Eydie, Mercury retrograde (and two others) are just in the process of going direct. The "Shadow Period" for Mercury retrograde lasts until mid-month and we should take that time to get ourselves straightened around rather than trying to do to much else. Everything is supposed to get MUCH easier after the 15th, so hang tight and look after yourself. Try to get in some quality "self" time. Journal, meditate, go for gentle walks, etc. Breathe in and out. I usually find that's what I need when I'm off-balance. Now if I could just ensure I actually GET it at those times...

Thanks for the info, Arabella! I'll hold on till the 15th. It's not like I'm sad about anything, no high drama in my life, I just feel blah and uninspired, you know? I call it 'flatlining'.
I was wondering if my recent fall from maintaining my healthy habits was due to some vicious old programming, some self-sabatage because my Pilates class is coming up? I'm feeling really positive about it,but sometimes the old tapes kick in and that can really throw you. But, I'm aware, and am prepared to outalk anything!

No tours at work today, but I was alone there with a freezer full of cookies that i'd made. It would've been so easy to parcel out a few for myself, throw them in the microwave for about 30 seconds till they were gooey and have a feast, but I didn't, I'm proud to say! I brought my own reasonable treats and they were just as satisfying and infinitely better for me.

Tonight before bed, I'm going to plan tomorrow's menu too. Gotta get back to doing what I know works!

Hello all!

Got up at 5 w/ the dogs and then went right back to bed... Dozed some but mostly just channel surfed about the hurricane and 90's sit coms....
Now, those 2 apples I ate while the dogs were out are feeling heavy ( isnt that the second time in a short while this has happened?) and I feel almost like I have jet lag.... Ah well, a good reminder why getting up on time feels better ... get up now, have a nap later if need be...

Spoke w/ my folks in Tampa again about 5 pm yesterday and the worst of the storm was north of them ... lots of strong winds and very heavy rain but at that time, they hadnt lost power and were fine.

Yesterday, DH and I went to a nearby state park to find out more about a Hawk watching event next Sunday... It was amazing how the place was nearly empty.... Part of that might have been that no cooking fires were allowed, but still, I was suprised... Here in Delaware, a $20.00 pass allows us into any DE state park for a year. We spent some time trying out the new "scope" and actually did some hawks... Of course, before we had anything set up, one flew so slow and so close we almost could have touched it...
We then drove south to Bombay Hook, which is a Waterfowl refuge. A few more folks but these for the most part are birdwatchers, photographers, etc...
Really enjoyed ourselves, Dh even cmmented that " We should come back more often, this is so relaxing".....

And who would've thought all of this began w/ a simple bird feeder in the backyard??

Very much like my healthy living lifestyle...some of the choices that seemed so commonplace 5 yrs ago now seem so foreign.... And I guess I really have traveled a side road compared to so many of my friends as so many times someone will stop at my desk and say, "What are you eating ?, " and they look and say, " But those are carrots, ( Beans, cherry tomatoes) ... YOU'RE EATING HEALTHY!" like I had a plate of squiggly worms on my desk...

Hmmmmmm.....

Yes, Eydie, the yard sales always seem to have a treadmill or ab roller or some "I hate this machine and its making me feel guilty" ....
And I think although so many of us WANT to devote 20, 30 etc minutes, we really are so overbooked, we really only have 2-3 minutes to spare before and after other life events....

At least, that's how it is for me... I still try and get up and take care of something every commercial, actually have gotten to the point of getting out of the car a few times to look thru the scope at the birds, walk a couple blocks from the morning bus stop to the job, hang clothes outside to dry, bend and stretch picking tomatoes, turned the compost pile a few times, etc, even have tried to get to the printer at work nearly everytime I hit print but that's not always easy... but it seems to get me from getting sluggish and grumpy at desk....etc...
Yes, Arabella, ( still prefer Wood Nymph!) it IS all about inertia and " a body in motion remains in motion" as well as drag.... hmmmm, seems like the making of a speech..... hmmmmm

So... do we really need these machines? some folks obviously enjoy them...
and as for convenience in your home, you can't top it... on the other hand,
for someone like myself, I am more consistent figuring out small changes to incorporate into my lifestyle.....changes that fit even to accomodate schedule changes, mood swings, etc.

Anyway this is what happens when I don't get up at 5... I ramble...

I'll be back...!

Hello all!

Well, it happened! When the alarm rang this morning, I definitely didnt want to get up and up until a few moments ago was literally grinding my teeth. Nearly took a 2nd cup of coffee but the tea kettle was chosen instead... All
of this a good reminder of why I don't let myself sleep in ... I wind up paying when I have to resume the regular schedule.
Ah well....

Went looking for my WW's meeting last night as they did meet the Monday of July 4th weekend but I was the only one there... so this will be a first in a long time that I won't be to a meeting for 3 weeks...

Speaking of WW's, the new plan commercial just ran on TV. "Our best plan in 40 yrs..." yes, for me too....
Hmmm lots to think about on that subject....

Ok... need a shower...

*************
Thought of the day :

"The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try to do nothing and succeed."
---Martin Lloyd-Jones, 1899-1981


Question of the day :

"What is the best way to start the day?"


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KETTLE IS ON!

wsw, Eydie, hope Frances isn't discombobulating you too much!

Thanks for the info on the oatmeal and cottage cheese, Kaylets. Good I'm doing something right even if it's inadvertent. Had 50 minutes of water workout today and 50 minutes of yard cleanup. Eating ok but not really counting calories at this point.

I'm so glad, Wood Nymph, that things are going to be looking up come the 15th. I can't wait.

Princesses were here this weekend and we celebrated nephew's b.d. at sister's. BIL/SIL were here briefly yesterday. Seem to have accomplished a lot yesterday and today (unheard of!) Still battling tummy, see dr. Thursday.

Yoohoo, Queens! Holiday's over - back to work at the palace.

I'm here....don't know how I feel. But will be checking those links Arabella!

The palace is very empty.....maybe that retrograde thing.

Gotta run and do some surfing....haven't done that for a week!

Ceara

Hello all!

Need to remember deep breathing this am.... somehow 5 am became 6 am in a flash...I notice when I'm beginning to stress nowadays, I can feel the heat rising up my neck ....
hmmmmmmmm

Scale is still stuck but at least still at the lowest number... would love that number to become my official WW weighin number next week which means either I strip or manage to drop 2 lbs by next Monday...

Ceara... sounds like you are very busy too... hope you can stop by soon and vent ... keeping your chair warm...

Anyone ever pick fruit at an orchard or a U-PICK place?? Am thinking this way, I know what was put on the fruit... and since it looks like Oranges are going to be very pricey for awhile...
Also want to master a few cobbler recipes...

Kaye's cobblers.... hmmmm... has a nice ring to it don't you think??

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

Thought of the day :

"We all have the power to change the world in our little neck of the
woods; it doesn't matter if you are from a big city or a small town! "
--The Fly Lady


Question of the day :

"Can you name the very first movie you ever saw in a movie theatre?"

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


Must be off!
Kettle is on!

Been raining steadily here for 2 days, and it's been cool too. The kind of weather where you want to just cozy up with a pile of magazines and TV. Had a really hard time getting motivated to work out yesterday. And last night after I'd finished up my 1500 calories I couldn't stop eating, so my 1500 blossomed up to 2000. Seriously have to get a grip on that. Was reading a blurb the other day cautioning against fall/winter weight gain.

Kaylets, the first movie I ever saw was 'Jungle Book'! I still remember how pleasantly alien it was to be in that big dark room protected by my father. Every time I see a scene or pic from it, I get that same feeling.

Off to work. Where's my umbrella?

Waiting for the rain here. Muggy, dark, taking it easy again today to help my psyche. I've been eating about the 1800 range most days - it SHOULD work eventually, I say. Mostly in about 200 calories at a time, except for dinner. It's usually about 7-800 for breakfast, lunch, 2 snacks with 1000 left for dinner and evening. Hanging in but watching ever so carefully exactly what I eat. Did have some tomato sauce last night and seemed to tolerate it ok. Step in right direction.

greetings royal ones!

anagram-hope tummy continues to get better and upcoming doc appt. goes well. yes, it is raining big-time here. we had a few tornado watches too today, and the sky looked appropriately spooky at times, too.

had to lay low this past week due to "technical difficulties" but didn't get as severe cabin fever as usual plus stayed op, so can't complain. had one of my regular doc check-in appts. today, and another one tomorrow. everything a-ok today, and not expecting any surprises tomorrow either. the only bad things about them are the drives and long waits, which are wearing. really enjoyed my visit last week from the adorable golden retriever, mack. this week--summer---year have all flown by for me so quickly. sometimes it scares me how quickly time passes. well, need to roll in to bed. been a long day today, and another one tomorrow. hi eydie, ceara, kaylets, arabella, and to all the royal kingdom. have a good evening, and take care.

We're currently under a tornado watch too. Been rainy all day but they say the most is yet to come. Overall not expecting to get as much as they thought - it's going west of us.

Quiet - at home day today. Peaceful.

Wildfire, are your recovering ok? Car fixed, replaced?

Hello all...

Very windy, humid w/ intermittent showers... dogs came in dry but the downspouts are running... dogs must not have rubbed up agaiinst anything wet!
I managed to have all the clothes for today ready last night but still somehow, this morning started tilting the wrong way... could be that we are so so busy at work and I am projecting.... Had to force myself to only look at the item in front of me and nothing else as I was making careless errors in my rush to get onto the next one...
Very frustrating to have to go back and correct later...

I wonder if weather worries are starting to wear on me too..
not so much for me but for my folks and everyone else who has family, etc in the path of the storms...

WSW-- thanks for checking in... I was wondering how you were doing on both scores... techincal and weather...

Anagram--- one "problem" item at a time is a good idea... almost like the allergy test diets...

Eydie-- Big Bravo for you for resisting the frozen cookies! I see more and more when I am stressing how my automatic reflex is to grab and stuff!

Arabella- Meant to thank you for posting the horoscope link... I always mean to go back and save links and wind up losing them forever....

Empress?-? -- How goes it? Was wondering if in any of your travels you've bumped into Elberta Crone...

Ceara, Wildfire, Skyfirefly, PUNKIN!, Cerise, ALL of our friends... BIG HUGS!

And Frogger.... how are you? PLEASE make sure someone logs into to tell us when the tadpole arrives...

****************
****************
Thought of the day :

"The life you have led doesn't need to be the only life you'll have."
---Anna Quindlen


Question of the day :

"Name the first song that comes to mind"

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

KETTLE IS ON!

Goodest morn, Royals. Woke up just before feeling pretty good. Not as much rain as predicted, today's weather won't be great but not too bad. Feel energized. (Of course, I'm feeling somewhat better - I go to doctor today - must be a defensive thing.)

Wood Nymph, indeed we do need to "feel" our moods. Mine were subjected to the needs of the world most of my life but I have learned to occasionally "wallow" and move on. And I too think sometimes there is choice involved (at whatever level, subliminal or not). When I'm struggling upward, I have this thing I do which makes both dh and I laugh a bit and that's always a good start. I will slowly lift one arm and say quietly "RAH", then the other a bit faster and the RAH a bit louder, repeating as needed. It never gets really fast or really loud but it's a reminder to cheer me on as I fake it until I make it. Usually works (not always tho). I think I am by nature a cheery person and I hate being down but sometimes we have a right to be and it's a good time to really look at things in our lives and sort out what changes we can make and what we can't really change anything about except our reaction to them.

Enjoyed reading the horoscopes as well. I have noticed a pattern in my year which (mostly because of heat and allergies, I think) usually makes this a down period for me. However, I have also noted through the years that (as fall comes and allergies die down) that I usually feel like a new person by mid September. At some points I had thought this was because I was born at that time and perhaps minding that I was getting older. I know know it's more a physical than a mental thing and when it comes, I can deal with it better. Has not been as bad this year because allergies have not been as bad. All those storms were good for something.

Kaylets, I'm still trying to get a song to come into my mind. Isn't that ridiculous? The only thing I can get is "Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay" and I know there are songs I like better than that!