Teachlady

Laura.. LOVE the hardwood and the new carpet. What a difference it makes. PamELa.. I happen to have a g/f with a big mouth, but she lives in Palm Springs, Ca. :tongue2::tt2: Haydee... you KNOW the Violets could take charge and make sure everything was running smoothly, right? RIGHT??????

Good afternoon, Violets.. Grady was here for an hour and now Ethan is here for the rest of the afternoon. Gramma is going to be tired tonight!! Three Cups of Tea is by Greg Mortenson and he builds schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It's a good read. Says a lot about the Muslim culture and how we can't categorize a whole ethnic group because of one faction. Sort of like categorizing all Christians because of the fundamentalist right wingers. I'm now started on Patrick Swayze's book. I know it's gonna be a tear jerker. Another good eating day here. I think I've weaned myself away from the sugar. I'm not craving it anymore. I had an egg and a sausage patty for breakfast and some leftover turkey, potatoes, stuffing, gravy and salad for lunch. Turkey noodle soup for supper and then we leave in the morning for Detroit and the Piston's game.

Good morning, Violets.. Everyone have a great day. Be good to yourselves.

135 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!

Finished Three Cups of Tea. Good book. Now on to the next one. I have a bunch on the Kindle I can choose from. Another day with no sweets or eating in between meals. woo hoooooo! Everyone have a good evening. Sleep well!

There's a rule against two in a year????? A longggg weekend would be awesome. The big get together is the wedding, of course. But an R&R to Palm Springs sounds great too. I read Wishin and Hopin on the Kindle. Liked it. Haydee.. you're going to love the Kindle. I'm just finishing up Three Cups of Tea. Then I have about 4 books that I downloaded for free, plus I have books I downloaded with PamELa's gift to me and my friend Betsy got me a gift certificate so I can download a ton more. I have never read so much in my life. I really love it on the computer. I can sit in the living room with my puter on my lap and read away.

I was trying to pick a time when you weren't working, PamELa. Just a thought. Had some dark meat turkey for breakfast and I pb'd it. It's still feeling uncomfortable. But I didn't say.. oooops gotta have something so it might as well be chocolate covered cherries or ice cream bars. NOPE.. I'll wait until lunch and have some tuna. Hopefully that will stay down.

Good morning, Violets.. I got to sleep in this morning!! No Ethan today. I have a hair appointment at 2 and that's my obligation for the day and evening. Seems so strange to not have meetings or rehearsals or anything!! The house smells wonderful with the turkey carcass boiling in the roaster. I'll let it go until this evening and then strain it and have great stock for turkey noodle soup tomorrow. I am on day two of no sweets and I weighed in this morning and lost 2#. Most of that I'm sure was water weight. I took a water pill yesterday. Haven't done that in months and months. Today's goal is no sweets, no eating between meals and 30 minutes of exercise. OMG.. it's the bandster rules.. who knew?? Sorry I can't help with the computer issues Irishmae. Perhaps Laura can. How's the new carpet, Laura?? I'm going to have to start thinking about putting the Christmas decorations away. The Bobster is heading to his new church today to get books over there and get his feet wet. He has a funeral there on Saturday so is meeting with the family today since we will be gone Thursday and Friday. Michelle.. look for us on TV Thursday afternoon! We will be in the first row behind the Piston's bench. I think there is a row of tables in front of us and then the Pistons. At least that's what the picture showed. Can't wait!!! Kris's favorite, Tayshaun Prince hasn't played all season and he just played in the last game, so he should be there ready to play Thursday. She's sooooo excited. It will get her mind off losing her cat too. Off to get some breakfast. Not going to go without like yesterday. Everyone have a great day. Hugs to you all. Be good to yourselves.

136 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!

Bob and I saw It's Complicated last night. We thought it was ok, but not great. Sorry PamELa. I do have a crush on Alec Baldwin though!! I made it through day one with with no sweets. No eating between meals, but didn't get any exercise in. One step at a time. Everyone have a good evening. Palm Springs in late June or July??? Wooo hoooooo!!!!

Hope you feel better soon, Suzy!!! Nope.. no popcorn. I sent the can home with Ethan. End of problem. We sat down to a nice turkey dinner tonight. I had had a few bites of turkey while Bob was carving it. Soooooooooo when I started to eat my real meal..... .stuck. I pb'd everything I ate so I just put the plate on the counter and will try it again later this evening. I have the carcass in the roaster with water to make stock for turkey noodle soup. I'll cook it on slow for 24 hours for some nice, rich stock. Off to knit a bit on my scarf and try and finish my Three Cups of Tea book on the Kindle for PC. No sweets today at all!!!!!!!!! And no eating in between meals.

Good afternoon, Violets.. Here is a sureproof way to refrain from eating sweets. 1. Open the can of butter popcorn, cheese popcorn and caramel corn. 2. Ask Ethan to enjoy some. 3. Watch while Ethan samples the caramel corn, makes a face and spits it back into the can. 4. Watch while Ethan then sneezes on the entire contents of the can. End of popcorn temptation.

Pam -- You're probably off getting massaged and margie'd w/your friend... as God as my witness, I am going to find a long weekend in 2010 when I, too, can fly out to play with you & Susanne & all my PS friends! That's one New Year's resolution that I intend to keep! Why don't we make this the destination for our 3rd Violet Bandiversary in 2010???? I'd love it!!

Good afternoon, Violets.. 1/2 day done and no sweets so far!! I didn't get a chance to get breakfast.. I know, I know.. not good. But Ethan and I had some tuna salad and mandarin oranges for lunch. He's having an ice cream bar right now and I'm not. Enough said! I have the turkey roasting in the Nesco and it should be done about 5 tonight. We're having turkey, stuffing, potatoes and broccoli. Yums!! Bob has his first funeral at the new church on Saturday. Nothing like jumping right in. Kris was sad today. She called me late last night and said that Chloe, her calico cat of 11 years was not doing well. Bob offered to go out and bring her some Nutri-cal since Chloe wasn't eating, but Kris said Chloe ate some of her treats and Bob could come by this morning and take her to the Vet. Well, Nathan stayed home from work so he could take her in. She didn't drink any water at all last night. When they got to the vet this morning, there was nothing they could do. She had cancer and it spread very quickly. They said they could put her down now when she was feeling ok, or wait until things got worse, just a matter of days. Of course Nathan chose to do it right away. The vet is going to send Kris a pawprint to keep. Chloe was Kris's 16th birthday present and was her baby for a long time until she got her dogs and of course, Grady. It will be good for her to get away to the Piston's game. Grady is staying with Gramma and Grampa Barden. She and I will partake of some retail therapy while Nathan and Bob go see Avatar. Off to vacuum hair off the floor. I don't know where Jetta gets all the hair, but I have to use the swiffer at least 3 X a day just to keep up!!! BBL..........

137 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!

Good morning, Violets.. My goal for today is no sweets. I'm taking it one day at a time, one goal at a time. Janie.. Bob only has to go 3X a week and one of those days is, of course, Sunday, so it's not a bad gig. Of course as time goes on, I'm sure he'll fit another day in there. He's getting a nice little salary for the time he will put in, but of course then it's deducted from his Social Security, but we still come out ahead. We'll be booking our flight to Texas soon!!! Off to get lots of protein for breakfast. Ethan is here and I need to go do my hospital shift. Then I'm fixing a turkey for dinner tonight. That turkey should last us all week. We leave on Thursday morning for the Detroit Pistons game. I won an auction on Ebay for 4 front row seats just behind the Piston's bench. wooo hooooo!! I sniped it and won it by $.74 Everyone have a good day. Set a goal for today and stick to it. I sure plan on doing that. Keeping my head positive today.

Good afternoon, Violets.. We are back from services. They were all so delighted to see Bob. He hasn't been back there in a year. It's protocol for the former pastor to stay away for a year to allow the new pastor to get integrated into the church. They were really happy to see me too. The lady who got me started on the lapband journey was there and OMG.. she has lost 120#!!! Another lady that had it done recently has lost 50#. I felt like I had not completed the journey, which I haven't. And I got some new resolve after seeing those two. The tree they got for Bob is a Red Maple and it's 7 feet tall right now, but it looks like a Charlie Brown tree. Nothing but branches. I didn't take any pictures cause nothing would have shown up. He and I got lots of hugs and kisses today so we're good for a while. I had a sausage and egg burrito from Mickey D's for breakfast and 2/3 cup tuna salad for lunch. We are going to Applebee's for supper and will split an entree. We have a free one coming. I threw out all the cookies that were left (not many, but enough) and the Stollen. My New Year's Resolution will start today so I can get a jump on it. This is going to the the year I make it to goal. Swear to God!!!!! p.s. Jane.. the church is 40 miles away. Bob's new church will be 36 miles away.

138 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!

Good morning, Violets.. We're up early today so that the Bobster and I can go to the little church he pastored for 4 years after he retired from Alpena. It's 40 minutes away and he is preaching there today. They are also dedicating the tree they planted in his honor. So kewl. Next Sunday we go to his new church and will start all over again! I won't be back to the Alpena church and the choir for a month. wooo hoooo! When I get back, I'm hoping for a whole new attitude and a new beginning for the church. It's really dark out right now, chilly at 27 degrees, but no rain or snow. Off to get dressed and have some breakfast before we head out. Everyone have a great day!!

Good afternoon, Violets.. PamELa.. we meet with our cruising buddies Jan. 3 for dinner and finalizing cruise details. I will check with them about driving to meet you. I can't guarantee, but I'll sure try to push it. Bob said he would love to meet you too also, it's just a matter of seeing what the other two people are comfortable with. The Bobster and I took our oldest son and his girlfriend out to lunch. Al is our 43 year old adopted special needs son. It's always an adventure when we get together. He doesn't have much to say and it's like pulling teeth to get a conversation going. But we do the best we can. Now we are off to see It's Complicated. Can't wait!!! Hope everyone is having a good day. Anybody hit any good sales??

139 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!

Good morning, Violets... I didn't get up until 9 this morning. And NOTHING to do today!!! No gifts to return, no gift cards to redeem, no meetings, no rehearsals.. what the heck am I going to do today????? PamELA... we arrive at LAX at 12:50 Friday and will be there until the ship leaves on Sunday. We are staying at the Westin Lakeshore hotel. We are traveling with two other people so I'd have to check with them about how we could get together. Would LOVE to meet on Saturday somehow. I know that they want to do several tours that day. I plan on stalking celebrities. I didn't realize you were that close!!! WOOOO HOOOOOOOO!!! Michelle... I'll make sure Mexico is ready for you. How on earth could it survive two Violets?? Where in Mexico are you going? Beautiful day here today.. no rain, no snow and sun is shining. It's a good day!! Off to check Facebook. Have a great day everyone. Today I am focusing on not eating junk. We'll see how THAT goes!!

Good evening, Violets.. Christmas 2009 is just about over and it's been a very good one for us. We have so much to be thankful for, good health, family, friends and of course our bands. Though today you'd never know I had one. It was a total pig out day today. Tomorrow is a new day and another chance to get back on track. I'm going to hit the exercise hard this week and see if I can melt off a few pounds before the cruise. We leave Jan. 7 and won't be back here until the 17th. We'll be in LA for a couple of days before the cruise and I will be stalking movie stars. My luck, the only one I'll see is Lindsay Lohan. Off to read some Kindle on the PC.. sleep well everyone! See ya tomorrow.

Jane.. I got 3 boxes of ribbon candy!!! If I was good, it would last me all year. But I'm betting it doesn't make it till the new year. It's the really thin ribbon candy. Walmart sells it and the kids know how much I love it. Stephen King is still going strong on the writing. He comes out with a new book at least twice a year. He had a horrible accident a few years back but seems to have recovered. And yes, a lot of his books are gory and violent. My favorite was The Green Mile. This one is called Under the Dome and is huge!! Bob ate the last 2 English Muffin pizzas for breakfast.. *gasp* and I had a piece of Christmas Stollen. We're just going to pick at things until dinner out tonight. I have a cranberry orange salad to take tonight along with some boiled in beer shrimp. Off to play Bejeweled on Facebook. Enjoy the day!!!

140 days till Haydee and Juan's wedding!!