Hey girls! I'm still here. I've been lurking and keeping up with the posts, but haven't had time to type anything until today. I attended an all day pre-retirement seminar yesterday. All I really did was torture myself. I can retire in November, but since I will only be 48 I probably need to wait. Our retirement system is rated 4th in the nation, so I am very lucky. Anyway, it's been hard to concentrate on work today...plus the weather is gorgeous outside. It's a little warm, but it is so nice to see sun after all the rain and tornadoes we have been having.
DD and her boyfriend have gone to Perdido Key, Florida for the weekend, so it will be quiet around my house. I had the opportunity to do several things with friends, but I think I am going to go home and hibernate for the weekend and get caught up with housework. I was sick all last week with the "crud" from allergies and hayfever, but it went into my chest and I lost my voice (which I'm sure thrilled some people).
I also rented three movies to watch...The Road to Perdition with Tom Hanks, White Oleander with Michelle Phiffer(sp?), and Two Weeks Notice with Sandra Bullock. This is the weekend that we have one of our big music festivals, Jubilee Jam, but the only person I wanted to see was Luther Vandross and he won't be here since he is recovering from his stroke. The only other "big" name performer this year was Bob Dylan and he has never floated my boat. I'm kind of looking forward to a weekend where I can do anything I want.
Things are going good on the weight-loss front. I'm just starting my tenth week and the total loss so far is 23 pounds. I've had one week where I stayed the same and I gained one pound last week, but have lost all other weeks. I got a little off track on Mother's Day (homemade angel biscuits and fried chicken at a wonderful local restaurant), and after gaining one pound I could feel myself slipping. I felt burned out, even though I have been very pleased with my progress. I was determined not to slip this time though, so I had a good talk with myself and went to the grocery store and stocked up on all my favorite low point foods for this weekend. I am proud of myself for fighting the "urge" to stray. I've also discovered strawberries...my new favorite fruit. I have eaten my weight in them in the last few weeks.
When DD gets home Sunday, she will be engaged, although she doesn't know it yet.
No marriage until they are out of school though, so we will have plenty of time to plan.
I'm glad everyone is doing so good.
Jan, I'm glad your dad is okay, and
JOYce, say hello to
Linda for me. Tell her we miss her on the board. Hey to
Nascar Girl,
Hottie and
Bandit2. Oh, I emailed
Carol, and she is fine. We are going to talk on the phone soon. I told her that she needs to start posting again, but I know she is busy with her new job and responsibilities.
Hottie, I read your post about feeling better about yourself and comparing yourself to others. Even though we have never met, I can tell by your posts that you are someone who others are probably aspiring to be like. I can tell that you are an intelligent, witty, and I'm sure beautiful woman. Your screen name says it all "Hottie." That is how we should all feel about ourselves. I know that is easier said than done. I am 48 years old and I still find myself doing that, although I have learned to love the person that I am right now, no matter how much I weigh...but that has not always been the case. My weight loss has been remarkably fast this time for some reason, but there is a girl that I met on the night I joined that I have become very close to. She is beautiful but feels rotten about herself. She has SIX children and I think she looks great the way she is, but it's how she feels about herself that counts. Anyway, she has lost very, very slowly and I find myself dreading her inevitable question to me about how much I lost that particular week. I hate it because I know that my weight loss will slow down eventually, and I know that everyone is different but it bothers her so much that she is not losing as fast. She sticks with the program perfectly, walks miles everyday and does everything right. It just bothers me that she compares herself to me while I am sitting there thinking how great her life is and how great she looks...but mostly I'm thinking what a beautiful person she is on the inside. I know I'm rambling, but I guess my point is that I think it's human nature to compare ourselves to others, but I wish that we didn't. I KNOW that you are a beautiful person...inside and out!
Everyone have a great weekend!
Janet (Kudzu)
50 or more pounds week of May 12
and enjoy it!
that this scale agrees with the WW scale on thursday! 
