We are in the middle of a dandy storm right now, I woke up about 4:30 this morning to wind that was making our old house creak, I could hear thunder in the distance. 10 minutes later lightning lit the sky and the thunder was just a booming. The ferry system between the island and the mainland is shut down, DH just heard on radio, the cars in the long term parking lot at the Tsawwassen ferry terminal are covered in seaweed. Last year around this time Stanley Park on the mainland was devastated, at last count 10,000 canopy trees came down. DH and I saw some of the destruction when we drove through the park on the way to our son's place. It really was horrific. It looks like the weather patterns are really changing around here. Oh well, at least the rest of the leaves are down, only one more cleanup. Annette

Hi, Having a great week. My weight is starting to move again. I'll know more by next Monday's weigh in at home. I'm still keeping a food journal and using WW old points system at home. It works for me. Today I baked a cake. Not for me, for my dear hubby. Rather than have too much cake I called a friend who loves having a dessert after dinner. She is one of those tiny women with a high metabolism who goes goes goes and is always on the move. Since we both can never eat a whole cake I made the two cake pans. I frosted both of them. Dave got his slice after dinner. I cut one more on a plate for him tomorrow. The rest of that single layer has been sliced into 1" slices and now sit on a baking sheet on parchment paper in the freezer to freeze each slice individually so I can freezer wrap them for single use, small sizes. The other cake that's done has been wrapped and ready for delivery to my friend's tomorrow. I had a good dinner but did not want any cake. I'm pleasantly full and don't want to ruin it. Being happy with my weight moving I have decided to save the cake for a celebration moment. If I can stay the course this week and weigh in on Monday down from this Monday's weigh in I will work that slice of cake into my daily healthy consumption and enjoy it slowly. A small piece. I am learning that too much of dessert pieces I no longer enjoy. When I truly want to savor a delectable food I put my fork down between bites and make it last. I do not enjoy over eating at all. I do not enjoy being too full by any means now. I did sample about a tablespoon of cake crumbs with a little frosting from the bowl. That was enough. I want my weight to move a whole lot more than I could want a slice of cake right now. There will be many opportunities in days ahead to enjoy my cake or other desserts. But not today. I am happy with what I have had, choices I have made. Most of all what makes me happy is being in control again. Seeing my small changes over a long period of time starting to really make a difference in my appearance and mood. I hope you are having a positive week. No matter what you face in your day just take a small step and keep taking small steps. They make a difference. Hang in there with me. You can do this. This is not about denial but learning to enjoy what matters most to you. Getting your focus back. Too much of a good thing is not good at all. As for treats - for me if I have them on a regular basis they are no longer treats and no longer have that magic appeal. I want the magic. You have a choice every day to choose your direction. If you slide a bit, come back. No matter what come back on your journey. Sometimes you need to step back, refocus and let any moment go. Live in your moment. Do your best with no regrets. Come on with me. I'm here with you. If you don't want to post, that is fine. Just keep coming back and join me - even silent partners are...

Down.

There doesn't seem to be any let up in the number of people visiting the Arizona in Pearl Harbor or Punchbowl, but it's 'distant past' for many young people today. Two of my uncles served in WWII -- one in the Pacific. I only remember the war efforts -- saving grease, needing ration stamps to buy restricted items like gasoline, tires, shoes, and my mother laboring in her Victory Garden.