MONDAY, MONDAY!

Good morning, everyone!

I am trying to stay in contact more. Despite being very careful about what goes into my mouth, and drinking sufficien****er, my body keeps yoyo'ing 3 pounds up and down for the last week...time to stay off the scales for a while, methinks.

Been so busy creating several custom books and got them completed and printed last night after we all got home from Derek's (younger son) family birthday dinner out. I even requested a takeout box for the pie that comes with my dinner and gave it to hubby to eat.

I have been asked to do another workshop with my healing energy mandala colouring books...wow. Just blows me away.  I do have to repeat that, had I not lost the 131 pounds since my surgery, I'd never have had the confidence to stand in front of a group of strangers and speak about my passion. I continue to work away towards my new goal...just so thrilled to be FINALLY under 300 pounds after all these years.

All of the details have now been confirmed for my "COLOUR ME HAPPY" workshop (Jan 28th) at a local winery here.   "Wine, Chocolate and Colouring".  I already have 12 ladies signed up after only 48 hours of posting on facebook.  I hope that this works, I am supplying all the colouring materials required, plus some graopes, cheese & crackers in case someone forgot to eat lunch before attending...don't want anyone drunk from the wine, then driving.... and they all get to take their colourful masterpieces (with positive affirmations) home to set up to remind them of thinking positive.

And I also have organized another "COLOUR ME HAPPY" colouring afternoon workshop for Thurs, Feb 18th at a local B&B by the Niagara Falls..this time called "Treats and Tea & Positive Me"...Positive Me being the title of one of my seven different colouring books...so I am very excited. I've ordered homemade cookies, scones and a variety of teas for that day.

I am shopping in my closet..heavens know why I kept all those "too small" clothes, but hey, I am having fun trying them on and finding that they finally FIT.  It has been years struggling to lose more weight so this is a true accomplishment for me. Hopefully, once my body gets used to my new weight, the scales will reflect lower numbers. meanwhile, I find that eating numerous protein-rich, small snacks works best for me. Trouble is, I do not get hungry...what? it's true, I have no hunger. I get thirsty but I forget to eat...who knows why I do not lose weight faster...maybe that "starvation mode" issue...but often I can work at my art all day and suddenly it is dinner time and all I have had is a hot chocolate protein drink in the morning....oops. Hubby often reminds me to eat as he has noticed this craziness..handing me a yogurt or a piece of hard cheese now and then. Usually I eat when I am with people or have to feed hubby...but i forget myself most times. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought this can happen to me.

Minus 12 celcius, miserable cold winds and slippery roads on the way home from dinner with my family and it is expected to be the same if not colder Monday....I have a lunch date to discuss some artwork business and networking, then will head to Giant Tiger to buy mittens and gloves. Our sorority has decided that we all donate items needed by the local women's shelter each month...January is MITTENs & GLOVES...next month, SOCKS. March will be UNDERWEAR. April will be PJs. With 19 members, we sure can make a huge donation. *s*

Off I go..will check in later. Sending positive energy to all...be safe, be happy,

Nancy B

Good Morning Nancy and Ladies,

In keeping with the theme: Monday, Monday.....so good to me....

Today, I am off because it is MLK day. We had a little snow last night and this morning it's like 6 degrees....I am freezing to death. I have long johns under my sweats, and onto of my gown, I have a long john shirt and am wearing a house poncho and am still freezing....but we needed this cold weather.

I am back to sewing today. I will not be defeated by sewing. LOL.

Last night, I finished a huge and very complicated coloring project and was so happy to show it to DH...everything I color he says I should frame it...silly man. 

Let me tell you the last-night's-calamity of my almost burning off my legs.  So, I made a huge pot of vegetable soup...it was loaded with tons of fresh veggies that I had bought just for the soup and it smelled so freakin'good.  I got husband a bowl and I put a scoop in the bowl that I eat my oatmeal (hot oat meal) in every other morning...I don't know why it happened but I was sitting with that  boiling hot soup in my favorite bowl and the bottom of the bowl just broke off and I thought my soup was spilling and with my quick actions and fast reflexes, I jumped up and all that hot soup spillage from the broken bowl went down the front of my gown and onto the floor...I was glad I had on so many layers of clothes or I probably would have had at least second and maybe third degree burns on my thighs. DH jumped up and ran to me and helped me get the clothes off without getting a drop of soup juice on my skin...I went to put on fresh long johns, sweats, and gown and when I came back, he had already cleaned all the spilled soup up....Lesson learned; never, ever serve hot soup in a bowl without either putting a little plate underneath it or putting it in a larger bowl....We still don't know how the heat broke that bowl...One of those physics things we will wonder about forever, I guess.

Since I am off today, I am making several different kinds of veggie patties for the freezer. I am also making some stuffed cabbage for the freezer too.  Someone posted about stuffed cabbage the other day, so I am going to make egg roll stuffing, but I am putting crab and shrimp in place of pork, chicken, or beef and instead of using wonton wraps, I am going to wrap in cabbage....in theory, it should work.  I'll report back later on how it worked and how it tastes. 

Well, I am going to go get my cuppacoffee....today I will not drink over my two cup limit.  

Ladies, for those of you living in the snow and cold, stay warm and if you must go outside, be careful...those of you living in the warmer climates, lucky you....

dadadadada...so good to me....it was all I hoped it would be.....next line please.

I have been mostly MIA lately. We have been so involved and busy with grandson's ClinicalTrial that I hardly know what day it is!! I know this group stands behind all members by prayers, thoughts, or whatever you do. I am asking for all good vibes I can get this week. We go to Atlanta tomorrow, Tuesday for David's infusion Wednesday. Then Thursday morning we fly out for Washington DC and will be there until flight home Sunday. 

The Washington DC trip is for a meeting with FDA AdComm(advisory committee) it will be the drug company, Sarepta, that makes Eteplirsen the trial drug David is on, presenting to FDA for approval. This is HUGE. It would be very first approved drug to help boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. David has had 28 weekly infusions so far. We have already noticed so many improvements. They are small to general public but very big to us! He can now open car door, get out of bathtub unassisted, get up on high bed, just so many things we are so grateful for. David is 8 years old.

Please remember us this week. Hoping for a great outcome from FDA meeting. I have to give statement and not looking forward to that!! Weather forecast predicting snow 3-5"!!

Thanks

Susan

Susan,

I cannot imagine the strength it takes for you and your family to not only deal with the pain of watching your grandson struggle with his daily living but also to deal with the politics and bureaucracy of taking the medication that can give him help. I have MS and for a time the doctors were treating me with an approved drug but it wasn't approved for MS and it was very expensive so my insurance didn't want to pay for the drug. You can imagine the fight between my doctor and the insurance company...we finally won but to deal with the FDA would be another matter.  Only positive thoughts coming to you and your grandson...

Good Morning Ladies.......

Well, I had a good night's sleep and feel refreshed.  I did get up early, around 6:30 and took the dog out.  It snowed overnight and the weather is frigid.  Luckily, it was only an inch or two of snow, and it was light and powdery, so I was actually able to sweep my driveway free of snow. But the wind is blowing and it's a good day to stay in.  I've taken a container of pea soup out of the freezer to have later on.  I don't think I'll be going out until tomorrow when I go to the Food Share.

I'm going to make some coleslaw today, and I have to write down a menu for the day.  So far, I've only had a protein coffee.  I'm going to make a scrambled egg with spinach, but have to plan my lunch and dinner.  I may take some fish out of the freezer to have for dinner.

I feel pretty good so I'll do some laundry, and I have a project to do -- I have a few boxes of CDs, probably 100 or so, and most of the CDs are out of their cases, so I've got to match the CDs with their cases.  I figure I can donate them the Salvation Army, along with some other small odds and end.  They were Jim's CDs and I don't have the same taste as he did.  I still have a lot of boxes to go through.  And I want to see if I can list some things on E-Bay or Craig's List. If I sell anything on Craig's List, I'll be sure to meet the buyer at McDonalds, not at home.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Mary

Mary,

I love cole slaw. My DH tells me often to just make cole slaw for supper. LOL.  I am from the South and know cole slaw is never a main course but always a condiment for the fish...and we do smother our fish in the goodness of coleslaw.  I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. 

Hi Ladies,

It's a cold and snowy day so I'm glad I don't have to go outside. They finally plowed the sidewalks when I was exercising. I'm making country style ribs in the crock pot for supper and a veg. My friend is comin over for dinner.

Everyone have a good day. Thoughts and prayers for everyone.

Love and hugs,

Yvonne. 

Yvonne,

Ribs are one of the meats that I didn't eat often but when I did eat them, I loved them. The other day, DH and I were invited out to eat with his boss, so, of course, we went and his boss ordered ribs and my mouth ever so slightly watered. He kept saying he wished he could give up meat and his wife, who is a white meat only kind of girl, said me too...we all laughed at his mess...there was one point where I swear I wanted to lick his fingers and not because he was sexy...that sauce smelled so good. LOL

Hi Nancy and everyone,

You are so involved and busy Nancy. You live a full life! If I lived near you I would love to go to your coloring workshops. 

And Jeannie...I chuckled at your husbands comments about framing. I was reading an article that said coloring could not be called art therapy because the picture is drawn for you. But I think it must be a fine line because there is plenty of art involved with color selection and details that we add within the picture. They do turn out beautiful. 

Susan, I'm assuming that David is your grandchild. Duchennes is a particularly tough type of Muscular Dystrophy isn't it? I just can't imagine the stress your family goes through every day. And adding the political piece of the FDA and that process...oh my. Sending you a huge hug.

Mary, thanks for your suggestions about the OH texts and all. I think I've figured out something that works...you helped! How did you get to be tech savvy?!

I am having a kind of quiet day. I feel good and calm but somewhat sad. Another teaching friend just found out she has 4-6 months to live. She has metastatic pancreatic cancer, the dr said there are too many tumors in her liver, abdomen, and lungs to count. She is just a tiny bit older than I am and lost her only child to breast cancer just a few years ago. She is the kindest woman...I knew that getting older would probably be like this but it is sobering. She is not a best friend, but when you teach you eat together in the faculty room and get to know each other quite well. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was scary and a new world, but mine was very treatable. Her situation is in another realm, and I am hoping that she will be able to find a peace. I think that this month CA has a new euthanasia law. I'm not sure if that's the right word. But death with dignity might be a choice I would consider in her situation. I'm not trying to bring up a political hot potato, but if you are full of cancer and the process of dying will be grim which I think can happen with pancreatic, I am glad that in some places you can choose to end your life on your terms. It would be a hard decision, to be sure. Sorry that I brought up such a painful subject...it is on my mind.

I bought some amaryllis bulbs last week at 75% off so I need to plant them in a few minutes. They are sprouting of course. Then I am going to touch up my gray roots.  It is so nice to be retired and be able to plan my day without the stress of work. To be sure I miss the children, but the frantic pace and never ending politics and duties, not so much. 

Hope you are all feeling healthy today. I do and I am so grateful.

Julia

Julia,

I was thinking the other day about how hard life was as a teenager but then I realized that growing up sure was a hell of a lot easier than growing old. One of my dearest and best friends in the entire world was recently diagnosed with liver cancer and I have not said it or written about it until now. Her daughter texted me and told me the news and asked when I came to pick up my grands would I swing by and spend the afternoon with her mom and I did.  We sat on her sofa and I held her hand and she cried and said that she is so angry that she spent her entire life following all the rules and never smoked or drank and now she is going to spend the few remaining months dying of a disease that was not meant for her at all...I don't think I have cried as hard or that I have even sat that long in one spot in many years. They started radiation to try and shrink some of the tumors to give her pain relief but she is too weak for chemo and surgery isn't an option.  

At our age, we say goodbye to friends and family and we are constantly reminded of the frailty of life and our own mortality.  As teenagers and young adults, we never imagined how quick life could come and go, even when we saw people around us die...we thought not us, and now we await our mortality patiently waiting for inevitable....growing old sure is a pain in our butt.  

I am so sorry for your friend and hope whatever she decides to do about her own end of life, I hope the doctors are able to keep her as pain free and comfortable as possible. Life is such a bitter sweet experience, isn't it?