Apples2

Phyll...sorry about the depression bug...is it time for a change in meds???? I am sure losing your friend did not help matters any. Depression is so misunderstand anyway. I view it no differently than having diabetes. Youngest DS's ex-GF was bipolar. She had a tough time staying on her meds and would just suddenly stop and then had a tough time getting out of bed. Sometimes laid in bed for 2 weeks at a time and he supported her. She was the sweetest little girl and I still miss her. He was as understanding as he could be for a young man and supported her when she could not work. But, in ways he did not "get it" and I tried to use the diabetes explaination...it's physical. When on her meds and meds were working, life was so good for her. It's a very misunderstood disease and treatments are sometimes difficult to figure out and it's difficult for the person experiences that "dull spot" to explain. Hope the cloud lifts soon and I also hope that my explaination of the above did not offend you in any way....Just me junking up the thread. Arlene...Phyll's post reminded me that I forgot.....sorry about your friend's DH. Too young to pass away. You know the saying....live life to the fullest...you never know.

Laura...I don't know if the advertsing on LBT is a territorial thing but understand your "Pissedoffness". For about two weeks I've been getting pop-up ads for delectible bakerys in the Mpls area. WTH????? On LBT???? They actually show exquisite looking cookies, cakes, mini-pies, etc. I don't understand. If you have a tendency towards sweets it would surely make a person go to the pantry and grab a bag of cookies or dig into the cake that is in the freezer. Nope...not all three of my trees are decorated the same, Laura. My big livingroom tree is LOADED with the decorations for sons and us. The kitchen tree is just tall and skinny but cute and the family room tree is big decorated rustic with pine cones, rustic ribbons and such. I have had pre-lit trees since they first came out. I think my first was in 1988. I will never forget salivating over it in the Speigel catolague and thinking there is not way I would spend $800 on a pre-lit tree (now they are cheaper than cutting your own). Well, DH surprised me and told me to just to buy it. It is the one in my basement which just got moved down there last year....so we got our use out of it and will for years. Invested in the new one for the livingroom last year. I look forward to the Christmas holidays all year long. I am always so sad on Christmas night knowing I need to wait for next for all the happy feelings. Silly...but I have always been this way. So many different parties, family getting together. Ppl we only see a few times a year, shopping for special things for special ppl, making homemade gifts and baked goods....All in all just a very happy time. You enjoy your few hours of alone time. We have such good memories or taking the boys to Kennedy Space center....they were both "science and aeronautics guys" and their eyes were the size of quarters. Arlene...hope the pain in your back eases.

Sandy...thanks for sharing your photo...and, congrats again on the run

Gosh, Arlene...I am 25 yrs ahead of the game. I've had an aqua and deep raspberry coloured tree for that long. I plan on doing my tree the weekend of Thanksgiving (my three trees) and will have to share some photos. My tree is so laden with ornaments but I have a plan....I have collected 9 new and ornate ornaments each year since we have had children. 3 for us, 3 for oldest DS and 3 for youngest. They have all gone on the tree each year and it just keeps getting fuller. The plan is...when each of my boys gets married they will be gifted a nice lighted tree and boxes of their ornaments. What is nice is that I will have the same ornaments as they have. If their wife wants to throw them in the attic and use her own, I'm fine with that...at least they will have them in their possession. We did have plans on running up to the lake today just for the day but those plans have to wait. It's going to be in the upper 50's today and sunshine. DH still has a couple hundred acres of fert today and rain is threatened after Tuesday. It's called making hay when the sunshines so those plans are out. OK with it. Love to see the work get done when it has to be done. Ready to wrap this farming year up. Some ppl may see this as an unfortunate thing....but we don't....We had one of our landlords pass away this year, one landlord rent out her land to a grand son-in-law and another landlord (DH's uncle) sell all of his land this week. We lost 1,000 of our rental land. Soooooooooo....we will be farming 1,000 less next yr but the opportunity for 260 more acres to rent was offered. Most farmers around here own half of their land and rent the other half from retired farmers, etc. Land prices have gone through the roof and we are not silly enough to go out on a limb just to be "land hungry" so we did not purchase our rental land that was for sale. It all comes at a good time. DS's agricultural business has really taken off and less land will make for DH to help DS with his business and DH, at the age of 57 really needs to slow down. Nobody likes to lose their rental acres, but for us it's a positive thing at this point in our lives. We're TIRED. We cannot keep up this pace for the next few years until we hit retirement age. Now that I've bored you all with that..... Today will be spent back and forth from the field helping DH refuel, bring him fert trucks for refills, etc. Tanker will love that. He will have the opportunity to pee on a lot of different tires. I am eating a little more than mushies. Could not chew the shrimp I made last night but was OK with it. DH said it was the best he ever had. Marinated for most of the day and just sauted it. Arlene...your table was sooooooooo nice. Just beautiful. Jodi...sounds like you got a good workout. Thanks for the update. Always enjoy your posts. Just go to the Bell Plantation or Amazon website and order the PB2. Might be something both you and Dazzi would like. Gotta run..DH is ready for a load. You all have a nice Sunday. Later.

My DH says I have the best of both worlds...in order to maintain the weight I am now at, I eat between 2500-3000 per day. My metabolism kicked into high gear about the time I got to goal. Even though I eat quite a few calories a day, I make sure they are good/healthy foods. Little fats, lots of protein and fiber and only natural sugars and I prefer to eat 6 small meals compared to 3 meals daily.

Hey Joyce...good to hear from you. Hopefully you will have a surprise lower number on your scale when you get home. Have a great time with family and enjoy!

Congrats...you look wonderful. I hope you feel as good as you look!:eek:

Janet...did you get ahold of Linda? I emailed her yesteday but have not heard a thing.

I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. It wasn't easy to get to goal...had to be ever vigilant about everything that went in my mouth but the struggles were well worth it. Have been in the maintenance stage for 2 yrs and find it very easy to live this way.

Laura...such a nice/positive on Nelson's progress and that he is fitting into the public school system. Compared to the first few weeks of the year, it's such great news. Here I was thinking that you and DH would be moving him back to private next year just so he could thrive and get the challenge that he needed. I thought he was maybe bored and not challenged enough. Sounds like he is thriving quite well....me and my judgements! My DS's got good grades but cringed when going to Parent Teacher Confrences. They could NOT keep their little mouths from talking. Enjoy your alone time. We had a busy household with the farming, the business, the other business plus me owning my ins agencies on the side. I just LOVED it when DH would take the boys with him on the tractor to ride for a few hours. I got so much done during that time. Just enjoy! Great....I would be taking a jacket to Memphis just in case. You can always tie it around your waist instead of carrying it. Tanker and I are having a good day. Daddy is working on the 160 acres out behind the house and we are sitting on the sun porch visiting about him and what he does. Sick...I know.

So...a year ago...did you ever phathom that you would do this????????????????? Congrats and Woohoo!:thumbup:

Janet...sounds like you got your wish...you can now stay home and hang out and do what you want. Not to worry...I have been getting my cals in. More calories in mushies and liquids than in chewable foods. I only feel satisfied when I can CHEW my food. Just made a nice egg salad to have for lunch and have shrimp scampi planned for dinner. I detest hunting....I know there is a reason for it...but I detest it. DH is working in the field across the road from our house. Saw a bunch of his friends stop by the tractor and then head to our grove (group of trees that surrounds our farmsite). Within a few seconds there were a bunch of gunshots and there they come dragging a poor dear. Makes me sick.

I definately get tighter when I fly. I can actually feel the tightening while ascending. I have very little fill in my band and know that if I had more, I would be extremely tight and have to do liquids the day of and the day after flying.

Good Morning....this is a work weekend for us. Trying to get all the field work done b/4 the ground freezes. DH should be done spreading fert by Tuesday and DS and others are working on some big projects they would love to finish b/4 the big freeze. Deer hunting started in our area this morning. I always worry a bit more with my guys in the field during hunting season. Me and the dog are playing it safe and doing inside projects today unless I am called to run out to the field. Mouth is better this morning and was actuallly able to eat a soft PB protein bar this morning after cutting into little peices. So it's starting to come around. Cold but beautiful morning. Definately frost on the pumpkin but supposed to get to the low 60's today. Unheard of this time of year but we'll take it and enjoy. I think I will grab a book, open the doors on the sunporch and enjoy the afternoon. Hope everyone has a nice relaxing day. Not sure about Great. She will be rushing here and there to get the last of her states under her belt. Have a nice trip, Lori!

Dave...sorry you are struggling. Best to quit beating yourself up and force yourself to get back on the horse. When you are tempted, do something to take your mind off of food. Take a walk, brush your teeth (this always worked for me), do anything at all to refocus. There are going to be many times in your future that you will have to make choices when it comes to your food plan. You can make a good choice or not so good choice. And, you know which choice will bring you down that road to success. Good luck

Woohoo...way to go, HeidiB! Keep it going...hope you enjoy your Zumba class. :eek:

Yes, LauraK, I had a better day today. I should be able to try some solids tomorrow. Thanks for asking.

No, no, no...I wouldn't have said that. You have more spunk than most. And, I'd be afeared of what the reprocussion (sp?) would be if I called you a little old lady! Well, you DGS must be spring-loaded for bouncing back that fast. Just so he takes care of that break so it fully heals. Jodi...gosh, I sure hope that doing the mushies and shakes will do it for. Maybe you were just irritated. Hope that's all it was and you will sail right into being back to normal. Good going on getting to the gym. And Happy Shabbos back at ya!

Chris...you sound sooooo much better than last week at this time. Hope you get a good report from both docs. Get busy and think of things you can do to keep you busy during this time off of work. You don't want to be too bored and turn to food. Take up walking, go the library and get some books or audio books to listen to while you walk like Eva does, order a lap band book that you can delve into. Anything to keep busy. Interesting that you are going to both support groups. Hope you can both get a lot out of them and form friendships with other Lb'ers. Take care.

I have lost over 100% of my excess weight.

Phyll...congrats on the weightloss and sorry to hear you are down in the dumps. Maybe your planned activities this weekend will bring you back around. Sounds like your DGS had quite the surgery. Ouch! He's young and hopefully will be able to play again if that's what he is thinking. I can certainly picture you at Graceland, Phyll. They'd be talking about you for months. "Did you see the little lady on the scooter with the flashing guitar shaped eye apparel"??????

Way funny, Catherine. Whether it be 80lbs of fat or 80lbs of Snookie...both would be VERY annoying to carry around. I lost over half of me but I ended up finding the best part of me! The 130lbs of me that I lost was a miserable, tired and achey old woman. Way to go, Catherine! You look amazing and, I'm sure are an inspiration to many.

Sandy....thanks for sharing your braces story. Professional whitening is the way to go. My friend had it done last year and OMG what a difference. My dentist has a guarantee that my new porcelin (sp) caps (all 26 of them) will never stain or need to be whitened. I have always taken good care of my teeth but I must have had too much of something either in the womb or as a child cuz they were very, very brown from the time I was in my late teens. Each tooth needed to be replaced due to being soft but having good bone structure so worth saving (inheirted weakness). I am just having a heck of a time learning that it's OK to smile with an open mouth. After what I had to put into them (no dental insurance), I'd better get busy and smile! Great...have a wondrful trip. What a milestone having been in all 50 states.

Eva...sounds like the stress of the new job is easing and that you a fitting into the routine of being an easy-going housewifey. Good to hear. Elton John....he's on our list of must sees. DH and I have not had the opportunity. He was at Target Center in MPLS some months ago and it didn't work for us at that time. He's on our Bucket List. Have fun. I LOVE portabello muchrooms. I usually do kind of a stuffed version with shrimp, brei, veggies. Let us know how your dinner turns out. I love anything crammed in a crust. I made turkey pot pie last night that was wonderful. Couln't chew the turkey but the rest in gravy was great. I have a huge stamping collection. I used to make all my own cards and spend hours doing so. I find it so relaxing and rewarding. I need to get back into that again. I use chalks to highlight them when I make my cards. Believe me....I don't do too much physical labor anymore...not like I used to. Developing a number of nasty hernias and having to go thru the pain of having over a dozen of them repaired taught me to delegate the hefty work. I just don't lift as much but I do stay active running around here after the guys. And, you are correct, it's tough to find ppl that want to hold a shovel or do any physical labor. We find our best help in the farmers that are done with all their work this time of the year. Think we have it all covered now and did not have to pay for another week of ads on the radio or newpapers. DS is really good about thinking ahead and having a list of maybes on his phone that he can check out when he gets in a pickle like he did yesterday with that kid just not showing. He told me this morning that it's a good thing he didn't come back. He said the kid wouldn't have moved even if he lit a firecracker in his A$$. Julie...hope you got some sleep. There is something to be said about a good night sleep. I'm the BEST at seeing to getting a good night of sleep. Yesterday, with not sleeping the night b/4, showed me just what that can do to a person. And, best you get checked out by your GP if you are not feeling right. You could be lacking and maybe your blood tests with show. I got all my reports back from my annual physical and mammo. All good. Now just have the roto-router on the 16th. The prep is worse than the procedure. Clear liquids the day b/4 and clear liquids 24 hours after is my doc's rules. I don't like my food being taken away from me for any length of time. I have something to admit to all of you. I am an addict. Yes, it's true....I am addicted to black Holiday grapes. The withdrawl symptoms are terrible. I had the same addiction last year when they were in season. Can't get enough of them and I am hoping that by tomorrow I can chew them again. I had this same addiction with blackberries and strawberries when they were in full season. But, that all came to a halt when I saw the price tag of $3.99 for strawberries and over $5 for blackberries. Janet...heard on the news a bit ago that they found one of the Bachlorette contestants dead in the desert close to where you and Phyll are. I have never watched the show and have no clue who this guy is (Julien Hug) but just had to mention it. That's just me being newsy or nosey or whatever you would call it. OK...back to work.