For some reason I didn't sleep well last night. Maybe I need a softer mattress.

I rode my exercise bike for 30 minutes again this morning. I seem to do better at getting on the thing in the mornings.

I still haven't eaten anything white, and haven't had any yearnings for it either.
In fact, I may have been a bit gruff with a friend at work over that very thing.
She knows that I said "I'm not going to have anything white, and I'll see how it goes." 3 of us were talking and I had JUST said that I still hadn't had any white foods, and she said, " I'm going to bake some brownies tonight and bring some in tomorrow. The 3rd girl working with us said that sounded good to her, and then this woman said, to me, "I'll bring you some too."
I said,"NO! Now I told you I'm not having any sugar, white flour, rice or potatoes and so forth!" She said, "OK! then, I won't bring any for you."
I didn't want to hurt her feelings, but sometimes you just gotta be firm.

It was cold here today. 37 degrees, rain and windy. Fall is upon us. I closed all the storm windows on my porch. Kinda like putting the houses winter covers on. It's still raining out there. Not hard, but enough to keep it wet. We really need this before it freezes too so the roots to plants get some protection for winter.

I soaked my new swimsuits in vinegar water tonight, then rinsed them out and hung them in the shower to dry. So, they're ready to go next week.

Puss, I've heard before that if you want to look slimmer, you should wear your clothes just a tad bit on the loose side. See? You're just changing your whole personna on us. Swimming, exercising, slimming clothes, ....
And I'm with you on the exercise equipment. I hate most of those things too. I like the stationary bike and I can tolerate the treadmill once in a while, but not the steppers etc,
You ladies are too funny! I'd love to see you in there with the 90-year olds. Getting splashed!
I'm betting that one of these days, soon, you're going to suddenly have a 3 or so pound drop.

Charlotte, did you find lots of good buys on your shopping spree?
Oh gosh, Charlotte, is there any way you could go by yourself to the water classes? It could be so beneficial to you. How about your daughter?

Sheila, glad you had a wonderful weekend.
And, thanks for sharing Dad with us. I really look forward to hearing about his pecadillos. Too cute! Sneaking cookies!

Hey! Congratulations on the new wheels! Cool! I've been debating whether I want to get one now or wait.
When you go to the UK in Sept. maybe you and puss can meet up. But, then again, you might be on the opposite side of the country from her. That would be great if you could, though.

I suppose I better get all my posts made and get my things ready for tomorrow. Everyone have a good evening.

Welcome home Sheila, your weekend sounds like something you see in movies with Meg Ryan or Julia Roberts in, really posh and sophisticated; chilling out, conversation, antique shops etc. Sounds absolutely idyllic. Thanks for the compliment about my 'wise words' though most of my friends think I am crackers and I am still waiting to grow up myself but I think most people feel that way too, don't they? So tragic about your friend's son in a boat accident. My daughter only started on Accident and Emergency and this morning a young man of 19 was rushed in after a car accident and he died despite everyone's best efforts. Some poor family shattered tonight, poor souls. Angel, thanks for the hints on right mouse click, if it works I will be copying lots of your icons to send to friends. I am sure the sales did both you and DD the world of good. My DD and I used to do that a lot when she lived at home but we can only manage it about once a year now she lives in the North. I must tell you, in work today there was a contractor who came from my home town. He was only in the south for a week's work and said I hardly had an accent anymore (all my southern colleagues howled laughing at that because compared to them I definately do!). Willow - you have posed the puzzler of the year for me - what does washing your swimsuit in vinegar do to it? I am worried now because I just snipped the tags off mine and wore it though I did take travel wash to work and rinsed it afterwards - that little job will soon wear off, I know. Sheila, you kill me laughing! I had an awful vision of myself in Richard Simmons cast-off shorts and getting a perm to match whilst climbing Everest. For a start, I am useless with heights and for another, I'd be the first to die of hyperthermia - my bottom is still freezing in the tropics, ha ha. A chap in work doesn't eat white foods, Willow, he is not allergic or anything but the girls think his wife is a health food follower. Well, I went to the Rosemary Conley diet and fitness club tonight and the exercise instructor was really nice and she is my new best friend after she told me I don't need to lose weight and to set my target at 7lb max. Personally I think she needs an optician because at 5' 1" and 164lb I am far from slender. I think she was probably looking at my face which is small (naturally!) and thinking "if this one loses too much she will have suitcases under the eyes to match the hereditary bags she already has)." It was 45 mins long and ended just as I was begining to wish it would end, so it was good. Ladies of all shapes and sizes and one gutsy lady who looked like she had either had a stroke or palsy - I took inspiration from her. I had to laugh at the end of the class the instructor told me not to worry about the moves and routine because they had all been doing it for the past 6 weeks and she will be doing a new one next week. (She had obviously spotted me out of sync with the rest of the class). I had to confess that I was naturally uncoordinated so not to worry herself. I still can't believe it was me there tonight though if I could clone myself I would and whilst I was laying about on the setee reading I would send my clone to do the exercise for me. Sheila, your DD is wonderful and your attitude to his little foibles just so nice. Angel, does your pool have adult only sessions like ours? That's the one I go to in my lunch hour and there are quite a few singles there. Willow, I had to laugh at your reaction to the work colleague with the brownies! You can always tell her to ship your share over to my place....I won't tell her off! Ha ha. Congrats on your new car, Sheila, Matador Red; sounds proud, racy, passionate....you will have to buy a lipstick to colour co-ordinate. As for your visit to UK next September, you are likely to fly into London Heathrow and I am only 35 mins drive from there. We would have to meet up and perhaps I could show you the sights etc. I have always wanted to be one of those people with big white placards outside the airport arrivals with someone's name on it. I could have "Sheila and DH from 3fatchicks.com" on it.
Good to have the gang back together again, all we need now is Bluet. Bluet, hope you are well.

OOPS - I keep saying I am 164lbs; that was my starting weight when I joined here. It's 146 and I can still grab huge handfulls of surplus padding around my bod.

Hi all!

Just a note to let you know I am back! Had a major meltdown with my computer and had to get a new hard drive. Thank goodness DS is a computer whiz.

I will post when I get caught up reading all your posts!!

Jacquie

Oh, Puss, yes, I want you to be standing there with the card that says "Sheila and DH from 3fatchicks.com" on it. Can you imagine the looks you'd get! I just had to show my husband what you wrote, and he burst out laughing, too.

The vinegar sets the color in the swimsuit so that it won't fade. I think that's what I remember from my daughter's swim team days.

It actually sounds like you just might enjoy exercising. . .well, maybe some day. Since I'm the youngest in my class by a good 10 years, usually more, it always makes me laugh when I'm totally outclassed by the white-haired retirees. But, hey, most of them have been in the same class for years.

Your poor daughter! What a horrible first day. My friend also lost another child (at 31 years old) from eating a hamburger. Usually e. coli affects the young and the old, but this time it got a healthy 31 year old. My friend is very resilient, however, and has an incredible sense of humor. You remind me of her so much--plus she's only 5' tall and shrinking (she's 68). I'm 5'9" tall so we look like cartoon characters when we walk together.

Willow, brrr! That's getting way too close to freezing. When I lived in Colorado, we always had the first snow by the middle of September, but then it would warm up again for a while. I bet those cold temps are there to stay. And, hey, chocolate is not white food! Okay, I know the "white" is the sugar. You're doing really well to keep those out of your food plan. Sometimes when I eat sugar, it sets me up for days of eating more sugar. And kudos to you for standing up for yourself. I wish I could have done that with my friends, but the lure of chardonnay was too strong. . .

Today I was a live pincushion for an hour. I had 10 needles sticking out of me, mostly in my leg, but two in my ear and one in my hand. That one always gives me a bruise for a while. We also did this tuning fork thing, mainly because if she had stuck more needles in me, I would have screamed and fled from the room. I have no problem telling her what my tolerance level is, although I know she'd like to be able to poke me some more.

Well, the guy should be here with the new car any minute. We're taking a photo of it to send to my daughter. We're still waiting for the mail every day. I imagine it will be like that until we see her again.

Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday! Good to hear from you again, Jacquie--we've all been wondering where you were. Those hard drive crashes are the pits. Now, if we could just hear from Sue, we'd be set!

I had a good day at work today.
Woke up a few times last night because my CPAP mask was leaking air around the edge and it wakes me up because it blows right up into my eyes and makes a farting sound. It works after I adjust a dozen times when I first go to bed, but, then as soon as I turn over, it breaks the seal and it starts all over again.

I took 2 hours incentive and left work early today, went to the bank and took out a loan just for some odds and ends things I want to do around here.

Had a good supper just a little while ago. I feel so gooood. Feel satisfied. I had teriyaki stirfry veggies and put just a tad bit of creole seasoning in and some shrimp. it was so so good.
Still haven't had any white foods. Haven't craved them either.

They are having a tailgate party at work tomorrow and I still have to go get something to take to it. Maybe a meat and cheese tray.
Our plant manager loves football and started this tailgate thing a couple of years ago when he first came here and this guy really gets in to it. He clears out an area of the plant and has a contest for the vikings against the Packers, who can sell the most raffle tickets for prizes and he has foods voted on and all kinds of stuff. Then, the proceeds are given to a charity. It's a lot of fun for a good cause.

I rode my stationary bike for 30 minutes this morning and again for another 30 minutes this afternoon when I got home from work.

Puss, you just kill me! I laughed so hard at your description of you in RS' shorts and perm, .... Oh, please, you're killing me! And climbing Mt. Everest too. You and Sheila need to go into comedy. You're wasted doing what you're doing!

If you put your new swimsuit in vinegar water it "sets" the colors and prevents it from fading so quickly from the chlorinated water.
1 TBSP. per quart of COLD water, soak it for an hour, then rinse WELL in COLD water and squeeze excess water out (never wring out a swimsuit) and hang to drip dry, or lay on towels.
Now I have a question for you. ........ What is travel wash?

Jacquie!! Soooo good to see you back! We were worried about you.

Sheila, so you had the old needle treatment again today. I sure hope this helps you.
I can just see it now, .... Puss carrying a sign saying "Sheila and DH from 3fc.com" and you carrying one saying "PUSS!"
You two are something else.

Did you gals know that there have been explosions on the surface of the sun since last Friday that are interfering with earths communications systems? Like phones, computers, electrical supplies, etc.

Bluet, where the heck are you? And Hello Charlotte! Hi Sue! Are you ever gonna come back and say Hi?

I have to run to the store. See ya all tomorrow. Have a wonderful evening!

Oh , I am right here, sorry..... lifes been biting me in the butt again. It will take me forever to catch up with everything that you girls have been talking about. I was pretty tired after all the grandkids left. Monay night I went to bed at 7:00 and slept all night until 5:00 in the morning. Tuesday I had another go round with that *** at work, he was critiquing my management skills. I have had it up to there with him. When I got home I was in no mood to talk to anyone, not even DH. Been especially busy at work this week and wasn't able to squeak any private computer time in. But here I am, my positive upbeat self back again.
I would neve forget you guys, you know that.

Sheila, I am so happy for you and so envious at the same time. For as long as I can remember I have wanted to go to the British Ilses. How long a flight will that be for you? who is going to take care of DD? You better hide the cookies when you go. I would love to see the faces of the people going by when they read the signs that say "where are you Fatpuss?", "Where are you 3FatChicks.com?" Way too funny. Glad you enjoyed you mini-vacation on the island.

Puss, just when I feel happy that I have met someone else who does not like to excercise, you turn bandit on me and become the exercising queen. Now is that fair? I think not. I am really happy for all of you that you are exercising, but it sure makes me feel like a twit. I guess with all this peer pressure, I am going to have to start getting up early again and get on that treadmill.
Man, there's another dreaded thing I am not good at...getting up early. I am a mess, whatever am I going to do with myself. New bathing suits, new exercise programs, you are just a little motivated machine, you will be dropping weight and inches in no time. Good for you.

Willow, just when I least expect it you turn around and tell us something I don't want to hear. What an awful tramatic experience you had with someone breaking into you home and hurting you. I am surprised your boys allow you to stay alone after something like that. Somehow, though I know they know Mom can handle just about anything. Right? I don't expect you to behave, when you come over next summer, I expect you to be yourself and for me to throughly enjoy your company. It has been pretty cold here too, had some sleet yesterday, not suppose to clear out until after Sunday. So we should expect your cold weather in a couple of days. I am sure that that supervisor is a huge Green Bay Packer fan and he is celebrating with a Packer Party to welcome the Packers to Minnesota. What a really nice guys he is. I'll bet there is a lot of Wisconsin Cheese and sausage platters and Milwaukee Beer at your party. Ha! When I watch the game Sunday night, I'll be thinking of you and wondering how you are doing. I might be starting to exercise, but there ain't no way I am buying or putting on a swim suit. Now is about the time I drag out my long underwear and keep wearing it until the bears come out of hibernation in the spring.

I weigh 138 pounds and am 5' 5" I lost twenty pounds since May 11, 2003. I will just cry forever if I put any weight back on. I want to weigh 130 pounds by Thanksgiving. I haven't weighed 130 pounds since I was 40 years old. That's twenty years ago. Yes, I know exercise. I have not eaten any white sugar or flour since May 11, 2003. I haven't had any alcohol since February 6, 2003. It would break my heart, if I broke my pattern and indulged in the flour, sugar or alcohol. So that is where I am in my program.

Going to bed. Take care all of you, you are all vey dear to me.

Bluet

Goodnight sweet Charolette, Jackie, SunnyD and Sue where ever you are.

Remember, we all stumble every one of us. That is why it is a comfort to go hand in hand.....Emily Kimbrough

One more thing... here is the link (just click on it) to see our new niece. Just scroll up or down till you find my post The first pic is my hubby, JOE, holding her & the second is of Mikala.

Her name is:
MIKALA ROSE Ain't she sweet

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...5&pagenumber=4

Hi everybody...

SunnyD...SO glad you're better! Enjoy paying bills.

Bluet...Sorry things haven't been going so great for you, lately. Hoping it will get better soon.

Hi Sheila, Fatpuss (let me know if you ever need a certain image to email!), Willow, Jacquie.....maybe I'll have more time later. Got a hair appt.....just looked at the clock!

All the little chicks back in the fold !!
It's brilliant when the whole tribe are back; welcome back Jacqui and Bluet especially as you two have been away for a while and were missed. I miss each one of you when you don't post.
SunnyD - I want that beautiful baby for my secret GD! She is a honey pot, isn't she, and I know you will be the most doting auntie ever. Your DH is quite tasty if you don't mind me saying so, you make a good looking couple. Sorry you have been so ill, who'd have thought tomato seeds could cause such havoc? Bluet, sorry you are having trouble again with that moron at work, pity we girls couldn't all gang up on him for you and give him what for. You will never know how much pleasure you gave me with your "turning bandit" phrase. I have only ever heard it said before by my dad. I would promise to take his side over something my mother disagreed with and he'd always say, "don't you turn bandit on me". Such lovely memories of him came flooding back just reading that, thanks! Listen, we are too alike for me to suddenly become motivated! I too hate getting up early and would rather read my life away than do the least bit of exercise. You can count on me to be the last man lying down when it comes to activity, I won't let you down. Bluet, you must be very slim already if you are 138lb and 5'5"? I suppose you want to get down to what weight you feel best at. I love your expression The British Isles, so long since I have heard it referred to anything but the UK. I have gone off the idea of meeting any of you American ladies - I have decided that you are all too tall, Bluet at 5'5", SunnyD at 5'6" and Sheila a whopping, envious 5'9"! Sheila, if you come to London you will either have to learn to walk next to me stooping like Groucho Marx or I will have to get a pair of those 70s platform boots, I can't have you tall and glamorous next to me! Willow and Jacqui, I am relying on you to be 5'3" or under. Sheila, I hope you are less of a pin cushion now the accupunture is over, ughh. I hope it does you good. How awful for your friend to have lost another son - I don't think any of us could ever imagine losing one let alone two children, poor lady, my heart goes out to her. My nut-case son volunteered for salmonella trials when in 2nd year med school. They injected the stuff into the 'guinea pigs' and did various tests on him over a period of months. The trial included overnight stays in a unit with video games, dial in food etc etc and he got paid about 550 dollars but it was the tiny hand held computer he did it for he told me. A few weeks ago his room mate and he were talking about other trials that were on offer, having a big toe amputated and even having your heart stopped for some minutes! I won't even repeat the blasting I gave him although he swore he wasn't seriously considering it, honestly, they think they are invincible at this age. Sheila, when you meet up with DD and see how happy she is it will be then that you can put your mind at rest. You must be so proud of her already. Jacqui, it's so nice to have you back; we have had problems with our computer too, it's really annoying and takes so long to log on sometimes. How is your DM doing in her new home? Angel, are you still working at the station? I still say you would make a brilliant IT teacher too. Willow, I have never heard of the vinegar thing you and Sheila knew about. Travel wash is just travel-sized laundry liquid for washing clothes - sorry, it's a brand name, that's all, and fits into a handbag. Here's another one for you, what's a tailgate party? The only tail gating I know is when someone is driving too close to your car bumper. It must be so uncomfortable sleeping with a mask on, never mind it losing its seal. I am glad you left work early, you seem to put the hours in. I plan to swim in my lunch hour again tomorrow though I would much rather browse round the department store opposite my office. Oh, yes, this morning I weighed in at 144.5 - but tonight I had loads of jelly babies and a huge slab of french bread with thinly spread margarine and some jelly (apricot flavour). I started off well, though, with plaice, new potatoes and minted peas. Just got an email from DH saying his company Xmas dinner/dance theme this year is 1920s prohibition Molls and Mobsters black and white dress. Is that Bonnie and Clyde era?

Hi Everyone,

Well, it is Thursday I am going to go get my hair cut and then I will be rushing home to watch........yes, you guessed it Survivor. I don't know guys, I do have a life, but I just so look forward to watching Survivor. All the ousted people are coming back tonight. I am not sure I am going to like that, all that old rehashing stuff. Might be too boring. I need a hair cut badly. I have a trim every five weeks, but last hair cut, she did some sort of razor technique to it. That exposed so many split ends and no amount of hair conditioning on it seemed to help. I am hoping the trim will get rid of a lot of the split ends. I wear my hair short and it could almost be called red brown and it is naturally curly. I am very fussy about how my hair looks. Usually I can just wash it and go, but this razor technique thingy has caused my hair to act very differently. DH has nick named me bushy-top, the last couple of days. Needless to say he is treading on dangerous water. Men!

Work went pretty well today. Not much going on, was able to keep up with the stuff coming across my desk and still interact with coworkers. Avoided you know who, all though he seems distracted today. Probably on another mission, hope I am not the focus. Hey, maybe my hair scared him off, maybe I won't go get a hair cut tonight after all.

It is almost dark when I head home from work these days. I need sunshine, and plenty of it, but oh well I have told you that so much I know you are sick of hearing it.

I want to talk about fish oil and the benefits of Omega 3, but I need to do my homework, which I will get around to in a couple of days. I have been carrying the book around with me "Your Last Diet" by Kathleen DesMaisons, but I haven't researched the Omega3 Plan enough.

I called my grandaughter a little while ago because it is her birthday today. When she answered the phone she said "Hi Grandma, it is my birthday day and I am 5." I get such a chuckle whe she say birthday day.

Well, it is almost time to stop work for the day. If Survivor is boring, I will check in later. Have a good evening everyone.

Take care

Bluet

Remember, we all stumble every one of us, that is why it is a comfort to go hand in hand. Emily Kimbrough

Oh, Bluet, our hairdressers must have talked to each other. I got the dreaded razor cut the last time I got my hair cut. I didn't know what to expect so when she asked if it was okay, I was "sure, why not?" Hah! I need to call and make an appointment for next week. She and my massage therapist live together (and are getting married soon) so I have a massage, then get my hair cut. She does facials, too--I could make a whole day of it there!

So, is Rupert still around? From the little I saw of Survivor, he always seemed to be the only one catching fish and working. They'd starve if they voted him off!

Your GD sounds so cute! She was so proud of her birthday. Does she go to kindergarten next year?

I take flaxseed oil rather than fish oil. Flaxseed oil is supposed to help lower cholesterol, and I believe it also contains Omega 3 fatty acids. I'm not sure what the difference is nutritionally, but I bet the burps are a lot better with flaxseed oil than fish oil!

Puss, you have to get a slinky black dress with spaghetti straps and a stringy hem (hhmm, not sure what that's called?) and wear a flapper cap (not sure what that's called either!). And your DH has to wear spats and a zoot suit. My great aunt and her DH were bootleggers during Prohibition and my Dad likes to tell the story of how he went there one day, and the "revenuers" (the Federal agents) had come and smashed the barrels of booze and the chickens all got drunk. Luckily, the relatives sold booze to the chief of police and other city officials so they didn't do any jail time.

OMG, I can't believe your son would even consider amputating his toe for a clinical trial, and getting his heart stopped! I bet your heart stopped at that one! Sheesh! I did know someone who was in an asthma medication trial and got $800, but somehow a kid testing asthma medication is a lot easier to take than a salmonella trial.

Oh, tailgating is a party on the tailgate of a truck (or other vehicle) in the parking lot at a football game. People really get rather elaborate and bring out the barbecue and all sorts of stuff. People sit on the tailgate and eat, or bring lawnchairs and the food is laid out on the tailgate. I've never been to one, but if you watch football or go to games you see them all the time. Do fans paint themselves in their teams colors when they go to football or rugby matches in England? People here are very passionate about their favorite teams and do (dumb) things like coloring their hair and painting their bodies the colors of their favorite teams.

So, Charlotte, how was your hair appointment? Please tell us you didn't let them go at it with a razor!

SunnyD, I'm so sorry you weren't feeling well. What exactly is diverticulitis? And then to follow that up with a urinary tract infection, which in itself is bad. Hey, billpaying for me today, too. The tax bill was the worst! I love that baby--and her name is beautiful.

Well, we couldn't drive our new car last night. My DH was going to get a phone card for our daughter (got our second letter!) and then put that plus my letter in the mail. I asked him if he'd seen the registration and he said the temporary license is usually on the back window. It wasn't. The guy who brought us the car had forgotten to put that on the window so we couldn't go anywhere until we got that. My DH had to drive to the dealership this morning to get it. And we haven't had to go anyplace so we still haven't driven the new car. For some reason, my father is fixated on the idea of having Japanese food tonight from some place in downtown Seattle. So my DH is going to drive down there during rush hour to get it, mostly so my dad will quit mentioning it, and he's afraid to take the new car. So I have no idea when we're going to drive this beautiful new car that's sitting in our carport! I could drive it to the YMCA tomorrow, but the parking places are so close together that I'm worried about it getting scratched. Maybe the dang thing will just never move out of the carport so it stays in pristine condition!

Well, I got my comeuppance for going out to breakfast with my DH this morning. Now, I will say that we went after we'd spent 1/2 hour at the gym lifting weights. But that probably doesn't make up for the 4 pieces of really great bacon (not turkey bacon either!) I ate. Anyway, we didn't tell my dad we were going to do that, and when we got home around 10:00 am, he was sitting in the dining room with his jacket on. He'd had a dentist appointment at 10:00 am and we'd parked the new car behind his, he couldn't get out, and he didn't know where we were. Ouch! He'd forgotten his previous appointment so this was the make-up appointment where they were supposed to fill his cavity. Boy, did I feel guilty! Guess that was the universe telling me I shouldn't have been eating all that bacon.