@MusicCandy @SadMe70 A place to communicate

Can't believe another week has flown by. I have been doing good with pretty much all my goals- but that d--- scale is still not budging.Just makes me crazy. I keep thinking "one more day"- then it will suddenly drop 3 pounds. One can wish, and I have to trick myself into not losing hope . I do feel better and that is worth it .

The concert and dinner with my mom was fine. But she is so funny. She was telling me how she doesn't sleep well, ever She said "melatoninn does not work for me." . I told her I take a small dose of disolvable melatonin ( emergen-Z) and that helps me . I gave her a couple of packets. She called me the next day and said she had the best night;s sleep ever. She went to Target and got more, and raved about it to her friends. But,, the same ingredient doesn't work for her. Sometimes I just don't even know what to suggest. She won't put "her" puzzles out in the commons area where people read the paper and do crafts because she doesn't like the way other people do the puzzle. She wants her oen table in her room, but there really isn't room for one more thing there. I suggested a tray table, but that isn't big enough. But I don't feel like I have to solbve that for her since her motives are kind of silly and selfish. Thanks for letting me vent!

I hope you had a good week. I'll be back tomorrow night - expecting a wind storn tomorrow, some schools around Stafford even closed. Take care ,dear and I'll check back later .

Hello, just a quick note today. I was sick again much of last week, so another bad exercise week. Luckily school was closed on my worst day (Friday) so I didn't use any sick leave. No damage here from the storm, and only 24 hours without power. How did you fare? Our big hike was cancelled and I don't know now when we will get to it because we have something else going on now. My younger son announced on Monday that he is going to marry his girlfriend so she doesn't have to leave the country when her visa expires in May. So, I am planning a wedding to be held next month. They plan to go to S Korea in Dec to have a traditional ceremony there. Lots more to say of course, but my head is spinning and I'm trying to be supportive and positive despite thinking this is not the right way to go about things. We have already secured an officiant for a civil service and reserved a pavilion at a park for the location, and will go to our favorite restaurant afterwards for a family dinner. I have already ruffled my sister's feathers because the date is her birthday and she has plans already (which is big for her, because she is private and reclusive and doesn't go out much) so I feel bad but we didn't have a lot of options. I am going to go to a little gentle exercise here in my bedroom and then head out to the goats.

Oh wow, dear heart - That is a LOT to handle at once. Once the kids are past teens, ther is only so much you can do, even when you disagree, I can see your point and it can truly be hard to maneuver around what they think is best, no matter the practicality that comes with age and wisdom. I hope it all works out , so remember to breathe! I get it with the sister- I have 3 and feathers get ruffled so easily. At least we are all on speaking terms now. For a year after my Dad's estate was being settled it was genuiney acrimonious.

I am sorry you were sick again, this has been a tough winter for your your health. We did not get much damage from the storm, thank God. I have a lot of big trees around my house and yard. I'm not happy that it is below freezing again- the bulbs are all blooming. Oh well. I hope your animals are making it through the weather changes- just crazy. I am also disappointed for you that the hike was cancelled. You look forward to something and BAM. life happens. I am going to send some good vibes your way that summer will bring some relaxing and fun things just for YOU.

I am back at work and nothing earth shattering going on for the time being. I reserved a Yurt for Thanksgiving week again this year so I'm already looking forward to that. I got the reservation from someone who owns the timeshare week and just pd. her. I got out of one timeshare, and I will never own again - maintenance fees go up and up. but I do love this place near Orange, just in the woods and nothing special except enjoy nature.

Stay in touch as you can, I know it may get nuts in your life so I understand if you don't get back here often. My goals are just so-so now, but I'm hanging on day to day. You do the same.

Hello from crazy wedding planning central. What began as a small simple (and cheap) thing is growing. Her parents are now coming from Korea and bringing traditional wedding garments for bride, groom, and all 4 parents. Since that makes it all more fancy, the picnic shelter is not going to cut it so we rented 90 min on the lawn of a bed and breakfast on the water. We hired a photographer for 90 min. Also got the couple a room in the B&B for the wedding night as that will be their only honeymoon until Dec (since they have to go back to class on Monday!!). Also the guest list went from 22 to 36, thus making the dinner way more expensive but my mom wants to pay for half. Back when this was small and simple, she said her parents offered to help pay but we said we had it covered since they are throwing a bigger thing in Dec. But now it's gotten lots more expensive!

I did manage to do most of my exercise and eat well. Yesterday I had to make a 5 hour round trip to a funeral and my stomach decided to act up. It felt bad when I got up, sort of how it was feeling all of last fall, so I took an acid reducer and headed out. It got worse and worse, and different from before. It would feel fine for a minute or two ,then I would get terrible pains for another minute or two. By the time we got to the reception, I stayed 10 min and left in tears. I drove feeling like I was going to throw up from the pain, so once I got down below Baltimore I stopped at a convenience store and laid down in my back seat and took a nap. I had not slept well at all the night before so wasn't really very alert either. After my nap I felt a lot better and today so far so good. I have no idea what that was. My husband thinks stress between the wedding and the funeral (seeing people I did not want to see there), lack of sleep, and maybe some digestive issues thrown in. I hope that doesn't happen again.

My older son and I have tentatively rescheduled our big hike for May 19. I am hopeful that will work out! The weather might be just right at that time too. Not so hot as June last year, but not freezing either.

The anniversary of my dad's death is Friday. I took the day off and am going up to my mom's for the weekend. Mom is actually going on a day trip with my aunt through her church and won't be home until dinnertime, so I was going to meet my sister in Baltimore and go to a museum, but I don't know now. She is the one that is angry about the wedding date and I have been putting off talking to her. I may call her tonight. I don't want to be fighting with my sister. We have always had a good relationship.

The Yurt sounds cool! I've never stayed in one. Staying in a quiet, wooded place is just the kind of thing I like though. The cabin where we have stayed in Luray for a couple of years is like that.

How was your week? How are your food and wine goals going? Is work going ok and not too hectic?

I hope you have a great week!

Today is the first anniversary of Dad's death. I took the day off and am heading to PA to see mom. She is going on a bus trip for the day with my aunt, through her church. I am meeting my sister in the afternoon to go to a museum, and then we will meet up with mom and aunt for dinner, then go up to mom's to stay for the weekend. Our other sister is planning to spend the day in bed crying, so we are trying to tell her that by dinnertime, she has to get up and come out with us.

I will catch you up on wedding planning when I have more time!

I am sorry to hear you struggled with your goals last week. Those kinds of weeks are tough! It's good that you were still able to exercise despite your back, because I know that makes you feel better and you would miss it! I hope your back is doing better now! I know you will get back on track. What you said is true - if you mess up for a couple of days, you go back the next day. It won't undo all the hard work you have been doing all this time! I believe in you and I know you can do it!

Hello! How are things in the snow down there? I am on my second day off. I was not feeling great on Mon and Tues, so I was glad to have a day to rest. I actually hope we go in tomorrow, as I think we are about out of the built-in snow days.

I had a wonderful weekend with my family. I met one sister at the Walters art museum in Baltmore on Friday afternoon. We spent two hours there, and could have spent many more. Then we met up with our other sister and her husband, mom, and an aunt for dinner. It was the anniversary of dad's death and I was glad we were all together. The one sister and I stayed with mom until Sunday. We visited the graveyard on Saturday, took a short walk to a waterfall, played some games, and had a delicious corned beef and cabbage meal. Before I left on Sunday. we went out for breakfast and I had a huge yummy pancake. I also had a lot of other treats over the weekend. One of my friends was in Ocean City over the same weekend and brought me a bucket of Fisher's caramel popcorn, which is already gone. So, my diet has not been so great since Friday. I have also exercised very little - a little yoga on Saturday morning and some swimming on Monday. I was thinking I might lose some weight while I was not drinking any alcohol...

Wedding planning has continue at breakneck pace and I think everything is pretty much in place. We've got a lovely event planned in just over 2 weeks. The weird thing is planning it in a vacuum with no contact with her family. Her parents don't speak English, and we don't speak Korean. I was hoping to get in touch with her "aunt" (her Mom's friend rather than a blood relative) and uncle who live near Richmond, but I don't have their contact info yet. My son said that the aunt kept asking her when she was going to marry my son, but then once they announced they were getting married she said they were crazy, so I assume she still does not approve and maybe does not want to talk to us. I assume her parents are ok with it since they are coming and bringing traditional wedding garments. Did I tell you that I will be wearing a Korean wedding outfit?? My head is spinning with all this wedding stuff, so I'm kind of glad that we only have a little over 2 weeks to go.

How have you been? Let me know how things are going with you. I hope you are safe in the snow. I think it will be icy this morning but hopefully melt a lot later today.

Oh My Goodness- lots of hectic news from you! I am so happy that you had good times with your family on the anniversary of your Dad's passing. That is just how he would want it you know. Eat, drink and be Happy..Diet later. But- do get back to your exercise - this your body conscience talking. You have to take care of your special needs to be ready for the wedding.

That sounds like a fiasco getting ready. But you have done as much as you can and I know it will be lovely as you said. I guessed that her family would wear korean dress, but I didn't know you had to also- that seems weird, but oh well. Too bad about the disapproving family members. It is not their decision, and it's HER day of course. I know it will be beautiful as from what I know, Korean traditions are very pretty and culturally rich. Should be fun trying to communicate though. I imagine a sense of humour will be a good asset. Will they live here? As long as they are committed, it will be fine.

Snow, just changed my routine and you know how I hate it when my cheese gets moved. Worked a different scedule to avoid driving late at night and that messed up my eating plan. It doesn't take much to do that after all. But I did exercise every day and wine was not out of control. Today was nice and I walked and looked at the birds in the neighborhood- refreshing and relaxing. Do you have any Spring babies in the works? I'm just happy April is around the corner. Winter can't end soon enough for me. With all you have going on, Keep breathing, that's the main thing.

Hello! I have been remiss about writing to you. My head continues to spin with wedding stuff but in one week it will be over! I was better with exercise this past week. My eating has been so-so, lots of treats as expected. Yesterday was a very nice family dinner at my sister's house in MD, mostly her in-laws but very nice people (and several pies)! It was my older son's birthday so we will see him and his gf today, which means cake. My worst thing of the week though was Friday night, when I finally had some wine after not drinking for 6 weeks. My husband and I finished a bottle and I felt pretty good and should have stopped there, but I opened a second bottle and drank so much I got sick and threw up. I only remember one other time in the past 15-20 years when I drank so much that I threw up. You would think a 47 year old woman would have better sense, and would take it easy the first time drinking in so long, and to stop when she knew it was enough.

On a happier note, we have our first goat babies! One of my goats had twins on Tuesday, a boy and a girl. I will try to get some good pictures and post them here. I think the next one is due April 10, but I hope she will go this week because I am off for spring break. The third one, my only big full sized goat, is finally looking pregnant, but I still cannot feel babies moving. She may have just one small one that is close to the center of her body. My two little goats carry them hanging way out the side and they are easy to feel. So, I am not even completely sure the big one is pregnant, or when she might be due.

Did you get your eating plan back on track after the snow cleared out? I do not like schedule changes either, or change in general for that matter! I have a hard time adapting. I hope your wine consumption has gone better than mine! Keep up the good work on the exercise! It is really great that you stick to that so well. I hope everything else is going well for you and that you have a wonderful week!

Happy Easter!

Oh joy! I was hoping you would be having nanies soon. That has got to ge the cutest, baby goats.Spring has come finally. I am hoping to plant some strawberries tomorrow- in an old wheelbarrow. Fiance is digging around the yard making a dry dock for the boat near the driveway. I have to "mark" where the spring bulbs have come up around there so I know where to move them in the Fall.

I know the wedding will go just fine. But I can't imagine trying to arrange with family coming from another country and a different language. I bet they will have beautiful children

I feel for your wine episode. I have done something similar, and I was probably older than you at the time. You just feel horrible. My eating has continued just so-so and of course Easter candy. My ex sent over a big bag of candy with Rachael and I almost looked for a recipe to make cookies with it, but decided to donate it to the homeless shelter instead. Good thinking, Right? But now that's over, I am going back to my cholestrol lowering plan- oats and berries and protein drink and salad. I am having a little wine, but not too much. The plan I picked is close to the books by Dr. Chutkan - Gutbliss. It eliminates alcohol ( I may still have a little) and bans dairy,gluten and artificial sweeteners. Her book has great recipes. I made a big crockpot of chicken and vegetable/kale soup with herbs,garlic and all the veggies I had available. I can freeze some of it too. My exercise is going fine,as usual. I didn't cook Easter, we went to early Service and then just relaxed.

I hope you have a nice week off, the weather should be nice. I'll check back with you soon.

Phew, it's over! I am starting to get back to normal. Will write more soon and tell you all about the wedding, the new in-laws, baby goats, etc. Right now, I have some wine that needs drinking and a movie that needs watching!