Welcome to the current heat wave! There's more than one way to look HOT. Oh well. I'm posting real quick, just in case Alida's online somewhere and we get simultaneous new threads. Now I'm going back to July to catch up with Judy. Back to edit in a sec.

Well, Judy it nevered occurred to me that short fingernails would be a job requirement for a teacher, but I see your point. I've always had the type of nails that are either brittle or soft, and no type of "nail strengthener" will help. I try to keep them neatly filed, and use Solar oil (or similar) when I remember to. Enjoy your last "you" days, and try to get that inner clock reset.

Alida, stay cool. Couple more days and maybe we'll get that rain front moving in. A colleague said yesterday that her DH went jogging this weekend, and ended up with mild-ish heatstroke. Luckily, not fatal, but it made him quite ill for days. Bless their hearts--men never seem to lose that adolescent "it'll never happen to me" mentality.

Shelley, sorry you're being run ragged these days. Get all the rest you can, and we'll see you back here when things loosen up a bit. Seems like OKC has been on the news a lot because of the heat there, too.

Donna, I'll be very interested in the continuing story of your DIL's surgery. I've never known anyone who had it, and this will be an emotional case study, I'm sure. All you get to do is...be supportive, especially of your son. Who knows? This may be the turning point they've been searching for.

Here's to August, and a brand new beginning.

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


My Fitday Journal

Yikes. It's August. Where did June and July go??

Just checking in. I am super late this AM. I'll have more time tomorrow! XXOO

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

Stopping in to say hey as well. I get to be off today!!!! Really a fluke, but I'll take it!!

Yes, our heat wave continues...ugh! I think our weather guy said it's our 16th or 17th day in a row to be over 100 !!! To HOT!!!

Off to do brekkie, then we may go to the orchard and pick peaches, before it hits that 100 degree mark...not sure on that yet, though.

(((Gal pal hugs all 'round)))

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 Gang!

SHELLEY! What a surprise to see you this morning! So glad you have a day off. "Picking peaches" sounds like a wonderful thing to do. I wish I were there. Dh got some of the sweetest peaches at the store the other day. They were yummy!

Barb: Thanks for starting the new thread. How's the Jewish thinking coming?

Alida: So good to see you too this morning. Have a good day at work.

Donna: Oh, I'm so sorry for your DIL. Seems as though she has gotten herself in a condition that only surgery can fix. Split skin, and skin grafts, burns are such nasty, nasty things to recover from. You are right, she is going to suffer for the rest of her life. It must be so hard for you to withhold the advice. I would have a bloody tongue from biting it to keep from giving advice.

Bren: We had the same thing for dinner last night! Great huh? Have you seen the newest over at Menu-Mailer. They have put out a weekly menu that you can make up when you want, put in the freezer, and have defrostable meals for a week, or even more. I think I'm going to give it to my dd's for Christmas.

Judy: Yup, it seems as though the inevitable is coming to me too. I am not an early riser by nature either. I am really a night person. But, I find that if I head to bed about 10:00, I can fall asleep around 11:30 or 12. (I read all that time) Sometimes, if I have been really physically active, I can fall asleep earlier. Then, I am best if I can sleep at least until 8:00. But, life doesn't work that way in this condo. The kitchen is right outside the bdrm, and dh fixes bkfst every morning (bless his lil' ole heart).

Rach: Check in, girl.

___________________________
Well, we finally got the 12 page Purchase and Sale on the condo last night. Yaknow, I am feeling pretty depressed right now. There are many reasons, I know. But, I can't seem to get excited about this. There is one paragraph in it that seems problematic. Now we have to wait for our real estate agent to call to explain it to us. If it, indeed, says what we think it says, then we have to amend the damn thing and have it approved all over again.

Of course, ONE paragraph out of the whole damn legalese of 12 pages is not bad. But, it could rest on whether we are compensated at all if they move out because they can't get a mortgage. Ho hum.

So, we've picked a mover and I will put them on the clock today. Pack day is the 25th of August and move day is August 29th. They will load the truck on the 28th and leave that day. We will stay for a bit of the cleaning (dh is actually letting me hire someone to do it!), and leave on the 29th. Delivery in CA is 7-11 days after they leave, which means a pretty quick trip for us across the country.

In case you've forgotten, I fly to CA on the 14th for 6 days, and in that time I have to find an apartment that we can afford that will offer me the sense of "home" that I need. We will probably have to sign a 6-month lease no matter how short a time we stay. We've decided to have all our furniture delivered, and store all boxes of stuff that we don't use regularly. We picked a mover who will unpack any five boxes for us at the other end! They are experts in moving Clergy. Their price is $1k below everyone else. They will also set up our beds, place the furniture, etc.

So, now, we've cleaned out and tossed most stuff in closets. The task is getting rid of about 2,000 lbs of books! Two pastors and their libraries can be a daunting prospect. But, we are moving to within two blocks of a seminary, so all the books that we are tossing can be found there. We started last night, and I must admit, that both of us were saying, "Oh, I need to keep THAT one." Sigh. We have promised ourselves that we will pare down to two 4x6 bookcases. We currently have 6 of them full. Aack.

I'll probably be back. We are a one car family now. Dh is going off on an errand and then I take him to work, and go myself. I'm having lunch with a darling elder woman in the church.

Peace, Peg

Hi guys,
I'll try and make up for some of my MIA days...LOL.
Well.......first I want to tell ya'll that the whoooosh fairy visited....yippee...skipee!!!
I was down 2 lbs this morning for a total of down 7 lbs since July 1st. I'll sure take it! Now, just 24 more to go....OYE!

Peg...wowzers....things are really movinig fast for you guys. If you only have 7 to 11 days to travel cross country, are you still going to try and make it to Dallas? You will be logging in some miles there, girlfriend!

Alida...did you get a pic of your last project yet? Hope so. I always love looking at your projects. Are you guys still in the heat wave zone? Our poor lawn is looking b...a...d. We are under a watering ban as well as a red flag fire ban.

Barb...ditto on the heat wave thing. How's the driveway/concrete project coming along? Is it still to hot to pour concrete there? I didn't realize it would be to *hot* to pour, but I do know it can be to cold to pour cement. Shazam! Learn something every day LOL!

Bren...are you guys still in the grips of the heat as well? I didn't see the morning weather this morning, but last night, pretty much the heartland and midwest areas seem to be the hardest hit. Our DD told us on the phone the other night, they were having some *rolling blackouts*. Sheeeesh....I would hate that! Hope you to, are keepiing your kewl...hehe.

Judy...gosh....this summer has really flown by, huh? I'm glad you won't have aca-dec this coming year as well. It will give you more time for the important things like playing with Olivia!!! And there isn't much else in the world that takes higher priority than playing with the grandbaby IMO!!!

Rach...hope you are getting some much needed rest...hopefully not to hot where you are. Post when you can, OK?

Donna...I bet Macayla is looking forward to her shopping trip with her grammy. What fun! I need to hit the stores and get a few things for my little Isaijah. I'm sure he has outgrown everything. I think he's gonna be tall and skinny like his mom...TTL!!! He may resemble me a bit with the looks, just hope he doesn't get my weight problem!
He is not really a big eater...always busy....would rather play than eat...LOL. Why can't we be more like kids???

Teel...hope you are having a terrific time and taking lots of pics for us to see! You are missed!

Alrighty. I had a pretty productive day. We did NOT go pick peaches. I called the orchard, and they are in between ripening...the next crop should be ready in a few more days the lady said. I then went for a 30 min walk, got in almost 2 miles....and boy did I STBO!!!!
After lunch, DH and I decided to go to the Bass Pro Shop as we had never been to see it. I lucked out and found some hiking boots that were really comfortable, so I scored those and some hiking socks. So, when I got home, I called LLBean and they said they would take back my hiking boots I purchased in 2004 that had never been worn, except to try them on and walk around on the carpet here in the house. Also, the 2nd pair of hiking boots I got just a few weeks ago, just didn't feel right either. Soooooooo......to make a long story short....I got to return 2 pairs of hikers that really didn't fit and get a refund, PLUS I scored the pair from Bass Pro....yipeee....skipeee...I'm a happy hiker!!!

Well....guess that's about all the buzz from my little end of the world. Just trying to stay cool any way we can; definitely getting all my water in that's for sure!

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!

Welcome August! Thanks for starting the thread, Barb.

Judy, please don't feel badly about not posting or replying to everyone on a regular basis. You said more, and with more heart, in one post than I have in two weeks.

Barb, I was wondering about the concrete job, too. Some jobs you just don't want to have in hot weather, anyway, I suppose. Yesterday there was a crew blacktopping the parking lot for a new grocery store nearby--can you imagine? Or being a roofer? Lucky we are.

Peg, oh gosh, I hope you can get the deal straightened out soon and at least get that off of your list. You have every reason to feel the pressure and anxiety of all the upcoming changes--it's a LOT, girl. I'm so glad it's YOU that's flying to CA--you're the one who needs to be comfortable in the interim. Prayers that you'll find the perfect place. You know, I didn't realize there was a seminary that close (CRS?), but it makes sense if they've also located the ofh there.

Yes! I saw the new make and freeze menu planner. What a great gift for your DD I'm not sure if I'd be that organized on my own, but I might get a 3-mo trial for funnsies.\

Alida, here and gone in a flash!!!! Hope you have more time in the am. Oh! You'd be so proud of me---I DID get the LR furniture "away from the walls" as you suggested. With that, a new area rug, and taking down the blue drapes, the room already looks 100% better

Shelley, you've got it worse than we do weatherwise. We're about 2-3 degrees lower than you today, but we haven't had your run of triple digits. Plus we got a total of 5 inches rain earlier in the month--no watering ban yet.

Ah, the perfect hiking shoe. So glad you found one that really works--and still some quality time to break them in. Did you mention where you finally picked for vacation or am I CRS?

Donna, surprised not to see you here yet today!

TB and Rachel, hi to both and any visitors out there.

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

RATS! The FIRST thing I was going to say to you, Shelley, was Congrats on the WHOOSH.

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

Bren...thanks!
hope it *sticks*...tehe!

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!

Shelley is a loser, Shelley is a loser............... Congrats, girl!

I wasn't doing too bad until I went to Johnny Carinos tonight. They have an unbelievable "Italian" margarita. I think it has almond extract in it. Sorry, I'm not passing that up. Tomorrow I'll go back to my efforts at being low carb and low calorie at the same time.

*We got a web cam today. I'm getting sick of the pic above. Maybe I'll pull a Kim and put up something new from the web cam.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Oh, to be back at goal.....

Italian margarita???? Oh my!!!

Pic-chas! We want pic-chas!

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

Good morning!

I decided to take a break from web work and spend some time here!

Peg, I do hope you will be able to find the perfect apartment to rent. Have you contacted any companies that "list" apartments? You tell them what you need, etc. and they find the apt. for you. Perhaps there is a home rental? As for the contract ... sigh. I always thought that real estate agents made sure the buyer could get a mortgage before the deal even goes through. So what's up with their "renting" and then perhaps NOT getting a mortgage. Did I miss some crucial information?

Judy, how is your "last" sewing project going? It's the cranberry dress, isn't it? I, too, join everyone in commenting on how glad you must be for not having Aca dec this year! Hopefully, the year will leave you with a little more "you" time!

Web cam? I'd die before I had one of those. I'd never turn it on because of the way I usually look when I'm at the computer! But I'll admit, the pics of Kim are stunning!

Brenda, yea! Those drapes are down! And what kind of new area rug did you get? I'd love to see a picture of the new arrangement.

Shelley, congrats on the Whoosh! You have worked hard for it! And good news that LLBean will accept the return of 2-year-old boots! And I'll bet you did STBO with your walks in this heat. Even early in the AM, the heat is almost unbearable. Or do you get out before the sun?

Barb, bless you heart for starting the new thread. If it were up to me, we'd still be in July. Jewish cards, huh? Even though I grew up with Jewish friends, I have no idea what "The Tree of Life" is. Is this a special Jewish holiday thing?

And yeah, what's happening with the cement stuff? And aren't you leaving soon for Colorado and the big barbecue bash?

Donna, sounds like your dil has had that surgery OK'd by her doctor. When will she have it?

Yea! on the rain! No matter how much one waters, nothing is as good as a soaking rain. Hopefully, we will get some tomorrow, along with a break in the heat.

An annual shopping trip with your grandkids sounds like fun. One on one time is so precious.

LOL about your in-laws being tipsy!

Rachel & Terry, can't wait for your reports!

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

I did get a few shots of the cabinet doors at work. But the only computer that has the camera's software is in the daughter's room. She said she would make a CD for me but yesterday she told me she needed he Dad's help on that. Sigh. I did not have time to help her. But my customer did say she would send me some pictures once the door get installed. So, one day you might see a picture!

I am struggling with the web site. I am not happy with it and keep picking at it. That's what's taking my time in the AM. Ashley asked me to install all the software on my computer at work and work on it there. Sheesh. The monitor is crap with a high dot pitch. No matter what I do with the resolution, it's hard to stare at all day.

That's it. Have a GOOD 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

Bright and early!! Well, early anyway. Cycle day today, so I'm getting a little caffeine in my system--and some cereal--beforehand. Caffeine either enhances or detracts from exercise performance, depending on which kooky thread you happen to be reading.

Congrats, Shelley, on the whoosh. You earned it. Fresh peaches? That's about the only thing I miss about South Carolina. You just can't buy a peach in a store that's any good at all. But those big juicy ones you have to eat outdoors, bending over so the juice slathers all over your hands.... Waaaah! I want one NOW!

Peg, hang in there. There IS a light at the end of this tunnel.

Judy, looking forward to pictures. And Bren, too, when you get that decorating done.

We had a little break in the weather last week, so the concrete was poured. The crew did a great job, including a few extras that improved the appearance and usefulness of the driveway area. Meanwhile, the city has started a curbing project on the next street, so the jackhammering and dust storm continues. We're expecting one more day of intense heat, and then hopefully a break.

Today is the one-year anniversary of my mom's death. We grieved as we "lost" her during the ten years before she actually died, so the only sadness on this day is my dad's loneliness and boredom without her. But then...he does have that dinner date tomorrow evening, so he's trying to make the best of the life he has now.

Ah, I've cast a halo over my parents' marriage. It was a hair shirt for both of them for about three decades. But never mind.

Last night, DGS brought home a movie he liked, so we watched V for Vendetta. It's an Orwellian drama about a future despotic society in England, redeemed by a masked rebel. Bloody, but gripping. I'm kinda glad to see that DGS is fascinated by a political idea.

In spite of its egregious errors, we have to keep our eye on the shining ideals of a free society like ours. Unfortunately, only the consumption-driven part of it seems to export, not the generous, live-and-let-live spirit.

The Missouri race for the Senate between incumbent Republican Jim Talent and upstart Claire McCaskill is making national headlines. Claire has been a shining star in the state, and I'm voting for a big upset.

Time to go pedal my a$$. See ya later, goils!

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


My Fitday Journal

Hi Gang!

SO good to come here and have friends to check in with.

Alida: Can you ask your boss for another monitor. They are not THAT expensive. I was pricing a 19" at Best Buy the other day and some are under $300. So, I don't understand, why does she want you to load your software on her machine. Are you working at home some and she wants you to work there? Just curious.

Barb: Thanks for stopping in before you STBO.

Judy: Sounds like your sense of humor is intact! Yay! How did the cranberry suit turn out? Pichas. Let us see it ON you.

A web cam, huh? I've looked at them. I just don't know what I would use it for. I think that Kim takes her pictures with her phone and then transfers them to her computer by email. I may be wrong. Chime in here Kim.

Shelley: Congrats on the whoosh! Did I already say that? CRS So, you're back at work today. Hang in, it's hump day.

Donna: So glad that you got a little break from the heat. Today is going to be 105 for us! That is pretty unheard of in New England. But, we have air conditioning, and also at the church, so we'll be all right. It's the elderly folks I worry about.

Bren: whatcha doin today? Are you still doing yoga? I have this kind of "crazy" massage therapist who is doing "cranio-sacral" work with me. It is very discrete work. She zeroes in on a nerve branch (very very softly) and my own muscles begin to unwind! It is the coolest thing to experience. Because she holds the body part from gravity, it moves on it's own; the most troubled muscles moving first, and all the others follow. It releases tension and muscle memory in a very gentle way. My neck and shoulders are looser than they have been since I was a girl. Seems that my left side is particularly resistant to the work. I'm a lefty ya know. Years of not paying attention have made me crooked in posture. Left side is higher than the right (shoulders) Fascinating work.

Terry and all visitors, have a great day!

-=------------------------
Well, today we sign the purchase and sale agreement. The reason we decided to take this convoluted agreement is that the real estate market has absolutely tanked here, Alida. As it was we took 12K less than we were asking, and that was hard to get out of them. We would have had to reduce our price by 20K if we had had to wait past two weeks. That's just the way it is here right now. Total buyers market. You wouldn't believe some of the incentives sellers are giving to their buyers just to buy their house!

I locked in the moving company yesterday, and our dates are August 25th to pack, load the 28th, and they will leave. Then we have 7-11 days to get to wherever we are going. I have registered with "Rent.com," and yesterday I received in my email about 20 listings of places that fit our requirements, including a 4-bedroom house! Problem with the house, though, is the guy is selling it, and we might have to move AGAIN. Neither of us want to do that. Anyway, I've been busy on the phone arranging to see places when I go out on the 14th. The moving company we got are Clergy movers, and as a bonus will UNPACK one dish pack and any other 4 boxes we want unpacked. This is in addition to the regular "setting up the beds and placing the furniture." If we got the house, we could store everything we don't want to unpack in the garage instead of renting a storage facility. But, I'll have a better idea when I get out there. I think I told you that we have decided not to unpack everything and just store boxes (CRS).

Tonight is my second to the last night with the recalcitrant Deacons. Not sure that anything I have done has been any good for them, but most of ministry is seed planting. I rarely get to see them grow. Monday night is my exit interview and they have invited the entire church to it! That's fine. I'm not going to blast them. They don't need any more blows to their corporate self esteem. Any time I work with a troubled church, I feel such compassion for them. They simply don't realize that they have been taken in by the siren song of the culture. It's not church when people are fighting. It is a club. Sigh.

Well, gotta go and get ready and also EAT MY FIBER. My Doctor gave me what she considers a cool new laxative that dissolves in anything you drink, doesn't taste, and supposedly works. All of that is true except the "works" part.

Peace, Peg

FYI---
Daddy went to the doctor this morning. The doctor recommended that we move him back to the nursing home permanently. He is to be admitted to a wing for medically complex patients. His blood pressure is all over the map and he continues to be at huge risk of more falls. Right now it looks like DH and I will go back to Dallas/Plano as early as this afternoon. I completely expect to be at work on Monday. DH will probably bring me home and then return to help with any remaining issues of the move and getting rid of or storing the remainder of Daddy's stuff.

Until whenever, expect more MIA from me.

__________________
Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Oh, to be back at goal.....

Judy, I'm so sorry. ((((HUGS))) Another difficult step :(

I'll be back later to chat.

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