mdrai

Awww ((Haydee)). Am feeling very productive today, working my way through my lists... yay! Eating is good. Drinking (h20) is good. Why can't I behave like this *every* day?? Off to run a few errands... the most important of which is to get my 'brows waxed... think Brooke Shields' eyebrows on steriods! :thumbup:

Good Morning, Vi's~~ Kids are finally back to school today, so I can get my routine back! Work, house, laundry... believe it or not, all is right w/the world. Oh, & trying to get my eating right today. Make it a good one!!

Good Morn, Vi's~~ Ok, new dawn, new day... gosh I sound like the Prez, lol... but positive thoughts, positive intentions, positive plans... (except that I think that we're going to the cuban place for lunch today... ack!!) (kids are off school AGAIN today... they go back tomorrow... this is one of the reasons I eat so much cuz' they're home!!)... I GOT THE BEST BOOK on Monday & have to share!! It's the "Eat This, Not That" Supermarket Survival Guide book and it is FULL of FREAKY info that you just have to see to believe!! I love how it shows you w/pictures that THIS is better than THAT... & 1/2 the time I'd have picked (& do pick) the wrong thing, but thinking it's a good choice!! What made me think of it to share w/ya'll right now was Lala's comment about the Dean's "guac"... here's what it says about that (p. 169 & more on dips on p.p. 180-181.): The Claim: "Guacamole". The Truth: This "guacamole" dip is comprised of less than 2% avocado; the rest of the green goo is a cluster of fillers & chemicals, including modified food starch, soybean oils, locust bean gum, and food coloring. Dean's isn't alone in this guacamole caper; most guacs with the word "dip" attached to them suffer from a lack of avocado. This was brought to light when a California woman filed a lawsuit against Dean's after she noticed "it just didn't taste avocadoey." Similarly, a British judge ruled that Pringles are not technically chips, being that they have only 42% potato in them. What You Really Want: If you want the heart-healthy fat, you'll need avocado. Wholly Guacamole makes a great guac, or mash up a bowl yourself. Seriously, this book is packed w/info... it's going to take a long while to get through it + use it as a guide during the year as we use up pantry items & replace them w/actual healthier choices. You've got to get this book, you won't believe it! Between this & the walking (Judy, its a 50K, so approx 31 MILES, phew!) I hope to make some inroads... The reality is that if I continue as I have the past year, I will maintain my 80ish lb loss but not lose any more... so I need to shake it up! Make it a great day, everyone!

Hey gals~~ Here I am!! I've just been busy... busy eating every frickin' thing in sight & getting fatter by the minute so feeling bad about coming here and confessing... bad me. We've spent the whole day watching the inauguration... big doings in these here parts y'know... DH actually got up @ 3am & went down into DC to take pictures... but it was so discombobulated, & streets they said would be open weren't, etc... so he ended up walking around awhile, then just hopping back on metro & coming home by 8am! They said that happened to alot of folks. DH said that, for every person you saw crammed onto the Mall, there was one stuck on a side street somewhere. Right now I'm watching the O's @ the balls... Michelle's dress is pretty... I wasn't an O supporter, but he is an inspirational speaker... and man oh man, I hope he can tackle our challenges! Judy, yes, there was a 40-vehicle pile-up very near here yesterday in the unexpected snow... but we were not affected. Ok, so here's some news... I joined the MS Challenge Walk in June... 2 days, 50K walk... my BIL has MS & DH organized a 100-mile bike ride team last year, & this year my dsister is coordinating a walking team... I am hoping that while doing good for those w/MS, I will also do good for myself w/having to train, etc... will keep you posted... Time for bed... g'night!

Hey girls... Gotta love technology! Here I am bundled up in many layers in the lounge @ the barn, on my laptop, tippity typing away to you all! It is 10 degrees this a.m! DD begged to come work her classes this a.m., so I'm staying in case she starts feeling badly or has a coughing/barfing fit. She wants to stay all day, but I really want to take her home for a bit in between these classes & hers @ 3pm... we'll see... it's just so ding-danged cold!! Question: Is the rest of the country (which is all of you) excited for the inaguration? It is ALL you hear about here, naturally, but I'm just curious to see if it's as big a deal everywhere else. It's a bit weird when you live here, because National news is our Local news. It's going to be CRAZY here... bridges & roads into the city will be closed, folks have to either take buses or walk in, you can't take umbrellas or coolers or tons of other stuff... it's like nothing else ever before! DH is actually thinking about going in to walk around & take photos... he's nuts! Make it a good day. All the nutella's gone, so that's good. Keep warm!

My eating sux. Really. Nutella out of the jar w/a spoon?? What universe am I on?? I suck. What are the titles of the books your doc suggested that you read, Suzie? Inquiring minds want to know!

Hey Girlies... Not much to report... I'm up, too, TracyK... but not sure why... I've been eating ok & exercising, too... stupid scale/stupid body... this can't be all I can actually lose, can it? I'm still FAT! ARGH! Well, today's another day & I'm going to make EXCELLENT choices & am going to work out @ the Y + take a 1/2 hr Zumba class this eve... I'm also thinking about joining my sisters' 50-mile, 2-day MS walk in June, so I'll need to get training for THAT if I decide to do it... DH is the captain of the biking team... last year was their 1st year & they were the "rookie team of the year" w/ $ raised... I don't bike, but I figure I can walk, & now sisters & dh have joined efforts as 1 team, so... Did that even make sense?? DD is home from school today... she's had this weird cough for a week now... actually, I took her to the docs last Fri about it & he told me it was just a head cold & that her chest was fine (she's got asthma issues so I'm always extra cautious)... but for the past few days, every time she coughs she throws up, too (lovely!)... so I took her back to the doc yesterday & he says it's RSV so she's on meds, etc........ I'm rambling... ttfn!

Hey Vi's! Yikes! I think I missed yesterday! Was a busy day. Today there is a dusting of snow on the ground & they closed the schools! We're such wimps here!! I sent ds out to shovel the driveway & when he came in he said all it took was a broom to sweep it away! But it IS cold... brrrrr... Of course, tonight was supposed to be the band/orchestra/chorus concert + PTA bake sale so now I'm home w/m&m cookies calling my name. I told the kids we could freeze them 'til the concert in 2 weeks & they looked at me like I was crazy. Mo is ok... we're back to the regular routine of meds & monitoring output... but honestly, I think it's just a matter of time... Laura, it might not be as long as you think 'til they're doing project together. I took my kids to KinderMusic classes starting when they were around 2 or so, and story time @ the library, and nature parks/ranger programs... Evan LOVED that stuff & he was 3 or so... he loved doing "rockets" w/his dad... true, dh did the building & shot them off & Evan ran & got them when they landed, but he THOUGHT he was doing it... + computer stuff... I remember my kids sitting on my lap doing "games" & "typing"... now ds knows more about 'puters than I do! So don't underestimate the power of a chid's mind & curiosity! Speaking of children... think I can con them into cleaning their bathroom? Now THERE's a science experiment!! lol. BBL.

Hee hee hee -- Judy said "ass"!

Good afternoon, ladies~~ Judy, great pics! What a turn-out! & the gifts -- oh my! How'd she get them all home?? & The crock pots were definitely humming! :ohmy: Tracy... I'm playing mind-games myself this afternoon too... I actually took about an hour nap just to stop myself from eating! :laugh: But now I'm awake again & still facing the same "cravings"...which are not physical at all & I know that... I DID zumba today... yay me... but now it's like I'm trying to un-do all that good exercise w/bad eating! ugh! Will this ever get easier... probably not. I've got to learn to deal. Bleh. ((everyone))

"Other than that it's drink, drink and drink." Now THAT's a "To Do" list I could look forward to! :laugh:

Good Tuesday Morn, Vi's~~ A regular day on tap here... working, etc... but have scheduled in some ME time today for a Zumba class this a.m.! On Sunday I scheduled my work-outs for the week & I'm doing it! Make it a great day, everyone!

Um, yeah, I don't know if I can keep 2 threads straight in my head. I'll try... sigh. I didn't think there'd be any spas, but you never know... fancy schmancy ones pop up where you least expect them... & usually in the middle on nowhere, too!

ummmmmmmmm the people on the video talk funny. hee hee hee! Laura... are there any spas for manis/pedis/massages anywhere near there? Pretty much that & just hanging w/ya'll are all I'd enjoy... aahhhhhhh...

You want me to coordinate food/cooking? Ok, here goes: The Violet who is least inebriated (Judy) goes out & purchases 1 brisket dinner & brings it back & we all share it. Voila. Really... coordinating drinks will be harder than coordinating FOOD! (Just joshin' gals... I'll be happy to coordinate food & cooking... my fav things... which is why I ended up meeting ya'll in the first place!! :thumbdown:)

Oh crap, I'm an idiot. It's West Palm SPRINGS... in Fla. Oh well... it's good to have dreams... warm dreams...

Oh man! Southwest has 1-way tickets to West Palm Springs for $84!! Is this where YOU live, PAMELA?? Sooooo tempting!

Uh, yeah, Laura? I think you're going to have your hands full w/out organizing, too! LOL!!! (She really has no idea what she's in for, does she?! Tee hee!)

:thumbdown: If you're serious, then I'll do it, Terri. You did such a great job last year, I can understand if you'd like to simply enjoy this trip. Maybe we can rotate each time? I like to organize things... & I'm sure getting this group coordinated will be a challenge! Let me know... + any advice from you, the master, will be welcomed!

Good Monday Morn, Vi's~~ Fingers crossed for Rick, Kat! Janie... "do do do do do do do do" (Twilight Zone music, cantcha tell?) Up & have given Mo his 2nd bath in 2 days... the first one didn't really get the job done... he's so funny... he just kind of floats around in the tub w/a puzzled look on his face, like "what are you doing to me NOW?"... silly boy... but he is out of quarantine & so now we shall see what happens... I was crying last night listening to him meow in his sad little way when he was back in the bathroom... I'm afraid that even after all this, I think I know how it all may end, & maybe sooner than we'd like... :thumbdown: I actually have paying work again! Hallelujah! So it finally feels like the New Year has Really started! Make it a great day, Vi's!

Terri, you're so funny today! It's like we're at an auction! Price is up, no down, no up, no down!! Tee hee!! As I said, I don't care what it costs, I can't wait to see my Vi's!!! :tongue2:

Hey gang! What fun! I am here @ Panera w/dd while ds is at soccer... & I'm on my laptop w/my green tea chatting w/you all! Technology rocks! (& i am so easily amused!!)

Good Sunday Morn, Vi's~~ Still taking care of the Mo cat... he's still living in our bathroom, but I think he's feeling better as he is liking it less & meowing more. Today I get to give him an enema, leave him in the bathroom (obviously), then this eve try to give him a bath to get all cleaned up. I told him that if he was good & let me clean him, that he could be released from solitary confinement, but I'm not sure he understood. Hmm. We'll see. Other than that, it's just usual stuff. Pam... you made me :thumbup: w/your questions about the measuring cups... so cute!... you obviously don't cook much, m'dearie! The, what did you call them?, "the cup measuring thingy that lives in the drawer (it has the 1/2 c., 1/3 c., 1/4 c. all connected)" yes, these measuring cups are for DRY items (flour, rice, chocolate chips, food). I think by the other measuring cup you mean the pyrex or glass one w/a handle & a pour spout?... that is a LIQUID measuring cup, for liquids, like water, milk, or mojitos. And you are correct, they are different sizes. Now I don't know why, just that they are. So, at least for me, when I say a "cup" of food or a 1/2 cup of food or whatever, I'm talking about the dry cup measures. Actually, I have a set of glass bowls that are 1 cup size that have the measurements on them, so I often use those so I know I'm not overdoing it. Clear as mud?? Terri... is that $215 total or in addition to the deposits we've already sent you? (Either way I'd pay triple to get to see my girls again!!!) Have a great day, everyone!

Good Morning, my pretties!~~ Up @ 6 w/a crying cat... he wants out of the bathroom & I don't blame him... he's unhappily quarantined in our bathroom as now he has the opposite problem from constipation & its associated back-end mess in his fur... lovely. AND I'm supposed to give him another enema today! Lucky me! My plan is to keep him in there for today, then tomorrow give him a much-needed bath & if he cleans up ok, then let him back out into the general population. Ai yai yai! Other than that (as if there's time for anything else!) it's just regular stuff. Judy... ENJOY the shower today! Take lots of pics for us to see!! (oh, & I guess for your own memories sake, too, yeah...) ((Janie)) ((Terri)) Sending you my purple power, as well... wish I could do more... or knew more... but am always here for you... so rant, rave, vent... we can take it! Pam... We're supposed to be on the rain/ice/snow line today w/a winter storm. Hmmm 80s or 30s... which would I choose...??? Watch out or I will end up on your doorstep one day! & I'll bring fresh pumpkin bread! :cool: Suzie... Sounds like a lovely day w/your friend... she just must love being w/you so doesn't want the time together to end! Hi Tracy, Tracy, Haydee, Kat, Larua & Jen!! Make it a great day!

Oh Janie, what was the sentence, if you don't mind my asking? E-mail me if you'd rather...