Beginning Again Chapter MII - 11/30-12/06 bye Nov, hello Dec

[AlwaysAries]

BAMs sharing and caring, laughter and support and beginning again for 1002 weeks!! Welcome to the BAMS!

Are you ready to Begin Again?

Are you a WW Lifetime Member who has gained back some weight and is trying to lose it again? Join us in this thread for support, encouragement and friendship. We start a new thread every Monday morning and contribute to it throughout the week. We are usually pretty active, so we should be near the top of the recent replies, if you can't find us enter "Beginning Again" in the search bar.

Everyone is welcome to join a wonderfully supportive group of new friends. We have a great community of support for returning Lifetime and Maintenance Members, as well as other members who are embarking on their weight loss journey again.

The Beginning Again thread on this Board and the old Weight Watcher board has attracted and supported over 100 BAM (Beginning Again Members) since March 30, 2001. The resulting sorority of kindred spirits has been vital to the recovery of dozens of Lifetime Members who had regained some, or all and then some of the weight they'd originally lost at WW.

It is our belief in the support and camaraderie found in the Beginning Again community that engendered the decision to re-post this invitation at the beginning of each week. So let the journey Begin – Again!

[AlwaysAries]

Morning all, TBIM and TGIM what do YOU have planned for this week? For me, it’s decorating, cleaning (neverending) and a few things, like Maddie grooming today, and hair cut time for me on Friday. My week in a nutshell.

We are at 21* our high today will be in the 30’s. And the wind continues.

Gina - hope Ralph has a good fishing day today. Fish sounds good, today I’m making the first of three Blue Apron meals we got from DSon & DDIL. I think I’ll do the Chicken curry mustard. Looks like it has rice, not sure what else. I’ll post about it after I get it made. We went through the car wash when we were in town, man it felt good to get all the ick off the car. I won’t be planting my poinsettia! LOL, but I’ll sure enjoy it while I have it.

Allison - good luck as you start on-line school from FL. Hope the wifi goes well and you don’t have any tech issues.

Caryn - it’s always a joy to have clean windows! Glad you got yours done. LOL at making salmon or order pizza? I’ll have to get some salmon for me, DH is not a fan. I can make him something else.

Betty - DGD has such a wonderful, and caring imagination. What a joy she is. I gave DSonIL some succulents from my planter, he says they are doing well. That aloe will take over if you aren’t careful! I keep it in a separate pot from the rest.

Khalua - TGIM hope your night went okay, as well as the early morning things you have to do.

RV - you are going to need a sweatshirt. We know you will love having your friends coming in.

Jeanne - was this a ‘go in to the office’ morning. You mentioned only going in a few days?

Luv - hope you have time to check in today.

That’s about it from here, time for my second cup of coffee. I think on this cool morning that it will be oatmeal for my breakfast. Waving 👋 to all who follow.

[flowerpower]

Good morning and waving back at Peg!

Today we're getting a windy rainy storm. I woke up at my normal time, checked the weather app and saw that I had about a half hour to get the dog walk in before the rain began. And at 8:00 the rain started, just like it said

Staying home, again. I'll get out the wood stain and touch up the places on the office floor that show wear - I think the dogs are pawing at the floor near the door and DH's old office chair scratched up the floor. We just got him a floor mat so I want the stain to dry before it arrives (today?). Also it's the day I wash our towels and will separately wash all of our microfiber cloths including the new Norwex ones, which probably need a wash after cleaning all of our windows. And if I'm feeling up to it, I'll head into the garage and wash the inside of the 2 windows there. But I'll use a normal cloth with lots of water followed by Windex. I can't remember when we cleaned those windows if ever (embarassing LOL). See what things one can dream up when one is isolating at home???!!!

Peg - my week is normal, including yet another visit to the dentist tomorrow and my alone library shift. My friend Sue's birthday is tomorrow so maybe she and I can have lunch or a coffee outside, with heaters. And my friend Vicki and I are trying to get together on Friday depending on the weather. That's about it. Hope you can post pix of your holiday decorations! I love to see them.

Gina - GL to Ralph. I hope he catches lots of fish. I knew what you meant about the quiet after the kids leave. Same thing here. But oh it's wonderful to see them!

For anyone who might be interested, Miracle Ball is having a 10% off sale on balls, books and videos, even online classes. miracleballmethod.com/

I'll post this and come back soon to see who else posted. Have a great start to your day!

[abz1]

Peg, waving a good morning with my coffee in my favorite chair as load 1 of possibly 3 in the washer. I need some pots and cactus soil to repot some of my succulents! Better add it to my list! I learned so much from a video from garden answers.

Caryn, glad you got the walk in before the rain!

It's a cold one today with wind so DH is taking a break and will run errands to find the inside trim for the windows and a stop at the lumber yard to find out if they've found our missing outside trim for one window.

I've ordered more cellular shade samples from two more places as well. I liked a color we chose but not fond of the large single cell shades it goes with. I'll make a final decision once those arrive.

Oh, need to follow-up on a phone call as well for the exterior door blind installation question!

Best check the washer, make that call and get breakfast! Baking is also on the agenda! Sourdough crackers, bread and yogurt bagels!

[jeannet]

Hi!

Peg - thanks for the new chapter.

Im on my way back home from the office!

Dh didnt sleep well. He always gets up early, but I woke him at 7:00 and suggested I go in alone. He said sure but be quick. Lol! 1.5 hours is quick!

One thing I needed to do was get a check cashed for him at the bank, without his signature. Would have been no problem EXCEPT one of the tellers came down w covid and our bank branch is closed for 2 weeks!

So, I brought home checks and we will get it cashed at one of the locations near home.

Its pouring rain now, but scruffy and I had a good walk before I left.

I got a call from DSIL yesterday suggesting a walk w DNephew and Scruffy. I drove over there and walked around a couple of ponds near her house. Beautiful day yesterday and scruffy was super interested in the geese and ducks in the ponds! Couldn't figure out how to get to them without getting wet!

Betty - dgd and the plants! Oh my! Precious girl!

Gina - good luck to R and the fish!

Peg - good luck with decorating and let us know your review of blue apron.

Caryn - sale! Word of the day! Lol!

Allison - big game tonight? Not sure about the standing in NFC east.

Ok, now I forget any other posts.

See you from home!

[rvgypsy]

Peg - proud of you remembering your Roman Numerals. Thanks for the start again.

We had our rain shower come through and now waiting for the cool front of a 20 degree drop.

Need to check and see if Nashville got the snow flurries they were talking about.

BBL

RV

[luvmypets]

Good Morning it’s very windy and wet here! My e will walk later today! Need to finish decorating the living room today then the kitchen! Not taking all my decorations about just very si ole this year!  But we must be festive!  Plus it keeps me occupied and seeing no news which is good for the soul! Reading a great book but sad called The Exiles can hardly put it down!  Meanwhile I’m growing a great dough boy stomach! OMG I’ve been off the rails eating! My rolls are all eaten most of them by me! I need to get off sugar! DH is on line looking a new gas cans! Ugh we are good and locked up but need lights and some easy lock for out garage door.  We have those old doors on our garage door so need a key pad lock or something easy access! Right now it’s locked with a skeleton key....yup and a padlock! Lol

Peg you and Maddie are getting groomed at the same time! Lol  My cousin makes peanut brittle all the time. She wants to know how you keep it hard for sending to people.,she took it on a plane on ice to North Carolina a few years ago when she got there is was a sticky. I’ve had it and it’s always crisp and yummy. Brrr cold there!

Caryn you cut ally have a specific day for towel washing? Caryn I h e some windows you can clean! Lol we had the same issue with our chair on the wood put a rug under it works great! I need my second cup of coffee!

Jeanne that was a quick trip to the office! Glad you got Scruffy for that walk before the rain hit!

Betty are we ready to BA....I am so struggling! Nice to find a color of shade you like! The wind is cold here today too! It is supposed to be nice the rest of the week! I did my laundry yesterday but need to put it away!

Allison waiting for your review of your online teaching for Florida! I did see all your wonderful pics of surprising your DM! Made me smile!

RV get that sweater 

I need another cup of coffee!

[talbotsshopper]

Good afternoon all. Day one of ten is in the books. It went very smoothly - I wish the kiddies would not wait until the very last minute to arrive int he Zoom room but all went very well.

I am excited about a local artist who paints our favorite Dunedin locations - we bought a print of the Scone bakery she had done in August. I reached out to her and she is having three more prints made for us today (the cajun food truck, the brewery and a local spot for outdoor music)! All will be matted and signed. They will be a nice addition to the walls at the condo (all are small 5 x 7 prints). They will be ready tomorrow night.

Jeanne - we will be watching the football game tonight - not sure how good of a game it will be...

Betty - DH did the white load of wash while I taught - darks will be next.

Nancy - did it snow in Nashville?

hi to Caryn, Peg, Luv, Sharon, Khalua, Gina and the rest of the bammies. I need to get to my grading pile. Maybe I can sneak in a walk.

Allison

[khalua]

Came here around 9 this morning and no new chapter start. Just now I realized that I didn’t refresh the last page of the old chapter..duh!!!

Peg.... thanks for the new start! Can’t wait to hear about the Blue Apron meals. Nice that you have a hair appt. I know it always makes you happy. I checked out the salon next my dentist. There were 3 customers in there and even though it’s a big space, I decided not to risk it. My hair is driving me nuts, no cut since February and it way too long.

Caryn.... glad you got the dogs and yourself home before the rain!

Jeanne.... Nice quick hour and half “quick trip”.. lol! I bet Scruffy had so much fun yesterday!

RV... our forecast was sure wrong! It only got down to 69 in hhe wee hours. It was 70 when I left work and 75 by the time I’d showered.

Betty... DGD is just precious worrying about and caring for those plants.. awww. Hope you find a color you like for hhe shades.

Luv....hopefully you could do your walk.

Gina... I hope DH had a good day fishing!

Ordered food from Chewy for Meg. Scrubs are in the dryer. I got sleepy so stopped it and started it again after snoozing for an hour and a half. There goes the buzzer. Bbl.

Khalua

[flowerpower]

It's very windy and pouring out. Lots of branches down. We'll see when this stops how much clean up we need. Thinking about calling Jose to take care of it. I just know it's too windy to spend time outdoors and I've gone to the front twice with the dogs but didn't want to venture down the driveway to get the mail.

working on the Miracle Ball book I helped edit. elaine got copy edits back from the publisher. Never got to the windows but the towels are almost done.

Luv - I know. I'm rigid, but I have specific laundry days: Monday is towels. Tuesday sheets if needed. Weekend is clothing. It keeps me focused. Woohoo on doing your decorations. I remember the pix from last year and hope you'll post more.

Allison - what a great idea for your condo walls. And how wonderful you found that artist.

Khalua - how was last night's shift? I bet you're snoozing...

[acrewer]

Ralph called, all he got today was gopher cod. They are tasty, but small. Too small to freeze. We will stuff and bake a couple for dinner, and grill the rest for lunch.

Walked with my neighbors this morning. 5 times up the hill, takes about a hour. Will have a shower, then lunch. Last of the turkey, I think

Peg, thanks for the new start, love the Roman Nvmerals. Memories (nightmares actually) of high school Latin!

Jeanne, like the idea of a quick trip to the office. Glad Scruffy had fun on his walk.

Khalua, hope you are resting.

Caryn, sorry about the downed branches. Hopefully it's less now that your big trees are gone. No rain in our forecast, good for fishing, but we need the rain.

Oh, the fava beans and sweet peas I planted have sprouted! We also have kale and swiss chard growing.

Allison, LOL at kids logging in more than 5 sec before class starts! Nice you can do this from Florida.

Hi to Sharon, Luv, RV, & Betty

Gina

[AlwaysAries]

After lunch check in. Maddie looks great, all sleek and trimmed. She’s napping, as is DH. She is always tired after her grooming. The third load of laundry is going, as is the dryer with the second. One more to go before I finish today, tomorrow is sheets. I like to sort the clothes and get it done in one day if possible. It’s turned into a sunny, if cool day. Sunshine means it’s 78* in the house and the bedrooms are cold as the doors are closed to keep Maddie out. Really doesn’t matter, and it sure saves on fuel for the furnace when it doesn’t run during the day.

Report on Blue Apron’s chicken with curry and mustard. It was good and it was different than anything I would have thought of making. The first step was to peel and cut the two carrots, and chop to cloves of garlic. You sauté that, then add the currents and a cup of water and the white rice. While that cooks you chop up the chicken breasts, poblano pepper and two green onions. You sauté the chcken and add the pepper and onion. Meanwhile you have bloomed the curry in some apple cider vinegar. To the curry you add Dijon mustard and mayo. Stirring it all together. The plating is simple as well, putting the rice/carrots on the plate and topping with the chicken and drizzling the curry mustard sauce over then a sprinkle of the green pepper tops.

Pros: didn’t have to think what to make, pick up the recipe chart and follow the directions. Also it was out of the ordinary, which a so appreciate.
Cons: packaging. There is SO much packaging because each little thing is in it’s own plastic. The mustard & mayo in small plastic containers and everything else in plastic too.

I have considered joining something like this as we head into the winter months, as I have commented on before I get tired of trying to think what to make, and I think that’s true of many of us, whether we are cooking for one, or more than one, that age old question of what’s for dinner sometimes plagues us, this way you get three meals for the week, which of course you do have to choose, but it’s a complete meals, veggies and carb and protein. I think there are lo-carb options available and I would do those if I decided to pursue this.

Drat, dryer just stopped. I’ll go fold / hang and BB

[luvmypets]

Lands End has a great sale today!  Guess what I’ve been doing! Lol

Allison football for us tonight too! Go HAWKS  Glad your Zoom went well today!

Khalua happy Monday to you! I just ordered cat food from Chewy myself!  Love them!

Caryn that’s ok if you’re rigid you get it done! Not me I’m so whatever! My df and I always laugh that we are not our 50’s mother’s who both, mine still does, keep the neatest most organized homes! Lol

Quit raining here! Waiting for it to be a little clearer! Going to go finish my decorations in the living room! Would have last night but had a cousin Zoom! Was fun to see everyone I have 10 first cousins! 

[luvmypets]

Gina we were both posting a gopher cod....does it pop out of the water? Never heard of one! Yay for walking! How’s the foot?

Peg my dm tried some of those home delivery organic meals. Didn’t like them at all.

[acrewer]

Peg - when my kids were in middle school, I joined Saving Dinner, because it was just too hard to plan menus! They send you a week's worth of menus and a composite shopping list. It really helped me not to have to think about what to cook each night. It's how I got into the habit of planning a specific protein each night of the week. It was a nice mix of various cuisines. A better option than all that packaging. You might want to try it, I think it's about $10/month and has a low carb option. I saved all the emails and still use them from time to time when I get bored.

Luv - I think they are called 'gopher' cod due to the small size and brown color. I'm not organized about laundry at all. Except the fishing clothes go immediately in the washer, COL! When the hamper is full or I run out of undies, laundry becomes a priority, COL.

Lunch time

Gina

[AlwaysAries]

Last load is humming away. I stopped to help DH unwind and put the tiny solar lights on the outside planter.

Gina - I have gone through the cookbooks - I have a lot of cookbooks - and made menu ideas, but then don’t follow them. I really can’t see myself ordering these meals on an ongoing basis. I know DDIL still loves her Blue Apron, DDer has switched to Home Chef. I like the home chef meals we had at her house last winter better than the one today, but that makes sense as DDer chose the meal plan she thought we would like, DDIL ordered these for themselves, and she said she has done the curry chicken before and really liked it. I have tried to stop moaning about food, it’s just food, we need something to eat. It’s not about ‘oh wow, look at that meal’. DH seldom says anything, he comes to the table and eats what I fix. As I said earlier, we are all just doing our best to feed ourselves without going crazy. Thanks for enjoying the Roman numerals, I figured after 1000 chapters we needed a little shake up. Now to see how long I can keep it going and remember the symbols....... of course there is also google for that.

Luv - there are so many different meal delivery places, our neighbors are getting them, which is why you don’t hear me talking about taking food to them. Also I’m never sure when they are home now, with their DDer in the facility in Des Moines they are going there often. They can’t both go in, but sometimes they go down together anyway. I still haven’t gotten around to bringing many decorations up to put out. Maybe tomorrow. I would like to have most of it done by Friday - self imposed deadline, no real reason.

Caryn - wow, sounds like a vicious storm. Hope it’s passed by now and you can get help with the mess.

Khalua - I have been trying to decide if I want to get my hair cut - you are right, I used to love going, but not anymore, since I lost my stylist and with the worry of the virus. The new gal called and asked if I wanted to change to Friday, there will only be two of them that day. I did tell her I was trying to decide if I felt comfortable even coming in. She said she understood and if I need to cancel she would be okay with it. I would not go in and wait either. I can stay in the mall until she has her chair ready for me.

Oops there go the dryer again. See you all tomorrow.

[talbotsshopper]

Evening all I got all the exams graded and still need to grade the last 5 papers. I met with a student at 3:30 and finally took a 2 mile walk. The temps are dropping but it was 68° when I walked. I got an email from the artist - the prints were ready! I drove over and picked them up. I will take some photos and post them using tap-a-talk.

Gina - we are having pompano fish wiht sweet potatoes tonight. I am sure your gopher fishies will be tasty.

Jeanne - football in a few hours.

Peg - DH is doing the laundry here. Two loads finished and folded.

Khalua - glad you found us!

Supper time, then grading and football.

Allison

[boodog]

Peg, Mike has used Home Chef. He also thinks there is a lot o waste in the packaging. He saved the menu cards and just picks up the ingredients needed, so it works for him that way. He has been working long days, and sometimes doesn't want to figure out what to make for dinner. He is happy in his job, and requested a set of new pans for his birthday/Christmas present. He does like to cook.

Our weather has gotten mild again. No snow (or any precipitation in sight). It was 67 degrees when I took Sunshine for a walk a sort while ago.

[flowerpower]

The rain finally stopped. 18000 people are without power.  Not us, we're fine.  I'll see how bad the branches and leaves are but I can tell you that the wind was strong enough to knock over our not so light outdoor chairs.

Dinner was good. Smoked salmon filets (DH made them; I took 3 pieces out of the freezer) plus leftover potato casserole and stuffing hahaha. I forgot to make the frozen brussels sprouts (they take a while and are an experiment to have veggies in the freezer) so I made some frozen peas.

I'm investigating home delivery for fresh veggies, fruit, deli and dairy and the occasion stuff from the ailes. It's between Instacart, Peapod or Whole foods via Amazon Prime. In that order. This week I'm trying Instacart. I just have a problem not picket out my own fruit and veggies. The rest I'm comfortable ordering for someone else to shop. But it will keep me out of the supermarket as the pandemic gets worse.

53 emails? OMG. CU tomorrow

[rvgypsy]

Rain came through this morning and very windy with the cold front coming in now. Might set a new low record on Wed morning. At least I'll have a change of wardrobe for few days. Friends got in today from IL. He just had a kidney transplant about 2 months ago. His color is great. Their son helped drive them down. To bad tomorrow will be a wimpy day for sightseeing and other stuff.

Will make chili in the crock put tomorrow. That will be nice and warm. Add a few soda crackers and butter and I am a happy camper.

Luv - Your holiday decorations always look so nice.

Gina - Never heard of a gopher cod.

Caryn - Hope your yard isn't to much of a mess.

Sharon - glad Mike gave you Christmas shopping ideas.

Allison - Weather should be better by the weekend.

Peg - I go nuts if my hair gets to long so I just go and chop it off. I do make a mess in the sink sometimes.

Khalua - Maybe the east coast won't get so cold.

Jeanne - sounds like DH had a good nap this morning.

Betty - mighty cold in your neck of the woods.

They did have a light snow in Nashville my neighbor said.

See ya manana

RV

[talbotsshopper]

Well, the papers are graded. I need to figure out how to scan them using the new printer to return them to the kiddies. Football is "as expected" - the Eagles are losing.

Caryn - I had very good experiences with InstaCart and Aldi's.

Nancy - I don't mind the cooler weather for the short=term. It is still warmer than PA.

The covid numbers are frightening. My department chair told us his wife tested positive - he and the kids are being tested tomorrow. We are sticking to our plan - staying home with occasional eating outdoors. I wear my mask all the time (except when taking a walk).

Allison

[talbotsshopper]

print of the food truck where we get our excellent Bayou goodies....  The 5x7 cost is only $40

[talbotsshopper]

the local brew spot where they hold bluegrass jams each Thursday night (outside in the courtyard - now very socially distanced between tables).

[talbotsshopper]

a different courtyard - the band playing in the scene is one of our local favorites - the lead singer is our realtor.

[talbotsshopper]

And finally, the Bakery where we discovered the artwork.