Healthy Choices 05/16/08

Good morning everyone weigh in this morning is not good gained 1 lb. witch I do not understand as I have been working like crazy and got in 71,250 steps for the week thought I would have lost something even my pants feel loose. My arthritis is acting up so bad in my hands that I have been taking my pain medication for that the last few days and I managed to drop the tung on my garden trailer on my left big toe so it is swelled up like a purple plum. ODGS had his awarders presentation last Tuesday and he was the tops in his class for the year, he received 16 awards totaling $22,200 this is just through the school, he has several more coming in from privet donors that total well over the tuition fees for the first year at Knox Collage.

Sue hope work went OK and that you are feeling better what did you do to the knee?

We normally eat at around 5 or 6 o'clock but have had days were it could be 3:30 but then have tenancy to snack later in the evening.

Barb on the Lilac plants is this a cutting from one they have I would like to have one closer to are house there are some way out by the road, don't they come in a dwarf verity? Would you believe I have planted Rhubarb in 2 places that I have lived and this time when we moved I forgot to take cuttings, if I need to start over it takes 3 years for new plants to be productive. Grrrrr

NPat when do you leave on your trip wish DW and I could make this trip sometime don't know if DW would like it if its cold but she is not big on traveling because of back pain.

Jo Ann good to see that your DM got out with you for a spell hope she uses the patio area more. I like to set outside if the weather is nice have been doing some of that this past week my mind seams to drift back to the good times I had on the farm when I was around 15 or 16.

SBB hope you are feeling better and Barb is right about the 7up it might help prayers are being said for you.

The boys are coming out this evening to spend the weekend I don't know if I should just relax and do fun things with them or use there strong backs to help me straiten out the pole barn. Right now I feel like going back to work so I can get some rest. LOL

Have a nice weekend everyone and God bless.

Viny

Mornin Viny and everyone else when you get here. 

Finally...a day without rain and thunderstorms!  A nice way to start vacation. Viny, we fly out of Dallas for Vancouver on Tuesday morning and sail Wednesday afternoon. I've got the suitcase sitting open in the other bedroom ready for stuff to be put in...maybe I'll start today.

All of y'all with gardens ALMOST make me wish I had a garden...I'm just not very talented in that field.  Maybe I'll get a couple of hanging baskets for my patio--surely I can handle that much!

No real plans for today. Might make a Walmart run since Ana is almost out of dog treats.

I'll check back later.  Pat

Good morning Viny and all to come.

Viny, you've been working so hard, I would bet that you actually did lose weight.  The 1# showing up on the scale could be due to fluid retention, if the arthritis is acting up.  The pain meds can cause retention too. It sounds like you need a day to rest and have fun, with the boys coming over.  Congratulations to you and your ODGS.  He's doing so well and I'm glad he's getting all of the help with tuition. 

Marti, I hate to think of how much pain and discomfort you must be in with the implants.  It sounds just awful.  Prayres for you so that you can get through the whole procedure soon and without toooo much more pain.  Take care of yourself and keep thinking that it will all be over with soon.

It rained all night and it would be a perfect day, if more of the rain holds off, to  get the front flower bed ready for planting.  The ground is so soft now, but I want to add more of those little white beads for better drainage.  I thnk they're called vermiculite.  I think we can get the plants in, but DH thinks it might still be a little early in case we get temps that are too cold over night.

Have a busy Friday, so have to get myself moving now, but will check back later. 

NPat, enjoy your first day of vacation.  I know you must have so much to do to get ready for the trip.  What an exciting time for you.

Hope everyone has a nice day today.  God bless. Jo Ann

Good morning all.

Viny, sounds like you also had a bad day this week. I hope your hands and toe are feeling better. I have no explanation of why my knee hurts other than the possible torn meniscus. My knees just act up once in a while. But I was wearing shoes with a higher heel than normal so that could have been it too.  Your family must be so proud of the ODGS, he has quite a future ahead of him. Possibly your weight gain could be muscle, that’s why your pants feel loose but you gained. Someone told me your muscles hold onto water when you exercise. At Curves a lady weighed in before workout and again after and she was ½ lb more after her workout. I have 2 dwarf lilacs around my patio near the patio door. I can’t wait for them to bloom this year, they seem to be later than the regular lilacs but they are covered with buds. They are near the door so we can smell them inside.

NursePat, I hope you have a wonderful trip. You sound very organized with your packing.

JoAnn, you’re right about meds affecting weight too. We have a nice day in store here too but our office is so cold I still need to dress for winter!

I am trying to track better and keep it to 20 points and also track the extra 35 so I hope I do better next week.

Have a good day everyone, Sue

Good morning friends,

Viny, Waldo planted a miniature lilac bush for me several years ago.

It is about four feet tall now and just full of blossoms.

I will take a picture of it again this year.

Earlier I posted the wrong picture. Duh.

 
I know you are very proud of your ODGS. College expense is so high that it is wonderful he will have help (which he certainly earned) for the tuition.

My DGD will start her third year and will be in debt for years paying off the student loans. She has some help but $32,000 a year is outrageous.

She is studying forensics.

I’m sorry about the toe. Maybe you need to rest when the boys come over this weekend. Why don’t you get out your fishing poles? Is there a lake near by?

NursePat I know you will have a wonderful time. I can’t believe it’s been twenty years since Waldo and I took that cruise.

It’s raining here this morning. I wanted to plant the salvia today but perhaps I should wait until next week. I’m in such a rush now.

I have to tell you about the Knock Out rose bush. I went to Waldo’s favorite nursery to buy it. I didn’t even know the price until I checked out. $40

Well my friend who planted it yesterday was shocked by the price. He came back last night with a present for me ~~a much smaller Knock Out ~~but very hardy looking. He bought at Wal-Mart for $5.  I might just go there today and buy a couple more. LOL

This friend’s name is Frank and he was once married to my younger sister.

She left him and the children many years ago. We have stayed friends throughout the years. Our children are very close and they love their Uncle Frank. He lost his wife two weeks after Waldo passed. My girls are looking out for him. They call him all the time invite him to dinner and take him out to dinner or he takes them. He said my girls are his “best friends”.

Next week he wants to clean the garden area way in the back. Waldo built a beautiful stone wall there too but it has become over grown the last couple years.

Many perennials struggling to grow there.

I don’t want to take advantage of him but I think he just wants something to do and wants to help me.  How sweet

 
My goodness I am writing a novel this morning.

Good morning Jo Ann and Sue. 

Marti I hope you’re feeling better today.

Shirley

Good morning everyone.  Nice to see so many posts so early in the day.  I had a mostly unproductive day yesterday and accomplished almost nothing.  Went to church early to get the casserole in the oven for Alpha...this was the best one Rob's ever made...same recipe but for some reason it was better.  Everyone really enjoyed it.

Today I will fold the laundry that I did yesterday.  It's just towels, so no problem with them hanging out in the dryer overnight.  Then I will make a very large effort to clean off the ktichen table.  I'ts been the place of "honor" until other things are in place.  I hope to go to the storage unit tomorrow and see what I can bring back.  I know there are several boxes of crystal stuff out of the china cabinet.  I'd like to get those unpacked and ready for Carolyn to put in place!  It would be nice if I could get everything out by the end of the month....will need a friend with a pickup for that.

Viny, do you have a parafin pot?  For your arthritic hands?  You can buy them at any beauty supply store or maybe even WalMart.  They used melted parafin that you dip your hands into...the parafin is hot and holds the heat in.  Feels sooo good to achy hands.  When the parafin has cooled and hardened, you just peel it off your hands and drop back into the pot to re-use.  You would likely find it helpful.  If your pants are looser, then you've lost some fat and gained muscle.  The scale doesn't tell the full story!  Keep up the good work.  Will you restart the rhubarb or would the buyers of your old house let you come get some cuttings?  You might ask them.  Did you also have an asparagus bed?  I think it takes a couple of years to produce...but what a great reward!

Jo Ann..sounds like you need to arrange your time better on Thursdays....you are just sooo busy.  I know the WW plan and know how to do it...in fact, I even got one of the really good scales but the meetings are helpful.  There are many meetings here daily but the location is not good for me...the parking for handicap is poor and the ramp is more like a ladder...just too steep to get up by myself and too steep coming down for me to feel safe.  After the fall and broken leg, I am antsy about sharp downhills.  Perhaps you'd better come clean out my refrigerator!  I think there might be a few "science projects" in there!

NursePat...I envy you your trip...you will love it...in spite of the cold...and there shouldn't be a lot or real cold weather...just cooler than here.  Be sure to take gloves or mittens to wear when you're in Glacier Bay...and maybe even a rain coat.  It was cold and misty when we were there last year.  A rain poncho...just an inexpensive one that folds up small...is adequate.  I think DS has some extra Delta miles that are going to expire...shall we use them to send you to Shirley when she has her knee fixed??

PatA....how is Lynn doing?  Still hurting?  I can't remember what that's from!  Her biopsy come back OK?  I need you and Maureen here to work on my  yard.  I still have pansies that are blooming well but the heat will get them soon.  Guess I'll use begonias in their place since there are shade loving ones as well as sun loving.  I'm going to look for the tidal wave petunias.  Saw a yellow petunia advertised...think it was called a Lemondrop Petunia...nice name!

Marti, sure hope you are feeling better.  How many more trips to the dentist to get the implants done?  Do they do all the implants at one time?  I see you are still having problems with that little two letter word.  I guess I need to make you some flash cards so Joe can help teach you!

Shirley, I want to go check out the roses here.  If they aren't too expensive, I could overnight you some.  I'm just afraid to go to the nursery...I like too many things!  Well...maybe just some hanging baskets....maybe!

Although it is sunny and no storms are visible on radar, Miss Molly is sticking close by...like she does when we have storms.  Her vet says that dogs can sense the storms way before we know they are coming.  Hmmm...perhaps I should not plan any outside activities for this afternoon.  No out to dinner for me tonight~and besides, my friend Barb who has been baby-sitting my four houseplants that are real (and my box with jewlelry and silverware) is bringing my stuff back tonight.  She even has coaxed my African violet to bloom again!  Can't wait to see it.

OK...have y'all noticed that now we have lots of room, apparently unlimited, to post, that we all are chattier?  LOL...is chattier a real word??  I think it's great.

Now, before I go, I'd like you all to think about this.  We need to meet...all of us.  I think it would be terrific if we all met somewhere...anywhere.  But what would really be great is to take a cruise together....that is such a relaxing time...and Viny, Pat wouldn't have back pain problems as she could go to the cabin and rest any time...or sit on the deck and rest.  I think that would be so much fun and a cruise will cover food and lodging for one price.  For you northerners, we could go somewhere warm in the midst of your winter to give you a break from the cold.  Donna and I took our first cruise out of Miami to the Caribbean in late January...went to Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman and Cozumel....it was warm but not too hot and we loved it.  Y'all think about it....What a good time we would have.

OK...the kitchen table is calling me....loud and clear!  Y'all have a blessed day and I'll check in later.

vammie

Jo Lynn, Sue, Barb, Maureen...didn't mean to leave you out....hope you all are well!

Good morning.... Its supposed to get up to 85 today and even warmer tomorrow!

Did I tell you that dh & I walked for the first time this year yesterday morning. We walked again this a.m., it was so nice. My friend & I didn’t walk after work yesterday; she got invited to go out to dinner with her sister and cousins. So, I went home and mowed the lawn.

Viny, maybe you could do a little work and play while the dgs are there. Congratulations to your dgs for his awards. I can’t believe how expensive college tuition is now a days. The others are right about the 1 lb. gain. Don’t worry too much about it.

Shirley, I’m sure that if Frank didn’t really want to help you, he wouldn’t have offered. I think if I were you, I would take him up on it and reward him with a nice home cooked meal for his efforts. You be thinking about scheduling that surgery; but, I can’t come in August - that is when we usually are harvesting. I’ll have to check out those knock-out roses.

Sue, have you had your knee checked? You may want to do that. Dh has had orthoscopic surgery on both of his knees for miniscus tears and was very glad he did. TGIF!

JoAnn, I hope the weather cooperates so that you can work outside in your flower beds today.

NursePat, isn’t it nice to have a couple of days off from work before you leave on your cruise? I know you will have such a nice, relaxing time. It should be so pretty this time of year.

FurniturePat, our spring crops are not coming up yet; but, I imagine with this warm weather we are having, the will be soon. We have gotten a few tomato plants and I will go to the farmers market tomorrow and pick up some more and some pepper plants, too. How is the remodeling coming at the store? Are they done knocking out walls? The phlox I got is the low, ground cover type.

Verna, I think it is a great idea for all of us to get together - wouldn’t that be fun? Even if we did one of those 3-4 day cruises. You have such good ideas. Oh, how I wish I lived closer to you, we have two pickups and I would gladly take one and go to the storage unit with you to pick up some of your stuff. Unfortunately, I don’t - besides I’m not sure I could handle your Texas weather.

I have to work until noon and then I’m off to the city for a haircut and highlight.

Did I tell you all that when I ordered my memorial baskets, I had them put the wave petunias in two of them. I think they will be pretty on Mom’s deck.

Okay, I better get something done here at work. Until later...

JoLynn

Hi everyone.  Only two more weeks to go for me.  Yipeeeee!   I'll be correcting tests all weekend, I am afraid, but then only one more to give next week, and I am done.

Marti, hope you are feeling better.   When you feel up to it, do tell us about the implant process.   I've got one tooth that is on its last legs, so to speak, and they keep saying that an implant is the only way to go.   A chunk of one of my back molars fell out this morning.  It doesn't hurt, only feels horrible on my tongue.   The first appointment I could get is on the 27th this month.  Guess it is a good time to eat softer foods.

Viny, your grandson has done so well.   Where is Knox college?   I should know, of course!   Less than two weeks until Ari comes home.   I know he is looking forward to it.  I think a couple of his new friends will be passing through Finland this summer, so that will be fun to meet them.  Of course they get free room and board here complete with laundry service!

Just when I think my foot is feeling better, it starts to hurt again.  I'm trying to ignore it!

Hope you all have a good weekend.    Leo is going out to the cabin, but I am going to stay here with my tests.  This one is the standardized test given to all 6th graders in Finland, and they have very strict rules about how to correct it.  Looks tedious to me!

lusi 

Hello everyone, I'm not sure I can remember what everyone is involved with today so I may not address each one,    Viny, Ouch,  I know that hurt the foot and working outside, probably without gloves is making some rough hands, Get some good garden gloves. How wonderful that your DGS got the scholorships, a most deserving young man and I'm so happy for him.

Shirley, I just read an article on that rose, intended to cut it out and mail to you, if I can find it, I'll still do it,  they must be very popular everywhere this year.  I wish I had enough sun to have roses

Lusi, the implants probably wouldn't be so bad, just a long long process,  I had the 2 teeth cut out in late Nov. had to wait 3 months for implants, then they found an absess, so I have waited until this was completely cleared up to have the implants, she was able to get one ok but something about the bone required a graft in order to get the other one in so I will go back in 2 weeks for the next step.  the doctor who does the implants does not do the capps so that means another dentist,  Expensive, I've decided but I have no choice. Amost 2000 for each implant, then the capps,  Guess there goes my money for the summmer. Last night I was so sick but I think the pain medication makes me sick.  sore today and a bit swollen but otherwise ok, the strings in your mouth feel awful but I guess I'll live with that too. 

Verna, I know you are ready to enjoy your house.  Is the painting done and have you found the dishes.  The casserole sounds good, what was it, do we have the recipe.

Jolynn, we are waiting on the builder's price, It has been 2 weeks and we should hear soon from him.  That determine whether Joe builds or builds on or decides to cope with what we have.

Pat, Have a great cruise and I hope you enjoy Alaska as much as I did.

JoAnn,  as usual you are really busy,   Have a good weekend

Sue, it doesn't take much for those scales to go up, but it takes  a lot to make them go down.

I havn't weighted today and Viny far exceeded me on steps,   I have 68257.  I will really have to work to catch up with him but I'm working on it.  I didn't leave the gym this morning until I had almost 9900 steps, had I realized I was so close to 10000, I would have pushed for the last few steps, but I now have them.   I could have stayed home this morning, but I didn't feel the swollen mouth was good enough excuse.

Off to fix cod fish for dinner.  I've done really well on my eating and will do better since the doctor told me no more than 1500 calories a day.   I am determined to get in my fall clothes if I don't make the summer.

I've fought with a credit card company all afternoon, and I do mean all afternoon, they added a fraud alert to my account, without my concent and charged me 7.95 and it has been the devil to get this off.  I was hung up on 7 times and finally ended up with a supervisor.  This is one card that is probably going back after I used my miles.  Couldn't believe the mess

Ok, enough grumbling.

Hi everyone...I've discovered Friday afternoon is NOT the time to go to Walmart! But...I did get a few groceries bought, got my pedicure and went by the bank to get $$ for the trip.

Verna...save those Delta miles for me.  I'm serious when I said I'd go be Shirley's nurse. How would it work with those miles in Rob's name?

I think a cruise for this group is a great idea.  If we can all agree on a time, we can start planning and getting rooms close to each other, etc.  And if we decide to go out of Galveston, us Texans could pick y'all up at the airports in Houston.  Let's start giving it some thought.  Pat

Hello all.

I was out early to Walmart and then home to work in the yard.  It has warmed up now so I am in the house.

I transplanted some flowers from here to there and there to here . (Do I sound like Dr. Seuss?)  DH made a thing that holds flower pots/soil/ tools etc. out of an old watering trough and put a lid on it so I could use  it to  pot things.  He moved it to the shaded area for me.  I'm going to paint it to match my metal chairs.  I think this time I'll paint them red and black. Or red and white.   I change the colors of the chairs every  couple years.  They are green right now.

Jolynn, it was 93 in Newport at noon.  Now, that's hot for the coast.  It will be even warmer later.

I think it's humid there too. 

Viny, the lilacs are just voluntary shoots that come up all over.  DH really doesn't like them unless they are contained because they do just that.

I have a lot I could translplant from where mine are.  We have all these cirlces that are raised beds with flat rock stacked and cemented around them.  4 of them have trees in them with flowers around the bases of the trees. One has lilacs and one just has peonies and columbine.  Oh, DH hates columbine too because it comes up everywhere. 

On the weigh in, I gained too so don't feel bad.  Yesterday I was skinny and should have weighed then. Even my ring was falling off.   Darn, missed my chance.  I have fat days and this is one of those.

I know why I haven't lost.  I've been eating the same thing every day.  It's the only way I can eat and keep my tummy happy so I just might have to resign myself to the fact.  I have been eating baked chicken sandwiches, baked chicken and rice, minimal amts. of fruit and cooked veggies and pretzels for my snack.  I can lose if I eat lots of salads and chicken and fruit but my digestive system will not tolerate that so.....what's a woman to do?

I haven't even been having my nuts or baked sweets so you'd think I would have lost.  I am beginning to think that at our "Mature" ages, our bodies have settled for the weight they want to be and are going to fight us every step of the way to keep it.

It would be fun to all get together.  I'm not much of a traveler though.  I hate flying and the thought of a cruise doesn't thrill me.  I would love meeting eveyone though.  I know Jolynn, Maureen and I will meet in the fall but it would be wonderful to meet everyone. 

Nurse Pat, I can feel your excitement.  You are going to have such a good time.  And we will love seeing the pictures too.

Shirley, they had beautiful plants at Walmart this morning.  I only bought two little ones to fill in some deck plants but plan to go back.  I didn't want to bite off too much until I get my beds ready and rearranged.  

Lusi, I know you can't wait to get out of school.  It's a busy time for you though, getting everything done at the end of the year.

My dentist has talked to me about implants but I just don't think I could go through that pain, much less expense. I do have a couple back teeth that had to be removed because my last dentist messed up a bridge he put in and destroyed the teeth he was trying to attach.  I think I'd rather just have a partial if they could actually get it to fit.  I know a lot of people who have them and they've never fit right. 

Sue, hope you have a good weekend now that turn off week is over.  Maybe you can have some more choc. and "Special" lemonade. 

Hi JoAnn.  Are you doing anything with the trips this weekend?

Heathers GM from AZ. is visiting the Or. and Wa. folks for a couple months so Heather will be with them this weekend.  She will be going home with them for 3 weeks when they go back.  I'm not sure I can stand to be away from her that long.  [:'(]

Shirley's made her escape yesterday and again today.  She is a scamp !! She will come back to us but stay just out of our reach and if we try to grab her, she runs around and makes a big game of it.  But yesterday I had a leash on her when she ran and she went across the street and into the neighbors back yard.  That scares me that she ran to the street.  I think it was because it's the leash I use when we go for walks on the road and she thought we were going so she ran out there. 

Well, I must get off here and go do something.  Maybe have a big frosty glass of Iced tea. 

I've been at it all day and I think I'm making a bigger mess than I had to start with!  Where did all this stuff come from??  Lots of stuff but no dishes yet!  LOL!  I had enough tupperware to start my own business!  Not any more...I've got it in the give-away box.  I AM making progress...really I am...but there is still so much left to do.  I'm thinking I may actually see the kitchen table today...all of it...if I have to throw everything on it into the trash.  I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get rid of things you don't use.  Keep your decorative stuff for holidays etc but get rid of the lid to the pan that you cannot find.  Get rid of the stained icky tupperware.  Get rid of the 50,000 rubber bands that have become hard and crunchy.

My new motto is going to be "toss it out".  I can't wait to get into the office stuff and do some tossing out there.  I no longer need to keep receipts from the old house...I can shred all those utility statements...this is a new house and I'll just do the statments for here until I get a feel for what the utilities will run.  I don't need to keep every loose screw or nail.  In fact, I probably need to toss a lot of those!  I'm going to get one of those little drawer cabinets and sort the nails and screws...or toss the old ones and just buy new of whatever I need...that's probably the most cost efficient time-wise.

OK...enough of that!!  Marti...be sure to have something in your stomach when you take the pain medicine.  Did they give you Vicodin or hydrocodone (same thing).  Just a half glass of milk or a bite or two of something soft will make it easier on your tummy.  And rest...doggone it...you can't go like a house afire and get healed up!

Back to the kitchen...gotta find that table today!!

See you later.

vammie

Hi everyone,

Finally finished  and I'm so tired, we're having soup and a sandwhich for dinner.  That will have to do tonight, because I'm even to tired to go out to dinner. LOL

After my usual Friday cleaning I did get the weeds out of the  front flower bed  and a few stray daffodiles that surprised me this spring.  I thought I had gotten all of those out and transplanted in the fall.   I didn't find the vermiculite at Lowes, which we stopped at because DH needed other thigs there.  They do have a big garden center, but not what I needed.  Then a quick stop at the grocery store for sandwhich buns and home.

No, Barb, I'm not seeing the trips this weekend.  Tonight they're going to the movies with Mom and Dad to see Prince Caspian, the second of the Narnia movies.  They've been counting down the days.  Ken stopped over after work to pick up some movie passes we had and I sent him home with three little snack packs for them to "sneak" into the show for a treat.  I'm sure, the next time I see them I'll hear in detail all about the movie.

Lusi, I hope your foot will start to feel better again.  How nice to look forward to meeting some of Ari's friends this summer during their travels through Finland.

Marti, it's good to see you here today.  You must be feeling a little better. How many more do you have to have done before you're all finished.

Shirley, your dwarf lilac bush is beautiful  We planted some in the back of the house, but they didn't do as well as yours did.  They still bloom every year, but aren't growing to the size they should.  It's the west side of the house and they get all of the afternoon and evening sun, so maybe it's too hot for them.

I hope they're wrong about the rain coming  tomorrow, so that we can get outside again. If it does end up being a rainy day, I can always do some laundry and, I've been putting off doing some bills that are waiting and I have some filing to do.  I'm finished with typing Frank's reports, so now I can catch up on my own paper work.

Hope everyone has a nice evening.  I'm off for a nice hot shower and cup of tea.  I'm not making the soup and sandwhiches till Frank comes in from working in the vegetable garden. I hope he doesn't work till it gets dark.......  He's another eveready bunny, he just keeps on ticking and ticking. LOL

See you tomorrow. Jo Ann