ShelbiCallie

:lol: Agreed!!! (I didn't even notice it until I saw your reply! -- Maybe the STD Challenge and we could all get a big shot of penicillin at the conclusion??) The :thumbup:-day suggestion is so much better, Julie.ann!!!

Happy New Year! Love the adorable grandbaby pictures-- such a couple of cutie patooties!! SO CUTE! Hugs back to Mr. Buster, Mal! Glad to hear your friend was with you on Christmas Eve; I hope he's doing well. I'd like to jump in on the VD challenge too, please. Put me down for losing the 7 pounds that I found over the last few months, Miss Dee. And thank you for being the statistician. I'm going to try hard not to be a drop out this time around! My pops moved (short-term, I hope)to a nursing facility this week for some intensive PT, hopefully to get him more mobile. So I'm off to visit him, then back home to cook the traditional New Year's good luck meal. 2009 is going to be the best year ever for all of us -- I can just feel it!!

We saw the movie yesterday afternoon and loved it. My whole family cried along with everyone in the theatre. Alot of sniffing and snorting going on! I'm reading the book now and loving it. Deb, how is Tucker doing? Brandy, how did you learn you've got a tilt? Well, my visit with the scales revealed a 7 pound gain! Now 5 doesn't sound so bad after all. Happy Monday everyone!

Thank you all for your so very kind words! You guys are the best of the best.:tongue_smilie: As all of you know, there is always another dog (or twenty)who needs a home and people have been trying to give us another dog right off the bat. I have a co-worker who has been trying to give me her lab for more than a year and I've always refused because I didn't want Barkley to have to share his place in the pack during his last years. Anyway, when I got the full story on this boy and I knew I couldn't stand another day living without a dog, we went and got him. He's a 2-yr-old yellow who has spent his entire life in a small lot and had never even had his immunizations! It's one of those stories where the family got a cute puppy and then realized how much work he would be and put him outside until they could find someone to take him. He had never even worn a collar before and had Parvo as a pup. So, I've had a good project to work on -- he has a heart of gold, but is a wild goofy teenager -- not the dignified older gentleman that Barkley was. This has been very healing for me -- he's now house trained and doing well on the leash. We've got all the vet stuff behind us and he knows "sit". I wish you could have seen him run when we turned him out in the back yard for the first time -- he had never been able to stretch his legs or get the exercise that labs must have. And now I have a walking buddy -- so no more excuses! My youngest son has named him "Wilson". Sorry to ramble on about my dogs, and thanks to my fellow dog lovers for indulging me. I am going to bite the bullet and weigh tomorrow morning and update my ticker. Time to face the music, so to speak. Thanks again for allowing me to be here after being negligent with my participation. Did I tell you that you are the best of the best already? Well, you are!!!

Hello Banditos! Long time no post! Belated Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years to you all. I am sorry I've been a stranger. I've scanned the posts, but I know I'll never catch up, so I'm jumping in here. I hope no one minds.:thumbup: I have been a bad, bad bandster. I have gained about 5 pounds, but I am so thankful for my band otherwise it would be 25, no doubt. I am dusting myself off and jumping back on the band wagon. I am loving all the wonderful news you've shared here. Patty! You. Look. Mahvalous!!! Rockin' those 18/20s!! I am back to one day at a time. Back to the basics. Back to practicing those rules and remembering why I got banded in the first place -- to get healthy. Update on what's been going on here: We lost Barkley at the end of November. I miss him every second of every day. His seizures became uncontrollable and constant with medication and he couldn't tolerate surgery. He really suffered the last week of his life to the point where I felt like I was disrespecting him because I didn't let him go sooner. I'm still working on that. My dad has been in the hospital and though home now, he is not improving. The walker and catheter continue and he hates the loss of his independence. I hate it for him too. Trying very hard to keep his focus positive. We had a good Christmas with him -- sang every Christmas carol we could think of. Anyway, just wanted to say hi and let you all know that I'm thinking of you (even when I fall off the band wagon) and sending you positive thoughts and big hugs.

I didn't know you'd hear about our NC commercials out there in UT!!!! I am convinced that Liddy Dole did not want to be re-elected -- she wanted to go on to Kansas with Bob, retire and quit feeling obligated to spend a few days in NC each year. She ran a half-as* campaign and then capped it off by insulting everyone with 2+ brain cells who happened to catch that commercial. That was the final nail in the coffin for Liddy. I am having serious withdrawal from the process. I feel like I'm supposed to be working on the transition team or something. Or coming up with a good name for Sasha and Malia's new puppy. I hope they get a lab:wub:.

msnbc.com mobile They're still counting the provisional votes --I think there's about 50k of them. I can't wait til they call it!! But it's already a done deal anyway, just will feel good to see the Blue! The BEST news in NC: we now are represented in the Senate by Kay Hagan!!!!!! For the first time in my adult life, Jesse Helms or his wannabe is not representing me in Washington. That's monumental for me. The most touching moment for me in this whole thing: I stood in line for 2 hours at the library to early vote a few weeks ago. An very eldery African American man with oxygen and a walker, was struggling with each step to get through the exit after casting his vote. He had the biggest smile on his face. Will probably be his last election to vote. I'm so glad that I got to witness that. Jaime, I'm glad you're doing well!:smile2:

Long time no see! Just popping in to say good luck Jaime! I've certainly missed you guys! I've forgotten in the recent weeks that I've even had a lap band, but it's time to get back on track. I'm sorry that I haven't kept up, but I have been working as a volunteer and supporter for OUR NEW PRESIDENT!! For the first time in my life I made calls, donated and volunteered at the local campaign headquarters. It has been an awesome experience!!! I can't tell you how overjoyed I am and how proud I am of our country. We have much work still to do to but there opportunity to make positive change like never before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everybody take care! Love, Shelbi

Deb, Congratulations!!! I am thrilled for you and Janet, and wish you two a long and happy life together! Love is to be cherished and celebrated, always. Jaime, What jerks! They need an ass whuppin'. You'll show their sorry butts with your new, hotter body and they can drool !! Marie, Thinking about you and your dad. Everyone, I'm still around -- sorry if it's sporadic, but I'll catch up at some point. I can't stand the thought of losing the connection with all of you, but I'm not too band-focused right now for some reason. Thank God for my band, though, or I'd be gaining!

Popping in to say hello, my wonderful band peeps! I haven't forgotten you, but am having frequent computer connection problems that have made me actually have to drive to the real office to work! I'm spoiled, I know. Mal and Dee -- I am so very, very proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am behind and don't know if I will ever catch up again, but please know that I'm wishing everyone well and keeping you in my positive thoughts!

He is adorable. He and his mama are so fortunate to have you in their lives. I am sorry that you are going through this, but am so thankful that you were there to intervene and take charge of the situtation before it worsened. Stay strong Patty. I'm glad to hear that your sister and mom are helping. Kiss that precious boy on that sweet little head for me.