Lois, you had a reduction. . . good for you. Even with Red Lobster and all. With MIL visiting, and Sarah having a friend for 11 days, it's going to be challenging. But, for me, sometimes I eat better when my kids are here or when we go see them. They feed their children healthy food. Sometimes I make cookies, but the children (and my son) gobble them up pretty fast, so I almost never get any, haha! When my daughter was here, she didn't want to overeat, so we were pretty good other than the dinner out before "Hamilton". And we girls worked out together.

Sarah, I agree that 2 weeks is too long for a houseguest. We've found that 3 nights is a good visit. The grandkids always want more, but the adult children . . I think they are ready for us to go, especially the in-law children. They ask us to stay longer, and when we were waiting for the grand baby to be born, we stayed for 3 weeks! When visiting, we will do our own thing (go play golf or go shopping, movie, lunch, etc.) and also will stay with kids while parents do their own thing. My DIL will go for a run while I stay with kids. Then, I will go for a walk alone. Hubby will take mid-day naps. I think it would be fine if you just relax and do your own thing every so often, and encourage your friend to do the same. It also helps if you serve wine a lot, lol!

I have come to accept that I'm just not going to get all the cleaning, shopping, planting and other things done before my friend gets here. Too much going on besides that that has to be done, and my energy is not up to par of late. I think that it's lack of sleep. I keep meaning to get to bed early, but then . . .

Today is a sad day for kind of a silly reason. We're donating our old SUV to the ASPCA. There are a lot of good memories involved with that vehicle. I personalize things sometimes because I relate them to people and events and a time in my life. Whatever. We don't need the cost of insurance (which in this area is way high) and maintaining a third vehicle. So goodbye Chuck.

OMG. I was so tired by the time my friend arrived last night that I could not wind down to sleep. I logged into work yesterday to find that not only do we have all new agents in our call centers as of today, but in the overnight time between Wednesday and Thursday, one of these poor people received a threatening phone call about my program's ad campaign. And we had a disturbed person (different) one, posting on our social media. So I ended up working until 7 p.m. and racing out for a rotisserie chicken and potato salad while hubby was on his way home from the airport with my friend. And every break I could find yesterday, I was doing another house chore! I'm just hoping the stress didn't counteract the calorie burn! LOL But at the end of the day, I realized that for someone my age, I can put out a lot of energy, both mental and physical, and so I'm grateful. Yeah for gratitude.

Because we went to bed at 1 a.m. and everyone was beat, we slept until after 9 a.m. today, so it's now almost noon and we're just getting ready to venture out. It's going to be 90 degrees and humid so we need find something to do indoors. I cannot believe that it was in the 30's with a stiff wind and we were wearing down jackets just 5 days ago.

Kelly, I'm honored, too, to get to see your dress. And I'm one of those people who do not say things just to be nice, and I absolutely LOVE that dress. I can't wait to to see picture of you in it.

Lois, I am so sorry that the insurance company is being a "kitten!" People pay so much for insurance, and then when it's needed, these companies do everything in their power to not pay. I am glad you had your neck checked quickly. When I fell a couple of years ago, it was a week before I realized how much damage had been done. I was told by my orthopod that that is why people should go to an ER or doc immediately, even if they think they're probably okay.
If not, the insurance companies will say, "How do we know that something else didn't occur during that week?"

Sheesh, I guess you and I do share a lot of characteristics. I want everything perfect, too, and frankly no one cares! They want to see us and have a good time. And what is perfect? I'd need a whole new house for perfect!

Well ladies, I do hope that everyone has a good weekend.

I am upstairs and getting just a moment to myself. I tried to log two days of good, and goodness--I can't remember what I ate for lunch on Friday. No clue. I guess I can ask my friend. LOL I do know that I'm eating differently than I do when I do not have company. I am scared to death of what I will weigh come Wednesday. I would not be surprised to have gained two or three pounds.

I am actually upstairs, too, to call my sister who is having major surgery tomorrow. Please send prayers that it's a success.

Hi, Ladies. First, let me say I love my friend. But having company for a long stretch is hard.

Basically, my friend lives in Palm Desert in an area of town where most people are white, most are fairly well off, and many are ultra conservative. We live in the most multicultural city in America and there's everyone from very poor to very rich, and you will see them all. So honestly, if I hear "Well, in the Desert, we (fill in the blank)" one more time . . .

Sheesh, I'm so sorry about the migraine. Those are tough. I have ocular migraines but the pain is minimal. My sister used to have migraines so bad that we even went to a special migraine clinic in Chicago, but it didn't help that much. Mentioning my sister, she made it through the surgery, and I'm much relieved. It will be awhile before we know the outcome, but the surgeon said he was at least able to clear out a lot of arthritis, so even if she still has some pain, it should be less. I am sooo hoping and hoping it will last awhile.

I'm pretty sure given the way we've been eating that I will have gained several pounds come Wednesday. Today, we we went out for breakfast and I had a Belgian waffle and a piece of bacon, and I was appalled at how how many calories that ended up being.

Tomorrow hubby goes in for a shot in his neck. My friend is going with him and I'm going to work a half day. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm kind of looking forward to working a few hours.

Lois, I hope that you soon get a good resolution about the accident. And Kelly, hoping you can pop in once or twice while you're home. Would love to hear how the house is coming along.