Wow, Alida! What beautiful work! I'm very impressed. So, you have a fused wrist? How come?

I have osteoarthritis and it is contorting my fingers and thumbs right now into really ugly shapes. Little by little I am losing my ability to make a fist (probably good for the "i" at the church! ). My fingers and thumbs hurt all the time. Shaking hands can be excruciating if the person grabs my fingers instead of my hand. I've been wearing splints at night to help carpal tunnel, but, because my thumbs are so misshappen, when I woke up this morning, one of them was completely numb. I think it is the splint which presses against the main vein going up my thumb from my wrist. My wrists are also sore, but not as bad as the fingers. I am really lucky, though, that the pains in other joints are not as bad yet. I still have full mobility with a little creaking here and there.

Weighed 180 even this morning. That's five over what I've been for a long time. It is the carbs I am eating. I finally used up the rolls that defrosted last week when the freezer broke. I think the only things left in the house is lc ice cream. Also, I'm not being vigilant about the water. I'm drinking a little, but not near what I should. I know that if I could talk myself into exercise I could drop some of it. I swear to you, the weather has a lot to do with it. Today we are cloudy, foggy, and drizzly. It's supposed to clear up some time today. When it is sunny, I do feel like walking (sometimes).

Donna, so glad you came through the operation well. Hope you can rest this weekend and keep that leg elevated! In no time, you will be back in the dirt!

TB: Keep on keeping on, sista. You are doing really well! Wow, you are my new role model for energy! I like those Spanx things. I think I'll order one and see how I do with it. Hanes also has something like that which I have bought. I wear it when I want to look good and not eat! It's REALLY a tummy cincher.

Alida: LOL, fat over and under, under-garments. I found that if I went to a 36D (I used to wear a 34C) that the fat was contained and pushed forward (which is where I want it!) Neither the "fitter" nor myself could believe that I would wear something that big. (which was a little disconcerting hearing it from the fitter :cool: ) Anyway, 36 always feels a little big on me, but does contain that darn under the arm fat.

Judy LOL! I have a waist, but my poochy tummy calls more attention to itself. I also noticed myself sideways in the mirror yesterday. I have no neck!! My Mother used to call it my "wattle." Nice, huh? :o

Brenda: Hope your are having a relaxing weekend. Because I'm not going in tomorrow, it feels a bit like a "day off" for me. I slept in until 9:00 this am! However, I am at my computer just like it were a "writing" day. Thinking that I will do some anyway. What's up with you?

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
64-3/4 years young

Hmmm, I like the Spanx idea for summer dress up with sandals. I have a waist, however I also have an overabundance of unattractive hip and thigh flabbies...

Judy, you will have to share your tan-in-a-can expertise, ok? Then I can show off my pedicure with tanned tootsies (and fewer jiggles, LOL).

Donna, now I remember your procedure was this week. That many injections sounds really painful, but I'll bet the results will be worth it. Let us know how it goes.

Alida, I'm struggling with the plant issue, too...does your soil tend to be more dry there? (that's what I imagine for Kansas City, but maybe I'm wrong). Love the Glass Illusions and the faux etching And thanks for the tips on film. It's a definite consideration. I just hate being too warm when I'm trying to sleep.

Peg, yeah if Maslow had been a woman....... Hope the appliances are all alive today. Speaking of which, DH has this weird idea of buying me a new range. LOL, as if that would make me cook more???? NOT!!

Ilse,

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

Well, BC our soil has a lot of clay in it. But when planting I always add some good stuff in the hole! And yes, KC can get pretty dry in the Summer, although last summer was wet. I know . . . business suffered!

Wow. wish my DH would go for a new range! I am sure mine is the original that came with the house 20 years ago. We bought the place 3 years ago . . . My God, when we bought it, I thought I'd have it all fixed up by now. Wrong. About one month after we moved in I fell off a step stool and broke my wrist. X-ray did not show the break so I went for 3 months living with the pain before heading back to the doctor. One thing after another, finally had an MRI which showed a complete break. Part of the bone that was broken off had moved around and did a lot of damage. One operation was unsuccessful, the second one fused my wrist. This whole thing lasted about one and a half years. So glad that's over! And being right-handed, at least it was my left wrist!

Peg, I am so sorry to hear about your arthritis. It sounds awful. Are you taking anything for it? I have some minor arthritis in my right hand (knuckles) mainly from my job. Ibuprofen sorta helps.

Gotta find me a BRA FITTER!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Yikes Alida, that makes my wrist problems seem very minor. It a good thing that you are able to work at all after all that.

Oh, the range, LOL! It came new with the house 18 years ago and is the only appliance that hasn't been replaced. It's still in good shape, so hard to justify replacement, although one with sealed burners and a convection oven would certainly be delightful. I think he's honestly feeling guilty for buying himself so much computer equipment lately.

It's really difficult to get nice color in shade in prairie conditions, isn't it--at least anything that will bloom through the summer. We are hot/dry here in the summer, and under my two oaks in back the best, longest lasting "color" is from varigated varieties of hosta and euonymus. The whites and yellows of the varigated leaves show up pretty well in shade. You might check online with your state extention service to see if they have a site with recommended plants. There are other nice plants, like astilbes, but they tend to be taller, and require more watering. My daffodils do well, but only because they bloom and fade before the oaks leaf out...

Boy is this a cold, nasty day! What's the deal, anyway?

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

Well, my friends, do I have a tale for you.......

nasty and cold here too, Brenda. In fact right now the temp is 47 degrees. Not any higher any time today, with a driving rain most of the day.
BUT
Nothing is to delay the delivery of the (ta da) boat. It's only a little 17' outboard motor boat to putt around the lake. It's been in storage all winter and as soon as the lake melts, DH is talking about when to get the boat. Anyway, the storage place delivered to another place to put on a cover last week and today was the day. It was delivered an hour and half late, but I heard him putting up to the dock, and then coming into the house. Remember...driving rain.
Sat down to eat lunch........Got up and noticed that the boat was definitely nose high in the water, even though tied to the dock. So DH went out to investigate.
I came in here to my office and about 10 mins later, went out to look and he was bailing from the dock. Then from inside the boat. The entire back of the boat was submerged! A few minutes passed and he came in panting and ran downstairs to call the boat storage place to find out why the blamed thing was sinking in our slip.
"Did you put in the plug?" "WHAT PLUG?" He got instructions and went back out to do so. (The blamed boat storage place was supposed to put it in!)
I put on my raincoat and Red Sox cap and went out to help bail.
Driving rain.
DH found the plug, but couldn't find the hole it went in. Finally, he went into the water (over his head, what a surprise! And danged cold!) and after some searching found the hole. Climbed back into the boat shivering. We continued to bail for another half hour.
Driving rain.
He sent me back to the house to get dry rags to wipe off the battery terminals so he could hook up the bilge. I changed my wet clothes and coat for a warmer coat of his, got the rags, a umbrella, and my flip-flops. (Tennies and socks long forgotten on the dock soaking wet)
Driving rain.
Held the umbrella, standing on the back of the boat, while he hooked up the bilge.
Done. He held my hand while I navigated onto the dock. Slipped. Into the water between the boat and the dock. Water was REALLY cold.
Swam, fully clothed, to the end of the boat to the ladder to climb up on the boat.
Emptied water out of my coat.
Driving rain.
We made out way back onto the dock/ put the bleeping new cover on/ and came into the house to take a hot shower, laughing at our drowned rat appearance.
three changes of clothes for him, two for me, now washing and drying.
Three hours later, he's now gone out in the driving rain to turn on the bilge.
Dinner's cooking.

Just another day in Paradise.
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
64-3/4 years young

Peg, I'm crying with laughter (sorry!)--at your description, not at the event (yeh, sure, LOL)

If that is Paradise, spare me, ok???

And really glad both of you escaped injury--really!

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

And there my friends is an example of why we sold our boat 4-5 years ago......... I can't even imagine how cold the water must have been. I wouldn't get in any of our lakes yet for just that reason. There would have been no laughing at my house, I can assure you.

Looks like it's a day for stories.............

One of my Decathlon girls told me yesterday that she got invited to the prom on Tuesday--- she had had absolutely no intention of going. This guy who is her friend ..... definitely not a boyfriend.......decided at the last minute to go. So, she had to find a last minute dress. She has some serious fitting issues (probably a size 24). She couldn't find a suitable dress locally so she ordered one online and had it shipped overnight. She knew yesterday that it was supposed to arrive today. As she was telling me about it, I commented that I hoped it fit. She said that she hoped all it would need is hemming and that a friend's mother was going to do it. I popped off and said, "If you get in a bind, call me, I'm not doing anything tomorrow and I'll help you out." Well, guess what........ She called at 10:30 and said the girl's mom had been called into work and couldn't do the dress. And..... it still hadn't been delivered. So I told her to call me when it got here and get it to me ASAP. Good old overnight delivery delivered it to the wrong house and had to go get it and deliver it again, so I didn't even get it until about 2:00. Her dinner reservations were at 6:00. NOT ONLY did it need to be hemmed, but it was huge and lined--- and strapless so fitting was important. I had to take 10 inches out of the body. Let me tell you that was one quick hack job. I took up the princess seams in the front to make the boobs come out in the right place, then I took about a 4" seam down the back and replaced the zipper. Oh, and did I tell you that the front had bugle beads all over it. The hem just got serged off with a tight invisible serger thread -- of course there were three layers to the hem with the lining and tulle. Her mother came with her to finish getting dressed here. We slapped it one her and she was out the door. I got it tighter than I intended, but since I didn't put the boning back in, there is no problem with it staying up. Overall, it looked pretty good. No one but me will look at it as critically or notice that the hem is just serged. Actually, I didn't get the lining short enough the first time, and I made her take it off and let me zap it one more time. When they left here, she was on her way to dinner (and almost on time)................

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Good Grief, Judy, I can't begin to imagine tackling all that! You really worked miracles to have got that dress anywhere near fitting. Wow.

Well, I'm gonna retire with a nice cup of tea and just think about all the excitement going on out there. I'm pooped just reading......

(But you both did get me nostalgic for the little runabout we had when I was a kid. Loved to ski, and haven't even been in the water for 20 years, I bet.)

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

This was the FIRST time I had been in our lake! I actually never intended to ever go in. Sigh.
Peg
And, yeah, Judy. I would have just cried about the dress. I couldn't have done that if you had paid me. Well.........if you had paid me I probably could have, but it would have taken me at least a week........6 and a half days to think about it and about the time it took you to do it. Ha!
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
64-3/4 years young

MY GOD, PEG! Do you guys know how to have fun or what??!!!? :eyes:

Alida, do you think you could grow some of the statice or salvia plant families? Those are drought and heat tolerant plants that give nice color through most or all of the year of the year (in Northern California they act like perennials). Both plant families have many varieties, large and small. They are also good for attracting butterflies and humming birds.

Ilse, I really feel your pain! You are several steps ahead of me and I'm getting a real sense of how much works is ahead of me. Don't hesitate to pass along any tips or warnings.

Donna, I think your garden will soon be glorious. I hope the yellow rose makes it and rewards your efforts with bountiful blooms. Aren't yellow roses just the best?

Judy, that alteration job sounds totally heroic! I don't even know what some of those terms mean (serge?). That is one lucky little gal to have such a generous woman in her life! BTW, I haven't tried it, but Spanx has a midriff shaper called a Higher Power. It comes up to just under the breasts.

Hey, BC - if you go with the new range may I suggest you avoid Jenn-Aire? I got a new Jenn-Aire range in 2002 and it's been one hassle after another. Considered having the repairman over for Thanksgiving, he was around so often. Jenn-Aire is a Maytag company (along with Amana), which has appalling customer service. Also, Consumer Reports Online lists Maytag, Amana, and Jenn-Aire as having the worst rate of repair records among all major makes of kitchen ranges - at least, they did in 2003 (don't ask why I checked that after I bought the range instead of before).

We had a cool, rainy day, too. Good for the bit of sod we finally got laid yesterday afternoon. Did I mention, that aside from the materials delivery problems that delayed our start until after 2:30 pm that I forgot to rent the roller? Sheesh! It went clean out of my mind! HM was very resourceful and made a tamper out of some scrap lumber. I got a wooden box and used that as a makeshift tamper, too. After the sod was down, I laid down and rolled over and over back and forth to try to press it down enough. Got too dizzy, so we went back to using the makeshift tampers.

Realtor lady and DH were pressuring me to go townhouse shopping, even though I'd said I wanted to wait until the selling phase was under control. My feeling is there's enough to cope with right now without adding the hectic buying mentality to the mix. And, since we don't know how much we'll have to spend and can't make an offer until we sell, why get all excited about a place that will be gone before we can make an offer? Still, to keep the peace, I agreed to go out to look at some places in the morning.

Sure enough, there was a place I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. I wanted to scream, I'LL BUY IT! GET THE PEN, QUICK!!! But, there's no way a buyer would accept a contingency offer in this market! So it would require some bridge financing, which I don't want to even think about. But, the place is perfect in all respects: beautiful little yards with Cecil Brunner roses running all over the fences, garage with finished storage cabinets, better than average kitchen, nice floor plan, oversize jacuzzi tub in the master bath, and SO CLEAN! An older Swiss woman was selling it to be nearer to her grand children in Portland (now wouldn't I love to move to Portland!!). So great, so frustrating.... except... it is across the street from a neighborhood of small old cottages that are just so ripe for teardown/rebuild. Just what's driving me out of my current neighborhood! Also, it's between a freeway and a new light rail system that will begin operations later this year. It's far enough from the freeway that the noise is minor - like a river or waterfall off in the distance, so I could live with that. But, we are sure the light rail will be pretty noisy once it gets going. So, it's just as well that we can't buy it.

But, I ask you... do you think I needed that emotional rollercoaster right now? NOT! I gently told the realtor that there are reasons she doesn't know about that make it unwise to jump into a home purchase ahead of sale. I think she gets it, and will ease off that score.

Weight is still around 136, so I'm feeling good on that score. Eating is mostly okay, though I succummed to a few cookies this week. I guess the extra strenous work burned them off. After prepping meals 4 times per day for the last two weeks, I decided not to cook at all today (except for a bit of Maggie's cereal). Went out for a big, late full lunch at a local restaurant so we can get by with some snack instead of a real dinner.

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

Peg, I am sorry but I am laughing out loud! That's the type of story that will stay in your family for years . . . and get better with each telling! Thank God you and your DH are both OK.

And Judy, my God, you must be some seamtress to be able to do what you did. And to have a surger, too. That was one lucky little girl!

BC, I love Hostas! I even think they have some now that will take a little sun. And TB, I forgot about Salvias. They are so pretty. I'll have to visit a nursery and ask some questions.

As for ranges . . . if your DH wants one, BC, who are you to argue, LOL. I think I'll agree with TB. My cousin has a Jenn Aire range and she does not like it. She says the convection oven is not big enough. Says the workings of the oven take up too much room, so there's not enough cooking space. I think she also got a Jenn Aire washer (I think it was Jenn Aire) and does not like that, either. What I think I want is a GE drop in with one of those smooth tops. I hate reaching over hot burners for the controls. I am always in a bathrobe and can just see my sleeves catching on fire! I just like the cleaner look of a drop-in. Those new Advantium ovens/micros look interesting, too, to put above the stove. All it takes is $$!

TB, I know what you mean about finding the right house! I am sure you will find another that is just perfect when the time comes. We were lucky when we bought this place because we were renting a townhome at the time. Did not have to face all the timing hassles of selling/buying. As a matter of fact, that's one reason why we ended up renting. Our big house sold much faster than we thought it would. There was no time, if we wanted to accept the offer, to find a place. So we "temporarily" rented a townhome in a gated community . . . and loved it so much we stayed for 7 years!

__________________
Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

TB, I think you are right not to let them pressure you to much into looking too early. While it's nice to see "what's out there" it can so quickly shift into "gotta have it" or "gotta make a decision now" mode.

LOL!
Also TB and Alida, thanks on the thoughts about the Jenn-Aire and ranges in general. Almost all our appliances are GE, but DH has seen a Bosch range he really likes. Bosch is known for being a good appliance, but also not the most reliable if I remember correctly. However it's a heck of a pretty thing (for an appliance, LOL)! We have to get gas, and while I love a drop in, that would require more remodeling than I really want to do. Alida, trust me, I don't need an overage of cooking space but the Bosch seems to have plenty. I dunno, I suppose I should "acquiese" to a new range, but I could think of other things to spend $1000 bucks on.

Bosch Gas/Electric Convection Ranges

Peg, I hope you and DH are ok today after your big adventure. I was thinking last night of how dangerous it was, even tho terrifically funny the way you tell it.

Judy, I hope your strudent can appreciate how much skill it takes to pull off that remake (I hardly call it an alteration). Whew!

TB, are you taking some time off today to relax a little?

Donna, I know you and DH always have so many activities going on.

Laura, Ilse, everyone else out there

This afternoon, DH is working on the closets--the last phase of the wood flooring eternal saga :jump:

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

Hi All: Groan........do I have sore muscles where I didn't even know I have muscles??? Wow! DH woke me up in the night because I was moaning! I remember trying to turn over and my back really hurting. But, when I got up I didn't hurt that much. Just sore muscles. Oh, and a few bruises, but nothing to speak much of. Mostly, my arms and chest are sore from all that bailing. Aww...Bren...thanks for the concern, but I don't think it was dangerous. We both are excellent swimmers. And we had each other there to help the other one. The only possible danger was the temperature of the water (just melted two weeks ago!), but we were out of it as soon as we could possibly get out. We talked a lot about it last night, laughing at the looks on our faces, giving thanks for saving both our glasses (now THAT would have been a tragedy, to have my glasses at the bottom of the lake. I can't see without them!) We spent the afternoon, warm and toasty wrapped in afghans, drinking tea and watching The Incredibles. Cute movie for kids.

Judy: What a braggart I am. I could no more have done what you did than the man in the moon. What I meant to say was I would have thought about it for 6 and a half days, and then cried because I couldn't do it!

Donna: I hope this is a restful and relaxing day for you. I hope you have someone to wait on you. Take care.

Brenda: Lovely range. I almost bought a Bosch dishwasher, but the difference in price between the Kitchenaid and the Bosch and the little difference in the sound convinced me. When the guy fixed the machine Friday, by the way, it is back to being almost soundproof. There was "stuff" in the pump. He cleaned it out and it is like new! Yay! But, back to ranges. I have a GE, smooth top range and oven, and a GE microwave above it. I love both. I don't know anything about convection ovens. What are they?
We don't do much baking, and DH mostly uses the rangetop. I just bought a new set of red Farberware teflon pans about three months ago, and he has managed to ruin two of them. He uses serving spoons to stir Maggies cereal. This man does not change when I ask him to do something else. I'm not getting the good stuff until I start cooking again. (Which may be in the fall, who knows?)

Alida, I like the renting idea. When we go out to SoCa this year, I think that is what we will do. The only thing is, we won't have ANYTHING. We will have to rent furniture too. Any of you guys know how you go about filling a new place with rented stuff? I mean, how do you get the dishes, pots and pans, spices, matresses? Anyway, I think we will know more about whether we want to move there if we rent for this next winter.

DH is off working this afternoon and I am just reveling in the silence and possibilities for the afternoon! Everything is just bursting here. The azaleas are blooming, all the flowering trees are blooming, my tulips are just about ready to bloom, my peonies are coming through the dirt looking healthy and strong! My flox hasn't come back (sniff). I think it just got too much sand and salt on it. The bumblebees are hard at work; the birds are chasing each other like mad; the geese and ducks are acting like teenagers (they probably are!) The Canadian geese are here and they have run off the swans! They do that every year. We have a dang bird lover here and he just can't see what vermin those geese are. They come up on the lawns and walkways and leave "no doubt" that they are there (if yanno wud I mean).

Peace to ya all,
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
64-3/4 years young

Peg, look for furnished apartments. With a large bi-coastal population, I'm sure there are lots of them in the Los Angeles area.

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

Psst....is my doctor listening? Sure hope not, cause I'd be in a whole lot of trouble. You guys should see what the bandages on my leg look like. I've been working in the garden for the last two days and I can't get a sock over the bandage so I just wore my Burkenstocks with bare toes stuck out. I've been racking dirt and pulling weeks and the dirt flies up and ....oh, well.. I guess you can get the picture. I look like a pig pen and I can't do a thing about it. The bandage is just black! The doctor put long strips of clear adhesive tape all over the tensor bandage to hold it in place and it has dirt (not to mention dog hair) stuck all over it. Good thing I'm not really going anywhere except work and that doesn't matter cause I'm alone basically. The good part about all this is that I feel great being able to get outside and get dirty!
So, I decided that I was fed up with the village not doing something with the boulevard. I keep my yard really nice but the boulevard is usually covered with weeds and when I get a chance I spend a couple of days pulling weeds. Today, I got half of it totally weeded and now I have grass seed down. Hope it sprouts soon. The stray cats tend to think that is one big litter box. Pretty gross. My leg hurts, but that's to be expected. Can't keep a mom down!!!!
Remember all the peanut butter that I got for .99? Well, this afternoon I turned some of it into lc cookies and they are all safely hidden away in my stash in the freezer. When I want one, it only takes a couple of minutes to thaw. Well, okay, they taste pretty good frozen too. I would have made more, but I can't buy almond flour here and have to grind my own. It's just way too time consuming. I'm going to have to find a good lc website to buy these things that Canada just doesn't sell. Anyone no of a good one?
I'm with everyone else in needing a good bra. With the weight I've lost, I've also just about lost my boobs. I don't even have enough left to put in a B cup. But an A is way too small. What I really need is to have the little girls lifted, but that's not going to happen.
Alida, wish I could help you with what to grow, but being in Canada, I don't have a clue what grows in your area. I also love Hostas and I think they grow just about anywhere. My real love in any type of lily but they like sunlight so that wouldn't work.
Judy: I'd like a new dress by tomorrow, would you like to come here and sew it for me? lol Wow...that was some work you did. I used to sew and I know it's time consuming. But you know, that girl is never going to forget you and what you did to make her night special.
Peg: I just howled reading your boat story. I know it wasn't funny at the time, unless you were sitting back watching, but I'm sure you see the humor now.
Hubby has spent the last two days getting the motorhome all cleaned up and ready to go. It's been sitting all winter and next weekend we are heading out for our first out of town baseball tournament. We have such fun and the people are all just like family. Hope the weather keeps up like we have had this weekend.
Well, I'm going back outside...just wanted to pop in and say HI to everyone.

__________________
Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!