Kat817

Well I am off on the ice to take my Kinsey to the Dr. She has massive congestion, probably nothing more than a cold, but with all the new warnings about kids and cold medicine, Manda made her an appointment, and now cannot get into her car, it is iced in. So Super Granny has a van, that has been parked on the street in the sun. My car may be iced, but either way, I have something that will get us there. She also has Lindzie home----saying she does not feel good either. Could be a fun day for me!!! Will check in when I get back. Judy--not often to I have to disagree with you--but I have the bestest ever husband!!! OK OK OK----you have the best for you, I have the best for me! Like you I am thankful every day for him. Not to say we don't have our battles occasionally! They are rare, and seldom heated! More of a rolling of the eyes, and it is over!!! He may not be the smartest---in his own eyes---I find him much more so than he does himself! He very well may be the most mechanically inclined! But he owns my heart, and he tends to it daily. He has never said hurtful things to me, he is super cautious about hurting me due to my past I am sure. He never lets a day go by without telling me loves me many times-every phone call ends with I love you, regardless of who is around. He does the same with our kids, son as well. He is a kind, caring man....I am lucky to have him. And he has a REALLY cute butt!!!! Hugs~~ Kat

DAILY TIP *******Get your moo juice. When women consumed low-fat dairy (such as skim milk, nonfat yogurt, and low-fat cheese) three to four times a day, they reduced their body fat by up to 70 percent, shows a study at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "Calcium serves as a switch that tells your body to burn excess fat faster," explains study author Michael Zemel, Ph.D., director of the university's Nutrition Institute. And no, you won't get the same results if you drink calcium-fortified beverages such as orange juice: Research shows that you get the best results from dairy.*******

Will hunt up a tip for the day and post it here in a few minutes. I don't know if it is the Mom in me, or the divorced woman in me, but there is so much in my heart and head I want to tell you girls! I do not mean to lecture in any fashion, and anything and everything is said with love, it is the same exact things I tell my own daughters, and I love them more than life itself! Men do mature more slowly---that is a proven fact, and due to that, when we go from being a young couple to a married couple-we as more mature of the 2, often find ourselves telling them how to do things, or correcting them--and WHAM there they go, right back to being boys and letting us handle it all! In order for a man to act like a man he has to be made feel like a man. By that I do not mean to diminish yourself in order to pump him up---just keep it in mind. Even simple things--opening a jar, or lifting something heavy gives them the ego boost they seem to require to feel "manly". On a good note, they do seem to grow out of the constant need to be ego lifted into their own manhood!!! The best way I can relate it....and tried to explain this to my DIL and failed---------so---is that it is like us still wanting to be seen as sexual women when we were at our heaviest. We were often insecure, and needed the little compliments, and comments from them to feel that way. He is now floundering somewhat in the new situation of being married.....maybe he thought he would be the big breadwinner and you would defer to him, or maybe he secretly hates the way you decorated the bathroom--he for one reason or another is feeling less in charge and therefore less manly. Young men seem to equate being in charge with being a man. Keep in mind I am using my own son as I say this. I am not belittling your husbands----I see it in my own DS. All of that said-----if it is emotional speed bumps--then center yourself and ease over them. Find an activity involving the 2 of you, that you did prior to be an old married couple, and go do it----find something you can concentrate on one another. If however, it has or does progress from emotional speed bumps to emotional cruelty---and then on to physical cruelty--GET THE HELL OUT! Divorce is not pretty, it is not easy, it is hard, it hurts, and it leaves scars-----but once a person hits you----it won't quit. The line has been crossed. I thought I could fix what was wrong, and it almost cost me my life! No one should ever....EVER.....hurt you that way. ****off my soap box now**** I am going to go ride my 8 minutes, and think of what tip I need to add!!!! BBL! Kat

Note to self, quit typing in the dark----y'all are going to have to do your best to decipher---editing is a PITA!!!!!! Kat

Wow Wndy, and banded family---very cool! How are you all doing? I am Kat---(no brainer!), married to Rick. 3 grown kids, 3 grandkids. I was banded in April of '06. Live in NW New Mexico. How are you feeling following your LBL Alynne? I am looking at a TT soon. I had to put off my planning, and have Thyroid surgery, but now that it is behind me, I am ready to start looking into it again. I hate this flabby skin junk hanging!!!! There has to be more of us 40 something out here!!! Kat

It was very scary---I always see these things on TV about people being lost etc. and more often than not when I hear it, I send up a simple "Lord be with them"---but this was very near and dear to my heart. It would have been a horrible loss to have lost Shannon and Jason, not to mention their daughter Aspen, but I kept thinking of her 3 little girls remaining at home, and her little sisters who idolize her, and their parents. I worried all night about them being cold---I felt selfish stoking our fire! What an emotional time---I am so far beyond thankful it ended well I have no way to say it! I think it finally quit snowing....the temperature dropped so I am guessing our storm is passed. The temp stays up with the cloud coverage. Now that it is gone, the cold hits! Rick said it was slicker that snot (his words) on the way home. Sure hope it is not bad for me to go to Albq. If it is, Rick said he would take time off and take us down. Glad he offered----I hated to have to ask!!! Well I made a big 8 minutes on the elliptical tonight! I am blown away how quickly I lost strength on that thing! I had worked my way up to the 20 minute program. OMG my legs were like spaghetti after my 8 tonight! Got some work ahead of me! Time to kick it in gear! Judy did you get yours together, or did you have to order parts? You will probably kick my butt!!! I have got to get to work! Hi Ms. Jen---see you on--missed seeing you around!!! Yea Jane---glad there does not seem to be anything the Dr. finds warranting a call---although like you the attitude is a sucky one I think! But seriously glad you will be joining us! We are going to have to spur one another on, if we want to make any goal reaching by the time the trip rolls around!!! I guess I better get things done here----lunch, coffee pot, shower....and get to bed, I do have a resolution to keep!!! Talk to y'all tomorrow! Hugs~ Kat

Suzanne---I am less than 10 miles from Farmington. Rick works in Farmington, I shop there...you get the idea! I live in Aztec, which is very small---7500 people---so we go to Farmington for pretty much everything! Glad to see you Gina---missed you. WOW on the sister business! Were your folks married the entire time? I can see how that would be overwhelming! Did great with my Fluid today-----so so with food. I am off to hit the elliptical in a few minutes. I am back on it! Damn machine! Will check in when I get done making my heart work out!!! Kat

My friends who were lost in the snow are going to be one of the stories on ABC World News among others. Shannon is the one saying she really wants a shower---thats my girl!! Her Mom, is the gray haired woman who says her heart is working again. I am so happy they are ok! It could have been so bad. Kat

Yeah, I talked to my friend (who is Shannon's Dad---well he is the man who raised her) and he said they were almost back to the base camp in Chama. What a relief. This family and I go way back. I used to babysit for Shannon and her younger brother and sisters. I have also kept her children for her on occasion. They had taken Aspen their 14 yr old as an outing for her birthday, but they have 3 younger daughters at home, so it was so scary! The 3 younger, are all still old enough to understand. It just had me tore up, then to find out this morning they were ok, I felt like turning cartwheels!! Instead sat down and had a good healing cry! How are you feeling Mandy? What did you hear from your Dr, about working?? Kat

I remember reading in the new ideas, someone suggesting age related and weight loss goal related forums--and here they are! Don't ya just wish the rest of life was that easy---ask and ye shall receive!!! Well from one fabulous forty something to others----have a good one!! Kat

Glad to have you back Haydee, now I wonder where Gina is??? Going to have to email her I suppose. For awhile she was posting here, and on the NJ thread I chat on---but she has not been in either place of late! Hope your Grandma is healing! She is lucky to have you and your Mom! Shoveled the snow---it is wet and heavy! Was good exercise! It has finally stopped snowing for awhile---so thought I would get at least the first batch off, so I could do it easier next time! I walked out, and decided to start at the end of the sidewalk---so walked down that way when out from the side of my house come about a dozen deer--scared the heck outta me! They went across the road, by me neighbors van, and stood around and watched me! So I come back in, and cleaned out the crisper, threw some cauliflower and broccoli, and bagged salad, all past its prime,but still good for them into the yard, and within minutes they were back out there! Yep Tracy, I'd ask the one who usually does your hair. Or check around, ask some High schoolers who does theirs for Prom. You could go with babies breath sprigs in your hair, or small flowers to match your bouquet. Or if you go for something like a french twist, you could use a flower adorned comb to hold the twist. When my DD got married, they used these teeny tiny rhinestones, small, not much bigger than glitter, and stuck them in her hair, you could not really see them from afar, but you caught the glint of them, even though she wore a veil it was really pretty! You know it is the old Something Old Something New Something Borrowed Something Blue But doncha think you need something VIOLET???!!! Jane---did the Dr. ever call with your CT results?? Keep us posted! Well, off to fold the next load of laundry......see ya later! Kat

With the weight loss, your face structure is emerging so beautifully---I vote up!!! Something special for a special day!!! Kat

I was wondering if the size of the thread is what was making things load so slow----good thought! Hope it helps! The crews got to Shannon and her family, they are supposed to have more live at 5~~ I talked to her Uncle, and there is no cell service, power is out everywhere, so even he had not heard from Errol. Chris his wife is a teacher, she is supposed to call me after work. Yes you probably heard it, it was on the MSN news as well. I always hear things like that, and my heart goes out to them, and their loved ones, but this one---my heart was involved!!! Such a relief!!! It is still snowing here, has not let up for a minute since early this morning. I need to clear walks, but as fast as it is coming down, it seems useless. Just sitting around, and doing laundry. Cooking some green chile to have with our dinner tonight. I need to vaccuum, but nothing too much....stripped and changed the bed, piccling around....busy work! Looks like I might end up with company! Both my friends---Becky, and Michelle, have called, and they are without power. Electric company says lines are going down right and left, and it could be 8-12 hours. Becky & Gary have their new woodstove, but Michelle is without heat! She is going to her Mom & Dad's, but if it gets too bad, Becky and her family will likely end up here! At least her and Gary. Well I am going to go change out loads of laundry. Hugs! Kat

Hi everyone--Happy New Year to all my old friends and welcome to all the new ones, that is quite fitting for a New Year!!!!! I have been MIA for a few days--I lost a long personals post, and got irritated and quit a couple of days ago!!! Then we got some bad news. A girl I used to babysit for, who is grown, married, and has kids of her own--she, her husband,oldest DD, and another family were missing in the mountains in a horrible snow storm. They went missing Friday. There has been between 4 and 6 feet of snow in the area since Saturday! They took their DD and the other family snowmobiling, as a special outing for the DD's birthday. They left from her Mom's place, and never returned. There were avalanches, all kinds of horrors. The search crews could not even make it to the village center where they were going to try to coordinate a search--the snow was too bad. It has been haunting me, I know and love this family, and they have 3 more daughters all younger at home--thinking of the kids, and the siblings---I was just heartsick! Was up waiting for news all night. Then this morning, the group managed to hike into an abandoned (due to the massive storm) railroad station...and used a phone to dial 911! They are all safe and uninjured--but no more news, it is likely the search team is just now getting to them---the roads are impassable! Going to go do a news check! Will be back! Kat

LOL--I just knew there is seldom anyone on the NM thread! But I totally understand, I have been in a group on the New Jersey thread---for almost 2 years, and I have never even stepped foot in Jersey!!! I am in a rural area here, and there are no support groups, and my fill Dr. is 6 hours away. So I hear ya on that. We have a place in Texas as well, central part, between Abilene and Austin. We go down 2-3 times a year. Without fail in the Spring and early winter--to sell cows, and harvest pecans. Hang in there, try the small bites, and adjusting the diet, which I know sucks, we did this to avoid dieting, but sometimes it takes awhile for the body to adjust, and restriction to level out. Good Luck!! Kat

I think I would be a little bit Catty about it and when someone ask me how I was doing, I would put that smile on like FlaLMT said, and then I would say something like "I am doing really well, thanks, I was hoping to lose a lot of weight and surprise everyone, but thanks to _____ and her big mouth, it isn't a surprise anymore, I guess you never know who you can trust--but I know better now!" Let THAT get back to her through her gossip!!! Sorry--I hate betrayal too!! Kat

Stacy, sorry for not responding while you were here--I was off celebrating! The missing snowmobilers here in NM were long time friends of mine---and they are SAFE!! Well, sometimes it does take some tweaking with your fill to get to a point that restriction is steady. Are you sure you are chewing small bites well enough on the things that still cause you to slime? If it is hard Protein type of things, it might take much much less to make you be too full, which would bring on the slime. With the Pasta, it is much like a mushie, it goes in, and goes through which is what allows you to eat more of it. Pasta is difficult for me, for whatever reason, it seems to grow---maybe I drink too soon, or too much, I don't know, but----all of us react differently. My SIL and I went together to get banded, and she was like you for the first several months, it was slow losing, and her restriction was all over the place. I on the other hand, was losing pretty steady, and hit restriction early on, and have continued like the tortoise, slow and steady. She was overfilled, then had some removed, and then BAM one day she began dropping it fast and furious! She actually was too tight, but liked it she said, she was losing like crazy!!! She is now at goal, has been for 3 months or longer, and I am slowly creeping along, and we had similar amounts to lose! Where I lost a bit each week, she went slow, then raced!!! She is now a size 8 from a 24! She is back to medium restriction---but the huge losses for her did not come until she was probably close to a year out from surgery! It is so hard to predict how someone will react. We had surgery the same day, same Dr, use the same fill Dr.---and have had totally different experiences!! My best suggestion at this point, while you work on getting your fill level adjusted, is to try to avoid the pasta and the high GI foods, they just make you crave more of them. Try to eat lots of lean meats, and whole grains, and veggies, to get the full feelings that last. It causes your body to react differently than the high starch foods do when they break down. Your full feeling lasts many times longer---just take a few small bites chewed really well, and stop after a few, and wait awhile---so you can avoid the sliming. Hope you get past this soon! Where abouts in NM are you? Getting lots of snow today? It is coming down hard in Aztec!!!!! Kat

It took almost 30 minutes for my message to post--and then it posted 3 times! I deleted the others. Jane I agree totally---I hate that---I find a great Dr. and the office staff is crappy! Oh----I ate too fast in my happy mood, now I am hurting! I cannot tell you girls how incredibly happy I am! It is snowing hard! I don't mind so much now except I am due in Albq. on Thursday---for Dads surgery on Friday, and this storm is supposed to be followed by another on Wed. dangit! There are still 2 young men missing---they were headed up to snow board from Albq. and have not been heard from. That one is scary. With Jason, and especially with him taking friends, and wives, and kids, I knew he would be as prepared as possible for the weather, he is just that kind of guy---but water and snacks do squat against avalanches----so I was scared! These boys who are missing, I have no idea if they were equally prepared. And their ages, they are at the daredevil, immortal feeling time of their lives. Scary----think I am staying in! Thanks so much for your prayers!! I know somewhere along the path they hiked out, they ran onto purple snow!! Kat

They found my friends!!! Well actually the families hiked to an empty train station, and managed to get in to the phone and called 911. They said they are all ok and uninjured, but it may take rescue another 2-3 hours to get to them----roads are closed, and there is no power to the area at all. The train station they are at has received over 6 feet of snow in the last 2-3 days. But they are inside, and together, and well enough to talk. I saw Shannon's Mom, Gail on TV----she looked just like a Mom who just got the wonderful call should look--CRAZY with glee. Jenn--I am in the northwest corner of New Mexico. They went snow mobiling in north central NM, above Chama---which put them right on the NM/ CO border. In the mountains. Shannons Mom I mentioned lives in Chama, she and her late husband opened a medical center there, then he died, and she stayed there---so Shannons former step Dad (one of my best friends) raised her and a son Gail had from yet another marriage, as well as his own kids. Jenn--there are good men like him left in the world---who will love you and your kids. Gail is a likeable woman, I always did like her, she just always has put herself first. She married young and had Shannon, divorced. Married again, had a son Chevis, and divorced. Married my friend Errol, had a Daughter Canyon--which is when they became more than my neighbors. I began keeping the kids---Canyon was a tiny baby, she went back to work when Canyon was 2-3 weeks old---not to say she was not a good Mom to her, she is just VERY work oriented---she drove home 3 to 4 times a day to nurse the baby, and she pumped breastmilk for her--I do not want to say in any way that she did not love her kids. She had been feeling really bad, and it got worse, so she woke up thinking she had a stomach virus, and went to the ER----thinking she had a twisted intestine due to the frequency of the incredible cramps----in the ER they examined this trained medical professional (literally award winning)--and put her on a life flight to Albq---to try to save her and her unborn 26 week into term baby! They could not stop the birth, and Tyne was born, weighing 1 pound and 6 ounces. I kept the 3 kids day and night for almost 2 months--there was of course time that one or both parents were here, but they also spent a lot of time in Albq. with Tyne. She was one of the first babies they ever used lung surfactant in---where they actually fill the babies lungs with an oxygenated water---as if they were still in the womb. Fast forward....and the baby thrives. She and her sister are 8.5 months apart! I had to take classes when she finally come home on how to work her breathing monitor. Then probably 2 years if that long later, Gail had met this Dr. And wanted to go build the medical center with him. Errol refused to let his kids move--so she moved. But she didn't only leave the kids they had together she also left the 2 she had prior! So Errol went on without skipping a beat, he raised all 4 kids. They went to see their Mama (they called her the Chama Mama) on weekends, and Gail would come see them, stay at the house! She and Eric the Dr. built the medical center, and married, and one weekend the girls were in Chama, and Gail heard a wierd noise, she spoke to Eric and he didn't respond so she turned on a light, and he was having a massive coronary--at like 38! She pulled him off the bed and began CPR, screaming at the girls so they could call the ambulance---but he died. She stayed there, and the girls come back home of course. Now Gail is married yet again, seems very happy. Errol married 3 years ago---in the most amazing ceremony!!! He owns a plastic welding business--they make water craft---rafts etc. Also supply Disney with tubes used in creating rapids in some of their rides! And he coaches girls soccer at one of the local high schools which is where he met his new wife! She has a daughter Jennifer who falls in age right between his 2 girls!!! So now they have Canyon who is a senior in high school, and Tyne and Jennifer both Juniors! He loves Shannon and Chevis like there is no difference, he loves the grandkids, and is a genuinely nice man! They are out there!! I know your DBF has issues since the accident---and that is sad, Iunderstand them well with my brother, but the point is, he is not improving. He is not doing anything to try to help himself let alone you or most importantly his kids! I can easily see how difficult it is going to be to forget the good years---but your son deserves to have good times to remember too--and you really don't want him growing up thinking that is how he is supposed to treat women! Hang in there Jenn--there are good guys out there!!!!! Sorry for rambling! I am so wired! No sleep, and good news makes Kat a Krazy woman!!! BBL~~ Kat

Girls, I just received some news, and I need some prayers from all of you. A girl I babysit for, and was extremely close with her family, is missing with her family. She, her husband and as I understand it 2 of their 4 daughters went up in the area Rick and our son got stuck in, to snow mobile. They were due back Friday, andhave not been heard from. The area has had over 4 foot of new snow, and has had several avalanches. Their names are Shannon and Jason Groen....and I believe it to be Aspen and P'yton (Payton) that are with them. This is just impossible for me to process. My friend Errol, the step Dad that raised her (long majorly disfunctional story until he come into the family) is beside himself, and his 2 daughters that I helped to raise he said are bordering on hysteria, because search crews cannot even make it to the staging area, and there is over a foot more snow due tonight. I feel like there is something I need to be doing that I am not---and I don't know what it is. Sleep is a long way off.... Thanks for adding them to your prayers, they are such a loving, close family. It makes me heartsick! Kat

You are too good Pamela!!! Kat

Yep the CPap is nothing to fret over, my Mom wears one, and I will be in a motel with her all weekend. In fact Kinsey spent the night with them a couple of weeks ago, and that was her only upset, she wanted a turn with Nana's air! But---I do understand your not comfortable with it, and I have no problem crashing on a couch somewhere--and you can have privacy! Might cost ya....thinkin' I might be needin' a trim!! Just kidding, we will work it out, you do not have to sleep in a circle of us laughing at you!!!!! We WILL work it out, do not let something like a silly machine that improves your quality of life take that life away from you!!! I am like you Tracy, my DH needs a sleep study done, and a machine I know it with every ounce of my being! But when I mentioned it, he was going through all of the heart junk, and threw a fit!! Saying he had enough Dr.'s! So I backed off, and plan a new attack soon! I kind of set the trap today. I told him one of my resolutions is to improve my sleep habits. I stay up too late, and get up too early, and that is hard on my body---so I plan on working on that this year, making sure my body gets more rest. So when I begin making progress, I intend on telling him he needs to work on his sleep too!! My Mom says he will feel so much better, she did! Jenn, get in touch with that attorney! Write down every detail you can about what he talks with you about. Does he ever say anything on the phone? In NM and CO, it is legal to record a phone call if one of the parties is aware of the recording being done. I can record a call between you and I for instance, without you knowing, but I cannot record one between you and Judy with neither of you knowing about it. We took hours of calls in to court, you should have seen Ricks ex's face!!! She went ballistic---it was such fun to see her lose it---I know that is mean, but she is a horrid person! Storm is bearing down on us again. It hit everywhere around us! Roads are closed---electricity out to 1000's, no phone lines, all within 30- 40 miles....and we have dry roads! Did ok with my drinking today, then did ok with food until an hour ago! Sitting snuggling with Rick, and he got up and grabbed ice cream.....I let him feed me 3 bites, and I moved away to the chair, so he felt bad and put it away! He is such an ice cream freak, and he will still lose weight, it is so unfair! Good thing I like him! My DD looks so different! She had long blonde hair---til yesterday! She went to where her longest layers are barely grazing her shoulders, and she has tons of layers---and went brunette with her natural color as highlights. It looks amazing on her! But she does not look like my little girl! She has such great hair---nice and silky and thick. I used to french braid it, and could part it out with my fingers, it just had enough weight, it did not matte up and tangle, it is just heavy! I am sure glad this looks good on her! It makes her eyes pop, and gives her more of a chin---something she is lacking!!! None of her Dads family has much chin, and she hates it! She has lost 15 pounds. She has been watching her diet, so I don't think it is familial stress! Lindzie has been improving some---not lots but some. Sounds horrid, but when she stays away from her grandparents she improves! And they still want to think it is her Mom---it isn't! Just my opinion!!! Well I am off to do a couple of things, and go to bed, just like I am supposed to! Talk to you all in the morning. Hugs! Kat

Well we all here know about the obnoxious colors and prints they tend to make affordable plus size clothing out of.....I used to say when I put that junk on, I looked like an Easter Egg on toothpicks!!! Kat

Not sure I can help, but I would be glad to listen and try!! I am in the Farmington area. Kat

A peer card...aka a star card (Rick's work) is a spot bonus. It is in the form of a credit card, and the amount varies, usually $20, $50 & $100. They are most often given by the dept. manager for going above and beyond, or an especially good job....or like Rick gives them if someone stays late that did not have to....that kind of thing. They are accepted anywhere credit cards are. Down where your name would be on the card, they say things like Job well Done, thank you! Or Your peers appreciate the job you do. In Manda's case, if she recommends her boss give one to one of the guys for consistantly turning his paperwork in on time or something, they give it with acknowledgment of where the recommendation comes from. They are monitored to the point of there not being big favortism etc. But she is always thrilled!! Rick is walking around right now with $150.00 worth in his wallet....we just haven't decided what the company is buying yet!! BBL---never did eat, and now I am going to go buy dinner!!! Kat