On the run--helping my live-in GD dye her hair (yeah, we're bonding. :p) and then she and I are going to the gym.

Angela, one of the most admirable things here, I believe, is to really not want to do something and have that topped by an invitation to do something WAY more fun, then force yourself to do it. We all are so happy for and proud of anyone who comes here and posts "but I did it anyway." My hat is off to you, new pal! I like your accountability check in format.

Amy, blueberries are rich in antioxidents, aren't they? Grilled zucchini--yum! DH grilled the more dry pickling CUCUMBER last week next to the grilled onions and it was FABULOUS after a little of the onion juice accidentally ran into the cucumber and gave it a little added flavor. I told him to do that on purpose next time. Have fun with the BTS shopping. I've done a little with my grandkids. I'm rooting for you to feel and look great in that dress this weekend.

Hope, I'm rooting for you on your number 7.

elegantone, welcome. :) Nice, sensible goals!

April, my math says 1.6 lb. gain instead of 2. :p And I want to add that it likely IS mostly water. When I do that I don't change my officially recorded weight because water weight comes off more quickly anyway. AND, as you mentioned, today's the start of a whole new fresh week.

I told y'all that in order to force the voters to approve yet another increase in property taxes for a school levy, the school district cut bus transportation. Great news--found out just this morning that the intra-school transfer for my two youngest grandkids (back to the school in my attendance area that they went to through the 2010 school year) got approved on the basis of "undue hardship and financial burden of double gasoline expense on their senior citizen grandparents to drive the children to and from a school in a different attendance area." They only went to the school near their home one year, so already know the teachers and have many friends at the school in my attendance area. :) The transfer will save me over 650 driving miles per year, so I'm thrilled! They don't start school until Sept. 6.

Wahoo! Score one for the senior citizens and undue hardship avoidance! Great news!

April, welcome to the pick-yourself-back-up-on-the-horse club.

Hope, did you seriously call us all food porn stars? Do I have to put that on my vita?

Mike, how's the rum cake? Or are you in a sugar coma?

Yes, Cassie, I did. :) But hey at least we got starring roles!!!

Mern, I am so glad you were saved the mileage (we won't tell `em how young you really are!)

Hope, that reminds me...I've seen an advertisement on TV for a new show called "Big Sexy" or something like that. The tag line is "Once you go big, you'll never go twig."

I am not sure what it's about, what the message might be, but I'm having a processing glitch just thinking about it.

Almeeker, I saw your post on the other thread about your fridge being covered up. I was just thinking this weekend that you know you're older when the kids' artwork comes down and is replaced by illustrated PT exercises for you and your husband.

(Actually, I still have the artwork, the photos, and the report card...much to the teenager's chagrin!)

Thanks for the welcome to the pick-yourself-back-up club!

OMG Cassie...makes me think about a show full of 'chubby chasers'! :eek:

Amy...Grilled zuccini sounds delicious. I haven't had any zuccini yet this summer. I don't grow it but someone usually donates me a few. Not yet this year though.

Hope...LOL@ food porn stars...I had a leading role yesterday!

Cassie, the rum cake is awesome. I think I've eaten about half of it. :eek: I just had a PB&J and a Reeses Blast, I feel sick. I think I'm done for the day.

Back from doing my daughterly duties.

Mern So pleased that you won't have to clock up those miles this year. I drive a lot and i know that this will mean less cash spent, less time wasted and less stress from being on the road. So great news all round.

Goals this week pretty simple
1. Stay around 1200 or less daily
2. More protein, less carbs
3. Some exercise daily.

Got my will sorted at last, it's not particularly complicated as I don't have a lot to divide up but i've just not wanted to think about it I guess. Done now.

I seem to have lost my ipod, it may have beeen taken in work and that really p****s me off. I'll have another good look round for it tomorrow. It was a present and had an inscription on it so that's what makes it worse.

Yeah, I had to laugh about the senior citizen hardship as far as DRIVING double the miles to the other elementary school. It truly IS double the miles to my grandkids' neighborhood elementary school, though, so it would be double the gas expense out of my social security check, which has already been reduced due to the Medicare premium now being deducted. I've been through and survived way harder stuff than that, but it IS nice to know that someone feels many seniors have "paid their dues" so are entitled to a perk now and then if the school district is willing to give them one. :D

Healthy & Fitness Goals for the week:

1. Keep calories to 1,500 S-Th, 1,800 F&S. 1,500
2. 100 oz of water. Y
3. Exercise 7 hours. 70 min (total 1:10)
4. Keep carbs to 50% or less. 52% darn blueberries!
5. Keep protein at 25% or higher. 26%
6. 25 grams of fiber/daily. 41g
7. Calorie deficit of 3,500 for the week. -1,222

Other goals:

1. Mani-pedi. N
2. Take kids BTS shopping. N
3. Housework, 30 min daily + 1 load of laundry. Y
4. Weed 4 hours in garden. N
5. Buy wedding gift. N
6. Finish alterations on SIL's dress and Justin's pants. N

I did fairly well on health & fitness, less so on other stuff. The BTS shopping and the wedding gift will probably happen together in the same trip, hopefully if it rains, since I can't really work in the garden when it's raining or muddy. We went today to pick more blueberries, the kids and I together picked another 12 lbs for the freezer, which brings us to 21 quarts, so maybe in a few more trips we'll be able to start making some jam. The berries are probably at peak right now, so the picking is actually a lot of fun and pretty fast (well fast for blueberry picking anyway).

The middle DD started soccer today, she was totally pumped up, ran her little heart out. Coach has already learned her name, which is pretty amazing because all the little girls have either a blonde pony tail or a brown one and run past in a blur of pink and grass stain. Youngest DD starts Wed. She's pumped up too. And here's the best part, I found another mom that has the same issue I do on Wednesday nights, so we can ride share!!!! Whoo hooo hooooo. I hate it when I get double soccer booked, same night, same time, fields at opposite ends of town.

That's it, I'm getting myself a t-shirt that reads "food PORN STAR"

Lizard, sorry to hear about your ipod, that sucks, hopefully it will turn up. Congrats on the will. I don't think we've done any of that stuff since the first child was born. It's probably a good thing we don't really have much to inherit, or that might be ugly. It's a really good idea to take care of those things, because seriously no matter how much you might hate your heirs, probate is not something I would wish on my worst enemy, let alone the kids I happen to love. A friend of mine has been embroiled in a probate dispute for 6 years now. Her marriage has been on the rocks over it for most of that time. Her MIL was a piece of work.

I finally got back to the Y! Felt great to be back and was nice with live-in GD along on my guest pass. She's on the track team at her high school, so she ran at 6MPH while I walked at 2.4 LOL