Getting our July started Hope everybody find it. Will post the link on June.
Marie

Here is the link to July Sseniors Golden Sneakers Club

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/58631-seniors-golden-sneakers-club-july

Thanks Barb, Yes that was what i intended to do. Lets have a wonderful July. And we all get back together.. It was a wonderful June. Jeffrey reach *80 lbs. I am thru with my surgery, We gain a new member, Barb~~~~~~~~~ list some other things we did in June?????????????
I gained a few lbs. Marie

he everyone! In June Barbiecat broke the 40 pounds lost mark! You go girl! Even with all your travelling around. You are such an inspiration!

Oh Gayla - I'm SO like you re: violent weather. I hadn't been in the basement since my kids were little and 2 monday's ago i was down there with my little Hercky dog for over an hour. I get just TERRIFIED! I'm on this "9 News Call" thing where you get a phone call and i had 2 in a row advising "seek shelter now". Anyway - i was lucky and just had lots of wind, rain, lightening and thunder. 1 didn't touch down TOO close by - but there were 14 spotted in between 2 spots SE and NW of where i live. I'm glad we both made it through the experiences! I'm sorry about your knee - but i'm excited about your cruise! When and where are you going? That is so awesome - ALSO your retirement! I just made an offer on another business this morning kinda scary.

Thank you Barb and Marie for getting us started on July! My goal for the month is just going to be to not GAIN......i'd love to lose the last 3 pounds but just don't know if it's realistic with my life being in such upheaval!

Hi Sandy! We'll miss you while you're away but hope you have a blast in Vegas! You're going to be so TAN and gorgeous!!!!!!!

OH - It's JULY - i get to say this: MY SON COMES HOME NEXT MONTH I can't tell you all how happy this makes me! Thank you for all your support since i joined mfp in Feb! Speaking of our country's finest - Beth! How are you doing girl????? Is it 3 more months for you????????

Keep cool everyone - i think we're going to be pushing 90 today! elli

Good Afternoon!

Gayla- Keep your head down! We have been hit before, it was in 1981. Some damange, windows blown out but we were fine. Anyway I am glad to hear you take them seriously. Where are you cruising to?

Elli- sounds like the house is coming together. And I am very happy for you that your son will be home soon!

Marie- You are sounding stronger and stronger. Keep at it!

Sandy- Let me know how Vegas goes!

Barbie- Good to hear from you too.

I have been picking wild raspberries the last couple of days. I have about 8 quarts in now and I am chewed up from the thorns. I have run out of containers so I will have to make a trip to the store later today. Not too much else to report. I think I am going to slide my goal down another 5 pounds or so and get after it again. Everyone take care!

Jeffrey

I am so glad to back on my own computer

I will finish reading the posts from June, but I wanted to get connected to the July thread.

We are in beautiful Oliver, BC, in the Okanagan Valley-----to get to a valley you have to go up a mountain and then down the other side so we've had some adventures in driving. Someone warned us about the last hill so we detached the car and drove separately to take some strain off the brakes.

today we walked for 40 minutes along the river on a hiking/biking trail that goes 18km (we didn't walk that far). Tomorrow we'll walk another section. We went to lunch at an Asian buffet restaurant---perfect for me, I had tthree different kinds of veggies and stayed away from the deep fried stuff and the sweet and sour sauce.

Jeffrey--congratulations on losing pound #80. I know that has been a struggle. You have worked hard to achieve that. I understand your wanting to drop your goal down a little. You will know when you get to the right weight.

Marie, thanks for getting this new thread started for us. I am looking forward to all our new adventures.

Gayla I haven't read about your storm adventures, yet, but I am so glad you got though it .

Elli, I am so glad your son's return is getting closer. You have been so brave staying busy and cheerful while he's gone. I will be thinking happy thoughts about your reunion.

I took some good pictures in Trail and will be posting them soon. This is the trip of a lifetime.

hugs
Barbie

Hi Everybody,
I’ve just finished reading the posts from June. There’s a lot going on with everybody,

Happy Canada Day to Ellen, Gayla, and Chowhound. We are wearing our Canada t shirts and put out our Canadian flag. We thought about going to the fireworks in Osoyoos but we’d get back here much too late so we’re going to watch the fireworks in Ottawa on TV and stay home with the dogs.

Phoebe---where are you headed this time? Have a safe trip.

Barb, congratulations on losing another pound. We got across the border with only a small bump. I was so concerned about whether I had the correct “health records” for the pets (I have shot records, license paperwork, rabies tags, evidence of recent visits to the vet, and photos). The Canada border people didn’t even ask for paperwork about the pets, but they asked about our license number (it’s a Law Enforcement Memorial Plate so it has LEM sideways and only four numbers), then they asked about fresh fruits and vegetables, alcohol, tobacco, and firearms, and finally said that the computer said that they had to search our motorhome so we walked the dogs while they searched. This was my first stress eating in a long time. As soon as they said we could go, we got out the Wasa crackers and hummus and snacked big time. Ten of the last 15 miles of the drive were on a 10% downhill grade from the “Alpine” town of Rossland to Trail on the banks of the Columbia River.

Sandy, I know you and Bryanna are having a great time in Las Vegas.

Chowhound, we’ve already decided to come back to Trail next summer. We’ll come to Nelson then.

Elli---good luck with your new business. We’ve just started one of our own and it’s a challenge.

Marie, congratulations on your new carpet. You house must be a much happier place now.

Gayla, where are you going on your cruise? You’ve had a challenging year. You deserve a treat.

Gotta get back to all my email.
Hugs to all,
Barbie

Barbiecat, So very good to hear from you. Its sound wonderful up there. And you look fantastic.
Have a great time. We missed you here lately. Can Jake get his Hummis up there. I believe that Gayla makes her own. But she is a wonderful cook.Love Marie

We are back online and glad to be in touch again.

Marie, there was a lot of hummus wherever we went, some different brands, but always some with garlic. We ate a lot of hummus with wasa light rye crackers.

It was a tiring drive through the mountains today. Now we are in Oliver, BC in the Okanagan Valley.

Now it's time to get some sleep.
Jake

Hello,
I am new to the boards and really just started using them last month.

Thank you Marie for inviting me to join this group! I will love being part of this group!

I found the board when I made my weight ticker for another board. I am really enjoying using the food diary as it is so user friendly.

Next Wednesday I am leaving for Puerto Vallarta where my youngest son is getting married!
It should be fun, the whole family will be there and my sister is coming and she has not seen my kids for a good 20 years!

So, I will get to know all of you and it will be wonderful to share in your journeys! and lives

Hi everyone! I thought I better let you know that we are still all in place here. The weather passed over us and no tornado touchdowns in our area. I am not sure if I mentioned that I have been doing a small exercise program and no ill effects from it. In addition to my regular shopping trip we did a Costco run so I got a lot of walking in there and minimal taste testing! I have been working in my gardens a bit this week but have been very careful. I did go a bit beyond the starting to hurt point today but I wanted to get the weeds out as the garbage is picked up tomorrow. I came in and iced my back and feel no ill effects tonight. I also bought the Wii Active and plan to slowly start it after I have physio on Friday. Dave wondered if I was thinking it was going to work while it sat in the box (smart ass).
Other good news that I have been hesitant to say anything about but now I will (didn't want to jinx it). Last week, I believe I mentioned that Neil's seizure drugs were changed and we are seeing very good results. I can't say it has changed the number of seizures a lot but I think perhaps it has a bit BUT the behavior change is just short of miraculous!!! I said to Dave that it was like having a new person here and he said "no, it is like the old one came back". Neil did have a bit of a cranky time tonight but it passed so quickly and didn't carry on for days. The drug is gradually increased each week so hopefully next I will be telling you that he no longer has seizures. Now that is crazy talk!!
The cruise is going to be in the Western Carribean. We want to check out the Mayan ruins. One little glitch is that there is a stop in Honduras. We are unsure what happens if the political uprising is still an issue (I expect it will be). I have asked the travel agent to see if we will make a different stop and not just have another at sea day. If we don't like the plan we will likely plan a diff. itinerary but it will still likely be somewhere in the Carribean.
While I write about boats it reminds me that Marie asked if Dave built our boat and the answer is Yes, he did. It is a 30 foot Roberts Sailboat. It was a wonderful way to raise the boys during our summer months. It sleeps five but when they were young we could put a couple of boys into one bunk so we were happy to bring their friends along whick made it more fun for them. Neil was like a dolphin in the water and the other two swim like fish. Yes, we really do have big lakes on the prairies!! We sail on a lake that is a dammed river so it is long and quite narrow. It takes us 5 or 6 days depending on the wind to get from one end to the other and back again. Of course, we stop to swim and play along the way.

Barb and Jake -- Glad you are enjoying your Canadian holiday. Last year my kids drove home from San Francisco and over the mountain pass in the middle of a blizzard. I think it was a bit scary as they decided to take the first motel that came along for some recuperation time after. Mountain driving can be crazy but you can't deny the beauty. It sounds like you are having a wonderful time and being so diligent with your food. Way to go!

Jeffrey -- good for you with the raspberries. They taste so good but are so awful to pick. One year when I was a teen I picked raspberries for a very casual summer job ( in B.C.). None of us were too thrilled with it so it didn't last. Do you make jam? The freezer jam is very easy to make and lasts a long time. I like to make the strawberry jam as well but I think the raspberry has much more flavour.

Marie -- Thanks for saying I am a good cook, you only know that cause I told you. Someone else may not agree. But thanks just the same. I have made hummus but not often, I am the only one that likes it here.

I must close, I do need to work tomorrow. Take care and keep smiling. Gayla

Hi every one!!! Happy July :)

I have been rather lost lately... I have yet to go back and read what happened in July.Too many things happening at once ... I can tell you I like the way things work in the states as far as getting building materials... WAAAAAAYYYYY easier. Things here are going well... for those of you CNN/FOX and MSN watchers... I am fine... the rockets hit a bit away from where my quarters are.

Gayla - Great news about Neil, do the Dr's think this will work out?


All - I am once agian pressed for time so I will TRY (since I didnt make it last time) to get on here this weekend... I might actually be off one day a whole day I might not know how to act...I will try and catch everything up. Might even make it to the shower with out there being 10 people in line :)

Have a great day

What a nice surprise to hear from Beth today. We have been worried about you. Life is sure difference there than in the states. Be glad when you get to come home.

Sandi Welcome to our group. I saw your picture and look at your profile and thought you need to join us. Tell us about you. Where are you from? we have a Sandy. She is a young gad about Always up and going. Love her. You will get to know all of us more as you post. Again Welcome.

Gayla So glad Neil is doing so much better. and that he is acting more like himself. Your cruise sounds fantastic. Dave most be a very talent guy to build a boat like that. How did he learn his skilled?
From what you told me he is a great carpenter. You take care of yourself and don't overdo it.

Barbiecat Life is wonderful. Enjoy it.

Jake glad you can get your hummus. I haven't had any in a long time, But got some yesterday.Enjoying it with some crakers. and a sruit for a nice mid afternoon snack. Yummy.

Phoebe are you headed in yet?

Chowhound haven't hear from you lately.? On vacation?

Sandy I guess you are about rready to take off to Vegas. Have a ball and good luck to your Grandaughter.

Big G-- Been missing you.

Elli I just love reading your post. Gald that boy will soon be home. How much longer does he have in the service. So nice to hear from Beth this morning.

Ellen You are off on vacation too. Enjoy your time with your family.

Jeffrey Always so busy. and active. When will Sam and her friends get there? Now that you will enjoy having them there,

No plans for me today. Have some laundry to do. I may try to get out on my bike next week.
My diet is doing good. Been drinking lots of water. Which remind me our Water is so hot coming out that you can almost take a shower without using the hot water. It is getting rather warm here in Texas.

Have a wonderful day all.
Marie

Good Morning friends

Marie - you sound so upbeat - i'm thinking that you're feeling better and that makes me happy! And YES - what a relief to hear from Beth! You asked how much longer Dillon will be in the service - I have the feeling it will be another 15 years or so. It seems to be his "calling". Right now he's trying to get into the CID (Criminal Investigations Division) program.

Beth - thank you so much for being in touch - i am a CNN watcher - and worrier. Don't ever worry about doing a long post or individual messages. Just a "hi mfp pals, i'm fine" is great! I hope you get to have a shower and some rest. Thank you for reminding us all how GREAT we have in living where we do!

Barbie and Jake - it sounds SO beautiful where you guys are! The good news about the mountain driving is that it's summertime!

Gayla - I'm excited about Neil's new medication!!!!!!!! I love how your hubby said it's like the old Neil is back! That's AWESOME! I'm sure he's happier when he's happier as well! WOW - the boating/swimming - that DOES sound like such a great way to raise boys! I bet they all loved their childhoods.

Sandy - your trip is coming up! I hope Bryanna does great and you have way too much fun! Winning some money would be good too!

Oh Jeffrey - i can't believe you're adding another 5 pounds to your weight loss. My goal this month is to just maintain - AND the big one is going back to logging all my food. I've kind of slipped off that wagon and i KNOW that leads to more eating than i should be doing! The rasberries sound so great! We have asparagus that grows wild but no berries. I DID have to chain saw out some wild rose bushes and that tore me up pretty good!

You guys - yestserday they installed my kitchen countertops. I'm having a hard time getting my head around - that's MY kitchen! I actually will get to hang out and cook in there!!!!!!!!! The granite slab for the island weighs 800 pounds - i couldn't even watch them hauling it in - scared me! There's still LOTS to do - but it does seem to be coming together. I'm HOPING they'll get the electricity turned back on today! Between today and Monday i have to paint and try and grout the little bathroom floor - i'm not sure how that's going to go 'cause the spaces between the tiles is only about 1/8 inch. It's only my 3rd adventure in grouting so i'm not all that experienced!

I'm waiting to see if the offer i made on the business is accepted. IF it is it's contingent on my accountants going over their books with a fine tooth comb - so it's not something that will happen fast - which is good 'cause it's not like i have nothing else going on

Have a great day all! elli

Weaklink Barb I plum forgot about you. I am sorry
My husband and i just got out to go to Best to get me some more printer ink and is it ever hot.. Will be stying in the rest of today. Got ot go and prepare some veggies for my next meal. Marie

hI GALS,
Boy you gals and guy are a busy bunch!

I live full time in Sun City West AZ. We have a small condo in San Diego and I am a native grown San Diegan!
I live with my DBF Vicki and we are both going out of our minds getting ready for this wedding. We call my son "the bride" as he is home for the summer and is helping with the arrangements! The phone rings several times a day , it plays "SOS", from Mama Mia and we crack up and say"the bride is calling" lol
I am sure it will be fun, RIGHT? RIGHT? It is just too much! I am too old to be a wedding planner working by email with a person whose english is her third language! RIGHT?
For awhile I had a boot camp to get ready for the wedding and everyone fell off the wagon. I was trying to be tough like Jillian, run run run run until you can run no more! hmmmmmm they just laughed at me!

I really do think that I will take the scale with me! Don't tell Vicki!

Wow, this has been a busy post today. Everyone must have had a busy weekend but you are back in force today/tonight.
Marie, thank you for the new post. Glad you are feeling so good and hope you can give that bike a try and take a picture when you do please.
Elli, August is not that far away and you will soon see your son. The counter tops sound beautiful, the house is going to be great when you are done.
Jeffrey, did I congratulate you on your 80 pounds lost? What an accomplishment. May I ask how tall you are, because going from 272 to 192 is amazing. Do you have some before and after pictures to show us?
Barbie, you are also amazing losing 41 pounds in 6 months. It took me that long to lose 12 pounds, although in my defense, I think I started out closer to 148 but posted after I lost 2 pounds so I think I have lost closer to 15 pounds. You are so devoted though, you should give motivation speeches.
Jake, good to hear from you, be careful driving through those mountains.
Sandi, welcome and congratulations on your son's wedding. How wonderful is it, that he is getting married in Puerto Vallarta? Does he live there or is that the choice of the happy couple?
Gayla, how exciting that you are going on a cruise. I went last January on a family cruise and it was wonderful. We also went on a Carribean cruise leaving out of Port Canvaral in Florida. Went to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and for the life of me I can't remember the third one. That is what happens when you get old. My son just went into rehab a week before I left, so my mind wasn't entirely on the cruise, so I hope someday to go again and hope he can join me this time.
Glad Neil is doing better with his new meds and will pray they help reduce or eliminate his seizures.
Beth, so happy that you and your company are safe. It was wonderful to hear from you, just drop a line as often as you can.
One more day before my trip, tomorrow will be my packing day. I always over pack and no matter how much I tell myself I don't need to bring so much I just don't listen.
I will check in tomorrow and then you probably won't hear from until the following week. The day after I get back we get our new puppy, Daisy Mae. We just can't wait.
Sandy

Not to worry, I didn't FEEL forgotten I have been doing more reading than posting lately. I am very busy trying to assist a friend with COPD who is recently out of the hospital after a bout of pneumonia that resulted in broken ribs (from extreme coughing) and from that she ended up dependent on painkillers, thanks to doctors that don't talk to one another and apparently don't read medical records very carefully, but that is another story.

My very closest friend just lost her dad very suddenly this week. He was under treatment for cancer and considered to have a reasonably good chance of recovery and in no immediate danger. A medical procedure requiring anesthesia resulted in sudden irreversible kidney damage. In less than 3 days he was gone.

His granddaughter had just moved from the midwest to Washington to live w/my friend, (her aunt) while she goes to college. The poor girl flew back home this morning, and made it within a couple of hours of when her grandfather passed. He was already in a coma, so she just viewed him through the ICU window. How totally sad. My friend is having a very tough time. She lost her mom about 6 years ago, also from cancer, so alot of memories are being dredged up.

With all these things going on, and working full time, and trying to keep my dogs from going into orbit everytime some nitwit sets off fireworks in my neighborhood,, this is the most time I have taken to post in several days.

Hope everyone has a happy 4th I am going to try and perform surgery on my refrigerator. It needs to be gone through completely and washed out. There might be someone living in the back section of it and I don't even know it

I always put this task off because my canine "helpers" make the job more complicated by hanging around trying to "inspect" everything that comes out of the fridge.

Good morning all -
Sandy - i'm excited for you for your trip! I never know how to pack.......that's why i like road trips the best - i can just throw it all in the car! Anyway - have a blast! I have to agree with you that Barbie should give motivational speeches. I know you and i are going to lose our last 3 pounds, i just don't know WHEN! Is your son doing well? Still in recovery i hope! No wonder you were preoccupied when you took that cruise! I don't think we can ever be 100% if our kids are in any kind of trouble!

Barb - your friend is lucky to have you helping her through this tough time. I don't even like to think about when my Dad's not around anymore. He's 91, he and his wife live in a great house on L.I., NY and he still does all the marketing for our business. He's just an amazing man and we're so involved in each others lives. I had to stop by the vets yesterday and pick up some more medication for one of my dogs - like your little ones, Billy is terrified of loud noises. Thunder, fireworks. We had a june with more rain and thunderstorms since sometime in the late 1800s i guess. Poor dog!!!!!!! I hate drugging him, but i hate having him tearing pieces of siding and insulation off the outside of the house too! LOL - good luck with the refrigerator project! If someone IS living in there hopefully they're eating any high calorie snacks that may be lurking

Sandi - i've never had to plan a wedding - i have 2 boys and only the older is married. AND - no one even KNEW they were married until 6 months after the fact. So needless to say there was no wedding! Good luck with that! Sounds stressful but i'm sure it WILL be great fun!!!!!!! My Mom spent her last 20 years living in San Diego. I'm pretty sure it was her most favorite place in the world! I became kind of familiar with it from visiting her so many times. My boys and i loved SeaWorld the best!

Beth - what part of Afghanistan are you in? I hope not Southern. You're in my prayers girl.

Gayla - things still on the uphill with Neil?

Marie - how's the heat wave?

Jeff - i agree with.......i'm pretty sure it was Barbiecat - we need to see some before pictures!!!!!!!! You've lost a whole small person!!!!!!!!!

Everyone have a happy 4th - stay safe! elli

elli---the heat wave is fine as long as you stay put in the a/c house. Sammy is not liking all this pre fireworks around here at night. It is against the law but they do it anyway. I surpose it will go on several more days. Our garden is looking terrible. Just too hot too early. Will plamt some more seeds latter part of july for a fall garden. It did will well last year.

Marie

Hey what a great idea! Planting for a fall garden. I can never plant spinach because I forget to plant it early and it gets so hot here, it just goes to seed.

Nice to see you playing some of the games here Marie. Keeps the brain working.

Maybe see you next year Barbiecat. Glad you had a good holiday.

hi all, we got home yesterday, hit the ground running, I got home last night about 10pm, and I am still exhausted today. I went to the doctor, she xrayed my back and it seems to be mostly muscle, which is good I guess.. not so permanent.. anyway, got some exercises to do for it, stretches.. about to go to work in wii for a bit, just getting in the basics right now.. not up to workouts yet.
are you all planning something fun for the fourth? Canadians, hope you will celebrate with us!

We have fireworks here tonight, on the lake.. then tomorrow we go to a birthday party/fourth of july cookout.. they have a pool.. I may just sit in it and eat in the water!!
I've been clearing up my messy bedroom today.. some of it..
still sleepy, thats for sure..
take care all
gayla, glad neil is improving, hopefully it will last.
elli, I know you are so thrilled to see things coming together.. 800 pounds of granite.. ugh!

Jeffrey, having picked them should make each raspberry taste twice as good.. let us know if it was worth it!! my last picking blackberries episode gave me lots of chiggers with the blackberries.. the chiggers lasted longer than the berries, and I will just buy them now, thank you!!
Hugs to Marie, and everyone else..
stay cooll!!

Sandy can't wait to see Daisy Mae. I bet she is a darling. Have a ball in Vagas. We will see you in a week.

Chowhound......I do like to play that game. Its fun to see where a word will lead to. Have you seen anything on Biggrandma on the ganes threads? Missed her.

Sandi....... This is a fun bunch. Look like you get around pretty good too. Good luck on the wedding plans

.Gayla nad Phoebe, got an e-mail from Kay today. She having the picnic at her house tomorrow.

Hello to all the rest of you.
Marie

I haven't seen BIGGrandma anywhere?! Maybe you should right a letter to her directly.

Gee thanks for giving me another reason for putting off this task. I should just leave the "fridge monster" alone and let him graze til the end of the summer!!!

Barb