Kaylets, about today's question: I have to share this story with you---Garry's mom is 86 years old [young?] and still delivers meals-on-wheels. It's a hoot to hear her talking about delivering to the "old folks" at her age. She doesn't think of herself as old and neither do I! What a sweetie!
I must say to watch myself aging is fascinating. All the physical and philosophical changes---I'm definitely nor the same person I was in my 20's. Let's just say my 'coquette' days are over :lol: and that's a good thing!

So what's this 'round robin novel' thing? Sounds interesting. I'll be gentle, Punkin!:lol:

Wildfire, I'm glad to hear that your shipper's wife is going to be okay. Sorry you didn't make it to the hospital. I'm "directionally challenged" and your trip sounded like a nightmare to me. Seriously, it's as if I'm dyslexic or something when it comes to maps and such.:( Very embarrassing.

Cerise, sounds like your new job suits you very well. I'm glad you're happy!

My big accomplishment for the day: Getting up at the crack of dawn and getting in a 45 min. workout before my dentist's appointment. [And no cavities!:D ]

my dogs had to get up in bed with me and lick my face to convince me to get up... I hope they weren't so loud they woke you up too!!


*********
Today's thought is:

"We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brillant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous??
Actually, who are you not to be?"
--Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love

Question of the day:
"Does Broccoli have a bad reputation?"
--Kaye

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

Humidity here is 96%--- Doesnt that mean its raining?? Well, not yet at least-- so you know where I;m headed!!

Take care all!


The Round Robin Novel--What's the easiest way ?? A journal? hmm, no, a thread?? hmmm maybe... what do you think ?? I am more than glad to start it but need a "management decision" as to where....
Shall we have any other ground rules?? .....
What do you think??

Saturday
 

Yo! Of course, I never have any opinions on anything, as everyone knows, but I'd prefer to have the round robin right here on the thread, for a couple of reasons. Basically, I believe we are a discussion group with an underlying theme of weight management support and the round robin is a form of discussion, ego, why not just do it here where we all are? :) We could change the name of our group if we wanted, but why be a new group? ... actually, THE LABORIOUS LOSERS has a sort of novel-like ring to it ... :cb:

Re the journal idea, I just find the new journals kind of time consuming, hard to read and you have to sign in and out and I guess I just wouldn't do the RR if it was a journal.

Re ground rules, maybe in deference to this being a weight management support site, we could just make one rule, that somehow each post (or at least most of them) at least has a reference to weight issues, not that we'd ban anybody who goes OT or anything .... :cb: Guess that's another reason I think it should just be on this thread (or we could start Laborious Losers #2), IMO it should be integrated with our underlying purpose.

Otherwise, I'm wondering if we'd kind of be abusing the privilege of using this site and maybe should go onto Yahoo or something ... but I think it'd be cool to do it here.

I also am dead serious about any professional writers here (I mentioned the RR idea to Red Balloon as well, who is a journalist) or any who want to be professional writers (everyone here could), not posting any specificideas they intend to use in their work, keep this for fun only. Not that anyone here would really usurp anyone else's specific ideas, but we're not alone here, guys!!! :s: I have learned through 30 years of grim experience that ideas are the cheapest commodity of all and though one can't copyright ideas and concepts, it's best not to just give 'em away for free!!! :jig: (I could tell you stories, guys, about the many times my newsroom pals have just outright, er, appropriated not only my ideas, stories, contacts, actual written work, etc., etc., etc., and slapped their bylines on 'em!!! :cb: :yikes:

:yikes: I'm so serious ... but another rationale for doing the RR is THAT, the more we are posting and typing away, the less we (me) are mindlessly eating ... or :sigh: the less I am productively doing my writing for pay, but that's another issue ... I am now rambling ... need sugar

Leading to another ground rule I think we should have ... we should probably limit each entry to a certain number of sentence or grafs? Just a thought, as you KNOW how we are ...

Otherwise, I think everyone should just be free to add what they like ... maybe the kind :queen: K would agree to cut and paste the entries now and then into one comprehensive post.

Ok, gotta go ... hope nothing in this post gives offense to anyone ... just thinking out loud ... :wave:

Hello all!!

Today's thought is a little longer but I think you will enjoy :
*****************************
His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. "I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life.



"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer.



At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.



"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.



"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own
son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow
to be a man we both will be proud of." And that he did. Farmer Fleming's so
n attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.



Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin.



The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.



His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.



Someone once said:

What goes around comes around.



Work like you don't need the money.



Love like you've never been hurt.



Dance like nobody's watching.



Sing like nobody's listening.



Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

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


The sky this am still has dark clouds but there is a lot of blue interspersed. My garden is becoming so overgrown, I need clippers and a wheelbarrow to cut back the jungle this high humidity has encouraged. DH has lawns to mow that I imagine will be just as bad-- We both need to get out there w/ lots of bug spray and do what we can.

#####

I agree Empress, that the Journals are cumbersome-
What does everyone else think??

#####


Time for breakfast!

Thanks for the story, Kaylets!

It's Sunday--and alot of us have the big traditional Sunday breakfast/brunch thing. I thought it would be fun to see waht everyone's having! My doctor has suggested that I have my biggest meal in the morning and make dinner my lightest meal, so I'm trying it out and I really like it so far.
I'll start: We're having a friend over and so we're probably putting on the the dog a bit more than usual.
Breakfast burritos--ww tortillas stuffed w/ scrambled egg beaters, peppers, onion and corn--topped with salsa and lo-fat cheddar
Home fries--red, blue and sweet potatoes-- boiled first, then browned on a dry griddle with seasoning salt
Refried beans [might be a bit odd!]
Fruit [peaches, blueberries, grapes]
Coffee

That'll be about 600 calories there, but if it's as satisfying as most of our Sunday breakfasts are we won't eat again until 4-5:00!

Sunday
 

Mornin'

Wow that is some spread Eydie!

I started with 1/3 cantalope, 2 huge cups of coffee, 2 scrambled eggs (I use the microwave and 2 tsp of cottage cheese when scrambling). I have no CLUE what the calorie count is. Am planning on homemade veg soup for lunch. I just perused Fat Wars by B.J. King and am trying some of his ideas. Consequently, more protein. I have no prob with fruits and veggies...I love 'em, but I think I have a portion control problem. Anyway I'm with you on the no snacking after 7 thingy Eydie....I lose easier and faster if I follow that practice..and King advocates it besides. I also drank a river of water yesterday...2 litres and am off to do the same today.

Started the new Scottoline book this a.m....am almost done. It is excellent as usual...she reminds me of Evanovich in some respects....

My only activity of any consequence yesterday was an hour and a half of lawn cutting....push mower, complete with some raking. Better than nothing I guess. Watched My Fat Greek Wedding in p.m. Will watch again as I missed some :)

TTYL

Carpe Diem!

Ceara

Ah, Kaylets, as usual you have armed me with a motto de jour. I must get out there (metaphorically) with bug spray and do what I can. It's the only way I can slog on.

And yesterday's menu is the worst I've done in months but here goes. I was at dd's over the weekend for the birthday of the younger princess (She's 3 today and now wears UNDERWEAR which she eagerly displays to all comers.) Anyway, I started with a Slimfast bar and good intentions. The party was a kiddie brunch sort of thing so I had some bagel, a donut hole, oj and birthday cake. Apres party I had a ham sandwich with lettuce and a TAB. After arriving home I had a slice of ham loaf and some broccoli plus a dinner roll. And later, some light ice cream.

DS/DDIL joined us Sat. evening for much healthier eating cookout so it was a nice, fun weekend. But I'm much in need of my Monday morning Fresh Start card.

You regal personages may appreciate a quote from the 3 year old. She was dressed in a Rapunzel costume (a bd gift) and dh asked her if she wanted to be a princess when she grows up. She firmly replied "No, a QUEEN!" That's my girl - go for it!

Anyway, that part of my world is well but the decline of the dowager is a cloud over all at the moment. And I firmly know that all the calories I consumed yesterday will not help DM to recover so that is not really a valid reason to ignore my own health. I have much to accomplish today, including my pool workouts (I'm proud I got three in last week). Tomorrow I will be travelling to the nursing center for a conference on planning care, etc. The advantage of a larger family is that one (or 4) of us are there each day. The other four who are near enough to come have been there much more than I.

Anagram- Your Saturday menu sounds good compared to what I did on Friday- We had a "Brunch" and I went wild. Krispy Kremes, cannolis, etc etc-- I have no idea how I got back on the wagon on Saturday --- maybe it was the shock of how much I was able to put away and still want more---
-- Glad you have lots of family to help out- My family is so spread out it's only by phone or email that we can stay in touch--
In fact, we have a crisis now where my mom will have go up to MN from FL to help my great aunt. -------

It is so humid here even my desk feels sticky and "ugh"--

Feel like we're living in the tropics suddenly. Global warming really is starting to scare me....
*****************
Today's thought is:

-- I'm doing my best today
-- I am a winner and it shows in everything I do
-- Worrying is for others - I just take care of business
-- I expect to win and I usually do

*****
Question of the day :

"Have you ever eaten a fresh fruit while shopping at the grocery store? Did you pay for it?"
--Table Topics

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

Got to go!

Was so swamped on friday I didn't even have time to post! So, guess what, I'm down to 209! MAYBE I'll see onederland by the time the challenge is over!

LONG POST............................

A bit of bad news...My poor hubby is suffering from blackouts here recently. One last week whilst we were watching TV (I honestly thought he was asleep until I turned my head and saw his eyes wide open) (FREAKY) and one saturday night while walking to the subway from work, which resulted in him being pick pocketed. He felt very dizzy and nauseous and thought maybe the working overtime and heat was getting to him, so he sat down on the curb (in washington DC) still daylight. When he woke up he was sprawled on the sidewalk, it was well after dark and his cell phone and wallet were gone. They 'kindly' left him is ID and credit card. Took his wallet to which he had about $100 in for the train ride for 2 weeks and snack money. He was so upset and scared he ran back to his jobsite and locked the door. He didn't come home that night and I was worried to death. Here I am sitting at the subway station an hour and a half from our house for 7 HOURS. Yup, right until they closed the gates at 230am on sunday morning. He ended up sleeping in the building and calling collect in the morning. Bumed money from a good samaritan for the train ride home. I think he was more upset about the blackout that the actually losing of his wallet.

Meanwhile............

I was sitting at the station saturday night about 8pm (doors unlocked because I was sure any minute my hubby would be hopping off the train) and some guy opens my car door, jumps in and begs for me to take him wherever I'm going. I DON'T THINK SO!! I starting yelling and screaming for him to get out of my car. He ran, and there where no station attendants for help and no police around. (Which is unusual actually). So I sped off and found a subway police officer and they sent out the police to try to find him. No luck. I'm keeping my doors locked and windows up from now on!!!

Wow, Frogger, that's scary about your dh ... I hope he's made a appointment to see doc asap. He needs to get to the bottom of why this is happening to him.

You definetely do need to keep your car doors locked at all times, but you did a great job on scaring that creep away! Good for you. My advice is to carry a baseball bat in the car (under the front seat) as well. Just in case.

Kaylets: Krispy Kreme was in my weekend as well ... it was the deciding factor in my crash from the 21-day challenge. Starting over at Day One, though!!! Re qod, yes, I have eaten fruit in grocery and did pay for it ... never considered not paying for it! :) Have you decided about the round robin yet?

Anagram: Very perceptive of your little :queen: to realize at so young an age that it's best to strive for the higher position and skip the in-between stuff!!! Hope she never loses that attitude.

I'm feeling very yucky. The monsoon is back here and the humidity and heat are about to choke me. Even my extra a/c doesn't help. Hate to think what the gym is going to be like (they turn off A/C on the weekends and open the windows, for some strange reason), but determined to go and do a light workout. Realizing that I am very overtrained and when trainer comes back from her vac, I am going to decide if I should continue on with that or start to use my own judgement, which is to go much lighter for awhile.

Avanti all. I hope we decide to do the Round Robin. Let's just do it! :wave:

Hello,
I am back at work. It is rather strange becuase this week is the last week my boss is here. AAlso everything is still rather up in the air about the organization. I am a little weirded out about the whole thing becuase I know that my level of job security is moderate at best and I just do not know if I have it in me to try and find a job (the legal market sucks right now). Oh well, no sense in creating problems for myself that may not exist.

At any rate, food is going ok. No gain or loss, which is acceptable as long as the plateau does not last too long. I know I am going over calories so I am not too suprised.

Frogger - That sounds really scary, both the blackouts and the strange guy in the car. I hope everything is ok and it is just something minor that can be cured rather easily. So, now I think that I will lock my car doors. I never have before. Well, sometimes when I am alone driving through bad neighborhoods. Scary.

At any rate, back to work.

Not such a bad Monday morning...
 

Quick pre-work postette.

Good Monday, darlings!

I snacked like you wouldn't BELIEVE this weekend. I even did a chips run to the store with my SIL Christa. Drat!! We always eat too much when visiting my BIL and SIL in Bellingham. Double Drat!! Next time I'll have crudites lying around for just such an emergency.

Back on the wagon this morning. Ramon and I are going back to the "plan-a-menu, shop-for-the-week" way of cooking and eating. We seem to eat a lot healthier that way.

Love to all, and I'll post again after my post-work slog up the hills of Seattle. Avanti!

Monday, blech!

Down 2.2 this week. I saw 208.8 this week, but after the events of the weekend, I found my way to the bottom of a container of ice cream - something I haven't done in a loooooong time - and don't feel the least bit sorry for... Sunday I was back on the wagon, but the damage to my total loss was done. Oh well, next week I'll get it back. It's still a nice loss, but now I can't say I've reached the 50 pound mark... drat!

So what was bad enough to cause an ice cream overdose? My mom was thrown from her horse on Saturday and was unconscious for 3-4 minutes. Her best friend broke 2 fingers when she grabbed my mom's horse to get her away from her, but not before my mom was stepped on (side of her calf). They thought she broke her collar bone, but the bone's just bruised - as is her hip, scapula, shoulder, upper arm and lower leg. They X-rayed everything and said she was very, very lucky. She wasn't wearing her helmet either - which launched me into a yelling, crying fit with my mother over the phone since one of their horse club members died last year when she was thrown and hit her head on a rock and killed instantly - she wasn't wearing a helmet either... Mom said "maybe I'm not as strong right now as I thought" - gee, ya think???
She's off having her 3rd of 4 chemo treatments - almost done. Poor thing's going to be miserable this week - now sick from chemo on top of being in a sling, limping and bruised from (literally) head to toe.

On to the posties....

Wildfire, I'd meet you all in PEI in a flash! :yes: :cheers: Sounds like a blast!

Zadie, I agree about not getting stressed until you have to. I've got some funky work stuff going on right now too and we've just got to hold tight until there's a reason to worry! Job hunting is a darned scary thought right now though! :eek:

Eydie, I forgot to thank you for the email! Thank you! ;)

Cerise, good plan on shopping for a menu you've made versus just shoppin'. I should try that.... :chin:

Kaylets, thank you for the story on Sunday - it gave me goosebumps. I'd send you some of my dry desert air if I could! 20% humidity over the weekend...

Anagram, how sweet is your youngest princess??? Now that she's in big girl undies she'll graduate from Princess to Queen in no time! :lol:

Frogger, you've got to get hubby to the Dr.! He's lucky they only picked his pockets - and YOU, you keep those doors locked! :fr: Keep us updated on DH ok?

:wave: Arabella and Amarantha!!

Q o' the day ~
Nope, never have eaten fruit before check out and never will. Remember Elbert the germ bug?? He's been known to run around on unwashed fruit too - and the fruit he hasn't been on is only because it's still got pesticide on it from the fields. Sorry, germ phobic here I guess? :shrug: When I was little I remember my mom opening Wheat Thins while we were shopping though... (always paid for them).

Time to skeedaddle and get some work done...

Terri

Hello ladies!

The past week has flashed in front of my eyes, and I have only 2 weeks left of work before going back to school and persuing a nursing career. I am muchly looking forward to it:)

ARABELLA! I live 15 mins away from Gander in the tiny town of appleton. Atlantic provinces rule:)
Kaylets- i`d rather variety too, thats why i opted back to ww.
Wildfire happy belated birthday, i hope you had a great day
Frogger- I`m soo glade I live in NL now...not so dangerous.
Amarantha- i know what you mean when you say its yucky out, its soo sticky here!
Zadie K- as long as you dont gain, your on the right track.
Pumpkinseed great job on the 2.2lbS, CONGRATS! i`m sorry to hear about your mom i hope she does ok.

I`m out ladies!
Jenn

I've joined the 21-Day Challenge and am on Day 14 and feeling strong. Hungry, but strong!:lol: I'm really trying to get into the mindset that I simply can't eat whatever I want in large quantities! [sigh....] And I'm really working on believing that I can lose these last 10-15 punds.:wizard:

Kaylets, once I was caught "sampling" from some of those serve-yourself bins at the market. I didn't mean any harm, and all of a sudden this lady is asking how she can help me and giving me the supreme 'skunk eye'. Very embarrassing, and I asked the cashier to charge me a buck at checkout for "miscellaneous"!:o

Anagram, very wise of the princesses to know that one day they must pass on the pink tiara and move on to the next stage!

Frogger, yes, let us know what happens with your husband. Very scary. And keep those doors locked!

Punkinseed---how's your mom today? Is she all sore? A little sheepish maybe about not wearing that helmet?:^:

Greetings, Arabella, Wildfire, Amarantha, Jenn, Zadie, Cerise, Ceara, and all.

Anyone hear from wsw or Metta?

Ooh, Frogger - both incidents are scary. Hope dh checks out ok and it was just maybe a temporary thing. Smack on the wrist, honey, for not having the doors locked. I'd keep my doors locked waiting at a metro even in broad daylight. Of course, there is the heat right now, isn't there? All in all, lucky - even dh because he's scared but safe. DS was pistolwhipped in his apt in DC a few years back. He's lived in VA ever since.

And, Pumpkin, have some more IC on me - some things deserve to be fed. What an awful scare for you and Mom and glad she's only bruised. But as you said, that and chemo - ouch!

Eydie, so glad you're feeling strong. And staying on the wagon. Can you pull up the couple of us who haven't been belted in place lately.

Krispy Kremes vs. B. D. cake - hmm, love both. What I forgot to mention was the M & Ms I had as a chaser to the cake. Convenient memory.

But I was MUCH BETTER today. Am done for the day and feel I ate in a healthy way. Shy on the water but the evening is still young. Had to leave the pool about halfway through the session because of thunder/lightening. Sigh. I can't say I'm fondly recalling droughts of previous summers but it's getting close.

So tomorrow will be day 2.....Stay tuned!

Mon eve
 

A-H-H-

First day back at work...a little out of it but went OK.

Geez Frogger! I'm glad you're OK, and I hope DH gets some medical help ASAP.

Punkin! You expect that from your kids don't cha? I guess that that feeling of invincibility isn't just reserved for the young in age, eh? Sometimes I wonder at the things we do. Parents....gotta love 'em! :lol:

Congrats Punkin on the :dance: :dance: gone! And Eydie, the :queen: of 14 days! Anagram...1 day under your belt! You guys are doin' great!

Anyway gotta go drink water and watch some TV... 7th Heaven and then Miami CSI. I may have to just murder dear 15 year old son....who is a tenor sax player and has decided that he is going to learn Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata ( a cheater version) on the piano. I love that Sonata, but not in all the permentations that I've heard in the last 24 hours. We watched a part of a Victor Borge special and he was inspired. I guess there are worse things right? Nails on a chalk board? ;)

Ceara :dizzy:

Hello all!

Hello all!

Full moon Tuesday! And yesterday certainly had all the symptons! Did you see us on the news ?? We had such flash flooding, cars were floating down streets! Not mine luckily-- and I thought my workday (including an eyeglass lense popping out of the frame -- lost, still not found) was crazy!!

Heard some news yesterday from some excoworkers who had taken positions w/ my former employee in other divisions when the downsizing occurred almost 2 yrs ago-- Their division is now going the same way-- Sometimes it just doesn't do anything for you to know your gut instinct was right--

*****************
But Frogger-- I reread your post twice-- I am not sure if your DH got conked on the head and now is having blackouts ( symptons of a concussion) or if the blackout made him a target.
Either way, very scary.

Not that money is as important as health, but isnt there a way to buy a pass so money doenst need to be carried?? Sorry but both of you now need to view your surroundings as "us against them"--
It would be wonderful to assume that if we are open and trusting the same will come back to us-- Sorry, not when drugs are involved- and most of us really don't see how aggressive and overpowering drugs make people. I know people who have witnessed necklaces and earrings pulled right off the person ---
I know I sound alarming and, I MEAN TO--

If it appears you might have something they can use, they will try and take it-- especially if you appear like you can be overpowered--

Please don't be offended that I am coming on so strong- I really am concernced for you and your DH.



**********
So, today's thought is:

"Attitude is everything" -Jeff Keller

Question of the day :

If you could only have one kitchen appliance, what would you choose?
--Table Topics

***********
Take care all!

Day 1
 

Good Morning Lovelies!

DH got through his colonoscopy and prep and had not even a polyp, so he now has one less thing to worry about (actually two, since the Dr. told him that his prostate is fine, too.

I haven't been really focusing, had a few bad days last week and then ate mostly veggies over the weekend so as not to make DH feel he was missing out with his preparatory boullion and jello. Then steak and oven fries and Caesar salad last night in celebration (for him, that is, I'm not a big steak lover. I think next time I'll have chicken with the salad - I'd prefer it, and it's better for me :yes: )

Frogger, what a horrendous night you had! My first marriage involved quite a few all-nighters wondering where DH was, but at least I spent the evening in the comfort of my own home! Make sure your new hubby gets to the doctor to check out the blackouts.

Punkin, hope your mom is feeling better after her spill! Is this likely to make her wear that helmet from now on? I never wore a helmet riding my bike before, but last summer DS had a spill on his way home from work and was frighteningly concussed (still doesn't remember the accident). So I'll never go without now :no:

Ceara .... hmmm ... nails on a chalkboard? DH plays tenor sax too. Awfully LOUD instrument, isn't it. I'm not sure -- if when he was practicing he offered to stop and spend the next half-hour scraping his fingernails on the chalkboard --whether I'd go for it or not :chin: He's very diligent about practice exercises and the scales :p

Kaylets, I hope to see the full moon tonight! We've had two straight weeks of cloud and rain here, although no flooding, I'm glad to report! I've got tai chi tonight, and am riding my bike, so I hope the moon is coming up then. I love to see it when it looks so big and orange on the horizon!

Re: QOD - Does the fridge count? If so, well, I don't think there's any question! Actually, I did live without a fridge for the best part (?) of one winter, because we lived in a spot that made delivery very difficult (at the bottom of a set of steep woodland trail type steps that wound their way down a hill - picturesque but positively hellish combined with getting groceries and etc. down from the car, esp. in winter :eek: ) and our fridge just conked out. Would have been impossible to survive without one in the summer, it was all-but impossible in the winter. I made the fridge into an ice-box by storing containers of ice in it. OH, the adventures!:dz:

Eydie, I PM'd wsw. Hope she's well, and not having health issues!

Well, between MIL visiting, DH's procedure, and having family in on Friday (did I mention I want to go to a desert island, ALONE?) I have got to put my nose to the grindstone and keep it there (Hope it doesn't get too pointy)

Take good care of yourselves! Love to all, mentioned or unmentioned!

Hello,
Well, yesterday was a good day generally. It was awfully good to be back at work and I ate like a champ.

For all y'all who are getting the rain, pleasse send some to us. We are currently in a dry spell and could really use it, but there is no chance of rain until at least Saturday. Everything is crispy out.

Wow, everyone seems to be getting injured. Helmut=good. I am glad to hear that there is only one chemo session left though.

QOD: kitchen appliance. Well, although there are appliances that are more useful I would have to keep my KitchenAid mixer. I love my mixer. It is red. I own very few things that are well made (as opposed to cheap crap), and my mixer is one of them. Plus it hass elevated my cakes to a whole new level.

At any rate, back to work.

Fly by postie ... sorry, I seem to be doing too many things at once and I'm not very good at that ... but Punkin that is so awful about your poor mom falling after all she's been through. Luckily, no permanent damage was done. You deserved the ice cream ... the calories won't stick. It's a law of nature.

I have two fav kitchen appliances, maybe three. My most fav is a very expensive toaster oven ... it's my fav because my brother picked it out and gave it to me ... next is the smoothie machine, although I haven't seemed to use it this summer ... third is my handy dandy food scale, as I like to keep track of what I'm eating.

Gotta run! :wave:

All this talk about helmets has me wondering if our Wild Fleur wears one while she's cycling on her fancy new bike. Maybe you could stretch a beret over it to French it up!:D

Walked 4 miles today when I didn't want to walk at all. I love that!:encore:

I tend to ride my bike on park bike trails where helmets aren't needed. No cars there. But I do have one to strap on when I have to ride on the main streets.

Punkin, your poor mom! Hope she's not in too much pain after her accident.

Frogger, what a frightening night for both you and DH! Glad neither of you were badly hurt! Those blackouts are scarey, though. Hope he gets some answers from the docs.

Hello to all! :wave:

Hello all!

Punkin, I can only imagine what you're feeling! And Mom too! How is it going?

Computers at work were down all day due to the "worm"-- Not much of what we do can be done manually but some can- instead we were told to "wait till it comes back up"-- so we sat - only 2 terminals out of 12 came up at 3:30- I'm sure you can imagine--
Wouldnt be so bad but the lack of direction is what really hurt.

Another coworker and I started working on a welcome packet for Toastmasters and then I started working on a speech. I got very frustrated as the afternoon slipped into chaos and hit the chocolate.

By time I got home, I realized the best thing that could happen was transfer to another department. I had some doubts but now know it could only be an improvement. The lack of direction has really poisoned the entire team -- if I had any doubts they are gone after experiencing yesterday's free for all.

On the upside, when I was at the grocery store, I found Ice Tea flavorings by Luzianne-- I grabbed Rasberry to try. We have a dispenser at home and at work but I am spoiled now and prefer flavored water. But this may be a cheaper alternative. The spring water at work is free so we'll see. The Luzianne flavoring is Unsweetened so you add your own to taste.

*************
Today's thought is also the question :

"If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people,
and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or
poor?" --Henry N. Ferguson

**********

Take care all!

Morning!
 

Hello My Dovies!

Breaking News!!!
I got a call from the Assistant Ed. of the site I've been writing for for the last 3 years to tell me that the Editor is retiring (this has been anticipated) and that she was stepping up to take his place. She asked me if I was interested in the Assistant Ed. position, and pretty much told me it was mine if I wanted it :yes: This would be full-time, flex-time, from home and ... AHHHHHHHH! .... decently paid! Starting Oct. 1, sounds like its a fait accompli, although not officially official yet. Already been okayed by the CEO & etc. of the parent company, no hurdles left to jump. Maybe a single phone interview, during which I would state my commitment to the site, etc, refrain from cussing out the CEO. :crossed:

Kaylets, today's thought was very -- um -- thought provoking :chin: I've been thinking about this the last little while, at least thinking about trying to be more positive, less judgemental. Thanks for the reinforcement! I resolve to make my fortune through positivity! :cb:

Wildfire, not to be mummy-like, but one can take a spill on a trail as easily as on the road and can have nasty head injuries there as well... (ok, maybe I meant to be mummylike :rolleyes: But we treasure your brain here :yes: )

Well, I've got a conference call to summarize coming right up (won't mind doing fewer of those, but they might be fun to do for a little extra cash --- hehehe extra cash --- gotta like the sounds of that!)

Let's make this a good one! Love to all, mentioned or unmentioned! Extra cash for all!!! And a banana or two as well! :cb: :cb:

Hello,
Arabella, that is awsome news. I really hope it all works out. I would love to work from home, but in my cae I would never get anything done.

QOD: Hmmm. Good question. Before I went to law school I would have been rich because I was a community organizer and was very positive becuase that is part of the job. Then when I went to school I would have been poor. Law school is very much like highschool except everyone is smart and everyone at least trys to be nice to everyoen else. That said it is an environment that fosters ***** sessions and gossip. Now that I am out, I think I will be able to come out ahead (as long as *****ing about politicians does not count, in which casse I better file for bankruptcy right now).

I am doing very well with the food thing. I had the discipline to not eat cookies yesterday. Today's lunch: fat free creamy potato soup with broccoli. Yumm.

'ello dahlings!

Can't believe I never got here to post yesterday! Work's been stressful beyond belief - by the end of the year I'll either be looking for work, or having to hire help. :dz: Love it when stuff like this happens.... like I don't have enough to worry about, now let's add "employment" to the list! :faint:

I think, besides my ice cream bender, that this stress is starting to affect me physically - I guess it had to surface somehow. My blood pressure is good - not too low, but I'm still having some dizzy spells, mostly upon standing, but sometimes just while sitting, occassionally I feel like I have motion sickness - when I'm not moving, and I'm tired - exhausted tired, even after sleeping. I really think it's stress and/or a little depression creeping in. Not like it's completely unjustified if it is I guess? I know keeping on doing what I'm doing is the best medicine, so I'll just keep on keeping on... there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

The gimp, I mean, my mom, is doing good. Her oncologist checked her out good on Monday before chemo and checked her blood count and decided there was no need to put off the 3rd treatment. They did put her on a 3rd and 4th type of anti-nausea drugs this time, in addition to the patch, to quell any illness since she's already quite sore enough. So far she's just really tired, which is better than what had been happening post-chemo. This way she just sleeps - which also helps the horse owies to heal!

On to the posties!

Jenn, bravo to you on returning to your nursing studies! Dr's are all great n' fine, but I've always thought that nurses really deserve a lot of the credit. :yes:

Eydie, in my journal awhile back I wrote about mourning the loss of foods in the quantity *I* wanted. I understand exactly how you feel... Those last pesky pounds will vanish! :wizard:

Anagram, oooh, how I'd kill for a :m: & :m: chaser! I think it's been 4 months since I've had them.... :chin: I can't decide if I want them less or more though!

Ceara, :lol: I told my mom Monday night that she and my father (who called and admitted to working in 120 heat for 5 hours last Sunday) are my payment for not having children. I told her "great, I won't have to loose my parents to old age - just really stupid actions!" :rolleyes:
And yes, as annoying as it is, your son's grating piano is probably far less irritating than what he *could* be up to! Besides, maybe he'll turn into the next Bach or Bethoven and gift his mother with a home in France or something... :encore:

Kaylets, cars floating down the street??? :eek: Haven't seen that since I lived in Napa, CA and the river would occasionally take off with someone's car!
So, iced tea flavorings?? Do tell more! Sounds good! :T

Arabella, congrats to DH on the clean bill of health! :cb: And a huge "WAAAAHOOOOO!" to you on the upcoming job! :cheers: How wonderful!
Your question "is this likely to make your mom wear her helmet?" (pardon me for a second) **** yes, it'd better. She used to be the president of the Ranch's horse riding club and she personally wrote the article on the death of the woman who'd hit her head and wasn't wearing her helmet. Believe me, no one's let her forget that article and HER preaching in it! Ha!

Zadie, no, talking bad about politicians doesn't count. I think it's a basic right stated in the Declaration of Independance or something.... ;)

Wildfire, good to hear you helmet up when necessary! :hat: (ok, that's a party hat, use your imagination!).

Q o' the day ~
Call me "Pollyanna", but if I'm going to bad-mouth someone I almost always specify that that's how *I* feel about them - that they might be perfectly nice people, but that *I'm* experiencing _whatever_ action/attitude from this person. Then I usually blame it on them having a bad day or something... that being said, I guess I'd have a few coins in my pocket, but I'd have paid a few out too!

Time to earn some money,

Terri

Good Wednesday morning, Señoras and Señoritas!

Gosh, what a beautiful morning it is here in Seattle. Golly Gee Whiz. We've gotten through the beastly 90-degree weather and are now experiencing warm days and cool nights. Lovely.

The new job's going well. It's a really positive atmosphere here - I've been working in warehouse offices for so long it's like luxury here to have microwaves, Tazo teas, no racial/homosexual jokes, no derisive comments about women, no mice, no dirt. I'm grateful to whoever thought I deserved a break from hating my job. I am indeed the cheerful person I always thought I was.

The walk home is still brutal, but if I discipline myself to take a slow pace up the (MILE-LONG) hill, I don't have to limp around from excruciating calf pain for the rest of the evening. Believe you me, I still get plenty of cardio going slow! These hills are going to save my life.

Ramon just got a job, too, starting tomorrow. Now we're REALLY here!

Arabella, you brilliant thing! Of COURSE you're getting a huge promotion! I'm so very happy for you.

Oh, Froggie Frogger, poor lady. I'm furiously sending good thoughts to your husband, every time I think about him. Good for you for defending yourself so effectively. I'm proud of my Fierce Frogger.

Punkin, darling, I'm praying you get a BREAK from....STUFF!! I'm glad you're alert enough to really do good thinking about how you're feeling and why. What's bad is when you sink into a mire without knowing it and then wake up weeks later wondering where your joy went. I'll send you some. I happen to be full of it right now. In so many different ways.
:s:

Zadie, I never did congratulate you for taking the bar. Mea Culpa. Can't wait 'til October. You ARE a champ. Your eating victories inspire me to no end.

Kaylets, thanks for the timely reminder about what comes out of our mouths. I'd say I'd be getting by financially by that standard, but being positive seems to take so much more vigilance and energy than dishing dirt, but it's a worthy pursuit, no doubt about it. My big goal in life is to make people feel good (about themselves and just in general) around me.

Eydie, you're a monster. 4 miles!?! I'm just gonna shut up about my hills...;) Didja feel good after?

OK girls, one more thing. Ramon and I wrote out a weekly menu and shopped for the week last night! The Plan is officially implemented. On to healthier eating!

Kissy-kissy,
Cerise

Arabella, I have all my digits crossed for you! Ooooh, sounds very exciting. When will you know for 100% sure? Fill us in on all the juicy details!

Cerise, I'm so glad your job's working out for you. I almost used the word 'idyllic' there, but I've used that word a few times to describe your situation. Honestly, you're such a positive person, you could make anything idyllic. [There's that word again!]

Kaylets, about the ? of the day: depends on the day you ask me.:lol: All in all, I probably speak well of people for the most part. [But I'll be checking myself on that!]

Punkinseed, I'm sorry to hear that you're feeling not-so-great. Are you getting in all your vitamins? Hope that didn't sound too weird--but I noticed recently when I got the afternoon 'sleepies', I'd been slacking on taking my supplements. Just a thought.

zadiek, the soup sounds great!

After shopping for work this morning I did something crazy and walked 2 miles at the local track. Why don't I do that more often?! I'm right there--I have to make that a part of my life!

Yo! :bravo: Arabella on your news concerning the assistant editorship!!! :cp: Sounds like the perfect job for you! I definetely think you'll have no trouble refraining from cussing out the CEO and you'll be all set. What a great way to start the glorious month of October (which is my favorite)!

Punkin, glad to hear your mom is able to go ahead with her treatment ... and that she suffered no permanent damage from her fall. She seems to be doing well. But you are fully justified in feeling stressed out and it honestly doesn't hurt to have some ice cream to alleviate that, IMNHO! I personally believe it's a justifiable use of food to make us feel better, so I say have some ice cream ... maybe something sf and lf? :)

Kaylets: The QOD is really thought-provoking ... I guess I'd probably break even financially ... dunno ... overall, I think it's better not to gossip or say negative things about people because it usually gets back to them or just generally reflects badly on the person saying the negative things ... but on the other hand, talking about people behind their backs is the world's oldest and most favorite indoor sport ... I guess I also think that talking behind someone's back is often preferable to saying negative things to their face ... but it's better not to do it at all!

Sorry not to respond to everyone, would do so but am falling asleep as I type ... I do some of my best work that way, but probably better go to bed! Avanti to all, mentioned or unmentioned. :wave:

Hello all!

Systems at work still crippled, we are now sharing terminals if you can imagine-- very tough trying to catch up that way!!

So, I am hoping to get in early and find the system up and at least get an hour or so in b/4 the rest of the world shows up.
*************
Thought of the day is a classic but worth repeating:
"No can make you feel inferior without your consent.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

Question of the day:
"What was your favorite food as a child?"
--Table Topics
*****************

Congrats Arabella- Long overdue recognition! You deserve it!


Take care all!

Congratulations, Arabella!!! :cp:

Thursday...already?
 

Wow, time is flying!

Congratulations Arabella on the great job Op!!! I'm sure you'll be great!

Kaylets it is really hard to work under adverse machine conditions isn't it? I am not looking foreward to this fall at our library either. We are switching from a DOS based system, which generally works well, to a web-based system called Sirci...which I've heard not good things about from other systems. We are being "trained" in September...2 sessions...and are bombarded in October...right when I think I'm away on vacation! (That was a good thot for the day) Anyway I think our conditions at that time will be adverse also. :?: No sense worrying yet.

QOD...all. That is the problem.

Have been trying a soy-based protein powder....I use it in shakes. I mix fruit and unflavoured low/no fat yogurt and then add the powder...It is non-GMO. But now I've gotta read the estrogen the natural way book...this getting old is a pain!

It sounds like the fall will be a time of change for all of us...nursing. lawyering, editing, job changes....what a bunch! :encore:

I have probs keeping up with you all! :stars:

Ah well, I gues that all relates back to K's QOD..what makes people old. WE ARE NOT OLD! 'CAUSE WE CHANGE!
:cheers:

Anyway am off to do something. Catch ya later!

Ceara

Hi ladies

Just wanted to give you an update. DH went to the doctor yesterday. They can't figure out what's going on with DH. He has an EEG scheduled for saturday at the hospital near his doctor's office. If that shows normal, they are going to take him off his aderall and see how that effects him. (I know exactly how that will effect him. He won't be able to consentrate on ANYTHING and he's going to get in trouble at work for it. He's an electrician. And he's going to get in trouble at home for not doing his chores). :^:

Sorry I haven't posted much. I really haven't felt like doing much of anything lately. I didn't even cook dinner last night. Just very tired from the commute. Tomorrow is the weigh in day for the week and I don't think that I have lost any more weight. But I don't think that I have gained any either.

Kaylets-we got hit with that bug too at work. Didn't take them long to fix it though. Bummer.....

Arabella-:dancer: Way to go! Hope everything turns out for the greatest!

Hello All,
I am the first one at work again today. Arround here nine o'clock is a very fluid concept. Things are going pretty well at work. Sometimes I get a bit stressed, but that is to be expected and I keep it under control. We are doing a petition for en banc review for a case and if they do not grant it we have to think about whether we want to try and petition the supreme court. One the one hand it would be exciting and it is a very important case. On the other hand it would be a ton of work, we probably would not get cert, and if we did and lost we would be making very bad law nationally rather then just in the 8th circuit. I am inclined to want to try becuase if we do not there will be another case at some point that does and we will have no control over who argues it and what the strategy is.

The eating thing is going awfully well. I went to the store yesterday and bought a whole bunch of healthy things to bring to work as snacks and lunches. I am glad that this is not a very food heavy office. Sometimes there are donuts at meetings, but aside from that it is fairly food free.

QOD: My childhood was full of foods that I did not like as opposed to foods that I did like. I suppose that is why I was so tiny back then. I do remember really liking brocolli and cauliflower with cheese. That and my mom's cheese cake. Very ligh and fluffy and not too bad for you compared to most cheese cake.

frogger - I hope they can get things figured out quickly. I think not knowing is the hardest part.

punkin = how is mom doing? I remember this being a really hard time, but then after the last treatment every day gets better and better. It is good that the end is in sight.

Well, I guess I should get to work soon.

Happy Friday eve everyone!

Wow, this week went fast didn't it? :cb:

This weekend my mom's horse club is sponsoring its 3rd annual Cowboy Music and Poetry reading night here on our Ranch. Last year it was an even bigger event than the first, :crossed: this year is bigger still! Since I'm an honorary member of the club (I scrapbook all their events for them to use as a "selling" tool for membership) I'll be there to help my mom at the drink table. YeeeeeHaaawww! :lol: :moo: :dance: (that's a ghost cowboy line dancing!)

Cerise, congrats to Ramon on getting the job and becoming an official Seatle-ite! I'm so glad you love your job too - there's nothing worse than being in a carpy (yes I said carpy, I'm trying to be curse-less), hostile, unmotivating work place.

Eydie, yeah, I'm taking a multivitamin with minerals every morning, and at night I'm taking Evening Primrose oil and flax seed oil. I'm sure it'll pass, I just need to take care of me...

Amarantha, the @#&(* ice cream is GONE! I had my bender, yes it was well deserved, but now need to find another outlet for my stress. Time to paint the carport!!! :hyper:

Kaylets, I can't imagine having to share a computer at work. I wouldn't get a thing done! Thankfully the Windows we run isn't the target of the worm, but one of my girlfriends called yesterday to say she'd gotten hit too. It's a shame that someone has *that* much time on their hands and instead of using that kind of intellegence to help people, they use it to develop something annoying and destructive! :dz:

Frogger, I'm glad DH finally got to the Dr. Hopefully they find something without having to go through months of testing - *something* has to be going on! Take care of yourself too, you sound a little down... :grouphug:

Zadie, taking something to the supreme court sounds like it would be so exciting - and so scary!

Mom's doing good, thank you for asking again. So far, 3 days post-treatment, she's done really well nausea-wise, but is fatigued worse than ever. I suspect it's one of the new drugs they gave her for the nausea - but it's working and she's been eating ok. She can't taste anything though and I think that's been a little depressing for her. We all keep saying "3 down, 1 to go!" and I think while she's anxious for the last treatment, it's hard to be excited when all she wants to do is sleep. We're planning on some sort of mini-celebration 4 weeks after her last chemo (which is Sept. 2nd) and then a bigger celebration after radiation is over. More than anything I think she's looking forward to loosing the "chemo puff" she's gotten - I don't think it's true weight gain as much as it's just all the nasty stuff they're putting in her body that's causing her to look/feel puffy.
Almost over though... thank goodness.

Q o' the day ~
Easy one, my favorite food when I was little was Beanie Weenies, with katsup. Hot or cold, didn't matter. Even better when it was served with spinach (I was a weird kid).

I have a quote for the day, it's from my Flavia desk calendar and seemed to fit perfectly with my life as of late...

"Give thanks for life's challenges. Every sadness teaches us to know true happiness."

Happy Thursday everyone!
Terri

Important day for Cerise
 

OK, Lovely Losers, it's trembly commitment time for me. :^:

I made a three-year weight loss goal that I want you all to be witness to. I'm very excited about it.

By my 31st birthday, 5-25-06, I want to have lost 90 pounds, taking me from 225 to 135 in 145 weeks. That means .62 pounds lost per week.

So, for my 29th birthday, 5-25-04, I'll have lost 25.42 pounds, taking me down to 199.58!! That'll be great, huh? Celebrating my birthday and my first day in Onederland, too!

For my 30th birthday:yikes: , 5-25-05, I'll have lost 57.66 pounds, taking me down to 167.34. That'll be a gorgeous way to start my thirties, don't you think?

God, this is so scary and exciting, but I think it's a conservative enough pace that I can have room for relapses (aberrations, RIGHT?!?) and various other "learning experiences". :p

With your guys' help, I'm starting a calorie-counting program tomorrow, and am also slooowly easing into weight training, hopefully getting something started in time for our Labor Day Party (starting a resistance training program is one of my LD goals). Cardio's not a problem right now, thanks to my walking to/from work. When the hills get too easy, :lol: I'll break out some more quality time on the elliptical or something.

So, feedback on this goal. Do you think it's feasable? Be honest, I won't get mad. :sumo:

I feel like I'm finally getting some good work started on my weight loss/fitness gain journey. Thanks for being with me all the way, loves!! :encore:

Cerise I think it's totally, utterly, completely and wonderfully feasable! :yes: :cb:

You go girl! It'll be an honor and privilege to witness and assist!

Of course, now I feel a little old since by the end of your goal I'll be heading towards 37... :eek: :faint: :lol: But I'll still be here!!!! :yes:

Terri

Cerise - I think it looks like a great plan, especially if you can break it up into nice short term goals. It seems very reasonable and totally achievable and a great pace for sustainable weight loss.

I am 30 and it is not too bad. ;)