1/4/08challenge..it's not wacky wed,but

[hawk]

I couldn't help myself... warning

I spit my coffee out when I read this..don't be eating or drinking.

Dear Ma and Pa,
I am well. Hope you are.
Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.
I was restless at first because you got to stay in bed till nearly 6 A.M. but I am getting so I like to sleep late.
Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things.
No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.
Men got to shave but it is not so bad,there's warm water.
Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak , fried eggplant, pie and other regular food,
But tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee.
Their food plus yours holds you till noon when you get fed again.
It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much. We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us.
If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different.
A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home.
Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.
This will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why.
The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it.You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.
Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys.
I have to be real careful though, they break real easy.
It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home.
I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake.
I only beat him once.
He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.
Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.
Your loving daughter, Carol

[hawk]

I hope this is a great day for all you boot camp challengers. The first time I read that, I thought..whoa..this sounds like my oldest son. Then I got to the last line and spit my coffee out laughing. My oldest son thought basic training was easy and complained about it.
Now we did not have a bull, but the chickens and horse and the huge garden. We canned most of our food. We heated our house with a woodstove and split fire wood every day. We homeschooled and spent more time on physical fitness than the everage student...hiking 5-10 miles a day, lifting weights, riding horses, swimming across the local lake. Our son used to do pullups with our two adopted kids hanging around his neck.
He worked for a couple farm brothers bailing and tossing hay and feeding their milk cows from the time he was thirteen because you can't get a job till your sixteen anywhere else.


When I got away from that lifestyle , I noticed it does not take long to lose it. You can lose in one week what it takes two to three months to build up.

So I guess I'm here to encourage you boot campers to get out and move today. Do something fun. Join the YMCA, swim laps, hit the treadmill in front of a fast paced adventure movie, if all else fails...do some crunches to your favorite music.

[Ammy]

Good morning Hawk!
I have already been at work for an hour and it's 7:30:jawDrop:.

I slept terrible, probably too much coffee too close to bed, and have a lot of work to do, so I just came in early.
I'm leaving at noon to head over to Wisconsin to celebrate Christmas with the in-law. It's a 6hr drive, and if I'm feeling tired, I'm just laying in the backseat and napping! We're going to be listening to The Kite Runner book on tape, so I can at least rest to that.

I went to the gym on Wed, but not yesterday, and obviously not today. We did pack the Pilates dvd and hopefully I can sneak downstairs and get in a round of that. I have until Saturday night to get in one more workout-my goal was twice a week Sun am-Sat pm. I can do it.

I hope all have a good day. I've just finished breakfast. Couldn't eat all my turkey, but I will have it after awhile when I get hungry since I ate so early this am.

6:30am 3oz deli turkey, green bean casserole
9am 2oz turkey
11am 20 almonds
12:30 burger (no bun), caeser side salad (4 croutons)
large iced latte
5pm either a salad with chicken/chicken nuggets, or an omlet, depending on where we stop to eat.

These are approx assuming I have a salad for supper:
Pro: 130
ecc: 43
Fat: 123
Cal: 1881

[Billie]

Your loving daughter Carol, love it Hawk! Wacky Wednesday is good anyday for me!

Well we are moving very slowly this AM and we need to get it in gear as we are flying to Colorado Springs to have a long weekend with my oldest son. I am so excited! We will be cooking sometimes, (Gabe and my sons love to have grill offs and bake offs) and out to dinner but it is all very manageable.

Cold in Chicago, but warm in our hearts! Will check in when I can

[Billie]

Amy I heard that caffeine can stay in your system for up to 20 hours. I drink a latte in the AM with real coffee but anything after noon I have to go decaf or like you I am up all night!

[hawk]

Billie..have a blast. Eat some great grilled food for me...my grill is under two feet of snow. Dragging those suitcases through the airport will be great excersize.

[Ammy]

Amy I heard that caffeine can stay in your system for up to 20 hours. I drink a latte in the AM with real coffee but anything after noon I have to go decaf or like you I am up all night!

Yikes!!
I had my first iced latte at 2, which is usually fine but then I had one at 6pm - and I asked for decaf - but I wonder if it wasn't...
I don't know, I could NOT shut my brain off, and that's usually a sign of too much caffeine........or stress.....and I am under a bit of stress....



BUT...I have lost 6lbs since 12/27/07...that's something to celebrate, right????

[Rhyme'n Reason]

YAY, Amy! I know pounds come off more slowly when you're nearer goal, so that's a great start.

Hawk, thanks for the warning--I was reading your post, coffee in hand, but decided to finish reading before drinking it. That's hysterical!

Today looks good. I have my lunch and supper packed, since I'll be traveling to a basketball game.

I went shopping last night and was actually able to buy some sweaters and a nightshirt in a store. It's been a while since I've been able to buy anything other than mail order clothing--that felt great!!

Have a great day!

[Ammy]

I went shopping last night and was actually able to buy some sweaters and a nightshirt in a store. It's been a while since I've been able to buy anything other than mail order clothing--that felt great!!

RUTH!!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/4.gif

[hawk]

Ruth ...that's fantastic!! YAYYYYYYY!!!!!

[maxlharris]

At work for 40 minutes now. Time to get breakfast. Am still working on the grocery issue, as the "supermarket" near my apartment turns out to be a very poorly stocked convenience store. Website pictures showed bags with produce. No produce to be seen. I was so mad, I didn't even buy frozen hot wings.

On plan, life is getting good. Still feel all stuffy and allergic in the AM. Might take a few days for that to clear. Or I might be allergic to something. Ish.

[msgq]

Love the Laugh, Hawk. Thank You!

Today is shaping up to be a busy day. I've already dressed the boys and hauled them to the grocery store and back. We have friends scheduled to come sledding this afternoon, followed by a taco bar. So, things are moving.

And, thanks for the reminder to move. It is easy to skip excercise, even when I know it is important. Baby steps.

I was getting pretty discouraged last night, like I've failed again. But, then I thought about what has been different. I've stopped snacking, and if I am hungry I'm finding protein. I'm not eating after dinner any more. I'm drinking more water. I'm eating my protein first, followed by veggies.

So, things aren't as bad as they seem!

Oh, two more BONUS things that happened yesterday. DH's job has offered us health insurance BEFORE the 90 days mandatory working time. And, it is GOOD insurance! And, he requested two days off so our family can go on a mini-winter break to a Great Wolf Lodge and they granted it! Whoo Hooo!

Don't know if I can get back today. But, I'll be thinking of you!

Kathy

[Relief]

thanks for the great laugh this morning Hawk! I had to send it on to my daughter in the army. she thought boot camp was easy too!

back to basics challenge is good for me this month. a little too much honey tree over christmas. hopefully a coupole of really strict weeks and the 5 pounds will be gone!

food planned for today:
B: scrambled eggs, a bit of bacon, some cherry tomatoes, hot tea
L:cold sliced duck, tomato, mozzarella salad w/basil
D: a couple of baked chicken thighs, spinach, cauliflower w/ cheese sauce
possible snacks/desserts if desired:LC blueberry muffin , half a pear with splenda sweetened yogurt. Ounce of spicy pecans and cashews



big plans to start working out again as well. We are in the process of refitting and fixing up our workout space (moving the weights up two flights of stairs will be my first weeks workout :D) the Darling Man recently bought a rowing machine--which will be nice to have as well.

[gitfiddle]

BUT...I have lost 6lbs since 12/27/07...that's something to celebrate, right????
You betcher boots it is!

Hawk, thanks for the laugh. I read that somewhere in the past, but I forgot the ending! The geezer will get a kick out of it.

Billie, I would just love to be at one of your cookoffs!

Yay, Ruth! It is so exciting to buy clothes "off the rack" when you haven't for a while!

Max, I hope you find the chicken wing motherlode soon. And the produce. ;)

Kathy, I drove by a Great Wolf in Wisconson last fall. All those little log cabins! How cool!

Breakfast was a protein shake (the first one in two weeks!) and lunch was very meaty chili and a salad. Dinner will be the pork I didn't fix last night, with green beans.

I had a very stiff neck yesterday and stopped at the chiro last night after work. The neck muscles are still fairly painful so I'm doing my tai chi stretches several times today. Keeps everything moving. It's so easy to freeze up sitting at a desk staring at a computer. Walking with my arms swinging might help, too.

[maxlharris]

All I want is a damned head of garlic. Maybe an onion. Was thinking about making my pork rib chili, considering the weather is looking sub freezing for the future (they're talking 60 for Sunday, but that's not gonna last). But with no grocery, I might be SOL and I'm not talking the Solicitor of Labor (my mentor's organization).

[hawk]

I feel your pain. Max... Sorry..but you make me laugh even when you are not trying to be funny. Is there anyone who lives there that can direct you to a place to purchase your staples??

I have been running around cleaning under everything in the house..dust.
Moving furniture and attacking dust. Low and behold my newest pair of glasses turned up under a book shelf safe and sound in their case.They have been lost for a two months and they are graduated lenses that I use when I draw. I had a bear of a time drawing with out them. Put glasses on..look across at computer at photo, take glasses off and look at drawing paper up close...take glasses off...sheesh.. Takse forever!!! Thank goodness for graduated lenses..Me.... Smiling all around the house!! I think I'll draw something.

[WakefieldWendy]

Hello everyone,

Looks like everyone is bright-eyed and bushy tailed this fine Friday.

Max, I read your account of breakfast for lunch in yesterday's challenge thread. You spoke of getting potatoes and toast. You did well to avoid it, but I wanted to add a couple points:

1. At Perkins (but no-where else I know of), they let you "low-carb" your breakfast by getting an extra meat instead of the accompaniments (i.e. pancakes, toast or muffin). Sausage patties + sausage links = yum.

2. Almost every diner I have been in will let you replace potatoes with tomatos. Gives a little vegetable to your meal, and eliminates the temptation of the taters.

Hawk, your joke was excellent. I'm sure there are some folks who find basic training a breeze, but I guess it has to be somewhat lowest common denominator as they are trying to recruit anyone who can successfully complete and serve. I suppose the good think about military training is that you can always take the next course that is harder - I don't think anyone thinks SEAL training is easy, for example.

Ruth, do you mean that mail-order clothing comes in bigger sizes than regular plus-sized stores, or that you don't have plus-sized stores in your local area? Congratulations in any event. I used to be a size 26 stuffed way too tightly into size 24 jeans. Now I'm a size 18 swimming in size 20 jeans. This weekend or next we will buy me some size 18s that fit.

For me today:

cottage cheese and berries
lc frozen dinner and extra chicken
burger and veggies
dessert: yogurt and berries

I usually don't post my dessert, but I often eat some nuts, or a small piece of chocolate (a Lindor truffle has 5 or 6 ecc for example, or Lindt 70% or 85% cocoa) or even a lower carb cookie that Peak Frean is making (several varieties all about 7 ecc). What I eat and whether I eat anything depends on how hungry I am, and what I'm in the mood for. Lately I've been hungry so it's been nuts to pack in some calories. Tonight I've got some unsweetened full fat yogurt that is going to go bad so I'm going to make a point of eating that for my dessert.

I probably won't post this weekend, but I'll check in for the rest of the afternoon until I go home. We are going to work out tonight, and then buy a few groceries. This weekend my plans include:
- take down Christmas tree and decorations (the tree is still looking good but it is Epiphany and that's my "end of season")
- make myself more cauliflower mash
- make a crustless mushroom cheese quiche to take to a breakfast meeting on Sunday (before church with the other youth group leaders)
- make chilli and cheddar-cornmeal muffins for a young family I feed at church (they successfully bid on my offering of a "freezer full of food" at our Auction)
- watch a lot of football and some hockey! :D
- glue some stuff (you have to plan this - because once you open those powerful glues, that's it - so everything has to be ready to go!)

There are some folks playing broomball on the rink I can see from my office window. I love that game - wish I were playing with them.

[Peachy]

Hi everyone! I'm in for the January challenge! I know I'm a few days late, but better late than never, right?

Here's a little bit about me:
My goals are to lose a lot of fat and gain a little muscle. When I was living a Protein Power life before I felt strong and happy. Then I got sick and went right back to those comfort foods. Well, it was a year and two months of comfort foods and now I look like I'm pregnant. All that unhealthy abdominal weight. I have had 5 people ask me when I'm due. Yep, that much tummy.

I have three daughters, a husband, a full time job and two little dogs. My life is always about meeting everyone's needs -- I usually put myself last.

But here I am, committed and ready to live a Protein Power life again.

It's nice to meet you all.:)

[gitfiddle]

:paranoid: Wendy, how big is the "freezer full of food?" Are you making everything in it? :eek: Intriguing! And how nice you've got an office window!

Hawk, glad you found your graduated glasses! I do my share of peering, too.

Peachy, I'm glad you found us. :)

[Rhyme'n Reason]

WW, we have a few plus size stores--Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug Plus, and CJ Banks. Except for Fashion Bug, these stores don't go higher than 3x (and FB's 4x's run more like others' 3x's). I was in a 4x for everything, and even those were getting small. I actually had quite a few 5x's in shirts. There are a few catalog stores online that carry "extended" sizes, and that's pretty much what I was restricted to. Now I have gotten rid of all my 5x's and a lot of my 4x's are getting big. Some 3x's are beginning to fit, so I'm now exploring the stores again. :)

[WakefieldWendy]

Good for you Ruth. Every step is a victory.

Gitfiddle - it wasn't very precise! :lol: But I'll make them stuff for a while and we'll see how it goes. They have 2 children (one in kindergarten and one at home) so life is pretty busy for them. If I can help them out, I'm glad to, so I'll probably keep doing it long after I've done "enough". Plus, I really enjoy baking, so it gives me an opportunity to do that. They eat lots of foods (including spices, and a good range of veggies) in comparison to my nieces and nephews, so there's some scope there. And their mom is happy with me making things a bit more healthy for them.

The first thing I made was individual chicken pot pies (with not a lot of crust, so higher than low-carb but not bad) and oatmeal-apple muffins. I split one of these with DW when they were warm (I don't make huge muffins, so this wasn't too much) and was thinking they were a little bland. I e-mailed the mom after and said, so she understood, that I come from the old school where muffins are slightly sweeter and tastier than bread, not where muffins are basically cake or doughnut like in sweetness. That particular recipe for 14 muffins had just 1/2 cup of brown sugar, plus the natural sweetness of the apples, and it had oatmeal and whole wheat flour and no white flour. The mom was happy with that, as she tries to limit their consumption of sugar and encourages whole grains. I tend to think that some grains are OK for people who don't have messed-up metabolisms (like moi ;)) so I don't feel like I'm doing anything bad, you know.

So this chilli I make will have a few more beans than it would if it were just for me, and I'll throw in some corn because even though that isn't traditional, I think it is a nice combination. It will be lower-carb, but not low-carb, y'know?

[hawk]

Wakefield. you have to have a high school diploma and there is an ASFAB test you have to pass. You also have to pass a pre basic training physical. It is harder to get in than it used to be. You have to really want to get in. I know a few who have been turned away. Many of the buys in now have college degrees. Our adopted son Jon passed his ASFAB test with such a high score and his PE test , he runs under a 5 minute mile, that he was offered officer training school. He wanted to be out in the field and not in college for the next 6 years. He would have had to sign up for 10 years to do that. There are many who do. Jon just wanted to be in infantry and serve his country. He's now on his second tour in Iraq.He's a Sgt.

[hawk]

My oldest did take the seal training and he was in Delta Force. He graduated top of his class and graduated college. He's now a State Farm insurance man. Owns his own business and runs a martial arts school at night.But last week in a push up contest, I watched him smoke all the younger nephews doing 100 push ups in a minute on those push up stands, hitting his chest to the floor.

[maxlharris]

Max, I read your account of breakfast for lunch in yesterday's challenge thread. You spoke of getting potatoes and toast. You did well to avoid it, but I wanted to add a couple points:

1. At Perkins (but no-where else I know of), they let you "low-carb" your breakfast by getting an extra meat instead of the accompaniments (i.e. pancakes, toast or muffin). Sausage patties + sausage links = yum.

2. Almost every diner I have been in will let you replace potatoes with tomatos. Gives a little vegetable to your meal, and eliminates the temptation of the taters.


No car = No perkins. At least, not without some planning.

If I'd realized potatos were coming, maybe would have asked for sub. But, it might be better to have faced temptation and walked away clean than to have avoided it entirely. Today, at lunch, turned down having a loaf of bread on the table, passed on fries on the plate (next to a piece of sirloin), and then left an unasked for cookie on the table at departure. If resisting temptation makes me stronger, then I'm getting strong. But, on the other hand, if temptation isn't tempting, then maybe I'm fixed. It's two days, so it's too early to say, but I might be back on my mojo.

While I'm here, I found a grocery store that delivers! So happy I could (you fill in the blank). Veery happy indeed. Groceries will be obtained. Yeah!

[WakefieldWendy]

Hawk,

Congratulations to both of your sons for their service. I can bet that an ex-Delta Force man is pretty much always close to excellent physical shape!

I am Canadian, of course, and don't know too much about how your military works. I do know that when I get into discussions about it with Americans, I seem to end up in fights from both the left wing ("it takes advantage of poor, black kids" etc.) and the right (who think I'm a commie pinko red-neck for not supporting every military action the U.S. has been involved in).

I do believe that the choices about engagement are made at a mostly political level, and have no bearing on how I feel about military folk. And I think offering service (as a member of the military, or a police officer, or a teacher, or a youth baseball coach, etc.) is very, very important. I also think that the military can be an excellent "way out" or "way up" for a lot of young folks, but I recognize that there is a lot of other stuff around that which is politically sensitive so I'll refrain from further discussion there.

In terms of how easy it is to get in, or to get through basic training, I offer the following:
1. I remember a friend I had who went to the Royal Military College (sort of West Point for Canadians) and when she went through basic training, there were two overweight nurses and she was told "get them through". I know they had to meet certain basic requirements but the need was strong so they were "supported" in every possible way.

2. I recall reading something recently about the U.S. military relaxing entrance requirements somewhat due to the need for more enlistment (i.e. if the recruitment officer felt that the minor criminal offense was in the past and wasn't a reflection of character the recruit could join). I don't know whether any of this was specifically related to physical requirements.

3. On a training level, there must be a basic level of physical competence for everyone. But the level ultimately required will vary according to the eventual job. All I meant was that basic training is for everyone, so while there is a need to meet a basic level, it isn't the same level as may be needed for advanced training.

I meant no disrespect at all. I know that basic training isn't nothing. I was simply agreeing that some young people, especially those in excellent condition (or those from the farm, as per your joke ;)) might not find it particularly challenging.

[gitfiddle]

Max, I filled it in with "jump up and down". ;)

Congrats on finding the store that delivers! I forgot you didn't have a car. I hope your Mojo's coming back. It makes life so much easier!

Ruth! That's great! You GO, girl!

[hawk]

AHHHH don't worry about it Wake... they went to serve their country. the one who is over there is increasingly discruntled. He knows they made a difference but at what cost?. He is not fighting against an enemy but For us and to keep his freinds alive and so they will all come home safe. He follows orders.. He fights so terrorism won't harm us. He's ready to be home though . He's been in for 5 years. He's not sure he agrees with the politics either. He knows alot about the religious aspect over there and wonders if there is ever going to be anything we can do to really change that. It would take a couple generations he thinks.
I don't do politics on the board..too many opinions. I just want him to be safe.
The oldest fought in Somalia...Black Hawk Down.. Oct 1993 ....terrible, stupid. He also rescued people and hunted down drug cartel. Things we are not supposed to even know about.

[hawk]

The training level...Your score helps determine what jobs you can do when you get out of basic.

For the joke..you were right. She just did not seem too bright.

My brother in law has a son from his first marraige who is dyslexic and ADHD.. He can't seem to get in the army to save his soul. He can't pass the test because of his handicap. He keeps trying to pass the ASFAB. He graduated high school. I don't know how. He works construction and plays vidio games. I honestly hope he does not get in. He may not make it.


Our adopted son was supposed to come home last August. The new guys coming in were having alot of trouble sighting their weapons. One was at it all day and still had no luck. Because of Politics, our son felt the staff above him were not in agreement and not giving the new recruits the best training. Our son can sight a weapon in 6 shots. So he took it on himself to train them and ended up getting sent over with them. (He had all the paper work for joining special forces training and was planning to be in the states for two more years.). He could not let the new guys get wasted because of poor training. He took it on himself to take the time with them.
I am pretty proud of his actions there. He is not. He feels that anyone would have done it.
Or should have done it.It added over a year onto his time over on Iraq.

[Anniesnan]

having a wacky day. So so on my eating.

Tomorrow will be better.

[maxlharris]

And I think offering service (as a member of the military, or a police officer, or a teacher, or a youth baseball coach, etc.) is very, very important.

Please don't forget your friendly neighborhood civil servants who frequently work for long hours (wouldn't know much about that in current role, except the week I ran 14 hour days every day), for substandard pay (am lowest paid employed person from my class of 135), and who are near completely ignored as giving service. We support the troops (DOD), the common worker (me personally & the other 16000 at DOL), the consumer (Commerce), the everyman (EPA, Interior, Ag), the businessman (Commerce, Justice), and pretty much everyone else (SSA, for example).

Just preachin. Sorry.

[Claudette]

Ruth, congrats! Doesn't buying off the rack feel great?

Hawk, great post.

I've been off the last few days for computer, DSL issues. That's sometimes the problem living in a one horse town....


Hugs,
Claudette

[WakefieldWendy]

Please don't forget your friendly neighborhood civil servants who frequently work for long hours (wouldn't know much about that in current role, except the week I ran 14 hour days every day), for substandard pay (am lowest paid employed person from my class of 135), and who are near completely ignored as giving service. We support the troops (DOD), the common worker (me personally & the other 16000 at DOL), the consumer (Commerce), the everyman (EPA, Interior, Ag), the businessman (Commerce, Justice), and pretty much everyone else (SSA, for example).

Just preachin. Sorry.

The "etc." in my line that you quoted (unquoted here as this system doesn't seem to support quotes within quotes) is evidence that this isn't a closed list. I am myself a civil servant. I wasn't ranking different kinds of service as being more important than others.