Thread: DECEMBER Tracking

Brenda: The girls are gorgeous. I'd have that one blown up and put in the frame and hung in the place of honor where all could see.

I took Lily to the vet this afternoon for her annual shots. He was very impressed with the condition of her teeth. Says it's not very often he sees a dog with a terrible bite like hers having good teeth. I give all the credit to dehyrdated chicken that they have to really chew to swallow. He also asked about Sora and just beamed when I told him that she's just great. He was very pleased and just grinned and said....sometimes you get lucky. Such a sweet guy! (and good looking too).

One more quickie......there is a God, and she has been in my court most of the week. DH was gone two days for a funeral and had some trouble with FIL's computer today ---which caused his to be hours later getting home. Oh, darn. So what did I do with all my "free" time today? I completed lesson plans for the semester for both of the courses that I have coming up. It wasn't exactly holiday exciting, but I am damned glad to have it done. It's amazing what you can accomplish when there are no distractions.

Hi guys,
following along when I can. DGS is watching cooking shows at the moment...can you believe it...a 7 year old liking Rachel Ray and Emeril???
DD is out with her friend for the evening, so we're just kicking back and vegging out.

Judy...woohoo on those lesson plans. woohoo on having your way with hubby
(work it girl, work it!) LOL!

Bert...WTG on scoring a bike from *Santa*. Now, I think you've been quite the good girl, eh?

Barb...have a wonderful time off! Congrats on a great check up as well as the lab numbers. I think I'm scheduled to have some labs in January. I have a feeling mine might not be quite normal. We'll see.

Bren...the fur girls look mahhhhvelous!!! Yes...very worthy of framing! You do good work!

Alida...hope you are not obscessing to much over all your preparations. I'm sure if you didn't do another thing, it would all be just perfect. Inhale...exhale...inhale...

Peg...darlin'...sounds like you are in a very happy spot right now....good for you!
I'm so glad you are having a good time with the gk's! Aren't they grand?

Donna...all I can say about all this conversation of dresses and ear rings is...wear one, both or none...LOL. WTG on that 3 pounds...I'm sure I found them though.
I am sooooooo looking forward to my *clean new year start*. oye!

Rachel...Carnegie Hall in 2 more nights, right? I can only imagine the high you must be feeling! We will be singing in spirit with you.

Teel...how did the Solstice dinner party go? Be sure and fill us in with all the detail...especially about the menu

Heather...hope you are having a blast with your little ones!


I'm being paged by the DGS...gotta scoot!

((hugs to all))

Shelley

This time I'm back to comment:

Shelley - I saw Denver on the news several times today. I am so glad that the 1st National Bank of Mom and Dad came through and the your DD and DGS aren't staying in a hotel in Denver tonight.

Berta -- Yea on the bike. It's been years since I've been to Brownsville. That's about as far as you can go and still be in Texas. Do you speak Spanish? It's darn sure helpful down there. Will you have your computer so that you can check in with us? Have a safe trip!

Donna -- I'm incredibly impressed that the woosh fairy comes to see anyone that I know, but even more impressed that she came the week before Christmas. WTG!!! You'll be looking good at that party, no matter what you end up wearing.

Barb -- If you can't think of ways to amuse yourself, I'm sure I can come up with some suggestions. I hope your date tonight turned out wonderful. BTW, I never commented on your doll the other day. She is precious. I was watching something on the news last night about good and bad toys. Among the good were the American Girl dolls. What a wonderful collection. They seemed to be a big hit in the families where the parents had enough sense not to buy "Bratz" and other trashy dolls.

Brenda -- Loved your picture of the girls. You did some nice photoshop work. It looks like a studio shot. When I get a chance I'm going to go back and read the link you posted this morning on L-Trytophan. Is that stuff readily available in most HFS?

Alida -- Deep breath, deep breath! You sound frazzled. Losing power in the morning when you are trying to get dressed and out the door will do it to you. I hope your O/C tendencies will ease up and give you a chance to enjoy the holiday some. I know it must be harder this year since you don't have the freedom to make your own schedule. That's hard.

Peg -- I'm excited that DGD is making pillows for her friends. That is way cool. The girls will think she is so smart and talented. How exciting it will be to see her open the sewing machine package on Christmas. As for having a "comin to Jeesus" with the little one --- she probably needed it.

Terry -- How did the dinner go? That was tonight wasn't it? What did you serve?

Heather -- I hope everything is going well at your house. Take those allergy meds and have a good time.

Rachel -- are you about ready to say " Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! .......Hal le lu jah!" We want pictures. We are all at Carnegie in spirit to cheer you on.

~~~~~~~

At this house the Christmas "stuff" is about done, and it's a good thing, DD will be in tomorrow afternoon. I still have a few things to wrap and a couple of gift cards to purchase, as well as one or two things to cook. But, I'm definitely on the downhill side. To be honest, I've worked pretty hard this week to get to this point. What you ask could be so overwhelming when there are no kids at home? A big part of the work includes doing all the buying and wrapping for the things we plan to give and for the things that MIL and FIL will give to us and our kids --- and grandkid. I have great inlaws. They are wonderful to us, so this is a small thing to help them out. Neither can manage "big" shopping anymore and they do not "do" online. The main reason that DH went to Tyler today was to take all the presents that are from them to their house so that there will be things under their tree. Tomorrow early will be house cleaning and I'll work in the rest of the stuff sometime while DD is out. Saturday or Sunday I have an apple cake to make. I hate to make it too soon. It's DH's favorite, and I'm afraid that he will cut into it.

So, for today it's "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night." I'll check in again tomorrow.

Good morning!

I am following along but by the time I read everything, time is so short! Sigh. BUT ....

Donna! three pounds is fantastic! You must really want that dress, huh? Have fun at the concert!

Shelley: Whew! DD & DGS are safely "home." Let the holiday begin and let's hope Nona can keep up!

Judy, when all else fails, sex is usually a good option, LOL! My problem is my DH is too chilled. He sits there watching me run like the energizer bunny. In all fairness he has done some chores, though ... like vacuuming the sofa. Gotta get rid of all those cat hairs before allergic son comes for Xmas Eve!

Berta, I laughed when you told us -- in detail -- about your "surprise" gift! How wonderful your daughter has lost all that weight! Drive safely to Brownsville!

Brenda, when I first saw the furgirls' picture, I thought it was a studio shot! Definitely a framer. You do great work with Photoshop! Oh! And is that L'Oreal mineral makeup a POWDER? And it actually covers like make-up liquid?

Barb, you lucky girl to get Tuesday off! LOL about wondering what you are going to DO with all that time off!

Terry, waiting for your Winter Solstice Party report!

Heather, I know things are hectic for you. Everything going smoothly?

Peg, yes, LOL. Family is the REASON, isn't it? I also can't wait to hear your report on DGD's reaction when she "opens" her sewing machine!

Rachel, left for NYC yet? Oh how exciting! Can't wait to see the pictures Rog will sneak .....

Love to all -----

Good morning, Alida and everyone. I "slept in" this morning, until six o'clock. The cat alarm was really busy before that. We had a lovely date last night at The Bonefish Grill (I think that's a chain.) Our dinner was delicious and the service was excellent. The cute waiter got a big fat Christmas tip.

Before we left, dh handed me one of the wrapped boxes from under the tree. It was a gorgeous red silk fringed shawl/scarf from the Smithsonian Collection. So, of course, I wore it to dinner. Took a picture--I'll see if I can organize that to post in a minute.

I stopped by my sister's yesterday, and tried out her new "toy." At the recommendation of her PT, she bought one of those SOLOFLEX vibrating platforms. She got it online for $395, which is about $100 less than the going rate. I stood on it for a couple of minutes. It has a dozen variable vibration "speeds," and the highest is teeth-rattling. Apparently, these things really do work to improve bone strength and other health benefits.

The longest night is almost over! I read in the news that some churches hold a Blue Christmas service at the solstice for people who, for whatever reason, are not having a happy holiday.

After my morning gruel settles, I'm off to the gym. It's fun not to be on a schedule for a few days. I'll check out the movies.

Happy Friday--try to breathe deeply and take your time. Christmas will be a memory soon. Make it as happy as you can!

Let's see if the picture works. You'll see various artifacts of my life--note the copy of DANDR on the table at the right! The concrete pelican was a souvenir from one of our beach trips. I intended to put him out on the front porch, but decided he might get pelican-napped. You've seen him before with his Santa hat on, which I couldn't find in the Christmas stuff this year.

The painting is my own from college art days. I'm the only one who seems to like it, but I still do. Would you say red is my favorite color?? The red patent leather platforms are the "hot shoes" that attracted so much attention when I wore them to work the other day.

g'morning all...

Some words of wisdom for the holiday parties this weekend:

Watch out. Cocktails may sneak up on you this holiday season if you use a diet mixer.

How quickly alcohol goes to your head depends on how fast it leaves your stomach. And the artificial sweetener in diet mixers or diet versions of popular ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages causes the alcohol to pass through the stomach and into the bloodstream more quickly than nondiet mixers and beverages. Finally -- a reason to be naughty instead of stick-to-your-diet nice!

No wonder I continue to be the cheapest date in town! On LC all I need is a single glass of wine and I'm a most happy fella!

Barb, gorgeous photo - I know you have been complaining about being at the top end of your goal range but "dahlink, you look MAHvelous!!" You are such a classy dresser - it's a beautiful photo!

Berta, Buen Viaje! Bon Voyage! and of course, Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Frohe Weihnachten! Joyeux Noel.... etc... if anyone is interested, I have a list of Merry CHristmas and a Happy New Year around the world, even has it in Yoruba and other wild languages... let me know, I'll send it out!

oops, here's an edit: we were posting together! That gal sounds like a super woman!

Barb, we also had a nice pre-Christmas dinner at the Black Horse Tavern in Mendham, NJ - a classy spot - I am so far off where I wanted to be plan-wise at this point that I'm not sure what to do. My mom made a bunch of Xmas cookies (the kinds I mkae every year) and they are beyond irresistible.

Donna, which leads me to YOU! you are such an inspiration this season - three pounds?! What I wouldn't give! That dress is going to look SMASHING!! You MUST attach a photo for us!

Alida, I'm so glad that in your busyness you have moments to check in here - you are our very best chronicaller (sp?) it's true!


Judy, I promise that Roger will take photos at Carnegie Hall - they may be outside on the side walk in front of the posters - but I'll be in my choral gown and in rare (pudgy, but rare) form!


Peg, I have spent two solid days at the sewing machine - instead of wrapping gifts I sew little bags for them (I hit the fabric stores AFTER Xmas and pick us as many remnants as I can so the next year I have LOTS to work with. My family has started to recycle them with twists (adding neat cards or wire-ringed bows) - it is a GREAT way to save trees and talk about EASY?! whoa. I LOVE that a new generation is learning the power and beauty of sewing - good for you! and from all of us sewing-mavens out here, thank you!!

Shelley... I know you are thoroughly enjoying those two blessings you have around your house this year!

Brenda, that is a GORGEOUS photo of the dawgs - it really DOES look professionally done - you are so skilled!! I see the commercials for PetSmart and I'm amazed at all we do in America for our pets! I'm sure those girls are happy to be in your home!

Terry, looking forward to hearing about your Solstice party... my sister has one every year - it is nice for the varied group of friends they have of differing faiths.

Heather.... I hope you are hanging in there with all you are doing for your family this year. Looking forward to seeing pix from you, too - (especially of the little ones - those are the ones I look forward to the most!).

Ok, back to the sewing machine - got to finish two baby quilts, and get the last Christmas bags done.

As if four performances of the Messiah in ten days wasn't enough, DH and I are joining my mom and dad, two aunts, and a couple of cousins in Shawnee, PA this evening for a big Messiah sing-along. I actually can't wait! Not only do I love this music but to sing with my mother and her sisters? Priceless - we are all altos - I adore these women. DH will video/photograph us.

I may not be back on the boards here until Xmas eve or later - so i send you all much love for the holidays - you are such a delightful group of friends, thanks so much for that! It means so very much. XOXOXOX

Hi, Kids. I'm not quite gone yet. Good to hear from you, Berta, and Rachel. I know Carnegie Hall will be a glorious place with you in it.

I'm calling off all diet talk until January. Last night, I sampled the lovely Tuscan bread with pesto/olive oil dip, and treated myself to a few bites of Creme Brulee--who wouldn't?? Today at Tasso's (Greek) I'm going to have one of their world-class gyro sandwiches in pita. (Usually, I just have the gyro meat on a salad). I'm selecting my carb indulgences very deliberately, for maximum happiness value. For January, I'm currently designing a new plan to tackle that 10 lbs. I'd like to lose--and by that time, it'll probably be 12 lbs. Just so ya'll know--I'm still in the game. But it's Holiday Half-Time for me.

Now...off to the gym for some elliptical fun.

Barb, you look quite smashing. Great scarf (nice DH!). Sexy Shoes, too Babe! We have a Bonefish near us, so perhaps DH and I will try them out. This will sound silly, but we save pennies in a big jar--when it's full we have maybe $50 to use going out to somewhere we've never been before That's the deal, and about the only way I can get DH to be in the least adventureous... A jiggling platform? Wow, that's a new one on me. Sounds fascinating. I do remember your pelican!

Bert, refresh my memory--does your DD lives close enough to bike with you in Kansas?
Biking is really fun with a partner. Many congrats to her on her weight loss, too. That is SO fantastic and I know she feels great. LOL, I'm trying to imagine the "surprised" look on your face at Christmas! I have a cousin (and DH) who winter at South Padre, or used too. They loved it. Happy packing.

Alida, Shelley is the expert and even Judy and TB know more than I do, but yes mineral makeup is a powder. If you are used to a foundation that gives "complete coverage" ala Peg, it might not be enough for you. For me, it provides a lighter coverage that helps blend uneven skin tones (but not totally). The advantage is that it lasts all day. Otherwise, my skin absorbs liquid foundations in 2 hours and I'm BARE! except for what has slid into the crevasses.

Judy, glad you are on the downhill side of Christmas, but bless you, gal, it still sounds like a lot left to do, to me. Nevertheless, your work makes your whole family able to celebrate, and that's a good thing. Tryptophan isn't available at the hfs, but you can get 5-htp there. Tryptophan is a precursor of 5-htp and works for many people the same way--some not as well. Tryptophan is nominally a prescription product, but there's a work-around for that if you bark, meow, or whinney.

Donna, so glad about all your doggie good news at the vet!

Rachel! Getting excited yet???

Peg, TB, Heather, Shell, hugs to all

Ok, here's your penalty for saying nice things about my picture. Another picture. Can you tell I didn't sleep last night??? When this one was taken, DH was holding up a cookie. See that wistful look in Khaki's eyes