Need to Lose 100 LBS -Robins Thread !

@CBlue Lori - I love to have you visit! I have a spare room, so you're welcome to stay here, and if you and hubs travel together, thats also no problem. I'd love to show off my city and would be so excited to meet you in person! Gosh, I didn't even mention there is a very exclusive -only 75 people are allowed to run it - marathon - in an endangered Sand Hills part of Nebraska. It was just run about 2 weeks ago. The solitude and majesty of the area blows people away. Its loess soil, (look it up) and hosts birds that only live there. I'll have to research it. I almost posted the story, darn it!.

@Skinny Jeans Karen- March in Chicago would be great for me - I would not participate but I sure could celebrate! I can't do NY this fall.

@Laurie - What a sad, sad tale about your dad. Sometimes I wish there were better things to offer the elderly that such a run-around. It is good medicine, but seems like such poor care of the whole person.
And look at the toll it has taken on you. Poor sleep for 3 days. Its amazing you were able to plug away at your responsibilities, but I'll bet if you were given an EEG at some point during all that, it would show you were still half asleep while active!

Glad you've gotten some good rest, and your dad is stable. I'm so impressed you keep your life balanced and not tipped 100 % over, when something bad happens. That was a big flaw of mine and I still fight that compulsion. You are very well balanced. Whats your secret -were you always able to be that way?

@tih - thanks for your comments. I was determined to buy some turquoise earrings handmade by native americans and asked around where I could do that. A very nice Buddhist lady told me of this place right on US89 where the Navaho set up tables. Very interesting story. THey can mine silver and do not have to stamp it .925 as other silver must be stamped. The Indian Treaty Laws have allowed them certain rights. Their silver is only stamped "silver" and then the makers initials. And its verifiable as pure silver that way. The lady who directed me there was right, it was so much less expensive there than in the Market Shops in Sedona proper. THis very nice 30 yr old Navaho lady sold me my (tiny) earrings and explained each symbol around the bit of turquoise in the center.

So Emma is Lakota Sioux. I highly respect that tribe. In fact, I have recently been ending my e-mails with a word they use and its translation. Here it is:

We are all related; The winds and elements, the animals and plants, all are interconnected - nothing exists in isolation.
"Mitakuye Oyasin" - translated from the Lakota Sioux

@Niki - oh my dear friend, my heart breaks for you and your family. Such a tragedy. I echo Lauries sentiments that he was a good man to offer his organs to others - saving lives that way is HEROIC! His picture - my god, you can't help but see how adorable and what a loving heart he had.
Thank you for sharing your pain - we all hope we can buoy you up thu this rough patch in your life.

glad you enjoyed the photos - If it will help I can email you a larger version of it that might make for a better print. You are doing so well on your goals. I admire you so much!. I'm sure you will make progress in the long run. Do you use the graphing portion of the progress functions here? I need that for me - over a year really gives me a good feeling.
I have been using a kitchen timer too- for about a year now and it has helped me tremendously - kicking habits and punching up my regularity - so I know you'll enjoy working with it. Way to go!

@Tanya - wow it would be great to meet you in Chicago in the Spring! I mean March is really kind of dicey so were not talking about bunnies and blooms but gosh it would be fun! So sorry about your carpal tunnel - did that start at work handling stuff? mail?
I hope you can -or have you already-used braces? I think the cortisone plan is a great one!
- Glad you were still able to kayak! What fun! WAY TO GO on your step challenge.

@ GOINS - Tracy - oh gosh, you are pluggin' away, and thats the best you can do!

Agencies, they are slow, one thing I learned, is don't even bother to call an agency on Monday, when you do call, ask the Human you finally reach, how THEY ARE doing, tell them you are not in a rush, tell them you sympathise with THEIR HARD JOB and YOU APPRECIATE THEIR HELP, tell them to take a sip of water, then get to your business. Imagine them as equal to you, as stressed as you, and show them a lot of sympathy. That seems to work so well for me. A lot of niceness, thank yous, and if that doesn't get the answer you want, and, if they have already checked with their supervisor, just politely ask to talk to their supervisor yourself , and start all over, with saying your in no rush, you know that person has had a hectic day, you are concerned for them - tell them to go ahead and finish the last note they were writing or whatever, and they will like you and want to help you. Jot down the time date year and this persons name (get the correct spelling) cuz you will need these notes forever.....
PHONE TACTICS are so essential in this field of service. These people are berated, yelled at, listen to long sobbing tales of woe, and field calls of duress all day.

To be talked to with kindness happens so seldom it makes their day. They will thank you for your kindness and go out of your way to help you!

Ushkii - oh yum about those maters! You lucky dog. Isn't popcorn so addictive. Perhaps you could put it into a smaller container before you eat it?

@beedeezer - oh you got me laughing at the thunderbox! sounds like a rough end of the month. Weren't you just wishing your BF was closer? Sounds like you got your wish and then some!!!!
Hows your plans for losing weight going?

@KJeffries - good to see you again, and best wishes on your marriage. Such a happy occasion. You sound so much better now. Gardening suits you. So work on a plan and engage your new hubbies support and tell us more!

@losingitwithkat - hi again. yeah I've fallen of myself, so don't feel bad at all, OK. So get some plans together and try try try again.

AFM - finally had a weight loss - 6 lbs. Had been swollen so its probably all water. This arthritis is a devil to me. I find if I go to the grocery store and ask for simple help up front, like getting a sacker boy to help lift a 12 pack of water into my cart it spares my joints tremendously. And continuing that thru the checker, and to the car too. Then I only have to lift it twice - from the trunk to my cart and up to my condo and into the fridge. Much less shoulder and wrist pain after this grocery trip just by following Drs. Orders. Its strange to be this way. I must accept it.

Love to everybody. We are so good at cheering each other on! Rah ha ha.