20 to go!! I need some saucy, supportive, soul-sisters!!

I'd like to start an intimate group with people who have a GREAT sense of humor, can be honest without being snide, don't mind divulging their ups and downs, and have some inspiring words of wisdom and support to share.  I am looking for a few online accountablility pals to help me get over this last 20 pound hump!!  I have lost 38 pounds.  I know I am going to make it, it's just nice having some "slimming sisters" who have "been there" and are "going through that" to share the journey with.  What do you say...are you up for the challenge??? 

My fabulously flatulent friend ~ There is NOTHING funnier than a good fart (or is that "fard") story!!!  I have spent countless hours and numerous tears laughing about and retelling fart stories!!!  Now I'll be adding yours to my collection!!  Alright, I already said that you looked fabulous in your size 12 shirt.  AND I commented on how your eyes were dazzling, but "adorable???"  I'm leaning more towards crusty, crotchety, and cantankerous!! Not to mention, AGAIN, flatulent!!!           Oh, and BTW, if you figure out how to make spaghetti squash taste like lobster, I think you'll be able to buy your very own mansion with your first month's profits!!!  Personally, I prefer to eat squash as a side dish and use whole wheat pasta as, well... PASTA!!!    

Jboise ~ You ROCK, sister!!!  I admire the fact that you run.  The only time I run is to the fridge!!!  I started to "jog" in 1 to 2 minute intervals on the treadmill before my surgery, but now I'm back to square one.  I have to get back to it and build up my "tolerance" and endurance!!  I am signing up for my VERY FIRST 5K called the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning!!!  (Probably not the wisest idea since I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house several hours later!!)  I just hope I don't hobble home with sore "drumsticks!!!"  (I'd rather gobble on drumsticks rather then hobble on one!!)  This is my oldest son's LAST year in elementary (at my school) and I want to run the Pelican Pursuit (a 1 mile run around the neighborhood by our school) with him at the end of the year.  In regards to the Coke Zero, I love the Cherry Coke Zero!!! YUMMY!!!  I'm not a big soda drinker, but once in a while it's pretty good.  

I'm off to bed now.  Nighty, night!! 

Kisses (and don't worry, I'll hold the tongue) ~ Queenie 

Cinfuldiva – welcome back!  When I was over in Indonesia I went and saw a medicine man who told me I had good karma – that said, I am sure when it bites me on the arse it will take a good even chunk of fat to help my plight   As for what my partner husband does (gotta get use to that word still) ummm…. Yeah…. Tonnie was right lol he assists the geologist!!!  Nah - My hubby has just started this job (he left today) They are looking for coal on the lease they are on at the moment.  He is a bit of a gofor and logs samples ect.  It won’t make us millionaires but I am eagerly waiting for the first pay check as we have been doing it pretty tough for quite awhile!  HAHAHA talking about scales…. I have 3 sets…. Yes count them peoples THREE sets    Just in case I don’t like what one set tells me I use the other LOL  Nah – one set I don’t use, one I use for weight and another set I use for fat and water % but not weight as I think it lies about that!  All’s I can say to the biggest loser fiasco is…. Pfft…. F*#@ Em’  at least you know you’re the winner honey – that’s all that matters!!!  Talking about fantastic weight loss tho – I did my Monday weight in and I am proud to announce I am 2.4lbs down for the week    I don’t know HOW that happened as I usually loose 1lb or less a week.  Not sure but I am NOT complaining.

Tonnie – Arh… the moochew  story… not very eventful but I will tell it anyway to alleviate your curiosity.  My real name is Amanda but my family called me moo from when I was born (the stories that circulate about WHY they started calling me that is another matter ).  An old boyfriend then started calling me moochew and since then I have always used that as my screen name id’s for some reason.  I think he made it up from a milk type lolly called moochews – not really sure.  But I guess when you think my nickname is moo…. Moochew… hmmmm?  I had a similar experience with salt ’n’ vinegar chips.  These use to be my vice!  I hadn’t had any in SO long and a few months ago I lashed out and bought some.  After eating a few (like a hand full) I had this feeling like I had just swilled my mouth with oil – very gross!  One question – what the hell is spaghetti squash??? 

And while we are at it meat sauce??? I saw that on numerous menu’s in Indonesia as well and couldn’t get enough info understandable info out of the waiters to get the courage to order it.

Farts…Farts….Farts… what is it about them that no matter how many you have done in your life or how many you have heard… they are eternally funny???  Except of course when your darling husband does it in your face or backs his rear into you and does it… oh wait… please don’t tell me that’s only my hubby that does that?

Jboise – yes… hmmm… running!  I use to run a lot…. Use to… long time ago….  Tried to start again but my frail knees just couldn’t hack it anymore….. I am going to start trying again tho as I figure now I have lost a bit of weight they might hold up.  Maybe it was the weight that was causing them to buckle and ache in pain days after I had run?  Not sure but it P*ss’s me off as I love running…

Anyhoot – 8.30pm here now… my fav show is starting so I better run to the couch (snigger)  Hope you ladies have a great day tomorrow, or today whatever time it is there – oh and hope you do to Cinfuldiva (ouch… I can feel the lashing coming as we speak hehehehe)  all jokes!!!

Moochew ~ I understand the "doing it pretty tough" thing.  My hubby was laid off for FIVE months this year!!   We damn near lost our house!!  (Not to mention, our marriage.  It's awful what financial stress can do to a couple.)  But (and that's a slowly slimming butt) I'm glad to report that he is gainfully employed and we are much happier and healthier - emotionally and, thanks to my last 5 months of dieting, physically!!  

Why, WHY, WHY are we so driven by the stupid little number on that blasphemous scale??!!??  I believe once you've had a serious weight problem, you ALWAYS have a "mental" weight problem.  I have these wickedly disgusting, Great Aunt Irma arms - you know, the ones that keep waving long after your hand has stopped.  They look almost like they are morphing into wings and I fear I may actually take off into the air if I get them moving around too much!!!  Well, anyway, I took a picture of myself in the mirror on Halloween because I had dressed up as Ms. Frizzle (from the children's series "The Magic School Bus").  I wanted to show my parents the front and back my hair as I had used a red shampoo to temporarily color my hair for the role. Which, BTW, won't wash out now!!!)  When I was looking at the photo, I was shocked to see that my arm (the one extended out to hold the camera) did NOT look like a Great Aunt Irma arm!!!!  In fact, I could actually see muscle tone in the picture!!!?!!!  I ran to my hubby to show him, and he said, "Yeah, I know.  That's what your arms look like now."  Oddly enough, that's the first time I've "SEEN" my arms look like that.  How weird is that???

Thanks for your support on the biggest loser debacle!!  And 2.4 pounds in a week??!!??  WOO!!!  HOO!!!  CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  Doesn't that feel like a million bucks???  I proud of you and excited for you!!!

How funny!!  Your "milk lolly" is called "Moochew" and our "milk lolly" is called "Cow Tail."  Mmmmm...salt and vinegar chips!!!  My favorites!!!  I, too, had a weird favorite food conundrum.  The local grocery stores here make these fabulous, frosted cookies that I adore!!  On Halloween, I ate one - just for old time's sake.  Well, by the second bite, I was almost sickened by the sweetness of it.  But did I unhand the cookie???  NO!!!  I scarfed the whole thing down, had said "oil slick" in my mouth, and thought,  "What the hell did I waste the calories on THAT thing for???" 

Spaghetti squash is a gourd-like vegetable (or, technically, would it be considered a fruit since it has seeds???) that after cooking you "shred" the fleshy, stringy part inside the shell/skin.  It has a very bland, mild taste, and resembles spaghetti, but with fewer calories.  

Oh, my favorite is the "Dutch Oven!!"  When you hold the covers down really tightly, release some foul and noxious fumes, and then when your significant other goes to get in bed you fan the covers so that they are blind-sided and overcome by the odor!!!  My specialty is the S.B.D. ~ Silent, But Deadly!!!  HA!!!  HA!!!  

Oh, I get it...I'm not a lady, huh???  Is it because of my love of flatulence???  Is it my fondness of peppering in a little inappropriateness???  Is it my occasional use of a point-making 4 letter word???  Yeah???  Well, piss off wankers!!!  (Tee!!  Hee!! )

Kisses ~ Queenie 

Tonnie~I'm BACK! I feel like I've missed so much...I wont stay gone long this time...or at least I'll try not to.

Moochew~OMG. I am LOL at the three scales story. I think I have one that can top that though: So Friday mornings are my weigh-in day and obviously I hadnt worked out very much last week but I ate ok so I was a little skeptical of weigh-in (to say the least). I woke up, ran to the restroom, jumped on the scale, didnt like what it said, took the scale to the kitchen, hoped back on, still didnt like what it said, took it to the foyer, STILL didnt like what it said, took it back to the restroom (but this time I repositioned it), and it read 155.6! I wasnt totally satisfied, but at this point I was going to be late for work if I kept this act up. Well Saturday morning I got up and worked out and then weighed myself again to make sure the 156.6 wasnt a fluke and I was at 155 on the first try.  

ALL~I'm really enjoying this thread as this is just about the only safe-haven I have to talk about weight-loss. My friends and family want to have absolutely nothing to do with it. BTW my dad told me what he had for dinner yesterday and I was counting the calories as he talked and I'm pretty sure he had close to 2000 calories in one sitting...I was like WTF?!?!?! Ok...now that I have vented have a great week ladies!!!!

Queenie--it is funny if you fart while farding.  However, if it is your DH that is farting while he is farding then we have a whole other issue at hand.  (I'd be checking my undie drawer to see if anyhing is missing!  I had a Lab that would fart then turn around to look at his butt to see where "that" came from.  Sometimes he would close his eyes in anticipation (I learned it was a good time to evacuate the room).  What is a wanker?  I need to add that to my vocabulary.  It sounds like it could be useful when venting about rude bus people and ex-husbands.

I just posted a question to the Lounge about spaghetti squash:  Fruit or vegebtable?  There always seems to be one or two know-it-alls about everything and I'm hoping someone else will waste their time investigating.  I wonder if my question will make it to the "Hot Topics" questions.  Sometimes I think they need to change that to "Stupid people" posts.

jboise--I suspected all along that you were in Idaho.  I grew up living in a dinky town called Plummer.  It's up in the panhandle, 36 miles south of Coeur d'Alene and 50 miles north of Moscow.  I really miss that area.  For those that don't know what a panhandle is in reference to geographical (big words) things (little words), it's the area of land that juts north up into Canada.  Coeur d'Alene means "heart of the lake" and is abbreviated as Cd'A.  Lake Cd'A is beautiful with lots of tall trees surrounding it.  Moscow, where the University of Idaho is, is pronounced Mos-co, not Mos-cow as in the Soviet Union.  Besides potatoes, wheat and lentils are also large industries there.

 Moochew--3 scales?  Congratulations on your weight loss though!  In fact, congrats to all that had a weight loss story to tell.  It really is irritating encouraging to read about others success   We should all be so lucky!  When I write to my daughter and sign my name at the end of the email (you know, the Love you part I will sign it Moo instead of Mom if I've not had a weight loss.  If she's had a gain I will sign it, Mother of Moo.  We've got a real fixation with the cows.  Oh, oh, here comes a cow story....My friend, David, raises cows.  I was out early one morning and four of them were standing side by side across the pasture all looking at me.  I took a picture of them.  I used a little clip-art and photo shop magic and applied red lips and goofy eyes to their picture.  It is hilarious.  I'm going to find that picture and post it here one of these days.  When I showed him what I had done, he wasn't amused. Everyone else that has seen it cracks up laughing.  He didn't.  He wasn't mad or anything, but he asked if I didn't have better things to do with my time than to degrade his "girls".  My answer was a solid "no".    We never discussed the picture again.  I really think that he was laughing inside, but just didn't want to admit it.

Yvarner--How did you train your scale?  Maybe I need to take mine out of the bathroom and show it the world too.  Does that make it more cooperative?  Sounds like you've got it covered.  Glad your weight was FINALLY acceptable for you.  I did take mine on a vacation this summer to my parents house in July.  Like I didn't have enough weight to carry around.  I don't know if I thought I was just going to balloon up in 3 days if I didn't have it to use but was eating right, or if I just wanted to be accountable to myself.  Or, I didn't want to use my Mom's old spring type one.  I have a phobia about that scale.  When I was a kid my Dad told me I WAS going to lose weight.  He would see to it and demanded that I weigh in every Sunday morning in front of my Mom.  This was a total nightmare to me.  I wasn't ready to lose weight and as much as the approaching doom of Sunday morning weigh ins were, I couldn't stop myself from eating.  I started my dieting horror stories at age 13.  I became a good liar about my weight.  Even though Mom was standing right there as I weighed in, she didn't see my left hand on the dresser next to the scale gently making adjustments reducing my weight on the scale dial.  Finally after a month or so of showing a constant 1 lb loss per week, I couldn't handle the stress and lying anymore.  My body certainly wasn't showing any changes in size, and in fact, I had gained weight.  The dresser leverage was just to much to be inconspicuous any more.  I went to my Mom before weigh-in one Sunday and just started crying.  I fessed up.  I think it was then that Mom and Dad realized that they couldn't force me to lose weight and I never had to do that again.  I didn't even get in trouble for fooling them for so long; but I will never forget that really grim time in my life.  I'm not sure if they have the scale from hell anymore.  I hope it died a violent death or is in some 2nd hand store covered with spiders being shunned and passed over by shoppers.  Of course that was 35 years ago and it was old looking then, so maybe it's living out it's remaining years in a swanky antique store.  

Lunch time....Don't eat at the computer.  (yah, right!)   I have more to say, but the scale story did me in and I must walk away.  ~Tonnie 

HAHA – dutch oven – an oldie but a goodie!!! Sorry cinfuldiva… I couldn’t let the joke go and had to put someones name in there…. You drew the short straw

Yvarner – LOL, never tried this but I have hope off and back on the same set in the same spot to get the best out of 3

Tonnie – A wanker is…. well… a person that likes to self indulge in a little loving by themselves… (wink wink nugde nugde)  I guess it originated from men (typical) as the word wank means the actual act of a man doing what I said above.  But over time we have adapted the term of endearment to both sexes.  So yes, it can be extremely helpful when venting.  LOVE the cow photo!  Your very creative indeed.  That was a really horrible story about your youth Tonnie.  Made me sad.  Get your wanker roommate to do something stupid so you can share that and make me smile again

Well I have had a very uneventful day – thinking up excuses not to study…  humph… 2 days to go.  Going camping on Friday and will be back Monday so that’s something to look forward to.  Better go do something productive...

HOLY CRAP!!!  I checked out Tonnie's little thumbnail of David's girls and THERE WE WERE!!!  

Yvarner to the far right looking all sweet and debonair (and obviously up wind of the whole ordeal) pondering, "I wonder how much I would weigh if I moo-ved the scale out to the barn?"  Then there's Tonnie with her dazzling blue eyes thinking, "Uh-oh, I think I just sharted!!  Maybe if I stand real still they won't notice."  Next, looking shocked and appalled as the hair in my nose is completely singed, I yell out, "Tonnie!!!  I think you just SH** yourself!!!"  And finally to the far left is Moochew trying to keep her dinner down all the while stammering, "Damn!!!  Why am I always down wind of Tonnie???"

That's the best laugh I've had all day!!!  

ROFLMAO!!!!  thats so funny cinfuldiva   thank you... thank you... thank you hehehe

I second Moochew's comment!!!

Sounds like I need to come to my rescue in defense of David's girls picture I posted.  First of all, from what I remember, David himself would be proud to be associated with any of us girls.  He is very liberal minded.    Moochew, thanks for the wanker definition.  It is pretty much what I thought (I'm so slow sometimes)  Must have been the convent I grew up in.  (not really-I'm not Catholic), but I've led a sheltered life (ha ha).  Tomorrow will be the beginning of the roommates days off, so I'll have plenty of opportunity to call him a wanker, I'm sure.  How funny that you should post a cow picture too!  Perhaps our Queen has one in her photo albums.  (I question her authenticity about being the founder of this thread.  I think she uses the sweet butterfly picture to lure unsuspecting CC members into her trap, then sic's us on them, there fore relieving her of any responsibility for mental damage that may be caused from this thread.  Thanks for the comment for my scale from hell story.  I guess it was the hilarious stories from you and Yvarner and  that brought back those stupid memories. 

Yvarner-I need to know your real name.  If you don't tell me pretty soon I'm going to make something up for what the Y stands for.  I can be pretty creative with names.  I'm looking at your picture right now (it's the last post before I started writing.  Are you a Yvette, Yolanda or Yomomma?  Were you named after a Yakisoba noodle or a Yamaha motorcycle?. and don't want to tell us?  Spill it girlfriend!  I won't tell anyone, I swear.

Oh, my Queen; you have provided entertainment to begin my day with.  When I was reading the comments in my Journal and read what you wrote there, I could only imagine the damage you were doing to my stellar reputation on this thread!  I immediately had to stop what I was doing to handle damage control here.  I should beg forgiveness for doubting your most honorable intentions, but I'm not going to.  My only concern is the "down wind" comment.  Is that in reference to sharted?  (contracted word for **** & farted), or was that a typo?  Someone new to this thread might think we're a bunch of illiterate idiots that don't know when to shut up their pie-holes.  (expression recentely added to my vocabulary).  Trying to up my standards.

I'm off to spread more joy. Looking forward to returning here later on and see what kind of crap has happened to all of you today  ~Tonnie

Tonnie~ You are super funny. My real name is YaMinco, which is pretty much a mouthful for most people. I always use yvarner because its my email address but this stupid site wont let me change it (or am I the stupid one???). I would love for you to give me a nickname (everyone else seems so comfortable doing it)!

Stop the yuks & weep with me a minute, o friends: somehow on less than 1200 a day I put on THREE POUNDS this week. Can it all be water? I've been exercising all but that one time aaaaagh!

OK, the yuks can start again.

Actually, I went to the gym and ran on the treadmill and when I came back, I was 1.5 lbs lighter. I dunno what's up. I'm still bummed out.

So my loss goal for this week is...to be what I was last week! I miss 114!

Plus, I don't have a cow picture. I have Duncan, who is a therapy dog--my husband (retired) takes him to St. Luke's, the VA hospital, and twice a month to the cancer center. He (dog) works harder than I do. Husband, not so much. (But I love him because he cooks for me according to my diet!)

[Just got the *@#!! scared out of me as an Apache helicopter buzzed our building. Then I remembered: Veterans' Day celebration over at the student union. Duh.]

[Memo to self: weigh self after *@#!! scared out of one! Maybe I lost .5 lb.!]

Moochew, I feel it is my duty as a college prof to say: hit those books! (And not like THAT!) Not that I could help much with algebra and calculus. If you have any pressing questions about American poetry, let me know.

OK, smoochies everyone--

Janet

Janet~Some of the weight is water weight (smile). However, I would warn against going under 1200 calories as this does not enhance your likelyhood of losing weight (especially on days you workout) because your body needs something to burn. I hope that made sense...I'm no doctor or expert but I would like to believe that I know a thing or two about counting and burning calories!

-YaMinco (for now...Tonnnie hurry up with my new name)

Sigh. I went WAY over 1200 on Saturday, so I thought that was safe...but felt that I should make up for it on the following days. Plus, I wanted a gold star.

But if I MUST have a glass of wine with dinner tonight, I'll say "YaMinco prescribed it!"

Hugs,

Janet

YaMinco-Hey now, I don't think it's fair to let me give you a nickname.  I named my cat Babyuggie, and one of my daughters name is Mia.  I thought of Maxine (Max for short), but you need something more elegant and genteel like Libby.  YaMinco is indeed odd, but I can work with that as is.  But there's nothing wrong with Yvarner for your screen name!  I was just sticking my nose into someone elses business  I wanted to change the Mommakitty thing to.  I don't even know how that got started.  It is not you my dear; it is THEM!!  WE are not stupid.

jboise peeks in again.  Nice to hear from you Janet.  Sounds like you have scale issues too.  YaMinco seems to thing that having it moved around the house to where she is happy with what it says (ha)  The cow picture is not required.  If Duncan is the pooch in the picture, then he's welcome to remain.  What a cutie!  I don't know what to tell you about the weight fluctuations.  They are just wrong!!  And plateaus are double @#$ wrong.  I wish we would have an Apache helicopter buzz us too-(weight loss purposes only).  I can now say that I correspond with a College Professor!  That's a high-fiver in my life  Watch out for those smoochies-Cindafuldiva (I mean the Queen) seems to give preference to those that her ass.  Can you believe that she called me crotchety and cantankerous?  I'm surprised she didn't call me another "C" word.  Yes, go ahead and blame YaMinco if you have a glass of wine.  

Moochew aka Amanda I looked at your gallery pictures.  How beautiful.  I can't believe that Bela whoever was really you!  So young and yet such an evil sense of humor too!  No wonder I adore you!  Like Janet said, hit the books!  Don't end up like me with only a high school background.  I want you to succeed.  Your husband is a real cutie too.  Does he have an older brother?  Hell, I'd take a younger brother at this point.  Just someone that can laugh with me and not at me.  Wait a minute; I would be needing the single Uncle because I'm a tad bit older than you.

I played Ninja cook in the kitchen today.  I put together some crab cakes; baked, not fried.  I think I will call them Spaghetti Squash cakes with crab flavoring.  I will not do that again.  I hope my cat likes them!  Probably if I smothered them with ketchup they'd be okay.  I learned a valuable lesson.  I needed to use my food processor and it was on the top shelf in the pantry.  When I went to pull it down, here comes the blade flying off the shelf.  I tried to catch it with my bare hands and ended up saying @#$% and $%^.  a lot.  My lesson learned was don't let Norm play with knives or other sharp objects.  I usually keep the blade inside the bowl which keeps me out of harms way.  This is another reason that I hide my good knives from his use.  I guess he didn't see the need to comply with my request on that safety issue.  Amanda, the cat food would blend in really nice with the crab cakes, don't you think?

I just got my new Bisquick cookbook yesterday.  Well, actually today, but I didn't check the mail yesterday.  I love it Besides being easy recipes, there are calorie and nutrition facts with every recipe.  I have decided that I am not a natural cook and must follow the recipes as written.  I have made many a crappy meal in my life.  I have not, to this date, poisoned or killed any one,.. yet.  There is a proud moment here.  Where our mail boxes are is the rental office for where I live.  Two weeks ago, I discovered that there is a work-out room in that building.  Every morning I think I should go check it out closer.  This morning I did.  I didn't set any records, but I used the tread-mill for about 10 minutes.  I won't lie (this time ) and tell you I was on any longer than that.  I am  patting myself on the back tho because before today I always managed to talk my self out of it.  I know that I need the exercise to slap my metabolism silly.  I probably didn't accomplish much with my  10 (maybe 12) minutes on the tread mill.  So, I have set a goal.  I'm going to use that beast, gradually increasing my time.  Tomorrow tho, I'm taking my walkman and rock out (that's for you Cindy)  Some where in my music archives I have some tunes to rock out to.

I've got a kitchen to clean.  I want it spotless for Norms days off.  I'm probably just trying to set him up to give me something to gripe about, but I really did make a mess today and have a conscience about leaving things messy.  Cindy might have a hard time deciphering names, so be patient with her; she's feeble. 

Yami – Yep it has been decided…. This is what I will call you.  Yami - short for YaMinco or aka Yami Mammi  (are you a mum?)

Janet – I once read that if you eat below 1200 cals (or the required for your body type, height ect) your body goes into starvation mode and then anything you eat it holds onto for dear life and stores for the next starvation period (yes I am very technical people )… not sure if it is true but may explain weight gain?  A therapy dog HAHAHA how wonderful… I have a dog but it NEEDS therapy.  It is a Jack Russell and I swear to god one of these days I am gonna kill it! (I wouldn’t really – I just FEEL like it)  He is psycho… he definitely needs valium and a good lay down on a couch.  If it wasn’t bought for my daughters 4th birthday then I would be relocating him to a new home.  I have threatened her with getting rid of him as she doesn’t do a damn thing to look after him… but when it’s crunch time I just can’t do it to her   So I figure I got about another 10years of this until the furry @#%&er dies! (seriously I would be upset if this happened it’s just that I had a bad morning with him so I am in my hate mode).

Hot dang…. I know a college professor!  I don’t just know her - I even converse with her  (even if it is only typing).  I tell ya Tonnie…. We movin’ up in the world girl!!!

And yes mummies…. I will hit the books (have been and will continue to).  But you do need a rest after every hour or two of studying that **** else your brain freezes over and won’t compute 2 +2   I have had moments in this degree when I think I should just give in… it gets so hard at times – but damn it I will finish it if it kills me!  I’m only just finishing up my first year but in my defense I had to do a year and a half of a prep program through the Uni which was all maths classes apart from 1 english one.  So all up I have been studying for 2.5 years with only about another 5 to go HAHAHA… (where is that rum?)

Tonnie –  well thanks sweet cheeks   I scrub up okay for an aussie chick LOL.  Yeah my husband is a cutie…. The guy to his right is his younger brother…married 2 kids.  No uncles unfortunately.  I reakon cat food in those crab cakes would be devine housemate food

Okay well I haven’t shared my “cooking” stories as I am still coming to terms with my failings in this area.  So the other day I decided to try and cook lentil burgers.  Keep in mind I have never cooked lentils.  Not that it is hard hey – all you have to do is boil them until soft…. Easy (cough… cough)   So I put the lentils in the pan start them boiling, light an insense stick and some candles as I walk through the lounge.  Get to the computer room check the emails…. My daughter comes in and wants me to do something for her in the play room so off we go…. We walk back through the lounge room and I smell this funny smell – like something burning… Ariel does to… we can’t figure it out…. Check the candles… nope nothing burning there…. Check the incense stick (which is located right near the stove mind you) nope all good there…. We look at each other all puzzled…. Go through other rooms sniffing…. Then it hits me -  the @#$%ing lentils!!!  There they were smoldering away on the stove, smoke pouring out of the pan.  I spoon out the top layer that still looks like food and then fill the pan up with water to soak.  Sniffed the lentils I kept and it smelt pretty bad.  I REALLY wanted to taste these burgers, and not wanting to waste food, I made the burgers anyway.  I figured when they are mixed with all the other ingredients it might mask the smell and possible taste issues.  I was wrong!  So next week I will buy another bag and attempt to make them again.  I will keep you posted.

Tonnie, I seriously cannot get over your picture of "us."  Every single time I see it, I can hear our comments and conversations and it cracks me up all over again!!!  I've spent the past several years taking "cow" pictures, but now that I've lost 45 pounds, I refuse to take another!!    So you'll have to deal with my marvelous monarch...how fitting for a queen!!! Speaking of your photo, that was no typo.  You guessed correctly.  After your "noxious fumes at the craft show" conversation and your commenting on how "haz-mat would be called out," I just KNEW that expression on YOUR cow's face indicated you thought you were going to do a little one-cheek-sneak and accidentally dropped a load!!  Thus, sharted!!!   And look here you ornery, ol' broad, I don't favor a kiss ass, I'm just a gregarious girl who happens to be a big a kisser!!    (I should have been Italian.)  Oooooh, I adore adjectives (they make reading and writing so much more colorful and interesting), but don't you worry that pretty, little head of yours, I would never bust out that OTHER "C" word.  Although, I have to admit it made me snicker when I read that in your post!!  You'd be better off leaving the ninja moves to Jet Li or Jackie Chan!!   You absolutely should take advantage of the FREE workout room!!!  Slap some groovy tunes into that walkman (you're dating yourself here) and hop on that treadmill, sister!!

Yvarner ~ Since we're all throwing nicknames out, the first thing that popped into my mind when I read YaMinco was "Minx"   - a cunning, and boldly flirtatious young woman.  

Janet ~ I am so sorry to hear about your 3 pound gain.  That's such a kick in the pants when you are trying so hard.  And, scientifically speaking, I don't understand how if you consume "X" amount of calories and expend "X" amount of calories, you don't have a weight loss!!!  I know they say your body goes into starvation mode, blah, blah, blah, but how on earth can your body STORE them if you are EXPENDING them??? Where's that energy coming from???  They say your start burning muscle.  I don't know, the whole thing boggles my mind.  Now, sorry to say, I can't feel TOO sorry for you "missing 114" (you skinny sicko) when I am THRILLED to be seeing 170 (speaking of cows))!!!  I absolutely LOVE Duncan!!  He is ADORABLE!!!  And bless his sweet, little heart...lifting the spirits of cancer patients!!!  Hmmm, American poetry...name your top 3 poets and your favorite poems by them.  A piece of me has always wanted to be a writer.  I used to write poetry (many moons ago).  Then I thought about writing a children's book.  (I got so tired of reading countless bedtime stories to my boys, I started making up silly bedtime stories using my boys as the main characters.  They loved them!!  We used to get laughing so hard they would beg me to tell them more.  I miss those days.)  But, alas, I am destined to toil and triumph in a first grade classroom. 

Amanda ~ We bought a puppy the day after Christmas last year.  Her daddy is a Jack Russell and her mommy is a German Shepherd mix.  (Don't ask me how that ever came to pass!!)  Her name is Snickerdoodle, but we call her Snickers for short.  She is such a cutie, but she is very active with neurotic tendencies!!  Hey, girlie, who cares what college year you're finishing up, the important thing is that you're doing it!!  The process of acquiring a degree is long and arduous, but SO worth it!!  I put myself through college and worked full time most of those years.  It took me 7 years to get my degree, but I paid for and earned the entire thing on my own!!!  Hey, good luck on your next go around with the lentil burgers!!  

Well, ladies, I woke up at 2am and couldn't get back to sleep.  It's now 3:30am and I MUST try to get another hour or 2 so that I'll have the stamina and mental acuity (Shut your pie-hole, Tonnie!!) to face those 20 little cherubs by 7:30am!!  Last week we made pilgrim hats and drew Indian designs on brown butcher paper.  This week we are going to make a teepee with that paper.  We'll also make our Indian vests and headbands this week.  Then we'll write our very own pilgrim and Indian class book.  (Hey, I guess I get to be a writer after all!)  This type of teaching is my PASSION!!!  Hands on, creative, meaningful!!!

TTFN ~ Queenie  a.k.a Cindi 

WOO HOO!!!!  The classic bob, go-go boots, and platinum lips...I made it to the 60's!!!  I am 169.8!!!! 

Amanda--I've never heard of anyone that burns lentils, but then again, who would admit it?  I grew up on lentils, they were raised locally where I lived.  The only downer for me and the lentils, is Mum (I like that-instead of Mom) would ruin them by putting in ox-tails.  Thank God we had a "table scrap" dog always nearby to catch whatever food went overboard.  My brother, Mark and I sat next to each other and since I was left-handed and he was right-handed we could appear to be eating with our correct hands and secretly feeding the dog between us with the other. 

YaMinco-I'm stuck between Yami Mammmi and Minx for your "pet" name.You'll have to make that decision!  I want to change Amanda's name to Aussie.  And yes, Amanda, you do clean up quite nicely.  Looking like that, what man would care if you could cook?

Janet (oh, oh, you need a new name too)-we'll have to stew on that one for a bit.  Do you have any preferences or are you running at your own risk here?  I'm the last one to offer advice about fluctuations.  I'm going to start saying "Flux you" or "Flux Off".  Both sound equally as naughty as the alternative.

Oueenie  darling, I don't see you as a poet unless it is for naughty limericks.  Writing children's books is a stretch of my imagination.  You teach first graders?!!! OMG!  I suppose writing here is a release for all the nicey, niceness you have to maintain during the day.  (I mean no offense, really).  I'm sure your boys will have either fond memories or nightmares from Mommies stories.  (did they go to therapy?)  I suppose you could single handidly change the reinactmet of the first Thanksgiving in those little cherubic minds.  I do admire you (don't get a swollen head) for pursuing your passion for teaching.  You get 2 of these bad boys from me today.

I've never owned a Jack Russel Terrier before, but I had a roommate that did once (No, not Norm).  It was a hyper thing.  Tranquilizers was my thought.  Poor thing came to an untimely demise involving an open door and a fast moving delivery truck.  Probably having a spoiled brat 5-year old antagonizing the dog caused him to dart out the open door the first chance he got, into the pathway of that truck. 

Time to get glamorous.  We're supposed to have nice weather, in the mid 60's, but with the predicted 40 mph winds, that still means you have to bundle up.  No amount of hairspray is going to keep my lovely tresses from looking like a scarecrow by this afternoon.  Hope you all have a good day.  I get to go shopping!!  Food!!  Maybe I'll go shopping at the thrift store and see if there's another pillowcase that needs to be reincarnated into a new top for me! ~Tonnie

Queenie!  I would feel amiss all day if I didn't acknowledge your weight loss.  I bow down to you.  I lost 1 lb since yesterday, but I'm still 2.4 pounds more than when I first started writing on this thread.--Oh yes, I finally get it--I need an Ipod, not a walkman, right?  Duh!!