fri 25 nov af daily

[bear73]

I LOVED zumba - fantastic fun, and i know I worked really hard,even though it didn't feel like it as my hair was soaking wet! Next week I will do two sessions - one at my gym - one with friends.

I have also lost a pound this week - in part I think due to chromium and suppressed cravings/increased happiness - I feel like my old self and I could cry with happiness!
If anyone is interested a psychiatrist Dr McLoud (sp) discovered effects by accident - have a google if anyone is interested.

Friday today and another public meeting - could be controversial so we'll see how it goes - I feel as prepared as I can be. Tonight I may do workout dvd and will cook thai chicken curry with greens - not enough greens and fruit this week - but all in all - it's good.

Happy af day all to come and I'll try to check in later.

[aprilmoon]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hi Ya'll,

I have been away from this site for awhile, but I am still AF. I have been so since September 24, 2009.

Someone called yesterday to borrow some rum for a dish they were making. Proud to say, we didn't have any in the house. WOO HOO!!!!

[universal]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hi guys!

Welcome back Aprilmoon! It's nice to be able to say sorry, no alcohol here!
Bear, you sound great.

I can't remember who said they worked in an insurance company but can you let me know when you come on? I think maybe LV it was you? I want to pm you the letter I am sending my caseworker and get your opinion on it. My regular therapist is taking care of fighting on her end but suggested I send my caseworker a letter outlining what happened.

I'm sorry guys if I have seemed really self centered this week - I have so much on my mind that I am having a hard time focussing on anything else. Please know that I love you all and hope you are all doing well and for those who are not, please know that you guys are all always in my prayers. I pray for my MWO family.

Thanks,
Uni

[papmom3]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hey April-nice to meet you and CONGRATS on your 2 years 2months AF!! I hope you stick around and contribute your wisdom to our humble thread!!

Bear-thanks so much for starting us off today! I always get a kick out of your enthusiasm for your curry dishes-can't stand the stuff myself. Wonder if its an acquired taste? I'm going to check out the chromium. I've been feeling so tired lately and so drawn to carbs and sugar-more so than usual.

I want to take the time to thank everyone for their wonderful birthday wishes yesterday! Everytime I logged on there was a new one! Wonderful and so affirming!

Our get together yesterday was just super. My little nephew is growing up very fast and the older kids are well, pretty much grown. Didn't like how the 2 older boys pounded down 3 beers in a row but at least they didn't have any wine with dinner and one of them had 3 cups of coffee. I know he went out last nite and I voiced my concern to him about driving after consuming the beer albeit hours after.

Dinner was just superb. I really didn't think I over consummed but I was so stuffed after and could barely keep my eyes open for the drive home. Can you imagine if I had also consumed my normal amount of wine??? Ewwww. At any rate I was in bed by 9pm!!

My family was very generous to me for my 55th birthday. They gave me 2 full sessions of agility classes (12 weeks), a rolling sewing machine tote, a GC to Home Depot and a very nice work casual outfit with a beautiful necklace and earring to match. Puuurrrrrr.

today my oldest neph is coming over later this morning to rake leaves for me. double purr.

tonite is NH and tomorrow the dog show. busy busy as usual!!

wakey wakey to all our sleepyheads!!

[papmom3]

fri 25 nov af daily

xpost Uni!! No apologies please! We are so happy to be able to help you through this mess and we do know how much we mean to you and how much you care about us. You just take care of you for now!!

[BlondeAFAmbition]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hi abbers! Happy Black Friday!!!

Pap, I too was in bed early...after all that turkey, the tryptophan kicked in and I slept like a baby! Had a wonderful TG but glad it's over and done with...too much temptation all around but I made it! Today I am cooking up a turkey breast in a crock pot for hubs and I for dinner. We plan to put up our real Christmas tree today and I will make a special version of TG dinner for just the 2 of us. A low carb version too . I was relieved to see that my weight didn't fluctuate too much since yesterday...maybe a pound but that could be from all the salt. I didn't indulge in dessert other than a teenie tiny crumb of pumpkin pie which I adore. I did have lots of turkey breast and veggies. My SIL is a wonderful cook. I was amazed that she could drink while cooking and still pull off a great meal. Although, she wasn't drinking to the extent that the rest of the family was, and it was interesting to see everyone progress in their level of buzz as the evening wore on. I was a bit irritated by a few family members but just kept my mouth shut as I now it was the booze talk and not really "them".

Today is another very pretty, sunny New England day. I think I'll pick up a real balsam wreath this year too...I just love that fragrance throughout the house so much. Deck the halls as they say!

How did everyone make out over TG? Hi to Pap, Universal and Bear! Bear, that Zumba sounds like a lot of fun and a great workout to boot. Good for you!

Hi to everyone yet to check in on this beautiful Friday! Peace to all of you...

[Lavande]

fri 25 nov af daily

Thanksgiving is not until tomorrow at my house Blondie so I am just fine :H

Good morning bear, aprilmoon, uni, papmom & everyone!
Getting prepared to take off for Curves, just wanted to stop in & say hi

papmom, you do indeed have a very generous family, they obviously love you very much!

uni, I worked for the giant Blue Cross insurance company for a year as a caseworker. My job (essentially) was to approve/disapprove medical care/procedures with the goal always to save the company $$. I only did it for a year because I found the whole thing more stressful than actually taking care of a critically ill patient in ICU
PM me if you think I can help in anyway.

OK, time to go!
Have a terrific AF Friday one & all!

Lav

[momof3]

fri 25 nov af daily

Happy Birthday P3

A belated Happy birthday to you P3!!! Sounds like you had a wonderful day!!

BlondeAmb...read your post yestereday about the carbs. So wise of you to stay away. Many of us who have quit have struggled with carbs/sugar. It is so similar to alcohol. I find that if I let a little into my life, I want ALOT!!

Welcome again AprilMoon.

M3

[Marshy]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hello abbers!

Glad to hear the American crew had a good Thanksgiving and avoided temptation. And Lav, hope yours goes swingingly tomorrow.

Belated Happy Birthday to Papmom!

I had a difficult visit with my dad at the weekend. We just weren't getting on very well and he suddenly announced that he won't be buying anyone Christmas or birthday presents ever again because that was mum's job and he can't be bothered. I don't care about the gifts but it was like a sudden realisation that my *parents* who cared about us was actually my mum all along and she's not there any more.
There were other things going on too that added to this feeing but I won't go into the details. I've spoken to friends and GF about it, some of whom have been through a similar process and they agree that it's hard to deal with. But ultimately I have to just accept him as he is. Next time I see him I'll know what to expect.

Anyhoo, off to my book group tonight and I've just bought a bottle of wine to take because that's the drill. Glad to say I picked out a bottle with no feelings about it whatsoever - except to think how much it's gone up in price since I used to buy it all the time!

Hi to bear, Aprilmoon, Uni, Blonde and all to come. Have a peaceful day.

[papmom3]

fri 25 nov af daily

Blonde-I just want to say that I lurve reading your posts! You are so full of enthusiasm and joi de vivre that it is infectious!! I really hope we can meet up some time if you feel comfortable doing so. Any excuse to be coastal if only for an hour or so is one I will gladly make!!

I just found out I don't have to work tonite!! My NH boss called to confirm that last Friday was my last friday. I told her no, I was planning on coming in tonite but she won't be there and there is no volunteer so I don't have to come in!! :happy:. Sure the paycheck will be extremely lean (10 hours instead of 14)this week but sometimes time is worth more than money!! To that end, I will brave Trader Joe's later today (armed with a $10 GC) and pick up a Turkey breast, potatoes and laughing cow cheese. I will be making Blonde's crock pot Turkey she posted on yesterday's thread. We had no leftovers as my sis only got a 14 lb bird but it was a TJ organic BRINED bird so I forgive her not going bigger :H. I'm going to make my OWN leftovers. I already have stuffing mix and will add some sausage I have in the freezer. She gave me the rest of the Green Bean Casserole so I'm all set there. BTW, I made that with coconut milk and I liked it. Don't know if anyone else noticed the sweetness to the dish.

I talked more with my bro yesterday and I start with a report review on Monday plus start beefing up his website. He's also talked with 2 other people who might want my services!! Whoo hoo!! As soon as my neph creates my new logo (wait till you see it!) I'll make up business cards and post them for you all to see. I've got my app for the sole proprietorship ready to be notarized on Monday and then I'll send that in to the city. I'm so excited!

Time to get moving and get presentable for my leaf raking nephew. We have gorgeous weather here today-high 50's and lots of sunshine. Doesn't get any better than that!!

[papmom3]

fri 25 nov af daily

xpost Marshy. I'm so sorry about your dad. he must be grieving greatly and be very angry to act like that. Still hard to accept. We'll give you whatever support and love you need. Thank god you've got your friends and GF. Glad the purchase of the wine didn't tempt you after going through all that. Have fun at the book club! :l

[BlondeAFAmbition]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hi Gang...just a mid-morning check in...lol. Ok, turkey in crock is a cookin' and Pap, I will PM you the exact recipe which came with the little cookbook included in the crockpot purchase from many moons ago. I whipped up a shortened version of that this morning as I didn't want to get looped into roasting the breast in the oven since hubs and I plan to be out most of the afternoon getting our tree et all.

Papmom, we'll work on the meet up in person. This month and next will be kinda busy at my work, plus I agreed to host a birthday luncheon for my mother's 74th b-day mid-month next month and I that will in the middle of all the holiday chaos. And then I am hosting Christmas this year for the family to boot, yikes! After that, I will be free and clear in 2012

Speaking of her birthday gathering, I am handmaking the decorations today so I can get them in the mail tomorrow. I enjoy doing it but boy, it is time consuming! We are doing a coastal Christmas birthday party theme and the invitations have a beachy motif. They are done now I just need to address them to all of her friends .

Anyone else hosting Christmas this year and what are you making for the dinner if so? We are doing something different this year...a cajun shrimp boil. Basically, you throw shrimp, keilbasa, corn, potatoes, whole garlic and small onions in boiling water in a big lobster pot and add shrimp boil seasoning (which I get from a friend who lives down in New Orleans). Then you boil it all up and let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the spices. Then drain it all out and throw it on a big table covered in newspapers and let people go to town eating it! Easy peas and pretty darn good (if you like seafood that is). I thought it would go well with our beachy christmas decorations. If I get my arse in gear with posting photos online, I show you guys my tree once it's up!

Alright, time is slipping away and I wanted to fit in a bubble bath this morning too (Bear 73!

[sunshine_gg]

fri 25 nov af daily

Hello hello FABba-dabba-doos!

Holy moly, it's almost noon. Geez. I did oversleep, then had an hour long conference call but I'm not sure if after that I nodded off at my desk, or what! :H Will have to make it a quick check in.

Great to hear, you all had a good Thanksgiving (except Lav, who will have an extra wonderful TG tomorrow)

Marshy, so sorry to hear about your day with your dad. Give it some time.. I'm sure this time of year is very difficult for him. Speaking of which.. I want to call my dad today, too. My mom's birthday would have been in 2 weeks and I find myself dreaming of her A LOT these past few weeks... with Christmas coming up and the anniversary of her death 2 weeks after... I guess subconsciously I'm still processing

Anywho.. much on the schedule today and little accomplished so far.. I better get moving. Have yourselves a fabulous Friday everyone!

[Determinator]

fri 25 nov af daily

Oink!

oh my. anyone with my stunted sense of self control in the eating department would be greatly comforted that Thanksgiving is but a once-per-year event. wow. and this was the first TG where I wasn't cooking which was a really relaxing treat. Didn't eat my moderate carb Paleo way, but at least avoided the bread and traded that instead for a very small desert. then drank too much coffe and stayed up all night. D-oh! but Dx and I had a ball so all's well.

Marshy, extra hugs for your xxxxxx sounds like a rough transition but you have a great attitude in the face of adversity

Bear what a shiny ball of happy energy you are! so happy too see that. the combination of AF, exercise and chromium seems to be your magic combo. which reminds me I need to pester Uni!

Uni, hanging in there? I don't recall hearing if you got your blood tests done to check for blood markers that could be responsible or contributory to anxiety/depression. friendly nag nag nag

glad to hear of all the great TG stories from you all. Turn, how was the brined bird?

Lav, your doing TG today? bon appetite!

be well everyone

[sidney]

fri 25 nov af daily

I hope you don't mind me joining you. I know some of you from chat. You seem like such a friendly bunch and I can use the support. I am a little shy in that I don't know what to say but hi.

Sid