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

Good Evening all, I can't believe that I have been away all week. I have had an interesting week and it just got away from me. Let me get you up to speed. I had Monday off and DH went back to work after being out 2 weeks with his knee. However, Monday I had to bring DS to the Dr. He ended up having bronchitis. I had to bring him back again on Wed. because he could not breath. Now he is on 3 different meds and doing much better. I had a colonoscopy today, so I know that many of you know what the day before is like. Yikes. I survived and am finally back to my self. I was pretty groggy all day today and it felt good to just crash on the couch all day with a good excuse and not feeling guilty for not doing anything else! I also got news this week about a $1.8 million deficit in the school budget and there will probably be some major layoffs, soon. I'm not sure if I will be one of them, but usually the libraries and technology get cut before teachers. I am trying to get my ducks in a row and get a resume together, because it looks like a new job may be in my future. :-) and ;-(. I have very mixed emotions about it. Is anyone here any good a resumes? Anyone want to take a look at mine and tell me what needs to be improved upon? I really could use the help. Muchas Gracias. Maddie, I am really glad that this week is over for you. I am sorry I missed out on the gift exchange. If anyone else wants to join in, match them up with me. If not, that is ok, I will wait till next year. Raeanne, welcome back. I'm glad that you had such a great trip. Things seem so unsettled in CA these days so I am glad that you are back safely. Dee, congrats on the 4#. That is a big loss. Enjoy your weekend. Have you set up your village yet? Milkdud, I saw part 2 of that Oprah show today. Was that the most unbelievable thing? Two warehouses full of stuff that was just piled in her house. It was amazing and certainly an incentive to declutter! I am curious to see what her house looks like in a year. Jen congratulations on the 9 pounds!! Lynn, good to see you. Are you still selling your house? Patti, how are you and Dave feeling? Are you traveling for Thanksgiving? Suzanne, the weather is supposed to be beautiful around here next week. Thanksgiving is supposed to be 60 degrees, which is great football weather. Hopefully you can get a ride in. BJ, you are among the missing too! John, I was glad to read your post last week. It sounds like things are going well for you. Nice car! Marci are the kids getting a little excited with the holidays approaching? When do you finish school? We get out Wednesday at noon. I'm glad you got to spend some time with DD. It was nice "chatting" with you all. Enjoy the weekend. Love, Besh

Thanks, ladies. Yes, it's a lot of fun and it seems like the ladies are really outdoing themselves every year. I do have an idea for next years ornie, in fact I have almost everything I need to make them. I saw on FlickR some ornaments that look like those candied fruit slices, you know the ones you see in the nice candy stores, they look like a slice of orange, or lemon, lime, etc. They make them in citrus colors and red.... well, these were felt, 2 colors in each one, like dark green/lime green or dark yellow/bright yellow, etc, and covered with "sugar", which was a square crystal glitter. Simple, but VERY CUTE. I was thinking of making a set of 3 for each lady. I bought all the stuff to make them in case my ships didn't turn out. So I'll be making those, and I won't wait until early December, either! lol bRAT Kat- those are his little mittened hands you're seeing, ya perv! lol It's not a good photo, I realize that. He is absolutely the most charming, old-fashioned little guy, we all flipped over him. The 2 girls on either side of me, their guys had glittery felt shoes- mine has plain. I told them their little guys were gay. lolol And their little scarves are so cute, a tiny button holds it in place. He is perfection. I recommend these kinds of parties to everyone. What a great way to get together, have lots of fun and good food and be creative AND get a huge assortment of ornies. Oh. I don't do a tree anymore, I'm sad to say. Too many cheesy cats in this house that would tear it up. I keep some of the ornaments and share some with friends. I have a lovely assortment in boxes! lol Thanks, WC, about the cat. I hope to hear from the vet this morning that I can pick him up. Fingers crossed!

I managed to cut out all the triangles for the Bonnie Hunter mystery today. I hope to get them sewn tonight and tomorrow. I have a quilt on the frame that I am quilting on too. I cut a while, sew a while and then quilt a while. I had to take a break and make a trip to the post office today. I am selling a bunch of antique books, Annalee dolls and some genealogy and history books that I have had stored for years. I had a bunch of ebay auctions sell, so I had to ship them out. We have enough leftovers for the weekend and I made turkey soup with some of the turkey leftovers, so I should not have to cook for a couple of days. Jackie