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Oh 1 more thing... I noticed it after I posted... I did *NOT* weigh on 11/1... and probably won't 'til the 15th or so... I did great w/that "no weighing" theory until about 10/15 or so... & then it's been Katie Bar the Door and I've been eating EVERYTHING IN SIGHT -- and LOTS OF IT!! I won't even tell you what I've already eaten today -- the day that was supposed to be my "Back on the Wagon" day... ugh. I am sooooo disgusted & disappointed w/myself. SOOOOO... am going to try, try, try to get back on that ol' rickety wagon TOMORROW and actually eat properly & exercise and be to-the-letter good 'til the 15th and then take a peek @ the scale... Gosh I hope this works. Ugh.

Good Morning, Vi's~~ Yes, I know it's 3:31pm... but I've been glued to my computer working like a fiend since 7:30 this morning -- hey! that's 8 hours! a full work day!! -- and I've only just FINISHED UP THE BOOK! Yay me! Hurray!! Of course, now I have 2 more chapters of another book to work on... but that's good when you're a freelancer!! I can't wait for tomorrow -- I'm w/you, Suzie -- NO MORE POLITICAL COMMERCIALS! ((Janie)) I am so sorry for all you & your family are going through... I am with you in purple spirit!!! TracyKS... You ARE a good Mom... it would've been so easy to relent, and a lot of mom's would have... but NOT YOU!! + good thoughts on the boobies!!! Yikes! TracyK... Was the zoo ok w/the hurricane? Kat... Travel safely!! Pam... AMEN! oh wait, I'm already home... but maybe I can make it specific... to get out of the OFFICE & into more RELAXING areas of my house! Judy... I enjoyed your description of working in the yard w/the leaves... I could smell that scent of burning leaves on a crisp day... the scent of Fall! (I think that's a Yankee Candle that I have, lol!) Laura... Just do your best w/the weight issue... now more than ever you need to make good (= nutritious) choices... it'll be ok... us fat gals have been giving birth for thousands of years... :thumbup: Terri... Again, thanks for that link... too funny... too me! Haydee... Thanks for posting the pics... I love it when I can SEE my Vi's!!! You are gorgeous, dahlink! Hi Jen! Hope all is ok w/you!!

Hey ladies... Had fun last night... the adults liked trick-or-treating for my Bud light limes! Today I've mostly been working all day... big Monday deadline! But it's a milestone day for another reason: DS's first Homecoming dance! He looked so grown up... sigh. I'll post a pic as soon as DH e-mails them to me off his camera. I have to head "downtown" to pick them up after dinner & drive them to the dance, and then pick them up @ 11 when it's over & take them home... so I'm going to just work tonight, too, so I don't doze off early! Seriously, the thought of DS being out at Carrabba's ALONE w/only his friends -- no adults at all -- is freaking me out! I guess now HE is the "adult"... oh my frickin' goodness I don't know if I can handle where time is taking me on the fast-track to the future!! :cursing:

Tracy... Sorry to read about Robby... but you're right, until he actually misses out on these fun activities, he doesn't know what he's missing!... I hope he's a quick learner... for his sake & for yours!! Jen... So sorry to hear about your Aunt.

Good Morn, Vi's~~ Look at what my yahoo horoscope is for today: Why spend all of your energy making other people happy? Today you have to switch your focus and start working harder at making yourself happy! Do at least one nice thing for yourself, today. Cancel a meeting you've been dreading, with no guilt. Take yourself out to dinner at your favorite restaurant. Skip making the bed this morning. Doing something for yourself every once in a while is not only a good idea, it's a smart idea. After all, you need to treat yourself well if you expect others to, too. Cue the Twilight Zone music! Don't know how I'll fit that in as today is a day all about kids & fun... Halloween!... but I'm thinking I may splurge on some adult beverages for on the porch for this eve... Pam... I love, love, love that margi "memo"... I copied it & forwarded it to my margi-loving friends! One of my fav lines is: WARNING: The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering when you are not. Hmmmm... sounds a lot like the breakfast buffet in Gruene!! FUN MEMORIES!!!!!!!!!!!!! :teeth_smile: Thanks for starting my day off w/a smile!! Make it a good one, Vi's!

"Michelle-you need to just accept that "THAT is how you are" and work around it. I think you thrive on doing things for others. Just balance it out with some YOU stuff. " Yep, it is how I am. I told you all before that my kids kept calling me "weird" right? And I thought about it and I really don't think I'm "weird"... so I told them that I thought that what they call "weird" I call "enthusiastic"... so now they'll say to each other: "Be careful, Mom's being 'enthusiastic' today!" (Aren't kids great?? ) But it's true... I AM enthusiastic... why live boring? Personally, I can't keep up w/Kat! Or Pam. Phew!

Oh. My. Goodnes! JUDY! Why did you post that?? "The typical jack-o'-lantern bucket holds 250 small chocolate bars (about 9,000 calories)..." Ack! And then I read the list of candy & nutritionals... and we give out FULL SIZE CHOCOLATE bars (because we're waaay back in the woods off the main street & it's just us & the family across the driveway, so the kids really have to work to get back here... every year I hear them at the end of the drive debating whether or not to trek back here or not... and sure enough, one kid will remember "Hey! They give out the GOOD stuff!" and then here they come! Then they see me and look all confused: "You're the Book Fair lady! You live here? Not at school??" SOOO much fun... oh, I get out the karaoke machine too & play haunted music + talk in a scary voice that carries down the street... woot!). Whoopsie!

HA! Here I go again!! So I just finished up a chapter (yay!) and so for my "break" I think, "I'll just go whip up a pumpkin crunch cake to take to the couple who ran the CSA this summer!" (today is the last pick-up & I though it'd be a nice "thank you" for them) Did I think to go take a walk? Knit a bit? Catch a bit of the "View"? Anything sheerly for my personal enjoyment? No, I did not. It's either flip the laundry, mop the kitchen floor, or bake, evidently!! I am SO others-oriented!! (Altho I do get pleasure from baking... thus the excess poundage!) I'm full of self-awareness today!

No "magic fix" I don't think... for me personally, I think awareness & commitment to balance would help... but I'm so much like Haydee... I do it because I like to do it but then I overdo & I get mad at everyone for not helping or appreciating all I do... a vicious cycle... And Terri... I do think you're very balanced... but I also think you're a giver. That's a great lesson your mom taught you! Surprise! My mom taught me the Martyr Giver Syndrome! Laura... be gentle with yourself re: weight during your pregnancy. If you're eating nutritiously for the growing health of your little babe, then it's ok... if not, then re-evaluate. Man I love my Vi's!

I just had an "ah-ha!" moment! Right here, right now! And it's one of those "duh" things, too... as if I should have consciously realized this ages & ages ago... Here it is (hope I can explain it right)... I was e-mailing two friends about tomorrow night (Halloween). They both live in rural areas, so I invited them (ok, one of them invited herself) & their families to come here for trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. But me being me, that wasn't "enough" somehow, so now I'm going to do dinner for everyone before, & have drinks, etc., for after. So I'm typing along, and it hits me -- THIS IS HOW IT HAPPENS! This is how I end up so BUSY... I do it to myself! And then it hits me that THIS IS A MAJOR COMMON DENOMINATOR OF ALL OF THE VIOLETS! Bingo, baby! We're all such GIVERS! DOERS! CARERS! We do & do & do for others... we're selfless... we put everyone else first, and our own needs & wants last (if at all!)... but the one thing that's always there for us... that always makes us feel better (or not feel) is FOOD! We were all able to make that shift last year when we got banded... getting banded forced us to put ourselves up top of the list... to be a little selfish... to take care of ourselves first... but now as time has gone by... we're slipping back down (& even off) the list again... old habits are sneaking back in... and we're stalled/gaining/struggling... hmmmmmmmm... methinks I may have had a breakthrough!! Thoughts??

You've hit the nail on the head, Terri! I am feeling better, but it very well may be because of the busy-ness. And yes, I realize the opposition between what I SAY and what IS... but that's because w/me, HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL!! But I really DO think that Nov - Feb will be less busy... fewer kid activities, more time at home... that will be bliss! This super-hyper speed we've been living at the past couple months (w/the past few weeks being extra-hyper) WILL be over soon... but yeah, I'll probably always be "busy"... that's just me... A massage... ooooohhh that would be lovely... too bad I'm just so super duper money stressed right now, too (key to the overeating!!!). But I just keep on keepin' on... have as much fun as possible doing whatever it is wherever I am... what's the alternative?? Enjoy your shopping day!!

Good Morn, Vi's~~ Don't remember why I didn't make it on yesterday... busy-ness, I'm sure... yep, that was it... worked 'til 2 then on the road w/kid activities... orthodontist, soccer, HW costume picking @ a friend's, pom practice, dinner out while watching the PHILLIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES! (DH grew up outside Philly & is a fan of all the Philly teams, so DS is, too. Depending when the parade is, they'll play hooky from school & work & go!) Didn't get home 'til 9:30pm or so... Today is more of the same... work work work this a.m. then hit the road for the HS Homecoming parade (dd's poms group is marching in it to Micheal Jackson's "Thriller"... it's cute & appropriate for the season... they're "marching" like zombie pom pom girls & will be in their uniforms but w/zombie makeup & blood, etc -- funny!)... then ds has soccer practice... SERIOUSLY, I think that next week will signal a slowing down of our activities & thus my life's stress... I am eating EVERYTHING and ANYTHING btw... I am SO SO SO SO BAD!! Last night @ the restaurant I was actually trying to talk the kids into sharing a dessert w/me... they were full & said "no" and I was bummed out... WHAT IS WRONG W/ ME??? Came home & had a bowl of ice cream (light, but still...) I think that 5-day pouch test is for band, too... & I'm thankful that you posted it, Judy! Suzie... that stinks about the early hours again... hang in there! Janie!... Super purple power & loads of good thoughts coming your way!! ((Janie)) Pam... Loved that earring/butt line... classic PamELa! TracyK... Yep, 1 for Macy, 5 for "poor" people (poor, poor pitiful ME!). It's good to be in charge! TracyKS... Work sounds whack! That's crazy, a nun speaking like that to him! Laura... I'm so sorry to read about your friend... I hope your mom goes for testing soon! Kat... You're always up to something interesting! Terri... Sounds like your earring biz is really taking off! Hi Jen! Make it a great day, everyone!

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrring! Janie! It's 6:38am (Eastern time, so you've got, what, another 20 mins to snooze?)! This is your wake-up call! Are you up?? Get up! Violets hugs for today!!

Another crazy day for me... altho I do feel like the peak craziness has past w/the past 5 days and now we'll be on a downward crazy trend... @ least I hope so!! Guess what!? Mo the cat is constipated again!! The vet should be here w/in the hour. STUPID CAT! Good thing dh is out of town or else Mo might be taking a loooooong (as in permanent) nap. True confessions: if it wasn't for sugar, I wouldn't have eaten at all the past week! brownies, rice krispie treats, choc mousse, choc chip oatmeal cookies, cookie dough ice cream cake, gorp... yes, I have eaten ALL THESE ITEMS (& probably more that I can't remember) over the past week!!! :thumbup: Today I AM making GOOD choices!! Sipping my protein shake right now...

Another busy day in paradise... DS played in a soccer game this a.m; DD is in a horse show this afternoon; DH is in Florida for "work" (uh!)... Make it a great day, Vi's!

Woo Hoo, Kat!! :eek: I know I'm late w/the congrats... but just had to get that in there! It's been a whirlwind few days... Weds was dd's b'day & I baked 3 pans of brownies w/sprinkles for her to take in for school, then a double batch of colored rice krispy treats for pom practice, + a homemade chocolate mousse "pie"... + decorating, wrapping, etc..... then Thurs she & I went w/her barn to the Washington International Horse Show in DC from 4pm - midnight... SO much fun & the horses were BEAUTIFUL... I managed to find the "free" margaritas, too!! (leave it to me!)....... Yesterday was dd's b'day party @ HSM 3 premier night -- what a blast! I got all the girls "Sharpay" boas to wear + HSM gum & cereal... we got a tour of the projection areas & dd got to actually push the button that began our movie! The movie was fun... the audience was so crazy: screaming every time Zac E had a close-up, singing along, dancing in the aisles... it reminded me of a tame Rocky Horror Picture Show!..... The today dd started her new "job" of working @ the barn from 9:30a - Noon as a "sidewalker" for the beginning classes... then she wanted to stay & help w/mucking, etc. chores 'til her lesson @ 3pm, then help hay the horses... so we were gone from 9 - 5pm @ the barn (well, I did a few other things in there, but never got home)... All I can say is PHEW!! Tomorrow isn't looking much better: DH leaves for a seminar @ DISNEY -- the kids & I are SO JEALOUS because he doesn't even care that it's there & isn't planning on going into the parks! It could be in Toledo for all he cares! Ugh, such a waste! DS has a soccer game & then dd is riding in a Halloween horse show... right now she is working on her horse's costume... it's name is Sully so she is coloring purple spots onto an old blue shower curtain & we'll make some "horns" & the horse is going to be Sully from Monster's, Inc. & she's going to be "boo" the little girl!! Cute, huh?? I am running on empty... actually looking forward to Monday & nice quiet work!! Love you all & think of you all often. Smooches!

Hey Girls!~~ Wow you all go fast!! I was 2 days behind & it took me ages to catch up... don't know how Judy does it w/a week after a cruise!! Oh my!! Am double-busy these days... from the sec I get up 'til I fall back into bed... not fun!! But am on a deadline + have many, many personal obligations & am just trying to make everyone think that the thing that they want from me is #1... just a sleight-of-hand trick... no problemo... yeah, right! It leaves everyone thinking I'm amazing at being able to juggle everything (w/each of their things being my priority) but me being CRAZED by the end of the day... or night... I am a nut. I am hoping that this level of crazy will be over by the end of next week. HA! Famous last words! Today is dd's 10th birthday!! I can't believe it! 10 years! Whew! Where does the time go??? Love you all... smooches!!

Ditto what TracyK said... Have a great day & make good choices!!

Good Sunday Morn, Vi's~~ Happy bandiversary, Suzie! 170 is AMAZING!! Woot!!! Another busy day, altho I slept in 'til 9 then watched that CBS Sunday Morning program in bed 'til 10am! I am so bad! Now I'm up, showered, and ready to work... I thought Sarah Palin was a hoot on SNL last night... I love it when folks can laugh at themselves! Make it a great one, Vi's!

Good Sat. Morn, Vi's~~ Back from the beach. It was a nice day. It was sunny here, where I live, and as we drove the 3 hrs east it got cloudier, then a little cloudier, and don't you know that as we're pulling up to the boardwalk, the pitter patter of little raindrops begins!! Just my luck. But it was just light rain, on & off, so it was ok. We dropped off DH's photos, then went & walked around the town a bit (at least 1/2 the shops were closed, the others all had 50%+ off sales), had lunch @ one of our fav restaurants that overlooks the ocean (I sat facing the ocean & just hypnotized myself watching it), walked around some more, watched the workers driving the pilings on the new condo place (wow that's loud!), got our fav ice creams (they didn't have the key lime I love in summer, but I got a scoop of pumpkin & a scoop of graham cracker so it tasted like a pumpkin pie, yum yum!!)... then piled back into the car & came home! So, almost 6+ hrs in the car for a 3-hr visit. It's official, I AM crazy! (If it had been sunny, we would've hung out on the beach... we brought frisbees & balls & blankets... oh well, maybe next time!) Honestly, the nicest part was the 6 hours just hanging w/the kids in the car! We didn't even have the radio on! We talked & laughed & were just together w/out distraction (if you don't count me driving a distraction, lol!). It was nice & relaxing... ahhhh... & now it's today... & I have to make up for the day "off" yesterday w/loads of editing work AND housework... so I'll check back later!! Make it a good one!!

Good Friday Morning, Vi's~~ Went to the orientation last night w/my friend, got to be one of the "success" stories (in progress)... talked to lots of folks... It was a total deja vu experience for me... I had completely forgotten my first visit to the office for the orientation, how nervous/excited/scared/skeptical I was... oh, and all the *stupid* comments by people who hadn't researched it yet... esp. the ones "Oh Lord, I can't live without my _____ (Coke, beer, hamburgers, chips...)!" It brought back a lot of feelings... +, I think, a renewed kind of energy... to go back to the beginning... but also to see how far I've come... I was one of those folks just last year (jan, but still...)... I also had the opportunity to go to a band support meeting about food & texture, etc., which was interesting (they did a whole exhibit w/food & baggies...). So, all in all... a renewing & re-motivating experience. NOW... I'm off to the BEACH!! Yes, the Beach in october. The kids have the day off & my dh needs to have some of his photography taken down to a shop there that sells it, so we're just going to meander down, enjoy the sand & surf, grab something to eat, maybe shop a bit... I love the beach off-season... well, I just love the beach... so... here I go!! Make it a great day, Vi's!

Another busy day here, too... My 18-month story (well, 17-month story, 18 will be next month)... lost 86 in less than a year... have been bouncing the same 5 lbs up & down since May... UGH!! Tonight is the orientation at my docs'... haven't been there since June I think... I'll chit chat w/them & see what they advise... Make it a great one, Vi's!

That last one IS funny... lol... & where do I find a guy like that who will please me... w/shopping?? Hardy har har...

Whoville where all the Who's live in Christmas harmony? Sounds lovely! :regular_smile: (tee hee!) I don't "do" facebook or any of those sites... just THIS one!! You can be my supervisor here, Pam, k? (How do you have time for all this??) Off to Book Fair again today... Make it a great one, Vi's!! Thinking of Judy... cruisin'... aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh...

Hey gals... Another quick check-in... tomorrow night I am going w/the VP to my surgeon's orientation meeting!! I haven't been to the office in... yikes, since June! Remember, they wouldn't fill me, said I was maxed out & that I just had to eat better, blah dee blah... so I've TRIED that and am STILL the same weight!! -80. That's it. I am so frustrated!!! They said if I wanted another fill I had to go for it @ the hospital under flouroscope... & frankly, I don't want to do that! I don't know or trust them there. Maybe tomorrow night I'll talk w/the customer service gal about it... maybe one of them could meet me over there?? I don't know... what I *DO* know is that I'm not happy that I'm not at goal already!! Another 40 'til my original goal... ugh. 'Nuff whining... off to make pork chops for dinner...