MVM Saturday, 5/25

[zip2play]

Good morning maintainers.

Scale was kind this morning at 214#: down 5# in 10 days...can't do much better than that. Now, if I can level off to 1 pound a week (or 2, dare I hope) down to 205 pounds, I think that will make me happy as a finale!
If ALL the musculature holds and the face doesn't sag, MAYBE 200. My 10 day caloric average was 2155 calories/day and it didn't take TOO much self control. But I'm still pushing to stay at 2000! Thank God I don't have to add 1000 alcohol calories!

Freebie theater tickets tonight...$7 deal each this afternoon (same show), it's our choice. Normally the free is the better price but the weatherman is calling for showers/thunderstorms moving in later in the day but he's not being specific about the timing. Remember, THIS delicate flower does NOT get rained upon. If it's not in the ocean, the shower, the pool or in a tall glass, I have ZERO use for water: RAIN = PNEUMONIA! Unfortunately they are calling for 7 days of rain in the next week.

I'll be back later but they are doing TRIPLE value on coupons for the next two days, and I'd best get there this morning.
Oh, Bob is doing banana pancakes this morning...pray for my calorie count today
I can't say no because we are only getting 2 breakfasts a week together this month!

LUV and SMOOTCHES!

Oh, they STILL haven't sold that Fleetwood Brougham and the owner comes out occasionally and FEATHERDUSTS it (The $6 grand price is outrageous!)

[BarbCO]

MORNING GANG!

Gee Roger, all that whine about weight was for naught! Down 5# in 10 days? WOW! Of course nothing in life is consistent, such as 1# a week!

Loretta, I'm at work until next week. We have 5 days next week and then graduation on the weekend. Then I'm off...........until August 15th. Then we have a contract to go 4 days per week all year long. It's something smaller, rural school districts are doing to save money and have sport programs on that 3 day weekend. There is always so much traveling. But the school day will be longer......but I'm usually there for 9 hours anyhow!

Got REALLY warm here all of a sudden - 92! They say the snow pack is melting at a rate of an inch an hour. We have flood advisories, flood watch, and flood warnings. The river going pass us is REALLY flowing along. Sounds neat though as one sits on the front porch with a cup of coffee and listen.

OK Linda, you DO have a height and altitude problem! Just last week there was plane crash in the mountains/canyon area near here and they haven't been able to retrieve all of the bodies yet because of the depth of the canyon and snow and remote area. I understand there were 4 people on board from CA and they have to bring in two more helicopters for rescue. That was just to encourage you on your trip down that LONG, DEEP, DARK, canyon road. Maybe you could just take a raft trip on the Colorado at the BOTTOM of the canyon and just look up!

Julie, have you mentioned lately how the weight is going? I know you wanted to lose a LITTLE bit more!! I'm staying where I am for the time being and experimenting with a few more carbs. My exercise is upped so that I can eat more and stay the same. My 5K is in 42 days!

Poor Jacki, all that work and no time to play! 22 wake up days is a lot! But you do have the summer - right?

I wish we had blueberries that cheap! I know from my mil and fil when they lived in Oregon, berries were soooooo cheap. One time I went and bought another cooler so that I could take berries back to CO with me!

Liz, sounds like you are settled on a trip to the BIG CITY!

Ginny and SuSUN, what's happening?

Take care, enjoy the day! Barb

[Loretta V]

Hi to all

Thanks Shawnee that Chicago quote just about describes the place too. My dad drove for Libby's and when I was a kid he took me with him sometimes. I remember seeing the stock yards.

Congrats Zip on that weight loss. You know how to get the job done. You will get a double check the first time. Believe me.

Linda the cost for medicare this year is 78.20 a month. Each year you get a COLA increase but they also increase medicare payments.

Barb 92 already. That is a real warm up. We have not reache that much yet.
I sure don't want to ever get on a plane.

Later folks,
the mulch is calling me out to the yard.

[eculmone]

Back down at goal today It's definitely a yeast thing. My weight was stuck & climbing. I feel better today too.

Shawnee if you like blueberries; I make this excellent treat. 1 C. Ricotta cheese (Italian cheese, kinda like cottage cheese only smooth and creamy), couple tablespoons of blueberries and some splenda- VIOLA! I LOVE IT, I THINK YOU WILL TOO.

Julie Niagara Falls is sooooo beautiful, IF you can get a room with a view, otherwise they really made it touristy. I would opt for Niagara on the Lake and then take a 15/20 minute drive to the Falls area, so you avoid the crazy touristy trashy part. Definitely go under the falls into the caves and do a boat ride "under" it really is so magnificent.

Your gonna LOVE TI (Treasure Island) Vegas is not what it use to be. They have some of the BEST Chef's in the world. You'll LOVE the Sirens of TI show. Although you may feel a bit uncomfortable with an 8 year old. It's a new Vegas and I don't think it's for children. You'll have to cover her eyes Make sure you check out the little Italian Bakery & cafe in the Venetian. We shared a few pastries and my SIL also shared a crepe with all 4 of us across from the bakery. We did a lunch thing there. MAGNIFEE SENT! Circ de Soleil is in TI, now that would be spectacular for the girls. It's really stunning. Worth the $$$

I would also suggest Brunch at Caesar's Palace. It's drop dead gorgeous and they had this piano player "David Osborne" tinkling the ivory keys on a Grand Piano. He has photo's of himself with the President and his family. He was so wonderful. I LOVED IT...You won't need yoga to relax if your listening to him.

Call me lazy, but bathrooms & cars???? K. Maybe in a big tub, but I prefer my cozy snuggly bed.

Montana, we just booked CHICAGO. Right on Michigan Ave. Deluxe, king bed with a view $309 US a night, but we're driving, so we won't have to pay for plane fare. I'm excited. I've never been and would like to add the adventure to my list. I've done upper Michigan. Mackinaw Island is so beautiful. Horse n Carriage and bicycles only on the island. Really picturesque.

Zip, any recommendations for the "theatre district" What's hot? I haven't seen a play since Stratford, several years ago. It was Shakespear & I hadn't brushed up on my Elizabeathen or that English???? Fell asleep to "Taming of the Shrew" It was hard to understand. I remembered seeing it with my English class field trip as a youngen and loved it! Now? I love musicals??? Any suggestions????

Carb watching will probably fall to the wayside in Chicago as I feel I must try the deep dish pizza "When in Rome". Last night I made all low carb spicy Thai jumbo prawns and Cantonese ribs. Mmmmmm Today, I can smell my Beef Briskett, cooking in low carb beer, low carb ketchup, worchestershire sauce and a tablespoon of onion soup mix... Cook for 4 hours wrapped tight in foil, Mmmmmm. It's funny how, my weight comes off when I get serious about cooking. It's when I'm tired, carbs are too convenient.

Barb 5K??? AWESOME WOMAN!!!

Medical Insurance??? Benefit of being Canadian and working for the government. My meds cost $5,000 for a 3-month supply... I pay $2 and thus I can NEVER QUIT as the city pays for my benefits.

Ohhh, the smell is so wonderful in the house. Well, time to take a nap & when I wake up, DINNER!!!!

Take care all.
Liz

[SuSUN]

Hello Gang!

Thank goodness it is Saturday, what a busy week that was!
I was staying over at DD's her DH was in the UK all week working. It was pretty tough going to work from her place. I feel all my stuff is here.

Roger,
WTG Roger on the weight loss. I think I may have to go that route too, calorie counting, the low carb has become such a habit that I am not losing like I used to. I am such a poor exerciser too!
I have only been off the Progesterone a week now so I guess it may take a tad longer. Hoping for a whoosh!!! If not, dare I consider induction!

Eculmone,
Glad to hear you are back to goal too!
Your trip sounds exciting to Chicago, when are you going?
I too work for a Canadian City, can't leave either! LOL!
We have a son that has lived in Florida the past 9 years and we keep considering the move South especially when the snow flies.

Hi Loretta,
Hope the mulch did not, "answer back!" I know you said it was calling you! We have drizzle right now so no gardening for me today. Time to catch up with my own stuff today. Finally!

Barb,
Great going on increasing the exercise. Go girl go, that 5K run is gonna be such an accomplishment....envious!
Yikes, that river does sound wonderful hope mother nature can handle the thaw!

Slowly catching up on the posts! Wavin to y'all!

SuSUN

[BarbCO]

Good afternoon gang!!

Loretta, my dad worked in Chicago before he met my mom and when they were dating. He "hates" the stockyards!! He was a WWII vet so you can imagine how South Chicago was in those days. It's funny because the sister next to me in age (never married and works for Abbott Lab.) works in South Chicago doing all kinds of church stuff with Habbitat Homes and they have adopted a parish there. In the Spring they always go to Chile to build for the families down there.

Oh SuSUN, thanks for the tests you sent on email. I will tantalize my coworkers this week. Hold back on that praise for the 5K , SuSUN and Liz, you have NEVER seen me put one foot in front of the other. Just maybe, I'll figure out how to do a picture.

Liz, glad you found something you WANT to do. I have a sister who lives in north Chicago on the Lake. We went years ago and saw everything they had in the worst temp/humidity day ever!! Give me cooler mountain air anytime! I grew up in WI and never did get used to that humidity. It's fun to see how different we are all!

Had to hook up the Swamp Cooler (no, this NOT Mississippi) to get cooled off. In the dryer climates, the sawmp cooler is an AC contraction that works off of water and is CHEAPER than regular AC.

Later,

Barb

[eculmone]

oops, forgot to add I put Splenda as well in the beer mix. Roast turned out so good. DH put his on an Italian Roll with Cheddar and loved it. Also made a Spinach salad with bacon, cheddar and hb egg with oil, vinegar & splenda. HOLY, I'M STUFFED.

Now, I've narrowed my search for live shows to a musical...I think. Both DH & I love music. The Lion King Broadway Musical is playing at the Cadillac Theatre;

Menopause the Musical is at the Apollo;

Geroge Gershwin Alone is at the Royal George Theatre; Then some unknown places have Burger Town; It Ain't nothin but the Blues and Brigadoon. Now to decide. I'd love to go to the Apollo and menopause has begun so I'm sure "I'd" enjoy, but not sure if DH would? Now the Lion King is famous, but I thought the idea was to get away from Children? So maybe we could save that to see with our DD. Zip you sound kinda like you or Bob may work in theatre?

Barb I hate the humid summers too. I'd like to be in Fl for Winters, Home for Spring & fall and in the mountains for Summers. Ahhhh <Dreamin> It's Springtime in Chicago and hot humid days hopefully won't start until the end of June. (crossing fingers).

Well, I'm off to search & vacation plan.

BBL
Liz

[LoveMontana]

Not a bad day here but we did get a few showers. I finished planting the rest of my flowers in the deck pots, ran to the Dollar Store to just get out and then came home and rolled change UGH!!! We save all of our lose change and one dollar bills for a little "vacation fund" or mad money. It's surprising how fast it builds up.

Roger, On that weight loss. Way to go. Question. Can you keep up the calorie counting for the rest of your life? If so you have my total respect. It's not something I could EVER do.

Aww heck with that Caddy. It would use too much gas anyway.

Barb, So what are you going to do with the summer off?

Yeah, a river raft trip would do it, I guess.

Humm, wonder if those Swamp Coolers would work here in NY in the hot, humid summers.

Liz. Glad you finally settled on get away spot. Hope you have lots of fun.

Sounds like you have wonderful benefits but I bet you pay a hell of a lot in income and property taxes.


Loretta, the Medicare premium isn't as bad as I thought. Whew!! I know my mom pays about 1600.00 for her supplemental Blue Cross/Blue Shield to pick up the difference in medical costs.

Susan, what a good mom you are to stay with your DD when her DH is away. Don't know if I would do that.
Glad you are finally home with your "STUFF". That had to be difficult.

Shawnee, give Jackie our best and tell her we miss her.
LMAO at the grass and weeds being high enough to tickel a midget's butt. My gosh that is tall.

Julie, Do what you gotta do to enjoy that trip

Waving to Ginny

Hell of an accident here yesterday. My DD knows the wife of one of the dead guys and also knows the site supervisor. She had to be taken to the hospital after witnessing the horror of it. Guess the 1st guy was "cut in half". Bus driver had to have a leg amputated so the rescue team could get him out.
http://www.pressconnects.com/saturda...5s168057.shtml
and
http://www.pressconnects.com/today/n...5s168062.shtml

[Jewels]

Seems another day that got away. Nick's one year drug free birthday party today and I'm exhausted, physically and mentally.We had a great time though. Went to the AA/na meeting with him at noon to see him get his 1 year medallion. Had a BBQ with his friends and his Dad and stepmother. Don't even ask where his mom was...

Will catch up with you all tomorrow after I rest up..it was a blessed day and I'm so grateful.

[SuSUN]

YEAH! Julie!
What a wonderful job Nick has done...and YOU too supporting him thru all of this! Give yourself a pat on the back, well deserved Julie!

I hope you are sleeping peacefully tonight, sounds like you had a full day.

Liz,
I hope you find just the right musical to entertain you both.

Linda,
Good fer you got all your planting done. I guess you didn't get all the drizzle we had this aft.

Hope to be back tomorrow.

SuSUN

[LoveMontana]

Humm, the second link I posted didn't work. Lets try this.
http://www.pressconnects.com/saturda...5s168062.shtml

Unfortunately the third guy died today What a terrible tragedy.

Julie, a HUGE congratulations to Nick on his one year anniversary. BRAVO!!!

Hi ya Susan. yeah we did get SOME drizzle but not a lot. Tonight we may have heavy, heavy, rain and hail. UGH!

[eculmone]

Montana, how sad. Sure hope the bus driver doesn't make it. Was he the third guy? I know if it were me, I wouldn't want to live knowing what I'd done. How sad sad sad. What a terrible tragedy.

Julie, how sad for Nick that his mother wasn't there to see his awesome accomplishment. KICKING THAT BULL$%^& HABBIT IS HARD!!! KUDO'S NICK! Maybe "mom" didn't want to face x with new wife? I know there is no excuse good enough, but that breaks my heart. I'm glad YOU were there What an awesome Grandma. I'm SURE he LOVES YOU soooooo much for being there!

Well, we booked a concert in the park for Wednesday pm. You can bring your own picnic basket and food or they have it there to purchase & rent picnic blankets, lawn chairs etc. but we're driving so I'll bring some friendly low carb goodies. It's a Jazz singer "Susan Tedeschi" DH downloaded her songs. It's very nice music. This sounds so romantic. They have citronella candles & even a candleabra and pop up picnic tables u can rent. You should see this menu "Roasted Sirloin & blue cheese on Foccacia with carmelized onions & oven dried tomatoes; Tuna Salad on Brioche; it goes on & on. It's all gourmet. I'm thinking wine & cheese & candlelight??? Listening to some romantic jazz. She's pretty good. I'm also thinking we're going for the Broadway musical of The Lion King for Thursday pm. Friday shopping down the Magnificent Mile & Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for the famous "Chicago" style pizza. Although our own town is pretty hard to beat when it comes to pizza. DH wants to hit a blue's bar too, so depending on how beat we are we may head out for a night cap?? Then it's time to head home.

Today our neice made her first communion and I lost count of how many cookies I ate from the sweets table Seems I get to goal and then just bounce away. Well, going to drink my water. TOM never showed up this month?? PITA anyway, but ruins my week none the less.

Our garden is just looking so nice. Irises just bloomed today and they smell like "jelly beans" Mmmmmm Lilacs are blooming here too, and the smell is beautiful. My sister says "cut them & bring some inside" but I'm thinking I'm alot like Roger with the sensitivity to perfumes, so I'll just keep them outdoors and wander through my garden. Lavender is also spreading and my black eyed susans too! My first daylily popped open and the hostas are filling up in between. Both Japanese Maples are looking sooooo healthy and lush. My Garden is coming to life. I LOVE IT!!!

Well goodnight friends.
Liz