Good morning, and happy weighin day!! I am down 1.4 today, and hope to keep going on the right track. No big weekend plans, so that helps. Michael has a party tomorrow afternoon, and I will do my long run/walk during that time. I'm on call sunday but was supposed to be on call tomorrow too, but a coworker was looking for money, so she took my call tomorrow. I don't mind at all. I only do what I have to do.
Thanks Cam, and everyone who coached last week, and thank you Taryn for coaching this week.
My mother, sil and her kids have done the Polar Express in North Conway. They had a good time, but it was a 2 hour drive to and from so that impacted the fun factor. They enjoyed it, said that the North Pole was well staged and they even wore their PJs.
White River Jct., VT does a much smaller scale version. It is a train ride on an old steam train, they serve a little toffee candy and hot chocolate and sing songs. I think the kids were all given a bell too. When the train gets back to town you walk to a hotel nearby where Santa reads a story to the kids and they get a goody bag. We've done that one several times as it is 10 minutes from home and priced very reasonably.
We're about 3 hours from north conway, so people I know who've gone make it a weekend. I'm sure the white river jct is just as nice, and convenience is key.
Tomorrow night may be his last performance in his high school marching band career. The football season culminates with a game against the archrival school. At half-time, they do a senior recognition ceremony for the band and I know I'll be a sobbing mess. My BF /Andrew's Godmother will be driving 2 hours to come to the performance.
After the game, the drumlines march to the center of the field performing cadences the whole way. They face off at center field and do a drum-off, a la "DRUMLINE". Andrew is the captain of his drumline and they didn't have an instructor, leaving Andrew to the responsibility of running practices, writing cadences, creating visuals, etc. He is taking the drum-off so seriously, and the entire line has acknowledged his leadership with gratitude and typical teenage male backslapping. I'm really proud of him.
He is so outrageously excited about all the events tomorrow night and I am excited that Jenn is coming too to surprise him. And yet, I also know that we'll all be so sad at the end of the night. Being a drummer has been such a huge part of his high school career and it feels like the end of a very significant chapter in his life.
In any event, it was a wonderful evening for me. I selfishly soaked up that time with him. Okay, off to clean the kitchen. Hugs, all!

I can only imagine there will be a few parents shedding some tears tonight. Your Andrew sounds like an amazing boy to take on the captain role, and it's sounds like the whole line appreciates him. Enjoy your special evening, proud momma.
It's funny, I used to plan tons of things all the time and up until now we haven't been doing much since we have the little guy, but now that he's a little older, I've started planning more things for us all to do as a family.
Funny you should mention the blueberry muffins, I'm kind of a foodie and my parents loved those muffins, so years ago after the Jordan Marsh Muffin Company closed, I found it in Brockton where it had moved to. It has since closed, but last year Jordan's Furniture got one of the original bakers to come to their store in Avon to make the muffins, so I'll be curious to see if they have them when we go. If you want, I can grab you one and bring it back to Danvers
It's so fun to do more things as DS is getting bigger and able to enjoy things more. Thanks for the muffin offer, but I think I'm all set with so many other temptations this time of year. I think the memories of all the fun times with my grandmother are probably what I'm missing. She lived in Malden, so we always took the orange line in and that's still the way we always go, and I'll show michael the sights along the way.
Today was exhausting. I left the house for work at 7am and got home from work at 910pm. I am beat. TOM really did me in this week. Eating was not great and somewhat out of control. I blame it on TOM but I know it is really me. I need to stop the excuses.

I cant really say it was the whole week, mainly yesterday and today but I feel so gross it makes it seem like I ate bad for weeks. Tomorrow is a new day.
Song: The climb by Miley Cyrus.
I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"
Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking
But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high
There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb
Tomorrow will be a new battle but I will keep on climbing!!!!!
Keep on climbing, Lindsay. I hope today is a better day and you have some down time this weekend. I love that song too.
QOTD Friday, November 12th - If you were presented with a blank check, that had to be used on you or your household, no holds barred, what would you do with it?
I would also pay off my mortgage, car payment, reside my house, get a new front porch, redo the bathroom, paint the whole inside of the house, have the yard landscaped, have the drains around the house put in so I don't get water in the basement, refinish the hardwood floors, build new basement stairs, and replace my 19 year old couch.

That's all, not too much.
Wouldn't it be nice to have no mortgage or rent, and that weekly paycheck only has to pay for utilities, food, and fun.
To answer the music QOTD. I have many songs that speak to me. On a light note, my favourite happy song is "the Bare Necessities".
Look for the bare necessities
The simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities
Old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life
I'm not surprised, shannon. Must be how your got your dis name.
Bing Crosby's Count Your Blessings
When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
I've never heard this, but it remeinded me of a book I had called Simple Abundance, and you read a page each day and it was about simplifying your live, and kept a gratitude journal where you would write one thing every day that you were grateful for. I should pull that book out again when life gets too stressful.
[BGo the Distance (probably because I am starting my Princess training

)
I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a great, warm welcoming
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be
I will fiind my way
I can go the distance
I'll be there someday
If I can be strong
I know every mile
Will be worth my while
I will go almost anywhere
To feel like I belong
Love this song!! You are going to go the distance, I know it!!
Lisa - During the WDW half and full marathon in January, there is a huge banner on one of the overpasses that you go under (I think it is near the Contemporary) -- it is Hercules and it says "GO THE DISTANCE". I find it so inspiring. I hope they use it during the Princess, too, though maybe not since it is a "Princess" event and Hercules might not necessarily fit in.
That sounds awesome. I have only heard amazing things about the disney races, and still can't believe I'm going to do one. I hope they have Hercules there, after all what princess wouldn't be inspired by Hercules?
Well, I saw the doctor. She did a couple xrays and found no fracture. Since she determined that I had no serious injury, she said I could manage the pain with ibuprofen and "run thru it".
So, first order of business... stop drowning my sorrows in ice cream and left over halloween candy and start treating myself like an athlete again!
This evening, I'm going to start doing some easy hip-strengthening exercises and a lot of easy stretching. I'll probably take a muscle relaxer each night and Advil whenever I need it during the days. Come Saturday, I'll see how it feels to do the 10k - maybe taking it a bit easier than I normally would. Next week - more exercises and stretches and... we'll see how it goes.
I do feel better having seen the doctor. I'm still a little nervous about the races because I do still hurt. But, knowing that it's not as serious as I was afraid of... that helps me feel a LOT better.
That is awesome that nothing is broken and she said you could run through it too. I hope you see improvement every day. Your plan sounds very smart and reasonable to take it easy this saturday and not push too hard.
I haven't been on much lately, I had shoulder surgery last Friday. Everything went really well and I would say that I'm at about 80% movement right now. The stitches will be removed tomorrow so we'll see what the doc says. I am gonna stay home one more week to heal a little more. I'm one of those who will push myself to get better and not stop. But I have to slow down this will bite me in the butt later. It's been real tough staying home. I have been a non stop eating machine since the surgery. The percocet really screwed up my stomach too. Last week I came in 6th place. That's not gonna happen this week. I can't stop eating and it's killing me to stay away from the gym. I went yesterday and walked on the treadmill and did some legs. BORING. All my friends were in one of my favorite classes. I need to liftweights. I just have to take it slow.

Glad the surgery went well. Take the time you need to heal well, and you'll be back to exercising soon. Hang in there.
CANDY CANE COCKTAIL
Ingredients
1 shot vanilla rum
1 shot white chocolate liqueur (recommended: Godiva)
1 shot peppermint schnapps
Candy cane, garnish
Directions
Add all liquid ingredients to cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into martini glass. Garnish with candy cane.
This sounds so good. I think I'll serve some to the adults at michael's birthday party as a test run for Christmas eve. My sister always makes some sort of martini, but I can't drink vodka, so I dont like them, but this sounds right up my alley.
Kathy - I am so glad that the magic is still alive in your home. I worried so much because Jenn is 5 years older than Andrew and I feared she'd slip or maybe even intentionally say something but she actually took so much pleasure in helping to cultivate the spirit of Christmas even after she "knew". I took as much pleasure in her spirit as I did in Andrew's belief. Good memories.
It is so sweet to see the older kids keep the magic going for the younger ones. It's like an honor for them to keep the big secret.
Dona- That song is so sweet. You and dh seem to have the love that so many people are looking for.
Tracey- Whoo hoo!!!!!

Congrats on
50 pounds!!!!
Have a great day!!
