SC-Cindy

YOO HOO & YIPPEE for Michelle and Haydee--You've both hit new low numbers!!! If Pam were feeling better, you just know she'd break out the banana boobies. Terry, the Sex Swing is DEFINITELY NOT, NOT, NOT my DH's anniversary present. Just as your husband, he would probably go cardiac on me, plus I can't see me with the swing since my back is housing two herniated discs. DH will just have to be happy with the trip next weekend to Canada for my snow fix. Y'all know the Maxine cartoons??? Can't you just laugh thinking about what she'd say while strapped up in a Sex Swing?!? Suzie, I applaud your cleaning mode today (which I've warned DH I'll NEVER get in), but why in the world would you clean the ice maker??? Isn't the water already clean when it goes in there? :high5: Also, there's actually a show on "How To Look Good Naked?" What a stupid premise! I have the answer! Wait for it... Just a little more... Keep your eyes closed! :blah: Might not have been worth the wait, huh? And finally, Kat, many prayers are being said for your dad and for you and your mom. love to all, Cindy

No, Kat, I won't be there in May as I am coordinating a trip to Israel for my church in mid-May. Am sorry to be missing y'all, however. Have a safe drive tomorrow, my friend. Cindy, heading off to bed now that I've seen photos of a Sex Swing in action. Judy and Michelle, gotta say it's a new world we're living in--OMGosh! :faint:

Kat---'Bang lessons'??? Are we still talking about the Sex Swing??? Cindy, scurrying away to hide now

Suzie, thanks for all you've done to get our daily tips up and running. They've been a big help to me! And muchas gracias to those who are providing them! Michelle, to paraphrase Kat, "The Christmas weight has left the building!" Good going, girl! Not to bring up a (another) TMI subject for today... but is anyone still having BM problems besides me? I drink my water! I'm taking Miralax...and it's still about once every five days. And like Michelle posted yesterday, I fantasize about the weight I'm losing when I'm finally successful in the bathroom. And please don't even mention the word constipation--ouch ouch ouch! I've even quit weighing on the mornings that I didn't have a BM the previous day. To look on the positive side, obviously keeps me from weighing everyday. :funscale: Loved my classes today--it's good to be back in the teacher mode. Gotta go Google Sex Swing...kinda wondering what to get Bill for our 28th anniversary the end of this month. love to all and positive thoughts for us all on CTC and water tomorrow, Cindy

Checking in for the evening: Laura, I salute you for the choices you've made in YOUR life. You've got two siblings with addiction issues, and you are the one worrying and praying about them. Good going on getting your SH** together! I'll join the other Violets here in praying that your sister will be strong enough to break the terrible hold it has on her. Kat--your advice about husbands was excellent! And I'd have to challenge you about having best husbands, but mine did abandon me to go to our cabin the weekend before Christmas. :-) Perhaps if you and Judy could send us some photos with back views...well, we could always cast our votes? What do you say, ladies? :eyebrows: Pamela, I had to laugh at your assignment for your kiddies to write a composition yesterday. In my pre-Spanish teacher days, I was an English teacher and days I just felt horrible that was what I had to do...but then I always had to READ those suckers. Definitely no rest for the weary! You are amazing in that you teach both middle school and also the on-line college classes. Do you ever sleep? I'm sorry that either of the two couples on The Biggest Loser tonight landed in the bottom two. And at least the two going home can and are supporting one another. My first thought when Mallory GAINED 1# in a week of extensive workouts was that she might not have had enough water to keep her flushed out. Or maybe TOM... ??? And speaking of water and CTC: it seems like the New Year has kicked it up a notch for all of us. Go us, Go us, Go us! :whoo: Night all, gotta finish getting ready for some serious Spanish teaching mañana, Cindy

Wow! So many blessings today! Kat's friends are safe! And on cnn.com Judy got her angel charm! Where's our photo? Haydee's back! Gina's back! TracyK got her bonus! (sorry about BP though) TracyinKS got a wedding dress that makes her husband go WOWZER! And add one more vote for the updo. Your face is so delicate that your hair could overwhelm it on your special day if it weren't up. Jennifer is getting balls! You go, girl! Pamela really didn't eat crap today--a tiny-einsy piece of chocolate that you pop in your mouth without thinking doesn't count! And started us on part 2, thanks! Laura and hubby are trying to get over the weekend! Jane had a long (more $$) Monday! Terry had some great advice for Jennifer AND is making Tracy's wedding jewelry. What a gift! And I had my first day back teaching and then spent my first paycheck on sales of Nygard suits, skirts, and sweaters @ Dillard's. And oh, yes, Jetta can safely go to sleep now that the storm is over. Faithfully submitted, Cindy, with apologies for not heralding Michelle's day--what'd you do today, girlie? You did have some great advice for Jennifer, too! My first marriage ended after only 3-1/2 years, but that would have been a marriage that would have involved MAJOR compromise on my part for it to have worked, and I just couldn't do it. I was really so young--he and I started dating when I was in 9th grade, only dated each other through high school and my first year of college, then got married when I was still only 18. Not trying to pat myself on the back for my good judgment with husband #2 (more like great luck), but we're about to Celebrate our 28th anniversary, and my ex is now on his 4th marriage--none of which has lasted longer than ours did. I think I see the pattern here. Hey--you just can't keep beating up your wife and have her not take it personally. And (finally!) look for an escape. End of Cindy's sermon for today! love to all!

Kat, my prayers are with your friends. love, Cindy

Hi all, Happy Monday morning! And I really need to get to bed since I start back teaching tomorrow--luckily, my first class isn't 'til 11am and the last is over @ 3:50. Such a GREAT change from teaching in high school. Sounds like almost everyone is back on track with our plans for the new us that we started with our lapbands. Come on, pounds, start a-droppin'. The trip in May sounds wonderful! And I agree with the others, Jane--GO! I wish I could be with y'all, but already have plans to go on a trip that I am organizing to Israel and Jordan. Of course, I'm excited about going to the Holy Land, but dearly want to meet each of you as we celebrate our new bodies. Tracy, good luck with the job hunt with BP. And Pamela, thanks for today's tip: It's a great one as I can never get enough fiber and we know the problems THAT creates. TMI, right? Kat, two or three bites of ice cream??? Judy, a small # of mints??? No sweat!!! Pounds, commence to droppin' ! love to all, Cindy

TRACYinKS = ONE-DERFUL! Congratulations, you skinny thang! I'm nursing a very sore back; had my third nerve block on Thursday and am just trying to baby my back so not too much computer-sitting for a few days. I have caught up on everyone's posts just don't have the back stamina for personals, I'm sorry. love to all, Cindy PS Stay off the scale, TracyinKS (I'll bet no one's told you that today, huh?)

Alright ladies, raise your hand if you've hit a plateau since being banded...no, no fair, y'all, no you may NOT raise both hands! Okay, I think that's all present and accounted for. Okay, now let's see who's gotten discouraged since (insert your name for the lapband here) was put in. Hmm....1, 2, 49, 57....? Wow! Looks like it's unanimous! And now for your final question: Who wants a swift kick in the butt? The line starts behind me. Is TracyK our resident kickass since she's doing so well or should it be Kat since she's got the lowest BMI? I'll take two swift kicks, Kat and TracyK! And anyone else who wants to join in kicking me, step right up. The more Violet energy I have in me the quicker I'll get off this plateau. Judy, glad you're back! Now, Haydee, did you slip down to Mexico for the beautiful blue water and the warm beaches? ¡Tengo celos! love to all, Cindy, stuck at the same weight since the first of December, but I did get rid of the 5 lbs. I gained on the cruise.

Add my congratulations to the bunch, Panda! Anybody but me starting to get worried about Judy and Haydee? The last we heard from Judy she was going out to her hottub as Bob had already gone to bed. Who has her phone #? And it seems like it's been a week since we've heard from Haydee. Concerned in SC, Cindy

Pamela, yes, I'm green with envy over all the changes you and Susanne are making to your home. Isn't she retiring fairly soon? My husband is retiring March 31st and is excited about the time he'll have to pursue his many hobbies. Laura and Denise, I'm sending a purple power healing hug to you in hopes you'll be feeling better soon, soon, SOON! :sick Michelle, BEAUTIFUL! And could you please take a close-up photo of your necklace? I love jewelry and was trying to imagine how the rubies and amethysts looked together. And from India! Lucky, girl! All other wonderful Violet Friends, did you see Biggest Loser this evening? A different concept this season with there being ten teams of two-people, all but one of them related or friends. B4 your lapband, would you have had someone you would have wanted to take with you to Biggest Loser? I would have wanted to take my mother who at 83 is in remarkably good health for her age but is overweight. She was 168 which I know sounds light, but she's only 4'10" tall. The doctor put her on a low sugar diet six months ago because she was almost diabetic, and by cutting way back on (almost off of) sugar, she's lost 20 pounds. I'm proud of her, but I think it would have been fun to go to a camp like this with her. And which trainer would you have picked if you could as they could in tonight's episode? I would definitely want to pick Bob. :eyebrows: What a hottie! love to all! Cindy

Kat, I just saw your last post one time. ??? TracyinKS, you look so good in that bathing suit top! Laura and Pamela, I LOVE The Amazing Race and was so disappointed that Kent and Vixen were eliminated last night. Who're y'all hoping will win? I like everybody BUT the bickering couple! They drive me freaking crazy! Carping at each other last night while looking for the newspaper ad. And Ron ("Who's your daddy?") also gets on my nerves for always berating his daughter. What losers! And Laura, I'm with you on the height issue. But NOT with eating creepy crawlies. No, thanks. I'll just have to get my million some other way, thank you very much. Maybe a lap dancer when I finish losing my weight???!!!??? :scared: DH and I took the three dachshunds out for a walk at the lake today. It is currently 71 degrees, sunny with a light breeze. And this is winter? At least tomorrow night it's supposed to get to below 30. We stay in on New Year's Eve and, and Suzie, like you we might wake up when we hear noise--except for us in the big city (5,000 people) it's fireworks that might wake us up. Can y'all believe we've come so far this year? I know that the highlight of my year was getting the band. 57 pounds and still counting down...I could NEVER have done this on my own. Thanks to my little "14" always there to help me out and save me from being the glutton I truly am. love to all, Cindy Continued band success to all of us in the new year!

TracyinKS, I'm with you on what the band likes (wish I could think of a great name for it...my husband thinks it should be named "14" since I'm self-pay and the surgery was fourteen thou.) The crunchy stuff goes right down, but something soft like mac and cheese??? Oh, no sir! Almost PB'd on it this evening at Picadilly Cafeteria. And I've given up for now on eggs and oatmeal. Picadilly came after we went to see the movie "No Country for Old Men." I liked it...I think. If you've seen it could you explain the ending to me? After the movie and dinner we hit our local Barnes & Noble so we're dated out today with our standard Saturday morning Breakfast date at a small town restaurant and then the outing this pm. Maybe that's DH's way of apologizing for bailing out on me for Christmas by going to the cabin. Just living the high life in SC, that's us! :-) Do any of y'all play Bunco? I'm thinking of starting a group one night a month. Which of you can I pencil in for a spot? love to all, Cindy, who really, really is thinking about planning to start taking down the Christmas decorations tomorrow after church.

Michelle, you look so beautiful in that dress, and it is so flattering on you! Thanks for posting the photo for us all to oogle. Only other personal for now: Judy, thanks for feeding my snow addiction! Have I told y'all that I love me some snow?!? Counting down 'til Val-David, Canada, (3 weeks from TODAY!) Cindy PS: Michelle, WOW!!! If I knew how to do nanna boobies I'd sure be sending them your way! That dress is perfect for you and on you! Lookout hubby!

And another thing, Denise...remember how cute, cute, cute you looked in those Victoria's Secret jammies from your Secret Santa. You can do this! Take the first step--and get the crap out! love, Cindy

Okay, Denise, I'm channeling my inner Judy: STOP IT RIGHT NOW! Not tomorrow! Now! Throw it out---Give it away--Just get it away from you. Each bite taken will encourage the next and the next. There, not that all is gone from your reach, you'll be able to quit beating yourself up about poor choices (since we ALL make them) and go on with the lapband: making good choices, drinking your water, and following the bandster rules. You can do it! You wouldn't have gotten the band and gotten this far--you've lost more than 50 pounds, girl! You can cut the crap, even if it's Friday. Do it, please, for yourself. sending purple vibes with tons of support, Cindy

Of course, Macy, didn't want to go into the pants with you, Tracy--There was so much extra room in them she thought she'd be lost forever down into some bottomless pit! Wow, you are doing so well! I hope the move is going smoothly now that you got the house cleaning finished yesterday. Looks like some of your furniture and things are unpacked already. No Christmas decorations came down today...but I did plan my 28th anniversary trip--only four more weeks! Bill and I are going to the Village de Val-David in the Laurentian Mountains about 60 miles northwest of Montreal. I'm so thrilled! We've been snowmobiling and dog sledding in that general area in the past, but I think we'll take it easy and just snowshoe and maybe try cross-country skiing. I'm so THRILLED!!! You know how I like to visit snow! We've stayed in St. Agate and St. Adele on previous trips to this area. Here's the link to our hotel: http://www.sapiniere.com/hotel-laurentides/a_historic.html and a link to the town: http://www.valdavid.com/en/index.php And we're just a view away from Mont Tremblant! The first time we were in this area (17 years ago) we were riding snowmobiles and stopped for lunch at a little restaurant in the town of St. Agathe. A police officer stopped walking along the sidewalk to really STARE at our snowmobiles pulled up at the curb, and we just knew we had done something wrong. The entire region speaks French, and you know, I'm a Spanish teacher. The officer comes in the restaurant and talks with the hostess who announces very loudly in heavily French-accented English, "Will the violators of our parking laws please come forward." You can imagine how embarrassed we were! We were ticketed for illegal parking--snowmobiles can't be parked on the street like cars. We were lucky, however, since we had rented the snowmobiles from a local dealer who just happened to be the mayor, and he said he'd take care of the ticket for us. He was very upset at the police officer since only visitors wouldn't know not to park on the street. Never heard anything more about the ticket, and the second time we returned to the area, probably twelve years ago, we rented snowmobiles from the same gentleman and were all able to laugh at our parking ticket. I'm so THRILLED to have this trip to look forward to. My husband has absolutely refused to go on a cruise, but I do love me some snow! Judy, you and Bob will have to take care of my vicarious cruising now that I've gone on one. Thanks for letting me gush, all. I'm so EXCITED! love, Cindy

T-G-I-F Violets! Kat, Susie and Tracy, thank you for feeding my vicarious need for snow! Susie, you can tell your husband that your time on the road today was for your Violet Sister Cindy in Charleston, South Carolina! My DH has agreed to a weekend trip to a snowy area over the MLK weekend to feed my addiction. He's usually not an enabler (as you'll see later in my posting). Glad you got home safely, Susie, and Kat, I'm hoping your drive with your dad to Alb. is a safe one, and TracyKS, sorry to hear about your cold, but forget about cleaning the house for the boys to return this evening; they'll just un-ravel all your work in 10 minutes. At least that's MY story! Nancy, your regeneration explanation had me snorting my morning hot tea out of my nose. Too funny! And perfectly reasonable! :-) TracyK, good for you for calling in sick today. I'm positive there are so many reasons besides being sick why God invented sick leave. Sick of work??? Sick of getting up early??? Sick of deciding what to wear??? Perhaps you all can add to my list. Hmm...what would I name my lapband. Chuck is a great one, Tracy! And I like Billy Badass, but since my husband's name is Bill, I'd better stay away from that one and not give him (DH) any ideas. Although now that I think about it, my Bill was kinda/sorta a nag B4 the band. He'd ask: "Are you sure you want that 4th dinner roll?" My head answer was always, Duh, why'd I pick it up, put it on my plate, and butter it--just so it wouldn't feel lonely? My mouth answer: "Yes, and quit nagging me or I'll get a 5th one!" When we'd talk about it later, he would say he wasn't nagging, just trying to help. Geesh! Can anyone relate? A day of starting to pack up Christmas today for me. My mom's tradition is to leave everything up until about March, and that always drove me crazy, so my opposite response is to have everything down and put away by December 31st. Plus, the tree looks so forlorn now without any presents under it. And a water question...does decaf tea with Equal sweetener count as water? I drink about 8 or 10 cups of it a day and NO water. And like Terry, I've really seen a plateau since I stopped walking. Happy Friday, Cindy

Happy Thursday Violets! Thanks to all who posted about the mean lady and her daughter, but y'all that was Susie's story. Not mine. Susie, you are so far from the lady standing at that deli counter that was so ashamed. You have NOTHING to be ashamed of now. And look at you, about to get the keys to the kingdom, um, I mean Curves. Your clients will LOVE you because you know what they are fighting against and can give them hope. TracyinKS, the silicone fist is too appropriate of a name for our lapband! :-) Kat, I am so envious of you and Judy for getting some snow. Well, at least envious of some of the snow you two get. I tend to get cabin fever fairly quickly so a few days of imposed closed-in-the-house time would be fun...for 12 hours! Thanks to all for sharing what your Santas brought you. Now, here's my question: what gift did you give that brought YOU the most pleasure in giving. My family and I did not exchange gifts this Christmas because we went on the cruise together, so that was our gift to each other. And my niece Tes loves books so I really loaded her up with them. Probably the best gift I gave this year, I think, was my time and a donation to a local restaurant feeding the needy on Christmas Eve. I helped serve the people that came in and was so overwhelmed with THEIR gratitude! The food was amazing (Caution: food porn ahead!) Ham, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatos, cole slaw, potato salad, green beans, etc. and desserts too numerous to mention. The organizers had a Santa on hand to give out gifts to the children, and the gifts were nice ones. For example, a 14-yr. old boy got a DVD/radio boom box. And a twelve year old girl got three lovely necklace and earring sets, and she was THRILLED. The best part may have been when I volunteered to carry a grandmother and her two grandchildren, a girl 12, and a boy 8, home because they didn't have a ride. Their home was so sadly pitiful. The yard was neatly kept, but the home was only about 15 ft. by 30 ft. Really the size of a storage shed. And four (4!) people lived there. The bathroom was an outhouse...can you believe that in 2007, people still do not have indoor plumbing?!? What an eye-opening visit that was. I am so thankful this Christmas for the things I have, but much more importantly, for the friends and loved ones that love me. (This means YOU!) love to all, Cindy

Laura, I've got to join the chorus--you look so gorgeous now! I can't wait to see updated photos now that you've gone through port revision. Wowee! TracyK, sending positive vibes to you AND your scale for tomorrow morning! Nancy and Ana, welcome to a wonderfully supportive group of lapband friends. I was the newbie until you two came along, and it's good to welcome two more to the fold. A Christmas story compliments of my only niece: Her Christmas was made as soon as she got into her stocking and saw the Pez candy dispenser. She was ECSTACTIC! Nothing else Santa brought thrilled her more. At least at 5.5 years old she's beyond playing with the boxes that her Santa gifts came in. :-) My day has been fairly quiet--washed a few load of clothes and hubby came back from the cabin in the mountains. I missed him. Dachshunds are great, but a partner is the real deal. To all, happy after-Christmas sales shopping with all the gift cards. Cindy

And now a sweet link (but not food porn or Santa porn, sorry): http://ecard.ashland.edu/index.php?ecardYear=2004adm

http://www.wavnatcha.com:80/xmas/ A different take on how Santa relaxes after his busy night!

Merry Christmas, y'all! Somebody call the police! Denise made out like a bandit! WOW! Pamela, the 'Twas the Night B4... was perfect; thanks for thinking of us. And speaking of PBing??? On a glass of milk this afternoon!!! Guess my band is really working, huh? Laura, hope you're enjoying your computer-free time @ home for Christmas. TracyK, your story of dd's Christmas morning was so sweet. These moments in these days with children are so special. Store up those precious memories...and then you can tease her when she becomes an adult! Well, at least that's what my mom does to me. :-) A bodybug: What to go, Michelle! 2lbs this week, Judy! Great! That angel charm is just a good dose of X-Lax away (oops, too much info, I guess). Who hasn't checked in yet? Haydee, Susie, TracyinKS, Kat, Terry, Jenn? Love to all--named and unnamed, Cindy

Sending a ((hug)) to you, Judy, on your Christmas Eve disappointment. At least you did get to see Ethan! Bless his heart on being so tired after church and then waiting on his mom to show up. And how odd of his mother??!!?? much love to you as you celebrate the Son's special day with Bob tomorrow, Cindy