Well- My handle is Freyaskona- and I answer to that or Hope

I'm 30- have a hubby and 2 kids(the Teutonic Terrors) and 4 cats( 3 kittens and a mom)

I run a Yahoo group for mentally ill and bipolar pagans as well

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/paganbipolarsupport/

Anyone interested is welcome-

Let's see- I love books and comedies(and am a bit down this morning- one of my favorite comediens John Ritter passed away lat night. See him in Noises Off- it's a riot!)

I write- and study- and well keep an open mind.

I adore music and am learning mandolin( not bluegrass- although that IS the easiest way to learn- says an old friend) and my favorite treasure at this moment is a Galliano Roundback (taterbug doodle bbug or actually advertised as a Venitian Mandolin) made in the US in the early 1920s. (for a high tension instrument- this is good.)

This particular treasure has a round back- of a solid color(most of them have stripes-in 2 colors- a solid color is more expensive) with mother of pearl inlay and tortise shell inlay(both the real McCoy) and the traditional Galliano edge of multicolored outside edge.

My uncle- an antique enthusiast and musical instrument enthusiast sent me to his friend to have it cleaned and appraised. When he handed it back- he said it was too bad that I would not offer it for sale.

He then told me I was holding almost $2000 in my hands. When the case is finished- I can sell the mandolin- case and all for $2500. to him as an antique.

I almost fell over. I wouldn't part with it for anything- because it was a gift. It was given to me by my husband- who allowed me to pick it out. We found it in a gun shop and thrift store- and I selected it from a rack of about 5 mandolins. It looked to be in the worst shape- but it- at least was still whole and had the strings. I think he paid about $100-$150 for it with the case.

When the owner of the place where we bought it heard what it was worth(he had come into the repair shop behind me- mine just needed a case repair - the mandolin just needed to be polished.everything was in wonderful condition) I wanted to buy it back-

I have refused all offers- because it means more to me as a gift than money.(call me stupid and sentimental- but I turned down an offer of $2000 PLUS a new mandolin- I like the tone and everything about mine.

Sigh longwinded I am

As for the weight-well in 2 1/2 months- I've managed to lose 28 pounds- gradually on the ADA diabetes Type II diet. And that is at going down to 1800 calories per day. (she said if I went lower- the I COULD lose more- but it would be harder to keep off) The way that the diet was set up - there is a Schedule of food types- and the amount of food type per day.(so really you ARENT counting calories that much- but if you CAN, you should try)

It runs from 1200 calories(minimum) to 2000 calories. You get so many strarch foods, so many, meats, so many dairy, etc. and you portion them out.

Hey I brought the diet home- and my husband nearly had fits. When I cooked regular food- he relaxed. When it TASTED GOOD- he loved me. Low fat doesn't mean tasteless. That's what spices are for.(and some spices actually help you BURN fats! (ok- now my doc suggested this- the peppers and hot spices-)

And the fact that all my food (or rather most of it) gets baked instead of fried- is even better.

I got involved in a cooking class- and wound up teaching it.

Oh well enough already!

Hope