Hi!!!!

Its Friday!!! Love Friday's. I even took off a couple hours early. I'm getting ready to get off here and just relax the rest of the night. I'm just tired tonight. I've not been sleeping very well the last several nights and it catches up with you eventually.

Skeeter, I'm really glad your puter is working really good now. I've got to get some more memory for my puter. I don't know what I'm waiting for cause all the puter stores have been having sales on it. I guess I'm worried about whether I'll be able to put it in or not. Guess I could call my brother. We've been getting some rain yesterday and today. We really need it cause its been pretty dry here lately. You are just like me since you'd rather look at a snake than spiders. I absolutely HATE spides. I was bit by one when I was a kid and my neck swelled up so big I couldn't turn my head. And about 15 years ago I had an allergic reaction to a spider bite and spent 2 days in the hospital. Yikes, gives me the creeps just thinking about them.

Sally, well work was busy this week. I was off all last week so I went into 2 weeks worth of work waiting for me. Hopefully I'll still have my job after all the layoffs go through. Hopefully the early retirement package will help keep them from laying off as many as they said they would. I'm not even going to get on my soap box about the predicament this state is in cause I'll just get really mad.

Well, I'm going to get going. Take care and I'll talk to you later.

Hi!!! Hope your weekend is going well. I just wanted to come in and post a recipe that I found. I've not tried it yet but I've got the stuff to make it and I might make it tonight.

Creamsicle Smoothie

2 cups of cantaloupe pieces
1 cup of orange juice
1 tbsp of honey (I'm going to use sweetner)
1/4 tsp of vanilla extract
1 - 4 ice cubes

place the first four ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth. Gradually add the ice until the disired thickness is reached.

It doesn't show the calories but I don't think it would be to bad.

Take care everyone.

Hey Everyone

It's another hot one here today. We haven't had any rain in a few days and the heat index is well into the 100's. My electric bill is going to be outrageous if we don't get some rain to cool things off soon. A small hurricane would do the trick.

Marlana~I keep forgetting to weigh myself in the morning but I feel good in my clothes so I'm not too worried. We ate at our favorite bbq place yesterday when we went to town for groceries. I had the salad bar with no deserts. I also took my own lite salad dressing and fat free crackers. I splurged with some cheese on my salad though. Is your weather as hot as ours?

Sally~A dip in the pool sure sounds good. I am planning to take my grandkids out to the campground to swim after vacation bible school a few times while they are here. I have a neighbor that runs that place 4 days a week so we can swim free. There aren't too many people camping there at this time of year anyhow. We are also going to Silver Springs at least once for an afternoon if we can stand the heat. Those glass bottom boats don't move fast enough to stir any air. Good luck with your program at home. I would be tickled to get down to your weight.

JoJo~I can't believe how much better this computer is working. It was so slow before that I couldn't surf the web at all. Now I can spend hours looking around and downloading stuff. I haven't gotten a fatal error yet. It will happen as soon as my warranty expires though. I guess I'll just have to run the recovery discs again if it starts messing up. I am going to stock up on floppies for the next time. I found another one of those giant bloom hibiscus over the weekend. It's a deep dark red. I haven't planted it yet but need to really soon because it's blooming and has lots of buds on it. My pink one is almost finished for the season.

Hope all you ladies that are absent are doing good. We miss hearing from you. Y'all take care.

I just have to write. I'm so upset I could scream. We got a notice saying that our home owners insurance was being canceled unless we relinquish our dog. She is a chow mix and the sweetest dog we've ever had. She's never been agressive and I've never even heard her growl except when she was just a puppy and we were playing rough with her.

I called our insurance company and the guy said it was being canceled because we have a vicious dog. Excuse me!!! I wouldn't own a vicious dog.

I just want to warn you all, if you have a big dog such as a german sheppard, chow, doberman, akita, etc... be careful of your insurance co.

I asked the guy what I was supposed to do with my dog if they won't cover us, we can't give her to anyone because their insurance won't cover them if they take her so am I supposed to have her put to sleep. I also asked if they were trying to wipe out all these breeds of dogs because they consider them vicious.

I'm so upset. The thought of having to give my dog away or have her put to sleep just kills me. She is like my kid. The problem is its not just my insurance, the majority of home owners insurance is taking this policy. So I don't know what to do.

I'm going to go now. I'll come back later when I'm not so upset.

Hi...I haven't been here in days, sorry about that. I just haven't wanted to talk or write to anyone. I'm eating myself to death and still hurting. As you all know I have a daughter that is not stable at all. We haven't talked to Kassie in months and the phone number won't work anymore. I found out a few days ago that my daughter is not employed at the hospital where she was since 2-11-2002. I have no idea where she are my grand daughter is. Needless to say, I'm not in a good state of mind. As much as I try to shove the feelings of hurt down with food, it's not working. I just wanted to come in and let you all know I'm not dead. I'll try my best to come in tomorrow and write to everyone. I know you all have problems as well as things your proud of too. Take care and I sure hope everyone is doing better with food than I am.
Marlana

Hi everyone,
Lordy, we're having a week of it, aren't we? My ex husband and I go back to court Monday, and he is driving me nuts with nasty emails. He can't call anymore, so now he emails.
Mama, I hope you find your daughter and that grandbaby post-haste. I know you must be frantic.
JoJo, don't you dare get rid of that dog! You send her to me if you have to---we have FIVE, one more won't hurt. When we bought this house and got our insurance policy, I remember the agent asking what kind of dogs we had, but that's all he ever said, and we never heard any more about the doggies. We have one Malamute which is the size of a pony, but I've never seen any of them be aggresive toward a soul. That is so awful! I don't like mean dogs, either, but they shouldn't be discriminated against because they're a certain breed. My little Maltese got mauled a couple of months ago by a mutt--small mutt at that. You just can't lump breeds together like that, it's how they were raised. I hope it works out okay for you! Let us know.
Skeeter, hope you're doing okay too!
I better run--I'm like Mama--the more emails I get from the ex, the more I want to eat!!! I'm going to do the dishes and get out of the kitchen for the night.
Love you all,
Sally

Hi there.

I'm doing better tonight. I talked to my insurance agent, he is totally disgusted with the company, he's a pet owner to and can't believe some of the stuff that was said to me when I called them. And he gave me pointers for finding a new company. Hopefully I'll get that done soon.

((((((((Marlana))))))) I'm so sorry your having such a hard time. I didn't realize it has come to this. I hope you get some answers soon so you don't feel so helpless. That makes you want to eat and its hard to handle. Thats how I was feeling last night.

Sally, you snuck in on me when I wasn't looking. You need to change your email address and if you go into your old email addy, well, delete the ex's mail without opening it. Oh, theres no way I'm giving up my dog. No way. She's my furbaby.

Oh, I kinda had a little bit of an argument with my co-worker, she started it and told me I did something when I didn't. I'm so sick of it and I never point the things out to them that they do wrong nor do I run to my supervisor with every little thing but you know, I'm gonna start. I'm already making my list of their wrong doings. I'm just sick of it all plus I'm not even going to talk to them if (one in particular) I don't have to. I'm just tired of feeling like I have to defend myself when I did nothing wrong. Anyway, like I said, I'm keeping track of things to throw up to them when something is said to me. I'm fed up. The majority of the time, we all get along fine. I'm tired of blaming myself for it to. I'm chalking it up to personalities not mixing.

Well, take care everyone. Dh just got home with chinese take out.

I guess I'll try to write a whole post this morning. Sorry I haven't been in here much lately. This will most likely be my last post for a few days. I'm getting ready to go camping with the grand kids I have left that I can see. Four of them, Jacky 15 1/2, Jordan, 12, Jillie 9 and Brett 4. I'll have my hands full that's for sure. I guess because of the situation with Kassie, I've been showering them with attention. I had to make myself stop buying for them yesterday when I was in town. I did get all kinds of things that they can draw, paint, color and put stickers on. I was going to go on the web and get clip art to print out for stickers. Those clipart sites are like those people that send all that spam. You never quite get to the clipart. To top it all off, the printer won't print the right color. I don't want to install the new printer, well I can't, I don't have the UBS cord it takes. It's always something, isn't it???

Sally~~Just on the 10th of July I was doing so good, and now I'm doing so bad, how quickly it turns around. It's for sure I'm an emotional eater. Fat chance of getting it together during this up coming camping trip. Why don't you block your X from sending you email. I block some people from sending me mail, of course I have to check to see who it was from sometimes. In outlook it comes in, it just goes to the deleted file. I got to get control of myself, I know that. I haven't even gone on the camp out yet, and I'm wanting it over with already. I got to relax and try and enjoy these kids. Lord you should see what all I've bought for them to eat. Today I'm making a double batch of Cho. chip cookies. Just shoot me now!!!!

Marybeth~~I thank we are all having a heck of a time getting on a food plan and staying there. Maybe the exception would be Skeeter right now. Maybe with her taking the lead we can all get it together soon. I'm sure tired of my life and how it's going. I hope your still making it, you had one day the last time you wrote.

Jo Jo~~You was having problems sleeping way back on July 7, hope it has gotten better. I've lost a lot of sleep as of lately. For one thing getting up at 3 in the morning doesn't help, plus I've been in a very bad state of mind. Last night I went to bed at 9:30 and I couldn't believe that the next thing I knew was when hubby pecked on the door to wake me up at 3. I have not slept 5 1/2 hours without going to the bathroom in so long I can't remember. I felt a lot better when I got up too. My bladder is the size of a pea anymore. Guess I should be thankful, it's the only little thing I got on my body. Thanks for the new recipe, I'll try it when I get the time. What home insurance do you have?? I'm not surprised at what has happened at all. Things are really getting bad in this country on just what you can do anymore. Now the government is going to let the insurance company's tell you what kind of a dog you can have. It's not too for in the future that they are going to tell overweight people that they won't carry you on insurance either. Already paying for two seats on the airplanes. More and more things are getting out of control. To me if they want to put some controls on something, let it be people coming into this country, the people who make our medicines and for sure crooks getting into the White House, Senate and Congress. A government "For the people and of the people." Ha Ha what a joke.

Skeeter~~I'm so proud of you girl, and so proud for you. Staying on your food plan and losing 7 pounds. Congratulations....Hang in there till I get off the camping trip. If you can do that I will have to get my act together. My electric bill is going to be outrageous too. According to the weather man the heat is on for next week, wouldn't you know it. I just paid one for 95.00 and I've already got one laying here for 115.00. And Lordie, I've got one to paid around the first, car insurance...1400.00. That one hurts. And thats the cheapest one I can find. It's out of Okla City and is owning by Blue Cross. It beat the next cheapest I could find by 400.00. I wonder what could be wrong with my printer. It doesn't seem to be printing red. I just put ink into it so I know that isn't it. I typed some stuff in red before I started this post and it printed it out in black. That's now right is it? And yes I got the ink in the right spot. It's always something. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, I'M SO PROUD OF YOU~~

Girls I thank I'm finding out something. I don't know if I've discussed it in this group or not, I know I have with Skeeter. Sometimes the muscles in my legs get so tired just to walk a 100 yards. I heard a group of people on TV a couple of weeks ago talking about what Nutra Sweet does to them. I drink Nutra Sweet in Crystal Lite tea and a lot of it when I'm on a food plan. As you know I was doing pretty good until all this crap started with my child and drinking a lot. I was walking to the garden a lot to water, and my muscles was so weak. Now that I'm not drinking the tea with the Nutra Sweet, I'm still walking to the garden to water, not drinking the Nutra Sweet and my muscles aren't bothering me at all. I'm thanking it's the Nutra Sweet. When I'm back home and kids are gone and back on the food plan and drinking Nutra Sweet again we'll see what happens. I'll let you know. Well girls I guess I better go, I've got loads to do to get ready to leave. See ya when this is all over. I appreciate all of you who writes on this board.

Marlana

Hello. Well the weekend is almost here and I'm so glad. I've got to start calling insurance companies today to get some quotes. I've got a little more than a month to get everything switched.

Skeeter, you've lost 7lbs?!!!! Wow. I guess I've not done much reading the last several days, I've been so upset over our insurance situation. Congrats on doing so well. Also, I'm glad your puter is working better. That helps when you don't have to worry about figuring out whats wrong, and if your like me, you can't figure it out. Do you still have those fishies?

Marlana, you sound better today. Hopefully all those kiddies will help take your mind off of things. You've sure been thru the wringer with your dd. I hope you find out where they are real soon. Do you still have your fish? You've not mentioned them lately and I was curious. Oh boy, the thing with our insurance has put me in a total tailspin. I'm just so shocked over it all and that they'd expect me to get rid of or destroy my furbaby. They are totally nuts. I suppose none of them have any beloved animals so they can't imagine what it feels like. But then again, I realize the guy I talked to works for the company & is supposed to say those things even tho he might not agree. Oh well, its done and I'm glad I know this now because I don't care to be associated with that company anymore and I will tell everyone about it. I'm hoping that this company will lose a lot of money over this, not just from us but from other customers.

Sally, well, the insurance co's are lumping these dogs all into one category. They called my dog vicious!!!!! I think I could be more vicious than my dog. The thing is, all dogs will bite if provoked enough but it doesn't mean they are vicious. That just makes me sick. Hopefully when your ex figures out that his emails aren't doing anything, he'll stop. Just don't respond to any of them.

Well, I've got to get off here and start making some calls. Take care everyone.

Hello Y’all

I can’t believe it’s Friday and I haven’t been in to chat for over a week. Well I’ve only got 6 working days left…and it’s been non-stop this past week. Actually, some of the time has been working on finding new employment, but hey that’s got to be my #1 priority right now. I’ve started calling my upcoming “unemployment” semi-retirement. Boy do I wish that were really true. Hubby is concerned, as I am, but we’ll get through I’m sure.

Food hasn’t been good since the 4th of July weekend, but we all went to WW today and stayed for the meeting, so now I just have to get back in the habit of tracking and recording what I’m eating…I stayed the same which is good considering all the ‘extras’ I’ve had this week. Too many going away parties. The weather has been so HOT here the last 2 weeks that I just can’t seem to motivate myself to exercise. Whoever is getting all the rain, please send some my way…the Governor is about ready to impose water restrictions statewide. This is our third year of drought and the dirt is like powder. I never thought I’d be hoping for a hurricane [just the rain, no wind] but at this point they are saying we’d need 3 to put a dent into the drought.

Jo Jo, I can’t believe the insurance company. What type of dog do you have? Isn’t there any way you can appeal the ruling. Have you tried your State Insurance Board?

Sally, so you and the family are coming up this way next year for vacation! I think it would be great to try and get together. Hope all goes well on Monday, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed. The judge in the past has sounded reasonable and I can’t believe they’d side with the ex.

Skeeter, glad to see someone in the group is on the loosing side of things. Congratulations on the 7lbs. lost!

Marlana, hope you and the grandkids have a good time camping. Going to the lake like last year? Couldn’t the hospital tell you where your daughter’s last paycheck was sent to, or perhaps the post office to see where her mail maybe forwarded? I know things are tuff not knowing where they are, but hang in there.

Well, I’ve got to run…something about MCI again…I wish they would just file for bankruptcy and be done with it. Have a good weekend.
Mb
241/181.2/160

Hey Everyone

I hope everyone is doing okay. I got my house all cleaned this morning and turned this thing on just as a thunderstorm moved around us. It thundered a lot but we never did get any rain. All it did was keep me off the computer.

Marlana~I hope that you have a good time and enjoy those grandkids. I will have mine here the week after next. I feel the same way about looking forward to them but anxious too. They are used to a very busy lifestyle in the city and there is nothing here but woods. The biggest problem is mosquitoes right now which will limit their outdoor activities. I just hope that I can keep them from being bored. I think that we pay about the same thing for our auto insurance here. That is two vehicles like you and fully covered.

Sally~I hope that you are printing all of those nasty emails to show to the judge on Monday. Let your ex hang himself. Is he that stupid to not realize that you can print all those emails and take them to court? Let's hope that your judge is like Judge Judy. That woman is so funny. Did your little dog survive the attack? I sure hope so. That is a fear that I have with my small dogs. They will confront other animals, not realizing that there are mean animals out there. Good luck on Monday.

JoJo~I can't believe that your homeowners insurance is being canceled when so many other people actually own vicious dogs. This whole country is out of control. If you find a problem with other companies, maybe you could request an agent check your dog personally. I don't even remember anyone asking us about dogs when we changed companies a few years ago. Maybe I just wasn't paying attention. It has taken me a long time to lose that 7#. I lost the first 2# way back when we were talking about the paper clips to keep track. I then lost 4 in a good week and then played yo-yo with a couple of those. They didn't stick and then was pleasantly surprised yesterday with another 1# loss. Maybe that will give me enough motivation to get through another weekend. Yes I still have the fish. They are all doing so well. I also have encouraged a wild squirrel to take peanuts from my fingers. He started doing that about a month ago and is now causing a few others to be brave and get closer. I really have a soft spot for squirrels.

Marybeth~Have you had any luck at all in finding a new job? I hope that you find a position that fits you soon. I also hope that you get back OP soon too. You and Sally are the ones that keep me motivated to keep trying and not giving up. I had put 10# back on since last year. It has been hard to get OP and stick to it more than two days. I am going to have a real battle while my grandkids are here and feel like just giving it up for that week. Luckily, they like salad and fruit. Good luck with your job hunt.

Y'all have a good weekend.

Hey all I know it has been a long time but so much has gone on since I was in here last. You all may remember that I had to buy a new computer in Feb. when my other one was stolen in a break in. Well, the hard drive on the new on went out and it had taken me almost 3 months to get them out here and get it fixed so I have been without a computer and have not been able to get online. Also I got really sick. I kept getting an infection in my female organs and was really having a bad time with my periords. I finsally went to my ob/gyn in June. I was ready for them to take it all out. Instead, we decided that I would have an endometrial ablation. It is an alternative to a hysterectomy. They go in and destroy the lining of the uterus. In most it reduces the flow and in some they never have a period again. ( I am hoping this is me.) But anything is better than what I was going through.
So anyway, now I have my computer back online and my self I hope back together. I went bak on program last week. I did not have a good week even thought I wrote down everything I ate and stayed within my point range and walked every day. I still did not lose a pound. But I am trying not to let it get to me even though it is hard not too. It is really depressing.
I have missed you all a lot and hope to catch up soon.
Teresa