It's Sunday morning and the testing is over --- Banquet is at 10:30 this morning. We improved our score since the regional contest by 800 points. We'll see whether that is enough to move to the top ten. I'm afraid that it may not be. We'll be leaving San Antonio about 1:00 and will get home around 9:00. The best news of the day is that the rain has stopped.

__________________
Judy
Goal = <135, Current status = RIGHT ON TARGET!
Never give up. Never never never never give up -- Winston Churchill

What a gorgeous day!!! The sun is shining and it's amost 40 degrees. I couldn't stand to be inside, so I went out and washed my car and hubby pickup. Then I pruned my chrysanthemums and took down some christmas lights. Okay, so it's not spring and there is still some snow on the ground and the grass is frozen. But a girl can dream! It felt so darned good to be outside and not stuck in the house. I had to wait until hubby left for darts to do all this cause I knew I would be in deep trouble if he saw me do it all. My cold has totally blossomed into the worst one I have ever had. But, I won't let it stop me. I hardly slept last night between blowing my nose and coughing. I'd finally start to drift off and mother nature would remind me that my bladder isn't as young as it used to be. It won't be long now before I head off for a nap. But, this day, with this glorious weather, did more for me than a trip to town with $500 in my wallett and no bills to pay. (right, as if that would happen )
Peg: Sorry to hear about your hands. I wore the splints for a couple of years and finally had the surgery for carpal tunnell in my right hand. I was dropping everything and the pain at night was keeping me awake. A lot of people have a bad reaction to the surgery, but I had an excellent dr. and I'm so glad I had it done. Being a secretary, if I can't type, I'm out of a job. On the good side....5 lbs. in one week! Excellent! Keep up the good work.
BC: lol, if I could find a standing rib roast that I could afford, I sure wouldn't be painting it. What a meat draw is...hmmm, let's see if I can tell you without this turning into a book. We sell strips of tickets for $2....5 tickets to a strip. They are good for five draws on packages of meat that we get from our local store. Yesterday, there were roasts, chicken, ribs, hamburger, sausages and steaks. After the first draw we go around and sell the tickets again. The tickets are only good for that draw. The final draw of the day is for what is called a family pack. Enough meat for a week! It's just a way to get people to come into the Legion and support it. I didn't win anything yesterday but we have been lucky. It's nice to just go and be around people. Did my explanantion make sense?
Judy: We are all holding our breath to find out what happened!
Well, I'd better go and get veggies ready for dinner. I have a pork roast in the oven and it's starting to smell pretty good. The little I can smell being so plugged up. Hope you all had as good a weekend as I did.

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

I had a yard sale yesterday with some of my friends. This is the 4th yard sale we've had. In addition to passing on those things we don't need any longer, there's also an animal rescue (Companions In Waiting) table where we sell t-shirts, animal-themed baby quilts, sweatshirts, and totes. The CIW table did GREAT! A couple of quilts, some shirts, and totes were sold, AND -so wonderful- several people very kindly made some substantial contributions! WOW!!

I was thrilled to pass on two wing chairs, and lots of ... oh, you know - typical yard sale stuff! I made $235, pretty good. One of my friends, Art, even sold an old rusty anchor and chain (I couldn't believe it!). I was also pleased no end when one customer turned out to be a computer component recycler! Man, when I heard that I whipped into the garage and toted out 2 broken monitors and 2 broken printers. Computer peripherals are considered to be toxic waste so you can't just throw your broken computer stuff out with the garbage. I was just about to ~pay~ the 1-800-GOTJUNK to come and get the stuff!

I was exhausted from standing all day, and my back is quite sore now from all the lifting and carrying stuff. But, I shouldn't compain about my back as my sister is having a really bad bout with back pain - she can barely walk or even sit for very long. I made some LC cookies for her earlier today(she's a Type2 diabetic); then DH and I went over to vacuum and mop, change her sheets, etc. She's a really stoic person, so I know this must be just awful for her.

Then, too, we got the sad news that DH's mom died early this morning. She was quite elderly (DH was her youngest) and she's been in failing health for several months and was on a morphine drip. So ... my personal feeling is that I glad she didn't suffer longer. As far as I can tell, DH feels the same way (he's one of those internal people who don't expose much), or maybe he just hasn't processed it yet. I think this loss may more difficult for his older siblings who were much closer to her. She was a bit ...eccentric... by the time DH was a little boy, and the two oldest kids were already out of the house. I've sort of figured he mostly raised himself. DH was back to see his mom two weeks ago and he'll probably fly out to Arizona for a memorial service on Tuesday. The current plan is that he'll then help his brother drive from Arizona to Illinois where she will be buried next to her husband. Things are still up in the air, but I'll probably be on my own most of the week.

Well, I made it most of the way through my personal no sweets/nuts challenge, but I decided to go back to my normal LC eating a day early. I didn't lose any weight this week, so it wasn't really helping. I was eating quite low carb, but quite high fat, too. I think I am just going to have to clamp down on calories to get back to my desired weight. I see a lot of veggies in my future.

Judy, were all waiting to hear on the results of the competition, so keep us posted. I don't know the context, but 800 points sounds like a lot!

BC, I hope you've recovered from your chiropractic session - at least the "scenery" was pleasant, LOL! One of my vets is a Christopher Reeves look-alike, so I know what you mean about your practioner being so good looking!

Lauri, I hope the moving went well (ugh!). I cannot even imagine how all you sisters managed to schedule moves within the same 2-week period!

Donna, if you managed to get outside to wash a car in 40-degree weather,with a cold even; you are one tough lady indeed!

Everyone else - drop us a note and let us know what's up!

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

I"M SOOOOOOOO TIRED!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Think I'll take about a dozen advil and go to bed! We got alot of sister 1's stuff moved this weekend, but there is still alot to do. It's kind of a domino thing here. Sister 1 has built a house and that's where we've been spending our weekends. Hubby put up all the light fixtures in their house, plus alot of other stuff. Well, they were living with our parents during the construction, and that's where the dominos come in....Sister 1 has to move out of the parents house so that we can move in (that house is part of my inheritance) and be there to take care of our aging parents. Once I move out of the house we are currently in, sister 2 will move into that one (part of her inheritance). Sister 2 has her own business, and she had already notified her contacts that she would be moving, so she's pretty anxious to make that happen. Also, sister 3 has been remodeling her house and is moving back in this weekend, but she is about 2 hours away and thankfully doesn't need our help for this one!

Judy, let us know how the kids did as soon as you can. We are all rooting for them!

Donna, hope your cold gets better soon...don't overdue too much or you may get even worse!

BC, I've never been to a Chiropractor, but hubby has been going for the last 9 months and is finally just about there. Now there will just be the occasional tune ups.

Peg, I hope those measures the Dr is recommending will give you the relief you need. And way to go on those 5 pound!!!

Off to bed now everyone!

__________________
Dragonmom
155/123/130 (highest 175)

Hey Gang,
How nice to see all of you posting!

Peg, I know this is a workday for you, hope you can catch up tomorrow!

Judy, thanks for the update; sure hope the kids did well enough to be in the top 10. Even if not, they must have worked awfully hard to improve their scores so much. I know you are proud of them either way. Can?t wait to hear??

Teel, I?m so sorry to hear about your DH?s mother. It?s so hard to know how the quiet ones are doing or how to help them, like your DH and mine. Sometimes the death of a parent is a reminder not only of what was lost, but also of what we never had.

Thanks for the link,too. I didn?t see a tartan that was spot on, but really enjoyed seeing so many beautiful ones. In a way, I almost hope what I have isn?t a real tartan?it would be a shame if someone decided it wasn?t important enough to keep in the family.

I know you are quite right about the Scottish/Irish Appalachian connection. If nothing else, you can hear the resemblance in folk music. One of the sad aspects of the Appalachians is that in so many areas lack of access to education for generations in some cases also meant that so much personal history was lost.

Sounds like a very profitable yard sale; and how wonderful of you to have a table for a worthy cause! Yes, we have a stash of peripherals, too, in the garage attic that will need to be disposed of properly one of these days.

Donna! LOL, ok now I understand a meat draw. I?d probably show up, myself! Hope your cold gets better soon. We?re having yucky cold rain right now. Typical Midwest stuff that will probably freeze tonight. I?m not in the least inclined to think spring is anywhere near.

Oh my goodness, Lauri. I hope you can get everyone settled in. Moving is sooooo much work. Whew.

Well, the chiropractic visit was wonderful, although it always hurts more for 12-48 hours after a visit when he?s working on my lower back. So Friday night was pretty rough, but now the pain is much less than when I went. He also had to realign my neck, spine, and jaw. I can actually dislocate my jaw at will, but I can't always "undislocate" it. One more visit next week and I should be right as rain. I wish I could share my chiro with your sister, TB.

I got my studio cleaned up yesterday. I can?t work without making a mess and I can?t work in a mess?there?s a real fine line there, LOL! And this afternoon I made a supply of silver jump rings. Not really creative, but at least I have some essential ?parts.?

Oh!, and the exciting thing is that over the past couple of weeks I found someone to buy an almost new piece of equipment that I didn?t like for almost what I paid for it, and was able to order the piece of equipment I really wanted Friday. I?ll be like a kid waiting for UPS next week.

Have a good one!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Lauri: I feel so sorry for you. I haven't moved in years, but I can still remember what it was like. We moved my son about a dozen times and finally told him that if he ever moved again, we were setting fire to his couch. (it's about 8 feet long and never goes in the doors properly). Must have scared him cause he never moved again.

BC: I thought I was the only weird one that gets the dislocated jaws. It's happened to me 5 times now. The last time it happened, I was asleep. Must have slept with my mouth open. I also, can't put it back in. It took 14 hours to get it back in. Finally had to go to the operating room to have it done. The muscles had locked also and the drs. couldn't get it in. I was just a little sore after that bout. Have to be so careful yawning too.

I decided to come to work anyway, even though I can hardly breathe with this cold. I might as well be miserable here as at home. I work alone (boss is never here), so I don't have to worry about giving it to anyone. If I start to feel worse, I'll just go home. Sure wish it would go though. Does take it toll on you having two back to back colds. I am taking vitamins so maybe I just need more veggies.

Teel: So sorry to hear about your mother in law. I lost my dad in November so I know how tough it can be. Your DH might not be showing much emotion now, but it will hit, so all you can do is just be there for him. On a better note, that was quite the yard sale. Good for you.

Hope everyone has a happy monday. Still waiting Judy.

__________________
Donna
238.5/173.4/150
I will see my goal weight again

Hi Gang!

How great to read all the posts from all of you! Can't tell you how wonderful it is that Judy and I aren't holding down this thread all by ourselves! Not that we don't like each other! But, it's just so much fun to hear from you and get to know you better!

I'm afraid that the 5 pounds was an anomaly. I did get on the scale on Sat. and it was a little higher. I decided not to get on the scale again for a while. Clothes fit, but I know from the way my body is behaving that I'm not getting enough water.

Donna: I'm so sorry that you have such a bad cold! This is a bad year for that. I hope that you get to feeling better soon.

Lauri: REST!! Sounds like you have a BIG and a close family! You are so lucky. Even though there are times when you need to be present for one another, it is great that you can be. I have one brother in AZ. He is 15 yrs older than me and we love each other dearly. But, we have little in common and don't know each other very well. He was married when I was 7. Glad to hear aboug the meat draw. Here we have meat "shoots." I always wondered what that was. I suspect it must be the same thing.

Brenda: Though shalt not covet thy Chiropractor! Well......never mind. I suppose it's okay! How great that you can get started working again. I know totally what you mean about working in a mess. I am the same way, but seem to have a mess around me much of the time. I try to get it cleaned around once a week, but when busy it can go on for a long time! I ordered new dishes last week. It was fun getting them! I can only imagine how fun it is to contemplate when your new equipment comes in.

So, Judy: In all, how was the weekend? Sounds pretty tiring to me. This weekend, I'm spending the night with 10 8th graders for a confirmation retreat. Eeeek. At least I won't be alone! There will be an adult for each kid and three leaders.

We're supposed to get a monster snow storm tonight. What's new?? Maybe tomorrow I'll have a snow day. I went into the office today (my day off) because I anticipate that I won't be able to get in tomorrow.

Today has been not such a good eating day. But, I'll get back to it.

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/197/175
65 years young

Wow, so many posts and so much going on. Please excuse me for another day or two for not commenting on everything. In brief...

After regional we were ranked #12 of the 25 state finalists. We improved out score by 800 points which was enough for us to maintain at 12. Although there were several who came close, we did not bring home any individual medals (top three places in each event.) So, we did OK --- not great, and not bad. Both of the last two years we have ended up in exactly the same ranking. Maybe next year we can do better. I have had a new/different assistant in each of the last three years. With any luck that won't happen again. It really takes a while for a teacher to figure out how to succeed and how to work the program. It is amazingly tough.

After the full weekend of contest, we finished the awards banquet around 1:30 yesterday afternoon. The drive home was 8 hours -- my van had 6 kids, no CD player, no cruise, and no tilt steering. I finally got in bed about 11:00. I was a zombie today. I promise to get back up to speed with the conversations soon.

__________________
Judy
Goal = <135, Current status = RIGHT ON TARGET!
Never give up. Never never never never give up -- Winston Churchill

I guess that jaw dislocation thing isn't so uncommon after all. I had the same thing - bit into a toasted english muffin one day and my jaw locked out of the joint. It took a couple of days to get back in place and my jaw muscles were ~very~ sore from being stretched in that unaccustom position for so long. Thereafter, if I bit into something big like an apple or ear of corn, or ate something too chewy, it would dislocated again. I had to cut up my food really small to eat it safely. I went through physical therapy and learned some techniques for managing it. Eventually it all but went away.

Once in a great while it reoccurs if I sleep wrong or eat too much crunchy food (which I know I shouldn't do anyway!). Then I just lay down on my back and try to relax until the lower jaw slides back into place - usually in less than 10 minutes.

I'm just a magnet for soft tissue issues - jaw, neck, back, trigger points, feet, hands, arms, shoulders. Ah, well - thankful to be up and walking!

__________________
~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

Hey all,

Well this must be "the" place for weird jaws. Amazing that three of us would have issues. Really makes me wonder, but then again maybe I don't want to know!

Judy, I can imagine you are absolutely zonkered today. Whew! But congrats to you and your team. With the number who compete, I think you all did great! It's a huge effort for everyone, and your students' lives have been forever enriched. Good job! And hey, I notice that you're looking forward to next year already

Peg, honest I don't covet my chiropracter; but I do enjoy the scenery And, you are doing what this weekend???? Oh Eeek! Oh yum, on the new dishes. But hey, after your redecorating, new dishes are a perfect touch. Any red in them.

Donna, I had to laugh at what you told your son about moving. Must have made a believer of him. I do hope your cold is better and that you are taking care of yourself. Honestly, it sounds more like the flu to keep hanging in like that.

We only got about 1-1/2 inches of snow, but I think Peg will be getting much more. It's just enough to be totally yucky. Other than that, this is one of those days when I'd like to run away from home, ya know. But the dogs would miss me--sigh!

__________________
BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Hey everyone! Just a quick drive by today.

I've got that jaw thing too, but not as bad as some of you! I can't chew gum at all, or my jaw will lock up. Usually at night, so you wake up in a panic because you either can't open you mouth, or can't close it. Either way, that's not the way you want to wake up! It's always fun at the dentist's office to. When the hygenist asks me to open my mouth wide, it takes a second to adjust the "hinges" so that I can. Feels a little like being a snake and unhinging the jaw to eat your food!

Stay warm and out of the snow people! Nighty night.

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Dragonmom
155/123/130 (highest 175)