Thanks Spidra. I put so much effort into my ornaments and I have gotten so many compliments. Not sure what I did wrong. Didn't think it would upset me this much but it is total pity party for one over here.

I know what that feels like. It's difficult to predict what makes people buy sometimes. It's hard to put so much of yourself into something and see people pass it by. Do you have an Etsy store? If you can cast a broader net, you may find people who are willing to buy as well as give compliments.

Welcome home, Kathy!

I am reading y'all talking about getting enough sleep and realizing that I should go to bed myself. I went to stretch class today. It was great, but I will be SORE tomorrow.

Aw, Suzi. Your ornaments ARE beautiful, but people who are buying embroidered toilet paper are not your market. Nothing you did wrong.

Ok, I can't believe I'm still watching because it's been AWFUL lately, but can anyone explain the very end of private practice to me? I've forgotten who those people are and why I should care or be shocked or whatever.

It does sound like a different market than you need, Suzi. I'm sorry they didn't sell, but is there a more boutique-style venue you can try? Etsy would be perfect for an online outlet, I'd think. People who shop there want handmade OOAK things.

Kathy, welcome home, and I'm glad things went well! Now that my meds seem to be balanced and actually working, I've dropped almost 15 pounds. I hope that trend continues. H was recently diagnosed diabetic. It was a complete surprise. I've been pre-diabetic since my teens, and haven't taken the kind of care of my body I should have, mostly from a POV similar to Connie's. And to Bonny's client--"why should I have to do things differently?" It's taken a long old time for me to realize that wanting doesn't affect physicality, not this way, anyway. But H has no family history of diabetes and had never had any indication it was a risk for him, so he's been freaking a little. Our doctor set up an appointment with a nutritionist, and I think we flummoxed her with the low-fat, low-salt, low-sugar, low-carb, high fiber, way we eat, while accomodating our various sensitivities and intolerances. She sort of nodded as we related our usual food choices, and cooking methods. "Well! Looks like you guys pretty much have everything covered. Here's my card, call if you have questions."

I hate thinking about food. I've been overweight and avoiding food my entire adult life. Once my kids were old enough to feed themselves I abdicated the role of family cook, because food shopping and prep required thinking about food. Food's the enemy. So I've been incredibly lucky to wind up married to a guy who loves to shop, loves to cook, listens carefully to my preferences and caters to them, and cooks well. I do floors and have other talents. He feeds me.

The one guideline he's had trouble with is portion size. I think most Americans are unaware of what a dietetically sound portion looks like.

Muppets on SNL: Skred! The Grand Phabog! I have fond memories of Skred cuddling up to Lily Tomlin. He was a prototype of the Skesis. es, from The Dark Crystal, only cozier and with more personality.

Kathy, am so pleased to hear your recovery is going well.

I lost about 25 lb the year before last and have kept it off so far. Moving to London really helped as you've no choice but to walk everywhere, and if I'm not forced to exercise, I won't.

My goal is to lose another twenty lbs or so, but I'd be happy with 10-15. Calorie-counting is the only thing that's ever worked for me. I just make sure I don't go over 1600 a day or so when I'm actively trying to lose weight.

It took me a long while to admit that I needed to lose weight. I'd always been skinny, like really skinny, that girl who everyone would say 'I don't know how you can eat all that and not put on any weight!', and it was hard to admit that I was not that person anymore.

So much diet info is poorly understood and faddish. We went through the sugar = bad in the 70s (but honey was apparently ok), fat = bad in the 80s and 90s (so let's load everything down with salt and sweetners), and now we have so many competing theories that a diet based on blood type almost looks sensible. "Almost" being key there.

I work out at least three times a week, try to cook most of my meals using lots of veggies, berries, and whole grains, stay hydrated, and try to eat to satiation, rather than for emotional or social reasons or to finish off the last bit of something. Which turns out to be pretty good portion control for me. (Although fries can be a downfall--there's no satiation point there.)

It seems like a sensible plan. My doctor seems to think so, too. And it also seems to be keeping me at about 50 pounds above my supposedly proper weight. Can't really think of a healthy way to change that, so I'll be the middle-aged fat chick with the cat. There are worse niches to fill.

Still a work in progress for me, even with the nightly sleep meds. But I'm not AS sleep-deprived as I used to be, so that's kind of nifty.

SO MUCH WORD. But it's getting a wee bit better.

Off to work! Hey, first time in a long that that Friday has MEANT something!!!

beth, glad the new med is working for you!

Suzi, seriously, someone embroidered toilet paper? And people bought it? So very not your market, there.