Good morning! Happy Monday! Well, it is for me, I'm still off work! YAY! Not sure what I'm going to accomplish today. It's sooooo humid out, it's like walking through soup. It was only 8:30 and I couldn't stand it. Ahhh, the joys of living in the midwest. I suppose I'll piddle around inside, finish laundry, clean the curio and desk, wow, what a day!

I ate way to much yesterday. Today I'm hopping right back OP. I feel terrible today. That should teach me a lesson. I'm bloated, full of water. I tried to add something to my grocery list for later this week and could hardly hold the pen. That's bad.

Last night I climbed a hill to a park next to my house and watched fireworks across the cities. Of course, it wasn't like being right there, but the view was amazing. I'm just a couple blocks from the Mississippi River, so I could see displays in both IL and IA. But then some weird people came, and there was a raccoon in a tree hissing at me, so, since I was alone, I decided to go home.

All this talk of vacation has given me the itch to go somewhere. I would love to go to the Mediterranean, Greece and Italy. And, of course, Hawaii. And Florida. Man, I need to get out more! I didn't travel much when I was growing up, my mom was from Wisconsin, my dad from Ohio. So most of our summer vacations were spent visiting family. We did go to Colorado once, and Niagra Falls once, but that's about it. I went to NYC 2 years ago with my BF. I loved it out east. Ready to move! This year we are going all the way to Chicago for a weekend. whooppee. But, I will do plenty of shopping!

Angie - I was at Red Lobster on Saturday. I had the broiled seafood feast. I brought some home, but ate it later that night. It was soooo yummy! I love seafood. I hated dealing with a realtor when I moved last year. They are right up there with lawyers on my list. My neighbor just put his house on the market a couple of weeks ago. Poor man!

Jana - I think we are here at the same time. We both posted on the word game! Congrats on not gaining through a holiday. That is huge! It sounds like you had a "blast" yesterday. Did you get alot out of Dr. Phil's book? I've been thinking about buying that one for awhile. I really enjoy his show.

Cristi - You are so lucky. You got another big storm! We had some rain the past couple of days, but nothing to get excited about. Just rain.

Susan - OK, now I'm dying to know, WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?! You guys are a hoot!

Marti - The close definately make a difference on the scale, especially if it's a heavy material, like denim. That is a good idea about the teddy bear, but I'm not very crafty. I could probably make a square??? out of it! Probably wouldn't be very straight either.

Well, I sure have been babbling today. I have a few things to go check into online, and then I should get busy. Back OP today!

Jen

Morning ladies--

Well we had fun yesterday. We went to the parade....it was over an hour long....then we went to the park there is town after it and walked around for half an hour before we decided to head home. I cleaned up the patio some more and it's starting to look presentable to me.....I guess company can come over now and I won't feel ashamed of the mess I always have back there!

Then we started lighting fireworks when the sun was finally setting. It was 10:00 before that happened. It was so neat to be in the neighborhood this year....all up and down our street people where lighting things up!! And the raceway had their firework show and from our street....we had the perfect view!!

We had tried to get in touch with my grandpa all day to see if he wanted to join us in the fun...but of coarse the man wasn't home!! Busy, busy busy!!

I have tons of laundry to do today.....not too thrilled to be doing that...but I had a good weekend and so ignoring laundry was ok!!

I will post later on tonight!

Marti

Hey there..
Had a great time in Condon. They are such a dinky little town, but they sure put on a fabulous Fourth! We attended the parade, checked out the book sale. My husband ran an Independence Day 8k and my son participated in the Youth running games. Instead of ribbons - the kids won cash. My son won $1.50, which made his day. He and DH went to the fireworks display late last night. I stayed home to put Leigh to bed. The pace is so much slower than Portland and it was so nice to get away from our hectic life and just put our feet up.

Thanks for the support re: Dad's brain fart. You are all right in that I said my piece and that's all I can do. I'm at peace with that. I think at first when I heard the news it sent me back in time to the 17 yr old who had no option other than to endure verbal and emotional abuse by his wife. I had to remind myself that I am a big girl now and nobody hurts me unless I let them. I just would like to see him realize he is worthy of a real, true love. All I can do is say a prayer for him everyday and hope he finds some peace. I stewed for a couple of days,then just released it all. It's just not my problem anymore. You all are great to read my whine and respond with support.

Anyhow - I signed on for my next 21 day challenge..I'm getting WW at home soon... and i'm ready to get myself back OP with a new energy! I'm also going to post on the author's thread soon - I read all the time. I'm looking forward to getting some great recommendations.

Jana and Christi - WTG! congrats on your losses. It's hard to stay OP during holiday events. I didn't this last weekend, but i'm going to learn to do better.

Jen- I know you were asking someone else, but I thought I'd mention I've read Dr. Phil's book and I think it is very helpful for dealing with the emotional and lifestyle aspects of obesity. IMO, I wouldn't necessarily turn to it for diet and nutrition advice, but the rest of it is very good. It's good for help in getting one's head on straight to make lifestyle changes.

Getting long here, so I'll say Hi to everyone else fornow! Hope you all had a happy Fourth of July. I'll try to get to more individuals tomorrow...
RosieKate

Hi Ladies,

Angie - sounds like you had a relaxing weekend, which you surely deserve!

Jen - were you talking about Dr. Phil's Ultimate Weight Loss Solution? If so, I got several things out of it. Look for a PM from me, ok?

Marti - glad you had fun over the weekend!

RosieKate - aww, I'm happy that you are in a good place with what's going on with your Dad. When you are ready to do WW and if you need me, just holler, ok?

Hiya Cristi! - what's up?

Oh Suuuuusan... where are you???? You never did say what you were wearing, lol.

I cleaned house today instead of Before the party, lol. Much nicer this way, lol. Remember my 9 y/o nephew Zane who visits with us on school breaks? He's here until sometime Friday. Love the boy....

BBL,

I don't know if what I had for dinner at RL made my have an upset stomach or just whatever,,,but I was feeling pretty icky last night...and all day today.
RosieKate, that sounds like a nice way to spend the weekend...relaxing in the country. And you are right you are no longer a 17 yr having to depend on them for a home,,,your grown and have your own place,,,and don't need to take any kind of misbehavior from her.
well off to watch my tv
Angie

Hi girls--

Jhanai went home with her dad tonight....hate seeing her go. She was kind of excited to get back home...I guess she's meeting up with a friend tomorrow and has things she wants to share with him. She called me as soon as she got home. Always make sure we call each other when either of us gets home. (I usually take her home but this time her dad picked her up)

James is on the swing shift again this week. Still waiting for word for where his Conductor School will be held. He kind hopes it's out of state for the excitment. I told him that if it is...make sure he brings lots of money so he can shop for me!!

I watched For Love or Money....did you see that Jen??? Rachael didn't win. But next week looks interesting.

Such a reality show freak I have become!!

I'm making this one short...I will do individuals tomorrow.

Marti

Where'd everyone go???? Mom? Dad? Uncle Frank? Sheesh, I feel Home Alone, lol.

Angie - hope your tummy is feeling better now.

Marti - when does James' school start? You will be lonesome w/o him!

Hi to all the other JLs.

Neal starts back teaching on Thursday, and has office hours on Wednesday. I will miss him, but at least his days will be short. It is so hot and humid here in Indiana, I plan to just stay in today. I need to update my Weight Loss scrapbook, so I might do that.

BBL,

Good Morning ladies--

I have GOT to quit going to bed at 2:00 in the morning!! I sit and read, read, read!! I finally got a chance to start reading my book again after this weekend. (Hate getting into a book and then having to put it down) BUT....family comes first!!


Anyway...I'm up now....I've ran out of coffee, and I'm sitting here in sweats while the sun is beaming through my windows!!

Jana--Your nephews name....Zane, that was what my sister was going to name her baby if it was a boy. Now that she's expecting another baby...I wonder if she'll still use that name. I will have to ask. I think it's a boy, she thinks it's another girl. Let's see whose right......I may have to change my answer after some time!

Angie--I went out to a nice seafood place before (one that I have gone to many times) and this one time I came home and later that night I felt HORRIBLE!! I think sometimes with seafood you have to take your chances. I had some shellfish and I just was miserable the next day. Hope you start to feeling better!

RosieKate--Glad you had a great weekend. And I'm glad you're joining me for the 21 day challenge....I wasn't sure if I was going to have any company!! Keep me in line!!

Cristi--One of our dogs were frightened, our boy...We had to take them out at one point or else they would have had the pee scared right out of them....our girl just walked up to the edge of the patio and stared at everything while our boy was ready to go back in. Poor dogs. I'm sure they're glad it's all over.

Jen--You cracked me up about the material and only being able to make a square....that's me. Don't sew at all. Years ago my grandpa's mother pasted away, and so all the kids (there were 7 of them) had to divide all the stuff. They did raffles or something like that, made it fun. Well there was this quilt that everyone wanted. So my grandma took it, and cut it up and made teddybears for each of them to have. (must have been a big quilt!!) And I thought that was the neatests thing!!

Hello to Katie, LibraryKate, Shanna, Sue, Kathy, Rita.....and everyone else I may have forgotten!! Hope you had a great weekend!!


Well today on the agenda....well I'm not sure what I'm doing today. I'm going to my grandpa's later to paint or help paint a patio swing that he made for us. Right now we have a table and chairs that he made for me when I first moved in with James...we plan on taking down the chair and storing it and putting the swing up in its place. After thats up, all I will need is some rockers that he's made!!! I told him that I would buy those.....that don't usually happen!

Well, I think I better get going.

You all have great day and I will post more later.

Marti

Cristi - YAY for you losing 1 1/2 pounds over the 4th!!!

BBL,

A quick hi
Christi - I read in the paper today that a movie theater chain is refusing to show Fahrenheit 9/11 because it "promotes terrorism" I had a good laugh. I'm with you - I see enough of Bush already, don't need to see a whole movie about him. And I'm A Michael Moore fan! I've seen all his movies and I'm on his mailing list. This movie just sounds too intense for me right now. I read they show footage of a beheading... and I'm sorry, I can appreciate the horrific nature of that without viewing it! So, anyway - I'll be interested in your thoughts about it when you do see it, especially if you start feeling like bombing something, lol!

Jana - I just PM'd you some ? about WW - I just keep looking at your sig and my new mantra is "that could be me.....that could be me"

All you Red Lobster fans out there - I got sick as a dog at that place the only time I ate there... so I'm scared to go back. All that seafood sitting out in a buffet? Ugh - get the runs just thinking about it ha ha - Sorry if I ruined all your appetites. To be fair, I pretty much feel that way about all buffets, so I rarely eat at them.

Have a great day everyone - I'll try to check back later, Leigh's acting pretty tired so I need to go and put her down for a nap

Later
RK

Hiya ladies~

WOW! I have to say Fahrenheit 9/11 is a must see! Really, I think everyone should see it. I was shocked at some of the facts, this is not about his opinion about everything, but facts about things everyone should know about Bush and all his followers. My dd and I are still talking about it and probably will for days. There were parts that brought tears to my eyes. It really basically confirmed what I already knew about Bush though, but I learned A LOT that I don't think half of America knows. All I can say is "How can the Bush family sleep at night?" Along with a lot of others. He (Michael Moore) did a GREAT job getting the facts to the public, now if everyone would just see the movie and get the facts. I am sure though there is a lot more that we don't know about. Also, I have to add, I have a newfound respect for ALL men and women who are serving our country.

RosieKate~I'm not sure how this movie promotes terrorism. I think some people just don't want to hear/see the truth about the Bush family,and what all went on and is going on. I know there was also a movie theater here that also refuses to show the movie. Funny, though there's a lot of people seeing it. Last I heard it broke all records and made $25,000,000.00, and I am sure it is well over that by now. While there were a couple of graphic scenes, there was no beheading. I would say more, but I don't want to give it all away and don't want to make Bush fans mad. Your Red Lobster has a buffet?? I don't think I have been to a Red Lobster that has one. I don't go to many buffets anyway, just end up over eating which is not good so try to avoid at all costs.

Thanks Jana! I think that is what motivated me Jana, as RosieKate said, I too look at your signature and keep thinking that could be me.

Marti~what a cool thing to do, making everyone a teddy bear. My mom was into making those monkey's, you know those made out of those brownish socks?? They are so cute! Of course that was when I had only one kid and she never made anymore. But Jason still has his 23 1/2 years later.

Well, I probably should be getting off this thing. Almost time to get dinner started. Take care ladies, TTFN

Hey - Just checking in
After I wrote that, I realized I was thinking about SIZZLER! See, I don't get out to too many buffets - I can't keep them straight, lol

Christi - thanks for posting on Fahrenheit. Now that I know there's no beheading, I'm feeling better about seeing it. Crazy how rumors get started. I share your feelings about the Bushies and also have tremendous respect for our troops. Glad you only feel like voting Bush out, instead of becoming a terrorist (trust me, me eyes are rolling so hard I may lose them in the back of my head) I'll bet that movie theater chain gets boycotted.

Jana - I did it! I ordered a WW kit from ebay! This one has the calculator with it. I'm so excited. Thanks for responding to my PM - your information really helped me out.

Hope everyone is having a great day!
RK

Good Afternoon,

Umm, Jana.......dahling. As much as I like you , you just aren't my type. I am sure if you keep yourself busy with family and yard work a prince charming will magically show up!!
Oh, wait...........Neal did show up!! lol

btw- I am wearing a skirt & white short sleeve top today.
I weighed in at 143 , so we had a fun weekend of goodies, trying to have a better day today and get back on track!!!!

I spent time with the girls at the beach, very nice. I went down there twice, So a lot of time in the car. I enjoyed it though. I spent last night at Gabrielle's dad's. He lives 2 blocks from the beach and we took a walk with Gaby. He slept on his couch and I took his bed with Gaby. We went out for breakfast this morning and agreed that he could take her again on Friday. It is nice to get along and stop all that fussing and fighting. Certainly have counseling to thank for that and I can see where he has changed a lot.....

I saw my review, suupose to go over it tonight with my boss. I exceed in most area's.......so that was nice.

I guess that is it. I am soooooooo tired.

talk later

Good evening! Just checking in for the day. Today has been pretty good for me so far. Stayed OP and everything. Please tell me that mowing my yard counts as some exercise. Now, remember, I have to pull my mower up the hill on a rope. I figure the hill is at least 25 feet high, and at least as wide. It has to at least count for upper body! I am truly exhausted now.

I am probably going to have some dinner and go to bed early tonight. I have a busy day planned for tomorrow, and Thursday too. But I'm hoping to be able to leave work about 1200 on Friday to leave early for Chicago. It all evens out.

Marti - YES! I did see For Love or Money. I can't believe what they are doing with Rachel and Andrea next. Well, yes I can. But it is going to be funny. Cat fight, That is a neat idea your Grandma had with the quilt. Get your butt to bed girl! Have you heard anything about the job? Wasn't it for night shift?

Rosiekate - I tend to shy away from buffets. Not so much worried about the food or the restaurants procedures as much as I am worried about all the other people messing with it. YUK!

Cristi - I am planning on seeing Fahrenheit but I need to make sure that I'm in the right frame of mind to handle it. (ie no PMS). One of my co-workers saw it and basically said, "we've been duped". I never trusted that weasel Bush anyway. You know, there are really good drugs you can get to help an airplane flight much more tolerable!

Jana - It looks like you are doing alot to motivate the group. You really are the "MOM" of the group. Thanks.

Angie - Generally, a sudden stomach problem that lasts only about 24 hrs is food poisoning. It probably was something at the Lobster. Glad I didn't go to the same one!

Well, gals, I'm pretty hungry, so I'm going to make myself an egg sandwich and a nice big salad, and think about turning in early.

Jen