Hey all....

Bren!! <<<<hugs>>>> I'm so sorry - and there is nothing to do for ribs except time and a glass of wine as often as possible (ok, that last part was just my own personal remedy)... I hope you are feeling up to the "convergence" travel... If there is anything I (we) can do to make that as easy as possible - please advise!

All, very quickly - am on my sister's PC... with the one year old and the three year old running around me - LOVE these cutie pies - but they are certainly a full time job! My sister continues to be the best mother in the world - patient, easy, and so wise with every issue - just amazing.

We are out here in the Western MA woods - really poor computer connections - so my laptop doesn't work and I get about 7 minutes a day free on her machine - and here I am!!

much love to you all - and much more later when I have the opportunity to be alone and quiet for some considerable time.

__________________
Hugs, Rachel







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

hello everyone!



howdy folks. i heard you were talking about me in here. can't remain incognito with the "purple hair" huh? har!

i live in eudora, but usually reference lawrence when i talk to folks because it's near lawrence and most people have heard of it because of ku.

the team lisa meetings are at the star, but so far are schedule for weekends when most of hte folks can make it. but it's not like kc is too far, either. i'd love to visit sometime or whatever.

i'm not sure how that project is going to go, but i'm hoping perhaps i can be somewhat helpful, anyway. i've got a couple of lc'ers. most of 'em are doing WEIGHT WATCHERS (yuck!), but whaddya gonna do? pshaw.

anyway, wanted to pop in and say hello. you may resume your regularly scheduled chatting.

__________________

EatSmart Nutritional Scale Review

This is a quick fly-by as I have to go start dinner PDQ. Brrrrr.... wow, is it getting cold here again! After a little stretch of rather nice weather, I tend to forget that we still get some March storms. The high tomorrow is supposed to be in the low 40s! I thought it was a typo when I first saw the forcast.

I'm sure now that Big Red is going to make it - he is still hiding a lot, but he looks pretty normal when he comes out and swims about. I almost feel like his amazing survival after being eaten and then out of the pond so long warrants a new name. Any name ideas for a super hero goldfish?

I'm still helping out with my friend's mom while she's in the nursing home. Whew! what a complex woman! 'nuff, said.

Alida, I was thinking you could give your "student" the Windows_for_Dummies book as a farewell gift. But then it occurred to me that could be taken the wrong way. Here is a web page you could give her with basic Windows tutorials: http://www.mum.edu/helpdesk/beginners/win-beg.html. It looks pretty good at first glance, anyway.

Peg, I hope your bout with FM continues to abate. I hear ya on the fatigue - that's actually more bothersome than the pain, isn't it? At least you can take something for pain! There isn't much to be done about persistent fatigue, unfortunately. A gent I know recommended malic acid (magnesium malate) for muscle fatigue and the remedies person at Whole Foods also recommended it. I use it on and off ... I think it helps. It's listed as a possible treatment for FM in Medline (part of the Natl. Library of Medicine) " Some reports indicate that fish oil, magnesium/malic acid combinations, or vitamins may be effective. " quoted from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e...cle/000427.htm

Rachel! How great it was for you to drop in when you have not one but ~two~ irresitable distractions in your little nephews! One and three are such adorable ages in kids - so innocent, yet so smart already.

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

Hi girls.........such wonderful chat possibilities today, but, I'm going to beg off. I feel like cr*p. We had a baby shower at lunch today and I had a nice sized helping of dessert, then proceeded to eat some fried chicken for dinner. Just go ahead and shoot me. I deserve it and already feel miserable. The cravings are huge. What was I thinking? Blah, I think I'll go to bed and watch TV.

PS....meeting with the Supt went well.

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

Oh my gosh, I think we just found the greatest tool ever to get the attention of little ADD Lexie. She is absolutely chewing us and everything else up. I kept reading recommendations about putting coins or rocks in a can and shaking them as an attention getting discipline tool. IT WORKS!!! I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. She is totally scared to death of noises anyway --- The other night she hid under the bed for 30 minutes after I turned on the blender. Tonight after a shake of the can she even managed to sit on the bed and get petted for 30 minutes. Progress!

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

Good morning, girlfriends--including Goddess. Thanks for popping in. Yes, let's make plans to get together in KC. After next weekend, we'll have fun pictures and firsthand reports on the Convergence.

Peg, sounds like you are rising above the FM. Terry's suggestions sound interesting. I couldn't begin to advise you about cross-country clothing. Take a jacket anyway. As for DHs and technology, mine likes keep a Big Chief tablet handy--no kidding. He doesn't have to use the fat pencils though.

Judy, you've got your hands full 24/7. That "kid" at home is going to be quite a bedmate when she weighs 80 lbs. You ready?

I got my bone scan yesterday. The technician said, "Some women would kill you in the parking lot for a scan like this." In other words, I'm fine. I'm definitely calling the imaging center today to set up the mammogram.

My project this week has been Baby Congrats. Three writers and a designer working on the project, and not one of us a mother. It doesn't take much imagination to come up with cute things to say about babies. The challenge is to think up things that have never been said before on a greeting card.

My brother arrives (presumably) today, and my sister tonight, to do the house project this weekend. I hope we get it all sorted out, and have some fun, too.

Time to clean up and go to work. I'll peek in later. I always do!

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


My Fitday Journal

Good morning!

I hope all of you are well. We are supposed to get to 54 today. However, it rained all day yesterday and is all cloudy today.

thought I was going to have 1/2 day at school, but ended up staying for a meeting with some of the teachers. I left a few minutes early, as I had promised to take my DGS swimming. He really enjoyed himself. I always freeze in that pool. Brenda, I thought about you as I was driving through Geneva, thinking you were in that knitting class somewhere around that time.

I stopped back in the optometrist's office to take another couple pictures with those frames. I can't get at them here at school, as they are on a SD card in my Pocket PC.

Well, have a great day and wonderful weekend!

__________________
Ilse

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

Hi Gang!

Alida: Where are you?? We must be a busy gang these past couple of days. I don't have to spend an hour reading before I post!

Welcome Goddess!! It's good to see you here. Come back any time.

Barb: LOL on thinking up things that have never been said. I believe that that is why I never went for a Ph.D. I couldn't think of any thesis that hadn't already been studied! Thinking up baby congrats seems every bit as daunting.

Terry: We are supposed to get coooollld weather today and rain tonight. Cold weather here is not so pleasant because the houses (at least our apt.) are not insulated, no double panes, etc. Luckily, I have a few warm clothes.

Judy: Congrats on figuring out what works with Lexie. I've used that with my cats too. When I can remember, it works really well! I echo Barb. What will you do when Lexie weighs 80 lbs?? Though, I suspect that it was nice to have a warm puppy cuddling when you didn't feel good. By the way, I can relate soooo much about the carb hangover! Been there, done that, often lately!

Bren: How are you feeling? How was your workshop? Did you learn anything else that you can teach me?? I'll be bringing my erstwhile sweater. I need you to transfer it to a round needle. I also need to buy that round needle!

Donna; Where are you? Still having computer problems?

Rachel: Thanks so much for stopping in! Sounds as if you are having a fabulous time. I envy you. We are going to see my dd2 and her dh and kids after OKC. dgs is 2-1/2, dgd is 8 months.

Shel: I know that you must be working youur little butt off. Don't work too hard. We are looking forward to seeing you bright and bushytailed!

____________________________________________

Pain limited to neck and shoulders today. It was terrible last night. I thought I was having a heart attack. I can't wait to get home where I have doctors! I have had this disease for 20 years. You would think that I would be used to the pain. Not!

The apt looks like we are moving. We have boxes full of winter things that we are not taking packed to take to dh's dd1 on Sunday. I take dh to the airport this afternoon for his AZ trip. He finally went to the dr with his "gift" from India. Of course a new dr has to "rule out" all the "little normal" things before he will look into anything the least bit exotic. Yesterday dr told dh that he has developed a lactose intolerance. I went on the "Net" and found that that is a temporary possibility if you have had food poisoning. He did the last few days in India. Makes sense. Wish I had looked that up before he went to the dr. Anyway, the dr is still doing tests and will call us on the road. Sigh.

Thinking about the remodel we will do when we get to CA again. Exciting. Don't know what we will have, but it is so much fun for me to look at pictures and think of what I like. Dh has been patient with me and even looked at a few pics himself (that I showed him).

Well, gotta go. I'll stop in later. I always do too.
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

Good morning everyone. Haven't I just had the most fun packed week? Not! I've never had a computer crash before and didn't realize just how stressful it would be. Of course everything I do at work is on a deadline so I panicked every day. Took two days to get it up and running and I'm still finding little glitches here and there. Of course, anyone who knows me can tell that I'm stressed out badly (the skin burns on my face when I'm stressed). So, I have big red patches around my eyes and across my forehead. My boss of course thinks this is nothing! When I get old enough to have a cane....he will be the first one that I hit!!

I have no idea where I am with the posts. I've tried to keep up but I think it would take forever to answer each one. I'm sure you've all been there.

This weekend we will buy the crown moulding to finally finish the front room/dining room. Just might have it finished before Easter. lol For anyone who's thinking about doing this, there is a new product on the market that looks exactly like crown moulding, but it's foam. It would have cost us over $200 for the real thing, but the foam one will be just over $90. Quite the difference. You paint it just like the real thing and when it's hung, you can't tell the difference. Just don't put it along the floor cause it would mark when hit with the vaccuum or mop. So much lighter too when it comes to putting it up.

Our accountant showed up yesterday with the year end stuff and really hurt dh's feelings. His remark was that dh and I are much too smart to be working in menial jobs where we aren't making much money and we should both quit and find something else. Dh loves owing the gas station/store. He's a real people person and there are so many people that stop there, just to see him. Sure, Shell Oil , is in our back pockets and takes more than their share, I think, but he's still happy. He was pretty upset last night. I finally told him that some people are only happy when they have a ton of money in the bank (like my boss), but if you have to work at a job that you hate, or give up the little things in life, is it really worth it. I'll be talking to our accountant when I see him too. He never says things like that to me. In a small town, there are only so many jobs and like dh says ...what are we supposed to do when 60 is just around the corner?

I have no idea what's up with my weight. I'm following my plan so carefully and not budging below 155-156. It's getting discouraging, but at the same time, the numbers aren't as painful as they were when I first saw them. That's scary. Just keep plugging along I guess.

Alida: Don't think I ever got a chance to say "Congrat's on selling the business". Better late than never.

Barb: That's great that the scan came out so good. With all the exercise that you get I didn't think it would be anything but great.

Brenda: How's the rib? I've only ever broken my baby toe, but I can imagine that it would be so painful. Take care!!

Back to work. Here's hoping the computer will be happy and do what I want it to today!

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

Donna, those comments from the accountant must have come down like a ton of bricks--especially directed at someone you love and respect. His business is accounting, not unsolicited advice. Zheesh. With all the other stuff you're dealing with, you didn't need this at all. So sorry. I'm sure your DH appreciates your support and encouragement.

What a great alternative for crown molding. Who'd have thought?

Peg, the thing is not that a thesis hasn't been thought before--it's just never been thought BY YOU before. That's by definition totally original. So...when you get a round tuit, you might still go for that PhD. Let's talk about it.

As y'all may have noted in the general discussion, I got my hands on a new edition of DANDR. It's quite different from the 1992-99 version I've been using all along. Atkins puts a lot of emphasis on supplementation and EXERCISE in this new version, and the chapter contents seem to be arranged more logically. I'll enjoy revisiting the plan in this new way.

I still think nothing is as clear-cut as Dr. A so blithely insists. He giveth and he taketh away. The bottom line is, you have to embrace the principles, make a commitment for the long term, tweak it as you go, and have faith that it's helping you move in the general direction of your goals. That's pretty much the way it is with all "diets"--only I like this one the best.

Right now, I'm carefully minding my carbs, deeply into ketosis, and waiting, waiting, waiting for the Whoosh Fairy to find me. Aren't we all???

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


My Fitday Journal

Hi guys!
TGIF!!!! If it wasn't Friday, I'd have to call in sick tomorrow!
Yesterday and today were crazy busy at work, so that automatically elevates the old stress level as well....<sigh>.
I've been following along the last few days. Let me see if I can sorta jump back in and carry on a half way intelligent conversation(without to much blithering that is)...LOL.

Alida...I agree with the thought that you have done your best to clue in the new owners and educate them. If they choose to do a half-a$$ job, then they will reap what they sow, yanno? Have you informed them of their last *inservice*/ojt session? Feel good about you! You've done your best, girlfriend!

Peg...I so hope your FM is totally gone for your traveling. I can only imagine how miserable it would be to be in pain and have to ride in a car, or worse yet, have to pay attention and do any driving. (((hugs)))
Oh, and I vote for the full set of nails! I'm totally for the froo-froo stuff...hehe! My manicurist's SIL is going to nail school, and she is doing some of her ojt with my manicurist...long story short, I'm letting her practice a pedicure on me tomorrow morning after my nail appt. WOOHOO...I'm getting a manipedi!!!

Barb...Thank you, I think! LOL. So you think I'm kinda like a purple martin, eh? They are an elegant bird, faithful and true to their mates; but boy they sure can screech alot!...hummm...I can to! ha! I have not seen the martins the last 2 days. I hope they haven't decided to nest elsewhere, but I really think the ones that are here, are just the scouts. I think the rest of the colony will arrive in another week or so. I hope they are here when you guys are here. They are a hoot to "listen" to their chatter. Hope your cleaning duties go well tomorrow, and above all, I hope you and your sibs have a blast!

Donna, m'dear...I've been having 'puter problems too, but not on the scale you have, I'm relieved to say. I keep getting error messages "out of memory", and I know that's a crock!! We are on the verge of getting a new system anyway. I want an mp-3 player, and my system can't support windows XP which I understand is needed for up and down loading music. Soooooo...me thinks after the kitchen project, a new machine will be next on the agenda!
Hope you are up and running without glitches ASAP.

Bren...got your email, and I sent you another! Hope you are feeling much better. My DH broke a rib once while hunting. Condensed version here...men are a bit of a wimp with rib pain...LOL. Really, he was green around the gills when he got back to the house after cracking the rib, so I know he was in some real pain. Take care of you, m'dear...in other words...take drugs if ya have to...we want you here to converge with us, for sure!

Judy...are you officially on spring break? If so, then TGIF, ABCD, and head for Margaritaville! LOL. A good 'rita kinda sounds good to me, actually.
Haven't had one in ages, because it sure makes me want to have chips and salsa, yanno? But, you deserve it, kiddo! Treat yourself...it'll start your spring break off a wee bit better, I would bet!

Teel...still doing care giver duties! Wow, you have stamina, friend! It surely sounds like they do appreciate what you are doing for them, and when it comes right down to it, satisfaction from doing a good deed is what it's all about, as well as making someone's day. You rock!

Rachel...I sent you an email also...
I'm so glad you are having fun with your little nephews! That age group is such fun, oh my! What one kiddo can't think of, the other one can...
Bet you are *pleasantly pooped out* after a day with them...LOL. My little Isaijah can run me down, but boy I love it!

Ilse...I would be willing to bet, you will have a busy weekend, shopping, and running here and there Hope you have some good weather for all your errands and such. Nearing any decisions on the frames for your glasses?

OK, galpals...gotta go start some laundry and think about starting some dinner as well. I'm sad to say, I've been afflicted with the disease that Samantha Stevens had, you know, on Bewitched. Remember the episode that Samantha had *foracious ravinis-itis* and was eating everything in sight? Yeah, well...I got it! I don't want or need it! Dam*! I don't think I can lose those 20 lbs before convergence day, but I think I will do induction levels for a few days to get myself free of these cravings...aarrgghhh....why did I do this to myself? OK, on with the show....

later, chickadees!
Shelley

__________________
~~~~
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!

Foracious ravinis-itis! I'm chronic!

Peg, yeah wear your snuggies tonight or sure! The weather forecasters around here are pretty excited. They are practically peeing their pants because they get to forecast snow!!! Maybe even down to sea level in some areas! So much more interesting than, say, 300 days/yr of forecasting "patchy morning fog..." If the snow does reach down to the valley tonight - that's really something. It's only happened about twice - maybe three times - in the 50 years I've lived here.

Shelley, I looked up purple martins to see what they look like... when I saw the picture, I though, "OHhhh... swallows!" According to my local bird chart, we get swallows in the spring and summer. I wonder if they are the same kind of swallows, though? Dunno. I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for one in the foothills behind me.

The day before yesterday, Bumble peed on my bed 3 times. :( She's a very high strung cat, and once or twice a year pees out of place when she's stressed and confused. What with the move and various repair projects, this just hasn't been her year, and we've had quite a number of "incidents". But she's never peed outside the box multiple times in one day. This little fit of nerves is getting really costly. One, I had to go buy a new mattress. I hated the old one* anyway, but I would have toughed it out until after taxes. Two, I took Bumble to the vet just to make sure she doesn't have a bladder infection. What with one thing and another, that was almost $200 - and we're supposed to go back for rechecks next week. Meanwhile, I get to try to collect a urine sample from her - not the easiest thing to do with cats.

Ah, well. At least Bumble was really, really good with the vet. She was very cooperative and let the vet do whatever she wanted without complaint or squirming. A minor miracle, that!

*The mattress I loathe is a Select Comfort - the Sleep Number Bed. What a pile of junk that turned out to be! Very cheap materials. No matter what I do, it's hideously uncomfortable. Plus, t started sagging really badly in the middle after just a couple of years. Select Comfort's customer service and 10-year guarantee turned out to be a figment. I often sleep in the guest room bed which isn't much better. It's a Select Comfort, too, but hasn't broken down quite as badly as it gets less use.

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

Well girls, I think I've been snake bit............. and the result is that I may not make it to the convergence. In the last month:

• A tree limb fell on a lady's car when she was here to look at the Honda -- repair work was finished today.....($2300)
• A big tree in the back drops a big limb... luckily on the patio. It's getting close to the stormy time of the year. Combined with the incident above we called a tree cutting company to take down the problem tree in the back and trim other trees in the yard in an effort to stop tree shedding. ($750)
• Yesterday the kids' basketball goal blew over from high winds. Luckily, it didn't land on anything. The pipe holding it up was filled with concrete. The damn thing weighs a ton. The good thing is that I wanted it down anyway. At least it went without costing me anything.
• The CD player and some emission sensors went out on the car that I got from SIL. ($200 for a CD player and $500 for repairs)
• And the topper happened this afternoon. We had a serious gas leak in the house and had to have the gas company out. The leak is in the attic and all the lines will have to be replaced and brought up to current code. Our house is about 35 years old. We are actually lucky to still be here. We smelled some gas yesterday but it wasn't too bad. Last night we slept with the windows open which kept the house from filling with gas. Today the windows were open for a big part of the day. But, by the time I got home, DH had turned on the air conditioning and the gas smell was pretty bad. DH had been in the house all afternoon and didn't notice it too much. We took Lexie to the park and by the time we came back it was rough. It took the gas company almost 2 hours to get out for an "emergency" call. We had to stay out of the house, not use the phone, yadda yadda yadda. They will not turn our gas back on until the repairs are complete and the city has inspected the house to see that it has been brought up to code. And, since this is the weekend, it will be Monday at the very earliest before that happens. (If we can get out of this for $1000 we will be lucky.)

The bottom line............... my bottom line is in the red. Heck, the way things are going I am really afraid that something else would happen and I wouldn't get there and back safely. I feel rotten about having to back out. Heck, I'm probably the closest to OKC. But, from the looks of things today, I'd say the karma is as bad as the bank account right now.

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

Judy,
Sending you an email!
Hang in there, kiddo!

Shelley

__________________
~~~~
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!

Bright and early, we will have to get going out to Wisconsin to see my DD's new house while they are having the home inspection. My DD and kids drove out there yesterday. We will bring out DSIL up with us.

After work, I stopped at Meijer and did a bit of grocery shopping. I also stopped at two banks to make deposits. My DH had gotten home early. After I got home, we headed out to Wal-Mart, Costco, an Amish furniture store, and had dinner.

Tomorrow, we are supposed to have a brunch with my parents, my cousin, and the rest of us here at home. We are hosting, as it will make things less complex.

I hope you have a great weekend!

__________________
Ilse

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