LOL @ this thread :) My "truck" is a red, 1995 Chevrolet Beretta (yeah, the 2 door model). It's paid for and runs great. And I can get an amazing amount of crap in there. Of course, I have serious truck envy! I'm just waiting for the F150 hybrid...though I fear I'll have a looonnnggg wait. :) This thread reminds me of a great story (sorry if it's long and slightly offtopic, but I thought you all would get a kick out of it): About 3 years ago I was in the parking lot of HomeDepot and trying to figure out how I was going to get these 3 4X5 sheets of lattice home. I had bought them thinking I could get them in the trunk or partway. (DUH!)I had just decided that I would use some rope to tie the wood to the roof, and put some spare clothes I happened to have in the car between the lattice and the car when the man in the large red dodge parked behind me came out. He said "Honey, do you need some help?" I tried to say no, but all he could do was giggle. Keep in mind it's like 830 on a Fri. night. He said, "if you don't live too far from here, I'll haul that stuff for you". Against my "better judgement" I accepted his offer--the whole way home I kept thinking--oh jeez, what is he gonna want in return? thinking the worst. We get to my house, he unloads the wood--won't let me help him --carries it up to the porch. And won't take anything but my profuse gratitude! Never got his name, wouldn't take gas $$, or a drink of water. That was the day I realized how incredibly neighborly and kind southerners can be. Where I'm from, that wouldn't happen in a bazillion years--or the guy would drive off with the wood, or come back & rob me blind. Someday when I have a truck--I hope I get to return the favor to some other hapless gardener! :)

Tune in for a glimpse of BJ and John today!!!! CHEEKTOWAGA, NY - Sunday's championship round in the 2006 GEICO Classic will be an affair to remember. Diet Forum friends, BJ and John will face each other in the semifinals after each won their round of 8 matches Friday night at AMF Thruway Lanes. John, from nearby Manchester, NH, defeated 2005 PBA Player of the Year Patrick Allen (Tarrytown, N.Y.), four-games-to-one, to advance to his first championship round since the 2004 Uniroyal Tire Classic. "It's been a tough two years for me. It's familiar but unfamiliar territory," said John, who owns six Tour titles but has not won since 2002. "This has been a breakthrough week for me so I'm just going to try and keep it going and I have a great focus now that BJ is by my side." John, who used a Hammer Hog Wild, averaged 231.40 in his five games against BJ. BJ, (Seattle, WA), a PBA Hall of Famer who owns 30 Tour titles, defeated Wes Malott (Austin, Texas), 4-0. BJ will be making her fourth championship round appearance of the season but is still looking for her first title. The two will bowl for the $40,000 top prize and an exemption for the 2006-07 Denny's PBA Tour season on Sunday. The live ESPN televised finals will take place at 12:30 p.m. EST. PBA Tour 2006 GEICO Classic AMF Thruway Lanes Cheektowaga, N.Y. Sunday, Feb. 26

Good Morning ...long time no post BUT I am reading when I have time. Christmas Exchange - I'm in! French Lick - I'm out. I will be in San Diego for my oldest DS's Police Academy graduation. Diet - I am doing very well on WW. I actually really love the program and it is working for me. I needed accountability and I was not good at all. I love food and as much as I loved some of the low carb diets...I cheated too easily because I missed some on the things that I loved to eat. On WW, I can have a potato, banana, popcorn...etc. I am not putting down low carb, it works for some but I don't remember the last time I lost 10 pounds so easily. I am doing their Core plan and I don't count points unless it is a treat like a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich, fat free chips or something like that. I have to pay each week to get weighed and I find the meetings pretty good. I am doing with the SO and he is losing too. He needed to lose weight and I really was not into making different meals for each of us so I said I would do WW with him. He is losing too and being as competitive as I am...I think it keeps me on task. Work - BUSY and I lost my assistant so I have twice as much work again to do. Working out - I work in an office full of IT geeks. I was talking to one of them the other day and he was telling me about this program for the XBox. ( Video Game Machine ) It is called Yourself Fitness. It is like having a personal trainer. It creates different work outs for you according to your fitness level. It keeps you interested because the workouts change all the time. They even ask you what kinds of other workout items you have and incorporate that into the workout. ( weights, fitness ball, step ) I am seriously considering this because I really want to get back into shape. My car accident in 03 has really messed up my back. I haven't worked out since then because it seems like any little thing give me sciatica. I put on 10 pounds on top of what I needed to lose and that only added to having low self esteem about myself. I have one of the momentus birthdays next year and I really really want to look good for it. Kids -They are all well and happy! I cannot ask for more. I really feel blessed each day because they are so good and well adjusted. Alright - I wrote more than I thought I would have time for! Hello to all and prayers for those who need them! Gretchen

I am glad you enjoyed the reading. It sure was a wonderful trip. I am now trying to get all the pics offf my cell phone...sigh ...no memory card...and then I will get the whole thing put together. Will keep me busy for weeks ! c