Good Evening Flowers!

It was another beautiful day in my neighborhood -- 55 degrees on my way home from school this afternoon. It felt like spring and it smelled like spring. The ice on the lake is soupy and gray looking.

Bubbles -- Many years ago we had to play Trivial Pursuit at a Christmas party and I hated it! It was when the game first came out and I hadn't been in the classroom for years. There was a teacher on our team which was a good thing. I have always like the TV programs like Bewitched, I Love Lucy, etc. I could watch those reruns until the cows come home. I don't watch much TV any more and couldn't tell you what any of the programs are.

I agree with Maggie that you are brave to bank online. I got a credit card bill in Dec. with a charge made in Oct. to PayTech for $49.95. I called the credit card company to find out what I had bought and she told me that I probably bought something from a telemarketer (NOT!) and to call the toll free number by the charge on the bill. Of course, that number was always busy no matter what time of day I called. So I called the credit card company back and they told me to fill out the dispute charge information on the back of the bill and send it in, which I did. I get a second bill with another charge of the same amount plus a late payment charge added on. So I call again and it's the same story, same routine. A couple days later I get a letter from the credit card company saying they are going to turn it over to collection, etc., etc. So I call again and this time I am not so nice because I have to sit and listen to all of the rigamarole before I get to talk to a real live person. My balance is now over $200 and "no more charging will be allowed." When I get the live person, he agrees that it must be fraud charges and closes the account. I still don't know what the charge was for but they are supposed to be sending me some "legal" paper to sign saying that I didn't purchase anything and will issue me a new card. This is a card # that I have used on the internet to order from Amazon.com and JC Penney; both sites have the security padlock do-dingus.

Maggie -- I am glad Will is feeling better. There are several teachers who have the croupy cough type cold -- I am about ready to take a can of Lysol and spray around my corner of the room!

Brenda -- I hope your WI was better than mine. I gained 2# which didn't surprise me since it has been 2 weeks and I didn't even try to stay OP over the holidays. DUMB on my part!

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!

Jean -- from Iowa!:

Hello

I have been busy here at work... Taking almost 3 weeks off was wonderful but it's hard to get back in the swing of things.

Supposed to have a great day here. Going to be over 65. Love it!!! I just don't like cold anymore at all. Over the holidays when we were in TX, I saw all the snow falling in the east. I used to live in upstate NY (high school and college). I remember snow like that and am very thankful I now live in CO.

Maggie - Those fires always scare me. And the winds just keep whipping them up. We had quite a few fires last summer, all that smoke burned the eyes and throat.

Jean - We have had a few charges like that. One was from a restaurant. Gave the card to the waitress. I signed our charge thingy. When got our bill there were 2 different charges to the same restaurant, different prices. They had used my card to pay for someone else's bill. I got it settled fairly easily but what an inconvenience. I just read on 3fatchicks (under how to help support 3fatchicks) about scumware and parasiteware. I'm thinking about not using the net to buy anything and dealing in cash here in town. So many rotten people anymore that make it so hard for everybody.

I weigh in tomorrow. I will be in the gain side. All the snacks, sweets, and food wore me down and I gave into old habits. I have been back OP. I think I will show a 3-4# gain. I will lose it and continue on my way to being healthy.

I guess I'd better get to work.

Good Morning,

Well the WI went VERY WELL ..... I was down 4.2 over the holidays. Tina's (our leader) absence was not very well received last night. WW could have a revolt on there hands in Windsor They made the new leader make the announcement, the poor girl. I don't know why the Regional Manager didn't do it. Makes us all mad. OH well, will fight to get her back or die trying. They say there is power in numbers and I think that WW will be bombarded by letters and emails.

Sun is shining here and its a great day. I'm going to try very hard to have an OP day.

I think I'm going to start my count down to my cruise..... Hope you all don't mind. When I think of it I can't wipe the smile off my face and it will help keep me motivated to stay OP.

Thanks gals, and have a TERRIFIC day!

Brenda .................. 3 5 D A Y S A N D C O U N T I N G!

Good Evening Flowers!
This is going to be short and sweet. I have a sharp pain in my side/rib cage area and it hurts to sit for very long. It hurts to do anything for very long. All I can think of is shingles and I don't have time for that!

Joyce -- I was wondering of Amazon.com has an 800#. It was just so convenient to order online and forget it. I hate not being able to trust everyone!

Brenda -- CONGRATULATIONS on the wonderful loss! Pat yourself on the back for losing over the holidays! Where are you going on your cruise? I've never been on one and would like to go, if nothing more than to say I've been on one.

I am going to catch the news and head for bed. Hope it will be a sleep-filled night. Have a terrific Thursday, Flowers!

Jean -- from Iowa!

GOOD EVENING MAGNOLIAS

The winds have died down, the 80 degree temperatures have departed and we are in normal mode now for this time of the year with a few sprinkles. I am so glad because I never did like those Santa Ana winds. I am through eating for this week and my average intake of points is 25.1 so I am hoping for a loss in the morning.

JOYCE you have the right attitude about putting that loss behind you and going on and losing this year. You have it in you to do it.

BRENDA CONGRATULATIONS on your loss over the holidays! I sure hope you get that straightened about your WW leader. Doesn't seem fair what they did. Go right ahead and post your countdown so we can celebrate with you.

JEAN isn't shingles a rash of some sort? I sure hope your side feels better when you wake up and it isn't anything serious.

Good Afternoon,

Am trying to gear myself up for our meeting this evening. It's the 10 week rollover for the hospital group, and the word is we're going to have lots more folks! I was unable to sleep last night, so am not thrilled at the prospect of dealing with the thundering hordes..........plus which, we're in a trailer out behind the hospital, and are really cramped for room.
DS got us onto a faster DSL, and did some other stuff that brought my old faithful Dell up to speed. It really makes a difference.

Jean, we're having your weather today........it's in the 50s and glorious. Suppposed to cloud up tonight and start the snow cycle again tomorrow with a high in the 30s

Off to get ready for class...........going to soak in the tub for awhile.........a real luxury, as it doesn't happen often.

Best to you all, and happy TGIF tomorrow.
Bubs

GOOD AFTERNOON MAGNOLIAS

I am a happy camper. The Iron Monster showed me down 3 POUNDS which brings my total losses this year of 2003 to 4.2 POUNDS.

BUBBLES I am sorry to hear that you weren't able to sleep last night. Hope you aren't coming down with anything. Yikes that is a lot of people to cram into your meeting place....maybe they will have you meet elsewhere if you are that large of a group. Germs float around too easily when the room is too full so since it is a hospital maybe they will think of that and ease your burden. Have a nice soak. Light some candels and play some soft music and just relax in a bubble bath.

I hope everyone is having a nice day.

Maggie - That is wonderful!!!

I showed a gain, 2.8, not as bad as I thought it might be. And it will be gone soon. I got to be a member helper at ww today - did weigh ins. Good incentive to see these people with good losses. It helps too to try to help encourage those who have gained.

Gotta get back to work -

Good Evening Flowers!
I am feeling much better tonight; I still have some pain but nothing like last night. I even had the school nurse check and there is no rash. Shingles is related to chicken pox but can also be brought on by stress. It acts like chicken pox with the rash and then the individual sores. I know that they can really make you feel miserable.

Bubbles -- Our weather is getting colder! It was so windy all day, cloudy, and gloomy. It's only 27 degrees now and was spitting snow when I came home from bell choir practice.

Joyce -- I wouldn't say your gain was too bad considering you were not home and eating "out and about." You will have it off in no time, I'm sure.

Maggie -- CONGRATULATIONS on your loss -- you are doing so well with "IT WILL BE ME IN '03!" I saw that on another forum and rather like it myself!

Hope you all have a fantastic Friday! I am ready!

Jean -- from Iowa!

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

I had a wonderful 5 point breakfast on this 18 point day which was huge. I made a sandwich with Egg Beaters and ham with Molly McButter cheese sprinkles and some herbs on a one point burger bun. It was only 3 points then I had my bit of OJ and a cappuccino. What a way to start the day.

It is cooler here today also with a few sprinkles. Time to take the car in for an oil change and tires rotated and all the stuff done that we paid for when it was purchased. Now it doesn't cost anything so it makes it easier to just take it in and get it done when it is due. Funny how that works.

I started my walking program yesterday just nice and easy for a short distance. I had Cowboy park a block away from the jewelers and I had to walk that long city block and back. To some of you that doesn't seem like much at all but for this ole bod it was quite enough for starters. I have a long way to go with this exercise stuff and got to start somewhere.

JOYCE that is a welcome surprise that you didn't gain more than you did! Good for your you for you are right to believe it will be gone soon and you can be about the losing business once again in ernest. Vacations are so hard to deal with when you can't be in control of all the cooking.

JEAN with your description of that pain you were having I didn't think you had shingles. Did you have a bad case of chicken pox as a child? They say those with light cases usually don't get the shingles in later years. My sister had a real bad case of pox the same time I had about 10 of them. I remember sitting on top of the travel trunk with her when we had them playing with the little dutch girls from the quilt pieces my mother was currently working on. My mother had a whole stack of those little girls and she let us play with them then had to wash them all before putting her quilt together. What a mom. My sis had her palms covered with pox even by the hundreds. My daughter only had one pock when she had them. A few years ago my sis did have a bad case of shingles.

Have a wonderful Friday and nice and easy weekend folks.

Happy Weekend One and All!
It's freezing here! Supposed to go down into the minus figures tonight.......no snow until next week.......right in the middle of exams..........looks like the kids' prayers are working

Joyce, how did you like being at the scales? I know folks think we pay attention to their weight, but I can't remember long enough to get it in their folder and trifold without looking at least twice I know most people aren't as addled as I, but by the end of class, I couldn't tell you who did what if my life depended on it. Did I tell youall I gained .4 over the holidays? What a gift!

Went to the field this afternoon. It was cold and windy! While the five other dogs, retrievers and labs all, were playing, Jimmy went off and found another deer leg! Fortunately, he didn't take off with it, and I was able to put on his leash and remove the bone from his mouth. Last night I heard this funny noise, went to investigate, and he had gotten the jar of peanut butter from the second shelf of the pantry, removed the top, and was busily licking the remains. Fortunately, it was almost empty, so he didn't get too much. As if that weren't bad enough, today I went to use the new phone I received for Christmas, and it was dead. I looked at the base cord and my big cat had been munching on it! Nothing is sacred in this house! He really has a thing for phone cords..........I know I've replaced at least 4, and probably had another six soldered back together. I keep hoping he'll find something that will give him a little jolt, but he must be smarter than the average bear as the saying goes.

I'm outta here. This is the coldest room in the house. I"m going back to the living room and turn on the gas logs

Have a great weekend.
Bubs

Good Evening, Flowers!
BRRRR! It's 7 degrees here tonight . . . the sun was out all day but it was so windy. I guess the north winds must have blown in because it was 30 degrees when I drove home from school.

We are having a coffee (here) tomorrow so some of my coworkers can meet Ian. I'm not sure what the guys are going to do for a couple of hours -- it's too cold to hang around outside! The top layer is spit shined and I hope no one looks under anything!

Bubbles -- I can't believe the weather you are having -- are you sure you live "down" south? One of our cats likes to chew phone cords too. I wonder why? Another one chews the handles off plastic bags like you get at Wal Mart and the last one eats rubber bands and/or ribbons that are on gifts. Guess I have a strange crew!

Maggie -- I had a very light case of chicken pox when I was a senior in high school. I got them from a 2nd grade Sunday School class that I helped with. Today there is no pain at all but there are a few little red spots. Guess I'll just have to wait and see. Congratulations on your walking down the block!

I am off to bed -- it's now 5 degrees! I hope my bed has preheated long enough to be toasty. Have a super weekend and do something nice for yourself!

Jean -- from Iowa!

GOOD MORNING MAGNOLIAS

It is a bright sunny day this day and the wind has completely stopped ~ what a glorious saturday. The paper said the whole USofA is having a warmer than usual winter and that only about 3 states did get below freezing last night ~ Minnesota needs the freezing and Montana needs snow and we could use more rain.

I didn't stay inside the lines yesterday for I had one of those HUNGRY days that come around periodically. However, if I stick to the numbers for the rest of the week my average daily intake will be 25.5 so all is not lost. I have built into my program a points cushion to absorb those kinds of days and do hope it works this week. Time will tell.

JEAN just hope no one drops anything and binds down to retrieve what rolled under something and comes up with their article attached to a dust bunny. You are too funny for I am sure your place sparkles when you have folks in. Hope you do went well and everyone had a good time including you.

BUBBLES cats do like to chew cords. They probably taste like candy to them. I have black tape wrapped around the power cord to my laptop because Turn took a chomp on it. We use a cordless phone.

Everyone have a peaceful easy weekend.

[SIZE=huge]GOOD AFTERNOON MAGNOLIAS[/SIZE]
I have not fallen of the face of the earth, really!!! I just haven't been at the puter as much as usual. It is cold here and the wind chill was below 0 this morning. Can't really complain as the rain we had a couple of days ago did wash the snow off the drive and walk ways.

BRENDA: That was a nice loss for over the holidays! Keep up the good work. You will have to tell us all about your cruise when you return. Never been on one....not too sure I could take all that food.

JEAN: Hope the 'do' was fun and I am sure you were very proud to show of Ian. They change so much from day to day that it is not possible to realize how small they were when they were new!

MAGGIE: Congratulations on your walk. It is so smart of you to take it in small doses. I can learn a lot from you! When the sidewalks are clearer I, too, will begin with a small start and see how far I can get to eventually. I do walk at the mall about once a week but it isn't as good as being outdoors. As we speak I am making your slow cooker chicken and it will be ready when we return from church tonight. Looking forward to it.

BUBS: I know it wasn't funny for you but that was a cute story of your cat eating the phone cord. I have had enough phone problems and that is without a cat. I never heard of a dog opening a jar before. Should put him on Letterman's 'Stupid Pet Tricks'....he could be famous.

Joyce: That's not a bad gain for being away and eating OP (in this case Other Peoples food). It won't take long to be back in the swing.

Although I have not been going to meetings I am trying to be careful and drink the water. Since New Years I have lost 2 lbs. I hope I can keep it up.

Gloria in MA....got to get ready for church. Have a great weekend everone.

Good Evening, Flowers!
I am too pooped to pop tonight! Bed is looking mighty good seeing as how I have to be at church by 7:30 tomorrow morning to get the bells set up.

Our coffee/shower was fun and Ian was the star of the afternoon! He is getting his own personality and is awake for longer periods of time . . . not much of a napper but is a happy camper with a full tummy, clean shorts (as his dad refers to his undies), and someone holding him. He likes to do the 10 -15 minute catnaps so he doesn't miss out on anything.

Maggie -- It was 7 degrees in our corner of Iowa last night and it only got up to 27 today, according to the TV. It's supposed to be in the teens all next week but no snow in sight. We do need the moisture and I'd rather have a little snow during the winter rather than a rainy spring; a happy medium would be nice. You know how when you clean one thing you see something else that needs attention also. I have a drawer that has been a catch-all for too long and I need to clean it out . . . one of these days!

Gloria -- It's nice to see you peeking in! You are so right about how much babies change in a short time. We've managed to see Ian every weekend and each time we notice something different. He is cooing now and will smile when we talk to him -- I just love this age!

I need to figure out what to wear tomorrow -- we wear robes and they can get hot so I like to dress in layers. Have a super Sunday Flowers!

Jean -- in Iowa!