Weight Loss Challange Oct. 11 - 18 - 2008

I'm late getting this started as I sort of slept in after letting the dogs out at 4 something. When I awoke I looked at the clock and thought for a second I was going to be late for work. Then I realized it is Sat. and took another nap.

The grass is really wet yet so I'll work inside for awhile. Kyle got the riding mower out for me when I got home yesterday and I got some much needed mowing done before giving in for the day. I'll do more today and some weedeating. The apples are really falling now so I need to get busy making sauce, premade crisp fillings, etc. There is probably a bushel on the tree yet. This next week needs to be dedicated to that project. Someone brought in at least 4 dozen canning jar rings in good condition that were going to be thrown away. I took them out of the trash and was looking them over when it was noticed and someone asked why those were being pitched. Another lady and I ended up dividing them. I have had to toss quite a few really old and rusty ones this year and buy new sets of flats and rings. So these were very welcome.

Eating yesterday was terrible. 3 pieces of cake with thick commercial icing from a birthday cake for one of the volunteers on Thursday. Someone had gotten 1/2 a sheet cake so it would last for a few days. Then the pumpkin bars with cream cheese icing left from Wednesday were located in the 'fridge and put on the table. I had one of those of course. Last night and today my stomach is telling me what it thinks of all that sugar. Then there was the binge from Thursday night that was sugar loaded. But I think I got rid of most of that yesterday morning. I flushed the rest of the can of Eagle Brand milk yesterday morning. I think I put it in a bowl of choc./p. butter malt - o - meal from what I found in the sink yesterday morning. Anyway it isn't there to temp me any more. I really wish there wasn't so much being brought into the store. I know everyone means well but we are all complaining about how much we are eating of the homemade goodies. Store bought cookies are always there but not so tempting to most of us so we don't eat many if any of them. I can leave them alone just fine. Most of us who work or volunteer there are alone so a cake, pan of brownies, etc. is way to much for us. So they get taken to the store for everyone to share. I'll probably make an apple crisp this week and take it. I'll use oatmeal and 1/2 sugar/ 1/2 brown sugar twin and the fat free Parkay for the topping. It will take real sugar tho to get the juice out of the apples so it won't be dry.

The Elephant Ears I brought into the house last week are growing like crazy!! They didn't grow this much outside all summer. Maybe it was where they were setting in the pot. They aren't in direct sunlight in the house tho. I have some tiny Caladiums that just showed up in the past few weeks in the pot with them. Another tiny C. is in the pot with the varagated Brug. I'll keep in the house. These C.s came from PG months ago and just now sprouted. Both are the same color. The seeds or microscopic bulbs must have been in the soil I brought home that one day. That is where the EEs came from. Just suddenly started showing up in the container I had the dirt I had brought home in.

Kyle & Holly are working hard cutting down trees that should have never been allowed to grow in the first place. Now they are fair size trees. They should make a nice bonfire later in the fall. I need to mention that to them.

Susan, have a great weekend with your DH. Tell him I appreciate how he takes care of you and does so many nice things for you, helping you with the veggies and flowers, taking you to all the nice events, etc. Not all DHs would do that. You are so blessed to have one who does.

Vic, think of me when you walk that lovely mountain. I am thinking of you and the mountain daily and wishing I was with you and the furbabies. So I am with you in thought and spirit.

Sue, I think maybe you should have you and your children and maybe even your DH go to an allergist to have your lungs checked. Since all of you breathed in those spores and you and the children have been so sick for so long it is very possible you have some real problems in that area. Black mold does terrible things to the respiratory system which also spreads the problem around throughout the entire body. Your brains and central nervous systems could even be affected. I'm not trying to use scare tactics here, just telling you the truth. They have learned a lot about this after Katrina tho much was known, just not widely, even before then. How much furniture were you able to salvage? I'm assuming all mattresses were destroyed immediately too and the rooms where they were fumigated for mold. If it got into the new carpets the problems will start all over again so I pray you found it before putting anything into the new house. .

Debbie, prayers are sent up daily for your family. It has to be hard on all of them. There is a large group of patients here, each with its own special needs. I pray the medical staff is trying to address everyone's needs as best they can. I wish I could at least be there to hold you and comfort you. Maybe make you some apple crisp or red hot candy apple sauce.

Anna, the next competition is getting close isn't it? I'd have to go back a few theads to find the dates you posted. You are so dedicated to this fitness. I wish you the best. I can't say I envy you because I have never really been that dedicated to body building but I sure admire you for your dedication. Your DH too.

I bought a small rebounder(we use to call them trambolines)at the store for $7.50 the other day. I'm doing about 2 - 4 minutes every other day. I've read about the health benefits of rebounding and want to see if it really lives up to the claims. Kyle thinks he might be interested too. We can share this one if he will. It is the first one I have seen come thru the store.

Just ~~~~~ to all the rest of you. GOD bless and keep each of you.