[Soupe du jour]

We just arrived in Montreal, Canada. The flight from Paris was pleasant enough, as transatlantic flights go. We have about 1 1/2 hours to wait for our final flight home to the NYC area. Right now it is 11:20 pm in Paris (5:20 pm in Montreal), but it feels much earlier because I have yet to take my evening meds. I won't until just before we reach our destination.

It was a dream upon arrival in Montreal for our connection to the US. It couldn't have been easier and with more respect from the airport officials! Thank you, Canada! I don't think the flight will have many people on it at all. Our flight from Paris was maybe max 50% full. Hubby said 30%. It was a dream liner 787, so was overall pleasant because of that, too. Air Canada. Sorry to say that a US airline likely would have sucked, in comparison. Just stating the facts. Sure would be nice if that changed!

When I check in next, I will be home. I'm hoping our home airport is much friendlier than usual since few international flights are coming in. It should be much better coming from Canada instead of Europe or elsewhere.

It seems that my neck and back feel much better as long as I am sitting in a decent chair for a while. The worst is after a night's sleep in a bed (horizontally) . It hasn't mattered which bed (Brno, my sister-in-law's, Paris). I'll see if my home bed is better. If it worsens because of it, I might sleep in the recliner the next night.

Christina, I feel the same about stairs. Luckily, the house we're renting in Brno has fewer than others. There is also a bedroom on the ground floor with the kitchen and a bathroom. Glad Steve is getting better and better!

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I know there is a post about this in technical support but did any of you get an error message yesterday saying the security of the site was compromised and to "click here to go back to safety". It was down for less than 24 hours but it seemed like forever.

Plus, tomorrow I get my new couch and get rid of the old one. (It's going to N1- she really wants it!) So lots of pre-moving things. Plus someone is coming to get the piano and maybe the washing machine. We are also getting the dresser (mine since I was 5) to N3's place.

First - great news on your rent!

And yes, I think everyone who tried to access the forums got that message. I was fairly freaked out, but then PC posted their own message stating that the site would return by this afternoon.

[*Beth*]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

Well, the dinner party came off fine. I made ahi with a nice marinade, roasted potatoes, asparagae, and I made a key lime pie. It was pretty good. I had to clean my whole house. It was hard. But I did it. First time in 8 years. Yay!!!

Congratulations! That sounds wonderful.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

Well I can say its official..... Steve is feeling much better he's been working on something everyday, that hasn't happened all year.

He is out on the tractor bush hogging our land!!! I'm beyond grateful he is doing well.. He loves his tractor

I want to thank you all for giving me such support always, Its been the most difficult year of our lives together.

Ya'll are amazing people

I'm so happy for you and Steve!

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by BethRags

First - great news on your rent!

And yes, I think everyone who tried to access the forums got that message. I was fairly freaked out, but then PC posted their own message stating that the site would return by this afternoon.

Thanks! I don't know how much the reduced rent will benefit me vs the section 8 people but at least the complex accepted it so that I have an apartment still!

I can't believe that its less than a week before I move. Next week at this time I'll be in my new place!

[Coolbreeze74]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Thanks! I don't know how much the reduced rent will benefit me vs the section 8 people but at least the complex accepted it so that I have an apartment still!

I can't believe that its less than a week before I move. Next week at this time I'll be in my new place!

So happy for you! I lived in my old apartment for 11 yrs. I've been here for 10 years. I remember how exciting it was to move into a new place. I don't want to leave here even though they got new owners and really raised my rent last summer. But these apartments are really nice. I'm in a really nice area too. Rent has really went up since I moved last. Even the not nice apartments are spendy, so just better to stay here...

[Nammu]

Yeah I’m surprised how much apartments are in this area. I was in Austin tx and they are expensive there but there not much less here and it’s a rural area without the services that a metropolitan area has. Amazing! Plus utilities are higher up here. I had a very nice apt in tx and I had sec 8 which I lost when I moved.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Yeah I’m surprised how much apartments are in this area. I was in Austin tx and they are expensive there but there not much less here and it’s a rural area without the services that a metropolitan area has. Amazing! Plus utilities are higher up here. I had a very nice apt in tx and I had sec 8 which I lost when I moved.

Dare I ask why you lost your section 8?

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Coolbreeze74

So happy for you! I lived in my old apartment for 11 yrs. I've been here for 10 years. I remember how exciting it was to move into a new place. I don't want to leave here even though they got new owners and really raised my rent last summer. But these apartments are really nice. I'm in a really nice area too. Rent has really went up since I moved last. Even the not nice apartments are spendy, so just better to stay here...

I didn't want to move from here but I had to for two reasons: 1. The complex I'm in now lost some funding so all the section 8 people have to move out! 2. It's a 3-bedroom townhouse which worked when the kids lived with me but its too big for just me. (I've really had to pare down for this move!)

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by Soupe du jour

We just arrived in Montreal, Canada. The flight from Paris was pleasant enough, as transatlantic flights go. We have about 1 1/2 hours to wait for our final flight home to the NYC area. Right now it is 11:20 pm in Paris (5:20 pm in Montreal), but it feels much earlier because I have yet to take my evening meds. I won't until just before we reach our destination.

It was a dream upon arrival in Montreal for our connection to the US. It couldn't have been easier and with more respect from the airport officials! Thank you, Canada! I don't think the flight will have many people on it at all. Our flight from Paris was maybe max 50% full. Hubby said 30%. It was a dream liner 787, so was overall pleasant because of that, too. Air Canada. Sorry to say that a US airline likely would have sucked, in comparison. Just stating the facts. Sure would be nice if that changed!

When I check in next, I will be home. I'm hoping our home airport is much friendlier than usual since few international flights are coming in. It should be much better coming from Canada instead of Europe or elsewhere.

It seems that my neck and back feel much better as long as I am sitting in a decent chair for a while. The worst is after a night's sleep in a bed (horizontally) . It hasn't mattered which bed (Brno, my sister-in-law's, Paris). I'll see if my home bed is better. If it worsens because of it, I might sleep in the recliner the next night.

Christina, I feel the same about stairs. Luckily, the house we're renting in Brno has fewer than others. There is also a bedroom on the ground floor with the kitchen and a bathroom. Glad Steve is getting better and better!

Safe travels, Soupe.

[wildflowerchild25]

Feeling much better today, save for anxiety. It wasn’t all day, just in the morning and when I got home. Probably will pop up when I try to sleep.

Work was calm. I worked with another girl in our class. She was REALLY good today! The principal promised her a philly soft pretzel at the end of the day. Well, he got them for the whole school but he told her about them in the morning so we encouraged her to work hard and follow the rules so she could get one at the end of the day. She did excellent! Such a nice change.

My brother didn’t cancel on me!!! We are actually gonna hang out with them tomorrow! I’m definitely excited. I haven’t seen them since December! I was getting salty because as usual they spent almost every weekend with my SIL’s family at their shore house, but it is what it is. He’s smoking some pork butt in his homemade smoker.

And something else I am quite proud of...I have lost 19 pounds from my highest weight in May. Two more pounds and I will have lost the most weight I’ve ever lost on any diet plan, and will be only three pounds off from being under 200lb for the first time in three years. Some of my work pants are actually pretty loose in the legs, and one of my pairs of jeans is too big too. My shirts are definitely fitting better. I have one shirt I’ve yet to put on...the shirt that kicked this all off. The shirt that I was wearing when I saw a picture of myself in June and realized something had to change. I think I will wait to try it on again after I’m under 200lb.

[Nammu]

Originally Posted by Moose72

Dare I ask why you lost your section 8?

I moved from Texas to Minnesota and my sec 8 was supposed to transfer but it went up in the cloud never to be found. I don’t know what I’m going to do when mum needs a nursing home. She’s got it in writing that I can stay here a year but I can’t afford the things that happen in a house.

[Moose72]

@wildflowerchild25 Congrats on your weight loss! And you'll break your record soon! I've lost about 10 pounds just watching what I eat.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by Nammu

I moved from Texas to Minnesota and my sec 8 was supposed to transfer but it went up in the cloud never to be found. I don’t know what I’m going to do when mum needs a nursing home. She’s got it in writing that I can stay here a year but I can’t afford the things that happen in a house.

Oh that sux majorly! I'm sorry you had to go through that.

[Daonnachd]

I agreed to help my MIL today. First it was cleaning out a shed then it was hoovering and shampooing the carpets. But then she told me late morning that we were going to make empanadas which are like savory pies. I sautéed a bunch of mushrooms for the filling in mine (I'm vegetarian.) and though we told my FIL what it was for he served himself a heaping spoonful at lunch. Ugh, my FIL comes home from work for his wife to make him lunch. He can't do anything food oriented by himself. Today he couldn't even figure out how to toast a lavash.

Sorry, I needed to vent momentarily. You can probably tell, I just got home from that experience. ...and I'm having increasing challenges in my relationships with them.

That's enough though. I'm happily home with my family now.

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by Moose72

@wildflowerchild25 Congrats on your weight loss! And you'll break your record soon! I've lost about 10 pounds just watching what I eat.

Congrats to you both on your weight loss!

[Soupe du jour]

I am now home in my own bed. The flight to Newark, NJ was pleasant enough and the airport a ghost town, on arrival.

I am very tired. It is almost 4 am Paris time (10 pm on the east coast US). I took my evening medications about 1 hour ago.

[Nammu]

Sounds like a successful trip soupe. Enjoy home.

[wildflowerchild25]

Originally Posted by Moose72

@wildflowerchild25 Congrats on your weight loss! And you'll break your record soon! I've lost about 10 pounds just watching what I eat.

Yes! Congratulations! All I’ve been doing is counting calories. Now that I’m off haldol and on a birth control that actually regulates me, I rarely get the urge to snack/binge. And I rarely drink alcohol anymore, which definitely helps. I have maybe one or two drinks a month, as opposed to binge drinking a bottle and a half of wine every Friday/Saturday.

[Coolbreeze74]

Looks like no panic attack tonight! Yay!

[bpcyclist]

0138 and Albert woke me up to party. Argh. Oh well.

[*Beth*]

I've been working with CBT skills for several months. I really like the concept, but I have a challenging time with many of the affirmations. On one hand I believe them, on the other I think Yeah, right...

For example, I like "I am safe and sound. All is well." I have a hard time with "Everything works out for my highest good."

Anyway, persisting on...

My son and DIL have been traveling; they find Idaho beautiful. Really like Boise. My son went to university in Paris, but finds Boise fascinating. The pics he's sent of Idaho look lovely. I had no idea, thought Idaho was just potato fields I have a new respect and admiration for Idaho. I am continually amazed at how each state in this nation is its own country, of sorts. With great leadership we have so much potential! Okay, I won't get political

[fern46]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I've been working with CBT skills for several months. I really like the concept, but I have a challenging time with many of the affirmations. On one hand I believe them, on the other I think Yeah, right...

For example, I like "I am safe and sound. All is well." I have a hard time with "Everything works out for my highest good."

Anyway, persisting on...

My son and DIL have been traveling; they find Idaho beautiful. Really like Boise. My son went to university in Paris, but finds Boise fascinating. The pics he's sent of Idaho look lovely. I had no idea, thought Idaho was just potato fields I have a new respect and admiration for Idaho. I am continually amazed at how each state in this nation is its own country, of sorts. With great leadership we have so much potential! Okay, I won't get political

I have trouble with some affirmations as well. If my brain holds data to the contrary, I cannot use it because I instinctively fight it. For me, it helps to change the statement to something that is true.

Both of the examples you gave would be difficult for me, but I could adjust them. 'I know how it feels when safe and I know how to find it again after periods of distress.' And 'Although it feels like I have taken many steps backward in my life, I know I am supported and I am moving forward in general'.

Or something else completely. I like that you're working the system, but sometimes it makes sense to learn the concept and apply it best for you. That gets you closer to that highest good you're aiming for

Now this can be a little tricky because sometimes we make adjustments that accommodate features of ourselves we really do need to challenge and change. In those cases you have to look at the results of your adjustments honestly and judge whether or not they add value. If not, return to the basics or design something entirely new.

If you struggle to judge yourself objectively, a friend can usually help. You'll figure it out.

[Soupe du jour]

Originally Posted by Nammu

Sounds like a successful trip soupe. Enjoy home.

Thanks, Nammu! Yes, we achieved the main thing we sought out to do on the vacation. Not all of the other aspects were ideal, but I am extremely grateful that my moods were amazingly level the whole time. That was quite abnormal for me. I still feel level, but there is lots and lots of stress ahead. I must be careful.

[Moose72]

Originally Posted by wildflowerchild25

Yes! Congratulations! All I’ve been doing is counting calories. Now that I’m off haldol and on a birth control that actually regulates me, I rarely get the urge to snack/binge. And I rarely drink alcohol anymore, which definitely helps. I have maybe one or two drinks a month, as opposed to binge drinking a bottle and a half of wine every Friday/Saturday.

Same here. I've got an app that counts calories and fat and carbs and protein. So I sometimes go over my calories but not by much. This app knows LOTS of foods! I figure I've got another 40 to lose.