Alternative Group [March 4, 2002]
 

Hello Ladies
WELCOME BACK LINDS!!!!!!!!!!!! Glad to see you have a routine now and are back
Ruthie You are doing great girl keep up the good work.. I dont think a marathon has a time limit.
Wildfire Sorry about the Y being so small but you said they will be opening a new one so you got the membership in hand you will be kicking there butt in the new one.. As for biting your lip on the tour hmmmm I dont know if I could do that.. After all they are giving misinformation and that misinformation could hurt someone in the long run..My opinion of course
OK I was away this weekend Saturday night I went out to the 99 resturaunt for dinner with the kids and hubby . I ordered the usual primerib and I ended up taking half of it home..And only ate half of my dessert as well..Both were delishous BUT I figured I best start cutting back on my meals afterall prime rib is not the leanest meat in the meat group
Sunday I had to go to a double birthday party for my friends daughters . She held it at her BF parents house and I am surprised how well I enjoyed talking with her BF parents. My DH and I spent 90% of the time talking with them . The dinner was spaghetti and meatballs and which I had about a cup of pasta with one meat ball and light sauce and as for cake I had a piece about the size of a half a deck of cards.. We were told to come back to visit anytime.. The men can go exploring for hunting spots and the women can go clearance sale shopping.. (Funny I really hate shopping for myself..)
My daughter is back at school Today is the first day back in two weeks !! First week was out for the flu the second was for school vacation.. Glad her classes are easy work at the new school . Her old school was very pushy and two years ahead of the new one. So she has done the work before..
Well Ladies I will end here and check back later on
Take Care
Sheila

Thanks for the new thread Ruthie!!!!! ~flower

Hello all! :wave:

I guess we out grew our old thread huh? Thanks for conjuring up a new one!

Sheila - Congrats on that loss!!!

Ruthie - I'm so happy your gums survived the surgery with minimal pain. I'm looking at having to have some grafting done on a couple of my bottom teeth in the next 10 years... I'm worried about it now though!

Amyjo - I hope your sister gets her surgical problems behind her soon. That is a drastic step to take - I hope it all works out well for her. Keep us updated.

Welcome Nevada Chick! I must've come in to the group during your hiatus! Nice ta' have ya back!

I found out my 2 best friends from CA are coming to visit me in April! They're so sweet - they wanted to make sure they weren't coming on one of my holidays (thinking Easter coincided with some Pagan holiday)... They're still kinda new to the whole Pagan thing even though I've been Pagan for over 12 years and my best friend has known this since day-one.
Wednesday is my stepfather's birthday and I've been "hired" to bake his late mother's infamous 100 pound cake. One piece will NOT set me back!!!!!! (right??:?: )

I promise to start posting back on the food journal!!!

2 pounds down this week!!! :cool: :strong: Only 106.5 left to go - yes, ONLY... it's better than the 119 I had - every little bit brings me closer! :smug:

Terri :moo:

100 Pound cake? I think I "don't" need that recipe.... keep repeating I don't need that recipe... :)

First day of new clinical rotation... doesn't look too bad! I am hoping to get in to the spot I want, will find out in the AM. Had an Obesity and Diabetic lecture today.. It is amazing that is all I will say.

Hope everyone is well, I got a LOT of rest this weekend much need rest but lost of it read all but like 50 pages of Stephen Kings "Black House" got it from the library on friday... I veged out almost all weekend.

Ruthie - Good for you~ just don't burn yourself out!

We have started making our kids work out with us about an hour a day... or should I say Kevin has started making them work out with him because I don't have a spare hour but... it is good for them since they are both pretty "sedentary" they really need the extra exercise.

Got to run!

Hugs,
Amy
176/148/130
"I will only weigh once a week" (wash, rinse, repeat)

Hey girls!

Ruthie, you're doing amazing! NINE miles!!! Wow. Yep, my ab/back combo needs work. I asked at the front desk if they would recommend that class for someone starting out, and she said they adjust for all levels....BUT the guy who does the Boot Camp class just before (their toughest class) does the Abs & Back class right after....and it takes him a while to calm down. :eek: He's all revved up from Boot Camp. *L* I can see me crawling out the door after five minutes.

Linds, welcome back, hon! You know no matter how long you're gone that you will always have a place here! Glad to hear things are working out for you.

Amyjo, your workout room sounds great! It would be nice not to have to share the space with strangers while working out. Yeah, IBS is the pits, to put it mildly. If you ever need any info or current research for your classes, let me know. I have access to all kinds. I'm sorry to hear your sister's surgery didn't go smoothly. I hope she will soon be on the road to recovery and able to fulfill her goal of being healthier.

Sheila, good job on the dinner AND the party! Baby steps....they add up.

Punkin, is it called "100 pound cake" for any particular reason? :D

Today was a good day. I felt great....and it's been a long time. I bowled fantastic! Had a 233 game!! AND I ate reasonably.

I'm going for another tomorrow!

Incredibly good news!!!!!!!!!
 

I got the most awesome phone call last night ... the dean of the one school I've been accepted to so far called to tell me the school has selected me to receive their $10,000 scholarship!!

:) ;) :cool: :smug: :love: :spin: :jig: :^: :lol: :joker:

This is just so amazing! They are offering to pay 40% of my tuition -- and I don't have to do anything for it!! Now the struggle is if I get accepted to my #1 choice school -- it will be awful to have to walk away from that school, which is the best journalism school in the world, but I really can't turn down a master's at the price the other school is offering. It still seems kind of unreal, but apparently it happened!! So it looks like I'll be in Boston this summer!! Woo hoo!!

Well Ruthie-it is about time some good luck came your way! You have earned this and I am damn proud of you!!!!!! :) Congratulations!!!! ~flower

Good morning all!

Ok, the 100 pound cake... My Gaggie (Grandma) made this cake when the family all got together - it was called the "100 pound cake" because it honestly was difficult to pick up, it was so heavy. And... here's why: It's a simple yellow cake, baked into a flat sheet (like an 8x13 dish) then when it's cooled you punch holes in it and drizzle, no POUR the frosting on making sure that all the holes get filled up with the liquid frosting. The frosting is made from 2 cups of sugar, cocoa powder, a cube of butter and enough milk to get it melted. Once it's on the cake it starts to solidify (thanks to the butter) and then the holes stay filled with a hard frosting substance.
It's enough to go into a diabetic coma even if you're NOT diabetic...

Ruthie - Congratulations! What an awsome opportunity! Yes, you totally deserved this to happen!!!! Good luck and study hard in Bahston!

Back to the cake for a second - I've been reprieved for a bit... My stepfather went to CA to see his Dad and will be gone on his birthday - so I don't have to bake said :devil: cake until this weekend...

Back to work!

Terri

$10,000!!!!! Oh my Goddess! GOOD FOR YOU RUTHIE!!!!! I would have a hard time saying no to that one too! You must be absolutely flying!

Punkin ~ my teeth are aching just reading about that cake. But get me at menses time and that would probably kill my chocolate craving pretty quick!

I train at the library tonight, from 4 til 6. (Yahoo!) Went skating this morning again with Evan and this week I notice that he is skating quickly, and I am skating with more confidence. Now I feel sad that I didn't do this with the other children... But they probably got something else from me (like patience, youth...) that Evan hasn't had...

Off to do homework.

Lois

Punkin - We make/MADE something like that when I was a kid but it was a yellow sheet cake and we pour this like karo syrup/melted sugar stuff over it when you punched the holes in it and then you made this whipped cream and coconut icing. You kept it in the fridge and ate it cold... MMMMMM Yummmmy~

But since I don't eat anything like that anymore!!! or I try to not eat stuff like that anymore (keep telling myself) got to eat healthy!!!!..... :)

Ruthie - Girl!!!! that is grand!!!!! I am so happy for you!

Flower - Hope all is well!

Everyone else Hi!!!!

Start my new clinical rotation tomorrow... working in the psych unit.... Should be interesting.

SIL - had to have a new drain put in around her spleen the stuff coming off looked like green pea soup (YUCK) She has to get better soon, she is weaing us allll out!

Hugs,
Amy

Ruthie, what a break! That's wonderful. [And I'm also in awe of your 9-mile day too. You're the queen!]

Lamorgan, let us know how your training night goes. I hope you love it!

Punkin, I could dive into a cake like your 100 pounder! Some days at work I really have to white-knuckle my way past cakes and cookies. There are times when I can just have one but most of the time it's better if I just don't start!

Hi Linds! What's been happening with you?

Flower, I'm still enjoying your journal!

Sheila, Wildflower, Amy--Hi Sweeties! :)

Thanks, everyone, for your congratulations. It's funny, I was so fixated on the possible outcome from the #1 choice school, I never thought about something so great coming from the direction of the other schools.

I guess I'm really PMS or really lazy, or both, these days -- sleepy and hungry and unmotivated. Only one cure for that: make myself do stuff. I'm really in the mood for a slice or two of 100 pound cake, though :lol: .

Wow, Amy, that's too bad about your SIL. I hate to think how high her hopes were going into this, and now she has to face all these complications. Let us know how the psych unit is; for a while when I was a teenager I wanted to be a psychiatric nurse.

Lois, how was your training? It's funny about your comment about "depriving" your other kids of skating -- I get those guilt/sad feelings sometimes, and I only have one kid!

Flower, Punkin, Wildfire, Sheila, Linds -- hey guys. Talk to you all soon!

Ruthie ....Congrats!!!!! Ya never know what is in the "cards" for you when it comes to second choices. Lately I been tired as all heck.. And I have no real excuses.. Yesterday I got in a whole mile and a half walk. It was 35 degrees out I froze my behind off..I cant wait for warmer temps

Amy I am sooo sorry about your SIL complications. I will keep you and her in my thoughts for a quick recovery.. As for the psych unit rotation, if I entered that area they would keep me as a patient...:lol:

Eydie I know how you feel about the cakes and cookies thing.. But since I have moved I have not been baking those things ,but I am still having a difficult time avoiding any bakeries that are around..I sniff I never enter .(DEEEP Cleansing breaths of fresh baked products ,then I go and eat a carrot stick..Where is the justice in that??)

Lois How was the training at the library?? I havent been in a library for a while. I miss the quiet safety of the library.I can get lost in books for hours if I ever had the chance to..

Ohhhh Linds....Where oh where hass Linds gone ohhh where oh where can she be?????????

Punkin : Give your friends a calandar..LOL only kidding.. I know I am never sure of Pagan Holidays But I am trying to keep track of them. ( I am also keeping track of the buddah and hindu and islamic holidays as well so I will screw up from time to time on top of what Catholics are doing for holidays and the regular ones as well)

Wildfire.. That bootcamp instructor might not be as bad as you thought..But then again I could be wrong...LOL I will stick to my personal online trainer although he has been slacking lately...Cant blame him though I am a tough one to keep track of... (excuses excuses...)
Well all I got to end here I have to get my day started ..
Take Care all and Talk to ya all Soon
Sheila

Good morning! I had such a great time at work last night! I think I've lucked into one of those job situations that one only dreams about. They all like each other and are friendly and casual. There are only 5 paid staff altogether, and a few volunteers.

Life can change so radically in a year. This time last year I don't know what I did with my time... Strange how it works out.

Walked this morning in a lovely snowfall. The temp is hovering around freezing, so we've lost the bitter cold that we've had these past few days.

I get major cravings for savoury foods, and sweet cravings around pms time. French Fries are my biggest weakness I think. Love them.

I'll check back later, thanks for all the well-wishes!
L

:wave:

Just a quick post then 'hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work I go....'

Amyjo - your cake and mine sound reeeeal similar - after all what is Karo really than a butter and sugar syrup? I noticed you're in Alabama? Maybe this is a southern type dessert then since my Gaggie was from Oklahoma...
*sigh* southern food... I remember her saying that if you ever left her house hungry it was your own damned fault! My aunt (her daughter) from Texas is coming to CA in May and we're driving down to spend the weekend - that ought to be "interesting" food-wise. :eek:

Well, gotta run! I'll be back later...

Terri :moo:

Hi Ladies
How are you all doing today?? Is it me or have we all become keyboard shy all of a sudden???
I have a request from my kids and hubby to make brownies and blueberry muffins.. So I MIGHT be nice and bake the stuff for the crumbcrunches and snackmaster
give me strength

Well all I will check back to see if you all are ok..

Take Care
Sheila

Helloooo....

Yeah, I'm here... I has been pretty quiet around here!

I've got a candle party to go to tonight and hoping that the dinner they're serving won't be too destructive. I cut back my other meals today to "clear some room" in case it's one of those yummy-and-unavoidable meals.

Nothing else much going on... we got snow this morning. Yesterday for exercise I bundled up - even put on my ear muffs - and went out to rake huge rocks for my driveway. I worked for 45 minutes in 34 degree weather and I was about to take off my jacket!

Hope you're all doing wonderful!!

Terri :wave:

Hello all! I'm tired and grumpy. Husband has been working non-stop for days and days now and I'm beginning to get burnt out. Busy week and now one of the cats is sick, and I had to take him to the vet using the money I'd tucked away for a family outing on the March Break. Humph. So now we cannot go anywhere (that you need money) until next Thursday, and the cat is on antibiotics and needs to be fed watered down food by syringe. By me, of course. He may have an infection, but we can't really tell. She wanted to do an x-ray but that would have been $90.00 extra, and I simply don't have the cash! The vets are all cash up front now. Sigh.

And the bloody Wild Cat in the basement is in heat too. She's been howling for days. And peeing on anything in sight. She peed on my coat, and I had to buy some neutralizer (more $$) to spray all over the place. More Humphing.

Well, I need to go out for a walk to buy some cat litter and Sherry. The Sherry is for me to sip this evening while Morgan and I watch Survivor.

Bye!

Still alive! Just studying. I have a had a really good on program week. I haven't over eaten or eaten anything really "bad" since last Wednesday I think. Had salad 3 out of 4 days and not doing too rough!

I am on spring break next week and have to work this weekend and one day next week. I am planning to make a trip to my sisters in Pensacola one day to get some clothes of my nieces for my DD ;) tell you what free clothes rock!!!! Especially the clothes my sister buys!!!!

Well I am going to go spend some QT with DH!

Have a good nite!

Amy

Hey everyone. I have to get going soon for my walk. I got the coverings taken off my gums yesterday, and they feel really funny. They'll be sensitive to hot and cold, esp. to cold, for a while, and I won't be able to chew on that side for a few more weeks. They healed fine, though, dentist says.

Lois, glad the job is going great. Sheila, how did the baking go? Amy, yahoo for spring break, huh? Mine is over on Monday -- then my LAST QUARTER as an undergrad will start!

It's killing me waiting to hear from the #1 school. It won't be till the week after next, but I keep thinking, what if they accept me? How will I make that decision? Going to the #1 school could potentially be worth more $$ in salary potential in the long run, even though it would cost more cash, and I have also come to realize that one of the reasons the #2 school may have offered me the scholarship is b/c they know where I'm applying, and they want to lure me away b/c they think I'll get in. The good thing about all this is that it's now a potential decision between 2 schools, not three. Someone suggested to me to actually go in person to the #1 school and talk to their financial aid people about matching or exceeding the other school's offer. Of course, it's all a moot point until I hear...

Ruthie.. I didnt do the baking yet .. I got everything ready then I knew I wasnt strong enuf to not taste what I would bake .So I havent done it..

Punkin How did the candle party turn out?Since I moved I been buying candles to place everywhere in almost everyroom (hubby thinks candles in the bathroom look weird I told him to GET Over it)

Amy I know about free clothes My daughter whole wardrobe came from my friends daughter ( Her DD grows like a weed) which is good for me..LOL And I am talking brand named stuff that I couldnt afford . My sons clothes though I have to buy ,but he is small so they are not that expensive yet.. Enjoy the QT with hubby

LaMorgan ..Hope everything is getting better.. I would give the howling cat some sherry to calm her down (only kidding of course

:devil: )
Well I got to start my day and start this months budget . My DD birthday is the 13 so I have to factor something in for her.. She is almost 12 I am running out of ideas on what to buy her .We wont be celebrating it till the 15 or 16th she prefers it that way..

Take Care and Talksoon
Sheila

Hi all.

Sheila, my daughter turned 12 in December. She loves the computer game "The Sims" and just bought an expansion pak for it. She also loves clothes now. And "Groovy Girls" cloth dolls, although she doesn't play with them, she just wants them. It's hard when they are 'between' the child and the teen.

I vegetated last night on the sofa with my sherry and blanket. Just grumbled (not very mature, I admit) whenever a child came near. The 9 year old went to bed at 6:30 and the 5 year old fell asleep on the tv room floor. This virus/cold thing is weird, the way the kids keep sleeping. I've been fighting it too, and that is contributing to my extreme grumpyness.

Smokey is about the same. He threw up 3 or 4 times yesterday, but hasn't today. I'm trying to keep him hydrated, but he really doesn't appreciate me squirting water into his mouth...

Still grumbling, and looking forward to getting out of this house tonight and tomorrow and going to work!

Later on...

The cat, Smokey, had a wee bit of food this morning and is up and about a bit. Perhaps he's on the mend... (Crossing fingers...)

:)

L

It's finally Friday!!!!!

Tomarrow I'm taking a road trip with my friend to her Grandfather's ranch to take some slate rock from one of the mountains on his property - I get free stepping stones!!!! :dizzy:

Today I get my taxes done. I'm hoping for a nice return (who doesn't) but I want to buy some shelves for my craft room, a new vacuum and a screen door because I KNOW that Spring IS coming!!!!

The candle party was cool. Pricey though! I of course bought stuff... some plastic tea lights, votives and a wall sconce. I'm placing another tiny order when my Mom places hers next week. I've always loved candles, but ever since I moved I've become a candle, incense, fragrance junky. Nag Champa, lavender Wizard plug-ins and assorted candles are always going. My poor cats probably think their house really stinks!

Amyjo - You enjoy that Spring break!!!! You SO deserve the break and have fun "shopping" at your sisters house!

Ruthie - Yeahhhh for the happy gums! I'm sure they do feel funky, but I'm glad they healed good.

Lamorgan - I hope Smokey's on the mend.
Hehehehe.... Brandy is my anti-grouch medication. My best friend's husband works in a winery in Napa and brought me a bottle of their brandy when they came to visit (and a case of wine - now if I only had an opener....). He also brought me a bottle of home made Kalua that I haven't had the nerve to try.

Too bad you weren't closer - I could send you home with some Glug - a mix of a 1/5th each of vodka, scotch, Apple Jack, rum and then you add cinnamon, cloves, apple juice, raisins, dried apple slices... you let it sit for a few months before you drink it then light it on fire with Everclear - blow it out and drink warm. We make it around Samhain, tolerate the taste at Yule, reeeeeeally enjoy it around Imbolc then by Midsummer we're drinking the stuff like little fishes. Gooooooood stuff! :spin:

Have an awsome Friday everyone!!

Terri :moo:

I still feel soft and lazy. I lost my ... what's the word? centeredness? somewhere along the way. I think it's tough making the transition from planning for goals to actually beginning to achieve them. I'm planning to move out of here 7/1 and now DD wants to hang around town for the summer. I'm trying to be flexible -- she is 18, after all -- I told her if she can find a place to stay for July or so I would be willing to pay someone room and board. I do think she needs to come stay with me in August, though, b/c we need to get her ready to go to school together. It irritates me b/c at every step of the way I informed her of my plans, so she should have thought about what was going to happen (i.e., that we would move out of the town she grew up in right after her HS graduation), but I guess she's too young to think that clearly. My p/t transcription job wants me to do more and more -- I told them NO unless they pay me more. It's just ridiculous how people will take advantage if you let them. I'm a little nervous about putting my foot down b/c I'm relying on that income for after I leave the f/t job, but I just can't keep saying yes, yes, yes, meaning I spend more and more time on the same job unless they pay me more. It just doesn't make sense.

Oh lucky you, Punkin, to get free slate! :) I love candles as well but have become intolerant to any artificial scents. Glade plug-ins would make me sick instantly, and I have to buy no-scent or good quality scented candles and insense. Those candle parties usually sell the good kind, I think for the prices..... Now I'm becoming more and more allergic to the smells of shampoo. I buy an herbal shampoo from my natural food club that doesnt make my eyes puff up. I think it all started with shampoo around 10 years ago... Oh well.

Smokey has perked up, and is purring again. Still doesn't want to eat, though. I think he is on the mend, getting over a cat-flu. Yesterday after I fed him a squirt with the syringe, he hid behind the computer monitor all day, only coming out when John came home. He is really miffed with that syringe.

But at least he is alert again!

Today is my first full day at the Library. John has to take Foster to a Cub event, they are racing cub-cars, these little wooden racing cars.

Well off to deliver millions of papers. Last night we sat on the porch (with Smokey) and the temp went up to 15 (58 I think for you Americans). It was raining gently, and so reminded me of Vancouver. Smells like spring! But John says it's going to get cold tonight... :(

Buy all!

Lois

Hi girls.

Sorry I've been MIA the last few days. My *darling* daughter decided she would skip class on Thursday afternoon....a class she was supposed to be writing a geography test in. Her teacher called me at work, so needless to say her behind is confined to her room still.....and will be all week, March break or not. It is an automatic ZERO for the test, no make up test allowed. I'm trying to get it through her thick14-year-old-I'm-all-grown-up skull that everything she does in high school is going to have an effect on the rest of her life whether she believes me or not. It hasn't been pleasant around here.

It is absolutely stormy out there tonight. High winds and rain...the kind that makes the cats jump at sudden gusts, and it's howling around my windows. Nothing to block it nine floors up. The cats are staying very close to me tonight.

Punkin, was it PartyLite candles that you ordered? They are the only candles I burn. Smoke free, last longer, and such yummy scents. My place is filled with candles...yes, sheila...in the bathroom too, so tell hubby he's just a stupid man :D.

Lamorgan, glad you're enjoying your new job. I hope poor kitty continues to improve. I wish they could talk so we'd know what to do for them.

Ruthie, now that you're entering that transition phase and changes are beginning in your life, I imagine the road will feel a little bumpy along the way. Take it a day at a time, and don't forget to breathe! It will all work out somehow. Glad your gums are healing nicely.

Amyjo, nice to see you posting again! I hope you'll get a few days to yourself during your break. It sounds like you need some R&R.

Flower, where are you?

Linds did drop by, right? We didn't imagine that? :D Linds, oh Linds.....come back!

And what about Venus? I was really enjoying her posts. I hope she will return soon.

I only made it to the gym once this week. I'm so tired after work that I just want to be a slug. I'm going to pack a bag at night and throw it in my car. Then I can drop off hubby at home and head over to the gym before I get home for the night. I think that might work. I am definitely going over tomorrow sometime. Coronation Street is on at 7am tomorrow, so I'll be up and around early. I am a little dismayed at how quickly I tire on the aerobic machines. I can walk at a good clip outside for over an hour no problem, but stick me on a machine and I die. Maybe because I have nothing to focus on but how many minutes/calories/distance are being displayed on the monitor? I dunno.

I'm off to bed, chicks. Yak at you later.

As I mentioned on the food thread, these neighbors below me are driving me out of my mind. I know I'm PMS, so I'm probably more sensitive than usual, but what I don't understand is why they insist on slamming their doors (each apt here has a front and a back door) so loud the building literally shakes. The effect on me is as though I heard a gunshot. On the weekends I like to take a nap, plus every night I go to to bed early (9 PM'ish usually) b/c I wake up so early. As soon as I fall asleep, these *******s wake me up slamming their doors. It is NOT a problem with the doors, b/c it never happened with the former tenant. I have spoken with the neighbors about it twice, and complained to the super once. The super told me basically to just get over it -- but he doesn't hear it even though he's across the hall from the slammers b/c his TV is always blasting. I pay a rent so high I'm embarrassed to even tell you (but trust me, whatever you think it is, it's higher; this is the NYC metropolitan area), so I really feel entitled to a modicum of peace and quiet. Bottom line is, I don't feel anything my neighbors do should wake me up out of a SOUND sleep. I have been taking sleeping pillls just so I can get to sleep without being awakened. Last night they had company over, which meant more door slamming, furniture scraping across bare floors (even though we're required to have them carpeted) and music playing. What galls me is that they know the slamming disturbs me, yet they continue to do it. So on Monday I am calling directly to the management office to complain. I have a right to quiet enjoyment of my apartment, just like everyone's lease says. I know I'll only be here a few more months, but I work hard, and I study, and I think I have a right to sleep in my apartment without being awakened. The whole issue is just eating me up inside and I don't know how to get over it. Every time I try to chill out and relax, they slam a door. It's to the point that I don't even want to spend time in my own home.

Anyways, enough of that tirade. It's just driving me crazy.

Wildfire, we're having the same wind here. I woke up in the middle of the night to a wicked rainstorm. Pretty soon I have to go out and walk in that wind -- should be interesting. Good luck with the DD -- been there, done that.

Lois, glad your cats are feeling better.

Sheila, good for you holding off on the baking since you know you can't resist!

Oh, ruthie...I know JUST how frustrated and ticked off annoying neighbors can make you feel. When I moved to this apartment it was to get away from two young guys who blasted music below me all hours of the day and night. I tried everything...talking with them, yelling at them, calling truces, speaking to the super, the owner, the police....nothing worked. Their stereo literally filled their living room, and I once had dishes fall from the kitchen cupboard they vibrated so much. I was trying to work full time and study for exams, too. I was ready to pull my hair out. I hated going home after work because I knew what my night would be like. I finally had to give my notice and move. Now I listen to noise above me, but it's only on the weekends. The tenants above me have young children on the weekends, like clockwork it starts at 7pm Friday, and ends on Sunday afternoon sometime. I listen to balls bouncing, toys on wheels being driven across the hardwood (and our lease says you must have carpet to block the noise to your neighbors, but they obviously don't.), and 6am each morning those rugrats hit the floor running like a herd of elephants. There are only two small children, but it sounds like a daycare full. Oh, and don't even ask about the noise when they get in the bathroom and start wailing at the top of their lungs....where it echos off the tiles.... grrrrrr. I've complained, and my super said she isn't aware of any children living there as it is a brother and sister renting. Well, I didn't imagine the anklebiters I saw when I've gone up to ask them to be quieter. I think it must be a partial custody arrangement, or someone else's kids they have for weekends. I just don't understand why people feel they have the right to disturb other tenants. All it takes is a little consideration for the people around you. I won't even run the vacuum until after noon on the weekends, and never after 7pm....you just don't know the sleeping/work habits of others. I really think that rental apartments need to enforce rules contained in a lease, but lazy superintendents might actually have to DO something then. Mine are off duty more than they're on. One of these days I'm going to rip that "OFF DUTY" sign off their door and set fire to it. I'm telling you, if we don't get a house soon my hubby will be visiting me either in jail or in an asylum. :D

I feel like I'm holding my breath until my daughter is off to college or out on her own. I don't know if we're both going to survive her teen years, and I'm betting on me.

The wind is still pretty ferocious here this morning. I want to just stay in my apartment today....but soon hubby will up to play his online game (ALL DAY), and my daughter will be doing the heavy sighs that make me want to strangle her....it's her own damn fault she's bored and grounded! Maybe I should go for a walk in the wind, too....what's Kansas like this time of year? :D

I will come and play on Tuesday and Wednesday. My days off. :)

windy walking....
 

I had the most awesome walk this morning -- but just by impulse I decided instead of heading out on my usual route north, I would keep walking west and go up to the nature reserve near my house. I've always wanted to hike there, but the truth is I was afraid there might be psychos living in there:lol: . (But it's true! I pass one homeless man every day as he walks down the road thru the reservation, and finally one day I saw him on the street near my house, so I asked him if he sleeps up there. He said he didn't...but he also turned out to be nice, and probably not someone who'd slit my throat or whatever.) Today I just couldn't resist the urge to get away from sucky humanity -- I haven't been hiking or camping in SOOOOOO long and I soooooooo miss it. So I hiked around in there for a couple hours, and it was awesome. The wind was so strong, I had to keep an eye out on the trees above me; I was afraid one would snap and crash right down on me. I saw a doe, and a friendly dog who was with his owner ran up to me and nearly knocked me down. They always know the people who are afraid of dogs, and they try their best to convert us, never realizing it's the jumping and licking and crotch sniffing and so forth that turns us away! Anyways, it was a beautiful morning out after a weekend of annoyance. Then I spent the whole -- I mean the whole -- day typing. I am beat. I came home after my hike and had a big breakfast, and didn't eat again all day until a little while ago, when I had some tabboule and an okara burger on toast. So today was a better day for me. I want to hike up there more often, now that I know the trails a little better.

Wildfire, don't worry, you WILL survive your daughter's adolescence. If my DD and I didn't kill each other, then neither will you. Thanks for the tale of the neighbors worse than mine ... you reminded me that when I lived in Cleveland (like 11 or 12 years ago) there was a chick downstairs who had parties and blasted the stereo every single weekend. I called the cops on them every weekend, and every weekend they did it again. With these people, it's mostly just the door slamming that gets me, so I guess I should feel lucky. OK, time for me to go veg.

Good mornin' everyone!

Last night was the birthday dinner and the 100 pound cake dessert... I did quite well and had a 2 pound loss this week!

Lamorgan - Yuppers it was CandleLite. They are really good candles - I like how they just disolve instead of creating a big ol' pile of wax to deal with. I won't mention how much I spent! :eek:

Ruthie - I'm sorry about the neighbors - geez, it seems like people have no sense anymore. I mean, I'm even concerned about my neighbors hearing my music and they're over a football field away! Some people just have no consideration... :rolleyes:

The trip to Mitchell, OR to see the slate was wonderful. We're going to go back in the late spring to get some to take home. I can't believe the state just piles it all over when they built the roads - people pay SO much money for this stuff! I also got to see the Painted Hills - absolutely beautiful, even in overcast weather.

Well, I better get some work done since I have another short week this week. Last 3 day vacation until my friends from CA come up in April.

Have a great week everyone!

Terri :moo:

Hello Ladies
 

Hi All
Well this weekend wasnt too bad.. On Saturday DH and I and kiddos went down to the park. I love watching the ducks swim around and walk thru the trails around the pond. The temps were almost 70 on saturday !!!! After chasing my kids around it started to get late so I wasnt able to take the trail walk ( 2.5 miles according to the park map.) So when I got home I spent 2 hours cleaning up the back yard and sidewalk at my duplex. The owner/neighbor is disable so he couldnt do that type of work anymore and his wife , I found out is also on very very lite exercise due to heart trouble (she was in the hospital Thurs and I am still not sure she is home yet.) She was having chest pains
Anyway I was only able to get 1/2 the yard done
Sunday it was FREEZING once again and winds were blowing 35 mph with gusts up to 50.. I watched my trash cans take flight due to a wind gust.. It flew over a 4 foot fence into the alley and flew two feet over the ground into the street.. So anyway Sunday I played catch up with laundry and house work. I also baked 14 muffins and a batch of peanut butter brownies..Thanks to the litte ones I dont need to worry about either today they are all gone..
Most the day today all I did is go over every single entry of my checking account.. I knew there was an error somewhere in there I had to find it. That took 4 hours!! I will be more aware of my entries for now on.. I rewrote the whole register over again..

PUNKIN: Congrats on the loss!!!!!! I heardPartylite Candles are wonderful I just dont know any sellers that sell them..:(

RUTHIE: I know how you feel when you just wanna get away from it all. Thats when I go for my trail walks just to focus on the quiet calmness that surrounds me in those woods..

WILDFIRE: My "rugrats" sound worse then those that race around above your head.. My DD seems to love to aggravate my DS till he gets into a fevered screaming fit that sounds like a horror movie scream. Now my DS has turned into a mouthy little punk that talks back and doesnt listen because he sees his sister doing it..DD is 11 (will be 12 on the 13th) she hits me kicks me scratches me ( she has longer fingernails then I do) if I go near her.. Yelling dont work taking her stuff away dont work I am ready to RIP my hair out with you..:lol:
Well all I am off to get dinner ready again .. Leftover roast beef again
Take care
Sheila

Gee - is this what I have to look foward to with my youngsters? :)


Worked all weekend.... I just love the ER :dizzy: Get to see so much! Hate to see the sick kids and it blows my mind when you see 12 and 13 year olds come in "preggers" but it happens and being a University Hospital you see a lot of neglect and thing you just don't understand but you have to deal with :(...

Well I got to get dinner ready.... cooking more, trying to get some pounds off of my kids as well as myself!

Oh yeah! Got our treadmill this past weekend. "DH" spent more money than I had planned but it should last. Lets hope anyway! There are some other things I would like to pick up for our inhome "gym" but I am satisfied for now.

Hugs to all,
Amy
176-148-130

Paul Newman rocks!
 

Girls, from now on save your pennies and only buy Newman's Own or Newman's Organic products! Yesterday I got a check from Paul Newman for $1,000 to the Leukemia Society in support of my marathon. Woo hoo!! I had gone thru my kitchen and written to the companies that make all the brands I buy frequently, which include a lot of organic and smaller, socially conscious companies, Newman's Own being one of them. I never expected that generous a donation, though! Here's the irony: in the course of doing this, I found out that a couple of the "small" companies whose products I have been buying are actually divisions of huge multinationals like Kellogg and Hormel -- and those companies wrote back and said they couldn't possibly afford to make a donation. I am so happy because I had been getting very discouraged with my fundraising progress to date. I will get a summary report on Friday, but hopefully with this donation I should be close to halfway to my goal.

I also found out yesterday that there is a seven hour time limit for the marathon. That breaks down to a speed of 3.75 miles/hour. I think I can do that...but I'm not there yet. My best has been about 3.25, with the exception of the one four-mile stretch I did at a 4 mile/hour pace -- but that was only once; I haven't been able to sustain it. What I'm wondering is, if I can do this, and reach other goals I've set for myself, WHY THE **** AM I STILL FAT??? I guess it has to do with shoveling food in my face, huh? :lol:

Amy, kudos to you for the career you've chosen. It may not always be pretty, but you will help countless people throughout your working life. I envy you.

Sheila, am I going to see you and DD on Ricki Lake? I think the pre-teen years are sometimes worse than the teen years -- that's when they test the waters and behave in ways you never thought your sweet kiddies could.

Punkinseed, congrats on the 2-lb. loss!! :D You're doing great! I think I'd gain 2 lbs. just being in the same room as a 100 lb. cake!

Flower, looking forward to seeing you this week!

Wildfire, start slow on the gym machines and work your way up. I find that as long as you don't exhaust yourself, when you exercise you have more energy. Maybe you should plan to go 2 times this week, three next week, four times in two weeks ... something like that. Don't overload yourself.

Lois, where are you? Kitty ok? How's the job going?

Well, if I'm walking today I have to leave now. Actually, I think I'm going to rest again today and walk instead of resting on Friday. I've had insomnia the last two nights (can't imagine why...waiting, wondering if #1 school will accept me...) and I let myself sleep an extra 45 minutes this a.m. I worked ~12 or 13 hours yesterday -- I DESERVED THE SLEEP!

Wow, Ruthie! I'm so supremely impressed with Paul Newman's donation! Good to know that kind of thing really happens--thanks for sharing!

Sorry I haven't been posting too much. I'm still having back pain and I'm functioning okay, it's just that throughout my waking hours I'm aware of the pain. So I'm off to see my doctor tomorrow morning--at this point I'd be happy to get a nice very un-holistic cortisone shot. I just want to get back to my regular life!

I'll pop in more--I've missed it! [I just didn't want to whine--I'm at the big whiny-baby stage now!!!:mad: ]

Hi my friends! I actually don't have my day off yet. I got talked into waiting a day. They wanted me to wait 2, but I said, no way! I have a WIC appt for Grif tomorrow at 8 and I don't want to rush. I think this is #10 in a row working. The pace will slow down a bit. The have a budget now. :) I have 6 orders for custom floral designs. 2 over 200 a piece. My feet killed yesterday./ I had bought DR scholls inserts for my penny loafers. But they made my toes too tight after a few hours. I took them out and my heels slipped all afternoon and my arches were sore. I am wearing my mules today. But they are only compfy for about 5 hours not 8. I may just have to bring 2 pairs of shoes and rotate. My problem is my foot is wide at top and I have skinny heels. So they don't fit everywhere.

Starting next week I am getting back to my diet. I can't think about it right now or it will lead me to binge, but I can't put it off much longer. I haven't gained. I don't over eat much any more. But I do eat some empty calories. I can make better choices and the fat should fall off. :) I will be going to the market on Wed and Thurs and thinking healthier.

There is a cute guy at work. I of course LOVE my boyfriend. I would never even consider anything more w/ this guy. But a small part of me, the girlie part, wishes I wasn't invisable. The shift leader in my dept gets the guys running when she needs some guys. I end up having to beg. (Sort of...most the guys are nice and are willing to help) I just wish that I could be noticed for the super cute girl I am on the inside. Does any of that make scence? I have guy friends at the store. The kind that treat me as one of the guys. I have always been treated that way. Is it my personality or it is cause I am out of shape? I guess that's just the way I am. :?:

We bought a second car. I am getting a bit more free time now. Chris is able to run errands and get things done when I am at work. This makes home time so much nicer. He took Griffin to his parents this morning. I have 2 hours alone before work. Imagine that!!!! It is a Bronco II , black 4x4. 1989. 1500$. It does need a new seal on the gear box. It is leaking power steering fluid. Pep boys said 250$ to fix. That is doable. :)

I am seeing arm muscles. I doble checked to make sure it wasn't a tumor or something when I was appling deoderant the other day! I got new bras. Lace ones. I feel so much sexier! Lane bryant has a nice one with support and NO wire! I got 2. Cream and Black.

I wish to loose 2 inches from my tummy soon. I have some black work pants that I am affraid to wash or I won't be comfortable. They are cheaper brands and I didn't try them on.

Well, I will check in tomorrow afternoon and write to you all personally after WIC. Have a wonderful day friendS! ~flower

Hello ladies!

Man do I need this upcoming 3 day weekend! The last I'll have until my friends come up from CA in April...
I've got a crick in my neck that's screaming "WORK". My job doesn't have to be this difficult. I tell ya' - the people that have no sense sure make life interesting for those of us that do...

Ruthie - that donation is INCREDIBLE!!!!! I'm SO impressed with their generosity! Count me as a new Paul Newman fan, I'll pay more attention to his products if I know they're really donating the money they say they are!

Thanks for the congrats on the loss! I'm feeling like I might actually be able to reach my first mini-goal of getting to 230-something before my friends come up on 4/12. I have 4.5 pounds left to go to reach that goal and 4 weeks to do it in. :cool:

Both my friends in CA and I are doing this together and are doing great with long distance support (like what we do here without the fancy-shmancy boards!). They're both loosing weight to get pregnant so my Auntie-hood status should be growing next year!!:lol: Actually I'm really excited about my one friend because she'll have to have a scheduled C-section, so I can actually be there this time for this birth!

Well, back to work...

Terri :moo:

I am still so tired. I keep waking up at night feeling unable to get back to sleep, and I keep tossing and turning thinking the alarm has already gone off and if I fall back to sleep I'll oversleep. I hope this insomnia is just about waiting to hear from schools, in which case it should be over next week. #1 school had said we would be notified the third week in March -- I hope it's early in the week!

I ran into the super yesterday. I had found out his wife is very sick, so I wasn't going to b***h about the noisemeisters below me, but he asked. He actually seemed dismayed that they were still disturbing me, which surprised me b/c I didn't think he really cared. Surprisingly, last night they were veeeeery quiet. We'll see how it goes.

Eydie, I'm glad you're going to the doctor. There's no reason to keep suffering. Hope you're feeling better.

Flower, life sounds busy!

Terri, I'm sure you can reach your goal -- you're doing great!

I have to get my butt in gear weight-wise. I have decided that while I am still making decent money I'm going to buy myself new clothes -- comfortable clothes instead of the "temporary" clothes I wear now b/c I gained weight. You know what I mean? And I have to get on program with eating, gum surgery or no. I've been thinking about joining the 21-day challenge on this board, but I'm a little daunted b/c it has no "wiggle room" -- if you go off program one day, you start over.