Gettin' together -- August 2005
 

July's thread kind of ran into some overtime. Welcome belated to august, y'all!

Maybe we can get people to start posting again if it's fresh...kinda like my cat when she's got a newly-changed litterbox (ooooh, a fresh canvas).

C'mon out of the woodwork, friends! We've got an APB out for ya! :D

Dragonwoman64
rebelridergirl
DianaLS
jillybean720
SwimGirl
kykaree
barbygirl43
jamswife0807
treefrogtoes
BIGGIRL27

Have I missed anyone? Apologies in advance if I did...I went through several older Gettin' Together threads, but I'm a tad bleary-eyed.

Even if you've never posted before, stop on by, anyway. We won't bite! Okay, maybe, but just a nibble...just a taste. Dieting can do funny things to your thinking! ;)

Hi Gardenwife,
I have been around since June and I have read allot of threads from you and Howie. I have enjoyed the inspiration. My hubby and I started a new way of eating and we started execising. I have met some really neat people.
I love the support I get from here. I am 37 and have been married for 19 yrs. My hubby is stationed in Okinawa Japan. The boys and I love it here. I would love to join the thread.
Vicki :)

Woohoo! New blood ;) Welcome, Vicki! Gosh, Okinawa--I can't even begin to imagine how different things must be there than here!

So, weigh-in last night was a bust. Like I said, according to my home scale, I was the same when I got up yesterday morning. By the end of the day, I was up 2.75 pounds on the TOPS scale :o Not as much as I lost last week, so I still have a net loss for the two weeks, but still. I know some of it is water retention, too--I drank nearly 20 servings of water yesterday! Unintentionally, too--I was just thirsty and kept refilling that bottle (my 3-servings bottle refilled 6 times...), and by the end of the day, my ankles were noticably puffier. I had definitely had some extra sodium the night before (a bunch of us took my boss out for dinner since today is her last day--I had a chicken and cheese quesedilla with SW ranch sauce and a few handfulls of the SALTY snack mix on the table), so not a big deal--it'll all be gone plus some when I weigh in next week :)

Aimee--did you ever get your medical test results back (or am I just blind and missed that in one of your posts :?: ) ?

Goodmorning!!

Kimberley - It totally dawned on me when I saw the new thread.. but otherwise I forgot it was August already! Scary! I'm shocked at all the MIA people!

Vicki - wowsers! Thats pretty far away? What it like to try and lose weight in a different country? How many boys do you have?

Jill - wow, thats a lot of water, no WONDER the scale was up. I think we can safely say it was mainly water that contributed to that weigh in! I still haven't gotten any test results in, I can't believe how long its taking! One good thing, if anything was REALLY bad they would call the second the results were in, which means I was RIGHT about my blood sugar being normal. Just because I'm overweight does NOT mean I have Diabetes!

I hate it when my work calls me, it's never a good thing I tell yah! My manager called me this morning and wants me to have a sit down with her and talk about another employee and the "sequence of events", which I actually wasn't around for. I hate it when people want me to squeel on another person. But I'm just going to tell her I don't know exactly what happened, only that my first day back from vacation she called in sick and I had to work alone for 9 hours with no break. I love pointing that out over and over again! heh. Evil Me!!

Well I am off to make a strawberry banana smoothie and put my face on, I am going shopping for this cleanse that I'm starting on Sunday. Have a great day!!

-Aimee

good news!! I don't have mono! I called the doctor and the nurse said all my results were negative..which means I also don't have Diabetes, a thyroid problem either!

-Aimee

Good...Morning, everyone. Welcome Vicki! Great to see you posting here. What branch of the military is your hubby in? You and I are about the same age - I just turned 38 last week - so now I don't feel quite so old in here.

I weighed 212 today, down 1 pound. I some of my meals from yesterday had vacated the premesis, it might have been better. Ah well, tell that to my body. *snicker*

Jill, yeah, I'd SAY it was a lot of water weight. I felt a pressure on my bladder just reading about it.

Aimee, hope all goes well with the sit-down. I disliked being put in awkward positions like that at jobs, too.

We had rain last night and it's cooled down today. It's a little muggy, but we've got the windows open, anyway. The house gets so stuffy when it's closed up with the A/C on, so the fresh air is more than welcome. Oh, and today's farmer's market day downtown -- yippee!

Last night, Howie bought the ingredients for Alton Brown's protein bars. He called me three times from the Kroger store...

"Is wheat germ the same as wheat gluten?"
"Rolled oats is the same as oat bran, right?"

Thank God for wireless phones! ;) I'll probably make up a batch tonight. I've toyed with the idea of selling healthy granola bars and protein bars at the farmer's market. Like anything else, I have to weigh the pros and cons and decide whether it's worth the time and expense. It's $10 to rent a spot for the day, so that factors into it, too.

HEY ALL, :flow2:
Hope everyone is having a great Saturday. Remember I am 13 hrs ahead of the states. East coast that is.
Aimee, Jilly, and Gardenwife,
I will be 38 in October and my hubby is in the navy. We are on an AF base.I have two boys.16 and one will be 13 Sept 5th. We love it here. The people are so nice and there is allot to do and see. It is hard to lose weight here because there is no support. No WW or Curves or anything like those. I have chosen a lifestyle change. So far so good. I really believe anything can work as long as you exercise amd change things for good and for the whole family. The boys were not thrilled with the no soda and no fastfood. But I know they do it when they are not with me and are with thier friends. But I have reduced the amount they have. It is so humid here so we bought a George foreman large grill and we use it allot. The boys love the hamburgers I make on it. I am just taking it one day at a time. I know I will eat bad sometimes but I will come back here and just get the help I need to jump back on.I was having health problems and It became a race for my life. I want to around for the grandbabies.So what are ya'll doing and tell me alittle about ya'll.
Vicki

Hey! I am home from work, it was pretty uneventful. Which is a VERY good thing :)

Kimberley - men make me laugh, "Rolled oats is the same as oat bran, right?" .. teehee. What would they do without us huh? But it's nice to feel needed like that! The sitdown was SO silly, I went into work 30 minutes early to sit down for 5 minutes and be asked questions to which I didn't know the answers. Stupid really.

Vicky - great to have to here! You are WAY ahead of me in time.. I am West Coast of Canada, so 16 hours behind you.. hows the future? ;) So about me? I'm 25 turning 26 in 14 days.. not that I'm counting. I live in the Greater Vancouver Area, on a huge mountain. I am currently working retail, and am shacked up with my boyfriend of 5.5 years. I definitely aspire to more, but in the mean time I'm stuck because I just have TOO many options.. which is great :) In terms of losing weight, I'm not actually doing that right now. I've been feeling pretty sick lately, don't really know what it is, so I'm trying a cleanse to see if that'll help! When I go back to dieting I'll be doing a low fat, no wheat diet (I have an allergy to wheat). Although I'm always game for some sorta fad diet.. lol, I am into instant gratification!

Wow, I got a lot to say, or maybe I like to talk about myself? heh. Have a good one gals!!

-Aimee

Hi, all. Today was farmer's market day and I came home with all kinds of tasty produce. Yum! Do you have open air markets available all year there in Okinawa? Sometimes Howie and I wish we lived in a more temperate climate, where produce was fresh and local year round. Ahhhh, that'd be nice.

Let's see, about me...My big interests are photography, computers, writing, and gardening. Which gets top billing in my life depends on the season. I adore animals, especially dogs and cats. Howie and I were married on Leapday in 1992, so oru anniversary is comically easy to remember. We've no kids, no plans for them, but we're Aunt Kimmy and Uncle Howard to our best friends' children. :)

We do have a open market called the black market. They have different fruits than us. Thier peaches are the size of softballs. So good. Big apples too and things I don't like are thier oranges and tangerines. Taste terrible. We have no strawberries for some reason. I miss them so bad.Out of season. Goya is what they eat all the time. Hard to explain what is. It is so bitter. They eat green tea and sweet potatoe ice cream. They are very healthy people.
Vicki

Funny they call it the black market -- makes it sound like everything is contraband. LOL! Sweet potato ice cream sounds good. I like the pumpkin spice ice cream that's available around Thanksgiving here.

Hi ladies!

Work has been hellish lately and I was on vacation away from modern convience for a week... but I'm back to the grind again. I've been too busy to even READ other posts in here for the last several weeks!

I got the job I posted for at work, I don't actually get to START the position for a couple months, I have to train my replacement once it's hired! BUT, I got a $.56/hour raise that I din't know I'd be getting!!! YIPEE! My hours will be way better once I transition into the new job too! I can't wait!

On the diet/WL front... I wanted to be at 240 before we went to WI Dells, however, I was stuck at 243 the day we left (and started my TOM, hello waterparks and tent camping... UUGH!) The minute we got home I jumped on the scale to access the damage... 240 exactly! Thank the gods for the cherry licorice and beer diet!!

So I'm hoping to be more available to the site again... I miss everyone so much! I'll have more to say once I get back into the swing of things...

I don't think I'm as adventurous as you gals, I think if I ate ice cream it would strictly be vanilla or something cheesecake, heh. I used to get into the soy "ice cream", it was chocolate chip chunks.

So I had a horrifying thing this morning!! I woke up early, ick, and was on the computer checking email, all that stuff.. and something caught my eye. It was a spider the size of a toonie!! It was all black and icky, it took almost 45 minutes for me to kill it because I was so freaked. Nothing like an irrational fear, eh?

I am totally enjoying my lazy day off work, I know I have so much to do, but I just want to forget it and watch movies all day (which I've been doing!). heh. Ah yes, I love lazy weekends! Have a great on gals!!

-Aimee

:chin: You took the words right out of my mouth, Jill. Aimee, don't keep us in suspense, what the heck's a toonie?

Sara, great to see you posting again. Congrats on your new position! The beer and licorice diet I could handle, as long as the licorice was strawberry flavored, not cherry. ;)

I wrote the following to a friend, but it pretty well sums up our weekend so far:

We just got home from spending the night with our friends. We pitched the tent idea (snort!) and instead slept inside. Our friends camped out on air mattresses in the living room while their boys slept in a kid tent we brought over for the. We got it on clearance a couple months ago, but just couldn't see waiting until Christmas to give it to them, not when plans changed and the camp-out became a camp-in. I'd gotten some juvenile-themed sheets in a bundle of assorted linens on Freecycle, so the kids were thrilled to pieces to get Cabbage Patch Kids, Holly Hobby, Strawberry Shortcake and Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles top sheets. You'd think we'd brought them a million dollars. :)

We stretched out in our friends' bed, familiar since it is our old king bed set. Boy, wish we'd gotten that set again when we got a new one - ours hasn't held up too well. Now that we're a lot thinner, our future mattresses will have more longevity. We'd love to try one of those waterbeds with the tubes, or a TempurPedic sometime.

Anyway...What a nice night it was, from the great dinner at Red Lobster (Crab legs! Happy dance!) to the campfire we sat around out back, to staying up into the wee hours reading in bed with the fan blowing cool night air into the room. I had many, as I call them, "small fits of happiness". Life is sweet when the little things thrill and comfort you, you know?

I had the same question about the Toonie. :rofl: Gardenwife seems like you had a fun weekend. I did allot of cleaning yesterday.
Today is weigh in day for me and I am down three. :cheer: I just can't wait to be over half way there.
Well,Ya'll have a good day.
Vicki

Wow, three's great! Good for you, Vicki!

Hi gals!!! A toonie is Canada's replacement for the two doller bill, we also have a loonie, which was the replacement for the one dollar bill. Basically we have a LOT of change now! We still have our colourful 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills though! a toonie is roughly the size when you make your pointly finger and thumb into a circle. Have you all not been to Canada in a while??

So today was the first and last day of the cleanse. It hurt. The drink was simply horrible, so my friend and I caved! Also, we had to stay late at work tonight, and then drive about an hour to the hospital to drop my manager's keys off to her, and we ended up staying there for a couple hours. She pulled a muscle in her back, and tends to overract about things.. anyways, she's just fine. But I left this morning at 9am, and got home at 11:45pm!! I am freaking exhausted!

On that note, I am going to bed! I'll talk tomorrow!!

-Aimee

Ahh, a coin! I get it now. And no, I've actually never been to Canada :o

Well, Jeff and I had a great weekend of doing NOTHING. We layed around watching movies and tv. We almost made it all day Saturday without actually leaving the apartment, but I had to pick up some things at the store, so we did a quick grocery shop. Yesterday, we took his car to Jiffy Lube for an oil change. I have yet to have my baby (car) serviced--I'm supposed to take it in for a 7500 mile service, but I still have less than 5000 miles on it (and that's after driving all the way down to Georgia and back!). Jeff, on the other hand, put over 30,000 miles on his car in a year--but that's my fault cuz he's always driving to my house and drove down to see me when I lived in Va Beach. I consider it 30,000 miles of love and committment ;)

Congrats on the -3, Vicki! I'm hoping I lose at least that much this week to counter last week's +2.75 :^:

Great to see you again, Sara! I was wondering where you'd run off to. congrats on the new job and raise--more $$ is always a great motivator :D

Well, we have a new girl starting in my group today, and I am her "Bridge Partner." No, we don't play Bridge here in the office--the Bridge Partner is someone who is assigned to help you get acclimated in the new job...show you around, introduce you to people, etc. My Bridge Partner was a girl named Ginger, and we're still pretty good friends (as far as office friends go), and it helped me a lot to have someone to actually talk to when I first started rather than be thrown head-first into a group of strangers who merely smile and say hi in passing, ya know?

Friday was my boss's last day. I was/am SO sad to see her go :( She left me a note after I left on Friday--I just read it this morning, and it almost made me cry! I've only ever had 2 full-time jobs, but she was the greatest boss for me. She also did a TON of work around here, so I have a feeling things are going to be changing in these parts...

Ooh, and Pinch survived the weekend! I have read plenty about how long bettas can survive without food, but I was still a little worried about him. However, I came in this morning, and he was all kinds of happy to see me--he starts swimming around like crazy when I come in and wiggle my finger on the outside of the glass :)

Well, here's to a fresh start for a fresh week! Have a great Monday, all!

Oh, a coin! That never entered my mind. I've not been to Canada since....1989, I think. Mom and I went to Niagra Falls and then ventured a little farther into the country to camp a couple of nights. That's it for my Canadian experience!

Hey, take it from us, your manager has a right to be concerned when it's a back involved. Howie and I both are very ginger with ours since we've had troubles with 'em for years. Better safe than sorry for your body's basic framework. ;)

Jill, I think that Bridge concept is great! Wish they'd had something similar at some of my other jobs. From what you've said of your boss, it's no wonder you'll miss her - she really sounded like a fair and good person.

I just got up, not much to report here. Vicki, if you don't know already, Howie works 4pm-12:30am, so we are nightowls. Typically, Howie gets to sleep around 2 or 3am, and I often am awake a little later.

A little late of a post from me... I've had a pretty stressful day. I heard from my manager today, her back is pretty much fine.. however I'm betting she'll get addicted to all the narcotics they gave her. Anyways, I had to go in for 2 hours today to get some things done, which turned into 7 hours, which will also turn into all day tomorrow. I'll have to go in early, and stay late.. and then get in trouble for all of that as well. We are moving everything in the store, setting up new sections of fall clothes, which involves moving bars, shelves.. etc. And at the same time we are seperating plus size clothes from regular size clothes (new concept by the company was to merge them together, everyone hated it, so we are changing it), also we are unwrapping and hanging about 40 boxes of new stock. It's pretty time consuming, and I'm in charge since my manager is off. I haven't done this before, and my manager started it off in a confusing, unorganized way, its taking twice as long. I have until tomorrow at about 4pm to do it, without using extra hours, or neglecting sales. Lets just say it sucks.

New Topic!

Shame on you all for not coming to Canada! I go to the USA 10 times a year! However, The toonie is pretty silly. It makes for some serious change!

Vicky - congrats on the 3 pounds!! :)

Kimberley - I'm pretty aware of how things are in my body, and sometimes you just know it's not right... so this is what I don't get about my manager, she was told that she has strep throat, and had a fever, how could she not know all of this? Also she told us that when she went to the walk in clinic they wouldn't write her a prescription and told her to go to the hospital, she also told us that her doctor wanted her to go to her regular hospital because he wanted to see her. However, when I was putting her keys in her purse, there was a prescription in there from that day, for the pain killers she said they wouldn't give her. Too much just doesn't add up for me to believe her anymore. But yes, totally a good idea to pay attention to those back pains, they can result in some serious problems... and what an all consuming place to be sore!

I am determined that tomorrow will be another day, and plan to get to sleep early tonight to aid in that! Sorry to be such a downer... I'll talk to yah'll tomorrow!

-Aimee

Hope tomorrow's better for you. Yeah, I can see how things must add up with the boss. After you posted more, I could see what you mean. I guess I'm a little sensitive to people doubting pain, because I know how my hubby hides his well and people sometimes act like he's making it out to be worse than it is. They don't see him like I do, and when he doesn't think anyone sees him.

Kimberley - Josh is that way too, luckily I can tell when it's really bad and take care of him. Definitely given her track record.. she's slightly unreliable with what she says! How is Howie doing these days?

-Aimee

Well, I ended up not going to the gym after work yesterday (got caught up talking to someone in the office and didn't leave on time), but MAN did the workout gods make me pay dearly! I started my evening shift at the restaurant at 4, as per usual, and I often get kinda busy in that hour when I am on alone (most other servers come on at 5:15). So yeah, sometimes I'll have maybe 5-6 tables in that hour before anyone else comes on. Yesterday, I had 11. Yeah, 11. For anyone who has ever been a waitress at a chain restaurant, you know that the max per server is usually like 5 (at Ruby Tuesday, it's actually usually 4), but I was on alone, so I had no choice. Now, if it were just like a pizza place where people ordered, got their pizza, got their drinks, the end, that would be fine. But no. I had to have the pickiest 11 tables EVER. I want my steak well done, but no mushrooms, and instead of broccoli I want onion rings, and instead of baked potato I want fries, and I need a side of ranch and a side of UGH! Can't ANYONE just order whatis actually on the menu?! I actually went to one table that had been looking at their menus for a few minutes and asked if they were ready to order. they said yes, then looked at me and ordered the fillet minion. Fillet minion? At Ruby Tuesday? WHERE ARE THESE PEOPLE FROM?! No, sir, we don't have fillet minion (try actually READING the menu, dumba$$)!

WHEW, how's that for a rant? Thanks for letting me get that off my chest! Despite the stress, chaos, and frustration, I stuck perfectly to my diet yesterday and will do so again today! I do have a dentist appointment later, though (they have to remove a broken filling and replace it :( ), so I may not actually eat everything I'm supposed to today. I'm a big baby about dental work, so I'll probably just head home and crash to sleep away the novocaine.


Aimee--How is Josh doing these days? Hope that mono's makin' its way OUT of his system now!

I can't fathom 11 tables, let alone picky tables. I was a server (back then, a "waitress" LOL) at Perkins Cake & Steak. Favorite customer: man who ate 3/4 of his steak breakfast, then complained loudly that the steak tasted like grilled rat. Got his dinner free, of course, the jerk. Yeah, some things just stick with ya!

Howie's anxious to get the ball rolling...He's not been feeling too great. He told his boss last Friday that he was doing well to get through the week, and he didn't think he could do the weekend rotation he was on call for if they were swamped.

Hey ya'll. :wave:
Hope everyone is doing great.I went to the gym last night. I did 35 min on the treadmill amd 25 on the bike. I started the machines. I have never done these before. My hubby kind of laughed and made alittle fun of me. Even though he says that is not true. I think what pissed me off was a skinny chick staring at him and laughing at me. I kept it in and didn't say anything to her. Hubby and I talked about it later and I tried to make him understand how women treat each other. I told him that when he is on a machine does he ever hear two guys talking about a guy wether he is skinny or fat. NO, it doesn't happen. I hear women talking about other women all the time. I just get in the zone when I do the treadmill and bike and don't think about it. But when I went downstairs to the weights where all the good bodies are I started to let it bother me. Stupid huh? I started looking at myself in the mirror and thinking bad thoughts like so what you lost 35 pds,you are still sooo fat. I know it was wrong but I feel like I am not moving fast enough which I know is just bad thinking that could lead to bad eating.
Well, Thanks for listening,
Vicki

I know women talk - you're so right! We have many "Slim Goodbodies" at the YMCA, but I've gotten to the point where I just think, "to heck with 'em". I enjoy the feeling I get from lifting, walking, etc. This is something I do for myself, not for everyone around me. This is YOU time, girlfriend. Smack your hubby on the noggin, then give him a hug and tell him they're both from Gardenwife. ;)

When I used to go to the gym, I used to prefer the gyms with more guys in them. They are just there to workout and maybe socialize a little bit, it was perfect, plus I got access to all the lighter free weights! I know I comment about people, but I've never commented on how big a person is.

I finally have a day off, but the sun is gone away.. so I'll putter around the house, clean some.. all that usual stuff!

Jill - Josh seems to be fine, he's a little tired, but hes back into the swing of things at work and stuff is so stressful these days. Thanks for asking!

My mom was talking to me about the idea of how I give work 110% when I'm there, and she says I should apply that to my personal life... and while I don't totally get it entirely, I'm thinking I should give it a go! I'm going to go try that.. see if I accomplish more! Have a great one!

-Aimee

That sounds like a plan. I'd have to work my way up to it!

Howie's Redskins jerseys went for more than we anticipated, and I think it's because we were willing to ship outside the US. Both were won by a person in France, and each went for about $5 more than similar shirts recently listed. Woot! Off to the post office I am. Good!

Phew, easier said than done!! I didn't answer the phone when work called... but I did check the message a few hours later. That was the end of my peaceful day off, my manager told me that I'm working today from 8-5 (vs 9:30-6:30 I was supposed to work), and she told me the store didn't look good. This annoys me to no end!! I came in on my day off, missed a beach day (it's all rainy now too!), hurt both my pants, and my damn best for her.. and I am getting nothing in return, except a possible verbal warning and a talk with the regional manager (who is the reason I'm in at 8am). I won't get the verbal warning today, but only because I'm going to leave early (I worked myself into a frenzy and didn't sleep.. bad Aimee!). Makes me wonder if this is worth 30 cents over min wage!

Well I best be off to ****.. er... work..

-Aimee

Jill - today is weigh in day, I can't wait to hear how it goes!!

Maybe you need out of retail. What else do you enjoy doing?

Aimee, I agree--I think you need out of retail! They're not paying you what you're worth to start with, and it certainly isn't worth all the frustration and hassle...you deserve better!

Yes, I did have my TOPS meeting last night. After last week's 2.75-pound gain, I am happy to report that I posted a loss of 5.25 last night :) That puts me very close to getting out of the 280's (280.75 to be exact) and moving on down to the next decade. So no, I more than likely will not meet my August 31 goal of 270, but at least I will be a lot closer than I was. Keep-a truckin'!

Woohooo Congrats Jill!!! You will surely pass me soon... I'm on a weight loss sabatical (had no money for groceries, until today!!). I'm so happy for you, especially after you had some struggles with it, ah yes... success makes me happy! :) It's amazing what happens when you find that special combination that works for your body!

Kimberley - I've been struggling with that concept for a long time :( I enjoy people, I enjoy having fun (duh I guess?), I just can't pinpoint what exactly would make me happy work-wise. Since I was on EI (Employment Insurance), I qualify to get 12 months of schooling for free, if only I could make up my mind.

So work yesterday was MUCH better! I worked alone from 8-12:30, and then went home sick (upset tummy, probably from being tired and stressed). Before I left the Regional manager sat me down and wanted to know what was going on with me (as per my manager), I told her about the flip, how I've only been there for 3.5 months and how I felt as though my work wasn't appreciated. She assured me that what I accomplished was really great and thanked me. She asked me to trust her, and so I told her how my manager leaves 1-1 1/2 hours early quite often, which leaves us with a lot more work, which she said she'd take care of, in a confidential way. The is a temporary fix, retail ISN'T going to be my life. But while I'm here I might as well move up, which my regional manager also said she'd find out for me... so I could possibly be an assistant manager, which means, more pay, more hours, more responsibility.. but I'd get a job title!!

Alrighty, I am feeling better about work, now if I can just keep it that way, because i'm content with my social life, I just gotta work on that pesky weight issue I have! Speaking of which, Kimberley, isn't today weigh in day?

I better run, Josh has an ultrasound to see if his spleen is enlarged still, among other things I would imagine. Have a good one!

-Aimee

BTW - I just jumped on my scale and it went down 1 pound!! 3 pounds until I hit the weight before my vacation... :dizzy: this is too slow!

Jill, waaay to go! That's great! I told my MIL about your 11-table night and she said, "Oh man! It'd be bad enough if that were 11 deuces, but to have tables with fours or more...man!". She was a server for many years - it's how she and Howie's dad met.

Aimee, glad you were able to talk to your RM at work - hope things get better for y'all. I'm not sure what I want to do, either. I dislike office work and would much rather deal with people, but it's hard to break out of the office work rut and I don't really want to do retail. I think a coffee shop job would be something I'd enjoy, but I don't want to work at the place we frequent, because it wouldn't be a retreat for us then.

The scale was kind today -- two pounds down this week! It was teetering between 209 and 210, and I went with the higher number.

It's been quite the little carbolicious day. I made the mistake of going to the farmer's market on an empty tummy...amazing what that does to the willpower. "Why, yes, I'd love a sample slice of that bread, thanks! A bite of zucchini bread? Why sure! Oh, and sugar-free peanut butter cookies? Don't mind if I do!" Didn't spread those last ones out over a few days like I'd planned...all four are gone. WTF??! Time to face reality and log those calories! ;)

In other news, we found a doggie for my MIL. Butterscotch, in the process of being renamed Hannah, is a beagle/dachshund mix. A year old, she weighs about 15lbs and looks like a little fawn and white beagle with short legs and a long back.

She's darling and a real sweetheart! She had fleas because the lady who had her didn't wait 2 days after bathing her to apply Frontline...the vet gave us Capstar, which kills all the fleas on a dog within a few hours. She's had them dropping off her all evening, little fleas in their death throes, LOL. It was really gross! In a day or so, we'll put the Frontline on her.

Kimberley - Congrats to your weight loss :) You ARE so close to onederland, I can't even imagine.. I think I'd be in shock.. and not quite believe it. What a cute dog, I so want one, but we are in a place where we just couldn't do it right now... one day though! In my quest to find a job where I deal with people, but not mass amounts of people, and where I got to see the same people, as well as new ones, I discovered being an Esthitician (I can't spell), they are the gals who do manicures, pedicures, do eyebrows, and other general waxing. I am also obsessed with eyebrows, so it would almost fit. My brother wants me to aim higher... so I'm rethinking things. I like numbers, so maybe accountant/invester? There are just too many options!! Those calories were best spent on a weigh in day, now you have 6 days to recover! I've discovered a new way to cut back on calories, always eat with a friend, we buy 1 of everything and share it.. I'm really loving having a friend like this! It's been a while for me.

My darling boyfriend bought me a 1-week anniversary birthday present (my bday is on Friday the 19th), he got the girls at the cosmetics counter to package up some free-be's (I love free things), and he bought me perfume, body wash and body lotion, in a new Hugo Boss scent, "Intense". I keep smelling myself, its really nice :) All of this was wrapped in a leather "Givenchy" box, its lovely, especially since it was free! He was going to take me out for dinner... but I'm ill, seriously, whats WITH that!!!!! Today we went out for breakfast, I got a small piece of coffee cake and ended up eating MAYBE half of it. We also went grocery shopping, which turned out good, we ended up buying really good choices, and I had to REALLY think about what I could eat this coming up week while feeling like this. I actually bought granola bars with the intention of having one for a meal, we also bought some gravol so I can work this week. Ah, I love having days off with my bf :)

Well I am off to do some cleaning, we are going to clean together, which just feels easier sometimes! Have a great one! :)

-Aimee

Ohhh, a goodie bag from the cosmetics and fragrance section is nice. Sounds like you had a great day.

We had our treat day tonight -- went out for pizza and then to the coffee shop, where we enjoyed a couple of non-diet goodies. It didn't turn into a food fest like last week's treat night did, so we feel good about it.

HEY Ya'll,
Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I have had a busy week. My hubby left today for a work trip to Hawaii.I was hopeing I could go but I had no one to stay with the boys since we are new here. Well, He will be gone a week and he better get me something good.lol
Sounds like ya'll have had good weeks. I am ready for the scale tomorrow. My hubby had to weigh this morning because of leaving and he didn't lose this week. He wasn't to happy. So, If I haven't lost I will be o.k. I know it takes time.
Have a great Sunday, It is almost night time for us here.
TTYL,
Vicki

Hey, Vicki! :) It's 3:30am here and I'm just heading to bed. All the caffeine from the coffee shop is starting to wear off and I'd better take advantage of this narrow window of opportunity for sleep.

What are your favorite things about Okinawa?

Hey all,
Let's see,,,,what do I like about Okinawa?
The best thing here are the people. They are so kind. The customer service is what we had in the 70"s.You will see children walking home alone. As young as three by themselves. There is hardly any crime at all. When you go to the Mcdonalds,you are waited on by someone who looks like a stewardess on an airplane.
The island is beautiful. The beaches are the best and there are allot of them.The sightseeing is great and the shops are expensive but I like allot of the stuff.Things are really different. You wake up and forget you are in Japan.
The people here don't have heart disease or highblood pressure. They will start having lung cancer because they all smoke. Well, almost all of them.
Remember in the 70's when we still thought smoking was good. The people here love America and Americans. They never get frustrated if you can't speak the language. I took a 8 week class this summer. Some people get stationed here and don't learn the language or go off base allot. I say why come here if you are not gonna take adavantage of what it has to offer.
Well, I need to turn in,
Vicki

You and I would get along great, Vicki -- I'd be learning the language and making friends in town, too! What IS the point of seeing the world if all you see is what's on TV and all you do is surround yourself with everything that makes you feel like you've never left your familiar life? You've got a great attitude! :D

Where's our other peeps? Must have been a nice weekend for them. Guess I've been kind of scarce, myself! LOL