Hey all, very quick fly by... meetings are going well, we leave DC tomorrow (thank goodness) DH to Portland/Seattle and myself to NJ/MA... I will finally be able to control my food intake. It is just so hard - business meals, friends cooking for you (jeez, Sat's soup was a pasta bean - minestrone thing, good but yikes), or ordering for all. I have just resigned myself and am trying to eat as small a portion as I can tactfully eat and still get awau with "enjoying" the meal.

Teelbee.. soooo glad for Big Red! I hope whatever you do with the pond works!

Shelley, kudos for the running!! I am a great walker but will never run (did plenty in high school and some in college and was terrible at it and hated it - so I can't bring myself)... Barb's comment is spot on - the right pair of shoes are so crucial... good luck finding 'the' best pair for you!

Alida, I'm just so glad that you and Bob have sold the business instead of just closing it - it would have been such a shame to miss all those splendid windows. There is so little original craft (art) these days in our lives - so much uniformity and conformity. It is a treasure to any community to have true craft alive.

Peg, forgive me, but I can't remember if you are on the road yet? I wish you godspeed in your travels and I can't wait to see you again.

Ilse, did you finally choose which frames you wanted?

Donna... here's hoping for springtime for you guys there as soon as possible!! March is always the weirdest month here in the midAtlantic states - in like a lion out like a lamb or vice versa... snow one day, t-shirt weather the next... Hang in there!

Bren, responded to your PM...

hugs to you all... I'll check in again in a day or so...

__________________
Hugs, Rachel







(the horn is in honor of DH!)
Quien canta, sus males espanta... ("She who sings fightens away her ills") Miguel de Cervantes

My puppy isn't a baby anymore..... she's a little dog! Today is her 4mo birthday. If she keeps growing at this rate I'm going to have to ask for donations to keep her fed.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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

Hi Gang!

I'm back!
I've been in towards "town" (L.A.) visiting dd2 and her "husband" and kids and visiting old frinds since Froiday. Sorry to be MIA.

Went to dgs's first little League game on Saturday night! It was great. Coach took him out after one inning! But in that inning, he had a great hit, stole three bases, and slid into home safe!! He is a great little athlete and I made a LOT of noise. My dgd2 gave me a minority report on my hair (which I had done last week) and said she didn't like it. "Nana, your hair is WHITE!" "Change it BACK!" Oh well, I like it and I really don't care much what others think! hee hee

Had a good 24 hours with friends from Michigan and New Jersey who have moved to an ofh in Pasadena. I was there about amonth ago. DH was there this time.

We leave next Tuesday for our drive across country. We will stop at the Grand Canyon, but pretty much will head toward OKC!
----------------------------------------------------------
Terry: So glad to hear about BIG RED!
Alida: Also glad to hear about the transfer of the sh*t of the business.
Bren: I am SO IMPRESSED with the scarf! I'm still working on that d*mn prayer shawl. Though, I am ALMOST done! I'm stopped on my sweater. Bringing it to you for help!
Gotta go for dinner!
Back later,
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

LOL, TB, at your DH. Sometimes one wonders how the male mind works--the trellis sounds perfect. I'm not sure what the fung shui pots look like, the midwest being so au courant in all things fung shui A lemon tree? Yummy!

Oh Judy, what a cute little gal! And just wait, in a couple of months you'll have a teenager. Watch out then!

Peg, good to hear from you! Don't be too impressed with the scarf. It's taking me quite literally an hour for each 10 row repeat, with maybe a foot of actual scarf accomplished at this point. Just when I'm cocky enough to think I've "got it" I screw up in some MAJOR way and find myself reworking several rows. Hope that I can help you with the sweater, though. You may be testing the limits of my skills!
____________________

DH is walking like a little ole man tonight, but bless his heart isn't grumping like one. I put him to bed early, poor guy.

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

Good morning!

I am up early but have lots to do before my day starts. I met with the Mrs. side of the new owners yesterday (Ashley). They have quite a business going with ? window washing! They also clean gutters, fans, chandeliers and hang outdoor Christmas lights. Crew of 5 and they were all hopping yesterday. Lots of calls in while I was there. Hard to get "quality time" with her. I hope some of the things I told her "stick."

I'll do the first job with Randy today. Small job. Good for training.

I did get a call from the oncologist's nurse yesterday. They wanted to track down the results of the needle biopsy my ENT did last month. I guess it will be a few more days before I hear what they "decided."

Terry, a trellis does sound like a good idea ? at least until you investigate the netting thing. A Meyer lemon tree? Ah. I remember staying with friends in Palm Springs and they had lemon trees up the kazoo. I was amazed. Such a pretty tree!

Ilse, how exciting! I do hope you get the chance to get up there (Wisconsin?) to look at their new home soon. I know you are anxious to see it. My, the deal seemed to move pretty fast on this one!

Brenda, at least you can sit for an hour waiting for Boniva to do its thing. Can you at least have some coffee after taking the pill?

Please do bring the lacy scarf. It will be beautiful when you are done!

About your DH's sore back ? have you tried those Icy Hot patches? I think they really help. Also a massive dose of Ibuprofen. Poor guy! I hope he's better soon.

Rachel, I know you are anxious to get "home." Have a safe trip!

Peg, a lot of traveling going on! Last minute get-togethers? At least when you leave, you know you will be returning "for good." That may make it a little easier to say good-bye. Please pack that darn prayer shawl on top so you can "show and tell" in Oooklahoma! I want to SEE that thing!

Donna, I had a thought last night. I think I'll make some of your zucchini muffins and take them to Oooklahoma. You will then be there in spirit!

Judy, oh my. Lexie IS getting big! What a darling picture. Looks like she's still growing into her feet. Those paws look mighty big!

Shelley, Barb & Kim: HI!

Better get my day going. I will be SO HAPPY when all this is OVER! XXOO

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

Awwww! Lexie's bigger, but still adorable. Bet that big black nose pokes into everything.

Alida, you're a trouper. One day at a time. The new owners might be surprised at how much additional business--and complexity--they've added to their lives. But you can shake that dust off your feet very soon.

Peg, good to hear from you. By "white" hair, did she mean highlights? Or have you stripped down to a natural color? One of these years, I might go from gold to silver in the blink of an eye. But not yet!

I had my first spinning (cycling) class last night. I think I deserve a medal just for pedalling the whole time. I certainly didn't do all the things the trainer said to do on that bike, because my little heart was popping out of my chest pretty much at the basics. Lots of room for improvement, and I'll certainly go back. I felt great after. Hot tub helped.

Have a good day everyone.

__________________
Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Morning kids. I've been up for a while; early for me, but not so for the KC crew, natch.

Alida, I hope your training sinks in today. I know you want them to carry on the business with all the knowledge and skills possible, but if the Mrs. is too preoccupied she may have to learn by doing, ya know? At some point they'll have to fly on their own (just like kids, LOL).

Barb, you do indeed deserve credit for making it through the first class still attached to your bike, much less having pedaled all the way. Did the gel seat work its magic, too?

Off and running!

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

Good morning!

I hope all of you are well. Yesterday, I only swam 20 minutes, today, a bit over 35. I got there late yesterday.

My DD is looking to move to Janesville, WI, just north of Beloit. It's just about 100 miles and is supposed to take about 90 minutes to get there.

I went through my old neighborhood. I was curious if the guy next to us had his house up for sale yet, but I guess not. My DH told me maybe he had sold it already.

After work, I stopped at Circuit City to pick up a camera for my DD. (the same one my DH got). I also stopped at Wal-Mart. I wanted to get towels there, but the towel section was all baren. I don't know what they are doing! We went to a Chinese place for dinner.

My DD is trying to figure out what kind of flooring to put in the finished part of the basement. They are leaning toward carpet. I think that's not practical with little ones around. My DH thinks ceramic tile would make sense. Right now, there is some kind of vinyl flooring there that's not very attractive.

No glasses yet. I did get a pair of reading glasses to put over my regular glasses. It looks funny, but at least I can read more comfortably. I got them in a copper-colored metal, so I can tell which glasses are which. The reading glasses were less than $19.

I will do some stopping on the way home again. I need to stop at Wal-Mart for the new Harry Potter movie. I still want to get to Kohl's. I haven't been anywhere near the mall for a couple of weeks.

I wish you all well.

__________________
Ilse

380/286(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Just a really quick fly by. I haven't forgotten you all. My computer is doing weird and terrible things. Can't get into any of the programs that I need for work and I need to upload all my files to the press today. AWWWWWK! Major stressing going on here. The computer tech is supposed to arrive soon and install a new windows program that we hope will fix it all. I'm amazed I could even get on the net. Worked 2 hours late last night just trying to get it all done. Back later, I hope.

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

I thought these were cute:

Dog Thoughts
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. -Anonymous


Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. -Ann Landers


If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. -Will Rogers



There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face. -Ben Williams


A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. -Josh Billings



The average dog is a nicer person than the average person. -Andy Rooney



We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made. -M. Acklam



Dogs love their friends and bite their enemies, quite unlike people, who are incapable of pure love and always have to mix love and hate. -Sigmund Freud



I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. -Rita Rudner



A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. -Robert Benchley



Anybody who doesn't know what soap tastes like never washed a dog. -Franklin P. Jones



If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons. -James Thurber



If your dog is fat, you aren't getting enough exercise. -Unknown



My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. -Joe Weinstein



Ever consider what our dogs must think of us? I mean, here we come back from a grocery store with the most amazing haul -- chicken, pork, half a cow. They must think we're the greatest hunters on earth! -Anne Tyler



Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein



If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain



You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!' - Dave Barry



Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. -Roger Caras



If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them. -Phil Pastoret



My goal in life is to be as good a person my dog thinks I am. Kim


Author Unknown

__________________
Ilse

380/286(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Hi Gang!

Quick fly-by before a short nap. Today we go to the ofh here to tell them that we are not coming.

Terry: That pic of the egret was beautiful. So glad s/he didn't get Big Red and others.

Judy: Lexie is adorable! Wish I could see her.

We are "packing" some things today. DD1(dh's) has room to store stuff, so taking them to her on Sunday.

Alida: Yeah, we are getting in "last" visits. Was sad to say goodbye to my dd3. Also to the dgkids. Saturday I will say goodbye to my bf at a brunch she is having.

Barb: I just can't believe your level of exercise. Good for you spinning. My hair is "color-blocked." It is quite a bit blonder than it has been. Two defined colors/ red and blonde. You'll see it in OKC. It will be many years before I go "natural."

Donna: Ack on computer problems! I hate that.

Shel: can't wait to see you in OKC.

Rachel: Whatcha doin today

You too, Bren.

See yall later. I'm wiped.
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 guys!
Very good, Ilse...I particularly like the *women and cats...* one
I do however have to agree, there is no love and devotion in the pet world quite like a dog's.

Barb...woohoo...you go girl! I'm impressed...and honored to have a *spinner* in our group Biking totally kills my knees...we're talkin' major agony, so I do admire anyone who can pedal away! Now if I'm just riding in the neighborhood on my mountain bike, then I'm good with that, but at the gym....oye!

Bren...whatcha doin' today? How's hubby's back? Hope he's up and functioning. When our DH's are out of sorts, it kinda tilts our world as well, at least it does mine. My DH very rarely complains of any aches and pains, but today actually, he is a little *gimpy* with his knee. I've poked some prescription strength motrin down him, so hopefully he'll feel better by in the morning.

Peg...woohoo for you too! You can start singing another verse of *on the road again* on Tuesday, eh? How's the packing coming along? Don't stress...I know...easier said than done. Definitely keep us updated as much as you possibly can when you are on the road, OK? (((hugs)))

Alida...how funny you are! Lose 10 pounds before the convergence. Well, I know what you mean...I've got to lose 20 before the convergence....LOL...oye! I'd be happy to lose 20 OUNCES before the convergence...hehe. We are, what we are...

Donna...hope your computer woes are soon over. I truly hate it when my machine misbehaves and I have no clue. Of course, I have no clue much of the time in general...heh!

Judy....I can NOT believe how much Lexie has grown...OMG!!! I have to agree, if she grows up to fit her feet, she will be a big girl! Is she housebroken for the most part?
Who will be walking who when she is full grown...that is the question!

Rachel...where are you today? Back in NJ, if I remember correctly? What are you going to be doing until the convergence? Hope it's some family fun and relaxation time.
Sometimes it is good to just let the brain go into neutral gear and not *shift*, yanno?

Well.....I just got called off for tomorrow! Woohoo! DH and I made another run to Lowe's to look at countertop materials....AARRGGHHH. Boy I am confused! I thought I knew what I wanted, but I'm not so sure at this point. I'm really leaning towards the Silestone, but Dupont has a product called Zodiac that is nice also. I have a call into a kitchen design and update person, so maybe after I talk to her, I'll have a better idea of which way to go.

Also went for my *well woman* yearly gyn exam today...ack! One down and 3 to go...next on the agenda will be mams, bone density, and colonoscopy. Then maybe I can smile and say..."gee, I passed my 50,000 mile checkup, and I'm good for 50K more!"
DH also is going to get a colonoscopy this year, he just doesn't know it yet! LOL.

alrighty....guess I will get going on some other chores that have been neglected.
Back later, no doubt!

later, chickadees!
S.

Oops....Teel! Hey girl...didn't mean to leave ya out! Good news on Big Red!
Would bird netting work on the pond? I bought some the year I had a box bed garden in the back yard; it kept the birds from pecking my 'maters!

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Quick note to Peg, Shell and Ilse, and Donna--hey there ladies!!

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

from my journal last evening:
We saw 4 scouts(martins) this afternoon!!!!! We could hardly believe it!
DH got the house ready just in the nick of time! Now I'm beginning to think spring could possibly REALLY be here...dare I say this outloud???

later, chickadees,
S.

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



Life deserves a treat now and again, but life also deserves being healthy[with required disipline] to make it worth living!

Good morning!

Yesterday's training day (on the job) was a PITA. Got there only to discover she already had film on the glass we were doing so it had to come off. Problem was, it did not WANT to come off. So a small job that should have taken 1.5 hours took 3.5. My hip decided to complain big time, so I was not a happy camper.

May I also complain a little more? This guy washes windows for a living. That's great. He knows how to clean GLASS. But hanging film is different. You have to clean EDGES and get all the debris out that's hiding under the molding. I have gone over this with him, but he doesn't GET it yet. Today's job is 16 frigging windows. Should take 4 hours. We shall see.

BUT, he did take some film and the film cutter home with him yesterday. Slowly, my basement office is clearing out.

OK. Back to our regular scheduled program ----

Peg, yikes. It seems like just yesterday you were on the road TO California! I know it is going to be hard to leave, but just keep repeating "I Shall Return!"

Which OFH are you telling you are not coming ? the old one or the new one?

Donna, I HATE computer glitches. They are so frustrating. Just gives you a glimpse of how dependent we are on them. You mentioned a new windows program. Did he install a patch or a new operating system? Or perhaps something else?

Shelley, how happy you must be. Martins! As for Spring, don't say that TOO loud!

And thank you for saying "we are who we are." Losing that weight before Convergence will not happen. But I have a feeling you guys will love us anyway!

I've looked at that Silestone and like it. Is Zodiac similar to Corian? Decisions! Hmm. This is funny. Just last night as we were cleaning up after supper, I mentioned the counter tops were getting a little scratched and we should be more careful. TaaDaa! My DH comes up with the proclamation that we will be getting new ones anyway. Well, you could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather. But first the driveway and the A/C.

Brenda, yes, the new owner may be the type of person who just has to "do" to get it all to sink in. I keep muddling on.

Barb, DID the seat help? Is your "bottom" sore today? Just curious! BTW, I told the new owners I am taking Convergence Weekend off, including that Friday. Did you want to leave Friday evening? Just a thought. But reservations are already made and it may be tough to add a night. It doesn't matter to me. Whatever is best for you.

Ilse, I loved the Doggy quips. Funny thing is, they are TRUE.

Just a thought on your DD's basement flooring --- do they have flooding problems? A sump pump situation? If so, may want to steer away from carpet unless you do carpet tiles. There's a newer kind of carpet tile out. It's a DIY project and they are sold at Lowe's or Home Depot.

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...o_carpet_tiles

Whoops. I just looked at the time. Got to RUN! Hello to all I missed!

Have a GREAT day! XXOO

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