Good afternoon, it has been a long day here. I was up at 5:30am to take BIL for his oral surgery. Finally got him back home at 1pm. My sis asked me to drive across town to pick up her prescription for her pain meds. So I did only to be told I was not listed on her profile so they could not give me the prescription. Then I found out that she had pain pills to last her another couple of days and her husband can pick it up tomorrow. I was a bit on the furious side, felt like I had been taken advantage of by her. I don't mind helping out but she knows I have been mom's eyes and car driver of the past month or more. The waiting room denizens were a very strange lot. Let's just say one of the ladies told me her recipe for Bologna stew! Another lady was going around the room, person to person, with cellphone in hand forcing each one to look at the pictures of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and all the info about each one. I was so glad to get out of there I left my coffee cup behind. Glad to have this day done. I need to do laundry but just don't have the energy, maybe later. I have clean workout clothes for tomorrow so I am ok for now. Edd had an Arby's sandwich for me when I got home.....not sure what it was but it was nasty. The best part was the onion rings and the bun. I won't tell you what the rest was cuz I couldn't identify it. Would love a nap but I know it would only make me feel awful so I will opt for an early bedtime.

Bert, glad your brother is in a pain clinic and pray they find the right combo to keep him pain free.

Cindy, I understand you "turtling" as needed. You are dealing with a very stressful situation, just wish we could all be there to hold you up, hug you and lend our shoulders for whatever tears you need to shed. Hope your girls are helping you. Will be eager to hear about your hypnosis experience.

Janet, hope you are resting up for your lunch with Rachel. Are we still on for Monday at the Brewhouse, 11:15 right? I hope Paula gets her van fixed so she can join us.

Karla, what are you up to today?

Need to rest my mind
Patti

Hi Ladies- Tonight I'm going to start clucking like a chick- just kidding.
But I did some poking around on the guys website and he advocates eating more low gylicemic foods- guess I need to dig out my old book- to find better choices etc.
I'm really excited and glad I'm doing this for me.
Janet- you have the biggest heart and people turn to you because you're the best. I'm glad others feel as we do here.
I'm sorry the ex is struggling- it's difficult. But his reaching out is a teastment to you - he must respect your opinion.
Need to run- I have to a PSA for the United way at the radio station early- that's always fun.
Love to all
Cindy

Good morning all, this week is just flying by and next week is shaping up to be more of the same. So excited to have my nephew coming on Sunday. He will be staying until Friday I think. He will have to work during the day so I won't feel bad leaving for some scheduled activities while he is working, like meeting Janet for lunch, taking mom shopping and flu shot, meeting with a lady who wants me to do some painting for her and getting some gym time in. May take him to TRX if he is interested. Edd is going to Memphis with his son to pick up a motorcycle on Monday and will be back Tuesday. Not pleased that he is going with my nephew just getting here but didn't get a vote. Will see if my nephew wants to go to the cabin Friday. He wants to see the Ark and the Creation museum in KY on the weekend. Today I need to hit the grocery, do laundry and clean the RV so my nephew has some privacy.

Janet, I only hope your friends give back to you as much as you give to them. You are a wonderful listener and great friend. I pray hearing from your ex didn't mess with your head. I always have time for you if you need a sounding board or just an ear. YOU MATTER, never doubt that.

Cindy, cluck on my friend. You amaze me with all your talents. Hope you are finding time for your book. Mom was talking about her early years when she was married to her first husband and I kept seeing it as a Lucinda Race story. It has all the elements. I wish I wrote as well as you so I could tell her story. It is quite a fascinating story from the mid to late 40s about a 16 year old running off to marry a young man just returned from the war who is emotionally damaged from his life and his experiences in the war. Maybe some day I will give it a go. Good luck tonight.

Bert, enjoy your day at home and your choir practice. I was so impressed with your grandkids calling with the apology. Great parenting and grand parenting going on.

Mar Lynn, hope you and Myron are well and enjoying your corner of paradise.

Karla, things ok with you? Bet Glenn is really loving having a football wife. I was so glad when Edd became a football husband. I know my mom and dad really got into football and now she has lost interest except to follow the scores. Her eyesight just makes it too hard to keep up. She can now read with the magnifying glass without the light. Baby steps but for her they are giant leaps. Just wish she hadn't waited so long to tell me when her vision started to fail.

Time for the gym.
Patti

Good morning ladies,
Sorry for the absence! Could not get logged in recently, but now have caught up. We have a series of big storms happening, so that could interfere with electricity again soon. Take care!
Love you all!
MaryLynn

Good Morning, Ladies. Today I'm having lunch with the office staff at my former school. I enjoy getting together with them. I'm also inheriting Greg and Carrie's yippy Pomeranian for several days while they are on their family trip to Disney World. They've been planning the trip since February. Molly tolerates the dog, but it's very High Maintenance. Have a great day, everyone!

Bert

Good morning, my friends,

I hope that this Friday morning finds you well rested and ready to take on the day ahead, with all of its ups and downs. An honest answer to this common dilemma can surprise us ladies.

We really DO need to get our "beauty sleep", as we can get so easily caught up in a whirlwind of obligations and desires that can too easily blow us way off course. I'm reminded of my Mom telling me that "some days are diamonds and others lumps of coal". With studies now pointing to a decent sleep at night as so crucial to our overall well-being - including a return to our healthiest weight - we still find ourselves demanding more of our bodies and minds, while continuing to expect positive results from personal measurements. Our fragile and finite forms are not designed for non-stop abuse of any kind and they rebel. While we usually remember to ensure that our electronic devices are re-charged regularly, it seems to me that we often neglect the valuable effects that a deep sleep provides to us freely. As we gracefully advance in years, this precious shut-eye may become more elusive than ever. I wonder how many folks in the "pre-electricity" or "pre-technology" eras struggled with BMI or body image?
Who finds this evident in their own life today? What will you do to help yourself sleep well? Perhaps freshly laundered bed linens does it for you? Perhaps meditative reading and prayer? Perhaps forgiving ourselves (and others) for falling short of our expectations?

We have a gift. We just need to unwrap it.

May your unique unwrapping bring beautiful results!

Love,
MaryLynn

Good Morning, Ladies. Mike is taking me out for breakfast this morning, and then I'm heading to church to make our lives easier when putting up the Christmas decorations in the sanctuary. Will check in later. Have a great day!

Bert

Hello!

MaryLynn, I love sleep, though it isn't always my friend these days. If I'm awake for 2+ hours during the night, which happens at least four days a week, I try to sleep in a bit. Hope your storms aren't too awful. Good luck.

Patti, see you at 11:15 Monday -- can't wait! Glad you get nephew time, which is good for all.

Cindy, hope the event today is fun. Having your writing and these events happening now has to be a small respite from your stress.

Bert, glad Mike took you out to breakfast and that you finally had a Bert day. Please try to work more YOU time into your busy schedule of giving. Let us know how your brother does with the new pain meds.

Karla, I grin each time I see that pic of Izzy with the princess.

Suzi, what's up for your weekend?

Myra, is the smile coming back?

Dinner with Rachel was great fun -- we laughed and talked (chose a restaurant where I knew we could sit). Because her meetings didn't start until noon yesterday, we also went to breakfast. She's a sweetheart and it was a treat to meet one of the many reasons for my weight loss success so far.

Trying to get things done -- lots of interruptions here. My friend who was in crisis early is feeling better. I was indeed blindsided by the call from my ex but have it pretty much in perspective and won't get sucked in to being the place he goes to dump all his whatever. Been there. Not again. This does not diminish my love for his parents.

Gotta get away from computer now, Have a great day! Love to all.

Hi gang! Sorry for the absence this week I've been oddly, unusually busy on a week I'd been looking forward to being low key. Oh well, I got the main project done that I wanted to while Dave was gone - the seasonal clothes shuffle. Also got some cleaning done in the junk room - you can actually see the floor in there again!

With many more meals out than usual, and some not too great choices, I was up a pound this week at WW. My challenge to myself this coming week will be to switch back to smart points and track everything. I've done well with my tracking. In fact, it's become so ingrained in my subconscious that I can't go to sleep if I realize I've forgotten to write anything down - good, bad or ugly. My second challenge to myself is to be sure to get back here and to my other WW FB group daily. I have a short work trip overnight Monday and all day Tuesday to facilitate an employee planning session. My plan is to stand and wander from group to group most of the day. Standing more and sitting less are WW's behavior of the week. Some pretty startling statistics - my leader said the latest studies equate sitting to smoking as a health risk.

More later...
Suzi

OK, so I really THOUGHT I read everything I'd missed before I posted earlier, but apparently I missed a whole page. Probably sleep deprivation, MaryLynn! Thanks for the article - I'll read it. I'm one of those frequent insomnia people. Never was an issue for me until after the hysterectomy. It's my primary menopausal symptom, so I need all the advice I can get.

Patti - that's such great news on the improvement in your Mom's eyesight! I laughed out loud at your story of the waiting room escapades on your BIL's doctor visit. Some of the things people will tell perfect strangers in medical office waiting rooms just absolutely floors me!!

Janet and MaryLynn - you're both so right! We need our girls!

Thanks, Janet, for the kudos on my tracking. I am pretty proud of myself. I've tracked Smart Points today and here it is after supper and I've still got 2SP's left. Tomorrow will be a bigger challenge. Lunch out probably at my worlds favorite burger joint. Hopefully we'll get to eat at home tomorrow night before we go the the Thunder game. YAY!!!! BASKETBALL SEASON!!!!!

Suzi