Good morning Hippy...

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
HHHHAAAPPPPPPPYYYYYYYY AANNNIIVVVEERRSSAAAARRRRYYYY!



That is so sweet ahhh roses. Hope you have a great day.

Yes my kids have quite a difference in age. My daughter will be 15 in June. People think that Cole is hers and not mine.

Hope everyone has a great day.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY HIPPY!!!!!

That was sooooooo sweet of your husband with the roses and the notes! Whadda guy!

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes. We went to dinner last night - I had pasta because the steak I was craving was no longer on the menu. And we split a decadent chocolate dessert. Today it is back to reality again.

Lucky, a few times in Las Vegas I waved across the street at the Imperial Palace to your mom, where ever she might have been. Sorry to hear about your baby getting head lice. What made you notice it? Was he scratching his head? I hope the babysitter checks their place too. Always something with kids, eh?

Chachee, I suppose that we will always occasionally encounter bumps on the road - whether we plan them or not. The important thing is not to let it become a steady downhill roll or to get overconfident sometimes which undermines our efforts. You'll do fine and I'm sure you'll see success again at the next weigh in.

There's lots of similarities between quitting smoking and quitting bad food habits. LOTS, believe me.

Yesterday I had a particularly emotional day - not like me but I do recognize it as part of the normal cycle of things. Sometimes you have to hit bottom and have a pity party before you can take a deep breath, dust yourself off and head for a better course in life.

I am really struggling with the smoking thing. I totally underestimated what an emotional crutch it is for me. In some regards it gets harder as each day goes by, not easier. The only thing that is keeping me on the straight and narrow is that I know if I give in, I will just have to go through this cycle over and over and over again. Geeeeezzzzzz already. And it's not about keeping my hands busy or having something in my mouth... can't even put my finger on what it is that I miss or I'm craving here. Perhaps it was just the idea that a smoke break was a 3 minute time out from things. I am worried about the job loss and what I will do to earn a living as my industry is slowly slipping away overseas. Time to decide on a new career I suppose. Too much in my head right now.

IwillnotgiveinIwillnotgiveinIwillnotgiveinIwillnot givein.....

Hi Ladies!

Lucky: I'm itching and scratching here! Ick! How do you cure that? I hope my son doesn't get that, but will most likely! Boys like to share things, especially germs.

Hippy: Happy Anniversary. Wow! 14 years. We are on our 5th this year. What a romantic hubby you have! Very thoughtful. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on your next weigh in. I finally gave in and had a Skinny Cow last weekend. Couldn't hold off anymore!

Happy: DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T GIVE UP! I'm sorry you are having a struggle right now. Somehow we are always thrown the tough curve balls when we are trying to overcome something tough. Show your determination and keep with it!

Off to WW tonight. Ready for this, even though it's not going to be pretty! Thank you all for your support this week. It's been tough with hubby gone. Ugh, six more weeks!

Chach

Just checking in!

Thanks to all of you for the anniversary wishes!

Lucky, I just don't know how you do it! How old is the little guy? Jordan says no babies in this house! He's way too use to being an only child! Spoiled!!!

Chach, you are practically newlyweds!!!!! I don't know why I thought you had been married for several years! Good luck on your weigh in!

Happy, I can relate. The cravings weren't so bad but I could never get it out of my head and still haven't figured out how to do it. You are doing great! Hang in there!

Raven, are you still out there?

I worked outside in the garden today. Planted some tomatoes. I hear gardening is great exercise and I got alot of sun. I ate OP all day and have had my water.

Talk to you later!

Good Evening everyone.

I hope that everyone had a great day. Only 2 more days until the weekend..

Raven, I saw the pictures of the new horse on your journal. Machine must be pretty happy. I hope that they are having a great bonding time tonight.

Hippy how did your day go? Any romantic phone calls? Our little guy is 18 months old. He is growing up so fast that it really is hard to believe. Time to start potty training. Potty training, shaving and teenage girls. What a combination.

Happy how did your day go? You are doing so well with not smoking. Are you still on the zyban? Is it helping at all? Did you win on your vacation? Or break even. Mom broke even. She had a lot of fun. She waved at you also.

Chachee how did your weigh in go? for you that you still maintained as you were worried about what you ate this weekend. You get rid of lice with special shampoo or conditioner. We used the conditioner. Then you have to comb the hair until you get all the eggs out. We will have to redo the treatment in 10 days to make sure that all are completely gone. Once kids are in school it is a common problem.

Sassy where are you girl? ~cheeky grin and big waves to you~ Need some more laughs. So have you gone for a horseback ride yet at the ranch you discovered?

Must run, the middle child wants to run to the bank right now and cash his birthday checks. Can't spend it anywhere but need to do this now.

Hi Ladies!

Quick check in....I was up tonight at weigh in, but it was only 0.8. Not even a pound. My goal for next week is to not only lose that 0.8. but then another 2.6 to hit 20. Also, my scale is going away until my weigh in for the challenge on Sunday. Baby steps!

Chach

Good morning

Chach, I bet you were relieved! I think you posted earlier about expecting a 2 pound gain, is that right? Anyway, I'm glad you didn't see a big gain. I have noticed that you set alot of goals which is wonderful, just wondering how you stay so goal oriented? I'm sure alot of it has to do with wanting to be successful at your weigh ins?

AWWW, Lucky, he is a little guy! Those little toddlers I think are the best! They say and do the cutest things! Potty training I'm glad it's you

Raven, I haven't read you journal but it's unlike you to not post. Everything okay? I don't remember if you have said but does Richard ride with you?

Happy, how are you today? Standing strong?

Sassy, where in the world are you?

It's beautiful here today. Calling for rain Friday and Saturday so I have to make the most of today. I have alot of flowers that I need to get into pots and sat around on the patio. I will probably do that early then I really need to shampoo carpets. I have planned to do that for a week but something always comes up.

Have a great Thursday!

Hey chickies...

I'm so sorry I'm MIA. I'm not really.. I'm reading, lurking. It's just that I'm so majorly preoccupied right now (god please let it only be for one more day) that I'm finding it very hard to focus or even think of words to type. I'm doing fine... other than chewing my nails down to about the second joint of my fingers.

I just can't think. Well... I can, it's just that all I can think about is one thing. I haven't been this anxious since we were trying to move into this house and because my credit was (is) total poo I figured they'd reject our app, and I had NO where to move to, as I had to vacate my apartment at the end of that month and I had two kids moving to GA in about one week.

This is a test of the totally spazzed out RT system. This is only a test. If this had been an actual spazz attack, your computer would have started smoking as soon as you opened this thread. We now return you to your regularly scheduled posts. Ok, but I am verging on a total meltdown. (*breathe Marian, breathe*)

Hi ladies!

Raven: Girl, I understand. Breathe, relax, breathe, relax. You GOTTA let me know when you hear something. I've been saying extra prayers! I know this is going to be wonderful for you. Don't spazz on me now!

Hippy: I am glad that I was only up that little amount. I was up 3 pounds yesterday morning, but focused, brought it all back in line, and went about things! I have to have a lot of goals, or else I slack in some areas. My goals are what keep me focused. I try to set a new one each week, then conquer that and move on. They say it takes 28 days to break a bad habit. I work on them for that amount of time, then re-assess how it went. It really helps me focus and know I am working towards something. I'm a little OCD, if you haven't guessed that yet, so it's better to obsess about goals, rather than food.

I am craving a Starbucks Mocha Frap, though. If I go today and get one, that will calm the craving. If I wait until this weekend, then it might end up being a Venti, not a Grande!

My goals for this week are:

1. Only get on the scale 2 times this week--once on Sunday, once on Wednesday.
2. Lose my 0.8 I gained and 2.6 more--that makes 20 for me!

Have a great day, everyone!

Chach

Eee gads Marian, if you don't share the details soon, gonna have to bombard you with PMs. Hope everything works out for you... and don't forget to breathe

I am very jealous that some of you are able to plant your garden tomatoes already. Still too early for us - always a chance of cold and warm weather up and down dips yet. And our summers have been too cool to grow good tomatoes anyway. I try every year but can't remember the last time I got a really good crop.

Chachee - great idea about working on the habits for 28 days. I will have to try that - sometimes I think we take too much on at once and then drop all the balls we're holding.

Hmmm, I'll play with the toddlers but you can potty train them

Still practicing being a non smoker here. I went into the office today. 2 others had quit smoking about 2 weeks ago but with the bad news about the company getting sold, they both went back to smoking again (for a while they say). I'm glad I resisted. I still get some strong cravings but I think the Zyban really helped this time around. I still have not quite figured out what non smokers do to fill the waiting around/thinking/time-out break/ types of things that smokers do but I guess I'll figure it out eventually. I have indeed gained 5 pounds and so my focus is to knock that off and not let the scale go any higher. I've done pretty good with food and water this week, just need to pump up the exercise now. Guess it will have to be indoors as it's raining now and is supposed to continue all through the weekend. I'm kind of curious to see if I have more stamina with all this extra oxygen floating around in my body. I already notice a difference running up the stairs.

Weekend's almost upon us... have a good one everybody!

You go Happy!!!! I am so proud of you!! I am trying to prepare myself mentally to try to stop smoking again. I know a few weeks ago when I tried I bought smoke away and decided I had better start it before I changed my mind. I didn't take the time to prepare myself for what was to come. It helped more than I can say with the cravings and withdrawl but I have to do the mental work. I will use the program again but feel like I have to take the time to get prepared. Not trying to be nosy but do you live in upper Illinois? Just wondering, Gary hauls Amish built buildings, his second job, anyway, he delivers them all over Illinois. Awhile back it was so nice here, warm and sunny but it was cold enough where he was that he and Jordan had to wear coats! I was talking to him on the cell phone sitting outside on the patio and they were freezing

Raven, Lucky, Sassy, hello's to all of you!

I'm so glad it's Friday! Hope all of you enjoy!

Well ... HI There!!! I'm still really out of it today. As most of you know by now from the PMs, things are progressing nicely at this point.

I have to admit, my food and water and exercise have been of little concern to me for the last couple weeks. That doesn't mean I've been stuffing my face or anything, I just haven't given it much thought. This morning I was at 172, which is just fine. After everything going on these last couple weeks, I'm thrilled with that, and I'll take that as my weigh-in for the end of the month. Tomorrow I'll start the May thread, and re-evaluate my goals and set new ones. I did want to be down to 169, that was my stealth goal for the month, but... I lost my 5, even with everything that's been going on, so I can't complain. As a matter of fact, I'm quite tickled with that. I'm already feeling pretty good about the upcoming month. I know that I'll hit 167, which is the weight I was at when I moved down here so long ago. That is my reasonable 5 pound weight loss goal. I don't even really have a stealth goal for next month. The next really meaningful number will be 155, because that's the lowest I've been at since well before I was married, and I hit that here in GA when my boyfriend and I split up one summer. It was even my idea, and I needed to be alone with my kids to really think about my life and where I was heading. And I think in a lot of ways, that was the summer I finally started mourning my mother's death. So I just didn't eat. Very bad. I look at pictures of me back then and I wonder why I didn't look more slender. I looked just as fat back then as I am now - actually moreso. But the reason was because I lost muscle, not fat. I stayed fat and went down in weight. This time is different. This time I'll do it the right way. So I guess we'll just wait and see what the number is by the end of next month, and 5 is good, more is better, but... whatever happens happens. The one thing I do know is that the more I lose this month, the better a chance I stand of hitting 155 by the end of June. And that would be phenomenal.

Happy - I think it is incredible that you are continueing down that non-smoker's path. You are holding your own against some really tough stuff here, and I am SO proud of you, girl!!

Chachee - Your little slip up was minor, and look at you get back OP. WTG, girl! I have NO doubt that you'll reach that goal!

Hippy - Preparation and a plan of attack are your best weapons, I agree. It's odd how even if we want something badly, we can't just DO it till we're actually ready to do it. Sometimes that's really frustrating.

Alright.. I guess I didn't update on Machine's horse! Well, we got her to the stables just fine, and she's gorgeous!! She's going to take some work, and needs to gain some weight, but I really do have a very good feeling about this one. I think she and Machine are going to end up doing very well together! If anyone wants to see pics of her, just hit my journal.

Pictures of Eve

If I don't post much this weekend (THREE horses now, omg!) I hope everyone has a wonderful one!!

Hi ladies,
I'm sorry but I'm taking a selfish day today. For some reason I can't really determine, today was just one big LONG day of constant cravings to smoke. I'm on day 10 but even with the Zyban helping, the psychological and habit addictions are hard to kick. Was talking to my sister today and said that for the last 32 years I have done an activity (smoking) 30 to 40 times a day. Cripes, there is NOTHING in your life that you do that much (even going to the potty if you drink all your allocated water doesn't add up to 30 times in a day ) So I have spent the better part of the evening on the quit smoking website, reading a bunch of articles and lurking on the posts on the forum.

I AM going to beat this thing because I don't want to go through it again. But I may be doing more lurking than posting the next few days as I get my head on straight. Will be thinking of you all - please start by having a good weekend...

geeeeeeeeeeeeeez, i am feeling so lost here. like being in the land of Oz, i´ve missed so much. well call me dorothy........birthdays........... anniversaries..........and horsies.........OH MY! smoke-free..............minor gainage.........and lice...... OH MY! oooooooooo ~shudders and ducks as the funky monkeys swirl above all our heads ~ life on lifes terms can be a kick in the head sometimes!! ~desparately reaching for her puter screen and this site she hears her aunty em friends calling out to her......sassy where are you? sassy? Sassy come back......... calling back- i´m here! i´m right here! but theres this nasty old witch puter, and shes holding me captive.......... clicking her brand new neon pink "good n plenty" walking shoe heels together and mewing........ there´s no place like 3fc.....theres no place like 3fc...........~ oooooo the drama eh ~laughing~ those darned little things. be it good, bad or inbetween can really cause havok with our nice , calm, orderly lives. even disorderly is orderly if your used to it. i´m so NOT used to it ~laughing~

i tried sending e-mails to raven and hippy and happy .........OH MY! (dohhhhhhhhh now i got the lions and tigers and bears stuck in my head. dag goned it ~laughing) but i got the......"Sorry! That user has specified that they do not wish to receive emails. If you still wish to send an email to this user, please contact the administrator and they may be able to help." i didnt want to bother the adminstrator´s, you know how busy they must be, just to send on my huggles and well wishes. but i want you all to know i was sending you my warm fuzzies, good vibes, please let this pass fast for them wishes upwards. i also added those of you whom have them to my instant messengers...... now would you be so kind as to Turn them ON ~laughing~

okies raven is going to start a new thread today so i am going to save my funnies, punnies and dum-dummies for it. ~laughing~ needless to say i gots lots!! this book thingie is sounding better and better. i prolly should start out with a journal, hmmmmmmmmm. yanno my fam has been on me for years to write a cookbook. there are 3 up there and one even made it so far as to win word. Timeless Treats, which is dee-lishes dishes in 20 minutes or less. From our Hearth to Yours and a childrens cookbook that would be nothing but pictures. turns out that kiddie kookbook is the hardest to coneptualize. <~ that spelling has either gone horribly wrong or i just made up a new word......~laughing~

Quick Blips:

Raven, you floored me! i kid you not. did a once around the house laughing when you answered me in German.........you shilly chit! boy woman... me thinks i have barely just scratched the surface of our Mighty Mistress here ~laughing~ time to toss the drill sargent hat or frame it. put it with your "fat" pants. with the way your going you would look far better in a pair of high heeled thigh high boots. oooooooo and they would go so well with that riding crop! ~grinz n winks~ Schau auf deine Regenbogen, mein Schatzie!!

Hippy: sing with me doll........... oh mister sun, Sun.......... mister golden sun.....PLEASE SHINE DOWN ON MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! i´m with ya babes. and be still my lil heart when i read about your anni. my Alex is the romantic one of us two. (thank goodness, my mind works in mysterious ways when it comes to that mushy stuffs ~wink~) for valentines day he had made 5 hearts and placed them about each heart holding a poem and wee nice nice that made me beam and feel like a queen. i on the other hand almost forgot the day till i awoke to those. i was shocked that the date didnt click with me and just as i was thinking...well color me red, i got another thought, which led to a sassier thought and i thought okies i will........ and got nakie right there in my kitchen and did a quick lick and stick with those hearts.....and woke him with coffee and a .........~ due to the nature of the subsequent words and the PG rating here at 3fc.....text has been edited by the author~ knowing smile!!

Cachee: my queen even your bad is good! i am still trailing you! ~smiling brightly~ you know how i kicked my scale to the curb, well at least under the counter. i am now afraid of it! ~laughing~ ascared to step back on and see how good bad or ugly it will be! eeeeeeep! may thread......nodnodnodnod

LUCKYYYYYYYYYYYY, did i count 4 or was it 5 posts from you??!! oh happy days.....she´sssssssssssssss backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk! ~laughing~ a few years ago i became an expert on the very last thing i ever wanted to know about.......Lice. being blonde myself and producing varying shades of towheads each with different types of hair..... 6 weeks we battled with that. first attack not my fault .......School, second attack my fault.....ignorance and an ooooooooopsie hadnt thought of the car roof when spraying.... arrrrrrrrrrrg. finally ending up on a first mane basis with the state health dept. Pm me if you need me.

Happy: HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!! your back, your birthdayyyyyyyy, your smoke free, your job, your everything. so much to say and so little time left for this thread ~smiling brightly~ nutshell, missed you heaps....yeah you!! the hugest cyber hug hun. You will deffinately make it thru!!!

oh i gotta end this.....where does the time go?? my turn for the eats and treats peeps. ~sings~ dog needs a walking and house needs a cleanin and i´m on my wayyyyyyyyyyy........ name that tune!!! ~laughing~

sincerely,
sassy

~blows softly as she taps at the page...........is this thing on??~