mdrai

So Suzie... IS that your cat? Or just a funny one?? I should post some pics of mine... they are 2 fat cats, all right.

Good Afternoon, Vi's!~~ Just got back from a pampering morning... got a pedi, mani & eyebrow wax... aaaaahhhhhh... the best is sitting in the big chair that massages you nonstop... love it!! Hope you're floating by this time next week, Suzie!!

Love the pics, Terry!! & those earrings! Best wishes today, Tracy!! I'm off for the day... make it a great one, Vi's!

Pam!~~ When you said that your friend is in SA I can picture it!! How wonderful! Have a fabulous trip!! I'm so excited for you!! I just drank 2 Mike's Hard Lemonades & think I may go for a third... just that kind of night... of course, it's no fun to get loaded w/out my Vi's... it's a more mellow, take the edge off feeling v. a laugh 'til my sides hurt one!! YOU KNOW WHSAT I MEAN!!

Hi Suzie!! Is that your cat?? It's "fluffy" like mine!!! Today was busy... 6+ hours of errands, etc.... w/ 3 kids in tow! Yeah, fun. Went for my fill but they didn't fill me... the PA is all freakin' out because she says it's maxed out. They "counseled" me on nutrition/food density/etc. for like 45 mins!... after that she says that if I still feel like I need a fill next month, it'll have to be under flouro so they can check out my esoph & pouch, etc... yippee... basically the main change they want me to make is to EAT b'fast, rather than drink it... Other than that... just lots going on! Will be gone all day tomorrow @ my nephew's grad party... then have just Sun & Mon to get ready & pack for the beach... we leave EARLY Tues morn... Will get on when I can... smooches to everyone!

I made a picnic & am taking the kids to see "The Merry Wives of Windsor" Shakespear in the Park tonight!

When I went to Vegas AGES ago (seriously, I think it was maybe 10 years??) I loved the Double Diamond Deluxe $1 machine because even if you didn't "jackpot", if a diamond was in the upper row pointing down, then it clicked down, and the same for the lower row, so you still had a chance it'd hit... & one did for me for about $1,800... it's not $30k, but it was still nice!! Other than that, I say if it's PURPLE, then PLAY IT!! A busy day... here & there & everywhere... why do they call us SAHMs again??? I never seem to do the "STAY" part!! Ouchie little tootsies!!!

Yes, Kat, she is, as they all are. Remember that, ironically, social work w/a concentration on teen issues is my friend's area of expertise! She's working on her master's in it now. I joke w/her that maybe she could apply to use all this for practicum credits or something! So I am confident that she is well-informed about treatment programs & modalities, etc. & so forth... again I note that it IS ironic... dontcha think? a little too ironic... yeah I really do think...

Thank you, Terry... I'm so upset but I need to be strong & funny & a diversion for her right now...

Me again... If ya'll could keep my friend LR & her daughter & family in your prayers & good thoughts... she's my friend whose dd tried to commit suicide a couple months ago... things have gone from bad to worse... they will be taking her out to a facility in Utah tomorrow & she'll be there for about a year... my friend is devastated that it's come to this... and the dd isn't taking it well... I just got off the phone w/my friend & the dd spray painted the family room walls w/very "colorful" words... I'll be keeping the other dd while they take her out... it's so heartbreaking... I just hope she can heal!... that they all can... It really puts my own life & petty problems into perspective... Thanks.

((Kat)) That's just the kind of "tell it like it is" motivation that I needed today. You, too, ((Terry))... thanks for the more in-depth analysis... I've actually been TRYING to do that w/both my eating issues and MONEY (ugh)... or lack thereof... at the moment... and I *know* that when I stress about lack of money that that's what I get: LACK of money... so I'm trying so hard to "let it be" and to "embrace the moment" and focus on money flowing TO me... it's not quite working yet... and I still feel like there's too much negative energy coming from me about it... seriously, if I let myself, I would hyperventilate and spaz out about it... but I'm conscious of the energy and trying to make it work... again, ugh. Braces cool? I don't know about that... I don't think it's cool or not, it just is... but the "fun" part about it is that you can color-coordinate your bands... so Evan picked red & white (Phillies baseball team colors, as it's b'ball season)... he's already planning on changing them to school colors in the Fall... whatever! Ok, off to work, which = money, so it is good... and I am grateful for work, I like work, I am thrilled that I have lots right now!! (Is it working??)

Good Wednesday Morn, Vi's~~ KAT! Look at you!! Wow!! You look fabulous and are wearing a small!! You are my hero!! DS gets his braces "installed" this morning... he's not exactly looking forward to that... plus everyone's telling him it'll hurt... anywhere from today through a week... so he's a bit spooked by it all... Other than that... just some errands, cleaning, working, etc... Oh... no, Kat, I ended up not doing the fill-on-stage thing for several reasons, a couple being that #1 it was on Father's Day & my dh wanted to ride his bike (bicycle) that morn to train for his 100 mile MS ride so I needed to be home w/the kids, and #2 they didn't even call me about it to plan it until 2 days prior, which by then I had about 12 other things to do that day... so I go on Friday for a regular ol' boring office fill... but BOY DO I NEED IT!!! Yikes! I can eat A LOT of ANYTHING... & I do! Seriously... I feel like at least I know that I can maintain... however, I'm not at a maintenance weight yet!! I was going to wait on the fill, as we're going to the beach next week for a few days & there's all that fun beach food... but I decided to go for it and get going again already... enough is enough!! Make it a great day, everyone!

Raise your hand if you think TRACYKS would be a great spokesmodel!! :sad_smile:

Ditto! TracyKS... I can understand how you're feeling... but with your personality & enthusiasm & attitude & success (just to name a FEW of your wonderful qualities...)... you'd be a great spokesperson! Just my .02 worth... Ugh... I've been in this chair working HARD for 4 hours... ack!

Suzie!! Happy belated b'day!! I didn't know... I am the worst w/keeping up w/b'days, etc... I always have good intentions... but we all know the saying about THOSE... so I'm sorry I missed it AND I'm sorry to hear about how it ended!! Ouchie!! Tracy -- You're moving THIS WEEKEND??? OMG, girlfriend! When you get an idea to do something -- watch out world!! Good luck & send us your new addy!! "Skinny" dipping... ha ha ha Pam... if it were me, it'd be "chunky dunking!" 300 paperweights?? Oh my!! Post a picture of THAT! Happy Anniversary, Laura!! When's your trip to Jamaica, mon? So glad your grandbabies are doing well, Denise! Purple power is an amazing thing!! Today is Tuesday. That's all I've got so far. Ha ha! It's true... just work, housework, laundry, driving kids around... nothing out of the ordinary... Make it a great one, Vi's!

It's a bright & shiny new Monday morning, Vi's!~~ And I'm up early & ready to head out to the Y for aqua pilates & aqua ai chi classes!! First of all, I pretty much blew off all my aqua core classes since May... so it's good to be getting back in the groove. Second, these two classes begin @ 7:45am (!) so I can take them only in the summer (gotta get kids on the bus the other 3 seasons of the year)... & today's the first day & I do enjoy them... they are wonderful classes, especially the ai chi... very centering & empowering & relaxing... Make it a great morning... I'll be back later!

We';re back, long day, fun day, nice to just hang out w/family w/out other obligations/activities... "I love my Violets, oh yes I dooooooo... I love my Violets, & I'll be true.... when you're not with me, I'm bluuuuuue... oh Violets, I love you!"

Laura... amazing pics! Wowza! Judy... Have fun!!!!!!! Janie... you R&R all you want to!!! Kat... pictures!! TracyKS... Amazing that you got him to agree to it! You mean you have OTHER Internet friends besides US?? How do you do it?? This group keeps me on my toes daily... I don't think I could keep up w/another group, too! Phew!! I still vote for an impromptu Tunica trip the next time Lala's dad decides to go & live it up!! (I remember you said it wouldn't be for awhile, but still...) Will be gone all day today... off to my mom's for a relative-filled brunch, then shopping @ the mall for dd, then just hanging out... should be nice. Make it a great one, Vi's!

Cruise? Didn't know we'd finalized that!! If we have, then sign me up!! Today had an unexpected delight! -- thru a complete fluke, I found out that Bruce Springsteen tix went on sale @ 10am today for a just-announced concert @ Hershey Stadium -- & we got tix!! I'm so excited! He's my FAVORITE of ALL TIME! Woo Hoo! :redface:

Just checking in before bed... sleep tight, Vi's!

Wow, Denise... so glad mom & babe are doing better now!

That IS a bizarre dream, Laura!

Judy -- have a great time on your cruise!! I can't WAIT to see the pics of you parasailing!! You're my hero!!

Phew! Yesterday was a long day! The meeting ended up going until 4pm!! Ugh. Did we really have to spend an hour debating the pros/cons of binder v. folder use for the LA program?? Guess we did... I was pooped out when I got home, so we went out to dinner @ the local mom & pop place in town... I didn't realize it at the time, but I ate a WHOLE turkey rubeun (sp?) sandwhich & 1/2 an order of onion rings... without a hitch! Ummmm, methinks I need a fill, pronto!! :smile: Yesterday I also picked up our first "CSA" (community supported agriculture) order... we got a big reusable bag filled w/beets, brocolli, lettuce greens, mint & chives, potatoes, zuchini, sugar snap peas, and strawberries! What fun! When I was there, I saw that they had a lot of flats of strawberries, and I know it's just about the end of the season for them here, so I bought 7lbs and brought them home & made strawberry jam last night! Talk about spontaneity!! I did it the old-fashioned way... cutting, cleaning, mashing & then stirring for an hour & the hot water bath, etc... I actually had jars in the basement (from years ago!)... so I ended up w/ 12 small (gift-sized) jars of jam!! And yes, I know that this IS one of the reasons I'm fat... I love, love, love to bake, etc... and eat it, obviously... my family & friends have commented more than once this past year about how I never bake anymore... it's been hard to reconcile it... it is how I show my love to people, but I have to balance it with if I feel I can "resist" or not... they understand... but they also appreciate it a lot more now when I DO bake!

((Haydee)) Wish I had some words of wisdom... I do think you're doing what's best for you... and that's always the right thing to do...