Anagram, I am so sorry for your loss. Take comfort that your Mom is no longer suffering and that you had so many years with her. These next few months will be an emotional rollercoaster, so please come here to vent, rant, cry, question, or just for distraction. My mother died when I was 20 and I had moments that I just wished I could escape it all and all the family for a few minutes. Let us be your few minutes. Whoever said it here is right, you never get over the loss of your mother, no matter old how you are or she is. :grouphug: We're here for you, darling.

Well, last night got even better! We had a band of wicked thunder and lightning storms roll through. My loyal 22lb guard cat dove under the bed. :rolleyes: Typical guy. He came out when it was all over and took up watch atop my pillow, his face next to mine all night. So I slept okay, if okay is from midnight until 4am.

Cerise, careful....I just might take you up on that offer! :yes: I have a spare bedroom now, too, since DD is gone to my sister's. :chin: Actually, I have been cooking! We're not eating until 8pm, but it's better than take out, right? How was your uphill battle today? Getting easier, right? :sunny: How is Ramon liking his new job?

QOD: When I've made up my mind about something, I just take the most direct route to it. I just go and get it. :lol: When I graduated from Computer Science a few of my classmates had done up certificates for various people based on our personalities and ambitions, etc. Mine was "Don't Get in My Way".

Kaylets, I'm a Corporate Accountant. (I don't do taxes.)

Ceara, we had buckets of rain here in Burlington! Washed the BugMobile off for me. BugMobile = DH's car that is now parked in my spot under the tree....the tree that is infested with aphids who secrete a sugary gunk that covers your ENTIRE car! I wanted a new parking spot but DH said no because it's right outside our living room window and he didn't want strangers out front day and night, so I made him trade with me!

wsw :wave: Hi! Nice to see you! Sorry you've not been feeling well, but I hope you're in for a good stretch and can stop by to visit with us.

zadie, are you feeling any better?

Hey Punkin....PartyLite? Yeah? Really? :hyper: I LOOOOOVE PartyLite! No worries about being in the dark here in the power outage....I have BOXES of candles unopened still...even a couple of three-wicks!

Well, now that the state of emergency is over, I must tackle a few feet of Mt. Laundry. Have to work tomorrow, so there's no time like the present!

My dear Anagram, today I shed some tears for you, I know the pain you are feeling. Your mother's pain and suffering are over and that in itself is a blessing, your pain at her loss will also ease. It has been three years this Sept that my mother has been gone and I was with her until the end , for that I am thankful as I was able to say my good byes. That first Christmas was hard and my first birthday I missed her so much because her and my dad always phoned me to sing Happy Birthday, my father has a terrible memory so I haven't heard Happy Birthday over the phone since. I prepared for my mother's passing since I was a teenager because she had a sever heart condition. My brother and I were certain she would not dance at our weddings or see any grandchildren. I'm pleased to say she danced at both our weddings got to see 6 grandchildren and to love for only 5 short months he greatgrandson. A few days before she passed away as she held my grandson for the last time the thing she said she would miss the most is watching him grow up. I truly beleive she is seeing him grow up just from a different view. Everyone says it gets easier, for along time I didn't believe it, but now as remember her I still shed a few tears as I am doing at this time, but I also remember the wonderful 42 years I had with her. The memories are what makes it easier, the smiles and the laughter I rememberas she spent time with all her grandchildren and how much joy they brought to her life. What I remember most is how she cried when she found out my last child was her first and only grandson and she was visiting in Scotland the day he was born. She had arranged her vacation so she would be back before my scheduled C section but as we know nature waits for no one. He was three weeks old before she got to hold him, even though she was so far away when he was born I could hear the love in her voice.
Sorry I ramble, I send you a huge warm huge to try to ease the pain in your heart. Take comfort from all of that send you our love. Yes we have never met but form those of us who know what you are feeling please know "time heals all wounds" and from those that have stood by and watch friends go through this,use those shoulders to lean on as they will give you the strength you need. Take your time, take care of yourself and remember we are all here when you need us.

Yo! Brevity mode (wrote a dissertation on my weight loss breakthrough on the 21-day thread), but re QOD, when I decide to go after something, I do somewhat like Punkin. I like to set goals, write them down, divide them into action steps and ruthlessly follow through. In all honesty, if I decide something is a goal I am going after, I NEVER give up in pursuing it, even if I may appear to for awhile and even if the odds are absolutely astronomical in the negative that I will attain the desired end.

WSW!! Welcome back! I am glad you are feeling better and it's great that you maintain your weight! Maintaining is the hardest part of the journey, especially when we don't feel well, so :bravo: for your success in that area.

Going to bed. Had a wonderful weight management kind of day! :wave:

Oh, Anagram. . .
 

I am so upset for you and your loss. I have no words to say what you must be feeling. Just know you have many friends here when you need a shoulder to lean on and an ear to listen.

You are in my thoughts. . .

Happy Weekend!
 

Hello all!

Thought I posted here earlier but I see it didnt take

Arabella, I too have gained. Looks like about 5 lbs. Now that we've admitted that.... we've got the hardest part behind us, right??
Lucky you, with your new job, you have lots of "NEW" motivation to go with your new schedule, new contacts, etc.
Lucky me, WW's just revised their plan and its the BEST I've ever seen it. I LOVE IT.
I've got your back Arabella, are you with me?
*****************************
Today's thought is :
"Think not a trifle, though it small appear;
Small sands make the mountain, moments make the year."
--Edward Young

Question of the day :

"Do you identify with a football team? Why?"
--Table Topics
*****************************


be back in a little while.....

Yes, Ma'am!
 

For sure, Kaylets! We'll do it! September is a fantastic time for getting a fresh start -- not that I'm waiting that long, but I know I'll be energized come Sept. 1 :sunny: QOD: nope, no football team for me -- I don't speak football.

Just got back from taking part in a tai chi demo at the mall. Wasn't too nerve-wracking, given the very few people that turned up to watch :dz: But, what the heck, I did it. And it's done :yes:

Amarantha, I'm heading off to read your dissertation after I'm done here! I always love your dissertations/manifestos :D

Dollar, so glad your mom managed to stay with you for as long as she did. We have to remember that our time with loved ones is a precious gift. My dad died in 1985, five years after being diagnosed with lung cancer. He had been an alcoholic since his teens, with few sober stretches of any length. When he was diagnosed, though, he quit, and we felt like we had a chance to get to know him then. The pain never goes away, but it does become less central.

Wildfire, I empathize with your difficulty sleeping alone. Much as I like my DH to go away from time to time, I tend to feel a little off-kilter when he's away, and it takes a concerted effort to enjoy my time and get used to sleeping alone.

wsw, nice to see you back! Sometimes we just have to admit that there's no way in heck we can get caught up, and just jumping in and saying "hi" is still appreciated!

Punkin, so relieved to hear it's raining! We had a terrible forest fire in Canada that was started by a volunteer fireman dropping his cigarette without putting it out while he installed a satellite dish :rolleyes: Hope you're getting some REST and fun this weekend -- emphasis on the rest, because you need it for the energy to have fun :yes:

Ok, my doves, mentioned or not, you're in my thoughts! Let's make this day a good one - love to all!

Yo, novella!
 

Yo! Kaylets, just got your pm ... dunno how but I missed some of this novella, I'm going to add to below in pink and put the update Kaylets just pm'd me in green ... I'm not sure whose turn it is, but guys, let's keep adding so we can see what happens next ... p.s., Kaylets, don't worry about 5 lbs., it's time for changes and you'll get where you wanna go so ... I agree with you that the Flexipoints is a neat plan ... even my points-hating self is considering it for my next challenge. I want that calculator! :)

Arabella, bet that hiking trip will get you to your goal ... it burns beaucoup calories!!!

Come on, let's get everybody involved so we can find out how this story ends? We need everyone's contributions ... it can get really crazy and fun ... I wanna know how this comes out!!! :cb:

Novella continues (Kaylets adds):
A cell phone was ringing, making four or five people jump to attention to see if it was their own. A woman with black framed sunglasses held her phone aloft, saying "It's mine". She looked at the display for the incoming number, pressed a button and then spoke into the phone, "Hello.... hello???" and quickly pushed another button, turning the phone off. She smiled as she put the phone away and said, "Its a shame, couldnt hear a thing". Laughter poured from the elevator as the doors opened and............

Amarantha adds:A very tall police officer appeared in the doorway. "DON'T MOVE, folks," he said, fixing the group in the elevator with a stare from his piercing electric-blue eyes, stretching out his two long arms, flexed biceps visible in the short sleeves of his summer uniform. "There's an emergency in the building ..."

Kaylets adds:From the back of the elevator, a Mel Gibson look- a- like wearing a blue blazer answered first, " But officer, surely you can let us just use the rest room, we had a long ride to get here if you know what I mean."

The woman w/ the black sunglasses nodded furiously as they all waited for the officers response......

Amarantha adds: The piercing blue eyes narrowed, scanning the faces trapped now in the confined elevator space. Jaw tightening and blue eyes now slits, Officer Randy Jones stared at the nodding, sunglassed female. Slowly, biceps tightening just a hair more, he lifted his clenched fist and pointed in the direction of the still nodding woman ... :yikes:

Okay, I'm in...
 

Novella continues (Kaylets adds):
A cell phone was ringing, making four or five people jump to attention to see if it was their own. A woman with black framed sunglasses held her phone aloft, saying "It's mine". She looked at the display for the incoming number, pressed a button and then spoke into the phone, "Hello.... hello???" and quickly pushed another button, turning the phone off. She smiled as she put the phone away and said, "Its a shame, couldnt hear a thing". Laughter poured from the elevator as the doors opened and............

Amarantha adds:A very tall police officer appeared in the doorway. "DON'T MOVE, folks," he said, fixing the group in the elevator with a stare from his piercing electric-blue eyes, stretching out his two long arms, flexed biceps visible in the short sleeves of his summer uniform. "There's an emergency in the building ..."

Kaylets adds:From the back of the elevator, a Mel Gibson look- a- like wearing a blue blazer answered first, " But officer, surely you can let us just use the rest room, we had a long ride to get here if you know what I mean."

The woman w/ the black sunglasses nodded furiously as they all waited for the officers response......

Amarantha adds: The piercing blue eyes narrowed, scanning the faces trapped now in the confined elevator space. Jaw tightening and blue eyes now slits, Officer Randy Jones stared at the nodding, sunglassed female. Slowly, biceps tightening just a hair more, he lifted his clenched fist and pointed in the direction of the still nodding woman ... :yikes: [/B]

Arabella adds: With a barely perceptible nod, Jones indicated the direction of the restrooms.

"Okay. You can all go -- except for YOU." He looked at Marcy French. "Ma'am, I have to ask you to come along with me."

The conventioneers hesitated, and then walked surprisingly slowly in the direction of the restroom, casting backward glances at their colleague, who seemed to be engaged in a very intense conversation with the officer. Marcy seemed to be pleading, while Officer Randy stood impassively, arms crossed over his muscular chest, blue eyes steely and unyielding...

Novella again
 

Novella continues (Kaylets adds):
A cell phone was ringing, making four or five people jump to attention to see if it was their own. A woman with black framed sunglasses held her phone aloft, saying "It's mine". She looked at the display for the incoming number, pressed a button and then spoke into the phone, "Hello.... hello???" and quickly pushed another button, turning the phone off. She smiled as she put the phone away and said, "Its a shame, couldnt hear a thing". Laughter poured from the elevator as the doors opened and............

Amarantha adds:A very tall police officer appeared in the doorway. "DON'T MOVE, folks," he said, fixing the group in the elevator with a stare from his piercing electric-blue eyes, stretching out his two long arms, flexed biceps visible in the short sleeves of his summer uniform. "There's an emergency in the building ..."

Kaylets adds:From the back of the elevator, a Mel Gibson look- a- like wearing a blue blazer answered first, " But officer, surely you can let us just use the rest room, we had a long ride to get here if you know what I mean."

The woman w/ the black sunglasses nodded furiously as they all waited for the officers response......

Amarantha adds: The piercing blue eyes narrowed, scanning the faces trapped now in the confined elevator space. Jaw tightening and blue eyes now slits, Officer Randy Jones stared at the nodding, sunglassed female. Slowly, biceps tightening just a hair more, he lifted his clenched fist and pointed in the direction of the still nodding woman ... [/B]

Arabella adds: With a barely perceptible nod, Jones indicated the direction of the restrooms.

"Okay. You can all go -- except for YOU." He looked at Marcy French. "Ma'am, I have to ask you to come along with me."

The conventioneers hesitated, and then walked surprisingly slowly in the direction of the restroom, casting backward glances at their colleague, who seemed to be engaged in a very intense conversation with the officer. Marcy seemed to be pleading, while Officer Randy stood impassively, arms crossed over his muscular chest, blue eyes steely and unyielding...

*******
Kaylets adds:
Marcy took the glasses off as she said, "Randy, you can't still be holding a grudge about Prom Night. Do you know how long ago that was? Honestly, when was the last time you even thought of me??". She tilted her head expecting the tall man to smile.
But he didnt. Instead he just said thoughtfully, "You have no idea
how many times I've thought of you. .............

OH HO!
 

Whew! Hah! Sizz, sizz!

Gotta go take a cold shower now!

Ceara
:stress: :stress: (sweat not stress) :T

Am on edge of computer chair!

Hello all!!

Hello all!

We had a flicker of power and then the server crashed-- back now.

*************
Thought of the day :

"It is better to light one candle than curse the darkness"
---Chinese Proverb

Question of the day :

"What game do you like playing the most?""
--Table Topics

*****************


Not sure if it was MSNBC but I did see a story about gas price increases and lo and behold, they did show Arizona!! And the point of the piece was "Is this price gouging?"......

Another terrific advantage to this thread is how we share real life w/ each other and do NOT have to rely on the media's priority list.
I saw a number of parallel's in the story I saw on the 1000's of heat related deaths in France. Doctors went to the press because they couldnt get the "government officials" to react.

------
Before I get heated up on marketing I will let DH take me to breakfast..... I'll check in later...

Take care...

Good Morning!
 

Re games, I like playing challenge games on weight loss forums!! :s: Started a new one today, a seven-day mini version of the 21-dayer!

Dunno. I'd love to be a contestant on The Mole ... if they ever do a new one. The other tv versions of this program (aka, Amazing Race, I'm A Celebrity ... etc., are terrible, IMO, but I really like The Mole).

Life itself, is just a game, really! Weight management is a sub-game of that! :wave:

Hi all this will be a short one tonight. It has not been a good weekend in my house, a very sad one to say the least. Fri. night shortly after writing my post to you I recieved a phone call from my 16 year old daughters freind. she phoned to tell me that my beautiful daughter had taken some pills and needed to go to the hospital. She took a tylenol overdoes not enough to cause her any physical damage but enough for us to hear the cry for help.
She has been being treated for depression since Jan this year. I guess everyting just cought up to her. Her and I had an arguement befor she went out not a bad one just one about her not doing her chores typical teenage stuff. I guess it was enough to push her over the edge. She had been doing so well lately but I did notice in the last few days she was looking very tired all the time I think she just wasn't taking care of herself very well running on empty. So after spending a long night in Emerg on Fri they admitted her to a different hospital in the pediatric phsyc unit for her safety she is there involuntarily until they assess her and decide where to go from here. She told us she had to go someplace safe because she feels if she doesn't she will hurt her self. That was the hardest thing I have ever done is to leave my precious child behind locked doors. Hopefully now she will get the help she needs.
So much for my short post, sorry. I must go and give her a call