Please excuse my abscence... was a very very busy weekend that was over in a flash. Can't believe it's time to head off to the showers and start another week already - a week that I'm on night support duty too

I'll try and catch up tonight. Sorry to hear about Holly Teel, hope she will be alright...

YP~You are doing great with your losses. Keeping me motivated to keep up, or down should I say. Have a wonderful trip.
Shad~your job sounds involved and complicated to me. It must challenge your brain tho. I admire you for the work you do.A book in the sun is just about perfect!! Thanks for your comment, it means a lot to me.
Teel~ hope Holly is on the mend and all is well. I am partial to smelly workin men, I married one.Hope the reno goes well. You are having a LOT of work done.
Mel~ is doing well, from her journal!!! You behave young lady and keep the healing process going!!!
Nae~ how was lunch with Bill, do tell?
Meadow~ lots of relaxing for the holiday today, I hope.
Linus~ take care of yourself admidst all the busy-ness.
Where is Suzi?? WHo did I miss. it wasn't intentional. Hope all is well and happy for everyone.
Oh, Happy~ hugs!!!

Feeling a lot more Hollyhockish today!!!
Out of my head and back into my life. Holy processing stuff batman!
I am feeling good about how I have handled myself and the things I have said. I WAS honest and sincere. The people who really “know” me get that.

We have been having a really nice cosy family weekend.
Dh and I have puttered aroung the yard and have gotten lots of piddly jobs done, all the grass cut. The kids have been playing well, have had playdates with friends and friends dropped in here. Had a lovely glass o wine with a mom midaft.
We had a “party” with the 4 of us last night. It got quite cold so our friends didn’t come for the fire. We had chips and dip and iceceam cones and roasted marshmallows. The kids swung,played tag, chased the shop cat all over the yard.
No trouble getting them to sleep. I watched Desperate Housewives and went to bed to read. I slept in til 9am!! Decadent!!
I am feeling calm and peaceful. I have still been eating small amounts of food. Even with the “party” food last night. We do not normally have that stuff around. Big treat for all of us.

I am enjoying the day off today.No plans at all!! I may even lay about and read.Shocking, I know.

Have a relaxing day!

WOW!!! YOU LEAVE FOR 2 DAYS AND LOOK AT ALL THE POSTS!!!
I woke on sunday and realized the hip/waist pain is gone. I can feel the strain but not the pain! funny how it just disappeared overnight. Now all I have left is the back but I am getting used to it and managing my day accordingly. The bookkeepers were here all weekend so that put a bit of a crunch in my plans. they e-mail or IM me everytime they need to get into another office. (the phone system is switched to an ans. service on weekends and nights) All the rush is for the tail end of an audit. My fridge and freezer are ready and I started another 6 week challenge on the other website. Hope I can actually finish this one!!!

Teel~ Hope Holly is OK and all is well in your corner of the world. sorry about the phone but the PC is the men's only way of getting me....God forbid they should ring my doorbell downstairs!

Holly~ I was going to post a Xmas thing but was afraid someone would sart throwing things at me!!! LOL "Growth" can sometimes be a tough thing. Hope it all works out and hang in there. We have so many roads in our lives and they are not always pleasant but they must be travelled nonetheless. good lucK!

Happy~ Hope the week is a better one and not so busy. Getting any pool time in with the umbrella drinks?!?!

Shad~ I was a good girl and rested in between all the chores. Iof worse comes to worse, I will end up using my "Dragon Speaking" program but I am not overly fond of it cause it makes mistakes and you need to type anyway!!! LOL Hope your ceiling stays in place now! Because you love spiders so much, am shipping some of ours over. They are much smaller but maybe in your climate they will grow like their Aussie brothers

Linus and Bump~ Glad you are both well and kicking!!!! Take good care of each other. Hope the house and moving work out and go smoothly for you. Missed your humor! Hugs for you and the whole family(((((((HUGS)))))))

Meadow~ Cheddar cheese! One of my favs!! While in the freezer I realized it didn't come with a shelf but the holes are there....I hate trying to stack things up and have them tumbling down. Somehow when I read your post I remembered they sell shelves for just that thing! the mind works in mysterious ways!!! Hope you are going to have a great week! Be good to yourself!

Nae~ I am glad you are excited about company. I too love that feeling when it's someone you truly like spending time with.
Hope it was a glorious day and the week at work is good! Say hello to the elk for me!!!

YP~ Good to hear you are so close to your loss! Congrats and good luck! Hope the trip is wonderful. Have a good time.

I was the last one?!?!? Where is everyone else?!?!?!? Has 3fc lost our posts?!?!?!? This cannot be right! Anyway............
Yesterday was a good but wasted day. I futzed around with small things and blew the entire day aw3ay! Maybe I needed it? I think it's the dingy dreary weather.
Getting back on plan felt good and I hope the scale moves this time! Have a very Happy Tuesday and take care!!!

Yesterday I wrote a nice long email..... and my computor went stupid on me so I see it never made it to the thread. Oh well!!! I am having some mixed emotions right now my van is in serious trouble and I am without a car for the week and the holiday is here next weekend and it looks like my plans are going to be blown out of the water..... I just pray that fixing the old girl keeps it running for me for a long time..... I am sick of worry about what I would do for transportation if it becomes a burden to keep it running.....
I am riding my bike.... it is a never pedal practically all the way to work because I live on a mountain...but the ride home is something else..... why should I complain...instant exercise right????
My weekend was great...my weeds got sprayed and Bill came for a nice lunch it was fun. I guess I will be just staying home and working everyday... my mental frame of mind may need some coaching because I was meeting friends up north this weekend to play and party and bike and hike..... don't I sound the boob!
Hope all is well.....
Peace,
Nae

HUG Nae!!!!! Hope things iron out with the van and your plans can go ahead. We have old vehicles too.Focus on the good stuff!!

Mel~ you sound like you are realy on the mend. Have a great day!!!!!

NO drama, moderately dull life!!!
Weeheeeeeeee!! No nasty phone calls or emails. A blessedly beautiful long weekend with my husband and kids!!!!!!!!!!
DH started work last Thurs wiht the family business who did our roof a few years back. The Dad/grampa is the owner, sons and grandsons work but they need an extra. The owner has always respected DH as a equal(which he is) I am hoping there is enough work for at least the whole summer/fall. This has been the slowest and worst spring he has ever had. We are feeling the pinch but we will also be okay.
I am thinking of selling Avon. No one in this community does.I will research it today.
My weight is still 225.Very happy for that. Aiming for 220 now!!!!! It’s been 7 years.
I am feeling incredibly blessed with the friends I have here at 3fc and with my sweet little family. Love to you all!!
__________________

Well the cookies didn't bump up my numbers on that evil contraption scale thing. I weighed after lunch so technically I may be down a pound or two because I didn't do the first thing in the morning/empty tummy check I need to exercise, I want to exercise, I just need to DO IT! I think I need to have special clothes designated for sweating in so that I'm not making excuses like I can't get these all smelly because I have to go pick up the kids. I also make excuses about it will wreck my makeup, I will have to have a shower and it will make me late for picking up the kids from school. Excuses are rife in my head, need to give it a shake and get this show on the road again.

Mel-I'm glad you are feeling a bit better, funny how our body's just get better while we sleep Congratulations on accepting a new challenge, fingers crossed this one gives you the extra boost to move from that plateau. Although you know I think you look great at this weight and would be thrilled to bits to see your number on my scale

Rose-so what was lunch really like? Did you arrange to meet another day? Hugs for the wrench being thrown into your plans for a biking weekend with your buddies Give the van a good tire kick to vent Maybe Bill could come round to ease the boredom

Teel-wow, new space to play in... there are some lovely cream colours out in the paint stores, I had a blast choosing for our house. Enjoy the process, nothing like a noodle through paint chips to spark all sorts of decorating ideas, you may even get new curtains, possibly sheers with little flowers embroidered on them (I have been eyeing some ) Can't wait to see the photos. The choice of garage door colour sounds terrific, good for you going bold! I was wondering how much those skips cost, I see them on the garden programs from Britian all the time, good old Alan Titchmarsh and company. The ones they use are huge Good to hear Holly is none the worse for her tumble and full of spark again

Holly-congratulations that your hubby has got himself a job with good people. Fingers crossed for your weight shifting downward, it isn't easy. My body is holding on for dear life to every fat cell I spent all day yesterday doing laundry, it sits now waiting to be put away I'm ignoring it

Shad-You are such a busy camper! The frustrations you face at work would do in a lesser person. Don't let them see you twitch, stay strong, make them fear you the goof off artists need a good dose of inimidation, let them know you are smarter than them and not afraid to use your power to squash their lazy tootsies. Big hug for all the hours you are putting in :

Happy-are you still in your pool? Dry off and come back

A little reminder

Morning all.

Sorry I didn't get around to posting yesterday, it was more or less the day in which everything but the sky fell in.
Discovered that half of the programming I need to do lessons in a 7 working days time is not done, that I have no training identities in the system and that the only way I can get data into the system is to do it myself. Lemme see thats 20 training id's who need 7 lots of data to start with - that's 140 transactions, then there are other bits and peripherals that I will need to think about to get the job started. Ho hum. Started on the job, got 21 transactions done, got very bored. Did some other stuff. Then it was onto the DB1's place to belt in some knowledge about computers. This... is... a... mouse...... I am talking slowly because you don't listen very fast!!!!

Left home at 5.30am, got in at 20.30pm, watched a tv program and went to bed with the furry crittur who will insist on sleeping between me and the edge of the bed and complains loudly when I turn over and she falls off. Go figure cat.

Got ready in a real hurry this morning as I spent too long in the shower and now find I have forgotten my gym towel. So lunch time today will see me humming along to meet a friend and going to buy some towels. Actually, I need some new ones for the bathroom as many of mine are at the getting tatty stage - and besides it is so nice to have some new things once in a while.

DS last night informed me that I am the sole executor of his will and that his brother and sisters are to be the main beneficiaries. Since his estate will be substantial, I will have a job to do. I don't like thinking like this. He is only 2 years older than me. On the whole I wish he hadn't told me. Still I guess he had to do so some time. His wife is not in good health, so why do I get the feeling she will outlive the lot of us. I know why he is doing this, I just wish life could be different. Sorry TMI of the family variety there. Just had to get it off my chest.

Mel - sometimes a fartsy sort of a day is just what you need. I tend to waste a lot of Saturday. I used to beat myself up about it, but have finally worked out that the most patient of all things is work! It will sit and wait for you all day, all week if necessary. Today may be a bit more energetic for you. But hey, you are doing some exercise, cooking and traipsing after the bl**dy auditors what more do you need.

Nae - sorry to hear about the vehicle. They are such a pain when they don't work properly - just one more reason why I buy new ones. It is expensive to start off, but it sure pays off in the long run. I never used to have new. I always got what the exDH didn't want and the things used to break down frequently especially when the boys started to drive them. Then DS1 and I got hacked off with it and pooled our pennies to get a loan and a new car. I've not looked back since. This one will be 2 years old come December, time to start thinking about something else. Anyway, hope it doesn't cost too much for repairs. Cycling to work may be fun, but not if the weather deteriorates or you don't feel well. Hope you do get to go away for your weekend. Glad the lunch went well - are there plans for another??

Teel - Don't put Holly in the skip!!!! Glad to see Bob the Builder is doing a good job and actually making suggestions that will help. Gotta have that storage space. The garage door will be unmistakeable next time I come to visit Mind you, I would have liked to see the expression on the neighbours faces if you had painted it pink.

Holly - glad the DH has found some employment and that for a while you will be flush for cash more or less. The hardest thing about contracting or casual work is trying to provide for the times where you are not working. Even harder when you have a family. Avon? well they have some good stuff and it's not always that expensive. I used to use it a lot. Hardly ever wear makeup now - and never wear nail polish because it turns my nails brittle and they break all the time.

Meadow, you are sounding a bit more upbeat today. Go grab the oldest clothes you can find and get into the exercise early after the children have gone to school and while that first load of laundry is buzzing around the machine. Then shower and forget about exercise for the rest of the day. It's the only way I get through it in the weekends. During the week is has to be at night, so I talk myself into it all the way from the station to the gym. Most times I succeed. There is the odd trade off. I must admit that it must be a strange sight as this woman sits in a car and talks to herself all the 13 or 14 kilometres to the gym. What a wally!

Okay, gotta go and get some of these transactions done - then put out a notice to tell people not to use them. Touch 'em - you're dead buddy!!!!

WOW!!!!WHEN DID WE GET ALL THESE NEAT SMILIES!!! THANK YOU 3FC!!!! AND THANK YOU MEADOW CAUSE I SAW SOME IN YOUR POST AND WENT TO INVESTIGATE!! IT'S MADE MY DAY. Little things make me happy
I am going to throw a if I don't get out to ride my soon!! I am tired of the cold and and want to go and sit in the and !!!!

Ok I did my and I am hoping to a good loss on the Monday!! Anything over 1/2 lb will be a big deal for me! Been doing very well with the diet bits and haven't gone back to Clara except to fill her needles up. She is stubborn and makes me a little !
Just been doing for Mel. I feel good but am very sluggish yet. My spring seems to be broken! Maybe when the sun comes back to New Jersey I will be happy!

Shad~ Have a good weekend this coming one. It sounds like you could use a wee rest yourself......or at least to destress! Love how the govt. works and wastes it's almighty dollar!! Enough to make a girl crazy!!!

Nae~ I am sorry about the van and keeping my fingers crossed..... maybe Bill can help you out!!! (sorry, couldn't resist! LOL) good luck and keep us posted. Can someone pick you up for the weekend with friends or are you all too scattered about to the four Winds?

Meadow~ Thanks for using the smilies! They all gave me a good laugh when I went in search of yours! LOL Hope yopu get that body up and exercising soon!!! Sending gooooood exercise vibes!! GO MEADOW GO!!!

Holly~ glad the day was good and keeping fingers crossed for the DH and the job too!! Hang in there. Tough to chew when the $$ is short but family is so much more sweeter.
Don't stress too much but I want to say one thing. AVON??? Don't you have enough to do already?? Pardon my butting in but being too busy can cause anxiety and stress. I know you're trying to supplemenmt the lack of funds but aren't you already wearing enough hats without adding another and burniong yourself out?? Ok I'm getting off the soapbox but I have been in your shoes and wish someone had warned me of the consequences way back then. good luck.

Teel~ Glad your has a home of it's own now and you'll be out the roaming around!!! Don't you love the smilies!?!?!? We need a Holly dog now!!! Your decorating sounds wonderful and I love the red door idea. I see it all the time on decorating shows. let's your house stand out in a warm and friendly way! Enjoy all the new changes!

Guess I have played long enough and best get going!
Hello Happy and Linus and Bump!!!

I must go and have a look at these new smilies - when I get stressed enough to have to have a laugh. Not talking about the idiotic decisions made here in the last couple of days - it's enough to make one think about taking up begging for a living.

Had a horror run to the station this morning and just about every light went red as I approached, not to mention a couple of people who drove more like they were running horse and cart. Got to one intersection and could see a train at a station 2 stops down from where I normally get on. Holy smoke Batman, that's my train. Reckon I was just about airbourne down the hills and through some very orange lights. Got to my station and parked in the parking bay just as the train pulled into the station. Sprinted to the train and threw myself in as the doors were closing. Bit close for comfort that.

Mel, there is a policeman down below, he is hiding behind one of the pillars smoking. It's obviously either an illegal activity or he is desperate. You should see the drags of smoke he is taking into his lungs. If he goes much deeper he will explode. Nothing exciting about this uniform I can tell you. He is out of shape - well I guess pearshape is a shape - going bald, smoking as if it will be his last and to complete the comedy he is also flat footed. Some woman must love him I guess, he is wearing a wedding ring. Yes I can see that far!!!! There is another policeman over the road wearing baggy overalls, he is standing on the steps of the copshop and puffing on his fag. He is not in as bad a shape of the first. Maybe I will put on my gym shoes and step out, commit a burglary in front of them and see if they can catch me. Could provide some excitement for today I guess.

Got all my transactions done yesterday, 154 of them and not 140 as previously stated. Forgot that trainers also have to have stuff!! D'oh silly me. Today I have to ensure that all is in readyness for the knowledge transfer to other trainers and next week I have to get out there and train the trainers in something I know little about. Times are tight, just hope it all comes across at the right time. Osmosis - soak it up - get thee into my head, how's the dementia coming along? Sorry, ranting as usual.

Had lunch yesterday with a friend from the old Tradelink days. She is finishing up next week to prepare for her coming baby due at the end of June - Jelly Belly it's called. Do you know how hard it is to find a decent card that doesn't state the sex of the baby? Suggest you go to the local card shop and check it out!

Gym last night was 45 minutes of cardio circuit. I was sure sweating at the end of it. One of the new machines at the gym is set in miles and not kilometres. I was wondered why I had to run at a speed which is normally a slow walk. Anyway - leave me alone long enough I will figure this out. Then I had to do sums in my head to convert the miles to kilometres. That took care of quite a few of the 15 minutes on the next machine. Conversions and maths were not my strong points. What do you mean were? Are not my strong points still.

Okay, time to go do something for which I get paid. See you

Mel~ I had the same thoughts, but I sold Avon about 15 years ago and it is not a lot of work.In a small community a couple of flyers at the store and people will come to me. the profit is good and we really do need the income. Neither of us have steady income all the time, benefits etc. If it is too much I will quit. I do know I tend to heap on too much. Thanks for the input!!!!

Hi to everyone, for now. It is the kids first baseball practise tonight, game tomorrow night. I LOVE baseball.Gotta fly!

PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I’m not cute or built to suit a model’s fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I’m telling lies.
I say
It’s in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It’s the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can’t touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can’t see.
I say
It’s in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.

Now you understand
Just why my head’s not bowed
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say
It’s in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That’s me.


Nice day yesterday. Ended up with a sinus headache from allergies.
I made spaghetti casserole( family fav) using ground turkey and LF cheese. Still yummy. Leftovers for tonight.
Both kids started baseball last night, on the same team this year.DD’s shirt hangs past her knees, cute.First game is tonight.
DS ha s a BIG trip to African Lion Safari tomorrow. He is very excited.
Saturday they are each going for sleepovers with friends and hubby and I are throwing a mattress in the van and going up north to see some friends. Weeeeheeee. Last time we were out together was last July, before that was the previous Jan. Man, we are dull.

Hope everyone is having a phenemenal day!!

Hope we are fine and dandy!!! I sound better than I feel but it's the dreary weather and rain!!!! Tomorrow the sun is actually coming here to NJ!!! I hope to go food shopping and stay dry!!!
Not much is new. Getting things switched around and stocked up while the kids will be gone with his 2 young ones..... they go back to their Mom the first week fo July.
Guess I better start the day....I hear Andre Bocelli singing Time to say goodby and now I feel tears. I just cannot listen to him without crying! And he's singing to and WITH Elmo on Sesame Street! How funny is that!! I should be laughing! let me get out of here!!!

Shad~ try the smilies, you will love them!
silly things really!! I think this one may become your fav this year !!!!!!!!!!!
Have a great day!

Holly~ good for you! And good luck then! Hope the kids have a great time and you and DH have the much needed time alone! Enjoy!

Made it this morning with no fuss - not like yesterday. TGIF That's about all I can say about today. I'm leaving early as I am out of hours again and the boss lady tells me she thought I was on top of it. Yes I am, because I put in the hours! I am not giving away free hours. My time is as valuable as the next persons.

There I feel better now.

Anyway, next week I intend to keep more reasonable hours (famous last words) and then let her know what has not been done. It is not her fault, she wouldn't herself mind if I worked 17 hours a day. She is getting it in the neck from the budget police. There is an email on my desktop this morning requesting information on lessons to be delivered in a couple of weeks time. They seem to think I am some sort of god who is well able to be delivering training on the 13th level and creating training lessons on the 2nd. God preserve me from the twits of this world.

TGIF - oh I already said that. I'm actually even looking forward to the dentist tomorrow simply because I won't be here, but sitting in some other chair collecting pain in a different way. A bit of shopping and home to the housework and painting. Getting there, getting there. I should have been going out on a boat cruise on the river sipping and tasting wine. However that will not be as there is so much other stuff in my life right now.

Gym again last night - weights and resistance. The only night off the gym this week was Tuesday. Funnily enough after whingeing about the gym and talking to myself, last night I was actually looking forward to being there. Didn't even have to talk to myself. Maybe one day will see the end of all this flab, but hope is fading on that front. At least I am strong and healthy. If I never lose another kilo, I can say that at least I am healthy. Biggest problem is they (the kilos) are piling back on again at the moment with monotonous regularity and I can't figure out why. Some of it will be to do with the lack of water, some with the lack of body 'regularity' (sorry about that) but then my food is good, and not too much, so I shouldn't be putting the weight back on. So why? I suppose someone is going to say that I've answered my own question there. Enough, it's depressing me and it's Friday. Not allowed depression on Fridays.

Holly, good poem. Glad to hear that you are having some quality time this weekend. Every marriage needs that away time, just as every marriage needs some me time for each partner.

Mel, Andre Bottecelli (sp) (is he of the angels fame?) has a wonderful voice. I love it to bits. Mind you I really love the music of tenors - Jose Carreras and 'Some Enchanted Evening', Pavarotti and 'Nessun Dorma', Placido Domingo, I can go on and on and on and on................................. Bryn Tefyl (sp- Welsh tenor) and on and on.

That's about it. Time to hit these lessons again. I must have this one finished today. They think it is already finished - hey what about seeing whether they have learnt anything afterwards - what about a couple of questions during the lesson - what about making sure they understand the lesson - what about, what about, what about. I guess today is going to be an obsessional day. I am going on and on and on..............