Can Anyone tell that I am procastinating on cleaning? I'm looking for a good cow to amuse me and give me an excuse ....

Since I have gained a coupla lbs (they sleep next to me) I am ashamed to speak to you lovely heifers. I have this soap opera on and the guy who's married to the mom and doing something naughty with the daughter, just told the mom, "I want to touch you. With my hands and hold you." Do they rehearse these things?

Am glad rodeo days are here and Kiwi is going to LL Bean so I can get a family discount. I am giving up my former sisterhood with Lush and attaching it to Kiwi now. This makes our kids cousins. That's good, too.

Kiwi, your sister reminded me... LL Bean call center sounds fun... The people I have dealt with there have been most helpful..no high pressure sale tactics, helpful on sizing, etc.... Much Better than a call center at an insurance co where most are problems that make people irritable and nasty as they project all on to the poor customer service person... I say go for it!

Of course it will be fun!!!! As soon as I get there and forget about myself a little bit. I love the people and most of them we only see once a year. I wouldn't care so much but DH is still so darn purdy, I feel like I need to match him.

Peach! let me be the first to welcome you and your extra pounds. You know misery loves company when it comes to lardo.... and I have plenty of lardo to keep yours company. Don't watch soap operas. The ppl are too pretty and worried about stupid superficial things. Has anyone seen the show on TLC called The Messengers? It's kind of an American Idol for spiritual speakers. I just caught the last show and it was very good. I wish I would have seen the entire season.

So good to hear my wabby will just git her cowgirl on! YeeHa! ( insert pretty girl with swinging lasso on brahma bull smilie here)

I am shallow and like Project Runway, Miami Ink, Deadliest Catch, Little People, Top Chef- I know, Buzzkill , sorry darlin Wabby..

Schatzi! You are not shallow. I love me some reality shows. I'm hooked on Dancing w/ the Stars, Deadliest Catch (far from shallow, those guys fish in deep water), Super Nanny, What Not to Wear (can't get more shallow than that), Wife Swap, Dr. G Medical Examiner, Shalom in the Home, plus a bunch more mindless stuff. I'm also known for watching Clean Sweep while the dust bunnies pile up around me....

Have fun in Ashville, sweetie.... we can trade pictures when we get back. See youz heifers when I get back! Yee-haw... I'm off to the ro-day-o..... Let 'er buck!!!!!

oh damn--i am depressed about the school shooting at Dawson College in Montreal-----------the ******* was wearing a black trenchcoat-----it's just too horrible to imagine---all those poor kids running and screaming in fear. It is horrible.

I know Bagzie. I kept thinking of you and your stepdds and the Colombine murders. How scary that was for you. I am speechless.

Isn't that terrible about Dawson College, Bagzie. I was weeping when I saw it on TV. What a disturbed young man that must have been. Horrible, horrible, horrible.

Have a grand ol' time, Wabby! I'm sure you'll be the purdiest cowgirl there.

I am fat and cranky today and would like to kick something around the room a few times. Meh.

Did I mention that my s-i-l is expecting a baby girl a the end of December? A huge surprise for all concerned, most of all the parents who claim that all security measures were in place! Opps. So my parents will have 6 grandchildren. Wheee! We're all looking forward to seeing if this one will be a little calmer than her brother who is 5 now but behaves like a 3 yr old. Eeep.

CSI Miami and Gilmore Girls is a deep as I go when it come to TV. :D

That is just awful. And scary.

I am still wading through computer backups. At the moment we have 3 computers connected to the internet and each other. That's for the 2 of us. No wonder we have to spend all our time on them.

DD is supposed to be coming home tonight! I washed her old down comforter (newer one is at school) yesterday and have been drying it. It is shedding down like crazy. I pulled a bagful of down out of the lint catcher. I could make a new goose.

Kiwi

I'm glad to hear that my Canadian friends are safe from the contagious insanity of Columbine... and hopefully from the fear-mongering by the US government. It is important that we be courageous and stand up for what is RIGHT and let what is wrong wither away... or at least find no place near us to take root.

I loved reading all the cursing attepts. There have been other blogs that won't "take" TEXAS. I think they assumed it was spam about poker. Nope, y'all it is actually a legitimate word.:D
WHINE ALERT: Do not read if you are vulnerable.
I am in a funk. FAT. and very sore after a 30 second trial on a Sears Elliptical machine. Kept me in hot flashes for the rest of the day yesterday until I went to bed. Early. Blech.

Have been pretty much beating myself up since.
And counting my aggravations rather than blessings.
I must be enjoying it somehow... because it is as if I can't think how to make my day any better.

The major joints hurt: ankles, knees... (not hips, though), shoulders, neck. I am fat. I cannot imagine "gradually" working up to 30 minutes on that piece of equipment.... nor can I imagine going for a schlep around the block. I am such a weenie and hate any kind of discomfort/pain.

Plus I am disappointed about things that shouldn't bother me... or at least that i don't have any right to try to change. My son's fiance is hard for me to warm up to. My daughter is dating a girl. Again. I love my kids. I hate when my hopes and dreams don't perfectly dovetail with theirs.

I feel physically nauseous when we're at odds. You'd think I could fuel my body in a pragmatic way..... I certainly dont have any appetite now.

I feel your aches and pains. I don't like to embark on uncomfortable endeavors either. I went on about an hour long hike with the dog today which I would probably have foregone if I hadn't been full of righteous indignation over DH's annoying computer obsession of the day.

Furthermore I would like to add my whine of the day: that my recent yearly medical checkup with followup blood-letting and barium x-rays have conspired to annoy me thusly: the tech who stabbed my arm for blood left me with a giant bruise that lasted 2 weeks. The vile barium procedure left me with a ******* hemorrhoid. And after telling me my hormone level test showed I was "in or through menopause", I have gotten my period for chrissake! I am so not thrilled with the medical community. Not that I ever was. But they have gone out of their way to imply that I will be needing them regularly now that I am over 50, and I was giving them the benefit of the doubt. Now I will give them the raspberry:p :p :p :p :p

Who knew Texas was a dirty word? :lol: I can think of reasons, but there must be so many more reasons it's NOT, right?

I wish you the best in embracing your kids' SOs. It's not always easy, but I'm sure it's worth the effort. I count myself soooo lucky that the scary kid that DD had a crush on for years moved away and finally faded away too with the love-in-bloom that's going on now. To be honest I could see what she saw in him, but talk about Bad News. The current bf drove her back to school today after a very short weekend visit. They seem to be just as enamored as always.

I'm starving. See youse guys later ;)

Kiwi

Oh I keep forgetting, Painty, I love your avatar! It's your own artwork, right?

Looks like I'm talking to myself here.

Hi Kiwi! How ya doin'?

Horribly depressed, how are you, Kiwi?

Not bad. You suppose that's significant?

What?

That we don't feel the same?

You mean, maybe we're schizophrenic?

Or multiple personality disorder. Are there any more of us?

I'm not sure. How would I check?

I don't know. I'm new at this.

Hey, wait a minute. I think you're an imposter.

How could I be an imposter? I'm right here in your head, aren't I?

Hmmm. What if I made you up?

Well, that would mean you still don't have anyone to talk to.

Oh yeah, you're right. So whatcha been up to?

Not much. You?

Ok, I'm signing on. I will be Kiwi-3.

Kiwi-1, why are you depressed?:chin: :kickcan: :eek:

How do I get them to answer?

Raining here. I like it but later have to drive in it. Won't like it. Short sentences. Good. Verbs not necessary if implied.

I'm a little depressed, too. Been feeling good good but now a little shakey. Must go download pictures of rain.

Lordy, we are a morose herd today. It's started to rain here and it feels like the middle of January. ick.

I spent half of my yee-haw weekend sick w/ a migraine. Anyway, Saturday all day until about 4 pm I was sick as could be. Finally barfed and then started to feel better. Ever have those experiences where you are laughing and carrying on, and still feel sad? That was my weekend. I just couldn't shake it. Sorry. I did my best to be a happy camper.

Painty, I hope you warm up to DS's fiance and DD's gf. Sometimes it just takes a while. When I first met DS's wife I thought she was stand-offish, but it turned out she was just shy and the sweetest thing ever. Now I'm so happy to have her a part of our family. She always thanks me for raising such a wonderful man. Hopefully things will work out as well for you and the significant others.

I missed news of the shooting in Canada. I was in a news blackout all weekend. Sometimes it's nice to not know what's going on.

Is the Schatz-ter back yet???

Well if everyone's depressed, I may as well join the club. Whine, whine, whine. Meh, meh, meh. At least I have my socks.

Taught two classes of little weasels at the library today. Well, one class was in the library and one was in some other room that they shoved me into because they had already booked another mom into the library (which is the size of a broom closet) during that class period. The nerve. It's like I'm invisible. Pffttt.

I'm soooooo tired and I keep breaking out into a sweat and I'm really, really cranky. Do ya think it could be menopause or something close to it?

No rain here yet but other parts of Germany have been badly flooded. Luckily we only get the boring weather up here - no floods, no droughts, no earthquakes, no tornados. Something to be grateful for, I suppose.

Must go. Too sweaty to type.

:grouphug: there. I hope y'all feel better. I don't even have pictures to show youz cows. I took my camera this weekend, but never got around to taking any photos, except one that DH took of some guy passed out on the lawn behind our motorhome, with quite a pronounced plumbers crack on display. Men's sense of humor never develops much beyond pre-teen level.... anyway most of the men I know. I actually watched the outdoor Indian program that DH participates in. He was quite the handsome immigrant wagon driver, and they managed to get in and out of the arena w/ no horse wrecks. (although horse wrecks are always big crowd pleasers - really livens up the show).

Hi Sugar. Getting any me time since boys are back in school?

It's ALL about me, Wabs! :D :D :D

And that's why my house looks like this. 57 loads of laundry on the To Do list today. But now that both kids are at the same school, they don't get home until 2 p.m. Wheeeeeee!

Yes, I know several men who would laugh themselves silly over a plumber's crack picture.:rofl:

Yeah, leave it up to a man to come away from an event with one photo of a guy's crack. In my experience, it's either that or 10,000 photos of the same thing. Why I usually take charge of the camera (also keeps me out of most of the pictures...)

My alter egos have moved to Flawridder to live with Cowpeach. Seems I was depressing them. You don't really want a list of why I'm depressed, Peachie. It's the usual, except apparently if DD comes home for the weekend and then goes back to school, it compounds the depression instead of getting easier.

Here's something you have to deal with if you ever drink (and possibly one reason not to): people who won't let you say NO. I hate being pressured to "have one more" whether it's a beer or slice of pizza. This friend who has dogs that Jet plays with apparently considers drinking too much as de riguer to spend time with her. Why isn't "No, thank you" enough? I'm not objecting to generosity, being a good host, that sort of thing. Go ahead, ask me if I'm sure, offer me something different, but for heaven's sake, don't you think if I say no, I have to drive home, it's time to drop it? Maybe it's me who's not a good host: I offer people drinks, food and when they say No, Thanks, I drop it. I wonder how people I know would react if I tried to force drinks on them? Might be an interesting experiment.

Well, that's my pet peeve for the day. I should probably get something accomplished today, since I didn't yesterday (except for getting the dog some playtime and drinking too much :frypan: ).

Kiwi

Kiwonker, ppl do that b/c they want to have a drink and they think drinking alcohol while others are not is tabu. I hate that too, but most ppl know I'm really not much of a drinker and don't try to push it on me. I talk big, but I'm usually a one drink gal.

News flash - I'm feeling better today. May be because I've decided to start eating better. I know, I've decided that before, but who knows, this time it might stick.

Hope everybody else starts gettin' happy too.

Thanks, Kiwi... your words were like a good hug or a strong kleenex!
Yeah, the Lily avatar is my own photoshop work... (plys a great lily that managed to grow inside a couple of years ago.)
I am logging my food and back on the nutritionist's regimen. Proglem is that means I have to face food (sensibly) five times a day. AAAAACK.
I have an hour between appointments to find something that doesn't use the rest of my alottment for the day because it is only 4 pm. I am definitely hungry.

DH did the niced things. I left my "lunch" on the table by the door when I left this morning. HE BROUGHT IT TO ME. I haven't had any bring me my lunch when I left it at home.. EVER. (I grew up across the street from my elementary school... so if I "forgot" I just went home and mom made fun of me the whole time. In Jr. High it was too far for mom to drive (she said... but then she totalled about 3 cars that I remember, so maybe it really was too far.) By highschool... I'd learned that CASH was queen.

I'm hungry. Maybe a sandwich full of veggies... especially if I don't eat it all at once.
TTFN.

hi gals---i was away for a few days--we had a provincial election that dh had to cover so ds and i went along for the free hotel room and the eating out---the town had a jazz and blues festival going on and the weather was sunny and 26 degrees the whole time----of course i was still watching the terrible coverage of the Montreal School shootings but it helped to be away from the daily grind. KIWI!!! i totally remember how you feel about your baby visiting and then LEAVING again---i still feel sad when dd comes home for a visit and then LEAVES again-----usually i cry for a bit. It's not just that they are away---it's just that it's the end of the ride that was their "childhood"----OH NO,I AM DEPRESSING MYSELF---THIS IS NOT HELP TO ANYONE!!!!----------- i think i am DEFintitely experiencing the ****ing menopause---the plague which was SO regular FORever is now stretching out over Weeeeeks and the NOT knowing when it will arrive has me in a state of permanent pms=============being away these last few days gave me a nice break from thinking about it,but now that i am home i am back in a mess-----it was good to read all the posts and see all the ****ing company i have========== I LOVE YOU GUYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Aw Baggsz... It IS hard. Hope that you can review happy memories of Jazz festival and festivities on expense account-- and that the menopause will be short and easy.

Is anybody actually working hard on inches or weight loss? I could use a supporter. would be glad to divulge IM name by PM... so that if we're "on" we can give a shout out. Be well, y'all.

Can't really say I'm working hard on anything. :o

Although I did dust/scrub/clean/straighten a corner of the kitchen yesterday. Baby steps, you know.

DH is all frustrated with his new computer, which really really sucks, because not only is he spending practically 24 hours a day working on it, but he's intermittently p-o'ed at the world. And we have 3 computers on all the time in the same room. Sometimes you can feel a wave of heat when you come into the room. Today he yanked out the video board he had bought for it and went to return it in the big city. Well, better than storming around the house anyway; maybe the drive will cool him off.

Where is Schatzi? Wasn't she supposed to go away for the weekend and then report back? I have no memory. Maybe she was going away for longer.

Hi Bagz. Sounds like fun doing the "convention wife" thing--You know, he does the work, you have the fun. I remember hearing of the music festival going on. Cool.

Later chillins
Kiwi

Painty, I'm actually working on weight loss. 2 days and counting. I think whatever needed to "click" finally did. All done w/ summer, all done w/ rodeo season, no excuses left. I don't IM here at work b/c I never know who is hanging over me, but I'd welcome private messages through 3fatchicks.

Bagzie, the mental pause is in full swing here. I never used to be able to figure out what the big deal was about it --- now I know. Hormonal craziness.... and chin hairs.

Geez. We went from hot summer one day, to nasty rainy yuck the next. It's been so cold here lately. Highs are only in the lower 60's. Brrrrr.

I ordered 2 new pairs of shoes from shoes.com. I hope they're on my doorstep when I get home. I could use the boost. Anyone watch In Her Shoes? Cute movie. One sister bought shoes any time she needed a pick me up -- they always fit, no matter what her weight was. I could definitely relate. ;)

And weeping over chin hairs...

It's gotten pretty cool here too. Nice sunny days, but really cooling off toward evening. This has been one of the nicest Septembers ever. Wish I felt like doing something other than sleeping; but maybe I can pull myself up with my own bootstraps (it certainly feels like I'm standing on my motivation...)

Who's got something cheery to share? Goofy photos perhaps? I'll go rummage.

Kiwi

I think this is pretty funny. It's my nephew. He's not really the devil.

oh my geeawd!!!! that baby is sooooooooo cute!!! what a sweet grin!!!

And he doesn't have any chin hairs!


he heeeee! I am back from Asheville...which by the way I fell in love with! BUT I must share the details a little later... since we got back DH has been in a tizzy about finding land to build on..and we have been out at the crack of dawn and returning late from our hunt... Today we are meeting a realtor on 10 acres that looks real nice... I Vill be back to share all the details!

Till then:

:coach: Kiwi, you, Git offa yer boot straps !

:coach: Wabby, go shave yer chin!

:coach: Bagzzzz putta a smile on that mug, you may have a margie to help you do so!

:coach: Sug , git that laundry done so you can come back to play!

:coach: Painty, continue to munch carrots and make somethin purty with paintshop when you want some chocolate!


Gotta fill up my tank :coffee: DH is Land Ogre is yelling at me to get ready!

Schatzi, I hope you find the property of your dreams.....:cloud9: ......and you don't have to worry about my chin hairs. I patrol them w/ tweezers every morning.

Kiwi, the nephew looks like an angel, not a devil. Look at that grin.

My old doggie is not doing very well. He mostly sleeps and he's having problems with his left shoulder joint. This is why I swear we won't get any more dogs. It's just too hard when the inevitable happens.

It's going to be a long day.... guys are out of the shop and the weather is gray. bleeeeh.

Sorry to hear about old doggy, Wab. I know the feeling. It's discouraging.

But now I'm practicing amnesia because I have a young wild funny dog who certainly thinks she will live forever. I had to stitch up her baby toy, a pink squeeky stuffed elephant, because she tore an ear off tugging on it, and she has figured out that if she pokes me with it on the arm while I'm on the computer, I have no choice but to stop what I'm doing. Fortunately a little playing does the trick and now I can type real words while she chews on something in the other room. :chin: Maybe I'd better go see what.

Good luck with the land hunt, Schatzi. Come back soon and tell us all about Asheville.

Kiwi

Wheeee.
 

Chin hairs - ewwww! And I'm talking about mine! And the age spots! I gotta get me some of that Hormocenta fade cream or something.

Well, now I know what the sweating and exhaustion was all about - came down with a giant head cold in the middle of the night complete with killer sore throat. Sore throat is gone now but sniffles remain. Nice to be able to put a name on the ailment though. BUT my right eye has been all itchy for the past month and I have no idea what it is. Don't think it's pink-eye because that would spread, wouldn't it? Right eye is OK and no one else has gotten it. No goooey stuff in the mornings and it doesn't hurt. Just feels like someone taped a cat (allergy alert!) to my eye. Oh well.

Very cute devilish nephew, Kiwi! Reminds me of my two monkeys when they were babies.

Wabs - Hope the poor pooch feels a bit better soon. That's one of the things I dread about getting a dog - knowing one will most likely outlive it and having to deal with that.

Painty! Have faith! I was actually going to start exercising again - got myself a bunch of Pilates/yoga for dummies DVDs on vacation, but seem to have been struck down by illness/inertia/depression since we got back. I am making a concerted effort to eat daily bunches of fruit and vegetables, though. We're with you all the way! :hug:

Schatz - When men get some idea into their heads there's just no stopping them, is it? Do you think moving to a new location would make ya feel better about living in NC?

I'm meetin' my friend from Atlanta downtown tomorrow for a cup of coffee and a good chin wag. That will be fun. She's visiting British Columbia in October so I'm going to give her the scoop.

Oh yeah, my mum phoned last night to tell us that she'll be computerless for a while because computer guy came over to see why here computer was running so crappily and said he'd have to take the whole thing away because it's just riddled with viruses and other junk. SOME day she'll learn not to open those e mail attachments her whacky friends send her. :D My dad has no such problems since he swears he will never, even touch a computer. Doesn't need one 'cause he has his trusty (neither electric nor electronic) typewriter. No matter that the "i" doesn't work and he has to write it in later with a pen. :dizzy: Aren't parental units just hilarious?

Must go clear out the dishwasher. I'm on a "keep the tip tidy" mission this week.

Greetings!!
Sug-- you are SO right about weird parental units!
Bravo to any of you who can SEE to pluck chin hairs. (I am NOT interested in waxing... have any of you taken that risk?)

Kiwi-- I don't have to PRACTICE amnesia... it seems to come pretty naturally to me!

Wabbs-- I'm sorry about about the pooch.... I'm not look forward to outliving our cat, either. But boy, they are such good company. (except when they've chewed something important!!)

Here's the rest of my stuff... no response needed...l turns out I heal a bit when I "go public" with my weird ideas about food, body and feelings.

I am very discouraged about the scale staying the same. And, it may be a side effect of the Arimidex I'm taking to avoid recurrence of breast cancer. What if I can't eat enough less or exercise enough more to get ahead of the side effects? :cry:
The wins?
1. I've been on plan since Monday. That is longer and better than I've done in several YEARS. I feel really good about that. Proud, even. Which "feels" risky and scary. Apparently there are rules in my head that say I shouldn't feel good, proud OR happy.
2. I can challenge the feelings of criticism of my success.
3. I presided over two teleconferences (on public speaking). There weren't lots of participants, but the ones who attended seemed pleased. (and email me if you want to know more.. hope the moderators let this through.) I hadn't dealt with the technology before, nor had I presented this particular material. There were some pretty savvy people who said they got "good takeaways."
4. I used the stationery bicycle again... for longer... and so far, I'm NOT STIFF OR SORE. Much better than the diabolicfal elliptical try out!
5. DH, bless his heart, got the munchies (no, no pot, just the residual word we use for wanting to eat even though we had a big enough dinner...)... and asked my permission to have some peanut M&M's. I was (sort of) mature and said that was his choice and up to him. I mean who am I to regulate HIS food... diabetic or not. So he ate some... and I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO COME UNGLUED. But I didn't tell him to stop crunching or leave the room or anything else like that. I FELT SO ANGRY. And I was starting to cry. (Whassup with THAT?!) So I did a drawing. Flames of anger in my chest, and a tear running down my face... and the m&ms, too. DH asked me what I was drawing... and I was (by then) calm enough to tell him. And "confessing" my feelings (and him listening with way more understanding than I could have asked for) helped me feel much better. Plus he switched the whole thing around by asking me, "So you do something you could be proud of by not having m&m's too, and by be tolerant and get MAD at yourself? feel CRAPPY? What a different way to look at it!! And once again, I realized that a lot of craziness about food is actually shame about emotions evoked by things other than MY eating habits.
6. My tx pointed out that if food really IS a reliable comfort to me (and THAT's the truth!!);) that it was paradoxical to restrict eating to two meals/day (plus a big late night binge). It is scary to PLAN to eat that many times a day (becuase it's never been about hunger). But I've been having at least 3 "eating times" and a snack since Monday. Using the food plan from the American Diabetic Association that was recommended to me by a nutritionist a while back.
It's tolerable. That's a win.

(Apologies for the weird spelling, typos, in my last posting.):o

Painter: :hug: you can always come here to write your feelings and thoughts..
I share a lot of what you feel ..

Ok cowsies... here is an overview of our trip to Asheville as promised!

Well gotta tell ya I am absolutely in with the Asheville NC area! So much to do and see! The colors were just starting to change and we took a 60 mile drive on the Blue Ridge Pkwy stopping at some views and picking blueberries .. Our first night we decided on Japanese Hibachi, and had the BEST Hibachi dinner ever at Ichiban's located in the Biltmore village. The chef delighted us with the standards: Onion Volcano,egg in the hat...and some tricks and knife work that I've never seen before! We took a ride through downtown Asheville stopping at such unique and funky shops.. eclectic, eccentric...oh definitely my cup of tea!
The trainride was ok..it ran along the Nantahala river so Ken and I could do some WW kayak spotting .. It ran out of a little town called Bryson City where upon our return "Railfest" was in full swing.. We wandered through all arts and craftsy flea market while a BlueGrass band provided music.. That night we had dinner on the Sunset Terrace at Grove Park inn.. We had "ring side" seating at the balcony slowly watching the sun set over the Smokeys while the fog came in to blanket the mountains for the night.. We watched them disappear before our eyes in shades of amber, pink and purple over Filet mignon and a bottle of Merlot while the jazz quartet played in the background.

You need at least 2 days to take in all of the Biltmore..just incredible! We took the audio tour ..and a "behind the scenes" tour through the mansion.. Words can't describe the grandeur, delicious decadence and feast for the eyes with grand rococo carvings, silk enrobed walls...just incredible! We took a walk through the various gardens , admiring the Italian sculptures and walking down marble steps under grape and wisteria laden arbors to be greeted by the intense aroma of roses...thousands of roses! Into the Conservatory to admire tropical and unusual plants and flowers..
Unfortunately by this time it was near 3 oclock, and had to head back home... We plan to go back to see the Winery and The Farm... I would definitely retake the audio tour as in addition to the narrative on each room, it had a number of other audio "trivia" info on each room, that I missed.

Asheville really felt like "home" to me--and to Ken too.. Next Fall we plan to book a cabin for a week during the peak of leaf peeping season, and attend th e Kayak paddle clinic offered... And we plan a summer kayak on the Nantahala.. .. Too bad that there isnt a Cisco office out that way or we would be moving to that area..but we agree... Looks like a place we want to retire to!
The rest of DH's vacay has been a massive Land Hunt..looking for a patch to build our house on.. Topography maps, perk sites, and slogging through underbrush and brambles has become my life!

Aaaaah, Schatzi! Your trip sounded scrumptious. I forgot to give y'all details of our trip we made to Port Townsend. It wasn't a bit like Schatzi's trip. We got into town late on a friday afternoon. I called the visitor's center to get some recommendations on hotel accomodations. Person on the line said "this town is full up, you won't find a room". Panic. Called a hotel, they said "sure we have several rooms". We arrived, paid waaaay more than we were planning, but hey - it was a room in this town which supposedly was full to the brim. Opened door to our room and DH said "this isn't a hotel, it's a french whore house". The decor was someones idea of lavish, but it was really just tacky white and gold plastic. I'm not griping b/c it was new and had a jacuzzi the size of a jr. olympic pool in the middle of it. We heard one other couple as they opened the door to their room - the wife said "honey, this is a hootchie-coochie house". :lol: We went to a restaurant. DH asked for green salad w/ blue cheese dressing. They only served caesar or another house salad w/ raspberry vinagrette. DH gave me this look. I could see steam coming out of his ears. He asked for the caesar w/o the dressing and just add blue cheese. She said she couldn't accomodate him. I told him "DH, they have no blue cheese dressing in the kitchen. The salad is already made. Eat something else. He looked at the waitress dead on and said "you should have a plain salad w/ blue cheese." Have you ever seen a grown man just about lay down in the floor and throw a tantrum? Geeez. I told DH there is no way I'd ever travel to Europe w/ him b/c he can't even handle a trip to the next state. And that was my trip. Little different than Schatzi's, huh? I swear the happiest I saw DH that whole trip was when he was driving up the driveway to our house. :dizzy: cwazy mr. wabbit.

Hi Sugar, hope your cold is short-lived. Here's a good Pollyannaish suggestion: get going on those yoga tapes and you'll sweat all the bad germs out. What was the name of our Israeli friend in leopard print? That's what I really wanted to say instead of Pollyanna, but I can't think of her name. Perhaps before I finish this message.

Painty -- here's the lowdown on chinhair from my side of the reading glasses: I am fortunate enough to be both near-sighted and need reading glasses, so if I take out my contacts I can see up close very nicely. Otherwise it would require some high-powered lenses. I started a few years ago bleaching the 'stache because it was just getting too noticeable for my comfort. Then came the stray chinnychinchins. I plucked them out now and then. Then things got a little hairier, shall we say, so I tried the depilatory route. I decided that was not for me: first of all it would not get rid of some of the tougher little buggers, and secondly it left me with stubble in a few days almost as if I'd shaved. Yuk! So, yes, I have resorted to waxing. It's not fun, but it lasts a long time and there is no stubble. I still have to tweeze now and then.

Good for you on the diet efforts and the ruminations. Like Schatzi, I like when you share your thoughts, I can identify with a lot of it. By the way that scary risky feeling is good good good! Much like the feeling of hunger now and then. If you can tolerate it for a while, that = progress!

I'm afraid I have that same anger for similar reasons, but I don't share it. I can't bring myself to say "you doing what I want to do makes me angry and upset."

Ah, your Asheville visit sounds divine, Schatzi! Too bad you can't live there, it sounds ideal. Would you like to live in Cary? I'm working very hard to win the Martha Stewart KB Home for you. Of course you'd have to buy it from me...

Here are my pictures from the Nantahala. Circa 1974. I'm the one sitting in the front left seat, next to the girl in the bandanna (my best friend growing up).

Kiwi

oh my gawwwwwwwwwd those pics are sooooooooo cool kiwonkers!!! your dd looks like YOU!!! for sure-----i loooooooooved your vacation schatzi!!!! next year we are ALL going with you and your dh to the Biltmore---my sister was there and lovvvvvvvvved it---she brought me home a souvenir---i guess there were lots of those to be had!! and wabbs----------haaaaaaaaaaaaa on your dh's salad problems--------i know it likely wasn't that funny at the time but it made ME laugh!!----and to darling painty---I HEAR YAS~~~!!!!!=== the great thing is ---you DO know how to express yourself and i think that is what is lacking in alot of the familial relationships-----i think we could all use a seminar!!!!====i just had two mike's hard lemonades so i needs to go to BED!!!! however---one more think kiwonk-----------JUNE JUNE JUNE!!!! SHE WAS OUR POLITICALLY CORRECT,ANATOMICALLY PERFECT ,BROMIDE SPOUTING ,ZEN MASTER!!!!{ remember when we upset her by our delightful affirmations!!! " i am a fat cow and i always will be "

Ah, Wabbs-- Sometimes men are NOT all brave, flexible and calm like they'd have us be, are they. My darling DH had a verifiable conniption this evening b3ecause the traffic signal "skipped" our left turn arrow. Cussing, squealing tires, etc... and we'd ALREADY eaten, so it wasn't low blood sugar or anything. And some men bluster when their expectations are thwarted. I agree with DH that the restaurant should have been accomodating, or offered alternatives, or apologized... not just given flat "NO's".

Schatz-- what an adventure. I'm counseing a couple who had an "opportunity" to be married at the Biltmore in November... haven't heard how that came to be... they don't seem like hootchie cootchie types, or especially upscale/pretentiious... DS's wedding in small town Indiana is expensive... I can only imagine what it would be in a "venue."

Kiwi-- I found a huge amount of strength and courage I didn't know I had in me when I told DH how upset I was that he was doing something I wanted to do but was restricting. It was like telling the truth out loud. My truth. And I could trust him not to be (overly) defensive. (Maturity is a great thing in a marriage!)

Must be sure to go to bed after computer entries... no detour to what I bought at the store when I was HUNGRY.

No restricted foods... just wiser portion sizes and choices....

Hello well-traveled Cowies!

Wabby, sorry about your old dog. My pointer is now 13 and has all those weird little fat lumps that skinny old dogs get. Other than that, she acts like a puppy. The mutt will be 13 in January. She's on a diet, poor thing. We were at a picnic the other night where the hosts had a 14-year-old dog who basically couldn't do anything and lived in the utility room. I'm in denial about that happening with my darlings.

I have had chin hairs since as long as I can remember. I think it's genetic. I don't wax, I pluck. But I do occasionally wax my eyebrows because I get bored of plucking them.

I'm still at appx 85 kilos. Got to 83, but then went to the inlaws for Labor Day and drank pops and ate bad stuff. I have to get back to restricting my diet. The vegetarian part is easy, but keeping out of the high-fructose corn syrup is harder.

DH and I are still running at least twice a week. We get too tired by the end of the week to go the third time. Sigh.

And I hurt my shoulder. My right shoulder this time. I gained a bunch of weight last time this happened.

Painty, I definitely cannot shop when I'm hungry. It all goes out the window!

Oh, in the category of bad ideas, I'm now reading Candyfreak. Now I just want chocolate!