WBRepo-Ship of Thieves-Remember the Magic Pt 13

[katypop]

Keep Paul in your prayers. He is still battleing to get an interview. He may have a lead at Adobe for a contract job. Man stuff is tough out here. Just nothing to be had As far as he knows his contract with SONY is over on 5/15. Maybe they will tell him day before if it's extented. So Stressful

Santa Barbara looks bad. I know you are a bit away, but stay safe V & Bubba

Nan, sending pixie dust and prayers for Paul It's getting tough here too. I know my son is starting to worry, a lot of workers at his company have been laid off, so far he's okay, but no telling what will happen in even one or two days from now.

I was just watching the fires on the news tonight, VERY scary. V & Bubba and anyone else near them, you're in my prayers too

Kathe

 

[katypop]

Hi Kathe, forget what's already happened with the car.....it's not an omen....just dismiss it. You're going to the happiest place on earth and you vacation has officially started. YEAH!!!! Hope you have a blast and take lots of pictures to share with us.

Well you picked the right one to get you started....oh and yea, it's addictive....hahaha.

Thanks Deb Okay, it's not an omen And you are right, I am so lucky to be going to the happiest place on earth (other than on the Magic, of course ) And I am so looking forward to meeting up with Gydell and her family, Monica, Connie, Chuck and Patrick, Marilyn and John and Lisa and Darrell ! I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, I have been up since 5:00 this morning and am getting weary! (and old)

Ian and Marilyn, how did your breakfast meet go? Or was it lunch? See...I'm getting old

Has anyone heard from Monica lately? I sure hope she's feeling better and enjoying the rest of her cruise.

Kathe

 

[nskjerven]

Happy Anniversary and Happy Mother's Day and Happy Birthday Ethan. Wow, that's a lot of celebrating. Have fun!

I missed this in the first pass, glad you quoted it

Ethan happy bday dude

Nan, sending pixie dust and prayers for Paul It's getting tough here too. I know my son is starting to worry, a lot of workers at his company have been laid off, so far he's okay, but no telling what will happen in even one or two days from now.

I was just watching the fires on the news tonight, VERY scary. V & Bubba and anyone else near them, you're in my prayers too

Kathe

thanks kathe collecting all the dust we can these days have a great trip

 

[HollyTyler]

Morning Friends.....yes it's that time of the year marking our one year anniversary of our magnificient trip....memories to last a lifetime.

Today was my weigh in day for WW....lost 2 lbs. I can see that this is going to be a SLOW process. I however have never eaten more healthy in my entire life. I get 34 daily points and I ate 20-30 during the week....with between 3 and 13 left over. I varied it. I ate all day long....mostly 0-1 point foods. I feel like I'm going to turn into a vegetable soon. I don't understand why I didn't lose more pounds....It's my first week. I thought you lose more in the beginning and then go down to losing 2 a week. Last week I lost 3 and I wasn't even tracking yet nor was I eating entirely good foods. I really thought I would lose more this week.....at least another 3. I'm somewhat discouraged. I know I have to push past it and have faith that it will get better and it will work. It just seems like I have to work so hard for such little results. Probably because I'm so inactive. I better look into those sitting down exercises. I need to push this a little more. I need better results. Well, looking on the bright side....at least I'm eating healthy. That's got to be good. I do feel better too. I feel "light." I go from hungry to filled up but never too full....like leaving the restaurants onboard the Magic. I guess that's the way it's supposed to work. Imagine learning how to eat at 52 years old. Better late than never I guess.

Deb, you're doing GREAT!!! Remember, Ian said we're only supposed to see 1-2 pounds max per week. Some weeks might be less than that, but you're still going in the right direction. Way to go! I know it's hard to see slow progress, but that's the healthy way to go. You're slowly changing your lifestyle and that takes time. You're doing great!

 

[HollyTyler]

Next week starts a month of hell-o for me. On Tuesday I have to take Ray to begin VitalStim Therapy. After two tests and working with a speech pathologist, his doctor has determined that Ray has Dysphagia.....a swallowing disorder. He needs to go for electrical stimulation of his throat muscles....at 79 years old, they are weakened and need to be strengthened. Right now he is at a high risk of aspiration....getting food or liquid in the lungs.

He has to go to Easton Hospital for treatment....it's the town next to Bethlehem about 30 miles away from my house. First I have to go in the opposite direction to pick up Ray from Mrs. Bush. He has to start with a minimum of 3 but up to 5 treatments the first week and it will lessen as the weeks go on. He has to do this for about a month. Afterwhich he has to repeat taking Xrays while doing a swallowing test to see if he has improved.

Mrs. Bush will transport him to and from visits but they will charge 41 cents a mile plus $40 each day. That could add up to an additional $1k for this month. On top of all of Ray's other expenses, I just don't have it. So I have to take him. But I can't push myself to do that gruesome of a schedule. Unless I'm on steroids, I won't make it.

John said his job is looking for reasons to get rid of people. They have already started the mandatory one day off a month in other departments and will probably hit his soon. They would love to eliminate John being in a senior position and filling it with a lesser paying entry level or not at all. He cannot use a sick day because Ray is technically not his immediate family according to University policy. So he will have to use vacation time to get a day off to help me out with Ray's schedule. The kid can help out too but he will also have to use vacation time.

I feel so bad. I wish I was getting the VA money so I could take Ray to the first visit and pay to have Mrs. Bush take him to the rest. As it is, I'm not sure how much vacation time John is going to have to use up. It could affect our trip in Sept.

I would consider taking steroids to get me through this....but I can only take them for a maximum of two weeks and then I will crash afterwards. Also, it's not recommended that they be taken with open wounds. So I have to take them sparingly. I was going to save using them again for Sept while on vacation.

Life is always something. Just when you think you've got it covered, it bites you on the butt. Times are hard right now....but I know that this too will pass....as George Harrison used to sing.

Oh Deb, it's just one thing after another, isn't it? I hope you're able to find a way to make this work. What a mess.

 

[katypop]

I missed this in the first pass, glad you quoted it

Ethan happy bday dude
:

Happy Birthday Ethan

Kathe

 

[HollyTyler]

Deb, the way I look at it is that you have now lost 5lbs!!! You could very well have put on that amount during the same period if you hadn't been taking care.

I think you are a little handicapped with your activity level at the moment, but that will change as you lose and can do more. Take note of what Ian says. Also, one week, doing exactly as you have been you will suddenly see a bigger loss. It is all very strange. When I lost my weight with WW, I had a 5lb first week loss, then I put on half a lb the 2nd week. To say that I was gutted was an understatement. But you have to keep going, and it will happen.

One of my biggest problems, and this might help others, was that I kept forgetting to weigh and measure portions, so the chicken portions, and even veg portions just got bigger and I didn't realise. I really couldn't believe the measly amount of pasta you are supposed to have either!!

You are eating healthily and that will be so beneficial to your whole wellbeing.

To Holly I would say you can cook chicken breasts or fish so simply, and add flavours to change the meal. Pop some nice fresh veggies in, or a salad, and it will be easier to keep control of rather than eating fast food all the time. I used to pop chicken breasts or fish in a foil parcel, sometimes with some added finely sliced veg/herbs/soy sauce etc, cook for 30 to 45 mins and there you are. Good with rice or a (small) jacket potato. Obviously you can grill too, but I found this way so easy as I could just leave it.

I think Shannon mentioned stir fries. They are easy and healthy. You can even buy ready packs in the supermarket. Very quick.

Keep going all of you. You are doing well. You are all so lucky having our own special WW leader who is so inspirational , motivational and helpful.

I probably will be joining you in June, after I have finished eating here in Florida.

Thanks Marilyn! I love all the tips everybody here has.

 

[HollyTyler]

Because I'm home and not on an outside schedule....I wait until I'm hungry before I eat. Well it was right around 11am and I was getting very hungry. Before I ate anything, I jumped on the scale again....just because. I went down another 2 lbs from earlier when I weighed myself around 6am. How did that happen??? I already plugged in the 2 lb loss for the week so I'm sticking with that on paper. But it feels really good mentally to think that I could have had a loss of 4 lbs this week. WOW what a difference. Looking at it the way Marilyn does that would be 7 lbs lost in 2 weeks. That I LIKE! Either way it's working and it gives me more incentive to stick with it as a lifer.

I just ordered Richard Simmons' Sit Tight video....all exercises done from a chair. Amazon had it. I love Amazon. At least I can start some form of activity this way. I'm looking forward to it.

Deb, I know the number on the scale made you feel better, but be careful about weighing before your weekly weigh-in because our weight can fluctuate throughout the day. I LOVE your Sit Tight video idea! I've never heard of a workout video like that. It's perfect! Way to go!

 

[HollyTyler]

Marilyn, you are so right, and Tyler might like it as well. My girls love Teriyaki sauce. Stir fried or steam veggies with meat and rice with Teriyaki sauce works great for them.
You can buy microwave ziploc bags meant for steaming fresh veggies or buy frozen stir fry veggie mixes to save on chopping.

A new favourite food of mine is edamame (young soy bean pods). They come frozen in small packages. just poke some holes in the top and microwave for 3 min. Then put on a bit of rock salt. Then one pod at a time, put in your mouth out the beans and garbage the pod. They are delicious and feel like your eating a snack and it takes some time to eat.

Tyler's getting slightly better about trying new things, so I'll be able to at least get him to try anything I make. I like Marilyn's idea about the foil packets. I used to do those long ago when I actually used to cook. I think the last t ime I cooked was when I was pregnant. It was April and I was craving a turkey dinner. I'd never made one before, but I cooked a whole turkey and all the fixings you'd see at a Thanksgiving dinner. I lived alone, so it was hilarious! Anyway, I'll buy some chicken breasts and other things to do the foil packets for dinners. That will help a lot! Thanks Marilyn and Shannon!

 

[JLSE50]

Speaking of gray hair.....I've decided to go with "SILVER HIGHLIGHTS"

.
: Thanks!! I knew there HAD to be a name for it !!
.

 

[granmaz]

My weigh in today was a total surprise. I've been doing WW online for 5 weeks. I got a really good number my first week but part of that is because it was losing the weight I put on in DL. This week was my best loss since week 1 and I ate the worst and did the least exercise . My losses have been 7.1, 0.7, 1.1, 1.3, 2.6. I had started trying to lose weight on my own at the beginning of the year (with some success). This week's loss puts me at 20.5lbs down so far (averages to 5lbs/month). If I don't get a gain next week, then I'm changing my 15lb ribbon to the 20lb. I don't want to put it on only to have to take it back off. I am really enjoying learning the value of food and the points value of the exercising. I am very lucky that I have a co-worker who has done WW before, and she is happy to share her tips and suggestions on foods that are available at our grocery stores. Ken is supportive at home, dis'ers are supportive here, co-workers are supportive; all of that is making it work for me. My aunt died of cancer a year ago, and my grandma always compared me to my aunt since I was little. I was the oldest granddaughter, that aunt was the oldest daughter, we were similar personalities and interests. We both got university degrees, got married a little older, started having kids around 30, got larger after each pregnancy. At New Year's I realized, I don't want to end up dying of cancer before I have grandchildren, so I want to lose the weight and break the chain. The thought process isn't completely logical, but for me it was mental click that got me motivated. Sorry for the long response, I just started babbling.

Well done. You really are doing well. It is funny how the weight loss goes isn't it. I remember feeling I had had a bad week and having good losses. Strange, but great when it happens.

Thanks Deb Okay, it's not an omen And you are right, I am so lucky to be going to the happiest place on earth (other than on the Magic, of course ) And I am so looking forward to meeting up with Gydell and her family, Monica, Connie, Chuck and Patrick, Marilyn and John and Lisa and Darrell ! I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, I have been up since 5:00 this morning and am getting weary! (and old)

Ian and Marilyn, how did your breakfast meet go? Or was it lunch? See...I'm getting old

Has anyone heard from Monica lately? I sure hope she's feeling better and enjoying the rest of her cruise.

Kathe

Not heard from Monica since she had recovered from her tummy upset. I'm presuming internet access is patchy where she s and she is enjoying herself too much!!!

We had a really good time at breakfast with Ian and Sukie. It is a shame we haven't met up again, but it seems we have all had a great week.

Looking forward to seeing you one week tomorrow!!! Have a good journey.

 

[iankh]

My weigh in today was a total surprise. I've been doing WW online for 5 weeks. I got a really good number my first week but part of that is because it was losing the weight I put on in DL. This week was my best loss since week 1 and I ate the worst and did the least exercise . My losses have been 7.1, 0.7, 1.1, 1.3, 2.6. I had started trying to lose weight on my own at the beginning of the year (with some success). This week's loss puts me at 20.5lbs down so far (averages to 5lbs/month). If I don't get a gain next week, then I'm changing my 15lb ribbon to the 20lb. I don't want to put it on only to have to take it back off. I am really enjoying learning the value of food and the points value of the exercising. I am very lucky that I have a co-worker who has done WW before, and she is happy to share her tips and suggestions on foods that are available at our grocery stores. Ken is supportive at home, dis'ers are supportive here, co-workers are supportive; all of that is making it work for me. My aunt died of cancer a year ago, and my grandma always compared me to my aunt since I was little. I was the oldest granddaughter, that aunt was the oldest daughter, we were similar personalities and interests. We both got university degrees, got married a little older, started having kids around 30, got larger after each pregnancy. At New Year's I realized, I don't want to end up dying of cancer before I have grandchildren, so I want to lose the weight and break the chain. The thought process isn't completely logical, but for me it was mental click that got me motivated. Sorry for the long response, I just started babbling.

BRAVO!

That's an excellent loss and excellent progress!

 

[iankh]

Doing a final load of laundry and getting ready to turn in.

Sukie has come down with a cold. I don't think getting soaked at Islands of Adventure helped it much.

We took it fairly easy today, and had a morning at Animal Kingdom, then a fast lunch at Captain Cook's at the Polynesian, because we both wanted Dole Whips for dessert.

We came back this afternoon and I took a nap for about 1.5 hours. I NEVER take naps, but this afternoon I passed out.

Tonight was dinner at Sanaa, the new restaurant in Kidani Village at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was OK. Sukie had an Indian dish which was not what either of us expected it to be, and not what it has ever been when ordered in a real Indian restaurant.

It has been quite a trip. I also had to collect menus from every restaurant on property, and photograph all the the counter service menus. The Mouse Manager web site is in need of a sorely needed update. That didn't happen as I wanted it to in 2008, because of the PC cruise and then the wedding in California (which would have been at the time of our usual fall trip).

Amazingly, I can say that I visited EVERY restaurant on property.

Tonight before we went to Sanaa, Sukie was questioning whether or not we should eat there. I said, "Well, why don't you look at the menu?" How convenient!

You would not believe the stack of menus, or what they weigh! Then there are the photos!

So, tomorrow morning we fly home. I wonder if we're going to find Cheri in one piece?

 

[HollyTyler]

My weigh in today was a total surprise. I've been doing WW online for 5 weeks. I got a really good number my first week but part of that is because it was losing the weight I put on in DL. This week was my best loss since week 1 and I ate the worst and did the least exercise . My losses have been 7.1, 0.7, 1.1, 1.3, 2.6. I had started trying to lose weight on my own at the beginning of the year (with some success). This week's loss puts me at 20.5lbs down so far (averages to 5lbs/month). If I don't get a gain next week, then I'm changing my 15lb ribbon to the 20lb. I don't want to put it on only to have to take it back off. I am really enjoying learning the value of food and the points value of the exercising. I am very lucky that I have a co-worker who has done WW before, and she is happy to share her tips and suggestions on foods that are available at our grocery stores. Ken is supportive at home, dis'ers are supportive here, co-workers are supportive; all of that is making it work for me. My aunt died of cancer a year ago, and my grandma always compared me to my aunt since I was little. I was the oldest granddaughter, that aunt was the oldest daughter, we were similar personalities and interests. We both got university degrees, got married a little older, started having kids around 30, got larger after each pregnancy. At New Year's I realized, I don't want to end up dying of cancer before I have grandchildren, so I want to lose the weight and break the chain. The thought process isn't completely logical, but for me it was mental click that got me motivated. Sorry for the long response, I just started babbling.



You and Bubba are so good to each other I hope the fires calm down and all of you are okay

Wow Shannon, way to go! You're doing so well! 20.5 pounds is major! Don't apologize, I'm sure we all understand your thought process. Makes perfect sense to me! Keep up the good work!

 

[HollyTyler]

I was just watching the fires on the news tonight, VERY scary. V & Bubba and anyone else near them, you're in my prayers too

Kathe

My thoughts exactly. I saw it on the news and it's so scary. Stay safe, all you CA friends.

 

[HollyTyler]

Oh my gosh, I just got off the phone with my mom. I called her and gave her some options of things to do on Sunday. She never lets me take her out and never wants to get together on special occasions, so I was shocked that she's willing this time! She really likes the zoo here in my city, so she's coming to town (and bringing her sister with her), we'll all go to Subway for lunch, and spend the afternoon at the zoo. She wants to play with Oreo too. That's surprising because she's disgusted by rodents! Anyway, we ended up on the phone for TWO HOURS! I told her about me starting WW. She's always been very critical about weight my whole life, so I expected her to say something like, "Well, it's about time". She did make one tiny comment along those lines, but the rest of the conversation was very good. She was quizzing me on the info provided online to make sure I'm getting everything out of it that I should. She suggested the same thing Marilyn did (about chicken and fish, etc.).

SO....now that I'm off the phone, I can get back to experimenting with Tyler's NEW COMPUTER!!!! He's going to be SO excited when he comes home tomorrow and can go to Webkinz World and all the other sites he uses at school!

 

[HollyTyler]

You all might be tired of hearing about our little rodent, but I had so much fun tonight, I just have to share. I found this cute little bed thing for him to curl up in, it's just like a dog or cat bed, but much smaller of course. I cleaned his cage today and put that in there. He was so funny, he had no idea what to do with it! I put him in it a couple of times, but he was having more fun jumping into it from the litter tray, then running around to do it again. I thought it might be in the way of where he likes to run around, so I moved it to another corner. He immediately ran over, shoved his nose underneath, flipped it and started trying to push it back to where I'd originally put it. I'm trying to stay awake long enough to load a couple little video clips of him having fun tonight.

Sad news, I can't find another male guinea pig anywhere in town. Not even at the shelters. All the pet stores have females, or the males they have are much older than him, twice his size, so I'd worry about them fighting and him getting hurt because he's so little still.

 

[HollyTyler]

Ian, I think it's amazing that you were able to visit every restaurant! Will the menus be uploaded to Mouse Manager? Do any of the menus have nutritional info? I only ask because I'm starting to worry about what I'll eat on vacation.

 

[Tink rules]

Morning Friends.....yes it's that time of the year marking our one year anniversary of our magnificient trip....memories to last a lifetime.

Today was my weigh in day for WW....lost 2 lbs. I can see that this is going to be a SLOW process. I however have never eaten more healthy in my entire life. I get 34 daily points and I ate 20-30 during the week....with between 3 and 13 left over. I varied it. I ate all day long....mostly 0-1 point foods. I feel like I'm going to turn into a vegetable soon. I don't understand why I didn't lose more pounds....It's my first week. I thought you lose more in the beginning and then go down to losing 2 a week. Last week I lost 3 and I wasn't even tracking yet nor was I eating entirely good foods. I really thought I would lose more this week.....at least another 3. I'm somewhat discouraged. I know I have to push past it and have faith that it will get better and it will work. It just seems like I have to work so hard for such little results. Probably because I'm so inactive. I better look into those sitting down exercises. I need to push this a little more. I need better results. Well, looking on the bright side....at least I'm eating healthy. That's got to be good. I do feel better too. I feel "light." I go from hungry to filled up but never too full....like leaving the restaurants onboard the Magic. I guess that's the way it's supposed to work. Imagine learning how to eat at 52 years old. Better late than never I guess.

Wait for it... I couldn't tell you any better...

Deb,

WW is designed to produce a maximum loss of up to 2 pounds a week. I think that as you lose weight and get healthier, you will be able to incorporate activity which will help in losing and maintaining weight.

It isn't a race, it's a lifestyle, and you are in a relearning and retraining process.

Just set little obtainable goals and it will all happen, little by little.

See... I told ya... He's the best!!!

Next week starts a month of hell-o for me. On Tuesday I have to take Ray to begin VitalStim Therapy. After two tests and working with a speech pathologist, his doctor has determined that Ray has Dysphagia.....a swallowing disorder. He needs to go for electrical stimulation of his throat muscles....at 79 years old, they are weakened and need to be strengthened. Right now he is at a high risk of aspiration....getting food or liquid in the lungs.

He has to go to Easton Hospital for treatment....it's the town next to Bethlehem about 30 miles away from my house. First I have to go in the opposite direction to pick up Ray from Mrs. Bush. He has to start with a minimum of 3 but up to 5 treatments the first week and it will lessen as the weeks go on. He has to do this for about a month. Afterwhich he has to repeat taking Xrays while doing a swallowing test to see if he has improved.

Mrs. Bush will transport him to and from visits but they will charge 41 cents a mile plus $40 each day. That could add up to an additional $1k for this month. On top of all of Ray's other expenses, I just don't have it. So I have to take him. But I can't push myself to do that gruesome of a schedule. Unless I'm on steroids, I won't make it.

John said his job is looking for reasons to get rid of people. They have already started the mandatory one day off a month in other departments and will probably hit his soon. They would love to eliminate John being in a senior position and filling it with a lesser paying entry level or not at all. He cannot use a sick day because Ray is technically not his immediate family according to University policy. So he will have to use vacation time to get a day off to help me out with Ray's schedule. The kid can help out too but he will also have to use vacation time.

I feel so bad. I wish I was getting the VA money so I could take Ray to the first visit and pay to have Mrs. Bush take him to the rest. As it is, I'm not sure how much vacation time John is going to have to use up. It could affect our trip in Sept.

I would consider taking steroids to get me through this....but I can only take them for a maximum of two weeks and then I will crash afterwards. Also, it's not recommended that they be taken with open wounds. So I have to take them sparingly. I was going to save using them again for Sept while on vacation.

Life is always something. Just when you think you've got it covered, it bites you on the butt. Times are hard right now....but I know that this too will pass....as George Harrison used to sing.

Oh Deb... I wish I could help...

.....Hey, have I ever told you that I love you guys....Marilyn, Ian, everybody.....you help SO much!!! I get your perspectives and I learn a new way to look at things.....and it's so much better and it really helps....and it makes me laugh too. Thanks. Hugs and Love.

Yeah... we love you too... now get over it... (I've been hanging out with Ian too much... )

You are so sweet and so dear to care and you are also so very kind to say.

In ten more days it will be two months since I received notice that Ray has been approved to recieve pension benefits. In the interim I wrote a letter asking to be appointed as a fiduciary for him and I wrote another letter asking to waive the 60 days hold for that appointment. The next step is to receive a phone call from them to schedule a meeting with me and Ray. Then they will appoint a fiduciary. Then they will pay him. It's a very slow process. I opened my file with them early in January. It's been four months. They said the process can take from 4 to 8 months.

Marilyn, I accept hugs!!! Thank you so much!!!

Deb... write a nice letter to your Senator/congressman... I did it when I fought for SS and it was AMAZING how fast the departments respond to their inquiries...

Quick driveby posting....

I see you are all still on Part 13. Sheesh, hurry it up eh!

Actually, just having no time at all to Dis. I get the quick opportunity to post a statement on facebook but that's about it.

Right now my days are running 7am - about midnight. But thankfully it all comes to a close on May 12th. On May 13th, my life will hopefully go back to normal.

This has been a real slug fest of an election. I will be happy to see this one come to a close. It will be nice to see my family again too...

So it's not that I'm ignoring you all, I've just been swamped and a little stressed out to say the least.

Ttyl

You just don't want to post on Pt 13...

 

[LuvBaloo]

I'm happy to have my laptop back. Now I'm curled up in Ken's chair watching Numbers and Dis'ing.

Kathe - have a great vacation!

Ian - I hope Sukie feels better tomorrow; it's no fun having cold when you have to fly. What was the Indian dish that Sukie ordered?

Holly - too bad you couldn't find another male guinea pig. Can you leave your name at the store so they will call you when they get another one?