Let's Lose 5~*~May 5 - 11~*~

[kaelenp]

Linda - great pics! Maybe you should leave more often and leave Clyde with a to-do list! I can tell I'm on drugs - the caption about there being a mister, at first I thought MR - so why are they showing him their bellies. Duh! Hope the bumps go away!

(don't tell Kim but I'm bringing my camera with me next week when we meet up!)

Patty - have a safe trip and a wonderful visit with your mom & brother!

I forgot to tell ya'll - my neighbors are moving! The one's with the pit bulls! We came home on Friday afternoon to a moving van in their front yard. Dogs are still in the backyard but hopefully they will be gone soon. Yippeeee!

[Patty N]

Originally Posted by kaelenp

Patty - have a safe trip and a wonderful visit with your mom & brother

I'm not leaving til Thursday, silly! I'll be here tomorrow. Great news about the neighbors! Are you and Kim meeting next week?

[Susana]

I am so tired! I couldn't go back to sleep for a while after waking at 3:30 a.m. then finally fell asleep at 5:30 only to have a bad dream and have to snatch myself awake at 6:15. I've had meetings back to back all day and am in the office for the first time all day. I'm tired and want to go home.

Patty, that is so sweet! Yep, definitely a keeper.

Renee, I hope you get a lot of work done on the paper before Friday so you can knock it out then and not have to fool with it over the weekend.

Karen, most of us are salaried and we get sick leave. If you go over you lose pay. Glad you're feeling a little better today.

Linda, fun pics! The girls look like they are fun to be with. Happy Going Together Anniversary!

Kim, cool on the gym! That's an awesome piece of equipment.

[kaelenp]

Susana - I wish we were that way! Of course, since I'm the one that does all of the online reporting for 65+ employees, I guess it is a good thing that we don't. I'm the only one that gets allotted sick time.

I too woke at 3:30 and didn't think I'd ever go back to sleep. Apparently I did, just before the alarm went off! Gonna walk this afternoon and make it three in a row?

Patty - I guess I thought you should spend an extra day with your mom! Yes - I'm going to get to meet and visit with Kim and the kiddos! I'm really looking forward to it!

[JustKim]

did someone say camera????? say it isn't so!

that is really weird as I had a hard time sleeping last night too

(insert twilight zone theme song here)

that is awesome news about the neighbours moving! Woohoo!!!

[LindaJ]

Woo hoo, Karen! What a lucky break!

[Susana]

Karen, I missed your post about the neighbors moving. Woohoo, no more yapping dogs! Isn't that the BEST feeling when a crappy neighbor moves?! When my pain in the a$$es moved last month I wanted to skip over there and help them pack. The moving van was blocking my driveway and one of them came over as I pulled up and asked if I wanted them to move it and I said "No, no, NOOOO problem whatsoever!" I didn't want to do ANYTHING that would delay their departure.

I slept great last night, thank goodness. I made myself stay up until 10 even though I was nodding off. Slept all night and woke at 6. I hope all the restless sleepers also got a good night's sleep.

I finished reading Fried Green Tomatoes last night. Very easy read and excellent book. I've seen the movie but the book was even better and explained things that were only vaguely alluded to in the movie. By the way, am I the only person on the planet who didn't know that Fannie Flagg is a lesbian? I had no idea! (came across that fact while I was searching Amazon trying to figure out the order of her subsequent books)

[kaelenp]

Susana - No I'm the last because I didn't know. I love her books! It was funny about the neighbors, we turned a corner and I saw the moving van and yelled so hard, I scared Jim. My grin must have been a mile wide. Few minutes later, Chelsey comes bursting in the door yelling that the neighbors were moving. We are all very excited however, the dogs are still there barking non-stop. Surely they didn't move out and leave their dogs! I slept much better last night. Of course, I would sleep good every night if I took a Flexeril at bed time.

Kim - you misunderstood - camera was not mentioned at all!

I went to Chelsey's hairdresser yesterday for cut & highlights. He kept calling me Chelsey's mom and I couldn't figure out how he knew. Finally figured out that her boss was in there earlier and told him who I was. Anyway, he went on and on about what a great job I had done raising her and how polite and sweet she is. He was physically patting me on the back! Always nice to hear!

Back is slowly getting better. The spasms have stopped and I'm down to a dull ache/burning.

Company laid off 1100 yesterday. I dodged the bullet again. Explains why more and more responsbility keeps coming my way!

[JustKim]

egads that is scary on the layoffs!

Glad you guys both slept better! I sat outside on my swing for awhile last night with a cup of tea. It was such a nice night.

[Patty N]

Good morning, fivers. It's my Friday!

Got my tired fixed...at a gas station. DBF figured it would be easier and quicker for them to do it -- and it was...it was fixed in a matter of seconds! -- rather than him buying a kit and messing with it himself. I'm glad it's done and can rest easy knowing I'll be safe on the road now.

I'll try to check in while I'm away.

Karen and Kim - How wonderful you two will get to meet!

Karen - Glad your back is better. Ugh on the layoffs...that is always depressing. I've been through a couple myself. It is a devastating thing to happen. Will you be visiting one of your daughters (can't remember which one), hence your trip to Ohio?

Kim - A swing, cup of tea, and a nice evening sounds like a winning combination! I'd definitely join you if I lived closer.

Susan - I saw FGT, but never read the book. I didn't know that about FF, either! I remember when she was a regular guest on The Match Game.

[JustKim]

it was darn enar perfect last night patty! and I'd share my swing with you anytime!!!

My mom was almost named Fannie after Fannie Flagg!

[Susana]

I'm glad I am not the only who didn't know! What I read said that her former GF, Rita Mae Brown, also a writer, outted her in her (RMB's) autobiography. I couldn't find anywhere where FF herself has spoken about it. Interesetingly enough, in the book Idgie and Ruth were actually a couple, not just good friends like in the movie.

Karen, wow, that sounds like a massive layoff. This economy is really, really scary. I just have to remember that generations before me have come through it and thrived, just be positive. I love FF's books, too. I realized a week or so ago that I have accumulated several on my bookshelves and never read them (got them for $1 or $2 at the library store) so I picked up Welcome to the World Baby Girl, which I realized later has a couple of sequels. I also had FGT so I read that next. Trying to decide now whether to switch up genres/authors or read all the Fannie Flagg books in a row. LOL @ your reaction to the neighbors moving...I COMPLETELY understand it! I didn't realize you were having spasms. Ugh, I get those and they are awful and yes, they do take a few days to get over and you have to be careful how you move or you can set it right off again. Flexeril is a godsend, it's the only thing that will relax the grip on the muscle long enough that it will stop spasming. I find that moist heat works best for me along with the muscle relaxer. They have machines but I like to use a 2 liter soda bottle filled with hot water wrapped in a towel because you can lie on the bottle and actually press the rounded side into the muscle, which also forces it to lose that death grip. It's one of those hurts so good things. Oh, and these are all technical descriptions, btw.

Kim, that is exactly what I did last night. ('cept I wasn't drinking tea ) I went out when I got home from work and finished my book at 8:00 so came on in.

Patty, I agree that car repairs/maintenance are usually better off done by someone with the right tools. Ryan wanted to do something to his truck recently (because he's a guy and he loves to "putter") but I convinced him that he needed to have a professional do it since he would have to buy the proper tools and, well, he didn't KNOW HOW to do it. Have a WONDERFUL time with your mother and brother!

[rhundt67]

Dropped a pound - back down to 142 - took a few days, but did it. REALLY, REALLY hoping I can knock myself back down to 140 by Friday.

Well, instead of working on my paper, I opted to hang out at DF's house with some beer. It was so nice out. Sat on the porch, drinking and chatting. Then we watch AI: DAVID COOK BETTER WIN!!!

Karen - good to hear you are safe with your jobs and that the dogs are moving on!

Patty - enjoy your Friday today! I get my Friday tomorrow so I'm really hoping I can kick out most of the paper while here at work so DD#2 and I can do something like the zoo together Friday.

Susan - I love that movie Fried Green Tomatoes - maybe I'll give the book a shot. DF's daughter needed a factual book to read so I gave her Black Hawk Down and my friend thought it was so odd for ME to even have read it. She knows I don't read much and then to read a war story......but I saw the movie, it was incredible and DH had the book and it was excellent. Her daughter is 14 so I thought it'd be ok for her too.

Linda - nice pics! I'll go hang out at the PG to see more!

Well, I got a day of billing and county issues to resolve with the county.

Renee

[kaelenp]

Susan - Welcome Baby Girl was so good. I normally resell my books to Half Price but hung on to that one because I know I will enjoy reading it again. Yep - muscle spasms that made me cuss every time one hit. I always have some back pain since I have a herniated disk but I can function with it. But when those spasms hit, just thinking about moving hurts. Actually a much smaller layoff than in the past. I keep getting emails of those terminated but so far only one admin that I've worked with. I hate it when anyone loses their job.

Patty - I've never been part of a layoff - I'm usually the one left behind to do all the work. Years ago at another job, I asked that I be terminated along with the rest. It was so weird in that everyone just got up from the desk and left with their computers still on and the phone still ringing. I hated every minute of it.

Renee - nice that you scale moved down even with the beer. My boss had a cooler of beer and champagne in her office from our end of quarter celebration a few weeks ago. VP is in town so she brought it into my work area and put it under my desk. I asked if she was setting me up for dismissal and we had a good laugh. I don't drink beer or champagne!

[Susana]

Well, I'm not holding out any hope for a smaller number on the scale tomorrow. *pout* TOM started this morning and so far to day I've eaten four strips of bacon, a 4 carb Dannon Lite & Fit strawberry smoothie, two thick slices of honey baked turkey breast (full of sugar) and two thick slices of honey baked ham (full of sugar) with mayo and honey mustard (full of sugar). I don't even LIKE honey mustard but the idea of honey was too appealing to avoid. I feel big and fat now. I know it's all better than a big cookie (which are in the honey baked sandwich boxes and I tossed immediately) but still, can't lose weight eating all that.

Renee, the book is very easy to read because, although it is 400 pages, most chapters are only two or three pages long. Very charming book. Yeah, Black Hawk Down is not something you would find on my bookshelf. I thought something had possessed me when I bought a lot of Patricia Cornwell crime novels a few months ago.

Karen, I know exactly what you are describing. The pain in the muscle is so bad it makes your stomach lurch. We only have 20 people in our office so having 1,000 to lay off while retaining enough to maintain business is not something my brain can compute.

[JustKim]

shoot I feel like I have a short fuse the last few days

[celeste]

Hi guys - YEA, Im home! Ireland was wonderful, but right now Im too exhausted to elaborate. I have over 500 pics to sort thru to chose a few to post. My body thinks its 4am, even though its 10pm, so I will go to bed and check in the am with some pics.

[kaelenp]

Susan - you tossed the cookie? That would have been the first thing I would have eaten. I had chips & cookies for lunch yesterday! I should have brought my lunch like I normally do! No damage showed on the scale this morning but I know damage was done. I like your idea of the hot water bottle! And yes, that's the pain. The dull ache/burning, I can handle. It's slowly getting better.

Celeste - welcome back! Can't wait to see the pictures.

Kim - what's the matter? Apparently Jim discussed me having hot flashes/mood changes with our doctor on his last visit. She told him that she's going through the same thing and it is hard to explain how short the fuse gets and how hard it is to control. He told me it was only for a few days that I was that way. I didn't tell him but it wasn't hormones that was making me crabby - it was trying to do our taxes when he couldn't find his share of the paperwork!

Our office only has 60+ employees. The 1100 being cut come from around the globe.

[rhundt67]

Well, didn't behave much yesterday - McDonald's for lunch ; some cheese sticks; burger for dinner and a couple of beers. Ok, I didn't behave AT ALL yesterday. And I regained that pound I lost - back to 143.

Wow, the State just called me on some of our billing issues so I have to run and resolve this asap.

Later, Renee

[JustKim]

not sure what is wrong Karen.....I do think I am perimenopausal...haven't had TOM in 3 months now. A LOT of crap at work lately....stuff for our conference that I was told was done a long time ago before the co-worker went on maternity leave...and come to find out none of it was done and it has fallen in MY lap and the conference is next weekend! I think I just want everything to finally be DONE at the house too.

Celeste can't wait to see pictures!

[Susana]

Originally Posted by kaelenp

Susan - you tossed the cookie?

I know, can you believe that? I was rewarded (MIRACLES DO HAPPEN! ) with a half pound loss even though today is that RAGING TOM day, I am bloated to the max, and I ate a ton of food yesterday. Try the 2-liter hot water bottle next time you need it, I swear by it. The heated pressure against the muscle really helps. It can't spasm while something is pushing against it and unfortunately when it's in your back you can't make fist and push on it yourself.

Kim, what's wrong? With the hormone issues I seem to be having lately I've lost my cool a couple of times and was ashamed of myself immediately afterwards. I was even short with Grant last night. Not mean or anything, I was just miffed that he didn't want to "upset" his dad by asking him to pay his half...$30...of an online course he has to take so he asked me if I would pay half and he (Grant) would pay half...so it's okay to upset ME for more money but not his dad? And he would take on his dad's responsibility (when Grant has ZERO money) instead of "upsetting" him? I was perturbed. But I didn't address that issue, I felt like I was being petty (but that didn't stop me from thinking or feeling the way I did ) and I guess I was giving Grant short answers to everything and he asked me later if I had a bad day. I said yes, I was tired and if he needed me I would be out on the patio reading so I could get away from the situation and not wind up really making somebody upset. So yes, I'm in a snippy mood lately, too.

And I'm still kind of fuming over the $30 situation.

Celeste, I can't wait to see Ireland pictures and hear all about it!!!

Renee, McDonald's will do it to you every time!

[kaelenp]

Susan - I know you are right about the added pressure (especially when it is warm) helping. I have the lumbar support on my office chair and in my driver's seat and far out as it will extend and it does help. I've finally figured out how to get out of bed without stirring everything up (either that or I am truly getting better). My injury actually happened years ago. Ashley had a friend that was handicapped and used a wheelchair. I put the wheelchair in my trunk and then tried to readjust it and herniated a disk. I just think it is so unfair to get hurt when doing a good deed! And I fully understand your frustration with Grant's situation. It's not the money but the principal. As Dr. Phil would say "he's a father and should act like a father - not a sperm donor". ha!

Kim - Chelsey asked me one day "can't you take a pill?" when referring to my irritability. Normally it doesn't show but she caught me on a bad day. I had opened a cabinet door and all of the tupperware came falling out onto the dirty floor and I lost it when her and Jim just stood there laughing. You seem very young to be menopausal but then I seem very old for the symptoms to just be starting.

Renee - I'm impressed that you only gained 1 pound!

[JustKim]

my mom started menopause around 40 and my old OB, with both the problems with Sydney's delivery and the total loss of libido, she thought it may come early and though my hormones were already screwey...so who knows I guess. It just seems like any little thing lately is driving me nuts.

[celeste]

Pups pics are up on the playground....I will do others, the really pretty ones after a nap. I am BEAT! But the dogs are home and happy to be here! BBL

[JustKim]

I've lost my temper twice..I'm so frustrated right now I can scream...and I'm sitting here crying. egads!