XTC2 (Ex-Thick-Chick Club)

Hello all....

This website changed my life. ( : Sounds overly dramatic, but it is true. I hope to look back a year or so from now and think, "I am forever grateful......"  Anywho, I think my favorite part of cc, aside from all the great educational information, is the overwhelming support and friendship I've found here. I guess most of my life I've only trusted and truly befriended a handful of unique women---I hold my friends in the highest regard and do not take camraderie lightly. The women I have met here are seriously my spiritual twins! I always felt very alone in my weight loss journey----no more!

That said, I think my cc girls, and you know who you are, are the best! ( :   My buddies, my pals, my soul sisters =P Chat away to motivate yourself and others! ( ;

~~Olivia

Hiya Val!

Looks like I'm the only one playing today...sorry!

I was straight out crazy busy today, but I will pop in tomorrow with luck! How goes the setting up of the new digs? Are you all decorated for Halloween now?! Fun!

How's Peanut's car today?

 

Peanut's car is working!!! 

The house is all halloween decorated.  I just have to put out the last minute stuff for Phebe's party.  Today, I am picking up and puttingaway stuff that I know I do not need for awhile.  Then tomorrow I am scrubbing everything.  Sunday I work all day before the party.  :)

How are you doing?  Anything fun for this weekend?

That's good news!

Phebe's having a party? I love it! Costumes and all? And are you dressing up in something? Or is this a birthday bash?

I'm still crazy busy at work. I can't wait for it to slow down just a little bit...

Not much planned for the weekend. I have to work tomorrow at our flu clinic and Sunday I think will be a cleaning, hanging out at home watching football kind of day. Looking forward to relaxing, actually.

 

Hi girls. Man I suck at getting on here latley. I think it is cause i have been working on the novel, and it is going so well, I don't want to interrupt the flow.  Iknow it is saturday so no one is coming in here for a bit, but i wanted to say hi!

Daizy- I do hope you get to relax this weekend! It sounds like things have been way hectic for you recently.

When does Abbs come home from her honeymoon?

 

Hey Ladies!

Peanut ~ I finally did get to chill out on Sunday, thankfully! I will make up for lost rest next week when I am at my Mom's - I can't wait!

I don't think Ring is back from her honeymoon until the 24th....so my guess is she'll be back to work on the 26th? Can't wait to hear stories of the wedding...and see photos, with luck!

Keep working on the novel! I wanna read it too! Can I join the book club as a distance member?

 

Daizy, you can!! LOL Val and I have a fb page for the book club books, to discuss them, but no one ever talks on the boards but me and her...so if you want to join, come on! We'll invite you! and as soon as I am done with this edit, I will let you read if you still want too. The daunting part is coming up though- I am almost done editing, and then I have to figure out how to get an agent and so forth, because I want this bad boy to get published , for all the trouble it has given me!!

How are you? I miss you guys. I cannot wait to see pictures from Ring's wedding and to hear all about italy!

YAY!! Please do invite me and I'll chat about books at any time! I LOVE to read. It's kind of obnoxious how much I read - and costly. I have to be better about going to the library! LOL

I'd LOVE to read your book! Can't wait, really. Do you already have contact info for agents? Are there good resources out there for advice?

So excited to hear about Ring's trip! And she better post photos for those of us who couldn't attend....LOL

We miss you too! Glad you posted - I was getting lonely in here ;) LOL But I know how much you need to strike while the iron is hot with a book, so keep at it!!

hi there! as soon as I post this I will go invite you to join the FB group. I am excited! the book club is reading Me Talk Pretty One Day, by David Sedaris. Val and I also read one book every few months from a list we compiled of literature that everyone should read to be considered well read....cause we are dorks like that. We just finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides- well I did. I think she is finishing it now.

As soon as the book is through with this edit (third) I'll send it over. I don't have contact info for agents, but a friend of mine wrote a book and contacted agents- she had one call her back actually and they read her book and advised her as to what kind of edits she needed to do. I think you can find books that list publishing houses and agents , what kinds of work they accept and how it needs to be sent in...I;ll have to find those...(btw this friend is also in the book club and sometimes she chat's as well, her name is jodi.)

Have a great day....

HI EVERYONE!!!!!!  I'm back!!  Oh my gosh what a great time we had!  The wedding went SO well!  There are so many stories to share but overall everything went smoothly and well and it was just perfect!

Quick recap: we drove up to PA on Wed and it was rainy and overcast the entire time and the trees hadn't really turned yet so we were kinda disappointed.  The chance of rain on Sat was 60% but kept going down every time I checked the weather. 

On Thursday we ran around getting last minute stuff and waiting for his parents to get there (heaven forbid they turn on their cell phone or call and tell us if they're just leaving or almost there!).  They finally got there just in time for me to leave for my final dress fitting and then we all came back to my house for dinner with my aunt who had come out to help.  Then on Friday the masses descended upon our house with wedding party and family from out of town and friends all over the place!! 

The rehearsal went well and then the rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant right on the lake.  D's parents picked up the bill and we all had a nice time.  The boys loved their flasks and the girls liked their matching bracelets. 

Saturday morning mom and I got up and went to the salon just the two of us to get our nails done and then an hour later all of my girls showed up to get hair/mani's/pedi's/make-up done (they got to choose what they wanted to get done).  Then we went back to my house to eat lunch and jump in my dress and take some pics at the house and then off to the church where I just stood around waiting!!  I was so excited I couldn't sit down!  Almost everyone was there (148 to be exact) and I got to see friends and family I haven't seen in forever.  The ceremony was great and I did make it through my vows without crying although I did choke up a little!  Then our receiving line and bubbles and pictures at the church.  The weather did shape up and there wasn't a drop of rain and the sun even came out to play!  It was so funny because the ONLY trees that had turned were right next to the waterfall I wanted pictures at which was perfect! 

The photographer and dj were great and it was an awesome party!  We did our first dance and no one knew we had taken lessons and they were all just floored and clapping the entire time!  I got through three bites of food before I was full (well, before my dress wouldn't let me eat anymore!) and then it was off to mingle and dance and cut the cake and party!!  Then we stayed at a hotel literally right on the lake downtown and it was beautiful! 

His sister only gave me a little bit of drama with her stupid husband.  He dropped her off at the spa and then stayed at the spa!  WTH?  He just stood there chatting with me about nothing until I finally told him that this was my "peaceful" time and he was inturrupting it and he left (I tried to be nice).  So he eventually realized it was going to take hours and left.  So the salon took longer than expected so I was rushing to get back to the house to get dressed and eat before the photographer came at 2 (it was 1:45 and we're still on the road) and she calls to say they're running late and can her husband come to our house with her and "hang out" with us?  I said point blank "no".  I told her I have enough stress and people to take care of I didn't need him in the way.  So she says "well what do you want him to do then?"  I said "i don't care, he's a big boy, he can entertain himself".  And she says "well what are Daniel and the boys up to?"  I said "I have NO idea, call them and find out, I'm too busy for this" and hung up.  I mean seriously, he's 24, he can figure out what to do by himself for two hours!  But if that was my biggest stressor of the day then so be it! 

Pictures are on FB, CC gives me trouble uploading pics for some reason! 

Peanut~ wow, great job on getting the novel edited and working on it again!!  Good luck finding a publisher and I definitely want to read it as well!  I love reading and just wish I had more time to do it!

Daisy~ Hope things on the job slow down for you!  It snowed in Erie 4 days after my wedding about an inch but melted the next morning!  We usually get an October snow that never sticks (ground isn't frozen yet) and then it won't snow again until around Thanksgiving time if not until Christmas and then it'll snow until April.  I can only imagine how much more you get up there!  Sounds like the leaves were pretty for your ride that weekend though!  I'll jump over to FB tonight and check out your pics!

Val~ A halloween party?  I LOVE halloween but just don't have the time/energy to decorate this year!  I love kid halloween parties, so cute!  Sorry to hear about all the stuff going on with P's real dad, at least she knows she has the best mom ever to make up for a crappy dad.  Hope things get easier for you all soon!

Well gang, back to work, back to the real world.  I have my midterm on Friday afternoon and it's going to SUCK because I have no idea what is going on in that class!!!  Guess I better try and get caught up tonight!

Hi ring!! It's been pretty quiet in here, I wonder where Daizy is? Hmmm...

 

I am glad you had such a wonderful wedding, with little stress! I remember not being stressed at all, even though every one else was. It rained in the morning (it was an outdoor wedding) and everyone was freaking out that I would freak out. I was just happy to be getting married. And on top of that, I had literally no voice. None. I had to drink honey before going down the aisle in order to say my vows. Man, good times. And the maid of honor forgot the rings. Ha! But really, it was a wonderful day!! I am so glad you and D enjoyed it and had a great wedding!!!!

Peanut~ I'm still on cloud nine when I think about it!  I keep getting people's pics and just looking through them reminds me of how happy I was that day!  My mom said she's never seen me smile that much before ever!  When I get grumpy at work and don't want to be here, I just open up pics or watch our dancing video and and instantly happy!  I was very calm on my wedding day, everyone else was rushing around and I was just insanely calm and happy!  Like you, not even rain could have spoiled my day (but luckily it didn't rain and it was indoors anyway :P).  We must be two peas in a pod Peanut!

Val~ how are the girls doing in school?  Is S in school yet or just P?  how are things going with dud dad?  House is good?  Ready for halloween? 

Anyone carved pumpkins and what are all your kiddos going to be for halloween??!  It's one of my favoritest holiday ever but just no time this year to decorate.  We will head over to D's parents to hand out candy since they live in a development and will have lots of kids and we get none down our little side street.  I do leave some on the front porch in case anyone comes up though but it was all there last year in the end. 

Daizy~ hope work slows down for you so you can come chat with us again! 

Hi Ladies,

NOT at work this week, on vacation in FL. It was that time of year again to bring the car back down for my Mom. I finally got her DSL hooked up tonight so I thought I'd jump in here quickly and leave a message for you all. I'll be home on Sunday and will try to catch up on journals and all.

Ran in the Disney Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 13K last Saturday night (It started at 10:30PM!) And should have some photos to post when I get home. It was fun! Now, onto the half marathon.

If I decide to return to the cold North, that is ;) J'll miss me if I don't go home...hmm.

RING~~ Glad to hear your special day went wonderfully! I cannot wait to check out your photos on FB and read these journal entries! I'm just too tired to do it tonight. My Mom is sick and I've been trying to get all this stuff done for her....sigh.

HI Peanut! Hi Val! See you soon :)

 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN MY FRIENDS!!!

Hi Daizy!!!  Now I remember you're on vacation, sorry I'm still behind in the world!  Glad the 13K went well last night, did you run well?  I'm sure being back in warmer weather helped.  Are you having fun hanging out with your mom?  I'm sure you are!  Have fun in FL and a safe trip back up north.

Peanut~ What is P going to be for halloween??  Make sure to take lots of pics and post them on FB or on here!  And take pics of Val's girls too!

Val~ we miss you!!

Hope everyone else has a Happy Halloween tomorrow!

Good morning ladies!  Today is D's b-day so I'm headed home at lunch to say hello and bring him lunch and have a little "fun" before heading back to work!  See journal for the definition of a crappy monday morning.  Still trying to deal with that while keeping a happy fun face for D!

Peanut~ yay for new computers! Hope you get it up and running soon so you can come chat with us!

Daizy~ hope your trip home was safe travels and you had a nice time in FL for a bit! 

Val~ hope the kiddos had a happy halloween and didn't eat too much candy!

I actually did pretty good staying out of the candy dish but now we have left overs and it's not going that well!  Already today has been a mini baby ruth and a mini reeses pb pumpkin!  At least they're mini!!

hi ladies! my brain must be full of holes. otherwise I would remember things, like Daizy going on vacation. I swear- I mean, I knew you were getting married in like, a day, but still when you were gone Abbs, I was like, dude what happened? I think that is the weird thing about being online friends- you never see each other, so you never "see" when that friend is out of town....does that make any sense?

ANywho, we did have fun for halloween, I have FB pics up of Parker dressed as a little bee. Too cute. I am waaaaay tired and thinking about napping, since P just went down. TTOM has hit me like a ton of bricks for some reason...

 

Hello!!! I'm finally back and able to jump in here again :)

Ring ~ thank you! The trip was great ~ I wrote a bit about it in my journal today and posted photos on FB. The race was fun, but I struggled a bit. That's OK, though. I finished! A received a cool finisher's medal to boot. LOL

Peanut ~ My niece who turned three today (!) was a bee for halloween too! SO CUTE. Love the photos! And it's funny to think that you didn't grow up doing the halloween thing....I can see how strange it would be...

How's the NaNo coming? One of J's teacher friends at school (english teacher) is using that as a teaching tool with her high school students. J thought it was a great idea :) I can't wait to hear how it went overall at the end!

Val ~ where are you? And where is Jess??

 

Hi everyone!  This week has just been weird with deaths and lots of other stuff. 

Peanut~ I'm sure P was totally cute, I'll check out your pics tonight!  You didn't grow up with Halloween?  I don't even know what it is about the holiday that gets me so excited, I am terrified by ghosts and scary movies and I hardly even dress up anymore!  I think it's just the celebration of fall that excites me!  Sounds like your new computer is doing well and NaNo is going good so far.  Keep up the great work!

Val~ we miss you!  Sounds like you're busy with NaNo as well and the girls.  Hope everyone had a fun halloween!

Daizy~ Yay you're back!!  I saw your FB pics, cool crown and medal!  Don't worry about your time, you accomplished it and that's all that matters!!  Glad you had a fun time with your mom down there, it's great you have a place like that you can escape to every now and again!

Jess~ come chat with us! How are the boys and Pittsburgh?  Sounded like you were going through a little rough patch a while ago, are things any better?

Olivia~ I miss you!  Your FB status' make it sounds like you're all in love and getting back into jogging/wogging, hope it's going well for you!

Well everyone, I am actually quietly job hunting because I'm bored right now.  My friend just started with a new company and sent me a link of jobs still available and I'm actually considering applying.  I hesitate because I'm not huge on change and I love my co-workers (most of the time anyway) and the atmosphere around my little office.  But on the other hand sometimes I don't like it.  But we need money right now and usually the way to do that is to switch jobs so I'm going to look down that road and see where it leads.  It may lead right back to my desk but I'll never know if I don't give it a shot right?

I kind of feel like we need to be on the NaNo site, too, Ring! We're missing out!

Ladies ~ do we get to read your NaNo novels afterward? How does this whole thing work?

Ring, sorry you are having a not so great week this week. I hope the weekend is better for you. And I stand by what I wrote in your journal yesterday - go on and look at the opportunity. You have nothing to lose by following up on it and there is no way to know if it would be a good fit for you otherwise, right? What kind of job would you be doing?

I am so glad it's Thursday and almost the weekend. Actually, I'll be extra glad when Sunday afternoon gets here and the half marathon has come and gone. The anticipation is killing me. Really. I am just aiming to finish, but I really want to be done with it at this point! LOL

 

I'm not a writer by any means!  I have no idea what you guys write about but i'm sure it's fantastic! 

Daizy~ yeah, I'm sure the anticipation for your race is kicking up but just do your best and try to enjoy it.  I'm SO proud of you for even doing the race, that's amazing!!! 

The job I applied for is Systems Engineer which is a pretty broad position.  Basically they're the ones that oversee projects and make sure everyone is staying on track and on the same page and all the different companies are playing nice together.  Who knows if it will pan out, I haven't heard anything yet. 

Ahhh, this weekend is going to be crazy!  I have tons of laundry to do and then finish unpacking things and putting them away from the wedding, start thank you cards, get wood delivered and stacked for fires and I MUST finish cleaning the Relay crap in the basement.  It's still the explosion from the end of the event and needs to get put away and organized.  I can't believe I let it go this long but hey, I was a little busy these past few months!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Ring, that sounds like an interesting position. Would it still be in aeronautical/space engineering?

It certainly sounds like you have a lot to do at home! LOL I need to clean my house and we have a basement project that needs to get started as well, but none of that will happen this weekend. I am going to loaf until the race is over, then we'll see how I feel about cleaning! At least putting away new stuff from the wedding is fun!

I hope the gals pop in and tell us a bit about their novels! It sounds like a lot of work to me :) But I'll bet it's fun to see it all come together so quickly with this deadline they have....

OK, have a good afternoon! I'll be back in later to check...