Apples2

When I had my agencies, I always bought sporty cars. Not sure why...just had always had one. I've been driving 4 door pickups for about 10 yrs now...ever since I became a full time farm wife. I've been looking at a Cadillac SRX (crossover) but I think I have detachment disorder when it comes to my truck. I have lots of GM points built up and they are just like $$$ on a new purchase. Maybe after this trip I will make the purchase. My dog will still ride in the front seat with me though.

Great...dog rides in the truck with us, of course. Has never rode in the back. His mother does not allow that. Too unsafe. And, he insists on leather seats. Our truck we will be bringing came with a Waldoch package. It's a four door and the back is covered with a hydraulic lid the same color as the truck so everything we are bringing will be clean and not wet. Otherwise, I would not be traveling...I'd be in the air.

Linda...you almost made me blow my cocoa with your statement about "bit_chy Morman" thing. I must have missed something in Jessica's post. Thought she said it was going good again on solids. Yep, like Linda said, gotta take it easy and chew and not good at all to throw up at this stage or if you can absolutely help it. I know you are trying, Jessica. Just watch the bite size and really chew. Well, we are starting to get hit. It's still only 33 degrees so rain is not freezing yet. They are saying a couple inches of ice. Great. I made a hair appt for tomorrow morning so it would last the entire time we are gone. Sure wish I would have done it earlier in the week. Will try to make it and might just have to drive on shoulder of road the entire way. Been there, done that.

Laura....poor little guy. Hope the bones heal the way they should. You look so good. What a nice photo of you. Small plane? Where is it? I want to hire it to take me to Atlanta. Can always meet Keith and the dog down there.

Thanks for explaining the workings, Jessica. It's not that I NEEDED to know. It's just that us Cyber Aunties can be a little snoopy at times. We are not only interested in how you are doing with your band, we are interested in your life also. Awwwww...a dream of mine...to go to the winter Olympics...sigh.........:biggrin:

You lucky girl, Arlene...grandkids...I'm afraid at some point I'm going to get trouble for stealing little neighbor kids just so I get my fix and play pretend Grandma!:biggrin:

You're my kind of girl, Laura!

Arlene...thank you for your prayers as we travel. I am such a nervous ninny. I LOVE to fly and take a few trips a year but I'm just not sure about this LONG trip in the vehicle. We are driving because we missed our dog so much last year and we don't want to put him through the trauma of flying (I know but he's our baby). I will handle the drive as long as we get out and walk around every few hours. I have driven on many trips for the farm but longest drive was to Oklahoma. My trips are usually no longer than 5-6 hours one way. Also, thanks for the compliment on the cooking. I have thought of a few different things like you mentioned but really don't know if at my age, I want to get into such an understaking. I want a "stupid" job. I've always had jobs that require 120% of me and many hours a week. Not sure I want to jump into anything at this point and still have to handle my job on the farm. I am backing off on a few things as of this spring. We are doing some reorganizing as to how we handle harvest and it won't be so taxing on me or DH. DS stays super busy throughout spring, summer and fall with our other business, which I do all the billing, bookkeeping, etc. If I had the option on what I could choose for a job, it would be in a little dress shop, gift shop or furniture store. Something simple, what I'm interested in and don't have to think.:biggrin:

Julie...you can pack your warmer weather clothes but just make sure you have a sweater for fall type jacket to put on if it is chilly. A couple long pants, a couple pair of capris, a couple of longer sleeved shirts and any short sleeves shirts and just throw your jacket on, if needed. Where we are staying is a wooded resort and pretty low key. Last year I just didn't have enough layers. I had just lost all my insulation and it was an unusually cold winter down there. We were there earlier though and think it will be different this year. I am actually doing pretty good with the clothes packing. We have laundry facilities so I know I only need enough for one week. Same with DH. I am just throwing in a couple of extra fleece jackets and vests to get me through if I need them. And, of course, 25 pairs of shoes is not unreasonable, is it??????????????

Hey Jessica...you are a busy girl. Happy to hear you are back on solids and doing OK with them. Take it easy here at first...chew really well. If you are getting tired of the protein drinks (I only had 1 and that was b/4 surgery...couldn't get past the smell) try something else in the morning. Greek yogart, cottage cheese with a little fresh fruit, etc. Gotta mix up that menu so you can stay interested and look forward to your meals. OK...a couple of snoopy questions (just cuz I care and want to know what you are up to). Do you need to join this club to qualify for the scholarships? And, are you getting some classes gifted to you with this club? I guess I have never heard of scholarships working that way. My DS was gifted a couple of scholarships that he applied for but they did not work like you are describing. Well...no matter how you have to go about getting this scholarship, I will keep my fingers crossed in hopes that you do.

Mornin' Girls... Can't believe I have not gotten on here yet today. Charlene...enjoy your lovely weather. We are expecting freezing rain tonight and all through the weekend and into Monday. It will most likely delay our trip by a day or two. I really, really don't want it to. I want to get out to my son who I have not seen in a year. I really, really want that bear hug. I a still "tweaking" my packing today. Was sooooooo much easier when we flew done there. Could only take so much and that was it. Now I have a couple of my favorite pots and pans for cooking, coolers of beef for my son, extra clothes (cuz, why not, taking a truck).....Pillows (thermapedic...our fav), etc., etc., etc.....Do I need to take all that? Yep, in my own mind I think so. Told DH he cannot say a thing. He doesn't have to tough it and I am the one packing. We'll see how he handles it. Great...hope things all fit together for you with the move, what DD is going through right now, the house sale, DH's job, etc. Yep, I think you need a girl's retreat! Janet...hope this fill is what you needed and not too much for you like the last time. Well, better tend to the stove. I have a few extra for noon today. BBQ chicken on a bun, steamed green beans, oven roasted seasoned potato quarters, Special K bars and cranberry cream cheese bars. That's the menu for today. Now gotta go set the table. This afternoon is completing the packing (repacking) and be done with it so we can relax and enjoy the weekend. No plans due to weather. Just hope we don't get what Linda got and have to deal with down power lines, etc. Oh well, DS will just have to handle the after affects of this storm if we can even get out of here. Have a good one!

Have been visiting with Laura on the airport pickups. She is going to be there with Nelson. Julie gets in at 2:18, Eva and Janet at 4:05. If needed, I will be there. Otherwise I plan on getting to the condos, checking in and unloading groceries, water, etc. I plan on picking up some necessities along the way to Orlando. So, if there is something special someone wants from the supermarket let me know. I will bring popcorn, soy snacks, deli meat, some shrimp, fruit and veggies and water. Just let us know your flight schedule and we can see to it that you are picked up. Happy to hear you made your decision to come!

OK....I don't see a mention of you talking to you doc about your FL fight???????????

Beauty tip for the day... Since losing weight, I have these "fat pockets" under my eyes and I detest them. It's like they were stretched out from the fat for so long that they will never go away. Kind of like the bat wing thing. They aren't like drooping but enough that it makes me look tired or like I have been crying. I'm not one to fuss with myself (not a girly-girl) and if I cannot do my hair and makeup in 2.5 minutes, I'm teed. I saw an add in a magazine for this Olay eye roller thingy. Thought it would be worth a try. IT WORKS! It's just a tube called Olay Regenerist in the makeup aisle. You click it once and roll on the cream (very little amount) and roll for 30 seconds on each baggy. Did I say IT WORKS???? I'm all excited and though I would share my find. Spendy...$18.99, but, IT WORKS!!!!!!!

OK...I vote myself to be the most forgetful participant on this thread. I am proud to hold some kind of title...whatever it is. I was going to add and forgot. The Beck solution I think touches on (if I remember correctly) the combination of foods that we take in. Such as...we all need the correct amount of healthy carb/protein/fiber to keep our metabolisms working and things burning and moving. It will be interesting to see what you guys have to share about that topic.

Mornin' Girls.... First off, Linda...great post. Lately it feels like you are so much more comfortable sharing your weightloss experience and advice. I think we all get to a point where we feel we are doing so well in our journey that we become confident enough to share. Make sense? I know I felt that way. Anyway, you really have a way of putting it out there in a kind and gentle manner. I look forward to your posts. Eva...sorry you are struggling with food issues. Once a person gets off track, it's like the food takes over our minds. It's hard to break the pattern again. We also get scared that we cannot get back on track and start doubting ourselves. That's where the basics and the journaling come in. I can honestly say that I became morbidly obese due to not paying attention to what I put in my mouth. It was all the little bites, little tastes of things that added up. Once I decided to shake things up and started journaling, I was able to wrap my head around what I was consuming. What a wake up call. It's difficult to start over and be strict with ourselves but it does become habit after awhile. YOU CAN DO THIS. I bet you could advise anyone else on how to do it right? It's just breaking the darned pattern and getting on the path again. One thing I always found is that are temptations EVERYWHERE and they were always calling my name. I had to find ways to tune it all out and stick to the menu I had set up for myself. Then after I got into the routine, I allowed the planned treats and felt like I was not deprived. I liked the me-me-me comment. What's this thread for?????????? Us-us-us and you are part of us! Deb...I found when the nightmares subsided that I was on the downhill side of things. It made such a difference. When I did not have those nightly dreams infiltrating my days, I was better able to handle everything. Happy to hear yours subsided. LauraK...you statement about "just moving" is so true. If there is an attempt to do just 30 minutes of something a day, we start to feel better and can increase our time without knowing it. When I was at my highest weight I wanted to move but got so tired. I'd push myself and be totally exhausted. Now I run around like my a$$ is on fire and I never get tired unless I have something affecting me like some virus or lack of sleep. Janet...hope you get to your fill appt. Was listening to the news in the truck yesterday about all your rain. Sounds like a couple hours North of you is really bad. Be careful out there. Great...I'm sure your doc will once again be impressed with your progress. Also, hope you can get your fills and back to where you want to be. You'll know it when you get there. Busy day already. Did the books for the month, paid the bills for Feb cuz we won't be around, did payroll ahead of time and paid in my medicare, Fica, etc. Heading to town later in the day. Tanning session and LB group meeting. Really looking forward to it. Have not had one since Nov. I love our coordinator. She is LB herself and LB doc's nurse. I do get the skinny comments from some but I hold my own and don't worry about it. All I know is that our coordinator is in on all my LB appts and she knows my struggles this last year and she supports me. Thank you is all I can say about that. You all have a great day. FF taco soup brewing for lunch for myself and the men. Going to make some garlic/cheese/cornbread and have an apple crisp in the oven. (Had to use up the apples in the frig b/4 we go).

Sorry to hear of your food issues, Jessica. Your idea of shakes tomorrow might be a good idea. If you have irritated things with that stuck episode, you might need a respite from solids for a couple of days. But, if this persists, you might want to call your doc and let him know what is going on. Really slow down...even with the liquids. Take care and let us know how it is going.

OOPS...maybe I'm the one doing the creeping out thing:biggrin::tt2::biggrin::ohmy::ohmy:

Love ya, Linda!

First Lori wants to snuggle on the couch with me and now I get your offer to shack up. Nope, I'm not creeped out:unsure:

Yep, room on the couch...I love ya...let's snuggle!:biggrin:

Forgot...I've heard great reviews on the Beck solution books. Let me know what you guys think of them. I have a friend that is about 40 lbs overweight and she is now using their techniques and losing.

Good Evening Friends... Julie....don't lift Mimi just to be a little tighter...lol... I, too, get really tight if I lift. I, like Arlene, have a lot of adhesions but don't know if that is the reason for tightness. I really should watch what I lift anyway do to a tendency toward hernias. I have had a number of hernia repairs and ALWAYS have adhesions cut away with each surgery I have had. No troubles for a year and want to keep it that way so I try to not lift over 10lbs. It doesn't always work that way on the farm and I do suffer if I push the limits. I, on the most part, behave. Laura...makes me happy to hear you are with your dad and family. Sending warm MN hugs even though it's damned cold, sleeting and windy today. HI PHYLL...good to see your post! Janet....I admire a woman that feels she does not need a man in her life or feel the need to be married. I just lucked out in the one I got. Pretty much have him trained now and if (God forbid) anything would ever happen to my sweet boy, I would never marry again. 1. Too hard to train (old dog/new tricks theory). 2. No trusting that someone would want to step in to try to hone in on what DH and I worked so hard for all these years. Sound selfish of me? Nope. Self protection mode. And talking about living in the present...you have the right attitude. Can't change the past. Gotta live for the future and learn from the past. Just like our weightloss journey. Gotta learn from all that hard work. It always has to be at the base of our brain. Linda...I will be gone and not have computer access for a week during your bandiversary. Just want to say congrats and goal will be here b/4 you know it with the way you are going. Lori...PTSD issues. Yep. That's me. But, I've dealt with it all. 4.5 yrs of therapy to learn how to turn it off. It's there but I do not let it invade my good life. Long story...ten long years from 7-17 yrs of age. But, I have the best life ever. I'm a survivor, not a victim. I love life and wake up happy every day. I am thankful every day that I took the time to work on what I needed to. Life if good. Well, had an icky day. I have this problem with surrendering when I am feeling not quite right. The verdigo if OK but caused me to be very nauseous. But, I took off for town anyway to finish up some farm business at the tax office and with our farm management guy. I was very lucky to not leave my lunch on my paperwork on his desk. I am back home now and going to surrender and lay on the couch. Just not worth trying to do anything else today. You all have a nice evening. "Hi" to everyone else I missed. Been thinking of you Melissa and so happy for you.

Great...not sure how I missed your post last night. Ppl were mentioning things about DD's troubles with fiance and I knew I missed something. Yep, best to deal with that type of thing now. He sounds like a typical 20-something male that needs a little more time single to play with his toys. Best to let him take that ride alone instead of being selfish and putting her through hell over some tires and cars. Looks like he needs to get his priorities in line. Gotta be give and take. She's smart to realize now b/4 the wedding and to work on it with him, if he is willing. Linda...yes, Janet most likely pays elevated prices for the vet bills, etc., but, we pay through the nose for fruits and veggies in 9 month out of the year and we are sometimes paying for crap. I have always loved fruit and just crave it so bad in the winter. Have you noticed the crappy melons lately? And the price of berries? Sure, I'll pay ya $6.99 for a few strawberries. Nuts! Eva...way more men that come home from war have PTSD and it goes undiagnosed. Too proud, don't want to deal with it, etc. I feel there should be more intense screening b/4 these guys are allowed to head home. I think some guys truly believe they do not have any after affects (like Arlene's son). In their mind, they are so certain. I was diagnosed with PTSD in 1994. The diagnosis knocked me off my feet and I denied, denied, denied that I was affected. I was falling apart, but I still denied. Long story and not opening a can of worms today like I did yesterday. But, PTSD NEEDS to be treated. OK...we are getting way too deep. Woke up with a case of vertigo during the night. Something I have to deal with once in awhile. Tuned over in bed and thought I was going to hurl. Been up for a couple of hours and it has not tamed down. It will and always does. If I hold my head still for long enough, it gets somewhat better. Just really don't want to be sick on this trip. Talked to DS last night that lives in Atlanta. He sounded pretty excited about us coming. A year is toooooooooooooooooooooooooo long without seeing him. We couldn't get out there because of the hectic farm season and he couldn't get here because he just started up a flight school last spring. He has lived as far away from home that he can get since he graduated from HS but we talk to him every day...sometimes 10 times. He was always able to come home every couple of months until this year. I told DH last night "I get him first. I birthed him...I hug him first" . I am gonna have to carry that big stick I talk about. OK...DH is up. Gotta make breakfast. This farming year must have been tough on him. Our entire marraige we have gotten up together. This winter he has been sleeping in 2-3 hours longer than me in the morning. I have come to the realization that I am living with an old man (1.5 yrs older). You all have a great day! It's one day closer to getting the heck out of here!

Mornin' Arlene...will have to try and catch the Today show today. We switched cable channels and don't get Big Medicine anymore. Will have to look into the extended package when we get home from FL. Darned fibermyalgia...unless a person has it, they do not realize what you go through. Have a couple of good friends with it. Good days and some really bad days. Just seems like the middle of the road is rare? I feel for you, Arlene.