Menopause Encouragement Take 3.....

[smoothdancer]

Why does this page seem so white, me lost for words, that’s a new one for me, blabbermouth extraordinaire….

Here is our new home, hope everyone arrives and is happy! It brings me down memory lane and reminds me of when I was inclined back in 2004 or perhaps 2005 to create the thread of Menopause weight loss encouragement. It took me by complete surprise that for the first time in my entire life at age 45, in full blown menopause, I was “chunky”. I had to diet with no idea how, and although happy with my age, things were changing….After many months of a lifestyle change, a “what is happening to my body and soul” that just out of a whim one night I created this thread….

How could I have known as I tried to deal with these feelings that so many ladies felt just like I did. It was only a matter of days that the thread was filled with posts of things I was feeling and not yet ready to say out loud…. How could I have known that there would come a time that some of my best friends where I could say just about anything would be right here??

Our thread has always had so many views, staggering in fact…. I encourage both my long time friends and new viewers to join us…. Our group loves new friends and welcome all new “meno chicks” with open arms and a sincere heart….

Smooth

[cruisingcouple2008]

Smooth that was beautiful..... I'm home :D

[bobandkelly]

Home Sweet Home with all my beautiful Meno Sisters! Looking forward to many more wonderful chats with old and new friends! I love the new name!

Thanks to Jenn and CC for giving us a new home!

Had a great day here, DH and my niece's DH went out golfing while we stayed back and played with baby. Went to a fun little shop that sells everything from cute stemware, gifts to some really beautiful dresses & shoes. While baby napped we had mojitos on the patio. Then after golf DH grilled up some ribs and we had potato salad and grilled corn. A nice relaxing day.

Smooth, I like to run walk in the morning and after it's to dark in the fall I move inside to the treadmill. I run in an area of no houses so it can get kind of creepy sometimes and really to dangerous if it's dark. Hope you enjoyed your wine night!

ok, time for some tv then it's going to be bedtime!
Kelly

[Mama Lapin]

An email has been sent to everybody in our official sisterhood, so it is just a matter of time until we are decorating our new home..... YAY! :D

[waserdog]

Awesome that we live on!!! Came home to great news!
Marianne

[Mama Lapin]

Oh, and I got so excited about the move to our new site that I forgot to tell you girls about my finds at Kohl's. Ready? I got:

4 swimsuits for the girls
1 dress for oldest GD
a pair of earrings
a pair of black dress pants
a pair of navy capris
a pair of cushiony wedge shoes (these were regularly $60!)
I had a $10 off card for kids' clothes and a 20% off coupon.
I spend $43.00 and got a $10 gift to use next week. Da dum..... Great, huh???? I saved $358. I feel like an extreme couponer.

You have to love those end-of-season sales. Happy hunting, everybody!

Hugs,
Paula

[OrlandoD]

Just had a cup or two of coffee, perused our little paper (that they have dumbed down to the point of ridiculous but it's the only game in town) and now will be heading out for the last of the week one's run/walk. I've been marking it down on my exercise diary as a brisk walk since there is far more walking than running. It's sort an endurance contest since our weather is not going to break for weeks...


Long live the Sisterhood!

:)D

[waserdog]

D, we walked at 7 this morning and I was dying from the heat. We usually get out at 6 which is much better. Of course I wouldn't walk in the dark without DH.
Paula, awesome deals! You are like an advertisement for Kohl's. I may have to go there today. I don't know if you are familiar with Steinmart but I bought a gorgeous jeweled top that list for $98 and I paid $15, slacks that list for $108 and I paid $22. They were on sale plus I had 40% off coupons. We'd be dangerous if we lived near each other!
Kelly, the mojitos and ribs sound so delicious! Glad you are enjoying baby time! He must be getting so cute! Does he walk?
Smooth, thanks again for keeping us together!
OK, time to go to church. I'll pray that our group stays together and we all shrink this week!
Marianne

[OrlandoD]

OK, time to go to church. I'll pray that our group stays together and we all shrink this week!


Oh Lord - hear her prayer!!

D

[PunkiC]

I did a long post, but it went "poof" so I will just drop in to say hello and let you know I found our new home.

Got to run and get ready for Church. I am already running late so it will have to be a "hat" day. :)

I am wearing a top that didn't fit me last week.

Punki

[lidoplease]

Hi girls!
I'm home!! and so happy to be here.
went to early church and then grocery shopping. now i am stewing a chicken for chicken and rice and making a salad to go with it. i still cook too much for the 2 of us...lol...it is hard to cook for 2 so i just cook the same and hope the kids come by or i have lots of leftovers for lunches this week.
thanks, Jan, for keeping us together!
janey

[smoothdancer]

Your welcome Janey... I like it here, so easy to find.

Good job Paula on the shopping. I also buy a lot both causal and work clothes at Khols, but at least around here the shoes are always overpriced, never on sale..... I am on the hunt for a red pair of shoes that wont break the bank.

I brought back the 2nd dress I bought at Dressbarn, the 2 I bought for one wedding! I exchanged it for the same exact dress because I really like it, just "drumroll" 2 sizes smaller.

I have taken up Punkis habit with a 50 calorie square of dark chocolate for the past two evenings... Website says it is suppose to make you happy, but then chocolate has always made me happy!!

Oh D I did not realize that you haven taken up running again. Must of missed it but so happy you have. I finished week two today but it was raining so hard had to do it on a treadmill... Sure is not the same as outside, but LOL it is only a tad bit easier. We had steak on the grill for dinner to give me some much needed protien. As soon as my body stops hurting will clean the dishes!!

Everyone have a great evening.

[cruisingcouple2008]

Oh Lord - hear her prayer!!

D



Amen !!

[Mama Lapin]

Hello, Girls,

We went to church this morning, too, where I also managed to slip in a little prayer for our collective willpower. Then, we met some friends for lunch (and yes, I got a bit derailed here...:rolleyes:) I convinced Jack that we needed to drive down to the next county to get a "good" Sunday paper, but it didn't take a lot of arm twisting because it was right by the golf superstore. While he popped in there, I got to go to Burlington Coat Factory where I found... ready???..... a black poplin, double breasted, belted 3/4 length trench coat for..... ready?.... $4.98!!! And yes, Marianne... we would be the dynamic shopping duo if we lived close to each other. Wouldn't that be fun????

I am desparate for some cool weather so that I can get out and walk. (and pull some weeds; you should see my flower beds..holey moley...) My treadmill is still not to be trusted and I am too afraid of it to get on it. I have 12 days of freedom before the new job begins and I need to enjoy every single moment of it.

Have a great week.
Hugs,
Paula

[PunkiC]

Good evening ladies.

Wow, Paula, sounds like a really great find. Enjoy your freedom and, of course, enjoy your new job when it starts.

I did add a prayer for a "successful surgery and rapid recovery for Trish" to our Parish Book of Intercessions. The gospel (as Marianne already knows) was about the Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon, who kept begging Jesus to cure her, even after he initially refused to help. The moral being that sometimes we have to be aggressive and keep petitioning God over and over and over until he sees that our faith can't be shaken, even when we have to wait for the answers to our prayers.

On my new diet, smooth, I am not eating the chocolate. But I sure do miss it, especially now that you mention it. ;)

What I did have today is "Miracle Soup" from the Dukan Diet Book. It is recommended that you eat a big bowl (hot) when you feel really hungry, so you don't start snacking while you are waiting for your real dinner.

I opened the recipe book, started cutting up all of the ingredients on the list (while listening to a really good audio book) without paying too much attention. Then all of a sudden I finally realized that I had enough veggies for two huge pots. :) I ate one big bowl, filled up an empty cottage cheese container for lunch tomorrow, and put one giant pot in the cooler with ice. Joe ate most of the rest of the original pot.

Here is half the recipe:

2 cloves of garlic
3 large onions (I used Walla Walla Sweets)
1/2 head of cabbage
3 carrots
1/2 bunch of celery
16 oz. of peeled canned tomatoes (no sugar)
beef bouillion
chicken bouillion

Toss everything into a pot and cover with water. Then add the bouillion.

Well I certainly do have soup for a few days. That is good because it is supposed to rain and be quite cool tomorrow. Oh how I love our wonderful, cool, summer weather, especially after experiencing 106 in Athens.

Other than that, I spent most of the afternoon doing laundry and launching a super attack job on my fridge. I can't believe how much stuff I threw out. What is really weird is that, even after I filled the entire kitchen garbage can with junk, the fridge is still too full of stuff. Oh well, at least it is clean now.

We decided that we just couldn't make it to Buenos Aires in September after all. We have to fly to California to celebrate our dear SIL's 70th birthday, plus we have a little cruise and then my whole family is coming to visit at the end of the month--maybe even my brother who has never been her in all the 43 years I have lived in Washington. He hasn't totally made up his mind, but he is thinking about it.

We will, however, be going to New York City for Christmas--flights and rooms are all booked. Now all we need to decide is what we want to do while we are there. I am thinking it would be fun to go to Radio City Music Hall. DD wants to go see Madame Butterfly at the Met, but I have already bought her and her partner tickets for her birthday--she doesn't know. Maybe while we are there (since we are staying in Times Square anyway) we will pop down in the mornings and see what kind of cheap tickets we can snag for last minute show seats. We will also go to Mass at St. Patrick's on either Christmas Eve or maybe Christmas morning. We are flying home Christmas night.

Another good reason to hurry up and get slim once again. Right now, none of my good wool pants even fit.

OK, time to get some sleep so I can get up early and get to the gym.

Good rest to all, Punki

p.s. I really do need to find a nice long cruise to book. Even knowing I have my little cruise coming up, I am beginning to suffer withdrawal.

[mycruz]

Whew! I found us and I've caught up on the last thread and now this one!

You all have been extremely busy and thank you all for your prayers to get us all back on the wagon! While I was not extremely careful while gone to the wedding, let's just say I could have done better and I could have done a whole lot worse!! The wedding was so nice and it was great seeing the whole fam damnly, everyone had a great time. The reception was a lot of fun and I danced the night away. Of course my youngest DGD stole the show, she danced with every single person out there and had a ball. The photographer had fun taking her picture over and over and I can't wait to see them.

Today is back on the wagon and back to work. I have tons of things to get done before I leave next Sunday including some pre-training online class that also has an exam! Ugh!

I'll check back in with everyone soon, I'm so glad to hear from all of you here and we're back in one place that everyone feels comfortable at.

Tata, Mary

[waserdog]

I don't know why but I can never find this thread. I always have to find the threads that Smooth has started to find all of you! I will bookmark it!
Jane, welcome home! I was getting nervous that we would lose touch since I'm still planning on meeting you in October. :)
Mary, so glad you had fun at the wedding even if it was a little off track. I didn't even go anywhere and I was way off track all week but am back on the wagon today!
D, how's the running? Are you still playing tennis? We walked at 6 this a.m. and it's hot but so much better without the sun. We should catch some weather breaks in October but still have hurricane dodging in September and that awful heat. Oh well, come December and we all know why we live here!
Punki, while I was in church, I was in deep thought over my DDs situation that still hasn't changed and then I heard the gospel and thought maybe I just need to pray harder and have the faith that the woman in the bible had and my DD has. She thinks ESIL is going to end up liking me and everything will work out. I am such a doubting Thomas. They went to visit his family last week and now she plans on approaching him with the possiblity of them renting a house with some friends down here and her coming to visit with the kids. I have not seem them in a year and it's been longer for my DH who's not met his second grand daughter who will be a year tomorrow. Hate to still rag on this subject but unfortunately, it still plays on my head. Happy that you are being successful with your diet. I was down 14 lbs. but had a little setback last week. Sheesh, can never let up! Lucky you with the cool weather!
Trish, thoughts and prayers coming your way. Hopefully this will all be behind you real soon.
Mary, hate when you have to be tested on anything! I'm the worst test taker. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do wonderully.
Paula, you shopping maniac with a $4.98 coat!!! I have to take DH's car to Sear's because he has tire issues so I will check out their sales. I doubt I can beat that one!!
OK, off and running to do errands and then zumba tonight!
Marianne

[waserdog]

OK, now I finally realized that we are in the Friends section and not the Lose before you Cruise! DUH!! I'm slow but at least I'm accurate! LOL
Marianne

[cruisingcouple2008]

JJust a quick note from phone I never look on the boards I always use my quick link then go to subscribed threads and waaalaaa there we are

[lidoplease]

Hi all! I am loving this new forum--easy to find and no scrolling...lol...
It is gorgeous out today. Just went out to drag in the garbage can and check my hummingbird feeder. I'm sure it will heat up but right now it feels wonderful.

Did some yoga this morning and some hamster wheel stuff. I love these Mondays off!

speaking of mondays off--Marianne, I am still so excited about meeting you in October! we will have a great time walking around downtown. there is so much to see. I hope we get nice weather, but no matter what we will have fun!

have a great day everyone,
janey

[OrlandoD]

Played tennis on the face of the sun with my regular partner and 2 ladies I haven't seen all summer. One was in Spain, the other in France - both lucky enough to be visiting friends and family. It was good to be back to our own little group - we all had moments of brilliance and moments of comedy trying to hit the freakin little yellow ball. We had such a good time that Monday morning is going to be a standing date for the four of us to play.

Today is D-day for sonny boy - DH and I decided that intervention is necessary and he may call us what he'd like but he's not going to float on like a jelly fish. Stay tuned - I'll be back emotionally exhausted from all this motivating but we will get him on schedule. School starts in one week from today and his schedule starts at 7:30am M-Th. :eek: Been keeping him busy and off the computer and all gaming today. (boy my house is gonna be clean!) Gonna eat early then he's gonna go to bed and start sleeping this off.

Marianne it's been 80 degrees by sun-up here! I can not stand this heat. I have made it to week 2 of my couch to 5K. I may have to repeat a week because it's very difficult to run any length of time. I didn't lose a pound this week but considering how much I whooped it up on Friday night and last night at a wine tasting - I'm not doing too bad!

Onward and upward....no, make that onward and downward!!
:DD

PS Paula - happy to hear the shopping powers have returned many times over - You are our queen!

[Gratefulgal]

We had a nice weekend at the cabin. I drove myself out there and my new car has Sirius radio, which is wonderful because about an hour of the ride is out of normal radio range. The Bocce and barbecue was a lot of fun. I made an antipasta tray to bring. There were more than 40 people there. It was hot this weekend, I do not know how you guys deal with it.

I love the name of the new thread and I hope we can stay here and support each other for a very long time. Thanks for the email Paula.

Dee, welcome back, I copied your running program, and seeing it laid out like that makes it look doable. Your son loves to challenge you doesn’t he? I will say a prayer for you to keep strong. Is he planning to join the family business one day?

Smooth your article inspired me, I would never think I could run, but how will I know until I try it. Good job on the weight loss – wow two sizes.

Janey so what schedule do you work now? Do you get three days off? I may be doing week one on Dee’s plan for a year as well depending on how my knees hold up. :o It is really hard to change to cooking for two isn’t it? I do like having leftovers that I can have for lunch.

Kelly your description of a relaxing Saturday sounded lovely. How do you make your ribs?

Paula your shopping powers are amazing, I am in awe. Make sure you do enjoy the time off before taking on the new job.

Marianne maybe you and Paula can lead a shopping weekend for us one day. I certainly could use a mentor. I love your prayer: “I'll pray that our group stays together and we all shrink this week!” I will pray that your DD sees how crazy this is and that you and your DH get to have a wonderful visit with DGDs. Your instincts are so right on this.

Punki, how kind of you to add a prayer for me, thank you very much. It sounds like you are feeling better as you are keeping busy and evaluating all your travel plans. New York will be so special at Christmas.

Mary I am so glad you enjoyed the wedding and it sounds like you did very well given the occasion. How fun to watch your DGD have so much fun, sweet memories.

Amy, you must be so busy with work and all your cruise details.

Ellen, I cannot remember if you are in 0regon or back yet. When are you making the Cars 2 cake?

OK, back to work.



I am grateful for all my meno sisters. :D:D:DTrish

[Paris11]

I have a friend visiting from Spokane and have been busy golfing and dining with her as well as making cakes for and attending my little GSs 4th birthday party.

D-I took her to Veritable Quandry Saturday after the party. Thanks for reminding me about that place:D

Here are the results of my baking and decorating. I was so happy the 3d Lightning McQueen turned out. But I was wary since I have not made a car shaped car before so I made a back up cake! So the little one got to blow out candles twice!

[Mama Lapin]

Hello, Girls,

It was a busy Monday. DH spent the day on the phone trying to placate the crazy people that we are tryng to book this March cruise with. Getting 4 couples to agree on anything is tough. I have just about decided that vacationing by committee is not for me, especially when the head of the committee is a crazy person. Just sayin'......

I did a bedroom redo today. I had bought a great new comforter and shams a few months ago and decided that today was the day to do the change over. So I feel like I have a new bedroom. I don't know how much of my time this new job is going to take, so I am going to try to get things done before I start.

Punki and Marianne... Funny how we all heard the same gospel. I hadn't thought about that. Our little Italian priest will be with us for another 2 weeks and I have grown quite fond of him. He is a mere child, probably in his 20's, but very bright and very descriptive. He always manages to leave me with something to think about all week in his cute little Italian accent.

And Trish... I have started a special week of prayer for you in preparation for your surgery. May you feel supported and loved in the coming days.

Jack plays golf tomorrow and I am off to tap into my shopping superpowers. I have found something interesting: it was easier to find those bargains when I wore a bigger size. Go figure! But I am trying to be smart and buy only what I truly love. I have stuffed my closets with things that I only wear once or twice and then hate. That seems like a waste of money in the long run.

The weather here has been great. It was cool this morning and didn't get unbearably hot as the day wore on. I know that I need to get on the exercise wagon. You girls are doing so great with that. I need to get over the excuses and become a NIKE commerical and just DO it!

I like our new little secret posting place. I agree: I was afraid that we were going to lose our closeness out there in floataway. I am glad that we have rediscovered it here.

Hugs to you all,
Paula

[PunkiC]

Paula, the readings for ordinary times are set for the whole world on a three-year cycle, so no matter where you are, you will hear the same readings that are being read in every other Catholic Church in the world. I also believe that the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and Byzantine Churches follow the same schedule, and even some Protestant Churches, but I am not sure which ones--maybe the Anglicans. The readings for special celebrations, i.e. Christmas, Easter, etc., are always the same every year.

I used to be a reader, but dropped out. I am thinking of getting back into it someday, when I don't travel so much.

Got to scoot home.

Punki

[cruisingcouple2008]

Paula - Ive been thinking of Jack on and off all weekend watching the golf at the Atlanta Athletic Club. Has he ever played here? Wow wow wow what a course !!! So how many days a week is this job of yours going to be? Is it going to be weekends? Sorry if I missed it.

Marianne Hunny all I can say is big hugs to you with DD. I know how hard it is for you and I wish I could hug you everyday. You are such a strong brave woman !!!

D- Speaking of strong brave women .... Girl you are Superwoman.... I wish you good luck with DS ughhhh just reading your writing brings back such horrible memories... Whew glad my son didn't take us up on the offer to move back in.

Mary so two weeks from today is what ?? Is your business official then?

Trish so Im glad you had a great weekend at the cabin and that the get together was good, so what ever happened with DH and psyco neighbor. Did neighbor come to his senses?


Ellen glad to see you are enjoyingthe golfing and shopping. Ive been on a real spree lately with such good bargains, that I just have to control myself.. We want to golf on Saturday but not sure if we will. If not we will bring our clubs to Maine with us anyway and likely play a couple of times up there.

Janey and the rest of you southern gals glad its coolin off a little for you. Hope things are better for you at work also.

Kelly - When does school start for you and how long until you are done for good? Who will have the little one?

Punki - I must tell you thank you for your order. I apologize for the delay. Avon never sent me an email alerting me to your order like they always have. Oh my when I read Christmas in NYC I recalled being there last year 3 days after the blizzard and the mess that still was in T.S. in preparation for New Years Eve. I DID love it during the holiday time though. Does your DD and her partner live right in Manhattan? I was planning a weekend there for 9/11 weekend but the hotels are ridiculously priced and I didnt want to be anywhere near WTC site on that day. I have a friend cruising out on the Miracle and another who is in Brooklyn and we were all going to get together, but Im gonna pass this time. Irks me the prices they charge because they can.

Smooth - Ok Girlfriend you inspired me ever since you started running I have been saying I want to get back to it to myself.. Well tonight first night back at the gym, I did some weight machines, some free weights, the upside down sit ups bench, the Cybex and then the treadmill OMG it felt SO GOOD !!!!! I only did 30 minutes Im starting out again with a 2 minute walk 4 minute run repeat until 30 minutes.. ahhhhhh it was great. Knees hurt a little but I thin thats just because I havent done it in awhile.

I have to get on track for Hawaii. If they offer hula lessons I dont want my big stomach sticking out over that grass skirt.:eek: I might even go back to some insanity workouts in the morning. We shall see....

Dianne - Hope you are having a great visit with the rest of the family and gettin a little relaxin in too.

Hope I didnt miss anyone, but I do have to go and have my WEIGHTWATCHERS fudge bar as a treat.:D

[mycruz]

Good evening chickies!

What a busy day, speaking of Monday's I've decided the best day to do grocery shopping. No one at the store on Monday since they were all in there over the weekend and the shelves have all been restocked.

Made some veggie soup, cleaned house, did some work on the business and cooked dinner. Whew! and to think I'll only be home a week then I'm off to training.

Here's the link to my FB album of the wedding. No pics of me, I took them all!

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2266990484850.2133748.1551188996&l=eda240e4ed&type=1

Tomorrow I'm back at the gym, can't wait!

[smoothdancer]

What a beautiful wedding gown. Althought I am disappointed I did got to see you in our dress.

CC, well cool another runner in our group, that makes 3!! At this rate I may have to create us a runnng thread! Yippie the rain has stopped and may get to do my run outside today.

So I think everyone has arrived but Dianne, right?

Everyone have a super day.

[cruisingcouple2008]

Im pretty sure Diane said she would be away for two weeks I think from last weekend.

Paula you emaield her though right? I will FB her our link. oh wait cant FB at work and too hard to do on my phone Ill do it later.

[OrlandoD]

Gracious Good Afternoon,

OK so it wasn't easy - sort of like a 6' toddler..."I'm not sleepy I don't want to go to bed". But the line in the sand was drawn and by God I got him to take a melatonin and go the F to sleep. He managed to sleep approximately 12:30am to 8am. Almost normal night sleep. Drastic measures were taken - like removing certain electronics but at least we're on a good path now. Stand back I'm rollin the dice girly-s I'm going for 2 nights in a row.....

Scale hasn't budged. Played 2 hours of tennis and did lots of hamster wheel tasks yesterday. If I maintain good habits both eating and exercise over the next week or so but don't lose, I will have to go see the Doc. At this point it would be somewhat of a relief to know if something isn't right - weight loss has been feeling utterly futile lately.

Loved the cake Ellen - your DGS looked enchanted with it! (oh I miss VQ!)

Mary - what a pretty bride! That dress was a show stopper.

Smooth & CC jog on ladies! I've moved up to week 2. I did 4 sets of 5 min walk and 2 minute run this AM. It's helping keep the stress down.

Trish so far I am rising to DS's challenge. (he must forgot who he was fooling with!)

Paula are you making the shopping gods smile once again today?

Janey thinking of you too - hope all is well!

later my lovelies,
D

[bobandkelly]

Good Morning! had a nice run/walk this morning. Temps are dropping overnight so the morning is nice, in the 60's. Golf was brutally hot yesterday. I wonder if I burn more cals when I'm sweating so much?

Amy, Dianne is in Cinncinati. I haven't even seen her on FB so she either doesn't have access or is super busy with the DGKs.
My online class starts this Thursday and the rest all start next week. Baby will be going to daycare three afternoons a week and we are working it out that DH or I will watch him the rest of the time. DD is hoping to find a job closer to the BF so as soon as that happens she'll move. YUM on the fudge bar! I should get some of those when I go to the store today.

Mary, you must be getting so excited! Will you have a website? are you going to send us a link? The picks of the wedding were beautiful! I jokingly tried to talk my DD into changing her colors (black & bright pink), because I found a really cute dress I could wear. But I'll keep looking. The bridesmades are wearing black so my choices are black, bright pink, or I'm thinking a gun metal grey.

Paula, happy shopping today! Hope you find some great bargains! I agree with you about not picking up things that are only going to take up space and you’ll only wear once or twice. It seems I have my go to pieces, I love cardigans, especially printed ones. I have one that I got at TJ Maxx with multi-colored flowers so I can wear it with a colored cami or blouse. The trench you picked up was such a good deal! There is a Burlington about an hr & a half from here. I never get there. But that is the area DD is thinking of moving to so maybe it will be in my shopping future!

Trish, the Bocce and BBQ sounded like a fun time. My niece that was over for ribs does a game day with some of their neighbors. They sign up for a snack & drinks that they will serve and what yard games they will have out. It has to be something for kids and adults. Her house will be last for grilling dinner and swimming. They do it once a summer and all have such a good time. I’ll post my rib recipe later. I think I’ll start a new recipe thread in our Meno Sisters so look for it there. What I didn’t add to it was that this last time because the guys were golfing the ribs ended up in the oven for 3 hrs rather than 2. They were fall off the bone tender when they came off the grill, no knives needed at all!

D, Yuck! How can you even go out in that heat? I’d be on the treadmill until it got cooler, kind of like here, I use mine in the winter. Hope you get DS on board, for us old folks the hours they keep are so odd but that is the way many of them live. I’m always surprised when kids come to class for noon and they just got up after being up all night, or turning in a paper that they just finished when I’ve had mine done for days.
Punki, your Christmas vacation plans sound beautiful! I’m sure you and DH will have a lovely time with the girls!

Marianne, my heart breaks for you and DH through this situation with your DD. I will pray that her DH has a change of heart. It is so sad that he wants to keep her and the kids from having a relationship with you. Lucas has been walking for a month and quite a handful to watch! Those hours at daycare really help with our sanity.
Dianne, hope you are having a fun time with the DGKs! Are you doing Kings Island or the zoo? When my sister lived in Loveland those were always places that we went when we went to visit.


Ellen, sounds like you and your friend are having a good time! Happy golfing!

Janey! Oh my I was getting to everyone and I missed you and I didn't mean to. So what was the verdict on the book you were reading, you said you weren't going to recommend it till you finished it. I started a recipe thread under our Meno Sisters, hoping we start a book one to!

Ok, baby calls!
Kelly

[Gratefulgal]

Paula, thank you for your prayers. I feel a little overwhelmed with all this attention, but I am very grateful for your support. At least Jack was on the phone trying to make plans for your cruise – that must be a good thing. I can imagine that coordinating things with that many other people has its challenges. :eek:

Ellen the cake pictures are wonderful. You are so talented. Golfing and dining with a friend sounds like good times.


Amy, the neighbours were at the party so it was a bit awkward. I think I will put together a gift basket or something to give as a peace offering. DH will not like that but I do not want to generate bad karma.

I had not gone shopping and did not have a plan for dinner last night other than grilling chicken breast on the grill. I had some grape tomatoes and lots of fresh basil left over from the Boccocini /basil/ tomato skewers I made for the antipasta tray. I cooked up some of the smart brand spaghettini and served with the tomatoes basil and asiago cheese, it was yummy. Not the best for carbs, but pasta is such a comfort food for me.

Kelly, great job starting the recipe thread. There is a lot to do to get those ribs ready but it sounds so delicious. Nice to know the recipe is here whenever I am ready to make it. Back to school soon, how do you feel about that?

D, the scale must be wrong! With all you do, you must be burning calories and building muscle. Maybe it is water retention because of the heat and when it cools down you will lose 10 lbs! :D Hang in there with DS you can do this.

Mary thanks for sharing the pictures they were wonderful. Whoever said the dress was a showstopper was right and your GD is so darling. Maybe I should try shopping on Mondays to get the week started right, no more pasta for me. :(

Hope everyone else is doing well. I have to get back to work.

Cheers ladies.

[mycruz]

Oh me, Oh my! This working from home is quite something!

Thanks everyone for the nice comments on the wedding, can you believe the brides dad picked out that dress for her? She was so nervous right before the wedding I thought she was going to pass out, she got real emotional up on the alter but her DH and the pastor got her laughing.

Smooth, I didn't wear the dress like yours, I bought that one for my Amazon cruise.

Dee, I'm like you, the scale is not budging and I'm wondering if I've got some thyroid stuff going on and will ask the Dr. next time I go.

Trish, didn't forget about the "cloud phone" question. I'm not very good at describing technical stuff, but the company is called Ring Central. It works really well and I'll be able to work through the internet while on cruises! Yeah!!!

I'll have two websites once everything is up and running. A travel site as well as a business site. I'll be sending links through email as well as on my FB page. Oh, I'll also have a FB page and probably Twitter as well.

Kelly, I'm wishing you the best with your classes this year. I took a quiz online today and thought I was going to lose it! :o

Ellen, the CARS cake was sooo cute! My DGS loves Cars movies too.

Amy, I sure hope you can get the scale moving too, sounds like you're on a roll. I've got to get back in the swing of things, hopefully back to the gym tomorrow, didn't make it today like I had hoped. Got interupted by DD who needed to use the computer.

Time to roll, I've got some terrible munchies tonight and just a few cals left.....hmmmm wonder if I can go ahead and go to bed so I won't eat more.:(

Tata, Mary

[smoothdancer]

Right Mary, LOL I think you did tell me that was not the dress you picked to wear for the wedding!...Now I have munchies every night without fail, I have a sweet tooth that will never go away so no sense fighting it. I make certain I have 200 calories left at the end of each day and I do the same thing!!.. A cookies and cream skinny cow ice cream bar and a Quaker chewy granola bar...200 calories and I am perfectly content!!

I actually started running when we were having 100 degrees weather. I must be super strange, I liked it!! But of course I am running trails along the river. Did my first day of week 3 tonight. I made it through, yippie, yippie!! I really thought I physically was not going to be able to do it, but I did. You know you read all the time that one should change up thier exercise but I never did, content with what I was doing. Aside that I think this has started my weight loss again, which of course is good, it also is feeding an emotional side of me. Something I thought I could not do, I can do and I can feel myself really listening to my body, take what I know from dance and apply it to this, take my business drive apply to something that is just for me.... I am proud of me, and that is a great feeling, def. hooked!!

Ellen, I cant beleive I forgot to tell you thoes cakes were awesome. LOL when my GS was 4 he loved the Cars movie.. LOL, so did Nick!!

D, I am so sorry for your weight loss fustration... I have in the past gone weeks with no weight loss, just hang in there, it will happen. But visiting a Dr certainly cant hurt.

Waving to everyone else!! Need some mindless TV after a stressful workday...Budget deadlines quickly approaching.

[Paris11]

Gonna do a quick drive by after spending time reading all your wonderful updates.

I finally found a comforter and just in time for DHs birthday. Of course that is not his present, but he has been telling me after two years to find one already!!!

I walked into Macys with my DD and my friend and saw a Martha Stewart collection called Brown Damask with purple and lavender, Wonderful texture. When I got it home it looked gray and not brown , but it goes with my Maple Bedroom set. After 2 years I fond something I like. I still can not believe I like something. I honestly don't love it but I can live with it happily:) Hubby will be suprised when he gets home after these two weeks being gone. I will post pics even if it is not finished in a couple of days. I need some new artwork in there definitely.

Although, DH said D is my secret friend that visited Portland so I am sure he is following our board.
Love you all and will comment to each of you manana
Ellen

[waserdog]

Ladies, thanks for all the heartfelt thoughts and prayers about my DD's situation. I hate to always be a downer and discuss it but it's in my face many days and wish I could lose a pound for every tear I've shed. DD sent me a long email today how much they appreciated the bday gifts I sent the girls. I wouldn't skype but she did post pictures of them opening the gifts.
Speaking of losing pounds, not happening!!! I know mine was too much cereal yesterday. I start munching on it and things get out of control! Today will be perfect with zumba tonight. Our instructor that I love just found out she's pregnant and is spotting so she can't do the classes. The one that replaced her temporarily actually did better than usual. She's a wonderful person but lacks rhythm. I'm sure eventually they'll hire someone else. Next week they are renovating the Curves and adding more zumba classes so it'll be interesting. They have a new owner that's in her 30's and trying to draw a younger crowd.
Ellen, my DH doesn't follow the thread but listens constantly to many of our stories on our morning walks. BTW, rain this morning so no morning walk in the heat but am going to make up for that with some serious cleaning of my patio, grill and garage (as usual)! LOL I loved your cakes. That car came out so great!!!
Mary, looking forward to our Sunday visit. Can't wait to hear all about your new business. That "cloud phone" sounds interesting. It's amazing what can be done with technology.
Trish, I'm like you and it's sometimes hard to be the center of attention but with your upcoming surgery, you just have to take the attention and prayers. Hopefully the recovery will be fast and this will all be behind you. What kind of car did you get? I'm still wrestling with buying a new car. I drove DH's Cadilac on Monday to get him new tires and I really hated that big car. I loved my little Jag when I got it back. I'm thinking maybe of just driving it until the next problem. I test drove many cars and it's so confusing. The new Lincoln's are nice but still a little big but lots of accessories that are standard including the Sirius radio and there are lights on the sideview mirrors that blink when someone is in your blind spot which is nice.
Kelly, after reading about your ribs, I was salvating for the "fall off the bone" ribs!! Good luck with your classes again and so happy that you have worked out the daycare issues. I can't wait to see the 60s here again but that won't be for a couple months.
Amy, it is unbelieveable the prices NYC hotels draw!! Then you get there and it's this little dumpy old hotel and you paid all these $$$. My best scrore was when the internet first started listing prices of hotel rooms and I got the Waldorf for $175 on the Concierge Level with free food and beverages. You WON'T ever see that one again!!
Smooth, glad you are enjoying the joy of accomplishment with the running. I feel that way about the zumba. I really feel accomplished when the class ends and I did every step! I've tried running but just can't get into it. I never enjoyed running even as a kid when I played sports. I liked to bat the ball but hated to run to first base! LOL I played volleyball in highschool...probably because you didn't have to run far!
D, you poor dear with dealing with DS. Oh how I can remember comparing my huge kid to a toddler. LOL when you made that reference. It WILL get better. You have to keep telling yourself that. I took a long time off of subbing to devote to molding the kid. That was AFTER college when he didn't think any job was worthy of him. Sheesh, and many parents think it ends at 18! Thoughts and prayers your way. Glad you found a good tennis game for Mondays and you will love it come November! hahaha
Punki, I was a lectorer, Eucharistic Minsiter and CCD teacher for around 25 years. Now I belong to a new church that is only 3 miles from my house. They were begging for CCD teachers and I almost broke down but DH convinced me that I put my time in and I'd be missing lots of classes with all our traveling. It is kind of nice to just be a "pew" person and not be "on" when you go to church although being a very active part of the Mass makes it more meaningful.
Paula, I just know you are going to love the job and that it is going to add to your life. I have tried to do as you and not buy stuff that I don't love. I almost bought a so/so tshirt for exercising yesterday and it was $26 on sale for $16 and then the bulb went off that this really isn't a bargain and I don't love it. I ended up with one for $8. I find that when I dress nice for my zumba class, I feel and do better.
OK, hope I got to everyone and now I cannot procrastinate any longer. Off to the patio cleaning. I've got on my bathing suit :O so swimming will come after the sweating!
Marianne

[waserdog]

Janey, don't want you to think I forgot you but I sent you an email right before I posted so thought you were covered! LOL Looking forward to our October visit!
Marianne

[PunkiC]

You dress for Zumba, Marianne? I just throw on my old workout clothes and go, then I even go to the library and shop after I am done at the gym. Maybe I should think about looking a little less like a street person when I am out and about. It is funny because I would never dream of going to the office without make-up and nice clothes.

When we go to New York, Rome, Paris or someplace else with really expensive rooms, we pay for one night and then use the points for the next night. For our Christmas stay, we are paying for one night and then using points for 4 nights. Now my daughter has snagged some amazing rooms on tour from Priceline for like $50 a night. She just looks for 4 or 5 stars and somehow she finds them.

Can't wait for you to get the business up and running, Mary. Then you can fill us in on all the great deals. I really need a great deal about now. We still need to cruise to South America, the British Isles, Northern Europe and Russia, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. I was thinking last night that sooner or later, we are going to run out of world to see--well, if we are lucky enough to live that long. ;)

Ellen, I too have been looking for a new bedspread for a couple of years. I love our current one (which is actually a duplicate of our previous one) but it is faded from where the sun hits it all afternoon. You know it just dawned on my that I might try to bleach the previous one (which I still have) to see if I can get it all one color again. I sure haven't had any luck finding anything I like as well.

Do you really think your husband reads this thread? That's amusing. I can't imagine Joe reading it in a million years. He is too busy with his own internet workout friends. We do, however, share stories about our internet families so he knows who all of you are.

Still praying for you Trish and hoping for the best possible results. Pasta sounds heavenly right now, but I am going to stick to my low carb routine until I get to where I want to be. We are required to have 1.5 Tbsp of oat bran per day and that magically does seem to eliminate any actual cravings for carbs, but pasta still sounds heavenly.

I think I told you guys about my niece who had gastric sleeve surgery and is working as a spokesperson for a cosmetic surgery company, didn't I. Anyway she has a counselor and a nutritionist and they told her that when you are just hungry for anything at all, that is true hunger. When you want something specific that is just appetite. I try to remember that when I get a craving, although truthfully, I have very few cravings on this diet.

I am glad to hear, Kelly, that things are cooling down for you. After our experience in Athens, I hate the heat even more than I thought I did. I am stuck in Seattle forever I do believe.

D, kids. They cause us the greatest joys and the greatest frustrations in all of our lives. I think we have all had our rough spots, and then, 99% of the time, they work themselves out and we are left with pure (well more or less pure) joy.

Well I really need to scoot off to the gym. We are having a dinner party tonight for two of our favorite couples so I need to get my deck cleaned up, although I did warn them that if they wanted to see a really clean house, to stay home. If they want really good food and company, in a dirty house, they can come. I actually did clean my kitchen.

Catch you later, Punki

[smoothdancer]

So I caved!!... After another intense day of budgets I left work, did not give it a second thought, proceeded directly to the wine store! Now, I am relaxed! I sure am glad the battery on my scale is dead!!

It is super enjoyable and relaxing for me to come home and read about all of your lives. I am sure I have not said this lately how much I enjoy this thread as a part of my life. I nod my head alot understanding just what you all post... I love our new home, so easy to find.

I admire you all who have the ability to read endless threads and respond to each one of us.... It always makes me smile that between all my endless silly chatter of mine, someone actually weeded through what I said!! Lately at day end I just dont have this kind of retention to address all, and feel bad about it.... Usually ends up with that one thing I read that I just have to talk about.... So

Marianne, you do not sound like a broken record to me. Perhaps because like you I have not seen my grandkids in years, same, spouse issues.... (If you recall she thinks because we are not born again, we are possessed by the devil!!) But I want to remind you, just like I remind myself about my son, your daughter loves you very much and there is nothing much you can do different to change the situation, this time mom simply cant help. She is just trying to survive with her spouse. The only reason I even have a facebook account is because my son post pictures of the kids daily and it is there I get my pleasure...... Anyway, with my whole heart I hope you find a way to stop beating yourself up over what is, just enjoy the pictures, let them make you smile and give yourself a break... Sending you hugs sweetie....

Oh BTW, Nick would never take the time to read here, but oh yes, he knows you all.... I love to tell him the stories I read here... I think too, he knows you all!!

[mycruz]

And another day just went whizzing by! Yes, the countdown is on and I leave for training on Sunday, actually started packing today.

Smooth, I get what you're saying about the running, and it does feel like a great accomplishment when you're finished. Don't sweat about the wine store, some days you just gotta have it!

Punki, perhaps you and Joe just need to take a World Cruise! now that would help you get through that list of yours wouldn't it? About 3 1/2 months on a cruise ship sounds like fun to me, I just hope I survive 28 days next year, then I can think about a longer one. ;)

Ellen, I hear you about the bedding. I have a horrible time finding things that I like and tend to keep the same thing for a very long time. No changing with the seasons around here, I'm doing good to change the sheets! :eek:

Marianne, the email from your DD made me smile. I'm so glad you sent the gifts and she is showing her appreciation. The pictures, I'm sure, were great and I bet you really smiled seeing them open those gifts. Speaking of gifts, the wine is on my list, after hearing about all your cleaning it's the least I can do. I'm looking forward to another long chat with you and seeing Larry again.

Ok, Carl just got in, just did an overnight in Houston, gotta run and fix him some dinner. He's doing really great with the whole diet thing, he wants an omelet tonight.

C ya! Mary

[Mama Lapin]

http://us.mg203.mail.yahoo.com/ya/download?mid=1%5f379065%5fAKfEtEQAANshTkx%2bawLpSD 3eeps&pid=2.4&fid=Inbox&inline=1

HAHAHAHA...hello, girls. Sending you a big old hug.
Paula

[bobandkelly]

Where is everyone? Enjoying these last days of summer? Though I guess for you southerners you have lots of summer left.

I had a nice run/walk this morning, did fartleks (sprint work). Mine were run two min, walk two min. with a total of 5 times running. It's supposed to help with endurance.

Smooth, please don't ever feel bad about not talking to everyone. I think we all check in to say hi and see what everyone is up to. I know I don't check in to see if anyone mentioned me. Like you I enjoy hearing what everyone is up to.
I don't remember if I told you but your DIL upsets me. I don't understand her thinking. Does she think it makes anyone want to become a Christian when she treats people like that and not just any people but her childrens grandparents. That saddens me.

Ellen, do you really think DH is reading? if mine was we'd know it for sure because he would not be able to keep from joining in the conversation! He loved that we got to meet Marianne. He hears about the goings on here because sometimes I'm laughing as I read and he want to know what is so funny!

On the bedspread front, I to bought one that is ok. I bought it because it was super cheap at kohls. The other day DH and I were in the fabric store and I showed him some fabric I'm thinking of. A red & white toile, a floral print, and a plaid. I didn't buy it because I need to decide what is going to be what then I'll wait for a sale. I'm unsure if I want plaid roman blinds with shears or shears with toile drapes. The floral will be a coverlet to go over a spread I already own that is a plain beige/gray. Then I'll make up some shams & little pillows with whatever the curtains end up being and hopefully something else cute, maybe birds!

Ok, time to finish up my wine and watch some tv, it's early but DH isn't home tonight.
Kelly

[OrlandoD]

Moving into night four of the intervention....

He is sleeping from approximately 11pm to approximately 8am. A stunning time shift!!! I AM THE MOTHER!!!

Diet and exercise-wise things are still at the same number. I have been really upping my exercise - an hour and half on the tennis court this morning (just wring me out), tomorrow more tennis, Saturday more tennis (but a get together in the evening with 3 other couples we haven't seen in ages) so good with the bad if the scale doesn't budge for 2 weeks after My Fitness pal food diary and this level of exercise then I'll either see the Doc or just get freakin fat!! Ohhh fat would be sooooo easy........

later girly-girls
D

[mycruz]

Oh Dee! YOU ROCK! I can't believe the DS is sleeping "normal" hours! I knew you could do it! Congratulations!

Yep Smooth, I'm with Kelly, don't worry if you don't reach out and touch everyone, I get it! I too pop on some days several times a day just to read what's going on and by the time I start writing I've forgotten what I had read earlier!

The rain is coming down again, today it's a very late shower but full of lightening and thunder. The poor kitties are done with this summer rain storms everyday.

I can't believe it, I realized today that I'm going on a cruise in a week! Ok, a 3 nighter, but a cruise! Anyone sailed on NCL yet? I'm looking for some insight, anything I should know?

Also I've decided to stop in at the Brazilian Consulate when I get off the ship in Miami and take care of my Visa for the Amazon cruise. I figure if the company is paying my way down there for training and the cruise I need to take advantage of the time there and get it done!

Ok, time to go watch Big Brother, anyone else having trouble deciding what Shelly is up to? Will be interesting to see if she or Brandon gets voted out this week.

Tata, Mary

[smoothdancer]

Yes Mary I think we sailed on NCL 3 times and I like it. NCL does sail out of NY so it is easy for us. We went NCL on our med cruise.

They have many different resturants "for a fee" and I would suggest that even though the main dining room is fine that you take advantage of one. They are all quite good. Although there is no dress code on NCL people do tend to dress up at the french resturant.

There are a few things that are unique to NCL. You are not asked to leave your cabin when the cruise is over until your color is called. It is so much nicer to relax in your cabin, but on the other side your cabin may not be available when you first board. And my fav!!, A couple of times during the cruise they will bring out these huge charcoal grills by the pool to cook the hotdogs, burgers and chicken, yummie!!

Damn, wish on was going on a cruise!

[PunkiC]

I woke up in the middle of the night for some reason, so I thought I would post a note.

Our dinner party on Wednesday night was truly wonderful. Our friends are so much fun and really enjoy one another so much. It got cool by the time we finally got around to eating, so we ate inside, which was fine. I did drink wine, but I didn't really eat much except a couple of deviled eggs and some salmon, all of which are perfectly fine on my diet. We will have brunch with these same folks (plus others) on Sunday after Mass at our friends' home.

Sounds like you are having fun, Mary, learning your new job. Personally, we hated NCL. The buffet felt like a high school cafeteria, and everything on the ship seemed a little tawdry. Maybe it was just the people on the ship as it was a repositioning cruise (over a weekend) and they always draw a different crowd. For some reason there were about 30 different groups of about 8 women who were there for a "girls' party weekend" and they got drunk and hogged the dance floor just being silly. Another thing we did not like about NCL is that they are ridiculously childish about bringing wine on board. We like to buy wine in different ports, which is perfectly fine with HAL, Princess or Cunard, but NCL insists on charing you a corkage fee when you bring it on board, whether you plan to drink it or not. Again, just way too high school for me.

After that first NCL cruise, we scratched them off our list. I will be curious to see what type of experience you have.

D, I am really happy to hear that things are working for the better with your son. That must be a real relief.

Smooth, I am with you in wishing I had a real cruise scheduled. We have one little three-day at the end of September, and that is it for cruises. We have a little trip to California in the beginning of September for my SIL's birthday party and then a 4-day ski trip to Steamboat in December, so I am hoping we can maybe work in something in early November. I am seeing lots of great deals for that time frame.

Kelly, I started doing a bedspread search on-line and was so excited to find one I wanted--on sale even--only to discover that they didn't have the size I needed. :( Oh well, the search continues.

I need to try to get back to sleep. If I am not too tired after work, we will be going out dancing tonight.

Later, Punki

[smoothdancer]

Hey Punki,
I thought about you last night. I have a new pair of dance shoes I just love but the heels are a bit to wide. I found this site that has all kind of shoe padding depending on what foot problems you have. Thought you might be interested in this site. It is called hapad.com

We had the same experience with QM2. The first cruise we took was a short cruise and because of the pushy amount of people it was horrible, while when we took a longer cruise it was completly different. I hope Mary experiences the later on NCL! We have only done 7 day cruises on NCL.

[mycruz]

Thanks Smooth and Punki for your feedback. Isn't it great that there are choices out there for cruising? My mission on this cruise is to experience the product and to know which of my clients it might fit best!

Also, Smooth thanks for the website. I have a very narrow heel which makes shoes fitting me right sometimes hard so I'll take a look at it.

Today the little DGK's go to meet the teacher at school this afternoon. It's always fun to see who their teachers are. I'm also going to check into being a school sponsor, hopefully some free advertising!!!! Speaking of advertising, did some research yesterday and it isn't cheap!

Gotta run, hope you all have a great day and enjoy your weekend!

[Gratefulgal]

I thought I would do a quick post to say hello because I will be very busy the next while. We are supposed to head to the cabin tonight and there is another party at a neighbour’s tomorrow night. Unfortunately, I think we will leave early Sunday to come into the office.

The weather has been so odd this summer. We can have a lovely sunny day and then the skies will darken and instant storm. Last night an incredible hailstorm shredded my flowers and garden. Marble sized hailstones just poured down for 10-15 minutes. We even took pictures. Yikes.

For all of you struggling with “difficult children” issues I want you to know that it has become part of my daily prayers to include you. I did not know that it would be so hard dealing with grown children; it can really break your heart. Sometimes I feel like there is a pain right in my heart that I can feel tearing apart. It is connected to the lump in my throat…

Somehow, it is comforting to know that all of you intelligent, loving, honourable and good-humoured women face family challenges as well. Life goes on and we make the best of it. Yay for us.

I am enjoying our new home and the name that sums up our alliance. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. :):cool::p;):D



Trish

[Paris11]

Hi All,
Things have been crazy around here. Company is gone now, but I need to make another cake. DHs birthday is tomorrow and we are celebrating tonight because he has a golf tournament for work in Seattle tomorrow. Sunday we fly to Maui for the annual HTA conference. Wish I would have lost those last pesky pounds. I am about 6 over my last cruise weight and DH requested Chicken Fried Steak, gravy, potatoes and all the fixins for the birthday dinner tonight. Plus, I bought him a really cool popcorn machine for his theater room as a present. Movies and popcorn after dinner with the family. Can you guess who is breaking their diets for Maui!!:rolleyes:

D-you ROCK as a Mom! He will shape up. I am sure he is a wonderful guy and will you two supporting him he will succeed.

Trish- so sorry about your flowers. Mother nature has her moments, huh?

Mary- have fun on your cruise. My next one is not until December, but I have a few trips planned in between. It is nice this one is paid for by work for you.:cool:

Punki- Way to stay on the diet with company over! I have been really strict but knew I would stop when I went to Maui. I will pick up the diet again after labor day. I know that means starting all over, but I decided that limiting myself with customers and my kids around is not worth it this go around. I am doing the Lavendar farm and wine tasting and two dinners with clients plus a banquet and an exhibitors night where they usually have wonderful food and an open bar. Days with the kids will be easier, but I miss fruit, don't you?? I plan to have some guava and pineapple next week!

Kelly- Martha Stewart took care of everything for me on the bedroom. The set came with throw pillows and curtains!! I might have choose something different for the curtains, but I am happy with them. I will post a pic, but I still need artwork over the bed. I found some nice vases to make the purple accents, though.

Paula- thanks for the hug. I saw your recent shopping find on FB and you ARE the Shopping Queen. That will look so nice on you as well.

Marianne- I don't think DH reads everything, but I think he reads my posts from what he said.;) Any flying trips in your near future?

Amy- I hope you quit getting interrupted by sounds and smells in the night:eek:

Dianne and Janey- I hope this weekend brings many happy things to post about:)

Ellen

[OrlandoD]

Just a quick post as I fly by here....

Thanks for all of your encouragement with my DS. I can't believe how far he has come since Monday - his temperament has been more even too. Think it had anything to do with the sleep?! :rolleyes:

Wishing you all a lovely Friday evening - driving home tonight we saw the most menacing black clouds on the horizon decorated with a double rainbow. That has to mean something very cosmic and new-agey...

Hark! I do believe we are well past WINE-time!

gotta go,

D

[OrlandoD]

Hey that last post was my 1000 post...now i gotta go have a glass of wine!!!!!

D

[smoothdancer]

LOL... 1000 posts and wine..

I am saving my wine night for tommorrow... We are coming up on a silver.. Tommorrow Nick and I will be married 25 years, wow

[Mama Lapin]

Evening, Girls,

Praise the Lord, DS, EDIL and the gang have moved into a rent house and should now begin the tedious process of tearing down the burned rubble of their former home and either rebuild or buy something somewhere else. They have been dragging their feet with this, much to the chagrin of the neighborhood. Yes, I know that it is traumatic, but in spite of what they think, there are no treasures that are going to be saved from that pile of ashes. The sooner they come to terms with that, the better off they will be. The kids are back in school and middle GD had to go to a new one. It has been a really rough time for them.

So this is my last weekend as a free woman; the new job starts next Friday. I am still not sure if this is what I want to do, but I am going to go with an open mind, wearing comfortable shoes. I am not a quitter, but by golly, if I don't love it, I am out of there.

Trish, sometimes I thiink young children are easier than gownup ones. What is the old adage: little ones little problems and big ones big problems. I have had my share with my big old boys, that's for sure. And yes, it is reassuring that others have had similar experiences. Enjoy this weekend before you begin your recovery.

Way to go, Dee. I knew that you could whip the boy into shape.

Looks like we all did the bedroom redo this week. I found a great one that I like too and just so happened to have matching accessories and pictures in the attic. See? Sometimes it pays to be a packrat.

Have fun in Hawaii, Ellen. Yes, I am jealous!

Safe trip to Fla. Sis. Your dream is about to become a reality and I am so happy for you!

To everyone else...Have a lovely weekend.

Hugs,
Paula

[lidoplease]

Good saturday morning everyone!
I could have sworn that i posted yesterday. not sure what happened. i must have clicked the wrong button.

anyway-had a very busy work week and am just enjoying this early morning coffee time with no agenda for the day. mounds of laundry of course-and i think we are going to the grocery store later. DH special ordered rocky road ice cream...lol...and it is coming in today. good thing that is not on my favorites list. He is welcome to it. I may grab some weight watcher's ice cream while we are there.

it is looking like rain again. still very hot here, but at least we are not lacking for rain. we have had the sprinklers off for at least 2 weeks now so maybe the water bill will cut us some slack.

i am volunteering one evening a month at my church's free medical clinic. i went for the first time this past week and it was fun and very well organized. really nice group of people to work with. i was afraid they would need me too much...lol...working full time is about all i can handle these days. but one day a month is just perfect.

otherwise--my weight is still maintaining...i have lost count now but i think i am over 2 years with this. i still don't exercise as much as i should. i am proud of all of you that do! It takes such dedication and determination. awesome!

have a lovely day girls. D-that is wonderful about your son...way to go!! and Trish--prayers for you and your family...have a relaxing time at the cabin. You deserve it. Hi to everyone!!!
janey

[waserdog]

"Sometimes I feel like there is a pain right in my heart that I can feel tearing apart. It is connected to the lump in my throat…"
Trish, I couldn't have said this better if I tried!! You are so right on! Hope you have a wonderful weekend at the cabin. Bummer with that hail. My DD had her car hit once and it looked like a million golf balls hit it. She didn't have the insurance fix it because she figured it would happen again and 4 years later, it still has not happened. LOL
Ellen, have a great time in Maui! What a great place to have to go on business. Loved the bedroom! You need to post the cake you posted on FB so everyone can drool!!
Smooth, I agree that I have to let it go with DD. I just hope she doesn't go back to calling me everyday. That's what messes up my mind. I know she's relieving her guilt by talking daily but I can't stand the "elephant in the room" that she's ignoring.
Mary, I agree somewhat with Punki on some of the NCL stuff. When you take a weekend cruise, you know you are going to get a lower class crowd because it's a cheap trip. That being said, we have cruised NCL many times both weekends and week long cruises and have found that you can "escape" the cattle call type meals if you book the specialty restaurants. Most of the weekenders aren't splurging on paying any extra so those restaurants are empty and the staff will fall all over you to make your experience wonderful. We were on NCL's Sky and that's what we did. Hey, the casino was lots of fun! We'll talk when you get here!! Yeah, I love writing that!!!
Janey, nice that you are volunteering. Bet they are thrilled to have your help. I can't believe DH ordered ice cream! Guess we're spoiled here because you can get every fattening thing you desire!!
Paula, I just know you are going to love the new job and like you said, if you don't, you'll be out of there. That's my sentiments with subbing.
D, good job with DS. Age has nothing to do with them learning new tricks! LOL
OK, my life is so shallow.....my biggest excitement right now is to make it 40 more minutes without a sip of water or food so that darn WW scale doesn't make me cry!! hahaha I skipped last week because I couldn't bare seeing a weight gain on the scale. I'm hoping for any kind of loss today. I was very good all week but last week was really ugly. Tune in later for the outcome! hahahaha
OK, off to WW and pick up my new blue contacts. They discontinued the aqua ones I've worn for years so this is very traumatic...see, my life is shallow.
Marianne

[smoothdancer]

Paula Glad to hear the kids have a new house to live in. Hopefully this will help all the way around. You know I have been consulting a long time and with every job I have the feeling I dont want to do this, always a bit nervous... And then always after a day or two I am happy to be there.You just might have new job jitters!

Oh darn Marianne, I love the color of your eyes... That would bother me too. I can certainly see that if your DD calls everyday it makes it even harder for you.

You know on our Med cruise being a special cruise we decided before hand that we would only eat in the specialty resturants and this may be why my take on NCL is different from the rest. But kuddo's for you Mary going on a cruise line to better help guide your clients.

Today is a run day for me. I still look forwards to the run days. Kelly said running helped in loosing weight in her tummy but I have not noticed this, still as of this morning I am up to 15 pound weight loss, so no complaints here!! Finally after many false starts of dieting and weight loss it is happening.

Punki, still loosing on Duncan?

I have been reading along on this running thread of people over 40, what an inspiring group of people. One lady 62, is training for a triathalon in Disney, can you imangine??? My goal of a 5K in October is challenge enough for me. I did read pandora has a 5K charm, another goal of mine! Hey D, maybe this race is for you (kidding)

Have a great weekend all.

[waserdog]

OK, not exciting but only up 0.6 on the WW scale so still have a loss of 14 total. I had such a bad week last week. Hopefully before we leave on Friday for Baltimore, I will make some strides. We have some tropical stuff lurking about so hopefully we'll get to Baltimore next weekend.
Smooth, looks like we are going neck and neck on the weight loss. So happy that it is finally happening for both of us. I don't know about the new contacts yet. Will try them out tonight. I got blue because I have green eyes and thought the sample pair made them look similar to the color contacts I now have. I also liked the green and may get a box of those too. These new disposable contacts you wear for a month, cleaning every night. They come in boxes of 6, Acuvue 2. I never wore disposable before.
OK, trying to see The Help again tonight. It will probably happen since we already bought the tickets!
Marianne

[bobandkelly]

Ok, I should be doing homework while baby is sleeping but I'm having a hard time getting back into the swing of it. I think it'll take a couple of days before I'm motivated to really jump in. The weather is so nice, we are going to golf when DD gets off work. She has a job interview on Monday, it will be her second in person after I think two or three phone ones. If they offer her it it will come down to money because she would be moving and would need to pay for full time day care. She wants it because she could move in with BF. I'm not going to lie, it would be nice to have life back to normal and become grandparents and spoil him!

Ellen, the BDR turned out nice! I do love Martha! my living room is everyday green from when she still had paint at Kmart. Maybe it's time for that change I keep threatening.

Smooth, I've been thinking I might want a Pandora, if I start one I'm going to have to do a 5k! Because I'm always disappointed when the time for the treadmill comes I might do the c25k on it. I think that would be motivating and something to work towards. I'm so excited for you that you caught the running bug! Even when I don't like it I feel like I'm accomplishing something.

Marianne, I didn't know you had colored contacts! I wish I could get just plain ones, but the eye dr said he didn't think they'd work for me. I might try again next time I go. I really don't like wearing glasses.

You to are both doing great with the weightloss! My pants are feeling better so that's a good thing. I'm hoping that by the time the cruise comes in Feb that I'll be able to wear my red dress!

Janey, how wonderful that your church offers the clinic and that you are able to help them out. 2 years of maintaining is a huge milestone! I'm hoping to get back there!

Paula, good news on the DS & fam getting their own place again. It must be a hard decision to rebuild there or somewhere else. I'm with you on the new job, no point in being miserable and hopefully it will be fun and something you enjoy doing.

that's it for now, going to suffer through some reading. I think I'll go outside, that might make it better.
Kelly

[Paris11]

Kelly - thanks. I need to find artworks and the pics dont show the whole room. I went with gray and lavender towels in the master bath. So happ to be done with the decision making.
Anytime I get to spend with my grandsons is precious. I also have them a lot and though it would be nice to just pop in and spoil them like the Nana seems to want to do, I would miss so many memories. I love to teach them new things. They will remember me as the grandma that did everything for them. Discipline and hugs :D

Paula- Happy for your family that they are taking a baby step to move on. Sorry one of them had to change schools. Those beauties will have no problems making new friends, I am sure of it.

Marianne- No worries on you weight. I leave for Maui and these pesky poundas are going with me this time. You, on the other hand have been a rockstar in your weight battle this summer. I hipe you like the Help. I did.

Smooth- you will have no problem earning that pandora charm for the 5k. Wear it proudly.

Janey-you have to order rocky road ice cream? That is what I served with DHs cake last night. Do you live very remotely or just a special kind from a special store?

Trish- I hope you are enjoying your time at the cabin.

Punki- Aren't you loving this sunshine

[mycruz]

Janey, I don't think it's you girl, this site would not let me on for the longest time this morning! I gave up and went on with getting things done for the day and now I'm back. Your volunteer gig sounds like something that is perfect for you. I'm glad you are enjoying your leisurely weekend.

Ellen! too funny, yes my cruise is being paid for by work except I'm the boss now and it's coming out of my pocket anyways!!! Have a great time in Maui, how could you not even if it is a business trip.

Kelly, hope things work out for your DD and the job, got my fingers crossed for you. I bet you'll miss the little guy when he moves out, at least for a little while. I remember when my DD moved out when she just had the one and she was about two at the time. Almost broke my heart, but the good news was they only moved about a mile down the road.

So tomorrow is the big day, I leave for Ft. Lauderdale. Sis, I'll be safe and don't worry, I've got my "smartphone" run by a not so smart person right now but I do know how to get to FB on it and check my email so I'll be keeping in touch. If the htoel has free wi-fi I can log on to CC.

Marianne, I'll see you tomorrow and Dee, we'll get together once I get back.

Trish, I'm so glad you checked in, try not to work too hard tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers, yes you would think once they became adults it would be easier. I'm afraid for me it feels like its harder because they are old enough to know better in most cases and that's what breaks my heart.

Punki, Smooth I just may be one of those girls have a blast on the ship and partying up!!!! After a week sitting in a classroom, I know I'll at least have to spend a little time doing some casino therapy!;) I have already decided to eat at the specialty restaurants, I love to do the restaurants instead of MDR. I know that on Disney, I could eat at Paulo's everynight, it's amazing.

Ok, I'm gonna have a glass of wine before starting dinner. It's my second to last home cooked meal for a while (last one will be at Marianne's tomorrow) so I'm going to go with burgers on the grill, yummy!

Everyone take care, I'll check back later!!!

[Paris11]

I have to pack for Maui

Here I go posting pics again.

[Paris11]

Here are the pics. I am trying to pack for Maui and my overpacking disease is overwhelming me:eek: Wish me luck. I have an hour before DH gets home for Seattle.


Ellen

[PunkiC]

Yes, Ellen, today was truly lovely. I went to the library and was just overwhelmed with the sunshine, and the breeze blowing gently through the trees. It reminded me of when I used to walk to our beautiful old Carnegie Library with the children when they were little and for a moment, I missed my babies so much that I got all teary. Then I called my daughter and we reminisced about all of the wonderful experiences we had at the library while they were growing up--then we both cried a little.

I guess the reason that old women need grandchildren is because they miss their babies so very much.

Oh, yikes, I hope that you DH didn't get caught up in the traffic mess that was Seattle today. With the viaduct being closed, and the Hemp Fest in progress, downtown and the freeway were a disaster. We were happy to just stay home.

Hopefully, Mary, you will have a wonderful time on your little NCL cruise. Maybe you can be one of those wild women who get drunk and take over the dance floor. They sure did seem to be having fun! ;)

OK, that's all for me tonight. I'm tired.

Punki

[waserdog]

Absolutely loved The Help! So did DH!! Then when we were leaving the theater, I thought I threw my glasses in the garbage and this nice black girl was so kind and pulled everything out of the garbage and then I found them in a side pouch of my purse. Sheesh!!! I felt so bad and wanted to give her a tip. Neither DH nor I had any cash. I didn't bring my wallet and his was in the car. I felt so awful!!!! I told DH I should be in the story of The Help!!
Chicken and shrimp marinating, wine chilling, about to cut up fruit...check!! I'll make the salad after church. I'm ready for my visit with Mary!! Yeah!!!
Punki, your weather sounds wonderful! I can't wait to get out of this hot spot!! We attempted to walk this morning but lightning and thunder brought us back after 15 minutes then the storm never hit us. Yeah, I often have thoughts of when my kids were young and get nostalgic. Thank goodness for my little gniece that brings me back to reality and all the work involved with little kiddies! We tend to just remember the fun times.
Kelly, hope DD gets the job and they offer her tons of $$$$. I'm sure you'll get back with the school thing but I always hated the reading assignments. Guess that's why I never enjoy reading novels. The Catholic nuns took care of reading for enjoyment with thier long boring assignments. I read magazines and articles on the internet constantly but when I start a novel, it becomes a chore that I have to keep working on until I finish so not fun.
Ellen, safe travels and have a good time which I'm sure won't be a problem even with the work related stuff. That cake was to-die-for and DH looked so happy with his popcorn machine and ecstatic with the gson!!
OK, off to shower and put in my new blue eyes which are so very comfortable that I don't even know I'm wearing contacts!!! They are Acuvue 2 color enhancers. I'm getting used to the blue eyes and will soon be ordering green eyes. Hey, this is like jewelry!! LOL
Marianne

[waserdog]

That was their...typo...what happened to "i" before "e" except after "c"? I always wonder about that stupid rule!

[mycruz]

Oh man Ellen, I hear with the overpacking disease! I had to pack for two different types of travel, business and pleasure!

I think I'm all packed for the next 8 days. I'm taking 2 suitecases, one for the training and the second for the cruise. Figured since I'm driving, I have the space and I don't want to schlep a big ol' suitcase with a weeks worth of dirty clothes on the cruise! I just have to transfer my toiletries to the smaller one and Voila!

Marianne, can't wait! The dinner sounds delish so I'm gonn be really good this morning before leaving. I also can't wait to see your "new" eyes!

Ok girls, it's GO TIME!!!! check ya'll later!

[waserdog]

Anxiously awaiting Mary's arrival! OK, will go find the camera so I can post a picture later! :D
Marianne

[bobandkelly]

Hello! it's sunny and cooler here, it feels so good!

So happy for Marianne and Mary! have fun and like I said on fb, hopefully no Irene! Can't wait to see pics!

Mary, hoping this cruise is fun and gives you a good feel for NCL. It's hard to match someone up for a product or service if you don't know what it's about. Hope the training isn't to much death by power point, those seem to be so popular now. I could read the PP myself if you aren't going add any information just give it to me as a handout.

Marianne, kind of funny about the glasses but at least you found them. If the girl works there and it's someplace you frequent keep a little something for her, you might see her again. It might even mean more knowing you remembered after the fact.

Punki, the town I grew up in has a Carnegie library. I have many memories of going there as a little kid to puppet shows on Saturdays. They are still doing the puppet shows and kids are still enjoying them, even though they don't have any kind of new technology with them. It's a beautiful library that has given and gives so much pleasure. What a gift Mr Carnegie gave to so many.

Ellen, popcorn is my favorite snack! I have it quite often. I make it in the whirley pop with oil and still put butter on it. Everyone says it's better than movie theater popcorn. I've thought about bringing my own and telling them that when theirs tastes this good then I'll buy it. I think one of the main differences is I use white corn and they use the cheapest yellow they can find. The white is more tender with less hulls. And of course that stuff they call butter is nothing related to sweet cream butter! Yum! My whirley pop just broke last week or I'd make some right now!
Good luck on the packing! The first cruise I took we took so many bags. I've been carry on only for quite awhile now, it so much easier.

Smooth, since you and Nick like the greek style yogurt an easy veggie dip is to add a little cumin to it. I just do it by taste, maybe 1/2 - 1 tsp per cup of yogurt.

Ok, time to go, I've got soup simmering to bring to small group. It's so hard to cook for everyone. But today is a Red Lentil and Vegetable, yummy and nice for a cooler day. One of they guys is pretty picky when it comes to cooked vegetables but I told his wife I was making soup so maybe he'll have a little something before he comes. She loves the idea because they never get to have soup at home.
Hope the rest of everyone Sunday is nice!
Kelly

[OrlandoD]

Have a great first day of school Mary!!!

:D D

[waserdog]

Happy Monday everyone! Here I go back on the wagon with feet firmly placed ready to hit the Curves circuit. We did the usual 3 mile walk in the dark while the humidity drenched us. Good luck D if you are playing tennis!!
Kelly lucky you to have cool temps! Thanks for your positive thoughts about that dang hurricane. Besides the terror of "will my house take this blow", there's the fear of losing electric which means no a/c. OK, I'm not going to go there! LOL How did your friend's DH like the soup?
First day of school and all is quiet on the sub front. I have worked on first days before when an aide hadn't been hired for a kid in a wheel chair but usually this time of year is quiet.
Here's a picture of Mary and I enjoying our wine!! Had a great visit and hopefully will visit again later in the week.
Marianne

[waserdog]

Hellooooo...still braindead from the wine! LOL Here's the picture.
Marianne

[waserdog]

So glad I got a job for tomorrow!! Been eating light stuff but been eating all morning. Thanks goodness there's zumba tonight. WTH...they're saying this hurricane can go to a category 3!!!! It's over San Jaun right now. Have no idea how this will affect our trip to Baltimore on Friday. It could miss us and go up that way!
I can't believe I finally found the proper setting that gives me the icons on the side.:p I'm a slow learner! LOL
Marianne

[bobandkelly]

Nice day here, temps in the mid 70's and no humidity. Wish we were going to be grilling for dinner enjoying some drinks on the patio but I have class tonight. Economics from 5:30-9:30, will be home just in time for bed! I hope the instructor is interesting.

Marianne, I giggled when there wasn't a pic. I do that so often, I'll send DD something with a link or a pic and then have to send it later. Yeah on the job for tomorrow! What icons on the side? I don't have icons and I always wonder where people get them from. I guess that makes me slow to!

Ok, DH and I are going out to get an early dinner before I have class. It's going to be our standing monday date for this semester.
Kelly

[Wayfairers]

It took me by complete surprise that for the first time in my entire life at age 45, in full blown menopause, I was “chunky”. I had to diet with no idea how, and although happy with my age, things were changing….After many months of a lifestyle change, a “what is happening to my body and soul” that just out of a whim one night I created this thread….

Hey... this sounds like me... can I join the group? I am not in menopause yet... doc calls it peri-menopause meaning the period doesn't know what it wants to do so it does a little of everything :confused:

[cruisingcouple2008]

Hey... this sounds like me... can I join the group? I am not in menopause yet... doc calls it peri-menopause meaning the period doesn't know what it wants to do so it does a little of everything :confused:

Wayfairers..... of course you can join our group :D... Welcome !!! Welcome to what you will discover is a wonderful amazing supportive group of women that you can talk to and share anything with.

My name is Amy and Im about in the same stage as you...oh and Im always trying to lose weight sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt.

[waserdog]

Welcome Wayfairers! Of course you are welcome to join our group. The more the merrier! I'm Marianne and way beyond period thing. Can't say I miss it in the least! :)
Kelly, go to the top of the page to the User CP in the cream colored bar on the far left. Then go to the middle left where it says "edit options" then scroll to the very bottom of that page where it says "miscellaneous Options" and the drop down bar will have 3 choices. Select "Enhanced Interface" and save the changes and then when you go to post, you will see all the smilies on the right. Good luck. Let me know if it worked for you. Have fun at class tonight and enjoy the date dinner with DH!
OK, spent 1.5 hours at Curves and now getting ready for zumba. Thank goodness I'll be busy tomorrow and not fighting the eating boredom!
Janey, D, Mary, Paula and who knows who else that could be affected by this stupid hurricane. Let's all hope some miracle takes place and none of us see the wrath of this storm! Got gas, wine and crackers. I'm ready!
Marianne

[cruisingcouple2008]

Hey... this sounds like me... can I join the group? I am not in menopause yet... doc calls it peri-menopause meaning the period doesn't know what it wants to do so it does a little of everything :confused:


Whoa Wayfairers Did I just notice in your signature you are going on a 45 day cruising adventure??????

Marianne I hope the storm misses you all as well, and doesnt head up the coast next week while we are in Maine. I need to be there Im really missin gram.

Kelly awesome for you a standing date night....

for anyone who doesnt FB this is a pic Ellen posted in Maui
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312680_2336054121676_1259534084_2816592_282286_n.j pg

JEALOUS !!!!!!!!

so things have been horrible here for the last several days....you all know DH works for an oil company. He has been there for 28 years.... He and my father were the only two people there besides the owner in the beginning and then the son came on board about 20 yrs ago....now its a hundred employee multi million dollar business that my youngest dd works at also in accounting... ok enough history needless to say its in my blood and love the place.....well....... last Thursday owner had DH and a new guy go to his MILLION dollar camp which is on our famous huge lake about an hour north of here and ........ well the new guy wasnt getting stuff unloaded as quickly as dh thought he should and dh walked away from an oil pump there was needless to say a spill environmental concerns DEC called in oil heading for the downslope within 9' of the water... etc... omg he was soooo upset IVE NEVER EVER EVER heard him this upset in our time together ..... he says to boss when boss gets there go ahead fire me its my fault i know i should never walk away from a pump.... boss is a ridiculously awesome person he and his wife both he says to DH are you serious Im not going to fire you it was an accident you are one of my best friends.,....I'll make it right dont worry about it I know the owner (trying to liten the mood) .... Owner even says to DH you are a great deal of the reason we are where we are today.....dont worry... even though he had stress in his voice, I know this man he is the kindest person Ive ever known. DH is still freaked out about it has been all weekend and still today he hasnt been sleeping and neither have I. They are still there working today, a soil encapsulation specialist is there and DEC is there and they all say everything will be ok, but DH isnt eating and isnt sleeping OMG I am so worried. DD even said that the others said it wasnt that bad and that my DH and she should just change their last names to the owners names because anyone else would have been fired, and they are right but still dh wont stop freaking.... I even sent owner out a thank you for your kindness and friendship card today..

NEXT SITUATION.......you all know how ****ty relationship with mother is,,,, well she never called or texted or came over for dinner for my birthday not a single thing. Now SIL of the babies says to DH on my birthday as DH was fixing his lawnmower and DGS bike if those two dont get along soon I wont allow the kids to be here. He tells me this Sat night as we are laying in bed awake because neither one can sleep.... I say to DH but I never let the kids see a problem or stress. and he says I told SIL that but he didnt say anything back.... ok so not sure if Im freaking or not, but I told my DD and said I perceived it as a threat and that my heart is broken that he would even consider that. Those babies you all know are my life....

Right now Im just counting down until next monday when we hit the road for maine and get away from it all... I miss gram sooo much I cant wait to be near her again.... :(


K sorry for the dump its been bothering me since the weekend and just now have an empty house to type.

[Wayfairers]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone! My name is Tina.

Amy - yes you saw correctly. We leave for a 45 day cruise RT from FLL to Europe at the end of Oct. We weren't able to have children so used the savings from that to allow us to quit work earlier than normal. We now spend much of the year traveling and absolutely love long cruises!

[cruisingcouple2008]

Thanks for the welcomes everyone! My name is Tina.

Amy - yes you saw correctly. We leave for a 45 day cruise RT from FLL to Europe at the end of Oct. We weren't able to have children so used the savings from that to allow us to quit work earlier than normal. We now spend much of the year traveling and absolutely love long cruises!


You rock girlfriend that is AWESOME:D Good for you !!!

[smoothdancer]

Wow Amy, you have been having a hell of a week! Sure glad you have a dumping ground to come to, just leave all your worries here....You already have way too much to deal with lately to take on anymore stress, so just dump it all here!!

You know what I dont see SIL not bringing the kids over anytime soon. Isnt this the SIL who wanted you to take time off from work so he could get his wisdom teeth extracted. Seems to me you are quite active in thier upbringing, offer the parents a lot of support. I am guessing they need you just as much as you need them, and he should be thanking you instead of making comments like that.. I am glad you said what you did to your daughter.

Well Marianne.... You know it is hard to see weight loss on yourself, but holy moly, seeing the picutre of you and Mary your weight loss shows and you look great! I especially see it in your face and neck. Looks like you had a wonderful visit together and thanks for the picture.

Welcome to the group Tina, LOL I am with Marianne, what is a period? Have not missed it.
That sure is some cruise you have planned... How does one pack for 65 days??? Especially if you are an overpacker like me.

Boy am I feeling my age tonight. Tonight was 16 minutes of running, I could not do it, I ran for 13, walked the rest and my body is still screaming a hour later, I am just limping around!! It has not hurt this much so far, my left knee, my right ankle, OUCH, even my toes hurt!! Between yesterdays gym work out and tonight, think I just pushed myself to far. This running does tend to beat up your body, but I am not giving up!! I will run a 5K if it kills me!!

Everyone stay safe....

[cruisingcouple2008]

Wow Amy, you have been having a hell of a week! Sure glad you have a dumping ground to come to, just leave all your worries here....You already have way too much to deal with lately to take on anymore stress, so just dump it all here!!

You know what I dont see SIL not bringing the kids over anytime soon. Isnt this the SIL who wanted you to take time off from work so he could get his wisdom teeth extracted. Seems to me you are quite active in thier upbringing, offer the parents a lot of support. I am guessing they need you just as much as you need them, and he should be thanking you instead of making comments like that.. I am glad you said what you did to your daughter.

Well Marianne.... You know it is hard to see weight loss on yourself, but holy moly, seeing the picutre of you and Mary your weight loss shows and you look great! I especially see it in your face and neck. Looks like you had a wonderful visit together and thanks for the picture.

Welcome to the group Tina, LOL I am with Marianne, what is a period? Have not missed it.
That sure is some cruise you have planned... How does one pack for 65 days??? Especially if you are an overpacker like me.

Boy am I feeling my age tonight. Tonight was 16 minutes of running, I could not do it, I ran for 13, walked the rest and my body is still screaming a hour later, I am just limping around!! It has not hurt this much so far, my left knee, my right ankle, OUCH, even my toes hurt!! Between yesterdays gym work out and tonight, think I just pushed myself to far. This running does tend to beat up your body, but I am not giving up!! I will run a 5K if it kills me!!

Everyone stay safe....


Im really sorry everyone I really shouldnt have typed all that. There is not one else in the family that even knows about the oil spill DH's request except the dd that works there. I should put it in perspective as well that it was only about 25 gallons, I know that was a lot, but I try to tell DH it certainly isnt a BP I just either feel like smoking or crying...so I typed instead. DH got home at 7 and is in bed already and leaving at 5am again. I really want to get up and run in the morning, but I got myperiod and have been feeling very cramped as well. I know the run would help he stress. Maybe Ill bike instead. I dont know. Really I am happy at least I wont have the excruciating pain to deal with like I have the last two times we went away.

Jan you are absolutely right about SIL he is the same person. Truthfully I was kind of mad at DH for telling me that, but I couldnt say anything to him he is already so upset.

Well gonna go watch some football Im a Dallas girl as you all know, but Giants come in 2nd and they are playing the Chicago Bears tonight which is the team that SIL and DGKS love, They are hardcore ! My bet is if Giants win I get all the hugs and kisses I want for a whole day no exceptions if they win they each get a dollar to save for their florida trip

[mycruz]

Tina! Welcome to our little get together here on CC!

Oh Amy, dear girl.....big hugs coming your way and the picture of Ellen in Maui, I sure wish I was there.

Smooth, I love your spirit, and your determination, you're going to make the 5k and you're right about Marianne, I saw it immediately in her face when I got out of my car yesterday.

So, today was day one of training, and tonight 10 of us from class went out to dinner, I did ok, only had 2 of the garlic knots, had a dinner salad and mussels but oh s*&% I had 3 glasses of wine with dinner! anyways, it's done, I did manage to stay with my "meatless Monday", tomorrow is another day so I'm off to bed!

Tata, Mary

[OrlandoD]

Good Morning Ladies!

Welcome Tina - it's an interesting place here in cyberspace!

Amy so sorry for what you're going through with family. I really feel for you. I have a very complex relationship with my Mom too.

Smooth - Are you sticking with the routine (couch to 5K) and not skipping on to running longer? I made that mistake last year and got awful sore awful fast. Think of it as run - recovery - run. I am merely at week 3 which I find very tough. I'm up to walk 3 jog 4 for 4 sets on four days this week. I may not be able to fit 4 days in with a tennis team match coming up Friday. Chances are I will repeat a week to stay the course. I will sign myself up for a 5K in October for a pet rescue group that I hold near and dear to my heart to push the motivation a bit more!

OK sun is up and I must get my poor sorry butt out there before breakfast.

stay smilin sisters,
D

[Mama Lapin]

Hello, Girls,

Did you think that I had fallen off of the planet??? Nope, I'm still here!

Spent part of Saturday and most of yesterday sclepping furniture for DS and DIL. They have finally moved into a rent house and are beginning to put their lives back together. It is a really nice place with a full 4 bedrooms and in the kids' school district, so I am happy for them. Now, they must begin the tedious process of tearing down the rubble of their old home. I think that they have decided to buy something new, rather than rebuild. It is not what I would do, but it is their decision. At least they have made one. They have had a tough time, especially the kiddos.

And then I got the mother of all computer viruses. Actually, it was one of those phantom things that just makes you think that your cyberworld has come to an end, but it can scare the begeebies out of you. DS is in IT, but was too busy to rescue me, so I asked Mr. Google what to do and...drum roll, please.... fixed it myself. (no need to applaud) I even managed to find my lost photos and data. YAY!

Amy.... Sorry about your week. But look on the bright side: DH now knows that his boss truly values him. How fortunate is that??? And trust me when I tell you that we all have complicated family relationships. Stay strong.

Dee and Jan.... so impressed with all of the running. I wish I could just do it with my mind. In my head I am a world class athlete. Good for you girls.

Good luck, Sis... You know I am thrilled for you!

Tina... Welcome to the group. How on earth do you pack for a cruise that long? I am sure that it must be a different cruising experience to be on a ship for that long. Holey Moley... I wonder how much I would gain having food availlable 24/7 like that???? Good thing there is a gym onboard.

Ellen... Beautiful picture of paradise. Have fun!

Trish... Thinking of you, kiddo!

Sigh....I am also up 2 pounds. Time to put the brakes on and climb back on the wagon. I wonder how many calories I burn getting off and on stupid the wagon?

O.K. it is Tuesday and that means shopping while Jack golfs. I need to maximize this little trip because the job starts Friday. I feel like I am on a runaway train headed toward the station. Funny how going back to work seemed like such a good idea 6 weeks ago. But I am keeping an open mind and reminding myself that I can walk away if it doesn't work out, so I guess in some ways I still have my precious freedom.

I hope that you all have a wonderful day.
hugs,
Paula

[Wayfairers]

Packing for the 45 day cruise.... I pack for 9 days and plan on doing laundry or sending laundry out - on the longer cruises they usually give you a deal for unlimited laundry service.

Mary - congrats on meatless Monday - I like that idea and may try to follow your lead! At least my dinner last night was meatless.

Tina

[PunkiC]

Welcome aboard, Tina. I hope you enjoy the group as much as we do. One of the reasons we are sort of tied to Princess, especially for longer trips, is that we now get free laundry and dry-cleaning. For our last cruise we only packed for 5 days and sent everything out, except for the stuff I do by hand. I actually came home with almost everything clean in my suitcase.

Kelly, I am so with you on the Power Point presentations. Maybe I read a little faster than most people, but I absolute cannot stand someone reading Power Point slides to me. We have one vendor rep who is constantly trying to schedule hour-long "Go-to-meeting" presentations with our sales staff. We give him only 15 minutes tell him to flip those slides faster. :) Even then we nearly die of boredom during the presentations.

I am very happy to hear, Paula, that the kids are moving on. It must have been so very devastating to them to lose everything. It is no wonder that they were polarized for a while.

Is it this Friday that you start the new job? I can't wait to hear how you like it, or hopefully, love it. If you don't, however, get out of there fast. Remember that you are really a volunterr who is receiving a clothing allowance.

I am so envious, D and smooth, that you can run. My Doc is pretty firm about the fact that running is not good with my arthritis. I can walk miles and miles and miles, and I can dance, but no running and no skiing bumps.

It sounds, Mary, like you are enjoying your training. Are you already on the cruise now? I am curious to see what you think of NCL.

I am also curious about Royal Caribbean. Has anyone tried it? I think that is the only line we haven't tried and there are from time to time reasonably tempting offers.

We have also never tried Carnival and I don't think I will. It sounds a little to shake-your-booty to me. Maybe if they reposition a ship out of or into Seattle, we might give it a short try, but other than that, we will probably stick to more sedate cruising.

Sorry, Amy, that you hit a rough patch. DH will be fine. He just needs some time to forgive himself.

I am so happy Marianne that you and Mary had a chance to get together. What kind of contacts did you wear that were discontinued? I have some aqua lenses that I sometimes wear and have been buying them for years. I sure hope they don't discontinue them.

This crazy cold is still trying to hang on and I am still tired and still have a sore throat so I think I will go see the Doc this morning. One of my best contributions to the company is that I love to make cold calls and scrounge up new customers, but I can only do that well when I am 100%, so I need to get better so I can play on the telephone.

Catch you all later, Punki

[smoothdancer]

D
I am using the C25K app, and actually I think it is a little easier then what you are doing!

It is 3 days a week not 4.
Week 4 which I am in is run 3 walk 1 run 5 walk 2, then repeat... So 16 minutes of run which I had trouble with in the tail end. Are you kidding me, no I am following this app exactly, I could not even consider running more! But on my off days I was doing a pretty hard weight and cardio at the gym. I think I need to pick one or the other so that I can get a rest day in. My body is just about healed today, but I have a 2 hour dance lesson tonight!!! I think I need more days in a week.

Then, as husband sat on couch and I was crying over my hurt body. He says to me "no pain, no gain"... Wanted to slap him..Then on top of that this morning gained a pound, which I find near impossible with my calroies and exercise... Oh well!!

I suppose I could have worse probelms

[Wayfairers]

Punki - Hope you are feeling better soon. Our first cruise was with RC so I didn't have anything to compare it to at the time. But, the impression I got was several families with teenagers that weren't out of control. The ship was the biggest and fanciest one we have sailed on and had the grand promenade in the middle that was several floors tall... neat area with a parade at least twice during the cruise along the promenade. The food was typical cruise ship. I would cruise with them again. I don't blame you for not trying Carnival - we had a bad experience with them along the MX Riviera.... a bunch of 40 year olds trying to be 20 again.

Smooth - don't forget that muscle weighs more than fat so your extra pound may be due to fat changing into muscle. Are you tracking measurements... that means more than weight.

Paula - I did gain a few pounds on my 30d cruise in 2008 so my plan is to just take a bite or two of dessert, fruit for snacks, cut down on serving sizes and exercise. I have a pedometer and my goal is 7000 steps a day right now - I hope to bump that up to 10,000 during the cruise plus work out with weights a few days a week. Should be interesting.

Tina

[smoothdancer]

Wow, so who among my East Coast friends experienced the earthquake! That was really something, here in our office the walls moved as well as the floor. Was one of the strangest feeling I ever felt, and not in a good way!! Everyone in the office was scared, even the men!!

Blahh,, so now I am home with ice on my knee hoping it gets better before 7 tonight when I have a dance lesson. This has not been a good day, went to my eye Dr appt and he also does eye lid lifts for which he recommends that it is hardly noticable and would not suggest doing anything... Yea, easy for a man to say with a wife 20 years his jr. Geez!!

RCCL is a bit more expensive and not being attrached to rock climbing walls or whatever, we have not cruised RCCL since they added all of this... But prior, I would rate it similiar to Princess, nice.

Carinval, sometimes get a bad rap. Our second cruise on Carnival was one of thoes with people drinking too much. Then kind of recently we tried Carnival again and liked it... It does not have the glamor as some of the others but there is something about it that I like.... I am thinking Carnival gives you more of a feeling you are on a ship than a floating hotel. I still think as far as the dining room Carnival does it best. It is worth giving Carnival a second chance...

My ice has melted, off to fill my baggie back up!

[OrlandoD]

Yikes Smooth! I saw on line that they had to evacuate Yale New Haven Tennis Facility because things were sloshing around....not too sure I'd like seeing the walls do a jello act! Listen to your body and don't aggrevate things. Trust me I understand the difficulty trying to combine to very physical things - I am attempting to up my tennis court time along with pushing to run too....and I have gained a half pound. This is not fair!

enjoy your evening no matter where you are ladies....
D

[Mama Lapin]

I shopped, I shopped, I am ready to drop..... I think I bought more for the fatty DH then I did for me. He has put on a few pounds: maybe he found what I lost??? Anyway, I figured that I needed to find him some pants that button before our Sept cruise with DS and DIL. (Yes, it is on Carnival and yes, I agree with you, Jan.... Thanks for that!) It will be her last hurrah before the baby is born, and their first cruise ever, so I hope that they have a good time.

Of course, I did manage to find a few bargains, but honestly, I was better at snagging the deals when I weighed 20 pounds more. My closet is a hodge podge of assorted sizes, and as luck would have it, my favorite things are too big. I guess I am a living version of Murphy's Law. But don't feel too bad for me; I bought myself a pair of gold hoop earrings to replace the one I lost. (I am keeping the one, in case I decide to become a pirate!) Gold always fits... LOL.

Jack said that he graduated from being a lousy golfer to a bad golfer today. He was quite proud of himself. Right now, this weekly golf date with the boys is the most exercise he gets. He SAYS that he is going to the gym while I do my volunteer/mad money work. We shall see.

O.K. I am off to hang up my finds (including an Ann Taylor off white lace t-shirt and a couple of pairs of work pants for me). I hope that you all have a lovely evening.

Hugs,
Paula

[waserdog]

Amy, my heart went out to you with the whole DH incident. So glad his boss is a loyal, compassionate person and I'm sure with time DH will get past all of it. I have a hunch by now SIL is over his remark about the kids. He probably just said that in the heat of the moment. Of course he knows how much you love those kids and visa versa! Hope you have a nice time in Maine and just totally destress!!
Tina, I like your packing logic. That makes sense to just take enough to rotate. I can do that! ;) Now all I need is a way to manage not gaining 25 lbs. on a trip like that! Sounds like you have a plan!
Paula, D & Smooth, I swear it has something to do with the lining up of the planets because we were all losing so nicely and now "bloop" we are all fighting the battle again! I just can't seem to get into the next decade.
Smooth and Mary, thanks for noticing I've shrunk! It is hard to see it when you go down so slowly. Smooth, hope your body recovers for the dance lesson.
Punki, as far as RCCL goes, we've cruised with them about 9 times and we enjoyed it very much. Not quite as nice as Celebrity but I would say a little nicer than NCL or Carnival and maybe on par with Princess. I do love the way RCCL decorates their ships. We were on the original "Love Boat" when we first cruised in Alaska and they played the theme song from the show as you boarded. It was corny but great fun. It was a small ship with only 600 pax and they really catered to our kids; cooking special pasta for them nightly at our table. I hope you get well quickly. Sure hate to be under the weather!
Paula, I feel really confident the job will be a good fit. Part of my enjoying substituting is that I don't HAVE to be there so it's less stressful. It's only natural to feel nervous since commitment is scary but just knowing you can walk away should take care of that!
This weather is so crazy with that huge hurricane and then the earthquake! My DS is in NY but he said he didn't feel it at all. Now we're waiting to see if we should still go to Baltimore on Friday for the Yankee games. Have to see how things look tomorrow. I haven't the faintest idea of what to pack.
OK, off to get to bed early as I am subbing again with the autistic kids and you certainly need to be on your toes with those kiddies!
Marianne

[waserdog]

Paula, good for you on the shopping!! DH is lucky that you take such good care of him! I'm sure DS and DIL are going to love the cruise. I have always enjoyed our Carnival cruises. I find there are pros and cons to all the lines and they wouldn't be in business if they weren't competitive in price and what they offer. Here's some interesting information just for the record:
"In addition to the Carnival line, Carnival Corporation also owns Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line in North America; P&O Cruises, Cunard Line and Ocean Village in the United Kingdom; AIDA in Germany; Costa Cruises in southern Europe; Iberocruceros in Spain; and P&O Cruises in Australia."
OK, body dead and off to bed!!
Marianne

[PunkiC]

Yes, Marianne. We are Carnival stockholder and get free OBC on each Carnival-owned ship we sail. I had almost forgotten that our upcoming cruise on HAL qualified, but when I called my TA she had alredy taken care of it. ;)

Now I need to book a big old long Princess cruise so I can have my OBC and free laundry. :D :D It was so funny. On our last cruise, even after the tips, they ended up owing me money. We just transferred my credit to Joe's account because he was the one who paid for the wine at dinner.

Speaking of wine, does Royal Caribbean let you bring wine on board without charging you? I won'te sail on a line that gets all juvenile about bringing your own wine on board.

Going home now. I may post more later, Punki

[Lady Chew]

haven't been on in quite a while, but I still skim through the posts ...

But today I'm on to say to

Punkie -

Mr Chew & I had a perfect day in Seattle today! (We drove up yesterday from Portland where we were visiting our younger son) Just had to say thanks for arranging such great weather! We were able to see so much! What a beatiful city you live in!

Tomorrow we're driving up to Vancouver BC on a day-trip, then back home to Virginia on Thursday. (we missed the earthquake, but will be there in time for the hurricane)

[OrlandoD]

Lady C - good to see ya! Don't ya just hate when someone gives you a perfectly good earthquake and you miss it?! Enjoy the NW - we were up there this summer and LOVED it. Saw skiers on Mt. Hood in July!

Punki - I think the trip is what you make it & the line you choose can give you an entirely different experience than the person next to you. We've had some wonderful highlights and fabulous trips aboard Carnival and moments of regret on Celebrity. We travel on the ship that's going where we want to go, about the time we want to get there and try not to let others get in the way of our good time. Now, that said, I will never sail on a Thanksgiving cruise again due to the extraordinary number of large family groups who seem to have an unbelievable sense of entitlement. I don't believe RCCL will allow you to bring your own wine, but Carnival will. (used to be just the exact opposite) RCCL has some very attractive wine packages that we have used in the past and we commiserate by saying we don't have to schlep bottles in our carry on....


You know we have Port C just under an hour away, so we've done quite a few short cruises to get away from it all for a long weekend. I can tell just about how wild it's gonna get, almost before we clear the channel, by the amount of what we affectionately call The "Whoooooo Girls" (yes, stolen from the show How I Met Your Mother). The AWOL Mommies, the Bachelorette Parties or just the girls who wanna have fun. Each round of drinks or amusing comment by the waiter brings on WHOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo. You can hear them coming - great source of entertainment for us! Hoping hubby is up for a September short cruise for our anniversary...not sure if the weather will let us though. It's been a wild season so far and with these warm waters it may just continue.

Smooth did you make it to dance? Hope you're healing!

Marianne - I'm sure subbing makes the week go by. It must be quite a challenge working with autistic kids. God Bless your sweet heart!

MamaL - the countdown is ON! Wishing you all the best with your new endeavor - they are damn lucky to have you!

Tina - I really think I need to add free weights to my routine. I get a lot of cardio but probably could add some variety. We have a fitness room right in our neighborhood so I really have no excuse!

Mary - looks like you're gonna get your chance to evaluate NCL....blow away Irene!

Janey Diane Amy....hope you're having a happy hump day where ever you are!

got to run....no, literally got to lace up my sneakers and go run!
:cool:D

[bobandkelly]

GGGRRR! lost a post last night. As soon as it started to take long I should have quickly copied but I didn't. Oh Well.
Had to be at the dentist for my checkup/cleaning at 7am this morning so that's all done and all good. Need to think of something for dinner. So far it's gray and humid, later it's supposed to get real windy so I'm not sure if we want to grill. Almost thinking about making some fresh salsa and having nachos and margaritas.

Hope Irene fizzles out for those in the south!

And hello to Tina and Lady C!
gotta go, baby is trying to help!
Kelly

[timeormoney]

Okay I'm going to jump right in since I have wanted to for quite some time. I have followed your conversations and feel that I know everyone. I am in a thread under the Lose Before You Cruise...Welcome to the New Cruise Countdown Club. Our thread was recently "started over" too. We used to have quite a few contributors but we are now down to only the two of us, so I started following your thread. Since Tina/Wayfairers joined in I thought I would also. I am probably the age of Punki since I also have a 50 year class reunion coming up in October. I have recently broken the 150 weight barrier something I have been working on for some time. I am retired, was a HR Manager and Travel Agent. Mary, I'm sure you will enjoy your new career! Paula, I love your posts always so humurous. Trish have also been saying a prayer for you, I lost my son 2 years ago to colon cancer. Smooth, my DH and I do country couples dancing, but recently took a Rhumba lesson and loved it, hope you knee gets better. My DH has trouble with his knees too. Mariane and Mary how nice you can get together in person. Looks like Florida is going to be spared the hurricane, thank goodness. We were doing an NCL cruise for our anniversary every year, but it is in Oct, hurricane season, so we changed the last two years to the spring time. We don't have currently have a cruise booked, but have two 4 day bus trips scheduled, one to Michigan in Sept and one to Nashville in December. I know I have not mentioned everyone but wanted to jump in and get my feet wet anyway! By the way my name is Sharon.

[Wayfairers]

YEA Sharon! I'm not the only newbie now!! Enjoy your bus trips!

PunkiC... congrats on free laundry on Princess! I'm jealous.... we tend to book based on itinerary and cost instead of cruise line so I don't know if I will ever get that perk :( Maybe since we will have 75 days on HAL after the fall this cruise... I need to check their rules.

Tina

[smoothdancer]

Well I am pleasantly surprised. We all thought that when we requested our thread to be moved to its new home we would pretty much loose the benefit of attracting new ladies to our group. I am so glad that you have followed us and decided to join in the conversations..... Nice to meet you Sharon. Very cool!! BTW, I also love the Rumba best out of all the latin dances, although as I am sure you figured out my real passion is the smooth dances!

I am sooo disappointed today. My knee felt fine for most of my dance lesson last night , but today it is in very bad shape so that I can hardly stand on my leg. Researching I found I do have runners knee and the only way to deal with this is stop running until it heals. LOL, I have been loud and clear how much I was enjoying running so this is making me quite sad to have to pull back for a while. I have never had any physical limitations on what I wanted to do, which makes it all the harder for me to accept.... Oh well... I am really hoping I can at least continue on with weight exercises while I wait it out... Will see.

I refuse to take my new sneaker picture down, that would just be too much for my broken heart!

Glad to see you again Lady Chew!

Just waiting for Dianne to come back now..

[cruisingcouple2008]

Okay I'm going to jump right in since I have wanted to for quite some time. I have followed your conversations and feel that I know everyone. I am in a thread under the Lose Before You Cruise...Welcome to the New Cruise Countdown Club. Our thread was recently "started over" too. We used to have quite a few contributors but we are now down to only the two of us, so I started following your thread. Since Tina/Wayfairers joined in I thought I would also. I am probably the age of Punki since I also have a 50 year class reunion coming up in October. I have recently broken the 150 weight barrier something I have been working on for some time. I am retired, was a HR Manager and Travel Agent. Mary, I'm sure you will enjoy your new career! Paula, I love your posts always so humurous. Trish have also been saying a prayer for you, I lost my son 2 years ago to colon cancer. Smooth, my DH and I do country couples dancing, but recently took a Rhumba lesson and loved it, hope you knee gets better. My DH has trouble with his knees too. Mariane and Mary how nice you can get together in person. Looks like Florida is going to be spared the hurricane, thank goodness. We were doing an NCL cruise for our anniversary every year, but it is in Oct, hurricane season, so we changed the last two years to the spring time. We don't have currently have a cruise booked, but have two 4 day bus trips scheduled, one to Michigan in Sept and one to Nashville in December. I know I have not mentioned everyone but wanted to jump in and get my feet wet anyway! By the way my name is Sharon.


Welcome aboard Sharon - I am Amy.... Wow so sorry about your son. Glad to have some new members find us as well as the return of Lady chew. I think Dianne will be home this weekend wont she.?

Gotta run DH pulled up - ya'll know the time Im having with him.

[Sea Fan]

Hey we did move back :eek::D I will be back on Saturday and hope to catch up Monday. I hope everyone id doing well and staying safe:)

Dianne

[cruisingcouple2008]

I thought it was this weekend good we miss you Dianne.

OMFG you guys arent going to believe this DH just came clean with me this freakin oil spill was never his fault he never started the pump and he was never standing with it and walked away the other new/younger guy started it and walked away and DH took heat because the new/younger guy is depressed and he had just told DH how he takes multiple medications everyday...etc.... OMFG I cant believe this I couldnt believe it before that he would walk away from flowing oil cause he is so hardcore serious about this stuff and always has been but really he didnt even tell me his DW about it til today when DEC gave them the all clear that the Lake is safe and downslope is fixed??? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH one part of me feels so mad at him right now the other is so PROUD of him. He said Aim I knew Ken was not goiing to fire me, but he has nothing but a year or so invested in Mike and he might have fired him

ok Gotta go...:D

[lidoplease]

Hi girls!
Goodness, i am not going to try and catch up too much. I just wanted everyone to know that we are preparing here in old SC for whatever Irene offers...but it is looking like the worst of it will hit NC. Time will tell and I pray for everyone's safety.
welcome to the newcomers!
take care everyone and i will try to do a better job of catching up later.
janey

[waserdog]

Amy, I say be PROUD of your DH for risking his arse to save someone else!
Smooth, hope the leg heals. I hate being out of commission and can relate to how you must feel. Hopefully you can work on the weights.
Sharon, welcome to our crowd! I'm originally from WI so am a little biased when it comes to midwesterners!!
Punki, I think you asked aboutwhat contacts I wore that were discontinued and they were American Lenses that you wear for a year but clean them daily. I am loving the new Acuvue 2 and will order them in green tomorrow since I'm not really feeling like a blue eyed person. My real color is green/blue depending on what I wear.
Janey, sure hope you don't get any of Irene and that none of us see her wrath! The winds are starting to pick up here and they are expecting a rainy/breezy day here tomorrow.
Tina, you really need to check out the perks with HAL since you've cruised with them so much. I'm sure you will get a lot of extras.
Dianne, miss you!
D, had an interesting little student today with multiple personalities. It was so funny because she became the teacher this afternoon and developed a southern accent! She was really adorable since she asked me if I'd like to join her to learn! She was such a cutie pie!! You gotta love these kids because they are so genuine and just do the best they can with what they were dealt. Wish at times I could be as accepting of things but am so grateful I have no close relatives with autism.
OK, gotta brush my teeth, lace of my sneakers and get out the door for zumba. I have a hunch there will be no walking in the a.m. due to rain.
DH has still not decided what we're doing with Balimore this weekend. Yeah, the whole world is bracing for a NE hit by Irene to make history and my DH thinks it necessary to follow the Yankees there!!! NOT!!!
Marianne

[cruisingcouple2008]

Be safe Janey and Paula and everyone else...After we are all safe lets pray she pulls away from Maine so I can go have this vacation and recover from everything. :D

[smoothdancer]

Yippie, glad Dianne found us!! Feel better now.

I also echo that everyone in the Irene Path stays safe, I knew we had at leat a few who could be effected. For us will probably end up on Sunday as a nasty rain day.

Kelly, forgot to say I love your idea for dinner... I know you like soups so I am heading over to our recipe thread. While in Disney a few years back we had the best ever Butternut squash soup at Wolrgang Pucks, and they give you a card with the recipe on it... I hung onto this card for years. High calories, and I think it will make like a gallon, so you would have to adjust to that, but it is so good, thought you would like to give it a whirl....

Besdies then I can stop hanging onto this card!

[Mama Lapin]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/312406_262509357111340_100000568331338_930681_1448 247_n.jpg

Dang.... I didn't mean to post such a big old picture of my face, but I took this with my phone, so I can't resize it. Well, it is official: I signed all the paperwork today for my volunteer/mad money part time job. I have been through a drug test, a credit check, a background check, a driving record check and had the 10 page employee manual read to me. I have agreed not to do drugs, smoke cigarettes, or abuse alcohol (define "abuse"??? That's subjective, right???) or molest children. I kept waiting for them to send me to the proctologist or request my left kidney, but so far, I have escaped that. That may be what they have in store for me when I begin training on Friday.

It really is a cool place and I fit right in with all of the dinosaurs and fossils. Everyone I talked to loves working there, so I hope I will, too. And it will be interesting to see how I mesh with all of those left brained people. The phase, "use your inside voice" has already been used around me. Ah, well....

They took me to see the seizmograph (is that spelled right???) that recorded the quake yesterday. All of the Atlanta news stations were there to interview the scientists and take a picture of the print out. Cool, huh?

So Sharon, welcome to the little group. I am glad that you have been lurking for a while so that you already "know" us all. It makes it easier to break you in...HAHAHA! Actually, it will help you to follow along our convoluted conversations. You will indeed find a sisterhood here.

So Jan.... You have a sports injury, girl! Awwwww.....Sorry! But wear it like a badge of honor. The body does have a way of protecting itself, so listen to that pain and stay off of it. I had knee surgery years ago, so I am a little afraid to run on it. (That's my excuse and I am sticking to it.) :rolleyes:

Amy... Be proud of your big old boy. He did something kind for a co worker who would have suffered big consequences. That is worth lots of Karma points. Send him to go buy a lottery ticket.

Marianne... I sure hope that you don't have to cancel the Baltimore trip. That should be worth some real payback points from the DH, right? Funny about the kid you subbed for today. After 36 years in the classroom, I have seen some amazing things....no mulitple personalities; that is a first for me... Wow!

Mary.... Are you having fun and learning lots of neat stuff that you can pass along to us??? Here's hoping that you can esacpe Irene and go on that cruise. I was so sad to hear that Grand Turk had a direct hit. We were just there in May; what a gorgeous beach.


I hope that you all have a great evening...
hugs,
Paula

[smoothdancer]

Oh no dont delete it. You look so happy and so much a fit for the educational staff.
Thanks for making this down in the dumps girl, laugh out loud!

[Mama Lapin]

Awww... Jan, I had just gone back to delete it.... I mean, really, it seems a bit egotistical to post a big old shot of my face on our board. :o But I haven't had a new job in 24 years, so this is all new to me. I sure hope I don't quit next week; that would make it all very anti-climactic. I am going to have to loosen these people up, though. They are mighty uptight and serious!

And don't be sad, Jan... You will live to run again!

[cruisingcouple2008]

ha ha ha Paula - so no smoking cigs or abusing alcohol.... you should have said to them duhhhh what do you think I need the money for.....:rolleyes:

Marianne look what that first trip to Baltimore last spring got you????? It got you another trip to Baltimore.... what a good wife you are...

K so I broke the news to DH NO MORE SYMPATHY Ill do all the chores you go rest hunny from me.... now he is just smiling and shaking his head...ahhh I have decided I am proud of him not mad at him... But dang it dont go offering to give up your freakin salary next time.:eek:

I feel so good I went out and walked a little more than half jogged a little less than half of 3 miles then took the bike out for a spin for about twenty minutes.... I havent exercised a stitch since he called me hysterical last Thursday....:D Im even typing like a litle whipperwill with its tail cut off..:D K gotta go chickies Big Brother is on.

Wait Smooth how long did your research say your knee should hurt??? or what I really mean is how long before you should go to the Dr???? Dont let it linger...

[bobandkelly]

Hello! Welcome home Dianne and Sharon! Sharon I'm sure you'll enjoy your time here, this is a great bunch. Where in MI are you going? Upper or Lower? I'm originally from the UP, actually live on the border now in WI.

Janey, praying for safety for you and your family & friends. I have to say hurricanes and tropical storms were my one worry while my DD lived in FL. They only had one ST and I happened to be there for it. It wasn't much.

Smooth, looking forward to the soup recipe! Squash will all be in season here soon so it will be a good time to try it. Hope the knee heals soon. I did something to mine when I first started running, I stopped for a few weeks and then babied it.

My friends DH was hungry the other night so he ate the soup but picked out the spinach. I always say I'm glad my DH likes soups, especially in the winter.

Ok, not getting to everyone and I'm hoping this goes through.
Kelly

Here I am back, Amy I am so proud of your DH for helping out a troubled co worker. Most people would have thrown him under the bus and not worried about him. Glad that the lake is ok and this wasn't more serious.

[Mama Lapin]

Holey Moley! This is the worst case scenerio of cruising during hurricaine season. In the debate about the different cruise lines, I am happy to see that CCL did the right thing for its passengers.

http://feeds.cruisecritic.com/~r/site/cc/news/~3/zxeSZlAUOXs/news.cfm

I guess I will always bring my passport ashore from now on; I never have before, but this is a lesson learned.

[cruisingcouple2008]

Paula Although unfortunate that we had to read about this happening it really is perfect timing to go along with the conversation we have been having on this board RE: different Cruise Lines.

I can say that even though I have only sailed on Carnival I am very very happy with the service they have provided. I do agree that the two shorter ones the 4 day and 5 day were a little more rambunctious than what I expected... I was never inconvenienced or kept awake by any of the behavior. There was the one Aussie girl that was stone cold drunk within 45 minutes of embarkation, but that by no means was a classification of the whole ship and when we saw her later in the week she was always quite contrite. We are no bootie shakers thats for sure most nights we are in bed by 9 or 10 pm, but we do like the option of having activities or dancing should we decide to stay up a little later.

I say Kudos that was great the way Carnival handled this and lets not forget how well they treated their Splendor customers either.:D

[Wayfairers]

smooth – sorry you can’t run for a while…. hope your knee heals quickly.

Amy – cannot believe your DH was able to keep that from you! He sounds like a great guy though, not many people would be willing to cover for someone like that. Hope Irene allows you to enjoy your trip.

Paula – congrats on the job, sounds like you are going to love it. The picture on your ID turned out great… mine ID pics never seemed to be good. I love your Twain quote ☺

Kelly – where are you from in the UP? We just spent 6 weeks there this summer and had so much fun.

Tina

[timeormoney]

Kelly, we also live close to the border WI/IL, we always drive the 7 miles to the first WI town to buy gas since it is almost always .30 less a gallon, thats IL taxes for you. Our bus trip is through a travel club with a local bank. The stops include a tour of Castle Farms, lunch at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Soo Locks Tour, Tahquameon Falls State Park Tour, Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum Tour, Peshtigo Fire Museum Tour and optional evening trips to Kewadin Casino. This is pretty jam packed since the trip is only 5 days and 4 nights! Hopefully we will have a tour guide like Paula to make the tours interesting and meaningful. And of course we will hit the casino, I'm with you Marianne, love the slot machines. I also do Zumba, our instructor has 3 different classes of it, Mon is Zumba Tone, Wed is regular Zumba and Fri is Zumba Fusion, a mixture of both of them. Mon & Fri we use the weights, which adds a little something to help tone up the arms. I try to get a walk in after dinner with my dog.

Looks like we will have an absolutely beautiful day here, finally the humidity seems to be gone.

[Wayfairers]

timeormoney - sounds like a fun tour - Mackinac and Tahquamenon are always great to see. I've never seen the museums you are going to and would love to hear about them.

[PunkiC]

Oh my, we have been a busy bunch, haven't we. :) Welcome to all the newbies.

Well hello, Lady Chew. I am happy to see you and to hear that you were able to enjoy our beautiful summer weather here in Seattle. It is true that there is no place on earth (at least no place that I have ever been) which is so lovely as a sunny day in Seattle.

I imagine you are a year older than I, Sharon, as my 50th is in September of 2012. Praise God that I have another year to get ready. :) I really helps me to have milestone goals to keep me on track. It seems like my entire life has been a diet, but if it hadn't been, I am sure I would weigh 300 pounds,or more. I know I have lost the same 20 pounds at least 10 times in my life.

Where exactly do you live? Funny, when I was a girl, I remember big signs on the highway close to the Wisconsin/Illinois border that read "Gas Tax Less in Illinois". I guess times have changed.

Tina, the free laundry and dry cleaning on HAL doesn't kick in until after 200 days. I used to work out with the loyalty program manager for HAL and she said they were trying to enhance the program, but it it still doesn't hold a candle to Princess. I did some pretty thorough investigation of the program perks before we committed to Princess and found that the Princess benefits were far better than any other cruise line.

Sorry about your knee, smooth. Be very careful of it, you will need it for a long long time to come.

Thanks for poking your face in, Dianne. We were staring to worry that you had gotten lost.

Oh Amy, you must be proud. At least now he is warned to keep a very close eye on the younger guy. Depression and medications can really mess with your head so he will need to be extra vigilant.

Batten down the hatches, Janey, and hope for he best. Hurricanes are so scary, although I used to love them when I was a young girl living in Palm Beach.

Marianne, I have lots of colors of Acuvue2 lenses and I change them to match my outfits when I dress up. My favorites are the E Green, which really do make my eyes look kind of aqua--you should give them a try. I have the O Green as well, but they are more of an olive green color, which is pretty close to my natural color. I sure wish that somebody make a really good opaque violet, but so far I haven't been able to find one.

Have fun in your new job, Paula. I love your big old smile on your ID card. Can't wait until you fill us in on all the details of the job.

Did I tell you that I finally went to the Doctor after 2.5 weeks of feeling crappy? He said I have viral bronchitis and that eventually it will go away. He went on to say that it often takes a month or so to get better. How's that for encouragement. ;) Mostly I just feel congested and fatigued, but I am still more or less functional.

Last night we had another dinner party. One of our grand-nephews who is a reporter and was deported from Yemen earlier in the year was in town so we had him, the grand-nephew who lives with us, DS and the other woman all over for dinner. We were going to eat on the deck, but rain was threatening so we ate inside, but cooked the steaks on the grill. It was very interesting to hear of our GN's life in the middle east. He has lived their since before 911 and has written a book, which he hopes will be published this year.

I really don't feel up to having dinner parties in the middle of the week, after I get home from work, but circumstances seemed to have forced them on me lately and honestly they haven't been much work. We had crustini with soft blue cheese, devilled eggs, sliced hard salami and olives for appetizers. For dinner, I have been getting these stuffed portabella mushrooms at Fred Meyer so I just stick them in the oven, slice up some French bread, make corn on the cob and Joe grills. We had watermelon for dessert. Easy peasy. We also went through 3 bottles of wine. How the heck did that happen?

OK, I should get to work. I haven't been up to the gym this week and am hoping that a bit more rest will help kick this silly virus.

Have a great day, Punki

[lidoplease]

Hi everyone!
I am cautiously optimistic that Irene won't bother us too much...wind and rain, i'm sure. I'm prepared anyway-they said the same thing about Hugo which made a 90 degree turn and walloped us...lol...so prayers for anyone in this one's path.

Punki-i sure hope you get to feeling better soon. Those viral things are hard to kick. I had one in my bladder once...it was miserable, but it did finally go away.

Amy-we have sailed mainly with carnival too-and we love it-14 or 15 now i think and 4 with RC. we've never had a bad cruise! I think those short cruises are the party ones-on any line- cause they are cheaper. BTW_Kudos to your DH. what an incredibly nice guy. i'm not sure i would have taken that big a hit for someone else.

Hi Kelly! That is so true--most of the time all this pre hurricane scare turns out to be nothing, thank goodness. when we lived in hawaii we had one coming right at us--that was scary cause there is no where to run! and our house there---you could hang a picture and the nail would stick out the outside of the house...lol...
anyway--it veered at the last minute and leveled one of the smaller islands and we just got a little wind and rain.

Paula-good luck tomorrow!! You will be great!

Marianne-i don't think i would go to baltimore this weekend. you're probably getting some outer bands now if not soon. take care. that little girl with the multiple personalities is amazing. all i can think of is sybil and how horribly abused she was. i hope that is not the case with this child.

jan-i'm so sorry you are hurt. please take care of yourself. i am sure you are aggravated and disappointed, but rest and give it plenty of time to heal. it's great that you just change your direction to weights and don't give up!

welcome back lady chew! nice to see you and glad you found the new site. isn't it great? so easy...

time or money--that shipwreck museum sounds really interesting. i bet the great lakes hold many stories. i grew up near buffalo-lake erie. Long time since i have been back there though.

Tina-welcome!

Dianne-hi there! safe journeys, my friend!

well, i am glad tomorrow is friday. i am worn out this week. take care everyone.
janey

[waserdog]

Hey Girly Girls! Just a quick check in to let you know DH finally dropped the torch for the Yankees and cancelled the trip to Baltimore! Whew!! He even called the hotel this morning to see if they had a generator! Come on!!! Air Tran finally put out a travel advisory so we were able to get a full credit for the airline tickets.
Janey, sure hope you don't go to battle with Irene! She seems like one fierce storm! I will be subbing again in the class with the little girl with multiple personalities. The teacher is a friend of mine so by now she probably has read everything on the child and hopefully she doesn't have deep seeded (or is it seated) problems. There was another autistic student a couple years ago that had multiple personalities but over the years, she did improve and had less "appearances" of the other people in her head. That brain is one amazing organ!!
Punki, I didn't realize you had a grand nephew that lives with you. Your dinner sounded very delicious and not too much work. I ordered the Emerald green lenses today. They look very similar in color to the ones I had and loved. Hope you and Smooth heal quickly!
Timeormoney, I go to Curves and they offer the zumba classes. They are renovating this weekend and are going to have zumba 4 nights a week so I am thrilled. I like that you have a variety of ones to choose from.
Paula, hope you get some rest tonight since I'm sure you are anticipating the excitement of the new job!
Well, I better get to bed so I can keep up with the kiddies tomorrow.
Marianne

[bobandkelly]

Only a few minutes before a mad men episode then bedtime. I need to be on the road by 7:15am tomorrow for a class in Green Bay.

Marianne, the multiple personalities must be interesting. I did lots of aide subbing and never ran across that. Glad DH decided to cancel, it sounds like Irene is heading more north. Best to plan for safety.

Tina, I'm originally from Ishpeming, it's just west of Marquette. Were did you vacation there?

Sharon, Mackinac Island is one of my favorite places! I hope you have a beautiful day there. You will be very close to me! I live in Marinette, just a few miles from the Peshtigo fire museum. I've lived here 11 years and have never gone there. The Peshtigo fire was on the same day as the Chicago fire and had many more deaths but because it was and still is a small town not many people know about it. What day are you going to be there? I've only met Marianne in person, maybe I can ride over for a quick pic to post for our friends here.

Paula, hope you have loads of fun tomorrow! When do you get to do the planetarium show? I use to love to go to the planetarium, it was a cheap and fun night out. OK, that makes me sound kind of boring but the planetarium is so cool!
Ok, mad men then bedtime!
Kelly

[cruisingcouple2008]

Paula GOOD LUCK GIRLFRIEND !!!

[smoothdancer]

Knock 'em dead Paula, at your first day at work... Have fun!

[bobandkelly]

Prayers for Trish as she has her surgery today. Hoping it all goes as planned and you are on your way to a speedy recovery.
Kelly

[cruisingcouple2008]

Ditto Kelly. Good luck Trish we all want to get updates even if DH has to update us

[Wayfairers]

Punki – sounds like you have the right idea for dinner parties… keep them simple and the host enjoys it too ☺

Marianne – glad to hear the Baltimore trip was cancelled and you don't have to worry about what Irene is doing. Hurricanes have a way of forcing trip changes… we had to cut a trip short due to one in South Carolina a few years ago.

Kelly – we were in the Keweenaw peninsula – spent time in our RV in Houghton, Copper Harbor and Lake Linden. Got to see the northern lights…. so exciting! We stayed in Ishpeming a few years ago… nice town. I love the UP – the area is beautiful and the people are so nice. When we lived in Detroit area we spent a week seeing the UP and we have made several trips there since we moved back to TN.

We are down in Detroit area right now (hubby is helping a friend resurface his deck) before heading home to TN. I was hoping to get home on Tuesday (giving us 3 weeks before we leave again to spend a month in the Smokies in East TN), but the deck resurfacing is going slowly and we may have to stay here longer. I am working on things to do in the ports for our upcoming cruise. Yesterday the internet slowed to a crawl so I didn’t get much done. Today we are going to do a little shopping (oh, how I miss the great shopping here!) so probably won’t get much done today either. Oh well, there is always tomorrow!

[timeormoney]

Kelly, we are supposed to be in Peshtigo for lunch at 12pm on Sept 23rd, however it doesn't say where we are stopping, only that it is "on your own". I would be so happy to meet you and get a picture, it would make me feel like a real menopause sister! I can take my tablet with and when I find out let you know, hows that?

Punki I have been trying to lose for this reunion also, but I have a bad habit of thinking to myself, its so far off I've got lots of time and then when it gets really close thinking, its too late now. I have never went to one before, but it is down by Ohare airport and thats not too far for us to go. I haven't seen any of my classmates this whole 50 years, so I would like to look young and thin, ha ha.

Hope the hurricane is not as bad as they are saying, sometimes the weather men just love to hype things up, maybe this will be one of those times.

Tina you sure have a lot of fun things lined up to do, lucky you!

Paula the job sounds like fun and right up your alley, I'm sure your coworkers will enjoy having you there.

Marianne, I don't wear contact lenses but with all the colors you and Punki are talking about, it makes me want to. Wasn't it Elizabeth Taylor that had the beautiful violet eyes?

The gal I talk with on the other thread got some good news yesterday after a biopsy, so hoping that Trish will too.

[lidoplease]

Prayingfor you Trish. Take care, hon. we luv ya!
janey

[Wayfairers]

Trish - don't think we have "met" yet, I just joined this thread a few days ago. I am a 3 year cancer survivor and it is a scary situation when you have to go through a biopsy and then wait on the results. I am praying all goes well for you!

[Mama Lapin]

Trish..... I have been thinking about you all day. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Sending lots of love and positive thoughts your way...

....And a great big HUG,
Paula

(I'll be back later with details on the job, girls...)

[Gratefulgal]

My surgery had to be rescheduled because there were too many emergency GI surgeries for the doctor to do. I was not quite finished my prep, so it could have been worse, but I wish I could have got it over with. :( I am waiting to hear when the new date will be, but the doctor who did the first procedure wants to be there so I am waiting on them to coordinate two schedules. Thanks for all your well wishes.

We had the big boss in from Chicago this week so it has been busy and a little nerve racking. I do not have much time to catch up with all of you, so I need to be quick.

I hope everyone is safe from the crazy weather I am hearing about. I am thinking of all of you.

Amy, I hope you get away and are able to de-stress, you have had some tough times lately. SIL must not be thinking right to make those comments, you are such a fabulous grandma and have done SO MUCH for them.


Smooth I hope your knee is feeling better very soon, you have been doing great, do not get too discouraged.

Paula, I hope your first day at work was great and that you find the experience rewarding. Was it Punki who said you had a volunteer position with a clothing allowance – too funny. I loved your picture – you are a beautiful woman.

Ellen, I love Maui – what a lovely picture, I just know you are enjoying yourself.

Marianne, what a challenge it must be to teach a little girl with multiple personalities. Her parents must be overwhelmed. I can see how that would keep you busy and then all your hours of exercise. You looked great in your picture. Hard work does pay off. Oh and I lease my car, I have a BMW X3. Love it.

D, is the DS returning to school soon? How are you doing?

Mary, sounds like your training is fun – what a life you are making for yourself.

Janey, I am really looking forward to some down time this weekend as well, but now big boss is fishing and then coming over for dinner tomorrow night. I have lots of cleaning and cooking to do. Make sure you take some me time. It probably will be better for me to keep busy rather than thinking about this stupid surgery all the time.


Punki I am taking from your experience and will have a simple help yourself appetizer of fresh prawns with two sauces, proscuitto & melon, olives and nuts. Steaks on the barbecue, corn on the cob, peppers & mushrooms made on the grill, a fresh tomato salad and grilled peaches with ice cream & raspberry coulis sauce. Most of it can be done ahead and then just grilled when needed. It is suppose to be hot tomorrow so I do not want to heat the house up. I hope that we can eat outside.

Kelly, I can imagine that it is tough to go back to school, especially during the summer. Date night with DH before class sounds like a great idea though. I have so many Mad Men episodes to catch up on, I am looking forward to it.


Dianne, we will catch up when you get back.

Welcome to the new ladies, you will enjoy our wonderful group of sisters. Isn’t our new name perfect? I look forward to getting to know you better. Mrs. Chew I remember you posted some time ago, glad you could find the new thread.

Sorry for anyone I missed. Again, thanks for all your support – it means so much. :):):)


Trish

[bobandkelly]

Wine Thirty and later some mad men, I'm almost done so I'll have to find something else to fill my mindless time with.

Paula, I see the first day went good, I bet you are going to like this new job!

Sharon, so far it looks like I'll be in town that day so keep me posted on your time here and I'll try to come and see you. It would be a shame not to since it really is so close, maybe 5-10 minutes away.

Tina, the Keweena is beautiful! I think my favorite time there is in the fall. My last trip there we had sunshine, rain, beautiful leaves, and snow all in one day trip. One of my sisters loves the Pigeon Forge area of TN, I think they'd like to retire there. I've only driven through on my way to FL but from what I saw it's pretty. We did stop for a night in Nashville in June, wish we could have stayed longer. I bet fall is nice.

Punki, I keep forgetting to tell you that I might have found a place for dancing! It's an hour away but they have lessons and dances a few times a month. Sometimes on Fridays it's an hour lesson, they teach one dance then it's an open dance. I'm trying to talk DH into giving it a try. I think it sounds like a fun night out.

Smooth, hows the knee? hope it's not causing problems for day to day living. Mine was only bad if I tried to kneel on it or run. Kneeling was like a knife stabbing into it, that's actually how it started. I was putting books onto a book shelf, I thought I knelt onto something but there was nothing there.

Another early morning tomorrow. DD left yesterday because she is standing in her cousins wedding (dads side) I said we'd go up and take care of baby during the reception since he goes to sleep so early. I didn't want her to miss out on the reception or getting to see her dads side of the family. It's near my moms so we'll get to stop in there and she'll get to see the baby dressed up. He is so cute! She had one yr pics taken, when she gets them back I'll have to post one of him all dressed up.
Ok, better go, the wine is taking over!
Kelly

Oh Trish, I so feel for you having to switch the surgery. I posted then saw yours. All the stress of waiting is so hard. I hope you can relax and have peace while you wait and that they can reschedule it soon.

[Mama Lapin]

Hello, Girls! I am back to file my report on the first day at work.



I didn't sleep at all last night; I was too excited and afraid to oversleep. I overdressed; it is a pretty casual work environment, but I wanted to look cute. (dumb) But we tromped all over the place, so by the end of the day I was hating those "sitting shoes" that I had worn. And thank goodness I am not totally exhausted, although I am overwhelmed and suffering from information overload. This is going to be an interesting little job. The people are so incredibly nice and helpful and the museum is a place of calm and peace... (Of course the school kids haven't arrived yet and I am sure that will turn it into a zoo.) I am sooooo out of my element as a right- brained person. I know nothing about science and they expect me to teach it and do live experiements (anyone old enough to remember Mr. Wizard on TV???) as well as run the planaterium and present a live show, complete with running sophisticated equipment. (Who knew Orion wore a belt???) But they are very patient and will let you shadow for a while until you can do it. And the unknown is always scary; once I get the hang of it, I think I am going to like it. It will be a nice little hobby for now. And there is a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing I can walk away at any time. (although I do need to give it a few months before I decide).

Jack has spent all day looking for cruises, (wth???) and he admittted that he missed me and didn't really want me to work, but the dumb butt should have said something before I accepted the job. It will be good for him not have me at his disposal 24/7. He needs to miss me...LOL....

I haven't worked in 2 years and I have never had to punch a time clock... Uh... I didn't do it right (the machine hates me...) and had to email the personnel person and ask her to give me credit for my work day. DUH... How smart do you have to be to wave a badge in front of a time clock???? Gee!

Thanks for the support, girls.... It means so much to me!

Well, Trish, we just have to believe that postponing your surgery is what is meant to be and will work for good. I hope that you weren't too disappointed, especially since you were sort of "psyched" for it. But you want to have the best doctors and the best care, so it is good. And your sisters here will continue to pray for you. Please let us know when you have rescheduled.

I hope that you all have a great weekend. Looks like oldest son and fly are moving all of their charred and soot- covered possessions this weekend into the rental and we have been asked to help. Those two make me crazy; what else is new? They are making some impulsive decisions that are not in their own best interests.

Hope your weekend is relaxing and fun.

Hugs,

Paula

[Wayfairers]

Trish – sorry to hear the surgery was postponed… that had to be frustrating. I will continue to pray for you.

Kelly – The first time we were in Keweenaw was in the fall and it was beautiful. TN is pretty too in the fall – we go to Townsend, which is across the mountain from Pigeon Forge and has fewer tourists.

Paula – congrats on making it through day 1!!! Sounds like an exciting job… don’t think you have to worry about being bored :) Husbands are strange creatures at times… I took a French class for work a few years ago and my husband said he missed spending time with me when I studied and went to class…. Yeah, we would have spent that time together….. watching TV! :D

While in the Detroit area we are staying with old friends. I have been walking with the wife every evening when she gets home from work and last night she almost killed me. She had a stressful day at work and the walk is her way to blow off stress… instead of the usual 3-3.5mph she was walking at 4mph+! Learned a lesson… don’t walk with her after a bad work day!

[Mama Lapin]

Trish – sorry to hear the surgery was postponed… that had to be frustrating. I will continue to pray for you.

Kelly – The first time we were in Keweenaw was in the fall and it was beautiful. TN is pretty too in the fall – we go to Townsend, which is across the mountain from Pigeon Forge and has fewer tourists.

Paula – congrats on making it through day 1!!! Sounds like an exciting job… don’t think you have to worry about being bored :) Husbands are strange creatures at times… I took a French class for work a few years ago and my husband said he missed spending time with me when I studied and went to class…. Yeah, we would have spent that time together….. watching TV! :D

While in the Detroit area we are staying with old friends. I have been walking with the wife every evening when she gets home from work and last night she almost killed me. She had a stressful day at work and the walk is her way to blow off stress… instead of the usual 3-3.5mph she was walking at 4mph+! Learned a lesson… don’t walk with her after a bad work day!

We love Townsend, "the peaceful side of the Smokies." We have making a pilgrimage there for years and years and years. We used to rent cabins and then when we got the RV, we always stayed in the last campground on the left before the entrance to the park. Some of my best family memories were created in the Smokies. Enjoy your trip.

[Wayfairers]

Paula - we are staying at Lazy Days - I think it is about 3 or 4 campgrounds away from the mountains from where you stayed.

[PunkiC]

A very good Saturady morning to you all. God, I love Saturday mornings.

I am sitting in bed enjoying a cup of coffe, wearing a new pair of black dance shoes to soften them up and form them to my feet.

Smooth, I am sure you can identify with my small sadness this morning--my very favorite, most comfortable, pair of black dance shoes are in the process of dying. :( I am, therefore, trying to get a new pair ready to take their place. Unfortunately, my new pair is satin, while my old ones were leather, so I will need to order another leather pair. I have the same shoe in black leather, black satin, brown satin, nude leather (2), gold leather, silver leather and red leather, which pretty much covers all of my needs. Do you think I like the shoe or what? ;)

We really did have fun dancing last night and my feet felt better than I can ever remember them feeling. I wore this beautiful hot pink caftan thing with black, purple swirls and silver sequins that I bought in Corfu. Amazingly, even men whom I had never met made a point of complimenting me on it. You know how women always compliment you on something new, but men? I guess they really must have liked it.

Kelly, I am delighted that you found a place to dance and hope that you and DH learn to enjoy dance as much as we do. We were very lucky in that we had two excellent dance venues within 10 minutes of our home and a bunch more within 20 minutes. I think we might take West Coast Swing lessons this fall as it seems to becoming more and more popular--we sort of fake it now. We have friends who have learned West Coast routines and participated in Flash Mobs and it sure looks like a lot of fun.

Here is a link to a Victoria, B.C., Flash Mob last February:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJYP09w8574

The couple who enter in the lower center at about 39 seconds are the friends with whom we cruise quite often--she is wearing a black sweatshirt with gray lining in the hood. The couple who enter lower right at about 59 (he has a shaved head) are also friends. All four of them are very accomplished gold level ballroom dancers.

Janey, as long as you are stocked up on water, candles and wine, you will be fine during hurricane. Our daughter in New York City is within two blocks of a mandatory evacuation zone but they have decided to stay home and party with the neighbors, rather than go visit friends further inland. It sure will be weird to be in NYC with no subways.

Yes, Marianne, we have had one grand-nephew or another for years. Actually their father, lived with us when he was getting his doctorate at the UW back in the mid 70s and now one of his 9 kids stays here most of the time. It is sort of a halfway house for these very protected, home-schooled Catholic children. It makes there mother feel a lot better that they live here, but honestly we let them come and go as they please as the last two have been over 21 and were lovely young men. The current live-in is right now helping Joe prep the house to paint. His "rent" for this year is painting the outside of our house.

Let me know what you think of the contacts, Marianne. I wore the O Green ones last night, which I believe are the ones you are calling Emerald Green and was thinking of you when I was putting them in. I did find some Opaque Purple on line this morning and think I will give them a try. I also found some weird red ones which got me thinking about Halloween costumes.

I am sorry, Trish, that your surgery was put off. I had issues with my left breast years ago and can remember being terrified that I had cancer and what I would learn when I came out of the anesthetic. Fortunately there were no malignancies but they did remove 4 ducts, and rebuilt my nipple so I could nurse. It was really funny when I was nursing as the left side of my left breast would fill with milk, but the right side would not, creating a very lopsided breast--the kids never liked that breast. The surgeon did such a fine job, however, that years later, during a breast exam, a doctor noted that he would not have been able to tell I had the surgery had he not read it in my file.

So, I will continue to pray for equally positive results for you. In the meantime, it is good to hear that you are enjoying yourself.

Glad you are having fun at work, Paula. Sounds like you have found the best of both worlds. How many hours a week do you work? Do you have lots of flexibility for vacations? That would be the most important thing for me--the flexibility. I have thought that maybe when (if) I retire I would like to work for Princess at the docks from May through September. It is only a few days a week and only four months out of the year. Since we hate leaving Seattle in the summer anyway, I thought it would be fun. Joe thinks I'm crazy. :)

Sharon, your statement was so me that I really had to laugh:

I have a bad habit of thinking to myself, its so far off I've got lots of time and then when it gets really close thinking, its too late now.

That sounds sooooooooo very familiar. :D This time, however, I am going to get my lazy butt in gear and actually do it. I figure that this might be the last reunion at which I will be able to sustain anything remotely resembling a sexy body and flaunt juicy boobs. Heck by the time I am 73, even pots and pots of unguents and potients might not be able to stave off the wrinkles. Last reunion, our 45th, there were 5 women (two of whom are my closest high school friends and fellow cheerleaders) who still maintained a youthful and beautiful appearance. I am confident that there will be five again this time, as my girlfriends and I encourage and support one another constantly, and one of the attractive ladies owns an anti-aging spa in Atlanta, but who knows what another 5 years will do.

It is interesting, Tina, that we have spent a lot of time tearing around the world, but have never really visited any vacation spots in the midwest, unless you count Chicago. I guess we must really be city people. Even in Hawaii, we prefer Oahu to all of the other islands. When people say "camping" I think "Westin". ;) Once when the kids were little they had this deal called "Camp Westin". It was a package which included a room, dinner and dancing for the parents, and a big "camping" party in another ballroom for the kids, complete with piped it cricket noises, fake campfires, trees and ghost stories. The kids loved it and so did we. Of course, they also had their share of real camping which they also loved and I endured.

I guess I had better go get some laundry going and figure out what I am going to feed my hungry menfolk who have already been working for hours.

Have a fabulous weekend, Punki

[Lady Chew]

Punki, I know what you mean. My idea of camping out is a hotel with no dinner available on-site! I did plenty of camping with my daughter (Girl Scouts) and don't care if I never see another sleeping bag or tent in my life! Now, s'mores ... I wish! Don't think I'll have any more of those in my diet, but not because I don't want to!

Trish, I hope your surgery gets rescheduled soon. Waiting on something like this is horrible.

I don't think I could ever go back to work again! I had to quit work when my daughter was little, but when I could no longer take care of her (I guess about 10 years ago) I became a full-time volunteer in support of my sons' activities & schools, and pretty much kept 9-to-5 hours for 4 or 5 days a week for years.

Now I don't think I could stand having a regular schedule like that! Not to mention all the traveling Mr Chew & I like to do! We'd need about a week off every month, and 2-to-3 week chunks 2 or 3 times a year!

[Wayfairers]

Lady Chew & Punki - I agree with no camping in a tent or using a sleeping bag. RVing is a different story and the only way to "camp"... it is about as nice as my house. I couldn't make it without my queen size bed, full kitchen, full shower/bath and my washer/dryer. We have spent up to 5 continuous months a year in the RV and never felt deprived.

While you are saying your prayers, please remember my BIL. He contracted a nasty viral infection from a monkey (he is a vet) that attacked several parts of his body. He has been out of the hospital for a week but is suffering from terrible headaches because he still has some brain swelling. He just has to put up with it until all the swelling goes down. His kidney function is not 100% yet either. He has a long road ahead and is not a good patient so please pray for both him and my sister.

Gotta get back to planning those ports.....

[smoothdancer]

I was hoping to hear from Jane, see how she feared the storm... Things are getting scary around here now. Right now lots of rain, but later they are predicting winds between 70-90 miles an hour. This is something that happens around here just every 20 years or so and some people who live on the shoreline are resisting the evacuation orders... Geez!! Marianne, very good decision not to go to Baltimore!!

I charged my Sony reader and we have 2 battery operated lamps that give off a huge light, wine and crackers, we are good!! I have become really hooked on The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo novel.

So last night we go to a fund raiser dinner that my SIL is involved in. We had not seen her for about a month and a half and she had lost about 50 pounds in this time. She had the gastric by pass surgery. I have to tell you I dont know about this, even after speaking with her and she said it was the best decisioin she has even made. This is such a permanent life changing decision... I spent some time at the Lose before you cruise thread where there is a very active thread on this topic and still not convinced. My fear for her is that she has always been heavy and this is the first time in her life that she is not in plus sizes... When the excitement wears off she is left with this decision and it worries me even though she is happy. Yes she has lost 50 pounds but for the past month in a half has been on a liquid diet. I was thinking if I was on a liquid diet for this length of time how much weight could I have lost without the surgery.... I dont know. I hope this new lifestyle turns out to be a good one for her. I hope you dont mind me going on about this... I laid in bed half the night worrying about her!!

Punki that was a super cool YouTube, seeing all thoes dancers!! Really enjoyed it.

Paula glad to hear you survivied day one of job! As long as you work with nice people, everything else will fall into place.

[lidoplease]

Hi Jan. we are fine here. just a little wind and rain. did not even lose power, but we are a good 30 minutes from the coast. glad you are prepared! I will be thinking of you and praying it's not as bad as they predict and that you and your DH stay safe. I think it is so nice that you care so much for yor SIL. If she is happy- then i guess the deprivation is worth it to her.

Wayfairer--wow-that is so scary about your BIL. I will pray for him and his wife.

Take care everyone.
janey

[PunkiC]

Just got a call from my sweet daughter in Brooklyn, wondering if she should go move her car. She says that it is close enough to a tree that if the wind blew in exactly the right direction it could land on her car. It is 1:15 a.m. in New York. I told her to go to bed as I suspect that most of the concerns in NYC are from flooding--especially in the subways--and damage to the power system. I suppose that if the tree does fall on her car, I will feel obligated to pay her deductible. :o

Smooth, I think I told you that my niece had lap ring surgery in June. She is happier than she has ever been in her life. She has so far lost 45 pounds and had close to another 100 to go. She has suffered from obesity since childhood and is thrilled to have a tool that can help her escape her fate. Each person has to make their own decision and live with the consequences thereof.

Yes, that Flash Mob stuff does look like a lot of fun, doesn't it. Our friends, who are usually very elegant dancers, showed us all of the moves when we were on our Caribbean cruise over New Year's and got us interested. I found some classes that start September 15th and think we will take them.

Time for me to go to bed.

ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz Punki

[cruisingcouple2008]

Welll....... we are up and still have power..... its raining pretty hard and the wind is starting to blow.... they are saying three hours or so before she makes landfall in NYC and we are on the wind side of what would be the eye if she survives, so Im totally stressin that we make it through the day with no flooding in our basement and no power outages.

SMOOTH - how are you ???? They say Hartford is about to get it in four hours or so???


Short story...

We had a huge flood in our newly completed bsmt 5 yrs ago where the city storm drains plugged and sewer yes sewer all backed up into my house.... OMG it was awful new berber carpet all new sheetrock everything furniture lost... etc.... DH was just coming off a serious lung surgery and he couldnt help or be around all the contamination. This franchise company called SERV-PRO was cleaning out a neighbors bsmt from the flood and saw me hauling furniture and carpet and padding by myself and came over and asked if I wanted help, I said I couldnt afford to pay my insurance only covered 5000 and I needed to do demo by myself so I could afford the new carpet.... Long story short..... they did the rest of the demo, they saved my walls by using huge fans and spraying some special chemical up them from the bottom (DH AND BIL SMARTLY LEFT SHEETROCK 2" OFF GROUND AND MOLDING 5/8" OFF GROUND BEFORE CARPET SO IF SOMETHING LIKE THIS EVER HAPPENED IT WOULD HELP) not that we ever thought it would happen, but anyway they did it all for free. NOT A SINGLE PENNY and came back every couple of days with some special meter to make sure no mold developed and that it was safe not to rip out sheetrock.

SERV PRO is the name of the company green and orange trucks. This francisee owner had won the lotto two years prior and purchased a franchise and now there are a couple of people that he helps every time he goes to a neighborhood that is hard hit as ours was.... Wow what a nice guy.

Ok that is my feel good story for the day... Praying I dont need to call him today,....:D

[waserdog]

Amy, glad to hear you are still with power and everything is fine. Those storms are so scary since you don't really know what you are getting until it happens. When we had Wilma 5 years ago, they said it was going to be a slight wind event because it came out of the Gulf and would have to cross the state to get to us and be broken up over the land. Well, for the first time ever, it fed off of the Everglades and by the time it got to us, it was bad and had many tornados in it. We went to Vegas as planned thinking it wasn't a big deal and it did $122,000 damage to our house blowing out windows. Thank God I wasn't home because I would have had a heart attack when the windows blew out!!! There wasn't a single thing left of the exterior of our house. That flood story you told was quite an event also. Such a nice guy that helped you out. It gives you faith that there are some good people out there! (Like your DH? ;))
Smooth, keep us posted on how things are going your way. My xSIL also had the lap surgery and ended up with all kinds of health issues. Yeah, she's skinny but has constant painful stomach attacks and throws up if she over eats. She developed all sorts of problems right from the get go. I think it's been about 5 years for her since the surgery.
Janey, glad you are doing fine. I remember my FIL was in a rehab center during Hurricane Wilma and they had the staff sleep there. Glad you're not on for that one!!!
Trish, so sorry to hear about the postponement on your surgery. I'm sure you just want this behind you. Your dinner sounds delicious.
Punki, the contacts I got in blue and the ones in green I ordered are enhancers. They are not opaque. What color are your eyes? Mine are green so you don't really get the exact color of what you buy because the green plays into the color it produces. Do you have a prescription? I can't just order them online unless I mail in the prescription to them. I really enjoyed the video. I love dancing but DH would never go for lessons so we just have fun on the dance floor and I have always lead so I can't dance with anyone except him. A friend of DH once asked me to dance and it was so embarrassing because I kept trying to lead and he finally told me he couldn't dance with me! DH keeps spinning me and going in circles if he leads so it's not good for someone with vertigo!! :eek:
Wayfairer, too funny about your brisk walk with your friend. That's what happens to me when DH and I have a heated discussion on our morning walks. A few times it has gotten so intense that I've just walked the other way to get away from him and ended up trying to beat him back to the house. We walk our developement every morning which is a big 3 mile circle. We've done this for 16 years so now it's like breathing. You just get up and do it!
LadyChew, whatever happened with your kitchen and the sale of your house? Just curious if you got it all done. Glad to see you joining us again.
Kelly, would love to see a picture of your little gson. Nice that you offered to sit and that you will be visiting your mom. I'm sure seeing that adorable little guy will make her day! Good luck with school. I'm sure you'll end up acing your classes again but not so easy to do.
Paula, I'm happy that the job seems to be interesting and I have no doubt you will be running that place in no time. On FB you mentioned your ugly vest. I'm thinking gold colored crystals and brass studs. LOL Actually, your idea of a pin to assessorize it sounds good. I'm sure with time you'll get those chicks up to snuff with some other "uniform" ideas at the right price!!! LOL I got the camp to change shirts years ago to sleeveless polos for the coordinators but it did take some doing! Now we wear white instead of dark green and I no longer wear sleeveless.
Well, I was down 0.8 lbs. at WW so it's a total of 14.4. I'm still not in the 130s but should be before our cruise in October. We go to Biloxi next Sunday for some gambling and relaxing so that will be a setback I'm sure.
Yesterday was one of those perfect days where you find front row parking everywhere you go! After my successful WW weigh in, I had $10 freeplay at the casino so I left with a $30 win then took gniece shopping and was able to convince her that the $27 toy for a baby was not what she wanted and got her to love $2 press on Barbie nails. Then found wonderful produce at Costco, cheap gas and arrived home in perfect time to go to the movies. We saw Sarah's Key which was great. Just love days like that!!!
OK, off to church, grocery shopping and then make my veggie soup for the week followed by grilling steak for DH & shrimp for me. Everyone stay safe and I'll pray for all of us.
I'm sure Mary is enjoying her last day of cruising! I really enjoyed our visit last Sunday.
Marianne

[smoothdancer]

The storm is still raging on here and they say should be a few more hours before it heads out. Last night the winds were in excess of 50 miles an hour. It is still very windy here but not as bad as last night. The winds still are shaking our house. But in any event we are safe and from what we can see no damage to our house. I am sure glad we brought in all our outside furniture. I heard on TV half of the state is without power, but we are lucky and have not lost any power. The olny damage we have suffered is that I lost my garden but I thought I might and picked everything before the storm came. Both the highways I use to get to work are closed and I would be just fine if they stayed close another day!!

[cruisingcouple2008]

smooth glad to hear your home and family are still fine... we are still in the thick of it no power outages yet my neighbor lost their bsmt again... and our pool is totally overflowing, but just a couple more hours til this wind dies down i think and then i wont be as nervous

Marianne I caught the comment and YES just like my DH Im not mad at him anymore for offering to get fired... he must have known ahead of time they way the boss was looking at new guy that that wouldnt happen... gosh he scares me though funny thing about friends as bosses sometimes it works sometimes it doesnt

[Wayfairers]

Jan – sounds like you were prepared. Hope you don’t have any damage from the high winds. I’m with you on the gastric bypass surgery – the idea of changing your body that much scares me. Heck, I won’t even get lasik surgery even though I know several people that say it is the best thing they have ever done. I’m too worried that something will go wrong and I will lose my sight.

Janey – thanks for the prayers. I re-read what I posted and it may have sounded as though the monkey attacked him in several places – it was the virus that attacked his body. The poor monkey was sick (and died the next day) and my BIL was drawing blood that sprayed onto bare skin. It really is scary that the virus was so fast and vicious.

Amy – yuck! Sewage in the house…bet that was a nice smell. So glad someone was there to help you when you needed it.

Marianne – congrats on the weight loss!

We are on the road in the RV today… working our way home. Hope everything is ok at the house – my parents keep an eye on things for us so that really helps. They typically don’t go in the house though and we have gotten home and found millions of dead baby millipedes in the basement. Apparently a female had crawled under the overhead door and laid the things and they died when they couldn’t find anything to eat.

[lidoplease]

So glad everyone is safe. Just the sheer size of that storm was scary.
So the question at church today: "Why does God allow hurricanes?"
Answer: "Why do people build houses on flimsy dunes? -and why do you think God put those barrier islands and deltas there?" (and why did he send marianne to Vegas??LOL...)

Have a great day everyone. I'm going shopping!
janey

[Lady Chew]

The storm came through here over night (DC metro area); it had been raining most of the day but never too hard. Right now we have beautiful blue sky, lots of sun, and the wind is howling outside the windows.

Marianne, we had a hugely busy summer which is why I was off the thread for awhile.

We put our house on the market in late April and it sold within three days! We hadn't even finished doing all of the things we wanted to do to fix it up before selling! And the buyer wanted settlement in about 6 weeks, so we were very busy - packing, getting rid of stuff (we had four yard sales, did some Craig's List "curb alerts" and carted tons of stuff to local charities), and looking for an apartment to live in while we searched for our next house.

Right now we're living in two apartments. The two-bedroom is "home" and we have a one-bedroom-plus-den which serves as the Man Cave, but most of it is storage for the furniture & stuff we kept. Since we're not planning to be here that long, we didn't unpack any books or knickknacks or most of the dishes & housewares.

We have signed a contract on a new build which will be ready in December. I'll take a month or so to have it painted and get window treatments done, etc, and we'll probably move sometime in February.

And with all of this we've still been taking our travels, so it's been pretty hectic!

I've always wondered about those Flash Mobs. They look like fun, although recently in our area there was a Flash Mob Robbery. A large group of teens went into a convenience store and while they were flash-mobbing around (how's that for a new verb?) and distracting the clerk they were also stealing things. Then they all danced out. BUT - it was all caught on camera, and most of them have been arrested! Idiots.

[PunkiC]

Glad to hear that no one has sustained any serious damage from the storm, at least so far. I just spoke with DD in Brooklyn and she says that all is well, except for a few downed trees and branches in the streets and some flooding in the low-lying areas. They still haven't finished checking on the subways, so they don't yet know when they will reopen--hopefully tomorrow. I guess there were 88 trees that went down Brooklyn, but none of them landed on her car as she had feared. :) I shouldn't laugh, only one tree went down in Seattle on the day I was hit and it landed on my car.

I need help with some stuff. Has anybody had any luck with thigh-high hose? The kind that stay up by themselves? If so, what brand worked best for you? I have a couple of outfits that really need them.

Also, has anybody had any experience with shoe stretching? I need to make my shoes accommodate my arthritis. It has been so easy all summer wearing flip flops, but now I have to start thinking about winter shoes and the upcoming dance season.

If I don't find an amazing cruise soon and book it, I am afraid I will go into a total state of withdrawal and depression. It is a just a few weeks until our little weekender and after that-----nothing. :( I am thinking of booking something for our anniversary in early February, as Joe is going to want to go skiing in Switzerland in March--he always does. Maybe I could talk him into going for the downhill races in January instead and then taking a cruise for his 70th birthday at the end of March instead of throwing a big party. We can have a big party for my 70th birthday and you all can come.

Lady Chew, how long had you been in your previous home? I dread the thought of ever moving and maybe we never will as Joe doesn't really want to. Most of the people in our area stay in their family home until one spouse passes and then sells it to either move into an apartment if they are still quite fit, or into a retirment center called Bayview Manor if they are well into their 80s and ready for that scene. Actually everybody there seems to love it and they all say it is like being on a cruise all the time. My daugher, who lunches at the retirment center with friends when she is in town, assures me that I will absolutely love it when it is time for me to go there. :D

Tina, I am not so sure about RVs. My baby sister has one but they only take it to the Daytona 500. They have connections so they get to park it in the middle of the track or some such thing and they love it, but I still think I will hold out for at least a Westin. OK, I will admit that I have stayed at an Aloft a couple of times for one night when there was no other Starwood property available, but I didn't much like it.

Janey, you are so funny. Come to think of it, why does God allow Marianne go to Las Vegas???

Thanks for the story, Amy. It is good to know that sometimes people just do good things for the sake of being good to one another.

Sounds like you are on a roll, Marianne. My normal eye color is green and I really like what the green enhancers do to the natural color. Oh, heck, I like all of the colors, but I have never tried brown. I don't wear much brown so it never occurred to me to get brown lenses. Maybe I will, after I try the purple ones. Oh, yes, I do wear a prescription lens in my right eye and a plano in my left eye. That way I can both see distances and read menus and look at photos-people always seem to have photos to show at dinners, dances and parties.

I stayed home from Church today as I am still fighting off the viral bronchitis. I figure that the more I rest, the more quickly I will recover. I am about to get up and go make a big salad and maybe scan some pictures. Neither of those task should place too much of a strain on my poor old body. I absolutely must get well enough to get back to the gym before I totally fall apart.

[cruisingcouple2008]

ok power is on small bit of water out of the seam of the french drains and the danged new roof leaked at the seam of the chimney where apparently enough of that black stuff wasnt put down... Guess who gets to paint again...... Cant call the contractor it was the Some day Son In Law.... eiiyyyeee we are still going away in the morning and now our DS is coming over to once again borrow money but this time it isnt leaving my hands til he talks budget !!!!
ok well at least we all survived..... for now anyway:rolleyes:;)

[bobandkelly]

So glad to hear that those of you in the storms path have made it through without much damage.
Amy, hope it doesn't get any worse than it is now. I still need to have my kitchen ceiling fixed around the sky light that leaked last year. I wanted to make sure there aren't any more problems so we've left it. Where are you off to in the morning? Did I miss a trip? Hope it's a fun time!

Punki, I've worn thigh highs since I was pregnant with my second DD so that's been 22 yrs. My belly was so big I could not get panty hose on and I tried the thigh highs and thought why wasn't I always wearing these. I've bought hanes & vassarette, both pretty easy to find and cheap. I like the lace tops, a little sexy looking. DH thinks they look great! I also like that if I get a run or hole in one I can through it and keep the other one because eventually I'll get a whole in another one.

Lady Chew, how wonderful your house sold so fast! One of my sisters had that happen and they ended up in a rental while their next house was being finished. You must have had it priced right and looking nice. Sometimes they sit for so long. I have friends and they are coming up on three years of theirs sitting empty. They bought and moved thinking the other one would sell.

Sharon, prayers for your BIL, some of those viruses are nasty. A young dr near here got encephalitis from a mosquito bite a few years ago. It's been a long recovery. Makes me hate those little bugs even more.

Ok, I'm off to mad men. I only have three episodes left, so sad. Then what will I watch? Maybe it's a good thing since school started.
night all!
Kelly

[Mama Lapin]

....thinking of my East Coast sisters tonight. Hope that you are safe and sound.

Hugs,
Paula

[OrlandoD]

Good Morning Meno Chicks,

So glad to hear y'all made it through the storm. My family is all without power but no real damage or leaks so far. I swear my parents have enough in their pantry to take them through Halloween.;) Problems are, with all the big old trees lining the roads in CT, that lots & lots of wires are down. Smooth you are a lucky duck to have power - I hear literally half the state is out!

I have been diligently recording my pitiful little meals and exercising like a crazy woman and the scale begrudgingly gave up 3 pounds. Big whoop. I will get excited when I hit another decade for now I am still leery of this latest loss finding a way back home.

Got to get a tennis skirt on and git out there -

Thinking of you all!
D

[Wayfairers]

Punki – good thing we are free to choose how we want to travel, huh? I understand that RVs definitely aren’t for everyone, the one I don’t understand is that some people don’t like to cruise ☺ Hope your bronchitis is better soon – I used to get that twice a year until a dr finally started me on allergy meds. It is not fun.

Glad that all of you hit by Irene didn’t have any major damage.

Another day on the road for us - home tomorrow!

[timeormoney]

I'm glad also that everyone made it through the hurricane without too much damage. We had such a beautiful weekend it's almost illegal! We went to the last outdoor concert on Sunday in the local park. They had scheduled all the musical acts that had been there all summer. The first two were great but the third never showed up. There was going to be an hour and a half wait for the fourth group. Too bad they lost most of the crowd including us.

Tina, your monkey story reminds me of the poor woman who lost her face in that awful attack. But I saw just last week she had gotten a face transplant. Hope your BIL is doing better, must have been pretty viral blood to cause that by just getting it on his skin. We used to have a trailer for "camping" also. With the a/c, shower, fridge & stove it worked just fine, of course gas was a lot cheaper back then.

I recently sold my house, it took almost 2 years. I did have to come down on the price but by the time I figured in the expenses I was not having to cover anymore, it wasn't too bad. I can relate to Lady Chew, our buyers also wanted to get in quickly. While we had the house empty we had to empty out two barns.


Have a good day ladies,

[timeormoney]

Oops, forgot to add, Punki you are certainly well supplied with all colors of dancing shoes. And how nice the gentelmen noticed how great you looked, thats quite a compliment!

Marianne you are doing so well in the weight loss department. I was going to WW a few years back but was not following the plan. Finally decided I was only paying my $10 to get weighed. However in the beginning that was enough to get me losing. After a while though seemed like I was just maintaining so quit going. I am still working on losing, it is a life long pursuit!

[lidoplease]

Hi girls! Hope everyone is well.
Trying to remember what i did all weekend...lol...work called today and gave me off tomorrow because our census is so low. this does not bode well for business-but i will love my extra day.
let's see--i went shopping sunday afternoon--got some great deals at Belk's. my favorite was a little cruise purse-that heavy crocheted look in cream with sparkling little gems sewn in - for seven dollars. adorable.
then we had friends over for dinner. they were watching their niece and nephew--so DH had someone to play in the pool with him! that was fun.
today, DH wanted me to make toll house cookies so he could take them to work tomorrow. did i eat any?
i cannot lie...lol...
anyway-we had a big thunderstorm this afternoon and i fell asleep on the couch listening to it.
D--3 lbs!! WTG!! you deserve it!!
Amy-so sorry about the leak. safe travels!
Punki-hope you feel a little better every day. Take care and rest!
have a nice evening everyone.
janey

[cruisingcouple2008]

quick check in we are in Maine....

our two leaks were minor. Our general area withiin 100 mile radius though has many areas of complete devestation. Two towns that we know of completely wiped out. SIL's store (retail grocery manager) is under water to the tune of about 2 feet. Oldest DD with the kids her work is under water they are renting conference meeting rooms at a hotel for the week at least.
Youngest DD with SDSIL that we just did the house are in flood zone they are just now getting water in bsmt as the river has caused almost a complete evacuation of their village there are only three blocks left including them before the topography would again rise and cause the river to rise deeper and deeper where they are.. praying it st arts receding overnight.

i feel semi guilty that we came but if we didnt live there they would have to manage on their own, but my little DD is pretty much freaking T/G for Flood insurance.

Janey you have to be kidding me after all the times they make you work extra and now there isnt enough work?? That is amazing

Marianne and Paula you are both looking like some major skinny minnies lately.


Mary I cant wait to hear all the details of your trip and Paula your job ... you should post your DINO pic over here since some dont FB... You look Awesome

Punki why does the dr think this thing is hanging on so long with you?? You didnt bring something back from your trip across the pond did you?

I'll check in later chickies... gonna go try to get DD youngest on the phone.

[mycruz]

Wow! new members while I was gone.....Welcome! and welcome back LadyChew, where ya been?

First of all, Trish, I've got to say, you are really taking things much better than I probably would but know I'm still praying for you.

Dee, 3 lbs? Awesome!

I'm also glad to hear everyone here has weathered the storm.

Everyone, I'll be back tomorrow to give a review of the Norwegian Sky, until then I'm going to get some good sleep in my own bed. It's been an exhausting week or so. It's also been non-stop since I got home this afternoon so I'm outta here for now.

Tata, Mary

[Paris11]

Oh my heavens! I go to Maui for 8 days and am lost on my own home CC board. Give me an hour to read and catch up. I will be right back :eek::D

Love you guys.
Ellen

[Paris11]

Wow, that took longer than an hour, and I am still a bit lost.

First of all, Thank the Lord all you Easterners and safe along with your loved ones. You experienced both a hurricane and an earthquake while I was without computer access to you and I am glad everyone made it through.

Trish- yes, I enjoyed Maui. The meetings were good and Mark got some good golf in with some customers 4 of the days. I got to spend a lot of time with the kids and we were able to introduce them around to some of our business friends on exhibtors night, so that was fun. Sorry that your procedure was rescheduled, but probably better if the drs were busy and may have hurried through yours, I guess. Continued prayers on your behalf.

Smooth- I hope your injury heals quickly. I know you were enjoying running, not to mention those dancing feet!

Kelly- I also own a whirley pop! How great you get to schedule date night with DH. I love that!

Mary- Cute new short hair. Thanks for getting the pic of you two posted. (or was that Marianne posting)

Marianne- changing eyecolor with your mood sounds fun:cool:

Amy- WE are all Dallas gals in our family!! DH is an avid fan as well as middle son. SIL and oldest son are 49er fans. Read this post I copied from my SIL facebook- MY DD called me in Maui and said we lodt the 4 year old to the DARK SIDE-

:( From SIL wall on FB:

'So we walk into a sports shop in the mall and Caleb is begging Erica to buy him a 49ers sign. Erica says "there is no way I'm buying you anything 49ers!". So the guy working at the shop, who happens to be wearing a 49ers hat goes to the wall and takes down a 49ers sign. Puts it in the bag and gives it to Caleb for free. Gotta love it! Erica just shakes her head in disgust.'
:(
Usually her ask me "Grandma I can like the 49ers and the Cowboys, right?"
I need to work on that kid!!:rolleyes:

Nice to see the new meno chicks posting. I hope I can get to know you better.

Tired from my trip and I watched the boys today. DH unexpectedly had to fly to LA 8 hours after we got home so I am not complaining - I could have it much worse. Poor Man.
He thought he would be home this week.

See you tomorrow
Ellen

[PunkiC]

I cooked a huge Indian meal for DH and DGN last night and was so tired after I cleaned up that I went straight to bed. Now I am awake in the middle of the night, so I am stopping by to say "Hello".

Generally speaking I don't feed the DGN, but he and Joe were working on prepping the house to paint (DGN's rent for the year is painting the house) so I felt I should feed him. They both carried on about how wonderful the food was, but, except for the salad, it all came straight from Trader Joe's. You have to love Trader Joe's.

Welcome home, Ellen. I loved your pictures of Hawaii. We need to go back again sometime. It is an easy trip from the West Coast for a long weekend and it really makes me feel like I have been somewhere special. When it is not too hot, I really love the feel of the air in Hawaii.

Welcome home to you to Mary. Can't wait to get your impressions of NCL.

Amy, the bronchial virus just hangs around for a long time. The Doc said that he and several of his colleagues had it and it lasted about a month for everybody--those who did take anibiotics and those who didn't. At least I seem to be able to breath more deeply now than I could last week. Little by little.

Sorry to hear that the storm impacted so many people in your life and in your area. It is so strange for a hurricane to travel so far north and still cause so much damage. Many people are poo hooing the impact of the storm, but, those who lost loved ones and those who suffered damage know how really serious it was. It can't even have been much fun for the millions who lost power.

Janey, I hope you really enjoyed your day off. Sometimes those little surprise breaks can do us the most good.

Funny, Sharon, I was just thinking that maybe I should go back to WW. That really was the program that worked the very best for me and we all know that it is the healthiest way to eat. I am just having a hard time keeping myself on track, probably because I am not yet feeling 100%. You are so right about weight loss being a lifelong pursuit for those of us who have a tendency to gain and the desire not to. The choices are maintain the battle or get really fat. :o

Tonight I was carrying four heavy bags up the stairs to the kitchen from the car and it really hit me how hard it is to carry around an extra 20-30 pounds all of the time. I really do need to get and stay serious as a heart attack about dumping this extra weight.

Thanks, Tina, for the good wishes. You know I used to get bronchitis as a kid and a young woman. Then it went away when I started smoking. Now I am an old woman and haven't smoked in decades and it comes back. Go figure.

Thanks for the input on the thigh-highs, Kelly. I will stop at Fred Meyer on the way home from the gym in the morning and see if they have any. When it is hot, the idea of pantyhose turns me off, but wearing stockings really does help my feet when I dance.

Well today was a pretty exciting day for us. First we learned that our former exchange student who lived with us first for a year when she was 15-16, and then for 6 more summers after that, until she married one of our designers, is pregnant with identical twin girls. Now this is really interesting--her DH's mother is an identical twin which is crazy because identical twins are just a random occurrence and not impacted by heredity. I will need to figure the odds for that one.

Then, we learned this afternoon that my nephew's wife is pregnant. This is the nephew whose wedding we attended in Des Moines, Iowa, last winter. He was 40 and she was 39 and it was a first marriage for both of them. We have been praying steadily for a baby ever since. Remember two Sundays ago when the gospel was about the Cannanite woman who wouldn't stop asking Jesus to heal her daughter? Well after that reading, I again wrote a petition for a baby in our Book of Intercessions. That was on Sunday and voila, on Thursday, the test was positive. They have been deliberating ever since whether or not they should tell anyone and finally caved this afternoon.

They are, of course, very nervous, being well aware that approximately 28% of all pregnancies end in a miscarriage, and that the possibilites for complications increase dramatically with age, but are also very excited. At least they now know for sure that everything is working and that is really what matters. ;) I lost 6 before my beloved daughter was born and my Doc kept saying, "Don't worry, you get pregnant every time Joe walks into the room. Sooner or later, you will have a baby". He was so right, and I couldn't be more blessed than I am to have such wonderful children in the end.

OK, now I am going to go back to sleep and see if I am up to getting back to the gym in the morning.

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz Punki

[cruisingcouple2008]

Ellen LOVED to see the Football message. Its the same thing in mmy house DGS love Chicago Bears and we are Dallas and Giants fans... he is a little tuffy about it.. With baseball once he told a little boy he was yucky cause he had yankees on and he loves Boston and once on the way home from school at a red light there were some well skectchy characters waiting for a bus and one had on a boston hat and my windows were down and he said oh yeah G look at him I was nervous and so was the guy who curiously glanced at me and he said oh yeah he's a boston guy oh yeah. Whewww I was scared of what would come out of his mouth.

Cant wait to see more Maui pics....


Punki sorry it really is just the virus hanging on so long, but glad that you know for sure thats what it is. You are so right about the impact of the storm being so severe this far up north it was amazing. SD SIL said this a.m. basement is empty again and only got up to about 3" they have a pump and the river is starting to recede as well now back to about three blocks from house. Thank God.

Better run we are gonna go to grandmas cemetery today and give her some fresh mums and chrysantiums (sp) but her favorite. Then hopefully hit the beach this afternoon.... nothin like a good nap on the beach.:D

[Sea Fan]

First let me say I hope none of you got caught in Irene's weather....scary stuff.

Oh my goodness will I ever get caught up?? Every time I start reading I get interrupted I need to turn off my phone!
Getting my haircut this morning by a new person, I have heard she's good so I'll either be crying or smiling. LOL it's only hair!
Anyway again no time.

Trish I was so disappointed to hear they had to reschedule your procedure {{hugs}} I hope they can ger it rescheduled very soon. As usual you are keeping very busy, I hope you get some relaxing & stress free time.

Welcome Sharon & Tina it's so great to see new people here.

Sharon I was one of the original people on the old countdown thread met a lot of great people there that I still email . For some our conversations just got too personal for a public board and didn't want fellow workers to read their issues..LOL I'm an open book, except I have a couple of family members that would kill me for complaining about them...but they don't know my screen name or come here:D

Ellen I'm so jealous of your Hawaii vacation, I want to see pictures. I haven't read all the pages here did you post some or are they on FB?

Amy, hows the cruise planning coming I haven't been able to give it a though this month but I'm sooo ready to go.

You know I was going to try to talk to everyone right now but I will miss my hair appointment and there is just to much grey showing in this straggly mess.

But you all have so much "life" going on I can't wait to read....

Back later I have missed you guys.

Dianne

[mycruz]

Good morning chickies!

So now that I've had a good nights sleep I think I can give a better recap of the Norwegian Sky.

Remember, this was a 3 night cruise so I didn't get to do everything but here we go!

Cabin - I was on the Oslo deck which was a strange small deck forward between Deck 6 and Deck 7. Warning, no elevator to get to these cabins! It was on the outside of the ship but considered an inside. I was by myself so it was big enough for me but had it been a longer cruise or if I was traveling with someone, would need a bigger cabin with at least a porthole.:) Didn't see the cabin steward until day two but he did a great job keeping my room clean. The cruiseline had delivered to my cabin a bottle of champaign, chocolate covered strawberries and a $50 food credit to cover eating in the specialty restaurants.

Restaurants - Ate Le Bistro and had some really good escargot and duck. It was probably the best meal I ate while on the ship. Last night at in the Cagney's, the steakhouse, disappointed. Ordered the lobster tail add on for $8 add'l to the $25 cover and it was worse than what I ate in the MDR the first night. Service was spotty in all restuarants with the exception of Le Bistro. The buffet was very small but there was a nice place aft called the Garden Cafe which was pretty good.

Casino - :(, very busy but took all my money.

Spa/Fitness Center - Also very small areas. I was disappointed that several of the machines in the Fitness Center were not working so I did my exercising on the Promenade Deck (6) that had an outdoor track. Funny thing though, it was also the deck you could walk out on and smoke. Had a spa treatment it was pretty good, the girl was very nice and animated until I declined to purchase any products. Don't you just hate that?

Embarkation and Debarkation were very good. If you have anything specific I'll try to answer for you.

Time to go, need to get to the grocery store and finish some laundry and cleaning.

[Wayfairers]

Timeormoney – yeah, the monkey reminded me of that too. Glad the monkey didn’t attack my BIL. My WW experience was about like yours…. I followed the diet for a while but quit because at the time we were having to entertain clients and it became more of a hassle than I was willing to deal with.

Ellen & Mary – nice to “meet” you! Welcome back from your trips!

Punki – congrats on all the pregnancies in the family – you are going to have an exciting next 9 months! We lost one at 10 weeks and never got pregnant again. Don’t pray for me to get pregnant (sounds like you may have a direct line) because I’ll be 46 soon and have no desire for a child at this stage of life…. we just spoil the nieces, nephews and our friend’s children.

Dianne – I’m enjoying getting to know everyone – thanks for the welcome!

Mary – thanks for the NCL cruise info. We have never cruised with them and hope to try them sometime in the next few years.

[timeormoney]

We have been watching on TV the terrible toll that the flooding has taken on so many towns. So much loss and work for so many, our prayers are with them. The first news we got didn't make it seem as bad as it is.

Mary we were on the Sky,the first cruise we took. We had an inside cabin with a huge porthole. The second NCL cruise we had an inside cabin with a tiny little porthole and it was in the very front of the ship, the Spirt..on he wrong side of the water tight doors. We could hear the water hitting the bow of the ship and had a hard time sleeping knowing if something happened we were expendable! After that we only got balcony cabins, ha ha. I found the Spirit has the smallest cabins of any of the NCL ships.

Dianne, I had been on the other thread for some time, but had to start over and change my name when for some reason it no longer worked. Good luck with the hair cut, hope she does a good job.

Tina funny, I think Punki also has a direct prayer line!
Ellen, I would love to go back to Hawaii, in particular to see the USS Missouri. My dad was on her back in WWII, while the emperor of Japan came on board and signed the treaty. I have his card representing that day, it has the big red sun emblem on it.

As for football, living this close to WI and married to a cheesehead, his first choice is Green Bay, and then the Bears.

Janey enjoy your day off, good score on the purse...can't have too much sparkle.
must get busy, Sharon

[cruisingcouple2008]

eeks no more boo boo bears:eek:

[smoothdancer]

Hi Dianne… Glad to see you. I know sometimes it is a challenge just to keep up, isn’t it!! I have this horrible itch myself to do something with my hair.
One length is easy to take care of but can be quite boring! After the competition end of September I just might have it layered.

Punki, I am sure I told you how I stretch my dance shoes before, but again…
After research with shoe stretch spray I found out that it is simply rubbing alcohol and water. I fill up my sink with warm water and alcohol and completely
submerge the shoe, either leather or satin. I then put on a pair of heavy socks and wear the shoes until they dry. It molds the shoe perfectly to your foot and trust me,
does not harm the shoe, even the suede sole….

So I know I said no problems with Hurricane Irene, but upon further look, yikes… A very old Oak tree with ripped up right by the roots.
While the tree fell in the woods and in the road the roots and huge hole is in my prized shade garden. I told Nick if I come up missing look for me in the hole, it is that big!!
So now the battle begins because the tree was in the common area of my association, and they will be responsible to haul away and repair…
I also walked my running trail and has also been hit pretty bad, but LOL the runners are just jumping over the trees!!

I think finally my knee and ankles are healed and I will give my first run a try tonight… yippie!!
Honestly, I think I have a screw loose or something… I have been doing quite well on my weight loss. The last time we competed I promised myself I would never do this again until I lost weight.
I was devastated with how I looked… So now I have 5 more weeks until competition and for the past 2 weeks I have been on a horrible binge.
This behavior has seemed to be a pattern with the last few competition…
Why when I put this goal out there to lose weight for a competition with enough time to do it I go completely off the dead end?? S
o I have 5 weeks left and determined to break this crazy cycle I have seemed to of developed. So there, said it… now I will have to stick to it, less you all think I have some deep rooted psychological problem!!

[smoothdancer]

Mary
After reading your post I remembered something about NCL. Our first cruise was on the Crown, which I think is the sister ship you sailed on. On our cruise we had a very large CC group and our meet and greet took place I think the 3rd day and many officers had attended.

As we all had time to experience the ship someone had asked (complained) about service in some of the "pay" resturants. The hotel manager explained that it was a refit to the many pay resturants. As a result not all of the resturants had thier own kitchens and thus service was a bit slower than they wanted.

When we sailed on the Epic, this ship was originally built with the pay resturants. It was not until I read your comments that it dawned on me that yes the service on the Epic was quite different and the resturants much better.

As you took this cruise to better inform your clients I thought this tidbit of information might be interesting to you....

If you look at my reviews I have a review of both of these ships and just the resturant pictures alone show the difference...

FWIW....:confused:

[waserdog]

Hello my dear friends! I wasn't able to post from school the past couple days because for some odd reason, my password wouldn't work and I had to be emailed on my personal email which I can't open at school.
I am so tired because last night DH was watching TV until midnight and then up with it on again at 5! :eek: Tonight he's watching a game in the family room so I will sneak into the bedroom early!
Smooth, glad you are on the mend and getting back to the running. I often wonder why on earth we binge but the week after camp ended, I just couldn't stop myself and I find that usually happens after I return from a trip. Too bad about your tree. We lost a really nice tree with Wilma and that area looks so baron ever since.
As far as WW goes, I go for the scale. I log my food on myfitnesspal.com and basically try to stay around 1,200 calories. I just feel if I didn't count fruit or veggies and ate the 29 points allotted, I would hardly be losing. I'm happy to be going down close to a pound a week and having my wine and some extra carbs on the weekends.
Mary, I felt very similar about Sky as you did. It's still a cruise and fun to get away but not a class act! We were also very disappointed in Cagney's. I had the lobster too. That was nice that the cruiseline gave you the extra perks. We'll be on the Epic in December and I think we'll enjoy that one. We have a balcony. We took NCL Star in Alaska and that was nice but the ship was scheduled for drydock after our cruise. We had a really nice suite but it did show lots of wear and tear with some things broken. Last year we went on an older Celebrity ship that was scheduled for renovations and I have to say that ship didn't look worn at all.
Well, sorry I didn't address everyone but I'm beat and working again tomorrow. I may take Thursday off just to get caught up around here.
Marianne

[mycruz]

Good morning ladies!

Smooth, I'm glad to hear your home was spared any of Irene's wrath and that you are on the mend yourself. Great insight about the older Norwegian ships, thanks for the info, I'll tuck it away and hopefully able to withdraw it when needed! :)

Marianne, the Epic looks like a really nice ship and I know you'll have a great time.

I forgot to mention that while we were in Nassau we had the Carnival Dream docked on one side and the Oassis of the Sea on the other, we had a lot of shade that's for sure! Those ships are really big, I have to say I liked the sleekness of the Dream.

Ok, lots to do today, DGK's have eye appts. at 10 this morning then I'm off to the gym for my Latin Grooves class. Check ya later chickies!

[cruisingcouple2008]

Mary glad to hear you like the "sleekness" of the Dream I cant wait to sail on her in 2013. I really like the looks of her also.

[mycruz]

Amy, you're going to love it! She's a beautiful ship and I hope to get to sail on her also!

[waserdog]

Today is a 1/2 day at school so the teachers can attend meetings in the afternoon. We have an interesting subject to discuss; where they would like to live if they could live anywhere in the world. I find it so interesting to talk to FL kids because so many of them have traveled to other countries. Of course NY is always a big hit! DS loved NY and said he maybe would want to live there if his GF wasn't here. He's on a mission to find a new apartment. May go with him tomorrow to look. He's thinking the beach.
Mary, good to see you are back at the exercise. My weight is down but know I will have a setback next week when we go to Biloxi. Then I'll get that off and be going to visit my brother & see Paula. :D Get that off and it's the 12 night cruise! :eek: I sure hope I get to see the 130's before 2012!!! I'm not complaining it's just that I wish I had the mentality that would make me watch while on vacation instead of the "eat, drink and be merry" attitude I take on as soon as I'm officially on vacation!
OK, speaking of food, time for lunch!
Everyone have a nice day!!
Marianna

[Sea Fan]

Good Morning Ladies, well it's still morning in California:)

It's so nice to wake up slow, I was up every morning at 6 when I was in Ohio to help with the kids. Now I'm on my 3rd cup of coffee and don't have to leave the house for a couple of hours. They are having a Luau lunch at my Mom's facility so I guess I will have pineapple and do the Hula:D

Trish I'm thinking of you, have you been rescheduled yet? Are you getting in any Cabin time?

Amy, OMG what a nightmare your DH and you went through. He is truly a wonderful guy to take the responsibility like he did but OMG the stress.
BTW I also think your SIL was just spouting off in the moment about keeping the kids away. LOL he couldn't survive with out you guys and he knows you always put the kids first. My step daughter made a comment similar to that once then couldn't apologize fast enough...still it hurt.

D, Is the US Open on now??? Are you watching:)

Tina, I noticed you said you were a 3 year cancer survivor, Congratulations! It amazing the strides they have made in this horrendous disease. Hows your BIL doing? What a nasty virus, I didn't realize you would have to worry about that being a vet...but of course you would. I was given a baby spider monkey to care for a million years ago when I was in South America. After a week I found him a home with someone that knew what they were doing. They just aren't meant to be pets.

Marianne, I missed the whole colored contacts thing you are doing. I used to wear green hard ones in the 70's I just loved how my eyes looked, now there so much better.

Ellen, LOL I'm with Caleb I'm a 49er fan, we live closer to the Raiders BUT it's the Raiders:cool:

Punki., I was drooling at the Indian Meal you cooked...I just love Indian food and don't eat it often enough. Actually my meals are getting pretty boring I need to shake it up a bit.

Paula, Hey working lady are you having fun today?? Tell me everything you know about Dinosaurs:D Teasing I know your tired but you will have fun.
How's your son & family doing in the rental?

Janey Janey Janey!! I miss talking to you. How's work? how's life? Are you relaxing a bit?

Sharon & Smooth My hair turned out pretty well, I do love this stylist she spent time listening to what I wanted. I told her I like to keep it to the red tones but I wanted fun hair....LOL it's fun! Copper & Blond tones and not to short!!! I Love her:D I'll try to post a picture later.

Mary, I'm so excited for your new business but it seems you went from working full time to more work...are you getting some relaxing time in?
I enjoyed your review, thank you.


Okay I'm needing some breakfast, have a lovely day.

Sure hope I didn't miss anyone?

Dianne

[Wayfairers]

Dianne – My BIL is doing about the same… apparently it takes the brain a while to reduce swelling. He has good and bad days all based upon how bad the headache is that day. I agree the best way to wake up is slowly… waking up slowly and without an alarm clock is one of the best things about retirement.

I had a rare glandular cancer above my collarbone and was actually lucky that was my primary. The Drs were convinced it was the final stages of breast cancer (normally is) but when they couldn’t find any cancer cells anywhere else in my body they determined that I was one of a handful of people with this as a primary. Dr cut it out, it returned 6 months later, cut out a 5” long x 1” wide section down to the bone and scrapped my collarbone to make sure they got it all. That was followed by radiation. And, it hasn’t returned. Makes every day special knowing what could have been. I tell everyone to make sure you have unusual things checked out. The only person who died from this cancer went several years wondering about that strange bump and when they finally had someone look at it, the cancer had spread throughout their body.

I’m taking a break from cleaning… got home yesterday and found that a pack of mice have made our house their home. I was pulling out towels to be washed today and found out why there was so much mouse poop in that closet when one of the rascals jumped out… scared me to death! Luckily I was thinking quickly and grabbed one of the glue traps and stuck it below where he was hiding then I turned on the vacuum cleaner and he ran smack into the glue trap… SUCCESS! Never felt so good to kill a mouse! Now we just have to get the rest of them out of here. Guess that is what we get for building in the middle of the family farm and then leaving the house unattended for a few months. I put any food in the fridge while we are gone but they still come inside. So now I get to spend a few days washing everything in the drawers and closets they were using. Fun, fun! Not enough to make me stop traveling though…. they aren’t going to win.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

[timeormoney]

Just to add to the cancer question. I am a 14 year survivor, of breast cancer. Back then it seems they didn't do a whole lot to decide what to do, it was just take it off. Chemo followed, but no radiation. After the masectomy I was given a prothesis(sp) to wear. A few years went by and it looked like I might live, so I had a reconstruction. Best thing I ever did. It makes it so much nicer .. you can wear regular bras and don't have to worry about anything falling out or floating away while you are swimming. However there is a problem of weight, as it changes one grows or loses the other one doesn't. Also one is going to be forever perky, and well, the other is not. Several years later I had my ovaries removed as a precaution. My mother had breast cancer and ovarian cancer and I seemed to be following in her footsteps.

Thats all I've got time for today, Sharon

[Wayfairers]

Congrats on 14 years Sharon! I think just taking it off is the way to go if you have breast cancer... my thoughts are why take the chance. Gosh, never thought about a prothesis floating away while swimming :) Thanks for sharing.

[Sea Fan]

Wow Tina & Sharon I'm so glad you joined this group your stories are amazing. Thank you for sharing them.

Sharon, I have a friend going through the reconstruction process right now she had a double mastectomy. It's sure not as easy as having an implant put in. (another friend) I know you went through a lot of pain,


Dr cut it out, it returned 6 months later, cut out a 5” long x 1” wide section down to the bone and scrapped my collarbone to make sure they got it all.


Tina...owwwww That just made me cringe Thank God they were able to get it all.

I bet you had a heart attack when that dear little mouse jumped out, you would have heard me scream from here. I'm not afraid of then but I sure don't want them jumping out when I least expect it.


Gotta run,

Dianne

[Mama Lapin]

Hi, Chickies,

Well, although it seems that I am suffering from information overload, I have survived the 4 days of training, including the lavish lunches. Two of them were covered dish affairs and there is nothing in the world more fattening that a bunch of Southern folks parading their best family recipes for people to try. And the desserts??? Let's just say, I didn't expect to go gain 5 pounds on my first week of work. GRRRRR....

I must say that I am mighty impressed by this place. It is affiliated with the Smithsonian and is one of the few museums in the country that actually teaches the school kids who come on field trips. The program is mighty intensive, with hands on activites and classroom instruction as well as interactive shows and and amazing planeterium. My colleagues are brilliant... I mean super-smart science geeks...... I have no idea how somebody so right- brained like me got hired. I am like a babe in the woods. So I am now to shadow some of these teachers as they go through their day and be prepared to take over soon. I have 21 programs to learn. :eek: Holey Moley!

But I enjoy being productive and busy, so I am sure that I will enjoy it. And this is MY choice, not something I have to do to make a living. The rest of the staff seem to be of a similar mind set; most are retirees who want to keep their minds sharp. (There are a few young ones, too.) I had great fun talking to some of them about their travel adventures over those aforementioned fattening lunches. :rolleyes: One has walked the Great Wall of China; one has hiked Mt. Everest; several have been on Amazon trips and African safaris. A gal that I really connected with spent Jan, Feb and March of this year on an 80 day cruise (understand why I connected with her????). They even cruised to Antartica! It was such fun to find out what being on a ship for that long was like for her.

So we cruise in 17 days and I am super excited. This is DS and DIL's first one, so it will be fun to see it though their eyes. (I can also check on Daddy since we are staying with him before and after we sail.) We are also going with a gal who Jack used to work with and her friend. It will be a nice little break from this new job, but I will be woefully behind when we return.

I am glad that all of you East coast gals made it through Irene safely. I have been through more than my share of hurricaines when we lived in La. You can never feel fully prepared for those.

Jan...Glad that the knee is on the mend. Now that it is getting a little cooler, I need to consider trying the running thing. It was 70 here this morning...lovely!

Sharon and Tina.... Your stories are mighty inspring. Such difficult times can test your strength and faith, but can also give you a renewed sense of how precious life is when they have passed. Sounds like you two are embracing every moment. Good for you!

Sis... So proud of you, launching your new business. You will be fabulous! I know last week was tiring, but so worth it!

Dianne... I know that you are glad to be back home. I'll bet Jim missed you. I want to see the new hair do. I have to get mine cut next week; it is so long!

Marianne... I hear you, honey. I took me an entire year to lose that 20 pounds and now I am having a tough time trying to keep it off. Forget about losing that last 7! Ah well, we are better off than we were a year ago, right? And we have to live in a real world, too. And yeah, I fall right into pig out mode as soon as I board the ship. This time, I will be pre and post eating in New Orleans. :eek:

O.K. I am not trying to write a book here, just haven't checked in for a few days and wanted to say hello.

I hope you gals have a lovely evening.
hugs,
Paula

[PunkiC]

While I was reading your story, Sharon, I was thinking of my girlfriend. As soon as she found out she had breast cancer (it runs in her family) she had a double masectomy. Before she did, however, she had lots of pictures taken so they could rebuild them exactly the same as they were before surgery. What the heck was she thinking? I think the only perk of breast cancer would be to end up with perky little boobs in the end. (No pun intended.) :) It would be heaven not to have to wear a bra if I didn't want to.

Last night I read "Water for Elephants". What a good book. I just couldn't put it down and ended up getting far too little sleep. If there is anyone who has not read it, I strongly recommend that you do. It is just wonderful.

Sounds like you are really enjoying your job Paula. Thanks for the reminder that it can take a whole year to lose 20 pounds. That is what I need to lose before my reunion, so I had better get my butt in gear. God I hate the fact that I let myself get so fat. :(

Dianne, do you live near a Trader Joe's? Delicious Indian meals are available for a pittance and require very little work. Even the frozen naan is amazing.

OK, time for me to head home and catch up on all the sleep that I lost to that wonderful book.

See you later, Punki

[smoothdancer]

LOL, Punki know just what you mean about a good book. The girl with the Dragon Tatoo did that to me. Thanks for the recommendation, I have not read that book yet. Tonight though I downloaded The Stolen Life. The reviews say this is painful to read, but I went ahead anyway. I have started to read in the evenings and I have found that it relaxes me so that sleep comes easy, which is always a struggle for me. Poor Nick, I have certainly taken over his reader on him!!

Paula your job sounds wonderful. I once worked a job where homemade lunches were a huge event. It is so hard not to participate, isnt it??

Well a year to loose 20 pounds... I dont like the sounds of that at all, regardless of how realistic it may be!! At least though I have gotten myself back on track. I might even get on the scale tommorrow!!

Mary, took a peak at your website.. Very exciting, and wish you tons of luck. I know we cant discuss it here but I know you are going to be quite successful with your new venture.

Punki, question for you. Have you ever transferred points from Hilton to AMEX? I read on the site that you could and wondering about it. I do stay at Hiltons for some comps, but aside from that I dont use or like the hotel brand much.... But as you pointed out, combined with thier CC the point structure is great.

D, how goes the running? I am so excited to report did a run last night, 2 hour dance lesson tonight and both knee and ankles are still good... Yippie.... Will be out running again tommorrow PM. I have pullled it back and taking it a bit slower, but neither I or the running trail is going anywhere, so I am happy happy happy!!

[bobandkelly]

Hello! I think it's going to be an early night.
Sharon & Tina, Congratulations to both of you on being survivors! Sharon, I laughed when you talked about the perky boob. I had never thought of the side effects of having only one reconstructed.

Smooth, glad to hear you are back to running! I downloaded a new free c25k on my phone to try.

Punki, I loved Water for Elephants! the movie was terrible but the book was great! I wish we had a Trader Joes, people on my fitness pal talk about it all the time. It sounds like a great place to shop.

Paula, glad you are enjoying the job! It sounds like fun! Your cruise is coming up fast! I'm sure that DS & DIL will have a great time.

Dianne, I hope we get to see the new do! I was looking at short hair cuts earlier. Sometimes I like mine as it's growing out and sometimes I just want to cut it off.

Ok, really getting to tired to form thoughts so I'll go. Hopefully tomorrow I'll come on before I get to tired!
Kelly

[Gratefulgal]

Hi Everyone,
I have been very busy with work and various obligations. I am so buried at work but at this point I am going to take the first two weeks off anyway. We are losing the other salesman at the same time so life is going to be hell for a while. I had to let someone go as well and that has really torn me up. DH may go back earlier, but I really need some down time.



I finally got my new surgery date for Sep 21st. I am trying not to worry about it – I have enough other things to worry about to keep me busy.:rolleyes:


We had beautiful weather on the weekend and my dinner on the deck went well. The grilled nectarines on frozen vanilla yogurt with raspberry sauce were delicious. My GKs stole the show. GD showed the big boss & son her pretty dress and that her nails matched her bow on her flip-flops and on her dress. GS wowed them by being able to talk stats on the Chicago Blackhawks players. So cute.


I have been reading and trying to catch up, but I am so far behind I am not going to try to do a shout out to everyone. Just know that I am enjoying reading all about your lives, plans and challenges. This is such an inspiring group of women and everyone joining in seems so like minded. It truly is a wonderful sisterhood. I am grateful to be a part of it.


Wishing you all good health, happiness and sweet dreams.:):):)
Trish

[Paris11]

HI LADIES,
I have not had time yet to post the Maui pics. So much going on all I would be doing on here is venting. Instead, I chose to phone my bf and vent to her, even though some of the venting was about her own sis, my DDs MIL. Like I said, too much going on.

I just read the book The Room. Most of it on the way home from Maui, but then I could not put it down, Interesting and captivating.

I have to pack for a weekend to Spokane. Hopefully can touch bases in the morning.

Mary- good luck with the new business. I have been keeping up with you on FB.

Love you my friends
Ellen

[PunkiC]

Sorry, smooth, but I am not exactly sure what you mean. I have a Hilton AMEX card and a Starwood AMEX card and earn points for both programs, both by spending money and stays.

I don't typically do a lot of mile/point transfers, but I did once transfer Starwood points to Qantas when they had a double points, plus bonus, deal going. We transferred 100,000 Starwood points and ended up with 250,000 Qantas miles, which we in turn used to secure two BA tickets from NYC to London--Concorde going over and BA first coming back.

On our return, we got stuck in the Concorde lounge for four hours due to a delayed flight and they were serving a Chateau Margaux in the lounge that we later learned sold for $600 a bottle. It was so good I am sure we each drank a whole bottle, which was a little sad because it caused me to sleep all the way from London to NYC and totally miss out on the BA first class experience. ;)

Yes, Kelly, Trader Joe's is wonderful. They have a lot of "almost ready to eat" stuff that Joe loves, like turkey meat loaf and stuffed peppers, which are life-savers for a busy working woman. They also have some really good frozen stuff which you just can't get anywhere else. Then there is the wine. ;) "Two Buck Chuck" takes a lot of heat, but honestly, all it is is overage wine from various wineries, and sometimes it is absolutely amazing. In Seattle, people will often buy one bottle, go out to their car and taste it and then, if it is good, go back in and buy a couple of cases to stock up. We found a particular good batch of "Two Buck Chuck" a couple of years ago and bought several cases.

We had a similar experience in Sydney, Australia, where the clerk in the wine shop turned us on to this "No Name Wine" which cost $1.99 per bottle AUD and turned out to be flat out delicious.

What am I doing up again in the middle of the night? This is crazy.

Punki

[smoothdancer]

100,000 points LOL... I will never see that! Most of my points come from purchases, not flight or hotel stays. My problem is that I only have AMEX cards and my dance studio does not accept this card so I purchase all my lessons in cash. I am on the hunt for the best points MC so I can accumulate the points for the lessons but then I need to be able to transfer the points because like I said dont often stay in Hiltons but they do offer a great MC points card. I am point obsessed!

Thanks Kelly for your book recommendation, going on my reader wish list.

I have a Trader Joes about a half hour from me, with all this talk may have to make a trip this week-end.

The scale is my friend this morning! Whewww. This month I WILL get out of the 130's!

If anyone is interested perhaps I will start a book thread so the recommendations will be easy to find.

[timeormoney]

Punki, really enjoyed your flash mob video. We have had a couple of lessons on the west coast swing, but really only scratched the surface as to what can be down with that dance. Some people are so great at it that its fun just to watch them!

Smooth, you are trying to get out of the 130's, I am trying to get into them! I am down from a little over 150 to 144 currently. As I mentioned I have a class reunion coming up in October and it has given me the incentive I needed. As for credit cards, I mostly use a Discover card and apply the points/dollars back onto the card for payment.

Trish, your work sounds so over whelming so glad you are taking a break. That dessert you made, OMG sounds wonderful!

Ellen, venting is a good thing, nice to have a bf you can talk to. Have a good trip to Spokane.

Paula how great you have a cruise to look forward to in only a couple of weeks. Have you had time to check out any of the summer sales going on, lots of bargains to be found.

Kelly, yes a good fitting bra is essential to keep everything even! Good luck trying the C25K, I don't think my knees and hips could take running, race walking would be about all I could handle.

Tina hope the cleaning is done and you can enjoy being home for a while!

Diane, good luck to your friend, it takes quite a while to feel normal again.

Sharon

[Sea Fan]

Trish so good to hear from you we knew you were busy busy busy! I'm glad you are taking some time off, the job will get done and you need to relax a bit. Okay surgery is rescheduled, Good let's get that behind you also!

Punki Oh I couldn't get along with out Trader Joes I have one with in walking distance and Yup I love their Indian food and 2 Buck Chuck!! they also have some WONDERFUL dried chocolate covered Bing cherries, we always pick up a container when we leave on a cruise. I wish I could remember the brand because I got the wrong one once and I was so disappointed.

Ellen sorry your having issues with the family they sure no how to push our buttons! Vent anytime you want to, you know I do :D Hope things get better soon.

Paula, wow 20 programs to learn would be daunting for me but I'm sure there will come a day soon when your thinking what was I worried about. It sounds like an amazing place to work.

Kelly LOL now I have to wash it and try to fix it like the stylist did but I will get the picture out there. The most fun is the color...colors and that probably won't show. LOL I copper, blond brown red...Hey I'm a rainbow :D

Sharon Your at a goal I want...I started a couple of months ago at 191:eek: made it through the 180's now I'm working through the 170's LOL I go for the 9's 189, 179, I can't wait for 169:)

Smooth, I loved The girl with the Dragon Tattoo , but am having a hard time getting into the next one. It's a slow starter. I read The Help while I was in Ohio, I was so enthralled I would go to bed at 10 ans stay up till 1 reading GOOD BOOK!
Oh and Yes read Water for Elephants I couldn't put that one down.
Ellen, I'm also putting The Room on my Kindle.

So Girls I bet you all remember your Anniversary...I don't! Luckily my husband has a great sense of humor about it. Ours was a second marriage I was perfectly happy living with him LOL he wasn't it took 2 years to agree to the wedding...anyway today is my anniversary as I was reminded this morning. I love him dearly, I need to remember this..Nahhh it gives him joy to tease me about it. We will go out for dinner this weekend.
And guess what on FB I was told it's also Amy's Anniversary (she remembers)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AMY! I hope you are having a wonderful time.

Talk to you later,

Dianne

[Sea Fan]

Sharon I'm glad you mentioned it, Punki I also loved the video I would enjoy being in a Flash mob:)

Dianne

[mycruz]

Good afternoon and

Happy Anniversary Dianne and Amy, and of course your DH's too!

Trish, I'm so glad you stopped by for an update. Sounds like work is keeping your mind off things. I just loved the description of your dinner on the deck.

Smooth, have you thought about the Chase card that gives you points? You're supposed to be able to use them without blackouts etc. The other choice may be the Capital One Rewards MC. Thanks for your kinds words, I just hope I can get things rolling quickly! I took 2 months off without a paycheck and would love to have a positive cash flow again! :)

Sharon and Tina, I'm sure your experiences dealing with cancer have made you stronger than ever! I too thought the visual of the prosthesis floating around was kind of funny! Cancer however is not funny, good thoughts continue your way.

Sis, that's a whole lotta classes! I know you can do it, you're pretty bright and have lots of energy. Those southern covered dish lunches are yummy but you're right, they are chocked full of calories! What is your favorite contribution? I would usually bring my macaroni salad or home made baked beans.

Punki, I wish we had a Trader Joe's here but the closest thing is a Whole Foods that isn't even close to the house. I've heard of the Two Buck Chuck but I'm sure it didn't come close to the wine you had in the Concord Lounge!

Still trying to get Carl to make a decision our our fall land vacation........waiting patiently!

Gotta run and get back to work, later chickies!

[cruisingcouple2008]

Thanks Mary and Dianne for the well wishes. We did have a wonderful time today we went out on Casco Bay and we also met another person from my Hawaii CC roll call. We are having a little siesta now.... and then out to dinner at the local steakhouse.. I know I know red meat not on the diet plan, but oh well..... I will get back on track Tuesday.

Paula doesnt it feel good though to be working? I have to admit although Im looking forward to retiring from the state in 13 yrs I will still need to be going going going doing something. My gram worked at the museum until she was 83. Now Im not that crazy....

Marianne you rock the weight loss.. I have to tell you though I didnt think you needed to lose any weight when we met in February. You must be a toothpick now.

K better run.... check in later chickies...

[Wayfairers]

I LOVE Two Buck Chuck! I miss Trader Joes when we are home or in an area without one. Bought a case while in the Detroit area last week.

Jan – congrats on getting out of the 130s, I would love to see mid-130s consistently. I keep bouncing back and forth between mid-130s and low 140s.

Paula – sounds like a great job - really interesting… I don’t think you will be bored anytime soon ☺

Dianne & Amy - Happy Anniversary!

Cleaning is done – Yeah! I haven’t seen any more mice but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are more in the house. It is nice being home for a few weeks… I just wish it was cooler. After the nice summer in Michigan’s UP we are suffering with temps here in the upper 90s/low 100s. Oh well, that is why we weren’t here this summer and everyone here has had that all summer so it won’t kill us to have a few weeks of it. Thank goodness for air conditioning!!

[bobandkelly]

Hello! just finished half a pedicure, to late for polish so that part will have to happen tomorrow. We got to play golf today and I got my best score ever and on one hole I ended up with a ten so it would have been really good. It's been so much fun to see how I've improved this summer.

Smooth, I think a book list thread is a great idea! I feel bad about your tree, I have a friend who had that happen a couple of years ago. She had to completely change the shade bed that the tree was a part of. We wish we had more shade, we really only have a very small amount. The tree is pretty but we wish we would have planted something that will get bigger. If we decide to stay here we might take this one out and plant something else.

Tina, glad it looks like the mice are taken care of. The UP is a great place to spend the summer if you want to escape the heat/humidity. We have snow birds here so I guess you are the opposite.

Amy, YUM red meat! I love steak, we went out to eat last weekend and I had a steak so good I wanted another one. I didn't eat another one but I did have pasta and garlic bread dripping in butter. I had not been at that restaurant for many years so I got what I wanted.

Mary, hope you find something fun and relaxing for the fall vacation! I'm hoping we can do at least a night or two away.

Dianne, can't wait to see the pics of the new do! I love reds and have been doing highlights of that instead of blond. I use to do all red but the up keep is just to hard with so much grey.

Ok, this trader joes two buck chuck sounds good. Now I really want a TJs! I've been a fan of the middle sister wines lately. I like all the names of them.
time for a little surfing, then it'll be time for sleep. One of my sisters is coming down for the weekend and her DD and kids will be here on Saturday.
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Kelly

[Mama Lapin]

Happy Friday, Girls,

Thought I'd do a quick drive by before I leave the house: I have to "intern" in the planetarium this afternoon. It is a fascinating place, but totally overwhelming when you consider that you have to narrate a script, operate a computer, and weild a laser pointer all at the same time. I used to be a good juggler, but I woefully out of practice.

So I am "pretty" smart, Sis??? HAHAHA! I thought that you were going to say that I am brilliant and that it runs in the family!

Happy Anniversary Amy and Dianne. May you have many more wonderful years to celebrate.

I agree TJ's fabulous. We had one nearby when we lived closer to ATL. Out here in the boonies, I am lucky to have a Publix. That 2 buck chuck is wonderful! Now that's my idea of a bargain!

Speaking of bargains, I managed to find two pairs of Clarks slides (cute and comfy) for $12 each! I also bought a great pair of brown sparkly sandals, but stupidly only tried one on and when I got home had two right shoes. DUH! I called the store, but they haven't uncovered the mates, so they have to go back.

Those of you who are reading "The Room," I am anxious to hear how you like it. I am not sure that I would enjoy reading it since it is written from the 5 year old's pov. It that distracting? I am looking for something to load onto my Kindle for the cruise and have read all of the good stuff, I think.

It has been one heck of a week. I discovered a faulty connection on our big propane tank (could smell it in the garage) and we lost $500 worth of air! GRRRR! And then, we had Jack's ticket bribe; he is going to driving school tomorrow! I hate spending money on nothing! I hope you girls have a lovely afternoon and enjoy your 3 day weekend. Even I am off.

Hugs,
Paula

[Sea Fan]

Hey it's Friday all over my body!!! Woo hoo!! LOOONG WEEKEND!

Thanks for the anniversary wishes we will celebrate Saturday after my weigh in:D

Paula some friends recommended I read :
The Beach Club by Elin Hilderbrand it was a good cruise book.

I also really enjoyed A Discovery Of Witches by Deborah Harkness in fact I couldn't put it down. Look like they are going to make a movie of it she's working on her second one now.

Someone also recommended I read "One for the Money" (The Stephanie Plum series) by Janet Evanovich (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2384.Janet_Evanovich) I just started it.

Your job sounds like a lot of fun I think you are going to meet some really interesting people.

Kelly great job on the golf, what are you going to do during the winter to hone your skills...Fly to Florida and play like crazy:D Seriously you should be proud of yourself!
Isn't red hair fun but it does fade fast...kind of like me. LOL My new hair stylist is so funny she doesn't say grey she says "Pigment Challenged":eek:

Smooth I bet you come up with something very creative for where the tree was.

Tina I'm such a pansy when it comes to hot weather and we have some coming this weekend. No air conditioning usually the fog comes rolling in. So I will put on my big girl panties and try not to whine!OR head to the beach with everyone else:D

Okay lady friends I need to get back to cleaning....ugh

Dianne

[timeormoney]

Paula, I love Clarks shoes, they are so comfortable, I have never found them at that price though. Also we don't have a TJ or a Publix thats how much of a super booney we are. Walmart is the only "big" store in town, have to go to another town, and they are all at least 1/2 hr away to get to a shopping center.

Dianne love your hairdressers choice of words for grey hair, my skin Dr has a good term as well for age spots, she calls them maturity spots, sounds so much better don't you think?

Happy Anniversary Dianne & Amy enjoy your celebrations.

I am on the third book of the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts. They have been very interesting and I'm almost to the point of not being able to put the last one down as I want to know hows it all going to end.

Amy I have been retired for quite a few years, hated my boss and was going to find a new job. I worked for a temp agency for a while but then had other things come up and now evey once in a while think it might be good to work part time at something fun. Although my days are so full and busy, don't know how I ever kept up working too.

Kelly good for you on the golfing improvement, nice to get outside and really enjoy what you are doing.

One more thing about the "boob". They do have bras and swimsuits that have a pocket to put the prothesis in, however as with any specialty items they are more expensive. Having some ability in sewing I just sewed pockets into my regular bras and swimsuits. Therein was the floating problem, I left the opening a little too large. Now its so much nicer with the reconstruction, don't have to worry about necklines that are a little lower or swimsuit problems.

Hope eveyone has a safe and fun weekend. Sharon

[cruisingcouple2008]

Well here we r still on the road dhs turn to drive n I have the seat heat on my back because our traffic has been terrible n I had traffic jams for about 100 miles on n off. He can finish up the easy Berkshire stuff.

Timeormoney I really love my job it is just the dickhead as I refer to him n one or two I have attendance issues with.

Kelly isn't that ridiculous when u score a 10 on one hole? I do it everytime. We did play golf in Maine at a par 3 I did pretty good also. I even parred a hole that I had to hit about 100' over a pond right before the green. Amazingly enough my t shot landed on the green about 10' from hole then I parred.

Thanks everyone for the anniversary wishes how weird is it that dianne and I share the same day AND her Hawaii trip is right after mine:D

Whoa dh scared the Dejesus outta me with the big rigs better go pay attention n direct traffic.

[smoothdancer]

Oh this is crazy, I feel like I am reading these posts standing on my head or something!! I made some preference changes and now the last post is first and I have no idea what everyone is talking about, so I have to tread backwards... I hope I can find what I did and undo it!!

Wayfarier(sorry cant remember your name) ... Now dont go jumping the gun on me!! I am not out of the 30's, but it is my goal. As of today, counting,... 4 weeks to go and I want to be in the 20's by then and I have 5 pounds to get there.... I compete in ballroom dancing and my 2 fav gowns that have not seen the light of day in years will fit with just 5-7 more to go.... Go figure, many of these gowns will stretch a size or 2 but my fav's are quite unforgiving and wont budge an inch.... You all keep me motivated and accoutable so I can make this happen!! I will post pictures of the 2 just to keep me on track....

I hear you all on the cancer talk. Lately though reading, I find myself just nodding my head, sometimes understanding and celebrating your victories and then sometimes quite sad because I do so much better when I dont have to think about the C word. I am sure you all understand if I scroll past them....For the new ladies, lost my youngest son to cancer a few years back..... LOL, as much as I appreciate all you all did for me back then I am quite thankful the "hard time" posts are gone and in internet space somewhere...

Dianne, let me know if you get past book 2.... I was tempted to continue on with the series but the reviews did say book 2 was hard to get into so I passed.... I am interested on your take... I am reading the book by Jaycee and the reviews were right, this book is painful to read.... I was so angry over what happened to this girl that I dont know, it is a painful read.... I dont know I would recommend this book to read, but for me I am glad I am reading it....

OK, convinced, going to create book thread. Nick just came home and yikes he wants to go out to dinner.... I WILL be good!!!

[cruisingcouple2008]

Smooth I love the blue dress but what about the awesome Red one you have also... I really like that.

[PunkiC]

Smooth, I read all three Stieg Larsson books and loved them all. I do think that "The Girl Who Played with Fire" was a little harder to get into than the other two, but by the time I finished it, I was hooked to the point where I actually broke down and bought "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" as a hard-bound book and I hate buying hard-bound books, mostly because they travel so poorly. I do, however, love paperbacks so I can't see myself getting an e-book reader in the near future.

I still have all three of those books. If anyone wants them, I will be happy to send them off.

Recently I have been reading and listening to Mary Balogh's books, which are totaly sappy and maudlin romances that have no redeeming value whatsoever, save for entertainment. They are especialy funny and entertaining when Joe listens to them with me in the car or when I am working in the kitchen, and mimics the sappy dialogue. :) :)

We didn't go dancing tonight because our big truck was in the shop and all of the shop guys who are able to drive it were already working over time (which they will be doing all weekend) and Joe committed to pick up the big truck from the shop at 7:30 p.m. so it would be available over the 3-day holiday.

He was also pretty stressed out from a very busy work week and wanted to rest up as he and the DGN will be painting the house this long weekend. I will be painting the shutters, which I have always done every time we have painted the house for the past 36 years. Maybe we are getting too old to be doing this ourselves but it is a habit that seems hard to break? I suspect the next time it needs painting we really will be too old, except that our priest friend's mother and aunt thatched the roof of their cottage in Ireland by themselves when they were in their mid 80s, so who knows. Old people do crazy things.

Speaking of old, I had a woman come up to me at the gym on Thursday and ask me if I was really "pushing 70" as she had heard. When I told her that I was very much hoping to be 70 in the not too distant future, she said, "Well you must still work because you look 50". That made me laugh.

Today I was a very bad girl and caved into the Mexican food that they were cooking at the office for the crew that was working late. It was so, so stupid and so very, very good. No wonder I am fat. :o

Then DS, who was the lead, came to me really upset because the Ex had given one of his guys (who later came back to the shop to work) a beer. We just cannot afford to take those kind of risks--not even a single beer--with guys working with power tools. The liability would kill us. I love that girl, but sometimes I could strangle her.

OK, I am going to go back to sleep for a bit. It is way too early to be up on a Saturday.

Punki

[Wayfairers]

Jan – LOVE your dresses in the pics – both are gorgeous!

Punki – Last night must have been the night to be tired – we had planned to go see a movie but a few minutes before leaving we both decided we were just too tired and wanted to stay home instead. Yea for you – painting the shutters will be great exercise… not many people choose to paint their house themselves these days... glad someone is still doing that. When we built we made sure nothing on the outside of our house had to be painted…. we both hate to paint.

I enjoy reading and thought I would read a lot of books when we quit work, but it hasn’t happened. I tend to read magazines and just a few books a year. If you haven’t read the Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris I highly recommend them. I breezed through almost one a day and just couldn’t put them down. That is the series that True Blood is based on. While the series is not following part of the books closely, both the book and TV series are so good that (for once) it doesn’t matter.

My BIL is doing better – the headaches are getting better and he was actually able to work a full day one day this week. Thanks for the prayers.

Tina

[smoothdancer]

I still have the red dress, but thoes are my choices for the comp... These 2 have always been my favs!! The white one is not a good picture, the bodice is all stoned in blue. It has a low back so need to work on that!

Sometimes I dont get this diet thing. We went out to dinner last night and it was not pretty! I saw this resturant near my office that always seemed to be packed. Come to find out it is a Puretan Rican resturant. The food was incredible, I had plantains and shrimp and it was even better than what we had when on the Island, that and a shared bottle of wine and lost half a pound... go figure!!

Dianne, either I forgot or did not realize how much weight you have lost. Boy what a success, good for you! Hoping to see your new hair "do" soon!

Funny but only one on one side of my face I have fine wrinkles... Must of laid in the sun more on one side in my youth! But anyway I puchased the ROC deep wrinkle filer and have used it close to a month now....I cannot beleive the difference it has made on my skin.... Thought I would share that tidbit. Of course I continue to use the Elemis product that I also love so must be the combo of the two.

For thoes still working, enjoy the long week-end, I certainly will!!

[Lady Chew]

Punki, I know what you mean about paperbacks. I love that they travel so well, and I don't like the e-books. I've tried a couple, and they just don't let me read the book the way I like to ... I read anytime, anywhere, while I'm eating (if I'm alone!), while I'm watching tv ... I like to flip back & forth to check things, and I like to see both pages at once. I find it easier to hold a paperback, as well. I read way too fast - my eyes get ahead of my brain so I need to flip back and forth. When I've tried an e-book, the bottom of each page is like a great big "thunk" and disturbs the flow of words.

I go to our local library about every 6 weeks and check out 12-15 books. I like mysteries, thrillers of all types and "chick lit"

Don't care much for the Danielle Steele/Nora Roberts type of romance, or any of the harlequin-type for that matter.

I think that those of you who have had cancer and are able to talk to us about it so matter-of-factly are amazing. You are full of grace.

I'm sitting here munching on cucumber sticks and thinking about cookies. Trying to be good today!

Oh well. Time to put another load in the wash!

[bobandkelly]

Hello! hope everyone is having a good Labor Day weekend. One of my sisters came down Friday, my niece and her husband and kids came to visit yesterday. The guys golfed we hung out with the kids then brought them to visit their other grandparents where they were staying. We grilled tequila lime chicken and I did the pasta with tequila cream sauce. It is such a fresh tasting dish! Today is leaf casting with some friends and grilling after. Tomorrow I am going to need to get some homework done!

Lady Chew, I keep thinking I should start using the library. I drive pass it all the time. I do like having books on my phone since I always have that with me. It makes it convenient to read anytime.

Smooth, your dresses are so beautiful! and you always look beautiful in them. I know what you mean about wanting them to fit right though. I'm hoping to wear my red one in Feb on the cruise but I will only wear it if it looks great! We just got a Mexican restaurant so I'm not going to even dream of Puerto Rican. We ate at a really good place in San Juan, I'd love to be able to eat there again. The pork was roasting in a window that you could see from the street. It was so good!

Ok, time to go!
Kelly

[Sea Fan]

Amy, LOL did you make it safely to home or your next destination :-)

Yup I like that we share an Anniversary date and a trip to Hawaii!! BRING ON HAWAII I'm so ready!

Hey Kelly, enjoy the family, "tequila lime chicken and I did the pasta with tequila cream sauce" OMG does that sound GOOD!!!!

Dianne

[Sea Fan]

Punki, okay I'm on chapter 7 of "The Girl Who played with Fire" LOL I now have hope so I'm getting back into it.

I love my Kindle when ever someone mentions a good book I try and down load it quick. I have a book cover on it with a light so LOL I'm always ready to go:D Still we need a book thread!

Hey if I had someone would guess my age 20 years younger I would have been so thrilled, I told you that you have great bones!


Smooth I love those dresses, how much fun it must be to wear them...we never get dressed up except on a cruise:(

Thank you the weight is coming off...very slowly! I want to be down 25 by December...we will see:rolleyes:

Lady Chew, I like my kindle but only for novels, any other type of book I have to have it in regular book form for the same reason as you. I have to jump around and flip back and forth. I down loaded "Look 20 years Younger" by Bob Greene. LOL I still look 20 years older since I can't jump around in it:eek: Guess I'll have to buy the hard bound to get my youth back:D


Dianne love your hairdressers choice of words for grey hair, my skin Dr has a good term as well for age spots, she calls them maturity spots, sounds so much better don't you think?

Happy Anniversary Dianne & Amy enjoy your celebrations.

I am on the third book of the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts. They have been very interesting and I'm almost to the point of not being able to put the last one down as I want to know hows it all going to end.
Hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend. Sharon

Sharon, LOL I love the "Maturity Spots" remark unfortunately I'm way too mature for my age:eek:

Hmmmm I'm going to have to check out Nora Roberts Trilogy, I have really enjoyed some of hers.


Tina said: Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris I highly recommend them. I breezed through almost one a day and just couldn’t put them down. That is the series that True Blood is based on. While the series is not following part of the books closely, both the book and TV series are so good that (for once) it doesn’t matter.

Tina, ...Vampires Right? Gotta Love em! Thanks, I will check them out.
Good to hear your BIL is doing better, everyone has to be so relived.

Okay I hope everyone is having a lovely long weekend!

Dianne

[mycruz]

Hi everyone, it's been a few days I think since I checked in. Working from home and working everyday sure has a way of taking over and I have no routine whatsoever!

Smooth, so happy that you are getting closer to getting back into your fav dresses.

Friday night we went to the mexican restaurant, eating wise wasn't too bad but I had 2 Margaritas! Yesterday lunch at the Rainforest Cafe at Disney and DD and I split the Appetizer for two combo, nothing but junk food on it, I am so upset with the choices I've been making. I think I have just fallen so off the wagon lately, had a Five Guys burger today for lunch. :( Only had a small handful of the fries so it could have been a lot worse.

I need to get into the kitchen and make some of my veggie soup for dinner.

I sure wish I had the time to read like you all are doing. It seems like every waking minute that I'm here I am on the computer doing some kind of research or registration for work and there is so much more to do!

Dianne, and everyone else that's hanging on tight to the wagon, I'll give a cheers to you tonight! I hope everyone has a great Labor Day, whatever your plans are. Take care all, Mary

[smoothdancer]

Had such an awesome day!!!!

Was out running again today, and back up to week 3, just one week down from when my body gave in....I have learned so much from running. I now listen very carefully to my body and I am thinking my setback was actually a good thing.... Now I have found how to support my body thru my spine and core and even though I am not a fast runner I somehow feel like I am close to flying when I run.... After the run I plop down on the grass and do stretches and have no cares that people walking by may think I am crazy because stretching in the grass under a tree is heavenly.....I am so happy I came upon this....

Mary mark my word.... I will wear thoes gowns come a month from now!! I am highy motivated and physically am feeling like a 30 year old something.... Tried on the blue gown again tonight and thought to myself, well I'll be damed, in a months time this really is quite do-able....My change in eating habits have had a huge effect on my overall well being....

So sorry to be a all about me post, but as you can tell, I am beaming today!! ( is that a word, Paula, if not is should be)

[Mama Lapin]

Had such an awesome day!!!!

Was out running again today, and back up to week 3, just one week down from when my body gave in....I have learned so much from running. I now listen very carefully to my body and I am thinking my setback was actually a good thing.... Now I have found how to support my body thru my spine and core and even though I am not a fast runner I somehow feel like I am close to flying when I run.... After the run I plop down on the grass and do stretches and have no cares that people walking by may think I am crazy because stretching in the grass under a tree is heavenly.....I am so happy I came upon this....

Mary mark my word.... I will wear thoes gowns come a month from now!! I am highy motivated and physically am feeling like a 30 year old something.... Tried on the blue gown again tonight and thought to myself, well I'll be damed, in a months time this really is quite do-able....My change in eating habits have had a huge effect on my overall well being....

So sorry to be a all about me post, but as you can tell, I am beaming today!! ( is that a word, Paula, if not is should be)


Uh... I think that is what they call a "runner's high." Glad that I got to witness it. I sure wish it was contagious!

[PunkiC]

Busy, busy, busy--life is just flyling by.

Yesterday we spent the whole day painting and, then again today after Church. When I went to Home Depot to buy more paint, I did go by the office and there was a full crew working away in the shop. DS said they are going to be working again tomorrow, so it looks like our shop crew will all have pretty healthy paychecks next time around. I guess we have to make hay while the sun shines. ;)

Tomorrow, I plan to get up early, finish painting the last two shutters (Yeah!) and then start in on the body of the house. Well at least I will work on the lower half. I don't do the high places. The guys have been working on the rafters and eves and have been making really good progress. We need to quit tomorrow about 5:00 p.m because we are going over to our friends home for a goodbye dinner for our other, New Orleans, mutual friends who only live here in the summers and over major holidays--they go back to NO on Wednesday. I think I told you that he is still a professor at Tulane so they are only here part of the year. Soon he will finally retire and they will be able to join us on cruises all year long.

Next Friday we fly down to SoCal for my SIL's 70th birthday party, so that only leaves one more weekend (the 17th) to finish the house before we go on our little cruise, and then my sisters and nieces will be here from Florida when we return on the 26th, and it will be fully fall. What happened to summer? What is happening to my life? It sure flies by.

This morning we celebrated the 100th birthday of a parishioner who has lived here her entire adult life and only went into a retirment home at age 97. She was presented with a dozen red roses during Mass. It got me thinking that I have already been in the parish for 40 years and it seems like only 5 or so. Before I know it, I will be the one getting the 100th birthday red roses--I just pray that Joe will be standing next to me when that happens. Wouldn't that be the best of blessings?

We also have the first formal dinner dance of the season squeezed in there somewhere between now and our little cruise, but I don't have time to think about that until we get back from California. I have a new blue gown that I am thinking of wearing to the dance, but before I can wear it, I will need to complete some adjustments to the gown and the undergarments I need to go with it.

Why the heck don't formal gowns come with bras designed specifically for them? Fortunately, I do have wonderful bras for most of my spaghetti strap gowns, but this new one is a real challenge. I could almost get away without a bra for this dress, but then I am afraid I would be spending the whole night running into the bathroom to make sure that nothing is slipping or falling out. :D Blasted breasts! Men are so lucky--all they need is a tux, shirt, tie, cumberbun,studs, shoes and socks, and they are fixed for life. Then all they have to do is show up and dance.

OBTW, I whole heartedly vote for a special "Book Thread". Dianne, let me know if you would like me to send you "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest".

Time to put my tired, rambling self to sleep.

Sending you all the very best wishes before I sleep ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Punki

[PunkiC]

Sorry. Mary, I am trying to find a window for a cruise, but don't know when it will be.

Maybe week in early November makes the most sense right now, but I will be in the middle of contract negotiations that I can't pass off to anyone else, so I can't travel too far afield. December we ski in Steamboat, January might work, but we are usually crazy busy January, Febuary and March. April is set aside for a family trip to Croatia so we are really looking at May of 2012 or maybe summer in Northern Europe.

Work can cause such a serious interruption of play. :( I should have had the foresight to be born filthy rich.

[waserdog]

Hi everyone! I finally got caught up on all the posts. Looks like everyone is staying busy this weekend. I'm in the process of redoing my master. I had these valances with a gold bird pattern that forced me to always have a solid comforter cover then I fell in love with this chocolate brown sheepskin rug at Costco so now I'm doing those valances in chocolate brown microfiber. When I had my little yorkie, I was rug restricted because he loved to pee on rugs. He was a costly dog because we ended up putting wood in all the bedrooms. He didn't pee on hard surfaces. I found a wonderful comforter cover set at Macy's but it was out of stock so I should have the room together by the time it ships to me. I also am having a chair reupholstered in the microfiber. I just love when you do something to the house!
Punki, that's incredible that you and Joe still paint the house. Painting is not run of my favorite projects! You do look wonderful for your age and I"m sure being active along with good genes contributes to that.
Dianne, speaking of the yorkie, is your little guy still peeing? They are the cutest little dogs and so smart but that peeing thing can drive a person nuts. I'm sure when we stop traveling, we'll try a yorkie again! They give you such pleasure in between being mad at them. LOL
Smooth, I love that blue dress. You look so lovely and slim in the photos. I wish I could get into the running scene but just can't. I get the same "high" when I finish the zumba classes. I'm so glad that Curves has added more classes so now I can go Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights and then do some weight training on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
No barbecues for us today. It's a labor day and on track with the eating! LOL I'm subbing all week purposely so I can stay in control. I don't do well with my eating when I don't have a structured day.
Mary, I guess you are just so busy that working from home isn't a problem. My DS stays slim and he works at home but like you, he's always busy and most times he doesn't have much in his house to eat.
Tina and Chew, I'm embarrassed to say that I hate reading books. I went to Catholic school and was constantly forced to read and when I pick up a novel, it becomes a punishment and I cannot put it down until it is done so it's not enjoyable, it's a job. I read magazines, the newspaper and the internet constantly and that's enjoyable because it can be completed in a sitting. Dang those nuns!! LOL DH is very similar because he's a stockbroker and reads articles on companies all the time so he never reads books either. Guess that's why there are apples and oranges. LOL
Kelly, you make such interesting dishes. I'm so boring with my meals. Your time with the kids sounds like a really nice day.
OK, off to the grocery store and then onto my redecorating project.
Marianne

[Sea Fan]

http://www.klesickfamilyfarm.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/laborday_400.jpg

Punki you are busy!!! I'm sure your house looks lovely you need to post a picture when it's done. Jim and were just saying we need another train trip to Seattle we rent a care and stay at one of the B&B's on the Islands....Heaven!
I'm doing all my reading on the Kindle but thank you for the offer to send it my way.

Mary, you will settle into a routine soon. You have to be pulled 100 different ways right now, but it's so exciting!

Marianne OMG yes the peeing is still going on, I have a run cleaner out EVERY DAY! I have a rug in my family room that has to go. Hard wood in the living room that he rarely goes on. {{sigh}} I envy you your rug!
My step sister raises the most darling shih tzu all of my family have bought one from her....they never pee in the house??? WTH!

Okay I'm off to see mom, Have a lovely day

Dianne

[timeormoney]

Hope everyone had a great fun and relaxing holiday. We went to the county fair a couple of times, one night saw Montgomery Gentry the next night Rodney Atkins. Had to sit in the rain with a poncho on for the Sat night show as it just kept drizzling all day and night. Today is beautiful though, a little cooler and sunny.

Smooth I almost had rays of sunshine coming from my computer screen as you talked about running! How nice you enjoy it so much. And I love the blue dress, you look beautiful in it. I'm going to buy some of the Roc that you mentioned, see if it works for me too.

Lady Chew both me and my DH love to read, I'm with you on mysteries and thrillers, can't wait to get to the end, then sorry they are over with when I finish reading them.

Punki, isn't nice when someone thinks you are younger than you are? I have had the opposite happen though also. For instance, when you order something at the drive-up window and when you get around to the pay window they say oh, I'll give you the senior rate....without you even saying anything!GRRRRR Loved how wonderful it sounded too when you wrote, having Joe beside you when you got the 100 red roses would be the best of blessings.

Diane that Trilogy I mentioned also has vampires in it. How much weight have you lost now, sounds like you are doing terrific.

Marianne I used to have 2 minature dashunds, they also liked to pee on the carpeting. Now have a bigger dog, and she doesn't do that although she does have an incontinent problem and takes medicine for it. Your master bedroom redo sounds very pretty, feels good to change things sometimes.

Paula hope you are not getting flooded out with Lee!

Kelly, we have a mexican grocery store in town and everytime you go past it they have this lovely roasting pork smell coming out of their outside vents. Funny, our regular grocery store has chicken smell coming out of theirs.

[Lady Chew]

Anyone ever experienced Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? I'm sitting here typing with a brace on, trying to figure out if that's what I've got (symptoms don't match exactly) or if there's something else going on ... maybe I wrenched my shoulder when we were traveling last week ... this started up when we got back) ...

It's the hand I eat with, though, so maybe that'll slow me down!!

[Wayfairers]

It's the hand I eat with, though, so maybe that'll slow me down!!

I LIKE your attitude!!

Tina

[Mama Lapin]

Hello, Girls,

We have had some mighty rough weather the past two days, but we desparately needed the rain, so I am not complaining. I woke up to temperature in the 60's and wore a sweater to work. It is almost fall!

Speaking of work... As I start the second week, I am starting to see things that are exciting. The school kids came today and they were so cute and so excited. I am a career educator and I have missed teaching since I retired, so I think I will enjoy that part. The planetarium still scares the begeebies out of me. So much to learn and so many computer controls to master, but it is a challenge and I like challenges. I am thinking that they are so thrilled to have good people working for them that they gladly give you travel time off. And they had no qualms with giving me 10 days off in Sept, so that's good!

Heard from DS and DIL today. She has had complications with the pregnancy and wasn't sure if the doctor would give her the O.K. to cruise in 8 days, but she did, so we are set to go! Now, I just have to pack!

By the way, my newest grandchild is a BOY!

Sounds like you are all well and busy little bees. We are all very blessed, aren't we?

Hugs,
Paula

[Wayfairers]

Hope everyone enjoyed Labor Day weekend. Since we quit work it is just like every other day for us, but I used to love those 3 day weekends while working!

Paula – hope you didn’t get too much rain. We got the outside edge of TS Lee so we got about ¾ of a day of that wonderful light hurricane rain. We definitely needed it. Those just south and east of us got several inches. Glad work is going well – sounds like you picked a perfect job for you… congrats! Glad your DIL got the ok for the planned cruise. Congrats on the new grandson!

Lady Chew – gotta say it is easier to talk about the cancer electronically than in person. But, while I don’t advertise it I don’t mind talking about it anymore – it was a great wakeup call for me to pay attention to my body and I try to use it to tell others to do the same.

Dianne – yeah, the Sookie Stackhouse novels are about vampires.

Punki – work definitely interferes with play and travel. Glad we could quit it so young… lucky we are 2 thrifty engineers without kids and could make it work for us. Have to say though, thankful I wasn’t born rich… I don’t think I would enjoy what we have as much if I hadn’t worked for it and I know I wouldn’t appreciate it as much.

Mary – hang in there you will have a routine and have a handle on things before you know it. On busy days I try to use the crock pot for dinner – that way you don’t have to worry about stopping whatever you are doing to start cooking at a certain time.

Marianne – please post pics of the new master when it is done… I am always looking for ideas. Laughed at the reason you don’t like to read books… most of my friends who went to Catholic schools have similar stories, not always about books, but boy, those nuns are strict!

We are enjoying the cooler weather – our high today was 72…. Amazing considering we had a heat index of 105 just a few days ago. Loving it!! Gotta go finish the chicken and dumplings I’m cooking for dinner. Hope it is good – I love to try new recipes and this is another new one.

Tina

[bobandkelly]

Hello! had our first touch of frost last night, it seems way to soon to start with it being that cold.

Tina, chicken and dumplings, that sounds so good. If you like the recipe please post it in the recipe section, with the weather turning colder I'll be looking for those warm comfort foods.

Paula, I'll add DDIL to my prayers. At least the dr didn't think it serious enough to make her stay home from the cruise. I'm glad that the new job is turning out to be a good fit for you, now you can continue to make a difference in kids lives!

Lady Chew, my DH has carpal tunnel, his wrists and hands go numb. He has had numerous cortisone shots, they are trying to put off the surgery as long as possible. I did have a few days of some numbness in one of mine but I realized I had slept with it bent so I was careful after that and have not had any more problems.

Ok, time for some tv,
Kelly

[Wayfairers]

Where is the recipe section... I haven't found that yet

I didn't care for the chicken and dumpling recipe, but my husband loved it. I thought it was too dry but he said that is how he likes it.

Tina

[cruisingcouple2008]

PAULA CONGRATS girlfriend a BOY !!!!! Good for you how exciting !!!!

Kelly omg you said frost???? oh man Im gettin nervous already I HATE winter and will hate it even more this year since Im not going on a cruise for SuperBowl and wont be going til April....

Ok girls I started back again yes I know again to the gym tonight and I did 10 minutes of Insanity workout this morning.. now.. if I could just get rid of this flabby belly...

When you all talk about making soup all the time is it because it has less calories? or it fills you up? or what? My only problem is I cant handle like condensed or even progresso soups since I had my gaulbladder out they make me so sick. Could one of you or some of you post a vege soup recipe that you use if its for weight loss or appetite or whatever the reason.

I really need to lose weight and the only problem I have with soup is .....BREAD!!!!!!!!!! I love to dunk... maybe I'll have to go to boring old crackers.

With the carpel tunnel its not just the numbness, but the aching shooting pains in your lower arms right through your wrists and into hands.... I know I need to do something about it, but Ill be darned if Im not gonna be able to use the computer or use some of my sick time for something like that... I just deal with it and some people even use braces for when they are typing or lifting files etc...

K I better go to bed I really wanna eat.... what do you think about popcorn? Its Orville light... the snack size bag.??? I would prefer the butter kind or even the kind you make Ellen but I will sacrifice... at least its food in my mouth.:D

[Sea Fan]

Amy I don't know how these will affect your Gall bladder but these are some weight watcher ones
http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2006/01/day-285-weight-watchers-zero-points.html (http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure.blogspot.com/2006/01/day-285-weight-watchers-zero-points.html)

I know longer need to eat bread or crackers with them.
I hope they work out for you what causes the problems???

Paula very exciting news about a Grandson coming into your life I can tell you they are pretty awesome!
Your job sounds amazing I know you can do this...wow wow wow you cruise in 8 days...heaven!

Tina, Now I'm looking forward to the the Sookie Stackhouse novels! I will download them tomorrow.

Kelly No you did not!!! Really Frost!!!

Lady Chew I can't help you with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome except to say I hope you don't have it.

Marianne I'm wanting to see some pictures of your handy work also :D

Sharon, your concerts sounded like a really good time and your dedicated sitting in the rain:D
I have lost 16.2 pounds since June 3rd thanks for asking LOL only 30 or 40 more to go!:rolleyes:

I was lazy today I shouldn't have been but it was Freddie Mercury's (Queen)Birthday yesterday so I started off listening to a 90 minute concert of his in London in 1986 on you tube and LOL the day got away from mE. It was music music music...now wine LOL I'm going to bed.

See ya tomorrow

Dianne

[cruisingcouple2008]

Thanks Dianne Im gonna try and find a minute to look at it at work

[mycruz]

Good morning ladies!

I was diagnosed with Carpel Tunnel when I first went to work for Disney. I have a mild case and it seems to respond best to rest, so LadyChew, resting that hand and arm, including when you eat should help! Try to use your other had as much as possible when you do need to use your hands. I know, easier said than done!

Kelly, really? frost? and Paula, a sweater? OMG! I love sweater weather but we're months away from that down here. Our winter shows up around Jan. 1st and is over by Feb. 1st, not complaining at all. I've noticed even here that the humidity has backed off a little the last week or so.

Things with work are moving along, I'm just a little overwhelmed with the amount of technical stuff I need to do and know to get everything set up. So Paula, I understand how intimidating all that techno stuff can be. I'm also glad to hear you are enjoying it more now that the kiddies are coming in.

I just saw that the shore excursions have opened up for our Amazon cruise. Any of our newer posters ever been? Got any suggestions?

Leaving on Saturday morning for Vegas if you and Jim want to hop down Dianne and have dinner one night! :) Still working on Carl and our fall get-a-way and pulling for a Napa Valley trip! Will keep you posted, something tells me it's going to be very last minute since I've left it all up to him to plan! SOP:eek:

Ok, I'm getting up from my laptop and work and getting my fanny to the gym! Today's my favorite class, I missed last week so I'm ready! Hope you all have a great day, check ya'll later! Mary

[smoothdancer]

Oh Mary, I too vote for Napa Valley! It has been many years since we vacationed there, but one of my favorite land vacations. We did not have any points to use so we stayed at a B&B which was extra fun.

Yes, it is sweater weather here too. I think we got some of the tail end of Lee, so I feel for you Paula. I hope your dad did ok in NO. Yesterday it rained like crazy and today is just raw..... Come Thursday though, rain or no rain I will go back out running.

The soups... well some can be quite high in calories... I dont make soups for the lo calories, they are more like a comfort food for me once fall and winter arrives.

Now all, about the blue gown... That picture was from when it fit, not me today! But I am being very dedicated to my eating plan and have hopes to wear it. The last time I wore that gown I was at 117 pounds, and since decided that weight is not right for me at all.... Everyone looks wonderful in these gowns when you are pencil thin, but outside of the gown, you just look sick....and thats how it got to be for me. I wont bring myself down that low again. Still, because these gowns do have some stretch I am hopeful I can still pull it off.

My dance partner is quite busy right now so Nick is going to fill in and be my practice partner. His body is not up to competing anymore, but I am very much looking forward to practicing with him once a week... We start this Friday. I am thrilled about this new development!! He was so quick to agree to this I am guessing he misses dancing more then he has let on!

Lunch break over, back to the numbers!!

[bobandkelly]

Wine-thirty! Hope everyone is having a good hump day! I did week 1, day 2 of the c25k this morning. I've switched to doing cardio 3x week and strength 2x with 2 rest days. I had not been running seriously and Smooth just has me inspired! Hopefully I'll lose these last pounds I want gone. I'm to the weight I was when DD moved in but I had just got back from vacation then and was heavier than I had been so I'm hoping to get back to the weight that I had been at.

Smooth, I think you are wise to not want to be so thin, I'm short and 117 would be hard for me. I've been happy in the past at 120 and that was easy to maintain. So I'm hoping i can get back to that spot. I'm sure you and Nick will have a wonderful time dancing together again!

Mary, any kind of a fall get away sounds good to me right now. I've never been to Napa Valley so if you go you'll have to take pics to sell me on it! I do know that there is wine involved there so it must be good!

Dianne, I so wanted to turn on that concert when I read about it. Maybe tomorrow or Friday when I'm babysitting and can't do homework. I have a paper I need to get done and I am seriously lacking the motivation, watching Freddie sounds like so much more fun!

Amy, yes I said the F word and we had it again last night. It feels to early for this to start. I'm glad we are cruising in Feb. I will need the sunshine, warm weather, and just to get away. I'm like Smooth, I make soup because I like it and it's good to have on hand for a quick lunch. I like to make something besides just vegetable, I like having protein in it and that can come from black beans, cannellini beans, or lentils. I also like to add a link or two of hot Italian sausage, it gives so much flavor and when you think about it one or two links in a big pot is not very much as far as the cals go. If you are going to eat bread just limit your portions and make sure it's whole grain. I love bread and I love baking it, that's the one thing I like about winter is baking bread. It just isn't the same when it's 90 degrees out!

Tina, to bad about the chicken & dumplings, could you add more liquid? We have two recipe sections right under the Meno Sisters thread. One is cooking fun and other is 1/2 the cooking fun for lighter calorie foods. We've only got a couple of recipes so far but I'm sure as time goes on we'll add more.

Marianne, how goes the bedroom redo? Can't wait to see pics! I'm thinking it's time to change out my living room blinds. For summer I've had reed blinds but it's time for fall/winter which will mean fabric roman blinds. It's a quick change since I got smart and left the board up for the roman blinds and I'm using velcro to attach them. I use to take the boards down and put them back up, what a pain. They don't show because of the valance and you can't see them from outside so why was I going through that?

Ok, it's almost baby's bedtime then DD and I are going to hot tub. She is moving soon, the new job starts next Wed. Pray for a nice day care, her BF is going to look at two tomorrow. Baby will have to stay with us during the week until she finds someplace for him. We are hoping it will just be those three days next week.
Kelly

[smoothdancer]

Very cool Kelly, I am so glad I inspired you:) to run again! When my nonsense rambling on does some good it makes me smile!!
I read along on a very active running thread of runners over 40. I post now and then but most of the time just read... Great motivation and info from all different runners... Here is a link to the message board thread for you. Take a look, I think you will enjoy the conversation. I so relate to some of the postings. It is funny, out of all the different threads it is this over 40 thread that took off, just like us.... Grin

http://community.active.com/message/1079491

Go figure someone had my name, so I am Smoothdancer1!!

Yes, you have to be careful with weight... I am 5'6 and I remember when I brought myself down to 117 and when I looked in the mirror I was so happy with what I had done, so proud of myself, I loved how I felt..... A gal that I competed with often that was pretty overweight for a comp dancer came up to me and said please dont loose anymore weight... At the time I was pretty taken back by her comment and thought she just has no willpower and what a thing to say to me, assumed she was envious. (Comp ladies can be quite nasty!!) Now looking back she was trying to help me, I had taken it too far.... LOL, only you ladies will I confess to such vain feelings!! My goal for the competition is 5 more pounds bringing me to 130 and my final goal is 125 which I think for my age and height is a good goal.

Ohh...so I have been working.... First I thought I was going to start a book thread since we all have had great conversations on books... But then I thought what a pain to have to scroll back through all our posts... What we really need is a list yet the Cruise Critic board does not support something like this. So I have begun a list and will make it a listing on my website, and then provide a link to you all.... Then it will all be in one place.... I am working on copying and pasting all of the recommendations everyone has posted so far, should have it ready next week.... You can all continue to post suggestions and I will just grab your text and put it in the list....

BTW, I have finished The Stolen Life by Jaycee, and sad to say this will not go on my recommend list.... It is unbeleivable what happened to her, and wish I could recommend this book, but the book is not well done...

Like Marianne, previous I only picked up a book to read on a cruise, but thanks to Janey she motivated me to entertain myself with books. Which by the way where is Janey???

[PunkiC]

Over the years, I too have been told I have Carpel Tunnel Syndrome on numerous occasions, and have a drawer full of various devices that I have been told to wear, some when I am awake and some when I am asleep. The best thing that I have found is just to ignore it and it will go away. Of course resting it, and switching hands when it is really acting up, helps. Repetitive tasks are the worst, like painting or hanging out on the computer for too long.

Then eventually, of course, I got arthritis in my hands and feet, so now I just take Aleve when I am doing something which will cause me stress, like painting my house, and hope for the best. :) It seems like the older we get the more pain there is that just needs to be ignored. Fortunately, none of the pain I have endured thus far is sufficient to induce me to have surgery. I just don't much like the idea of people cutting into me. :p

Unlike those of you who are getting cooler weather, we are finally enjoying summer here in Seattle and will continue to do so for the rest of the week. Monday our grand-nephew taped up all the windows in our bedroom and sitting room for painting and I thought I would die last night. So after work tonight, DH and DGN painted all of the area above our sitting room and bedroom windows so we could pull down the plastic and tape and open the windows. It is pretty rare to actually have air-conditioning in private homes here in the Northwest so open windows are a big deal for us.

On the book front, I am currently listening to "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon when I am driving or painting, and I am enjoying it enough that I am contemplating reserving his other audio books.

When I am waiting for something or falling asleep, I am reading "The Ghost" by Robert Harris, but I haven't gotten into it far enough to form an opinion.

They used this new hand disinfectant for the Eucharistic Ministers at Mass on Sunday and I had quite an allergic reaction to it. As a result, my eyes have been swelling and itching for the past three days. I did speak with our pastoral associate and ask for a scent-free variety of disinfectant in the future. This happened once at the gym and I could barely breath, even after washing my hands. Who thinks of putting scent in hand disenfectant?

Friday we are flying down to California for our SIL's 70th birthday party and it is frustrating to be so fat for that occasion, but maybe that will be a good lesson to me and finally for me to get my butt in gear and keep it there.

We all need to find the weight that really works for us and I know full well that this weight is just too darned much. Oh, well onward and upward (or downward) as the case may be.

Later, Punki

[waserdog]

Whew!! Just got caught up on all the posts! I have been substituting everyday and they have had some issues with the internet so I have not been able to get on to read during school hours and also, I've actually had to teach! :eek: Believe it or not, READING! LOL Today I just had 2 remedial classes and asked the kids as a "reverse" question, let's see a show of hands of who DOESN'T like reading and more than half the class raised their hands. Most said it was because they just read words and can't comprehend. So, I proceeded to share why I don't enjoy novels and promised we would read a short story in class that we would all enjoy. It worked out wonderfully because I kept explaining what was happening to keep interest and it did show them that reading can be enjoyable. They were all impressed that they knew the answers to the comprehension questions. Unfortunately, when they read for tests, no one is going to read to them with enthusiasm so it will probably revert back to reading just words. At least we all enjoyed the class! Who knows, you lovely ladies may just influence me enough to pick of a novel! LOL
Amy, I make vegetable soup with a head of cabbage, brocolli, onions, mushrooms, celery and any other veggies available that look good. I add seasoned diced tomatoes and a container of chicken broth. It is more soft veggies than soup. I have IBS so I have to have my veggies cooked soft. I eat it to fill me up prior to dinner. Funny thing, DH loves the veggies and can't survive without them. He really misses them when we go on vacation.
Tina, I will post pics just as soon as I get the new comforter and have the chair reupholstered. I would love, love, love to see a high of 72!!
Kelly, can't believe you are already cooling down. We've got Atlanta planned in a couple weeks so I just told my sister she better bring a sweatshirt or sweater. We'd need coats in WI! hahahaha Hope it all works out with the child care for your grandson.
Paula, hope to finalize the cabin in the next few days and then will email you directions so you and Jack can party with us!! WHAHOOOOO!!!!
Mary, take me with you to Vegas!!! I also loved Napa Valley!
Dianne, it's so awesome that you are shrinking! We are about running neck in neck in this journey down! Don't you feel so proud when clothes now fit or are too big?
Smooth, I once weighed 99 lbs. and was so thrilled to be that thin until I overheard someone talking about my sis and myself saying how my sis was very attractive but the skinny one had no curves! LOL It took me a few minutes to realize they meant me!!!! Never have to worry about them saying that again! hahaha
OK, more kids coming in but they are advanced classes so won't ask them who doesn't like reading! LOL
Marianne

[waserdog]

Punki, your post at 4:25 a.m., was that our time or yours? LOL Hope you have fun at the bday party. You will look lovely and no one will know you think you are fat!
Marianne

[lidoplease]

Hi girls!
been a busy work week as usual...so glad tomorrow is friday! i am on call for work this weekend though which sort of puts a damper on things...sigh...

we cruise in 4 weeks...can hardly wait! i hope we get to go to Bermuda-have never been there--but this is a risky time of year and will just have to see.

I haven't read anything good lately that i would recommend...right now i am rereading some of my old Eloisa James books. if you like romance--she is a high caliber writer. as is julia quinn.

i did buy an Evanovich to take on my cruise--i had to stick it away so i won't read it ahead of time...lol...

take care everyone,
janey

[PunkiC]

Good to see you posting Janey. I haven't seen you in a while.

Marianne, I wasn't up at 4:00 my time, so that must have been your time. ;) How fun it is that you will be getting together with Paula and Jack for a party. I love parties.

Tonight I came home from work literally bone tired. After I ate it was all I could do to drag myself upstairs to lie down. I slept for a few hours and woke up realizing that I was going to have to touch up my roots before I go to California in the morning. Eeeeek! The color I got is darker than usual and I am very curious to see what Joe has to say in the morning. :p My hair dresser is trying to get me to go lighter and lighter, but I hate my hair lighter, so I will stick to my (once and future) natural shade.

I use a temporary color that doesn't have any amonia so it doesn't last more than a month or so anyway, but I try to keep it reasonably consistent.

Did you hear that there was a huge power outage in SoCal? It affected some flights and caused quite a big mess tonight, but I am hoping that everything will be cleared up by tomorrow. Of course, today Joe decied that he was too busy to leave at noon, upon which he had previoulsy insisted, so I will have to check early in the morning and see if we can fly on a confirmed standby in first class. I am not going to fly in coach just to gain two extra hours in the office. He can work by phone and internet from California. A girl has to maintain her standards. ;)

Paula, I am just so, so jealous over the new little grandbaby. I don't know if I ever get one, but if I do, I am sure I will be totally unbearable--I have waited so long. So many of my classmates alread have great-grandchildren.

I seem to more or less recovered from my crazy allergic reaction to that darned disinfectant. At least my eyes are no longer all swollen up when I get up in the morning and the itching has subsided. I am just hoping that I will be able to wear contacts for the big party on Saturday. If not, I will have to once again be the mysterious lady in dark sunglasses like I was at my nephew's wedding last winter.

I had better get back to sleep if I am going to be on the phone to the airline at 6:30.

Ciao, Punki

[Paris11]

HI ladies

DH has been sick since Sunday. He was supposed to fly out after returning from our weekend away, but stayed home and has seen 3 doctors with no real answers to his symptoms. Please send up prayers for him. I have also watched the GSs all week which has made DH feel very neglected. I need better bed side manner when it comes to caring for him:o

Just stopping by for a quick note.

DD leaves for her study abroad in London on Sept 11th. Scary day for a Mom to send her child on a plane, but the college only picks students up that day. She has never been to London, so we figured she should be met at the airport and taken to her new home rather than fend for herself the first day.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Ellen

[timeormoney]

Janey, hope the weather calms down so you get to go to Bermuda, seems those hurricanes are coming one after another right now!

Paris, prayers to your DH, dealing with him, taking care of your GS and your daughter going to London all at the same time sounds pretty stressful, hang in there.

Punki we heard about the power outage, sure did cover a large area, but sounds like they got it back up and running in record time. Yesterday when I colored my hair I used a dark blonde, it turned out much darker than I like, but a few shampoos and it will fade into something more to my liking. Hope you get to rest up so you can enjoy your trip.

Marianne, your motivation just might make some of those kids in your class readers, since they saw how enjoyable it can be. I have always loved to read, even as a child I always did the summer book clubs at the library.

Smooth, I am only 5ft 3in so when I gain weight it really shows. I would love to get down to 130, I think, at least right now, that I might be happy at that weight. I agree you don't want to get so thin people wonder whats the matter with you! Great that you DH is dancing again, he's lost a lot of weight also hasn't he?

Kelly, frost....now I'm wondering what kind of clothes to bring on our trip, guess I'll have to do some "layering". One night recently we got down to 44, but no frost yet, thank goodness.

[smoothdancer]

My DH did loose 25 pounds and then lost his momentum. He is very overweight and I am quite disappointed that he gave up on it, but I have learned over the years only to nag a little!! It does no good. To say though that I dont worry about him would not be the truth... I have concerns over his health daily.

Funny, just last night I was laying in bed thinking about just how hard weight loss is.... Geez, can you beleive I was thinking about this when I should of been sleeping!! But I think it is very hard, a constant battle of the mind and willpower and here when I read of someone's success I dont take it lightly because I know how hard it is..... Now, regardless of how hard I dont use it as an excuse, just accept how hard it is... Actually, I am only 4 pounds away from my goal for competition, to be at 130 which will be a 20 pound loss for me. I have 3 weeks left to reach this goal and I am pretty confident I will reach the goal, and join Paula in the 20 pound club!

Ellen, glad to hear from you and sorry for your DH battle.... My sister also had a daughter that did an exchange progam in Sidney, and poor sis was a mess for a good month!!

Oh no, Janey I sure hope the weather does not effect your Bermuda cruise.... Such a wonderful place to cruise to.... I am glad you stopped by to say hi to us so I dont worry about you!!

Paula, is your dad OK over there in NO... They had some pretty bad weather I read.... Yippie, our rain from Lee is finally gone, beautiful end of summer day here today....

Marianne, I loved your reading story in your sub class... I bet you are an awesome sub! Do you get to see the same kids now and then or are you always in different classes??

I LOVE Fridays at 7:00 (time here right now), means I have a whole 2 days of playtime before the hamster wheel starts again.... Off to find something fun to do!!

[Mama Lapin]

Evening, Girls,

I guess I hadn't realized that it has been a few days since I checked in with you guys. This whole idea of working is kicking my butt. I am so unaccustomed to having a schedule and this one is crazy, with no two days being the same. I am still in training and painfully aware of how much I don't know about science. I am expected to teach soon, so I had better get with it.

And I planned this quite well: work two weeks, have two weeks off. So next week at this time, we will be sailing down the Mississippi. It is quite an experience and I love it. I can't wait to do this with DS and DIL. I don't think that they had planned on taking a "babymoon" when we booked in February, but it worked out to be just that. I sure hope that she feels well on this trip; you never know about seasickness. And this trip gives us a chance to visit with my dad pre and post cruise. He is 90 and spry as can be, but I do still worry about him.

So Jan, you must be a tiny boned woman. I am 5'6" as well, but the last time I weighed 130 people were telling me that I looked too thin and ill. (Of course, I thought I was hot! HAHAHA) But I have a big frame. I don't think I could get to 117....seriously. But I do have to say that you girls have been such a wonderful influence on me. I am 24 pounds lighter than I was the day I meet you all 15 months ago and I am back to my happy weight. Thanks for motivating me and making me accountable.
(And BTW, Jan, I share the frustration over the hubby's health. I nag a little bit, too, but it hasn't seemed to make much of a difference. Sigh.)

Kelly...Are you serious? It is that cold already???? Awwwwwww.... Hot tub time. I sure hope that your DD is happy in her new job. How's school? You are in your last year, right?

Ellen...Prayers for all of you, especially your DH. I hope that your daughter enjoys her once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Marianne, I am so excited about our little party, I can hardly stand it. I will see you the day after we get home and anticipating our meeting will make getting off the ship bearable. We are going to have such fun!

Enjoy your weekend, girls. I get to spend Sunday afternoon in the planetarium, trying to learn this complicated computer program. To infinity and beyond......

Hugs,
Paula

[PunkiC]

Greetings from Southern California. I think you all know that I went to school down here in the 60s and it is almost impossible to comprehend how much it has changed. I am sure glad I live in Seattle now and not still down here. It is way to close to LaLa Land.

Anyway our flight was uneventful and fun. Alaska has free onboard wifi this month, so we enjoyed playing with our iPhones all the way. :) When we left the airport we stopped by our nephews' office which is just a couple of miles away and visited their ad agency operation. Our SIL started the business, but she is more or less retired now. Later we went out to dinner with Joe's brother and the SIL whose birthday we are here to celebrate. She sure looks fabulous for 70, but then she has always been a very attractive woman. Tomorrow is the big shindig and then there is a family brunch on Sunday.

Ellen, I do hope your husband gets better quickly. Three doctors? Is this something serious or just mysterious at this point? I don't know if you were around last year but I got really, really sick for two months, with crazy blood pressure of 219/129 which wouldn't respond to medication. They did every test in the book before we finally figured out that it was a reaction to drinking herbal tea with licorice root. It took me almost a year to really recover. Sheees, the things that can go wrong.

Your DD will be just fine, but I certainly understand your worry. When our DD went to Copenhagen as an exchange student at 17, she had to spend a day and night in NYC with a bunch of AFS students and I was a nervous wreck about her being in NYC, an now she lives there. ;)

Oh Paula, I can't wait to hear about your Mississippi River cruise. Is it on one of those big paddle boats? That is something we have always wanted to do. One of these days we will squeeze it in.

Yes, smooth, losing weight has always been the biggest challenge I have had to face and one with which I have struggled constantly my entire life, but I guess, in the grand scope of things, that makes me pretty darned lucky. ;) Honestly, I think fighting it myself is probably easier than patiently trying to be supportive of a mate who has to struggle. I am afraid if that were the case, I would be too pushy and say all of the things that I would hate Joe to say to me so, in our marriage, I guess it is really best that I am the one with the problem and he is the one for whom weight has never been an issue. I really do need to get serious with myself pretty soon here or I am going to end up looking like a fat little butterball at my reuinon and that would really make me sad.

Now, I must get back to sleep so I will be well-rested tomorrow to enjoy the family.

Punki

[Wayfairers]

Ellen – Sorry to hear your DH is sick… hope you find out what is going on soon. In the meantime I will be praying for him (and you). Bet your DD is going to love London – I had a friend that lived there a few years and loved it. Hope tomorrow isn’t too stressful for you… I’m sure she will be fine. My niece was in Lisbon for a month this summer and my sister, like Jan’s, was a mess the whole time – thank goodness for FB and phones.

Punki – My favorite area in Southern CA is Palm Springs area. I used to think I wanted to live along the Southern CA coast because it was nice in the mid-90s, but it is too crowded now… and yeah, too close to LaLa land.

Marianne – you sound like the kind of sub I would have wanted in school! Glad you are enjoying that…. So many subs seem to hate being there.

Paula – sounds like work is interesting at least ☺ Have fun on the river cruise – I would like to do that one sometime so I’m very interested in hearing about it when you return.

Next week is going to be a busy one…. Got to go to KY on Sunday to represent DH’s very large extended family and meet with some people on Monday about the cemetery the family’s parents (DH’s great-grandparents) are buried in. We were asked to be the family’s representatives because (1) we live closer to the cemetery than anyone else (3.5hr drive) and (2) we are one of the few people in our generation or DH’s Dad’s generation that actually understand that the family history will disappear if someone doesn’t do this type of thing. Oh well… someone has to do it. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but I do feel it is important.

Anyway… Friday I drive to my sister’s house in Memphis to spend the day/night with her family – don’t see them that often. I will leave DH at home and my BIL is working so my sister and I will have some time alone Friday while kids are in school – always nice. I spent a lot of time with her in 2010 helping her as she recovered from back surgery and we got close for the first time since becoming adults. She has been a little jealous since we retired early and I’ve been a little jealous of her having kids. It was great that we were able to work through all that and get to know each other as adults…. We were close growing up and had really grown apart.

Then when I return home on Saturday my other sister/BIL (the one that was sick – they live in East TN) will be at my parents house and we are all going out for dinner to celebrate my birthday (#46 is 9/19). Then east TN sister/BIL and parents leave for Greece on Sunday and we leave for east TN on Tuesday for a month.


Tina

[timeormoney]

Jan so close to your goal, I'm sure you will get there. As for nagging, I'm afraid I do some of that to my DH in regards to his smoking. He just replies that he started when he was in the navy, no matter that that was umpteen years ago and he should know better now. It also makes finding a cruise a little more difficult with the restrictions that many of them are putting on smoking in rooms and even balconies. He never smokes in the room, but sitting out on the balcony is a whole different story.

Paula, seems you have a firm seat on the weight loss wagon, how did you do that, 24 pounds is wonderful I'm sure you feel terrific. Hope the hurricanes don't get in your way either on your cruise. When we cruised out of New Orleans we really enjoyed the trip to the gulf by way of the Mississippi, seemed like it went on for hours, so relaxing. My grandson and family recently moved down to Louisiana, a place called Denham Springs.

Tina, what are your plans for the whole month in TN? Nice you and your sister have reached a place of mutual understanding. I have one sister and we have always gotten along really well.

Punki sounds like a fun trip and lots of visiting to catch up with each others lives.

Wonder how Trish is doing?

[Wayfairers]

Sharon - we will be in the RV in Townsend which is about a half hour from my sister/BIL (always got along with this sister) and (in the opposite direction) my DH's Mother/Stepfather so we will see them some while there. We also have a niece/nephew and old friends in the Knoxville area that we will see and we will spend a day driving around our old college day haunts in Knoxville.

We love to hike so as long as the weather cooperates we will hike in the Smokies at least once a week and we will ride our bikes around the Cades Cove loop at least once. Did that last year and I found out those hilly 11 miles are tougher than the same distance on flat ground - plus we had a terrible time fighting the cars. They would pull over to block us passing them and twice I had to push my bike up the hill because I lost all momentum when a car got in my way. This year we are going to try it during the time period the road is closed to cars. There is a great bike trail in Maryville that we will ride at least once too.

DH brews beer and he will brew a few days (probably while I visit with my sister) and we will go to a brewing club dinner while there.... we are there often enough that we joined that club and go to 2-3 meetings/dinners a year. His stepfather also brews and is a member of the club.

And, we will spend some days just relaxing.... learned early in our travels that you have to take time off from traveling - for us it is 1-2 days per week.

[bobandkelly]

Hello! so much going on how will I catch up!
First off, Ellen, I've been praying for your DD's flight and her time in London. I have a cousin who has lived there twice, him and his wife have both loved it. Also praying for wisdom for the Drs to find out what is wrong with DH. It's so hard when they don't know what is wrong.

Paula, hoping you have a wonderful vacation! How far north does it go? do you go up and down or is it a one way? This is my last semester and I'm so excited. I'm going to miss DD and the little guy when they go but it will free up some time for homework and DH.

Speaking of DH, I understand what both you and Smooth deal with in the health of your DH's. I try not to nag because it is almost counter productive but it really bothers me sometimes to watch him over eat and joke about it. I so worry about diabetes, both his parents have it. I'm hoping that each of us will be able to influence our DH's towards good health.

Tina, I was just thinking about wine making as a new hobby. Not brewing but I like wine more than beer. It sounds like you and DH are very active, how wonderful that you share that. It's really nice that you did retire early and that gave you the opportunity to not only help your sis out but to connect with her and build that bond.

Sharon, even though we've had frost overnight the days have been nice. Tomorrow we are supposed to see 80 then cooling down next week. The leaves will probably beautiful for you trip! I'm hoping to go up to picture rocks but we'll have to see.

Punki! hope you are having a fun time in So Cal!

Marianne, I am so jealous that you are going to get to meet Paula! I'm hoping you all have a lot of fun and post pics! It won't be long and I'll be breaking out the mittens, lol. Really I do need to get my sweaters out and put away the shorts.

Janey, hoping the storms and hurricanes stay out of your way! I've never been to Bermuda but saw pics from a friend and it was beautiful!

Ok, I did not get to everyone but it's time for some tv. When I started this I had just come in from leaf casting. Probably the last time for this year since the frost is killing off the good leaves. We are going to do hypertufa pots if we can get all the stuff we need for it. And paint up some of the leaves! and I should do some homework in between all that fun!
Kelly

[Mama Lapin]

Oh.....Sorry if I confused everybody. We are sailing out of New Orleans. What most people don't realize is that you have to navigate down the Mississippi for about 6 hours before you reach the Gulf. You pass the oil fields and fishing camps. It is fascinating.

I do know that the Delta Queen will take you up the Mississippi to St. Louis, I think. That would be an interesting trip, too.

[bobandkelly]

Oh.....Sorry if I confused everybody. We are sailing out of New Orleans. What most people don't realize is that you have to navigate down the Mississippi for about 6 hours before you reach the Gulf. You pass the oil fields and fishing camps. It is fascinating.

I do know that the Delta Queen will take you up the Mississippi to St. Louis, I think. That would be an interesting trip, too.

Well it doesn't take much to confuse me! I have sailed out of NO, silly me didn't know how far it was and I was waiting to see the ocean. Finally gave up and went to sleep. I watched some clip a few weeks ago about a new riverboat they are building, can't remember the name.
Kelly

[mycruz]

Hello from Vegas!

How's it going everyone?

Ellen, I sure hope your DH is doing better and the Drs. can find out what's going on. I'm also sending prayer for him as well as safe flight today for your DD. She is beautiful! saw her picture that you posted on FB yesterday.

Smooth, you go! So close to goal I'm sure you'll be there before you know it.

Sis, I like the 2 week schedule, that's the way it should be!

Janey, hope you had a quiet weekend even though you are on call.

Kelly, Amy and everyone, have a great day. Even though I'm in Vegas, I'm working so I need to get moving. I have to be at the trade show at 9 but have some work to do first and I want to hit the gym for at least 30 minutes this morning.

Check ya'll later!

[bobandkelly]

Good Morning! Looks like everyone has had a busy weekend, not much posting going on. Hope everyone is good, I'm going to try to get some homework done this morning so I can get in nine holes of golf this afternoon. I think we are in the end of the really nice days so I want to take advantage of them. Then tonight is my long economics class, 4 hours, but at least it's accelerated so it will be done in Oct.

Mary, glad to hear the Vegas trip is going good and you are having some fun while working! You are more dedicated than me, I never work out when I'm away from home. I use to bring shoes/clothes for exercercise on the ship but it was more packing and I didn't use them that much. I liked waking on the track but trying to do it on the treadmill made me sick even with bonine.

Ok, I have a tb test I need to go and have done so I better get dressed.
Happy Monday!
Kelly

[waserdog]

I really enjoy reading about everyone's travel plans and weight loss journeys. My next trip is to celebrate my DB's 65th birthday. We are surprising him. I have a younger sister and brother that will also be there along with lazy 23 year old niece and her 5 year old DD. They live 35 miles south of me so I see them all the time but the Dawsonville, GA brother doesn't so he will be thrilled. Also his 4 DDs will all be in town because one of them lives near him and is due to have a baby on the 16th so they are planning on coming for his bday and the new baby. We rented a cabin that sleeps 12 so we will all fit along with a couple cousins from other states. My niece is going to call my DD today and try to convince her to join us and my DS may also but is waiting to see when he will be moving. This is going to be such fun!! Then on Sunday Paula and Jack will join us and meet all the crazies! LOL
Paula, hope to have the directions to the cabin before you leave but if I don't, I will email or FB message them to you. You can call me anytime when you get back from the cruise.
Wonder if any of you heard me yell for joy when the scale at WW's rewarded me and I finally got into the 130s. I'm down 16.5 and thrilled that I am finally getting into some of my smaller clothes.
Smooth, you are doing so well. I'm only 5'1" and should probably be 120 but I am satisfied at 130. I was there 3 years ago and all my backfat was gone so that's good enough for me! I have to be realistic because to maintain 120, I must constantly starve and the face starts looking worn.
Kelly, how awesome that you are getting to the end of school. I give you a lot of credit that you stuck with it since it certainly wasn't easy between caring for a baby and all the demands of family and the house. I like the idea of making wine. I could certainly get into that one.
Ellen, I was thinking about your DD all day yesterday. I'm sure she is in London all safe and sound by now and probably loving all the new things she's experiencing. Prayers for DH and hopefully you will have answers soon.
Mary, I KNOW you are enjoying Vegas. Hope the slot gods are being good to you! Enjoy your time with your sister.
Wayfairers, how wonderful that you and your sis were able to become close again. I have always been close to mine. When she was small, she was my baby doll to dress and play with since I'm 10 years older, then we grew into adults and she was always my sidekick. Your travel plans sound wonderful and it's great that you work in the exercise. DH and I always walk tons no matter where we go.
Timeormoney, that smoking thing can become an issue these days. I was thinking about it this morning because my niece and sister both smoke. The cabin we rented is a smoke/pet free place and it is written in several places on the contract I signed. My sister won't smoke in the place but I'm praying my niece won't sneak any. Also, all their clothes smell of it so hopefully the smell won't linger when the owner comes to inspect the premises after our stay.
Punki, I only work in 2 middle schools so I really get to know the kids since they are there for 3 years. I work most of the time in one school. Today and Wednesday I'll be shadowing a boy with asberger's and has OCD really bad so he needs to be reassured constantly that things are alright. He's gifted but stresses when he makes a mistake or gets behind. I talked with his mother and she explained to me how to help him. I have tons of down time so I'm able to play on my ipad and iphone but right now we are in a computer class so I get use of one of them. Yeah!!!
OK, off to find some new hairdo since I have let my grow for a couple months and now it is in desparate need of some styling. I have an appt. on Friday to color and cut.
Marianne