[linus]

speak to you all tomorrow
kirsty

[MELODY525]

Holly~ Glad you got the Holly time!!! Nice to relax without a care in the workld!!

Nae~ wish you were closer too so I could get stretching hints! LOL
And lunge on your porch and watch the animals parade by! I can just see myself sitting there drinking my frappuccino and wearing my "shades" and acting so cool and a big bear comes along and all you can see is my dust as I put it in high gear and tear out of there! Loved the long post...made me feel like i could see the horses!
Nice cooking and preparing too!! good for you. I have been feeling like crocheting a bit but must remember only for a few minutes at a time. I always overdo it! LOL Good luck this week and take pics if the neighbors do get hungry!!!

Shad~ Now that the lawn is mowed I will come and rent out the Ds2's bedroom!!! I loved the views and the porch. Can't resist. but I will bring my own air-conditioner with me!!! I just need a plug or two!!! Maybe a bubble suit with A/C for when it gets too hot and I want to go outside! LOL Have a great week.

Candle~ Thanks for the but how are YOU doing?????

Holly~ After I go to Nae's and Shad's house I guess I will have to visit you too! I'll just park in the computer room!!! LOL I love blue also!!

Linus~ sorry you;re going through so much with your DS. Wish I had some good advice. Smacking him in the head is the only thing I can think of but I don't want you arrested for child abuse. Hang in there and good luck. Maybe he will come around if you keep after him? Been a LONG time since I raised a teenager and am out of touch. Good luck.

Well girls I really loved all the sights, sounds and smells of your visuals!! Made my afternoon a lot more brighter! I have been slaving away and sorted the entire bedroom closet including all the xmas stuff. Not a LOT for the garbage but there is some to toss. Everything is dusted, polished or washed and that is one room finished. a wee bit of codeine for the back and I feel fine! I got stuck in the chair again but put on the seat belt and hung over the side a bit to fix it. There is a plug under the seat...when you get a bad zap from static electricity, the chair shuts down...so you have to undo the plug and somehow when you replug, you're able to start off again. No one knows the answer but I am going to see if Carlos can get me longer wires so I don't have to do acrobatic stunts to do this and ALL WITH ONE HAND!!! other than this glitch, my S.H.A.D.( Some Hard Azzed Diet) challenge is going very well. Mainly cause I am too busy to think of any food! So I will take a shower and see if I can get the dust out of my nose as well!! Have a great night and good morning Sunshine!!!
I have pedaled but not cardio while I am lifting and reaching.

[Meadow]

Wow Linus I'm so sorry your teenager is making you feel so helpless and stressed. At least you got some fun out of the day before he threw a wrench in the works and brought you down. I guess he is just the kind of guy who has to experience the consequences before he gets it. Hopefully he will live through his rebelliousness and come out the other side a decent guy The majority seem to.

Shad-we all want to come to your house now. I want to be outside breathing in some warmth. You always sound like you are having fun and socialing with good people.

Mel-goodness, the contortions needed to replug the chair sound scary. The wheelchair company should be ashamed to put people through such rigors. Can't it just work?! Have you been watching the Home and Garden channel? What is with all the purging and cleaning? Feng shui? You are making me tired

Rose-getting a little fellow into the knitting game huh? They are so curious, cool that you were open and included him I need to remember to hydrate more too, drink all day, don't wait till you are thirsty. Thanks for the tips about the crunches. I started using my "weights for dummies" tape today and she said the same thing. Kind of drummed it home. I had scarecrow wobble legs after the lunges, don't know what muscle was shocked and rebelled there

Holly-how good was the quiet, ginger bath time? Did you just zone out? I envy you. My kids just broke a bowl and both cut themselves up the side of their feet and my youngest sliced up the side of her leg. They were playing tag and smash so I'm Dr. Mom and Molly Maid in one fell swoop Gah!!

Diane-what are you going to get up to with an entire week without your hubby? Watch what you want on tv. Have whatever you want for dinner. Soak in the tub. Not answer the phone... oh the possibilities

Teel-sky blue is a great colour, do you have blue eyes that match? Good job on keeping your blood sugar level, it isn't easy, my motherinlaw struggles with it. Hope you find a hunky carpenter to enjoy building your shelves

I haven't used my walking tape yet but I did try my "weights for dummies" tape and found out how many muscles I don't use She stretches after each set which I like alot. Very caring and slow, just my speed. Although she looks like an super fit athlete and I am a bit leery of people with no fat whatsoever, that just isn't right

[Shad]

I added up all the bits that I think you told me as far as the challenge goes. And it is a close call but I am awarding the big prize to (drum roll please)

[bold][size=6] Little Miss Mel[/bold][/size} on 12 points

Runner up goes to Miss Roseblush
followed very closely by:
Meadow, Shad, Holly on 10
Candlelady4, Teel and Linus on 8.

Now I sort of lost track of Linus and Dianes eating challenges so you may well be up there with Mel. However I doublechecked what I could and this is it.

So Mel gets to be queen for a week and wears the Honours of Scotland crown.
Roseblush gets to wear the second crown for a week
We all get a bunch of happy flowers for being good.

Tomorrow I will try to sort out this weeks challenge before it gets out of hand.

[candlelady4]

:o h me I didn't do very well, just got off track with the weights shame on me, I promise I will try to do better.

Woke up this morning to temps in the 20's which is cold for Texas bbbrrrrrrrrr. I am sitting here and trying to stay warm, the temp in the house was 56 when I awoke.

It is going to be good to do what I want but only after 5 pm because I still have my little buddy here, in fact I have him and his big brother 14 today since school is out, wish me luck and patience. : Check out my little snow bunny, first time he has ever seen snow.


for Miss Mel way to go girl.

Have a glorious day and I will check on you gals this evening.]

[Hollyhock]

CL~ I just want to pinch those cheeks. What a sweety!!!
Shad~ the awards are cute. Mel rocks!!!

I have not done my challenge for Sat or Sun.I kept falling asleep first. I wil try harder today.I did a lot of stretches last night.
Have a great day!

[suzi in auz]

waing madly at everyone...hello. Yes I have been gone and i am back. it's so nice to be back and catch up with you all. I have missed the contact.
It looks like you have all been so busy while i was away. look at all those challenges whoopee and hats off to everyone. I won't be joining you this time but promise to next week. It's strange but I'm kinda in limbo with everything at the mo. i think it's with the kiidies still on holidays. Walks are not happening shame on me. I am going to try, I am curbing the treats but man oh man I slid a little. Not too much damage just changing bad bad habits that have crept back in.
I gonna make this short. Special thoughts to all of you. It's late here and I must get some beauty sleep, gotta do something ..can't afford the alternative.
I had a thought the other day...I made it. First official holidays on our own here...wow. We can do this!

[Roseblush]

Thanks shad I will gladly take that honor of runnerup no problem.....It will motivate me to reach my weekly goal this week.....more time on the treadmill and drink drink drink my water. Your challenge is really helping me to stay focused this time..... my oatmeal and the weights have really been great!!
I had the two little girls here all afternoon needless to say nothing got done... but it was so much fun. I made a pot of good turkey soup, froze some and will have the rest of the meat for my lunches......
I have to jump in the shower I slept in a little bit today.... Mel CONGRATS! You are the queen of the challenge and deserve the crown.........
Best of luck to everyone.... let's make these cold winter months pass by with exercise.......
Peace,
Nae

[MELODY525]

Shad~ Thanks for the lovely crown!!! I will wear it proudly!!! You did a great job tracking us all! Lots of work there I am sure! Can we do something to make it easier for you? Like all post on the same day our results? Have a great week and try not to zap the bossman!!!

Nae~ I feel your breath on my neck and know you're close behind me! Good luck this week. Everytime I read your "oatmeal" I want some. I must go in the kitchen and get some out so I remember it! Sounded like a great afternoon with the girls too.

Meadow~ I was watching an old Richard Simmons tape and thought....now there is a group of real men and women. All shapes and sizes. Not the Olympic Athlete types!!!
Good luck with the exercising.

Holly~ We'll have to pep you up somehow after you take care of 8 children!!!! You must be exhausted!

Diane~ 20's are cold here too! LOL YOur snow baby is adorable! Enjoy! Bet he was surprised. Hope the day goes well!

Suzi~ I think you are still in Holiday/vacation mode. sometimes it's tough to get out of. almost like being half asleep! Hope you get to join in next week! It's keeping us motivated for sure!
Welcome home again!

The Queen for a Week hates to admit that she had whole wheat pancakes and real syrup last night for dinner....but there you have it. After cleaning, that's all I wanted. Very strong craving. Haven't had one of them in a long time. I think I had too few calories with all this physical labor. I must try and remember this for next time cause my hands were a bit shaky preparing it. Feeling back to normal today and taking a rest day. gonna watch old movies and listen to the rug men slam doors and pound all day!

[linus]

just a quick peep in cause im making the tea but couldnt wait IVE LOST THREE POUND
kirsty

[Shad]

Kirsty - well done. 3lbs that is magnificent. I meant to comment yesterday about your stress levels. Kids can be so thoughtless. They think they are immortal at that age and have no idea the pain and anguish they are causing anyone else. Probably could not care less about that either. One hopes it is just a phase and not him going through some bad times with peer pressure of the wrong kind.

Mel as far as the challenges go. It would be nice if you reported in Friday night and let me know how you did. I had to go back through 4 pages of our chatty posts to try and work out who had done what. I may have missed one or two, and so I hope that no one gets upset with my maths or anything. Not that I think it likely here, but the journals are a different animal altogether.
Diane - lovely kid. He looks so sweet in that photo. Bet that isn't true all the time either.
Worked out after work yesterday, it seems to have left me less stressed than galloping around first thing in the morning. Maybe I will do it again today.
Meantime I had best get on with it or I will be having problems with the 'commute' as LindaT calls it. It was bad enough yesterday.

[suzi in auz]

Ok you have all inspired me for my challenge. I know what it will be argh...I dread to write down the thing I don't want to eat as I have loved eating ALL my treats and I don't want to let them go....!!!!
You are right Mel, still holiday mode here and prolly will be for the next few weeks. My kids are still off until the end of Jan. It's a nice feeling in a way with lazy dayz but I do kinda feel like I'm in a haze.
Hats off to you Shad for all your hard work. That would have been a nightmare trying to get all the info. You are a GEM. It's so good having that special motivation!
Your pancakes sound just the ticket Mel. I want some. I haven't had breakie yet so I better before I break down! Ok I'm off for a walk and something healthy to eat. Enjoy Your days and I will enjoy reading about them later

[linus]

hi kiddies how are we all ???? this will be a mega short post as im goping to veg in front of the tv with my raw cauliflower and my yogurt to watch forrest gump well done mel and rose
sorry shad should ahve said on friday how id done its so good of you to keep track of us all i dont want to make it any harder thanks again back tomorrow for a nice long post
kirsty

[Shad]

I've totally lost the plot. What is everyone doing this week? Is it the same as last week? I know I was down for abs & crunches and no bread or cheese. Well the latter is doing fine, but not so good on the former. You are all going to have to tell me again what you are doing because I'm darned if I can see it in the threads.

Meadow, sorry I didn't get back to you. My Spanish wine is Vina Christina Cordillero. It comes through the wine club I belong to. It's not particularly cheap but I like it and buy it when it comes up in the list - which is not often I might add. The label is really nice too and the wine is just superb. Not sweet and definitely not too dry and it is not all tannin which I hate. Actually I rarely drink reds because of the tannin as I wake up all sneezy and wheezy, this one and one other a rich red French number are about all I will drink in reds. I'll see if I can get a picture of the bottle and label.

Really busy at work today. There was dead silence in the office most of the day. We broke out a bit at lunch time, but the amount of work is getting ridiculous. We could work a 14 hour day and not make much of a dent in it. My contract has been extended. I don't know for how long at this time, but it is good to know I have another couple of months at least here.

Went to the gym after work and did my run. I really didn't think I was going to make it, I felt sort of jaded and tired when I went in, but decided I would just do what I could and push a little to ensure a sweat. Can't say I got much speed up, although I was at 9.1 at one stage. I got through with the workout at 6.4K and 482cals. I'm a bit sore from yesterdays weights as well, so maybe it was a good thing that I stretched the muscles today. Which makes me wonder what has happened to Tig. She must have run almost around America by now.

I'm sitting here looking at a picture of the Golden Temple in Japan. It's Jan and Feb on the calendar that Japanese Chris gave me for Christmas. When I went up to Japan we went and saw that shrine - Kinkakuji is its name. I really must find my Japanese photo album. There are some wonderful shots of the shrine in there. Believe it or not its called the golden temple because it is gold, not just paint but a lot of gold leaf as well. It shines. The gardens around it are just gorgeous. I could have stayed all day. There is another shrine in Kyoto I think it is called Ginkakuji - the silver temple. I didn't get to see it because I didn't want to leave the other one. I would like to go back in the autumn because there are a lot of maple trees lining the steps to the shrine. I'm picking it would look just wonderful. You know what a sucker I am for autumn colours.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Time to get on with the evening. Don't know what I am going to do. But I'm sure I can find something.

[teel]

Oh stupid smilie link not working this morning...!

SHAD hello to you..it is not very often that we are logged on together my dear. How are you? Is it a warm balmy evening in your neck of the woods? It is all of 2 degrees centigrade here.Brrrrrrrr.
Thank you for all your hard work in the last weeks over our targets...you are a good girl!! I didn't get on to say that I have lost 2 lbs. I weighed myself on Sunday and it worked out that I had lost 4 but by Monday the scales had changed for the worst! So actually it is only a 2 lb loss. I don't understand how scale readings can change so dramatically one day to the next? Please could you add walking the dog to my excercises? Now the weather is getting a bit nicer I am getting out a couple of times during the week. I went out for 20minutes on Sunday and yesterday we only went as far as the post box which only took about 5 minutes in total!!!
I am sorry to say that my ticker slide is misbehaving again. I went to that page to change the figures but once again the bottom of the page is missing. So I have only been able to alter the numbers already put into my signature and not put in a new slider so we are regailed with a snowman forevermore...well at least until my page seeks fit to make itself a whole!!
I know the phone is going to ring at 11:00hrs! Just call me psychic!!!!! The Autumobile Association are carrying out a servey which is a quiestionaire over the phone at a pre organised time so as that time is 11:00 and that is fast approaching I shall log off and see you all later.....
LINUS has it stopped snowing yet? Have you all been out and made a snowman yet? :sman: