Happy Wednesday!

Good morning gang It's midweek already .. can you believe it??? Everything after lunch is DOWNHILL to Friday . I've got a meeting in Millersville at 10, so I'll be scooting from my office about 9:15 and will probably be back just in time to be a tad bit late for Y & R and lunch. When I was doing 'my' laundry on Sunday I found a purply-plaid shirt/jacket that I had forgotten about. Of course, not being a Ravens fan, I didn't think and today I am decked out in purple (I have a long purple straight skirt too). Someone pointed out to me that I should have saved this for Friday when all good Ravens fans will be wearing purple (I'll be sure to wear my red/white/blue for my Giants on Friday). We are going forward here in the office with plans for the software upgrade this weekend. Have some issues going on and a couple of potential show stoppers, but we are trying to get it resolved and will not pull the plug on the upgrade until the last possible moment. This upgrade sort of puts a hole in my 3-day weekend. I'll be free on Saturday and Monday, but will need to be here on Sunday a.m. for testing. ARGHHH!!!! Of course, it has to happen some time, and at this point, the sooner the better. If you haven't seen the post about the 'tea party' please scroll down through the posts to Sunday and take a look. I'll repost again with a summary of who's responded probably this weekend. Have a super duper Wednesday! Hugs, Mo p.s. today was a morning off from the gym (back tomorrow a.m. for the circuit), but I've got my stuff in the truck to do cardio tonight.

Morning Moie - Yep, I saw the Tea Party post - you know me - I AM SO THERE!!!! Actually, I may see if Heather Modispaw wants to drive down with me to Terry's and maybe the three of us can go from there. But yes, I WILL walk through fire for tea!!! If only that were my only sin these days....still trying to get back on track foodwise - it takes time, I guess. Either weekend is good for me. Like I said, Sundays are best, but I can work something out if we choose Saturday. I bow in deference to your 5 a.m. workout - ! I am SO impressed. Tonight, Kaity and I are starting Night 1 of Walk Away the Pounds. She/we kind of got some disheartening news from her doctor on Monday - nothing serious really, but if we don't get control of it now, I fear she'll be posting here in 10 years. And I don't want my baby girl to live the life of an obese child like I did. So, we're going to support each other. After we "walk," she's going to teach me Dance, Dance Revolution, which should be EXTREMELY hilarious. I'll let you know how it goes - provided I'm still alive tomorrow. You know, I'm not a football fan, not even a little. I think it's interesting that the Ravens are playing the Colts on Saturday, but that's about it. Now my brother - that's another story. On Friday, since it's Purple Day in most offices, some folks here who have nothing better to do, but should, have decided that we have to bring in purple food. Purple food!!! I asked, with a modicum of sarcasm - you know me, if food left in the fridge too long counts! I'll probably bake a cake and sprinkle purple sprinkles on top. Oh, well, all in good fun, I guess. Purple's my fave color, so I guess it's okay. Work's been pretty busy, what with the legislative session starting today. The Col. will be down in Annapolis most days, and we're still waiting.... Gosh, that software upgrade would be the death of me!!! Hope it comes to fruition this time!! At least next Monday is a postal holiday, so you can spend some time with Mr. Mo - unless, of course, he drew the short straw again. I think Mom & I will spend the day taking the tree down - yes, it's still up, but since it's fake, it could reasonably stay up all year. Don't laugh, if Mom could, she'd decorate it seasonally!!!! Okay, it's WednesPay, so I gotta go pay some bills. Have a good one! Tia

Hey Tia Don't forget .. Grape Jelly is purple !!! That was the only food that came to mind when you said purple food. Oh, I forgot about the legislature thingy. Of course, I would have a meeting outside of the building and have to come back to ugly parking!!! Maybe it will help that I am coming back at lunch time. I hope that the new parking garage the state built will keep those folks out of our garage and it won't be such a madhouse. My 'legislative' duties begin next Tuesday. I'm our department's rep to the legislative liaison for the County, and we have weekly update meetings during session. I'm responsible for routing any pending legislation that might affect our department to the appropriate folks for comment. On a positive note .. the meetings have coffee I know the purple color thing. There was a point in my life when I think I had 7 dresses and 5 of them were some shade of purple I'm a February baby, and my birthstone is Amethyst and is my favorite stone ( even before diamonds, tho I have become attached to my diamonds too). Ok, time to get my COOP stuff together to head to Millersville. See you later! Hugs, Mo

Hi Tia, DDR (dance, dance, revolution) is a lot of fun. I have done it a couple of times with my girls. It's a tough workout! I am trying to get my girls more active, and possilbly drop a few lbs. Meghan has started walking in the evenings, one hour each night. She is really excited about it. She wants to lose 40 lbs. I personally think that is too much but I am going to support her. She has decided, all on her own, to eat better and less. It's surprising but I am so proud of her. Stephanie is trying to eat less as well. She is not exercising but that is because she has something going on practically every hour of every day. I just need to convince the girls to cut way down on the Starbucks and that would save them A LOT of calories. I am not a ravens fan at all so I am trying to avoid wearing any kind of purple this week. Heehee. Go Colts!!! My hubby really likes the Ravens so it'll be interesting in my house during the game. Well, I am off to the gym. They are doing what they have named "awesome abs" class that I am going to try. Then it's cardio with the elipitical. I love that machine. Hugs, Robin

Hi Rob - Yep, DDR is a great workout! Last year, K lost 20 pounds by me controlling what/how much she ate and doing DDR every night. Now, she's heartbroken to discover that although it took her the entire school year to lose 20, you can gain weight practically overnight. My heart just breaks for her, but I'm so committed to her that I think we'll be okay. Once Meghan loses some weight, she may decide that she wouldn't be comfortable losing 40 pounds, that it may be too much. I know you'll keep a close eye on her. I'm sure you've been a good influence, they've seen how well you've done and that's obviously inspired them. Good for you! Yes, by all means, tell them to lay off the Starbucks. Unless, of course, they're doing plain coffee with Splenda and skim, but I doubt that's what they're doing, nor should they be at that age. I am totally amazed at the number of young girls I see lined up there. Granted, they're probably getting the vanilla bean or strawberry or double choc frapuccino, but OMG! are those things lethal!!! If you want to give them a caffeine free wake-up, log onto Starbucks's website and let them review the nutritional info. It's truly scary!!! Okay, so you go wear your blue - just don't come to Essex or my brother may go postal!!!!! hehehe!!!! Have a great day, Tia

Hi Mo. You are really doing good with the exercise. I am trying really hard too. I didn't go to curves last night because i wasn't feeling well. This cold seems to be more difficult to deal with in the evenings. However, I am headed to the gym for an abs workout and then some good long cardio. I need to also do my lower body workout but might not have the room to do that today. Maybe tonight. I am so NOT a ravens fan. I am a COLTS fan so I am routing for them this weekend. I know that is so not a good thing being that I now live in MD and the Colts left a bad taste in everyone's mouths. I wasn't a fan fo theirs at that time and I wasn't here then so it doesn't matter to me. I am not sure if I will wear the colts colors this Friday or not. Not sure if I even have that kind of blue. I have lots of purple but I'll have to avoid wearing it this week. heehee, (I am also a fan of the Packers & the Cowboys - who went down in flames this past weekend - maybe next year.) Eating seems to be okay. I keep having to fight the munchies. I keep swinging from wanting something sweet to something salty. I am trying to use fruit for my sweet and crackers for the salt thing. But I am controlling portions so hopefully that will help keep calories down. Look forward to tea in a couple weeks. I am going to go shopping this weekend to look for a really sexy dress for a Valentine's dinner. I want something really nice but I am not happy with the shape of my body so it'll be hard to find something I like. I need something that is fitting but won't over emphasize my hips/thighs. Should be interesting shopping. Hugs, Robin

Hi Robin - I read that you go to Curves! I am thinking about joining the Ellicott City Curves and was wondering what you think of it? Thanks, Linda in Catonsville

Hi Linda, I like curves but don't go that often due to the hours. They don't open until 8am and I have to be at work in BAL by 8. They close at 8pm so the last people they let in for a workout is at 7:15pm (takes a total of 30-40 min to do workout plus stretching). Anyway, I don't get home until 6:00pm so if we have anything going on with the girls it is hard to get there in the evenings. I try to go on Saturday am but don't always make it. I am trying to be committed to going on Tues & Thurs evenings since my kids can do their own running now and hubby doesn't mind waiting for dinner. My exercise therapist said that curves is okay to get started and for cardio but not for strength training. He said that free weights, weight machines & strength training exercises are better than curves. Still its a fun workout and so I consider it a good 30 min cardio routine. If you do join I am sure you will like it. The gals at the one in Columbia are great! Hugs, Robin

Hey Robin I soooo don't want to go to the gym tonight. I'm glad I've got my stuff in truck, or I'd be tempted to go home and just collapse. I think tonight rather than jumping on a treadmill, I might just do the recumbent bike for 30 to 40 minutes. It will depend on what is open when I get there. I REALLY can't wait for these new year's resolution people to get out of my way!!! I eat a lot of sunflower seeds to take care of the salty need. They are messy (with the seeds) but they have fiber and some protein value and good oils/fats. I was out of the office this a.m. and when I got back at 12:30 I was ravenous. I was happy to eat my salad with blue cheese crumbles and chicken with some wheat thins. But now I have the salty thing going, so I am nibbling some sunflower seeds. Take care, Hugs, Mo

I got to leave work eary today as I saw DVR for my follow up this afternoon. I came home and decided to lie down for a few. I woke with a start 3 hours later thinking, "Oh, No! I overslept!" Guess the workload and stress is getting to us. Oh, I have lost 33% of my excess weight as of today per DVR. I am 2 lbs from Onederland. I'm going to miss going to the office to check in with DVR for the next 3 months. I guess every "parent" has to allow their child to fly once in awhile. Aime