Well, we finally got internet service at our new home/town and I can post to
the group again.  Unfortunately, I have a 5 pound gain to report.  I'm
really surprised that it's not *more* than 5 pounds with all the bad
restaurant meals and the junk food I ate during the delay in closing on the
house.  We were supposed to close Tuesday (8/2) at 10 am and because we were
on the road Monday traveling down here we didn't learn there was a problem
until after it was too late that day to do anything about it.  Plus the
a.shole at the mortgage company never returned phone calls.  We had to catch
him "between meetings" and then he was out sick Tuesday afternoon, which I
don't really believe but that was his story.   Luckily the problem turned
out to be easily fixable and we closed Thursday.  Our anxiety levels Monday
evening, Tuesday and Wednesday morning were stratospheric.  Forgetting
eating salads at Wendy's, etc., which are about the only healthy
restaurant/fast food we've been able to find here, we ate greasy Mexican
food and starchy Chinese.  Since we've been in the house, I've been cooking
and it's been a lot better, except that my DH got me hooked on olives and
I've got a major salt bloat on top of the 5 lbs.  I haven't weighed in the
last couple of days but when I tried on one of my newest pairs of shorts
they were too tight to zip up.   They used to fit great.

I don't know anyone here and although we went to church Sunday, we didn't
meet anyone there who was under the age of 70 it seems.  I signed up to
volunteer at the local library which just opened up in a fantastic new
building and did my first three hour session Thursday.  They had me watching
the local history/genealogy room and the only one using it was from
Washington state and is going home today.  No chance to make a friend there.
I'm really beginning to feel like I've been yanked up by my roots and left
to dry up and die.  There isn't even a good gym here.  There's a walking
group but it hasn't been meeting the last week because the group leader has
had shingles.  I meet one lady who participates and she looked about 75
years old.  It would have been rude to ask the ages of the other group
members so I guess if they start back up Monday I'll show up and see what
it's like.  To me, if the group depends on one person to exist, it isn't
much of a group, though.  There's a potluck dinner and dance tonight that
we're planning on going to.  It's at the Adult Activity Center which is
supposed to be for the whole community but it seems only the elderly use it.
Maybe some of the other newcomers (there are quite a few new teachers in
town like my DH) will show up too.

I've pretty much emptied all the boxes that aren't my DH's books and other
stuff.  That's for him to deal with.  I guess Monday, I'll start looking for
a job.  There hasn't been anything listed in the paper that I'd want to do,
though.  I really don't want to have to commute out of town but I may have
to.  I'm starting to slip into a major depression here, I'm afraid and I
really don't know what to do.  I'm determined that I **won't** medicate
myself with food though.

Tonia (formerly of Lubbock and now between Del Rio, San Antonio and a hot
place)
221/180/130