Good evening all. Today was much improved. I actually had a glimmer of hope that my mission may eventually be a success without anyone's blood shed or their tears. Instead of "doing" everything I went to the head person and told them to give the orders. Not a bad day. Got the wash going and called and made appts for Dermatology and Immunology to take a look at the eyes and the skin around them. Derm. couldn't see me till March 22. When I go to Immun. I'll ask if they can get me in any faster Now I have to try for the dental school and see if they'll take me soon.

Happy~ I feel your pain! Nerves can be the MOST painful of dental experiences! OUCH! Hope you have some relief tonite. I found that cool soaks were better. Heating pads always made mine worse. But everyone is different. Yes, I am still on Michael Thurmond's 6wbmo plan. I have some tweaks (as he calls them) and have lost 27.5 lbs since last March. I thought this was good for someone not really exercising anything except her wagging tongue all day! I also drink about 32-40 ozs of water. Don't want to start kidney probs at this stage of my life. I also added some dairy too. I am not a big believer in vitamins and would rather eat the foods to get them.
Wasn't it you that I first met on the Daily Skinny? I haven't gone back but I thought it was you?! What are you using or is it the common sense plan. That is what Jen calls mine now. I have changed it so much, you wouldn't even recognize it. But it was worth the money because somehow having the kit started me caring all over again. Any port in a storm.

Shad~ OK OK I DID IT MYSELF!(whispers...with a little help from my friend...shhh.......don't tell Shad) Nice that the gym has so many places. I like to take the protein bars when I leave the house. Keeps the energy going and the mini meal idea too. Now that you had the trainer do you just keep doing the same exercises? Do you get to use the trainer again as you progress? I thought gyms were like the "olden" days where no one knew what they were doing and got no help! This turned out to be a great present. Trainer and all! Thinking of you traveling again reminded me of webshots again. I never finished looking at Egypt stuff. How has the pooch been? One of my finches died last week. The other 5 didn't even stop eating! he was dead in the nest and they were all eating and taking baths!!
So much for birdie love!

I better get out of here and get off the PC. I was told my eyes look like crap but I have yet to look in a mirror today! They had their soaks and drops so they should not be complaining!! They were watered and fed Night everyone.

Mel, I thought your "name" looked familiar. Yes, we did meet a while back on the "Skinny". And JuJu mentioned you in one of her daily posts last week. You're famous I am not MT's plan to the letter right now, guess I'm customizing as you would say. Watching what I eat, what works, what doesn't. And I also agree with you, I think it was worth the money to me to find something that actually helped me. I just had the worse problem with WW which was my next best thing to date though I had serious concerns about their points program. Guess I need to be more disciplined and weigh and measure things like the old days.

It's good to hear that you may be able to unload some of your burdens around the complex. What's the problem with your eyes if you don't mind my asking? Of course you don't have to answer if you don't want to.

My tooth is much better today. I am back on track again. It's still sensitive but will be for a day or two more until the nerve completely settles down I suppose. But it's progress and I think this time everything will be ok - that is until he removes this temporary crown (the last one he put on broke as he was inserting it) and he has to work on it again in 2 weeks. I try to imagine what it was like when I was in my 20's and energetic and nothing hurt besides cramps and I was 106 pounds and a size 3. Seems like it never even happened... so long ago.

I have got to stop perusing the journals so late at night but they are rather compelling, but they do cut into the sleep time. The wind is howling, the temps are supposed to drop low again - only 10 degrees tomorrow (-11C). Glad I can work from home. Brrrrr. Only 3 months to spring.

So enjoy the warmth Shaker and Shad - pass some over to me and Mel and Teel and Kim. Haven't heard from Shad tonight - think she's chumming it up with the hunky boys at the gym in Perth? Or maybe her class has made her stay overtime because they can't get enough of Microsoft 'Night ladies...

Oh Mel, I just re-read your post and saw the finch story. You crack me up!

My right eye is killing me!! Ok there I said it!! Do I feel better now? NO damn it!

Happy~ I have a severe case if dry eye. There are remedies but no cure as of yet. I go to a University Hosp so it's up to date care, They "think' something is irritating the condition but no tests show what that something is. Anyway, many have suggested things and they gave me new drops each time but nothing yet. I have other conditions which irritate it too (they think). I go back on Feb 2nd. Maybe someone will get a brainstorm while I am there. I already head the tear ducts "soldered" shut as I like to call it! That is what it felt like with the tool they used! <this is what I looked like when they were done cauterizing them
I am glad the tooth is better. I dread going but I must. Still procrastinating making a stab at getting an appt.! LOL I did not see the Skinny say anything about me. I must admit with the eyes I read what is MOST important to me now and have deleted a lot of stuff withoug perusing it first! LOL I will go in search of my fame!

Shad is busy with the tourist stuff I think and the cutie patooties at the gym! No wonder she wanted this gym-thing for Xmas! I should have been suspicious from the start. AND here she got us started on this New Year's diet thing just to cover up this whole plan of hers. Hrumph! She's probably one of those women who keep walking into the men's shower room and saying "Oh I'm soooo sorry!".

Hope everyone has a nice night and Happy~ GO TO BED!!!

Why would I say 'ooooh I'm sorry' Mel??? Unless they had something or lacked something to be sorry about!!!!
No I haven't been beusy at the gym unfortunately. I have been busy at work. I thought yesterday was going to be a bludge but it turned into a full on day of talk, cajole, threaten, and training. I was still there at 6.00pm and still in full speech. They love me over here. One of the guys has killed a cow for a barbeque for Kevin and me today. However I'm due at another store and won't be able to make it. The hotel has lost a parcel sent over from Brisbane for me and is supposed to be couriering it out to Canningvale for me. I am less than impressed and that was at 7.00am this morning. Hope the rest of the day gets better.
I'm still going for the morning walk. I'm enjoying it too. Yesterday, the fish were jumping out of the water, there was a Pelican fishing and the Plovers and Gulls were wandering the shore for shell fish. The sun rose on a brilliant Perth morning and all was right with the world. You shall see some photos when I get home.
Went out for dinner to an Indian last night. Kevin and I ordered and shared - our eyes are bigger than our bellies cos we could not eat it all. But it was pretty yummy.
Sorry to hear the eyes are still not too good Mel. Hope that they find the breakthough before to long. Why did they solder up the tearducts?? Surely that would have kept the eye lubricated??
Happy so pleased to hear the tooth feels better. Hope today continues to improve for you. When does DH start his new job? Is it with the same company or a different one?
Teel I do not wish to work out the time differences between here and England - stop spending that money and get back here!!!!
Gotta go, gotta harrass the hotel, hinder the management, help the workers and also find my way across town to the next store. Fortunately it does seem hard to find ones way round here!
See you

Hey you fine chickies. Shad, sounds like you brought the bullwhip with you terrorizing the local shopkeepers ! It's too bad that your materials did not come in on time. I've been in classes where that happened and the instructor is reduced to telling stories or worse trying to improvise until the needed materials arise. Your walks along the river sound wonderful. What a great way to start the day, taking a stroll and looking at the sun rise. I peeked outside this morning, and sprinted across the front of the house to put out some seed for the birds. Man it was cold with a capital K! Felt sorry for anyone or thing that had to be out for any length of time today. We've been getting a pool of air straight from the North Pole and I thought the stuff from Canada was bad! If Santa lives in the North Pole his suit should be ice blue instead of hot red.

Mel, that thing they did your your tear ducts had me squeeming and squirming this morning. Oooowwwww. And yes, why did they close them up instead of maybe doing some irrigation and giving you maybe 3 or 4 more of them? And you were mentioned in the Skinny Post of January 14. (I went back and looked).

Today I feel like someone punched me in the jaw. Wasn't too bad in the morning but started to bother me in the afternoon. Not so much nerve pain as much as a bruise type of hurt. I suppose it will just take a few days to all work itself out. I just made a nice cup of tea in the afternoon and alternated sips with pressing the warm cup to my face which was quite nice even if your face doesn't hurt.

I gave in to my inner child tonight and had a grilled cheese sandwich with some tomato soup for dinner. Somehow I just couldn't get excited about grilled chicken no matter how I pondered to fix it. I have a refrigerator full of food that I must inventory tomorrow and figure out how to use it up. My carefully planned meals this past Sunday sort of got blown to the wayside this week. I definitely have the makings for at least 3 different kinds of soup - beef, vegetable and a shrimp chowder. Might be a cooking marathon tomorrow night. Saturday we are going to my sister's for a birthday party for my nephew which will take up most of the day. In the morning we have to exchange our new cell phones for something that sounds a bit better than if you had been carrying on a conversation with your head immersed in the bowels of the loo. There's even an feedback echo you get of words already spoken. Too bad, it was a nice little phone and I finally figured out what all the buttons meant. I really don't like cell phones to tell you the truth. Next worst invention next to the TV remote control.

Got to get myself back in gear again. I feel a bit out of sorts, like the 4th wheel is slightly off the track. I am blaming it on the cold weather more than anything. It's amazing how even 50 degrees can make you feel so much more energized. At least it has been sunny. I am trying to grow a small herb garden and the little plants are trying their best but I think it's just too cold in the window - doesn't help when I forget them overnight sitting in the chill.

Well as you can see, I have nothing adventurous to say tonight, so I'll bid you all adieu. Oh and DH got the job at the same company, just a different group so he will stay in the same office (might be able to work from home a bit more) but more importantly he will be wracking up more time on the seniority clock for those all important pension benefits.

Good morning all. It's a bit cold to go out shopping with the eye so I'll do more wash instead. I meant that the closed the drain holes not the tear ducts! Sorry! I think my eyes need Roto-Rooter(an american plumbing co.)
Shad, it sounds like you have it all under control as usual. I hope the realize how much of an asset you are. Go find that other store! Maybe from now on we should all go and WINTER with you! Snow is in the forcast for Monday. Break out the skis! Hope the courier gets there in time. The best laid plans of mice, men and women! Next time take the cattle prod. Less talk and more ACTION!! YUou'll never wait for mail or deliveries again

Happy~ Jen found the post and we both ogled it for a few minutes. Once and awhile We e-mail each other. I am usually the instigator. Jen and I wanted to support her race in the marathon and after that I got even more involved reading the posts till the eyes came. OOOOH that's a good title for a thriller....THE NIGHT THE EYES CAME! Good news about the hubby. Keep those points a rolling!! Had i been given better advice I would not be on SSI. I would have worked on the books and gotten disability and had more $$ now. But then there wasn't much work available for working mothers or many safe places to leave your kids. Well water under the bridge.

Well I better get my tush in gear and get a move on. I would like to get everything done so the weekend is the laziest of lazies Have a nice day and a great weekend!!!

I happened to see the weather forecase for Perth today as I was eating my lunch. Sunny and 87 degrees if you can believe it as we sit here watching the snow swirl around. I swear for a second I saw this rushed lady power walking the roads and smiling. Hi Shad Suffice to say I would be jealous except if I was in your sandals I would be tearing the house apart trying to find my sunblock and my light summer clothes and making a mess of everything in my path so I will just smile wistfully at you while my cabinets go untouched. (I'm waiting for Mel to come on over and do a 57 Fling boogie at my house). Here goes this - and you don't need that and why are you keeping this around (closest I could come to a flinging smilie)

I am starting to appreciate the power of planning and organization. I fell a bit behind this week and was feeling rather unsettled. Got back on base again today by planning my day and my evening. We are going to my sister's tommorrow for my nephew's birthday party. I am doing laundry now, shined up my kitchen, did my exercises for the day and made my list of things to take tomorrow so I can enjoy my weekend too and not try to do everything in 3 hours on Sunday, cursing all the way. It's terrible when you have to beat some sense into your own head several times no less before you see the light Even bigger shame that it took me half a century to get smart - guess just being cool isn't everything in life, eh?

Well I am determined to get to bed earlier. DH and I have to take back our lousy cell phones. Haven't decided if we will give this service dealer another chance with a new set or just go across the street to our old service provider.

Oh Lordy, DH is starting to talk about investments again as he hunts the Internet for info ... I think I hear the washer calling me downstairs. Best make like a tree and leaves! Tah folks!

Howdy all,
Here I am in the wild west coast. Last night I went down to Mandurah to stay with DS friends who have a therapeutic massage business. This morning they gave me a head to toe massage with lavendar, geranium and orange oil. It was good. In fact it was better than good.
Later in the morning, much later than I had anticipated I left there and drove north. Looked at Rockingham and went to Fremantle or Freeo as it is known by the locals. Some great old architecture there but not a lot else. So now I am driving north along the west coast freeway. Saw this internet cafe and thought I should check in. I wont have time to journal as they will shut soon and I want to get as far north as possible before sunset so I can explore the region tomorrow. whether or not I get to the Pinnacles is debatable. But I will try.
Not much else to record. Sorry to hear that you are all cold - it's fairly toasty here! and that the cell phones are ratsh*t.
My manuals arrived at 4.00pm or rather they were found at 4.pm. Bit late for training hey. So I had to wing it all day. Was a bit tired by the end of the day.

Okay - I'm off and heading north. Try to log in again tomorrow. Can't promise tho.

I am actually looking foward th this snow storm. No one but me wants it. I just love tomsit and vegetate by the window and look at all the WHITE! Happy~ funny you should mention flinging! I was in the kitchen drawers and flinging left and right! I even tossed out old pots and fry pans. Anything that's not getting used went into the box for the trash room. People in the bldg can pick through it next week! My new motto is WHEN IN DOUBT, TOSS IT OUT! Good luck with the phones. I have an old Nextel phone/radio and I love it. Everyone else in the office got rid of theirs and are using the NEW fold-ups and they hate them! So glad I kept mine. Mainly cause I run it over once and awhile by accident and it keeps on working

Shad~ Sounding just like a real tourist! LOL Good to get some relaxation in between the crap! I meant to ask how the car was toodling around Perth? Guess you don't need the HOT seats?! When I used to go to the city(ny) I loved the old buildings and great churches. It's almost a lost art today in the USA. I cannot imagine how long it took to make all the beautiful arches, window frames and entranceways. It's sad to think that someday they will probably all be torn down for modernization! ONWARD AND UPWARD!

I found handicap accessibility on my PC and fixed my windows to bigger print. SOOOO much easier to click on things now! Our building alarm went off for the back door and the cop could not get it open when he came. It was a fire door and it was frozen shut! Nice huh? No one checked before leaving yesterday or all week for that matter. Had to call a man out and read the riot act again. I am so tired of always being the "bad guy"! Funny thing is these guys and I love each other. Guess that's why they do whatever I say thank God.
Well I better kick some butt in the bathroom! Got floors to wash and clothes to hang up! I'm thinking I need a MAID! Happy weekend!!

Found another internet place in the deep dark wilds. Amazing where these keep popping up. Still it is actually slower than yesterdays one if that is at all possible.
I'm on my way back to Perth having spent most of the day at the Pinnacles. What an awesome sight. My digital camera decided no to reenergise it's battery last night so that crapped out early in the piece. Trusty old canan to the rescue again. They were magnificent. Well worth the trouble I had trying to find them!!!!!
Oick, I
m running out of money again. So I'll buzz off until back at Perth. See you all

These freezing temps are making me lazy today. It's all I can do to sit here and What I did with all that energy I had yesterday I don't know. I think it evaporated. We had some ridiculous "emergencies" yesterday. I won't bore you with the details but don't they watch the weather on TV? Jeez, it's cold everywhere. TURN YOUR THERMOSTAT UP!!
Maybe some pedaling will warm me up. I think I should revamp my routine and try exercising in the AM. Some nights it's just too much and I'm cutting them too short. The sciatica area is bothering me in bed too so tomorrow I'll see if I can add one MORE thing to the mornings already loaded list
Shad I am surprised that you find PCs all over the place but I guess it's a good way of making a living now. HEY~ there's an idea!! We'll start our own business of PC rentals!!! I'll be the singing waitress that delivers the cup of coffee to the table and you can fix their programs!! Happy can collect all the $$$ we're gonna rake in Glad the pinnacles were all they were supposed to be. Don't know if you ever saw them before but the pic looked inviting. Have a good week. Happy must be sleeping in. I haven't had a chance to say hello to your other friends yet and hope they come out and play soon so we have a chance to meet.

Well there must be something I should be doing. OH YES it was exercise!

I am in massive pain from this stupid tooth of mine. I thought it was calming down but it came in full vengence yesterday. I had to leave my sister's party early. My entire left side of my face - tooth, jaw, ear and even my lips hurt so bad I just want to put my head through a wall. The pain medication he gave me does no good and I have had to take as many as 5 Motrin at once just to slightly calm things down - it doesn't get rid of the pain completely. I will be calling ye old dentist first thing in the morning. I'm sure this tooth will have to come out which will present a problem because he had to pull 2 teeth on the right side last year for the same problem which will now make chewing a rather difficult venture. We should have been working on replacing the teeth on the right when this new one decided to act up. I am so frustrated right now. Afraid to put anything in my mouth. Stupid teeth!!!!!

But I can't sleep the day away so I will try and steel myself to get something done around here today.

Shad I look forward to seeing your latest pictures. And Mel I hope you keep warm. This cold weather we are having doesn't do much for the ambition. Maybe you just deserve a lazy day.

Teel and Shaker, you can come out of hiding now - would be nice to hear from you again.

I will check in later ladies...

Hi girls...yes it is me, so sorry for the absence over the last week...I really did not realise how long it had been since I last wrote. Last week I manged to lose 3lbs but this week things have gone to a real big pot.Don't know why I seem to feel as if I have been hit by a ton of bricks and I have eaten such rubbish I would not be surprised if I had those 3lb back on again. Money?? Who said money. I have not got it yet. Yes I have had 1 payment of the amount I should now have every fortnight but, despite promises which have turned out to be nothing but empty words, I still do not have my back pay..or any part of it, actually.
Sorry to be in such a grouch tonight.
It is 2 degrees here as I and we are waiting for the snow to arrive, Happy and Mel, you know you don't have to share everything with us over the pond!!
Which reminds me, how rude I am!!A big welcome to you Mel, I hope you are happy to be on our thread here. We are all nutcases..(sorry everyone!) and I know we all have hearts of gold and are in the same boat ususally going in the same direction...Mel, my heart goes out to you as I can identify with the agonies you are in, except that you are in a wheelchair and I am still on my own two feet...sometimes I do wonder though!! I shall read your profile and then I will be able to write with a bit more knowledge about you and hopefully be a bit more helpful.
Happy!! Poor you and your saga with the horrible dentist...last time I had a filling I sat on my sofa leaning the sore side on a lovely furry cushion, and sipped a mug of soup when I thought it was safe enough to do so. That coupled with a few soluble paracetamol sort of did the trick for the day. I am so thankful that mine did not warrant the attention yours did, and therefore the pain was certainly not a quarter as bad as yours evidently was.
Now who is next? Ah , Shad!! How are you m'dear?? What are these "pinnacles" I see mentioned? I see you got to Perth and even managed to find the local Indian cuisine makers!!You bad girl you!You didn't even tell us what you and Kevin tried to eat between you.... I LOVE INDIAN!!! You should at least let us drool with you
Goodness me, I seem to have taken hours to write this post...that's entirely my fault as I keep having to remind my brain what has all been previously posted... In fact I have been here so long it is now 1 degree out there!!
And so I think I had better post this before I am still at midnight.
Bye bye, sleep well, keep warm, with the exception of Shad-in-the- sun, who had best not leave home without the sun-block!!!

So glad that you've come back Teel. I was beginning to think that I would have to work out time differences and yell loudly. Since Perth is 2 hours behind Brisbane, it would have made something like 7 or 8 hours difference to you. I would probably have called in the middle of the night. I have to use the world clock on the 'net to sort it out properly.
I'm back from Perth and my head is saying 6.30pm and my watch is saying 8.30pm. I've made a cuppa and a bit of toast and will read through the threads and catch up on some journals before bed I think.
Sorry I didn't keep you up to date with the INDIAN Teel. Kev and I shared Rogan Josn (lamb), chicken korma, and Peshwar Paneer. Anyone tell me what Peshwar Paneer is???? We also had Almond and Sultana Naan and washed it all down with a Semillion Sauvignon Blanc from Victoria. Kev being a Victorian was very impressed with my powers of picking a good wine. The Verdelho I picked the night before was good too but that was a Western Australian. (When in Rome) So I need to jump on the scales tomorrow and then sometime this week it will be time to measure - hear me Miz Melody!!!

Plane tonight was full of Poms on a tour of Aus and NZ and going back through Canada. Well at least the back of the plane was full of poms and that's where I got stuck too. I tried my best to educate them, didn't work!!!!!
So tomorrow it is back to work again in Brisbane. I think I need to go to the gym early. Not enough exercise over the last couple of days which has been driving and eating and driving some more.

Happy, I'm so sorry about that tooth. You sure are in the wars with that one. If it were mine I would be having it out. Sorry but you've just had too many problems with it and it will be very hard to trust the fixes anymore.

It's hot and sticky back here, compared to hot and dry over there. Today, I left the motel early and went into Perth city. I went to Kings Park but couldn't really do much because everywhere they were getting ready for todays Australia Day celebrations and most areas were roped off. The city was full of derelicts and drunks sleeping it off in corners and in the park. One was even tied to the back of a giant statue of a kangaroo. Must have been a bucks night prank.
Again my digital played up. I am going to have to take it to the Camera shop and see what gives with this battery thing - either that or change to a new one. Can't really afford a new one at the moment. Need to save up. Anyway, will get them out of the camera and onto the computer tomorrow night and then get the film developed over the next week or so. Thank goodness for the trusty Canons.

Okay, best go check up the journals, and write to my friend Chris who has fallen down some steps in the ice and snow on her way to school. She has hurt a leg! Poor thing. The school she teaches at is on the side of a steep valley. Her place is well below the school. She can drive up there, but it does her breathing good to get some exercise and that's how she came a cropper on the path. I've been up it and it is steep believe me. Anyway, I should go and give her some cheek. See you tomorrow.