CCRRMM at home in the palace ...
 

Ok, Courtly Challengers, Regal Reducers and Merrie Maintainers, it's Valentine's day I'm taking the dang initiative to start a new thread and hope thou will not be mad!!!! :) :) :) :) :)

I'd like to ask the :queen: ly group WHAT'S OUR PLAN FOR THE NEXT BIG THING? Shall we do another exercise challenge after Mardi Gras? Shall we do some holiday challenges (it's almost :lucky: time in the land, thou knowest) ...

Also wondering if we've lost some :queen: s ... hope not and if not, hope all the absent ones are ok, we know what's been happening with some but some are just gone and that's worryin' me buckos!

Here are this a.m.'s posts from previous thread:

From Eydie:

My first choice for the'musical instrument question was the harp. They always look so graceful and sound so serene, but that music doesn't really 'move' me for long. I'd love to know how to play the banjo---wow, how's that for a quantum leap?!

Wildfire, congrats on the loss!

I was sick yesterday--I don't know what happened. Just one of those things that came swooping in out of nowhere. Happened in the afternoon and I was weak and nauseous for the rest of the day. Last night I slept like a stone and now I feel fine. What was that?

Gotta go. Dear Garry is bound and determined to take me out for lunch today. And when we go anywhere it's a major expedition, since we live so far out from civilization. I'll report later.

Happy Day, friends!
__________________
"In every woman there is a queen, speak to the queen and the queen will answer."

:)

From Kaylets:

Hello all!

Coming by very late as recvd word of a death in the family. Very elderly aunt who became widowed in September... in many ways,
a blessing to know she's not greiving anymore or in pain but still, this is hard news for our family.

****
Today's thought of the day:
"You can clutch the past so tightlyto your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present."
--Jan Glidewell

Question of the day :

"Will the world be a better place a hundred years from now?"
-- Table Topics-- The Pampered Chef

***
Anyone for a cup of tea?


----------------

From Amarantha:

Sorry to hear of thy relative's passing, :queen: K! Yes, that's hard news indeed, as age doth not make anyone less dear to us.

Eydie, that Questar :queen: lady be back on the :devil: food thread with another warning as WE KNOW WHAT THIS DAY IS!!! Questar hath announced Amarantha's no candy pledge for the day.

I'm still sick but worked a bit and will work out to meet my challenge.

If no one objects, I'M GOING TO START A NEW THREAD RIGHT NOW! Twenty-four pages is enough, dinna ye think, :queen: s! I'll put this a.m.s posties by K and E on the new thread, so if everyone would be kind and post there, I'd really be thankful and send you some virtual Valentine's candy!!! Hoping all :queen: s will start posting again on a regular basis now ... she saith wistfully ...

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Hello all!!

These weatherman either are very optomistic or ....

It is not going to be anywhere near 50 today ( as predicted)... the real temp right now is 38 w/ windchill making it feel like freezing...
so... that will teach me not to wear sox and to carry my coat ...
Guess I'm optomistic too...

Thanks for new thread Empress... Fresh starts are in order....
DH requestd some Skinny Cow Bars and I only had one and found I am wondering what my initial attraction was.....

Always heard the expression that our taste bud's change... guess its true...at least about these...

So... what's the game plan??
Any ideas ??

Hello all!!

Very thoughtful today... Found out that my Aunt ( who passed last night) just found a letter from mother that had been lost for many years. In fact, when the letter was found, my aunt said to my sister "I forgot she wrote this to me" ....evidently, it was one of the few times, my great grandmother told my aunt "I love you"...
My aunt spent most of her life feeling "short changed"... she did have many tough breaks but had a wonderful husband who helped support his mother-in-law and later, a loving niece and great nieces. Unfortunately, my aunt became sure that everyone only was kind to her "to get something" or "Because your mother says you must". She never really believed she was loveable.....
Now that she has passed and is w/ her husband again, I trust she now understands that she is loved.
So ironic that she passed just b/4 Valentine's Day...

How many of us are missing out for the same reasons????
Because we don't think we deserve to be loved, to love ourselves???

How many times do we not believe when someone says we look well, or did a great job, or are valued, dependable, etc, etc...

How many times do we think, " Nice of them to say but they don'r really mean it" ... or "if they only knew"....

But if someone told us that about a spouse, child, parent... we wouldnt doubt the sincerity ..( in most cases)....

My aunt's story of course, is an exception.. but then I have met others as walled up as she was too...


***
Sorry if I havent lightened the mood...

I'll tell you what.. I'll come back with a grin for all of us!

Just a quick Happy Valentine's Day post! :) Hope all our :queen:s are having a lovely day. We are waiting for Chinese food (2 hr delivery!) and are going to watch a movie.

Kaylets, sorry to hear of your aunt's passing.

happy valentine's day, all! kaylets-i'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your aunt. amarantha-i hope you are feeling better a.s.a.p.! wildfire-congrats on your weight loss. hello anagram, eydie, ceara, and to all royal ones.

the organization which provides my (2)volunteers sends a red rose and valentine's cards every year, and did so once again this year. they have volunteers who go out to bring these to all their clients. the weather was very cold and rainy today but i got my delivery despite that-from a young couple whose anniversary is today and wanted to volunteer to do this. they were so cute--and young. i really appreciated it. speaking of volunteers. my volunteer called me early this evening crying and telling me her boyfriend dumped her TODAY. i felt so bad for her. i had just seen her on thursday and she had been very excited because her boyfriend had special valentine dinner plans for them and she was so happy. i felt honored that she called me when she needed support, and was grateful i could be there as a shoulder for her.

well, i wanted to say hi and thinking of all of you. take care.

all the best,
wsw

Thanks for starting the thread, Empress! Hmmm, the next big thing.....Spring is coming. we could have a Vernal Equinox Challenge. It's less than a month away.

Kaylets, I'm sorry to hear of aunt's death and more sorry to think that she lived her whole lfe wondering if she was truly loved. Makes me ponder how suspicious I feel at times and just 'get over' all those crazy thoughts I have of not feeling worthy enough. After all, I'm a queen, right? :) You always make me think. Have you ever considered a career in counseling? ;)

Wildfire, I meant to tell you that I understand about saying goodbye to your old faithful metal friend. That's always kind of clutched at me too!

wsw, I think young married couples are so darn cute I can't stand it!!! And yes, your friend was lucky to have you to call when she broke up with her boyfriend.

We were out in the world today and there seemed to be some really frantic energy in the shops we visited. All these people doing their last minute Valentine's day shopping. It was actually sort of ick-y. It made us wonder if V. Day had just become one more chore where some contrived romantic gesture was required. We talked to a cashier at the grocery store who said it had been so crazy-busy and she was exhausted. And I talked to a woman who was wistfully looking at the heart-shaped boxes who said she'd been waiting for her husband to buy one and she was just going to buy it herself----made me sad. I hope she didn't just go home and eat it all herself. It seemed that all she wanted was the gesture and the old fool [her husband] was standing right there and didn't make a move! I wish I could be God for a day and give everyone their hearts' desire! Within reason, of course, for the good of all and all that! :^:

Wishing all of you your heart's desire...... :) :) :)

Hi, :queen: s, this is a very thoughtful thread today and I'm appreciating the gentle wisdom and intellect of thy queenly selves. Felt better for awhile today but headache is back. Will throw this off soon, though.

My candy not challenge held and will report on the 21-dayer on the food thread. But yea, Eydie, I felt the frantic energy in the stores today as well. A woman in the store was handing out candy ... JUST what I needed. Then the rather elderly check out guy called me "ma'am" and wished me a happy Valentine's Day. I think I was rather surly though and told him that was the last thing on my mind today.

I'm not sure why, but I don't like this holiday much, especially this year.

Wsw: Glad thou be so blessed in having folk who braved the cold to bring thee greetings and in the volunteer who felt like confiding in thee ... but what a sad commentary on the male species (sorry, guys, I realize you're not all like this), who would be so crass as to dump her when she was anticipating special dinner holiday dinner plans ... sheesh!

Kaylets, thy comments were timely for me, as I often feel much like thou describeth thy aunt ... was just lying on couch thinking how it doesn't do to try to reach out to the world, as the world has never liked me much ... I am much better being introverted and living in a mental cave and carving wood by myself ... hmmm, mayhap I be depressed? Too little sugar? :chin:

I will be glad when it's my high calorie day again ... mayhap tomorrow.

Wildfire, I think I missed the part about thy metal friend ... ? BTW, I'm doing sort of a calorie counting 21-day version of Body For Life on the food thread and was wondering if you ever think of going back on that?

:queen: s, I like the idea of doing something for the Vernal Equinox ... I think we all need to do something fun and fitness related together to remind ourselves that we are still in the springtime o' our universal journeys and that hope spring eternal and that we are sprightly young :queen: s just sprouting up from the dew laden vernal green wood and ...

Well, something ...

Avanti to all :queen: s, mentioned and unmentioned, present or absent ... Old Dog be barking at neighbors and I must give her a dog cookie to ameliorate the situation, though the neighbors be nice. :)

Hello alll!

I didnt find anything to bring back last night but will do my best today....

Thanks for your kind words about my Aunt...Its very bittersweet for me as I was named for her yet I could never make a connection... although a couple sisters were able ... But again, it is a relief to know my aunt is at peace now.

Empress... I hope you feel more energized today... Sometimes sugar slows me down...
And yes Eydie.. I do believe this is another marketing /sales/retail "view" of the day which plays upon so many of us... Do you belong? do you have someone? Are you loveable?
And then for the giver... is the gift big, expensive, shiny enough?.... YIKES!!!

Yes, Empress, all this marketing hoopla spoils it for me.... in fact, DH and I
make a point of celebrating our anniversary away from the 14th because its too busy and prices are higher too...

Oh boy... need to change the subject ......


Zadie! How is sister? My best to you and your family... Are you an Aunt yet?

WSW! How awful for your "assistant" to be dumped on Vday.... even if you are convinced its over marketed like I am, still a poor choice....Its wonderful to realize someone feels we can offer comfort...

****

Thought of the day:

"Everything flows, nothing stays still."
--Heraclitus

Question of the day:

"When you really want something, how do go about getting it?"
--Table Topics by the Pampered Chef

*****

Time for some tea!

Yo! Thanks be that Valentine's be gone, if not my illness, though I be better!!!!! Nope, :queen: K, don't really feel more energized but have a huge week ahead so shall go forth and sally ... or sally forth and go ... something like that ...

Working and making healthy muffins and have posted my weight loss and challenge info on the food thread ... yowza! I'm only working for a few more hours and will do the rest tomorrow ... somehow I need to go to the grocery store, clean the house, do laundry and ... probably other things that I'm forgetting ...

Re the vernal equinox ... it is March 21. I propose that we do an exercise related challenge of some kind from February 22 (which is a Sunday, the first day of the week) to March 21 and I propose it be put onto a separate CCRRMM thread and that even though it's another click, participating :queen: s report in AT LEAST once a week ... for me, and maybe it's just me, a focused challenge game is the best way to get myself back on track ... I can't tell you how hard it was for me to do a lousy 360 minutes of exercise this week, but when I have someone to report it to, like the stalwart :queen: s on the demon food thread, it makes it easier to do. The challenges are very easy to do if I keep records in my hard drive and then just click 'em in a post and pop 'em in. I use spreadsheets and it's fun for me ... BUT I don't expect anyone else in life to enjoy the same games I do and I do know that folkettes have other lives (I actually have one, too, but I ignore it as much as possible). Sometimes I go away and take vacations from 3FC or drop out of challenges, so I've got no complaints if others do that as well ... but I'd just like to stir the troops to a high level of commitment to the vernal equinox exercise challenge so's we can all get gorgeous for the summer, so's I'd appreciate any thoughts or volunteers to start the thread so's I won't always be hogging the floor 'cause we know I'm too verbose! ~ Signed, VERNIE, THE VERNAL EQUINOX STEERING CO-CHAIRMAN, WITH THE OTHER BEING EYDIE WHO PROPOSED THIS IDEA!!! (She doesn't know she's the co-chairman yet, but I KNOW she'll be thrilled ... :s:

I'm thrilled, I think! :D

One more thing about Valentine's day stuff for sale. Garry and I saw an item that we'd never seen before. A supermarket floral section was selling single red roses with the baby's breath and all in empty beer bottles instead of vases. It's kind of haunting us. Was this a ploy to get women to buy flowers for men, that it would seem more masculine somehow to be presented a rose in a beer bottle? Something about it creeps us out. Not losing sleep over it or anything, just struck us as odd.

Amarantha, I wonder if your feeling hermit-ish comes from your ex-friend. I think I have a touch of that myself. I'm very suspicious of new friends and I've been exploring all that somewhat. I don't want my "ex" to continue to have so much power over me, that I know!

Lunch beckons....... :)

Yo!
 

I knew you would be thrilled, Eydie! :)

Yea, I think you are right to some extent ... I'm still haunted by the ghost of that friendship gone awry. But am knowing now how lucky I was that it did end because of how free I feel now to be myself, which somehow I was less of during the years I was a "loved like a sister" by that whole family ... except they "loved" someone they made up in their minds ... they did not even know who I was.

Isn't it a wonder how long this cr*p goes on bothering us? :yikes:

I actually just saw your post on the "prayer" and your ritual of drinking a purifying cup of water each morning. My trainer would love this, as she saith I do not drink nearly enough water and that's true. I shall emulate thee and think of thee and of walking through sylvian forests in some peaceful spiritual clime somewhere with Artemis' celestial animals (or Old Dog and Silly Cat, whichever cometh to mind).

Am experimenting w/baking today ... posting results and recipes on the food thread and my menu for today. Elberta Crone be demanding more people to post food ideas on that thread. She's old and cranky, we must humor her! :rollpin:

Old Dog thinketh I be baking dog bones ... which be not a bad idea, actually.

Did laundry by hand and hung it up so now have no dry clothes (dryer hasn't worked for three years) to go out and buy new and sugary foods, so I have to eat healthily, I guess.

Ok, bye!!![/color]

Good news today from the job recruiter! She was told by the company to call off the search until after they have met with me. Apparently this is highly unusual and she thinks it is a good sign. :crossed: I can tell you I'll be pretty bummed if I don't get the job after all this build-up. I looked up the software package this company uses and it is quite similar to the ERP system we are currently using at work. Everything in the universe is lined up for me to get this job, and I darn well better get it!

Amarantha, I think BFL is a wonderful program. Personally I can't do the 5-6 meals a day, and my gut doesn't handle all the protein needed on the plan. I have been thinking about doing the training side of it, though. If only we could ditch this winter and the desire to hibernate, I might actually get motivated to DO it. Maybe the Vernal Equinox challenge will help get me going. If you and Eydie get it started, I'll commit to posting every day.

Eydie, roses in beer bottles? That's really tacky. :lol:

wsw, how thoughtful that the volunteer organization sends a remembrance for Valentine's. It's nice that you and your volunteer have developed a bond and she feels she can talk with you. Absolutely rotten that she was dumped and on Valentine's, no less!

Hope all our :queen:s are well!

Yo! Congrats, Wildfire, on the good news on the job front ... I KNOW you will get it ... Elberta (who doubleth as a seer) be peering into the crystal ball at this very moment and muttering something about 'Wildfire gets the job, Wildfire gets the job!' Elberta be never wrong, so there you are!!!!

I know I speak for my royal co-chair on the Vernal Equinox Exercise Challenge steering committee that we WILL get that challenge going and are thankful for thy commitment to post every day. I likewise will post every day and in fact the challenge will overlap somewhat with my 21-dayer, which includes 360 minutes of exercise per week.

Re BFL, I don't follow it as the book outlines ... it's just that my eating seems to be taking on a BFL quality. I do find that eating smaller meals more times a day and balancing protein and good quality carbs seems to make me feel much better than days when I don't do that and head for the pb cups. I think I need more protein and good quality fats than the nutritionists would have me believe but I have no intention of going low carb, as carbs (IMO and that of lots of folks) are a good and essential part of a healthy diet ... in fact, I also seem to be eating Zone-like meals. Sorry to go on about food. I should post this on the food thread. My eating is still not good but if you look at my menu for today (on the food thread), it's hands-over-fist better than it used to be and I am stuffed with much fewer calories.

Re the training side, what I really love about the BFL plan is the "peaks and valleys" thing with the intensity. I use this a lot, although I do lots more cardio than the original plan calls for.

Well, off to la-la land now. Starting to feel a bit rocky again. Have really had a bad sinus infection but it seems to be going away.[/color]

Yo, Eydie! I agree that roses in a beer bottle is creepy ... unless it happened naturally in an attic in London in a 1960s romantic movie. :)

So here it is, 4:30am and I've been up for an hour already. (That's a total of 4 hours sleep.) My darling cat decided he wanted out of the bedroom and his way of communicating is by biting one's elbow, eyelashes, and ears. I let him out, which wakes me up enough to realize that DH is breathing like a freight train and I can't get back to sleep. Choices: 1. Smother DH 2. Send DH to couch 3. Move to couch myself. Prefer smothering, but that could really mess up a Monday morning. So I get up, discover DD alseep on couch. Sigh. Make her move to her bedroom, tell DH to move to couch. No, he'll be quiet, honestly. *snore* So with pillow in hand....I convince myself NOT to put it over his face and apply pressure...and I head for the couch. Of course all three cats do the Dance of Joy because Mom is awake! Time to play, wrestle, chase, scratch, etc. I give up.

This does not bode well for Monday. :tired:

Hello all!

Wildfire! Still doing the dance of joy or are the cats out cold now that you're regular day schedule has begun???
Good Luck today! As though you'll really need it... yes, things to do seem to be turning for you....the new job is just around the bend...if not at today's place, not very far behind....Keep smiling today... Remember you are also interviewing them...I know you'll knock them dead!

Empress-- Could it be what took me so long to realize worked best is a Zone type program... food at least... I 've not traveled far down that road ... a goal yet on the list...

Temp dropped overnight and I woke up stiff and sore. And mentally exhausted after such an emotional weekend. Am trying to use all of this as motivation to enjoy, celebrate, explore and build on today's experience than to see only the negative aspects.
I know these aren't original thoughts and very often after a death, these same ideas are repeated.

live and learn.

****
Scale stayed the same although at first, teased me by showing 2lbs higher but I stared at the numbers fiercely and tried again. This time, the number read the same as last week. A 60 second lesson in perspective.
(I just tried again hoping for a better number... nope.. we are staying the same this week. :lol: )

***Today's thought of the day :

"Be here now."
-- Ram Dass

Question of the day :

" Do you think TV newscasters exagerrate the sensational news stories to get listeners?"
-- Table Topics by the Pampered Chef

****

Take care all... am really beginning to see that my appreciation for all of you is much deeper than I had realized... all of you are mentors and role models for me...I learn as you face each challenge, problem, hill, valley, chasm, and how you overcome each is a lesson and example for me.
You are lessons in individuality, creativity, devotion, self reliance, generousity, ( sp!), kindness, strength, gentleness, courage, wit, warmth, perseverance and persistence. We are all here because of incredible women before us.... we are all here for each other...to learn, to lead, to listen....

I am grateful you have allowed me into your lives and am grateful you are a part of mine.


Kettle is on.

Thanks, Kaylets. I think it's miraculous that we've all found each other here!

Good luck, Wildfire! After the interview you can go home and sleep?

I missed it somehow, Empress, but I hear you're missing almost 2 pounds? Woo Hoo! I tried the Body-For-Life thing last summer, and liked it it okay except for that free day deal. I just couldn't quite wrap my brain around it. But it did change the look of my arms--more definition!

It snowed here last night, and it's absolutely gorgeous this morning. It doesn't look like we're going to make it to work today, so we're going to take a walk outside. It's one of those snows that stuck to every individual branch of every tree, so it all looks like lace. And when we get back hot coffee will be especially good! :)

Sympathies to those in the snow belt, except it does look pretty ... if only it were not so cold.

It's cold here, too, but I have to get going to gym and store before finishing up my deadline stuff..

Eydie, wish it were two pounds, but it was only 1.5, still I know I'll have another good loss this week, so it's all good.

Kaylets, I think I'll try just staring at the numbers to get a better reading ... yes, I realize you just tried again but it's funny to think of how maybe we can just mentally force Demon Scale into submission ... actually it proves it's all relevant ... or something.

Sorry thou feeleth not so perky ... winter will endeth soon, methinks. It was in the 70s yesterday here and likely will be again as soon as the sun gets going.

QOD: I better opt out o' this one, since media bashing be a sore subject w/moi, since I am one! :)

Later ...

Thanks for all the good luck wishes, gals...but could you hang on to them until tomorrow? My interview is tomorrow at 11am.

Hello all!

Feeling more cheerful this evening....
Thanks for all your kind words....

Wildfire... YES! All the good energy and luck vibes stay strong till the decision's been made!

This will happen!

Oopps.... timer rang...need to put some things away for 15 minutes!

hi all!

wildfire-i'm sending good thoughts your way for interview tomorrow morning. i know you are right though-everything in the universe is lined up right for you to get this job!

amarantha-sure hope that sinus infection has finished its course by now! congrats again on the weight loss!

eydie-hi. it always makes me smile when i read your posts.

kaylets-it sure helps to be reminded of the trick you use setting a timer for a particular task. as i am trying to pack things up and doing other necessary things which can feel overwhelming at times, using your little trick helps me to focus on one task and then get on to the next so that i can see some progress on each one. also, just trying to remember to breathe at times may be the best i can do at that moment!

it snowed and sleeted last night. it looked like a winter wonderland this morning, but because this wintery stuff means i am stuck inside for a while, it doesn't thrill me too much. i can't complain though because i have plenty that i can do here. i was pretty productive today and op, so all and all, it was a good day! i am thinking of you all. take care.

wsw

Yo! I'm feeling a bit better tonight as well and still on my challenge!!!!

Wsw, thanks for posting on the food thread yesterday ... I answered you on there ... you are doing great!!!! :wave: Sorry it's cold there ... got down into the 40s last night but think we were in the 70s during the day. The 40s is veeery cold here ... and I don't have central heating, so I was moving a (very safe) space heater all over the place last night. Think we have turned the corner, though.

Wildfire, also crossing fingers for thy interview to produce the best possible outcome ...

Punkin, Cerise, Wood Nymph, Frogger, how be thee? And all mentioned and unmentioned :queen: s who oft frequent the palace? The towel boys are asking about thee ...

Kaylets, I agree with Wsw that thy timer trick be a good one. I think I need to do that with writing (the paying kind).

I'm going back to bed now! :)

Terrfic Tuesday!
 

Hello all!

First of all, I need to let everyone know that the timer idea is not my own...
although the beauty and logic of it make me wonder why it wasnt obvious to me .... but its the The Flylady's.... www.Flylady.com
There's lots of things she suggests to do regarding organization that I have not built into my shedule but I can tell you that she is 100% right... once you establish a habit ( ie, swishing your toliet bowl every am)... it becomes automatic.
I did already know some of her tips did work very well for me ( ie, her evening routine of laying out tomorrow's clothes, packing as much of your lunch as possible, looking at tomorrow's schedule ...)... I don't jump out of bed a bundle of energy so it's so much more cheerful for me to know things are ready and waiting for me.
The biggest thing I've learned from her is not so much that she wants you to follow her routine but to follow your own... and adjust as needed...

sound familiar??
very much like my food plan...

WSW-- sending you extra boxes mentally!! never have enough when moving!
Are you finding anything you thought was lost forever?? One time I found a $20 in a blazer pocket...another time, when the mattress was being moved, I h think a couple $20's popped out from inbetween..... the other women thought I was going to be upset ... that my secret had been "uncovered'... instead, I was delighted... Used that to buy them lunch!

Empress-- did I m iss it? Did you decide against massage school? I saw a really neat lady on tv, a trainer who was sharp, down to earth and had a great smile... and I pictured you! What do you think?? Personally, I'd rather work w/ someone who UNDERSTANDS what its like than someone who's never carried more than an extra 8 oz.....

Eydie-- You snowy day sounds delish. Do the animals come by? I grew up "playing" in a woods and always would imagine myself years before, following the same paths.... always saw more skunk cabbage than skunks but
always yearn to be with nature whenever possible.

Wildfire-- I am so exicited for you! When you reach out to shake hands today with that beaming smile of yours, and say, "I've been looking forward to meeting you"... don't be suprised if its my voice you hear !! Just kidding!
Don't forget what they always say... they may love the resume but its the first 8 seconds of meeting you that seals it.... I always imagine they can see me stepping out of the car... and I start smiling then... let them think right away " She looks like she would be fun to be around ---let's get her in here b/4 someone else grabs her!"

Everyone else!
take care.. be gentle w/ yourself... I miss you!

*****
Today's thought of the day:
"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are."
--Mary Jean Irion

Question of the day:
"If you were blindfolded, could you tell the difference between soft drinks?"
--Table Topics from the Pampered Chef
******

Kettle is on!

Hello,
On friday at 5:11 p.m. we were a bit suprised by a early arrival. Maggie is healthy, although she is about 5 1/2 weeks early. She is 5 pounds, 11 ouncesand has a full head of dark hair with blonde tips. She is in the NICU till probably next week, but she is doing great.

Needless to say it has been a little crazy arround here. My parents were in town this weekend. She is their first grandchild so it is pretty exciting. Only two people are allowed in to see her at a time and one must be a parent, so there was a lot of sitting arround but it was good. The other set of new grandparents are on vacation in England. They has planned it specifically so they would be in the country when the baby was borne. Well, the best laid plans.

I am liking the new thread. It feels like a new start. Actually I am doing really rather well. I like the idea of a equinox exercise challenge, as I am already doing my own equinox personal weight loss challenge. Plus I have been hitting the stair stepper every day (except Friday), so it will not be too much of a shock to the system.

Kaylets - I am a fairly new flybaby, and I agree, it is pretty great. Plus the tremendous ammount of reminder emails makes one feel rather loved :)

It was cold waiting for the bus this morning, but it felt different. It was not the cold of "it will never get warmer again" but instead the cold of "this is the coldest it will be for at least a week." We may get above freezing.

At any rate, I must get working. Had yesterday off, which means twice as much work today.

Scanned posts first again and am now out of time. So many things unsaid......I'll need to really purge my soul when I hit my own computer in two weeks.

Waves to all.....

Yo! Fly-by (note: this is not the Flylady, though, it's Amarantha)!!! I put my sad sugar laden story and a desperation sugar recipe on the food thread, so won't repeat it. Have to work in mountains tonight (and every night this week, I think).

Kaylets, thanks for the info on Flylady. I think I need her ... yes, I did decide not to go to massage school ... I think I would infect all the clients with my repeated sinus infections!!! :)

I now have no career ideas in mind and my spirit be broken, but that's ok, it's been broken before!!! :)

Zadie, congratulations on thy new niece ... Maggie is such a pretty name!!!!

I like the idea of the vernal equinox challenge also ... I'm in steady state now with my 360 minutes per week (the calorie part of my 21-dayer bit the dust, details on food thread). The vernal equinox be a bit different here in the southern climes than when I lived further north ... by the time it rolls around, the day/night thing won't be exactly even ... but close enough ... it'll be nice and warm then ... well, it's nice and warm now ... and the yellow poppies are starting to bloom. Always a good sign that I'll soon want to go hiking!

Later, I'm late!

Hello, darlings. Sorry to have been absent. I've been very sick and moving a company down 4 floors (harder than it sounds), and have literally had no time to come and chat. I think that I won't do too much scanning of the past posts, much as I have missed you all terribly.

Isn't it amazing how much energy we really have? I never fathom how energetic I really am until I'm sick for a good long time and lose it. I love being alive and well.

Zadie, warm congrats on being an auntie! "Maggie" is such a great name. I'm glad your sweetie and sister are all OK.

Much love to the rest of you - moving's over, but I still have to unpack the supply room, so I'm still too busy during the day to talk much - pray that our internet issues at home get resolved soon. I miss you all so much!

hi!

anagram-good to see you post! please send some of that warm weather down this way before you leave fl. in a couple weeks.

zadie k.-congratulations on the birth of your niece, maggie! how wonderful!

i have had a good op and exercise day. i stuck to my pre-planned meals too, which felt good. i thought it would be especially important for me to try and stick with these menus for the next few days too, since i'm stressed and it's so easy for me to use that as an excuse to go off track. more snow today-ugh! my friend reminded me though that there really is an end in sight with this bad weather. actually, it is very pretty to look at anyway.

kaylets-that is neat that you found the loose cash when moving. i haven't found anything yet which i thought i had lost, but then i still have a lot more packing to do, so i may still find some hidden/forgotten treasure.

amarantha-it is nice to be making a new start in the new condo. i had gotten myself all wound up earlier worrying about some things, and reading your words reminded me to relax and let myself enjoy all the positives of this change, new beginning in new digs. my friends are working so hard to make it nice for me and i smile when i think about all this, just as i smile when i read your posts. hope those mountain drives for work this week aren't too wearing, anyway.

take good care, all. to those mentioned and unmentioned, have a good evening. thinking of you.

Hello all!!

Domestic stress ( DSS) last night nearly had me Off Program but I carried an orange to the bedroom and somehow this was enough for my brain to say," Ok, at least there's something ....."

Our snow storm didnt happen which is a relief....
Looks like my cold symptons were a false alarm too...

The Sugar Free Hot Chocolate was delivered at work yesterday. I had some and evidently, have lost my taste for that too.... Even had a second cup just to make sure! Now that's what I call ironic.... " If I keep drinking this , it might taste better..." hmmmmmmmm.....
That was the other reason I thought a cold was coming on... that things didnt taste right...

This is interesting... never really been aware of my taste changing except after I quit smoking ...
So.... I know Arabella has quit wheat for periods of time... I wonder if this is common... the longer you are away from a food, the less it tastes as it did when you are eating it everyday....

Empress... ?? Eydie?? Anyone??


*******
Thought of the day:
"If you want to, you can seize the day. But you have to really want to."
--Enya


Question of the day :

Do you ever try to change to please your friends?"
--Table Topics from the Pampered Chef


Extra thought of the day :

"Do not mess in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and good with ketchup."

****************

zadie, welcome to aunthood! Wow, a new fresh baby! :bb:

Amarantha, please rephrase. I can't imagine your spirit being broken---ever! Bent maybe, but never broken. Rise up, Goddess! :)

wsw, you're inspiring me with staying OP. especially during a move. I've felt a little 'off' lately.

Cerise, take care of yourself. We look forward to hearing more from you when things are less intense for you. Hey, what happened to Seattlejo?

Where are our beloveds Punkinseed and Arabella? :^:

Kaylets, sorry to hear of more distress with DS. Hope it smooths out soon.

Onward, going to get to work early so i can come home early! hee hee

Hi all! Hope I have been a little missed.
I have been so busy with 2 jobs I haven't had even much time to sleep. Very tired, and very sick (again!) I've got that dag gone cold AGAIN!! What is going on??

For this challenge, even though I won't be losing weight, I'd like to challenge myself to not ralph in the car on the way to and from work. I now get car sick. I came very close to tossing my cookies this morning whilst at stoplight. When does the all day sickness end?

Finally told the big boss about us being pregnant. She was extremely less than thrilled and suggested I start looking for something else. BOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

More later lovies, I have to pee!!

Back in the game.
 

Heigh-ho, chickadees.

Ahhh. Woke up this morning HATING my life but then got to work and some sort of weird, "everything's-all-right" euphoria kicked in. Huh. Maybe because the company's moved, we're in our nice new office and even though I have a mountain (and I'm not kidding) to unpack and store, at least the heavy, oh-God-what-if-I-forget-something panic is over.

I was hating my life because I fixed some nice Mexican hot chocolate with a shot of Kahlua for Ramon and I last night and it kept me up like you wouldn't believe. To add to that frenzy (you know, the sweaty, caffeine-induced, doze-off-weird-dream-jerk-awake-every-half-hour kind of night), I had also inhaled a book of Steven King short stories just before turning off the light...no one can :censored: with reality better than he.

Anyway, on to posties:

Dammit, Kermie (I mean, Frogger). What is the matter with your boss? :mad: Ceara's right, she's breakin' the law by even saying something like that. Don't suppose you have a good lawer...? :chin: I hope you get some relief from your ill health soon. What about the glowy, feel-good thing I keep hearing that pregnant women are supposed to inherit? Skipped you, I guess.

Ceara, how are the doglies? How's that good friend of yours who's dealing with the loss of her husband?

Eydie, I've been a little "off", too, lately. I spent two weeks off-program, the first because I was deathly ill (coughed so bloody much I was sore for days afterward) and the second because I was spending every waking (and most sleeping) minute thinking about moving the company and couldn't bear to spend the mental energy on thinking about what I was eating. Silly to see such words on my computer screen, now that I've typed them, but going off prog. seemed a good idea at the time, and maybe it wasn't such a bad one, since I maintained weight-wise and stayed sane. Who knows? I'm back on the wagon today, though! :D

Aw, poor Kaylets. I'm so sorry about your domestic stress. That sort of thing colors my whole day sometimes. Here's some peace... :goodvibes ...here's some luv... :love: . I know what you mean about eating something so it'll taste better. I did that with canteloupe once. Hate the stuff, since I was a kid. One day I said to myself, "OK, you're a grown-up now. Grownups like canteloupe. They eat it and like it." I started eating it every day, sincerely experiencing the flavor and trying to like it. I still hate it. I'd rather eat cat hair. OK, not quite. :lol:

WSW, glad to hear your move's coming along. Thanks for sharing your story about the volunteer you were able to help. That's exactly the impression I've had of you - sort of a sage friend who people relied on. I can tell that people feel good about things when they're around you. I love those kind of people. Actually, there are a lot of people like that on this thread!

Speaking of which, uh, where is everybody? Oh, I know. My absence made everyone just want to leave, too, right? R-i-i-i-g-h-t. :rolleyes: Well, I'm back, ladies! Time to slip back into the fold.

Actually, thanks to y'all faithful ones who've stuck it out through thick and thin. I'll get more like you with time, I hope.

Love, darlings...

Fly by, but I just had to say it...Frogger, what your boss is doing is almost certainly illegal. I am not giving legal advice becuase I am not licensed to practice in your state, but if, hypotehtically a situation like that was to happen there would be some hypothetical things that a person could do. There is probably a state agency that takes care of issues like this. Department of labor or department of human rights are a couple of guesses. There are also attorneys that might take a case like with no out of pocket costs becuase under the federal regulations they might be able to get attorney fees. I do not know about nonprofits round your parts, but there is probably someone who crusades about this issue that might have attorneys as well.

Speaking of attorneys, I guess i should get back to acting like one :)

Zadie, you hypothetically rock.

Frogger, add me to the list of women who are absolutely outraged about your boss' behaviour. Is she serious or does she think she's being funny, or is she being *****y? What nerve! And you don't need that in your delicate condition. [does anyone say that anymore?] Sorry about the A.M. sickness. Does that pass after a while? Oh, and of course you've been missed, silly!

Cerise, so you're feeling more settled? I'm the same way when I have something big coming up at work--it consumes my every waking moment and them poof! it's over.

Punkin, send us a sign. Hopefully you're taking some time off and doing the 'Spa Terry' thing.

Ick. A very bad, very weird day for me. So weird that I know something must be going on with me, but I can't really pinpoint it. So I've been eating all kinds of bizarre stuff today, stuff I wouldn't normally touch--junk. And I've made myself good and sick. Good news is my faithful body's craving water and nothing but water. I usually post my food journal on the other thread, but I couldn't even tell you what I've had exactly. Let's just say it got ugly! :devil:

Bowed but not beaten....that's me!

Hi girls. We aren't going to talk about my weigh in because it was awful. It has to be water because I know I didn't gain that much this week. And I wore jeans tonight, which doesn't help.

I have a second interview on Tuesday. We're still working out the time. The only feedback I have so far from the recruiter is that the Controller really enjoyed talking with me and feels I am capable of filling the position. The next interview is with HR.

Frogger, never mind illegal, that's just downright despicable!!! GO TO HUMAN RESOURCES. Tell them what she said. Get it documented! Don't let her get away with that...she should know better than to say such a thing, even if there was the remotest bit of humor in it. :nono:

Cerise, ever read any Clive Barker? Now there's a twisted mind. Blows Stephen King out of the water, IMO, but I'm a fan so I'm biased. Hellraiser, Imagica, The Great and Secret Show....*shiver* Glad the bulk of the move is over with for you. What an ordeal something like that would be! You're feeling better, then? Hello to Ramon :wave: How is he doing?

Kaylets, sorry to hear about the domestic stress. Hope it is better tonight!

I think we need to send the Royal Search and Rescue team to find Punkin and SeatleJo. :mag:

Hello to all our lovely ladies....I need to find something else to wear tomorrow since the cat puked all over what I had laid on the bed. :rolleyes: Of course she did it AFTER I finished ironing it.

À demain...

Hello all!!

Oh boy, again, didn't want to listen to the alarm! Stayed up past bedtime watching a show I was taping too.... : 0 :)
That seems silly doesn't it???

Its very much like that Country song,
"What was I thinking??".....
About something else!!!

Now, if last night, I still had little ones, I'd be making sure they got to bed on time so they be starting Thursday well rested....
Why am I not as important? Why is it ok for me "not to be on the list"??
And what kind of example am I to my family??

Remember what Dr Phil says.... "We teach those around us how to treat us..."
If I don't respect my needs, I am "teaching" others that its ok not to respect my time, my needs, myself......

Does that mean I need a lion tamers whip and a chair??? No. Not for me.
But step by smiling step, the same way I learned how to cook new vegetables, figure out points, etc., etc.....

Lots of days, all of this seems like too much effort...but then I wonder why I think I'm not worth the effort??? I'd do this for a parent, child, friend,.....

hmmmmmmmmm.....

JOURNAL CHALLENGE!!!
I don't know why I hate to do this so much! But, I am challenging myself and anyone else who's interested. I could use your support!
All you have to do is come back and share..
" I recorded most of my food.."
"I recorded all my water"
All you have to do is share how you did...
For me, its going to be one meal at a time..
I hate to carry a notepad around so I am thinking I will write it down on a loose sheet and then staple it into a notepad that will live on my desk here....

Its time to try something new, I've tried everything else I can think !!

*********
Thought of the day:
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
--Milton Berle

Question of the day :

"What were Milton Berle's famous "habits"?"


******************

FROGGER!!!! Personally, just to make sure I understood and to confirm the boss wasnt "offering advise" because of your travel time, etc,etc.... IF she is really telling you that your job is in jeopardy.... you do need to report it.

I would be tempted to go back to her and start the conversation again...
tell her how much you like your job... etc. and see what is said...
Even better...would be an email... documentation is a good thing....




Take care all!

Yo, I'm doing a couple of flybyes also as somewhat crunched for time this week. I posted this on the NOLA thread, so zapping it in here as well:

"Yay, Ceara and Anagram!!!!! Good for thee for schlepping on through Georgia and the Bayou ... I think the Bayou may be in there somewhere ... on Sunday, I'm going to post the CCRRMM Vernal Equinox Exercise Challenge, unless someone else wants to? :chin: :s: :doh: (Would not hurt my feelings, I just want to have a new exercise thread on Sunday)!!! Since the NOLA was meant to go to Mardi Gras, it seemeth that the :queen: consensus be we need a vernal equinox challenge. I'm thinking we can all just post personal exercise related challenges and go from there ... I'm going to continue with my 360 minutes a week and everyone can continue with what they're continuing with ... hope that soundeth ok dokey ... I'm going to post this verra post on the main thread as well ... sure and b'gorra (St. Pat's Day is somewhat close to the vernal equinox, so ... ) :lucky: ... "

Let me know if anyone objecteth! :)

Frogger, so glad to see thee but sorry thou be havin' a rough time with the BB (supply wording thyself)! :s: As said above, your boss' attitude is wrong and discriminatory (IMO) and probably not legal (in my non lawyerish opinion). Zadie ... ?

:queen: K, you be on!!! I journal at least my calories and exercise every day and then keep it on a spreadsheet at night. Often, though, I don't list every menu item, but have been doing it on the Demon Food Thread ... maybe you'd like to do it there so's we frequenters of that thread can see thy menus and get good ideas. Every day I see thy menu there, I'll post one ... sometimes I don't have time to do both threads and I really like the focus on food on that thread.

Ok, sorry, gotta go!!!!

To all, mentioned and unmentioned, YO!!!! :)

Dost thou thinketh Punkin and Seattle Jo joined the Foreign Legion?

Kaylets, I positively couldn't do this at all without my trusty food journal. I've kept one for years. If anyone ever asked me for advice on how to lose weight and keep it off, I think my first bit would be to keep a food/exercise journal. Yes, please--post away on the food thread! :D Great challenge!

Amarantha, looking forward to the Equinox Exercise thread. I plan to give myself a new challenge every week. I need to shake things up a little! More bellydancing? :s: That's a whole lotta shakin'!

Where is everybody? Doing something fun and healthy, I hope.

And Kaylets, it's a touch before my time, but I want to know Milton Berle's habits! I know he dressed like a woman in his act sometime, but I don't think you could call that a habit! Inquiring minds want to know......! :D