May I join you guys?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
May I join you guys?
18
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 12:25pm
Hi. I think I need a little support. I have been lurking here for about two weeks reading all your posts and this seems to be a very *up* and supportive group. I am not 40 yet, but getting close....so I checked out the 30's board and this one, but like yours better. I am not new to the village. I was a CL on one of the relationships boards here for a long time and have been a regular on that board for about 5 years. I have been working out for a very long time, but went thru a really tough divorce two years ago and sort of went into a funk workout-wise up until recently. I'm not happy about that! I lost a lot of my definition and gained about 12 pounds. But I am now happy in my own life and as a bonus, I am now in a very gentle, wonderful relationship with an awesome and stable man. I have started working out like I used to, and am feeling fantastic, but I could use the support and motivation and comraderie of others who are trying to get and stay fit, too.

Right now I alternate doing Pilates, Yoga, and an an upper body free weight workout 5 days per week, and I run/walk on the treadmill each morning for 40 minutes.......working my way up to an hour soon, I hope. I am also hoping to take up Salsa lessons in a month or two. I love to dance and used to do so all the time, so I am looking forward to that very much! I try to keep a clean diet at least 6 days per week with mostly protein, veggies, and a few grains, then allow myself a cheat day once per week. I find by doing this my weight stablizies very well.

Anyway, that is a little bit about me and I am looking forward to knowing more about each of you, and to offering my support here as another member who is trying to live a healthy life (and look good while doing it. LOL)!!

HUGS!!

Jeepster

I have a website here on the village, so I am posting the link below. :)

http://pages.ivillage.com/jeepgirl_2

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 1:01pm
Welcome! Loved your website. Chloe is adorable, your retreat looks so inviting, and love your house and yard. You look like you're already in good shape, so maybe you can give US some tips and support. Hope you'll post regularly.

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 1:23pm
Thank You so much, but I forgot to tell something about that website; I need to update it big time! I do not actually live in that house anymore, that was my home with the evil ex. LOL The place I am in now is just as nice, but in a totally different city. I had to move to get away because the ex and I worked together and well, it was a really bad situation. Whew!

I have a two year degree in nutrition, but to be honest I haven't kept up with it and have only used the knowledge for personal use lately. I used to teach aerobics and put together diet plans for people, but never got into it as a full time career. I also have 3 years towards a psychology degree but then got my real estate license, then my brokers license, and Voila! LOL I have been in real estate for almost 8 years now. I always loved homes and architecture and this is where I ended up. I still think about finishing my degree and going into counseling, but I really love what I do so I think it might be hard to leave behind. Besides that, it's pretty nice being able to set my own schedule!

I would love to be a regular poster, here. I am ready to move forward with my life now and looking forward to a new future!

Thanks for the welcome!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 1:38pm
Hi and Welcome, Jeep Girl! You and I have somewhat in common. I was a Realtor in the 90's (never wished to be a broker, though, as I don't have the drive for that), but left it for a steady income (at the time, I was married to a man who was on commission only income, also, so it was touch & go with the income!) and I am now a single mom who works in a Realtor's Assoc. office. I am a psychology major, too, but have only 2 years toward that degree. I live in East Texas, which is quite different than other parts of Texas - don't get me started, LOL! You have alot of accomplishments to be proud of in your life.

Your Chloe is so pretty - she must take after you! Wow, you are a "looker", as they say! I agree with Rhonda - you're in great shape, so maybe we will learn from you!

Look forward to your posts and reading more about you and your family! Lots of great pictures on that website of yours - very cute kids - how many children do you have, by the way?

Welcome,

Kat

Katherine (Kat)
Avatar for imthebigsister
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 1:56pm
Come on in - nice to have you here, and hope to hear more from you. Chloe's a sweetie!

Donna

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 2:12pm
Thank You for the warm welcome. We do have a lot in common! Well, let's see.....I will try and answer some of your questions here. I still have my brokers license and was a managing broker for two C21 offices in NE Oklahoma (which just like you said about Texas, is TOTALLY different than Western Oklahoma) but I really hated the management thing. I moved to western Oklahoma 6 months ago to get away from my ex (who was also a broker back home) and went back to selling/listing rather than managing an office. In fact, I never want to manage an office again. LOL

My best friend lives in Austin, so I understand all about the differences in Texas from place to place. I even lived there with her for awhile after my divorce and loved it there! NE Oklahoma where I am originally from has a gorgeous landscape, it's at the base of the Ozark Mountains and the lakes are nothing short of amazing. I have moved now to Western Oklahoma, to OKC in fact, and while the mountains and hills aren't as big here, it does have a lot to offer. Bigger too, almost a million people here now.

As for me, I used to be almost an over the top fanatic about working out and eating right, but I have gained 12 pounds since my divorce and that pic was taken, and I lost a lot of my definition too, so that is what I am working so hard now to get back. :) I have had a few tough years recently with some very big blows that have had a very big impact on my desire to work out regularly, and I still have one more in front of me, but I am determined to get through all of it. I am going to give it to God, do what I can, pray a lot, and start focusing on getting my life back......and part of that means taking care of myself, working out again, and feeling good!

My kids? I have two daughters.......got married and had them sinfully young (don't ask. LOL) and they are now grown. I thought I had it made by having two grown daughters and still being in my 30's....NOT. One of my girls is wonderful, but my youngest daughter actually has a lot of problems and Chloe is/was her daughter. Now she is mostly mine. I took Chloe away from her legally when Chloe was 14 months old and have had her ever since. I share custody of her now with the paternal Grandparents who live here in OKC too, so that was another reason for my move. Before I moved we were driving 3 hours from one end of OKla. to the other every two weeks to pass Chloe back and forth....it was exhausting! It's actually a very complicated situation and there is a whole lot more, but I will be kind and spare you. On a happier note, Chloe is now 4 years old and she is the love of my life!! She is with me about 50% of the time and with the paternal grandparents the other 50% of the time. We have all become famiy in order to raise this little girl and she is amazingly well adjusted. I thank God for that every day.

I'm sorry for the long post, it's hard to find a way to explain it in short form. LOL

I really look forward to getting to know each and everyone here and participating on this board!

Smiles!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 2:13pm

You have an interesting background! We share a love of architecture and homes. I'm a licensed interior designer (on sabbatical ;-), and although I did mainly commercial work I also did custom work with home builders for 2 years. Also, very interested in nutrition and read books on health and nutrition (or current events) like others read novels.


My husband spent part of his childhood in OK and went back to attend OU. He's an avid Sooner fan.



Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.




Edited 1/23/2004 2:16:10 PM ET by rsmurray

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 2:19pm
I'd love to be an interior designer. HGTV is on all the time at my house. I love all the design shows on there and other channels. I love Trading Spaces and just met Frank at the Home and Garden show here. I also read books on health and nutrition as if they were novels. In fact, I am a huge fan of anything non-fiction. Homes, Health, fitness, travel, and animals are my passions.

I already feel at home here, this is great. Thanks!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 2:41pm

I'm the same way about nonfiction. Can't remember the last time I read a novel. I read for information and am hooked on magazines and catalogs too. I'm also a sucker for animals. I even got attached to a 5' Iguana next door. Never thought that would happen. It lived in a big cage by my back fence, and I got in the habit of taking old hibiscus, passionflowers, roses, leftover fruit and veggies, and things like that to her (Ellie Mae) every day. She'd hear my footsteps and come running to that end of the cage. When they moved, I really missed her!! We have 3 house cats (currently) and 2 very spoiled Yorkies. A neighbor and I are notorious for rescuing strays. As a child, I can't tell you how many stray cats I brought home and one stray dog I hid under a blanket in the back seat of the car all the way home so my parents wouldn't see. I took food to work for feral cats and adopted one. I worked for months to tame him somewhat, but he reverted to wild when spring came. I still see him around and put blankets and food out for him.


I was surprised to find that Chloe is your granddaughter. She could easily pass for your daughter!! It's a wonderful thing you and her other grandparents are doing.

Rhonda


Time invested in improving ourselves cuts down on time disapproving of others.

       ~~Rhonda~~


<

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2000
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 3:08pm

C

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 3:14pm
Well I felt a little better about being a Grandmother in my 30's when one of my girlfriends became one at the ripe old age of 31. LOL!! That was some consolation, at least. ;) Chloe used to call me Momma, but I have her calling me MIMI now, since I do want her to know who her Momma is, and allow my DD visits...... when appropriate.

I was with the Humane Society before moving and have rescued several animals. I was feeding and caring for 9 feral cats before my move. I am going to get involved here as well, as soon as I get my business built back up. It was like starting all over when I moved. I left behind a large client base and a lot of close friends. I love Yorkies and would love to have another dog! I had a Lhapsa for 12 years before he came to a sad end. He was my baby. As soon as I get a little more settled I am getting a puppy, and it will probably either be a Yorkie or another Lhapsa. (sp?)

I am hooked on magaines and catalogs, too.

It sounds like we are going to have a lot to talk about here. I am looking forward to it!

:)

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