Teachlady

65 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

66 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

67 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

Good Morning, Violets.. I slept in til 9:30 this morning and it felt sooooooooooo good! It is -2 degrees here right now so I'm guessing it isn't spring yet. Thursday it's supposed to be 40, then rain and then 20 and snow. Typical Northern Michigan weather for this time of year. Today is back to normal day. though I've been getting my toning exercising in in the hot tub, I haven't really used my elliptical except a couple of times since we got back from the cruise. I've lost 2 of the 6# I gained so I need to get my butt in gear and get those pounds off before we head to the doctor in a week. Laura, I am so amazed at your pictures. I still remember when you said the band just wasn't working for you and now look!! 99# since April. That's just awesome! And Michelle.. wow. We have lots and lots of success stories here in our little group. No matter if it's 10# of 100#, it IS a victory!! end of lapband sermon.. amen. TracyinKS... sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh woman.. how long a honeymoon are you on???? Haydee... did you go with her???? Lunasa...you better not be MIA again! Suzie... just finishing my breakfast and will start my Crystal Light in an hour. It's in the freezer as I type. Terry.. love, love, love the bracelet I "commissioned" you to make. Post a pic here so everyone can see what a beautful piece you created!! Kat.. hope all goes well with Kinsey today. I have Ethan every day except Tuesday this week, plus we will have him for the weekend as his mom and dad and step brothers are going away to celebrate his step brother's birthday. Just when I thought I could relax!! But I love having him here and am so glad I'm retired and can spend the time with him. Everyone have a great morning!

Good evening, Violets.. What a day and what a week this has been. The two concerts are over and both were a success. It's nice when people appreciate all the work that goes into preparing. We got standing ovations for each concert. I'm adding a picture of our flute group.. Wind Song. We played a piece called Chicken Chowder Rag during the concert so of course we had to add a little bit of fun to it with the boas and the rubber chickens. Michelle... Wooooo hoooooooooo on the -80# that's awesome!!:thumbup: Laura... WOW.. what a difference in your body!!! It's amazing isn't it, how one little band can make such a difference. You look wonderful!:eek::thumbup: I crashed on the couch for 3 hours after the concert today and I'm ready to head to the hot tub and then to bed. Ethan comes at 12:30 tomorrow so I know my afternoon will be busy. Everyone have a good night... sleep well!!

"To me, there are three things we should all do every day. Number 1 is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number 2 is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number 3 is you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think and you cry, that's a full day, that's a heck of a day." ---Jim Valvano, as his body was being ravaged by cancer

68 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!! ummmmmmmm, I'm not thrilled with the 86 temp, but the 62 sounds great to me right now!

Goooooooood Morning, Violets!! Well, one concert down and one to go. It was a good concert in spite of the fact that 2 of the sopranos had colds. Our newest member had a great part on one of the gospel songs.. she gets up to a high C and that's glass shattering, but she couldn't do it last night and she was sooooo disappointed. But we made it through and got a standing ovation from a packed house. You can't ask for more!! I was looking forward to a Tuesday off from rehearsals, but they want me to come in and help pick out music for the fall concert so there goes American Idol for one more week!! Kat, TracyK and Jenn.. feeling better today??? I feel like a cold is trying to get me, but I'm resisting with my Zicam so far. Well, I need to get going and get to K-Mart and see if I can find some St. Patty's day socks. Our flute quartet members have been giving each other socks on the holidays and it's my turn. Though we do play serious music, we have a couple of fun pieces to play in our concert tomorrow. One is called Chicken Chowder Rag and we have yellow feather boas to wear along with a toy chicken that the Bobster is going to make squawk during the piece. Should be fun!! :tea: Everyong have a good Saturday. Will check in later...

69 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!! Look ladies..we're in the 60's!!!!

Wooooo Hoooooo on the great NSV's, Michelle!! :tongue: That's awesome. The Bobster and i will be going back to our second church in Lewiston, Michigan on the 30th. We haven't been back there in years. It will be interesting to see what people say when we arrive. We served there 11 years before our 19 years in Alpena. It's only about an hour away from here and that's where 3 of our 4 kids were born. Daughter Kris was 2 when we left and she's 25 now. Can't believe how quickly time files! At least when I go back, I'll be standing proud and not depressed about how I look. Time for me to shower and get dressed for my concert tonight. I'll be home late as we're going out to eat afterwards. For me, I'll be going out to PB probably.. :tt2: Sure do know I have a band!!! Everyone have a good evening!!

I know!! I KNOW!! He's not getting his exercise either. After this week when I don't have two concerts to prepare for I can focus a little more on busting his butt and getting him back on track. It's a tough job, specially with pineapple upside down cake around! DD wouldn't take it with her today so hopefully DS will take it when he comes to pick up Ethan. Otherwise it goes down the garbage disposal!

Before surgery whenever he ate, he'd start coughing and sneezing. That was how his acid reflux manifested itself. After surgery the coughing and sneezing stopped. It started again big time on the cruise and has continued. I know and he knows he's eating way too much and not making wise choices. He hasn't had a fill since December, so he's way overdue.

You can be my assistant!:crying:

Good Morning, Violets.. Up early waiting for Ethan. Just got a call and the Bobster has to go pick up DS and DDIL to take them to work. As DS said.. our car is a piece of @#$%. Spoken like a typical preacher's kid. Sooooooo Ethan will be here until 6 tonight and I'm going to be run ragged just before my concert. Ahhhhhhhh the perks of being a grandma! But the hugs and kisses are worth it. Going to take it easy today and see if I can hold good food down. I certainly won't be getting a fill on the 17th! The Bobster is eating way toooo much and his acid reflux is kicking back in so we both know he's way due for a fill. Just hope this one hits the spot for him. Terry.... what a coincidence. I'm going to be 50 in June too! Actually more than 50. More than 60 even. YIKES!!! I'll be 61. Just a year away from Social Security.:teeth_smile: Thank goodness it's only a number. I sure don't feel elderly. and I spent $80 yesterday to get "springy" blonde. Well worth it cause when I tried to do my own, one of my Kindergarten kids said they loved my hair cause it was the color of their bike.. yellow in front and black in the back. And of course a parent told me that at conference time. Wayda make me feel special!!:crying: Kat.... hope you're feeling better today. I can't imagine watching Ethan and feeling so bad. He's just about into the terrible 2's and sure is acting the part. Kinsey sounds like such a sweet little girl. Michelle...good job on avoiding the brownies. I used to love snack time in Kindergarten. Seems like there were never any seconds for the munchkins cause someone.... we won't name names....nibbled on the snacks before they were passed out and then of course had to have one with the kids too. arghhhhhhhhh no wonder the weight kept going up and up and up. Hope you get a little break today. You've been doing a lot this week. Jenn... TGIF today! Made it through another week AT WORK!! Remember when you couldn't get a job to save your soul??? Look how far you've come in every aspect of your life! Kewl!! Ethan will be here soon so I better get my poop in a group and be ready. Everyone have a great day. I'll check in when I can!!

I plan on getting lots of sleep........ On the plane ride back! Certainly won't sleep the night before and probably not much during the bash. I need to keep eagle eyes on all the Violets. I'm the designated spiritual leader, ya know!

70 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

Evening Violets.. Our cruising buddies just left. Dinner was great. I think. At least they told me it was. I couldn't eat any of it. Every bite I took came back up. and I mean every bite. I gave up and took my plate away. I told my friends I was glad I was doing it at my house instead of theirs. Of course the pineapple upside down cake and ice cream didn't have any problem staying down. arghhhhhhhhh Guess I need to do liquids for tomorrow to rest my band. I feel like a bulemic! Got my hair colored and cut today. It's blonder than before cause she said I needed a "spring" color. It's 25 degrees with ice and snow on the ground, but I have spring colored hair!!! I love it though. Can't ever be too blonde. I have Ethan from 8-6 tomorrow and have to be at the church for our concert at 6. Won't be home til after 9 so it will be a long day for sure. But the good part is I get to watch American Idol next week for the first time. No rehearsals til the 25th!! yippeee!! Well, time to hit the hot tub and let Jetta the garage dog run for a bit. Everyone sleep well!!

Good Morning, Violets.... it's almost good afternoon!! I've been cleaning and doing laundry getting ready for our friends to come over for dinner tonight. They are going on the exact same cruise we did and will be leaving Sunday. We're going to give them pointers on what to do and not to do. Lunasa!!!! Soooooooooo good to hear from you again. Sounds like you have had quite a struggle. But you know, you always have support from this group. We can't help if you stay away! Sounds like you MOST definitely need a fill. I've had 4 so far and think I have found my sweet spot. I just have to constantly battle the head hunger issue and fighting off old bad habits. But we ALL do and we're all in this together so please continue to post. I've missed you!!! Kat ,Jenn and TracyK...hope you're feeling better today. Michelle... I remember those book fairs well. I would do the monthly book orders from Scholastic and got lots of great free books for my classroom that way. When we had book fairs, the teachers never got anything from it... the money always went to the library. Sounds like you have a good system going there. I better get my butt in gear and get the dessert made for tonight. TTFN!

71 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

Good afternoon, Violets.. Morning rehearsal is done, Ethan is napping and my soup for the Lenten service tonight is cooking on the stove. I made sausage corn chowder. It's yummy, but not very band friendly. I'm having a lot of difficulty with PB'ing lately. Seems like everything I try to eat comes back up. Yesterday it was a few bites of a hamburger, last night it was the pork chops. I haven't had much to eat today. Not really hungry and trying to let my band rest a bit. There will be a variety of soups at church tonight, so hopefully I can find something that isn't too rich or carb laden. TracyK... glad your doctor ordeal is over and hope the pain meds keep you comfortable. Suzie... glad you're feeling better. Violets sure have been hit with the sickies recently!! I have my fingers crossed I can get through my two concerts before anything tries to get me down. The Bobster is just coming off a cold and I've been taking my Zicam as a preventative. Jenn.... my DSIL, the PA recommends Musinex. I've used it and it works well for me. Hope it does for you too. Pamela.. hope you can relax tonight and try and take it easy on the margaritas, K? Just looking out for my roomie. Jane.. our doctor does not numb before fills and I've never had any pain. He gets it right the first time and I have all the confidence in the world in him. After putting in close to 2000 lapbands, he's a real pro. Better go check on my soup and fill up my second liter of Crystal Light for the day. Catch ya all later!

72 Days til the Violet Bandiversary Bash!!

Good evening, Violets.. Just in from the hot tub. It's 19 degrees out, but I really needed to relax and unwind after two rehearsals today. After my concert on Friday night and my concert on Sunday afternoon, next week is going to seem like a breeze!! Kat... hope the pain meds have kicked in and given you some relief. Laura....I finally got the pic the right size. The first time I grabbed it from the email, but grabbing it from you here was much easier. Thanks!! Thank you sooooo much for all the compliments on the cruise formal picture. I really loved it too and am glad we bought it. It sure made us feel good to see ourselves all dressed up and lookin' spiffy!! I'm going to go chat on the video program for a few and then head to bed. I'll leave you with this email I just got. Even though I'm way past worrying about TOM, I still remember what it was like and am so glad to have at least one perk to getting old!!!:shades_smile: This is an actual letter from an Austin, Texas woman sent to the American company Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best webmail-awardwinning letter. Dear Mr. Thatcher, I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants. Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the curse'? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.' Isn't the human body amazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers monthly visits from 'Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.' Are you ****ing kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us? Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull -- And that's a promise I will keep. Always. Best, Wendi Aarons Austin, TX

Ok, Laura. how come my signature pic is smaller than yours and Tracyk's??? You said I would have to resize it cause it was too big, but it wasn't. I didn't resize it at all.

A lot different from these two potential lapbanders!!

Ok... here's the pic of me and my boy. The Rev. Dr. and Mrs. H. R. Case.