TerriDoodle

HELPS BURN FAT YOU SAY????? BYE!!! :biggrin:

Haydee - Look on facebook for Scott Albright. He's a family friend (didn't do Alyssa's wedding though -- Scott wasn't full-time then). If his profile is public, I think he's got photos posted there. He has a myspace page too MySpace - DS Photography - 37 - Male - MISSOURI CITY, Texas - myspace.com/ds_photog. He's probably very reasonable. I"ll ask Richard who Alyssa used. Probably NOT so reasonable! LOL

As I've told ya'll earlier, I've been hanging out at a recovery message board learning all kinds of things and in the process reading some addiction horror stories. (I'm really starting to want to do work in that field!) This guy was posting and he has a HORRIBLE opiate addiction and from the sound of it was literally on death's door. He's an American living in Mexico. He was trying to make a plan to stay alive long enough to get back to the States to get much needed medical attention and detox. The day after he posted his story (and got tons of caring responses) he mustered all the strength he could to walk to the nearby store to get a few items he'd need for his trip. At the store a lady stopped him in his tracks and insisted that he allow her to help him in some way (he surely looked like hell). He said he was fine but she gave him her number and insisted that she wanted to know where he lived so she could come check on him and bring him some good food to eat. He gave her the info she asked for. The next afternoon he was ready to leave on his trip to the States but he just didn't think he had the strength to do it and was sinking fast. The lady (Priscilla is her name) came by with her sister and a basket full of fresh fruit, soups, stews, a roasted chicken, etc. He was too embarrassed to let her in his house because he said it was the worst you could imagine. Cat feces everywhere, dishes and food in the kitchen stack on stacks, trash knee deep in every room. She came in anyway and when she saw the mess she told him to get his things, he was coming to her house! He was very weak. She took him to the hospital where they notified his brother that he was in terrible shape, a psychiatrist tended to him and prescribed some meds to help with his condition, gave instructions to Priscilla about how to wean him off his opiates, etc. The brother said he would come right away but it would take 3 days to get there because he was in the Middle East on business. Priscilla took him home with her and she is taking care of him until the brother can get there! He said that she is indeed an angel sent straight from heaven -- no doubt about it. And, if that werent' enough of a miracle, his addiction has greatly subsided. Instead of taking 30-40 pills a day, he's taking 4. He's having withdrawals but not nearly to the extent he should be. With her help they've also arranged a 60-day rehab program in the states for the day he arrives there. Chris (the addict) sounds like such a sweet person, so very grateful to us on the message board who have shown an interest, prayed for and encouraged him. He says we saved his life that night and gave him the will to carry out his plan to get to the States, which got him to the store where he met Priscilla. Priscilla just keeps telling him that all she wants in return is for him to help someone else in need in the future. How's that for a story? Gives me the chills!

People with the TAS2R38 genotype have a heightened sensitivity to bitter taste. Their genetic makeup includes a gene discovered in 2003 that controls the presence of receptors for a bitter-tasting compound called 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Scientists believe that the presence or absence of this gene can help account for individual taste preferences and eating habits. A study published in February 2005 found that children who had this gene were more partial to sweet beverages and foods than those without it (though this effect seemed to wear off by adulthood, when race/ethnicity was the strongest determinant). Researchers theorized that these children may be less likely to find vegetables palatable, which could limit their intake of important nutrients. On the plus side, an earlier study suggested that those with the TAS2R38 gene were less likely to indulge in underage alcohol consumption, experiencing it as more bitter and irritating than do those without the gene. Nutritionists hope that this type of information will help improve dietary planning for children.

Now THAT is interesting!!! I've always suspected that there was some enzyme that made certain veggies (or other foods) taste totally different to one person than another. It's like with salmon.... either you love it or your hate it. Same with brussel sprouts. I'm gonna go to the Nova website and see if I can find the info. I love that kind of stuff!! WHAT A DORK!!

:laugh::scared2::tt2::scared2::smile2::scared2: I swear Laura, you have the weirdest taste buds on the planet!!!

You have no idea how odd this sounds to me!! We've been hitting 100+ 70% humitidy every day for....well, FOREVER!! I think we are all losing our minds. We've got two full months left of it, too. Jenn, I didn't know you had a sister. What's her deal? This made me LOL!!!! TracyK - Have you ever tried anti-depressants? They were life-savers for me.

Yesterday was our 8 yr anniversary so we went to dinner. I had 2 glasses of wine and behaved totally -- no bread, no dessert. Had chicken marsala and spinach for dinner. :juggle: But THEN when I got home I had to "white knuckle it" to resist diving into the chocolate! I did resist but finally decided to hell with it, I'm just going to bed...and I did. I've long suspected there was a correlation between drinking and eating sweets. The alcohol lowers my resistance to temptation AND heightens my cravings for sweets. Hmmmph. I don't know what kept me out of that chocolate last night but I do remember mumbling in my head: "Just for today...." I guess it worked.

Well Pam, that sounds about right....and you're actually coherent in your post so you must not be taking any strong pain meds! It took me 24 hrs just to snap out of the anesthesia which always kicks my butt. You're gonna look a lot worse today!!! LOL.... it's pretty horrifying but amazing that it all goes away in such a short time!! Hang in there! Love you!

YEA!!! WOOT!! I was wondering how you were doing! Way to go Laura!!!! :biggrin::thumbup:

That is not nice! :biggrin:

Where is TracyK??

Pelican!! LOL... that's a good one! You're funny. :biggrin: She's not holding a gun to your head Jennifer! LOL Hey, I'm having to walk by a tray of mini-pecan pies all day today in my office! Pecan Pie!!!! But this morning I promised myself "Just for today, I will not have any sweets!" I rock. Pammy! Thinking of you! Can't wait for your first post -- it's gonna be all garbled and full of typos. LOL

Tracy - Does he not have the strength and maturity <hack hack> to manage a friendship with Robbie? It would be so very good for him. :sad: What color is the BR gonna be??? PINK? WOW, I forgot about Pammy's surgery today!!! :biggrin: She is gonna be one bruised up puppy! But it looks 1000x worse than it actually feels...she'll be OK. HOw exciting!

Don't do that again. Get your crap together and kick ass!!!! :thumbup: Suzie - I don't know what to say exactly except that I'm getting pretty worried about you. WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR YOU??? You are just taking on too much. Enough is enough!!! What is the name of this miracle cream??? I must know. Tracy - LOVE the hair!!! Have you ever had it that short before? There's no going back now!! How are you doing, sister? All quiet? I sure hope so. All this talk about ice cream and PB's reminds me that I think I like my (lack of) restriction right now. My head's in a good place (for once) and I can eat effortlessly -- grilled chicken, any fruit, any salad or veggies, etc. I had such a long list of things I couldn't eat and it was a constant battle. I think I'll stay here for awhile and see how I do now that I'm going to the gym, eating well and not drinking (near as much). I'm down 1.5# this week and it's only Wednesday. So far, so good.

You posted to my message board on my profile page rather than sending a "private message". I read them, then deleted them. I know you didn't mean to make that public. Sounds like you've got things under control over there (minus a few little kinks) but it IS stressful even in the best of times! I know!

Suzie - can I make a suggestion about your nephew? Set up firm boundaries and consequences THEN STICK TO THEM. Figure out what you are and are not willing to tolerate, then spell it out in simple language -- write it down and stick it on his wall. Give him ONE warning if you must (shouldn't even need to do that) and then let him know he will be out if he doesn't comply. And yes, you must be ready and able to kick him on the streets if you must. I can't recommend Al-Anon highly enough. Not only will it help you with your nephew but with all the situations you find yourself in lately. (((Hugs))) BTW, if he's been thru treatment, he already knows all this stuff!! It's time to grow up!

Heather - It's so good to hear from you!! Jump on the wagon with us and we'll take her for a spin! Haydee - your post made me laugh!! No more driving with your left hand!! LOL!! You sound happy! :crying: Kat - You've lost 21#??!!!?! Man! When did that happen, you little sneak!!? Congratulations! I feel SO much better without the carbs!! I really had no idea how much they dragged me down until I stopped eating them. I feel human again. :smile2: Going on Day 3 and feeling strong! I can't really put my finger on it (maybe I can) but it's like ever since I started working the 12 Steps of Al-Anon and going to the meetings where we learn to focus on ourselves (getting our OWN stuff together) rather than the addict/alcoholic, things are just falling into place suddenly.

Off to my Al-Anon meeting in a few. I made it TWO DAYS without sugar!! :smile2: Actually, I didn't have any starches at all either! Evan has a job interview tomorrow! PRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pammy's not getting botoxed, she's gettin' SLICED!

Can't wait to see your results, Pammy!! You're going to be even more gorgeous than before....well, in another 10 days you will!! During those 10 days you're gonna look like SHIT!! LOL :thumbup: Tracy - Hang on to your hat, girly! I'm sorry, but that Cody kid has some MAJOR issues!!! Sounds like he met his match with you!! That's what I was thinking! Trying to be the peace-keeper will wear you out!! I say go get a pedicure and let them have at each other!! If they're still at it when you get home, then go see a movie. Then, if need be, move to the double-gold margarita. :crying:

Oh my !! He DOES look like he's grown! Evan was always one size ahead like that too but then again he STARTED at 9# 5 oz!

Hi Girlz, Sorry I've been AWOL! My head has been in such a strange place ever since Evan got home and especially since we're back in our old routine after Colorado. I never expected such stress and anxiety to fill my days and nights...and he's not doing anything wrong! He's looking for work and going to meetings, he's doing his chores and is home by 10:30 at night when out with his girlfriend. I've been attending Al-Anon meetings and Hannah's been attending with me and/or going to Alateen. When I'm home I spend most of my computer time on a 'recovery' message board learning all I can. I guess you could say that I'm expecting the best but (getting) prepared for the worst. Relapse is just a natural part of this whole addiction thing. Part of my own recovery is to learn to focus on MY life and take care of MY side of the street and not be worried about Evan so much. I'm learning that worry isn't going to change the outcome and I can't control him or his addiction in any shape fashion or form...so all I can do is work on ME and MY reactions to whatever life throws my way. I'm also defining some boundaries which is also very helpful. And in the meantime I've come to terms with my own addiction: CARBS and specifically CHOCOLATE. :thumbup: So I woke up this morning and said to myself: JUST FOR TODAY I will not have any sugar! And I haven't! It hasn't even really been a struggle. I have gained a couple pounds in the last month and now my clothes are starting to feel way too snug for my comfort. I've gained 8# since last summer and usually have to bump up a size at 10#. I've just been noticing that my clothes don't look good on me anymore. These 10# have GOT TO GO because I just don't feel good at this weight...PERIOD. I finally went by the gym and signed up today! It felt sooooo good to get in a workout, I can't even explain it. I hopped on my same ol' elliptical and plugged in my iPod and within seconds I was feeling almost euphoric. Worked on the stationary bike and also went for a swim and in the hot tub. It was so nice to get out of my own head for an hour or so and just concentrate on breathing and moving my body. It really cleared my head. I'm looking forward to sleeping much better also. It's been a weird summer but we're hanging in there! Hannah is doing much better now, too. Her dad is still being an idiot and that's sad, but she seems to be handling it alright for now. She'll start a new school in a month and is getting a little jittery over that. So..... all is well...just takin' care of business! I'll do some catching up on posts tomorrow. My boss is gone for 6 weeks!!:skep: :)

Kat - my vote is camping!

(((TracyinKS))) i'm so sorry, sweetie. If you ever want to talk, I'll listen! And as Pamela said, enjoy the peace and quiet for now. I'm here Tracy - just been uber busy this week at work and at home. Not much to say anyway. Judy - sorry you had such a rough day -- that'll rip your heart out. Hope Jenn is having fun! Haydee - are those the centerpieces you're considering? Purdy!