DivaStyleCoach

Thanks Brandy - you are one of my inspirations! :bored:

PJTP...Wow...just, WOW. G4E - hope all goes will with your surgery. :wub: KC - Kudos and a big Woot Woot to you for standing up for that young lady. It's the kind of thing I would have done - at least I hope so - and I am so proud to know you! :wub: :wub: I feel like I'm on the fringes here...read all of the 6 or more pages I missed, and I'm all caught up now. I'm sad about the way this is going - for many reasons. :bored: I came to this site when I was considering WLS, because all I'd heard about was the bypass - I didn't want a bypass, I wanted to know what else was out there. I found LBT. I have really, truly enjoyed my time here and found some great friends. I can say I haven't had any problems with anyone - no PM's, nothing controversial. I guess that could mean that I'm not involved enough... I too miss HH - I understand most of that situation, but I think 100% disclosure on it would help some people. I have seen some really offensive posts here - in many parts of the site - and have only "heard" about others because they are deleted before I get here. I do hope the situation rectifies itself - I can't say how that will happen, but I don't want to lose this community. :smile2: That said - the real reason I originally came on today was to report that I am finally, truly and completely in :lol::lol:ONEDERLAND!!!!!:lol::lol: I've been struggling for a while (about 6 weeks) with a stall at 205 lbs. Y'all all know I was whining a bit about it, and I got wonderful support from the folks in this thread and a couple of others. :wub: I weighed yesterday and noticed I was at 199 lbs. I thought it was kind of a fluke, having just finished the Diabetes walk on Sunday, so I didn't mention it. I'd hate to have to put the ticker back up over 200 after posting it publicly! :eek: Today, I stepped on the scale and I was at 196 lbs. I haven't been that light since I was 16 years old. My mom took me to the doctor at age 9 and he told us then that if I didn't watch my weight, I'd break the 200 mark by the time I reached 18. Overachiever that I was, I made it at age 16. This is the lightest I've EVER been since reaching puberty...and I'm not done yet. I figure another 20 - 30 lbs and I should be off the diabetes meds and ready to call the weight loss part of my journey over and done. For all those who have been my inspiration, my friends and my supporters, THANK YOU. For all those that gave me a swift kick in my rapidly-reducing-heinie when I needed it, THANK YOU. The next phase of my banded life has begun, and I wouldn't be here without all of you. If I try to list everyone's names, I'm sure to forget someone, but hopefully you know how much you all mean to me. From the bottom of my heart and soul, Thank you. You've helped me to take my life back, and I can't say it enough...Thank You!:wub:

PJTP...Taking a break from filing (YUK)... It frustrates me a bit that I can WALK faster than I can RUN...something about the motion of running makes me feel out of breath so much quicker. I can't quite figure it out...I also feel my heart pounding much more when I run - though according to my Bodybugg, the calorie burn is very similar. I could just give up on running and stick with the walking, but I just wanna know what it feels like to run flat out with that beautiful long stride I've seen on distance runners - they look so graceful and powerful... Maybe I was a runner in another life? :biggrin:

PJTP...Catching up...this is gonna be a long one...:laugh: Sounds like your meds need an adjustment...I haven't yet had to adjust my bp meds, but I think the time is coming. With my last fill I've been eating less and I think the meds might start making me loopy... That's pretty good, Beth...and I think it could be true in Slim's case... Mmmm...ice cream.... Thanks - you too! I LOVE my iPhone...don't know what I did without it...but then I'm a serious tech junkie...:laugh: Just take it slow, and it will come... Oh, I feel for ya, CC - that would just about kill me...hope she's going to be much better very soon...is there such a thing as a "mild" case? Here's praying she's got a very mild case... More prayers headed her way...I know you'd love nothing more than to be by her side... Thanks for all the kudos on my Diabetes walk, guys, I really appreciate it. Back to my training today...walked DDog this morning, will run tomorrow... Having fun trying to figure out what size clothes to buy...depending on the manufacturer / label, I wear anything from an 18 to a 16 to a 14W...it's confusing! Have to go file a stack of papers...TTYL! :wub:

Hi Everyone (especially BillOH)! Well, the Step Out for Diabetes event was yesterday - I had intended to run the 3-mile course, but ended up walking it. I arrived and warmed up with everyone else, and when I started the course, we were on asphalt...then it went to gravel, then grass (bumpy in spots), then sand, then more gravel, then dirt with tire ruts (service road, I think)...well, you get the picture. I was afraid to run the unfamiliar terrain, so I power-walked the entire course. It was two laps of a 1.5 mile route, and I started off in the middle of the pack, passed a bunch of folks, held the lead for a while, then got passed by this jackrabbit of a guy who I chased for the rest of the second lap... Never did catch him, but I did the 3 miles in right around 30 minutes, so I didn't feel too badly...last year at this time, I wouldn't have been looking to walk the whole thing, or if I did, it would have been very slowly... I'm happy I did it - now on to the next challenge...going to schedule a 5k run in mid-late October or very early in November, and that will probably end my "race season". If it's icy underfoot, I'll have to figure out what I'm going to do...I'm really apprehensive about falling. If I can't run outdoors, I'll make time to get to the gym, or to get a treadmill in my house; I've also got a rowing machine, but it's not the same. Darn winter - it will be showing up just as I'm ready to do a lot of roadwork! :smile2: Anywho...I feel great, my weight is dropping again after being stuck for about 6 weeks (also had a fill recently) and I'm loving how I 'crave' wogging / running / walking. Thanks for all the encouragement - I'll definately be back to report my progress along the way! :biggrin:

PJTP...Hi Everyone! :biggrin: Just got back in from the walk and a brief stop at 'Family Day' at one of our local parks. It's a big deal, lots of my former co-workers from City Hall are there, so it's a nice way to catch up with everyone. The walk was awesome - 3 miles. I ended up not running it, because I was unsure of the course, and I'm glad I didn't try to run it. The course varied from concrete to asphalt to gravel to rocks to bumpy grass with ruts in the walking path from the park vehicles, etc, etc, etc...would have been a turned ankle for sure! I did finish the 3 miles in right around 30 minutes - I think that's pretty good! :w00t: I walked with my iPhone on and chased the 'rabbits' - the group that went out first. I started in the middle of the pack and made my way to the front when I realized the rest of the folks were just kinda strolling. I guess my competitive side came out! The leading group I passed had one really fast guy (the rabbit) who passed me again on the second lap (two laps of 1.5 mile course) so I tried to keep up with him on the second lap, but alas, he was too fast for me and beat me to the finish. I think I was the first woman to finish, and probably the first "Red Hat" to finish. They gave the folks who were Diabetics and walking red hats to wear. Unfortunately, mine wouldn't fit over the afro, but I love the hat anyway! :biggrin: Here's a pic of me after the walk was over... Here's the team, minus one member (the photographer)...the shadows were killer!

PJTP...Good early Sunday morning, Everyone! :biggrin: Preparing oatmeal to eat before DD and I go out the door to the Step Out for Diabetes walk this morning. Walk starts at 9, so if we leave at 8-ish, we'll be there in plenty of time. Got good music on my iPhone and I'm ready to go. It's really chilly this morning - in the low 40's, so we're going to pick up some inexpensive gloves on the way out. Mine will be bright red (or as red as I can get - I love that color!). Will try to take some pics during the walk and post them here (or in an album) later when I return. Have to go to a political fundraiser / meet-and-greet this afternoon - it's that season around here! Everyone have a fabulous day!:biggrin: BBL! :blushing:

PJTP...heading out for a political fundraiser soon - DH is running for Board of Ed (yes, he's DH again after being on probation for a while...) No, it wouldn't be...I'd do it! :biggrin: What she said! What she said! :thumbup: Yah! What she said! :thumbup: Definately ROCKSTARS!!!! Having a good day - went for a leisurely walk this morning with DH and DDog - have the Diabetes walk tomorrow, which I'm planning to wog / jog / walk / run...my DD is doing it with me, so I kinda have to stay with her, but I'm going to jog as much as I can. Don't know the terrain (it's a bit cross-country if I remember from past walks) so I'll be careful...don't want a twisted ankle. I raised $150.00 - my goal was $250.00, but I started late, so I'm not too upset. I'm just happy to be able to DO the walk on behalf of some with Diabetes who can't...I'm walking for my DDM (Dear Departed Mother) and DDMIL - I know they are cheering me on from heaven...:crying: Gotta go - DH is finally ready to go out the door to the fundraiser...BBL!

Hi Everyone, Saw this on Prevention.com and copied them all down - I've just had a fill, so these smoothie recipes are going to come in handy, and they have the MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acid) to help with belly fat loss... Smoothie recipes from Prevention.com Blueberry Smoothie A berry-licious Breakfast or snack, perfect for the Flat Belly Diet jumpstart SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim milk 1 cup frozen unsweetened blueberries 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA) Place milk and frozen unsweetened blueberries in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil. ************************** Peanut Butter and banana Smoothie Natural peanut butter lends texture to this hearty breakfast drink from the Flat Belly Diet Cookbook SERVINGS: 1 ½ cup fat-free milk ½ cup fat-free plain yogurt 2 Tbsp creamy natural unsalted peanut butter (MUFA) ¼ very ripe banana 1 Tbsp honey ******************************* vanilla Yogurt and Blueberry Smoothie A berry sweet and satisfying Flat Belly Diet snack SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim or soy milk 6 oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 Tbsp flaxseed oil (MUFA) Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen blueberries Combine milk, yogurt, and fresh blueberries plus ice OR frozen blueberries in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and stir in flaxseed oil. Nutritional Info Per Serving 360 calories *********************** chocolate Delight Smoothie Curb sweet cravings with this perfect MUFA-rich, Flat Belly Diet snack SERVINGS: 1 ½ cup skim or soy milk 6 oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt 1/4 cup chocolate chips (MUFA) 1 cup fresh raspberries Handful of ice OR 1 cup frozen raspberries Combine milk, yogurt, chocolate chips, and fresh raspberries plus ice OR frozen raspberries in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and eat with a spoon. Nutritional Info Per Serving ***************** Sweet Peach Smoothie A smoothie makes a delicious snack on the Flat Belly Diet jumpstart SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim milk 1 cup frozen unsweetened peaches 2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA) Place milk and frozen, unsweetened peaches in blender and blend for 1 minute. Transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil. ****************** Citrus Infusion Smoothie Lemon and orange blend for a tropical Flat Belly Diet drink SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim or soy milk 6oz (80-calorie) lemon yogurt 1 medium orange peeled, cleaned, and sliced into sections 1 Tbsp flaxseed oil (MUFA) Handful of ice Combine milk, yogurt, orange, and ice in a blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and stir in flaxseed oil. Nutritional Info Per Serving 370 calories ******************** Apple-a-Day Smoothie Try this taste-bud pleasing drink from the Flat Belly Diet SERVINGS: 1 1/2 cup skim or soy milk 6oz (80-calorie) vanilla yogurt 1 tsp apple pie spice 1 medium apple peeled and chopped 2 Tbsp cashew butter (MUFA) Handful of ice Combine milk, yogurt, apple pie spice, apple, cashew butter, and ice in blender. Blend for 1 minute, transfer to a glass, and eat with a spoon. Nutritional Info Per Serving 388 calories ******************* pineapple Smoothie A refreshing Flat Belly Diet jumpstart snack SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim milk 4 oz canned pineapple tidbits in juice 1 Tbsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA) Handful of ice Place milk, canned pineapple in blender, add of ice, and whip for 1 minute. Transfer to glass and stir in flaxseed oil. ******************** strawberry Smoothie Kick off the Flat Belly Diet 4-day jumpstart with this refreshing drink SERVINGS: 1 1 cup skim milk 1 cup frozen, unsweetened strawberries 2 tsp cold-pressed organic flaxseed oil (MUFA) Combine skim milk and frozen, unsweetened strawberries in blender. Blend, transfer to glass, and stir in flaxseed oil. Enjoy! :thumbup:

PJTP...Hi Y'all! Keeping my head down...mgr is going out of town soon, so I'll have a little peace... Nothing new yet on the job front...still praying for another job to come through asap. Having a pretty good day, all the way around...forgot my sweatshirt for my afternoon walk and it's chilly outside, plus I wore the tank dress from my recent updated pics. No sleeves, open neckline, I think I'll freeze if I go outside! Temp on weather.com shows only 65, so I think discretion is the better part of valor and I'll keep my butt indoors this time. I'll do an extra walk tonight to make up for it. Back to wogging - ran part of our now 2-mile course this morning with H. Seems that when you stop jogging, you lose the lung capacity right away...my legs weren't really hurting (much) but I had absolutely NO wind...frustrating! Especially when I had run the entire 1 mile course not a few weeks ago...guess I needed more time. We started walking again to extend the distance and work on our form - longer steps, stretching out, etc...seems to be working - I do notice my stride is longer now. Guess I'll have to be patient with myself...not my strong suit. On my second day of liquids post-fill. My fill doc is happy with me - I'd last seen him in April, and I've dropped 27 lbs since then, but I wanted more. There's that over-achiever in my personality again - anyway, my next appt with the band doc is on my one year anniversary in November. :eek::w00t: It's not that far away - I can't believe it's been nearly a YEAR since I was banded! If I can't get my weight down far enough and get off the diabetes meds, my band doc suggested I consider a bypass :wub::eek::tt2::eek: That is so NOT what I want to do...I don't want to leave the world of the banded folk - so I'm turning EVERYTHING up a notch. Decrease the carbs, increase protein, increase the intensity of my workouts, whatever I gotta do, I'll do. I've got another 35 - 40 lbs to go before I hit my personal goal. I wanted to lose 100 lbs, but if I get off the meds before then, we'll reevaluate. I also wanted to get into single-digit clothes, but I don't want to look - as a girlfriend of mine said - like a 'bobblehead'. I'll just keep following the bandster rules, work on getting off the meds and keep that as my focus. Everything else would be gravy... :drool:

Hi Notorious Novembers! I've been reading the recent message with great interest...I've been at a standstill for about 6 weeks. Flipping up and down a couple of pounds, but nothing like what I wanted. I just had another fill on Tuesday, and I can tell the difference in my restriction, so I'm hopeful I'll start dropping pounds at a good rate again. I tracked what I was eating, and like a lot of you, I wasn't getting enough protein. I started using the Isopure clear protein drinks after my fill, because I seem to be more sensitive to fills now, and I didn't want to stress my tummy / pouch by trying to eat solids too quickly. Right now, it's feeling pretty good - I'm within sight of Onederland and I want to be there more than anything right now! Exercise - I walk 6 days a week on average. I have a 2-mile course (that's a recent distance improvement) that I walk / wog with my husband; I walk to and from the train station to my office building at work (2 miles total for both trips) and I walk 30 minutes (about 1.5 miles) during my lunchtime at work (course includes a killer hill). Nothing else - well, I don't know that I have TIME for anything else! My clothing sizes keep dropping (currently wearing a 16, down from 22-24) and I feel pretty good. My A1C score has dropped to 7.0 (I'm a type II diabetic) so I feel good about that as well. Goal is < 6 to get me off the meds. Going to run / wog a 3 mile course this weekend as part of the Step Out Against Diabetes event in my area - my goal is to run the whole thing, but I don't know if I'll make that - I seem to be more winded than I thought I would be. Hang in there, everybody - I agree that the protein intake is very important...and exercise definately helps. JMS - can you do water exercises? Is there a public pool near you that can accommodate you? I wish you all the best in your recovery from surgery, and pray that you continue to lose weight and your spinal issues subside. Wonderful news about the surgery and the non-invasive diagnosis!

PJTP...Hi again! I have a few minutes before my 8 pm online class, so guess where I am...LBT! I'm adding my prayers to that as well, Slim...it's scary all over out here!:eek: Absolutely - long-term prayer never hurt anyone...what is that old saying "There are no atheists in foxholes"...I think our economy is definately in a foxhole and everyone that is currently working needs prayers that their jobs remain secure... Working on it as we speak, and thanks for the good wishes! Hope you get well soon, too, Poolgirl - I've had swimmer's ear before and it's not fun. Kids and germs...gotta constantly be on the watch, and even then you can't catch 'em all! I have a co-worker who is very anal-retentive about germ-fighting. She had to travel in Asia earlier this year and brought her own supply of face masks...but she didn't get sick!:thumbup: Heading to bed...g'night all! :hat:

PJTP...Hi y'all! Been busy today - lots of paperwork, computer stuff, filing. Nothing too stressful, so it's okay... Job hunt continues, made contact with the union rep today re: filing a grievance. She's making good noises, but we'll see what actually happens. She has a good reputation, so let's hope her claws are about to come out. Got another fill yesterday, so I'm on liquids for a day or two...I seem to be more sensitive to them lately. I'm craving carbs like mad - gotta keep the hands busy so they don't put anything crunchy, salty or fat-filled in my path. Preparing for my 'Step Out for Diabetes' event this weekend - got some good pledges going, and I'm getting nervous and excited. It's a 3 mile course that I plan to run, based on my work with the C25K program. Farthest I've gone since I started, but I can walk 2.5 with no problem (gotten faster since I started) so I'm gonna go for it. Gotta weed out the closet again - I'm currently wearing a pair of size 18 pants that are about to fall off of me...went to the ladies' room and pulled them down without unbuttoning and didn't even realize what I'd done...happy surprise! Hoping for good news on the job application front soon...got class tonight and tons of homework to do, as usual...BBL!:tt1:

PJTP...Hi y'all! Been a busy morning - two unwanted days away from the office will do that to ya...:thumbup: Gathering evidence for my next move, keeping my nose clean, and not saying anything to anybody. Since they are determined to use my every word against me, I'll just do my talking outside of the office...:mad2: DD called because the local school messed up her financial aid somehow and now they've locked her out of her classes...:thumbup: Called to straighten everything out and they are claiming I missed some piece of paperwork. Guess who I'll be calling this afternoon! :thumbup: Going for a fill appt at 1 pm. Been stuck for over 6 weeks and even though my exercise has increased, the weight isn't moving. The hunger is back - that's why I'm stuck on the scale. I've been eating like no tomorrow - so fill time, here I come! Scheduled for a "Step Out for Diabetes" walk this weekend in my area - it's 3 miles and I'm going to run / walk / wog the course - something I would NEVER have done pre-band. That part I'm very happy about...gotta get a stopwatch feature on my iPhone so I can time myself and see how I do... If anyone wants to contribute, you can do so at: Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes:. All contributions gratefully accepted - my goal was a little ambitious, I think: $250.00 though I only started a few weeks ago - I don't know why I thought the walk was at the END of the month instead of the MIDDLE! Have a wonderful day! BBL! :thumbup:

Back again... Thanks a bunch for the info - I know what I have to do!

PJTP... Has he done or said anything that might give you 'pause for cause' so to speak? Anything about hurting himself, giving up hope, etc? If you have an employee assistance program that could be the trigger they need to talk to him. Perhaps putting a bug in HR's ear regarding your concern for your co-worker's well-being would be helpful - even if he denies that there's anything going on at home, perhaps just hearing that they have help for him if he wants it could be the encouragement that he needs. I think most communities also have an anonymous tip line to report abuse - and once he's on their radar, they will be alert to potential problems. Because he's male, there may be some bias against him - hopefully not, but that's the stupid world we live in sometimes - I hope that he can get some help or at least that someone else takes notice. I hope that with the changes in the workplace that have happened with past tragedies, that someone will take it seriously that this gentleman seems to be having a hard time at home. Let us know how YOU are doing with all this - I know that working in a stressful situation isn't fun for YOU either...believe me, I know!

PJTP...Hi y'all! Semi-lazy weekend behind me...lots of studying (tons of reading - thought about you, Beth!), questions, etc. Happily serving my 2-day suspension from work - not happy that I have it, but happy not to be THERE right now. Did my 2.5 mile walk with DDog yesterday - still "training" for the Step Out for Diabetes walk at the end of this month. It's a 3 mile course - I'm planning to run it. Did I say that already? Anywho... Applied for a bunch of jobs, got a wonderful reference coming from one of the higher-ups at a place I applied to - he was the Sunday "Preacher" at our church for over 3 years. Not an ordained minister, but a wonderful speaker. Going to track down one other person who I know used to work there and still has connections to ask for another reference letter - more is better, right? Fill scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - will probably take a half-day at work. I can definately eat more now, and the hunger is back. I've been stuck at 205 (except for a 2-lb drop during my pouch test attempt) for the last 6 weeks or so and even though I've increased my exercise, the weight just isn't coming off like I want it to. I know I'm eating more - and I can hold more, so off to the fill doc I go. I want to get this next (last?) 30 - 40 pounds off before winter really sets in and makes it hard for me to get out and exercise. I think my rowing machine and I are going to be good friends this winter - I hate the thought of putting weight back on because my activity level decreases. Of course there is always hauling and stacking wood for the fireplace to help burn calories... Dealing with a little physical weirdness right now - I WALK faster than I JOG - H and I have extended our distance on our morning walk to 2 miles round-trip, but we complete the distance faster when we power-walk it rather than when we jog. Well - I am faster when I walk - and I'm not sure if it's just that I need to stretch and extend my stride, or what. I do notice a distinct shortness of breath when I jog - and because I've had a serious atrial fibrillation episode before, I'm apprehensive about pushing too hard and kicking my heart rate back into irregular mode. 2 days in the hospital wasn't fun - and the cardioversion (shock back to normal rhythm) wasn't my favorite thing either. Since today is my last "free" day for a while, I may try to jog the 2.5 mile course to see how I do - not worrying about pace, just jogging the entire course - and check time later. Will check back in and let y'all know how it goes...BBL!:thumbdown: Oh - and happy Belated Birthday, SNT! Sorry I missed wishing you well on your actual Born Day!

Hey Notorious Novembers! I'm stuck - at a standstill. Though my exercise had increased, so has my eating, and as a result, I'm stuck at 205 lbs. I'm scheduled for a fill tomorrow afternoon which I hope will help me get jump-started on to losing this last 40 pounds. I want to hit the 100 lbs lost mark! Major goal - get off the diabetes meds. My doc says he can't reduce my meds any further until I lose more weight. Minor goal #1 - get to Onederland! Intermediate goal #1 - get into single-digit clothing sizes for the first time in my adult life. I want to see what wearing a size 8 feels like... Hang in there, everyone! I'll report in after my fill - hopefully that will kick-start me again!

Good morning Everyone! Back looking for some advice...I'm still extending my distances, but timed one of our morning "runs" and found that we (hubby and I) actually go SLOWER when we jog than when we walk fast. I don't seem to be able to keep my stride long enough when I run to keep the same speed level as when I walk. We've actually extended the distance - are now doing 2 miles in about 35 minutes walking. When we were jogging, we didn't cover that much ground in the same time period. I only have the 30 - 35 min in the morning because of my commute, so more time isn't an option at this time. Do I need to work more on flexibility? I find I'm short of breath a LOT when I run, but not so much when I walk. Oh, I'm still breathing hard, can talk a bit, but not carry on conversation, but when I run, it's nearly impossible to talk unless I'm going slower than I want to go (or feel I should go). All you experienced runners out there (BillOH - are you listening?) I need some advice and counsel. I liked running, but if I'm not getting faster and the percieved level of effort isn't getting easier, what am I doing wrong? I've been walking the last couple of weeks - fast and long 3 days a week (hence the 2 mile distance now) and slower, more relaxed the other days. Did my 2.5 mile walk on Sunday and chopped 15 min of my previous time of 1 hour - even with dragging the dog the whole way. I probably could have gone even faster without him...and I plan to when I do the Diabetes walk at the end of the month, but... I'm rambling now...looking for help and advice. Thanks in advance!

PJTP... Holy crap - is the day over ALREADY????? Got up and did a 2 mile wog with H - funny ache in the right hip made me walk it today, but I walked FAST! I'm a little perturbed...I WALK faster than I JOG! WTF???? :eek: Went to new location for our church - sold old building, now sharing space with another church of compatible philosophy, so we moved some of our stuff in to get ready for 1st service of the year tomorrow at 9 am. Yep, it's early, but this way, we are not disturbing the other church, and they won't disturb us. We'll do joint 'coffee hour' between services to mix and mingle... DD has Psych class on Sat mornings - 9 am until almost noon - she's still getting adjusted to college. Says her Prof is boring and she's not really understanding the subject matter. I suggested reading the chapters BEFORE the class and then asking questions for clarification :tongue2: H had campaign stuff today - he's running for Board of Ed - but it rained all morning, so not a lot going on, but he was out of the house. Went to see the new Tyler Perry movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" - wonderful!I won't give away any of the plot stuff in case anyone is going to see it, but I'll definately be adding it to my library - Love Tyler Perry! Did the grocery shopping, made hamburgers (bought bulk, 'roll my own' so to speak) and did a little cleaning up around the house. Spaced out a bit and forgot I need to post in both of my online classes, so it's going to be a late night for me. Applied for another govt job - makes 11 now. Got a lovely email from a Professor on the campus who was our regular Sunday speaker at church last year - he's willing to write me a letter of reference. I'm just not sure if I want to have him slant it toward a specific position, or make it rather generic so I can use it for ANY position I apply for...thoughts, anyone? Nose back to the books / discussion board for class. Have a lovely night, everyone! :wub:

...you become your local consignment shop's best customer because you've lost so much weight you bring them all your old clothes, and you keep losing at such a steady rate that you're continually bringing them your new, barely-worn clothes that you bought during your transition! Oh, and let's not forget that you're in there SHOPPING for new clothes every few weeks because you HATE to pay retail for clothes you're only gonna wear for a month or two!:wink:

PJTP...Checking in on a Friday afternoon - it's been a good day so far. Went online job hunting, in the past 3 days, I've applied for about 10 jobs. One at the hospital about 2 miles from my home, 1 at a tech company about 5 miles from my home, three at the Coast Guard Academy nearby (used to work there years ago, still have contacts there :laugh:) and 5 on a site that handles civilian jobs for the Navy and Marine Corp. Think having a retired Navy hubby will help? :cursing: Been a strange eating day, though...had grits and raisins for breakfast (think hot cereal), then had an Angus burger with bacon and cheese for lunch (only 1/2 the bun). Planning on a protein drink for dinner - I KNOW I'm probably over on calories for the day, certainly over on fat. Gonna get on the rowing machine tonight to try and burn some of this off... Catching up... Yah - me too, Slim! Almost EVERYTHING they put in the last reprimand letter I disputed. When I get back to work on Tuesday, I'm filing a grievance. This is just ridiculous. I want the reprimand off my record and my two days of back pay...I'm through being Ms. Nice Girl... That is just amazing...I cannot even imagine how crazy that makes you...I am kinda the same personality (I think it's why I relate to you so much). While my H was on his deployments with the Navy, I had to run the show. His 1st wife messed it up so much that I was determined NOT to let that happen, and figured out I LIKE being in charge. When he came home it was tough to step back. It's been a while now, since he retired, but I still on occasion have to remind myself that I need to step back and let him handle some stuff - or hang himself if he isn't prepared. Sometimes ya gotta make sure things get done, but sometimes ya gotta let them fall...just make sure YOU are taken care of...and I hope he wakes up soon! When the Church Ladies tell you it's time to go...ya really got love somebody to hang in there. Prayers for ya, girlfriend, that everything works out for the best for YOU. I have a good friend at work going through something very similar. She's given him until December to get his act together or she'll start the new year as a single woman...she's got a good job and is paying all the bills, so she can make sure she keeps a roof over her and her kids' heads (3 kids under 10) but she's really tired of him right now... Nice to see you here, G4E! Miss ya a whole bunch! :wub: Well I've got homework to do (reading) so I'll sign off for now, but I'll certainly BBL! :wub:

PJTP... Just finished with my meeting...:w00t: All I can say is that it's definately time to go...this time, I was written up for: 1. Not using standard procedures to clear waitlisted candidates - they do not show up using the standard procedures, so you have to use a different process to clear them. 2. Missing a meeting - yep, I did miss it, because I was working in another part of the office and did not hear the reminder on my computer go off. Oh, and by the way, my mgr forgot OUR status meeting just before she went on travel...but SHE didn't get written up for that. 3. After a particularly long meeting, I said offhandedly "That's one way to keep me from eating, that meeting went way too long"...I was written up for that. I did tell BBoss and HR that I've heard far WORSE said in the office on a nearly daily basis. Didn't tell BBoss that it was primarily about HIM. 4. Recently prepared scholarship letters were not perfect the first time around - since I've never done them, that might be expected by any NORMAL person. Not this crew... 5. Cited for not knowing how to upload inquiry cards. Usually I enter them into a spreadsheet and Mgr's favorite does the uploading. I told them flat out that it was unfair to cite me for not knowing how to do something I'd never DONE before! Did they listen? No. Did they hear me? Yes. It didn't matter - they are hell-bent on proving that I cannot do my job, and that things are not getting better. NO, they won't get better when you have to deal with crap like I've just described. I've got a two-day unpaid suspension. Better than expected, but it still pisses me off that I got it at all! Long weekend ahead - see ya on the boards!:blushing:

PJTP... If they are expecting me to plead my case, cry or anything else like that, I hope they are holding their breath, because they'll be sorely disappointed. I'm kinda actually looking forward to the time off, sick as that might sound... Lulu - you do have a good one...my H says those things but economic reality for us right now means I still work. He'd love it if I was the "Happy Homemaker" and all I did was take care of HIM...don't know that I'm really suited for that, but after my experience with my current employer, I'm about ready to give it a try! Hope you're feeling better, Suzyt! Hang in there...and it was a good idea to tell the folks at the interview about the possible drug reaction...that way any nervous twitches have a good explanation! :w00t:

PJTP... It's been a quiet morning - looking for new jobs, filing at work, keepin' my head down. Big meeting scheduled for 4 pm today, so I probably won't check in until I get home. Drove in today so I don't have to deal with concerned questions from my fellow train riders when I'm breathing flames on the way home...found a new favorite station on XM Radio - plays R&B oldies - I could sit in the car all day and dance in my seat!:blushing: Got some possibilities closer to home...I think my Mgr tanked my last two possibles at my current company - can't prove it, but when one takes forever to say they've hired someone else and one just says they are "continuing the search" I get suspicious. H has been really supportive - asked this morning how much my car payment was in case he had to cover me. I'm good for a short while...until the unemployment kicks in if the worst / inevitable happens... If I am sent home for two weeks, I'm going to be job-hunting for 8 hours a day...one job site had problems this morning (aggravating - don't they know how SERIOUS I am? :w00t:) but I've also got some house projects I want to finish up... Will definately report in this afternoon...love y'all bunches!