HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Good Morning Ladies!

It's 7:50 and I'm just going to shower and hit the road.  I made a few things earlier:  Since Joe likes ham, I set up a crock-pot ham to bring over- very easy, then I made stuffed mushrooms and cooked and mashed some squash (again, for Joe!).  I'm bringing some cheese and crackers and grapes, and if I'm quick enough, will make some kielbasa in bbq that Maura likes.

Since Taylor is off from school tomorrow and her daycare is closed, she'll come home with me - yippee!!

I hope you all have a good day today.  I know not all of you will be family, but I hope you can enjoy a peaceful day.  I'll be with Maur, Joe and Taylor, and their friend Russell.  Another friend was supposed to join them, but cancelled at the last minute.  I also got a nice plant for Maura too, as a special token of the day.

Love you all friends!!  Prayers and good wishes!

Mary

Good morning Mary and my sweet sistas!

I am up early.  I'm doing okay. Not too sad yet.  I imagine that will come later.  We spent so many holidays apart, since Butch worked overseas for all those years, that it doesn't feel unusual for him not to be here.  Mary, I am hoping and praying that you have a nice day with your family.  Same for you, Kathy.  

Yesterday was a major cooking day for me.  Now today will be more relaxed.  All I really have to do is warm up the ham and turkey (yay!), and cook a few sides.  I prepped the dressing yesterday, so the major part of that is done, too.  I just have to slide things into the oven to bake.  

I tried a new pie recipe yesterday.  A German chocolate pie.  OMG.  If the spoon I licked is any indication, it's going to be great.  I also made a trifle, which is a family favorite, and I figure the boys are gonna love it.  

My main goal this morning is to clear out my formal dining room so we can eat there this afternoon.  That space has become the respository for all the things I don't know what to do with in this new SMALLER house.  But I now have room in the garage, so I guess I will pu**** all out there.  LOL! It's a never-ending game of fruit bowl turnover around here!  Still, I would like for us to have our meal on the big dining room table with the good china and pretty crystal.  That will leave the kitchen table free for games and crafts with the boys.

Carrie got here last night and I had made oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and steamed carrots for dinner.  (I made enough for everyone, since I had the boys here and I knew Mike and Chris would be starving when they got off work.) Carrie was hungry and she immediately ate dinner.  Then a couple of hours later she threw it all up.  Honestly.  I have never seen anyone have so much "morning" sickness!  It's awful.

I will have the boys all day Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday.  Although Hobby Lobby is closed on Sunday, the employees have to come in and work during the Christmas season.  Is that crazy or what?  At least Carrie is here to help me keep them occupied.  We're going to take them to the movies, and we have crafts to do.  And we bought some new games for today.  

Oh! and next weekend (the 5th) we're taking them to see a production of Charlie Brown Christmas.  It's just a little local theatre production, but I hope it will be fun for them.  We're going to take the plunge and take Budder with us.  Cross your fingers!  He's pretty young to go to the theatre, but hopefully he'll behave.  (Hopefully!)

So, I'm staying busy and that helps me to cope.  If I stay busy enough, I don't think.  If I don't think, I don't get depressed.  Maybe that's the wrong approach, but it's the only coping mechanism I've got right now.

Wishing you all a lovely Thanksgiving.  Connie and Eileen, I know both of you will be home alone today.  I do so wish I could have you both over to my house for dinner and games today.  Jeannie, so glad to see that you made it home.  Sorry about the stomach bug.  What a bummer.  Hope you're feeling better today!

Love you all!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Rick is just getting the Turkey in the oven now...told him I didn't want to eat at noon today...so 2 will be great!!! This way I can enjoy my day smelling the turkey longer!!! LOL

Tomorrow RAIN and could be heavy at times here!!! OMG NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Not when my son and Renee and Austin will be coming down for the weekend!!! The guys wanted to smoke their fish they caught and also we wanted to do stuff...CRAP!!!!!!!!! Thanks mother Nature for once again spoiling my plans!!!!

Last night one of the tenants had a visitor here that caused some disruption lets say...he has a trespass that we set aside...well when I see tenant he will be told trespass is back in force again!!! Not putting up with this crap from his son no more!!!!!!!!! Rick was ready to kick his ass!!!! I heard the guys truck speeding out there and it was loud also...I know this guy is an asshole also. We set aside the trespass due to health problems...but right now I don't see any health problems...atleast not in HIM!!!!!! I am not putting up with him no more!!!!!!

Well need to go and clean house for my company that will arrive tomorrow...club house and laundry rooms are closed today so that means I CAN USE THEM!!!!!! LMAOOOOOOOOOO Yes I have towels to wash and bedding to wash also...today IS the day I can do that!!!!!  

Wishing you all a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!

Thoughts and Prayers for ALL that need them!!!

HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Good Morning Mary, and OFF,

I'm watching the Macy's parade.  It's my favorite.  One year, Sean and I took the train to New York on Black Friday, and Chris took us along part of the parade route, where there were bleachers, near Central Park.  We walked for miles that day.  Well, any time I've been in New York with Chris, I walked for miles.  One year, my sis, Eileen, went with me, and she *****ed the whole time about all the walking.  She expected us to waste money on cabs.  Even after WLS, she hasn't lost any weight, and has never exercised.  My pastor has a recumbent exercise bike waiting for my foot to heal, and when it does, it'll be in my basement, for me to get back to exercising on.  I used to have one in my large townhouse bedroom, which I rode faithfully before and after my RNY.  Gave it to Sis when I moved and had to downsize.  I don't think she ever sat on it.  She got rid of it at some point.

Well, my pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce are ready to go to Colleen's in-laws'.  I also have to bottles of sparkling lemonade to bring, which I picked up before my surgery.  Might get to FaceTime with my family while there, coz both my sis-in-law, Kathy, plus Chris and Colleen, have iPads.  Also, Mom has an iPhone.  If my sister had Wifi, Colleen, Chris, and I could FaceTime with her all the time, but my sister is still in the middle of the last century.  Just tried to talk to Eileen, and she sounded so put out about being on the phone with me.  Argh!  She can be such a ***** sometimes.

Anyway, I'm having a bit of pain this morning, so I'm trying to rest this pitiful foot.  I hope I'll have a chance to get it elevated while visiting the in-laws.  

Happy Thanksgiving.

Connie and Eileen, I hope your day is blessed.  I have to DVR the Eagles/Lions game, coz even though I am in Lions country, the in-laws don't have a working TV.  So, I'll get to see it when I get home.

Love and Prayers to all.

Trish

Hello Ladies,

Today I am finally feeling a little better. The jet lag has finally left; I'm no longer on NZ time; and the stomach virus is letting up. I put my jeans on this morning and they fell right off my hips and that, my friends, was not because of eating less or walking but because nothing has stayed in my system more than a minute since I got home...last night, DH, under my direction, made me some potato soup with nothing but potatoes, onions, and water for cooking...and I ate a bowl, and it stayed down so of course I am getting stronger.  I ate a piece of toast this morning and so far it is staying put too....if all goes well, I think I might try to eat a little scrambled egg.  

I made a pan of dressing, using chicken breast for the meat; we are still leaving the meat out of our diet but my daughter and her kids think they cannot go one holiday without my corn bread dressing.  I am making DH and me oyster dressing and I have every thing prepped and ready to go...yes, I am using canned oysters. LOL.  I am also making a pan of fried halibut, which is delicious.  The pies that I made yesterday are already at my daughter's house.  She came up last night to "help" me with the turkey and I sent everything home with her that didn't require cooking today.  I have to tell you, I dread the day.  My daughter is so hard to get a long with and she says some of the most hurtful things to me and I just keep quiet because I don't want to fight with her in front of the kids. I don't think she has a clue how awful she talks to me and it ****** my husband off so much.  Her biggest gripe is that I worked all the time when she and her brother were babies...well, truthfully, I worked all the time until the car wreck.  I came home after work and spent my evenings with them, and if I worked extra, I made sure they were with the sitter.  My days off were always spent with my kids; I wasn't one of those single moms that ran around and did the bar scene or had men in and out of their lives. In fact, I didn't remarry until both kids were grown and out on their own.  But, her complaints are that I was always working and her friends moms were always home with them...yep...her biggest complaint was that I worked and kept them in clothes, food, and a roof...you know.  Oh, and that I didn't buy her a car.  Yep...I should have bought her a car.  Geeze.  So, when she starts that **** I leave.  

I had sort of hoped that my stomach bug would have kept me home but since she was here last night, she knows that I am feeling a little better.  Damn....it's a shame that kids grow up to be such asses; they remember all they didn't get and none of the sacrifices etc.  

When I am feeling better, I will tell you guys about NZ. I can tell you that it isn't a bad place to live and I may retire and move there.  Honestly...perfect weather or it was perfect when I was there.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you all and I hope you all have drama free family get togethers.  

Jeannie - What a shame your daughter is so ungrateful.  My Mom worked too - and Dad was a NYC Policeman who worked rotating shifts, one week 8-4, next week 4-12, then next week 12-8.  They did what they had to do to provide for us.  I'm sure Mom would have preferred staying home, but it was not doable.  Did I resent her - Hell No!  And buy her a car???!!!  Tell her to get real !!!  It's amazing how some people feel such entitlements.....  Anyway, I hope you had a good day.

Mary

Hi Mary and my OFF family:

So good to hear about everyone's plans for the day. So far, I've had a restful day, mostly because I woke up with a headache. It's dreary here and is supposed to rain starting overnight. Plus, I think I have a sinus thing going on. My cheeks are sore (on my face, those cheeks). I finally got the headache under control after a pain pill, decongestant, hot shower, icepack, Vicks on the cheeks and forehead and then an Imitrex. That seemed to do the trick. Didn't feel like a migraine ... oh well, whatever works. 

So my day has been spent reading the newspaper, watching football, talking to my best friend Roxane and finally, unpacking a couple boxes. The last one, just pulling it out of the closet made me a little shaky and hot, so I put on a t-shirt instead of the sweatshirt I had on and sat down with a glass of ice water (which I always have around anyway) and got on the computer. Some things I don't know what to do with them, like pictures of my family ... I put them on the entertainment center and will wait  for Gary's decorating guidance. I know we'll be putting up Christmas stuff soon. 

My friend Roxane told me all about her kids' adventures. Her oldest, Cody, is a freshman in college. She worried about him because she thought he wouldn't apply himself. But he's gotten straight A's his first semester. The youngest, Erin, is a freshman in high school and decided to go on the independent cross country ski team instead of the high school team. That means more money. So Erin is selling $20 raffle tickets. I told Rox I'd buy one. Erin is my goddaughter and it's the least I can do. The raffle ends in March and the prizes are money ... I never win these things so it's generally a donation. 

I'm waiting to Skype with my family ... I think they'll probably call after dinner. I guess I should eat, too. Haven't had anything besides coffee and two protein bars.

Jeannie, my mom worked full time when I was growing up. We needed her income to make ends meet. I never thought anything of it. We were latchkey kids before there was a negative connotation. Mom was a pink collar worker; dad a blue collar worker. 

Vickie, I thought that German chocolate pie looked good, too. If I had anyone to make it for, I would make it, although I'd use a ready made pie crust. 

Trish, enjoy your day and I hope your foot doesn't hurt ... won't tell you about the Eagles game.

Judy, hope your dinner is good... sorry you're getting the rain, too. It always seems to rain when we don't want it to rain.

Can't remember who else posted ... I think that's it. Hope everyone has a good day. I think I'll go reheat my dinner. 

Happy thanksgiving to my OFF sistas! I miss you all so much. I know this is an especially challenging period for so many of you and I wanted to to know I am thinking of and praying for you. :-) 

I have worked every every single day, weekends too, since October 18 and I am beyond exhausted.  Well today I took the day to rest and "relax"... Well as much as one can relax with preparing dinner for 12! But I am so dang blessed to be surrounded with love this day.  My parents, my relatives, 2 of. My 3 sisters, are all gone now but my husbands family is lovely and I am lucky to have them.  We celebrated my stepdaughters birthday today too, so it was a nice family day.  I managed to get a workout in this morning early, and managed to I stay on my plan, no carbs and no sugar.  Made myself a crust less pumpkin custard with Splenda and it was really good! Shockingly good, in fact!  

Anyway, all is going pretty well for me, other than having a job from h**l.  I am taking the whole weekend off, no work.  I am heading to Massachusetts for my 35th high school reunion tomorrow night.  Looking forward to seeing so many old friends. Emphasis on old, like me! 35 years, where does the time go? 

Soeaking of time flying, up I am thinking back to last Thanksgiving.  That day I was so big, and in so much pain, that I had to use a cane just to get around my own house.  I retreated to the bathroom to cry several times.  It was such a. Rough day that I wrote an email to my PCP that night asking her to refer me for WLS. The next day, my doctor wrote back with a few suggestions and the rest is literally history,  this year I am blessed with the return if my health, I can exercise, I can move, I can laugh, and I know I am blessed.  

Ok ladies, again, many many thanks for all your support and love throughout this year.  I have a ways to go before I hit my weight goals but I wouldn't be here if it weren't for your support, so thank you!  Many blessings to each and every one of you. 

Christine