TerriDoodle

Well, I just had a wonderful day!! Let's see .... I finished up 2 orders (one was yours, Jane....it turned out beautiful!), took Hero to 'school', broke some new ground with my jewelry skills, went for 3 walks with Hero, and ate Mexican food. I didn't clean or cook all day! :thumbup: Hero was amazing in obedience training. I've never trained a dog before so we're both learning. We practiced more after we got home (hence the 3 walks). He learned "sit", "watch me", and how to walk right next to me on a loose leash without pulling, forging ahead or bumping into me. He is gonna be one swell dog, lemme tell ya. I wouldn't have anything BUT a Golden Retreiver. Goldens are extremely social, non-aggressive, have a very 'gentle mouth', great with kids, rarely bark, and are very smart. The downside is that they are NOT outside dogs....they love their humans too much to be separated from them; they shed; they sometimes dig, chew, and counter-surf (but usually grow out of that); they are often thunderphobic and can get extremely anxious; health-wise they often have sensitive skin and hip dysplasia. They weigh 65-80# generally and require excellent nutrition...hence their food bill can be quite high...$100-120/mo. I used to COOK for my other dog! 8# of chicken breasts and 5# of vegetables every Sunday evening! Won't be doing that again! Gina - I was tight like that for several months....didn't help me lose any weight at all! I'd much rather be looser and be able to eat salads and other veggies, and more meats! Maybe you need a break for awhile! Well, I certainly hope you will have a bit of patience with yourself!? Knitting is HARD at first! ... but so is any new skill. You should see the crap work I did at first with the jewelry!! It's hilarious!!!

Judy -- I see you down there! You must be all packed and ready to go!! :smile2: We'll be thinking of you! (Got your lucky cruise bracelet packed?) TracyK - that's soo cool that the sticker trick is working!! Pamela is so smart! Wonder if that would work with my son????

Well, the food thing goes for cats too....but they sure do eat a lot LESS of it than a 70-80# Golden Retreiver! I wuv kitties. Hubby is allergic. Or so he says........

Tracy - dogs are such wonderful teachers. I'm partial to big dogs because I love to hug them, and especially Labs and Goldens because they are just so dang sweet (and smart)!!! BUT dogs can be expensive, especially in their later years...so keep that in mind. **soapbox alert** ...and one of the things that makes dogs so expensive in their later years is the CRAP (and I mean absolute CRAP) that is put in commercial dog food. (There are many articles on the subject, here's just one: http://www.naturalnews.com/012647.html ) So if you're going to have a dog, do yourself a favor, prevent disease in your dog, do your research and feed them the highest quality food possible. (Innova, Blue Buffalo, Wellness, etc.) **ok, I'm off now...**

That IS real progress, isn't it!! And just think how much healthier it is to reduce all that stress! Hey, are you still seeing Jo? (or whatever her name is?) Suzie - I forgot to answer your question about the beads you all sent. No, I haven't made anything with them yet. I would really love to come up with a project where they could all go into it, but there's so many beads and all different sizes, textures and styles....so a wearable piece is not really practical. I thought of a sun-catcher type thing, but haven't 'fleshed it out' yet. I did buy a beautiful purple blouse the other day and might have to dive into them when I make a set to go with that! I do love 'em and they all have such special meaning to me. Beaders are well known for their hoarding issues...LOL....we buy beads we love, then hate to use them because then they're all gone! Sick, I know. It's kinda the same with my purple birthday beads.... Pammy - you're so good. I'm glad you're a teacher. I love what you said to Juan! We'll all be thinking of you this weekend. Love you! OXOXO

Thanks everyone for the props on the necklace! It was fun to make...cut the leaf from a sheet of copper and hammered and punched and oxidized and formed it myself! Have I ever mentioned I love to hammer metal? LOL Haydee - I'd be proud to make you one, too! I've got a bracelet to make for Janie, and an Etsy order to finish, then I'll start on yours, if you like. I'll pm you the price. You pack Juan's clothes for him too?? He is spoiled rotten!! I guess if you didn't do it, he'd go naked?? Laura - BIG hugs to you!! I'm so proud of you! I'll send you two other links that you'll find motivating as well. Pamela - Well, let me tell you what I'd do if I had one more weekend with my mom. I'd sit next to her on the couch and snuggle with her. I'd take in her smell....fill my lungs and my mind with it so I'd never forget it. She always smelled so sweet...and I miss that. I would tell her for the millionth time that I love her and I would tell her Thank You. Then I'd sit and watch The Odd Couple with her. That's what I'd do if I had one more weekend.

It was a sight to see, Laura. He was just a BLUR the whole time and probably could have gone like that for 2 hours. I thought he would pass out when we got home, but NO! He was ready to go again! It's so much fun to have a puppy (but one who is house trained already and doesn't chew)!!!!

OMG, Hero and I went to the 6 acre bark park and he ran FULL OUT for 45 straight minutes... except for the times when he plopped down into the mud puddles. He had so much fun!!!! I'm pooped!

Mandollin? :sad_smile: What a fantastic night for your cookout!!! Will there be adult beverages as well???

ROFL!!!:sad_smile: ENJOY IT WHILE IT LASTS!! LOL Those days are SO over very soon!!

Once again Tracy, you demonstrate that you are DA BOMB!!!:tt1:

I don't know why it gets progressively tighter over a period of days (for some people), but it does. Why did you call your doc? Because you can eat regularly? Well, that would not be all that unusual for the stage you are in .... you may need 3-4 fills before feeling 'good' restriction! As for the no eating bread...that is actually very good advice. For the most part it is empty calories. You should be focusing on changing your eating habits toward nutrition packed foods: Think Protein + veggies for every meal.

Hi Everyone - Well, I've been havin' fun playing with my new doggie and getting to know him. Sweet dog and it very interesting having a young one like him. Last dog I had, another golden, was 6 yrs old already when we adopted her and she was L-A-Z-Y!!! Did I tell you we named this dog Hero? Well, Hero has lots of energy and it's so much fun! Here is the BIG bonus: He loves to walk on a leash and will walk as fast as you let him....he never stops to sniff or pee or anything else....just WALKS! So we've found a great route that gives us about 1.5 miles! So I AM moving again!! Playing on the floor with him, throwing the ball, chasing, and walking. Yea me!! We start his basic training class on Saturday. We have an awesome Bark Park not far from here and I can't wait to take him this weekend! He's gonna have a blast!!! Ya'll are gonna laugh at me -- but I'm also thinking of taking him to Doggie Daycare once a week. He'd be able to play and get lots of exercise all day long. He really needs that at this age. In his foster home he had 4 other dogs to play with. I think he's a little lonely. Wish you could see him right now....laid out on my couch with his head on the pillow. It's good to be King!! Had a bad/stressful day yesterday and fell off the wagon carb-wise. Interesting how I now observe these connections (stress/eating habits)... Not too bad though: peanut butter crackers, a cookie and a Butterfinger snack bar. I am still amazed overall how low-carbing is making such a significant difference in my hunger levels and reduced need to snack. It's all good. I'm down 2.5# for the week which is really good (for me). I am pleased. Judy - Where is your cruise going? I think I missed that part. Jenn - Glad to see you posting even with all this stress you are going thru. You needed this project to get your mind re-focused, eh? Good job! So you can drywall?? I'm impressed. Jane - I'm sorry about your allergies. What meds do you take? They don't work real good for you? :tt1: My whole family (kids, exH and DH) have terrible allergies and I have none. I am soooo lucky 'cause down here in Houston we have very high counts all the time. Laura - I'm so proud of you! Remember that book I sent you....it's got lots of pearls in it! You're doing great! Russell is still smoke free? :-) Ya'll are gonna save lots of money! That totally made me LOL about his comment -- that the epidural is the 'worst part' of childbirth!! OMG....are you kidding? That's the BEST part! Not to scare you, but you will not believe how much contractions hurt....it's a powerful experience, to say the least. I can't imagine how women go thru the whole process without drugs...that blows me away. Hey, how's the back?? All better? What are you doing different now (exercises?)? TracyK & Haydee - The temps are so nice today!!! :-) I'll have to find a nice patio for lunch or dinner today. Enjoy your day! Pamela - I am so very sorry about your student. How old are they again? Burns. I can't imagine anything worse.... just horrible. Horrible. Well, I gotta hit the showers....I'll see ya'll in a bit.

I remember my doc saying nothing over 5 or 10 lbs. for like 6 weeks or something! .... it was quite a while, I remember that!! BE CAREFUL! Are you OK now?

After being interviewed by the school administration, the teaching prospect said, 'Let me see if I've got this right: 'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning. 'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride. 'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the state exams. 'You want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card. 'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps. You want me to do all this and then you tell me.... 'I CAN'T PRAY?'

You should be able to even google for companies that buy scrap gold and they should quote you their price/fees up front. In other words, they should say something like "We'll give you 75% of the market price on the day your gold arrives." There's even a company advertising on TV to buy scrap gold www.brokengold.com. Pawn shops do also. Pamela - so very sorry about your student TracyK - Yes, my doggie is housebroken -- he's quite smart! Laura - This is YOUR birth as far as that "protocol" goes....nobody and I mean NOBODY....should tell you who you should or should not have in there! This is YOUR body being exposed for all to see....so you should definitely be the only one to say who sees what!!! It also can be kind of a scary thing for a first-timer and I would not imagine you want anyone in there who is not a source of comfort and encouragement for you! That being said.........Can I come???

Oh, it totally depends on what I'm making! Some pieces take hours and hours to make....some take 20 minutes! And if you factor in the time I spend "figuring out what I want to do" (i.e., the creative process) some can take FOREVER!

Hi Girls - Sorry I didn't check in yesterday...haven't even had time to catch up on posts!......I've been playing with my NEW DOGGIE!!! :tt1::tt2::tt1::thumbup::tt1: I am so in love with him it hurts!! We named him HERO. Isn't he beautiful? He's one year old and just precious!

Happy Birthday, Tracy!!!!!!! :crying: Laura, I should send you a pair of earrings to try...you may not be allergic to it since I use .999 pure silver, not sterling. People who are allergic are generally sensitive to the nickel alloy that is added to make it stronger. Do you have pierced ears? Or should I send a bracelet? You can also put lacquer or even nail polish on ear wires to make them hypo-allergenic. Just FYI. Denise, that is ONE CUTE BABY!!!!! Makes me want to snuggle-n-sniff!! TracyK, going to Galveston must have been depressing as hell!! I wouldn't be able to take it! I can't even imagine what it must look like in person. Pamela must be bizzzee as a bee working on her Chapter 4! Go Pammy, Go!!!

Good Morning and (((HUGS))) to everyone! Tracy, I hope you are feeling better today. I'm sure it melted Charles' heart to see you feeling so vulnerable and raw....you're always so strong and 'together'. Remember, too, that the cost of plastic surgery keeps going down so it'll happen and at YOUR price. I wouldn't be surprised at all if that dr. called you in a week or two and lowered their price. With the economy the way it is there may be quite a squeeze on their profits! Take heart! Well, I talked to the volunteer about the dogs and she's trying to operate without internet, which is difficult because the volunteer network is 80% internet based! But she did say she thinks Comet is already in process of being adopted I'll know more after the weekend. Boo. There's an adoption 'fair' tonight, she said, that will have some of their Goldens, along with other rescue organizations, so I may go to that. There are two females I like too, but both are heartworm positive and have to go thru treatment before being adopted. So, like Tracy, I just have to be philosophical and know that "my" dog is out there and the angels are working hard to get us together. Hey! Guess what?! I sold 5 pieces of jewelry yesterday!!! Weird! I haven't had any orders for a month, then 5 in one day! I guess people are getting geared up for the holidays already. I really need to get crack-a-lackin' in that studio if I want to keep up! I've got a busy day ahead of me so I better get going. Ya'll hang tough.

That sounds so interesting! I like to hear what other people do for a living. I have such a "regular" ol' job....I'm an executive secretary, but I like it. Boy, I could sure use some design lessons these days making my jewelry!! I'm clueless and have never taken an art class! Again, it sounds to me like you are right on track. I shoot for 60g of protein a day and do try to keep my carbs low <60. For a while there I had been eating as my doctor suggested: Eat whatever you like, just less of it. That worked fine for the 1st 6 months while I was exercising daily, but now....not so much! I'm back on the low-carb wagon and feeling much less hunger, losing weight again, and more in control. It's hard to get in 70-100g a day with food alone, so yeah, you'll definitely want to find a way to supplement that. I do like whey protein better than soy so if you can find a source, go for it. Other than that, how are you feeling? OK? It takes a few weeks to get back 100%! No problems finding a fill doctor?

It is meant to be left in for your lifetime. You can have an 'unfill' when you reach your goal if you like. Oh, I hope you like my store! Thanks for visiting! T.

P-BODY - Welcome! Wow...all the way from Thailand! What kind of work are you doing there? Are you an American? It sounds like you are on the right track and eating the right foods. Just fyi my post op diet was something like this: 2 days Clear liquids such as broth, Jello, popcicles, etc. 1 week full liquids - any kind of Soup as long as it's blended smooth, Protein shakes, yogurt, smoothies, etc. 3 weeks mushies - cottage cheese, pinto Beans, guacamole, scrambled eggs, etc. then I proceeded to regular foods. Hope that helps. LBT is a wonderful place to gather information. You've come to the right place!

Good luck to ya'll and WELCOME TO LBT!!

Hey Lojo! Welcome! Yeah, it certainly does sound like you'd do very well with the band to improve your health. Many of those conditions can be greatly improved with some weight loss! The band is not a magic cure but it sure does help!! Best of luck to you with your insurance matters!