In Search of My Body....Not the One I ATE! Vol. 5: Goddesses are Always on Top!

[3DisneyKids]

GORGEOUS day here! It is about freaking time!

Not sure what our plans are after church, but you can bet it is going to be outside. I will try for a short and easy run and see how my leg feels with that.

Dawn--I can't even imagine. Last year, Riley's teacher lost her son during the school year (her only child). He was 18 and away at his first semester of college. And while a mother never truly stops worrying, you just *know* that she had breathed a sigh of relief thinking, "I did it. I got him to adulthood and he is happy and healthy." Only to have tragedy strike a few months later. I just can't stand the thought.

And yes, I will need lots and lots of pics. I swear, I am SO bad at being able to visualize things. Like when I go furniture shopping, I can't say "Gee, I would love this sofa but with that fabric." And place the order. Nope. I have to see it the way it is or I can't buy it. Fortunately, my mom has a "great eye" (always thought that phrase was funny) so she is a big help. But on the other side, our tastes are night and day different, so I can never trust her. So see?

In terms of paint--oh, I am a nightmare! Because, as you know, you have to choose the paint based on this tiny little square sample. And I just cannot picture what it will be like on a whole wall. I cannot count the times I have had Jeff paint a room only to come back when he is done and say, "Nope. I made a mistake. I hate this. Gotta do it again." Good times.

Steph-sorry about the snow. I know that we will get one more snow (but it will melt quickly). We always get one snow storm in April.

More later. Enjoy the spring day!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Mornin' everyone!

Day 3 in a row with no "formal" exercise for me We are cleaning the barn today, however, so it's not as if I'll be idle!

They let the congregation know that may have not gotten the emails or calls that a 17 year old girl died on Tuesday night/Wed. morning. Her mother found her in the morning as she went to wake her up for school.

OMG, that is so sad.

Some good news -
A local police officer called me yesterday and they arrested a suspect who has admitted to stealing cash and cellphones from the Y.

Good. I hope he gets jail time.

The other piece of good news is that we have 3 inches of snow on the gound this morning. I am trying out my new attitude suit can you tell? The good news is that we are not in a drought ! And I am glad it should warm up today enough to melt rather than have to shovel it!

Nice job on looking at the bright side.


Crossing my fingers for you that your kitchen project goes smoothly and quickly! Six years is long enough!

As for me I was supposed to do laundry all day yesterday! We all know how much I love doing laundry. SO I did one load and then moved on to cleaning my windows in my room and then that led to cleaning the blinds from my room and that LED TO TEARING ALL THE WALLPAPER IN ROOM DOWN.[/COLOR]

Look out everyone - Steph is on a mission!


And yes, Steph - I did get your Twilight suggestions. We do have a Bellatrix (Harry Potter - her twin was Rudolphous) and we call her Bella, so that's kinda covered. As for the rest - well, my kids have officially put Twilight on the "most loved to HATE" list, so I don't think anything related to that will fly. Sorry


Hope everyone has a great day. It's breezy here, no snow (thank GOD!) perfect day for cleaning the barn. Not too hot, not too cold. Tomorrow there is rain in the forecast, so that'll be house cleaning day. I SO hate to clean my house. I'd rather clean the barn any day.

 

[RodK1975]

Roddy - RA must suck, eh? Does it sometimes have no rhyme or reason? Hope your days are better.

It's weird, Lisa. At times, it does seem to have a pattern to it. Like when it's cold or the weather is changing, it does seem to be worse at those times. Then, sometimes, it just seems to be worse for no obvious reason. There are a few things I can count on with it. For instance, when I wake up in the morning, I can barely move my hands and all my joints are stiff and don't want to be moved. Then after I've been awake and moving around for about 30 minutes, I start loosening up and get where it doesn't hurt so badly to move. Throughout the day, it progressively gets better. Some days are ok, and (after getting up and getting where I can move) the pain isn't bad at all, though, there is always tightness and discomfort even on the best days. Then, other days, it can be excruciating all day long. What's weird is after I've gone to bed and have been asleep for a couple of hours and move my hands somehow or something and it locks my fingers closed. I wake up from the pain which is hard to describe because there's nothing I know to compare it to other than having a needle stuck into your joints. I think the worst part is that RA has robbed me of the strength I had in my hands and arms. I was never muscle bound, but I was reasonably strong. Now, there are days where I can't even do simple things like open a soda and I have to ask for help and it's embarrassing. I mean, I'm 33 and I have to either not do some things or ask for help with them like I was 3 or 83 years old. What's even worse than that is it's limited my guitar playing. I have days were I can play my guitar a little then some days where I can't at all and that's mentally and emotionally difficult to handle.

But, we all have challenges we face and battles we must fight and this is mine, well, one of mine. I'm hoping for remission, myself! That would be great because having RA is definitely not as much fun as a barrel of monkeys. It's more like a barrel of pissed off rabid and cannibalistic monkey's.

 

[DisneyGalUK]

Just a quick check-in for me, I haven't had chance to read back yet.

So, Im out with the girls just finishing a nice dinner, nice glass of wine and a catch up and my phone rings - DH has been taken to the hospital by my brother. He has snapped the ligaments in his ankle and is now on crutches Ive put a holiday day in at work for tomorrow and I have to go back to the hospital with him to see if he is fit to fly - we are supposed to go to Cyprus one week today

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

SO good evening peeps!
Been a slow day here! I hope that means everyone is having a great day! We had friends over and fried a turkey. I also made chocolate chip cookie dough truffles. OMG are those good. Thank god they are sweet and I could only manage 1. I made a plate full and sent home some with friends and then brought some to the neighbors.
Right now working on laundry and boys are showered and getting ready for bed!
It rained here on and off all day now that the day is ending the sun is out~

So I lent out my twilight book to my best friend. I am trying to hook her on the kool aid!
Ok off to spend a few minutes with the kids before they go to bed. Zachary and Stephen are going to the Teddy bear Factory tomorrow over in VT for a field trip. Tyler has his Kindergarten gym show on Thursday so it's a busy week for us!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

But, we all have challenges we face and battles we must fight and this is mine, well, one of mine. I'm hoping for remission, myself! That would be great because having RA is definitely not as much fun as a barrel of monkeys. It's more like a barrel of pissed off rabid and cannibalistic monkey's.

My heart goes out to anyone who suffers from chronic pain. One of my dearest friends has Fibromylagia. Many of her symptoms are very similiar to yours. I think she would totally agree with your "pissed off rabid and cannibalistic" monkeys

Remission. Yep. That'd be awesome.

Ive put a holiday day in at work for tomorrow and I have to go back to the hospital with him to see if he is fit to fly - we are supposed to go to Cyprus one week today

Oh no! Kelly! I hope he's ok!

SO good evening peeps!It rained here on and off all day now that the day is ending the sun is out~

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles?

We're supposed to get that rainy crud tomorrow I think. Today, however, was beautiful! 60*-ish, light breeze, sunny. Worked out in the barn & yard all day.

Oh! And I got goat pictures. Now, I just gotta get them off my camera

Kelly - did I tell you I named a goat "Crumpet"?

 

[goofyfan-12]

Paula, I may be out of jokes.

Now that is just wrong...

Sunday is a company dinner for D, which I may attend (will blow the diet out of the water, but yumminess...). We got great news today on that front, his store has renewed the lease for a year!!

Kat - that is awesome news about D's store's lease. Yeah!!!

Nancy - me a problem... never now if you believe that, I may have some property to sell...

Trying to catch up on everything that happened while I was gone, but it is a blur. (Dawn - thanks for the pictures... that green is definately "sassy"...)

I am exhausted from the weekend thanks to lots of work and a lack of sleep. The tournament was a great deal of fun, but a little stressful given the events that occurred in Binghamton on Friday.

I arrived about an hour after the shootings, but had no idea of what was going on until someone told us. We saw streets closed off and figured it was a fire or something. You can imagine our shock when we heard what was going on as our hotel was across the river and about a block and a half away from where this happened. The helicopters started their sweeps of the area within an hour of our arriving and it just kept going. Things quieted down yesterday, but the newscrews were all over the hotel today for a press conference with the State Police. The whole thing was so sad and so senseless.

The tournament went amazingly well considering and the teams were amazing. I managed to stay somewhat on track troughout most of the day, but waited a little too long to eat dinner (about 9 hours after I had eaten lunch) and I may have overindulged as a result. Trying to get back on track today, but it will be interesting to see what the scale shows tomorrow. At least I can get back to the gym tomorrow and start getting rid of whatever decided to latch on.

Sounds like you all had a great weekend. (LisaPR - We are here to support you in all of those miles. Forget what anyone else is saying - YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!) I am off to catch up on some laundry and some much needed sleep.

Catch up with you all later,
Paula

 

[lisaviolet]

We went to church last night since the guys are heading here to start the kitchen today. Need to paint a bit more this morning before they arrive but hopefully I can post pics of the cabinets all done before evening.

They let the congregation know that may have not gotten the emails or calls that a 17 year old girl died on Tuesday night/Wed. morning. Her mother found her in the morning as she went to wake her up for school.

It was totally unexpected, no prior health concerns and they do not know yet what caused her death. I sat there thinking how this mother had planned all the senior events out, planned on her kid leaving for college, prepared for missing her child etc...and then this.

She was there at church last night and I tell you, she looked better than I think I could have ever mustered myself to be. She spoke a bit about her faith and her belief in where her daughter is and all I can say is that it had a profound effect on me.

I not only admired her for being able to wrap her head around something positive in such a time but also her sense of peace that this pain is something that she will see the other side of.

!

Oh Lord. So sad.

That's so sad Dawn.

It's weird, Lisa. At times, it does seem to have a pattern to it. Like when it's cold or the weather is changing, it does seem to be worse at those times. Then, sometimes, it just seems to be worse for no obvious reason. There are a few things I can count on with it. For instance, when I wake up in the morning, I can barely move my hands and all my joints are stiff and don't want to be moved. Then after I've been awake and moving around for about 30 minutes, I start loosening up and get where it doesn't hurt so badly to move. Throughout the day, it progressively gets better. Some days are ok, and (after getting up and getting where I can move) the pain isn't bad at all, though, there is always tightness and discomfort even on the best days. Then, other days, it can be excruciating all day long. What's weird is after I've gone to bed and have been asleep for a couple of hours and move my hands somehow or something and it locks my fingers closed. I wake up from the pain which is hard to describe because there's nothing I know to compare it to other than having a needle stuck into your joints. I think the worst part is that RA has robbed me of the strength I had in my hands and arms. I was never muscle bound, but I was reasonably strong. Now, there are days where I can't even do simple things like open a soda and I have to ask for help and it's embarrassing. I mean, I'm 33 and I have to either not do some things or ask for help with them like I was 3 or 83 years old. What's even worse than that is it's limited my guitar playing. I have days were I can play my guitar a little then some days where I can't at all and that's mentally and emotionally difficult to handle.

But, we all have challenges we face and battles we must fight and this is mine, well, one of mine. I'm hoping for remission, myself! That would be great because having RA is definitely not as much fun as a barrel of monkeys. It's more like a barrel of pissed off rabid and cannibalistic monkey's.

Oh boy Roddy - thanks for that. People have no idea. I had no idea how it hits. Just can't imagine. I hope that research takes them further and further. And remission - yep. I can imagine that the emotional aspects of dealing with it can be as bad as the physical. Especially with the things you love - guitar....Frustration times hundred.....

You know Roddy I have a barrel of monkeys and thank you I'll never quite look at them the same. I have them all ready to go to my friend's little girl. She's four.

Just a quick check-in for me, I haven't had chance to read back yet.

So, Im out with the girls just finishing a nice dinner, nice glass of wine and a catch up and my phone rings - DH has been taken to the hospital by my brother. He has snapped the ligaments in his ankle and is now on crutches Ive put a holiday day in at work for tomorrow and I have to go back to the hospital with him to see if he is fit to fly - we are supposed to go to Cyprus one week today

EEEEk Kelly. Football a la soccer? How?

SO good evening peeps!
Been a slow day here! I hope that means everyone is having a great day! We had friends over and fried a turkey. I also made chocolate chip cookie dough truffles. OMG are those good. Thank god they are sweet and I could only manage 1. I made a plate full and sent home some with friends and then brought some to the neighbors.
Right now working on laundry and boys are showered and getting ready for bed!
It rained here on and off all day now that the day is ending the sun is out~

So I lent out my twilight book to my best friend. I am trying to hook her on the kool aid!
Ok off to spend a few minutes with the kids before they go to bed. Zachary and Stephen are going to the Teddy bear Factory tomorrow over in VT for a field trip. Tyler has his Kindergarten gym show on Thursday so it's a busy week for us!

Okay, I have no skills and you're making chocolate cookie dough truffles? I'm so unskilled. Your neighbors must have loved you.

Rain has gone away - yeah - saw your fb.

Burlington? Are you going to Burlington? If so say hi...........

AaAh I adore a sunset across Lake Champlain on the ferry. So lovely.


Hi Nancy!!! Test this week?

Liz - hope you had a good time.

 

[lisaviolet]

Hi Paula! Good to see you.

Kat - geez so sorry I missed the post about the lease. Good news. Great news.

The suite - trying not to think about it b/c the chances of no one grabbing are slim. I'm an optimistic person for the most part but I know the downtown market and the pricing. Also, I know something is up with that price. Fifth floor - I'm thinking a possible view of our downtown expressway.

It faces park and lake but expressway sits near the back.

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

Okay, I have no skills and you're making chocolate cookie dough truffles? I'm so unskilled. Your neighbors must have loved you.

Rain has gone away - yeah - saw your fb.

Burlington? Are you going to Burlington? If so say hi...........

AaAh I adore a sunset across Lake Champlain on the ferry. So lovely.

I am not going to burlington! But Stephen and Zac are. They are going to Shelburn to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. I will tell stephen to say for you as he drives through. Zac told him he could ride the bus and Stephen said NO thats OK I WILL DRIVE! I rode the bus once with the kids and OMG so LOUD! 40 7 and 8 years olds. He said NO thanks real FAST!

As for the chocolate chip cookie dough truffles they were easy peasy! Paula dean recipe! I think Tyler could have made them they were so easy!
Recipe! (before some cutie asks for it)

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted ( I used the rest of the chocolate chips)

In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and add milk. Add chocolate morsels and pecans, mixing well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper; chill 2 hours.

*Cook's Note: Since the dough is sticky, roll your fingers into flour. This will make it easier to roll.


Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour


I didn't add in the NUTS! No nuts in this house Stephen allergic to walnuts so we go with out any!
Ok off to fold more laundry!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Good morning everyone!

It's MONDAY

And unlike Erika, I *do* feel the effects of my alcohol

Gotta get myself to the gym. Catch you when I get back

 

[SunnyB1066]

Good Morning everyone!

Kelly, hope the hubby heals quickly. My DH isn't allowed to play basketball anymore, he has tried to play charity games with his team from high school twice. First time in 1991 and he tore his left achilles tendon and in 2006 he tore he right achilles tendon. No fun at all. But then again, he is out of achilles, maybe he'd be ok.

Challenge update:
WW - Lost 1 pound
Exercise 3x's this week
Water - all

Hope y'all have a GREAT Monday!

Sunny

 

[goofyfan-12]

Ugh... I am tired this morning. Need more sleep!!!!

Stepped on the scale this morning and it wasn't pretty. Won't post the official result until after my JC weigh in tonight, but I am expecting a gain. I have a yummy breakfast and lunch packed that is healthy, within my calorie range and is on plan so I should be good to go. I am going to the gym tonight to get moving again (haven't been there since Friday) so new day, new week, and no excuses not to be on program.

Happy Monday everyone - time to get up...

Paula

 

[lisaviolet]

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream

Or something like that!

For you Erika - hope this week is better all around.

I am not going to burlington! But Stephen and Zac are. They are going to Shelburn to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. I will tell stephen to say for you as he drives through. Zac told him he could ride the bus and Stephen said NO thats OK I WILL DRIVE! I rode the bus once with the kids and OMG so LOUD! 40 7 and 8 years olds. He said NO thanks real FAST!

As for the chocolate chip cookie dough truffles they were easy peasy! Paula dean recipe! I think Tyler could have made them they were so easy!
Recipe! (before some cutie asks for it)

1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate morsels
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 1/2 pounds chocolate bark candy coating, melted ( I used the rest of the chocolate chips)

In a large bowl cream butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Add vanilla. Gradually beat in flour and add milk. Add chocolate morsels and pecans, mixing well. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper; chill 2 hours.

*Cook's Note: Since the dough is sticky, roll your fingers into flour. This will make it easier to roll.


Melt chocolate bark candy coating in a double boiler. Using 2 forks, dip cookie balls into candy coating to cover. Place on waxed paper and chill to set. Store in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour


I didn't add in the NUTS! No nuts in this house Stephen allergic to walnuts so we go with out any!
Ok off to fold more laundry!

Easy peasy.

Thanks Steph.

He doesn't have to wave at Burlington. Just at the whole entire area.

That's nice that he is going. Lovely.

Good morning everyone!

And unlike Erika, I *do* feel the effects of my alcohol

So strange that girl is, eh?

Good Morning everyone!

Kelly, hope the hubby heals quickly. My DH isn't allowed to play basketball anymore, he has tried to play charity games with his team from high school twice. First time in 1991 and he tore his left achilles tendon and in 2006 he tore he right achilles tendon. No fun at all. But then again, he is out of achilles, maybe he'd be ok.

Challenge update:
WW - Lost 1 pound
Exercise 3x's this week
Water - all

Hope y'all have a GREAT Monday!

Sunny

Way to go Sunny!

Hey, I missed the beginning of this challenge. I was too busy jumping waves. When does it end?

Ugh... I am tired this morning. Need more sleep!!!!

Stepped on the scale this morning and it wasn't pretty. Won't post the official result until after my JC weigh in tonight, but I am expecting a gain. I have a yummy breakfast and lunch packed that is healthy, within my calorie range and is on plan so I should be good to go. I am going to the gym tonight to get moving again (haven't been there since Friday) so new day, new week, and no excuses not to be on program.

Happy Monday everyone - time to get up...

Paula

Good for you Paula. That's success. New day, new week........

 

[lisaviolet]

Liz Thinking about you....

 

[AKASnowWhite]

My DH isn't allowed to play basketball anymore, he has tried to play charity games with his team from high school twice. First time in 1991 and he tore his left achilles tendon and in 2006 he tore he right achilles tendon. No fun at all. But then again, he is out of achilles, maybe he'd be ok.

OUCH! So painful. Definitely keep him off the court!

Challenge update:
WW - Lost 1 pound
Exercise 3x's this week
Water - all

Nice job on the weight loss, Sunny!

Ugh... I am tired this morning. Need more sleep!!!!

Stepped on the scale this morning and it wasn't pretty. Won't post the official result until after my JC weigh in tonight, but I am expecting a gain. I have a yummy breakfast and lunch packed that is healthy, within my calorie range and is on plan so I should be good to go. I am going to the gym tonight to get moving again (haven't been there since Friday) so new day, new week, and no excuses not to be on program.

Happy Monday everyone - time to get up...

Paula

I need sleep too, Paula. Although the other night I dreamt I had insomnia - so even as I was sleeping, I wasn't. Can't win

I'm back on plan today as well. While I did track my food, it wasn't good. Way too many points. And a whole lot of mindless tasting. So this week I'm tracking with the objective of staying in my points range

For you Erika - hope this week is better all around.

Yes. Here's hoping that everyone has a good week. I think we've earned it, don't you?

 

[lisaviolet]

Yeah for sure Nancy.

I feel totally off track. I have to take Paula's line. Today is new. Look at you Nancy as well. Geez, I need to get going.

Nancy - test? Don't make me annoy you - I will - or have?

 

[amykab]

Hey All,

Anyone want to read a race report?? Lisa V???

So, I ran the Aflac Iron Girl 5K in Clearwater on Saturday morning. Aflac does a series of 10 races and tri's all over the country every year.

Weather: Absolutely perfect. low-mid 60's, not a cloud in the sky. Perfect.

Outfit: Black running skirt, and the tech shirt that came with race registration. Tiara bondi band. I have to have an outfit all planned out, even for just a 5K.

The Race: About 1500 ish runners and walkers. The start of the race was not marked by a air horn or anything, but by the aflac duck yelling the trademark "AAFFLAAAC". Race started out uphill. Flattened out for a bit and then we made the turn to go over the clearwater memorial causeway bridge. This is the main biggest bridge out to the beaches. Ginormous. So we run up it, and I was under the impression that the turn around for the 5K was at the top. Umm, no. We ran down the other side, turned around and went back up. OMG. I took a walk break at around mile 2, right before the return over the bridge. Legs were on fire. I ran as fast as I could on the downhill. It flattened out again and then there was another hill, albeit small, but seemed huge to my tired legs. Finished in 34 flat. Just a bit slower than my last 5K. I am very very happy with this time though because of the hills, since all of my 5K's have been on pancake flat courses. My garmin says my average pace was 10:50. Holy Crap!! And my first 2 miles were sub 11 minutes. Totally fanatastic. And I placed right around the middle for my age group and overall. I am usually towards the back third. And I was almost 4 minutes under the average 5K time. So happy with the results of this race.

Pics

Me, in my post race sweaty grossness, posing by my beautiful bougainvillea plant that finally came back to life after we had to transplant it.

Delena, modeling my bling.

Today is my day to get back on track too. It looks like the vacation damage and post vacation recovery damage, was about 2-3 pounds. owning it and moving past it. DH has gained back 10-15 of his loss from last year, so he is back on too today. And he asked me to make up a workout schedule for us for this month!!

I'll catch up later once Delena goes down for her nap!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Nancy - test? Don't make me annoy you - I will - or have?

No, nothing yet. I meet with Erin again tomorrow and will hassle, I mean ask , her then. She was busy with clients this a.m. when I was at the gym and I didn't want to interrupt her. I figure if someone is paying her for her time & attention, then I should just wait, kwim? So we'll see what happens tomorrow morning. Honestly, I'm not holding my breath.

Anyone want to read a race report?? Lisa V???

Awesome Amy! Love the report. And the pictures. Please remind me - how long have you been running?

 

[zigzagzerr]

Amy - Congrats on the race! Sounds wonderful -- and Delena looks adorable modeling your bling.

Challenge results - well, I weighed in on Friday and was down 0.6 lbs (same as last week). Not a whole lot, but I knew why, so decided to move on from there. Net for the 3 weeks so far of the challenge: 1) up 1.8 lbs 2) down 0.6, 3) down 0.6 = total of 0.6 lbs UP overall. Kinda depressing.

Anyways, I knew that part of the reason I was stalling out on the weight had to do with my weekends. I was letting everything ago once I hit Friday night and it was messing me up for the next week. So, my goal this weekend was to continue to work my plan. I managed to do that while still having fun and a few treats, so I'm very proud. I snuck a look at the scale this morning and was a lot happier. If I can at least hold onto this weight loss through Friday, it should be a nice result.

I tried an exercise video from the library on Saturday (The Firm), and my hamstrings are still screaming at me today - 2 days later! Tonight is Jillian -- or as my husband calls her "that evil @itch".

I will actually have the house to myself tonight!!! DD is away for a few days with friends of ours and hubby has tickets for opening day of the Orioles. I'm looking forward to my crockpot chicken, steamed broccoli, Jillian, and then snuggying down with a good book.

Hope you all have a better week! Sending springlike thoughts your way!