Above the border here, we share all the pain in the mounting losses due to senseless gun violence on the innocent: as I write, the CNN ticker says another man just shot himself and a woman in Las Vegas, to add to the mall, and the terrible losses of those children and teachers......

Here is the original voice of grief from the famous Meditations on death from Donne:

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Neither can we call this a begging of misery, or a borrowing of misery, as though we were not miserable enough of ourselves, but must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the misery of our neighbors."

May your country find some healing at this terrible time.....

Wonderful post BJ.

Lin

Thanks Lin...

Now to the positive...today is a wonderful NSV for me.....last August I pulled out a new outfit I bought for an event a year or so earlier ( could not go due to illness)...and so this formal skirt and top were sitting there, and gee, it was my 25th wedding anniversary....I could get the top on...but no way could I get that long black skirt, never worn, onto my 'given up on' waist and hips....

But today, I am wearing the skirt and top to a formal Christmas event. ...and it will remind me not to just try food to taste it! It will all be a buffet crap anyway...which I rarely like. So here is to eating safely, fitted out in my former skirt of shame! Now reclaimed!

Best to all today...

I am a new woman this morning after eight hours of sleep.....I'll be walking the dogs in light rather than darkness..life does not get any better than this.......after hearing of the great tragedy in the lives of others I am more committed to be grateful for all that is right about my life.

hugs to all of you who are in the midst of your preparations for Christmas....I hope you will enjoy the pleasures of the season and not be weighted down by the chores.

Barbie from NW Washington

Bump x

Thanks JB. Let us all make today a good day. I am happy to report I lost another lb. My ticker won't show any loss yet because I had gained beyond my original high. But, I am encouraged.

Yesterday I had some dark chili and cinnamon chocolate. Had never heard of the combination before. Sure tingled the throat! It cost me 88 calories and would never eat it again, because certainly not a temptation. If you do eat chocolate, make it dark.

Remember I used to post a weekly challenge for having Fruit and Veggie Saturdays (or whatever day people wanted to take the challenge)? I might start that up again. What do you think? Starting January?

Rebel

I confess I gave up on keeping up with the November thread, y'all are chatty here! I will try harder in December.

I've been sick a few days and haven't exercised and have discovered I really miss being able to eat those extra calories! So it's good motivation. Hoping to be well enough to do something tomorrow.

Hugs to all.

Hi to all you lovely ladies.

I came in and posted but it didn't show so going to try this again. Hope it don't show up someplace silly.

going to respong to a few but not all.

Dee dee make
Christmas for your grandaughters That's what hubby would expect of you.

Barbie
Nothing like a good nights sleep to start off your morning right.
I can't walk my little mutts i'm stuck carrying them back lol.
Two little miniature dashounds. Cute as a button but barkers.

Sylvia
It is one hard thread to keep up with

Renny
I'd have cinnamon and chocolate omit the chilli.

Bj
How great is that wearing a parked outfit. And it will be a reminder of why your wearing it.

Well was on wii this morning and seen a nice loss but will keep it a secret until Monday I want it to be a sure thing.
I was up baking cookies at 2:30 this morning stayed up until 5:00 then went back to bed until ten. So had a good sleep then.Now I need to straighted out the kitchen. Then I'm invited to a pool birthday party now how cool is that. And I asked my brother if he was bringing the cake and he said no we don't need it. Yea for a smart brother.

Sounds great! I will be willing to join!

Rebel- The challenge sounds like a great idea.
Deb A

bumpity bump bump

suebdew - I'm trying, I think my choices are pretty OK. Only for some reason I just can't stop eating today. Think I'm going down that slippery slope and probably will until these holidays are over. Luckily, still keeping up with the exercise, even if yesterday I didn't do as strenuous a workout as I usually do.

Finished (almost) the wrapping. Finished for Denise, Jess, Vince, Ken & Lynette and got about 3/4 done for Bryan.

Lila - I can't believe how close Christmas is, either. The good thing is that it's that much closer until these holidays are over. I love the holidays, I really do. I just don't love all the parties. I tried to avoid as many as I could but there are just a few that I couldn't avoid.

DeeDee - your post made me cry. I'm so sad for you

Fried the salmon cakes for Christmas and put them in the freezer.

bjmcq - way to go on that NSV! Wonderful!

It's weird, the Wii showed a loss, yet my weekly weigh-in showed a gain. I'm betting more on the gain at this time of year.

Rebel - I don't recall anything about a fruit and veggie Saturday. Refresh my memory. Sounds good to me. Don't know about the fruit but I certainly can have some veggies for dinner on a Saturday.

sylviatx - hope you feel better soon

Going to try to lay down for a bit, finish some water, make my tea to take to the dinner/dance, get changed,

Oh, I can't wait until these holidays are over, I really and truly can't. Don't understand Vince, he loves to decorate. I know he had the gout, but that's over, he even went bowling Wednesday. He's been in the detached garage doing some sort of music type thing (I don't know what), the tree still isn't anywhere near done, there are no decorations up outside. I'm just surprised. I know he likes to wait until the absolute last minute to do things, I really don't because then I have to do not only my things (like cleaning, cooking, etc) but help him. He leaves decorating the tree to me, maybe I should just not be able to find the time and he'll get the idea that he shouldn't wait until the last minute to depend on me to do things. Oh well....I'm just rambling right now.

Hope everyone has a great evening. I want to post this to mark my spot.

Michele

Wow you miss one day and this thread explodes!!! Hi my favorite on line buddies! It’s a cool and dreary day here; we did get some rain last night but we put our rain gauge in the garage for the winter since it’s glass. I’m guessing somewhere between ½ and ¾ inches. We badly needed it; we are almost 9 ½ inches below normal here.

The shooting in Conneticut was horrible...all this sensless violence. I am at a loss for words. DD#1 was in high school when they had a shooting. The principal was wounded and a vice principal was killed. The kid went about 4 blocks away and shot himself to death in his car. I remember getting that phone call and rushing over to the church right next to the school where we were directed to meet. It was winter time and we had to stand in the parking lot of the church for several hours before our kids started being let out of the building. The church people all came in and started feeding us salads (???) and hot coffee to keep us warm, but would only let a few people in the church at a time. DD#1 didn't have a cell phone, but the news was that no students were hurt, so I wasn't too worried, more upset than anything else, but I'll tell you what, until I had her by my side, I wasn't really convinced that she was safe.

DD#1 and DH went up a bit north of town. One of DH’s coworkers was selling her car. It’s a 93 Honda of some kind with about 196,000 miles for $3500. It’s a good deal, but DD#1 didn’t have enough money so DD#2 offered to lend her some and wrote up a contract. She also didn’t have the money for the license, title, etc, so that’s in the loan too. We found out the DD#1 wasn’t doing the things we told her she had to do in order to continue driving my old car and gave her 2 weeks to get one of her own, so that worked out really well. We also told her she has to get a full time job. Last week she only worked 6 hours. That is simply not enough for a car, school, etc. Now she will have her own insurance (it was only $30/month on ours) which will be more expensive too. So she has to either get full time hours at her current job or find another one. Now my old beast can rest a bit; it needs a new clutch and some other work and we don’t have to rush to get that done. Only thing she doesn’t like about the car is that it is another stick shift! LOL She hates shifting!

Well I have been looking back and see I haven’t posted since Wednesday? Can’t believe it! So I will just have to start from here and go forward.

Janehadji: welcome back and hope your trip was a lot of fun!

Welcome to all the newbies and come back often.

Blessings to all the rest of you and your families and four-legged pals.

Saturday morning
To all the lovely ladies on our blog, I am grateful for you today!

Yesterday, was a very sad day! When will mental health issues
In children ,teens and young adults be taken seriously?
I am feeling extremely saddened by the innocent loss of life.
After working as a trauma nurse for many,many years this scene
Cannot leave my mind. I awoke several times last night thinking about
The children and the first responders. The children, teens of today
Are crying out for help, and they are not getting what they need.
The only good that can come from this situation, is that children
Will get better medical/mental health care.
DD#1 said that "26 new angels are in heaven now"
Thank you for letting me share my feelings on here.

I did eat a bunch of carbs before going to bed last night. I wanted
To medicate myself with carbs so I could sleep or shall I say , put my
Self into a carb coma!
Ok, so today is a new day and I am headed off to the gym to burn
Off those carbs and work through my feelings.

Wishing everyone a day filled with gratitude , and enjoying every
Moment that we have to be the best we can be. Make someone
Smile today!
Hugs to all my friends! Now go out and seize the day!
Linda S

Happy sat.
Dreary,rainy day.Exercise in the house.
baking cookies for one of the pastors at the church.
Hope everyone has a good day!!
HUGS
jane

Another busy day here too.

As all have said, such a senseless tragedy that took place yesterday. All we can do is pray for the families and others who are so affected by this.

Last night I went dress shopping again...and found...nothing. Well, there was one, but it was way out of my price range for something I will wear so seldom. I settled on a skirt and knit (kind of sparkly) top. It will do.

No Christmas things are done yet. That's okay. I figure my grandchildren get so many presents on Christmas that it's kind of exciting to get another box of goodies a couple of days later.

Maybe tomorrow we will get a picture taken for our Christmas letter. I'm finally not embarrassed to have a picture taken.

I'd better get back to addressing cards. Have a wonderful Sunday.

Eileen

Bump

Bump for later

Went to the cookie walk early this morning and got loads of them. When I came home I immediately put them in containers for others. Two containers are left here at the house - DH will deliver one Monday and the other one I'll take to my neighbor tomorrow. I kept just 2 sugar cutouts for myself that were just yummy - and that is the end of that!

Ended up having to work today, as well. The boss says that he would horse trade with me for other time off ... uh, yeah, right., counting on that.... NOT!

Now I need to focus on finishing up the things I have to ship. Off to do the laundry now --

Gail

Hi everyone,

Sorry I have been neglecting you. Have been a bit out of sorts. So I went to the doctor Tuesday for my test results. He sent me to an oncologist. I saw the oncologist on Thursday. He said we had to do a biopsy, because he wanted to be sure of the diagnosis. They said we could not wait any longer to do this since we had been watching it for over 6 months and the lymph nodes are quite large. There seems to be more of a concentration in the lower lobe of the right lung, however, he said there were many scattered throughout the abdomen as well. They will try to biopsy the ones in the lung through a procedure that only a very few specialist can do. So now they are sending me to Nashville. If this procedure doesn't show what they need to see, then I will have to have it done through surgery.

In other news, they made me another offer on the job I had interviewed for and they increased the offer enough that I think it will be worth the effort. So I accepted the job and start the new position on December 31.

I haven't gained or lost any weight. I am just in a holding pattern it seems. I appreciate all the support you ladies have given me. Its means so much.

I hope you are all doing well. Have a good evening.

Jolene

wow, Jolene, you got a mixed bag of news this week.......I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you when you go to Nashville (when will that be?)....and I'll be cheering for your acceptance of the new job

this has been a very different day for me----i took care of lots of little tasks that have been neglected and have a great sense of accomplishment crossing them off the "to do" list instead of recopying them onto the new list.

Jake made lunch today chicken tacos with lots of homemade salsa, tomatoes, and onions and no cheese for me

Eileen I'm glad you found something to wear even if it wasn't the dress you were hoping for.

this morning I slept late than usual and Jake got up earlier than usual so by the time I finished my breakfast and headed out the door to walk the dogs, there was already a great fire in the woodstove......as I walked away from the house I started wondering why I was headed out into 34 degree weather when the house was so toasty, then I looked at Brandy and Sasha and they seemed so happy so I knew why I was out there.

another early to bed night so I can be ready for bigger and better things tomorrow..

Barbie from NW Washington

Jolene - that's wonderful about the job! Hope the Doctors get the answers they need and you don't have to have surgery.

Did yoga today, will do training games on the Wii tomorrow.

Just got back from the Moose lodge. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. The "salad" was iceburg lettuce, on the positive there were tomatoes and carrots, green peppers, onions, they had cheese (didn't have any), dressing (didn't have any). The "prime rib dinner" consisted of overcooked (dry) prime rib (I did ask for 1/4 of a piece, but got 1/2, I should have been more insistent on 1/4), a baked potato (of course, there was butter and sour cream but I didn't have any of that) and a roll (I didn't have that). I had some of the meat, the baked potato and got tomatoes and carrots from the "salad bar". Dessert consisted of one cupcake. I gave mine to Vince. I was surprised that they didn't have something else besides the cupcake. It really didn't look all that appetizing anyway.

Well, planning to do cleaning tomorrow, vacuuming etc. Then during the week will finish the cooking for Christmas and have to clean the kitchen again. But at least most of the house will already be cleaned.

We have the bowling lunch to go to on Wednesday. I'm taking the shrimp and my carrots. After that will be Christmas eve with Denise and then the next weekend with Jessica. Then that's IT. THE END (thank goodness!)

Hope everyone has a great evening.

Michele

Good to know you and your doc are on top of things Jolene, good luck with this and the new job!

Hello Ladies,

Today was a good day got lots of walking in today.

@Barbie its amazing what a good night sleep can do.
@JT thanks
@Michele your plan for tomorrow sounds a lot like my plans. Part of it is to get cleaning done
@Lila it is hard to believe that Christmas

Goals for tomorrow is to finish deep cleaning. Monday wrapping gifts and baking.

The forecasts is for snow so depending on weather if not suitable for being outside I will be going to the. Y and walk there.

Wishing everyone a good night

Liz

Good evening ladies,

I went to the gym and had a good workout. Did a lot of thinking
And I am feeling a little better.
Spent the evening making sugar cookies and listened to the original
Cast on Broadway - Les Miserables. One of my favorite musicals!
Dd#1 and I sang the songs and talked about the musical. When
The girls were doing theatre , the senior kids did the musical Les Miserables.
Both my girls and I helped with the play about ten times or more.
Both girls love the musical and we can't wait to see the movie!

As we were just sitting here we heard 2 guns shots or fire crackers
Outside our house. Needless, to say both my girls are so freaked
Out in light of what happened yesterday in CT . I called the sheriff
But the noise has not happened again and they did not find anything
Or anybody outside.
Now, I need to get the girls calmed down and try to get them to
Go to bed in their own beds!
Hope everyone has a blessed Sunday. So thankful for my vitamin F!

Posted this note from my iPhone ! We are down to one computer
And the girls need it for finals.
Hugs- LindaS