[Mickey]

Hi!
Well, I weighed in tonight with a 1/2 gain. I did not get stressed because I knew why! But I will start tomorrow anew! (Thank goodness, birthdays come only once a year!)

Do you have the Chioce is Yours book? We have started
reading and discussing it at meetings and it seems to help us. We are covering Chapter 4 which deals with motivation and changing lifestyles. It seems to be helping. We had some big weight losses tonight. Also we had a challenge to go on the 28 day diet or use it as a guide.

I understand you like pets? I have a 5# poodle who doesn't realize she is a dog. She is getting old, 14 in Oct. And we also have an Africian Grey parrot who is messy and a pest but we love him. He talks, not on command, but when it is his choice.

We have some other things in common. I love to read. and I also worked in the school district for 18 years, retired last Dec. I substituted for 7 years and then I worked as an Educational Aide in Special Education for 11 years. I worked at a Jr. High (Middle School). I enjoy working with that age group. I am planning to do some volunteer work in a program called Listening Post as soon as we can get it set up.

I need to get off line so I'll say 'goodnight' for now.
Take care and enjoy the week end. Our schools around here will start spring break and the teachers and students ae looking forward to that. My grandkids may come for a few days.

Wanda

[topsgal]

Hi Wanda ~

Thanks for the mail. A 1/2 pound gain isn't bad. Not at all. You can get back to "basics" and next week you will see a loss. We, too, did that in our TOPS group ~ discussing the choice is yours exchange program but I don't like to do that. I prefer counting calories and fat grams. That's what works for me and I guess you do what works ~ right?

Yes, my hubby and I are dog lovers. We have 2 shelties. Our oldest, Freeway, will be 7 years in old in April. The "baby" Murray was 5 months old on March 3. They get along well and we are having a lot of fun with them. When the house became "the empty nest" we decided on getting another dog. We have had such good luck with the collie breed (having a full size collie before we ever got a sheltie) that we thought we'd get another sheltie. Not a mistake! Thank God!

We also have 2 sons. They are ~ Christopher ~ age 22. He lives on his own in our town of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He works quite close to our home so we see him very often. Our youngest son ~ Ryan ~ age 19 is a Freshman at Concordia College in Mequon Wisconsin. He is only 40 minutes from home which is nice. He comes home every weekend. He would like to become a highschool teacher.

I am married to my highschool sweetheart for 23 years on Sept. 2, 2001. We've lived in our home (last one) for 9 years after selling a 2 family house that we lived in for 9 years.

Well.................that's alittle bit about me and my family as you've shared some of your personal history.

Oh yeah, I also love to read. I always have a book going. I am reading A Dream Of Wolves by Michael C. White right now which I would recommend. Did you read We Were The Mulvaney's (one of Oprah's picks)? Do you ever read what she picks for her book club? I like some of them but hate most of them. I guess we just have different taste when it comes to books.

Well that's it now. Hope to hear from you soon.

Have a good week ~ I could use a little motivation. It is the weekend ~ YIKES ~ Weekends are hard for me.

God Bless ~ Mary Jo

[Mickey]

Mary Jo,
Sorry I've been so long getting back to you. I have been under the weather, stomach virus, and have done nothing I didn't have to do. I should have a loss this week, can't say that I recommend this way of doing it!

Our weather is beautiful today, has been cloudy and dreary for a couple of days. I think that (the sun) makes me feel better.

Do you hold an office in TOPS? Sometimes I think that helps to keep up the motivation. I didn't take an office this year, but I usually do hold one. I am the outgoing co-leader. I was leader before that. And over the years I have held every office. Always enjoy it.

Are you having a good week? A friend of mine suggested some soy products. A substitute for meat. But I haven't tried any of them. It is too hard to cook two different menu's. And I know my husband would not go for that. She also uses tofu a lot. I think I did try it one time. Must not have been impressed because I can't really remember what it tasted like. I have to watch my cholestrol, and they would probably be good for me. I do use eggbeaters. I make french toast with them. I put vanilla and Splenda and a little cinnamon in 1/4 cup and put a piece of bread in for a few minutes, then 'fry' it in a pan sprayed with butter flavored veg. spray. I have 1/4 cup of Vermont sugar free syrup. It is really tasty. My husband even likes that. Of course, he adds margarine to his. But his cholestrol is 157!

I haven't read either book you mentioned. I just finished Angel Falls by Kristin Hannah. It was a good book. I may look for the book by Michael C. White.

My husband of 46 years and I have one daughter , a (terrific) son-in-law and two grandsons (14 in July and 11). Of course we think they are great. Our daughter is in the medical field and they live about 45 minutes away, so we see them often.

I live in tornado ally, so I'm not looking forward to the storms this spring, but I am looking forward to spring. I have some plants that we picked up last Friday while in Wichita Falls that I need to get in the ground. I live in a small town, Burkburnett, about 11 miles out of Witchita Falls.

I hope you have a good meeting tomorrow night, you did say you're TOPS chapter meets on Tuesday? We meet on Thursday. Do you make a big thing of installation? We always do, we have our annual awards presentation. That is one night we have a dinner. I am making place mats and I need to get them done. I use dental tray liners and put a strip of fabric down one side. Then I use the same fabric and make a napkin ring. It sorta spruces up the looks of things. Our theme is Chatch the TOPS Spirit. We are using primary colors.

Well, I need to get busy. Keep in touch! I have learned if I keep a food diary each day, I do better. I just keep it on the table and as I eat, I write it down. Don't worry about it, but it makes me aware of what I eat. It might help you?

Have a wonderful day!

Wanda

(Didn't mean to get carried away and write so much!)