Good morning gals. It is chilly here this morning. On Thursday it was mid 70's and it is now 32 to get up mid 50's today. Actually overall, next week the temps should still be warmer than usual.

We had such a fun time yesterday doing the Christmas exchange. We laughed ourselves silly with the adult gifts. Jay and Alicia bought me a child's housekeeping set and Tom and Kelly bought me the cutest little girl's handbag and assessories including a little poodle, money, lipstick, cell phone, etc. Boy do my kids know me! They bought Jack this really cute little Yorkie with a handbag to put him in. He barked and turned his head and his little pink tongue stuck out just like our Fortune's. They also got him a Playdough burger making kit! lol One of the funniest though was Tom. Tom is a tall, dark haired thin guy and Jay and Alicia bought him a Jacob doll from the movie "Twilight." He is only in bathing trunks all muscular etc, we kidded him about that was what he was aspiring to be! All the toys were just so cute and the boys will take them to Toys for Tots today when they visit the Pink Palace. We have our day free and will meet them downtown tonight for dinner at Rendezvous. Jay has to get his bbq fix before he leaves tomorrow.

Sounds like everyone had a fun Thanksgiving.

Susan: I am so glad you are feeling better. Nothing worse than being sick over a holiday. I don't do Black Friday either. I think it is nuts to stand for hours in the cold to save a few bucks for a zhuu zhuu pet! lol Sounds like you ate responsibly!

Jean: Don't you love it when the kids call and say they will be in early? Sounds like you had a ton of work. Kelly really did most of the work this year and it was wonderful. She loves to cook now that she is taking all those cooking school classes and she did a great job. Thomas got on the internet and found fancy napkin folds and made our cloth napkins look like candles sitting on our plates. The table was really lovely too.

Maggie: Got your package last night. Haven't even opened it as we didn't get home until past midnight. I do appreciate it.

Have a grand Saturday all. We have to find someplace to get Jack's watch battery replaced then go out to the credit union at the base because I am down to my last two lines on my check register and just realized I have no more! Talk to you all tomorrow. Faye

Good afternoon, ladies! Cold today - 49 degrees but the rain is over.

I maintained at WW today so that is good. Our leader said she has been on the new plan for 2-1/2 weeks and lost 6 pounds. I'd think I died and went to heaven for sure if I had a loss like that.

Maggie, you have a great idea for the gift for yourselves.

Jean, did Bob get the tractor? How did the toy sorting go? You have to give the kids credit for at least getting them back in the toy box even if it wasn't in order.

Faye, your gift exchange must have been such fun! Your kids sure know you well. How big is Jackson now? Time for a picture of the cousins together.

Have a great evening!

Good morning everybody! It is going to warm back up into the 60's today and looks like it will be nice and sunny. It was cool yesterday morning, but then warmed up nicely.

We went out yesterday morning and went to the Batteries + store and got Jack's watch battery changed, then drove out to the bank and got some check registers then back to the movie theater to see Harry Potter. Loved it big time. It was the best so far. I had bought the tickets online then just picked them up at the kiosk with no waiting. We went right in and got seats and were the first into theater for at least half an hour. I am glad we waited a week because we didn't have to stand in line or anything. We then talked to the kids and we decided to meet downtown at the Rendezvous at 5 pm. We paid $10 to park, but it was just across the alley so it was worth it. As we were coming in, they called our name so Jack and I didn't have to wait at all. Yummy food and fun conversation then we went back to Kelly's for just a bit. Jay called me about half hour ago and said they were heading out that Jackson was still asleep so they weren't going to come by.

Jean: It is amazing with technology now you can sell anything to anyone anywhere. I just had to at this guy from NY driving his tractor all the way back home! I know they probably do some kind of train freight shipping or something for it or come get it with a trailer, but thinking about some guy riding a tractor all the way to NY is amusing.

Maggie: I had to kind of giggle at meat of the month. I kept thinking about someone sending that unknowingly to a vegetarian! I think our adult gift giving is a stupendous way to do Christmas. I mean, we do charity things for the kids for their birthdays because everyone has everything they want or need like I did this thing for Kelly and Tom this year heifer international and it buys animals of all kinds to 3rd world countries and such. I bought chicks from Kelly and ducks from Tom. So, doing the Christmas presents to adults this way is a load of fun and charitable at the same time. Here is what we ended up with for everyone: Jay got a writing board and a toddlers drum set because he is an advertising exec and is in a band, Alicia got a play dough cake decorating kit and these zhu zhy pet hamsters because my sil is a nut (the hamsters) and she likes to cook, Jack got the playdough burger making kit and the yorkie with purse, I got the housekeeping set the handbag set and Kelly got the barbie pizza career doll and this cute toddlers plane since they travel a lot. I was teasing her about the pizza doll because she dislikes her job and she is really into cooking. The barbie doll has a pizza on its hand and you press a button on its back and it twirls pizza! lol

Susan: Great that you did so well over the holiday with eating! Hope you are still feeling well.

I need to go. We need to get some things done this morning out and about. Have a great day all! Faye

Good afternoon, ladies! Only in the 40s today and overcast. Forecast calls for 50s tomorrow and 70s on Tuesday. What weather!

The new plan has begun! I've been reading the boards at WW. No points quiz or paper calculators. Your daily points is calculated by WW computer at meetings or online members. It'll be recaluclated by them as you lose. Those Vitatops, that I never bought) are now 3 points instead of 1 so much groaning about that. No more bread 2 slices for 1 point. At least 1 point per slice or more. Cereal is up and things like that. I think I'm going to like the new plan a lot - it's how I've tried to eat anyway. Original WW plan taught me to eat a lot of protein.

Faye, what fun gifts and I know the final recipients will be thrilled. I'm always torn about giving to 3rd world countries when we have so many hungry children and adults here. I do give some, but usually give more to US.

Jean, tractor hauling doesn't sound like a fun activity to me. I can remember driving them when I was a kid. Being a girl I wasn't allowed to lift heavy things but I could drive the tractor. I was driving it in the fields with blocks of wood on the pedals so I could reach them. Where were the child labor laws then? Doesn't seem to have done me any harm, though.

Maggie, hi!

Have a great evening!

Good morning everyone! Jack just left for work and the dog is asleep so the only noise at the moment is the clock ticking in the living room and the clackity clack of the computer keys. Speaking of that, I saw an article recently that said there are hardly any people who know how to repair typewriters anymore. They said surprisingly people still use the machines over computers, but that getting them repaired is almost impossible.

Maggie: I am the bargain queen. I am always looking for things on sale, twofers, etc. Right now I am waiting for a response from Hilton hotel about a promotion they do at one of their hotels, stay two nights get the third night free when checking out. I sent them an email asking if we stayed 6 nights would we get two nights freen? In other words do they do it for every third night or just the first one. If they do it every third then we will book the extra day because the other hotel we are looking at was 5 days, not as nice and the Hilton would be 6 days an only $30 more. The hotel is attached to a cute outdoor shopping area with great walking areas too.

Jean: Rendezvous is a very famous BBQ place in Memphis. It has been on the Travel Channel several times on different shows and on the cooking channels. The Rendezvous has been in business since 1948 after Mr Vergos the owner discovered a cooking pit in the basement of a diner he was running. The restaurant entrance is actually down an alley! The restaurant holds 700 people and the current owner, his son Nic, runs a real tight ship. Old man Vergos died just this last May and was at the restaurant everyday until he became too ill to go in. We were sitting towards the back and Nic was directing traffic, taking phone calls and such. The bustling is incredible. No grass grows under anyone's feet there. They aren't open all the time so Saturday's are a zoo. They feed thousands of people on Saturday nights. Food is really good and Jack even liked their vinegar cole slaw, and he hates cole slaw.

Susan: Sounds like you are all ready to get on the new program. I hope you really love it.

We bought Fortune a big sleeping pillow yesterday because we took him to Kelly's the day after Thanksgiving and he slept on Marty's all day. He is taking right to it, but I put it in front of the table where the tv sits. He climbs on the pillow facing the tv like he is in time out. It is really funny!

Well gals, need to get some breakfast then get some knitting done. Have a wonderful day all! Faye

Good afternoon, ladies! Only in the 50s today.

I went to the Y today for the first time in a week. I got the new program up today and found what I entered yesterday was only 1 point more than my daily points and I know that was because I ate 1-1/2 servings of popcorn. I wasn't going to go to WW and buy my things today, but as the afternoon wore I, I couldn't stand it. The center is only 5 miles from my house so I went because they have open hours from 2-5. I got the Deluxe Kit (free calculator, food companion, dining out, 3 month journal, cookbook), another calculator to keep in my purse for shopping, etc., another cookbook, a new scale, and a cover for my journal. The deluxe kit is in a very nice zippered binder made of heavy canvas. Everything but the cookbook was on sale and I got out for $91 including tax. She asked if I could come to the meeting and when I said no, she said if I wanted to weigh in she would give me the new program info that we get at meetings. So I did and now I have everything. I'm not starting the program until Saturday, my regular day, but I like being able to go over everything thoroughly and get any question I have written down. Can you tell I'm excited?

Faye, are you going to try to get Fortune to sleep on his pillow at night? Pets are so much fun and such company.

Jean, you have had a busy day already!

Maggie, do you wear your hair short? I forgot. Mine is very short and spiked.

I have to get ready for bible study. Have a great day!