Nervous Excitement...

I'm having LASIK this morning! I've been singing it to the tune of My Fair Lady's "I'm getting married in the morning..." LOL
So, I'm totally excited, but nervous. I mean, these are MY EYES!!! So, if any of you are reading this before, say, 9:30 or 10:00 am CST, I'd SO appreciate the prayers for it all to go well. Nay, with FLYING COLOURS (spelled the Canadian way).

Oh, & I'm a redhead now. Changes abound!
I'll update soon to let you all know how it went...

Blessings,

My late BYOC...

1. Are you late, early or on time?

I know you girls are all early or on-time types, but I'm one of those annoying, always-late types.  I don't mean to be... really.  And it's not an ego thing, as you might think.  Truly, it's something I LOATHE about myself.  It all relates to my OCD.  I have to go through this routine when I leave my house to ensure it's all secure & my babies (aka puppies) are all good before I go.  Whether I'm leaving for 2 hours or 12, it's the same.  I'm paranoid of fires, break-ins, & poisonous insects, so I do everything I can to ensure all that's taken care of before I leave... checking EVERYTHING.  Consequently, it makes me late consistently.  It's all something I'm working on.  Really.  
Hey, you DID say "bring your own craziness!"


2. Name 3 things you dislike and 3 things you like:

Dislikes:
Insects of every kind
People who drive slow in the fast lane
Grammar mistakes

Likes:
Cool weather on a sunny day
Puppy breath
Dark chocolate


3. Are you a morning or night person?

A total night person.  I love to watch TV or read into the wee hours of the morning.  What I dislike about being a night person is getting up in the morning.  I never get enough sleep & then play catch-up on the weekends.  I truly wish I were a morning person.  I love the mornings... when I see them.


4. What is your favorite clothes store?

Umm... I'm a fat girl.  I kinda have this hate/hate thing with clothing stores right now.  I mean, seriously.  I love window shopping, however.  If I could pick a clothing store I dream about shopping in, I'd say Forever 21.  I love some of the stuff they sell in there... classic, romantic-styled clothing.  
Also, I LOVE Target.  Target (said like the French) is like crack to me.  Not necessarily about the clothes, however.


5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in life and in blogland.

It's been a truly epic weekend, actually.  Chicago (what an adventure), then coming home to a new job offer.  I've had a wonderfully-relaxing week, knowing I have a new chapter starting on Monday.  While I don't like seeing Sunday afternoon waning, I am excited about what the future holds.  And I TRULY need to get back on the protein band-wagon, like PRONTO!



Have a great week, peeps!  :D  xo

Oh, Chicago!

Was it really real?

Our flight was cancelled. We were supposed to get there by 10 am Saturday, but didn't make it until about 1 pm. Just in time for the Architecture River Cruise, thanks to the VERY BEST cabbie in the world! As Camille said, "we SO would have won the Amazing Race!"

The cruise... What a lovely way to see Chicago. It turned a little cool, but I was soaking it in. Away from the Texas humidity for a change was LOVELY!!!

Chicago River

So many weddings & people greeted us from every bridge!

Lots of kayakers too!

The famous EL!

Afterwards, I soaked in the city a little more & met up with Camille at Saks. We did a little window shopping & stopped in at the Apple Store & Garrett's Popcorn Shop on the way back to our hotel.

Our hotel

View from our hotel room

I SOOO want one of these:

The new NANO!

The famous Garrett Popcorn Shop

The Magnificent Mile!

Soon after, we were off to our BOOBs Dinner at Phil Stefani's 437 Rush. The place was perfect... the food terrific... but, best of all was the company! Approximately 50 BOOBs in attendance & approximately 3500 lbs down!!! It was quite overwhelming.

The evening was terrific. I was ill-prepared for the feeling of having so many kindred spirits in one small space. And while I didn't get to REALLY chat with everyone, the love & acceptance in that room was palpable. I wish it could have lasted so much longer.

But I'd stayed up practically ALL night the night before, preparing for our journey... & the Sandman comes calling eventually. So Camille & I headed back to our hotel to prepare for our early-morning flight back to Texas. (Boo!)

Our wonderful cabbie returned to fetch us at 6:45 am, & we were off again...

Flying first-class home was a treat, but we were all-too-soon deposited back into the heat & humidity of TX. Camille's hubby & baby girl surprised us at the gate... which was so sweet!

I returned home to greet my 4 loves & take a much-needed nap.

And so, it all felt like a dream.

The next day, a much-anticipated cold front blew in.  I'm relishing memories of the cool Chicago breeze, & the start of my outdoor escapades that the TX heat just would not permit me to do.

Now, if I only had that Nano!!!

BOOBs Questions & CHI-Town Prep!

Hello all!!!

I should be doing so many more things... not sitting here blogging, but I'm woefully behind in the blogosphere & on each of your lives, so I figure if I tell you a little more about mine, then I can let YOU talk when we hit Chicago & then I'll get caught up in person!!!

Camille & I are sad we can't be there earlier with all of you, but we're gonna have a whirlwind GOOD time when we finally leave for the airport in a little more than 24 hours.  That's about 4 am central on Saturday morning & I haven't even started packing yet.  Still have to finish cleaning the house, have a 10 am appt this morning, have to shop for some particulars for the trip, & have a big party Friday night here in CC.  Whew... dunno when/if I'll sleep until Sunday when I get home.  So, please excuse the bags under my eyes when you see me!!!


So, here are my responses to Gilly's BOOBs questionnaire:

Hi all the boobie girls! Someone much more organized than I am thought it would be fun to know more about you, and she enlisted me to think of some crazy questions…so…this is sort of a Gillyified version of Drazil’s BYOC. Knock yourselves out.


1) You’re trapped on a desert island and you can bring only 3 of your favourite foods along. What do you bring?


Why only 3 things?  I'm a girl with a weigh problem here.  Restriction is NOT my specialty...

• Flamin' Hot Limon Crunchy Cheetos (don't judge!)
• Anything in high-quality dark chocolate  (okay, well almost anything)
• My Mom's tourtière (French-Canadian meat pie)

And, since I'm a cheater... My Mom's buttertarts will have to hitch a ride in my carry-on.

2) If you could meet any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

• Jesus Christ, of course.  I'm not a patient person, so waiting to meet Him blows.
• My Grandpa (my Mom's Dad) - he left when my Mom was little, so I've never met him.
• My HUSBAND - I'm ready to put out an APB on his ass.  I mean, SERIOUSLY!

3) What is your stripper name? (take the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on)


Okay, my very first pet was named "Guy."  I'm SOOO not using that one.  I don't even remember poor little Guy.  No idea what happened to him either.  Just saw him in pictures.
So, I'm going with:

Skipper Rimer

That's Rimer.  Like "reimer."  Not Rimmer.  Don't be gross!  Teehee.

4) How old were you when you lost your virginity? Alternative question if you don’t want to answer this: What is your LEAST favourite part of your bod since losing weight? Your MOST favourite since losing weight?


Well, I don't have that significant a weight loss yet, but let's see:

• 19 years old
• Least - my belly (I'm beginning to think I'll need a tuck someday)
• Most - my face (I'm sure I'm seeing changes there!)

5) Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a house that is supposedly haunted?


Yes, I believe in forces unseen, both good & bad.  
And, NOT ON YOUR LIFE!!!  I don't believe in opening doors to that kind of thing.  I'll watch the movie though!  LOL


6) What is your natural hair colour? If you dye it something completely different from what your momma gave ya, how come?


I don't believe I have a hair colour.  I mean, I was once a blonde... but over the years it's become that nondescript dirty blonde blah.  So, I go see my girl, Weronika, to give me back my youth!  I have an occasional pink streak too.
My Mom's a redhead.  I've thought about going there for fun someday.


7) Boxers or briefs? Alternatively…bikinis or granny panties?

• Men - boxers or boxer-briefs
• Me - depends on my weight... bikini briefs right now.  Wanna try the boy-leg ones.

8) If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? (Trilogies do not count as one movie, cheaterpantses!)


Cheating again...  I know every line & every song.

• The Sound of Music
• Grease
• Pretty Woman
• Steel Magnolias

9) What is your guilty pleasure (feel free to go straight to the gutter with this one if the spirit moves you!)


Those previously mentioned Cheetos... plus I LOVE watching Tori & Dean:  Home Sweet Hollywood!


10) How many pounds gone forever are you celebrating?? :)


40 & counting...




Alright... I'm OUT!  See you bright & early Saturday, Boobies!  xo

Isn't It Ironic... Don'tcha Think?

This picture reminds me of someplace. A little children's hospital I know. And a situation. Oh, irony. Today belonged to you.

What can I say about today? It was an epic BAD day to start... the situation is just too twisted & messed up to explain, & would take 3 blogs to relate it. Hence, I'll spare you the details.

Suffice it to say, I'm so looking forward to Chicago, because I NEED A VACATION. Granted, said vacation will be 23 hours long, but hey! It's quality, not quantity, right?

Hanging with Camille is always fun, & I'm going to be meeting YOU LOVELIES! What could be better? Now, if I could only figure out what to wear... seriously!

On another note, it was an epic GOOD day for my scale! I'm not sure it's completely trustworthy, but I'll take it! I weighed myself this morning & had hit a new low, with jeans & sneakers on. So, I weighed in again this evening (not my usual weigh in time) in just my skivvies and, lo & behold, I'd dropped even further. Okay, not so surprising, but I did hit my 40 lb. weight loss!!! Wahooey!

Another good thing about today: friends! When the chips are down, you learn who those people who love & support you really are. And, I've got to say, I've got some AMAZING friends. You know who you are. ILY

Sometimes your worst days turn out to be for good... (Romans 8:28-29)

I puked today & I've got a fill on Wednesday. I've heard that flying makes you tight, so I'll be eating like a bird in CHI-town. Good thing I'll have lots of support. Can I get a refund on dinner??? KIDDING!!!

Now I'm rambling. I'm out.

Shame

Fear of embarrassment is a strong motivator.

When Jen contacted me to tell me I would be the next blogger featured on the BOOBs site, I choked on my own saliva a little bit! WHAaaa? Me? I hadn't blogged in... well, FOREVER!

My "deliquency hiatus" is a reflection on some other areas of my life as well. Or, perhaps because I've been deliquent, I've missed out on the motivation of my fellow bandsters to propel me through positive life change. Whatever the case, Jen's comment was a wake-up call for me.

You'd think the knowledge that I'd be meeting up with 40-some other women, traveling a similar well-worn path as I am, would be motivation enough? Apparently not! My Mom did always call me pig-headed. True that.

So, here I sit, 9 days away from the quickest, most expensive trip of my life (break down the cost with slightly over 24 hours of duration... it's a lot!) & I'm embarrassed at the way I've back-slid. (Is that even a word???)
I'm going to meet all these AMAZING women who have taken charge of their lives & are gonna have some serious hot bods to show for it... & I'm still sitting at the edge of my precipice to change.

Perhaps Chicago will be the catalyst I need to get me back on track.

At any rate, I'm blogging again!!! Can I call that my NSV for the week?

Father's Day 2010

My Dad is the greatest...

Customize your own digital greeting

And to my brother, Brandon, & my brother-in-law, Drew...


Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there!!!

My First Fill

I'm sitting in my surgeon's office awaiting my very first fill! Boy, do I need it too. I pretty much can eat anything I want right now, & it's not lending itself to good discipline, if you know what I mean!

I'm SO looking forward to feeling some restriction again... I need a boost to get back on my band lifestyle.

I hope you are all doing well. I'm still incredibly behind on everybody's blogs, but I think of you guys often & check in from my iPhone at times, but can't comment from my reader. But I love you all!!!

I'll check in soon!

Blessings...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I'm Feelin' It...

... that thing you girls call "Bandster Hell!"

I'm nearly a month out from my surgery & wanna eat everything in sight!  LOL
Okay, well not really, but I'm really only feeling any restriction at all when I eat bread.  Yes, that's right, bread.  I'm able to eat pretty much anything if chewed well enough.  I'm definitely not overeating, but I'm hungrier than I'd prefer after going through all this.  And while I realize this is temporary, I feel like I've stalled out after doing so well previously (with the weight loss).

My first fill is June 10th.  I have the 14 cc "large" band, by the way.  This was decided due to my hiatal hernia... just something my doctor standardly does.  At any rate, I'm feeling awesome, since the gas pains left.  They lasted a full 2 weeks.  But all is great, truly.  Just looking forward to some restriction, & SOON!

My absence is something else I must explain.  I've been a horrible blogger, but even worse, a horrible blog-friend!  I apologize to those of you who feel like I dropped off the face of the earth.  I did not mean to abandon you all in our mutual journey.  With my parents here, & having extended their visit to help support me through my surgical recovery, we made good use of the time.  We accomplished much & spent some quality time together.  They've headed back up to Canada now, but in doing so, have left me with great memories & my favourite new place to hang out in (well, outside) of my home:

THIS is my new(er) & improved patio!  (Click on collage to enlarge.)  Isn't it delightful?  SOOO relaxing.  I spend every (cooler) waking moment out here, reading & sipping homemade iced tea.  It's my happy place!

I need to thank you all for your support through this time, & especially Tanya & Camille who have been among the most generous & precious friends I could ever ask for!  You are all a blessing!!!

I plan on catching up with all of you in the next few days.  In the meantime, I head back to another sort of hell tomorrow... WORK!  It's been so nice being away.  I can't wait until my next vacation time:  CHICAGO!  See you ladies there... xo

I Did a Bad, Bad Thing...

I don't exactly know what it was, but it was one of three things.

Let me, first, say that things have been going relatively well since my surgery... The gas pain has been the worst of it. I'm getting hunger pangs that clears are just not satisfying me beyond a couple hours, & I'm beyond bored with my choices.

So, yesterday, I went grocery shopping with my Mom, & was excited by a few things I found.
Splenda puddings (I don't do aspartame... dubbed "as-par-ta-mé" by me), & those Yeah wafer bars Camille mentioned. Not for right now, of course. But along with all that, I'd decided today was the day I advance to full liquids. So, here are my 3 bad bad things:

1. I had caffeinated coffee with 2 half-&-halfs at church. (First time having caffeine or milk in a while.)

2. I took a Gas-X strip because I was feeling a lot of shoulder pain (ie: gas pressure on my diaphragm represented as phrenic nerve pain). While these strips seemed to work for Camille, I think they stop me from being able to (I'm sorry) pass gas... not good!

3. I got ahead of myself when I returned from grocery shopping, & in my excitement, I ate (chewing heartily the whole way through) one of my new found tapioca pudding cups! So NOT a full liquid...

So, I was, in essence asking for it! And, boy did I get it!!!

I felt sorta stuck, but not stuck. Just couldn't expell any of the pressure in my body. I was in AGONY!!! I walked. I rocked. I got nauseated to beat the band! Thank GOD for transdermal Phenergan, specially written by my surgeon, & compounded by my local pharmacist!!! Worked like a charm... But the misery continued well into the night!

Finally, I awoke this morning... lo & behold, my ability to "relieve pressure" had returned, & I was a new woman. So, I've been out all day running errands. Came home exhausted & ate something mushy.

Will I ever learn???


-- Post From My iPhone

BandLand or LalaLand...

It's done. I'm banded. All I want to do is sleep. I had my hiatal hernia repaired at the same time. Waited 6 hours for a room... In Recovery (PACU) the whole time. Finally home now. Exhausted.
I'll write more next time... with pictures!

Blessings,


-- Post From My iPhone

Name that band!!!

Well, I'm off to see the Wizard... the Wonderful Wizard of Band (aka Dr. Griffin)!

Have a lovely day, girls!!!  I'll be in touch (via iPhone... sigh... I need a MacBook/iPad) when it's all said & done.  It sure would be nice to see some suggestions regarding my band-name & NSV goals when I wake up!!!  (grin)

Please pray for a safe procedure for me...  xo

Pre-Op, SV & NSV!

Scales are FICKLE!  I weighed myself at home Sunday & it showed 253 lbs.  Monday morning it was 254 lbs. at the doctor's office.  But my pre-op is DONE.  I pre-registered for surgery this morning & it looks like he might keep me overnight, depending on the size of my hiatal hernia (which is categorized as "small, sliding").  He also said because of the hernia & today's litigious society, he may put the larger band in.  Dunno exactly what that has to do with anything, but okay.  He will use his professional judgment once he gets in there.  I'm just so ready for this to be over!!!  Since I've weighed in & I'm good to go, I'm so over all the jumping through hoops.  My give-a-shit factor is low today, since I've also been dealing with the local governmental hoops as I sell my old, used car.  It was a good car... but this title transfer business is giving me brain damage!  LOL

Oh, & I forgot to share an NSV!  I go to a pretty huge church:  Bay Area Fellowship.  I love this place, but not so much its seats.  They're not bad as far as stadium seats go, but still...  The ones are the end are more generous, but church was full yesterday (praise God!) & I was forced to sit in the middle of the row.  Usually I fit, but it's a squeeze & I'm thoroughly uncomfortable... especially if there's someone I don't know right beside me.

 Well yesterday, when I went to sit in this seat, fully expecting the usual feeling of scraping of the seat arms alongside my giant hips, a miracle happened!!!  I sat & I FIT!  I sat sandwiched between my parents & some man I don't know, & I wasn't uncomfortable.  I didn't spill over my own seat.  I could sit with my elbows in my own section & still reach for my coffee cup in the drink holder without elbowing anyone in the face!  And it only gets better from here...  WOOHOO!

Also, my countdown clock is silly.  I punched in my surgery date:  April 28th (Wednesday) & it's short!  I think it's counting the second the clock strikes midnight on the 28th... So, it's NOT 4 hours left... but it IS tomorrow morning.  I'll leave for the hospital at 6:30 am.  Surgery is for 8:30 am barring any delays.  Keep your fingers crossed & please pray for a safe procedure for me!!!  I love you, girls!!!

Finally, I'm still taking suggestions on my BAND NAME!  Camille said "Coco," as in Chanel.  I kinda like it, but wanna know YOUR thoughts!  And I want some input from you girls as I set up an NSV goal checklist.  A few of you have them on your blogs, but someone had a GREAT one & I can't find it now!!!  C'mon band-mates... I need your brains.  Mine's SHOT!  xo