I'm so pleased with myself........ I had a beautiful piece of cranberry colored wool knit. I found the perfect pattern last week. So this afternoon I decided to cut it out............ and found the moth holes on the outside of the folded piece. I already had slightly less fabric than the envelope called for, and this made for some serious issues --- facings from something else??, under layer of wrap top with mended holes??, sash belt from another fabric?? After some master jig saw puzzle effort, I managed to get all the pieces I needed, and didn't even have to use the chunk that had the moth holes at all. Yea me!

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

barb! thanks for the reminder! we may have someone in to do our laminate flooring in a few rooms while i am out of town... i had planned on taking alot of pieces of jewelry out of my armoir (i seem to stash it in glasses or cups when i take it off *L*)

after having my wallet stolent recently, it hit home that NOT EVERYONE can be trusted with temptation...so i had planned on putting it all away before i left..

i ALMOST forgot to do it! thanks for the reminder... although i wish it werent necessary.:(

__________________
kims SECOND journal is HERE
kims new blog
KIMS BLOG !!
SUGARFREE BLOG

Cock-a-doodle doo!!! It's that time again. The other morning when I was out early running, I actually did hear a rooster down the street. If that bird were closer to my house, I'd make sure it got reported.

Judy, how great to get your pieces out of that nice fabric. There's so much cleverness and creativity to sewing. Just the ability to choose the right material for the garment, and knowing how to fit a pattern to YOU, is a wonderful skill and talent. And the fundamentals make all the difference.

Peg, best wishes with the real estate invasion today. You've got all the fundamentals covered, too. By the time I get my house fixed up decently enough to sell it, I'll want to live in it myself. That IS the current plan.

I went over to a good friend's house last night for a couple hours of conversation. It's rare that we get a one-on-one--usually we're with our girlfriend foursome or a larger group--so it was enjoyable to be just us. We could have gone on into the night! She's a writer, and has a new book out. It's called Grace on the Go. Look for Barbara Bartocci titles next time you're in the bookstore. Inspirational titles mostly. Her first book was My Angry Son--an excellent and touching account of the difficulties of being a young widow dealing with the outcome of family grief.

DH brought home a carton of Haagen-Daz last night AND a box of Butterfingers ice cream bars. Y'know, I've developed a will of steel having this and other junk (crackers, chips) around the house all the time. The only thing that really won't let me go is the wine bottle. Every day--every hour, if you count the snack opportunities at the office--requires one decision after another. No wonder so few people manage to sustain a healthy weight, especially those of us with a tendency to put on fat just by looking at food. This is so NOT an easy way to live.

I stopped by Big Lots the other day, where I bought those comfy Lee jeans a couple weeks ago. I grabbed a pair of size 6s--they were six bucks!--and brought them home. Well...I'm not even CLOSE to wearing these. It could be a labelling issue. But I suspect I'm dreaming about ever being a size 6--like it matters? My hips are wide, and my butt is generous--not bad features, really--but probably not designed to be a 6. Still, I'm keeping those jeans (for six bucks). As I get older, I may shrivel up.

Hey--it's Thursday already! Hope it goes well for ya'll!

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


My Fitday Journal

Good morning!
Just a quick note for right now...thunder and lightening with a wee bit of rain are preventing me from going on my morning walk this morning...aarrgghh.
I'm off today, and it may be a good thing...I've got a headache that's unusually big for me. Hummmm...I suspect it's a *pressure* headache from the weird weather? Anyhooo....working on a cuppa and will have brekki here in a few minutes and will take somethin', somethin' for this H/A
Yesterday at work was a booger...then, practically nothing for today...feast or famine, it seems. At first when I got up yesterday, I was thinking perhaps I should have taken the *day after* off. Then once I got my coffee on board and a shower, I was good to go.
Looking forward in the OR scheduling book, it looks like the rest of the year is gearing up to be quite busy. So my wonderful 4 day work weeks may be about to be history.

Oh!!....BIG thunder....perhaps I need to shut down for a while.

I'll be back later, no doubt.
(((hugs to all!)))

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!

Hi Gang!

I'm a swift post this morning. Got the jewelry hidden, Barb. I have an armoir too, Kim. Just decided to put away the expensive stuff. Also, I haven't ever unpacked the stuff I wear every day from my jewelry traveling case. I'll just hide that somewhere.

Dh is finishing up in the bathroom, and i need to get in to shower so we can get out of here. Off to Boston.

Rach: No, it's not Durgin Park. I'm not fond of that restaurant. Too rough for my taste. The one I was referencing is in Quincy Market - one of those booths in there. I don't know the name of it.

If I'm still standing (or sitting) when we get back, I'll be back. Supposed to be hot and humid today, and we'll be outside and inside.

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

Judy, creativity and cleverness hand in hand--that's you! You'll look smashing in cranberry, and will enjoy the warmth in a few months. What is the pattern? Dress? Suit?? I also hope you're 74 and holding!

Barb, yup decisions abound and are particularly frequent with this lifestyle. What has helped me most is realizing there are no unconscious ones. Betweens stimulus and response is a moment of choice, however brief. That moment is the point of possibility, strength, and transformation. We have the possibility of becoming our truest selves a thousand times a day, then, don't we?

Barb, take it from me, all size 6's are not created equal! Well, that's true of all sizes, I suppose, but the smaller they get, the more the variance in sizing seems to count, if you know what I mean.

Shell, phooey on the headache. The weather has worked its magic on me, so that might be the issue for you, too. Hope you are doing well by now. Good bye to your 4 day week? Darn:(

Peg, do have a good day in Boston! You've been in a whirlwind, so I hope with a few hours away you can relax.

Peg, Rachel, I am SO not a fan of clam chowder. I suspect, though, it was my earliest encounters which turned me against what is probably a perfectly good dish.

I had a favorite bracelet stolen at the gym last year--a piece I'd actually made for myself. I was surprised at the depth of my disappointment and feeling of loss! Kim , having a wallet or purse stolen must be so much more than that.

Alida, thinking of you and your water woes :( Hope you can fill us in later.

Donna, I hope you get water today! How in the world can you hold it until lunch or after work? That's not even healthy, girl. Even if you have to take a drive, you boss needs to let you relieve yourself or get a portapottie if the situation isn't goint to be fixed soon.
__________________

Well gals, I've picked a color for the MBR and bath, and have narrowed the big choice (LR/DR/Hall/Landing, etc) down to two. I'm considering the prospect of an accent color somewhere based on whichever main color I pick there . Whew, nice to get one or two of those decisions out of the way!

I do think I'll do the MBR first, though, to get my decorating feet wet again in a smaller area. SOOOOO, off to remove a little more wallpaper in that bath...

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

Terry, hey girl! What's up today with you? Have you seen Baby Huey again?

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

I don't blame you a bit for being livid! Is that where you had the siding fixed last year (year before)? If so, maybe that work is still under warranty? You know, ever since we humans left the caves, it's been one thing after another with our domiciles!

LOL! That's exactly what everyone kept saying when I was selling my house last year. Besides busting my buns to empty out closets, garages, and a workshop jammed to the gills, I got rid of half of the furniture and "assessories". Then, I did a lot of relandscaping and the place looked amazing. I kept hearing "Oh, your house is so cute now, why don't you stay?" I confess to being a tiny bit embarrassed by remarks like that; although I made a mental effort to take those comments as compliments.

Hmmm... that might be a good one for my friend. Even 10 years later, there's still a lot of "toxic radiation" remaining from her husband's suicide. I'll try to look for it next time I'm at B&N.

That's good that you've gotten your nice things tucked away. If you would really miss it, I suggest putting your everyday pieces well away, too. I miss my simple jewelery as much as the special occasion pieces. Probably because I wore it more often. Remember, people look in all the cabinets and closets when house hunting. My stuff was "safely hidden" in my guest room closet when it was stolen (probably by one of the cable guys who accessed the attic through that closet).

Pretty exciting to finally start showing the home to buyers after all the long months of prep. Yes, I remember all the stuff you did last year -clearing closets, redecorating, moving things into storage, etc. Here's hoping the process goes smoothly. You know, down the line, I will be interested in hear your comparison of real estate transactions in Mass. vs. Calif. I found the process here to be almost unbearably complex and cumbersome.

There are little USB fans - often built into plastic laptop stands or risers - you can buy at computer stores. I had to get some for my computer nook. Here's some examples:
http://about.pricegrabber.com/search..._mobileoffice&
http://www.shiptheweb.com/epages/Shi...ct/KIK&2DUS002

Kim - now that's really a drag about losing your wallet - especially in this day and age of ID theft! But, how exciting to be getting new flooring. Still, trust me, it's not fun while the job's in process, so you are well away from it.

Well, in this case a little junco is feeding a couple of big imposters (sparrows?). The young birds seem perfectly capable of feeding themselves, but still demand food from her. They will be standing right ~in~ a pile of birdseed frantically sqawking at her with their mouths wide open. She seems happy about her "big" babies, but it must be a strain. Can anyone positively ID Baby Huey (see pics below)?. After perusing The Sibley field guide (pg. 408), I'm thinking maybe it's a Cassin*'s Sparrow although these dudes seem bigger than many sparrows.

I must say, Rachel, you sound like you are in much better spirits, even though you are working so hard. What turmoil you've had the last few months! But, you handle it very well - far better than I would. I hope you guys land a new longer term assignment before too long. Now, what would happen if you landed a long-term job right away? Would you be able to re-route your household furnishings? Or, would it have to continue on to the US and then get forwarded to your new post? Ai! That could take 6 months?!?

What an apt way to put it, LOL! As an ex-smoker, I could feel exactly what you mean. So, it must be nearly 24 hours with the new AC - how is it going? I must admit, I love having the option of turning on the AC (something I always thought of as an wanton luxury) on hot afternoons. At this point, if I had to choose between no AC and a fancy, new something (gas range, computer, flat TV - whatever), I'd most likely go with the AC.

Brenda, I was glad to hear you are so pleased with your yoga class! Does your instructor put a lot of emphasis on the mooliban lock? I get bored and antsy with the breathing exercises. I got to class late yesterday and missed part of the breathing exercises (she does about 25-30 minutes on breathing cycles). I was secretly pleased to have gotten out of it, but then I could feel the difference during the poses, so I'll have to concede it's importance. We are meeting now at the municipal rose garden, in a grove of young redwoods. Such a lovely setting!

Donna, I must have missed something - you don't have sanitation at your work place? In Calif., the shop would be forced to close until the bathrooms were fixed. In fact, even if the lights just go out for longer than a couple of hours, companies have to send workers home.

Okay, here are pics of Ms. Junco and Baby Huey:
(*note, I originally wrote Sprague's Sparrow above, but corrected the post - what I meant was a Cassin's Sparrow.)

Attached Thumbnails

   

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

TB, what a lovely, chatty post from you Glad you had some time to share with us today.

I can't ID Baby Huey, but am not familiar with birds in your area. I'll check my guide a little later, though, and maybe together we can confirm at least whether it's a sparrow or not.

So far, no mooliban lock in my yoga class I've honestly not ever been in a beginning class where bandhas were even mentioned.:o There is certainly emphasis on breathwork, but in conjunction with movement, even in "apparently static positions" Maybe less than five minutes of breathwork alone at the beginning, a time when we also set our intention for the class or for ourselves. She does, however, also emplasis correct posture, and breath position for each movement, exactly which muscles are used and what they should feel like. I think I'd be bored with 20 or 30 minutes of breathwork, too, honestly.

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

Whew, gone a day and you gals?ve been busy!

Bren? great to hear about DH?s temporary stay on the job front. Don?t fret the clam chowdah thing? it was one of my earliest foods ? one of the only things my grandfather made (and well!) ? so there is a lot more to it than just the taste. Plus, I?m believe that it?s one of those foods that is either wonderful ? or nasty. And if your first experience with it is a watery bowl of gruel-y looking stuff with bits of rubber bands in it ? I could see someone moving away from that in a hurry!! :eyes:

Judy, I SOOOOOOO know where you are coming from on the jig-saw puzzle to get a fit on the moth-eaten material? it?s the fundamental reason I switched to quilting? who would ever know!!! LOL!!

And I agree with Terry?. My folks still don?t have a/c - I grew up falling asleep half nekkid on the sheets with the box fans whirring. UGH. I feel the same way you do, Terry ? a wanton luxury, a great way to put it!!

Peg, I?m sure you and Bob will have NO trouble selling your place ? we?ve been looking for water front in MA ? just explored a place in Ware. All very expensive <<sigh>>

Barb, I could pass on the ice cream any time (I?ve never been a big ice cream fan ? I eat it but, eh?) but the butterfingers! OMG.... You are so right ? the temptations are outrageous! Even walking the streets here in Yerevan, you go into little corner shops and they are chock full of familiar candy bars, chips of all kinds, soda-pop of every kind ? and the only ?health? rack is full of fruit (no berries) and fruit-juices. If I don?t buy and carry almonds, sugar free Russell Stover mints, etc.. with me ? I?m in deep diet doo-doo when I travel.

Shelley, did I miss something? How did the c-oscopy go? As smooth as silk? (I hope!)

Kim, my greatest fear is to have my wallet stolen and then my identity stolen. I could deal with replacing credit cards and whatnot ? but my cousin had his mailbox broken into a number of years ago and it took YEARS and money to straighten it all out ? credit reports and the like ? it was a true nightmare.

Terry, what a drag about your stolen jewelry, I can?t believe someone would be so brash. Ok, I guess it?s perfectly believable that thieves posing as house-hunters do a tidy business ? but UGH? I mean who wants to open their home to strangers in the first place ? and to risk theft. Double UGH. :(

DH and I have looked at a lot houses in the last two years in Western MA and it would NEVER occur to me to open anyone?s dresser drawers! Jeez oh-man!

........And to answer your question about all of our household effects? If we did get a new long term posting (like Armenia ? which is still possible, isn?t that nuts?!) we would have to explore where the freight was in the transit process. If it hadn?t left port ? it could be re-routed ? but if it is already out on the water ? packed in a container ship with hundreds of other containers then nope? six months at the earliest.

GREAT bird pix! I love the junco with Huey ? it is so obvious they are ?not? kin. Too funny!

Donna, hope you?re not working too hard? and that the weekend is in sight and shaping up to be a fine one.

Oh Alida, I forgot you!! (How COULD I??) You must be working like a crazy woman because it's not like you to be so quiet. I hope you are fine and that the whole gutter, leaking water mess is now a thing of the past.

Well dolls.... I am enjoying my Armenia group ? there is a lot of work ? and they are paying me very well (I feel guilty not working late into the evening? ) and this Sunday one of the managers is arranging for me to go outside the city and visit one of the youth camps they manage every summer near here. Should be lovely fun!

I miss DH but have to admit that I love being a big girl by myself ? reading, dieting, doing whatever I want and the greatest vice/luxury of all??..... a solarium where I can put 10 minutes of vitamin D into my body every night. I have been addicted to the sunshine since I was a tot (it?s inherited, my father is the most prolific (yet careful?!) sunbather I know.

Hope you all have a GREAT Friday!

__________________
Hugs, Rachel







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

Hi Gang!

I'm back and bushed!! We did go to the Kennedy museum. What an incredible privilegel to have lived during his lifetime. So many of the film snippets, etc. were familiar to me because I was an adult at the time. It is quite an inspiring museum. If you ever get to Boston, don't miss it.

We got home and were told by our Realtor that we have to replace a board in our hardwood floor that goes from the kitchen to the hall with a new board. We went to Lowes and purchased it. Now we just need someone to cut it for us and to install it ourselves. All needs to be done before Sunday for our open house.

So good to hear from you all. If you want to consider a place in Worcester, Rach., just let me know. It's not on the ocean, but on a lake. Long way from the ocean!

I gotta go, galpals. I am just beside msyelf I am so tired. I did get some GOOD exercise today, walking and standing, walking and standing. 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

Hi guys,
I'm back too. I have an hour or so before I start dinner.

The electricians were here again today. Remember I had the new lights installed in the kitchen back in May? Well, we just weren't happy with the top lights. Removing the fluroescents on top made it to dark we thought. So, they installed new electronic fluros today and WOW!!!! Now my kitchen is bright and cheery again! Yay!

I did get my walk in this morning. Walked 3.68 mi according to the new pedometer, but the old one said 4.25mi!! What a difference. So, I'm going to drive my route (again) and see exactly how far it is. The difference between the number of steps was less than 20...so go figure...it's making me crazy!

Alida...did you get your leaks fixed? Gosh, bless your heart. You've really had a time of it.

Bren...we got our vacation all lined out, and guess what? There will be a yoga conference in the Rockies and Ana Forrest is a guest teacher!!! Boy, would I love to try yoga in the Rockies! I'd probably snap like a stale pretzel...LOL! I will most likely just stick to hiking! And speaking of, I ordered new LLBean low cut hikers today, along with a healthy back bag. Gosh...I totally LOVE LLBean stuff.

Barb...how's the card writing going on the grandma subject? Hope lots of good ideas are springing forth from your pen You are so very talented, my dear...so good with words. I'm proud to know you!

Peg...wow! Things are moving along at warp speed, eh? Sending you lots of good vibes for a quick sale with lotsa $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!!!!! Perhaps a nice glass of wine will help your aching feet??? Hope you get some rest, sweetie.

Judy...on the colonoscopy...the prep is the worst of it, really. I took the pills, so getting it down wasn't as bad as drinking a gallon of prep. Then once you get to the hospital and get the IV started, that's the *pay-off*...LOL. They give you a sedative and a amnesic drug. I didn't remember a thing... a very nice power nap Then I napped again after DH brought me home. Anyhooo......it's really recommended by the AMA to get screened if you are over 50. Yep...there's that darn age thing again...ugh!

Oooops....gotta run. DD called and I spent 45 min on the phone with her. Need to hustle and get dinner started...I'm doing some oven roasted veggies and need to get crackin'.

(((hugs))) to all I missed...I'm sorry I didn't finish my rounds

later, chickadees!
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!

Shelley, I finally gave up I my old pedometer. I did what you did - drove my regular walking routes to get the distance. The pedometer I had needed to be calibrated to the walker's individual stride. I never did get mine right. The instructions said to wet the soles of your shoes then stride "normally" for about 20 feet. Then measure the distance between steps and enter that number as the stride length. If the guesstimate for the stride was off, the distance was off. Another thing about the pedometer I had was you could "fool" it by jiggling or tapping it. Each jiggle or tap got counted as a step. I.e., if I stopped to talk to someone and laughed, it could show up as distance walked.

Whatever distance you walked, though, you did GOOD! Getting out there day after day is a great accomplishment - my hat's off to you!

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

OK...
let's try this again...LOL.

Teel....yes, I calibrated my new pedometer...I was soooo careful to get it right. It just doesn't make sense to only have 20 steps difference, but yet have a 3/4 mi discrepancy at the same time??? I'll try and drive the route tomorrow or Saturday...it's buggin' me bad!...LOL!!

Rach...you do sound in better spirits! Yay for you!!! I'm glad this assignment is a joy for you. It's a good thing when work goes well...boy, do I know that's right!
And, yeah....the 'scopes went well....both ends! hehe!

Donna...where are ya woman??? I didn't miss your post did I???? Hope you are OK.
You know how we *mother hens* are when one of our chickadees goes missing.

Well, I hate to confess this...but I ended up NOT cooking dinner after all. DH walked in just as I was ending the above post, and said he was totally starving and has his chops all primed for some Mexican food. Well....gosh darn it....that totally DID NOT hurt my feelings...LOL...so I had a lovely beef fajita salad with some freshly made salsa...YUM-O! It was so hot here today, I probably could've caved and had a marita, but I abstained...didn't want to awaken the chips and salsa monster that resides deep within me...snort!

OK...will most likely crash land for the evening pretty soon...my day will start at 0400 in the morning.

(((hugs to all)))
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!

Hmm... interesting point... let's see, I guess it makes sense to me if the stride length is off on one of them. Meaning although you set them the same, the setting didn't "take" and the pedometer is using a preset value? I.e., a gross example:
1000 steps using a 2-ft stride is 2000 feet walked
980 steps using a 3-ft stride is 2940 feet walked
only 20 steps difference but almost 1000 feet of distance

fajita salad sounds ~so~ good... well done for avoiding the chips and the margarita! Although, DH enjoys a Baja Bob's LC margarita now and then, and I drink a virgin version along with him.

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