October Tracking

[RQP]

Note from Brenda: Don't think you are crazy, October trackers! I moved the posts that were written today but on the September thread to this page. They appear in time order and I can't change that. There were some good posts, and I didn't want any to be missed, so I hope I haven't confused everyone. Judy, as always thanks for starting the October thread. BC


Shelley - I may have missed you but have a WONDERFUL trip - you deserve this break sooooooo much!

Judy!! toooo funny!! And you know I sent that off to lots of aggies I know (in my business - there are lots of ag projects around the world and I have worked on lots of them!)...

Barb... Sounds like your b'day was WONDERFUL - FWIW, my father who is 5'11" and has been a runner all his life and been a big "diet for a small planet" fan since time immemorial has high cholesterol. If you looked at this 75 year old who looks like he's 50 and has like negative body fat you would never believe it. It's all genetic, according to the docs. He takes something (lipitor) to keep it in control, but there it is... sometimes there is nothing to be done - sometimes it's all about the hand you've been dealt!

Thailand is spectacular... let me know if you are ever in the mode to consider it more seriously and I'll send you all sorts of information. We bought all of our eating utensils there! For my birthday some year ago, DH bought me a week long course in Thai cooking at the Oriental Hotel on the Chao Phaya river. One of the best hotels in the world, and arguably the best cooking school. It was the trip of a lifetime and when we lived in Bangladesh, Bangkok was a cheap and wonderful get away so we went often... <<sigh>> you would love it!! http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/510000256.asp

Peg, I am 5'5"... and look remarkably like, but much older, than my avatar and, well, I tried to post a recent photo taken by DH and another of the quilt I finished before we left for Prague?but the only way I see to do it is to copy the images to our website and then ?insert? an image here in the post. Is that how you guys all post photos here? I am kicking myself because Shelley explained it a while back and I have searched all her posts and can?t find the advice so if anyone is willing to share again, I?d be grateful!! Im not that psyched about loading all sorts of photos on the website - but it only give me the option of putting in a url... :(

Well here are my numbers for yesterday
Calories: 1068
Fat: 82 (70%)
Net Carbs: 28 (10%) a little high
Protein: 53 (20%)
plenty of water

And today I weighed 140 :jump:

"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can" My next mini goal is to hit 136 by Oct 14. That's two weeks - but I think if I stay focused I can get there... It will be ok staying on plan when I get back to the US because both families I'm with eat healthily (is that a word?)...

ok all... have a GREAT weekend - I'll see you all here by and by (as Grandma used to always say)...

[KCTinter]

Good morning!

Barb! I know it was a good one if you went to the AR Barbeque! They had a little special about it on channel 9 and it looked like a lot of fun. Did you "SHOUT?" I can never hear that song anymore without picturing Belushi dancing in Animal House.

The "Celebration of Words" sounds right up your alley. Nervous? Yes, but it will be exhilarating!

The cholesterol number does seem high. But you did have it done right after your vacation . . . with more eating and perhaps less of your usual exercise. Would that have been a factor? Do you have a history of high cholesterol in your family? Glad you are having it re-checked.

Shelley: You're OFF today!! Don't know if you'll see this before you leave, but have a fantastic time relaxing and hiking! Your procedure sounds thorough and much better than when my DH had his BCC removed. You are having it done so quickly, too. When DH's doctor recommended he see a dermatologist to have his lesion looked at, DH couldn't get an appointment for two months! All's well, and it will be for you, too!!

Rachel, you are on a roll! Good vibes are coming your way for 4 more pounds lost in two weeks!

Ok, the picture thing. First have the pictures as .jpg's on your computer. The smaller, the better. If they are too large, LCE will inform you. Next, when you reply, click the "Go Advanced" button at the bottom of the "Quick Reply" window. Once you're on the "Go Advanced" page, scroll down and under "Additional Options" click the "Manage Attachments" button. A separate window will open up. Click "Browse." Find the image on your computer and select it. The file name will pop up in the File To Upload window. Click "Upload." If the picture is small enough, it will show up in your reply once you post it. If the pic is larger, it will show up as an attachment once you submit your reply. If the pic is too big, it will tell you and you can adjust it in your photo editor. I can't remember, but I think it will also tell you what the max file size is. Can't wait to see them! And don't forget some Prague pictures!!!

Judy: What a great picture! Hmm. I see a good market in the area for safety film with the Ultraflex attachement system! (That's a heavy duty caulk that bonds the glass and film to the window frame. Can withstand a low level bomb blast. But maybe not a Rita . . .).

Peg, all I can say is WOW. I'll bet you are dancing one heck of a Happy Dance!

Aren't lists great? Especially when one CRS!

And your first Saturday without staring at a blank screen!!!!

I have to agree with Brenda about Thank You notes. I find them very hard to write. Can't seem to get the words right . . .

Brenda, you FEEL thinner? That's what counts! Hope all the blood work numbers are GOOD. All of you are so good about keeping up with all this OF stuff. Cholesterol, blood work, etc. I really need to have all this done, but I keep putting it off . . . .

Donna, Congrats on being caught up. I do hope your boss really and truly knows what a gem he has in you. Ya think?

The new afghan colors sound wonderful! And that is a good idea about having a fun project to do in the evenings to avoid the munch monster! I used to do crewel work. Remember when that was all the rage in the 70's?

Well ladies, I am still stuck at 132.5. Think I'll see that number for a while unless I tweak something. Had too much protein yesterday. Think I'll try skipping the chicken or tuna on my salad.

Errands to run today plus film cutting and temp cutting. DH liked the idea of putting wallpaper on one wall. It's the first wall you see in the kitchen when you come in from the entry (my kitchen is at the front of the house.) It is also the only wall that is without openings or cabinets, so should be an easy hang. I've never done wallpaper, but I "do film." Should be a no-brainer. But still a lot of prep work needs to be done. By Christmas? Ha!

Have a great weekend!

[Judy]

Good Morning all........

It's another new month. We had so much success with our Back To Basics last month that I suggest we keep it up. I think we all agree that Peg gets the award for greatest success.

I've got to get up and get moving. We are gong to DNiece's wedding today. I'll catch you guys later.

[pegster]

Hi Gang!

Rachel: I posted all about how to post a pic. and THEN read Alida's post! Sheesh. She was very thorough. Waiting for your pics.

Looking at a map this morning and wondering if Springfield is too far for you to come? There is an "On the Border" there that we frequent when we are in that area. Do you like Mexican food? Massachusetts, of course, doesn't know Mexican food from a hole in the head, and this is a chain. But, they do a pretty good job.

Alida: It sounds as if you are going to have a busy day. I wish I could be there to help with wallpapering. It is one of my favorite things to do! My BF in SoCa taught me. We wallpapered my kitchen once (in CA) and it was literally like wrapping a present. It had dormer and stair ways coming down in the ceiling. Wow, it was a real job. We also wallpapered the ceiling! That was 25 years ago. I have enjoyed that kind of stuff. I'll be glad when we get in our own house in the OF home. I can start doing some of that again.

One more week, Donna! Wish I could give you some advice about how to handle that boss of yours. He sounds like he is pretty clueless about the office.

Will you take your dogs with you? I gave some fleeting thoughts about renting an RV for our trip. I had this fantasy of sitting in the crisp fall air in a campground with my house with me. Of course, I would have to have all the comforts of home with me. Microwave, TV, DSL, heat, bathroom. Also, I do all the driving (at least most of it) in the family because DH gets distracted so easily and I am a nervous wreck when he drives. It just works out better if it's me. I can't see myself manuvering a big RV across the country. Ya know........I've never camped in my life. My fantasy is just that. A fantasy. I usually tell people that my idea of camping is "no color TV."

Judy: Whatcha doin today? I hope that you can get some rest this weekend. You are right. This is the first time in a long time that I haven't been chained to my computer all day. It feels REAL GOOD. I'll be writing thank you notes much of this morning. Tomorrow, we'll go to the church where our membership is. It's the one that DH is interiming at next Spring. (terrible grammar, sorry)

So, are you planning any sewing projects for Christmas? I've been thinking about it. My BF in SoCa was telling me yesterday that she has a serger that she will teach me to use. I'm psyched about that! But, I won't have time to create anything before Christmas since we will be on the road until Dec. 1st.

Brenda: Wondering what this day holds for you? Did you talk DH into doing any household projects for you? Will you spend some time knitting?

I find that time is beginning to weigh heavily on my hands. I have a lot to do, but I keep putting it off. DH gently reminded me that it is better to do things when you have time than to put them off. (He didn't say it like that, believe me!) But, I'm such a procrastinator! That da*n guest room is still covered with my winter clothes waiting for me to get in there and decide what I am going to take, send, pack away.

Well, Shelley is gone, I am sure. I do hope that her vacation can be restful for her. It sounds as if she has a really good plan for the surgery. I am so glad. Sometimes I think that health issues are harder for heath professionals. They know too much! And, Shelley is an operating room nurse. Yikes!

TB: What does this weekend hold for you? Are you still working on how to fix those tiles? Did you find anyone who has them. I echo what someone else said about having the contractor replace the whole floor. His insurance will pay for it. He won't be out anything. He has already admitted he did it. You could just pick out new tile that you like!

Barb: I take Lipitor. I've begun since I started lc. I decided that I would rather eat lc and take a small pill every day than alter my diet to eliminate fat. I will alter it eventually, but I have not reached my goal EVER. So, I keep on. It is at quite an acceptable level now. My Doc keeps an eye on it as well as other markers in my blood. Good luck to ya.

Again. So glad you are back. Your presence has been sorely missed here. We have become such a community, that when one is gone it leaves a hole until you come back.

KIM: Hey, girl! It is such a treat to see your avatar on this thread, and to hear your voice! I know that you have your own community going over there on your journal, but if you ever want to join us I think I speak for the gang that you would be very welcome. You are doing spectacularly on your weight! And you certainly are a VET.

Well, I'm up .2 today. 177. But, you know, I'm back at the weight that I just couldn't ever seem to get past. I suspect that this is going to be the hard part now. I'm gonna keep eating at induction levels for a while more and see if I can break this 175 barrier. Of course, when you see my levels for yesterday you are going to wonder what the h*ll I'm talking about. Yesterday, we went out for lunch and I had breaded chicken on my salad. That contributed to those high carbs. I also had two fried corn tortillas with chalupa on them for dinner. That also contributed to it. But, I had lots of fiber and that is good. I have already subtracted it.

Here are my numbers:

Calories 1942
Fat 55%
Protein 32%
Carbs 77g 13%

Today I got up and exercised with DH. I tried the rowing machine for the first time. Wow! That sucker made me "sweat the big one," as Shelley says. I can really feel it in my back, and my arms.

See y'all later,
Peg

[pegster]

Dang it. I just posted a long post in the September tracking thread!! I forgot that today is October 1st! When you are retired, you lose track of days. I'm thinking of putting up one of those boards that they have in nursing homes to remind the residents of when it is and where they are!

Peace, Peg

[RQP]

Alida!!! Thanks for the info on the pics.. DH just got us our second monitors (each!) so I can read your instructions on one screen and go through the process on the other (are we spoiled or what?! ? DH is a real computer geek ? loves all the toys)

Below are one of me so Peg can recognize me in Springfield, MA next month

...and the other where I am holding little Anthony?s quilt ? you can?t really see, but those horizontal blue pieces are old fashioned trains? the back will be solid trains (that blue materials)?

I?ll get Prague pics up once DH downloads them off of the camera (there are over 500) Don?t worry I will only choose one or two to post! LoL!

Peg, Springfield is great ? about ? hour from Lyd?s (uh, Dsis) and easy to get to? as the time gets closer and I have a better handle on my travel schedules between NJ and MA, I?ll call or email you and IT?S A DATE! Groovy!!

Judy, I hope it was a beautiful wedding! (you seem to be in wedding mode this season, huh!) I am sure voting to continue the BtB with you all?. Especially since Peg is our big loser! I am also at a plateau, Peg? 140. It was hard as h*ll the first time through to get to 135 from 140 and I have never made it to goal (125-126). I am motivated to do it this time ? largely due to the support I get from you all ? and especially from Shelley on the exercise thing.

Alida, I have never wallpapered in my life, can you imagine? I have painted, done the plumbing, electrical work, carpinttry, I even cut and lay the tiles for a bathroom once, but never wallpapered ? am I only the partial domestic goddess I thought? (sorry, I?m in a silly mood! )

Ok, today?s numbers are low:

Calories: 1037
Fat: 84 (76%)
Net carbs: 22 (9%)
Protein: 36 (15%)
Lots of water
No exercise ? I?ll go at it tomorrow ? I?m feeling yesterday?s crunches and the plank.

See you!!

[RQP]

Rats, only attachments... can you still click and see them?

[tiashanty]

Good morning everyone. Looks like lots of activity in here already and I thought I might be one of the early ones. lol

Rachel: Love the pics. You do beautiful work on your quilting. That's one lucky little boy. Trains...my grandson would love that!

Peg: You and I think alike when it comes to camping. Our motorhome has all the goodies that you mentioned. We have to take the tv out from under the bed and set it up on the counter, but that's okay. When it's dark outside, nothing better than settling down with a new movie. I've camped all my life and really love it. I've done the tent and then camper and now the motorhome. We only have a class C but are hoping to get into a class A by next year. We were hoping to do it this year, but with the price of gas rising like it is we decided to wait and see what happens. Our dogs go everywhere with us. They are great travellers. Lily sits on the headrest right behind dh...he's a constant snacker while he drives. So, she helps him. If he doesn't share with her, she smacks him on the back of the head. No wonder she's so chubby!
I haven't been brave enough to drive the motorhome yet. I know I'd do okay on the highway but it's turning corners in the city with lots of traffic that bothers me. Congrats for getting the award for being the biggest loser!!

Brenda: Did you ever get any relief from hot flushes with the new hormones? It must be stress from the last week that I just put in, but I'm soaking wet all the time. Sure would be nice to have this stop soon...3 years is just too long. Thanks for the idea of taking some afghans to the hospital. There is an extended care home attached to our hospital and maybe they would like some.

Alida: I bet you won't have any problems hanging wallpaper. I've done it lots of times. Nice straight walls are the nicest of course. But, with your background...it's going to be a snap for you.

My ds was supposed to come over yesterday to help my dh unload a machine that will blow the insulation into the walls in the front room. I had talked to his wife on Thursday and she said sure he would come, no problem. Friday she gets the flu and stays in bed all day so he had to stay home and watch the kids. I'm just wondering if it's really the flu or if she just doesn't want him to help us. It's getting too close to holidays now to start making any more mess so I guess we'll have to wait until we get back. If he's not going to help us, I wish he's just say something and we'd hire someone to put the gyprock up. I'm getting a little frustrated about the whole thing. Living with plywood on my floors isn't the nicest thing. And the big circle holes in the walls look lovely too. I like it when it gets dark and I can shut the curtains so no one can see inside at my mess. No ornaments anywhere, no pictures on the walls. Pretty bare and it echoes when we talk.

Well, the dryer is calling me with a load of laundry to fold. We are spending the night in town tonight with a visit to my inlaws. I can finally take all the cookies and goodies that I baked to them and don't have to look at them. lol We're taking my father in law out for Chinese for supper for his birthday so I'd better be careful what I eat today. Have a great weekend everyone.

[pegster]

Yup, We can see them, Rachel. You are a real beauty!!! Wow! You'll know me because I am a real beauty too, but about a foot taller than you! :gorgeous: Oh, and I have red hair with blonde highlights. And, I look several decades older, but other than that..................HA HA.

I LOVE the quilt. I'm looking forward to getting back to that. I quit it when I went to work this last time. This time, instead of making quilts for my gkids I think i'll make one for us!

Got my thank you notes done. Then I took a nap!

Peace, Peg

[heykim]

rachael... beautiful picture!

peg... thanks... sweet of you to say...:-)

[pegster]

And,......Kim........you are a beauty too!! Getting more and more beautiful with each new avatar!

Peace, Peg

[KCTinter]

It's October! I guess it was yesterday, too, but somehow that fact escaped me. Peg, LOL about those boards in OFHs. I find that every morning, as I get up, I have to actually think about what day it is and what I have to do.

It's going to be in the 80's today then a cool spell starts tomorrow. Yea! Love cooler weather. Thank goodness we got our A/C fixed. Will probably need it today.

Rachel, I love the pictures! You ARE a beauty, that's for sure! I so envy you getting together with Peg. You both will have a blast! And the quilt you made is wonderful! You truly have a talent there. Glad I could help with the picture posting thingy. Feel free to post more than a pic or two of Prague. I LOVE pictures! Yup. I"m the one who actually likes sitting through the "Our Trip To Podunk" slide show.

Speaking of getting together with LCE friends, I got a PM from Henry (Hdyhouse). He's in KC along with Rhonda and of course, our own Barb. And Dixie (Goddess) is not too far away in Lawrence. He is proposing a pot luck dinner later this month. Should be FUN! Barb -- can you make it? But ya know, I can just hear DH now when I tell him I am going to get together with friends from the internet. Visions of serial rapists will come to his mind. Sometimes he can be quite protective. Any hints on how to combat this reaction?

Peg, yes, you won the GOLD STAR for BTB!!!!! I also agree we should just continue. At the rate I am going, it will take months!

Donna, hope you had fun with your in-laws. And speaking of all the goodies you made, I made your Zucchini Muffins yesterday! They are fantastic! Even DH liked them. He agreed you'd never know there's zucchini in them. Problem was I ate too much of the batter. I am a batter freak. Upset the tum a little too much and had to resort to the old baking soda and water trick.

Your motorhome really is the ideal way to "camp." I laughed at your description of Lily helping your DH with his snacks. Have to admit I hate camping. When I was little, my mother was a Girl Scout Leader and would take me camping with her troop. I hated it even then. I think it was the outhouse issue that I detested the most. Although, about 8 years ago, Bob took me fishing with him to a place on a lake in Canada. Out all day in a boat. Bathroom? Any spot you can find on a passing island. It wasn't too bad. Just had to watch out for bugs on your buns.

Wish I could help about the hot flashes. I can't remember how many years I had them. I do remember I took HRT in the beginning, then stopped for a few years, then took Prempro. When I quit the Prempro, most of my hot flashes were gone by then. I do remember when I started this whole menopause thing . . . about 1993. Stopped Prempro a few years ago . . . so best guess is about 10 years. Have you tried any of those OTC herbal remedies for this?

Kim, glad you popped in! Peg's right. Your new avatar is absolutely gorgeous! How's everything going with Moon?

Terry, any tile news yet? Have you been able to dodge the sugar cravings?

Peg, had to laugh at your description of you DH's driving. I hear you. I can't tell you how many exits we have missed because my DH was driving and talking at the same time. He has always told me he's a "one thing at a time" person. Multitask? HA!

Thanks to all for your confidence re: me hanging wallpaper! Quick question to all you wallpaper pros out there . . . if the paper is pre-pasted, do you still use the paste or just do the water-dip thing?

Judy, how was the wedding?

Ilse, Barb, Brenda: What's happening?

Yesterday was a busy day for me. Cut some film, cut some template and made Donna's Muffins. I also went to the paint/wallpaper store where I thought I'd continue my search for the perfect wallpaper. Upshot? My original pick is still the best. That took an hour. Found out I'd need 2 double rolls for one fricking wall. $100. But it will look great. Also found out I'll only need one gallon of paint for the kitchen. I'm going with Benjamin Moore, so even 1 gallon will be $$. Learned how to paint popcorn ceilings. This whole project will take forever. I know the ceilings should be done first, but I am not going to paint the ceiling until the leaks get plugged. So when THAT will happen, who knows. Hopefully this month before the cold sets in. I am shooting for Christmas, but not holding my breath.

Have a great Sunday everyone! Go Chiefs! They NEED a win today . . . .

[bkloots]

Up early with time to spend, I decided to catch up on September posts. After reading for a half-hour, I was only up to the 6th! LOL So I decided to come on over here instead. I'm interested in the BTB discussion--which I'm joining now, with good reason.

Actually, not too much vacation damage--certainly not as in years past, when I'd consume a bag of chips and an ice cream cone every day. I was over 140 the first day back. But with seriously curbed carbs and no alcohol--until my birthday. I've dropped back to 136, and will be on track again soon. Carb "bloat" is no fiction! Of course, now that my story is posted on the home page, I have no secrets--and no excuses!

Yesterday, I felt a little punk. Couldn't tell whether it was carb deprivation, existential crisis, or a beer hangover from the barbecue. I worked it out by doing a little cleaning (a VERY rare activity for me) and felt much better by the end of the day.

I actually teared up preparing for my Sunday school class. The last verses of Ecclesiastes are a beautiful poem--but the whole book is about vanity and futility. When you're embarking on your 6th decade, even with a beautiful life to look back on and much more to look forward to, the realities of a world where so much sorrow and outright evil seem barely held at bay are quite overwhelming. My faith continues to evolve, and I'm grateful for the experiences of hope and comfort that God (always magnificently beyond my understanding) has given me. End of sermon.

Alida, as far as I know, Henry is not a serial rapist. He goes to my church. But then, as we all know, BTK was the president of his church, while he was out murdering people. Talk about grim thoughts! Well, I'm looking forward to a KC get-together. Didn't realize that Goddess is close by, too!

Rachel, your pictures are great. I'm sure that you and Peg will have fun getting together. I've never wallpapered either. However, the list of my domestic NON-achievements is miles long.

Now for another cup of coffee--caffeine I have not given up, although I limit the coffee to two cups in the morning. I'm keeping track in Fitday, which is the best way I know to stay honest with myself. Glad to be back!

[RQP]

Hey gals.. just checking in on a Sunday afternoon. We have had a gorgeous weekend and had friends (a young Danish couple with their 18 mo old - a CUTIE!) in for brunch this afternoon - it is so much easier to manage LC when you're the one in charge of the food - that's for sure! DH made fantastic omelets and we had some wonderful bacon, too...

I'm glad you could access the pics! I'll try to get DH to work on the Prague pix. They are mostly of buildings and whatnot and I prefer ones with people in them... We'll see what comes up.

Alida, can you explain to your DH what some of these LCers are all about (Shelley's an ER nurse, Peg's a minister, Barb writes for Hallmark fer goodness sake!! etc... ) maybe it will help him feel more comfortable that we are a group of friends, just like any - we know what we look like (more or less), where we live, what our families are about, our pets, our hobbies, and what we like and don't like, and have shared lots of intimate pieces of our lives: medical, emotional, and otherwise... the kinds of intimacies that many of us don't even have with people we may have known for years!! Perhaps instead of classifying us as people from the 'internet' - he could try and think of us a group of people who have come together through our desire to get healthy and lose weight - but who have ended up becoming a family of sorts and a very effective support system... hmmmm, I guess it doesn't matter that we may think all of these things - transferring that information so that it is believeable is something else. My DH has also mentioned on occasion that it amazes him that I can become so close to people I have never met or seen (remember that I went through 4 years of some horrible medical issues and the support networks I found online really saved me on more than one occasion, I'm sure)

In any case... I think it would be grand to have a LC pot luck and I hope he acquieses - you'd have a ball! DH lived in KC for a couple of years PR (Pre-Rachel) and loved it - one of his favorite places in the US!

I'm off to finish some int'l women's association business and decide how to find 200 calories and no carbs for the evening meal (I don't need much - the brunch was good filling and in the middle of the day, so I'm not too hungry)

I did 3.20 miles in 45mins this am and all my weights... I am at 140 still (whew) but am feeling like I will never see 135, and that 130 is so far away I can't imagine it <<sigh>>.

Hope it was a wonderful weekend for you all!

[BC]

Good Sunday Morning, Friends,
DH is off on some mission or other, so I got to sleep in til 9am this morning. Delicious!

Yesterday was a busy one, with lots of errands, a rather enjoyable shopping trip with DH even though we didn't find what we were looking for, and yes, finally I mowed the front yard. Of course, by now, the back yard needs mowing again! But did DH get anything done on the honeydo list??? Nah! Well, he moved one piece of equipment from the garage back to the shed--all the big tools he used to put in the floor are still taking up major space in the garage. Donna, I'm all for hiring someone for your projects if you can, trust me

Barb, welcome home once again, and welcome to BTB. I know you will do very well. I hear you both on on keeping a bit of caffeine as part of your day.

Rachel, you are so lovely and have a cute figure!! Thank you for sharing your pictures. The quilt is just amazing. Can't imagine any little boy not adoring it. If I were the "mom" though, I'd be very tempted to hang it or otherwise protect it from little boy antics. It's a work of art. Hats off to those of you who quilt.

Donna, major relief with the new hormone prescription. I'd say the hot flashes/night sweats are down about 98%. All it took for me was increasing natural estradiol from .5mg to .625/day. It's still a minimal dose, but I balance it with progesterone, too. I am thrilled and also sleeping better since I'm not throwing the covers off (and the dogs) all night It's too bad that you can't go that route.

Your motor home sounds WONDERFUL.. it's certainly the way I'd prefer to travel the states. Oh, I spent so many weekends camping when I was a kid, but we lived in Wyoming and Montana then--beautiful! I also camped out as a young person my year in Europe. Good memories. But really, I require heat, air conditioning, a bathroom, and a good bed now!

Alida, what fun for the KC contingent to have a pot luck! Hope it all works out for everyone. Do you all remember moderators Meg and Terese? I met them in Rockford a few years ago and it was delightful--there used to be a picture on the board somewhere. DH had the same concerns, but I just told him we were meeting at a public place and he'd just have to trust me that they were good people and I'd be ok. I've also met moderator Barb and Ilse who live here in the 'burbs. It's a neat thing to do.

Ah, wallpaper......ok, theoretically you are not supposed to need paste with pre-pasted paper. My experience is such that not all pre-pasted paper is created equal, unfortunately. I do paste it because the stuff is too expensive to have it start to peel on you if for some reason the paste doesn't develop well or isn't applied evenly in the factory. I've had that happen occasionally with "name brand" paper and it's a real struggle. If you have a really good paint/wallpaper store with experienced personnel, check with them. I use wallpaper accent walls or borders to balance the off-white walls DH insists on (Yuk!), and for more interesting bathrooms. Reminds me, it is past time to redo our bathroom!

Anyway, you will do great with the wallpaper, being a film pro. More than half the battle is the leveling, smoothing, and handling of big awkward wet stips--you already know all about that, LOL!!!

Peg, I keep a list --on the kitchen table actually of things I want to accomplish around the house, another list of thing I need to when I'm out--errands, etc. Otherwise, I tend to drift..... Anyway, for projects I'm just not thrilled about doing (like cleaning my studio space), I work on them 15 minutes at a time with as much speed and enthusiasm as I can muster. You'd be surprised how much you can get done in 15 minutes a day. And it eliminates that horrible "dread" of actually starting a big project because there's a defined time limit. If I am really getting into it, though, I'll give myself another 15 minutes and so on, but always will permission to stop at the end of each segment. HTH. I also find it helpful to have certain things I do on certain days--even though that's flexible I always know everything important will get accomplished on a timely basis. It also establishes the framework of a routine which I found important when I no longer had the routine of a job every day.

Well, Judy will have to report on the wedding, and Shelly is off to the mountains, lucky girl....

DH has come home with a generator--a major piece of our "preparedness" and a nice chunk of change, too I think I'm supposed to be admiring it in its new location--you guessed it, the garage!

Later, kids.....