What's New Thursday?

Hi my OFF family:

It's nearly 1 a.m., and I'm about to go to bed. I had hoped my payroll deposit was in the bank already (it sometimes is) but not this week. So I thought I'd start the thread before I went to bed ... hey, that rhymes! Tonight was a light night at work and I got home early; I'm kinda tired and my knee hurts; what new there, huh, so I thought I'd get to bed early tonight. The White Sox lost, so I didn't have a game to watch (that I wanted to watch); watched parts of other games and finally saw the rest of the Olympic opening ceremonies, plus caught up on some other shows that I had recorded but hadn'****ched during the Olympics. Lots of catching up to do! Not in the mood to stay up, just want to go to bed.

I stopped off on the way to work today to get my AchievOnes, only the guy at the health store sold my last case (well, technically, he didn't sell it, someone else did, but the case isn't there ... he had ordered three cases for me, I bought two, so I'm missing one ... I hadn't paid for the third one yet ... I can only afford on case at a time). These things are too expensive for me to pay for more than one at a time. I bought a canister of AnyWhey, though ... it was on sale at least. But I'm down to five on AchievOnes and they won't last ... it takes too long to get the cappucino in, and he knows that; I would have ordered more if I knew they were out.

Hope everyone is well and safe; Debbie in N'Awlins, I'm worried about you. I hope you are OK. Jean, the same goes for you up in Neb., but for different reasons. Stay safe, Jean B., please, I don't want to read about you in the newspaper or online like I did other people.

Well, off to bed. I'll check up on you later. Group hug

i woke up early dont know why because since i have been sleeping with the O2 on all night i usually sleep all night and wake up feeling so good.
Have a lot to do today. getting flowers trimmed up and hoping to get another growth spurt out of them and some more pretty blooms.
Eileen i know the achieveas are handy but why not make your own and will be lots cheaper. I mix my protein powder with hot tap water , just enough to mix it up good then add what ever flavoring i want in it . hot choc mix, or one of the s.f. syrups and finally the coffee.  great drink, and i have made several of them at once and put in water bottles and put in frig and are great later in the day....you might have to make them daily but i think they are lots better and also lots cheaper.

Hi Eileen and everyone! It's a good morning, which most aren't because I'm not a morning person! LOL. It is good because I have a 4 day weekend after suffering through this day at work. Tomorrow I don't HAVE to get up at 4:30 AM. I suppose I shouldn't say suffer; things have gotten better of late.

Anyway, I don't have plans for the weekend other than my perpetual TO DO list organizing the new house and continuing to unpack these awful boxes. Every recycle day I put out 2 or 3 boxes full of broken down, cut up boxes and I've called 800-GOT-JUNK twice to come pick up big things I shouldn't have moved in the first place. It doesn't help that I keep ordering things online that come in boxes too, LOL.

Eileen, I just got my newsletter from Unjury yesterday that had these coffee recipes you might like in lieu of AchievOne. You can sub any protein powder you have, I'm sure.

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop Chocolate or Vanilla UNJURY (per 8 oz)
• 1 tsp Instant Coffee (decaf or regular)
• 8 oz Water
• 1 tablespoon Caramel Sugar Free Dessert Syrup (use more or less, to adjust sweetness) Available at Target and many other stores.

Recipe 1:   - Mix 1 tsp instant coffee with 8 oz ho****er - Chill in the refrigerator - Once cool add 1 scoop Vanilla or Chocolate UNJURY and mix until dissolved - Serve over ice   Recipe 2:   - Brew a pot of coffee by whatever method you prefer - Add the sugar free caramel syrup to the coffee, and stir well until completely dissolved - Chill in the refrigerator - Once cool add 1 scoop Vanilla or Chocolate UNJURY (for every 8 oz) and mix until dissolved - Serve over ice   Recipe 3:   Add a scoop of UNJURY to skim milk. Add a spoonful of instant coffee to taste!   More Ideas:   - Use instant regular or decaf - Add ½ tsp cinnamon to ground coffee before brewing or stir into instant coffee - Add entire mixture to blender with ice to make it a coffee slushy - Prepare brewed coffee ahead of time and chill   You can also find our UNJURY Mocha Proticcino recipe at http://www.unjury.com.

Everyone, have a great day. Hurry 4:00 PM!!

Thanks for the ideas ... I have tried powdered proteins and don't really like them, they're gritty and chalky. My nutritionist actually doesn't like the idea of me having any protein drinks ... she says this far out of surgery, they run right through your pouch and don't keep you full. She says she knows lots of WLS patients who, 2-3 years out, have gained weight by using too many protein drinks ... this is the only one I use.   I like this for breakfast ... it's coffee and protein, and I don't like to fix breakfast because I'm lazy. I'll get by ... got to call the guy and see if I got my drinks in and if not, if he's going to order them. I know they're more expensive, but I like the convenience and the fact they're not chalky.

Good morning to you, Eileen and my other wonderful lovlies! I hope that today is not only good for all of you but wonderful as well.

I am going to go get our car plates this morning. I should have gotten them sooner but of course I forgot all about them! So what is new there? I would have been shocked if I didn't. In fact Bill is the one that reminded me of them. He told me to go this morning and he will put them on when he gets home from work this afternoon. I also have to go to the bank and make a deposit.

I have my appointment this afternoon with Dr. Lelek. I am glad that I am going. I think that was a smart move for me to make the appointmen with him. I have different feelings about things now but I think that sorting through the thoughts in my head is going to be a good thing.

I went to see Karen yesterday afternoon. It went well even though the weight loss wasn't what I wanted. It was only 5 pounds and I lost an inch and half. I had lost 2 and a half but then I added an inch in my calf. I told her that it seems like flab to me but she told me that it was muscle because when she measured them it felt very hard. I just seem to see the negative in all of the things that I accomplish. I guess that is one good thing that I need to see Dr. Lelek. lol I can't seem to see a postive in most anything that I do. I have to realize that I have accomplished a lot. I guess I have but most of the time I fail to see it.

Karen told me that she is taking over the head of the departments job. Donna left and is going to Tennessee for a new position. I guess her family has wanted to go there for a long time and now they are moving. I like Donna but I didn't see her a lot. Karen talked to me a lot about the things that are going to be happening to her and her family and we also talked a lot about doing what we want to. We agreed that we are both going to make time to do what we want to and not just what we need to. I want to make some ceramic something. I want to get some tiles and break them up and make something. I was thinking of trivets but there might be something more to this. I was finding a lot of artistic things coming out and Karen was the one that noticed it first. I at first thought that she was nuts but the more I talked the more I saw it too. All of this started because I told her that my perfect job was mixing paint into different colors. I told her that when I did that it was like Christmas to me just opening the cans and finding out the color~to see if it matches and how it looks and if it is pretty and on and on. I always said that if I could find a job mixing paint for 8 hours a day it would be my perfect job. I know that sounds nuts but I guess Karen was right and it is something of an artistic thing going on in my head. I guess that is better going on in my head than those other things that have been known to go through it! lol

I better get going. I am just rambling on and on and everyone is probably going "Just shut up will ya!?" I can't say that I blame ya one minute either. I am praying that everyone has a wonderful day today and my love is with all. I am sending plenty of hugs too. My prayers are with all and special ones are going up for those in need of them.

Debbie, please check in and let us know that you are alright with the storms going through where you are.

Jean, please check in and let us know that you are safe.

HIJACK.........

Brenda.....we all know you are a wonderul lady...we see talent in you that you don't. Be kind to yourself!!

I think you are pretty darn special!!

I am always keeping you in my prayers too.

Hugs, connie d

Brenda,
Is there an A.C Moore, Michael's, or Joanne Fabric store in your area? Stroll throught the craft sections and see what strikes your fancy. There are often sale bins so you could pick up a small project for a couple of dollars - just to try your hand.

My artistic talents are only in my head and don't extend to my fingertips. Doesn't matter, I find crafts relaxing. I paint little wooden birdhouse and ceramic pigs. When the paints are on sale I get a bottle or so. The wooden birdhouses are often on sale for $1.00, so not much of an investment at one time.

Let your imagination run wild. Colors, patterns, YOU decide.

You have a head full of good thoughts Sweety. Let them loose.

Kisses
Annette

Brenda:

We all know how talented you are; you just have to find your "niche." I really think you could do well in the ministry, if you put your mind to it. You are already doing it as a volunteer; you have so much love to give. As for doing something with art, why not see if you can volunteer in the school district as a "foster grandparent" and work in the art classes? Wouldn't that be fun? It might lead to some kind of job.

Hope your appointment went well. I had my appointment with my psychologist. I enjoy talking with her; we talked about my job situation ... she thinks I'm resilient and will figure out a way to survive if something happens. We also talked about why I overate as a child ... the fact that I was alone after school and teased so much and stuffed my emotions ... she feels that was a way to control things ... a lot of times I would overeat and want to throw up but couldn't (not quite buliemic ... I would never think of putting my finger down my throat). It's amazing how much overeating and anorexia are alike ... it's all about control.

Good Morning all,

I'm waiting for Earl to get back with Samantha. since our daughter & SIL's separation he has been getting up and taking the girls to school and on the days Samantha doesn't have school she comes here to "Nana School"  so our daughter can concentrate on her job and getting her work done without interruptions, that way in the evening she can spend time with the girls not working. Working from home has it's benefits but it's drawbacks also. She has a required amount she has to do each day and week. Of course she can stop during the day if she needs to, to care for the girls, but has to make the time up later, usually in the evening or after they go to bed. Sometimes makes for very long days for her.  They had their first counseling session yesterday with mixed results. Alot of it was about how they got to this point. So the SIL's focus for this week is supposed to be to take the initiative to do things around the house and follow though and do what he says he is going to do. Well he did pick up the girls from school but instead of keeping them and doing something with them after school, like he said he was going to, he brought them home. So with taking time out of her day for their meeting now she had the interrruptions from him & the girls and had to work till way past midnight last night to finish her days work and get up at 6 this am to start all over again.  But they did not get to this point ovenight and things won't get fixed overnight either.

I have lots of things to do here today and Samantha likes to "help". Need to clean before Carla gets here tomorrow or she will think we are growing Chihuahua's in the corners.  And the part for my fridge still isn't in so that is making an extra challenge for me.   I hate having to go to the grocery store or 7/11 every day for Milk Chugs, Salad and refrigerated stuff.  At least the Freezer on the fridge is still working and I have a deep freezer too.

Take care hugs & prayers to all of you. Paulette

Paulette:

I know about fur in the corners ... I often think I have another cat growing on the rug, on the couch, etc., with all the cat hair from the three kitties.

Wish I could come down to Chicago this weekend and see  you and Carla ... I miss Carla, I don't get to see her as often as I wish I could! And I miss seeing my family, too, but gas is too expensive, although I did get it for $3.74 today at Meijer (it was $3.84 at the Mobil station down the street, so I got a better deal).

Have a good time this weekend.