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Judy, hang in there. Really...it comes to an end. How long until retirement for you??

I *could* retire right now. I have all the required years and age to easily meet the full retirement requirements. However, for each year that I stay I improve my lifetime base amount by about 3%. If I can hold out another 8 years until I am 65, I will be getting a retirement check that is almost 100% of whatever my pay is at that time. As long as the job is not driving me totally insane, it is financially worth it in the long run to continue. Honestly, I've been here long enough that I get to teach what I want and have things pretty much the way I want them. If I retired and stayed home, I would spend money making up projects to keep myself occupied. I might as well work to keep myself busy and get money in instead of putting money out. (** In consideration of the current state of the economy, I might also add that teaching is pretty much a recession proof occupation. They aren't going to lay me off, and I probably wouldn't be able to find a job to provide "entertainment" if I determined that I might need to supplement my income.)

Heather – we are all counting down the time with you this afternoon.

Donna – seriously, no seriously I have to go to a dinner starting at 6:30 tonight. I’m afraid that I won’t be home at 8:00 for the start of Grey’s. Never fear though, I have both the TIVO and the DVR set to record the return. After Grey’s is Lost. I may be up late tonight seeing them both.

Berta – sounds like you are married to a tough old bird. I think Peg has one, too.

Alida, Barb, Brenda, Susie and Shelley

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

Good morning, everybody. Especially Heather. How are you doing??

Judy, I think you've got the retirement plan all reasoned out. Yes, in spite of the times that drive you crazy, you're in a good position.

I've got my running shoes on, and will try for a half-hour. I may or may not be ready for the 4-miler on Sunday. It's supposed to be chilly and rainy, which doesn't sound particularly enticing. Oh well.

Happy Friday.

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


My Fitday Journal

Thunderstorms coming, but how nice to have green things showing up finally. I also have, strangely, a mother duck nesting under our gas meter. No idea how the parents will get the babies to the river from here--too far to walk, too many cars. Guess I'll cross that path when I have to.

Ok, Friday is usually quiet, even so I hereby declare an ABC Day for all TGIF'ers. Those of us not working are also hereby invited to celebrate for the heck of it.

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Seeing Wicked tonight at the Pantages Theater with my bff! Whoo hoo!
Gotta jet!
Peg

Lucky Peg!

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

I hope everyone who didn't get to view the plans got the e-mail I just sent. It should have the attachment on it. There is one change to the house I was advised earlier and that is the furnace is moved to the crawl space. Where the furnace was will be another closet (yeah!) but we'll be able to change the filter in the house area. I would not want to climb under the house to do that. I love this house! It's called the Blackfoot. We've already measured every room in comparison and the new house is going to be spacious. I had DH make a copy for me so I could write down where I want my furniture to go. I have what I even want in each closet - lol. I guess they'll be changes in the plans and I'll keep you all updated. I had walked through a house last week called the Teton and noticed the plan yesterday didn't have a door that was on it's garage. It would be nice to have a door in the garage going outside to where we would put our garbage bin. It'll be sweet not to have to walk 1/2 a block to get to our garbage bin like we have to do in our apartment complex. So many things I'm excited about...like having a dishwasher, 2 bathrooms, a garage to not have to scrape off windows during the winter, a yard for the kids to play in, listening to neighbors scream at their kids or fight and having an office for my DH and his stuff that I wish I didn't have to display now...

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I'm so happy for you Heather!!!

Good morning!

Heather, I mentioned to Peg in an e-mail that I flunked "forwarding." Since the floor plan was a part of the e-mail, I just figured it would forward, too.

The plan is wonderful! The furnace is in a crawl space? In Montana? Hey, what do I know. But the rooms look spacious and the arrangement well thought-out. Oh, we are so excited for you!!

Bert, we are twins. I am 13.5 years younger than my DH. He mentioned a few nights ago that I would always be "the younger woman!" Sounds like you need the pool boy around. It's too early to send him. How about a group hug?

Peg, how was Wicked?

Brenda, now I am going to worry about the darn ducks. Where Bob and I used to live had a lake and streams that meandered through the property. Lots of ducks, swans, and fish that would eat the ducklings. Sigh. Bob used to go and fish for those wide-mouth bass and then take them to the park's stream and release them.

Barb, retired and writing for pay you don't need. Doesn't get much better than that!

I am going to start my Saturday early. Bob and I have to go to Lowe's to get some grass stuff. And I bought some new indoor flower pots that I need to fill. I have been looking for quite a while for black pottery flower pots with a hole and saucer. Bingo! Found the mother lode at WalMart last night.

Have a great weekend everyone. XXOO

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

The plans are shaping up, Heather. Yes, there are so many simple things you'll appreciate that some of us have taken for granted. Thanks for reminding me to be grateful.

Speaking of baby ducks, I was sitting on my friend's porch one afternoon this week, and watched one...then two...then THREE baby squirrels making little explorative forays out of their nest in the eaves of the house next door. I've never seen a baby squirrel before--they are always full-size, being a nuisance. The babies were really cute. However, the neighbor really needs to patch up the holes in his house. Those critters were munching on his woodwork.

Later this morning, I'm going to join a group from my church for a walking tour of The Plaza--local historic shopping district--for an architectural discussion. Should be fun--but dang! It's still COLD!

Tomorrow is the 4-Mile Trolley Run. I've got the t-shirt and the timing chip. And rain gear. This isn't looking like a good idea.

Peg, I envy the theater experience. WICKED sounds like a great show.
I have the books it's based on in my reading line-up.

Last night, I grilled for the first time on the patio at my condo--the community patio. There's a huge gas grill out there for anyone to use. It was funny carrying food up and down an elevator. I grilled a marinated flank steak and zucchini. Both delicious.

The cat woke me up way early this morning. Lots of time to read the newspaper. Hoping everybody gets a chance to do something relaxing and/or fun this weekend.

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


My Fitday Journal

Darn darn darn..............lost a big post! No time to rewrite now. I'll be back later.

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

Hi Gang!

I can not even begin to tell you how good Wicked was!!! You must see it. And see it with a girlfriend. It is a wonderful story of friendship between girls. I have seen dozens of musicals and honestly, this was the best I've seen. The audience were actually screaming with glee! Lots of high school girls and some younger were there. It is a "clean" show, no swearing, no sex, no boobs hanging out. Wonderful for kids. I would see it again in a heartbeat! I loved it.

Today is a sermon writing day. I preach tomorrow at the health center. The last Sunday, and then three more days of visiting for two hours a day and I'm done for the year. It is a BIG job. Not sure I'll do it again, though I did enjoy it very much. I was asked to take it over as the head chaplain, and I was actually thinking about it. But, then sanity prevailed, and I reconsidered. DH has gone of to LA to lead a spiritual retreat, and he preaches there tomorrow. He is a marvel. Off all pain pills now, and only suffering the fatigue that goes with recovering from major surgery. But, he says that he has a couch in his office which he uses frequently.

OH, everyone loved my "boat" story! Got good feedback from everyone, including the teacher.

Back later,
Peg

Rats Judy! We'd have loved to hear from you. It's so disheartening to lose a post.

Peg, Wicked gets good reports from almost everyone. I'm so glad you were able to see it. Now that's a great review!
Woohoo on your good boat story review. The best stories are true, and when you add a sense of humor, who can resist, eh? And see, now that people begin to know you, everyone wants to give you a job, too!

Alida, sad to report that neither of us has to worry about the ducklings. Momma was gone this morning and all her eggs were broken and strewn in the rock garden. A racoon, I imagine. Mother nature is the final arbiter, but it saddens me still.

Barb, squirrels can really damage a house, but I imagine the babies were adorably cute. Hope you run isn't unpleasant tomorrow.

Shell, Susie, Donna, Bert, Heather (with feet off the ground), MK

I worked with a friend's rescue dog this afternoon, but it's not going well. She's a huge Bernese/cross rescue, but so shut down. It took an hour and a half to accomplish what I could normally do in less than a half hour because the poor dog kept checking out mentally and I don't want to add to her stress. I never had a dog who was so hesitant to learn how to learn. Sure keeps me humble.

Rotisserie chicken (from the grocery store) is waiting. The fur girls are, too

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

OK, attempt #2 for the day. When I started this morning it was 11:00 and I was still sitting around in my pajamas. What a great once a week treat. Truthfully, I've done so little today that it was almost a waste to get out of my pajamas. The only thing of substance that I did was go to Wal-Mart for some stuff. One of the things I bought was some clear nail polish. When I took it out of the box I found the bottle was totally empty. Looks like I'll have to go back...

Bren, I'm sorry to read your subsequent post about the duck eggs. In my post this morning I mentioned the baby wrens that we have in our garage. For some reason a few years back they discovered the garage as a good nesting place. Each year they come back and hide another nest. This year it took us a while to find it. The babies are just about ready to fly. It's really neat to watch them venture out. Sometimes we have seen them, and other times they are gone and we totally missed their "first steps".

Peg, Great to hear that Wicked was as good as you thought it would be. Maybe it will be in Dallas soon. That would be a fun girl trip. My very good friend and I have been trying to get a day to go to dinner since January. Since she is an asst. principal and has young children, her evenings are pretty busy. We are tentatively scheduled to go out Wednesday. I think we may even go for a pedicure before dinner.

Barb -- do you have a small patio off your apartment where you can grill small meals? We grill several times a week. I would hate to think about having to go down the stairs or elevator to get to the meal that I am preparing ... I guess that would keep me from multitasking, though.

Alida -- DH is in the hunt for plants at this time of year, too. He has already filled the outside pots and is trying to find some unique bedding plants. Keeping Lexie from walking through his beds and ruining the plants is an impossible task.

Heather -- I pulled the plans for your house up on the BIG monitor. Very nice.... and congratulations again.

Donna -- how is DD's new job going? Does she like cooking? I know you were as excited as I was to have Grey's back on Thursday night. Thanks goodness for TIVO. I was away for a banquet until it was almost over. I definitely watched it as soon as I got home.

Shelley, Susie, Mary Kay -- hope you are all having a great weekend.

.........now to post before I lose this again.

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 138-140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more Fooling myself!

I'm so glad that you all got to review the plans. I love sharing them.

Heading to bed. Busy day at church since the kids had a pine derby car race today. Then my sister and I headed out to the Habitat site to walk through the homes that are currently being built. Then we visited mom at work, I exercised, spent time with family....beat! Reading along but so tired to respond...

Love you all! Tomorrow is church so hope to stop by after.

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