I've come up with a new motto for my weight loss program: Shock & Awe. As much as I hate to use a term invented by the Bush administration for a senseless war, I think it's totally appropriate for me at this point. I'm now 23 pounds lighter than the last time most of my family saw me, and I'm hoping to add one or two more to that total by Thanksgiving. And better than that, I'm about 45 pounds lighter than the last time my father saw me, and I don't think he even knows I'm even working on it, so I'm hoping the real shock & awe will come from him. And his brother. And my mom's neighbors. Anyone I can get some positive reinforcement out of so that I don't do anything stupid over the holidays and get off track!