Congratulations Jo on your new arrivals. Welcome to the group and Welcome Ireallyneedit.

Charlie, I know exactly how you feel. When good things happen with my children, I get ecstatic. When my son, moved from Texas to Phoenix, I knew it was a blessing. I now get to spend long week-ends at least twice a month with my two Beautiful little granddaughters. (It sounds like a lot but my son and his wife like having me there cause I help them a lot.) I have another son in the Phoenix area, with 4 children whom I am close with but I don't see them as often due to their busy schedule and son and DIL don't like coming up to Prescott. I also have a daughter, sil and the sweetest grandson in Albuquerque, NM.

I'm happy for you that your son and his family are moving closer to you. Your location sounds ideal for so many outdoor activities. It's so great that you maximize on the trails and parks that surround you.

Claudine

It seems that so many of my MFP friends are dealing with elderly parents. I know it is so hard. We went through the same thing many, many years ago with my parents (I was a very, very late child). Since my children were very young and we lived 200 miles away, the majority of the care went to my sister and brother-in-law (my sister was 25 years older than me [just her and me] and my nephews were also older than me and long gone from home at the time). I would go up often and give them a break, but I know that it was a difficult responsibility and will always be grateful for the wonderful care they provided during difficult times. I hope I made up a little to her during the short time she was ill before she died. My nephews still live out west and I tried to spend time with her. So, my admiration goes out to all of you going through this now.

Twins! How exciting Red. You and ireallyneedit have your hands full!

Claudine: I don't think twice a month is too much. I spend two hours every Monday morning with my grandkids and we are close. It gives their mom a break, keeps the kids used to me, and lets me set the schedule. I loved spending time with my grandmother and my kids weren't lucky enough to have the close grandparent relationship when they were young. They barely remember their grandparents. The minute I walk in the house, my 4-yr. old granddaughter asks, "What's our craft called today, Grandma?" We have so much fun doing crafts and art projects and making up stories. My ex goes over, too, and we switch off spending time between her and the one-year old. (He never has to change a diaper that way). He is the rough-and-tumble grandparent. Their other grandmother died before they were born.

I felt good yesterday at the gym. One of the staff came up to me and asked me how much weight I had lost and how much had my workout increased. She gave me a high-five when I told her. She is really the only worker I have every spoken to there (except to say "Hi!") and it was really only when I first started and I asked her how to use the stretch trainer (I love still love the stretch trainer). She said that she and another staff member were talking about how I was there everyday and how much weight it had seemed that I had lost. She said that when we had talked back in January she had seen how I worked hard, but it was hard for me and thought, that like most people who begin in January, I wouldn't last. It made me feel really good that strangers notice and now I feel even more motivated. You see, Holly, someone besides you notices! :laugh:

When I began in January, five days a week, I did the stationary bike for 10 minutes at Level 1 and would cardio walk 1/2 mile at about 2 mph. Now I do the bike for entire 30-minute limit at Levels #11 and #12 (top is 20) and have been cardio walking about 3 miles a day at 3 to 4 mph. (totally walk between 5 & 10 miles a day) everyday. I still love the stretch trainer and if your gym has one, I highly recommend it. I now do light weights, but want to do the resistance bands as soon as I get the right weight.

Sorry, Holly! Sometimes it is nice to let yourself feel gray and either delve into a good, trashy novel or binge watch a comedy on the computer. For you :flowerforyou: .

Holly, I should have hyphenated "binge-watch." If you don't already do this, it isn't binging on food, it is binging on all the TV series that are on the computer. Watching a years worth in a row. Great for British comedies and period pieces and Korean dramas.

I love to binge on movies. I take a day off when my husband is playing golf. He hasn't been playing and I miss that day to myself. He played Thursday and I sat 1/2 the day knitting and watching shows I recorded. I love the british sitcoms and the PBS shows like Foyles War, Endeavor, and Downton Abbey. Good Stuff.

I watch on a lot on Hulu for the British and DramaFever for the Korean. I also watch on my smart phone while riding the stationary bike at the gym. Have you watched the British series Rev or Stella? They were two of my favorites. I'm currently watching Starlings. Brendan Coyle (Downtown Abbey and Lark Rise to Candleford) and John Dagleish (Lark Rise to Candleford) are both in it! Also, to keep ahead of PBS, I watch the current British TV using a VPN. I don't own a TV so I watch on my laptop or at gym on my Smart Phone.

Mostly I read. Wore out my first Kindle and am now on my second! It is always in my purse!

Did someone mention Foyle's War? LOVE Michael Kitchen who seems able to act just by raising an eyebrow.

Martin Clunes also fab and, in real life, not one bit like his persona in Doc Martin.

Those British series' are my favorite.

We've watched all of them; Foyle's War, Doc Martin, Lark Rise, MI-5...

The latest (my husband recorded it off the internet from BBC America, I think) is Garrow's Law.

I'm a book lover too; that stack is growing and it's a good thing my ipad doesn't get any heavier from me downloading books to read!!
It seems that a LOT of my reading material is--you guessed it--British!!

Hi everyone! Just a quickie to say I am back from Italy having enjoyed the unique city of Venice and the beautiful Lake Garda. I hit my target of over 10,000 steps each day...often up to 16, 17 and even 21,000 steps ....... but did eat alot of lovely food, ice cream to die for and wine every day with dinner...... so I am expecting to have gained some weight tomorrow when I get on the scales .. watch this space .....:bigsmile:

Jean

I think today is the day to post Wednesdays right??? I have to get with the program. I have not lost or gained so that is ok. I have tracked and did well with everything this week so feel good about that. However went to the Drs. and found out I have diabetis I have been pre-diabetic for years but if you get two readings of over 3 you are diagnosed with diabetis I am very disappointed as I was 3.4 and 3.8 which is not that bad....my Dr. says once you are diagnosed can't get it off. I am so scared as we travel a lot out of country and insurance is already high so with this diagnosis it will be off the wall...I do not have to take meds yet can be controlled with diet and exercise and lifestyle changes I am not sure but I will try. Thanks for listening to me.....