~~~Watering Hole~~~ May, 2012

[Brenda Y]

Thank you all for the condolences. I'm doing fine, busier than heck, but fine as far as my mom's passing goes.
This week is possibly the busiest I've had in YEARS! To top it off, I'm not sleeping well. The RSVPs for the wedding are 189. In the freezer so far: 288 hot beef party sandwiches, 200 chicken pockets, 150 asparagus rolls. . .on today's list 150 asparagus rolls. After today, all the "freezer" items will be done. I still have to make and bake the mini pie shells for 200 apple/feta salads, clean out 200 mini dinner rolls (for individual spinach dip), and assemble 200 bite-size caprese (cherry tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil leaf and balsamic vinegar)
As if the catering wasn't enough. . .I have graduation practice this morning at 7:30, the actual graduation tomorrow at 9:00. Two wedding rehearsals Thurs night followed by my monthly needlecrafters meeting. Then the wedding Fri night that I'm catering and a wedding on Saturday. I hope I survive!!!
On my calendar for next week. . .NADA!!!

I hope Linda is doing well with her class, ML is doing well with her moving plans, Doug is having a good vacation and the rest of you are being CREATIVE!!

[Faafil]

hi all

Figured I'd better check in - it seems like we all have an insanely busy month of May going on....

We had a yard sale over the weekend - did pretty well on it, and then took the leftover 'treasures' to Goodwill.

Yesterday we met with the pulmonologist and a lung function test - DH has "moderately severe" COPD. His resting lung function is very good - but on exertion, really poor. We need to start walking to increase his lung volume. Dr. said "good luck, find a new lung doctor in AZ and I'll forward the records". So, overall not a 'bad' report considering he's smoked for 45 years. And we are still not smoking

Waiting to hear from the carpet installer - and then it will be a quick turnaround trip to AZ for that, and cleaning up. We finally made a decision on movers. The price they gave us was only a few hundred more than renting a truck and paying friends to do it (not to mention driving the truck for 8 hours), so we're having professionals do it. We got a discount because we have used them so many times in the past... This will be our 4th move in 7 years.

Just want you to know I'm thinking of all of you - Azure, B, Linda, Shirl, Ona, Jackie, Doug, JayJay, Kay and the rest of our little group...

I'll check in when I can, but for the next several weeks it's going to be sporadic...

11 Hugs,
Mary Lou

[JayJay365UK]

Ok spill the beans, Mary Lou - how did you do it???? I have tried so hard to give up smoking, years and years of trying so hard and failing.... if there's some secret to it, let me know asap!

I also have COPD, even that doesn't scare me into giving it up. I recently bought a very expensive electronic cigarette (and I have every nicotine replacement therapy in my cupboard that you can name) and still haven't done the deed.

This seems to be the best way - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...le-island.html and he did give up!

I'm still pondering on the next move with the Starcross Ferry piece...

Hi to everyone else as well!

[Faafil]

Originally Posted by JayJay365UK

Ok spill the beans, Mary Lou - how did you do it???? I have tried so hard to give up smoking, years and years of trying so hard and failing.... if there's some secret to it, let me know asap!

I also have COPD, even that doesn't scare me into giving it up. I recently bought a very expensive electronic cigarette (and I have every nicotine replacement therapy in my cupboard that you can name) and still haven't done the deed.

This seems to be the best way - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...le-island.html and he did give up!

I'm still pondering on the next move with the Starcross Ferry piece...

Hi to everyone else as well!

Hi JayJay!

Wow - that is an extreme way to quit - did he stay quit??

I wish I had a secret formula for success on the quitting, but I don't. There are several times every day that I think I'd kill for a smoke, but it's kind of like a wave washing over you - it hits you, and then it goes away....

Really though, I think we were preparing for this - 2 years ago we quit smoking in the house, and cut back by 1/2. I was down to 10 cigs a day, and DH was down to 1 pack (from almost 3) . DH is using the nicotine lozenges, but I'm not using anything. I thought about getting the electronic cigarettes, but that is still keeping the habit and dependency, so I'm going to try not to do that...so it's cold turkey for me. This Saturday will be 28 days for me; today is day 30 for DH. (but who's counting)

I think it helps that we are both quitting, so we have a mutual support - and not to mention that DH does not want to drag around an oxygen bottle with him the rest of his life. That pretty much did it for him, macho guy that he is...

Okay - really - where IS everyone else??? Yoooo hooooo, come out come out wherever you are.....

Thinking of you all...

[Shirl Parker]

I'm here. Listening, although not hearing much. Glad you are all getting your various activities sorted out. We finally got a bit of rain here and it cooled off some.

[Brenda Y]

I survivied yesterday. . .now for the final catering prep and then THE EVENT tonight.
I woke at 5 yesterday, did all the laundry and made and baked 350 mini savory pie shells that will be the "container" for the apple/feta salad tonight. I came up with an idea for these crusts that turned out very well. . .added chopped parsley and a bit of black pepper to the flour before mixing the crust -- YUM!! Then I had to go do TWO wedding rehearsals at 5 and 6 and then at 6:30 had my monthly Needlecrafters meeting. Which was a welcome "sit down" and taught one young lady how to knit. She was going strong when we finished up at 8:30. LONG day!!

JayJay,
I quit smoking 12 years ago and it was VERY hard for me. I had tried unsuccessfully many, many times prior to that and I think what finally helped me was a strong DESIRE to quit. I honestly enjoyed smoking and didn't have any bad health affects from it. The desire I found came from our current church, it was simply that I wanted to get involved in several ministries and I didn't want to be a hypocrit. Baptists don't smoke or drink That's not to say that there aren't any who do these things, there ARE. And we love them anyway! I think some people can quit easier than others. My dad just quit one day and that was it for him, my mom and I both took a good year to really get over it. We both had times that ML mentioned where you'd kill for one and we'd buy a pack. I remember thinking that they should sell cigs singly because all I wanted was ONE and when I'd buy a pack, I'd have 19 more to smoke and wasn't going to let them go to waste! I did spread them out over a couple of weeks. I used the nicotine gum and still had the irresistable urges! After about a year of this, I finally had reached the point where those urges had diminished enough so that when I DID cheat, I'd be so sick to my stomach. At that point I wasn't buying a pack for that ONE cig, I would snitch one from my son's pack I suddenly realized how stupid it was to make oneself so nauseated and would remember THAT feeling every time I had an urge.
I think having an activity planned that you can get involved in when the urges hit really helps. Especially if it is an activity that involves both of your hands.

ML -- I'm SOOOO proud of you and your DH for your milestone!! Hang in there!! I remember having DREAMS that I was smoking - It took a long time for the urges and dreams to end, then I went through a period of not minding when I saw or smelled others smoking. Then I reached the point where I can't stand the smell. I can smell cig smoke from a car that's 2 lengths away from me -

to all and wishing everyone a good day!

[aszurblue]

Morning All,

Sorry to have been MIA around here, but have been fighting a really hard case of Sciatica and trying to keep on with my GD has just about been as much as I could manage..Because of GD, can't take any heavy duty pain meds, so have to try and get along with Advil..Four every 5 to 6 hours...my liver should be pickled soon ....The last few days have been better and feel I'm on the down side of it now..

My son surprised coming in late yesterday afternoon for Mothers Day...How my very chatty DD kepted it a secret, is be on me We will be having big BBQ later today...(He's sleeping right now)


Mary Lou, so great on the not smoking!! You are over the nicotine part, now the "habit" is the hard part...you know all the things you did with a cigarette???... Even tho I too had stopped smoking in the house and car and had a set amount of how many I could have a day..The Habit part was the hardest for me...It has been 5 years now, and I've never fell once...After trying so many times and failing, I was very surprised when it worked this time...I too used the Lozenges for about the first three, four months...No one was more surprised than me when they worked!!
..Now like Brenda, I can detect cigarette smoke a mile off, but you know, it dose not bother or make me want one now...Now it just makes me sneeze But the sad part is I was still diagnosed with COPD after about 6 months after I had quit BUT...I feel great and so much better than when I was smoking, coughing, wheezing and hacking up fur balls Best thing I ever did for my self!... and the money I saved, made the monthly payments on my(then) new car!!

JayJay, You just keep at it..at some point it will work...Every time you fail, just brings you closer to finding what will work!...cause now you know what dose not work and soon you will find what dose... For me, Money was a big motivator and I really really needed a new car

Well baby boy is up, so gotta run for now..Take care All and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to one and all!!

Azure

[Brenda Y]

I survived the catering!! I'm tired and have sore muscles, but no stiffness or soreness from fibromyalgia, so I'm a happy camper. I'm resting ALL day and then we are going out for dinner tonight. I told DH I'd rather go out tonight than tomorrow for lunch because it's sooooo crowded at restaurants ON Mother's Day. Plus. . we have Austin all day and tomorrow we'll have to share him with his mom

The catered food was a huge success and . . .I'll do this again if asked! My calculations for the serving sizes and how many of each item per guest was spot on -- some leftovers, but not a huge amount of them. I made good money (about $45 per hour and I actually charged very low per head!) and as long as I can control the menu and have things on there that I can do ahead of time, it'd be a fun thing to get more involved in.

Azure,
Sorry you've not been up to par!! What a grand surprise to have your DS surprise you!!!

Wishing everyone a very good weekend!

[Shirl Parker]

Congratulations Brenda. I was so worried the catering would be a problem for you. Now I can uncross my fingers on that issue

[Brenda Y]

Shirl,
THANK YOU for the crossed fingers!! I really tried hard to pace myself. The catering chores I felt like I had good control of, it was the extra stuff this week that had me worried (college graduation, 2 wedding rehearsals and the needlecrafters meeting).

[HarvestMoon]

Hi, so sorry to have been AWOL for what seems like ages! Brenda so sorry to hear about your mom! I have bee learning a lot, especially interesting was the science of nutrition module by a super expert. The key to restoring your health is to restore the health of your digestive tract, and the rest follows! To make it short, eat healthy foods especially fermented active ones, take probiotics and supplements to fill in the gaps.....best to see a certified clinical nutritionist, NOT a dietician!

I had no idea how much homework, recipe analysis, projects, and tests there would be! Not to mention laundry!

Here are some pictures, check out the group shot of my class!
http://plantbasedplanet.blogspot.com/

Hugs to you all! Now on to more homework!

[Shirl Parker]

Hello everyone - wakey, wakey. Here's a link to vegetarian recipes. Now if I could just find someone to cook them for me

[Brenda Y]

I've had a hard time sleeping (getting about 4 hrs per night), but didn't really feel bad. Last night I slept 8 hrs and feel lousy!!
We had excellent news this morning. . .Katie's CT scan that was run last Thurs has come back absolutely, 100% clean of cancer. No residual cells to worry about. We are so very thankful!!!

I plan on tackling my filthy house today. . .laundry is all that got done during my catering work week. I'm starting to feel some painting urges coming on!

to all and wishing everyone a very good and creative day!!

[HarvestMoon]

Brenda that is great news about Katie! Is she still doing chemo? Try to grt her to a CCR, a certified clinical nutritionist to help restore her gut health...this would help your fibro too and everyones everything!

[HarvestMoon]

Ona try to get on the GAPS diet, a lot of fermented foods. I think a nutritional it's could help you!