Rebeccalee

Gee, Greg, somehow that sounds nasty. :ermm Lots of people teach English where I live. It is very hard to get a job. Besides, I like teaching English as a Second Language and it would be good if I had a second language myself. Besides, if I'm not in school I have to go back to work. I like my 2 year break!

Our snow never stays more than a day or two. And it is barely half an inch on the ground, if that. But it is very special when it happens. Our animals never know what it is, either. :laugh How are you feeling lately? Reflux gone? Betty, I'm so glad you are home and warm. Storms can be very pleasant if we get to stay nice and cozy inside.

I get really, really cold all the time now. I didn't used to. My friends used to wear their coats in my house! Now I keep my house warmer. I know you guys are going to scoff, but it is 40 - 50 degrees here with a freezing cold wind blowing. I know that sounds really lame. We get snow about once every 5 years. No one can drive in snow here, so as soon as it snows we go home and stay off the roads for the very short duration. You guys are lucky to have pretty white stuff every year. P.S. If you want "not too hot or cold" this is the absolute best place to live.

SNOW!!! That is so nice. I bet you are NICE and COLD!! That shivering will make you lose weight, you know. :laugh That's a good reason to stay in your nice warm, festive house! I will send a box of warm clothes AFTER Christmas, when it warms up a bit. I'm very glad you have snow. I hope we get some later this year, but it doesn't look like it will happen.

Sorry you are having such a rough time, Shelly! Of course, you know just what to do. Liquids for Christmas! GEEZ!! Now that's a rough one. Hope you are feeling better. Take very good care of yourself. I hope you get rid of that nasty cough very soon.

Penni, you sound exhausted. Being tired can really affect the attitude. Get some rest and forget about a few things that don't really matter. The pounds will disappear quickly, too. This is the first big holiday season for most of us. Now we know what to expect! Yesterday I went to visit my uncle with my parents. They just laughed when I fell asleep while "visiting" because I had been baking all day. Everyone should understand where you're coming from. Take care of yourself. Relax. Look forward to your quiet time after the holidays.

Hope your day goes smoothly and you can set aside your worries. Take it easy and let us know how you are doing as soon as you feel up to it. My thoughts will be with you. :Bunny

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that now, Teresa! How stressful! Try to relax and rest. It never seems right or fair when another person's neglect impacts us adversely. Hope you get a good value for your car, even though it won't really replace it.

The innards of a prune are pretty mushy, but don't eat the skin. One prune does it for me. Beets also work well for me for some reason.

It's hard to get used to throwing away food. I have used DeLarla's trick of pouring Water over something I don't want to eat the rest of, in order to ruin it. It works well, but upsets my husband. I bring home "doggie bags" all the time and end up having to throw them away. At least they aren't "wasted" on me in the form of fat!

I think of Donali often and hope she is having a wonderful time loving her man. I pray she is healthy and happy.

Don't stress over it, Greg. We don't need those stats until Jan. -- the 3rd? I'm afraid the math will not be too advanced.... the numbers are looking pretty small.

Isn't it funny how the same recipe still tastes better when Mom cooks it?! I hope to give most of the fudge away. I think I'll make a batch right now and take it to my dad today. I'm going to help Mom clean her house and that will save her from making fudge. She's having so much trouble getting around, I think I'll be helping out a lot more this year. My dad still thinks SHE needs to make the fudge!

Way to go, Betty! WOW! That must feel good. Are you wearing tight jeans???? Three pounds is awesome. Merry, Merry!!!! Good job, Melissa. I am proud of you guys! Michelle, I'm proud of us, too. No gain! That is good news this week. I am back down to 172 after bouncing up a couple pounds. I still have to make more cookies and the dreaded fudge, oh, and my son's birthday which is lasagna and lemon meringue pie, my favorite. At least I'll get it all over with this week. And I must say, this season has banished any fears I had of depriving myself of the goodies I love! I have been eating them just fine, thank you . :Bunny

Pat, I have had restriction since surgery, so I haven't needed a fill. Lucky me! My doc talked me into a fill and I ended up on soft foods and liquid for a month with esophageal pain and had to have it removed. He did the barium fluro and everything looks fine. I don't know if I have a problem or just have good restriction that won't go away. Very strange -- makes me worry -- but so far I am just one lucky ducky!

I had NO IDEA this would be so impossible! I see now the proper approach to the holiday season is to hold on tight and hope to maintain. I do have good news, though. No, I'm not exercising....but I am back down to 172, after a slight gain due to a cookie problem. And even though I'm not really losing right now my pants just seemed to be getting baggier. I finally couldn't stand it any longer and went to KMart for a cheap fix. I was wearing 16s and DH said to try 12s. They fit! They are the relaxed fit, stretch jeans, so I really wear a 14. But Boy, oh Boy! did that make my day. The 12s are nice and tight for going out. I'll wear the baggy ones at home. :confused: So, Greg? I weight 172 now. Have I lost 4 pounds in the last month? That's what my record shows, but I'm not sure. Putting things in a holiday perspective, THAT'S NOT BAD AT ALL!! :Bunny

That's a nice page, Greg. I hope you and your wife have a very nice Christmas. Are you going to get any rest? Hope you have some time to enjoy the holiday.

NewHope (Marie) changed her name. I don't know if she set up a new membership or not. Ask her.

That just cracks me up! I haven't seen Greg on here for days -- and this is when he pipes up!!! Nice to hear from you. I've been baking cookies. How are you doing?

I already plan to be rebanded if mine erodes. I worry about it often, especially since I seem to be fairly tight without a fill. I read that there is an unproven theory that erosion may be associated with infection, like if there was a port infection early on, it might cause erosion later. This is UNPROVEN, and like the NSAID (don't take anti-inflamatories) theory, it will probably be discounted later. It would be nice to know, but all we can do is hope.

So sorry you ended up without your band and going through so much misery. I hope you recover well and things start looking up for you.

My doctor told me he thought I was eating too fast or not chewing enough, so I asked my husband what he thought. He agreed. After I got more comfortable with the band, I relaxed and did not take such great care. It is hard to slow down and be careful. I find if I don't eat soon enough and let myself get too hungry, I set myself up for some fast eating and misery. Glad you talked to you doctor. You are doing great!

Babs, I really think that thoughts of "oh, she is so fat" are what strangers and acquaintances think. People who know us well tend to look beyond that and don't think about it. I know I don't think of friends or family as fat, but strangers are easier to judge that way. It is very nice when people notice the change since it is such a big deal personally. Do you think that kind of attention is addictive? I'm starting to like it a little bit too much I think!

Go back to you PCP right away with an update. I know I don't like to, it seems like worrying over nothing. But what you are feeling is extreme. You need to KNOW what is wrong, for sanity's sake. Insist on an urgent visit, don't wait! I hope you are feeling better soon.

I go a step farther than the seat down -- close the damn lid! Who wants to look in the toilet all the time?! It has a cover, so use it. That way everybody has to open the lid to use it. It's not just a girl thing, it's a hygiene thing. The dog can't drink out of it, nobody has to look in it (not that it's dirty), and nobody falls in during a midnight run!