Lol! Well, I have roughly 800 acres to run on without being seen by anyone but those in my immediate family. I'm not so worried about being seen, just about being comfy! Plus, I don't think the personal lube thing is gonna work out for me, because I don't have a chafing problem, just bunchy fabric. But you're right, modesty is a virtue in pretty much any situation, but especially with the body shape I'm talking about!:scared:

I'm in Orland, about an hour *north* of Sac.

Hey! Ramona is my dh's and my hometown. We grew up there and moved away about 18 years ago, but both of our families still live in town. I can ask my sister about groups in Ramona, if that would be helpful. Are you hs'ing independently, or with Mountain View?

I'm not having a problem with chafing, just with bunchy fabric that feels weird. I was just at the thrift store yesterday (looking for sheets!), and I didn't see anything in my size. No dresses, no shorts, nothing. It's really a bummer, and makes me feel weirder and huger than I really am when the store has *nothing* in my size. Believe it or not, but our Target here doesn't even seem to carry my size. I think once I'm down to a 16 I should be able to start finding what I need locally. That actually is one of my major motivators in the weight loss, finding clothes that fit easily. Anyone know right off hand where I might look online for plus-size exercise clothes? I'll Google it, but if you have a place you like, lay it on me!

I don't really have any clothes for exercise, exactly. I only have plain, mid-length denim shorts. Maybe the problem really is the type of fabric (?). I've never seen silky shorts in my size (cough,cough, size 18) where I live. The very idea of bike shorts makes me cringe, but I could wear a big t-shirt over the top. I haven't seen those in my size either, though. I might have to save up my pennies and go to the "big city" (Sacramento) and find myself something better to wear for exercise. I just blew my budget buying new sheets though (as per my post a day or two ago!). Still, I'd kind of like to strike while the iron's hot. Maybe I should get better shorts for jogging while I'm still in the frame of mind that jogging isn't *so* bad! :)

Chefsresource.com

I've lost the first 20 pounds, and I'm feeling a bit better about beginning exercise. I've *never* liked running or jogging, but I jogged a short distance today and felt pretty good about it. The only part that was uncomfortable (aside from some minor *bouncing!*) is the way my shorts crawl up my inner thighs as I run. Is it just because I'm waaayy overweight and my thighs are too close to each other? Am I wearing the wrong thing? If I could get over the feeling of wanting to stop and pull my shorts legs down along my inner thighs, I might actually jog more often. It wasn't as bad as I thought, overall. Btw, This isn't a problem of my shorts being too small, or too short, I think, because there's no problem with the um...backside crawling up, or anything. My ds suggested that that's why he likes the really really long, full men's shorts for basketball, and thinks I should try "fuller" cut shorts that are super baggy (not that the shorts I'm wearing are really tight tho.). What do you think? Thanks, Julie

Okay, I've checked out Biblioplan in the past, and it just wasn't for us. I just checked it out again, and I still like the looks of History Odyssey better. I did look at the samples for HO, and I still think my dd is not quite ready for some of the assignments, though she reads very well and completely independently. I think I'm going to go ahead and order level one, and just the teacher's guide for level 2. Maybe I can do mostly 1 while incorporating a few more advanced assignments from level 2. Thanks so much for giving me some ideas!

How would used sheets (that've been cleaned/bleached) be any different than sleeping on hotel/motel sheets while on vacation? Hmm... I think maybe that one point just pushed me over into a willingness to go ahead and buy some sheets at the thrift store. I'm still interested, though, in what you all think! ;)

Yeah, for my kids I could do this, but my dh (who doesn't have to struggle with getting the sheets on our bed, btw) would be *extremely* unhappy with no sheets!

Would you buy and use bed sheets from the Salvation Army or other thrift store if times were tight and your sheets didn't really fit your bed and were so tight that you murmured a cuss word every time you have to make the bed (and re-make the bed because the corner pops off every time someone sits down on the bed)? How skeeved out would you be?

I'll look at each of these ideas before I make a choice. If there are more ideas, keep 'em coming!

I started on Dave Ramsey's ideas after reading one of his books and listening to him on the radio, but I wish I'd gone to the class. I think it will be money *very* well spent.

I don't agree with this--obviously, lol! It's only a recipe for disaster if they truly don't know and cannot possibly guess how to do the job on their own. Let's face it, none of the tasks mentioned are rocket science. I'm certainly not against showing a kid how to do a job before setting them to work on their own, but by giving in to the idea that they must be supervised throughout every task the dc have a *much* higher chance of Mom taking the responsibility for seeing that it gets done. That kind of defeats the purpose. As long as the kids are physically and mentally able to do the task, part of what's important about training them in work ethics is placing the responsibility squarely on their shoulders. The specific situation mentioned was raking and putting leaves in bags. There is no way that kids the age of the original poster's need to be supervised in doing that, other than a direction when they start, about how she'd like it done.

Your input was helpful. Perhaps I'll buy the HO study guide for both level one and level two, and then pick and choose activities from each(?).

I'm looking at History Odyssey, but I have two points on which I'm hesitating. I'd rather have a Christian perspective, and... The activities in HO level 1 look like fun, but a bit on the "young" side, and the things in HO level 2 look less fun and maybe a bit too hard. I'm looking for other suggestions. Any ideas?

Hmmm.... I don't know why that would be. You should be able to just click on "Post Reply" and go for it. Sorry, I'm no help, just wanted you to know that I care! :-)

Did you do it yet? I've cleaned TWO shelves....:-)

We do have a farm experience here, but I also have to motivate my own 3 teenage boys to work--I don't think you could pay me enough to take on more, lol! Really though, my boys do get up and out to the farm at about 6:30 a.m. seven days per week. Probably most or all of the people who know my family would say that my boys are hard workers, but often it's still tough to motivate them. Behind the scenes, I basically starve them into working! The Bible says, "if any man shall not work, neither shall he eat." That's good enough for me. Basically my boys are motivated by food. When they get home from work in the morning (about 9 a.m.) I have a good breakfast for them. If they don't work, they don't get breakfast. The boys have other dairy work and school work that can be done at flexible times during the day, but then they *must* be back for feeding calves from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If they don't work, they don't get much at dinnertime. I think it would be hard to train kids (especially boys) to be hard physical workers if they don't see their dad doing that, but it could still be done. I'd wait till dh is out of the way, if he's not fully on board with the job himself. Then I'd totally crack the whip. I'd probably tell the boys that you're going to make a list of the big jobs that need to be done. They must make a reasonable schedule for accomplishing the work a step at a time, daily. Then listen to *no* complaining/whining/excuses. The kids who do their daily work get pampered with their meals and relaxation time. The kids who don't do their work, or whine in *any* fashion, get to do extra. Stick to your guns, girl! I wouldn't be right out there with them either, but I'd be checking the quality of their work before they came in for lunch, etc. It takes a while for anything to become a permanent habit, but cheerful, hard work is a really special (and often underrated) skill that would serve your kids well in their lives. Don't you need the outside of your house painted? Maybe every window in the house washed? Rain gutters cleaned out? Cobwebs removed from the attic? Ground tilled/prepared for planting a huge garden? Cars washed & buffed to a shine *at least* once per week? Raking the yard on a consistent basis? Do the neighbors need work done? I'd let the kids know that you're cracking down as a result of their attitude about hard outside work, and let them know that you'll ease up on the slave labor (just a bit) as soon as they've demonstrated that they know how important it is to be cheerful hard workers, and that they've gotten used to "doing what it takes" even when it's hard. Your slogan for a while may have to be "no whiners!" I guess what I'm saying is that they need to be taught (daily) the value of hard work, it doesn't usually just appear naturally, and that it probably can't be taught in an isolated one-week or one-month experience. BUT--if you find such a place, let me know! It sounds like sending them away to be taught to work would be waaay more fun than the way I'm teaching it! ;) Blessings, Julie

One shelf it is, then. I'll do one shelf, and one shelf only! :D Here I go......

You realize you all are enabling me to give in to my procratination and laziness, right?

Oh Peek, I'm so sorry! I'll be praying for your family. ~Julie

(thinking....) Nope. Doesn't count. I want someone to share my misery now, or I'm not doing it...but you get an "atta boy" for doing your part last week!:D

OK....but you're letting me off the hook for today! If nobody takes up my challenge within about the next half hour, I don't think I have to do it today either. :D

I *know!!* What's up with that?! Actually, I think it's so bad that everybody else is afraid to tackle it. There's a spilled bottle of syrup on the middle shelf, and everybody here is trying to ignore it--that's why. I'n not doin' it though, unless someone here shares a bit of motivation with me (stomping foot repeatedly)...