Hi there, no I never tried the s'mores, always thought of it but not sure I would be able to stop at one!! MIL came over last night and seems to be coping fine, McDonalds here have some new menus out so I pointed a few of their things which is handy to know. Is alright for those out there that don't go but when you have kids and you go to parties and things and have to sit their and drool over chips and burgers it is nice to know I can pick something else now!!!

So am off for a spot of shopping tonight, need a few things for the hens party (yes some of those "classy" items!!) and was thinking of getting a new cd to listen to in the car on the drive down. Kids have sport at 10am so told mil I would meet her there and leave her with the kids so will work out nicely, get a few hours rest and catch-up with my father before rushing off. I haven't heard of a PC being Hosed maybe busted, fried, dead, kaput or even K'd but not your one happy.

I have been realitively OP this week, althouhg let a few carbs in yesterday and had sushi for dinner, let the kids talk me into stopping off at the food hall to pick something up, was yummy too.. DS had butter chicken and DD had burger king, mmmm... love all those things when I am meant to be OP.. when I am not I don't rally think about them, funny how that works. Shad you are good with the fish, not sure it would last that long in my place, would have to be out of site for me to leave it alone. Well have a nice w/end all, we had terrible storms and rain last night woke us all up about 3am, so hope we aren't in for a big dose of it!!!

Reading about Shad's dinner made me hungry, so I heated up some tofu stirfry. Not bad with the ginger flavored lite soy sauce. I think I could eat this again. Tofu is to soy what cheese is to milk I think. Just wish it had some flavor of it's own!!

I had some "down" time in my head. Sometime it comes out of nowhere. Spent the last 2 days chasing the 's away! Well I think they may be gone but I am sure that I need to get a new routine. This one is no good either. I will work on it over the weekend so if you smell something burning it's only me!

Gosia~ I was thinking he would do it for the DD too but men are men!! God bless them!! Different breed altogether! Good luck!! But in the mean time CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LOSS!! Great job of sticking to it!!

Happy~ Sorry about the PC woes!! I'm always afraid a virus may come and get me too! I'll have to keep my eyes open! I'll send you an oxygen tank for your next turn on the exercycle!! Don't want any one on here! Good luck!! Someone, I think Painter is starting SBD soon or got the book. Maybe I should open mine and give it a try this summer!!
Not sure about those "mashed" potatoes though. Think the DH would eat mine for me?

Shad~ Hope the mental place was ok. I felt like I was there yesterday!!
Your exercising is truly amazing!! Goodonyou too(sp) YUm for sweet potatoes. I keep forgetting to buy them and when I do they look so bad!!
i found a recipe for a vinagraitte with pomegranate juice and you pour it over greens with yams and peaches. Unusual combo to my mind but maybe for the summer. Peaches right now are very DRY and not up to snuff!!

Shaker~ I was much more "badder" than you! i ate chines food yesterday that was way off my plan and drank no water till today!! So I would have been better with your choccy and milk!! Your poor son. After all my peeper probs I can relate tho that story!! I could almost feel it too!!!

Tomorrow is food shopping and I better get my rear end outside and get some fresh air!! Good to blow out the old cobwebs from the cranium!! Hope you all have a great nite and morning!!

Hmm.. I must have caught some of Mel's February blahs too. The weather is starting to break here - the ice and snow are slowly melting, a bit of a taste that spring is just around the corner.

I guess I just don't have much to say today so I'll head off to bed and maybe will find something interesting in the new day to talk about. G'night all...

We all get those blues from time to time ladies, the trick is not to let it take hold and become a reason for not doing things. It's not like either of you to get the blues - I don't think I have ever seen happy with them before. Hopefully the rest of us cajole, push or drag you through this time. If you decide you need time out tho' don't forget to let us know so we don't start getting worried about you.
My day today has been almost as good as hoped. Food hasn't been the greatest choices, but I had no choice on this evenings selection as the 'mentals put on drinks and Red Rooster. So I did the best I could. I had gone to worked prepared for the gym, but that will now be tomorrow instead. But we had a good day and sorted out a few problems for them. Not an arduous day and certainly it is good that these people can laugh loudly, they would be in tears otherwise. Just once I would like this mob to set up a store with reference to the Company directives that they keep telling people they should adhere to. For example, the standards say that a new person shall have an induction to the company, a period of time whereby their forms are filled in for such things as pay and super, whereby they get access to a profile on the computer system THAT WORKS, that they don't get that access until they have signed the privacy statement. Hey no way, just chuck 'em and let them swim or sink as the case may be. It seems it's more important to get the person their uniform than to get them signed into and working and learning the company ways. Okay enough already. This is a beautiful day and it's Friday and it is very warm.
Time to go sort out the night. Hope you all feel better tomorrow.

Sorry for being MIA, but Ali has been having rough time again. Today she screamed 6 hours and I am just too tired now to answer your posts properly.

Plus I think I overdid with losing weight and it might have messed with my lactation. Or Alizée is having a growth spurt. Anyway she seems to be hungry every hour and every two hours during the night. This all makes for one very tired Mommy, sigh...

I have to rethink my diet again, although I thought I was nit doin anything extreme, I still eat lots of fruit and vegetables and lean meat and wholebread carbs. But maybe it's just not enough. I will wait and see if she's any better soon. I will try to catch up with your postst ladies, but I've seen there's a lot for me. I hope tomorrow is gonna be better and hubby's home so I won't be alone with her...

Hugs

Poor Gosia. It's so awful to feel so tired and to not be able to ever get enough sleep to feel as if you are functioning properly. Then you also have this crying baby to deal with and all reasoning tends to go out the window. Times come when you just want to beat them into submission doesn't matter how much you love your child. Gosia check that some of those fruit and veges are affecting your milk. It used to be such things as cabbage and peas and grapes that affected things if I remember rightly. It produced enzymes or something which produced wind in the child. That meant that the child drunk, thought it was full, but then the wind either caused a problem at one end or the other and the child was still hungry. I had this problem for at least nine months with the eldest child. Not to say that you are going to have the same problem but it may be worth checking on. My eldest DS was constantly hungry and constantly chucking what little he got back up again. I got stressed and the whole thing just seemed to disintegrate. Went to **** in a handcart as we say here. For that reason DS was put on solid foods at age 3 weeks. I gave up trying to feed him and he had a formula powdered milk which made him a lot better, but still colicky. We also found out he was allergic to cow's milk, hence the formula. Anyway, you may like to think about not so much how you are eating, but what you are eating. Good luck to you.
Okay, best get out of here and go do something before it gets too hot - supposed to be in the 40's today.

i was asked to help out today in the office. To much for the wee folk to handle! And because of thisd I got to pick one of their old PC's for myself cause the new ones came today!!! I got one that is fairly unused and will be getting it next week I think. It has to stay in the closet till they make sure they got everything they need out of it. I called Jen(DD) and told her Merry Christmas came early! She was literally screaming with glee on the phone and wanted to help instead of me. But she took 2 years to put on 10 lbs and is not ready for this bunch of cutthroats. Besides, the men would never listen to her as she does not yell like the MOM can! Their lack of direction from the head man is absurd and I let it out today. He went home PO'ed and early!! I said good, got 2 men and started them painting an empty apt that should have been finished by now. They got a lot accomplished and I gave them overtime as a reward. It will be finished on Monday as a result and ready for new carpets on Tues. It feels good to be the Queen in the Kings stead! I tell you, it is one way of getting rid of the blahs that were threatening to take me over. And SHAD~You are right. I was just letting it all wash over me and ruin my plans, goals and accomplishments. Well you and the others will be glad to know tomorrow I will cook the food I bought today and get cracking! I want some kind of a loss at the end of the month even if it's only 1 pound! So I am properly reminded(or chastised! LOL) ~ thankyou~ and am snapping out of it! I am so proud that I did the food shopping first!! I told them I can't help till I get back from the store!! LOL It was a long day and aggravating but SO WORTH THE PC!! AND JEN'S SMILING FACE TONITE!! God is good, the day was good, the "pay was good now if only my laxative works tomorrow!! Good night every one and I will read your posts tomorrow. Going to bed with a move!! LOL No men wanted tonite, after being with them all day I was reminded of what fools these mortals can really be. (thought that was nicer than saying *ssholes) Sweet Dreams Focussed Chicks of the World!!

Oh Gosia, I feel so sorry for you. 6 hours of a crying baby is no way to spend the day. I hope she feels better and that you can get some rest.

Mel, that is so wonderful that you were able to get a PC for your daughter! Sounds like you were your old self today - whip and all No wonder they like you so much - sounds like things get done when Mel's in town. I'm sure you'll get a sound sleep tonight.

Temps in the 40's Shad? I am sweating in sympathy for you good heavens, that is too hot to do anything other than sit in the bathtub in some cool water. I do hope you have air conditioning! How much does it cool down after sunset?

Yes, I do get the blues from time to time. Oftentimes I don't know why I even get them, it's just this wave that comes over me. I don't talk about it because usually I feel foolish - there are others around who have much more legitimate reasons to feel down. But I suppose we all get them once in a while.

The dentist took one last stab at my tooth - he repacked it with antibiotic and said at this point everything should be dead (which it's not). He said to see how the next few days go but it looks like they may have to yank the tooth which will bring a whole new set of problems. Tonight we had pizza. I was good, only 2 pieces but I feel so stuffed right now. It must have had alot of salt because I was so thirsty that I drank a liter of water and I'm still thirsty but I have no more room in my tummy. When I was brushing my teeth afterwards I noticed that a piece of the temporary cap cracked off. Now this was soft pizza - even the crust. And you know how you can't seem to keep your tongue away from touching the broken tooth. I'm just hoping nothing can get in there to infect it again over the weekend. I am so tired of this already. I can't blame the dentist, this cap is a temporary designed to last about 2 weeks and I've had it on for 5 weeks already while we try to heal the abscess. Last time it was so tender and painful that the doctor tried to spare me more pain by drilling through the temporary instead of squeezing it and yanking it off. I guess his act of concern probably weakened the temporary crown, hence the break. I have never had so much trouble with my teeth. My niece went into pregnancy induced hypothyroidism last year. She said her endochronologist said thyroid medication can have an effect on the teeth - actually it affects EVERYTHING. I did switch medications almost 2 years ago, but the one I'm on now is working so much better for me. Guess the teeth are just a side effect.

It warmed up a few degrees above freezing this week which is doing a good job of melting the snow and ice. It also is breeding germs galore. The flu season is in full swing here, just about everyone is sick. I don't even want to leave the house but we have a big list of errands tomorrow. DH has threatened to wake me up early because I am so pokey in the morning. Little does he know that sitting here I have drank another half liter of water which means several nighttime trips to the loo tonight. There will be no waking this comatose person at 7 tommorrow. Yes Shad, I know that getting up at 7 is wasting half the day

I suppose I have babbled enough. It's really far better when I have nothing to say Hope you all enjoy your weekend and for those of you who need it, some serious snooze time!

A very quick post!!
Sorry I have not been here for two days, I shall explain at a later opportunity.
I am on respite from Sunday 22nd till Friday 27th February so will not have much access to a pc. I will log in when I can!!!

Oh b.t.w., I thought "pegged it" meant someone had died! I'm probably wrong. Afterall, I only live here!!!

Morning has broken and we are in for another hot day. Although I don't think it will get as bad as yesterday - maybe a degree or two cooler. Yesterday was an alltime February record for Brisbane of 40.8C. I think you can safely say we sizzled. Last nights news was full of the miseries of people not used to our sun who have come away from a European or North American winter to bask in the sun. At least two have been admitted to Gold Coast Hospitals suffering 2nd and 3rd degree burns from the sun. Scores of others up and down the Eastern Seaboard have been treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration. I know these people are on holiday and want to make the most of their time here, but we have big signs on the beaches about heat and sunburn and dehydration and NOT going onto the beach in the middle of the day. There will be some very red and hurting people around today and it will spoil their holiday completely. They all seem to think they will be the exception. Oh well. Lecture over for the morning.

Teel, I have heard pegged it used both ways. Yes I think it does get used meaning to die as well, but I hear it here more often used for someone who has skipped town for one nefarious reason or other. I hope you are okay and we will miss you while you are away. Are you going to learn to sing this time???? or join a book circle or something?
I'm beginning to think we might put MEL up for President. Pity it takes so much money to make someone the Pres tho'. Like most industrious people she sees the stupidity of having people hanging about and not working. Sure if it gets the desired results, overtime is good. Maybe not for the budget, but the budget won't work if the appartments are empty anyway. Simple economics hey

Hope Gosia is coping with that baby okay and that she has adequate family support. It is very hard to live with a baby like that especially if the Daddy is not too good in providing good support and letting Mommy rest from time to time.

Oh Happy, that tooth!!!! I so feel for you. Hope that when he takes it out it will heal quickly and allow you to get on with life. No wonder you are feeling a bit blue.

Okay well the sun has come up and the heat is beginning to make itself felt again. One last burst on the housework and I will pack my bag. I was going to iron my work trousers but will leave it until I get to Cairns where I can work in the air con. No I don't have air con in the house, I really don't like it much. Simon has one in his room because it is vital that he sleeps well during the day. I have it in the car, I think that is a necessity here. However it is not in the house and we survive by pushing the air around with fans and coolers. Most times it is fine, just in bad spells like this one, one starts thinking about putting in aircon and putting in a pool. In a couple of weeks time it will be cooling off somewhat and become the wonderful climate it usually is, then one stops thinking about aircon and pools and looks at the expense of either or both. This heat is the exception.
Right, time to go hose down the dog and dunk the pussy cat in the sink. That give them a start to the day. I should really go buy a paddling pool for the old dog. He needs to be able to sit in one really, but as long as he stays in the shade and he is very good that way, and drinks plenty he will be okay. Just like the rest of us.

While I think of it - I bought a 24 litre container of water last Saturday. It has gone. Yesterday I filled the fridge carafes about 6 times - I think they are a litre each and we have two of them. Simon was asleep for most of the day so I guess I got my required quota of water in yesterday hey!!!

Shad~ Remind me to bring my A/C when we all come to visit you!! I'd be spending days AND nights in Simon's room!! We'd all have to be there to talk! How big is the room! This heat is unbelievable. Tourists are complete idiots and none are more ******ed than the Americans when they leave their country. So many of my friends have done EXACTLY what you said and come back sick as poodles. What kind of vacation is that Beats the crap out of me!! Have a good trip. I am usually stingy with the overtime but the people have a lease for March 1st. When I say "walk this way" the maint. men groan But I tell them they will be happy next Friday~payday.

Happy~ My heart is on it's way to you!! I had 2 teeth in front that needed apicos(sp) and they operated through the gums under my nose. Then after all this healed about 1-2 years later......... I had to do it all over again. Seems the infection had gotten into the facial and jaw bone and started again!! OUCH!! Absesses are a pain no matter where they are. I hope you will be over it soon!! (((((HUGS)))))
I want to say something to you also and hope this comes out right...... before the w.chair I had problems and they were the worst to me then. now there are new problems and THEY are the worst to me. We all have our woes and we all have the right to talk about them. Isn't that what we are on this Earth for? to help each other? Just because others have different problems, it doesn't make yours any less or unreal. Did I say this right??
I hope so. I never tell myself "oh listen to this one" cause if I did I would have no friends! So whine away with the rest of us when the mood hits you!!

Teel~ Hope everything is ok and you are away for a good and fun reason! Take care. WAIT! WHO IS FEEDING HOLLY!!

Gosia~ I was sorry to read aboyut the crying baby stuff. My DD was colicky for about the first year of her life and has stomach woes to this day. I thought I would never get a full nights sleep. I hope you can get some relief when you get tired. Take care and a nanny told me to sleep when my daughter slept. I finally started to feel more like myself when I did that. Your health is more important than the housecleaning!!

Well kids, I am doing much better at the diet thing today. I even exercised last night. I know part of the trouble is sunlight and when I go out to the clinic again I will ask if there is anything they can get me before I spend my hard earned $$. A girl called me Friday and told me the w.chair is getting looked at on March 10th! This cannot be right but I had no time to talk to her. I will call tomorrow and make sure. Carlos knows the chair is breaking into a million pieces. It should be picked up, not looked at. Oh well. No sense b*tching till I know what is what. I charged up the reserve/donated chair and I am ready for ANYTHING!! SUPER MEL IS BACK!! (Having said this...Now watch me fall on my *ss!) Hope you all have a great day and night.

Brushing off the sand, she hops out of the box!

Morning chickies,
So people are roasting themselves down under? Silly people. I think the tourists do the same thing in Hawaii -take their pasty white bodies and then cook them on the beach. Although one would think that when it's over 110 degrees common sense would kick in! Guess they are too busy admiring your lovely landscape. And sometimes people don't know better. Long ago DH and I took a vacation to Denver up high in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was breathtaking - my first trip away from the flatlands of the midwest here. Denver is called the "mile high" city as it is substantially above sea level. It was comfortably warm but by no means hot. We went horseback riding (my first and ONLY attempt at that). We were out for the day and when we got back to the hotel, boy did I have a sun burn. Not knowing otherwise, I did not realize that in the higher altitudes the air is much thinner and therefore the sun is more intense even if it the temps feel just right for a T-shirt without breaking into a sweat. I also learned from DH that you don't roam the mountain side picking up stray pretty rocks because there could be spiders or snakes lurking underneath You tend to be so naive when you grow up a city girl.

Yesterday I was enjoying a delicious sandwich at lunch when I felt something hard in my mouth. Being an expert at losing (tooth) caps, I immediately ran towards the mirror. My temp crown had busted into 3 separate bits with just 1 piece precariously hanging on much like a baby tooth about to fall out. I took great care not to eat anything crunchy but I have lost temporary crowns before simply eating toast. Now I have this little stub of a tooth exposed to the world of germs. I called the dentist who said as long as it doesn't hurt (it doesn't), I should be ok and to call on Monday and make an appointment to replace it. DH was hot and yelling about the incompetency of the dentist. I don't blame him at all. First this is a TEMPORARY tooth - meant to last about 2 weeks while the root canal heals - I've had this tooth for 5 weeks now. Also, when my abscess was at it's worst pain, the dentist tried to grab the crown to pop it off and I about bit his hand off - the squeezing motion sent me into tears of pain. He decided the best thing was to just drill right through the temporary to get at the root and to heck with popping it off. So out of consideration for me, it was a good idea but probably weakened the crown substantially. The good news is that this tooth and the jaw are very quiet now, I hope this last treatment got the last of the abscess gone and we can go on with regular business. I must have one heck of a germy mouth despite my intensive efforts to brush and gargle with antibacterial rinses.

Mel, I do think I understand what you are saying about about new and different problems as we go through life. You just get to the point where you long for feeling good, having energy and feeling rested. Now it's simply a matter of being happy that you woke up to see a new day and you do the best you can Your tooth surgery sounds equally painful!

I have eaten more than my share of carbs this week - spaghetti, pizza and a sandwich on wonderful french bread. One of the things I noticed is that in the evenings my body hurts - not only the joints but an all over achiness. I have been paying close attention to the relationship of the foods that I eat to how I feel afterwards. For instance, fatty foods like butter and mayonaisse give me chest pains (a side effect from the stomach saying I don't like this stuff in me). It was a rather startling revelation about the carbs and body aches. The weather has been fairly consistent so I can't blame that. So even while in some aspects I find the SBD not the most tasty, I can't deny the fact that there are certain things I will have to include or abandon in my life in an effort to get that good feeling back again.

I am sorry to take up this whole post talking about me, me, me. Am glad to hear that Super Mel has donned her cape and is ready to take charge of the world again. Hope the weather is a bit more comfortable for you in Cairnes Shad. We will miss you Teel and await your return all rested up and full of vim and vigor! Gosia, I hope Ali gets some comfort and you catch up on your rest. And Shaker, hope you are staying dry!

It's a beautiful sunny day, lots to do before the sun sets. Have a good day everyone.

While I'm Spring cleaning I decided to take a break with a cup of green tea and put a Spring theme on my AOL's face!! I found Expressions again and changed it! Not only do I feel smart but the "face" looks smart too!! Blue sky. a fence and some lovely wildflowers blooming!! Ok enough bragging, I gotta finish the bathroom and kitchen floor!! I hate washing the floors cause there is no way for me to tippytoe in there if I want anything!

Everyone is out enjoying their Sunday or Sunday night as the case may be.
I've made Cairns yet again and at the moment feel like walking up to the wall and banging my head against it. It may make me wake up to myself. Why did I expect that these people would be able to practice anything they learned in class? Why did I expect people to just accept the fact that it can't be as it was. Why did I expect them to even get excited about what was happening. Why Why Why me.
Not much to write home about here. Life is just going on. Cairns is cooler but more humid than Brisbane. Not sure which is better - there or here. Not to worry, lets just get on with it! JUST DO IT!!!! mind you if I yell at M here any more, I am going to reduce her to tears. Hmmmm now there is a thought

Sorry to hear that you have yet another collection of twits in class Shad. Perhaps a career in SELLING plumbing goods would be more interesting and lucrative than teaching people how to use the system. After all, you've already got that part nailed down. Try to keep your cool as best you can in that steamy weather. I thought the wind and rain were blowing extra hard - must have been fueled by your big sigh of frustration halfway round the world...