Wednesday morning. Back to work! I'm up early to get some coffee and breakfast before cycle class. The rest of the week will go FAST.

Judy, the words "sew" and "fun" in the same sentence are to me like the words "fun" and "exercise" to Peg. Did I say that right? I always agonize over craft-y things like sewing, needlepoint, knitting. I guess I am a slapdash kind of person, so creative work that requires that kind of concentration and cleverness frustrates me terribly. Your neighbor is right--you deserve to be doing something completely gratifying for you!

I made a Fauxtato casserole yesterday. Y'know, sometimes I miss cooking. I'll bet my DH wouldn't complain too much if I took on the menu once in a while. It's tricky (Peg knows) trading off cooking duty, because of all the planning and shopping involved. I've got LC recipes I can't persuade him to fix, but he'd like them if I made them.

Funny thing--although I enjoy being cooked for, DH makes such an annoying production out of it. Every pot and pan in the kitchen--big mess, big fuss. I can put together a good meal in half an hour and end up with a clean kitchen. But I don't want to do it every day.

I'll be back later when the sun is up and the world comes alive.

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


My Fitday Journal

Good morning!

Here's hoping you all had a fun and safe 4th! I was too tired to walk over to watch the fireworks (Barb, we see the Corporate Woods fireworks from a field about 3 blocks away). So we cranked open our upstairs guest bedroom window and watched from there. Perfect view! Now, if we could just get all our neighbors to chop down about a dozen trees, we could watch from our deck!

Barb, thank you for catching my note about the insurance. I cannot begin to tell you what that means to me! Their payment has surely taken a BIG load off my shoulders. Bob's too.

Good luck with the sale of your AR property. Since there's no hurry, you have the luxury of picking a good deal. I hope the area has become so popular that your lot has gained in value and is in demand!

Good going with sweating off 2 pounds! When I used to walk in the morning, I always ended up getting puffy. Heat always seems to cause me to swell.

Peg, I know what you mean about too much STUFF. I have moved tons of stuff, only to throw it out later. I shudder to think about my sister's attic if she dies first. It's the old family home and the attic is the entire third floor. It has accumulated cast-offs since 1960. I laughed at your description of putting a dumpster under the window and just throwing stuff out the window!

Forgive my CRS. Is DD3 the one who lives in CA or TX? If it's CA, I know she will be looking forward to having her Mom close by! If I recall, isn't she the daughter with the fabulous job at a museum?

Shelley, by the time I visited the thread yesterday, you had already fixed Donna's picture. You da techie QUEEN!

Oh, I forwarded Rachel's e-mail to you. I am sure, with all that's happening, she just forgot to include you. Believe me, we don't know HASSLE like she does!

You mentioned surfing the net for a vacation destination. Do you mean someplace other than RMNP? Or just looking for a different place to stay?

WOOHOO on the 4.5 pounds! You DESERVE it!

Judy, I downloaded that IrfanView. Can't wait to try it out. Although I do have Photoshop, I just thought I'd try it. Thanks for the tip!

Yes, tech is wonderful! I have not graduated to all the great things you can do with it, like text messaging on cells, etc. I do hope your DH gets his luggage, though. Whew! on getting that flight out, too.

You bought a pattern and fabric to make something for YOU? Wonderful! It wouldn't entail some embroidery now, would it?

Brenda, you and your DH were UP ON THE ROOF?? Gosh, I hope that part of the roof was FLAT, especially since you had to battle the wasps. A weather station? Is this something that transmit data to an inside unit where you can view temps, etc?

How nice that your Dad pays for someone to clean his area. Wouldn't it be nice if he occasionally paid for your area too, LOL! Like the gift Peg gave to her daughter!

I did sign up at Ulta. A $5 coupon every now and then will come in handy! The store is not far from me, just in a direction I hardly ever go, if that makes sense.

I went to the Benjamin Moore site yesterday and signed up (free) for the on-line use of their "paint a room" feature. Although the set rooms they have are nothing close to what mine look like, it did give me an idea of what the paint colors would look like. And ALL their colors are there. You could spend some time just trying out all the yellow/gold colors! Go here. In case the link doesn't work, it's BenjaminMoore.com -- color -- personal color viewer. You can also buy the professional version there and download it, if you want to use your own rooms.

Terry, what a great photo of your fish! As Barb says, how nice they all lined up in a row. Very considerate of them!

Do let us know how you like your new camera. That stability feature intrigues me.

Did you get your garage organized? I do remember your mentioning that handy man when you were getting your previous home ready to sell. Did he build special shelving or cabinets for you?

Getting back to golf -- I had forgotten the jolt one gets when thunking the ground instead of the ball! That practice club your husband has sounds great.

You mentioned an IMDB web site. I googled it and found it! I registered and am now waiting for the e-mail from them. I want to read those comments you mentioned about The Lake House. I also noticed this movie was based on a book. I want to read it. Maybe it explains the time warp!

Donna, your cat's not fat, just fluffy! And he sure is handsome! Or is it a she? In that case, she's beautiful!

I've run in to that "page-too-wide" problem when I've pasted in something that is a set width. That photo must have been really wide!

Strange about your white rug. I would think carpet cleaning should not destroy the backing properties. You may have better luck with a carpet pad rather than those sticky corner things.

Did you place your order at Netrition? How many bottles did you buy, LOL?

You also mentioned Blueberry muffins. Would those be regular or LC? If LC, please share the recipe!

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

I am home today and will start working on a new web site for Firehouse. I'd like to pose a question to you all. Since Glass Scapes is going to be kaput, I need a new URL. Since FirehouseWindowTintingAndCleaning is waayyy too long, I checked, and FWTAC.com is available. What do you think? FWTAC will not be the NAME of the company, just used for the web site.

Before I start on the web site, I think I'll mosey back to the Benjamin Moore site .... 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

Alida.,
What about: FHtint&clean.com ???
That would be easy for a custormer to remember and check it out.
just a thought....

off for a walk and brekki...
back later, chickadees!

S.

__________________
~~~~
Shelley
~~~~

Visit Kassie's Korner



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

Hi guys,
I'm back from my walk...did 3.8 mi in 65 min. You know I STBO!!!! We're in a crazy weather pattern here...it was 78 degrees with 78% humidity....ugh! I just got out of the shower and am finishing up my second bottle of water

Judy...we did NOT get any rain :( It rained all around us...even at the community college which is probably 2 miles from our house! Hope you got some of the nice heavenly liquid...my plants and yard might die of shock if any rain fell on it...LOL. WTG on the sewing!!

Alida...I was just looking for accomodations and possibly a new location. We are thinking of going to the Sierra Nevadas this year. We love the Rockies, but for something different...yanno Oh....and YES!!! on the insurance paymt!!! What a relief!

Barb...how was spin class this morning? Well, do tell what you put into your fauxtatoe casserole. I'm thinking some cheese and bacon perhaps? I might have to whip up a creation...I think my mouth is watering...LOL.

Bren...hope you are good! We missed ya bunches yesterday! Yes...inquiring minds want to know...what's the scoop with the weather station? And, you couldn't PAY me to climb on my roof...LOL. OYE!! Oh...just got your PM...cool!

Peg...what up for you today? More cleaning and packing? I bet you will get more efficient as time goes by. You know...the more you get into it, you'll be able to *pitch and toss* a little more freely...LOL...I always do. I think I get to that point of *to heJJ with it* and pitching and tossing becomes really easy to do. Good luck, dearie!

Teel...wow on the goldfish pics! Fish are hard to photograph...good job! I have a few pics of some rainbow trout I photographed in Colorado. The pics are on 35mm prints and I don't have a scanner at the moment(hoping Santa will bring me one ), so I can't post them.
How did the re-organization of the garage go??? All done and tidy now??
My DH needs some help with that; perhaps this fall he will get more motivated.

Rachel...I'm so sorry you had to deal with all of those issues...my goodness!
I'm sending some EXTRA good vibes your way. You are missed and thought of often, girlfriend! Come back when you can...your chair is here waiting and ready

Donna... what up with you today? Working I bet. You got me to thinking I may order some *fruity* DV sf syrups for my smoothies. I used the sf strawberry in my strawberry-peach smoothie and man was it yummmm-O! I'm out of that one, so may order some strawberry, banana, and orange sf syrup. I have coconut and it's not to bad either.

Well....I'm off to fix a salad and perhaps a LC fruit smoothie for a treat. Down another half pound this morning, so that makes 5 lbs down since July 1st. I'm sure I'm about to hit the *going gets tuff* part...sigh. But...I'm heck bent and determined to get to goal this year...one way or the other!

I'll most likely be back later, my 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!

Wow, feel like I've missed so much since I didn't have the pc on yesterday. I can't sit here to long today, either--list as long as your arm and all that. However, will try to come back later when I take a break. Hmmmm. Before I take a break, I'd better actually get started.

Yesterday--got down some wallpaper in bathroom. Worked on shed until I ran out of primer. Agonized over wall color some more....

Just a couple of comments:
Alida!!! Congrats on getting those claims paid! Yup, if you need a hip, GO FOR IT! Will think about the Firehouse name....
Peg, thanks for the link--beautiful fixtures. We'll see what DH is willing to do. Probably not sconces in the hall, unfortuantely, because of the wiring involved, but a better fixture there is possible. The one there now takes those tee-nine-sy candle-type bulbs that don't light anything...
Judy, enjoy sewing! I'll bet that's nourishment for your soul.
Shell, beautiful flower pics! (and crossing fingers for you know what)
Barb, I think cooking on a once-in-a-while basis would be delightful! And would be a treat for your DH, too.
Donna, working today?
Rach, thinking of you.

Hugs to all!

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

Shell, cross posting, LOL!

Yup, the wind and rain gauges are on a pole on the chimney, linked to a unit in the family room. The humidity and temp sensors are underneath the back porch. The weather station was quite state of the art way back when, but antiquated by today's standards. Well, the roof is only one story there and doesn't slope "much" there either, thank goodness. I've worked on the higher roof when we replaced the skylight, but I can't say I enjoy it much.

Congrats on your loss! WAYTOGO!

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

Exactly! that's the way my mom taught us all to cook, boys and girls - "clean up as you go along". I presume you don't do the clean up after? DH and I loosely instituted a rule when we started living together in the 70s - the cook doesn't do the dishes. Soooo, I do 98 - 99 percent of the cooking! In all honesty, as I'm not working I do more of the dishes than I used to do. And, he often leaves the pots and pans for me - but, dang that man is good about filling and emptying the dishwasher. LOL!

Alida, I'm not crazy about FWTAC.com. I know short is good, but that's too hard to associate with the company name. FWIW, I think having the company name and or product in the URL is very desireable. Other iterations:

firehouse-windows.com
firehouse-win.com
firehouse-glass.com
firehouse-svc.com
firehouse-care.com
firehouseco.com (or firehouse-co)
firehouseinc.com (or firehouse-inc)
windowsbyfirehouse.com
firehouse-does-windows.com
windowservices.com
firehouse-clean.com
fh-windows.com
fh-glass.com

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

Oh Barb! I laughed out loud at this! But, I am getting closer. I got up an danced to Steven Tyler's "Walk This Way" when he was playing at the Hatch Shell in Boston at their July 4th celebration. (We were watching it on TV) When I sat down and when I got up this morning, my knees are SO sore. Dang it! It's arthritis, but it would get better if I would exercise. Not to mention, that I would like what I see in the mirror a whole lot more.

Bren: Good to hear from you. It does sound as though you are a busy woman!

Shel: Congratulations on the weight loss. You da woman!

Alida: Congratulations to you on the insurance! I do hope that you will consider getting a new hip now. I think that you would be so much comfortable.

Judy: So glad to hear that you actually bought something for yourself! Do let us see pictures.

Donna: How are you doin today?

I've just gotten back from the church where I talked to the Assoc. pastor about the class he is teaching tonight. I also went to the Dr. this morning with dh. He is going to have a colonoscopy, and I wanted to make sure that I had all the information. We even argued on the way home about what we had heard! Of course, he doesn't hear well, and it makes me mad that I end up interpreting for him. I need to stop that! Can you believe that he has been back from India since the end of January and we have finally gotten him a referral to a GI guy for a colonoscopy! Remember that he came home with terrible diarrhea? It has persisted, though much better than he was. And, now it is July, and they are finally doing this test?? It burns me! The Dr. asked me today if I am a nurse. I laughed. "No," I said, "I am a health advocate." He smiled. Um hmm. Watch your step, bub.

Gotta do some work before dh gets home. I am so tired. Alida, the DD3 is the one in CA. Yeah, she is the one with the job at the museum.

Peace, Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/199/175
641/2 years young

To all the young romantic women dying to get married, I say, "Don't settle for less than the total perfect package, 'cause it ain't going to get any better." Whether it's personal health, home maintenance, hobbies, or hang-ups, men seem to have a number of common characteristics that are NOT easy to live with when the stars fade from one's eyes. But we love 'em. We must. Peg, yours is lucky to have you, even when he gives you a hard time.

When DH retired from the workforce, the only request I made of him was KP. I was still the cook, but he cheerfully took over clean-up. Eventually, when he voluntarily became the cook, the deal didn't change. I didn't take back KP. He does both. Well, more or less. Every once in a while, on a Saturday, when the kitchen is hopelessly mired in crap, I take pity on him (and on myself!) and take care of it. He then has to be touchingly grateful. On the whole, he's conscientious enough about it to keep me from going insane. But I still chuckle (secretly) at his inefficiency and wastrel ways with pots and pans.

Here's what I put in the Fauxtatoes:
one head of cauliflower, microwaved until quite soft but not mushy, mashed
Stir in: (use food processor or mixer or masher)
4 oz. cream cheese (more or less)
1 TBS butter (more or less)
salt and pepper (more or less)
paprika on top if you like
Optional:
Top with grated cheese and bacon bits, and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.
Easy peasy. I call it four servings, with carb/cal//fat estimates accordingly.

I haven't received any e-mails from Rachel, so I may not be on her master list. Judy (to pick one person) can you forward to me?

Alida, I think windowsbyfirehouse.com says a lot. (Teel's suggestion). The word firehouse carries some negativity. People looking for anything to do with windows, however, might find this by accident--or providence--and be curious.

Cycling was great. Y'know, sometimes I think I'm not making much progress, because it is such a tough workout. Then I realize I'm like the frog in the pot of cold water on the stove: when it heats up little by little, the frog doesn't notice, and fails to jump out. Well, little by little, I'm wa-a-ay better at this cycling business: stronger legs, longer endurance, tougher on the "hills" etc. It feels tough because I continue to up the ante, and that's what I'm there for. Unlike the hapless frog, I WILL back off before I'm cooked.

We loved the Boston Pops fireworks show. Amazing creativity with those explosions, although Dr. Phil and his wife were not the most dynamite MCs. And as for Steven Tyler? My gosh. Can he still be doing that shtick?? Those old rockers are a trip.

Back to work. Or whatever it is I'm doing here today.

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


My Fitday Journal

Barb...
I'll forward to you what Alida forwarded to me this morning(even though I'm not Judy).
I don't think she is online at the moment.

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!

Just a quick fly by for me. After taking one extra day off, it takes me 3 to get caught up here!

Peg: No, I don't think I'm nuts! lol I love the heat, but make sure not to overdo it. Living in this country for so long you get to know where your limit is. My poor flowers on the other hand would probably love to be inside right now. If they aren't watered properly everyday, they die.

I'm glad your dh is finally getting some help with his medical problems. You'd think he would be dehydraded with having diarrhea for so long.

Judy: Thanks for the link to the photo place. I downloaded it the last time you told me about it. I have no idea what happened with that picture. It was actually only a half a picture cause I cut the rest of it off. I can't understand why it would even post if it was too big. Strange.

Barb: I have two small heads of cauliflower in the fridge just waiting for me to make fauxtatoes with them. Tonight, I think will be the night.

Well, gotta go. Boss is here. I'll try to post again later.

__________________
Donna
238.5/168.2/150
I will see my goal weight again!

Shelley, would you mind forwarding that to me, too? I'm feel worried from hearing the harrowing references here, but I don't know the details. The last 48 hours before our move (was it only 12 months ago!) was largely sleepless and done at a dead run. The to do list seemed to keep getting longer, not shorter. And, at that, I'd been getting ready for weeks. With that in mind, I can barely grasp what Rachel is going through to get completely moved with no where to go.

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

Terry,
PM me your email addy and I'll forward Rach's email to you.

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!

I'm off to beddy bye, but wanted to tell you what a wonderful dinner I made. Again, it's from the Saving Dinner website. It was Shrimp Scampi. So light. I used frozen cooked shrimp, sauteed it lightly in olive oil, and lemon juice and garlic, added parsley, oregano and basil, let it simmer until the shrimp was cooked and served. Served it with steamed asparagus and steamed yellow squash. Yummy!

Donna: I'm with you and the heat. I love it too. I just don't like the humidity. Today was simply gorgeous here. 70's and no humidity. Tomorrow is more of the same.

I'm going to tackle the bathroom and clean from top to bottom. Then, maybe some weeding. I bought another batch of paperbacks today, so I'm feeling pretty flush with books.

Yawn, See ya tomorrow
Peg

__________________
"Live the questions and some day you will live along into the answers."
Rainer Marie Rilke

Atkins since 2003
5'8" 206.4/199/175
641/2 years young

Nighty nite time for me, too. Now, if only I were actually sleepy!

Donna, Peg, not sure I could handle temps over 100 for any length of time... Whew.

Peg, so glad you're enjoying the Saving Dinner thing The Scampi sounds wonderful! I made chicken breasts with roasted red pepper sauce, and I must say I impressed myself. OK, so that's not hard to do....... The recipe wasn't from Saving Dinner, but pretty easy anyway, and really beautiful.

Shell, you're off this week! Yea!!!!
___________________
Well, the shed is primed, the back yard mowed, and a couple more pieces of bathroom wallpaper off as I go by. But the highlight of my day was yoga this evening. Heavenly! See you all tomorrow.

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