The bad thing about having more than 3 or 4 days off is that you realize just how stinky it is to return to reality again. The days of doing what you want, when you want it are over. Back to following the "rules" again. Sigh...

My cold from last Wednesday really knocked my socks off. I am now down to the dreadful sudden violent coughing fits from the drippy sinuses so my sympathies are to all of you out there feeling draggy or helping someone dear to you through it. I recommend chicken soup - homemade if possible - wonton soup from the Chinese take out if you aren't a cook and tea with honey and lemon to soothe the sore throat and sniffly head. Can't beat horseradish for clearing out those sinuses (it was the only thing that helped me taste my prime rib New Year's eve) but if you aren't keen on horseradish, those menthol-lyptus vapor action cough drops do the trick - for a few minutes.

I really did try to get on the treadmill today but was shocked at how tired and out of breath I became. I'll give it 2 more days. Food and water have been very good. I am getting into this tracking and planning thing. I did pick up the Sonoma Diet book at the store today - it was a good sale price. Not sure I like the Mediterranean Diet type foods but I'll give it a look see. After all I can thank South Beach for my favorite snack of apples and peanut butter so you can always pick up something I say.

Madcat, everyone is jumping on the for fee based personal training sites but here's a few that have some sample routines for free. (You can Google ONLINE EXERCISE PLAN to find some of the subscription / fee based ones but heck what good is the Internet if you can't find some free stuff?) I think we're not supposed to include external links anymore so I'll just spell them out:

• www(dot)self.com -- Look under the FITNESS tab at the top of the page. You can then chose several kinds of workouts by body type or work out type
• www(dot)freetrainers.com
• www(dot)ballyfitness.com -- Choose FITNESS TOOLS, then WORKOUTS - there's some free online programs for 3 and 5 day workouts - cardio and strength training

These originally came in as links which I've removed. You'll just have to type the web address the old fashioned way. Don't want to be breaking any rules here...

I hope you can find something to mix it up. I know what you mean about tossing the magazines and then regretting it. Just know you are a better person for decluttering.

Carla, years ago I used to have to wear a pager/beeper. It came with a chain with an alligator clip on the end. I gave back the pager long ago but kept the chain It came in handy when I hooked it through the pedometer and then clipped the pedometer on my pants. That little chain kept me from loosing it many a time. You can find those alligator type chains at places when you get eyeglasses - they use them for hooking on reading glasses. I'm sure you can shorten the chain and improvise something. Ceejay had a good idea about the pocket too. Or I'd hook it through a belt loop for the all too few pairs of pants I have that have belt loops. I also wear it off to the side of the waist instead of in front to avoid that annoying pinchy stick in your belly thing.

A hearty handshake and a pat on the back to those of you who did your exercises today Ceejay, Carla, Shad and Mel.

Shad, I think you have to accept that while Sunday the cat will occasionally run away and fight you when you're trying to groom her, she really just can't get enough of you. I can only imagine the heat that the little fur furnace generates in weather like you're having. DH was looking at your photos on webshots and oohing and ahhing. Of course he peers at everything close up at the highest resolution He said the amount of detail you captured in your shots was incredible - to the separation of the feathers on the bird - and their magnificent eyes to the spray from the waterfall shots. Quite beautiful he said and he looked at each one in great detail for a long time. No I said, you can't have a lorikeet even if just to photograph. He is happy with his cats. Are you finished with the last job and now ready to embark upon personal projects - besides the DB that is?

Meadow, I want to come to your house to play games too. I'm going to swing by Mel's first and see her get all giggly over Hugh Grant

Linda, I would gladly come Flylady your house except that you strike me as a model of declutter anyway so I would spend 14 hours and one thousand dollars getting to your place for nothing. (I live in a town that has rotten flight schedules - take note Shad. I miss Chicago's O'hare airport even if you have to walk 2 miles to get from one gate to the next). Actually there are no direct flights from Memphis to anywhere and it takes about 9 hours to fly to either coast where as before it was 2 and a half hours east, 4 hours west.

I picked up this week's People magazine at the store. It's the annual issue highlighting people who've lost half their body weight. I always find it really inspirational. Real people, real methods, no trickery just putting their mind to it. A good way to start the new year.

If you haven't noticed, I babble alot and we have a growing group of people so I'm going to have to take turns responding to a group at a time otherwise I might as well start the coffeepot and pull an all nighter typing.

To those I didn't get to (but will next time), hope you are lookin' good, ambitious and happy with your lives and those around you.

I'm off to bed as the DH yet again responded to my request to stay home and be a live in princess with "ummm .... no." I keep asking, never know when I'll catch him in a weak moment. G'night.

Our weather stinks.+4C/37f, wet. My head is full.
I ended up with 6 extra kids today. I guess i am working.
I love my hair but dont know how well it will show in a pic. I will try. it is a dark brown in all the underneath parts that poke through and then red,blonde and brown highlights through the top bits. I like it. Feelin hip.No fat house frau's here, only Cool Mama's. Still trying to be organized and tidy.

Hugs and have a happy day!!!

WHILE HOLLY IS BLOWING HER NOSE AND CHANGING DIAPERS.......(FEEL BETTER SOON)

I WANTED TO SAY I GOT THE 3FC WEEKLY NEWSLETTER E-MAIL AND IT'S GOT LOTS OF GOOD INFO IN IT. THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED, THERE IS A SIGN UP PLACE ON THE TOP OF THEIR FIRST FORUM PAGE. IT'S A GREAT READ AND IT'S FREE!!! THANKS 3FC!!!!

Holly--Thanks to you I have a clean living room. Yipee. Can't wait to see the pictures of the new hair do.

Mel--No excuses in 2006, hmmmmmm. I sure made some excuses in 2005. This year will be better.

Madcat-- Exercise routines. I have had the same ones since high school. My problem is doing them.

Did 20 more minutes of aerobics this morning and I was half asleep. The pedometer showed 2.2 miles at the end of the day yesterday. Tonight I will be going to the gym just to keep the food from going into my mouth.

Happy-Sorry to hear that you are so sick. Sounds like you may have bronchitis. Take it easy and feel better soon. I may have to check out some of those web sights.

Shad try and stay cool. I bet California would love to send part of their rain your way.

It's almost 10 a.m. and I need to refill those dreaded chemical's today.

Morning all,
I'm running late today, it's already after six and I haven't got to the gym yet. I'll be there soon tho.

Today I need to go into town and see a jeweller about the cufflinks I bought for DS1 for Christmas which turned out not to be cufflinks at all. I bought them from Wedgwood in Japan which is the reason I am not returning them!!!! That will teach me not to check, double check and triple check that things are actually what they are and not what they maybe labelled! Anyway, I'll go to a manufacturing jeweller and see if they can be altered as the kid actually likes them! and if they can't how much to make a similar pair.
It stormed and rained overnight - hallelujah. But it looks fine and sunny again out there this morning so the damp won't last long.

Carla - loved the story of the man walking and working on the treadie. Have they adapted the treadie to take a keyboard or something? or do they work on the mouse only? DS1 being a bit of a tech head is using bluetooth technology for headsets and hands free and wanders around the house doing his housework while speaking on the phone or using skype on the computer. The reception is truly awful and we spend more time saying what or huh than anything else. Wish he would just sit quietly by the computer for a time to talk or maybe I wish he would dunk the bluetooth headset in the bath or loo. Might improve things.

Tig - good to hear from you. Glad that Slim is so handy round the house and I definitely know what you mean about the week at work dragging and the week at home flying.

Madcat - well we are fun and fascinating and probably that's the reason the Moderators are in here, but then again we have Mel, so the rabble rouser tag could well come into play here. Whatever, they are welcome to join us and put in their two cents worth. Good going on the exercise plans. Time is coming for a change for me as well. So let us know which of Happy's links are the best IYHO.

Happy - I dropped a note to your DH last night giving the technical details of the photos, camera etc. etc. He was looking for a Koala to feed on the stuff in your trees at home! Thought I better warn you! Your card arrived yesterday, thank you. Good heavens on the flight plans from Memphis. If it has no direct flights to anywhere, where does it fly to?? There must be a direct flight to at least one place surely.

Mel, I am glad to hear that you are scheduling the shopping and the exercise and not trying to push everything into one day.

Holly - the hair sounds interesting. Has DH noticed it yet?

Ceejay - the exercise sounds like you are doing well. I see you are over on LindaT Sonoma diet thread today. She sure is stirring up the exercise over there!

Time to go get on with it. Lots to do but I will be taking it slowly because I think we will get a huge amount of humidity today at least until the rain dries again. See you

I broke down last night and bought antihistamines.My head is better. I spent $260 at Sams club on mostly produce and lighter fare.

I did my whole morning routine by 11:23 AND had time to post.
I have added a 10 min tidy up to the day for the ALL the kids twice a day.
Afternoon routine is done. 1 load of weash folded and put away. I m stying ontop of the house stuff but have not gotten to the newsletter and meeting minutes or Avon. Fewer kids tomorrow, maybe i can do it then.

Tacos for supper with lots of fresh veg. Big honkin salad for lunch.
Feelin groovy.

Hope you days are going well!!!!!

I'm a captive (hostage) audience here at work. I'm still reeling from the Sugar Bowl win last night, although I'm also keeping an eye on the news for an update from the trapped miners here in WV. I actually know one of them! Not well, but he graduated with my late brother and I'd know him if I saw him. They're discouraged because of toxic gasses. Keep your fingers crossed for these thirteen men.

The Sugar Bowl party went well. My sister came and then one of my officers from work totally surprised me by saying yes to a last mintute invite. Jay had made pot roast in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots (he had his over brown rice) and I made up a veggie platter with fat free dip, fat free chips and pretzels and even Jallepeno Dill Pickles. We played a round of Riff (a DVD music trivia game) at half time. I'm writing this from work, so please excuse the bad spelling and grammar.

I agreed to start doing a weight lifting work out with an ex-coworker's wife. Today was the first day (and I'd forgotten). But I managed to get there before her. I showed her what I remembered from my circuits around the gym machines and free weights and then started my shift. We're going to start meeting on Wednesdays and Fridays at two, from now on. I'm already sore, I guess I've let myself go.

Now I'm going to get my food journal out and research YOU! Yes, my new friends from around the world. Wow, I love my job. I'll talk to each and every ONE of you soon.

Java Turtle AKA: Hotcup and/or Mary

hi chickies ,well hopefully by now most of you will have your xmas cards well done royal mail lol,things are most definantly looking better here,cj had a virus and colic apparently he was one sick puppy from xmas morning till new years day he was non stop screaming from the friday at 3.45 am till the saturday morning at 11am so bye the time i saw the bells in i had been awake for over 48 hours and i didnt want to go out but at 4 am and i am so ashemed to admit it but my wee man nearly found himself being tossed at the wall ,i had to put him in his moses basket and walk away ,i had never ,ever experienced anything like it before ,when the doctor came out at 9 am i told him and he said "at least you walked away" so andy and my mum said i needed a break ,but we had to take him off all his stomach meds and lo and behold i now have a very happy wee man {touch wood} who likes his food and can giggle and does sleep ,he still crys but now he crys like an normal baby - for a good reason that we can satisfy conners been brill hes such a good kid you never get any bother from him at all just lots of funny comments and riotous laughter tonight when chripstopher weed in my ear{dont ask} craigs been workling hard nd bought me a beautiful white gold pendant and earing set {based on charles rennie mackintosh,s work} for my xmas he said it was for all id done for him ,needless to say i cried for hours and blamed it on cj being not well andy got me a white gold and diamond ring so i match right im enjoying my peace and quiet so im off for a bath and an early night and ill catch up with you all tomorrow
bye for now and thanks for putting up with all the months of moaning
kirsty

Did four miles of the WATP last night. Amazing myself that four miles of constant movement is starting to go easy

Shad-if they weren't cufflinks, what were they? Earrings? Sweater clips? Glad the rain found you

Mel-I have images of a sparkling bathroom with glints off the porcelain So is this the eye doctor you have an appt. with? I hope Thursday's food shop includes something sweet and good for you, cantelope? I want strawberries but they seem to be tasteless and scarce and very dear in January I should buy some frozen and make frappes I signed up for the 3FC newsletter, thanks for the heads up Hope Hugh was attentive

Holly- Oh dear, your poor head/nose! At least you look like a glamour girl while you are sneezing delicately into your hankerchief Congratulations on the great hair do.

Happy-golly, your cold sounds painful! Horseradish huh? wow, that is strong medicine. I hope you found some soup to ease your symptoms. Try not to follow those rules to the letter, give yourself a bit of wiggle room to have some fun

Carla-why can't you clip/tie the pedometer to your shoe? Where is the velcro? must be a loop on your shoes you could hook it into.

Ceejay-what kind of gear do you wear when using the chemicals? Is it an all over suit? Be careful. Exercise is a schedule thing, a promise you have to make to yourself. Wonder why it seems okay to break promise we make to ourselves? Then I've never been one who spends much time analyzing my own character probably scare me

Madcat-new exercise? Doesn't your gym have a fitness torture person like Shad's? They must have knowledge about what works best with their equipment, have you asked? I bet they even have handouts.

Tig-jeepers you two were busy over the holidays! Imagine doing all that renovation work. I guess in your area it wasn't so cold that the paint would take days to dry like December stuff up here Keep forgetting about the hemisphere differences Your fellow definetly sounds like a good one! So great that you can still be romantic and yearning for each other... you are so very lucky.

Java-poor man, seems lots of people are having sinus pain this time of year. I hope he is feeling better. How do you find the TOPS meetings? Is it helping you?

PW-what are you working on? Painting or knitting? I seem to have missed you during the Christmas card exchange. I'm sorry. I thought I had your address but nope. I didn't have Ceejay or Linus's either. I don't know what happened there

Rose-aw quiet sounds lovely. Are you going on a trip somewhere to fish or is it something you can do locally? Is it like flyfishing? Do you have your waders and make sure that you don't go too deep and get flooded

Linus-are you awake? How are you doing? Getting out a bit? Is CJ sick with something, what was the hospital visit about? You have so much going on in your life right now. I bet you don't know whether you are coming or going.

Linda-I guess you are super busy now! Congratulations and break out the EVO and drizzle Looks like the Sonoma threads are going to be big!

Lisa, Teel, Honey, Raven and all other worldly chicks who may be reading. Did you sweat today?

Oh, I didn't go to TOPS since I was freaked out that my officer accepted my invitation. I stayed home and cleaned and spazzed about my filthy house. But when I called the weight recorder to call off, she said she doubted many would be there anyway. Thanks for asking. I DO like my TOPS meetings.

I see Java and Linus snuck in when I was busy composing my lofty thoughts Good to hear CJ is acting like a cuddly kid and you love him to bits again Lovely that you have found support Javaturtle with the Tops crew, I've heard there are some good people involved in those organizations.

Remember your choices today everybody!

You've all been so.... BUSY!
I got all revved up on a digital painting last night and am sleep deprived. I'd like to spend more time being revved up... Marketing my therapy practice does NOT rev me up. It makes me nauseaus.... as does the accompanying paper work. Although i enjoy the problem solving and the clients. since I've been "on my own" professionally, I am also loathe to work for an agency that would actually insist i work 40 hours a week! Choices, choices.

Linus... I do want to know how your ear got wee'd on/in. I guess with boys it's a little easier to figure out. My condolences. But congratulations on all the jools. It's amazing how you get to the very end of your rope and the guy (whom you had completely thought was an OAF) does something darling. I am sure that if DD hadn't begun sleeping through the night I'd have left her on the front porch and hoped that the mail man would take her.

Mel... Keyboards don't need batteries... I'm not buying your story! Especially if you are wearing somebody else's jammies. You are wilder than I realized. (but I can keep up)

Shad.. hope it cools down. It was 80 here today! And WE'RE suppose to be having winter. I can only dread how it will be in July. Two towns pretty much were destroyed by grass fires here... good news, they're not very close to us, bad news is the agencies and government (such as it is these days) is still overwhelmed by Rita and Katrina pressures.

Meadow thanks for the additional illustrations! I'd love a PM with a mini tutorial on how you get them to post so big... when I attach things, they always seem to exceed the size limit...

Java-- what bowled you over about the SB?
I am actually looking forward to the RoseBowl tomorrow. I actually have a degree from USC but I'll have to cheer quietly or my Texas neighbors will have my hide!! Might allow myself a beer even... or pedal the bicycle during the 1st quarter.

Hollyhock... this transitory readhead would love to see you hair. My hair is coming in thick but sort of light charcoal color... LIKE NOTHING THAT HAS EVER SPROUTED ON MY BODY. Yipes.

TTFN.

WITH ALL THIS PAINTING, PLASTERING, SORTING, TOSSING AND CLEANING GOING ON AND NEW GATES BEING INSTALLED WE SHOULD BECOME THE QUEENS OF CLEAN
TWO BOXES FILLED WITH JUNK AND THAT WAS ONLY ONE CLOSET! I FIND IT FUNNY THAT I DID THESE CLOSETS NOT THAT LONG AGO AND CAN STILL FIND JUNK. NOW IF I COULD GET THE BEDROOM AS NEAT AS THE BATHROOM, I'D BE HAPPY. I WOKE TO THE TRAGEDY OF THE WEST VIRGINIA MINERS. MADE ME THINK OF THE AUSTRALIAN MINERS TOO. I FORGET NOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE. WHAT A HORROR STORY THIS HAS BEEN. GOD BLESS THOSE FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED IT.
I THINK TODAY IS A SINUS DAY AND TOOK SOME MEDS ALREADY. YUCK. HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!! THE DAY OF THE HUMP!

HOLLY~ HOPE THE MEDS WORK EVEN BETTER. TOOK MINE JUST NOW TOO. WILL IT EVER BE A REAL WINTER?
REMIND ME I SAID THAT WHEN THE TEMPS REACH 3!!!

CEEJAY~ I SEE YOU'RE GOING TO TOWN WITH THE EXERCISING. WHEN YOU DO THE CHEMICALS, ARE YOU EXPOSED TO THEM? OR ARE THEY AUTOFED? JUST WONDERING.

SHAD~ HOPE THE "?" CAN BE MADE INTO CUFFLINKS. I HAD A LAUGH AT THE STORY BUT FEEL BAD FOR YOU AND THE DS. DID YOU GO OUT AND DANCE IN THE RAIN?

MARY~ MAYBE YOU'LL BE THE QUEEN OF BOWL PARTIES NOW!!! WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR SHELL OFF YOU REALLY GO TO TOWN!! I WATCHED DVD'S IN BED LAST NIGHT. THE ONE WITH MICKEY ROONEY ON IT!

MEADOW~YES IT'S THE EYE DOCTOR FIRST. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. THE VEGGIES ARE A GOOD REMINDER BECAUSE I NEED TO STEAM MINE TODAY. I FORGOT YESTERDAY! 4 MILES IS FEELING GOOD?

PW~WANNA BORROW JIMMY'S JAMS?! BUT THEY'RE NOT BATTERY OPERATED!

LINUS~ YOU NEED REST AND SLEEP AND HAD BETTER LISTEN AND GET SOME. YOU MIGHT WANT TO BELIEVE YOU ARE WONDER WOMAN BUT YOU'RE ONLY HUMAN LIKE THE REST OF US. GOOD FOR YOU WALKING AWAY AND I AM GLAD CJ IS FEELING BETTER. NEVER BE ASHAMED OF FEELING SOMETHING....THE SHAME IS IN KEEPING SOMETHING A SECRET AND NOT ASKING FOR HELP.

OFF TO CLEAN

Hello everyone. It is always uplifting and entertaining to read everyone's doings.

I slept til 7:30. I will still do my morning routine within an hour. It will be more practical once the kids are in school next week. They have been staying up every night til 9:30 pm watching Junior World Hockey. Go Canada!!!! We are doing great. A few players are from our local team!!!! DS just glows when watching. I swear the only time he is at peace is when he is involved in hockey.
I followed my routines yesterday and accomplished most. In the evening I got pooped and a little disgruntled so I went and watched TV.
The only thing on the diningroom table are my daycare time sheets. I need to find a home for them that is handy.

Is it an excuse if I dont get to things in the evening if I get a headache from allergies and I am tired from the pain?
If i take a whole pill I get agitated so I have been taking 1/2. It drives me batty that I HAVE to take meds to feel good.
I dont like being allergic to things in our world that are just a part of nature.

Food was good yesterday. I am not being mindful enough BUT I am getting all my fruits and veg in. 1 thing at a time.

I have a team leader dinner meeting for Avon tonight.

4 kids plus my 2 today. It is 6c/41f today, 80% rain. Hubby may be back home. I hope he works at the bathrom or watches the kids and I can get to some projects. I have a streamer trunk from my great grandma that needs to be refinished and I need the storage space. I have all the stuff to do it.

I want to do up a new budget for the year too.

The Sc minutes are done,Avon books prepped and i paid and filled bills. I need to do up a SS schedule and church newsletter,call B and J.

Hmmmmmmmmm...spose that’s it.

HUGS!!!!!!