My body clock doesn't know from Saturday, so here I am at a ridiculously early hour clacking away. Actually, I've been awake forever. Between the wine and the after-dinner caffeine, there wasn't a chance of sleeping after I woke up at 2:45. Luckily, I DID wake up though, because I heard it raining. Rain?? Where did that come from? I had to rush out to the driveway and put the top up on my convertible, which I'd only covered with the dust cover.

We had a very nice dinner at Bravo, an Italian chain we like a lot. I was pretty good, carb-wise, but gave in completely at dessert. We ordered the "Bravo Trio" which arrived on a tiered rack of three plates: Creme brulee, cheesecake, and tiramisu. The people at the next table couldn't help gasping. But my favorite comment came from one of the women: "And you're so skinny!" ME?? Oh bliss! Well, I enjoyed my tastes of all those goodies, and we packed the rest for home.

Truth be told, I was already feeling foxy. On the way home from work, I stopped at Big Lots. We're having "Undie Sunday" at church, where we supply a community closet with large-size adult underwear. At Big Lots, they have pretty ladies' undies for not a lot of money. I knew they were having a sale of Lee jeans, too. I grabbed a pair of stretch denims in 8 Petite for 12 bucks, and took them home without trying them on. Glory be--they fit! I cannot believe I'm actually zipping these jeans.

Ya'll know I work pretty hard at this weight management thing, so please forgive my little outburst of self-congratulation. When it comes to body image, it's difficult for some of us to see anything but the flaws, after a lifetime of struggle with size and shape. Now at the threshold of old age, I'm embracing my Inner Babe with considerable gusto.

Teel, my sis and her husband will be in Victoria this week. He's a member of a Board of Directors, and naturally they pick excellent places to have their meetings. Must be nice. We were there briefly once, and look forward to going again. You're a peach to make all the plans for your vacation companions. I hope you won't let their high maintenance ways interfere with your fun when you get there. Tell 'em to suck in their mooliban, breathe, and relax.

And that goes for everybody here!

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


My Fitday Journal

Hi Gang!

Sorry to be MIA for a day, but my computer is acting up and I am babying it until I can troubleshoot whatever it is. I've been online with Microsoft printing out all the "support" instructions.

So good to hear from you all and know that this is a place where I can come with such good friends.

Barb: You go ahead a crow, girlfriend! You deserve every bit of it. What a wonderful thing to hear from a stranger, about being skinny!! Well, from what I saw in Oooooooklahoma, YOU ARE! I'm still running on faith here about my exercise. Today we are supposed to get up to 80 with thunderstorms (though right now it is beautifully clear and sunny). Tomorrow, the weather channel is warning about OPPRESSIVE HEAT. I get a kick out of these New Englanders. When I was a kid, I used to play in 105 degree heat outside all Summer. We didn't have air conditioners. We had "coolers." The were great big fans in a metal box that fit in the window. The fan pointed toward the inside, and you ran a hose over a straw like pad that fit in the cooler. It blew warm air through the pad, and "cooled" and humidified the inside. Sometimes, I can remember, just laying in front of that cooler with just my panties. We used multiple fans inside to try and keep the air moving. Ahhhh, the fifties!
(Forgive that jaunt off into my childhood)

Shelley: I hope that today can be a little bit of rest for you. Sounds as though you had a very busy week with your tooth and work.

Alida: I hope that today can be a day of rest for you too. You have also been busy this week.

Bren: About decorating: Wallpaper is out. Faux painting is in. Bright colored walls are in. Now, that said, I have wallpaper in two rooms, and borders in two rooms. When the real estate agent came to look, he didn't seem to think they would be a problem and told me not to bother taking them down. He said it "gives the place character." Well, I'm glad he didn't say "it give the place the look of a character living here!" Though, of course, that would be true! I have no faux painting in my house anywhere, because I don't happen to like it. That which I've seen in people's houses just looks like faux painting and not a part of the home. Know what I mean? I decorated with pale yellow walls and added glossy white crown molding. It really spruced up the place. Of course, I got the hardwood floor and new carpeting too. On the carpeting, I splurged with the thickest pad, and it feels like really expensive carpeting. A decorator's trick. Send me pics of what you want to redecorate. Maybe between us we can come up with some ideas.

Terry: I am intrigued about yoga. The ofh we are moving to in SoCa offers yoga free once a week. I am going to sign up. They also offer TaiChi free, and I am intrigued with that. They have a full gym with all the great machines too, and a swimming pool. Of course, we have the gym here too, and do you think that I could drap my sorry a$$ there? NO. Though, I am having a massage next week. I've finished PT on my neck, and they recommended regular massage to keep it loose.

Donna: I imagine that you are off on your road trip. I hope that you are having a good time.

Judy: And, I suspect that you are off to Plano. I hope that you find your Ddad in good shape. I know that it is a waiting game with Parkinson's. Good for you for encouraging him to do what he can for as long as he can.

Rach: Waiting for a long post from you, girlfriend. I'm sure that you are having a great time.

Well, I'm off to troubleshoot whatever it is on this computer, grocery shopping, (this is my week) and washing. Brenda, thanks so much for the link to "Saving Dinner," I have used it every time my week comes up! I really love it. So good for new ideas. DH loves the new ideas too - when he eats them!

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

Hey, Barb - I'd call that a pretty successful day - scoring new, tiny jeans and getting a spontaneous compliment from a stranger! Yeah, it's all good! And, well done for enjoying bites of that spectacular dessert and boxing the rest. As for the "crowing", you have worked hard on all aspects of weight management, and it's good that you appreciate the value of that accomplishment. Yeah, Peg - I can see you really getting behind yoga and Tai Chi. Somehow, those exercise forms seem like they would suit you. Although simple on the surface, there's an underlying complexity... not complexity, maybe "depth" is a better word. I took two TaiChi classes at my HMO back in the 1990s and enjoyed them a lot. The instructor told us he was teaching an earlier version of Tai Chi called Qi Gong, which is more slanted towards healing. He told us that Tai Chi was an offshoot of Qi Gong that developed more towards martial training. I thought it was ironic that a regime developed for healing morphed into a practice supporting conflict. Well, perhaps it was seen as a means of resolving conflict?

I hope your computer woes have settled down and you are free to get on with your plans for the day. Probably getting ready for another sermon, today, eh?

Your reminisence about hot summers in SoCal really took me back, too. I lived in the San Fernando Valley until I was six. I remember my grandmother had a window box cooler, but we didn't. I used to love to stand in front of her cooler, and I always felt puzzled at how it was so hard to breathe in with the air blowing right into your face. This place we moved into last summer is the first place I've ever lived with air conditioning. Why did I wait so long for that?

It was almost 95 degrees here yesterday - the hottest day all year. Sunday through Tuesday barely broke into the 70s. Quite a turn-around. Lucky for me the graduation ceremony I went to was in the late morning. We snagged some chairs and drew them back under one of the few trees in the quad. After the ceremony, we trooped off with another grad and her mom for lunch out. It was fun to be with the girls - my god, they are so beautiful at that age!

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

Hi gang,
Sorry this will be short again today...I just have no energy for some reason. I also think a wee bit of depression is trying to set in...ack!
Anyhooo....just returned from my nail appt and had a bite of lunch. We had severe storms last night, but the good news is, we got 2.3 inches of rain here at my house...yipee! The storms kept we awake for a while, so maybe that's why I kinda feel drained and otherwise down. So, I think a nap is in order today; very cloudy and overcast and maybe more rain and storms later.

Peg...yeah, I remember well the days of the *water cooler*. My nana had one as well as my parents. They had water pumps in them and were hooked up to the outside water faucet with small tubing, and the water would run down the straw like padding and the pump would re-circulate the water. All the woodwork would *swell* in the summer....as if it weren't humid enough in OOOOklahoma...LOL. I can remember very well when my parents took the leap and bought a *refridgerated* air conditioner...we thought we had died and gone to heaven; 1963, I think it was. I also remember my folks stressing over paying the electric bill during the summer months after the AC window unit was installed. Of course back then, a $35-$45.00 electric bill was pretty pricey.

Barb...woohoo on those size 8 Lee's!!! You go girl! I'm beginning to lose hope of ever even getting to size 10's...sigh. You continue to inspire us all.

Alida, Bren, and Teel...hope you all are having a most restful weekend and doing what simply suits your fancy!

Judy, Donna and Rach...on the road...waving to ya'll!!!

OK...I'm going to give in and have that nap attack...most unusual for me, but I can't seem to stay focused on anything at the moment, so it's where I will do the least damage I think...LOL.

later chickadees!
(((hugs)))
Shell

__________________
~~~~
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!

Sunday morning: Just a drive-by here, too. Church with my dad, and then we'll go see his "rock" at the Liberty Memorial. I definitely caught up on my sleep--nap yesterday afternoon (Shelley, very unusual for me, too) and slept well last night. I've found some new muscles today though, thanks to that little bit of a Pilates workout I did yesterday. Ouch.

See you later, Babes.

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


My Fitday Journal

Good Sunday morning!

I was MIA yesterday morning. I was reading your posts when Bob asked me to look for his discharge papers from the Marines. How should I know where his discharge papers are? That request blossomed into a two hour search through various boxes, finding many things but NOT the papers. Of course, he has a file called "Birth Certificate and Discharge Papers." And, of course, the DP were not in there. Finally went on line and printed out a form to send in to request a copy.

Bob needs the documents because he is applying for a security guard position. His stint as salesman for the new company is OK, but not as busy as we thought it would be. He has a lot of down time and we are planning ahead to when sales will drop off in the Fall. The extra $ will be nice, too. He interviewed on Friday and they wanted to sign him up right away. Well, of course they did! He's fit, doesn't smoke or drink, and was an MP in the Marines. Amazingly, even though this stint in the Marines was over fifty years ago, it still counts. They even want to to train him to be a manager. Although this job is just a Security Guard, he is floating on air because someone will actually HIRE him. We are planning on using this $ to buy a new car and pay extra on the mortgage.

He will be working second shift (4PM to Midnight). That means I'll see him in the morning and on weekends and I'll have to make my own dinner. This will be a switch!

Barb, you CROW all you want. I would, too, if I were in your shoes. Starting tomorrow, I am going back to Induction (again). I've omitted the whipping cream. Now I have to omit the LC ice cream.

Bravo? I love that restaurant! Did you go to the one on the Plaza? PS -- you ARE thin!!!!

Peg, how lovely to have a doctor's "prescription" for massage! I am curious if this expense is covered under insurance, since it is medically necessary.

Did you figure out your computer problem? What was happening?

I love reading "fond memories of childhood!" We didn't have those coolers you and Shelley were talking about. We did have window fans. When I was 13, we moved into the BIG house which had 3 window air conditioners. Thought I died and went to heaven. But it's funny, I don't remember being miserable in the heat.

Teel, did I read your post correctly? The house you are in now is the FIRST with air conditioning? Gosh, I've lived with central air since I was about 24. Although, where we lived just prior to buying our place now, was a gated community and we were renting a town home. They had air handlers and the AC part wasn't turned on until May. Here in KC, it can be pretty warm in April! Then again, we can also have ice storms.

Your vacation plans sound wonderful! I had to laugh at Barb's mention of your friends being "high maintenance." But you managed to meet all their "demands" and you will have a wonderful time! When do you go? And Donna, is Vancouver anywhere near you? It would be great if the two of you could meet for a lunch.

Shelley, I wish we did get the rain you were talking about. (Barb -- you got rain? We didn't!)

You mentioned not having any energy. Well, you have had a stressful week with the root canal. Fingers crossed for a better week next week!

Getting back to weather ? we celebrated Father's Day last night at son Mark's house. He said they had HAIL two weeks ago. We did not. And he lives about 20 minutes away. He's hoping for roof damage. He even saved some of the hail. Yup. The proverbial "golf-ball-size!"

Judy, how goes Plano?

Brenda, what's up? Seems like the consensus is wallpaper is OUT. But I stand by my original statement that wallpaper is still IN for bathrooms! At least here in KC.

Donna is probably having fun at that big garage sale!

And Rachel, if you read this, I hope all is going well and your travels are fun and safe!

Today? If we don't get any freaking rain like everybody else around here, I will have to water! XXOO

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

That's right, Alida this is my first place with AC! What a treat! Still, I would guess that the majority of homes in the Bay Area do not have AC. I suppose that's partly because the natural airflow through the SF Bay and the Central Valley sets up a pattern of heating up and cooling. Normally, 2 to 3 days of hot weather causes the air to rise, which sucks cooler ocean air inland. Generally, the pattern is about 4-5 days of cooler temps, then 2 to 3 days of hotter temps. The geography of oceans, bays, coastal valleys and mountains makes for major variations in temperature over short distances. Often, it's in the low 70s at the coast and high 90s in the inland valleys. Were we live is about 2/3s of the way towards the warmer end of that spectrum.

There are times when the summer pattern gets stuck and we may have a week or two of hot weather; and the hot dirty air really piles up when an inversion layer holds all the heat and smog in place.

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

Hi Gang!

Well, lost one post already! Still limping along on this danged computer. Computer geeks are going to hear from me in the morning. Need to shut down before it shuts on me again. I'm here and doing fine!

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

gang...
Just recieved a disturbing phone call from my BIL/SIL(DH's brother). They just found out their middle son who is 30 yrs old, a proud marine, husband, and father of 2 little boys has colon, liver and lung cancer. We are devastated. The USMC immediately turned his care over to the UNC medical facility.
Please keep our nephew in your prayers.
I really don't feel much like visiting right now; I know you all understand.

later...
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!

Gosh, Shelley - what sad, sad blow for your family. I'm so sorry for your nephew and his family. I hope the oncologists have some treatments and strategies to help him through this battle. I've sent a prayer for strength and serenity for him and his family.

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

Oh, Shelley. I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Your nephew is so young. God grant him the extra strength to overcome this. May God hold him and his family in the palm of his hand. ((((((HUGS))))))

Peg, I hope your computer problems are easily fixed and you didn't pick up a nasty bug. Is it still under warranty?

Terry, it's so easy to forget that California has such weather swings. But when it's hot -- even for a few days -- central air must be a godsend! I have a niggling memory of my Etchlike artist (who lives in central Florida) telling me she doesn't have HEAT. Could this be right? They had a cold snap and I vaguely remember her telling me they didn't have heat!

Barb, were you able to find your Dad's brick? I remember when you bought it. I do hope they gave you directions!

I had a quiet and restful day yesterday. I got another jigsaw puzzle (1000 pieces) which kept me entertained for hours.

Hello to everyone! Have a good week. XXOO

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

Shelley, what terrible news. We'll hold the best hopes for your nephew and all your family. So much in life is incomprehensible and unfair.

Yes, Alida, we found the brick just fine. I have a pamphlet with a diagram in it, but the location is pretty well fixed in my mind. My dad is so frustrated with getting old--can't see, can't hear, can't walk much (so no golf), etc. I think he needs to use a bit more imagination about the things he CAN do, but I'm not the one living in his body. I took him two audio books (on CD) from the library. He can turn the volume up as loud as he needs to for those. But I kind of doubt he'll even open the boxes.

My little carbfest this weekend popped my balloon of inflated ego. Amazing how much water weight the body can suck up, but let's hope none of this is solid. Back to being a good little low-carber now.

Peg, speaking of frustration! Sorry about the computer. We are all so dependent on the dang things now.

Teel, Brenda, Donna--hope you had a chance to relax over the weekend. Back to the usual today! Take care.

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


My Fitday Journal

Hi Gang!

Well, evidently the computer gods came overnight and healed my computer. I turned it on for the heck of it this morning and it came on and stayed on! Sheesh.

Shelley: I'm SO SORRY for your family, most especially your poor nephew. I can't imagine, truly, what it would be like to live with the knowledge that there is an invader like cancer in my body. Having children that age, I can imagine what a devastating sentence it is for everyone. I know that a positive attitude is the most important things at this time, but I am afraid that positive attitudes are just not my strong suit when it comes to me and my family. This is one place where it very hard for me to "practice what I preach." Blessings and prayers ascending this day for all of you.

Barb: Yeah, I agree about how much water the body can suck up. I have to say, though, that I am mystified about how the body lets go of it. I am fairly regular about drinking my entire water allotment daily, but some days I feel like it will never stop coming out (if you get my drift) and some days my body seems to want to hang on to it. We are in sweating weather now, and I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Just speculating.

Alida: So glad you had a relaxing Sunday! You deserve it! So, your a puzzle fan, huh? I just HATE puzzles. I get so frustrated. Except for that wonderful mah jong puzzle that Shelley got me hooked on. And, I play solitaire on my computer(s) wherever I am (also on my Pocket PC). It helps me think, believe it or not.

Donna: I imagine that you are back and cleaning out that RV. I hope that it was a fun weekend for you and that you were able to do and see everyone and thing you wanted.

Terry, Bren, Judy, Rach: Have a good week, starting with today.

We have a real estate guy who is in Bob's church coming this afternoon, but first I have lunch with a friend I rarely see. Then, we celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary tonight with dinner out at a fancy hotel in the City. Yup. We got married on a beautiful, hot June night in SoCa on this day 24 years ago. It was a small wedding in the church in which dh served. Just family and a few close friends. Another friend threw us a lovely wedding dinner in her back yard with a pool. It was all lovely. I was such a naive 39 year old!! Wow!

__________________
"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

Shelley, much love and positive thoughts to you and your nephew's family. They can do so many good things today that they couldn't a few years ago. I hope that your nephew is in a location with the newest and best of everything.

~~~~~~~~~
I'm finally home again. I'm sorry that I haven't had the chance to post or to back read. As of this morning, I determined that I had only slept in my own bed 4 times this month. Today and most of this week will be consumed with catching up and finishing projects that are undone. I have a wide range of things to do. I can't tell you how glad I was to be home last night and this morning to enjoy a small bit of slugdom by sleeping in until 8:30. I was totally pooped. I'll try to come back later, back read a few days of posts, and give you guys a run down on the status of everything. Right now I need to get up and get dressed.

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

Shelley, so very, very sorry to hear about your nephew's illness. My heartfelt prayers for him, his family, and for you. ((((HUGS))))If he is at UNC, their medical school is first rate and can offer excellent care. Please keep us abreast, and meanwhile I will choose to think positive thoughts.

Meanwhile, I am concerned for you, too, girlfriend. Anything we could do to lighten your heart?

Judy, good to see you coming out from under. Four days at home this month? Good grief, take a well deserved break before you tackle summer's projects, ok? Hugs, to you, and hope DDad is still doing as well as you last reported.

Peg, Happy Anniversary!!! Twenty-four is a great number--congrats! Sounds as though you'll have a lovely evening, too. Say I may take you up on the decorating help if the offer's still open. I'll email you some pictures

TB, Shell, Alida, thanks to you all also for the decorating updates. If any of you want to give me some ideas, I'll send you pics, too.

TB, wow, nice trip for you and your friends. They're lucky to have someone so accommodating (YOU!) to plan it for them.

Shell, Alida, TB, oh my I remember the "swamp coolers" that my grandparents and Aunts/Uncles had in SW Oklahoma. Nice memory--iced tea, Dr. Pepper, beans and snaps, swamp coolers All we had in Mississippi when I moved there at 9 was the big window fan. Alida, I DO remember being hot as you-know-what.

Alida, I got a kick out of your DH's success at getting the security job--training for supervisor, at that, and his search, well YOUR search for his papers. I'll bet he'll look quite handsome in uniform again.

Barb, TB, ok you guys have inspired me. I've been doing my little mini-yoga sessions at home here for several weeks, getting some flexibility back, at least. But now I've taken the plunge, signing up for classes which will start in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty jazzed, because the teacher is a student of Ana Forrest, an amazing yogini, who has always inspired me with her strength and form. No spring chicken either. I'll see if I can find a picture of her. OH, better yet, if you want to be amazed, check out the demo videos on this page taken at the Yoga Journal Conference. http://forrestyoga.com/ Whew, not something any of us mortals will be doing any time soon, but for me a lesson in not setting boundaries. Wow.

Donna, did you have a good weekend?
Rachel, thinking of you out there!
_________________
As for me, I'll be trying to keep up with you all a little better this week. Hugs to all!

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