xp Recognizing danger, and dancing on guard rails

Yahoo - I am a New Zealander - where is your hubby at the moment?? Is he loving it here?

Your mother sounds EXACTLY like my mother - word for word! Does that mean we can blame them for becoming overweight!!

He IS loving it there.. Today is the free day, but Monday the hike at Frnnz Josef Glacier was called off due to rain, so probably they are doing that today!  Sunday he will head to Christchurch and hang out until he leaves towards the end of that week to come home!

Daily Itinerary Sun: Arrive, hike in Arthurs Pass Mon: Hike at Franz Josef Glacier Tue: Start Mt Aspiring National Park options Wed: Continue Mt. Aspiring National Park options, cyle Hawea trail Thu: Hike Ben Lomond or free day in Queenstown Fri: Hike Routeburn Track Sat: Sea kayak Milford Sound, explore Fiordland National Park

Man, if blame were helpful, I would be all over it!  :} 

And if a poke in the eye with a sharp stick (or even a dull one!) were helpful.. well.  You know.  :} 

But as my daddy said "time wounds all heels"

And so.. I guess time will be the salve we will use again.  Although, I suppose I would rather have some more years of no conversing, than years of button mashing. 

It would be sweet without all the button mashing, but it hasnt happened yet!  Who knows what tomorrie can bring!

Good grief - he is on an adventure!! The South Island is the most beautiful part of NZ so good on him for choosing well! If he is an adventure junkie (sure sounds like it!) then he will be loving it. We have had some pretty crappy weather lately though so I hope he hasn't been disappointed. I am pretty close to a cpl of these places - there was an american tourist in the coffee shop I was in yesterday and I laughed to myself about cool it would have been if it was him - NZ is a pretty small place!

As far as the mother goes I don't spend a lot of time dwelling on blame either. I kind of think my food problems come more from my Dad who was a hopeless alcoholic all my young life - sober for 7 years now and awesome!! I have a very addictive personality and my eating habits definitely mirrored his drinking habits so I've always likened my problems to his.

I've had a few issues since I've been maintaining and the old head (the insanity of compulsive overeating) issues have popped up - I've eaten too much at times and drunk too much at times (very social time of year in NZ - 2 weeks camping with boozy friends etc) and put on a bit of weight which has done my head in! I never want to go back, I have had more fun in the last year since I've lost the weight than I had in the previous 10 years. I always thought that being thin would make me happy and by God it has made me happy!!!

It doesn't change the head though and I am constantly terrified of not being able to stay where I am! Anyway - better go - have 3 little boys wanting breakfast! Would love to hear more about your hubbies travels in NZ!

*chuckle*

Sounds like we could have the same daddy too! 

I know he is having a great time, he called yesterday and we got to talk. And even if the weather was funky, our motto is "it sure beats working and/or doing chores" :} 

Feed those boys!  I will share his adventures when he comes home and regales me!  And you might see him next week, but more liklely in a bar than in the coffee shop. :}

Have a great day!

Big old hug to my girl Brandilynn!  I am always amazed at your insightfulness. Maybe your relationship with your mom is one of the reasons you CAN be so insightful.  I have such wonderful parents and always did.  I can't blame my parents for my weight.   I give mom a little credit for "teaching" me her bad habits.  But I'm the fool who put that food in my mouth.  I didn't gain my weight until I was an adult, so the food choices were my own.  I can only blame myself. 

I sometimes feel guilty to have had such an idealic childhood and still lucky to have both my parents living at 82 and 80.  I wish I lived closer - they are 400 miles away.  I have so many friends who don't have good relationships with their parents.  I think that's the norm and my situation is not.  I have a wonderful relationship with our children too.  I guess I should count my blessings more often. 

I only wish I could give you and everyone else the kind of relationship that I have with my parents, but then that's what makes you who you are - which is awesomeness.  She must have done something right, because there is YOU.   So, keep that chin up.  Stand on the right side of the guardrail.  Keep her on the other side at arms length, but there nonetheless. 

And welcome home that manface with a smile and a kiss.  He's a lucky man to have you.