Your exercise class sounds good, too, Kathi. And, Patti, you're lucky; it's always good to have an excuse NOT to exercise! When we run out of excuses, we have to start doing something--though I guess it's not an excuse when it's the chiropractor telling you not to do it. As for the moving issue, sometimes the choice isn't between good and bad, but between bad and worse! It's still good that it's a choice, though. Doesn't sound so bad to me. Maybe both choices have some good and some bad points.

Here's my exercise story. It had me laughing to tell you the truth. I haven't worked out or even walked in quite a few months, tendonitis, arthritis, whatever, it hurts so I've been laying low. So. Today I absolutely convince myself to take advantage of this beautiful afternoon and talk a walk when I get home. First stop though is my chiropractor who while adjusting my hips to relieve the knee pain tells me no way am I to go walking for another week or more. I'm just cracking up because here I've spent all this time talking myself in to working out with a minor walk and nope. No go.

I'm not sure if I won or lost on that one but it sure made me smile.

As far as living alone goes. The week days go by quickly. Dave has been coming home each Friday night and is now leaving 6ish on Monday mornings. I'm not planning on going down until Thanksgiving week. I'll have a week to go and relax and look around. There's plenty to do here it's where my life is. So I just keep doing it only I have to do alone. I don't like it but I don't dislike it enough to move. It's a choice

After watching Dr. 90210 on TV and seeing what they actually do for plastic surgery...yuckkkkk not sure that I would put myself through that sort of self torture.....but then again, if someone else was paying...hummmmm. We do have Curves in Springfield...I've not been. It is up on River Street on the left across the street from Austin Memorials. I think its great that you are going Lori...anything that makes you feel good about "you" is an important thing. I go to a class on Tues and Thurs after school (4:15-5:15). We do a lot of weight training things (small weights 5-8 lb) for bone density..with aerobic stuff and other stuff thrown in. We are all about the same age and have the same issues so its nice. We cheer each other on, moan groan and whine together. Richard, I hope that you are recovering nicely from having your wisdom teeth out...at least you got to be 50plus before loosing them! Most of us lost that wisdom a long time ago....Happy Thoughts...Teacher convention Thurs and Friday so no school for me....yeah!!!

Don't worry, Richard. We're (I'm) not going in the plastic surgery direction. Just sick of seeing some of those rolls of fat.

hi gorgeous women of spfld. i get the whole thing about being in shape, but i hope that you know that being in shape just means being in shape for the things you want to be able to do. please don't chase yourself into being in shape for something that is not really you and heaven forbid that you ever not love yourself for who you are. i like the red wine that i am drinking. happy truths in every glass. i had my wisdom teeth out today. that is all forest gump is going to say on that subject. i picked up a nineteen seventy two release on cd a couple of day ago. love it. it is fleetwood mac's, "bare trees" release. peace, richard

Karen, it sounds more exciting at your gym, but I guess I fit in better with the old ladies! Actually, there not all old, and they're pretty friendly. We don't really have much time to talk, and I find it hard to do 2 things at once anyway (talk and exercise)! I like going with my daughter, but I don't want to go to L.A. Fitness. You're probably right, Patti, that this isn't much of a work-out for someone who's used to more serious exercise, but I'm not one of those people. I walk, but that's it, so now at least I'm using my muscles.

How have you been managing, Patti, when you're alone during the week? Do you visit Dave some weekends or does he always come home?

All the Curves around here have closed. The woman who owned them went out of business unexpectedly. I went for several months a few years ago when it first opened. I liked it sort of but it really wasn't enough of a workout if you had been doing anything else. It seemed to be most successful for those who had not been. The concept of only needing 30 minutes was a huge draw. I was actually thinking of going back and trying it again since I'd been off my feet for so long. That was just about the time it closed. Oh well.

The weekend is over and Dave will take off by 5:30 am. Yuck.

Do they have Curves in Springfield, too? You might like it. Good music, nice people, and it's over pretty fast so it doesn't feel like torture. Our 3-week trial period is over on Monday. I'm not sure my daughter will continue cuz she feels like she gets a better work-out at the regular gym, but I think I'll keep going.