looking good!

Lookin Good!!!

Angie !
That's a great picture !

You look like you're very close to goal.
Feels really good, doesn't it ?

I've been down to mine too many times....only to mess up maintenance.
I'M NOT SCREWING THAT UP THIS TIME !


Sandy - Hope everything's Ok.


I'm in the mother lode room of clutter from ****, now. It's the last room that needed to be done.
To start on this one, I had to label boxes for 10 different things/places to start on this last room. There was paper work, magazines, books, stuff that had been buried for months......things that belonged in 6 other places in the house.
But when I'm done, the house will look better than it has in many years.
I lost count of how many bags of clothes, and misc. items we've donated....and how many bags of trash we've generated.....not counting what we took up to the attic.

In a nutshell, the organizing book's author uses a system she calls S.P.A.C.E., and her model for anyone to use is the way a kindergarten room (I'm not kidding !) is fashioned.
Like things are kept together, (not 4 different places in the house).....and there is a place to store everything.
I know it's starting to sound Martha Stewart-ish....but it really isn't....or I wouldn't have touched it !
(Isn't Martha Stewart the Anti-Christ ?)....Bwa ha ha ha ha....
(evil laugh)

Ok, back to the SPACE system.

Sort - separate your clutter into categories ( photos, kitchen
items, office supplies, etc.)...label boxes for them first.

Purge - decide what to keep, donate, and throw out.

Assign - decide where you're going to keep things. If you're not
going to put them in a different room than you're
already keeping like items; come up with better storage
in that room for those items, so there will be a place
to put them in the future when it's time to tidy up.

Containerize - now you can decide which and how many
containers you will need and what to use as containers.
And whether to actually create more storage room for
the containers. We bought 3 bookcases for an extra
room, and 2 for the guest room.

Equalize - after about a month, you can tell if anything needs
adjustment.

Work on the visible clutter first.....not bags of things that have been in closets for years. The visible clutter actually in the room is your most recently acquired stuff, and will be easier to deal with. Do Not feel like you're supposed to literally go thru your Whole house all at once !!.....No one could handle such a monstrous job......and don't feel bad about the state of your belongings. No one really wants to live in a pig sty....it's just that most people never had a good plan for organizing.

I had to paraphrase, but all that is in her book, too.


That's about it around here.
Back to the last room.

Hi all, I knew those flowers and card would come back someday to bite me in the a$$! We did not make up last night! He came home and one of my friends was over so he acted all sweetie pie(sickning) but she already knew the story!! Anyway he asked what was for supper and I said I had made chili with ground turkey but took hamburger out for him (he hates chili) so he asked for manwiches.......I said okay, well I started them and you know it does not take long to make these. Wellk, I look over in the livingroom and he is sound asleep on the couch!! so I ate and fed the kids and then at 8:00 I put everything away and went to bed and left him on the couch!!

Well I guess he came to bed at some point in the night cause he was there when I woke up. So finally he gets up this morning and I'm not really talking to him, he says Is something wrong? I start crying, and I let go!! I didnt let him get a word in edge wise. I said you may think I am *****ing and maybe I am, but if I don't tell you appartently you are oblivious to the facts. I told him all I do in this house and then he falls asleep on the couch and I cooked another meal for nothing!!! And I was not only mad, but hurt too. I guess he had to let this all settle in his brain because soon enough he was appologizing and gave me a kiss. So I guess we are kinda made up now? We will see what tonight brings? I do love this man with all my heart and soul, but gosh he needs some obeidience schooling.

Chris, wow, you look great!!!!

Hope everyone else is doing well,

Hugs, Sandy

Gargoyle, That is a picture of Chris(Sveltechicky) not me.

Sandy, I was just kidding about the cards figured it would give you a chuckle. I have gone to bed many time and left Jay asleep on the couch too. Maybe after he has the day to think about all that you said he will come home and pitch in some. I hope your day gets better.

Very beautiful pics Chris! That is motivation enough for me. You look awesome, very svelte indeed .

Angie aw shucks, supporting friends is what we're here for. Besides, I was just returning the favor. You've inspired me many times. Glad I could motivate someone. Yeah I like this bungee cord harness holding me on the wagon--works very well. I can grab for friends falling off and snap them back up on w/me.

essey: keep on trucking. 4 lbs is nothing to sneeze at. You're doing great. Keep your chin up and those legs moving. Have a great visit w/mom.

Gar organizing is 'a good thing'

Sandy did you make chili for dinner because you were still mad at him? hehe. You're such a sweetheart, cooking a separate meal just for him. I would've dumped it on his head while he was sleeping--but uh, that's just me . Hang tough lady, it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but set 'em up with a choke chain and you'll be in fine form. j/k

I'm having a hard time typing right now since I'm waiting for my nails to dry completely. I'm actually using a pencil eraser to punch the keys so I'm a bit slow typing today. That's my one regular indulgence--pedicures and manicures every 3 weeks. I's so relaxing and makes me feel beautiful. Now I'm working on the rest of the body to go along w/the pretty hands and feet.

Let's see, Smiling Sal, Kempy, Washu and everyone else hope things are smooth sailing for the rest of the week. We can do this 'cause we are women, hear us roar!

THANKS FOR THE LAUGH MELE

Well, My scales aren't broken as I had hoped. My son got sick last night so he stayed home today and we just got back from the doctors. I made him run into the bathroom so I could weigh him and my scales are right on with the doctors.

He has strep throat. Poor kid. I used to get it all the time. So much that I missed so many days of school that when I was in ninth grade I had my tonsils removed. I hope he doesn't start that. So he gets to miss school the rest of the week. They get Friday off for Teachers Workshop. I guess no nooners for me.

Wow, finally I've caught up on all of the posts.... I disapeared to Portland for the weekend. Just found out that one of my old high school friends has moved there. So *bam* the next thing I know I'm catching a ride w/ a band I know.... It was a weekend of vices, Drank too much, Smoked too much, and this friend is studying to be a chef, so we ate some killer meals Luckily (I guess) I drank more than I ate and didn't gain anything. Working on re-hydrating myself now.
I'm also working on getting myself a 'real' job. Resturant work... but I had an interview yesterday and have another one this afternoon. Wish me luck

Enough about me,

Chris, you are looking very Svelte. Lean and strong... I'd be very interested to see a "before" pict. You're such an inspiration.

Oh Sandy, I too know that situation. It must be a male genetic thing, or maybe it is society's fault like Essey said.

.... I want to continue that thought, but for the first time since 9/11 the news has scared the **** out of me. I need to calm down.

later
-w-

Hi Girls. You're so great! Thanks for the encouragement. I feel good too! I've got to dig up a 'before' picture. I've been at goal since Feb 10th, so I'm not a veteran to this. its really hard, especially today, cuse I'm skipping my aerobics. That makes me have to do it on my own, and I'm bad at doing things on my own. So, I may end up missing exercise tonigt. it's also frigid outside, so I may end up doing a video. Something. But, I was really pleased with the after picture. Finally a picture I feel looks like the real me.

This one may have gone around before, but it just seemed so fitting for Sandy.

Hey angie, thanks for inviting me over! That's great that you'v elost so much weight! What program are you using if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks for the cartoon Mele., I got a good

Welcome to Amanda.

Today is WI day and I officially lost another 3.5#'s this week, so a total of 21.5 gone in 8 weeks. I am finally noticing that my clothes are fitting a little different now. This is a good thing. Can't wait to go down in sizes.

Hugs to all and God Bless our Troops & their families.
~~Sandy~~

Hi Amanda. I am just eating 3 meals (maybe a snack) everyday. I am trying to watch my fat and calorie intake and I exercise for an hour every day. That is about it. My house looks like a gym with the bike, treadmill and elliptical

Noelle, The joke is cute. You are having an awesome week. I wished I could say the same. I am starting to get really depressed about the weight. It still hasn't gotten back to 154.5. What gives? I am going to be so pissed on Saturday if I have gained or even maintained this week. I have been working so hard to get it off and see a loss. WWAAAHHH!!! okay, I am done crying for today.

Sandy, I just read your journal. YEAH!!! You truly are melting right away girl! I hope you and hubby made up.

Sandy, I have a few before pics but I don't have a scanner to scan them in.