So many of us are on the site this morning! Doesn't anyone have to be anywhere today?<p>Well, since so many are here, I have baked a cake, my famous Twinkie Cake, made with Duncan Hines Butter Recipe Yellow Cake, my secret twinkie filling and organic strawberreis from the co-op sliced on top. I know it is fattening, but we will counteract that with a salad for lunch.<p>I have a pot of Expresso roast coffee brewed and some Earl Gray tea...<p>Babstr, since I haven't seen you around in so long, you are my guest of honor. Coffee or tea?<p>Tigger, to celebrate your reunion with Sailorman (you have to tell us how things are going...) and the good news at the doctor's, you get the first slice of cake.<p>Mary Jane, for courage above and beyond the call, you get to sit in the cozy chair. Put your feet up, here's the footstool.<p>Jtigger, you are here so seldom and I personally love hearing your wisdom. Thanks for coming.<p>Cmiranda, welcome. Please sit next to Mom of Five and get comfy and I'll bring you cake and coffee.<p>Twiisty, would you like cream and sugar in your coffee?<p>Who's not here?

thank you I would love to come
but my hips shouldnt have cake

Oh Catnip!<p>Unfortunately for me, I'm on my way out, but can I have a sip of Earl Grey before I go? [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] I love it with 2 sugars and a little milk! <p>Lady, you're the cat's meow [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Besides, I'm celebrating. The State agreed to help me set up the ch-s by direct deposit. XOW REFUSES to share her "private" (HAHA) bank account info with us, so we've had to get money orders every month for 3.5 years. No more trips for money orders, whoo hoo! (why couldn't that "privacy" issue come up about 4.4 years ago, I wonder?)<p>Cheers,
J

Mom of five:<p>then I will put you in charge of running down the stairs to open the door to burn off the calories...Doc's Girl and Dawn and Unahppy Wife just pulled up. <p>Jenny, I was so glad you flew in from overseas...since you are my oldest friend here, I could use your help in the kitchen<p>I am keeping my fingers crossed Heavenly and Gem will make it.

Catnip,<p>Do you mind if I drop in for a few?<p>I have a short break coming up, and I would love to drop in [img]images/icons/grin.gif" border="0[/img]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by catnip:
[QB]<p>Jenny, I was so glad you flew in from overseas...since you are my oldest friend here, I could use your help in the kitchen<p>QB]<hr></blockquote><p>We must have been posting at the same time, Jenny. Oh, I am so glad you now have direct deposit...what took them so long?<p>This is a great time to tell you how wonderful it is that you are still here. I think about you a lot and wonder if you ever made it to the great northwoods last fall. Did you get to visit with all your relatives? When we are checking the threads and posting about particular issues, sometimes we forget to just stop and take the time to chat to see how everyone is doing. It is such a busy world with so many things happening all at one. Now is a good time to tell you how much you have come to mean to me over the past three years.

Stacia! I was just looking for you and Matthew out the window! And Broken Wings, too. I am so glad you could join us. You're a positive influence here among us. And your spiriutalism helps a lot, too.

Stacia, would like some berries on your cake? They are very ripe and flavorful right now, and they smell wonderful. I think that's the best part about a good strawberry...the smell.

Oooh! Ooooh! Oooh! me too! Thanks for inviting me.<p>I need a break like you wouldn't believe. Twinkie cake? "VWow" as me boyos say. You know if I bring the Diet Coke we can cancel out the calories in the Twinkie cake.<p>(I am down about 45 lbs. total. Having trouble getting restarted on the diet since the boys are here but I started again yesterday.)<p>It is so cozy here at your home Catnip. Is it raining cats and dogs in your part of the country like it is here and has been for days on end?<p>I love you ladies.<p>MJ

I am honored to be amongst some of the strongest women I have ever encountered ...Thank you Catnip.<p>I don't have to work today...hope no one minds if I add a shot of Baily's to my coffee [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img]
my nerves have been shot the past few days...

Catnip,<p>Well it will have to be decaf tea. I would love to come. It has been so dreary here with a ton of rain, and to sit and relax would be great. You do have a babysitter available right?? [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>babstr.

I'm looking for Ohbratti but I think she is working this morning.<p>I am so glad you are all here for my virtual Kaffe Klatch. Now is a good time to tell you how special all of you are and how much you all mean to me. Without you, and without many of the Oldtimers who are no longer here, I would never have come so far or survived all this. <p>I know, I know... the rage issues I deal with has kept me stunted in some respects and I should probably talk about my progress more, but all in all, I am really very content and happy right now. Progress, not perfection, n'est pas?<p>Our situations are so specialized that only "one of us" on either side of the fence, could possibly understand or give the support we give each other here.<p>Anyway, can I get anyone anything?

Babstr,
If your little girl likes to play house, my own preschooler can entertain her for HOURS!<p>Oh, this is too fun [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img] <p>catnip, we never did get to the big woods. Sadly I'm afraid the eldest relative may die before we ever get there... DH is deployed, so we can't go anytime soon (unless it's for a funeral). The support change too so long because the state only started offering this option this week!! And with DH gone, it was ME getting the money orders--blah. Snoopy Dance! [img]images/icons/wink.gif" border="0[/img] <p>Can I just have a little scoop of strawberries? Then I'll be on my way, honest!

Mary Janes:<p>What a phenomenal weight loss! I am so thrilled for you. I won't sabotage your diet but you also mustn't completely deprive yourself either or you could get resentful. Moderation is the key. Well, you still have to have a piece of this cake because it is a special day when so many of us are around at once. And yes, I truly believe in my heart one can of diet Coke will counteract Twinkie Cake. I can will it to be so.<p>Babstr: The best thing about my house is that children are welcome and comfy here, so bring her along...and decaf it is. I have all kinds of juices for her and there's a basket of kittens in the basement for her to play with.<p>Doc's Girl: Bailey's? Absolutely! Let me join you. Check in the cabinet behind the paper napkins, you'll find the bottle. Hey! I'm glad you came, you sure know how to have fun.

Jenny! I'm doing the Snoopy Dance with you...even if he is a 'dog'. Ahhh, strawberries and the Snoopy Dance...doesn't get much better than this.

Congrat's on your weight loss MJ's...how did you do it?<p>Catnip you are a very gracious hostess. This is the best morning I've had in a long time. [img]images/icons/smile.gif" border="0[/img]

Hello,
Thanks. I would love to stop by. The baby just got up. Do you have a babysitter. He is ten months olds.<p>
Dawn

I need to step out side to have a cigarette...ugh
I had quit for 5 months prior to DDay...then took up this basty habit again, much to my kids dismay and Doc's. I just can't seem to find the motivation to quit again.any idea's ladies?

Yes ma’am. Please, on the berries.<p>
Hello Dawn71, MaryJanes, Momof5, cMiranda, Tigger, jtigger, Jenny, DocsGirl and everyone I have left out.<p>I was about to post and my computer crashed. I just got it back up…<p>Yes, MJ.. how did you lose the weight? I lost 40 last year on SlimFast.
I have gained 10 of that back…

well I have diet coke so I can have the cake, only my little one has poured froot loops all over the floor and is seeing how fast she can run from them. <p> I get to run up and down the stair, I do that at my house, doesnt help my hips, but I shall try the diet coke before every meal.
see we can all sit in a room and be nice to each other.