yes we do get some awesome hail storms here in southern Alberta. One summer we had just purchased a used trailer and got hammered by giant hail. The insurance money paid off half the loan on the trailer.

Have a good weekend! Enjoy the sun (if you have it).

I just wanted to say CONGRATULATIONS to All of you who are having success at your new life style changes. I was reading your Signatures which totes your success and you are all doing so well.

I was doing well when I first started this night job but haven't had anymore success since Jan. I understand its me that is having the struggles but I really wish I could snap out of what is holding e back and get on with it. I have been working 12 hr nights since Dec. and I still don't seem to have a handle on how to cope. I have the working and eating down and do well while working especially now that I know which herbal teas are decafe. But I seem to blow it when I am off. I don't exercise or eat right for the most part. My vitamin regimine also seems to suffer. I am not sure if its b/c I try to shift my body back to days or I am just so tired and spend my time off playing catch up.

Thanks for letting me ramble. I find rambling while typing is easier than journaling.

Hi everyone haven't checked in here for a while, I mostly hang out on the diabetes thread, since I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic in December.
Haffner, I also do low carb, and feel I am finally getting pretty good at it.
Have a few problems so I go to the atkins thread from time to time for advice. Kim and everyone there are pretty helpful.

2b125, night shifts are difficult. And women often don't do them right. what
type of 12 hour schedule do you do? 4 on, 4 off; 2-3-2; or something else?
Yes, switching back and forth can be a real problem. I do it a lot, since I no longer really do nights, but am on call and often work during the night, then turn around so I can do office work and visits throughout the week.
When my Dad did shifts, he stayed on the shift for a week at a time when I was a kid, and the whole house schedule shifted for his benefit. When he started on longer stretches of shifts, he stayed on schedule right through the weekends off, and did quite well that way. Do you have kids you are changing schedules for? If not, staying on schedule may help the most.

Today the weather was...unsettled. hope the long weekend will be nice for those who have it off.

Fatmad, I either do a 4 days of 12 hrs or a 3 day 12 hrs. The idea is to get 84 hrs every pay period. So days off can be either 3 full days or 2 full days I don't count the 1/2 days. I go in tonight for 8 pm but they consider it an off day. I consider it a 1/2 day which I sleep through most of to get ready for the night shift. I really try to go back to living during the day on my off days to see the sun. I do take a Vit. D supplement but I reall miss the sun.

2b ~ I had my struggles along the way too; with many stalls and even some plateaus, so I started focusing more on other NSV's (non-scale victories) instead and that really helped me a lot (like inches and sizes). I started doing toning exercises upon waking (in my bed) plus stretchie band work, and I started seeing a difference right away. My clothes started getting looser and I lost at least one or more sizes on top and bottom, plus my clothes are getting baggy. I am keeping at them as I saw more constant changes this way. Then the weight started to come down again this past winter while I was focusing on something else ... Ahah, maybe that was the key for me ... Don't give up -- just keep on trying, as you have more work days than not, and when you get this schedule working for ya, you will see some improvement again.

What about making a meal plan schedule that you stick to each week (including weekends) so there won't be too much chance to skip? I found that helps me a lot -- we have chicken or turkey on Sunday with veggies all in one roasting pan; Monday we usually have pork chops with rice/veggies or other pork meal or roast beef; Tuesday is leftovers; Wednesday is pasta night; Thursday is fish night; Friday Favorite night; Saturday quick dinner; and so on. We do change the actual dishes each week, but the main meal theme is the same; and we use extra leftovers for soups and lunches too.


AUNTY ~ yes, congrats on your mini-goal accomplishments; at first, I was marking every 5 lbs, but now I have upped that to 10 lbs just for room's sake. Every little accomplishment pushes us to keep on keepin' on.

Had a lovely day; our car is in the garage still so we just stayed home and enjoyed the weather and rest -- have a good one, folks ... Rosebud

Wow!!!
Congrats JW2BH!!!! There's a lot of dragon flies on your sign

You're a rockstar and an inspiration

THANKS, MITTENS ~ I appreciate the encouragement and kind words; I'm in this for the long haul. Got a long way to go, but it's a life journey, as they say ...


It was another scorcher today ~ up into the 80's F today; not sure of the actual temps as my thermometers get too much direct sunlight. Need to get another new one and put it in the back somewhere where the sun cannot reach it so easily; hmmm ... maybe the back porch, which is on the north side of our place.

I now have all the windows open (with screens though) with some fans sucking the cool air into the house to cool it off for the night. That is one thing about this long narrow apartment with narrow windows; it is hard to get a good cross-breeze going through here.

Hope you all have a great week ... Rosebud

Alright ladies - It's May Long weekend in Alberta -
Who wants to take bets on the snow? :P

MITTENS ~ sure hope it doesn't snow on you for this long weekend.

Traditionally, this is the weekend we are supposed to plant all our hardy veggies like lettuce, spinach, radishes, onions, etc. We planted some yesterday; we did that in the morning -- good thing, as it was really hot in the afternoon again, but it cooled down nicely by the evening. It actually went down to the 50's F by the late evening, but it's really nice right now in the mid-sixties with full sun ... perfect spring weather really.

However, they are calling for a hotter weekend; saw my neighbour putting in his air conditioner today (good idea). Hope all our Canadians have a nice spring long weekend -- wonder if this goes all across the country?

We are off to Las Vegas for a few days to celebrate our 25th anniversary. I just hope it's not too hot, I don't do well in the heat.

We got a new laptop this week. I have never had a laptop before, so I am having fun with it. I decided to buy it with my tax bonus.

When we get back it's time for me to buckle down on losing some more weight. I have been complacent all winter.

Hope you all have a good long weekend - with no snow!

Mitts - It's already snowing in some areas of Alberta!

I heard that too, Aunt Jam!
Supposed to hit Calgary tomorrow or Sunday. Might as well stick to Alberta Tradition! Bahahaha!
SO envious Judy Lynn!
Hope you have an amazing time in Vegas enjoying the gorgeous weather! (And laughing at the rest of us suckers stuck here, hehe)

JUDY-LYNN ~ Have fun on your trip; hope it isn't too hot down there. I don't do well in too much heat either; honestly, I'd rather have it cooler as you can always put on more clothing, but too much heat is so tiring ...

PLEASE DO NOT send that ***** over here! We have been blessed with lovely weather the last 2 days; it stayed pretty much in the 70's F for most of the day (cool in the AM); but it wasn't too bad really. Now it is cooling off for the evening; and that's good for sleeping.

DH got the Air Conditioner put in our bedroom, so we'll be ready if it gets too hot again. Hope that snow misses you or melts right away ... have a great weekend as best you can!

JW2BH - So I mean this in the nicest, most respectful way possible but... you suck! haha. Can you send just a smidge of the nice weather our way?
We have some crazy weather system here and I've had migraines from **** sinday yesterday afternoon. Silly Calgary!
If I owned my own Island I bet it wouldn't be a problem.. hehe
Hope everyone's having a great long weekend!

MITTENS ~ yes, the weather systems are very strange, aren't they -- and I'd actually like to trade you, right about now ... don't be too envious of us, becuz we had a scorcher here today and it wasn't pleasant at all ... at about 90+ F and that is supposed to repeat for the next few days -- oh, I hope not! Do you want me to send you that?

I have been praying that this unusual heat will go away; and now we have a nice breeze and it is finally cooling off a bit; plus, I will pray that your migraines go away too, as I know they are no fun either ...


Hope everyone is having a nice long weekend ... Rosebud