So!!! I got the job!! I just got the call right now, and start on the 27th! Thats 2 weeks from today, I'm excited! :) Yay!

Kimberley - ouchies, that sounds painful (the minivan thing). It's like me driving a Neon, we rented one once, I barely drove it, but my whole body would ache afterwards. You make sure you get out there and exercise! My exercise today is going to be cleaning, I have to clean the walls in the bathroom, and the floors, and laundry. And I have to tidy the house, because I only have today and tomorrow morning to clean before my brother gets here.

I am off to quit my job! BBL!

-Aimee

EXCELLENT! Nothing like being able to hand in your notice at a place. HURRAY for you!!

Hello e1
 

Hello e1 boy been busy today...WTG Aimee, that's great...

TY Marge, for the kind words...Maybe some day I will work more on my writing..I truly believe in using the gifts God has given you...

"Marge - Vancouver is divided by areas, the area thats RIGHT downtown, by the ocean, is called the West End, and it's full of gay guys. Its great! I used to get my coffee from this place where the staff was all gay guys, they were funny, and very cute. Manhattan is such a glamourized city, heck, I'd live there just for the stories I'd be able to tell. lol. My friend Karen and I talked about going to New York for Fashion week, we'll see if that turns out... she's kind of a flake at times."~~Aimee

LOL that cracked me up...When I lived in Ohio, b4 I met my H online, I lived in the Old West End, it is the largest conglomorate of Victorian Homes this side of the Mississippi, and Loaded with Gay men...I worked at the neighborhood deli 56 hours a week, and it was owned by, u guessed it, a gay man, and a few co-workers were, u guessed it, gay men...We had a blast...They used to tell me "Girlfriend, if you want to meet a man, this is the WRONG place to be working" , after work practically every day, and on my day off, I had a cleaning business, for You guessed, it, Gay men..The name of it was called: "Lady Di's Cleaning...For a clean fit for a Queen"..Basically I worked around 70 hours a week..and walked everywhere...One of the customers, P( won't say his name), ended up being one of my best pals, and he would take me out for Chinese once a week to chat...He was great friends with Blythe Danner, and knew Gwyneth very very well, watched her grow up...He worked in NYC for years in the entertainment field, and Modeling, and Dancing for male dance groups..he is now working in LA for E...anyhoo...I had a lot of fun with all of that, what a year that was...Oh, and I ended up renting an room in an apt with,,,you guesed it, Lesbians who were married, LOL..But, at least I never had to worry about them going after the guys I liked...And they got me hooked on the internet, and that was how I met DH, so it was a blessing really.
Kimberley~ I checked out yor blog yesterday, wow, u and Howie have come a long way, WTG!!!

Wow, wore myself out...LOL, WHEW..
Just wanted to say HEY, and hope you are all doing well..I refuse to weigh in til next Sunday...

HAGN, :D

Gosh, what a sheltered life I've led compared to you guys and your adventures! I moved out to Ohio with my mom just in time to start high school, did the usual partying and rabble-rousing for three of my four years there, and worked a year before deciding the local tech school was a better alternative than being a waitress the rest of my life.

Funny thing is, now I've come full circle and actually think I'd enjoy waitressing a lot more than sitting at a desk all day like my computer jobs have put me for my working career. I hate busy-work and would much rather interact with people and make them feel welcome and happy.

Anyway, my point is, I never tried very hard at school even though I was bright. I stayed at the local tech college first because my grades were not too great and second because I was too scared to go out on my own and attend school out of the area. I'm not a very big risk-taker, can you tell?

I guess that's why losing this weight and exercising means so much to me. I've never challenged myself much in life, certainly nothing long-term like this. Fear of failure be damned, this time I've found something important.

Hey, accountability partners...I did it. I went to the YMCA today all by my lonesome. I didn't walk outside first, but did do a mile on the inside track after using the machines. I figured out I was slacking when I told the instructor what weights I felt comfortable doing, so tonight I upped the weights on several machines so it actually took effort to do the ten reps. What a concept, eh?

Kimberley - thats AWESOME! Keep it up, infact, whats up for tomorrow?

I did some "exercise" today.. barely.. I cleaned my house with music pumping, so I did some thrusts here and there with a cloth to clean the walls in my bathroom. I bet it would have been amusing to watch.. thankfully I was alone. :) So, get this, I was Miss Productive tonight! I cleaned my bathroom from top to bottom, and then turned on my kitchen, I even got the burners, and below them. So those two rooms look fab! I ran out of steam for my livingroom and bedroom though. However, I just got a little more energy before the bf comes home and managed to get the livingroom looking a bit better. My side table looks pretty cute, I have my cd's and stereo, and then I have my one bamboo thing that I didn't kill, a cute little picture frame and a candle, it looks SO cute. I'm impressed with my arrangement skills. :)

Alrighty! I'll see yah'll in the morning..Jill I think it's almost 2am your time!! ;)

-Aimee

Mine, too, but the night's still young! We're just getting ready to watch Alton Brown's "Good Eats"! ;) I have this image of you cleaning like the women on the Swiffer commercials....Or the maids on Merry Maids' ads, if you've seen those.

Tomorrow is a non-YMCA day. During the summer, we're going to work out "formally" on M-W-F, and mow the lawn, garden and play fix-it around the house the other days. Weekends we may not do much of anything.

Gm
 

Hey everyone :) ..my left leg is killing me this morning. to be honest, has been sore all week, but today it is really bad. I think that I really pulled something a few days back, and now, with working out all week, it is sorer than ever, so am taking today off. I have gone pretty much every day but the Monday of the first week..so I am taking the day off ( And no weekends, they are only open 4 hrs Sat, and get packed) I will feel guilty but 4 days this week is far better than zero days like I was doing over 3 weeks ago...and I really push myself, so I fel good about that. Funny thing is, pulled my muscle at home, not there...Sunday sometime...UGH...Need to rest it. I will go tomorrow, to make it the 4th day, then will have 2 days of rest...Today it is just too sore.. :^:

We will be working in the yard all next week too...my DH has to take dirt out of the flower beds, we have too much in them with the mulch we have let turn to soil the last few years. I told him to watch around my tulips though, I have a lot of them in the one bed...
I will be glad when I can plant flowers after the threat of frost or snow, Planting a lot of cosmos up against our white privacy fences and in my back yard( Have an area put aside for birds and butterflies), black eyed susans and purple coneflowers...in the front am planting New Guinea Impatiens...And a clematis, My DH will be building bluebird houses too so when we put them up, I will plant morning glory around them...I love this time of year...I hope my Hibiscus made it throught the Winter, all of my roses look like they have. I have a Tangerine Hibiscus I planted last year...It was so beautiful...Keeping my fingers crossed.
Well, gotta get busy, and all that jazz...
HAG1 all, BBL :D

Alright, just in for a quickie--lots of work to do here (for a change!).

Thursdays being my actual weigh-in day, I am now at 303.5 (down 2 pounds from last week). That means I lost a pound in addition to the pound I had to lose from the week in CT. Yay!
My feet HURT today! Too much running around at the restaurant at night, man. I need to get some gel inserts or something. They are new shoes, too, so maybe they still have a bit of stretching/molding to do (I have only worn them for about a week).

Aimee--you were right...you posted at 1:46am my time! I was asleep by 12 and up at 4:40, so I just missed ya :p

Alright, back to plugging away (I am formatting resumes for the personnel section of a government proposal for a HUGE contract--93 resumes in all). Have a great day, everyone (I should be busy more often--I think this is the shortest post I have ever written ;) )!

So!!! I got the job!! I just got the call right now, and start on the 27th! Thats 2 weeks from today, I'm excited! Yay! --Aimee

Congrats! :balloons: That's great news! I lived in the West Village (that's where the Pink Floyd/Ace of Base guy was), which is basically the gay part of NY. I had a lesbian bar right next to my apartment (around the corner, so I didn't know it when I took the place). I couldn't really hear the music, but I would hear the BEAT through my wall until about 2am. That used to drive me nuts :lol: . Ah, city living. I had some gay Cuban friends, one was an artist, that I used to hang around with, Gilbert and Orestes. Gilbert gave me one of his paintings that I have in my bedroom. Great guys. I've lost touch with them over the years, unfortunately.

Rob used to work for a costume jewelry business and they always participated in Fashion week. I know there are lots of places where you can go to sample sales, where you can buy designer clothes cheap, sometimes right from the show rooms. I never did that. It's worth doing a little research on that before you come :) Love to meet you, too! I can give you the 50 cent tour if you want.

I guess that's why losing this weight and exercising means so much to me. I've never challenged myself much in life, certainly nothing long-term like this. Fear of failure be damned, this time I've found something important....Hey, accountability partners...I did it. I went to the YMCA today all by my lonesome.--Kimberley

In my mind, this weight loss project is the biggest challenge I've ever done too. Congrats on the Y! :) Just starting for me felt like a big step outside my comfort zone. I get how important each step is.

Sarah is amazing. I get weepy when I read her posts. I'm so glad she's taking that trip to St Marteens, that place looks incredible. I liked what you wrote about it, too.

Planting a lot of cosmos up against our white privacy fences and in my back yard( Have an area put aside for birds and butterflies), black eyed susans and purple coneflowers...in the front am planting New Guinea Impatiens...And a clematis, My DH will be building bluebird houses too so when we put them up, I will plant morning glory around them...I love this time of year.--Diana

please take pics! sounds gorgeous. There's a lady in the neighborhood who grows a vine with HUGE white morning glories in the front of her house. They're such beautiful flowers. I get excited this time of year seeing the trees start to bloom, all the daffodils, the crocuses. We're going to the Botanic Garden tomorrow. It definitely lifts my spirits way up.

Definitely rest an injury. I've had times when I've pushed myself too hard, got hurt, then couldn't exercise for a week, and that really screws up my program. So I've learned to take it easier (the hard way!).

Gongrats on the 2 lbs, Jill!! Hey, after you get the insoles, can we say you must be gellin'?? Ah oh, who here watches too much TV??? :lol: Speaking of that, can you believe Nadia got kicked off American Idol? And Bo was in the bottom 3??? wow, what's happening in this world??

I did go to the Y yesterday. I may have to use the treadmill instead of the elliptical on Friday, my knee felt a little sore, I may not be ready to use it as much as I'd like. I can definitely feel the work out on that machine more than any other, but like I said above, I've learned to back off if there's a possibility of an injury.

Hi again...
 

hey all, just a quickie before I go for the day...am thinking of getting into making jewelry and figures to add to my site with polymer clay...You should see what a couple of these women do...I am not nearly that good at it yet, talk about talent..Wow...will put link at the bottom...WTG Jill~ that's great...And i will take Pics when everything is blooming, marge, promise!!:) :D

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...Q5fexpressions

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...ssZbaking67124

http://stores.ebay.com/Bad-Kitty-Des...Q3amesstQQtZkm

and this woman does everything in Miniatures, size of a penny ..she also sews and paints in miniatures:

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQ...3aMEFSQ3aMESOI

Goodmorning! I'm having a lazy start to the morning, I just dragged my butt out of bed at 10am.. I don't work until late today, and don't really have that much cleaning left to do, so it's alright. :) Josh works 9-5:30 today, and I work 5:30-9, so I don't really get to see him today, I was very stern with him and said this house does NOT get messed up before my brother gets here.

Jill - that was a record short entry for you! Congrats on the 2 pound loss! :) Slow and steady wins the race..

Marge - of course I'd love a tour! I'm into fashion and accessories, infact, I'm addicted to purses. Oh, and shoes. If I was making more money, it would just be scary! I just got this black handbag, by Matt & Nat, it's a Montreal designer, and they don't use leather (I have a wallet that matches). For sample sales.. don't you need to fit their clothes? Definitely something to work towards, but I don't think they really design for size 18-20 gals like myself!

Diana - definitely rest! Taking a day off will help you heal, and you'll get right back to it :) An injury is a pain when you are on a role, eh?

So I'm going to have a really healthy breakfast, and hope to have something good for lunch as well... it's that work time thats going to be the hard part. I'm barely working, but I'm working at such a weird time.. right in the middle of dinner. Stupid work. I'm going to walk just over 2km's today so I could do really good. I just need a kick in the butt!! I have all this healthy food in my house, and yet I'm still eating terribly. Someone kick me in the butt!! I'm going to do some thinking this weekend, I know I can't stay on plan for the weekend, only because my brother will be in town and we always eat out, and I shouldn't really being doing a harsh diet before the big 10km walk on Sunday. I'm just babbling, so I'm going to go make myself a healthy breakfast (an omlet :) ).

-Aimee

Oh, sore, sore...But a good sore with nothing feeling injured, just well-used. Aimee, I didn't get up until 2:00pm!

We had an eventful night, with my step-dad having some sort of episode with nausea and a tight chest. His arms felt funny, too. Mom called us about 3:30am worried because he wouldn't go to the hospital. Finally, we convinced him and followed them to the hospital. His EKG was fine, but they kept him for observation since the diagnostic blood tests need to be taken 12 hours after an episode (?). The doctor came by today and said it looks more like an esophageal issue (reflux, maybe?). If the blood tests indicate any heart episode, they'll go from there. If not, home he goes.

WTG on the loss, Jill - that's awesome! Diana, you rest up. It gives your body a chance to heal if you rest between sessions, anyway, so don't kick yourself (not that you could, LOL). Better to rest now than to push too much and really be layed up!

I laughed when I saw this on the one eBay seller's page. Fabulous earrings!

Kimberley - you were up WAY later than I was, I went to bed at 12am. I like the feeling of sore muscles.. like I've accomplished something. I don't get that feeling much these days.. lol

I dug out some of my old Weight Watchers books, my journals actually. So I took my measurements when I was 265, and then just redid them at 258, and it turns out I lost 7 inches! A little on my thighs, arms, but most of it came off my waist, 2 inches! My hips and bust stayed pretty much the same.. just shows where I lose the most of my weight. It was interesting, and rewarding to see on paper! I'm looking forward to more inches lost! 7 pounds and 7 inches, is that weird?

Okay, I am off to shower, and then to do the work thing, have a great day, and I'll be back in the middle of the night for some of you ;) Jill - thats about 1-2am your time. heh..

-Aimee

Wow, inches lost are great! I still need to get my measurements. I meant to a month or so ago, but got sidetracked (no, not me!) and forgot all about it. I know I've lost inches in my waist, thighs and butt...Wish I had a way to measure other than to see pants that were snug now hanging on me like 'tater sacks.

Psst... Jill.. shouldn't you be getting up soon? ;)

Kimberley - get a measuring tape!!

-Aimee

I have one! It's for quilts and is something like 110" long. Grabbed the first one I saw at Wal-Mart and it's a big'un. :D

Dad's fine - blood tests were okay and he's home.

I got my closet re-organization started. Stuff everywhere. EVERYWHERE. Going to bed and facing it again tomorrow after we weigh in and go to the YMCA. G'night, all.

Whew, I'm up, I'm up! :p Actually, I got to work late today...didn't roll in till about 6:20. That's okay, though, since I stayed an hour late yesterday. Of course, staying an hour late yesterday meant sacrificing the gym, but my boss already asked me to work over the weekend (and I said no, so I figured it was the least I could do.

Tonight, Jeff and I will be eating at Damon's--he loves to play the trivia on the big tv :dizzy: Then we're off to see the new remake of The Amityville Horror. I have the original on VHS and have been watching it since I as about 6, so I hope this isn't a huge disappointment. Should be pretty good with new special effects and such. Then tomorrow, Jeff, his 5 cousins, and I are going to Jillian's (the grown-up Chuck E. Cheese's). Should be fun--I LOVE the virtual bowling. What an arm workout!

So, have I told you guys how badly I need a new car? Nearly $2000 of work into my current 1993 Toyota Camry in the past 3 months (brand new distributor, new radiator, radiator hoses, and thermostat), and it still needs more work! Needs new front drive axels (bout $510), new rear struts, new front brakes...it's just not worth putting the money into it anymore. So, good thing I got a second job so I can take on a car payment, right? Ugh, I got the new job so I could pay off my bills, not acquire another one! But, gotta do what I gotta do. I've been looking online (like I have the time to go to the actual dealerships!), and I think I'm going to go with either a Honda Civic, a Toyota Corolla, or a Toyota Echo. I want to stay Honda or Toyota strictly for the reliability factor (assuming the previous owner took car of the car). I think the previous owner of my current car didn't do much with it, and it had a little over 100,000 miles on it already when my parents bought it for me. Now I'm only looking at cars that have around 60,000 or fewer miles on them. Might as well get the new (used) car while I have time to think about it rather than wait a few months and have my Camry completely die on me and be forced to buy the first new car I see, ya know? Bah, it's all a bit of a headache for me. Anyway...

Back to work! Formatting resumes is fun. I enjoy formatting resumes (maybe if I keep telling myself this stuff, I'll begin to believe it :p ). Have a FABULOUS weekend, ladies!!

hey all
 

Hello there..WTG all of you who have lost inches and pounds...that is FABULOUS!!! :D

Jill~~ I have a Toyota matrix ( 1st year it came out) it is excellent on gas mileage, and zippy...we are just exchanging it because hubby hates station wagon kinds of cars. I love Toyotas over Hondas myself, we get one or the other usually, though he is seriously giving thought to the Mazda3 for me...

Another week of curves, I felt much better today after taking the day off yesterday...back to my energetic self...After we dropped the dog at PetCo to get groomed, he took me out for Breakfast...I love doing that once a month or so...Having grilled chicken over tossed salad tonight( with Fresh made dressing ~ good seasons, I mix a packet of the garlic and herb with a packet of zesty italian and then add the oil and stuff to make a huge bottle for the week, that is a great mixture to try..., and he promised me a trip to the new StoneCold Creamery down the way...I hear it is FABULOUS :D ...I will try not to be too bad, LOL, Yeah RIGHT!! Did I tell you all how much I love that Edys Low fat ice cream? That is good stuff, tastes yummy..

HAGD all, BBL! :D

Ahh, cars. We had a 1987 Park Avenue which seemed to be a perfect car. Then, the summer Howie had his back surgery (and I was let go from my job at a university), the engine blew on it and we had to have it completely rebuilt. Ouch! Thank God, we had many little financial miracles that summer, things like cash showing up in unmarked envelopes in our church mailbox, friends dropping by with money, etc. Between Howie's workers comp and my unemployment, plus those gifts, we had just what we needed - nothing more, but what we needed.

Weighed in and showed a 1-pound loss! Happiness! Howie was teetering at 300, SO close to 299. Afterward, we went on a drive out to Dawe's Arboretum (where that Japanese Garden photo I posted was taken). The magnolias, some azaleas, and many tiny woodland wildflowers are in full bloom and it's gorgeous. The big show in the crabapple collection is coming up soon - that's *really* a sight.

"Weighed in and showed a 1-pound loss! Happiness! Howie was teetering at 300, SO close to 299. Afterward, we went on a drive out to Dawe's Arboretum (where that Japanese Garden photo I posted was taken). The magnolias, some azaleas, and many tiny woodland wildflowers are in full bloom and it's gorgeous. The big show in the crabapple collection is coming up soon - that's *really* a sight"~Kimberley

Wtg on the loss, something is better than nothing...I plan to measure myselff next weekend too with the weigh-in, I am really feeling like I have lost a few inches...You will have to get pics on here of the park, I wish we had places like that around here to see, although nothing is in bloom yet here...Maybe we will go up to Saratoga with the dog when the trees start to bloom...there is a beautiful park there...
well, gotta run, BBL all, Hag1 :)

Gooodmorning!! I still have 20 minutes left to my morning.. hehe... I am feeling pretty good this morning, my makeup looks great, the clothes I have picked out are super cute, we'll see how my puff ball (hair) turns out though. Its looking very country right now, I can't believe how straight it's getting! I normally have curly ringlet hair, but have been straightening it almost every day. I feel vain today.. lol, I'm looking at myself in the mirror and thinking how hot I look.. teehee...

Kimberley - congrats!! 1 more pound GONE! You are so consistant with your weight loss, I'm impressed :)

Jill - these short posts have me wanting MORE.. I'm going thru Jill withdrawl.. no more work for you!! ;) Definitely get a new car, my mom has a 2001 honda civic, it's been SO good to her, she had a few things to work out.. but after that it's been smooth sailing. Her and I bought our cars at the same time, and while I've changed the brakes 2 times, had my wheel barings done, struts done, strut bushings fixed and am now looking forward to a new transmission and another brake change.. she's done nothing. She's also got TONS more km's on her car than I do.. I have a Chev Cavalier, they've treated me in such a way that I'd never buy a GM again.. there has been SO many loopholes with our warrenty, basically it works out that nothing is covered. Poo on CHEV!! Heh..

Diana - you are doing so well with curves, It's inspiring, keep it up :) Sounds like you are having a nice day :) It's rainy and gloomy here.. fortunately I'm feeling FABULOUS! Yes thats right.. the return of that word.. lol ..

Marge - WHERE ARE YOU?!?!??!?! The day is almost over.. and no post from you yet.. me so lonely...

-Aimee

here is something funny I found on my Crafter's forum:


English .. a constant source of frustration
>
> Can you read these correctly .. the first time?
>
> 1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
>
> 2) The farm was used to produce produce.
>
> 3) The landfill was so full, they had to refuse more refuse.
>
> 4) Please polish the Polish furniture.
>
> 5) He could be in the lead if he would get the lead out.
>
> 6) The soldier chose to desert his dessert in the desert.
>
> 7) Since there is no time like the present, it is time to present the
>
> present.
>
> 8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum.
>
> 9) When shot , the dove dove into the bushes.
>
> 10) I did not object to the object.
>
> 11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
>
> 12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row.
>
> 13) They were too close to the door to close it.
>
> 14) The buck does strange antics when does are around.
>
> 15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer line.
>
> 16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
>
> 17) The wind was too strong for us to wind the sail.
>
> 18) I shed a tear upon seeing the tear in the painting.
>
> 19) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.
>
> 20) I need to intimate this to my most intimate friend?
>
> Let's face it - English is a crazy language. There is no egg in
> eggplant, no ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
>
> English muffins were not invented in England nor French Fries in France.
>
>
> Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.
>
>
> We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find
> that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea
> pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
>
> And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't
> groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't
> the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese?
>
>
> One index, 2 indices? Is it not crazy that you can make amends, but not
> one amend? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but
> one of them, what do you call it?
>
> If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats
> vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
>
> Sometimes I think the first "teachers of the language" should have been
> committed to an asylum for the verbally insane. How is it that people
> recite a play and play at a recital; ship by truck and send cargo by
> ship; have noses that run and feet that smell??
>
> How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and
> a wise guy are opposites? You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a
> language in which your house can burn up as it burns down; you fill in a
> form by filling it out and an alarm goes off by going on.
>
> English was invented by people, not computers, and reflects the
> creativity
>
> of the human race, which, of course, is not a race at all.
>
> This is why... when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the
>
> lights are out, they are invisible.
>
> PS. - Why doesn't "Buick" rhyme with "quick ????

Ack, what happened today? You all disappeared! I am so tired right now, and my brother isn't here yet.. I am just not good at staying up late... sleepytime...

-Aimee

Yesterday I went to the gym at 7am (NObody was there, guess tax day kept everyone at home!). Rob got me headphones so I watched MTV and VH1 while I did the bike and treadmill, heh heh.

Then we went to the botanic garden and I think I almost literally walked my &(*&&^%$ feet off! :lol: All the magnolia trees in Magnolia Plaza were filled with blossoms. Really beautiful. We walked home through the park, and the magnolia and cherry trees were blooming. Great to get some fresh air and sunshine.

Last night I just about finished my mystery, Jim Chee got shot (again!) and I know who did it now. Tsk, tsk. Crime does not pay!

Aimee, I asked Rob about the sample sales and he said that some of the showrooms do cater to larger sizes. He said you find the places that sell larger sizes, like J. Jill, then get on their sample sale mailing list. Each company that produces their own stuff has a mailing list. Besides that, you can buy jewelry, purses, scarves, shoes! I never learned much about it, but it's definitely a gold mine for anyone that does basic research and has the interest.

I had a friend who used to shop at a Salvation Army on the Upper East Side and she'd get expensive designer clothes that were barely worn, because a lot of the rich women up there will wear something a couple of times then give it away to charity (!). Unfortunately, I'm usually the dummy who pays full price for a blouse that goes on sale a week later!

Congrats to all those of you with inches and lbs gone!! I'm taking the weight loss equivalent to the 5th! Fear not, Marge will never be defeated by the fat devil.

Diana, the jewelry sounds fun. I've gone through so many earring phases! In college the bigger the better. I had short hair too, that let me show them off. Mostly I wear posts now. I like necklaces and bracelets too. I have a silver chain bracelet that I never take off. I almost never wear rings. I don't like how they feel. Hmmm. Keep me posted on that.

This afternoon I'm going over to the Polish store to get stuffed cabbage for dinner. We watched a travel show this morning on Prague and Poland and got a craving!

Kaylee, I miss your posts. Hope your dad's ok!

I haven't owned a car since I came to NYC in 1989, believe it or not.

Stuffed cabbage sounds delicious! I have a head of cabbage in the fridge, along with some turkey sausages (spicy Italian!).

Good morning, everyone. Well, I've not made coffee yet, so it's not quite feeling like morning. Howie's been up since 9:30am (masochist!) and already has the lawn mowed. He also talked to our neighbors and asked if they might consider letting us take down their rag-tag, gap-toothed, 50-year-old fence. They're in their 80's and planning on moving, so they don't want to put money into anything; the husband told Howie earlier today he'd be fine with taking down the fence, but he'd have to talk to his wife.

Well, she's obviously the one who runs the household, and she said they'll have it "fixed". Last time they had it "fixed" was 2 or 3 years ago and the only panels not falling out are the ones put up to replace those which had. It's a dry-rotted old mess. Our friend who works for the city didn't give much hope for local zoning enforcement to do anything to help. Ugh.

I am going to have to find some temp work, both for car repairs and for some privacy fence. If they leave theirs like it is, we're just going to put up our own to shield that nasty thing from our view. I mean, would you want this by your patio and all along your yard? :(

Just a quick post from me... as my brother and his galpal are here..

Marge - when I make money.. I'M COMING!!! Seriously.. like.. omg.. I was drooling when I was reading your post about the sample sales... I just have to win that lottery ;)

Everyone - :wave:

-Aimee

Happy Saturday! I am so glad the weekend is HERE! I slept for almost 12 hours last night (and, sadly enough, feel like I could still use a few more). Of course, this feeling tired all the time thing is probably due to my schedule during the week, but lately, I have also been very cold at work. I am NEVER cold usually. One of my coworkers said I should be checked for anemia, as tiredness and feeling cold can both be symptoms. I have to go to a doctor anyway since I have an infected ingrown toenail (sorry to gross anyone out). I have had them before on my other foot in middle and high school, but I really can't afford to have foot pain now that I am running around a restaurant 4 nights a week. So, I will go to my doctor and have checked: my toe (for a referral to a podiatrist), my iron level, my thyroid (full testing, not just the basic one they usually do), and discuss my weight (see if she has any suggestions for me considering my schedule). I also need new contacts and glasses and have a cavity I STILL have to get checked. I am falling apart, I tell ya--my car isn't the only thing in bad shape here :p

Today, we are still going to Jillian's with Jeff's cousins, but now we have new plans for later, too. Jeff got 4 Washington Nationals (the new DC baseball team) tickets from a sales rep at work yesterday, so we're going to that game tonight, too. Fun! We're also going to a Baltimore Orioles game on the 30th, so that should be fun, too. Of course, that means no time to look at cars this weekend, no time to look next weekend (it's his cousin's birthday), and no time to look the weekend of the 30th. Looks like I'll just be checking out cars online till I get a chance to see any in person in May. Hopefully, my car will last me that long without new front drive axels :crossed:

Kimberley--I'd try to hide that fence, too! Not much of a fence with that many gaps and holes in it, eh?

Marge--Salvation Army and Goodwill stores rock! I also once knew a couple that would go to rich neighborhoods on trash day and search the sidewalks. They wouldn't like, go through their actual trash or anything gross, but a lot of people would throw out old lamps or furniture that was still perfectly good to us poor folk :p

Diana--That English language thing was cute! Being a technical writer (aka, grammar and punctuation geek), I can definitely appreciate that kind of stuff.

Aimee--Is this post long enough? :D How'd it go when you put in your notice at your job? Were they surprised? OR were they jerks about it? I'm so happy to hear you got that new job (not that I had any doubt). I'm sure you'll be SO much happier!

I had my heart set on this car I found on cars.com. It's a 1999 Audi A4 (sedan, not wagon). It's charcoal colored with black heated leather seats, power everything, sun/moon roof, cd changer, the works! It's so pretty, too, and it's only got 54,800 miles on it. I had my heart set on it (even emailed the seller) until I did a little research online. Turns out, that year/model seems to have quite a bit of electrical problems and issues with the rear wheel bearings. Also takes premium gas (with gas at $2.15 for regular here, I"m not about to upgrade anytime soon!), and if you don't use premium, it will get a carbon build-up and your check engine light will go on, which is at least $75 to have turned off. So, my dream car is no longer my dream car. Back to the Hondas and Toyotas. I though being an Audi that it would be a good, strong, German car, but I also know that even VWs have been going downhill lately, so I can't say I'm all too surprised.

Alright, well, Jeff is in the shower, so as soon as he gets out, we'll go grab some grub (I am starving!). OH, btw, anyone who likes scary movies, the new remake of Amityville was really good! After recent "horror" movies (Saw, White Noise, Darknes, etc.), I was expecting the same type of garbage. It didn't stick exactly to the story of the original, but it was still done pretty well. There were also a few moments of laughing instead of screaming or jumping, but overall, I'd give it a B+. It was a good balance of slight humor and bone-chilling imagery. Usually, when a movie has something scary happening every 30 seconds, it gets old pretty fast, but I actually kept jumping at the scary parts. Okay, that's it for me for now...hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Just when you thought I was gone.....
 

hey all. Ive missed you guys. Unfortunately things here havent been the best, which is the reason I was gone. Thankfully no one is ill, just ex-hubby issues w/ the kids, school issues, etc.:stress:
Congrats to everyone who has lost weight, inches, worked out, ate less, or tried as best as they could. We are strong women who can do this, even if it takes longer than we'd like...because by the sounds of it our support systems are large and wonderful.
Congrats also to Aimee who got her new job! I think that's wonderful, and I hope its all you hope it is.
Well, I know how hard it is to sometimes see the results, or have our families and friends see it, because they see us every day. So my solution to this is :idea: go see someone who hasn't seen you in a while..lol. Case in point: I havent seen my mom in about 3 weeks, and went over to see her last nite. She noticed as soon as I walked in the door that I had lost weight....it made my day completely. Its always an inspiration and self-esteem boost to hear that.
I have to performance coming up next Friday, and have been working hard for it...still I'm so nervous about it...lol. NO matter how often I'm up on stage, it still makes me sick to my stomach up until about three hours after the performance is over.. :joker:
Well, Im off to the store w/ DH. Have a wonderful evening ladies, and I"ll see you soon.

Hi everyone
 

well, what a Friday for us...let me see, started off great, Curves, breakfast...then all **** breaks loose...His mom calls hysterical, his sis was in an accident, her car got totalled...she was okay,Thank goodness, but five seconds after she tells my Hubby, she starts in on the problems with his dad she is having, bringing us into the issues again..Rod got PO'd and started yelling at her that he didn't care, it was between them and she needs to worry about his sis etc...then his dad calls and starts all sorts of crap...I had enough, and exploded...I was so mad for one because they were acting like idiots when they should be focused on her...His father is acting like a psychotic ( he is very arrogant, pig-headed etc)..and keeps asking where she lives ( his mom) and he has no reason to ever know...it is getting beyond scary..Literally something you would see in a movie...what a mess...they are all wacked...if we could move to a different state, we would..to get away from all of them...we can't because Rod will not find any job where he would make as much as he does...so we will stay ...at least until he retires..

sorry,had to vent...
WTG all on the weightloss! Marge, will let you know how the experiments go when I start, have a ton of other stuff to finish first..

Aimee~ You are so cute...boy wish I had your gusto when I was your age..

Jill~ Good luck on the car search, now my Sis-in-law is in your boat...

Kimberley~ that fence is terrible, boy, I thought I hd problem neighbors, well had since he left...you would think they would appreciate your help...

Well, am off, have a good one! :^:

Hey, you's all. Just a quick note because I'm pooped. Worked outside today, first potting up some hostas and iris a friend from davesgarden.com mailed to me, then doing some watering...who'd think we'd need to water already?! My elderly neighbor across the street (Pearl, 93 this year) is really hurting, so when she said she was going to clean the dead leaves and vines from her vinca, I said "oh, no you're not!" and did it for her. She didn't object very strenuously. ;) I just love her and hate to see her in pain like that. Like she said when telling me one of her annuities ran out, "I never expected to live this long!".

Anyway, it was a good outside day in the fresh air, but one of those days that (I hope) makes me sleep like a rock.

Goodevening ladies! I'm just winding down the day, I'm totally exhausted and just want to sleep for days!! But I'm going to get up and do that 10km tomorrow. My brother and I are going to switch it up and run some, and then walk some. I think we are feeling a little crazy.. but it'll mix it up.. and with a lot of stretching I think we'll recover nicely.

So my day, kinda sucked a bit. I woke up with a headache (stayedup until 1am... too late for this little girl), I took some tylenol, did nothing, we bummed around the house until 12:30pm ( I took sinus pills, as it turns out it was my sinus's bothering me), we then headed to Vancouver to get all of our race stuff, checked out some of the stuff there.. they gave out free multivitamins! woohoo.. free stuff! We came home, and went out for Japanese... mmm.. I love Japanese food :) We ran errands for a couple hours, and picked up vitamin c. I'm sick, can you fricking believe it?!?! I have the starting of a cold, with a FEVER, ugh. Thats the low down of my day..

Jill - uh huh.. totally long enough :) I'm sorry to hear about your car crap.. I hate dealing with that stuff.. I wish you the best of luck. Get a honda civic or honda accord. :) The people at my job didn't really care that I gave my notice, one girl pretended to care.. but I don't believe her. It's fine, I'm done with that crap.

Diana - gusto? I live a very very tame life.. what do you think is gusto?

Kimberley - You are a kind person to help her like that.. I can't garden.. mostly I just don't enjoy it.. I'm more of a pool person.. :)

Okay, I better go back to my guests.. have a great Sunday, I'll post later in the day and let you know how it went!! Nite gals :)

-Aimee

Diana - gusto? I live a very very tame life.. what do you think is gusto? ~ Aimee

energy, great outlook, confidense...I guess that about sums it up..lol
Good luck today, hope you have fun...

Kimberley~ you are so nice to help her out, that is great....She appreciated it I am sure..My dad, who is 87, still thinks he is 27, sometimes...Does things he shouldn't then pays the price for it the rest of the week...

well, am off, Have agreat day e1!

Oh man.. it's too early for me.. it's 7:30am, on a SUNDAY, ugh. I'm rethinking that running portion of today's thing.. my body is sore (I just got out of bed), but we'll see. So sleepy!! But it's worth it... right?

Diana - I see so many people who do more than me, who do much more braver things.. and generally think my life is just TOO tame. I've never really travelled, or had an exciting job.. I have dated lots.. but yah.. lol. I do feel good about myself (thanks to my mom), and I know that I'm goodlooking.. teehee.. so modest too. It's easy to have confidence when you have a mom teaching you to :) So I'm going to take the compliment and shut my trap :) Thank you Diana!

Well, I'm off... seeyah later gals :)

-Aimee

LOL Aimee, YW, and yes, take the compliment and shut your trap, LOL..You are so funny!!! Have fun!!!

I got up at 7 this morning and stumbled over to the gym. Wow, was that place empty! Then Rob walked up to the park, got a sandwich and shared it in the park, it's gorgeous here today. I bought one of those huge deli pickles.

The stuffed cabbage was really good. Not greasy at all, which is how I like them.

Boy, Kimberley, I know that's a headache. My dad always was having to deal with the neighbors to get the fences fixed. He went through Sears the last time and got them to do the entire job. That fence fell down I think within a year, just bad workmanship.

Good luck with the 10K, Aimee! One day I'll be able to do something like that. Not today. I'm still creaky from going to the botanic garden and back. ha.

I think every one should travel as much as they can afford to money wise and time wise. It gives you a better perpective on the world, and about people in general. I know traveling isn't everyone's cup of tea. I've had friends who've loved it and have been all over the world, and friends who basically have been satisfied to stay within a state of where we grew up. I think because my dad used to take us all over the US when we were kids (in the ol' station wagon, camping out at KOAs -- Kampgrounds of America), I've always enjoyed seeing new places.

Yeah, I like Salvation Armies. We have one a couple of blocks away from us here, unfortunately they sold the building so it will be gone in a few months. I almost always give my clothes and books and other odds and ends to them, I'll miss them, it was really convenient. Sometimes the prices at the SA's here can be a little high. My artist friend who I mentioned before used to buy his frames from an SA in Manhattan. In college I used to buy sweaters from the SA in my home town. (My mom always like to donate change at Christmas time too.)

I think every one should travel as much as they can afford to money wise and time wise. It gives you a better perpective on the world, and about people in general. I know traveling isn't everyone's cup of tea. I've had friends who've loved it and have been all over the world, and friends who basically have been satisfied to stay within a state of where we grew up. I think because my dad used to take us all over the US when we were kids (in the ol' station wagon, camping out at KOAs -- Kampgrounds of America), I've always enjoyed seeing new places.~~Marge

LOL I had to add something when I saw that. we have been all over the country too, my dad did the same thing, every summer we camped and traveled...I loved it, and when DH retires, we will be going on road trips ourselves to Yellowstone, Grand tetons, Grand Canyon, etc...beautiful...we will be motelling it mostly, he is not into tenting as much as I am, but it will be fun...He has barely seen what beauty this country has to offer...BBL all, and I LOVE Cabbage Rolls, or Pigs in a Blanket as we called it in Toledo, here, Pigs in a blanket are hot dogs wrapped in Crescent rolls..lol, Funny how different things are...Hmm, may have to make some of them for myself this week, He is not fond of them, I love them and he will be working ot all week on afternoon shift, hmm....

Alright, so 10km's? It's pretty far!! I was going at a great pace 10minutes per km, and considering I had the most painful shin splints in the WORLD, I was good with that. And then I hit the 7th km. My fingers started to feel kinda weird, and after a hill I got a tight feeling in my back (from working hard, but of course, I'm paranoid and thought I was dying or something). I kept on going though, and because of my being all paranoid about that crap.. my panic attacks started. I felt like I couldn't breath and just wanted to lay down and cry, I was going to go to a medical station.. but instead I called my mom. I cried a little (I'm such a wuss!!), but she talked me thru it, for 1km (I was at a 12min/km at that point). And I survived, focused on the moment. It was quite the little journey, it definitely humbled me. Fortunately, I'm feeling strong, and will recover, both physically (my shins are ACHING!), and mentally. :)

I totally believe people should travel as well.. I really wish I could afford to, one day I will. In the mean time, there is tons to see around where I live :) As for camping? I just can't do it... tents aren't my thing, and those RV thingies.. expensive!

Alright, I gotta go take care of my body... remember, we can do ANYTHING we set our minds to, heck, I did a 10km walk with no training at all!

-Aimee

Just briefly saying hi and then I'm curling up in bed with my Dean Koontz novel. This nightowl is dog tired! We went to a Columbus Clippers baseball game today (they're the farm team of the NY Yankees). The game started at Noon, so we were up early -- early for us, anyway. ;) The Clippers and the Charlotte Knights were tied and went extra innings - finally, in the bottom of the 12th, the Clippers had a homer and won. It was a great ending to the game! Howie's new avatar was taken by our friend today at the park.

Night-night, bunny rabbits!

Good morning, all!

I'm up and at 'em at work--I know a bunch o my coworkers came in over the weekend to work on stuff, and my boss had said she would leave work for me on my chair. However, I came in to an empty chair with not so much as even an email asking me to do anything. Looks like I'm off the hook (till everyone else comes in, anyway)!

So, Saturday was SO fun! Jeff and I stayed in bed till about 9-ish, then I woke up and dragged him over to the couch so we could watch cartoons. Then we fell back to sleep on the couch till about noon, got up and took our showers, then went to Jillian's with his cousins. We got there about 4 and had dinner (well, breakfast for Jeff and me), then played video games for a couple hours. I LOVE the "Hyperbowl"--it's this big screen that shows a bowling ball and a course, and you have to spin this bowling ball on a stand to make your ball move in the direction you want to try to hit the pins at the end of the virtual course. It's funny to watch people do it, and it's even a great arm workout. Jeff, his 17-year old cousin Matt, and I played 2 games of that, a little air hockey (which I LOVE), and a few other video games (can't go to the arcade without some bloody, violent, first-person shooter games). Then, the rest of his cousins (the 2 parents, the 13-year old, and the 7-year old) went home while Jeff, Matt, and I headed to the Metro (train) station to go to RFK Stadium to catch the rest of the Washington Nationals game. They're doing really well for a new team--#1 in the National League so far, and we watched them kick some Diamondback behind that night! Funny little story about the game, though...

Since we had gone to Jillian's, we got to the game a little late. We missed the first 3 innings. No big deal--we still had more than half the game to watch. So, we go in and find our seats--not the greatest seats in the world, but at least they were along the third base line and not all the way back behind the outfield. So anyway, we sit down, and the guy behind us says, "Hey, one of you might have to move and come sit up here or something cuz these guys [gestures to the men sitting about 3 seats down to my left] were taking up all but these last two seats here," to which I replied, "Well, we've actually got tickets for these seats, so I'm pretty sure we're staying here." The guy looks at me and goes, "Oh, well, I hope that works out for you, then." Hope that works out for you? What the he!! is that supposed to mean? Of course it's going to work out for us--they're OUR seats! Just because some other people stole our seats before we got there does not mean we should have to move to accomodate them. No one ever asked us to move, since they knew those weren't really their seats (we saw some of the guys come down, look at us sitting in the seats, then go to sit somewhere else), but just the way that guys said stuf was pretty rude, even the tone of his voice. Ugh, people!

Okay, done with my little rant for now. So then yesterday, all Jeff and I did all day was lay around watching movies/tv and sleeping (I almost always fall asleep during movies anyway), so I caught up on quite a bit of the week's missed sleep.

On a more painful note, has anyone ever had an ingrown toenail? I have had them before and had to have the root of the edge of my toenail cortorized by the podiatrist. Well, not to gross anyone out, but on Thursday night after working at the restaurant, I came home and took off my socks and shoes to find a new development on my left foot--an infected ingrown toenail. Great. Like I have time to see a doctor! So Friday I wore flip-flops to work (luckily didn't have to work at the restaurant that night), and it hurt even when sitting still and not touching anything. Not a good sign. Saturday, I had to wear socks and real shoes (sneakers, since I knew the baseball game would require walking to and from the Metro station, not to mention the 10-mile hike to get to our seats), and by the time we got home on Saturday night, it was insanely painful and quite disgudting to look at, so I put my flip-flops on and made Jeff drive me to the store (not many choices at 11:30 at night, so we went to the grocery store that was open till midnight). I bought q-tips, peroxide, Neosporin (with pain reliever), and band-aids. Then we went back, and I went to work on my toe as best I could. I did some things I won't mention just in case any of you have just eaten, then I put a huge blob of Neosporin on it and 3 band-aids. I must have done a pretty good job--I left the band-aids on over night but didn't put any more on yesterday or today--let it get some air and dry out. Yesterday, it was kinda purple instead of red/yellow, but looking at it now, it's a lighter shade of purpleish-red and is much less swollen. I am wearing sandals (socks and closed-toe shoes make my big toe rub against my second toe, which KILLS since the offending toenail is on the inside of my big toe), so it doesn't hurt at all right now. I am PRAYING that I make it through my shift at the restaurant tonight okay--I'm serving instead of hostessing, so I should be able to sit down a little more often, which will be good. I'll have to see how it goes this week to see whether or not I will have to consider a podiatrist.

Aimee--congrats on making it through the 10k--tears or not, it's quite an accomplishment!

Marge--I would LOVE to travel. I went on a cruise to the Bahamas when I was in high school (school trip for a singing group I was in), but I have never been west of Kentucky or to any other countries. Maybe when I'm a little older and am not work 70 hours a week to make ends met :p

Kimberley--you're so great to help Pearl out like that. When I was in high school, I was a member of our Service Corps. We did stuff to help people in the community (shovel snow, rake leave, etc.), and I once had to help clean the gutters of this huge house for an older woman who had broken her collar bone. It would have been okay if she was actually nice! Talk about a mean old lady--she kept pointing out things we were doing wrong and watching our every move as if she'd just hired us for the day straight out of prison! I love helping people out, but I love it even more when they actually appreciate it!

Diana--good luck with the family stress. I know how difficult it is when people try to drag you into their conflicts. I always have this feeling like I want to help, but I know it's better to just stay out of it as much as possible.

Heather--I'm so glad your mom noticed your weight loss! That is such a great feeling, and it's very motivating to know people can see a difference. I know one of the ladies here at work keeps asking me how much I've lost. She says she can see it in my face. I think for me it's not so much the weight loss, but the working out that kinda shifts the wieght around even though I am only down about 7 pounds total.

Alright, ladies, this has been quite a long post (even for me--and only 1 smilie the whole way through! :dizzy: --well, now 2), so I'm gonna go pretend to do some work now. Have a Marvelous Monday!!

I'm no stranger to the ingrown toenails - Ouch. I've always been able take care of them myself, fortunately. Every so often they grow out on the sides and I just do some "intensive clipping" after I get out of the shower.

Aimee, I didn't reply specifically to any posts last night, but wow...I felt like I was on the walk with you. That's awesome how you pushed through the panic and kept going.

We're getting ready for an overnight in Cincinnati this weekend. About 45 folks (including kids and spouses) from davesgarden.com are meeting at a park down there for a plant swap, lunch together, and visiting. I may go to the Cincinnati Flower Show at Coney Island with some of our friends, but Howie is going to hang out and visit. We're staying at a B&B Saturday night and making our treat day Sunday since the owner cooks up a full breakfast for guests.

The first weekend of October, we're going to the really big roundup in Kentucky. We'll stay several days that time. We have such a blast together!

We need some 3FC gatherings, eh?