Free and Fit - Week 3

[sdlovespackers]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Hi Fit Friends!!

Boy it has been a heck of week!!! I'm BEAT--I finally left school today when I realized I was the only one left in the building (besides the janitor). UGH!!

Chill--I watched your Youtube video...that place looks beautiful!! I can't blame you one bit for wanting to go back!! Those beaches were gorgeous!! I ended up clicking on a couple other videos and watched them! Glad things are looking up for you!!

Sped--I've been to St. Thomas...it's beautiful!!!!! I'd LOVE to go back!!!!!!! Actually when I went there, we were on a cruise so I was only on the island for about 6 hours, or something like that. I just remember laying on the beach in this bay we were in...so amazing!!!!!!! I don't know...my opinion is...if you want to go, and it's important to you, you/we/I can't live in a bubble because of this "drinking thing"...you've/we've/I've still got to live our lives. There probably is a lot of drinking...but where isn't there, really?? :l

Dill-Hope you made it through the day ok and if not went home and got some R&R!! I wanted to add something about pedicures (from the beginning of this week)...you should get one!!!:H BUT....make sure, like someone said....it's from a nice salon, not like a strip mall place....they really are awesome!!!

Lav--I thought it was nice that YB made a nice effort this Valentine's Day...I think he really seems to be trying to show he cares (even in little ways--like asking to help babysit)...which is sometimes the nicest way!:h

Sooty-sorry to hear about your dog's passing.

Pap3--So what color is the hair going to be?? I think I need a new hairdresser...she keeps doing the same thing even when I ask for something different??? AND...my hair seems to loose it's color really fast, does yours??

Rusty--welcome home....so did you get to do anything fun while in Canada, eh?? Any plans for the long weekend...do you get Monday off???

Star--Hope you got all that you wanted to get done today!!

Dew and Cyn--how are you both doing this weekend?? Hugs to you both!!:l Rustop--hope you have a great weekend with your daughter!!

Cass--how you doin' girl? Still showin' them who's boss in your workplace? LOL!! Hope all is well!! Weren't you planning a trip or have you already gone???

Well...it's getting late, and once again we have basketball in the morning....my son's dad is coming to watch which is nice...but as most of you know always causes mixed feeling for me....(another) UGH!!!
Have a great Saturday!!!
SD

[Stargazerlily]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Good morning to all...

Yes, SD, I did get lots done. My house is pretty clean which gives me peace, laundry finished, and went for a walk with a friend. We cooked out last night, it was in the high 40s, and the steak was perfect.

Yes Dill, I too am looking forward to spring. I am also looking forward to Florida, and leave next weekend. I am craving sunshine and being outside.

Sped, you are right, all resort areas promote drinking, and lots of it. But, lots of people don't drink. I think we sometimes just notice the people who do, because we would like to have one. But one never happens, then it ruins the trip. Hope you are doing well and feeling more hopeful. I love to hear about all the exercise you take time for, I just walked and felt energized!!

Lav, you are so good to your chickens! The sunshine made a big difference in my mood, how about yours?

Have a busy day ahead of me and the hated WW weigh in. To all, have a great Saturday.

[Rusty]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Good Morning Everyone,

SD-great to see you! You sound like you've been busy as ever! Wow, the hours you put in....I hope someone tells you how much you're appreciated.

Lav-it cracks me up that you feed your chickens homemade vegan chicken. You're not a vegan, are you? Is someone in your family a vegan? I sure hope you don't get all the colds your grandkids and DIL have.

Dill-I hope you feel better soon.

Sped-do you still have a script for Antabuse....maybe that would be what you would need to go to your nephew's wedding. I know in the end of my drinking career, I drank alone, and when I stopped, I wanted to be with people again, whether they were drinking or not. I hear the Virgin Islands are beautiful. Like Star said, lots of people don't drink, but I think we focus on the people who do. You might really kick yourself if you don't go to the wedding....because of fear of something (drinking) that might never happen.

Papmom-I am amazed at how well you make things work when your mind is made up.:goodjob: on making the dining room into a crafts room.

Chill-again, congratulations....and oooh, what a beautiful place to live. I know why you were feeling so homesick. I am happy for you.

Last night, my family took me out to dinner for my birthday. The food was delicious and we all laughed and laughed. It doesn't bother me that everyone around me is drinking except for my sister, myself, and my niece. No one ever gets out of control. We had to pass by the bar on the way out the door and there was a family celebrating their mother's birthday. One of the daughters, who looked like she was my age, was really trashed and had gotten pretty loud and her mother said, "ok, I think it's time to go home." You know, seeing something like that never bothered me before, but the more AF time I have, the more I find it completely distasteful, especially when the drunken people are my age, and they're women. I felt like saying to the daughter, "yeah, lady, I thought I was funny when I was drunk, too. Guess what....NOT!"

Tonight at your condo's clubhouse, we're having a "thank you" party for all the firefighters and EMTs who responded to the fire at our association last week. The toxicology reports aren't back yet....so we don't know how it started.

A full day of studying here so must get going. To all, have a wonderful AF Saturday.

[Lavande]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Good morning Fit ones!

Lazy this morning but that's OK
Will be feeding some of the others later today!

Rusty - I gave my leftover PIZZA to my chickens :H
I can't tolerate dairy anymore so if I want something with cheese on it I use vegan products. They're not as bad as they used to be & have a whole lot less calories & fat.
Glad you enjoyed your birthday dinner, sounds nice!

Star, it is a lot easier to remain in a decent mood when there's a bit of sun outside, I'm with you on that

SD, hope you get some 'me' time this weekend!!

OK, wishing everyone a great AF Saturday!

Lav

[rustop59]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Hi everyone

Busy Saturday so far. Was up early to drive my daughter to a Debating event, then walked the dog and after that brought other daughter to the horse. We were ages as she clipped him but I managed to read my book for some of the time so that was relaxing.

Star - Glad the spring weather has brightened your mood. It is nice that you have Florida to look forward to.

Rusty - Belated Happy Birthday. We do indeed see things differently through AF eyes. Enjoy the "Thank you" party tonight.

Papmom - Hope the hair turned out good.

Sped - You have been given some good advice regarding St. Thomas's. See you feel closer to the time and then maybe take the antabuse if necessary. From what I remember you used that initially and were AF for a year or more? Glad you are back swimming again.

Chill, Sooty, Cyn, SD and anyone else I missed have a great AF Saturday.

Rustop

[Kaslo]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Hi Everyone, such nice people here....Chill I watched the video, and I can see why your heart aches to go back. I think I may have mentioned I travelled there for a month in 1980, and I was enthralled by the beauty of the north country, and the kindness and gentle nature of the people, but I never did travel to Algarve. I simply have to go there to take photographs. But i think the photographer must have gotten up very early on a summer morning to take these, because there are not many people in the photographs! The buildings and pavements, incredible. The light is fantastic... I work out of my home and have done since the late 70's. What you are about to embark on sounds so much like what I did at one time. I have never regretted my decision (to work out of my home) for an instant. It has its drawbacks, but the advantages are fantastic. Scotland to Portugal... I can see why you ache to be there. Totally.

Well, I want to get out in the snow and horse around for a while, planning my garden, and maybe go for a xc ski for an hour or two.

Finding a balance in my new life

Kaslo

[Chillgirl]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Hi guys

I want to respond to so many of you but I just dont have the energy. Its like I hit a wall the last few days and im absolutely drained and not feeling great at all. The job hasnt been finalized and probably wont be for a few weeks yet. There is no reason however that it wont come off, its just because of business issues at his end that he wants tied up before giving me a formal offer. I think, although its good news, the enormity of everything I have gone through in the last 12 months has taken its toll on me. We keep going on nervous energy and I think my tank is now running on empty. I will check back in when im feeling better.

[Rusty]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Awww...Chill:l We're all here for you. You'll get through this, and come out shining, as always!:h

Kaslo, great to see you here again! My apologies....I have forgotten where you live....somewhere cold as you have snow... and what your business is? Ah yes, such nice people on this thread. That's why I stay and I'm never leavin':h

[Kaslo]

Free and Fit - Week 3

hey Rusty, I am a Canadian, in the Kootenay Region of BC, and I am a biologist working mainly in damaged ecosystems, toxicology of pollutants is a specialty but also effects of drought flooding etc. I love to garden, cook (well I AM getting tired of it a bit), swim, ski, read, write, and take photographs. Im 57, happily married for 28 years, two adult kids, two grandkids, thinking a LOT about retirement, AL free for a year and a week (lol). I drank too much for about 15 years, then had two hip replacements which kind of smartened me up a bit. It took me a few years to actually quit. I love the folks on MWO, I have only been here since April though.

Thanks for asking.... I am starting to get people straight here, its taken a while. Im basically a plant, when it comes down to it.

Kaslo

[papmom3]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Its official-I'm a strawberry golden blonde instead of a dirty ashe blond california 25 yo girl wannabe. I think I like it but it's huge difference for me. Kept the length sort of the same but lots of long layers and she showed me what to do with the curling iron. Should be easy (famous last words!!).

Heard from my dad in SC. Weather hasn't been condusive to golf but they are getting to the driving ranges so that is a change from last year. They are taking a few senior classes, going to museums, restaurants etc but pretty much taking it easy. I would say that is deserved at 84 and 88!! :H
He'll be home on the 5th which will come in no time.

No lottery win last nite. 2 more chances tonite!

Had a wonderful 2hour consult with the behaviorist. I was initially a little suspicious as I drove up to this HUGE house on top of a hill with gorgeous views as i thought she's probably all pretentious and rich as hell and will just give me a script for meds for DD. Boy was I wrong!! She came out to greet me with hair soaking wet, in scruffy jeans and a sweatshirt. The house was a mess-filled with dog and cat stuff. Just my kind of house! I was a little put off as there was a trail of pee in the living room from her bitch in heat (how do you NOT clean that up when you know a new client is coming?) but I managed not to step in it. Anyway, she was a little full of herself but possibly was just trying to convince me she knew her stuff. She met Koby briefly then decided he was too stressed to come into the house (she has lots of dogs that were barking up a storm but were put away). We left him in the car and went in to talk. I've got a great plan and one of the first things she said was we need to get a thyroid panel done on him. I was soooo relieved!! I've been thinking for years that he might be hypothyroid (linked to aggression and fear in dogs) but every vet I talked to said he didn't present as a thyroid dog (they rarely get hyperthyroidism like cats do). She siad when they show those symptoms the disease is already advanced. She then proceeded to give me example after example of dogs she's worked with that didn't have symptoms except aggression and fear and tested positive for hypothyroidism. Once on the thyroid meds their transformation was incredible. I am going to be praying my heart out that this is the case for DD. She agreed with the new training protocol I'll be putting into place, suggested a gentle leader for walks (and went over how to get him desensitised to it so I don't get bit putting it on him), melatonin at bedtime (yep-seriously!! I had told her I suspected he had restless leg syndrom like me but couldn't find anything on the web), no more vaccinations except rabies ( required by law), some suggestions on how to manage his aggression going in and out the door and a few other things. The most dramatic suggestion however was to stop taking him to agility class and to find other venues to practice at. She feels that he's gotten too comfortable on his home turf and doesn't feel like he needs to stick with me even tho he feels anxioius. I feel I need the practice tho so I'm going to need to find another dog to run which is going to be difficult since I'm in the most advanced class my instructor offers. If one of my classmates who has multiple dogs that they run would let me borrow one of theirs that would be optimal. It's also going to be difficult to find run throughs that fit my schedule and aren't an hour or so away but I will try for DD's sake.

So, all in all, for $100 I got my money's worth, validation that my intuition was right all along about the thyroid and permission to stop vaccinating as well as a great plan of action. once we get the thyroid results back we'll discuss meds.

I'm exhausted and so is DD!! It will be an early nite and then up early tomorrow for the NH gig.

Chill-sweetie-you definitely have been through the wringer lately. Just try to relax, not think about the job until the offer is finalized and take care of you and Elle. The Power of Now right? If this is truly meant to be it will come together effortlessly. Hang in there and know we are here for you no matter what happens.

Hey Rustop, Lav, Rusty, Star, Dill, Kas, Sped-where is dew, AFM, Cass, G and anyone else who hasn't checked in lately? Hope everyone had a great day today with all the activities planned!

[spedteach]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Chill,
you mentioned the past year. I refer to it as to hell and back.
Hang in there. Be good to yourself. That's the most important thing I've learned after all my trials.
As Cyn always says, to the light.
XOXOX

[Lavande]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Chill - don't get ahead of yourself in the 'worry department'. You know we tend to worry about shit that never actually happens. Just take care of yourself today

Papmom, sounds like you had a 2 hr visit with a crazy woman :H
Hope you really did get what you needed!

Shelley, hope you are OK - good to see you!

Howdy to Rustop & Kaslo

My plans changed, ended up with YB here for dinner but not the others. He arrived late & left early - no big surprise :H

[Kaslo]

Free and Fit - Week 3

I had a grand day, there is a very nice cross country trail about half an hour up the mountain from my place. Couldnt talk Mr Kaslo into a ski with me so I went alone. I just wanted to tell you all about how the wind came up, and the snow loads on the trees started to shift and fall in this beautiful silver cloud all around me! It was so magical. It didnt hurt that I was really hot and that kind of cooled me down a bit...but that was really special. I also discovered the snow was a bit sticky today, and the usual circut got my heart rate up quite a bit. I went to a mountain sporting good store of which we have no shortage here, and got some new wax, and a set of head phone ear muff things, I want to try them tomorrow. Wearing them right now as I type this and listen to music. Im chuffed!

Hope everyone had a nice day, and Chill is not too stressed about stuff. Hard to get past that, isnt it?

Kaslo of the Frozen Snow, also saw a common redpoll today! Whoo hoo!

[rustop59]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Good morning everyone

Chill - take it easy and look after yourself. It is hard to believe all the changes you have gone through in the past year, it is no wonder you are exhausted.

Kaslo - lovely to see you on the thread. You are a gifted photographer and like our LBH have a wonderful way with words. Your description of the snow was magical. We had a few showers of snow here yesterday but it did not stick.

Lav - :H you have the right attitude with YB.

Papmom - your consultation sounded so interesting. I wonder if that was what was wrong with our late JR and his aggression, mind you given his breed, maybe not. Must google for more information.

Hubby is travelling today so need to get laundry finished etc. before he goes. Went to see The Grey last night. OK, pretty gruesome at times and I did not like the ending.

Have a great Sunday one and all.

Rustop

[Stargazerlily]

Free and Fit - Week 3

Good morning to all...

Chill, I am glad it is the weekend so you can take it easy. You have alot to deal with and I can understand anxiety about the new job not being firm. I know you want this so much, and we all want it for you. Sending you thoughts of peace and hope.

Kaslo, what a lot of energy you have. So nice to have you here.

Rustop, sorry you had snow again,we are due for some by the end of the week. Yuck, I want spring!!

Sped, it has been a rough year for you, but here you are, knowing what you need to do and never giving up. I have alot of admiration for your efforts in the last year, it is not easy but you will do it.

Rusty, what a lovely time out, so glad it was AF.

Papmom, wow, how interesting.

To all have a agreat day.