Just a quick pop-in...really tired today....everythings good though!!

A quick pop in here too. I am getting ready to look for air fares so we can go West.
Going to close on the sale of our house tomorrow...YAY!

Hi everyone.

SUE...Where will you be going when you come to the West? That will be great to have the closing of your house done!

Good morning!

In the midst of a hellacious TOM....so been a bit cranky you might say.

Got the new stove and it's great! I love Sears!

Sue - Great news on the sale of your house - what a relief.
Michelle - you hang in there - you doing great considering the loss you are grieving. Just let yourself have all those emotions and, like you say, take it a day at a time.
Bep - WTG on your loss! Have you taken anymore progress pics?

Hi Jules, Cristina, and Susan - hope you are all having a good week.

As usual, I have not been losing, but my support group starts TODAY - woohoo. Let's hope I can get it in gear....

Katy--I will actually be taking a knitting class & a crochet class at the place I showed you the website for--DH is paying for them for Christmas. I can't wait. I am right there with you on the not losing...the support group sounds good. Are you liking the diet?

Michelle--Hi there, hope you are doing okay...

Sue--I am glad the house sale is finally over, I know you will enjoy the new place and take all the good memories of the old one with you. Did you say where you are going out west?

Bep--you are doing so good on your weight loss!!

SuzyQ & Cristina--hope all is well.

Colored my hair today--too many grays coming through...I use Feria Midnight Ruby. Took a bunch of mags to work to recycle and have a couple of boxes & an old electric typewriter to take to Goodwill. Getting back into the empty nest mode, must be winter coming. DH gets that SAD disorder and these early nights affect him in a not so nice way, so I just try to stay clear when he gets really moody and snappy.

Happy Sunday!

Trying to catch up with you all! I would love to learn how to knit Jules! Sounds like a relaxing thing to do. I forget how you learned Katy?? Classes?? Books??

Michelle - how are you today? I will IM you my new work phone number this week. HUGS.

Katy - went to BK today and it was sooooo LOUD! 2 little girls started to cry at the same time and it went on and on...lol , drove me nuts. Lets get together there sometime! I noticed they are taking applications for Playland people...I could do that part time. Offers 401k and medical....lol jk....I really was thinking about it though. Good luck on the diet thingie!

My new concept is not to weigh. I look in the mirror and go by my clothes. I am so tired of weighing in my life. I was going to retouch my hair this week and get a new outfit when I get paid. I guess I will stay at my moms until Feb. I will come back from Hawaii and move - like you all said it will give me a chance to catch up on bills.

Cristi! I FINALLY got your cards!! Even the one you sent to my old address. I got the card and a child support check all at once. Thanks!

Hi Sue.....take care. Your house is beautiful and I am happy you will get the chance enjoy it for the holidays.

Congrats Bep!

k- better get. I am working at the new place now for a week and it is SO nice. Very quite and peaceful. Love the area too, shops and neat stores to explore on lunch break.

HUGS to you all!!

Hello ladies...

SUSAN...glad you finally received the cards. There are probably a few more out there in mail land. A friend of mine moves around so much it took months for me to get the letters and cards I had sent to her back and the funny thing is I think the PO was holding them because I got them all back the same day. The killer is the latest one they had put a sticky thing on it saying it couldn't be delivered because the time had elapsed to forward it but...they had her new address on it. Some of the things they do, do not make sense to me at all. Just glad you finally received them. I sent a card but I think I put Portland on it instead of where you are, doh! Hope you got that one or get it. Glad you are liking the new job...now will this be permanent eventually or what? I can't remember anything, if you mentioned it or not, sorry.

KATY...how is the plan going? Hope you are feeling better. I don't have TOM very often but when I do sometimes it makes up for not having one, ugh. Glad you are liking the new stove.

MICHELLE...so is DD going to go to that college for sure? Hope she does so she's close to home. And I hope you are having a good day.

JULES...I need to color my hair and get it cut. I never know what to do with it so let it go for a while and then whack most of it off. Your hair color sounds pretty. What a sweetie your hubby is...I hope you have a fun time at the class. I would love to do that one day.

SUE...going to be exciting having your first Thanksgiving in your new home! Glad you guys sold the other home and the couple love it!

So what are you ladies doing for Thanksgiving? Any special plans? We will be decorating outdoors for Christmas and I will be cooking for the four of us and wishing Josh was here. Vince is **** bent on frying a turkey so we are going to try it. I'm getting a ham just in case it's not good though.

Nothing else going on with me. I am down a pound, woohoo. Still going to it Figures and walking.

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Hi all...
I missed a few days...gotta play catch up!

Jules - I'm so glad you are getting the knitting classes...that sounds like so much fun. You know, part of the fun of knitting has been finding others that do it, too. Then we get together and knit and chat and shop eek - no shopping! Sorry to hear your DH gets SAD.. I'ts hard to have that in OR 'cause our weather can get so dreary. I know folks that get these special lights that are supposed to help. My grandma always tells me to turn on all the lights in the house when we chat - so cute.

Susan- I'm with Cristina - what's up with the new job - I missed something. I would love to get together at BK with the girls. You can PM me here. My email and phone are the same if you still have them. My knitting history: I learned to knit and purl from my grandma when I was 9. After several projects that were variations on a theme ( ie, rectangles) I grew bored and dropped it for 20 years. I picked it up again when I was pregnant with DS and moved down the street from a yarn shop. I re-learned from a great book called Knitting in Plain English. Since then I've taught myself what I wanted to know from books and the internet and maybe the odd yarn shop employee who would be kind enough to show me something. If you want to learn that way I have some good internet resources if you 're interested.

Michelle - wow - a daughter off to college! That's great - is she excited? I remember enjoying that time so much - such a big step. I hope your days are getting better. I can't believe how stormy our weather has been. A friend of mine canceled a trip to the coast last weekend because there were reports of rotting cow carcasses washing up on the roads in Tillamook and people were getting tetanus shots - yuck. This weekend there's supposed to be 70 mph winds and more storms. My ILs are going to the coast for a few days and don't seem to think there's anything to worry about - but I'm a little nervous for them.

Cristina - yay for the lost pound! Here's hoping you never find it again! I've never tried fried turkey, but I hear it's delicious. We are going to visit my brother in Eugene for Thanksgiving. Yay - I don't have to cook and he eats very healthy. I may take some sides, but that would be cornbread or wild rice, nothing heinous. I've been thinking about your son over the last week with the elections and all.. I know we can't talk politics on this board so I wont get into it, but I do pray he can come home soon.

Hi Bep and Sue - hope the weather is good where you are at least!

My support group went well. I'm glad it's weekly for six months, that way if anybody starts driving me nuts, I know it won't last forever. The food plan is very manageable, I think. I need to aim for 1500-1800 cals a day, and really need to work on eating lots of produce (9-12 servings), low fat dairy (2-4 servings) and keep the fat at 25% or below of my daily calories. This week my goals were to write down everything I ate and eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. That was more challenging than I expected. I can get 8 in every day, but I need to work in more, obviously. I'm trying to focus on eating the produce part first, then the rest of the meal.. My other goal for the week was to exercise 5 times ----and I did it!

Thursday I get a new calorie guide at the group and I'll get a better grip on portions and writing down calories....

Thanks for asking, gals - It's nice to check in with you all and let you know how it is going. Sometimes I wonder what I've gotten myself into, but in the end I signed on for this 30 month study because I know I need the accountability. That has always been my Achilles heel with weight loss.

Any way - have a great day everybody!

Hello...Rainy and chilly here..again! I have never seen such a rainy Fall. I didn't get a walk today, but walked 7 out of the last 9 days. My eating has been pretty decent...AND I lost 2 pounds. I finally got below 170, which has taken forever.
We are heading West in a about 3 weeks. Yay! I will miss my new home, but 4 months in warmer weather has it's appeal!

Katy- Your new study/way of eating sounds like it is a very healthy way. I think the support group is such a good idea. How many people are actually in the group? We all probably need to eat more fruits and vegetables. Right now Clementines are in the stores here and I plan to buy some tomorrow. I can always munch on those! Yum.

Cristina- Yes, turkey day will be fun with DD and her family here. I made out my shopping list and need to get that done tomorrow. We were so happy that the new owners of our house seemed to love it. Of course, I doubt they would have bought it if they didn't, but they were overly excited. She asked me to come back when she had it all fixed up so I could see how it looks. She has several antiques that were similar to what I had, so she thinks I will like what she does. I don't know if I want to go back...but if she asks I might.

Susan- Feb. will be here before you know it, especially with the trip to Hawaii coming up quickly. You will have things caught up and be able to relax some. Keep up the good work on the inches!!

Jules- Yep, we are headed West soon. We have a winter place in LAs Vegas and believe me it is nice to get out of the cold and snow. It is not terribly hot out there, but at least you usually just need a jacket or sweater. No boots and snow shovels. LOL

Michelle- Hope things are going okay for you. That is exciting about your DD looking at colleges.

Bep- Where are you? Hope you are doing great!

Sue--warm in LV sounds like a nice winter place!!

Katy--I think I am going to take both the 4 week Knitting class in January and there is a 2 week crocheting in January too. Then in February there is a "how to knit baby blankets" --if I have the hang of it by then I am going for that one too--I will get enough practice to get it down very well. My niece, a friend (her fiancee is the one that introduced DH and I over 20 years ago!!--he's 44 and it will be his first child!!) and a coworker are all due in May and my DD's friend is expecting her second. She wants dd to go in the delivery room again with her (her DH goes too) After the first one dd said she's not sure that she wants to have kids--she may just adopt!! Good for you making your goals!!!

Cristina--My mom, ds & gf and dd and maybe the new guy will be there for Thanksgiving dinner. She seems to be really liking this new guy, though I am still hoping for Jason since I already know him. Jason will be in the military for another year and a half--I just wish he would have told her that he has liked her for the last five years after Marshall left her but BEFORE the other guy came in the picture. The other guy is the first guy DD has really liked since the ex. She met his mom and his sister and the sister's 4 year old son and she has met his kids--he is divorced with two kids. He is very close to his mom and his sister and they both fell in love with my dd. I have to say she has that newly in love sound in her voice and seems to be really happy. Actually the happiest I have seen her for any period of time since the ex left.

SuzyQ-- how are the new coworkers--I know you will miss the grumpy one with the psycho girlfriend!! J/K!!! Hawaii sounds like a great getaway--maybe Rocky will propose and you will move there!!!

Michelle-I have to warn you...it's hard when they leave, even when they are that close. Find yourself a hobby and get started on it now. I had such a hard time adjusting.

Dh has been working in the garage so it hasn't been too bad--he's trying to get the Studebaker ready for a trip to Indianapolis to see his Dad next June. He wants to have it roadworthy by spring so we can drive it around before making the 10 hour one way drive. I know I don't want to be stuck halfway there on the interstate!! On the way back there is a pottery place I want to stop at. It's halfway in Ohio and it's where we met his dad to pick up dd when she stayed the summer before she started working.

well, I gotta get to work!!

Hello ladies...

JULES...my grandpa had a studebaker that he roamed all over CA in when my grandpa passed. He loved that car. Glad to hear DD is doing well and seems to be in love. Isn't new love a wonderful feeling. Sometimes when I am in a rut I think back to when I met and fell in love with both DH's...makes me happy. Teri deserves to be happy after all she has gone thru.

KATY...I know what ya mean...I've been watching the news, reading the paper and magazines and I could scream sometimes. Josh is supposed to be coming home soon...a late Thanksgiving but early Christmas gift for us and him! I am so happy. It's just for 2 weeks but I've not seen him since June! I'm glad so far your group is going well. I know the accountability is something that I can use as well. It sets your straight and you have the support. I know you will make goal before this is over! I'm jealous...I don't want to cook but will. Have a fun time at your brothers.

SUE...that's cool that the new homeowner invited you back to look at the house. You know, we've driven by our old houses here a few times and every time I think what were those people thinking? We had newly landscaped the one and they ripped it all up and put nothing in it's place. I've not been on the inside of either one and don't think I would want to.

MS SUZYQ...where are you? Again, I am jealous. I would love to go to Hawaii and I am saving because when Josh comes home from Iraq I will be there waiting for him with a BIG Welcome Home sign! He's supposed to be there a year so it woul dbe in August or Sept. too bad I have to wait soooo long! Bet you will be glad to get there and see Rocky!

MICHELLE...how are you doing? Are you doing a little better? Keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

BEP & SHAWNA... are you ladies out there? Come on in and say HI when you get the chance.

Nothing much going on. Still trying to get my Christmas cards done. This is the most I have ever done I think. I've got about 50 for my military mom friends, then I've got MACS children, you ladies of course and then family, ugh! My hand is going to fall off I swear. I've not even started a letter yet. I plan on finishing up today though...gotta address about 20 more and stuff pictures in them. I'll worry about the letter in a week or so, there's still time. I just like getting it done early and getting it out of the way. Also have to clean Josh's room and get ready for his coming home. Can't remember if I mentioned but his room turned into a warehouse for care packages. His bed is covered, I've got magazines in his chair, a big bag of bubble wrap and boxes in the floor and I started a big box of Christmas stuff for his Unit. Going to finish packing that box and get their stockings stuffed and packed and tape up some boxes to clear his bed. After Christmas is over I am going to do themed care packages rather than try and send a little bit of everything over. Oh, a woman at Vince's work said her granddaughter is a teacher and wanted her class to make some Christmas cards for the troops, he brought those home yesterday. OMG, they are too cute. I want to hide most of this stuff from Josh so it will be a nice surprise when he goes back. I think I am going to be more emotional when he leaves this time. Anyway, I've turned into chatty Kathy...anyone remember those dolls?

Take care ladies and I will chat with ya later. Have a GREAT weekend!

Hi,

Congrats Sue and Cristi on the pounds lost!

I am here. I don't weigh anymore. I live in denial and eat all the carbs I want, as close to heaven as I will get. I love carbs! I love feta cheese too! Dang.
I don't think I will ever lose again. Pretty sure, so I am going to enjoy my plumpness. lol

I would love to learn how to knit Katy. Maybe I will pick up that book you mentioned. Best on the Plan thingie, you will be awesome and strutting around in your mauve bikini before you know it!!!

Cristi - ugh!!! I don't wanna hear about your Christmas cards! Way too organized!!!! Thank you for the Thanksgiving one!! That was sweet of you. HUGS to you and enjoy the time with Josh during the holidays

Jules - Very sweet card from you too!! Almost made me cry in the post office parking lot, I thought you were sending money!! lol JK....very sweet card.
Rocky already proposed 2 years ago when I went on the first trip. My mom really likes him and said I can do anything with him that I wanted, she trust me with him. He is a good man, we'll see.

Michelle - how are you??


Katy & Michelle - I will have to pm my number. I can look for yours Katy. It might be in my Yahoo email.

The job is temp. while the manager is on medical leave, I am only there for a planned 2 months. I don't really want to go back with annoying Co Worker, so stressful and the place where I am at right now is quite and peaceful. I wanna stay!! *wah....we'll see. I am just going to enjoy the time and look forward to Hawaii.

k- I better go. Gaby goes back to preschool in the village tomorrow. I was even thinking of moving back because that is the kind of chick I am. Take 2 steps forward and 3 backwards.....lol- so fruity.

chat later!!!
Sue - Where do you mean by West?? Where are you going??

Hi Ladies -- I haven't been on much this whole week, just been kinda down and out. Tuesday was a month since my mom passed away, and it just got to me again, and pretty much the whole week has been a little sad for me. Tonight I had my daughter and her husband over for dinner, and earlier today I thought for a second, I need to call my mom and invite her for dinner, and then I remember that's not possible. She loved my roastbeef dinners, and it just made me think of her. I miss her so much, and Thanksgiving will be a very hard day, because she loved coming to our house every year for my dinner and just spend the day with our whole family.

CRISTINA...Thank you so much for the Thanksgiving card! You are so thoughtful of others and I love your kindness.

SUSAN...Glad to see you're doing good and enjoying your new place of work, even if it is only temporary.