Julie.. glad the puppy is OK... they love to eat ANYTHING! Mine found a dead cricket this morning and the girls were going EWWWWWWW I just said it was exta protein!

Hope your daughter feels better and you get some rest soon.. and by all means.. GO GET THAT HAIRCUT.. it will make you feel so much better.. and make sure the shampoo your hair and style it afterwards... you need some pampering!

My plans.. not sure. Alan is flying home as we speak, so tonight, I am going to meet him at his house (we should get there at the same time) for dinner. My babysitter turns into a pumpkin at midnight, so I will have to make sure I am home by then.

Tomorrow... not much planned.. we need to hit the library and turn in some books... maybe take the girls to go see Nannie McPhee (or McFee, I can't remember how it's spelled) and then the girls are begging to go to church on Sunday... guess I'll get my lazy butt up and take them. Other than that.. dog needs a bath... I hope to get in some treadmill time.

I had a "ah ha" moment in the car a while ago while I was coming back from letting the dog back in, I have an oral fixation. (NO dirty minds here.) I think I eat so much because I like having or need something in my mouth. Because.. since Tuesday when they put the bands in.. I haven't really had the urge to go and eat.. part of it is because it's uncomfortable, put part of it is.. well, my mouth is busy now.. I am constantly clenching my teeth feeling the bands on my gums and teeth.. and it's keeping my mouth satisfied for it's need on needing something in it. You know what I mean? I think my eating addiction is just psychological thing because I enjoy having something in my mouth... After I get these braces off.. I guess I should try chewing gum.. (I've never been a real big gum chewer.... my jaws get tired...) but it's a thought. I'll have to explore this more in the next several months to see how this develops!

OK.. back to work here... 1.5 more hours of work to go.. then a hour in the dentist chair.. then I am home free! Talk to you girls soon!

Hi girls. I am taking a day off today I know, makes sense huh? With all the paperwork piling up on my desk I know I shouldn't but mentally I just need a break. I do feel a little saner today though. At my P/T session today I pushed it really hard on the weight machines and got my muscles all fatigued--it didn't feel too good at the time but when I got my massage afterwards it felt great. I got some of my anxiety out on the bike too--pedaled harder and faster just thinking about an argument Rick and I had last night. We're not seeing eye-to-eye on a lot of things at the moment and well, it's starting to affect our marriage. I think I need to step back and just get off...you know, choose working together or choose the marriage.

Julie, thanks for the pep talk. How is your DD doing right now? I'm glad your pup is fine and you've got some nicer weather. Not to gross you out too much, but I've had to keep Lucky from coming into the house. She has this nasty habit of trying to eat from the cat litter box...yuck, I know, I'm sorry And BTW, it's not selfish at all to take care of YOU. Go for it! Ask that stylist to give you a nice long scalp massage too.

Cherie, I know what you mean about the fixation Good job on the treadmill girl I am going to take Michael and his cousin to see Nanny McPhee in about 20 minutes. They have a catholic school holiday so they are off. Don't worry, I won't tell you what happens in the movie

Hey Dips, study hard girl

Red, how are ya doing today? Well, another stray cat has come to our house. I think it's a young male but it's totally skin and bones so I want to fatten it up before I get it fixed. He's black and has the biggest green eyes I've seen. He's really friendly too so I think he used to belong to the people a few houses down. They moved out a few months ago and just left all the cats behind. How are your kitties doing?

Kempy, how's the WW thing working for ya? I see your ticker moving so that's great!

Angie, and what's happening in Maine today?

Cal, TGIF!!! Any plans for the weekend?

Well, I gotta get ready to take the kids out. have a good one!

I am so glad it's Friday. I don't know why, but this week has been hard; I'm so tired.
Noelle: Take care of yourself. Hubby and I had a bit of a 'discussion' last night as well. I didn't talk to him for the rest of the night. Things are much better today (good thing we don't work together). My sister bought tickets to Disney on Ice--Nemo for tomorrow. She called me a few days ago and asked if I wanted to go and bring Ashley...her treat. So that's what we're doing tomorrow and Sunday is my nephew's 4th b-day party at Chuck E Cheese. Hopefully, I will get some much needed rest this weekend.

Cherie: I hope you feel better after the visit to the dentist. Enjoy your visit with Alan.

Kempy: Hope everything is going well with you. Are you having winter there? I swear that someone forgot to push the winter button for us. It's supposed to be nearly 80 on Monday. Today we have beat the record for consecutive days without rain...102 days as of today.

Angie: I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and the 5th wheel (if it's what you really want); I think it would be great...you could come out here!!

Julie: Did you get all pampered at the hairdressers? You do deserve it. Hope your little one is feeling better.

Dips: Great to hear from you. I hope this semester is good to you. Good luck.
Just curious, what classes are you taking?

Red: Take care of yourself and be sure to get plenty of rest.

Cal

Hi Girls

Noelle thanks for asking, she is doing much better....those tylenol meltaways work well. Isn't marriage alot of work???? My dh and I were in a couple disagreements this week....mmmm maybe it is the time of year for that! Seriously I hope things get cleared up.

Cal I hope you get your rest this weekend. Take it easy and don't do to much. Just thinking of going to Chuck E Cheese makes me feel tired.

Cherie have a nice time with Alan. I know what you mean about having to have something to chew on. I find if I am chewing gum it helps with my pms cravings. But they usually win out, haha...

Well I went and got my haircut after my dh got home, it was a new place downtown and it was really nice. It was great just to have some adult conversation. Refreshing! She put this pre-shampoo stuff on my scalp and massaged it in. It was just heaven. I just got a trim not a big change but I may go back in to get some highlights. Other than that don't have big plans for the weekend. Maybe a movie tomorrow and then Sunday it is my Step-Dads birthday party. I will have a small of cake and a big cup of coffee. Okay time to go get my babes ready for bed.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi guys. Sorry for not posting. I just glanced through the posts and thanks for thinking of me. I had a super late night out again...home just before dawn...and was of course very late for work today but did make it in. I had lost my waist pack with all very important stuff in it but was sooo relieved to find it in the last pub we were in. God, what a relief!! Now, I'm home and really need to get some sleep. Noelle, bless you for helping the little cat. The white one is fine. Poor thing was in the cage all day and night yesterday but it's a big cage with a shelf and litter box so it's not cruel or anything. The others go outside through a cat door and I don't want her going out yet. She doesn't know the neighborhood and the eye I don't really know if it's healed or what. Will probably have to take her to another vet and hear what he has to say about it. She is, however, very happy and is rolling around in front of me on the computer table. She likes to play with Nozomi and I'm glad Nozomi has a new playmate. Well, gotta go. Hello to all, and Cherie, I'm not glad to hear you're hanging on by a thread, but it is kind of nice to know I'm not the only one. Later, all!

Hi. Sorry I havent been here for the last few days but Daisy got sick again. We have her on anti-diarheal meds and I cooked her some chicken and rice to help settle her stomach so hopefully she can get better soon.

Today is weigh day and I lost 3 1/2 pounds this week. (so 2 pounds of new weight and the 1 1/2 pounds gained from last week) It was about a pound higher yesterday but jay bought me a couple Cadbury creme eggs last night and I ate them.

Noelle, I hope you and Rick get everything talked through this weekend.

Julie, Have fun at your movie and stepdads birthday.

Red, Hi. I am glad the kitty is doing better. The poor little baby.

Cal, Get some rest this week.

Cherie, I hope you had fun with Alan.

Great Job Angie!!!

Sorry to hear about Daisy. I really hope she feels better soon, does she have a virus of some sort?

I am in my office for a little bit this morning to try and make some sense of this pile of paperwork. Rick took Michael out to buy some supplies so maybe I can get some work done. I don't work too well when no one's around...hence, I'm online here

Red, glad your Nozomi and the new kitty are getting along at least. My old girl cat Molly can not stand the new guy. SHe gives him the most evil eye and stalks away whenever he's around. She cracks me up though, her attitude is just like mine

Cherie, enjoy your weekend. Nanny McPhee was great, better than Hoodwinked...

Julie, glad you got your you time, you deserve it. Have fun this weekend and enjoy that small slice of cake and a nice cup'o'java Hmmm, marriage being a lot of work..... I guess it has to be that way, keeps it interesting.

Cal, I love those Nemo guys...Dory especially Enjoy the show. Chuck E. Cheese huh? I'd pop a valium and bring some earplugs --just kidding! Happy 4th B-day to your nephew

Hi to Kempy and Dips.....have a good weekend everyone!

Hey guys. Well, it is going to pour soon so I am stuck inside and I have the spring bug really bad right now. I told Joe to keep me away from Lowe's. I would do some serious damage right now if I went there.

Cal I don't think our winter button got pushed either. It has been really mild. I am afraid to trim my plants though b/c I know as soon as I do we will get a frost and they will die. So, I sit here making a list of all of the yard work I want to do. Let me tell you, it is getting pretty big too.

Red don't ever be overwhelmed by us. I have been here plenty of time and I just watch as they are all motivated. Then I feel sorry for myself and go eat some ice cream. We love ya no matter how you are feeling. That is the whole point of a support group. Good to hear your kitty is doing well.

Angie you are doing so great! I am going down very slowly but I will take it. What is the word on the RV?

Julie don't ever feel that you are being selfish. You NEED to have time to yourself. I see lots of mom's that neglect themselves. If you aren't in the right frame of miind the whole house suffers. You did a great thing I think you should treat yourself to a massage too.

Noell I missed my last WW meeting but I weighed at home. I seemed to still be moving in the right direction. We eat out last night and I used my flex points. I am up 2 lbs today but I am also PMSing right now so I think that is water wieght. I am not going to freak out about it. Yesterday morning it was 8.5 lbs down so I am going to keep that number in my head for now.

Cherie I want to see that movie too. I love Mary Poppins so this is my kind of movie. We haven't been to the theater in so long. Mardi Gras is coming but I have no idea when. It is going to be very short this year and they really aren't talking about it yet. I think it is the end of Feb.

Dips don't studdy too hard.

I am going to find some lunch.

Morning people. Thanks for your kind words. They bring me back here even though, or perhaps because, I am feeling so low and given up, you know, the feeling where it's, "why bother, is getting a great body really so important?" I mean, I am at that level where it's probably the hardest, where the weight is not at such a high that I am a standout. It's also at the level where I would not like to strip in front of someone. I carry the weight well because I exercise a lot, but I would never dress to do too much revealing of what lies below the clothing layers. I always think, if I could just get rid of 25 pounds of fat....and at the same time I'm probably thinking....even if I did, nothing would change in my life...and then I'd have no handy excuse to hide behind. I think all of you are married, which probably makes it even harder. I, at least, could say, ah, if I would lose the weight, I'd meet someone who would fall for me. That too, though, is a double-edged sword, because I am also thinking, is 25 pounds really so important? Do I want a guy who is so into appearances that he wouldn't look at me if I were 25 lbs heavier. I think I may be like that though myself, very keen on looks in guys. It's hard to say. I am surrounded by an entire city of young, willing, sexy chicks and I am always around guys with bodies of athletes here and so, in the looks arena, I feel I am not even in the running. And that very attitude annoys me a great deal too, the thinking that I have to keep proving myself for someone....but, recently, I am very hurt and at a loss for why my life is so devoid of romance. I suppose I could just decide once and for all to get rid of at least this one excuse and take it from there. Maybe I would feel so good about myself that I would exude a totally new type of energy and aura and thus would send out vibes for a great fellow. It's not just my body either. Though I try to present a neat, clean appearance to the world, my living quarters are a disaster area. No one sees them so so what? is my attitude. But it reflects the general given-up feeling and feeling that all is in vain anyhow, so why bother? Sigh. What do you all think, all you beautiful women? Is there any hope for someone who has sunken so low?

Red I know what you mean. I have about 20 lbs to lose to be where I feel I look "good". You got me thinking we have to love our bodies no matter what size we are. I think with the right attitude everything else will fall into to place with our lives. Don't give up on yourself!

Kempy I think I have the same feeling....I was at the store today and I saw some vegetable and flower seeds and it got me in the mood for gardening. I think I will put some gladiola bulbs in against the sunny area on my fence.

Angie great job on the loss this week! I hope Daisy feels better soon.

Noelle I am glad you stopped in! Hope it is sunny by you.

Hi everyone else. My brother just called from CA and is talking to dh so I should go say Hello.

jbbm, thanks for the words. But you see, I think I do love my body, that seems to be the problem, or is my "love" really just apathy? The problem seems to be I don't love the look I say I want to reach enough or something. I mean, why can't I just do it? just get there? It's not that far off even....I think it's the fear that nothing will change...I don't know...

Happy Sunday guys! We actually have some sun today. It is way too mushy to do anything outside though. I will take it without complaining.

Red I have the same feelings you do about the way I look too. A few years ago I actually got to the weight I thought I wanted to be and I still wasn't happy. I looked good though. So, I think it is something else that makes me feel the way I do about me. I know what it is too. I mean I have a hubby that loves me and I still feel yucky about my appearance. I think we are harder on ourselves thanwe should be. I was always the big girl of the group. All of my friends were little things and here I was the big on. They would always share clothes and I could never fit into any of them. I had to just sit back and act like it didn't bother me. Inside it was making me fel that I was fat and that I would never be able to be in style like they could. So, now I find myself choosiung clothes that don't draw attention to myself b/c I don't want people to see me. Do you think that you are the same way since you are around all of those little people? Just think about how smart you are. I mean from the little bit that I know of you I think you are great and extremely smart. In fact if the men over there don't notice that then they are missing out. They are probably shallow anyway b/c they are after those fake little women who are really just out trying to impress each other. You are your own person and that is very important. My mom always told me that you have to get your life and your surrounding in order and the universe will take care of the rest. So, when I am feeling in a funk I weed through things and get my house and life in order and that is when things start to happen. I know that when I clean out I make room for bigger and better things to come to me. I have just gone through lots of things here like the closets and the forgotten drawers and I can honsetly tell you I am noticing thinggs changing. I am not by any means telling you that you are messy but I just know that it works for me.

Ok, now that I am off my soap box I am going to fold clothes. I hope I didn't upset you Red I just couldn't stop once i started.

Hi Girls

Stopping in before bed. And bumping us up. Today I went to my mom's to bring my step-dad's gift and had some of my favorite pizza and she made a butter cake with carmel frosting. Not the healthiest but it is a brand new week! It rained pretty much all day today but we are about 15 degrees above normal today. I can't believe it is the end of January. Okay enough from me, I want to get to bed at an decent hour tonight.

Hi Kempy, Cherie, Angie, Noelle, Cal, Red and Dips

Not much going on around here, is there? Why whenever I have a bit of time, is there no one else around? What a bummer.....
Well, I feel a touch better, but not much. Feels like I'm PMSing and wouldn't be so this must be serious.... scary, really. Things are crap, what can I say... I sure wish I could do something that would make me feel better. I lose a little weight, admire the way my face looks thinner and then that's it...I gain it back. I was noticing how when I hit the station where I get off, how my brain just went into EAT MODE. It was like, this is just what you do, get home, eat, feel lonely....and if I don't I just feel worse and feel stressed, which isn't good. The fat doesn't stress me, just makes me feel old and dowdy...so maybe that is a type of stress.

I know guys at work went out drinking...well, they probably did. I could have gone, but like what for?! That's not the answer either, yet coming home isn't either. Meeting up with others when I feel so down isn't either...I really know the meaning of misery knows company. Sigh.

Oh, well, I have been good so far with eating today. Didn't get much exercise in but that's okay. Yesterday I kicked A!

Well, hope to see some people in here soon. Bye.