Hi Gals,
I am still alive. Just buried in learning about how to teach science to 6th graders. I am learning alot of neat ideas. Just don't think I can use some of them with my students. Next week is going to be my last week of classes. Than I am going to have a party to celebrate that I made it! LOL I might just go out to dinner at a nice restaurant and treat myself to a nice evening out.
I gained 4 pounds last week. So I am up to 204.5 pounds. I knew that I would probably gain the weight from sitting in class all last week. SO I just need to cut back on my eating this week and move more. Plus drink alots of water.
Thank you all for the wonderful advice for my sdd. She has started to do a little bit of physical activity during the day. So I think that might help her and just watching what she eats a little bit better.
Well it is dinnertime. So I will come back later and chat with you all.
Kerry

Kerry- I know the gain you saw will be gone in a week or so.....we all know how wonderfully focused you can be!!!!!! Keep up the great attitude. Great to hear from you. Hope all works out with Sdd too. Your knowledge and dedication will surely rub off on her sooner or later. She is blessed to have you around to help her.

Robyn- Don't steal my cold front!!!!!! (think I will go even more nuts if it stays like this much longer.) :lol: So you going to go watch some baseball???
It is addictive and my Dh would be out there with them if he could!!!!! It is after all baseball....... (which somehow snuck in our marriage vows......)Stay cool. Dry off.

Mouse- ok should be call your Eeyore???? Glad you were able to replace your ring. I know it had a lot of scentimental value to you. Don't you take my cold front either!!!!! Please spare some cold air for me. this heat is awful.
Let us know how the communications with the new school are going.

Took the gang bowling (I stink!) but it was fun. Guess I had better relinquish the computer to Dh-who did ask me to turn it on for him. Have a great nite!
Ginny

Sue, I had a similar experience around 16 years ago with "Purple Hooters." They are made with grape chambord and some other hard stuff. Well, I was at a party where this nuckle-head was making the women lie down on their backs as he poured purple hooters down their throats. I downed several and got soooo inebriated that I not only spent the entire night their, when I returned home the next morning, I was still drunk!!! As God is my witness, I will never drink another purple hooter again!!! I surely hope my DD is wiser than me and doesn't put herself in harms way the way I used to. His angels had to work overtime with me. :angel:

Gin, thanks for the feedback about my friend's DH. I'm glad to know that my opinion isn't unreasonable. Oh, and my poor nextdoor nightmare lives with her brother who is in MAJOR DENIAL. When their mother was alive and very violent with alzheimer's disease, they handled it all wrong. They didn't get her treatment until she was near death because they thought she was just cranky. This chick had all the symptoms of alzheimer's and could be dangerous to herself and others. So, I doubt her brother is handling her mental health issues much differently. I pray her doctors made it clear to him what her needs are including making sure she is not only taking her meds but swallowing them as well...not hiding them under her tongue till she can spit them out. Good for you making it 4 miles! Glad you enjoyed bowling...I stink too!

Mouse, I love Eeyore, but the Disney character I relate to is Tinkerbell. I dream of being petite and cute like her. My personality is a lot like hers. I am the youngest in my family, and I had to do cute stuff to get attention. I would feel left out just like her. I would become frustrated just like her. I just adore the story of Peter Pan with its "I will never grow up" theme, and I can relate to her the most.

Everyone, why doesn't each of you name the Disney character you most relate to? Just for fun!!!

Rob, it was hotter than Hades once again in CT. Being in the icey cold Atlantic ocean for the majority of today got me through it. We are having thunder boomers tonite. Yes, men are nuts. :dizzy: :lol: :yes:

Kerry, I know you will drop that 4 pounds and more in no time. Stay in tune with what sdd is doing so that her weight doesn't get out of control. Thank God she has you for such an inspirational role model.

Well, the drive to Ocean Beach was only one hour because the tricklets' mother has a friggin' lead foot!!! The 90 minute drive took 60 minutes because we drove between 75-80 mph in a 55 mph zone the whole way!!!!!!!! OH MY GOD...His angels were with me once again: 1. I managed not to get a speeding ticket. 2. We didn't get killed. I have never been there before, and I had no choice but to follow her closely so that I wouldn't get lost. Next time, I will mapquest it and meet her 30 minutes later! Phew! Anyway, once we got there, I caught my breath, and the palpatations abated, it was a blast. Ocean Beach has a boardwalk with shops, amusement park rides, water slides, pool, showers, and a b-e-a-utiful beach. The beach itself reminds me of Nantucket Sound off of Dennisport, Cape Cod, MA. The white sand is c-l-e-a-n, s-o-f-t, and loverly. The water (Atlantic) was also c-l-e-a-n and really cold. I spent most of my time in the water since it was such a hot and hazy day. It was soooo refreshing. I was ready to grow gills and flippers and commit to becoming a mermaid. DD and I left after 4 hours because DH was expecting us home. It took me 2 hours to get home because there was a major motorcycle accident on I95. The sick part was all the morbidly curious gawkers who slowed things down more as we were trying to pass the accident which took up 2 lanes. The only reason we could get by was because there was a McD's rest area to pass through. Anyhow, just as the thunder boomers began, we made it home in one piece thank you very much! Next time, DH is coming, and we will stay longer to enjoy the boardwalk.

Tomorrow is a play date with "snowday girl." Yippee!

Evening Ladies,
I had a nice dinner date with my dh tonight. We went to the local steakhouse where my dsil works. She takes good care of us when we go in there. I had a chopped steak dinner with green beans and a salad. So I think I have done a good job being on task today with my food intake. I did do a walking video this morning and worked out at Curves this afternoon. So one day done and six more to go before my TOPS meeting and next WI.
Pam and Robyn I feel for you gals in the South with the hot weather. I know that the heat index here was about 102-106 the last couple of days. Today was not too bad. It was only about 89 degrees today. We are suppose to get some nasty thunderboomers tonight.
Robyn enjoy your time at the beach. Think of me stuck in Ohio with no real vacation in sight.
Summer glad you had a nice time at the beach today. That sounds like a lot of fun. Don't you love it when you follow someone else going some where you are not familar with and you have to speed to stay with them. Hope your playdate with "snowday girl" goes well.
Ginny I stink at bowling too. But it is a lot of fun. Especially when my dh and I went with his nephews who are just a few years younger than me. The only time I am good at bowling is when I have had a little bit of beer or wine coolers in my system. LOL Good for getting your walk in outside. We finally got a new VCR/DVD player and I have been sweating with Lesile in the mornings this week. So I hope to drop my weight this week. Have a good WI tomorrow.
Sue, how was your WI today? I hope all went well with you. I hear you about missing your students. I have gotten really close with a few of my students, since I am really the only teacher they have all day long. Plus I have a close working relationship with the parents of one of my students. I have thought about calling to check on him several times this summer and than get busy doing something else or it is too late in the evening to call. I am going to cry at the end of this year when I have to spend him on to the high school since he has been my baby for four years. I have enjoyed watching him grow and mature. Did you get much work done in your classroom today? I will need to do that in a couple weeks. But I just need to get through my classes first.
Robyn how was your day with your friend? I bet you had a wonderful day! Was she able to help you magically find some tables for your room? I would like to have tables instead of desks in my room too! If you find some extra tables send them my way and I will do the same for you. LOL.
Mouse, sorry to hear that you will probably never get your stuff back. That is just awful! I am glad that lawyer was honest and helpful to you. Usually I can never say the words lawyer and honest in the same sentence. LOL When will you know for sure about your teaching assignment? I hope you can get that all straightened out soon. I will keep thinking positive thoughts that you did see the scale go down some. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
I have a wonderful way of getting back at my dh for the way he spent my birthday for me. Remeber how we just had to buy the kids two new baseball bats on my birthday and had lunch at Captain D's. Well my dh's birthday is this coming Saturday and he plans on going to a derby to see his nephew run that evening. So my ds called me on Sunday night and asked me to go to WVa to visit her this coming weekend. SO I said sure! I am going to go down on Saturday morning and go to Curves with her so she can try it out. Than we are going to go shopping that afternoon and to the movies that evening. Than on Sunday afternoon, I will come home. I am looking forward to a weekend with just my sister. We haven't done that in a while. It would have been nice if my other sister was able to come down too. But we might just have to do that on one of those long weekends during the school year.
Well ladies, I need to read an article for my Science class before class tomorrow. I better go and do that now. Than in the morning, I can just skim it as a review right before class.
Talk to you all later! Try to stay cool! :) :)
Kerry

Hey ya'll! Anyone else having spring like weather? Today it is only 85 with a heat index of 90....after the last week...well...WHOOOOHOOO get out the turtle necks! I am about to walk out to do some errands but I wanted to give everyone my weather report..cause, well, I just KNOW you were worried about me with all my melting and stuff! LOL

So, Summer wants to know "my" Disney character.....hmm???
ok...I have 2 or 3.... yeah, I know, I know!
First, you know Hyacinth Hippo from Fantasia??? That is me! To a T!!!
If she doesn't count then... of course, you will all guess this one: SnowWhite!
(Actually... Tinkerbell is my proverbial favorite....kinda built just like me (NOT) but sorta gets in trouble by doing "stuff" and yet, really comes thru in the end! Dependable! yet fun! and SnowWhite IS my other favorite maybe because she is so pure and I'm, uh, more like the evil queen! LOL) (My oldest ds just walked by and I asked him...and his reply was "Cruella DeVille"! BRAT! He, um, sorta has my mouth!)

Gotta run...I've got an appointment at noon! Will return to talk about MY bowling skills and MY beach plans! hehehehhe! (((hugs to my girls)))
take care,
meee

Rob, Hyacinth Hippo totally counts...excellent choice. However, I prefer your DS's submission of Cruella DeVille!!!!! :lol: :yes: :rofl: :lol3: :rofl: :yes: :lol: I luv ya, but I think Snow White is a bit of a stretch...Okay great, now I've got Cruella's song in my head, "At first you think Cruella is the devil, after time has worn away the shock, you come to realize you've seen her kind of eyes watching you from underneath a rock!" All day I'll be humming this song...

Kerry, Okay, I am waiting for your submission of the Disney character you most identify with...By the way, I love your idea for DH's birthday weekend. You go girl!!!

I saw my podiatrist today. He diagnosed me with a heel spur and plantar fasciatis (sp?) and on the x-ray he found some leftover damage from my break which could require surgery to prevent another break in the future. However it is elective surgery, so I doubt my insurance would cover it. They would probably prefer I go all out and do major damage first keeping me off my feet for who knows how long. :p The doctor gave me a cortisone shot, HOLY F*CKING **** that hurt like F*CKING ****!!! :fr: :stress: :faint: DAMN!!! He sprayed this freezing stuff on first which I thought would numb me, but feeling that needle (and that was a BIG needle) deep inside my bony heel...YEEOUCH!!! Man, I saw serious stars...

Potty Mouth, sorry your Dr. hurt ya! Did the shot help? Family is squealing for food... gotta exit very quick.... Are ya still humming my song?! :)

:mad: :nono: :dz: :rolleyes: :no: NO, THAT F*CKING SHOT DIDN'T HELP ONE F*CKING BIT!!! :dunno: :stars: :yikes: :sorry: :tired: :censored: OUCH!!! :tantrum: :stress: :fr: :eek: :cry: "Cruella DeVille, Cruella DeVille..." ;)

Hey!
Went and moved all my stuff into the new room today. Boy was that fun fun fun!
Thanks Robyn: I will have Cruella in my head for the rest of the night.
I will have to think about which disney character I can identify with. You know, that gives me a great idea for ice breaker activities when school starts. I always have my kids think of the geometric shape, or math symbol which best represents them. They have to draw a picture of the shape, and tell why. They present that to the class, it's pretty neat. Still thinking.

Happy to report I only drank one soda today. I'm trying to get better....I am drinking unsweetened iced tea.
Got a great compliment from our assistant principal today. She is a health fanatic. She runs five miles every morning.......Blah blah blah. Anyway, she said Omigod what kind of work have you been doing for your legs they look awesome. I said nothing, but thanks. I have always had smallish legs, they are just normally all covered up. Still made me feel good.

Let me give you all a laugh....Ok, It's laugh or cry around here. My son's friend dropped him off at 12:30 last night, I heard him messing with the lock trying to open the front door, so I opened it for him. He was standing in the door with a red face, pants around his ankles and the biggest grin you have ever seen. I said Exactly what is going on with this new look of yours? He said what? I said" Is there some particular reason that you have your pants down around your ankles? He looked down, stepped out of his pants and said I had a run in with some Pepe Lopez, he laughed all the way up the stairs, and fell asleep. I was talking to my brother at the time who said he was sure his daughter was out at the club because she would turn 21 at 12 and could drink legally. I said well obviously mine has been drinking illegally.... Apparently he was trying to fish his keys out of his pockets and his pants fell down, when trying to pull up his pants he fell over, and I just happened to open the door at the right moment.

Talk to you all tomorrow.
Pam

Pam, yes that gave me one heck of a laugh until I remembered DD who in about six years (hopefully not sooner) will begin to be tempted by alcohol, drugs, sex, etc...Yeesh! Thank God we have a very open relationship. Just yesterday she (7 years-old) was asking me questions about sex. Don't ya luv it?! She was more interested in "when" than "how." She has no idea what sex is just that it looks exciting and like something she will want to do. Great. Anyway, I told her that people shouldn't do it until they are at least in college and engaged, but being married is better. I actually told her why...pregnancy, disease... And then I told her, and if you do it before that, your father will kill you! Then she told me, "Well that is why I talk about it with you mommy, not daddy." So, his authoritarian attitude just shuts down communication and in the long run, won't help us when she starts trying risky behaviors. By me answering her questions now, she trusts me knowing I won't go ballistic...even though inside I'm about to explode. I don't know any other way to protect her.

Okay, the foot is more bearable this morning. And guess what? After researching my ailment, it turns out that it most occurs in OBESE WOMEN. SH*T!!! Okay, yet another thing to add to my long list of reasons to lose weight. I wish I knew all the crap that would happen to my body when I gained weight before I put that first chocolate donut in my mouth. Maybe I would have handled my stress differently. Maybe I would have worked harder postpartum to drop the weight faster. Whatever. It is now or never. :p

My brother and sister-in-law are coming over tonite for a BBQ, so I have to shop, clean, and host. I doubt I will be back today.

Robyn, if I don't get a chance to say, "Farewell..." I'm saying it now. Have a spectacular time on vacation!!! I'll miss ya. ;)

Hey ya'll! I'm off to see the ocean...the wonderful ocean of oz... Will be digging my toes down in the sand in Frisco NC for a few days! I will return....they won't let me stay down there forever!

Gin, it was so cool talking to you! :) Summer, I'm going to send you an email from my home email address...it has a photo attached... it is NOT me...but I wanted you to see it anyway! LOL :)

Rest of ya, (((hugs)))
Talk to you sometime .....

take care,
meeee

We are having an amazingly wonderful week of weather here in Michigan. It is/has been in the high 70's low 80's all week. I am in heaven! Too bad I have spent most of it at school. I have been pretty productive though and I will happy for it come August. I finally got out to golf today. It wasn't pretty but it was golf!

Ginny - Did you finally get your cool front? My WI actually was better than expected. I was down 3/4 lb since the last WI. I am still about 8 lbs higher than I was before I hurt my knee but at least I am going in the right direction. I have tried CORE. I just can't do it. For one my full zone doesn't speak English. For another I end up eating TONS of every carb on the list. Core works great for a lot of people. I have two sisters who have done wonderful on it. I, myself need to measure and count points. Lucky for me I am a bit anal so I don't mind doing it.

Mouse - I thought of you when I went into school the other day. I decided I was having a "Mouse Day". First I douldn't get to the mailboxes because the janiters had just waxed and I had some papers in there I needed. Then the computer in my office wouldn't recognize my login so I had to go down the hall everytime I needed something. Then my phone jack didn't work so I couldn't even make calls! Glad to hear the scales are finally moving for you. That helps so much when you are working your tail off.

Robyn - I am glad you got your cool front. I hope you enjoy your beach time.

Kerry - I always gain weight when I am class because I think I retain things better if I eat while listening. You will need to share your good science stuff with me. My students are 10th and 11th graders but they are resource room so it is at a lower level. Enjoy your sister weekend. My last camping trip was with my sisters (all three) it was so much fun!

Summer - Oh no, not homework! My favorite Disney character is Tigger but I only wish I had his energy. I am going to have to give this some major thought. You are making my heal hurt just reading about your cortisone shot! I have wondered if one wouldn't help my knee but maybe I won't ask! My knee was doing so much better but just 4 days of walking around school and it is sore again. That isn't a good sign. Damn cement floors anyway!

Pam - Well I laughed at your story but I am not sure I would find the humor in it if it was my ds. Since my students tell me way more than I want to know, I am aware how bad the drinking problem is at my school. Unfortunately when you live in the country there isn't much else to do! I have decided to stress the don't drink and drive more than the don't drink at all. Hopefully I will have a few more years before I have to really worry about that.

Well I am off to meet some friends for lunch. I have been doing well for three days now, so hopefully my will power will hold out. Keep your fingers crossed for me! Plus my DH is bringing home my all time favorite pizza tonight. There goes my flex points for the week!!!!!

Sue

Afternoon Ladies,
I am free for a few days. I actually got out of my class early today! I was so excited. I came home to have the wind knocked right out of my sails. Today is payday for my district. I had been going to pick up my paycheck for the summer. The last time I went in, I was told that I could not send my dh in for my check anymore. I had to do that two times when I was in class in the earlier part of my summer. I said fine, mail my check the next pay period since I will be in class. Well my dh stays home today so that he could get my check out of the mailbox and guess what? No paycheck. So he calls the school board office and they were like um we mailed them out yesterday. Guess her check got misplaced in the mail and that is not our problem now. You will have to call the Post Office. So I call the post office and ask them how long it takes for a check to be mailed from one town over to the next town. They said that I should have gotten it today. So tomorrow I should get my paycheck. So I am glad that we have some extra money in the bank that I can take with me to go to my sister's tomorrow. My dh thought I was leaving to go to her place late morning or early afternoon. I loved bursting his bubble when I said that I was planning on leaving at 7:30 a.m. so I could make the most of my weekend with her. Thank God I have to met my friend at Curves to workout this afternoon. I can really use a good workout right now to blow off my steam over my friggin' check not getting here on time. This is the perfect reason I didn't sign up for them to mail them to you.
Summer, I will have to spend sometime thinking about my Disney Character. I will ask my ds to help me with it over the weekend. My sdd said I remind her of Tinkerbell, because I am always fluttering around doing a lot of things. Plus she says that Tinkerbell does fun things in the movie and I act goofy at times too. So how was the playdate with snowday girl? Your shot sounds like it was more of a pain than a help. Hope you have a wonderful evening entertaining your brother and sister-in-law.
Robyn, enjoy the beach! Have a wonderful and safe trip. I hope you remembered to pack sunscreen.
Sue, glad that you were able to get into your classroom to do some work. I have my last week of class next week. Than I plan on going in and doing some work in my room sometime between the second and third weeks in August. Congrats on the 3/4 pound loss. I have talked to several teachers who said the same thing about the weight gain while taking classes. I am just going to roll with the punches and start working harder to take off the weight when I am done with class next week. I figure that is the best plan to have or otherwise I will just beat myself up over it.
Pam, your story cracked me up. Thank you for that bit of humor. You just relieved some of my stress level over my check issue. You are a blessing!
Ginny, here is a good one for you. My dh told me the other day that he wants to go away with me for the weekend before school starts without the kids. I said okay where do you want to go? He said that I could pick it. So I thought let's go to Cincinnati,Ohio. That way we could go on the riverboat just over the line in Indiana and do a little gambling. He was like that is great! I really love that idea. I wonder if the Reds have a ball game in town that Saturday night. I wanted to scream. I just grinned at him and said I really don't know honey! I really didn't want to go to a Reds game to spend time with you. Remember this weekend is about doing fun things that we really didn't do this summer. He was a little bummed but I don't care. I wonder if your dh and my dh are related somehow. LOL
Mouse how are things going with you? Did you find out what you are teaching yet?
Well ladies, I better go and get changed. I told my friend that I would met her at 4:15. It takes me about 10 to 15 minutes to get to the gym, depending on traffic. Talk to you all later.
Kerry

Ok, so my idea of a fun weekend is NOT going to a baseball game........yup Kerry, sometimes I think we have married the same man. Rob-l great chatting with you.....have a great time. Hope you brought your pixie dust with you!:) Sue- good for you getting some golf in. Ok, so it was not pretty.....Tiger must have bad days too, right? And you had fun. The most important thing. Pam- yup, I loved the pants story. Ah the joys of raising a son......and a teenaged (or slightly older one) at that.
Summer-gee, you've been in the Navy????? hehehe- sorry the shot hurt so bad. I had to get them for about 6 months to reduce the swelling of a heel spur. Yup they hurt like **** but after each shot I got a wee bit better.
Been busy with a lot of nothing. WIsh I could get some quiet time in......and (oh please forgive me!) I am getting a bit battle weary from kid entertainment. But that is life and it is great having the gang around a lot. (of course the house is trashed all the time!). Did not get to WW yesterday.....got a 5:45 calll from work....and the run she put me on I thought was a normal BOCES run with a 9:15 return, ends up we went to Yonkers (1 hr drive) and did not get back until 10:30. What an expense......a driver and a monitor in a suburban to take one student to school. Unreal. Oh well, I got paid. So skipped WW.
Gotta go.......see ya and have a great weekend!
Ginny

Evening all.
Well... I definitely pulled something. Its not too bad if I sit up straight. It is getting better... I can blow my nose again without wanting to curse (though Summer has taught me some new words to use! :) Thanks, Summer!). Hopefully it'll be all better by Monday, since I have to move the lane lines for class, and put them back. The Monday instructor is the one that made the comments about "at least you're doing something" when I couldn't do her water aerobics class anymore (she yells at you and points you out if you don't do EXACTLY what she says, and she hates anybody being suspended. I can suspend very easily, and get a good workout that way, but the humilation from her wasn't worth it). I have no idea why some plastic disks and wire are so bloody heavy!! They aren't that heavy completely out of the pool, or if I'm in the pool... but if I'm on the deck, and they are in the water, its nearly impossible. Especially if they get tangled up after they're moved... or the hooks fall to the bottom of the pool. Then you have to get in, which means that everybody else has to get out of the pool since there is only one lifeguard.
I am officially catless for a month. Imp went to my mom's this afternoon. She met me in York... I had to have her with me to get something notarized, then we took turns cat sitting so we could each hit the farmer's market. I was thrilled to discover that one of the best bakeries at the market (Mennonite owned... they used to have a restaurant near my mom's house) has started making sugar-free pies. My mom says she'll pick one up for the Jewish holidays, because my grandmother was wracking her brains trying to figure out what I could have for dessert while there. I also got my car's oil changed and all the stuff checked out so that I can drive to Chicago without worrying.
My endocrinologist called me today (well, yesterday and I called her back)... she's taken away my bread again. She thinks its a bad move, so I'm only allowed to have a high-fiber cereal with milk. Guess I'll be eating a lot of the new Weight Watchers high-fiber cereal, since its the only one that has any taste. She did say I could have more fruit... not to go overboard, and still no oranges or melon, but its not all berries. I celebrated by buying a homegrown peach at the market. ;)
And I did find out where I'm teaching... at the high school that I went to for the interview the last time I was down in Virginia. I'm not real happy about it, because it was pretty clear that the principal didn't want me. I think he got stuck with me because I have a letter of intent, and he had an open position. I really just want to be somewhere that wants ME for what I can do for the kids. And its not like he'll have to go out of his way to make it hard on me: all he has to do is not let me leave early for graduate classes (which means I'll have to drop the 4:30 one, and double the time it takes to get the 30 credits I need!), and not allow me to make up time for the Jewish holidays, but instead make me take it as unpaid leave or out of my sick leave (which is the written policy). And he won't be out of line at all, not anywhere close to what my last place did. I guess we'll see what happens.
I'm sure I've missed bunches of stuff... Sorry about that.

:mouse: