She is such a doll -- that smile would melt a heart of stone! Sweet picture of you, too.

Karla, hope the rest of your trip goes well and Glenn continues to feel better and gets to participate in the activities. The kids sound like they are really soaking up the sunshine and water! My sister and her hubby were going to meet their friends from Australia in Vegas. She was so excited, she hasn't seen them in a couple of years and that was a very brief visit.

My day turned out grand despite being a bit off from the middle of the night trip to the airport. Got everything done I had planned. Made a lovely dinner of lemon pepper cod, baked potato and salad. Then off to Zumba. The instructor and I have been working on a routine for Uptown Funk that we hope to do on Wed. I love that song and never tire of hearing it. It is a great movement motivator. Way behind on calories today so need to go eat something before I waste away.....as if!!!
Patti

Good morning ladies,
With a rainy day here, started off with my strength training today and will hike later we hope. Tried adding extra weight, but after one set at 40 lbs, decided that going with extra repetitions would be smarter. Since I started, I've been lifting 20 lbs at 10 reps, with anywhere from 4 to 8 sets of those and some abdominal crunches in between as well as some yoga stretching. Upped it to 15 reps and now I'm rather "whipped" in terms of upper body! We've been doing mainly gardening which is great for strength and cardio, but my favorite is still getting out for a hike. Thankfully the foot is feeling 100% and the energy levels remain high.
Need to grab something to eat before heading out to tackle the hills in the neighborhood.

Karla, glad to hear that Glenn is managing and hopefully can hang in there this week.
Janet, sounds like you are listening to your body and resting when necessary. Good job!
Patti, great to hear about your involvement with the Zumba routines. Music sure motivates!
Jeanette, love the image from your family hiking... what a great outing that was for you all!
Cindy, it is so encouraging to be finding your groove with a program you've had success with!
Myra, hope things are continuing to look sunnier in your world and that your smile continues.
Diane, thinking about you and hoping to hear that things are okay in your world these days.
Beth, wishing you a terrific Tuesday and looking forward to an update on things in your life.
Bert, great to hear how your positive impact in those student teachers training is continuing.

Will get back later, hopefully check in on how you are all doing. Stay active and positive!

Hugs,
MaryLynn

Janet, get that rest while you can. I know you won't stay down for long.

Mary Lynn, perhaps doubling your weights was a bit too much. Maybe try 30 pounds for a set or two, then back off to 20 for a couple of sets. This is how my trainer told me to up weights. Enjoy your hike.

Missing Diane, Susie, Myra, Lisa, Beth..... Hope you can stop by with and update to let us know you are all doing well.

Spent the day with Mom. She is a joy to be around. Smart and witty and full of life. She is so excited that the weather is finally getting nice so she can get out of the house at last. TRX tonight and then an evening to myself as Edd is going to play pool. No big plans. When we were in FL we went to a flea market and my friend talked me into buying a ZAP cleaning cloth. Supposedly it cleans without streaking, especially window, using only water and requires no drying. I was a nonbeliever but I just did my all my downstairs windows, including doors, in 30 minutes and they sparkle with no streaks. If you find them, buy them, I paid $10 for 4. You can buy them online for more. Just thought I would share
Patti

Karla, so sorry to hear that you have to cut your vacation short but even more sorry that Glennis going through this again. I will send up some prayers that a simple drainage in the office and antibiotics will do the trick for him. Maybe catching it earlier this time will be his saving grace. Will the Jason et al stay on for the rest of the planned vacation?

TRX was a booty kicker, but I think I am getting back to where I was before vacation. Every time I feel like I can do it all without too much didpfficulty she kicks it up a notch....but I think that is how it is supposed to go, lol. Really enjoyed my new sparking windows when the sun set tonight!

Until tomorrow, I bid you all sweet dreams.
Patti

Good morning,

Cindy, WAY TO GO. I know seeing that movement on the scale is a great feeling. I have not braved a hop on yet. But know I need to face it sometime. I am doing well with my food and exercise and can't stand the thought of no. Overeat on the scale. So for now I am flying blind, but at least I am light enough to fly, lol.

Karla, sending healing vibes for Glenn. Hope you like the specialist and that he gives you some viable treatment and answers. Will pray this is Glenn's last go round with this problem.

Janet, the end is in sight and I can see you with all your goodies piled high around you, a look of pure glee on your face.

Have some errands to run with Edd. Then a trip to Costco, hair appointment, dinner and Zumba......and Nashville!

Patti

Hi, Patti - I'm here. Feeling a bit punk but OK, considering. Must drink lots for the next few days and suck on lemon drops to keep salivary glands active. The cats are being sweet.

Time to watch the Warriors game - see you tomorrow.

Good Morning, Ladies.....Today is my last visit for the week. I've been super busy. I saw my surgeon this week, and he released me. He said my back is healing nicely. I can work out with machines, attend my cardio class, and also do yoga. I can also work in my flower beds. I'll take it easy, though, and won't jump into everything at once.

With the 3 student teachers I have, one is excellent, one is ok, and one waits until the last minute to hand everything in. Just like many of the students I had in class over the years, they are just older! ) Have a great day everyone!

Bert

Good morning ladies,
Just checking in on all here and pleased to read about happenings in all your lives. Yesterday our labrador Sadie turned 10 years old. Amazing she's doing so well, considering she was born in Mexico. We lived there full time for 5 years and she had her share of ticks and health scares during that time. She is probably a little heavier than she ought to be at the moment, but then so am I! Although she has a few lumps and bumps and itchy ears, she's pretty good! Our setter Kelly has been off her food for a bit, so we had her all checked out and she's just fine according to the blood work at the vet. Guess she's just being fussy! I can relate to that! I recall how fussy I was with most veggies as a child and now I include them with everything.

Karla, so glad that you are finding laughter within the crisis! Without a smile and a laugh, we would likely all struggle through life unnecessarily. Will continue to keep you both in my prayers as you await the CT scan results. Early intervention has hopefully lessened severity. Sounds like the kids and you found plenty of fun activities and that always makes me smile! Personally I'm not good at rides and heights, so I probably couldn't even watch them bungee and certainly would decline the opportunity to participate.

Bert, what a relief that the surgeon has given the "go ahead" to your full slate of movements. Wise to take it slowly and listen to your body as you begin to incorporate a wider range of activities that you enjoy again. You sure have been kept hopping lately with all your extra duties and hopefully soon that will settle down into a slower-paced summer routine for you. Staying involved in our community is great for the mind and psyche, which is just as vital to overall well-being as physical fitness. I applaud your commitment to diverse activities!

Patti, well done on getting in 13K steps AND the Zumba AND the TRX. Phew!! Your energy levels are excellent, so I hope you are feeding all that expenditure with plenty of protein, girl! It is always inspiring to read about your activities, including time spent with your Mom. Looking forward to seeing some of your painting results too. I've been a watercolor artist for 30 some years and still love the freedom of pigment flow on my favorite arches rough 300lb. papers. Good advice to purchase the best brushes and I'm sure you will find the right combination for you personally. I still love the angle flats with synthetic hairs, because they are so versatile. I have a large natural hair "mop" brush for laying washes down quickly too. My favorite is a round sable #4 that always comes back to it's original shape and holds a point really well for fine lines. With your creative design eye, you are bound to have hours of fun!

Cindy, in addition to your commitment to finding the best program for input, you are also getting in the activities and movements that fit for you, so it's no wonder that congrats are in order on the scale movement for you! Wonderful to hear that the time you are spending sewing with Em continues to be enjoyable for you both, as well as productive. I remember in 4-H classes that my first sewing project was an apron and remember struggling to get all those gatherings to stay in place. Patience is required to be sure! Your chat with Meg sounds like a breakthrough of sorts, so my prayers continue for positive changes to follow shortly in their lives as behaviors can always be adjusted over time. Let's hope so, for the sake of all. Well done on staying out of the cabinets at night and heading to bed instead. I need to do more of that too!

Janet, I've been thinking about you so much lately as you go through the low-iodine regime. It will be so nice to have that all behind you sometime soon I pray! When you are able to include some favorites again it will be such a relief, no doubt! Your inner strength to go through this is remarkable and you deserve some special reward (a new ring perhaps?) or even a medal for just going the distance of this marathon. As you keep moving forward, know I'm with you!

To everyone else, wherever you may be, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers as well.

Hugs to all,
MaryLynn

Karla, so relieved to hear from you. He one thing I know from my years as a nurse, surgeons are rarely warm and fuzzy. Sometimes you bond but mostly they are pretty cut and dry (no pun intended) and the more specialized, the less fuzzy. Much more important is that Glenn seemed to like him. Keeping my prayers going that his surgery is quick, relatively painless and he has a short and full recovery.
Although the trip was not the break Glenn needed it certainly sounds like it was for you and the rest of the clan. Sometimes you have to be thankful for what you can get and time with family is everything.

Jeanette, so sorry to hear about your husband's job situation but life is hard enough without having a job you hate. Hope he finds something quickly that lets his true charm show through. My son has been in office supply sales for many years, it is a dying business. He could sell ice to Eskimos, not sure he hasn't lol. He just changed jobs and is now in a service position. Our best friend has been with this company for 25 years and they have been a very good company to work for. My son seems very happy being out of sales. He is like his Dad, very good at fixing things. My husband worked for Xerox for 35 years.
Thank you for sharing your students' video. I was so ready to join them. I would have been the girl with the pigtails and vest. Always putting a little swing to my booty and camping it up a bit. On the hair thing, I am almost completely gray, started in my early 30s. I was,about 50% gray by 40 and started coloring my hair then. I would love to give it up but I am very olive skinned and light hair, especially white looks horrid on me. So as long as I am able I will continue my monthly destriping ritual. I am there for a cut anyway, my hair grows really fast!

Mary Lynn, hello there, happy to see you. How great to get good reports from the vet on your precious dogs. My Great Dane will be turning 7 next month. She is still super active and healthy, so keeping my fingers crossed that she will have a long life like my 4 previous Danes, who lived to be 11+ each.

Myra, sometimes we just have to step back and reasses our world. Find what works for you, and that you can live with. Take the pressure off yourself and go with what your body is telling you to do. Hope you find your balance. Been missing you, but we will be here when you need us for sure.

Edd took me out to lunch today....total surprise. Went to his favorite poolhall and bar. Best danger burger I have had in a very long time. But I am over full, good thing today is double duty at the gym, gonna need it to work that one off.

Patti

Hi, everyone -- Waiting for word from Karla too.

Feeling OK today, just a bit fatigued. Cindy, I can drink anything I want (fun fact -- alcohol doesn't contain iodine but haven't had any while on this diet). Wish I knew how to sew -- bet Em will pick it up quickly. Very happy for Meg's employment situation and thinking only the best for the situation with Randy and her stepson. How cool that you get some personal fun on a work trip -- always a good thing when that happens.

Bert, wonderful news from the surgeon! Pacing yourself is smart -- helps avoid muscle spasms and keep pain level down. Stretching is always a good thing.

Patti, I need de-striping too and will get it done later this month.

My niece in OR sent me three photos in the mail -- two of Caleb with live bunnies (one I posted on FB) and one of the three of them that my brother took on Easter. I love them so much!

Too much tribulation swirling in my world -- one friend's son desperately needs substance-abuse treatment and can't find a place that has an opening. Another was to have oral surgery today but they found more issues so they didn't get it all done. Geez -- I feel for them both. And another friend just got out of the hospital. But good news about my mother-in-law (ex's mom will always be my MIL). She starts chemo next week, then will have several weeks of radiation, M-F, then more chemo. She seems to be doing well and is getting strength back after her huge surgery. It's scary but she is one tough (in the best way) woman and has excellent care.

Sucking on Lemonheads to keep salivary glands going here and drinking assorted non-caloric beverages. Today's craving is a cheeseburger -- haven't had one in over a year. By this time tomorrow my scan will be over! I've created a playlist of relaxing, mostly classical music to listen to -- music makes it easier for me to lie still. Copland is heavily featured -- this time of year I'm especially drawn to his work.

Hoping more of the gang is able to check in later. Big hugs to everyone -- it's almost the weekend!

I LOVE the "de-striping" phrase! Myron is my stylist and colorist here and with the blonde, the pale stuff doesn't show up quite as quickly! We just got back from an afternoon hike here and boy was it warm out already, so it didn't take long at all to shed the jackets and sweat our way back up the hills home.

Janet, it seems that troubles are definitely circling in your world and that can make it even tougher to lay low. It is a harsh reminder of the struggles of so many when I hear that there are no openings in treatment centers for your friend's son. Can they find anything out of state perhaps? Is that covered by any health plans? What a tragedy when this hits families we care about and what a reminder of how vulnerable we are as human beings. With all the health issues facing other friends and relatives, as well as yourself... I agree that classical music is just the ticket! Hugs right back at you, my friend!
MaryLynn