Hi everyone. I had an Ok day today. I have a summer cold which is no fun and I was busy today. Now, I am ready to sleep for a long time. I ate OK today. I had Heart Healthy Cereal with Skim Milk, a Kashi Trail mix bar, then a turkey and cheese sandwhich on wheat with a handful of cheetos (I know I could have left these out) and then for supper I had grilled chicken with onions and bell peppers and a sweet potato. Not too bad I guess...

Ok, I have had entirely too many interruptions this am...now have to get off the computer to go to WW.

Kerry- congrats on the loss!!!! I am so happy for you (you needed a good week!) SO glad to hear that Dh settled down and supported you yesterday.
Its about time .

Melody- sounds like an ok eating day to me! Are you counting calories and getting excercise too? Hope that crummy summer cold goes away. Feel better.

Trob- ah, the joys of motherhood. Bet it felt good ripping up that darned carpet!

Susie, I seem to remember you from awhile ago......how have you been?

Robyn, Mouse....sorry gotta log off and get to my meeting. Be back later to do you ladies justice.
See ya!

Okie, dokie.

Rushed to WW........down 1.8#, so I am a happy camper.

Robyn- you ever get your house cleaned? Gotta stay off the darned phone, hon, or ya won't get a blasted thing done!


Mouse- I am out of it.......where were you deployed to? What is your take on the 3 arrests in Louisiana related to the "euthansia" of those elderly folks post Katrina?

Opps, looks as though Ds might be looking for the computer. And his mother (moi!) has to go to the library to pick up his SUMMER READING! Too much playstation and brain drain from him, so he is going to read a classic or two that I ordered for him. And baseball does not classify as reading. Even the baseball directions for PS2.........poor kid, he has me for a mother.
See ya!

Evening Ladies,
Hope everyone was able to stay cool today. It sure was another hot one here in Ohio. I had to rake up some grass this morning. I was able to get the stepkids to help with it though. So I wasn't outside for more than 45 minutes. Just long enough to sweat really bad when I came back in the house though. LOL I just was in a lazy kind of mood today. Took the kids to the library reading program, picked out some movies to watch, read a few pages in At Canaan's Edge (book about MLK during 1965-68) for the summer reading program at my sister's library, fixed the kids lunch, did dishes, helped my sds with his vision therapy and read with him. So now I am home by myself and trying to decide do I want to read some more or watch one of the movies I got today. I would love to go take a walk at the lake but it is still too hot and muggy out there. So raking the grass is my exercise for today.
Gin what books are you making your ds read? How could you make him read books on his summer vacation? Come on you mean mom. You can tell that you hang out with a bunch of educators. LOL My stepkids are the same way though. You think you are killing them with a slow painful death when I tell them to get their books out and read. But I can use their dad as a good example when you need to read when you are younger. Because he has a hard time reading things and comprehending them at his age today. He regrets not learning to read better in school now. I think that is one of the reasons he loves it when I am home from school and able to help with their homework. Congrats on your weight loss! Way to go, girlfriend!! Keep up the good work! I gained 1 3/4 pounds last night but I think it was a water gain due to all the water I drank yesterday and it being that tom.
Robyn, hope you were able to clean your house, stop the phone from ringing off the hook and keep peace between your sons. So how was the high school trip?
Trob, did you have another busy day delivering pictures? Hope you are able to find some time to relax and have some Trob time. Now does your dh help you with stuff for your work at times? My dh will help me by carrying things to my van if I have a lot of stuff to take to school. Plus he will pick up stuff from the store and bring out to me at school.
Melody, sorry to hear about your summer cold. I hope you are feeling better today. It is already miserable with the heat and humidity and then add a cold on top of it and that isn't a good feeling. Sounds like you had a great eating day yesterday. Keep up the good work.
Mouse, so where were you deployed to this time? We sure have missed you. Hope you are recovering from your deployment. Are you feeling better this week and over your illness? Hope you have been able to get some swimming time in.
Suie, hope you had an a good day. I know what you mean about losing weight over the summer. I am like 6 pounds heavier than when I started my summer vacation. I hope to take a few pounds off before schools starts back up on August 21st.
Pam oh Pam, where are you? We all miss you. Hope you are just out lazying in your pool that you worked so hard to get up.
Well I am going to go watch a movie. I have to decide from the 6 I got from the library. I guess I should look at it like which movie would my dh be most likely not to watch with me and watch that one. Since he is out with a friend right now.
Talk to you all later. Have a great evening.
Kerry

Evening, everybody. I was going to go back and try to read posts, but I decided not to...
Let me say hi to all the newcomers (Trob, Melody). I'm the resident swimming Mouse. I'm also a special education teacher, high school students with multiple disabilities. This will be my 11th year teaching. I've always taught students with multiple disabilities except for 1 year doing a life-skills based program for students with learning disabilities. I've taught in 3 states... I'm currently in Virginia for the 2nd time, but would really like to get home to PA. At the moment, though, that isn't an option because of grad school. I'm also a lifeguard and children's swim instructor at a gym. Finally, I'm a Red Cross disaster services volunteer locally and nationally.
Locally, I'm the captain of a disaster action team which responds mostly to single family fires, and other incidents. Nationally, I'm a community services (mass care-sheltering) supervisor, as well as a client services (computer entry of our case files) supervisor, and a client casework supervisor (that's the interviewing part). I'm also a training associate (but I've only done that locally; I've never done it nationally). We have to have 3 function areas at the national level, and I used to do computer technology and communications, but when I hurt my ankle we realized I couldn't pull cable anymore or climb a ladder... So, they finally convinced me to switch my 3rd one to training.
I just came back from 2.5 weeks in beautiful downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. There was a lot of flooding up in the Northern Tier/Central Pennsylvania area because of all the rain we had at the end of June. It was a week solid of really heavy downpours. I entered the cases that were opened into our computer system; the system is new since Katrina. There are too many people who are trying to get assistance 2 or 3 times. This way, we can search a case before we provide the service. I will say that eating while out on assignment is a challenge. The Community Services folks that supply snacks and food at headquarters (my assignment location most days) didn't do a whole lot of healthy & Mouse-friendly food. I didn't have a car, either, so I had to get people to take me to the grocery store. Fortunately, most were willing. But I ate enough beef jerky to become a preserved cow... and by the time I left, I would have killed for a green vegetable and fresh fruit. I didn't have a refrigerator in my room either, although I did manage to get some cherries. The snack area had sugar-free oatmeal (the instant quaker stuff) most mornings, though, which was good. Lunch was more challenging... that's why I started the beef jerky. I decided that was better than peeling the cheese off of Dominos' pizza, which I did on 2 days. I started to bring my tuna fish with me, but it wouldn't have done much good... no mayonnaise!
I came back just in time to start my week long contract with the Educational Testing Service scoring essays for the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Let me tell you, I'm thoroughly sick of hotels and glad to be back in my apartment, even if it is desparately in need of cleaning! I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get an actual crew in here next week, then look for a new person. I hate the thought of paying a crew $100 for my tiny place, but...
Let's see... Ginny... I've been away from thenews most of the last 3 weeks so I'm not sure what euthanasia you're referring to. I had my Palm, but that article didn't show up in the Washington Post newsfeed I get that way. Do tell?
I need to go throw some laundry in the dryer, and call my mom. She still has Imp because I didn't have anywhere to keep him the first half of the job in Maryland.
Later.

hi all, i wish that i could say that i had watched what i ate today...well i can say that. i watched everything that i saw get shoved into my mouth! maybe is wasn't that bad, but it was not good. we spent 7hrs. delivering pics again and ate breakfast and lunch out and then stopped at hastings and had a fruit smoothie with the kids as a reward for helping. around 5 we loaded up and went to my sisters for a swim. as soon as we got there it started to storm. with temps being 105+ for the last wk it was a welcome site, too bad it didn't last long. we are headed out now for a walk. maybe i can undo a little of what i have done today.
ECmom- way to go!!! 1.5lbs in the right direction!!!!

hey ya'll! sorry for being mia... I have been having migraines....the sun and the heat is nearly causing my head to explode....During the middle of the night I was up with a searing ear ache.... I finally got to sleep about 4:30... I am now sitting with a hot washcloth over it. I may have to go to the doctor as it is really hurting. Whine whine whine. I haven't moved my fanny since I've been back from Florida....and I'm nearly certain that I won't be doing too much today....

I'm writing EVERY morsel that goes between these lips today...... and I'm going to try to drink my water...altho it hurts horribly to swallow anything...
geesh, I'm such a whiney mess!

Welcome home Mouse. Welcome back Susie!

Robyn- gee, did you get yourself to a doctor? That headache does not sound good.........and with the earache to boot. Are you prone to ear infections? Sending you some cyber chicken soup and a hug. And the cyber chicken soup has no points....go ahead and kick me for that one!

Trob- well the good thing about having a not so good day is that tomorrow is another day.......start fresh and put a day of less than good eating behind you. Hope all your activity burned off some of it. And sometimes, you never know, a single bad day does not show up on the scale.

Gee, Mouse, I completely forgot about all the darned flooding.....and it was dumb of me to do so, as just a wee bit to the west of us (which is Pa) they have horrible problems with flooding. And we took an offering at church for a sister church upstate that is home to a ton of National Guard and locals who lost everything in the floods. You get your precious Imp back yet?
As far as Louisiana- two nurses and one doctor have been arrested (I think) for using lethal doses of pain relief meds (morphine was mentioned) on several elderly patients. That is the gist of it. Just another really sad story from Katrina- and knowing how involved with the Red Cross you are, I thought you had heard about it. But you had your hands full, that is for sure!
Welcome back!

Kerry- sorry to hear that it is still scorching in Ohio. (it broke a wee bit here in NY). Raking is fine excercise, especially in this darned heat. Sometimes we all need a "down" day. Mean mother that I am, I am making Ds read Hiroshima (John Hersey), and Brave New World (Aldous Huxley). Actually, what I did was I went to a web site that lists reading for college bound kids- found about 80 books listed there. I picked out Hiroshima, knowing some of Ds's interests, he picked out Brave New World (probably because it is short ). I told him that he had no choice....because he did not get a job this summer, and his SAT score was horrible......well nuff said. God must have been smiling on me at the time I spoke to him, because he did not get argumentive. So now you know what a bad mom I am. Please call the police or child protective services on me.

So far today has been ok....painted my pantry (oh, did it need it!) and have done some other organizational things here that I do not have the chance to do during the school year. Got my 2.5 mile walk in.......Dd and I am going to play mini golf later. Guess I'd better scoot. See ya!

hey all, well i had another 7 hr day delivering pics again yesterday. i hope that today will be the end of it!

mouse- wow, you are one busy person. how do you do it all?

robyn- how's the head feeling today? much better i pray.

melody- are you all moved in yet? i bet the heat is making the job even more diff.

kerry- does my husband help me? he will bring stuff to school that i have forgotten and he will come help me move things, but other than that....no. it is around the house where i need his help though but never get it.

mermaid- i just realized that my son is a freshman this year. in our school system 9th grade is not in the same building as 10-12 so it hadn't even occured to me that he was going to actually be a freshman. wow, how time flies. i has his 1st girl interest and it is so much fun to watch. i told him the other day that watching him learn to walk was nothing compared to watching him become a young man. i am so proud of him. he is one of those rare kids that is just a joy to be around.

ec and kerry- i read where you were having trouble getting your kids to read. my oldest hated reading and really had a hard time learning but his 5th grade teacher turned him onto harry potter...i wasn't really thrilled about it at first but once i saw the change in the amount of time he spent with books in his hands i couldn't complain. he now will read for hours a day. maybe your kids just haven't found the right books. my daughter is also a reader. she walks the house and reads since it is impossible for her to stay still. they both have enough books to start their own libraries. just keep intro. them to different types of books and maybe they will find some that they like....like i needed to tell fellow teachers that.

well, i had better get myself cleaned up and ready for another fun filled day of pic. deliveries!! later

Hi everyone,
TGIF! Thank God this week is finally over. I have had another long week. On top of it all, I gave myself heat rash on both of my legs down by the ankles and all my friends think I have poison ivy and want to stay away from me. It is finally clearing up after four days. I did find out that you shouldn't put aloe vera on it since it only makes it redder. You are not suppose to put oil based products on it. Which I did on Tuesday and Wednesday. Oh well atleast I learned something new. Plus I gave myself a blister on my thumb from raking the grass up on Wednesday. So I just beat myself up this week, so to speak. LOL
You all know how much I love baseball games. Guess what I will be doing this weekend? Working at the local girl's softball tournments for a friend. I will be taking money at the gate. I won't be doing this if I didn't need the money. I love watching a couple ball games but when it starts being the only thing my family does for days on end, I just want to take the ball bat and start swings it at people who are obsessed with the game and start making comments about kids.
Trob, I hope you are able to enjoy your fun filled day of picture delievries! I hope this is your last day. Your dh sounds like he is related to my dh. He is really good about making comments about how the house needs cleaned and stuff. But does he really do or does he tell me to do it. Maybe we should do a class for dh's to learn who to help out at home. As for my stepkids reading, their mom doesn't really make them do anything educational. She lets them do basically whatever they want to do. They play alot at home, watch movies,play video games and go out to eat a lot with her. At our house, we play with them board games, play outside, go for walks, help them with their schoolwork and take them to their sports activities. I don't know what those kids would be like without my dh and I being a major part of their lives. Their mom and stepdad are both overweight and really don't do much with them. Which is very sad! So I really think that is one of the reasons why I am having a hard time getting them to read this summer. It isn't because of the reading selection. Because they are the ones who pick out their books at the library. So do you have big plans for your weekend?
Robyn, I hope you are feeling better today. Where you able to go to the doctor for some meds to help with your headaches and earache? Did the heat let up any in VA? It is a bit cooler here today only in the 80's. Hope you are able to relax a little bit and heal over the weekend.
Mouse, sounds like once again you have been a busy mouse. Sorry you had a hard time with your eating during your deployment. Can't they make special arrangments for people that have special diet needs? Hope you are able to get your apartment clean soon? Did you get Imp back yet from your mom? I sure bet you both missed each other over the course of your deployment. Hope you are able to relax some over the weekend.
Ginny, sounds like you have been busy. What color did you paint your pantry? Glad you were able to get some classics for you ds to read. I laughed about the comment about him picking out the one book becasue it was short. I think a lot of kids go that route when picking out books. I know that is how my kids get their books sometimes from the bookmobile when it comes to school once a month. The heat is finally letting up here in Ohio. I think it is only suppose to be in the 80's this weekend. Finally some relief from the 94-98 degrees we have had for a couple weeks now.
Melody, sounds like you have must be busy moving into a new house? How is it going along? We moved out of our old house in May to a small rental house. We are just waiting for our loan officer to call us back and tell us that we can go ahead and buy the house we really like. So I feel your pain. I hope you are able to stay on your diet and exercise program during your move.
Hi to Pam and Susie. Hope everything is going okay with you both.
Well it is off to read for a little bit with my one sds. Maybe I will bribe the other two stepkids by telling them if they read for a half hour, then I will play Uno or something with them. Talk to you all later Have a great weekend!
Kerry

Made it through having the kids read for a half hour. Which that went swell. It was playing the Disney Scene It ! dvd game with afterwards that wasn't. They wanted to argue, cheat and cry. Which did happen althrough out the game. Maybe it is a good thing that they are all three going over to our friends house to spend the night there with her two children and stepchild. Maybe this way they will be good for her and stop their fighting among each other. So hopeful I can have a quiet evening with my dh before the stressful crazy weekend of softball tournments. My dh just told me when he came home a few minutes ago, that we have to be at the fields by 6:30 in the morning and work all day long until 8 or so tomorrow evening. I am definately taking my lawn chair, sunscreen, cooler with ice in it and a book to read while I am waiting between customers.
Hope everyone is having a great Friday!
Talk to you all later,
Kerry

oh kerry!! i can feel your pain with the ballgame. my dh is taking pics of a ski tourney tomorrow. he and my ds are going to get there around 6am to set up the tent and get everything organized. i will go for awhile in the afternoon. in two weeks he will be shooting the regional bball tourney and i WILL have to go to that one. it will last for 6 days. i don't mind all that much but i don't looked forward to heat...105+ for over a week now. good luck with the reading. it is really hard for kids to be excited about reading if other family members are not. my dh is not a reader but thankfully they took after me. hope that you have a wonderful summer and try not to get too hot tomorrow.

Hi everyone. I still have this dreadful summer cold and this week has been really stressful because our house was barely ready for the appraisal and it just seems we have has one problem after another. However, all our house paperwork is done now and we are set to close Wednesday. My house is about 75% packed. Today I need to tackle my son's room and get all of his toys packed.

I have been eating all right I guess, but I have eaten some fast food, but just tried to eat small portions. I have been sick and haven't felt like cooking much and I have been busy. Things will be much easier when we get settled into our new house next week. Then, I will be back into my routine of cooking nightly.

I will only have a week to get settled in my house before teachers go back for teacher work days. We start here on Wed. Aug. 2 and then the kids come back on Mon. Aug. 7. So...vacation is almost over. My 4 year old is so funny...I told him yesterday we were on vacation and he asked "are we going on a cruise?" Then, I told him no and that vacation was going to be at home and see said "That is NOT a REAL vacation Mommy!" I agree, but oh well. Of course, we have never been on a cruise...he just saw that on TV. Usually though we do go to Florida every summer because our in-laws live there, but since they are retired now they drive up to see us more often instead.

Well, I will check back in again soon. I hope you all have a good weekend.

Hello, my friends! Sorry to have whined and then disappeared earlier this week.... my sinus' were at the root of my headaches and ear pain. All is mostly better now!

I went to WW for the first time in 3 weeks. Ahem. 3 weeks where I was *MOSTLY* in control.... 3 weeks where I gained 3 pounds. So. Here I go again. Again. I'm working on my first 32oz of water ....which before July would have been long gone by noon....sigh! I have 4 more cans of Diet Mountain Dew Code Red. 4 more and then I won't be buying any more! Even tho it is diet.... I find myself craving it like some sort of drug. I'd rather have Code Red than oxygen. So. I know what I have to do. Again. I've done it before. Goodbye soda! ....once I'm done with these 4! LOL (It won't take long the way those cans are calling my name! Sigh!) So, the other things that WILL be done are tracking EVERYthing! ....THAT and moving my fatfanny! So. There. AGAIN! ....My plan!

Melody, How exciting! Some how along the line, I've missed that you were preparing to move! How "big" is your move? Will you be continuing at the same school? When is your official "moving day"? Hope that you are feeling better! Being sick in the summer isn't fair! Cruise? I want to go too! I've never been on a cruise....but I hear they are lots of fun! I volunteer to go with your ds so that you can pack without any interruptions!

Trob, Oooohhhhh, wow! Your husband and son's photography site is wonderful! What beautiful art they have posted there! How horrible! To have to attend ALL of those sporting events...knowing that you will have to deliver ALL of the photos of those sporting events a week later! YIKES! Did you recover from your deliveries this week? It sure was a hot week for you to be out and about! My son enjoyed his day at the HS.....in spite of himself and his preconceived notions! He was petrified...but won't admit it. I'm still very concerned about the upcoming year. BUT, he is much more calm! He is classified as OHI due to a physical difference. We face battles yearly, monthly, weekly, ok...DAILY (at times!).........so....we LOVE summer time and quite frankly hate the thought of starting over with all new school staff, etc... Sigh! He is VERY excited with his ideas of what drumline is going to be like! I hope that IT does work out at least a bit like he dreams! Enough about that kid! The other one couldn't care less about moving to the middle school.... he is so easy going....I call him JimmyBuffet as he just sorta moves rather slow...rolls with the punches....and enjoys life without any worries! While this outlook on life is great...there are a few things that he SHOULD worry about...like doing his summer reading homework stuff! Enough of my mouth about my kids!

Kerry, thinking of you and hoping for some shade! Hope that the sun doesn't make your rash worse! Aren't "friends" fun when it comes to rashes?! Will refrain from making any DH comments so as not to jinx myself... today is DH's day off and he has promised that he will help out a bit around the house! Also, while I'm thinking about it... I want to thank you for your posts! They are always so sweet, kind, supportive and directed to us...individually! You always take so much time and write such meaningful stuff! Thank you! I know (cause I often take the easy route!) that your messages not only take time to type...but also to think up! You are such a wonderful support! Thank you! *gush, ((Hugs)), gush*

Gin, How is it going? I got your PM and am still ROTFLOL at your note! (((Hugs))) Please tell your daughter that I'd LOVE to meet *HER* sometime! ....and that sounding "nice" and "being nice" aren't always the same! heheheee! When is your trip to the beach? We are going down next weekend for a few days! (too few...but alas...sigh!) Thank YOU for not abandoning me here! I know those days where there is no one but you get old....but I'm like that stray cat... I'll come back! Promise!

Mouse, recovered from your trip yet? Hope that you are getting back into your usual routine...and pool! How much longer before you go back to school?

Susie, Have you been out running again? How is the weather up your way? When do you go back to school?

A friend and I went to see the movie, "You, Me and Dupree". Perhaps it was that we were at one of those Cinema Cafe places and had each had a bit o booze, or perhaps that it was very late...well after 11pm....BUT, we enjoyed the movie! Sorta silly....but what else would you expect?! We each give it "2ThumbsUp!"..... I saw "Devil Wears Prada" while in Florida. My friend's husband paid our way...happily NOT having to endure it! I would save your $$ and rent it ....on a Tuesday for 99cents! While it was ok...and better than sitting around the house doing nothing.... Our rating was "1ThumbSortaSideways!"..... and whatever you do...do NOT "force" your dh to go see it with you...as you will be IN DEBT to him FOREVERRRRR!
Ok...I hope I've covered everyone...
Take care people!
......meeee (or Robyn as some call me!)

Found this quote written in my binder as I was cleaning it out this afternoon.... written in my handwriting.... so I've heard it before...
don't remember who / where this came from.... I believe it could have been here...in a signature.....

Commitment to conscious control with the understanding that choices have consequences!

..........hmmmmmmm.............. makes sense doesn't it? Again.
AGAIN. AGAIN!