OK guys, 12 pages and I have finally caught up.
Just one quick thing from me...I found the Mindflex for Amelia's Christmas, so you all can stop looking!!!


But thanks for thinking of me.
Diane - Ellis Island is quite moving! My cousin Paul actually engineered that entire Living History project there...did most of the interviews with immigrants that had passed through there etc. I visited several times while he was in the midst of the project and went to a few interviews with him...very emotional and moving stuff. The dignity and pride of those people moved me to tears!!
Bev - did you go to regular Zumba?
I would love to see Ellis Island. I think we will be going to NYC for Spring Break in 2011. How cool that your cousin did all of that.
I did my first regular Zumba tonight. OMG


to Laura. The hardest part was that she doesn't explain every song ahead of time, so I was trying to see what she did and follow along.
Ellis Island was very moving. Robin- Your cousin should be very proud to have a part in keeping that history available to all the generations to come. One of the displays was describing tests for mental competence and the question to a Polish young girl was "would you wash steps beginning at the top or the bottom?" Her response was "I didn't come to America to wash steps." I thought that was cute.
Next week we're going to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas Spectacular. My sister takes her granddaughter and they've invited me to go along. I've never been there! Her granddaughter is 6 and is so excited about telling me everything I'm going to see. She said 'but I'm not going to tell you the end'.

I know it ends in a Nativity scene, but I'll act duly surprised!
Have fun in the big apple! I am sure your great niece (right?) will have a ball sharing her love of the show with you.
Well, as I have been saying to anyone that asks what I am doing for Thanksgiving, I am hosting Thanksgiving but Whole Foods is doing the cooking! I am embarrassed to admit it but there it is! I just don't love cooking and I get such a resentment at the holiday dinners where I feel like I am the only one doing anything that I decided to skip the stress this year.
Kate - good for you!
I just sent you guys an amazing e-mail a friend sent to me...her horse just had a baby, and she took the most gorgeous photos...look for it in your e-mail...I almost cried again!!
Robin - the pics were gorgeous.
My niece is better although still in the ICU, still on dialysis and still on the ventilator. Apparently the infection from the pancreatitis was so bad that she was septic. They expect a full recovery. As soon as she is able to move from ICU, they are going to transfer her to a different hospital closer to my sister's house.
Kate - such wonderful news about your niece. Prayers are great!
I still have to clean Chloe's room and bathroom! I pick her up at the airport on Tuesday night. Everyone - please keep your fingers crossed that she doesn't miss her flight (remember the disaster in October when she was at the airport on time but was knitting and listening to her ipod.....). Wednesday, I will drive into San Francisco and pick Demi up. She is going to spend Weds and Thurs night at home. I am so excited to have both girls home together. I think that Weds night we are going to have girls-night-out and go to dinner and a movie. I was to see Precious.
Hoping she made her flight tonight!
Just a quick good night to everyone. I've been so busy putting up decorations and celebrating my boy's 14th b-day this weekend. Hope everyone is good. Love to all!
Cindy - so glad to see you. I hope your son was a wonderful b-day.
I realized something about the carb dams. If I eat at Ten, two, and six both am and pm, I will never go longer than I should. That would sure make life simple. What I can't believe is that I'm eating so much and that I'm getting smaller. It really confirms for me that I wasn't so fat because I ate like a pig. My body really was taking everything I ate and storing it as fat. I think that we all are on a slow process to healing that. Well, that's what Diane says in the book, and it really does work. Even those of you that are losing weight slowly, there is the change in clarity of thought, mood and there is size changes. I'm feeling very fortunate to have found this way of eating and all of you.
Nell - you are such a success story for this WOL.
Good day to everyone!

I wanted to stop to say hi and let you all know I'm still livin! I've managed to kind of keep up with you all, but just reading, been too brain dead to gather thoughts to post. I'm still on plan most days but a fast food something here and there has snagged me a couple of times. I continue to be amazed that I've not gained a single pound back. WooHoo!

I really am beginning to wonder if this WOE actually fixes us and lets us metabolize food like normal people, even when we're not fully on plan.
Pam - so good to see you.
Good morning everyone! Tom, don't read this next sentence. Guess what, I've got my period! I've got some pretty bad cramping, but am excited as this is a definite sign that my body is healing.
Nell - I never thought I would be excited that someone got their period, but Yeah for you. (and better you than me)
I'll catch up with you all a bit later, but had a funny to tell. My pj bottoms are so big the crotch is almost to my knees and the hem is dragging under my feet - thankfully, because it was the way I found out our water line under the kitchen sink is leaking. I couldn't figure out how my pj bottoms got all wet! The foam rug was soaked! Got the line turned off, but now I have no water in the kitchen. I'll wait to see if Tom can fix it this pm before I pay a plumber, but bummer right before Thanksgiving
Lisa -too funny about your pjs.
Some good news from me also. We got a call from the police today. We had to pick up the knife they were holding that was found in Carrie's car. The school decided to not press charges. They felt 45 days out were enough. So we went and got it. I told Mike we should have just given it to the police. Maybe one of them hunt and could have used it for something. I should have told them to give it to my good friend who is a cop LOL.
I can't thank you all enough for the prayers.
Kathy - go glad to hear that Carrie's issues are now resolved. Smooth sailing for her into nursing school now.
Was someone here looking for a Tom Tom deal on black friday?
Walmart just posted their ad. They have 2 on sale that morning. 1 is $59 and 1 is $89.
walmart.com and put in your zip code for your local ad. I believe the online sale begins at midnight central time. Just double check to make sure before ordering online
I saw today that Sam's had one on sale for either $59 or $69. I have a garmin and love it.
Would anyone like a recipe for cream cheese 'croutons'? Sunset magazine. You cube up 8 oz. cream cheese. Chop 1/2 cup sliced almonds. Coat cream cheese cubes with almonds and refrig til ready to serve salad. Either bake cubes on rack in cookie sheet for 5 min on 350 or 3 min. in pan spayed with non-stick til golden serve on salad with pomegranate seeds and balsamic vinegrette. Yum! I'm doing this and adding pecans.
Lisa - sounds yummy.
Lisa - heading to Kohls.com to check out those jeans, I want some!! I would so LOVE to have us all chatting around my kitchen table! Or better yet, sitting out on my 50' long front porch looking out at the mountain view and the ponies grazing in the pasture....awwwww come on you guys, get packing!!
Robin - can I come too?
Did anyone watch that show Find My Family that premiered tonight? I bawled my eyes out!
I saw it at my mom's. I wondered if they would show it if someone didn't want to meet their birth parents or adopted child?
I would leave right now but I have to pick Chloe up at the airport tonight. Well, at least I hope I do. I started reminding her in late September that she should make her reservation for the shuttle because Thanksgiving is such a busy time of the year. She sent me a text message last week that the shuttle was full (go figure....). She sent me another text message several days ago that they added an extra shuttle. That is the good news. The bad news is that it leaves Tacoma at 2:00 and her flight is at 4:00. I think she is cutting it a little too close. She won't have any luggage to check in so keep your fingers crossed that there is no traffic. KIDS!
Kate - fingers crossed!
Good Morning MM Friends,
Just wanted to stop by and say hello. I started step 2 Monday and so far so good. I'm looking forward to trying some of the MM receipes for Thanksgiving. If by any chance, I don't get an opportunity to check back in ...have a wonderful MM day.
Sandra
Sandra - thanks for stopping by. Happy Thanksgiving to you too.

What Not To Wear, here we come! I actually found some Levi's for women in a tall when I was at Nordstrom Rack in Seattle when my daughter was here. Size 16 tall and I was hanging on to them for goal pants. Tried them on and they fit last week!!

Trouble was the hips were cut for someone with hips so they pooched out on the sides. Hubby does all the sewing in the house so he said he' d take off the pooches for me. I was very adament that the waist was fine, don't touch it. Well, he decided he wanted them tight from a guys perspective so he took them in from the top down

I couldn't get them on. He says they'll stretch, wear them awhile. I got them zipped, did a little squat to stretch them out and rrrripp ! Both sides where my gut is ripped next to the pockets

That's what he gets for not listening to me (again)
Barb - I am in awe that your DH sews, but I would be frustrated that my new "goal" pants were ruined. I guess you have to go buy some new goal pants and charge them to him!
Thanks Lisa. Those are really nice looking. I need a 34" inseam and it looks like they stopped making the talls awhile ago. Darn.
A 34" inseam, holy cow, I bet your legs come to my neck! I am a short 5'3"
Anyone that makes that pie I posted: They are serious about needing a deep dish pie pan. It really goes high when it cooks. Looks yummy! I ran out of pumpkin pie spice voila! The internet again found the proportions to mix it myself out of other spices. Also, when you put the crust in, you will think you didnt make enough just keep pushing it around with your fingers and it makes just the right amount with no spaces once you work it in.
Plumber is finally gone and we are put back together.
Lisa - glad your pie worked well, but I am not a pumpkin girl here.
Glad you got your plumbing fixed before everyone shows up for Thanksgiving.
Ladies--hope this goes through---posted a bunch yesterday but I"m on my husbands laptop (mine's on the fritz) and nothing went through-UG!
I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! I've been researching fibro so much lately when I get a chance to get online but I read here everyday so know I"m with you even if you don't see me!!
Lisa--please let me know what you did after you read From Fatigued to Fantastic--I went to the fibro and fatigue center in Philly the other day for a free consultation and I'm going to have to take out a second mortgage to pay for them!! $6,000 for a year's service there, doctors visits, IV therapy, supplements. they let you make monthly payments of $500!

Did you go to a doctor for help??? Looking for someone around here that might be a bit cheaper but I have finally found a place that takes care of EVERYTHING all together. I just don't know..... thanks sweetie!!
We just got our 'foster' Boston Terrier today--his 'dad' was trying to euthinize him because he's peeing around the house and he can't take it anymore (the dog is 10 and has seen his 'dad' go through a divorce, move to a new house and now his new girlfriend doesn't like him) what a sweet dog! of course I think I'll be the one to adopt him!!! I just started volunteering for the BT rescue about 2 weeks ago and already I've got a dog here that I want!! Well, I always wanted 3 children and I only got one (a great one at that!) so now I'll have two other four legged children!!
Natalie - sorry to hear about the cost of that Fibro treatment. Listen to Lisa, I think she could help you immensely.
That dog is so lucky that you are there for him. My mom has 2 BTs and there are a hoot.
OOPS...Sorry Barb, what was I thinking? who the heck is in Illinois? OMG, I believe Nationwide has fried my brain completely!

Well fine then, it looks like if I am goingto get to visit with anyone, I will either have to head for you west coasters, or down to the Florida gals!!
Robin - it's me



I'm in Illinois, but I'll come join the commune too.
Well all, it's late and I'm going to bed.
I'll check in tomorrow.