Helloooo Lovies!

I had a sign tonight, wsw. I stopped at the mall after work and as I walked by one of the entrances, what did I see but a puppy in training to be a Dog Guide! Very dapper in his blue and yellow vest and trying oh so hard to pay attention to his trainer, but couldn't help sneaking a sniff at things here and there. I think you're meant to have a canine companion!

Punkin, 68 DAYS UNTIL SPRING!!!! Yes, I am counting! Sorry you had a crummy weekend and the snow won't go away. Glad to hear your/your mom's kitty will be okay, and totally understand your mom's friend's predicament with the unknown kitty. Some vets will do the necessary procedures to save a kitty's life and see if an owner turns up. If not, they hand them over to a shelter. Better that she tried to help him than not at all! Wasn't Johnny Depp fantastic in Pirates of the Carribean? I gave DH a kiss and told him it was from you. His reply was "I don't know who she is, but I like her!" Come to Toronto to visit, and we'll go skating at Nathan Phillips Square downtown!

anagram, send some sunshine to Canada, will you? Enjoy your visit with DS and your trip to Mouseland with the princesses! Sounds like fun!

Kaylets, hope you feel better! Any idea what it might be? Hoping it isn't the flu!

Cerise, sorry you were trampled by sheep today. Maybe you need to get a sheepdog and a shepherd's hook? Are you excited about WW tomorrow? Happy to report I did not need to windmill during my skating sessions. I have to admit I was feeling rather smug on Saturday night, seeing some poor woman inching her way around the ice, clinging for dear life to the protective glass barrier around the rink as I glided by, thinking I could be SO much worse. Yep, I had my DD when I was 18. It's had it's hard times, but now I'm SOOOO glad I'm not approaching 40 with a 5-10 year old! When she's 18, I'll only be 36 and have a whole life ahead of me still. Yes, Erse is another word for Gaelic (Scottish or Irish)...it's a tough language to learn because the words don't look anything like they are pronounced and they all tend to run together! Ciamar a tha thu, for instance is "how are you" and is pronounced like "kimmer-a-hoo".

SeattleJo, love the new avatar! How was the rest of the day after the bad choices this morning? Did you salvage it?

Amarantha, I'm so happy you've found a plan that you like in WW, and that you are eating a balanced diet these days. Someone was shooting a gun off outside your house??? Good lord...what was going on?

Frogger, congrats on the loss! You're amazing!

Hellos to all...I'm off to the zoo...setting up a Yeti enclosure...

Hello all!!

Yesterday morning, whatever that was, is past so here I am in the middle of the morning routine.
Am wondering if perhaps an inner ear/balance "glitch" is the explanation.... all I know for sure is that it happened so quickly and had me spinning so quicky my first reaction was to yell for DH --- and keep yelling.

Interesting how we never act as we suppose we might in these "emergencies".
I always like to imagine I'd act like a Katharine Hepburn character...reserved, thoughtful... instead I sound like Peg Bundy... well, cleaner language but just as loud....

hmmmmmm.....................


*******
Today's thought of the day is :

"Expect a miracle!"---Oral Roberts

Question of the day :

"When is the last time you were photographed?"

********


We have had 2 days of above freezing temps, tonight is supposed to be brutal again... even DH finally gave in and started using Corn Huskers Lotion... he says that his elbows feel chapped... I belive it, my legs still feel tight and itchy...

Just found out that the Farmers Almanac didnt predict more snow than ever here this year BUT that it would be one of the coldest winters ever.....
Ohhhhh..... that makes me feel better.....

PS - we may get some snow tonight too but I really don't remember the temps being so brutal last year..

must go.. lunches not made...

Take care!
KETTLE IS ON!

Hello all!!

This is fun....I had some trouble w/ the music, hopefully you'll have better luck than me...
The slide show is very lovely even w/o the music:

http://duirwaighgallery.com/inspiration_trailer.htm


Enjoy!

Greetings, Royal Personages!

Monday, Monday. (ok, it's officially Tuesday now, but I started this on Monday ) I'm down two pounds, which I'm trying to get excited about. I really hoped to have one of those "whooosh -- there goes 5 or so pounds" starter weigh-ins, thinking I was probably retaining water. Ah well, if I were to lose two pounds a week I'd be down 52 pounds by my birthday, and well below the goal of entering Onederland (ONE-way ticket, please! )

New vow today: no eating other than at the table when alone, and no eating standing up at any time. I think I did some "picking" last week that undoubtedly added up. This rule has really helped me out different times and I know it will again.


Kaylets, I have one sore hand (got to try not to "save" myself with them -- my bottom can take it!). I think I'd be inclined to go back over again today if not for the sore hand. My thighs are a bit sore too, but only in that "using different muscles" way.

Amarantha, why didst thou try to sneak thy royal birthday past the court? Let us send up a huge HUZZAH that ye were indeed born, and grace us with thy presence! Here's a wish for a stellar year, O Empress!

Punkin, one of us was channeling the other yesterday! I started out posting with the same song in my head...Hmmmmm... Johnny Depp. Uh-huh, he's definitely on the list... Not a bad choice to spend your weekend with I like that "the dose makes the poison." I was interested to see some mainstream support for homeopathy lately.


Anagram, 3 hours a day for 3FC would just about do it. Almost impossible to keep up!

Eydie, thanks for the recipe. It sounds great, and healthy. I actually managed to get DH and DS to eat spaghetti & "meatballs" (soy-based) last night. Glad to be able to add a healthy low-fat dinner to the rotation.

Wildfire, I agree that the dog-sighting was a sign. I firmly believe that we're being constantly bombarded with signs to help us find the way to go, but we're often looking the other way

wsw, there was something on the news last night about MS and vitamin D. Have you seen anything about it? It seems to be strongly supported for prevention, but a lot of people think it slows progression too. Here's a link: http://www.direct-ms.org/vitamind.html.

Frogger, hang in there! Here's hoping for a less work/more money situation. And less commute, too!

Seattlejo, love your sexy librarian avatar!

Zadie, how's it going?

Ceara, hi to you and those adorable heathens!

Well, my Dovies, I really need to go and do. Love you much, mentioned or not! Let's make this a wonderful day.

No ads!!!! No ads!!! Yay!!!! I just paid $15 bucks for six months of NO ADS on this site and they are gone already!!!! No ads, no ads, no ads!!!!

Hmmm. Ok, I'm ok now! But I HATE banner ads and popups and popbehinds worse than root canals!!!! Well, maybe root canals are first but I really hate ads!

Thanks, WN for the ... wasn't trying to sneak it by y'all but every year I notice I forget my for longer and longer periods! This year I decided to tell everyone about it as, well, here I still am, growing ancient but still taking notice.

QOD: The last time I was photographed was when I was editing a magazine for a couple of years ... they insisted but the pic the newspaper chain (that owned the mag) photog took was awful, so I ended up paying to have a better one taken. I take pics of others, I don't allow others to take pics of me!

Gosh, I sound arrogant ... well, I kind of am! And, I'm sick of my profession and vow to get out of it as soon as possible. And I am sick of my employer, who doesn't seem to trust me and if so, what the freakin' heck am I doing there?

Sorry, venting. Cranky. Blood sugar low. Bought several pb cups (the honey peanut kind) and intend to keep them around and see if I can control the craving that way, so I'm going to have ONE with a low carb protein shake and see if that helps.

Reported my pathetic treadmill attempt on the NOLA thread!!! Wood Nymph, you are my heroine, which is not to say that I'm not doggin' thy heels and breathin' down thy neck trying to pass you up, assuming you are headed back to Atlanta for your second trip!!!! Here I come!!!! I'm a blur, well, kind of ...

Old Dog going bumpity against my leg and sitting in pathetic "need hug" position ... gotta go!!!!!

Cerise , you know what is worse then Ferry Sheep? Market Tourists! My goodness! I went down there during Seafair last year and it was just wall to wall.Its a veggie Chili recipe, blackbeans and mushrooms, turned out fantastic and only 4.5 points per cup. Seems high, but its sooo healthy and so good. I actually froze the remainder in 1 cup bits for my lunches.

Amarantha, where do you pay the 15 $ to lose the Ads? I'd be more then willing to do that! Not just for no ads but to support them! I cant imagine they are making much off of the ads even. It makes sense what you said about pts btw. Since I had a loss on Sunday, I actually dropped down 2 points and its taking a min to readjust, or to fit in time to rearn my points. Thats the big thing. Activity Points!

Wildfire , I love the idea of counting down the days till spring, mind you after spring comes summer, and thats swimsuit weather isnt it? *teeth gnash*

Anagram, I'm glad I'm not the only one who cant always keep up! I love you ladies but we are sure prolific sometimes

Arabella Congrats on the loss!

Wildfire I know exactly what you mean about kids, but from the reverse view. My mom had me when she was 22, my brother when she was 21, and I loved the fact that she was a kid right along with us.

Punkin, how are you doing? Survive your first day back on the program? Just remember it becomes easier as it becomes a routine.

Zadie, how are you doing?

Ok ladies, I know I missed some of you, but I must head to work.

Re: QOD -- Over the holidays, I had to get a digital pic for my bio. I shall now attempt to upload it here for thine amusement...

Ah, I guess I can't insert the image, but here I am anyway...

...and there's our lovely Wood Nymph. You are delightful to look upon, dear. Now I have a face to the shadow flitting through the woods. Honestly, you're a beautiful woman. Hope your DH tells you lots.

Thanks, Cerise! You are a sweetie! I was just going back to look at you and Ramon to try and work out how you inserted the image. But I see [IMG] code is off, so maybe that explains why it won't work for me.

Did I ever tell you guys I HATE THIS @&*$^%! job? Yes? Ok, just wanted to reiterate that fact. YELLED at this morning (yes actually yelled at) over the phone for something that was beyond my control. They made me cry.
Ya know, I took crap like this for 14 years from a step-father. Talked down to, yelled at etc. When I got kicked out the day after my 18th birthday, I swore I would never let anyone talk to me that way again. And here I am 4 years into this 'career' and they do it constantly. I'm getting out girls. I put in resumes all over and I hope someone replies. I'll take a pay cut, I'll take stuffing dog food bags with coupons, anything!!!

Frogger, is this the same job that requires you to spend half your life commuting? There's gotta be something better out there for you, and I hope you find it/ it finds you SOON! I know that feeling -- not that I ever had a long commute, but when I waitressed the boss would occasionally yell at me, make unreasonable demands, be mean in general. Stuffing dog food bags with coupons sounds just swell in comparison

Seattle Jo, there's a "paid subscriptions" option now on the control panel to the left of the change profile screen (the list where I couldn't find how to turn my sig line back on)! It's under "miscellaneous" ... just click and it tells you all about it ... you can only use paypal ... you can pay for three months, six months or a week's trial. It made my screen very wide, though, so I'm viewing this at 90 percent and there are NO friggin' ads at all! You'll still get ads on the main part of the forum, the subscription is for the forum only, but I think the price is really reasonable since I'm on here so much. It's also nice to help support the sisters. I sound like a commercial, sorry!

Ok, guys, as thou knowest, I REALLY don't care for Dr. Phil (sorry, really, I know a lot of us do and that's cool and am not meaning to rain on anyone's Phil parade, but I don't like him). Anyhow, I sometimes watch the weight loss thing and posted a few months ago that I liked his idea of giving one of the women who was obsessed with trying a new variety of Doritos a bag, signing it and dating it and telling her he wanted to see her with the unopened bag everyplace he saw her ... the idea was so she could realize she had power over the Doritos ... I saw it as a kind of teddy bear thing ... if she turned the bag into a talisman of sorts, she'd gain the control ...

Well, ok, after eating ALL BUT ONE of the FIVE honey PB cups I brought home to try to quell my craving for PB cups and my always stopping on the way to a job and having PB cups (much to the detriment of my weight loss and nutrition plan), I am adding a new PERSONAL CHALLENGE TO MY PRIA NOT JANUARY CHALLENGE!

I have taken that last friggin' (sorry I keep using that word) PACKAGE OF TWO HONEY ROASTED PB CUPS (y'all KNOW what brand it is, but I won't say it) and put it in a baggie (so Old Dog won't smell it and also 'cause it's Arizona and it might melt) and written today's date on the baggie and I AM GOING TO CARRY IT EVERYWHERE I GO (more or less) for the rest of the PRIA NOT CHALLENGE! And I am not going to eat it until February 1. So I'm actually forgetting about the Pria's as their magikal powers don't equaleth the monumental magik o' pb cups and I'm embarking on the CARRY MY PB CUP TALISMAN EVERYWHERE AND DON'T EAT IT UNTIL FEBRUARY 1 CHALLENGE! I'll report each day on this thread thusly:

CARRY MY PB CUP TALISMAN EVERYWHERE AND DON'T EAT IT UNTIL FEBRUARY 1 CHALLENGE: DAY ONE!

Frogger, I hate my job, too! I've been making a list of careers I might be remotely good at or want to do and I'm going to explore them all. I'm also asking people for suggestions to add to the list ... it's something to do while I hang in on the current career! Sorry thou feeleth down, though, but glad you are also exploring the idea of getting out ... life's too short to do what we don't want to do ... stuffing grocery bags with coupons is one I hadn't thought of, though!

Frogger, yell back, quit, whatever, but BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. Defend yourself at the top of your lungs if you have to...picture yourself as two people when you're attacked; one of you is the wounded one getting beaten down, and the other one of you is the ONLY PERSON IN THE WORLD WHO WILL STAND UP FOR YOU RIGHT THEN!!!!

Or, smile sweetly and put strychnine in the well. Whatever works for you. Please don't let them get away with this...

Sending out my absolute strongest wish that you find something choice within a week, and baby, I BELIEVE that wishes come true.

I'm right behind you, and if you want an injection of Super-Duper-*****-O-Rama, call me up.

**breathing kinda hard, here. Trying to calm down. I'm afraid my temper got the better of me there.**

Phewf. Got so mad for Frogger I killed the thread...

Hello all!!

Arabella!! Your photo looks gorgeous!! You don't look as though you have any weight to lose at all!!! I always carry so much in face, neck, chin (s)....
You look great!

Frogger!! I know you are asking every person if they're places are looking for help.... Hey, you're talking to the customers calling at the Pizza place right??
Maybe you could ask them too!! No, just kidding... but I sure would make sure eveyone knew I was looking and would do ANYTHING....

Cerise... Now, lets talk... I thought the "Super Duper" title was one I have here on my mantle!