Hey guys, I'm back! Boy the last month has been a real bear. Moved myself and two sisters, then went to Las Vegas for a week (and got sick!), back home for a week trying to unpack. Then to Orlando for a week on business (that was more fun than the vacation!) Finally got back and tried to get DSL installed at the new house. What a nightmare! Finally got it last week, but have some intermitant connection issues still to be worked out.

Missed reading all the posts and still haven't gone all the way back to when I was last here, but time is always so short. Now it's the dreaded tax time and I sure do hate to stroke that check!

My eating has been up and down. I lost wieght in Vegas and even once I got back and was 6 pounds below goal.(too much). Then I went to Orlando with my boss and we totally porked out! Netted about a 2 pound gain from the week which was really great, but I can't seem to get back in the swing of things the last week. I hate to admit it, but I actually had a snickers ice cream bar tonight. :crying: And a couple of nights ago, there was mass destruction of a bag of Doritos (big bag) I don't feel like I'm craving things, it seems to be more of a eat every bad thing you can before you get back to eating healthy again. It doesn't make much sense as most of the time after I eat something I shouldn't, I really feel like crap..physically. I think that now that I can get back to posting here regularly, things will get back to normal.
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well and getting spring in all parts of the continent! Later!

__________________
Dragonmom
155/123/130 (highest 175)

TB: Wow. I have never heard about staging, but it sounds really interesting. Sorta like those HGTV shows where they rearrange your own stuff. Those shows are so fascinating. When we sold our house years ago, my real estate agent suggested a few fix-ups. The house looked so good afterwards, I hated to sell! But the first person who saw it, bought it. So I guess it worked.

When we bought our current townhome, I got a Punch! software program called Pro Platinum Home design. You actually draw your floor plan and import or "build" your furniture, place it, color the walls, and see it all in 3D. I can't even tell you how many hours I spent doing that. A lot of fun, especially for someone like me who is "visual." Have to SEE it to get the drift.

Also, Judy's suggestion of smoothing the edges sounds good. I forgot you were doing this on roller shades. I would think, though, that the low tack adhesive would be a must. Those designs from the web site (which is really a great site) are wonderful! Will you buy from the site?

And, where will you be moving TO? Have a home already picked out? Staying in CA?

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

Welcome back, Lauri!!

Flying by before I go in to teach..........I'll get back later.

Love the decorating hints. Woo hoo!
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

Hi all, I feel like queen of the drive by lately. I enjoyed the deep conversations and thoughts the last few days, but I just didn't have to time to stop long enough to compose my own thoughts and fears. Humm, maybe that's a good thing......

Lauri, Glad to have you back. Good luck getting regulated again. Don't let those bags of Doritos encourage you to let things slide. Believe me it's much easier to get it under control now that to wait until your pants don't zip.

Alida, I looked up Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. That's one those things that I need to concentrate on to understand. I've been concentrating on monetary policy and trying to get 18 yr olds to understand the uses of it in Macroeconomics all day. I don't have the brain power to shift gears that far at this time of the day.

Donna, How are your legs? The big deal around here for bad veins is to either lazer them or to shoot then with saline. I do think the saline is helpful but the problems tend to come back somewhere else though. The saline is most popular (and affordable) and is done in a doctor's office.

BC, did you find your lost bracelet? How's this week's production coming?

Peg, looks like you did your share of imparting wisdom today too. I hope you had a receptive audience. I can't say that mine was all that interested in the topic.

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

Judy,

I'll try to remember the EMDR . . .

First you and the therapist decide what issue you are going to resolve. It can almost be anything. Friend Marie has had success with the following:

Heal emotional pain
Eliminate mental blocks
Dramatically reduce stress
Accomplish your dreams
Improve problem-solving skills
Deepen your relationships
Transform your thinking and feeling processes
Increase your concentration, focus and learning abilities
Learn what keeps you from achieving what you want
Target the areas of your life that aren’t working

(The above from a brochure I did for her).

OK. The following may sound kinky, but in the hands of a trained therapist, it does work --

First you discuss the problem. Then, the therapist zeros in on a key thought and asks you to think about that while your eyes follow her finger back and forth for a minute or so. Then you discuss your thoughts during that eye movement. The therapist then picks another key point which you ponder while doing another eye movement. This continues. I can't explain how this works, but it does!

I had to work through feelings of resentment towards my husband who lost our fortune by not keeping track of our accountant, who stole half a mil and thereby changed our lives forever. All sorts of bad mojo evolved from this, the least of which was our beloved IRS. I also had to accept the fact that I had to work (I was a spoiled brat!)

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

Whoa, girl!! Talk about bad mojo! You win the prize!

Well, I'm working away this afternoon waiting for two people to come who want to meet with me. Actually, I've spent the last hour on this forum just reading through the threads!

The church has finally made a decision about the future. They have asked me to stay until early September when another intentional interim will begin with them toward the future hiring of a new Senior Pastor. So, at least I now have a date when I can plan on being finished. The Senior Pastor here now has cancer, as you recall. He is not doing so well, and it seemed that the most loving thing they could do is name him "Pastor Emeritus," with some minimal duties (that's all he is really able to do) and provide for him financially. It is very loving and gracious of them to do all that. I'm proud of them. He has been here 25 years, raised his kids in the community, lived in the parsonage that long, baptized, married, and buried the folks of this tiny burg for that long. I'm so glad that they are taking seriously their duty to treat him with respect and love through the end of his life. It will be very hard on the church and the community when he dies. But, this way, they will have a relationship with another minister and won't feel so rudderless.

Had a loud argument with a church member (woman) yesterday. It has really upset me. I'm trying to let it rest before I call her to try to get some reconciliation. Conversely, I had lunch with another member yesterday and it was a lovely, deep conversation that affirmed my ministry and my Self. Such is ministry, believe me!!

DH and I have had no time this week to talk. I'm still stewing a little about his idea to drive North in the Fall and come back by the South. I KNOW it makes more sense, but it is not what I planned!!! Okay, I KNOW that I need to be flexible, but.....well.....I don't want to (whine!). I don't even know what states are between here and the West going North! I had begun to research the South! Dang!

Tomorrow's a day off and am I glad! This has been a stressful week beginning with my dessert dinner. Wheew!

Judy, even though I am not from Texas, I LOVE Mexican food. I grew up in Southern California, and the Mexican restaurants there are superb. I'm going to try your recipe on the other thread. Sounds good.

Brenda: What's goin' on in your life? Are you working on your jewelry, knitting, reading? What?

Lauri and Donna: What's up in your lives?

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

Couldn't have said that one better myself! I remember telling a friend that was having husband trouble that we all walk through the fire. Someone of us are lucky and manage to get through just singed or with minor injuries, some of us take a long time to heal because we have bad wounds, and some of us just don't make it all. But, no matter how it looks to others, we all have been there. It's just the degree of the burn that's different.

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

And I couldn't have said THAT any better, Judy. Wise words.

__________________
"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

Is it Spring fever that's making some of us not post each day? Maybe. My days just don't seem long enough now. Same thing everyday....work, walk the dogs, make dinner, exercise, bath and collapse in front of the tv. I think there should be a nap in there somewhere. I always figured that when the kids were gone I would have all this extra time to do the hobbies and things I've always wanted to do. Not so. I have no idea where the time goes, unless it's taking me longer to do things. We had 5 kids so the laundry and cleaning were a big time consumer. Now with just two of us I should have hours and hours to spend on myself. Maybe it's just that my hubby is the biggest kid and he needs more time now. I don't know.

Now that I've figured out that I need to eat more protein, I've been keeping my weight very steady. Only taken me 55 years to figure this out. I was like a yo-yo before. It doesn't help that I'm not really a meat eater. But, I'm getting used to it. It feels so good to keep at a steady weight.

Finally got back to the massage therapist and did I ever need it. I had a huge knot in my neck and could hardly turn to the right. Did she ever give me a treatment!! Even used her elbow. At times, I thought I could easily have thrown up it hurt so bad. But, last night I noticed that my neck and shoulders were relaxed for the first time in a long time. Today I'm sore, but not like before. I guess the $45 an hour is worth it. I'll have to skip my appointment next week so I can get my leg fixed. Damn...this getting older is the pitts.

You can tell Spring is coming when we get the phone call that the first slowpitch practise is this weekend. Hubby has been on the same team for 32 years now. We have to drive 52 miles to get to town where he plays twice a week, but it's worth it. The guys on the team are more like brothers than team mates. And, all of us wives get along so well. This weekend is the first practice and then a pot luck dinner afterward. I haven't seen any of these people since our last game last September so I'm really looking forward to it. Hope I do okay at the dinner (gulp).

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

Oh Donna: You have done so well! When I look at your numbers, and then at mine....dang! I guess it would help if I quit cheating :silly:


Quiet day off except for another go round with DH about retirement. I'm telling you guys, this is not easy stuff! I thought we were cruising along pretty well, and now he's upset the applecart AGAIN! It would help if he would remember some of the stuff that we have discussed before. Also, it hasn't helped that we have been so busy that we don't have time to sit down and talk something out to its conclusion. Of course, I get mad. And he gets scared, then he gets mad. Oh dang! Well....we've been married 23 years and are committed (or SHOULD BE committed ) for life. So, we'll work it out. We always do.

woke up this morning to water on the floor in the kitchen. Ice melting in the freezer. Yup, you guessed it. Everything in the freezer and in the refrigerator was warm. Engine quit sometime in the night. But, it was a relatively easy and inexpensive (as appliance repairs go) repair. The guy was here in two hours and it was a part smaller than your fist. Also, today was shopping day, so there wasn't much meat to lose. But lost an entire carton of Carb Smart ice cream. I hadn't even opened it!

spending the afternoon sighing and trying to get over being mad. The guy at church (my new Moderator, I think I mentioned him several posts ago) has angered me too. My bf in CA (with whom I talk every Friday morning) advised me to surrender. Yup. That's what I'm doing. Surrendering. That's why all the sighing. (Others call it breathing)

Well, it's almost happy hour. That's a tradition of summer. Even though it's only 52 degrees, the sun is shining. Yay!

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

Hi, just a quick fly-by... days so full of busy activities these days from sunup to sundown! Unbelievable, but I'm getting up at 5:30 am these days to try to "get things done!" Having trouble setting priorities - what to do first vs what to do NOW!

Realtors in and out of the house - suggesting this, suggesting that... "no, no - don't change that. Leave it just as it is!" or "maybe paint this room a pale shade of celery green".... (btw - I hate any green paint in interiors. Green shades reflect a green tinge on people's faces, which I think is very unflattering).

Peg, I can sympathize greatly with the "moving target" future plans. I'm sure it's quite a lot to handle.

Everyone, I'd write more, but I'm expecting another realtor in just a minute or two.

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

This is April 15........ I stood out in the yard with DH helping him tear down the old fence and I'm covered in mosquito bites. It looks to be an "inside" type summer already. One thing about the frozen north, at least it gets cold enough to kill the mosquitos.

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

Okay, Brenda.................it's time to post!

Saturday again, and I am sitting at my computer staring at an empty screen. Sigh.

Feeling a little better today. Mornings are always hopeful here. Slept well last night. That is good.

Food has been good. Water fair.

Wow, about the mosquitoes, Judy. The flies haven't even awakened here yet. Though I did see a very sleepy ant crawling across the bathroom floor this morning. It's still too cold for bugs. No one is even watering outside yet. Though, most of us have prepared our gardens, just waiting for Mother's Day when we can plant pretty things.

Donna, have a happy weekend. Sounds great.
Lauri, howya doin'?
KC: Don't abandon us now.....
Brenda: Time to post.....
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

It's Saturday again, and as the queen of spray paint, I have finished painting a lamp shade and am in the process of painting some of the outside furniture. DH is working away on replacing the fence. I did just the kind of stuff I love to do today. I put some finishing touches on the room I did last weekend. There is a baby cradle that my dad built on a wall that you did not see. DD had some shelves above that desperately needed "merchandising". I finished off those, and still had a gap that needed pictures. I found some old frames, painted them to match the curtains, and then downloaded a couple of Mary Cassatt images and one from Bessie Wessell. I took the files to Walgreens and had them printed out in the appropriate size. Perfect pictures in the perfect sizes. "Ain't technology great?" I'll try to get the images off the camera in a little while and I'll show you the finished product.

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

Ok, here it is......... the side of the room that you didn't see last week.

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