[Candicej]

Pj and extra 3 kids....WOW...Are you still sane????????????

Bren....just keep plugging away..you are so close

Setina....don't work too hard!

[Candicej]

need advice please........

Dh came home form work toniight and told me one of my friends had
passed away while in surgery, her heart stopped, she was only 45.

She had health problems all her life from diabetes, undergoing a
kidney transplant and then lossing both her legs to circulation
problems. She never let people know if she was not feeling well,
always up and helping out when and where ever she could a wonderful
inspiration to us all!!!!!!!!!

Anyway I feel so bad because I have not seen here in about two years
but kept intouch through email, she raised Bostons and pugs and
wanted me to come see her new litters but I never made it there. DH
was afraid I would bring one home and I do not go out much with the
fibro thing. Keep pretty much to myself, just easier that way. Well
I feel terrible that I never paid her a visit and the last email I
had from her was in April and she had fallen and hurt her hand and
told everyone she could not type anymore for awhile. I knew
something must be wrong the longer it went that I did not her form
her but I didn't bother to call, cause I felt stupid asking if she
was ok on the phone, but I did send her cards and email all the time,
just did not here back from her. I'm not much of a friend I guess..I
should have done something for her. I even told her once that since
I do not go out much or hear from anyone in town much someone could
die and I would have to read about it in the paper. (we both
laughed) I just wish I had taken the time and made the effort to
visit her in person.

So my question is what do we do for the surving family, husband and 2
grown children. Is there something we can get them to remember her
by or wait to see what the paper says for donnations. (she use to be
a memeber of the emergeny squad in town and I'm sure they will be
mentioned). I'm not sure I can bring myself to go to the visitation,
I have not been to any in a very long time, the crowds bother me so
terribly, and I'm afraid the family witll think if I do make the
effort I should have done it before she passed away. I'm really
upset over all this. When our children we small we were best friends
and saw each other often.
(I'm sitting here sobbing now)................... Help me please and
keep the family in your prayers they have been through so much!

[PJ]

Candice - First of all.....it wasn't your fault that she died. Secondly, we all know your physical limitations from your Fibro. I have it as well and I totally understand when you say you're having a bad day. I'm sure she could have called you as well. She was not a parapalegic. I'm not being crass.....just honest. I'm also sure she could dial a phone. So.....my point is, just because she had physical problems....doesn't mean she was not able to call you and ask to visit or whatever. Don't feel so guilty. There are many times that I wish I had spent time with people I loved or cared about that are gone now. It's a lesson we all learn in life..no matter what age. Live for today, seize the moment and be spontaneous. Personally, I think you SHOULD go to the service, because I KNOW you'll be sorry afterwards if you don't. Forget the crowd....they're all mourning her as well and I think it would be more offensive if you DIDN'T go than if you did. Please go Candice...for yourself and to pay your respects to a freind. This is my advice.....you can take it or leave it....but I'm being very honest with you because I consider you a good friend. Us Owls have all become close through our trials and tribulations in our lives and I would never B.S. you about something this close to your heart. GO!!!!!! and as far as a gift......I don't know how much time you have on your hands.....but if you do a "transfer" of a picture of her.....and frame it (transfer it onto fabric with T-shirt transfer) and add some dried flowers inside the frame as well.....it makes for a beautiful gift to display at the service as well as a keepsake for them. If you don't like that idea and would like some others.....just give me an email..........oh heck....just email me with your number and I'll call you on my cell phone. I've got tons of minutes on there and I'd love to finally hear your voice anyway. So......it's up to you.....hope I helped.
Hugs,

[Candicej]

Thank you for your thoughts............DH went to the memorial and made a donaton to the emt squad, no visitation(cremation) I just was not feeling good (still lots of pelvic pain) so I will send a letter to the family with my memories and we are going in on a gift with my DH's cousin (she will do the shopping). This is a small town but they all were there DH said! She was a very well liked person and such an ispiration. I will post the poem they had for her later..it is beautiful. Still wish I had check on her when she did not respond to my email concerns. It was a gut feeling that we women get!


__________________

[Candicej]

Here is the memorial Poem they had at the service for my friend. I love it!


Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the path God laid for me,
I took his hand when I heard him call,
I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day
to laugh, to love, to work to play.
Tasks left undone must stay that
way,
I found the place at close of day.

If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy.
A friendship shared, a laugh a kiss,
Ah yes, these things, I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me,
God wanted me now, He set me free.

[PJ]

Candice - It's 2:17am and I can't sleep so I thought I'd check my email. I saw that there was a post on THE NIGHT OWLS and here I am.
I just re-read what I posted and it sounds a bit insensitive to me. I in no way meant it to be and apologize if that's how it came across. I truly am sorry for the loss of your friend and I know how the Fibro can keep us from doing many things we want to do at times. The poem for her IS very beautiful and the things you chose to do sound very thoughtful, I'm sure her family will appreciate them. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know how I felt and I hope that I in no way hurt your feelings or made you upset. You sounded as if you were starting to blame yourself and I didn't want you to feel that way....I hope you understand. Again, I'm very sorry for your loss and wish I had come across in a more sympathetic way. My prayers are with her family and with you.
Hugs,

[Candicej]

Oh PJ don't feel bad...........I was not offened by your words after all you told me once you speak your mind! Yes she could have called me too but she was one that did not want to bother anyone and I did offer and she never called so you did make a point. I would never call anyone either to help me, and if I do here from them I tell them I am fine you know what I mean I'm sure. I do not want you to feel bad................

I have another friend that has just been diagnosed with cancer we are not sure how bad it is yet but I will be checking in with her to see I can do anything......... We just know each other from our local support group the Fibro one. But I want her to know am here...........well she already knows that but it will make me feel better to do something. I'm not a big phone person so I may just send a note at first untill we see what is going on.

Boy this hip and pelvic pain is really getting to me! This heatwave has gotta to go! We need rain!

Dh brought home 5# of fresh blueberries, not sure if I will make jam (alot of work) or freeze them if we do not eat all of them first! I might make some muffins too with sour cream.

[PJ]

I might make some muffins too with sour cream.

Now that sounds wonderfully delicious!!!!! I love to eat ANY kind of fresh and ripe berries with fresh whipped crieam......the muffins sound delish too. How many points in THOSE babies.....hMMM????? heh-heh.

I'm not doing well OP at all. Just can't get "that feeling" again and get back into the swing of things. I'm not using my computerized chart or ANYTHING! I've got to snap out of this or I'm going to gain alot of weight back and quick. I still haven't lost the 10 pounds I gained while in the hospital. I lost a few pounds when I got home but the following week.....I weighed in at the whole ten extra pounds again. UGH!!!!!! It's so hard getting started and back on track agian!!!!
Let's see....for breakfast, I had three cups of coffee with 3/4 tsp of sugar for each with real 1/2 and 1/2......and Bill made Li'l Billy and I english muffins with butter on them......then I just finished an entire bag of tortilla chips with a REAL coke....not even diet.

Well, I'm going to have another cup of coffee and look for my WW calculator and start right now....atleast it's a start...no matter HOW many points I've used. I can always have some veggie soup and some low cal bread later. Wish me luck.

To all you missing OWLS out there......"where are youuuuu????"

[PJ]

This is for you Candice
They're my very heat tolerant "Summer Daisies". I don't know the correct name for them but that's the "nick-name" we have for them "down here". I'll be sending more for ya. Show me some more of yours ! Please

[Candicej]

Love the picture PJ and I didn't get the muffins made but did make a cherry Blueberry pie with a double crust! Yikes 8pts for 1/8 of the pie and I am trying not to eat a second piece. I though about makeing my low fat pie crust but just used one of those Pillsbury ones and it turned out great! I want another piece I'm too skinny anyway!

I figured just 2 or 3 pts for those muffins there is no fat in them and the cour cream is the fat free kind.

All my last pictures were too big for this site even when I cropped them!

[PJ]

Uh......Candice???? Did you realize that we've been the only ones here for the last few days? This is getting creepy. WHERE IS EVERYBODY?

[deadfish]

hey guys, sorry i've been in lingo...the computer has been having some problems and have not been able to get on for long if not at all. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing well. Gained 2 pounbs from being in New Jersey, so I'm planning on getting rid of those. Trip to California is coming up quick. We leave on the 1st and return the 11th. SO I have to be really really good between now and the time we leave. I need to be good out there as well, but we'll see. His family is Filipino and they like to feed you, so we'll see how it goes. Take care everyone and I'll catch up with you soon.

[Candicej]

Bluebberry Muffins 3pts These are wonderful!!!!!!!!!!

1 cup sugar
1 tbsp. oleo (I used imperial 1/3 less fat)
1 egg
1 cup sour cream (I used FF sour cream)
2 cups flour
1 tsp. B. soda
1 tsp. B powder
pinch of salt
1 cup blueberries
1 Tbsp. Sugar (to sprinkle on top) It did not take all of this.

Mix together the sugar, oleo,(I mix sugar and oleo with a fork first)
egg, and sour cream. Add flour, baking powder and salt (I mix these
three together before adding). Fold into blueberries. Fill muffin
cups.(I used pam spray) Sprinkle top with sugar Bake 20-25 minutes at
35o. Makes 12 generous muffins. Do not store in an airtight container.
Freeze well.

[SJR]

Hi all,

Candice, your recipe sounds yummy. Will have to try this one. We are heavy into the fruit salad right now in our house.

Well, my 12 week refocus is going so-so. I stayed the same last week (not too bad, seeing how is was TOM), and tonight I lost 1.2lbs. I am not faithfully journaling however, so I will try and work on that this week.

Not much new here. I did get my daughter's test results back and everything was normal. Good news because she has always had high cholesterol, but she was bummed that the thyroid was normal. I told her just to keep up her physical activity and try and watch her portions and it may just all catch up with her. I think she is toning though. A friend saw her this week and said it looked like she had lost weight. The scales not showing it though.

Well, hubby is outside digging holes for sono-tubes. We are finally getting our deck put on!!!! I guess I should do something too.

Sheri
13.2/-1.2/week 2

[Candicej]

Sheri, glad your daughters tests were normal..that is always a relief. Fruit salad sounds yummy...I love the fresh produce season

Getting hot here again and still no rain.

Gained the two pounds I lost on vacation back so I am normal now!!!!!!!!!!!!

So how are all you owls????????????