Judy, you are a great patient advocate - your dad is very lucky to have you looking out for him. I had no idea someone could have such low blood pressure. I hope he is doing better today. Best wishes for a wonderful year ahead of you!

I don't know about this weather. We had over 2 days of a falling barometer, which should have meant the high pressure area was breaking up. Then the cooler marine air could move back into its normal cycle. That just didn't happen and yesterday was again in triple digits. So, this is almost an unprecedented duration for a heatwave in this area.

We've had rolling blackouts due to high energy demand. The other night, the lights went out while we were downstairs watching Cold Case. It was a nearly moonless night and very dark - especially downstairs. As I was feeling my way through the dark to get the flashlight, I banged smack into the wall between the stairwell and hallway. My hands were stretched out before me, but one hand was on the hall side and one on the stair side. My nose is still a little sore, but no obvious bruising or swelling so I consider myself fortunate.

Yesterday afternoon, I took some chicken soup I'd made and a jar of cherries to a neighbor who had surgery. Her DH didn't answer the door, so after a few minutes, I left the basket and walked back to the other side of the complex. Although I was only out for maybe 10 to 12 minutes at most, my hair was already wet through from sweating.

Donna, I think of you everytime I step outside and how you live with this kind of weather every day! And even out weeding in the garden despite the heat! Whew!

Gosh Donna, although I understand that part of the problem is that she doesn't always take proper care of herself, I have much concern and sympathy for your DIL. I'd never thought about the challenges faced by people with lots of scar tissue - other than the obvious cosmetic ones, which I always thought would be the worst of it. Now I understand there is much more to living with such a disability. If her skin is spliting, I can see why she would feel rushed to have the "instant fix" of weight loss surgery. I hope her doctors ensure she is well informed about the limitations of the lapband surgery that she will have to live with afterwards. It must be very frustrating for you when there's nothing much you can do except help your DS and DGKs live with the fallout.

Peg, I wouldn't be surprised if you get additional offers on the condo after the open house. Perhaps it is in your best interests that the other offer fell through; at least this way you won't be so terribly rushed to move. Moving is tough enough without the added stress of a tight schedule!

I'm sitting at my ancient Win98 computer right now - it's a Gateway and was always a bit of a clunker, IMO. But here it is still grinding away after all these years, so I have to respect it for that!

Barb, have you considered listing your car on Craigslist instead of the papers? It's free. I think there's an edition of craigslist in most major cities, so maybe there's one for the KC area.

Gee, the time has flown! I must get going, now - hope to check in later!

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

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUDY!!!

Prayers ascending for your Dad! I hope that he is doing better. That was some low blood pressure. Wow.

I talked to dd3 by IM yesterday and she told me that she is going to take the entire family to church for my dgd1! How about that?? I am still floored about it. Barb: I told her to look up the Presbys in her area. She wants to stay away from fundamentalism and judgement. I recommended Ucc, Presy, Methodist. She should be safe with all those. A BIG youth group is the number one requirement.

Well, it's getting on towards dinner time. Tomorrow is dh's colonoscopy. I'm at work while he does his prep. We have to be at the hospital at 7:15 so he can get "infused" with factor 8 before the procedure, which is, I think, around 8:30.

Donna: I love it that you kicked the scale. I have another method. Just don't get on it! Of course, that doesn't guarantee any loss or gain. I choose to see it as 'no" gain. Ha!

Terry: I hear you about the heat. I can't believe that you are having that either. I heard the woman on NPR from San Fran talking about it this morning. It was hilarious.

Well, gotta go and get ready for the Deacons tonight.

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

Happy Happy Birthday, Judy!!!
Hope it's the best ever!!
Celebrate BIG!!!!

__________________
~~~~
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!

So Judy, what did you do for your birthday???........... Sit in the hospital ALL DAY LONG!.

Daddy's EEG was done at 9:00 this morning. He wasn't released until 7:40 PM. We did manage to get PT to come walK with him twice today and he doesn't seem to have regressed noticably from being down for two days. The EEG was negative for seizures, medicines were reduced, and he was sent home FINALLY. SIL and I got him back to his assisted living home, got an aide in to give him a bath, and finally got out of there around 8:30. I'll be on my way home about 9:00 tomorrow morning (when the traffic thins out).

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers as well as your birthday wishes. I'll check in with you again some time tomorrow.

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

Oh, Judy....sorry you didn't get to celebrate your big day. Soooooooo....that means you get to celebrate DOUBLE this weekend...don't you think?! YES!!!

Everyone else....hi guys!!! On my way out the door...yesterday was crazy at work, today will only be medium crazy...unless there are schedule changes, then it will go to full fledged crazy...LOL.

Hope to get to chat a while tonight.

Everyone...have a good day!

later, chickadees!
(((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!

So...Judy, how did your pleasant trip to Dallas for the ballgame go? Aack. It would be good to know what caused your dad to crash, but at any rate, he's back in his normal situation. And I'm sure your presence was a godsend during the crisis. How about a birthday bash now?

Y'know, Peg, "a little child shall lead them." One of my favorite theological statements comes from a poem by Stephen Dunn, where he says, "You can't teach disbelief to a child." As much as he quarreled with the problems of religion, he had to admit that having a great story to start with is a huge benefit. When I was a little girl, I used to get a magazine called "Wee Wisdom" published by the Unity church (not Unitarian). Unity is based here in KC, and essentially teaches, "God is love...God loves you." I loved the paper dolls in that magazine, but I also internalized the theology in a way that brought me through a lot of guilt and judgment later on.

Hope all goes well with your DH today. Good to get those things done.

Teel, we can all sympathize with you in that heat--only you're feeling it all the more since it's so unusual in your area. So sorry about the encounter with the wall--wasn't that just the luck??

Donna, dragging out the bicycle would be a nice change of pace for you. As long as you have a safe and pleasant place to ride, you might find it a little easier and breezier in the heat.

I have an appt. with Dr. Dent this morning to improve the appearance of the Mazda 6. I'm only getting the hood dent fixed, not the ones in the roof, which are very small. I'll just sell the car to a short person who won't notice. Thanks, Teel, for the tip about Craigslist. There are online sales tools as well--I saw an ad for Autotrader on tv last night. So I'll look into those when I get back from the BBQ at the end of August.

The concrete project seems to be going smoothly (so to speak). DH is impressed with the professionalism of the crew--they look like pirates, but they seem to know what they're doing.

In addition to being mad at the scales this morning, I took measurements, just in case. Nothing has changed--not by a millimeter--since March or so when I last checked. It feels unfair to work so hard just to stay the same. But I know what the alternative is, so I guess if that's what I have to do, that's life. The totally unmeasurable benefit is: what would I look and feel like if I'd never changed my lifestyle in the first place? Hmmm. Scary thought.

Well, off to the shower. Hope there are a few bright spots in everyone's day, and good health on the horizon for all.

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


My Fitday Journal

Good morning!

Happy Birthday Judy!

I am so sorry you had to spend it in the hospital yesterday. But the good news is that your Dad is back home, and you'll get to really celebrate this weekend!

(Barb, LOL. Our Birthday List is under a bunch of papers on my desk! I could put the dates on my calendar, but then, I don't look at that much, either!)

Peg, any word on the counter-counter offer? And I went to your sales site again and this time ALL the pictures were there. I could swear when I was there before, all those pictures were not there. Anyhoo, great condo! I can just imagine how much you will miss that gorgeous lake view.

Jesus married? Did I miss a post? I've read several books. Some say yes, some say no. But the most recent one, "The Jesus Dynasty," sure points out the "fact" that brother James got short shrift in the Bible department.

Donna, LOL about kicking that scale! But it worked. I'll have to remember that the next time I step on. Hope you get a break in the weather soon. Hell, I hope we ALL do!

Terry, I have TWO Gateway clunkers that still work! My third is a Gateway, too. I tend to stick with what works.

Here's hoping your weather will break, too. We will have a very hot week next week. Sigh.

Barb, glad you found a belt to keep those pants up! The four pairs of pants I bought a few months ago are starting to get a little big. That's a good thing. But they are not falling down yet!

Actually, dial up is not all that bad (she says wistfully). Peg's pictures came up very quickly. It's the videos that are slow. If I ever get Roadrunner, the first thing I would do is get Google Earth!

Brenda, Shelley, Rachel: Hope all is well.

----------------

Remember those damn cabinet doors I have been talking about for the last four months or so? I was complaining to Bob that I HAVE to work on them this weekend. He said I should ask for "time off" during the work week to work on them. DUH. So that's what I am doing today. I'll go into the office until noon then come home and get cracking on those things. I'll get paid for the time whenever I work on them, but at least my whole weekend won't be ruined.

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

Follow-up on the Grandmother writing project. Peg, here are a couple they DID accept, which should be suitable for you--and other g'mas in this discussion.

Nobody but a grandmother
has that perfect combination of
sweetness and to hell with it.


Have a grandma kind of birthday.
You know, quiet, serene, sensible...

Oh, wait!
We're talking about YOU!
Have it however you want!


Those should pretty well take care of grandma-on-the-go, don't you think?

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


My Fitday Journal

Hey gang, hope you don't mind a stranger popping in for a moment.

Judy, bless you. I know you are exhausted. Waiting for things to happen in a hospital is darned stressful...

Alida, a lightbulb moment on the cabinets! I bet you'll actually enjoy working on them today.

Peg, stress city for you, too. How's it all coming together--or not? Wow, how great is it that DD3 is going to take family to church!

TB, I enjoyed that nice long post. Unbelievable heat wave there! Besides the misery, I know all our food prices will go up, too.

Donna, I loved your scale story, as well as Barb's descriptor--"percussive maintenance" Barb, I'm going to add that term to my repertoire, if you don't mind.

Shell, another busy week! I'll add with everyone else--your week's loss is GREAT.

Barb, so glad your construction project is going well. Having any kind of contractors around makes me nervous.

Rache, wherever you are, hugs....
_______________
As we speak, and speaking of contractors, I have people all over the back yard taking down half of a 150 year old burr oak. Can't tell you how sad it makes me to see one of these grandmother trees dying. The only upside has been that the "climber" (quite piratelike, Barb, shinneying up the mast) is easy on the eyes and wears little enough on top that every ripple is visable. Anyone remember the Diet Coke guy? Ok, rolling in my tongue now and wiping the drool off my bosom....

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

Great verses, Barb!!!

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

Brenda: Now we know why you haven't been in here much. Like I would be? Not...if I had something like that in my backyard I'd be "helping" them. Hmmm, I do have a huge white birch in my front yard that is dying. Nope...I'd end up with some potbellied guy in his undershirt!

Judy: Okay, so now your dad is back in his home and feeling so much better. Time for some "me" time for you. Hope there's lots of plans for a birthday celebration for this weekend.

Alida: Sometimes doing things at home just doesn't seem like work. I think it's cause we can take a break anytime we want and not feel guilty about it. Enjoy your day and being able to put the project behind you.

Barb: I hear ya about the exercising and not even losing an inch. I checked my measurements again last night and nothing has moved either. But, none of my clothes are tight so that must be a good sign.

Terry: You're right...I never thought about what burn survivors had to go through either until I met Lissa. For instance,I never knew that they didn't have pores in their skin, so it could breathe or sweat. If she crosses her legs, they immediately turn purple. The first time I saw her in shorts, my heart just stopped. Imagine a little girl of 3 having to go through so much and then know that she would be suffering for the rest of her life? I can understand why she wants a "fast" relief for her weight loss, but it's what will happen to the rest of her life that worries me. She's very stubborn and spoiled so will she adhere to the woe that is prescribed for her? That's what worries me. After having her in our family for 5 years we don't even think of her as having been burned...she's just our Lissa. Guess maybe I should start thinking more about what she's going through right now as compared to what may happen years down the road. She told me that she has pinpricks all over her legs where the skin is starting to split and also across her chest. She woke up on Monday and found one of her breasts was split. Not fun!!

Okay ladies, it worked. The scale is officially scared of me and gave me the 1 pound loss. I'm at 158 again this morning. So, I'm taking it. Anyone else out there want to risk a broken toe for a 1 pound loss?

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

Hi Gang!

Feeling a little bit of post "staging" let down, I think. I've been reading, but just hven't felt much like writing very much. As far as we know, everything went through and the place is sold; or perhaps I should say "rented" until they sell their house or December, whichever comes first. We still have to be out by August 28th. Three movers coming tomorrow for estimates. I've been on the internet looking for apts., and it's truly hard to get a good look in cyberspace. I will go out there the 14th of August and hopefully, find one.

I had to get up early this morning and take dh to the hospital for his infusion and colonoscopy. We got home about 11:30, with a very sleepy husband. He has been sleeping on and off most of the day. We are invited to a going away party for some other friends tonight, so will drive into Boston for that (I'm driving!)

Barb: I DO love that verse. You are right. It is perfect.

Bren: Now, you get your dirty, dirty little eyes right back in your head. I'm SO surprised at you! (NOT!) And, yeah, I'm with Donna, I always get the guys with the butt crack showing. Kid you not, we had a plumber here two weeks ago who couldn't not have been over 35 and when he knelt down, yup, you guessed it!

Judy: Glad you got ddad fixed up again. I'd be asking the staff how it happened that his bp plunged like that. Also, along with everyone else here, I'm hoping that you can have a birthday weekend.

Shelley: I thought of you many times this morning as various nurses took over and made both dh and I feel comfortable. They were working their tails off, I'll tell you.

Alida: So glad that your dh thought to remind you that what you do at home is work too! How's Buddy?

Rach: Where are you, girl?

Donna: Yeah, I can't imagine what it must be like for Lissa. Honestly, I can only imagine that it will get worse as she ages, because your skin gets so thin. Wow. I'm so sorry for her.

I had my last appt. with my GP yesterday. It was sad. I love her so much. She has been so helpful and kind to me. Yesterday she gave me an anatomy lesson; on MY anatomy. It's way too much information for this thread, but let's just give a hip hooray for Doctor's who believe in patient education. She was BS about the way I was treated by that male specialist that I told you about. She plans to make sure that he knows, without mentioning me.

I also had lunch yesterday with a former secretary (of mine) in my second church. Oh you guys, she was very fat! I was shocked. But, I suppose that there have been times in my own life when people have said that about me. Hopefully, that won't happen again, though I must admit that I am beginning to care less and less. Except for the strain on my health, and that looms.

I'll probably stop in tomorrow.
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,
Looks like lots of stuff going on in our lives right now....shazam!
Today at work turned into a booger-bear...oye! Tomorrow doubled, so it will be another up at 0400 day for me....yawn.

Where to start...
Peg...glad Bob is doing well. I take it, he got a *clean* bill of health?
And congrats on the sale! You have the right idea...just take it one day at a time...it will all work out.

Alida...how did your cabinet work go today? Are you refinishing with stain, or painting them? I know you feel like it's a thankless job right now, but when your finished, you'll have some stunning new cabinets, I bet

Bren....so ya got a hunka, hunka, tree man at your house, eh? You go girl! The day we don't look, will be the day they need to worry about us; that's my story and I'm stickin' to it! Hope the tree project went well.

Judy...how did Lexie's surgery go? She's had it, right?...or am I ahead of myself?
Poor baby...she's probably wondering what happened...and not so sure she'll take a car ride again

Barb...I like the verses, especially the first one. I can honestly say, today I did say to heJJ with it! Of course the only person who heard it was my co-worker, and we about fell out in the floor laughing. It felt really good to laugh at the end of the day after everyone had left except her and I. Laughter is truly the best medicine sometimes, I think

Donna...hey to you! I'm also down another pound, but I didn't have to kick my scale to get it When I hit my customary 4 week plateau, I will remember your trick and give 'em a kick!

Rach....helloooooooo.........wherever you are

Well gals, you are not going to believe this....but I hear THUNDER again!!! We hit 103 again today, and the heat and unstable air brewed us up a few thunderstorms this afernoon. So it actually rained at MY house,( a light and brief shower) not all around it like it usually does.
Anyhoo, I hear thunder again, so cross your fingers we get another little shower. We are forcasted for triple digits the rest of the week I think...ugh!

Guess I'd better get things ready to go for work tomorrow. 0400 will come early, no doubt.

later, chickadees!
(((hugs)))
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!

Peg, all I can say is "whew." Relocating is SO stressful, even when we're "experiened" isn't it. Too many things to do, too many goodbyes. Ack, I get a lump in my stomach thinking about it, and I'm not going anywhere. No one can replace the special people in your life there, like your wonderful GP, but I do hope there will be another good doctor at the end of the road, and the consolations of sunshine and grandkids. And hey, you! You better stop in tomorrow!

Shelley, rain! Hope you are getting another shower right now. LOL, and I'm delighted that you said to H*JJ with it! I can just hear you, and imagine your co-worker's surprise--and probably yours, too!

Another pound for Shell! WOOHOO!

Donna, Peg, there were a couple of guys of the b*tt crack variety here, too, so I virtuously keep my eyes aloft. Way aloft.

Donna, you'd laugh to see my deck garden. I've had to get the puppy pen out of the basement to put around the tomatos, to keep them from becoming poodle snacks. Actually, the green ones are little round balls for Token to play with, and the red ones are snacks. The girls will climb right on the planters to harvest them.

Congrats on scaring the scale into submission! I'm sure it didn't want to be beat up again Let's see......nah, I think I'd need 10 pounds to risk a broken toe. Last time I had a broken toe, I had to have a pin put in it--not fun! BUT, glad it worked for you!

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

Friday morning. This seemed like a fast-moving week to me--which usually means I'm engaged with what I'm doing, and that's a good thing. We had a lovely, cool rainy day yesterday, which was ideal for pouring concrete. The pirates are doing a great job, but not one of them is eye candy.

I got the dent knocked out of the hood of my car, and I'm very pleased with the improvement. DH took the Jag to the dealer yesterday for some routine maintenance, and the service manager agreed to keep it there for as long as it takes for the concrete to cure. That's a relief, because you never know when some idiot will decide he/she needs to rip off a hood ornament or something when a car like that is parked on the street. Sad, but true--and not just in our neighborhood either.

Shelley, get through today and you'll have a weekend to start breathing again. I guess that goes for everybody. Congrats on the downward trend. My calorie-reduction campaign is going well, not that it shows on the scale. I keep reminding myself that this is just the way it is and I should be happy with staying right where I am. It's a good place, really.

The heat's coming back, and everybody's bracing for the onslaught. We keep our A/C at as high a temp as we can tolerate, but I can't imagine living without.

Back later to see how Alida, Peg, Brenda, Donna, and Teel are holding up. Teel, the SF heatwave made our newspaper yesterday. Hang in there.

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


My Fitday Journal