Count me in on the wight loss efforts! I need to lose about 50lbs but I would be happy with any downward trend. Eeva - maybe I'll "see" you at the FF.

I am at work posting quickly on the sly, so I can't read the other R&R's until I get home tonight. But I'll catch up with everyone later.

Rant: Grass fires, lost miners, and other bad news this week.

Rave: Texas won the Rose Bowl in one of the most exciting games I've seen in years!! YIPPEE, the celebrations continue here in Austin.

Rave: The talent, skill, and class of the Trojans. Great job, USC, my hat's off to you.

Rave: DH and I are still enjoying our new jobs and we are optimistic that 2006 will be a good year.

I look forward to reading everyone else's news when I get home. Back to work now, see ya later.

seetheworld, the cat just stood there and hissed at him. My dog is a big german shepherd and is very "animal aggressive" so I could not believe he backed off this time.

Years ago when I was in the army in Germany I worked with shepherds for a short time. The critter I have now probably wouldn't make it as a K-9 because he has too much of a mind of his own. Case in point. He caused a nearly $6000 medical bill to my hand when he was two years old while trying to get away from me to chase a dog someone brought to my front door! But I love him.

Glad to see I'm not alone on this good health and fitness journey!!! WE CAN DO IT! RIGHT? RIGHT.

Okay here's my RAVE...I walked two miles (in 1/2 hour) on the indoor track today (my balance still off so I didn't use the treadmill) -- wooohooo!

My mini Ipod is just the best -- I still don't know how to work it, and at one point it just kept repeating Springsteen's version of "Walking in Memphis". And to keep this travel related, there were other songs like "A Thousand Miles", "Across the Universe", "Back in the USSR", I could go on, but I'll spare you guys Remember...one step and one pound at a time!!

Bennie: One year we came home to find that our tree had fallen over. Luckily it landed on my love seat, so my ornaments survived. I feel your pain -- I am very sentimental when it comes to my ornaments.

Bonnie Oh how I would like a piece of cake. No, I'm gonna be a good girl.

BTW, are there any fodorites out there who were a fan of "Airline" on A&E? They cancelled it and replaced it with a show called Rollergirls. Any comments?

seetheworld; yeah! Keep moving!

Also, go to iTunes.com to stock your iPod. Remember, it only loads the way your iTunes are set up. It is impossible to download songs from the iPod to your computer.

jorr; bleech!

Good for your cat Jorr. You must love your dog a lot, ouch!

Sorry, never watched "Airline". Rollergirls, huh? Now do these girls WEAR rollers in their hair, or are they ON rollers?

GoTravel, not sure what you mean.

seetheworld, its a rollerderby show. Remember those lame rollerderby shows in the 70's?

Rave: Recently adopted SMdA street dog has an appointment to get neutered next Thursday.

Rave: UT Longhorns' Rose Bowl performance.

Rave: Pleasant house guests from Dallas.

Rant: Cooling down a bit the last several days (and nights).

Rave: Year end stock market rally a week late.

Rave: Overnight trip to Guanajuato next week to put SO on a flight to visit family in Dallas.

M

jorr, bleech because I loved Airline and bleech because how good could Roller Girls actually be unless.......

It is like Breaking Bonaduce. Danny Bonaduce's reality show was truly like a train wreck. It was so horrifying it was good.

Back in the USSR???? NOW I'm gonna have nightmares! Thank you, STW

But... if this is the part of the weigt loss I'll take it

Oh, roller derby! Lame? Ehhem, excuse me? I was known to watch the roller derby (on Saturday afternoon) every now and again, lol. What can I say, I was a little wild in those days.

Faina, I thought you would get a kick out of that song (or at least I hoped you would).

Statia, I'm hoping to get tickets. What gets passed around at the Allman Brothers concert??? Did you say Bengay Hmmmm, I wonder if I should mention that to my husband, or just let it be one BIG surprise

Rant-DD was sick over Christmas.

Rave-Buckeyes beat ND in Fiesta Bowl.

Rant-Cloudy, gray weather.

Rant-Checking airfare for mid-April. Now I am depressed!

Jorr-My Shepherd flunked out of canine college. His trainer said he was one of the most stubborn dogs he ever had.

Tiff-My Mother buys each of her grandkids an ornament every Christmas. What a nice present. I especially love the handmade ones from my dd.

Have a great weekend and Happy New Year everyone!

only raves today:

Quick weekend roadtrip to Tampa to see old friends.

Got thru Spirit Airlines terminally long hold to get tix for Dominican destination wedding.

Temps to go to 40's tonite; love the couple times a year I can wear my Irish sweaters,etc.

Rant: I think tpatricco had the same week I had.

Rave: Christmas is over, my dear Dad is recovering at home, brother's travel stories of recent trip to China were entertaining and often hilarious, and I finally have a moment to take the decorations down. Let 2006 begin!

FainaAgain- read your post about your friend - I think there is lots to do to help - just had a friend who went through this - she lived in Seattle and her best friends in Eugene.
We took turns going up to stay with her after surgery,arranged meals for her, helped her put together a wardrobe of colorful hats and scarves,just supported her in everyway we could. Went with her to pick out her wig and other articles of clothing - just hung out with her whenever we could.
She just finished radiation so the jury is still out on her recovery but must say she showed all of us how to do it with style and grace.
In fact she was chosen as a poster person for breast cancer awareness week in Seattle and life size posters of her and others at Nordstroms.
Wish her well -

GoTravel, now I get it!

jorr: Yeah for the prospect of cheaper gas!!

We had a sheppard when I was a girl. 'Beau' was the most gentle german sheppard I've EVER seen! He was my bestest pet! All the kids at the lake on the weekends would play with him, and he would 'fetch' small LOGS floating down the river while we were visiting 'the sand bar'(the usual swim/ski area)!

Scarlett: Yeah for things (or people) both new and old! It's nice to make a good 'find'!

Seetheworld: Good luck on the interview, but I can tell you there's no way those people are NOT going to hire you, with your determination!

I have also settled on the 10# goal, so count me in!...I usually bail at the 5-6# mark, so I hope this teamwork approach will make a difference!

Statia: I envy you your travel woes!...although I see, how that would be tiring.

ethel: I have four words for you (alas, maybe too late!): Mr. Clean Magic Eraser! These things are GREAT!
If the house is heated by natural gas, that will also leave brown residue, over time. I've experienced both the smoke and the gas residue. ...and FYI candles can also leave residue on walls.

sppunk: Congrats on the job offer!

FainaAgain: Sorry to hear of your friend's concerns, but take heart that there are many survivors now-a-days. Hope that she will be one as well!

Rave: I've lost one of the 10!

Rave: Our 1st 'Girls'Night Out' last night! 12 showed for dinner and 6 for the movie (Rumor Has It)...all people from work of various ages. Shared some laughs!

I hope all who are sick are soon well!

Belle

Just some thoughts for those of you wanting to lose weight. I've taught aerobics daily for 14 years and I'm a physical education teacher and over the years I've seen things that work and don't work for clients.

Don't focus on weight or how long it takes to get rid of it. It will defeat you. Change eating and activity habits (as in eat less, move more)and don't worry about the outcome as much as the process.

Say, "I'm going to exercise two times this week and I'm going to cut out soda this week." rather than saying, "I'm going to lose 2 pounds this week." You can definitely be successful at changing your patterns but how can you possibly know how long it will take to lose a certain amount of weight?

Focus on eating foods "as they come from nature." Fresh fruits and vegetables as the mainstay and lean protein as the side instead of the other way around.

I used to be the queen of carbs but honestly, after a couple of months without them the desire and cravings for them stopped. I really don't eat bread, cereal, pasta, or anything much thats processed and thats what I used to live on.

Sip a glass of spicy bold merlot in the evening which lasts a lot longer than a chardonnay or a beer that goes down way too easy and quickly. If you do have beer, only keep one in the fridge at a time (and keep the rest out of sight out of mind in the garage or in a cupboard) so you won't overindulge.

NEVER let yourself get hungry or you risk eating whatever you can find. I eat every couple of hours... fruit early, a package of salmon mid morning, a Lean Cuisine entree at lunch, more fruit or some almonds at 3pm, dinner with my family. If I need something desserty I finish with one Dove dark chocolate after lunch or dinner.

I have no willpower so no bowls of candy laying out and I don't buy junk food for my kids which I might eat in a PMS haze at 2am. When I'm going to eat something that comes out of a large bag (like my almonds) I pull out just a handful then put the bag away so I don't sit and munch the whole bagful.

You don't have to eat the crap that is laid out at business meetings or at parties. Two other teachers and I made a pact and we sit together at teachers' meetings and don't go through the buffet of total garbage that is laid out for every meeting. By sitting together we keep each other from being tempted.

I used to be addicted to Diet Coke but quit drinking soda several years ago. I think it promotes hunger but I don't really know if it does. I keep water in my car, in my office and in my fridge and sip it all day long.

Fast food? I love McDonalds Fruit & Nut Bowl (I don't use the dipping sauce and I usually save the sugared nuts for dessert later) and Wendy's Mandarin Chicken Salad (I don't use the Chinese noodles and just dip my fork tines in the dressing before each bite instead of dumping the whole thing on the salad)& fresh fuit bowl. Going out for dinner? A salad and then an appetizer (shrimp cocktail, ahi tuna, minestrone sout) as your entree is plenty. I never let the waitress bring the bread to the table.

Schedule your workout with someone else so you are more likely to follow through. I teach 7-8 aerobics classes each week but if I wasn't scheduled to teach I'd easily blow it off. Don't overschedule exercise unrealistically because it has to fit into your life not take over your life. There are some clients I'll see every day for three weeks then never again.

Commit to walking with a neighbor two nights a week at 9pm after the kids are in bed or at 6am before you are in high demand. Pack your gym clothes in the car and drive straight there after work or you might talk yourself out of going.

Your plan shouldn't be all or nothing. Don't deprive yourself. If you eat pizza at a Super Bowl Party or don't go to the gym because you went on vacation you shouldn't give up. Just get back to it ASAP. Okay, end of long winded sermon.

Very good counsel, amowsu. Thanks for taking the time to share it.