DivaStyleCoach

PJTP...Mornin' all! Feeling much calmer this morning - kinda got my F-it attitude on. Smiling at everyone, stepping high...:wink2: ROFLMBO at the previous night's messages - thank you all for the laughs this morning! :smile::eek: Heard from one of the jobs last night late - they are in the middle of a busy period, incorporating another section into their office. No decision made yet. I told them in the second email (sent one Monday) that I'll wait to hear from them. In the meantime, I've applied for 4 other positions - I'm not waiting. :drool: Sent an email to the BB (Big Boss), who happens to be a man, not the LB (Little Boss) who is my immediate supervisor and the woman I have more challenges with at work. Told the BB that I'm planning to leave and asked that they hold off on the written reprimand to give me time to get out. LB already knew about the other job, since they wanted to contact her as my most recent supervisor. Don't know if they contacted her yet or not. Still no response from the BB to my request. If he decides to move forward with the written reprimand, there's really nothing I can do about it - I'm hoping that he doesn't feel that vindictive and will just let it drop since I'm choosing to leave anyway. I wonder if he's getting pressure to resolve the matter before he goes out on paternity leave next week - not even sure how long he'll be gone. No matter what, I'm going to try to keep my head up and not let the haters get me down. Having lunch with my union rep today to see what options she might have for me - though I'm not holding out a lot of hope with that either. I hate that my 30-plus year work history has come to this...NEVER have I had someone treat me this way or cast aspersions on my work product this way. NEVER. I am better than that - and I damn well know it. Sometimes I still want to cry, but I'm not going to let THEM see that. All they will see is a proud warrior woman going about her business and doing her job the best she knows how until I leave this place. Have a great day all! Thanks tons for all the love and support - I really appreciate it! :eek:

Whazzup Notorious Novembers! Haven't been here in a bit, so checking in and catching up... I trust you are doing well now - didn't I see a later message that you are losing again? If so, congrats...if not - now's the time! For me, it's drinking more water - I think I've gotta give up the Coke Zero, though I do water it down...plus I've gotta stop with the 'sliders'. I love original flavor Bugles - and just a small bag won't do, so I've gotta cut those out completely! I'm in...see above... Go Tkl! I'm doing well with my walking, but getting ready to step up to running. My DH is encouraging me to run with him so we'll BOTH get stronger and slimmer. Gotta buy some good running shoes - my walking shoes just don't do it... I saw your update, Mom2two, and I'm glad you are out of pain and have had your band removed. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that - please check in and let us know what you're up to...hopefully you'll see this... Go DD go! That's totally AWESOME! I can't wait until I get into Onderland... I thought I'd seen this message - congrats 2-Lose! You've got more fortitude than I, girlfriend...I can't do spicy food - I hate that lip burning stuff! :eek: Congrats on having a healthy pregnancy! One of the other LBT members, Losingjusme, chronicled her pregnancy with the band. She may still be on the forum, but if not, a search will bring up her messages if you're interested in someone's story. I hope all goes smoothly and well with the rest of your pregnancy, and your baby will have a healthy, happy mommy!:smile: It's not just you...chicken has been giving me trouble the past few days...just gotta say NO! :drool: Glad to be back on the thread...I missed y'all! I'm doing okay - was stuck on a plateau at 215 for a couple of weeks, bouncing up a pound or two, then back down. For some reason since I returned from a week's vacation in Florida and Virginia, my band "Jillian" has been very tight. Nearly everything has been coming back or seeming to sit right at the top of the band forever. Today I'm on liquids (protein shakes) to see if something I did caused some swelling and see if it will resolve itself. If not, and I continue to have trouble, I'll schedule a visit with my doc. I'm happy because I'm down to a size 16W in most clothes - and there definately IS a difference between the 16W and size 16's! I bought shorts for my vacation at Old Navy in a size 16 and cried in the dressing room when I tried them on...I haven't worn a 16 since high school! I'm pretty steady on exercise, but as I mentioned above, I'm going to start running with my DH and see if that helps kick-start my losses again. I'm nearly at the halfway point and see why some people get to the 50 - 70% lost mark and stop. I could happily live at a size 14 or 16 for the rest of my adult life, but I'm not going to stop now. I am DETERMINED to make it to my 100% goal of losing 115 pounds - that would put me at 150 lbs. I'm 5' 10" tall, so I don't want to get TOO skinny...I'd much rather be muscular and tight than the 'skinny fat' I see some women as. Hang in there, all you Notorious Novembers - I'm right there with ya!:eek:

Hey Lulu, Follow up of the previous complaint. Anything short of perfection gets written up...this time, it happened to be a couple of seperate incidents. First incident - I was sent an email that a candidate for our educational program had 'withdrawn' his candidacy. I put that word in quotes because it's important. I updated his record in the database as a 'Withdraw'. I was then told that he should have been an 'Admit Decline' so I changed it. Second incident - there were discrepancies between what one of the divisions reported for scholarships and what our office reported. I had nothing to do with the reports, but was asked to check the status of the people with the discrepancies. While doing the check, I noticed a lot of them had no description for the scholarship they had recieved. I had been told earlier that this was important information, so I entered the description on the records - probably 25 or so of them. I was questioned as to why I updated the records, and I explained my actions. Obviously that wasn't good enough, because that's one of the things I am being written up for. I thought data consistency was important - obviously not. I'm just going to have to wade through this...I don't know if I'll be able to continue with my current employer, though it is a big organization. Once this hits my permanent record, I'll be persona non grata, so I might as well start planning my exit now.

PJTP... Lulu, I agree with Beth - that's one heck of a mowing job...and it's only partly done?!?!?!?!?!? Wow....just wow! Glad your DH didn't spaz out about the windows (on you, not the devil child). Taps - take it easy with the neck stiffness...I have a recurring bout with that and it's so distracting. Makes driving a real adventure! G4E - feel better hun! Follow those doc's orders (but you know that already) Glouc, Fanny - I have NO control around chocolate either...Fanny - I agree you should either lock them up somewhere and give the key to someone else, or just get them out of your space. My former office used to keep chocolate for the medical residents when they came in off rotations and had been up all night. We got the good stuff - excellent dark chocolate and as many types of hershey's kisses as they made - including the seasonal ones...of course, this was all pre-band!:wub: Kcmagu - you may have mentioned this, but what do you do for work? Sounds like maybe a hospital or health care setting...and what's up with the knife and gun club? All - I was just informed by the Big Boss (BB) that they are going to file a 'next level' reprimand on me. This one will be written, and it goes into my employment record. I'm falling apart at my desk as I type...the tears just won't stop. I do NOT deserve this...and I'm praying that one of the other jobs comes through before this thing hits my record...otherwise, it may make it impossible for me to leave in the way I want to. I've already notified my union rep - we are meeting tomorrow. I just want to say F-it and walk out. The job I had the second interview for still hasn't made a decision - at least not one they've notified ME about. I did email my contact on Monday after I returned from my vacation, but no response yet. I HATE giving up, but right now that's what I feel like doing. I just want to go somewhere and hide...I feel like such a failure. :crying: I've been working since I was 15 years old and NEVER has this happened to me...NEVER. I just don't know what else I can do...they want PERFECTION and I can't give it to them...:crying::crying::crying:

Hi Allie! Dr. Schulman is in New York. His thread on LBT is here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/f12/ask-dr-schulman-64543/ He's great about answering questions - I've asked a couple and gotten wonderful responses from him. I'm actually not planning my surgery until 2010 - I am planning to be at or very near my goal weight by Dec 09, but I understand it's best to be at your goal weight for a few months before doing the surgery. I have seen up to a year recommended, but that's not why I'm waiting...it's partly financial, but partly because my employer does an annual holiday shutdown and the days between Christmas and New Years are paid days off with no charge to my vacation time. If I save some days this year, I could concievably take 2 additional weeks and have 3 weeks off, which I think is the recommended time interval. Check out Dr. Schulman's thread - he's also got a website with some good info and before and after pics at: After Weight Loss | Madison Avenue Plastic Surgery Good luck - I'll be rooting for ya! :wub:

Hi Allie! Congrats on moving forward with your surgery! That's awesome...and you look great! I'll be following your progress on this thread...I may want to talk to your surgeon when my time comes. Finding someone in the area is proving to be more difficult that I imagined. I'm kinda leaning toward Dr. Schulman, who has a PS thread on LBT where he answers questions. I'm also hoping for December surgery to take advantage of the holiday shutdown at work. Congrats again! :thumbdown:

Hi Everyone! Haven't posted in the exercise thread for a while, but... I do continue to walk every day - morning walk with DDog, now since the weather has gotten better, I'm also walking from the train station to my office building. Summer means a shorter lunch hour, so I've only been getting in 20 minute walks versus 35 - 40 when I have an hour for lunch. I also walk from my office building to the train station to go home - normally about 20 minutes to go just over a mile. Good intentions to start lifting again, but y'all know what the road to he** is paved with - haven't started a real program yet. Gotta do something though, with 50 lbs gone things are looser than I want them to be (especially my triceps) and I'm hoping that building more muscle will take up some of the 'slack'. Nice to see everyone keeping up with their workouts. Ceradad - awesome pics! Neat tattoos too...my DH has a tattoo of the Hulk busting out of his chest that covers the left upper pec - designed it himself and looks great. Have a wonderful afternoon everyone!:thumbdown:

I hear ya, Glouc! On the bra strap issue - when I stopped fighting what I knew to be true and got fitted properly, a lot of the shoulder pain and the grooves went away. I was wearing the wrong size...as I've heard many women are! The bra should support you with the straps DOWN - they are just supposed to be 'helpers', not hold up the entire load, so to speak...I ended up having to buy mine from a shop online that ships from Great Britain. They were expensive, but they worked very well. Now that I'm down a few pounds, I can buy them locally, but when I get down to my final size and after I have my lift / plumping done, I'm going back to buying the pretty, lacy ones with the great support system so the 'girls' can be lifted AND beautiful!

Glad to hear that the chiropractor's advice is working for you! I visited a chiro a few years ago when I was diagnosed with a 'dropped shoulder' from carrying purse on my left side all the time. I was a bit skeptical at first, but his techniques really worked well for me. Here's hoping you get permanent relief!:mad:

PJTP..."Jillian", my band is being very finicky this morning... I guess it really started yesterday. Had yogurt for breakfast, cause I'm always tight in the morning. No problem. Had a protein shake mid-morning, because I'm trying to increase my protein intake and hold on to some muscle. No problem there... Lunch was chicken noodle soup and half of a ham & cheese sandwich. Normally I have no problem with this combo, but yesterday, I started sliming and pb'ing and only ate about half the sandwich and half the soup. The sliming continued, and at one point I was actually heaving. YUK! Stayed on liquids the rest of the day, with occasional uncomfortable periods, but no real big problems. Was a bad girl and had a Tagalong blizzard for dinner from Dairy Queen. That all stayed down, but now I'm trying to eat a peach yogurt with some nectarines sliced into it, and it's going down VERY slowly...hope this eases up soon...

PJTP...Hi Everyone! Checking in as usual...first thing in the morning, sun is shining, and all is well with Ebony's world! Kat - definately block the crazy - but the rest of the PJTP family has already chimed in on that one. If she continues to try and contact you, send a complaint to her email provider - that would probably get her shut down. I would refer the family member to professionals who can answer their questions about banding - it is a very individual procedure, no two procedures are alike, so telling her about your experience might not help her as much as she thinks. It also gets you off the hook. The weird neighbor - definately ignore that one - don't even respond to his posts, and if anyone asks, just tell them you prefer not to be friends with him. Lulu - I would definately CHECK the brat - and her mother! I agree with Beth's assessment, and the next time the brat is near your truck, remind her mother of the expenses to date and let her know she'll have a date in small claims court for the next one. You might also put this in writing, send her a copy, and yourself a copy so they are postmarked. I hate parents who will NOT discipline their kids! I was from the "don't interrupt adults" school. Slim - I agree with you completely regarding the brat. "Community" parenting was the way I grew up...if you misbehaved away from the house, the neighbors had the right to check your stupid behind and / or whoop your tail, then you got sent home for another one, because you forgot the rules when you were out of the house! KC - Welcome to the crazy house! :sad: Sounds like you'll fit right in beautifully! Fanny - good luck with the house sale - I pray the next buyer is the one with the will, the dollars and the timeline that you need for a sale! Beth - Nekkid bonfire dancing - I'm there!:mad: How's the job hunt going? I haven't heard anything from my first choice, still in the running for one other, and put in three letters of interest for other jobs yesterday. I'm not waiting around - I can't! Have a wonderful day, all! :mad2:

PJTP...back from vacation and trying HARD to catch up!:biggrin: No word on the job yet - nothing before I went on vacation, nothing today, though I did email them this morning...:thumbdown: In no particular order... Beth - so sorry to hear about the sunburn - got one in Florida a few years ago. So much for black people don't sunburn!:glare: Glad you had no problems with the Biter (bad dog) and very jealous of the Vette driving. DH wants a Vette bad - says he'd even let me drive once in a while (yeah, right!) SMS - sorry you are having job issues with co workers who are jealous of your happiness with your sweetie. Don't let it go to far - I agree you should nip it in the bud. Had similar issues when I worked with my 1st DH - female coworkers that wouldn't give him the time of day all of a sudden wanted to flirt...grrr! :cursing: Same issue, but different hoes - er - women with my current DH. When they get to work parties and have a couple of drinks, their 'sober' thoughts appear and they have no trouble trying to live out their Mandingo fantasies with my DH! :cursing::cursing: Heartfire - the herb growing sounds wonderful - wish I had a spot to do that in my yard. Good news about the repair to the truck! :crying: Sorry your migraines were giving you trouble, but glad that's subsided. I agree with you on the driveway idiots...sometimes they block my driveway beside my house - even though by NOW they should KNOW someone lives there and USES the driveway!:cursing: Nice to know your dog is feeling better too...hate with the furbabies are sick... Plain - welcome back from your vacation! :biggrin: Glouc - need help with the impending beatdown of the jealous co-worker? I'm available most weekends...:glare: G4E - wonderful news that you are finding relief with the chiropractor, and you're following his orders. I think you should pursue the legal cause of action...hope all goes in YOUR favor! Tap - dealing with test cheaters is so heinous...had a similar issue once when I worked in Internal Medicine. The guy was obviously copying off another med student's paper, and we made him move - twice! We informed his program director and let HIM deal with it. Lulu - the mac and cheese sounds awesome - I probably would substitute another kind of cheese, but I really gotta make that someday soon! :wub: Kate - glad the guardian angels that ride with motorcyclists were watching out for your DH - that must have been SO scary! I don't think I could have kept the bike up...and Im so glad he's doing okay. Sad about the deer, but... Ceradad - agree with you totally regarding honoring law enforcement and soldiers. Actually, most people in a official capacity get much respect from me, until they prove they're not deserving. One of my first 'crushes' was on an officer who worked with a local youth program I was a part of...still remember him fondly - Officer MacDonald... Something that infuriated me was when the first local soldiers came home to be buried from the Iraq war, there were protesters across the street from some of the funerals. They even disrupted a couple of funeral processions because they were against the WAR. A group of veterans and their wives, me and my DH among them, formed barrier lines around a few of the local funerals after that - and we DARED those idiots to come NEAR the grieving families. We were ready to kick butt - and we sang so loudly that they couldn't hear the idiot protesters yelling...what a bunch of a**es! :cursing: Babygrl - too funny about the ticket - think I'd pay that one cheerfully too! :cool2: The end of my week in Florida was wonderful - DD and I left a couple of days early and stopped over in VA to ask about additional help for the college bills...sorry I missed you, Beth! No help immediately forthcoming, so the plan is now for her to attend community college for a year and transfer. Ended our vacation in NYC - she was supposed to meet up with her youth NAACP group, but we were off by a day, so we came home and then sent her back up on the train on Sunday. Back at work...still no word about the job, but I've put my name in for three more...can't wait around until I get a definate answer from SOMEONE! DD is gone in NYC until Thursday, so DH and I are pretending that we're young marrieds with no kids for a few days :wub::wub::tt2::tt2::wub::wub:

PJTP...Hi Everybody!:thumbdown: First, let's get the updates out of the way... No word on the job front - I did expect an email by Thursday afternoon when I left, but nothing...:thumbdown: Hopefully I'll hear when I get back a week from Monday. Would love to do the second weekend in June for my PJTP reunion in Texas - I really WANT to see everyone, and weekends would be better for me...I'd try to make it a long weekend - Friday through Monday, but it will depend on where I'm working then. Let's see - prepare to leave on Friday the 3rd - craziness as usual - laundry, packing, etc. Left Saturday morning for Floriday - arrived with no issues, got to our resort (timeshare) and checked in. We kinda lazed around the rest of the afternoon, had broiled chicken for dinner (which I couldn't eat much of - I think travel makes my band tight) so off to bed I went. Today was fun - went for a walk this morning before the fog burned off and the humidity got any worse - projected high was mid-90's. Got to see family this morning, but they wanted to do the amusement parks (Universal) which we did the last time we were down here, so we stayed behind. The resort is really cool - our unit has two bedrooms, a full kitchen, a screened porch, a jetted tub...it's nice - I'll try to post some pics tomorrow. Went and played 9 holes of 'real' golf - that was fun, though it was really HOT...got caught in a small shower, which cooled us off. Finished the round and had ice cream. :tongue_smilie: Came back and met up with family, just went to a restaurant on the property which had a theme dinner - Southern BBQ. The meat was falling off the bone tender and oh so good! Nothing got stuck - thankfully - and I did restrain myself reasonably well. Loving my vacation so far - I have two more days with DH, then he has to go home early for work. DD and I are staying until the end of the week, when we'll be headed to VA for her last college visit. Even though we've come to the difficult decision for her to attend a local community college and transfer next year, we still have questions regarding the possiblity of a deferral, and since we already paid for the flights and such, we'll go ahead and do the trip. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week and relaxing. Tomorrow will be a pool / beach day, I think... Everybody have a wonderful week - I'm thinkin' 'bout y'all!:laugh:

It's the first few days of July, and I'm getting ready to go on vacation! We are traveling to Florida for a family reunion / vacation - and I can't wait! A whole week with my beloved family, seeing some relatives I haven't seen in a year or so, and no work stress! Don't get me wrong, I do like my job, but...getting away is ALWAYS fun!:crying: I'm going to have an active vacation - do a lot of walking, some water sports, eat good food (lots of fruit and veggies) and be sure to drink my water. My band "Jillian" will help me stay on track, and not suffer the usual 5 - 10 lb gain I USED to have on vacation. In my previous blog post, I mentioned a new swimsuit I had bought for the occasion - well, that suit is staying home. An unintended side effect of losing the weight has been the 'tummy hang'. When it was more solid, it stayed kinda 'up', well now, it's very soft, and so it hangs...not cute in a close-cut swimsuit! :sneaky: I'll be okay, though, because I have two other swimsuits that fit me great now since I've lost the weight. I am officialy down 50 POUNDS! I'm so happy that I started this banded journey. At the end of our vacation, my DD and I are visiting a college she wants to attend. It will be fun to hang out with her for a couple of days...then I drop her off in New York for a convention with the youth branch of our NAACP, and I return home. And the major NSV? We went shopping for summer clothes during a recent sale at Old Navy, and just to see what happened, I decided to try on a pair of size 16 shorts. I didn't honestly think they would fit, but I wanted to see how far I still had to go. Lo and behold, THEY FIT! I stood in the dressing room grinning like a total fool, and then crying because the last time I wore a size 16 was when I WAS 16! So to prove it wasn't a fluke, I went to Target yesterday and tried on a pair of cropped pants (also for my vacation). THEY FIT! :thumbup::thumbup: I am LOVING this banded life, and I'm so glad I made the decision to become healthier, stronger - and oh yeah, slimmer through this method. Much love to all my banded peeps on the site, and if you are considering being banded - do your research, visit the threads on this site to get some different perspectives, and then make a quality decision.:thumbup: I would do it again in a heartbeat...:blushing:

Hi KimmieJean, I'm happy you've got your surgery date! That's the coolest - I know I couldn't wait for mine, so I could start my new, healthier life... I'm glad my post helped - feel free to pm me anytime if you have questions or just want to talk - I got lots of help from the folks here on LBT, so I'm going to pay it back by helping anyone I can... Enjoy your 4th of July weekend!

Hi Tina! Glad to know you are doing fine...hanging out with your friends sounds good. She'll know by your experience that you CAN come through a divorce more whole, more healthy and stronger than you think. You are definately a role model, and I salute you! It's interesting to hear about the drains, etc - I am planning (thinking positively) to be at my goal weight by Christmas of this year so I can use the annual holiday shutdown at work to have my PS done for Christmas of 2011. I think I'll be having a similar procedure to yours - and hearing about your recovery is very valuable to me. I'm on vacation next week (Florida - yippee!) so I'll be on LBT infrequently, but I'm bringing my laptop so I can stay on top of my classwork (last 3 weeks of school) and I'm sure I'll check in at least a few times to keep up with my LBT family. Enjoy your holiday! :tongue2:

PJTP...I'm actually GLAD to be at work this morning...there were BIG thunderstorms right over my house before I left, and the rain was torrential! Nope - I feel kinda the same way... Oh cripes...ya gotta hate that unpaid furlough thing...I pray all works out well for the budget and for your family... *Pointer Sisters moment* I'm so excited...and I just can't hide it...I'm about to go on vacation and I think I like it...Oh Yeah! :w00t::w00t: *We now return you to your regularly scheduled PJTP thread...

PJTP...June in Texas! I'm in...count me in!:redface: I should be at goal by then...and even if I'm not, I'm still coming! This sounds wonderful - I can't wait! I'll start putting away money now...I also have a "Girlfriends Week" planned with some friends at work for the week of the 4th of July in Florida - where DH and I have our timeshare, so I get to have TWO vacations! Are we talking a long weekend? Perhaps around Memorial Day? When is She Smiles coming in June - early, mid or late? I am SO EXCITED...I finally get to meet all my LBT peeps! :wub: Yay! :biggrin::w00t::wink5:

Dang skippy! ROFLMBO...I love Beth's wit! :wink5: Add me to that count, please! We should definately plan a PJTP get-together...I would LOVE to see all of you ladies live and in person...:redface:

PJTP...Been super busy today - going on vacation always seems to cause that! Amen! Our DDog, Sisko, knows that DH is the boss, and I come in second...I don't hesitate to yank his chain (literally) if he's overstepping his bounds, and if he misbehaves, he's segregated from the family and we ignore him. He's become a real touchy-feely dog since he came to us, so depriving him of his pats on the head and his belly scratches sends a clear message... You know where to find us if you need us, Beth... Ditto! Sounds like a plan...maybe we should plan a PJTP reunion in 2010? Yay! Good luck with the vacation AND the interview! OMG - girl, you've done so WELL! I'd be happy to only have 19 to lose...hopefully, I'll get there by Christmas. That's the goal, anyway... Going back to work now...crazy last-minute stuff going on...

...eating off the kids' menu at the fast food restaurants is MORE than enough food! ...your clothing doesn't 'shrink' in the dryer any more, now it's all getting too big no matter HOW many times you run it through the dryer! :crying: ...you actually look FORWARD to getting on a plane for vacation because now you'll have room in the seat to move around! ...when you are trying on clothes in the fitting room and crying happy tears because you fit into a size you have seen since your teens! :crying: ...when all-you-can-eat buffets are now an ENORMOUS waste of your time and money, so you just don't go! ...when buying clothes in the cheap stores is no longer an issue because you're going to out-lose them in a few weeks anyway, so why spend a lot? ...when you're getting to be an expert at posting clothes for sale on EBay or Craigslist because your size keeps getting smaller...

PJTP... I would book a hotel room close by just in case...you do NOT need to be subjected to that crap...and if the dog is not muzzled when you arrive, or in it's cage, don't go in the house. It may come down to that - but this is your safety we are talking about... You could also drop an anonymous 'dime' to the local animal control officer and have the da** dog confiscated until they decide to DO something. Our DDog, Sisko, has a difficult history with anyone outside of the family, so that's why we walk him in the early morning when no one's around, and late at night. If we're out in the middle of the day, he has a muzzle on...he hates it, but I'm not willing to risk my house, and most of the time he's inside during the middle of the day. We do take him to the dog park occasionally, but if there are dogs his size or bigger, he gets aggressive, so when we see them coming, we take him home. It's just a fact of life...when we have people over, the dog is locked into another room of the house - we don't give him the chance to bite anyone. No RESPONSIBLE dog owner should!:cursing: I feel for ya, Beth...but don't let this continue...you DO NOT have to put up with that kind of nonsense. They are going to find out very quickly if that dog bites the wrong person that there are serious consequences for doing NOTHING. Besides, we need you here, whole and uninjured! :wub:

Yay, Beth! Yay! :cursing::thumbup::thumbup::wub::thumbup::thumbup: I HATE that feeling! :tongue2: It's happened to me - my DH and DD often want Pizza Hut for dinner, so I usually have a salad, then feel guilty for not indulging. Occasionally I can have a few bites of pizza, but the bread content is so high, it gets stuck quickly...:thumbup: Tap - re the Coach bag - they have numbered tags...maybe an email via the Coach website to tell them that the previous buyer of the bag left something in it that you'd like to return? If they registered the bag, maybe they could find the buyer that way, or perhaps they could find the store whose stock it was... Like you, I'd feel bad for the other person...

Hi BioTeacher! Welcome to LBT, and though I'm not the thread starter or moderator, I hope I can answer some of your questions and offer some suggestions... I hope the suggestions I've given will help you to get started and help you succeed. I am doing quite well right now, but struggled initially. I struggled with the same feelings of failure that you express here - but realize, you are NOT a failure! You dropped 40 pounds and have kept 30+ of it off...how many times before the band were you that successful? Don't beat yourself up too much - we're all human and we all have our challenges. Check in periodically and let us know how you're doing! :cursing:

Hey Tap! I think you are the coolest for WANTING to find the rightful owner. :thumbup: Are there any inscriptions or such on the locket? Can you tell a time period from the contents? Perhaps if you chase things up the chain of command at Coach (ask to speak to a manager) you can get answers. Tell them that you don't necessarily want the person's contact info, but they would forever be grateful to Coach for helping them find their lost jewelry, etc, etc. Maybe the store where you purchased it knows something about the former owner? Maybe the store manager could look in their records, tell when it was purchased, what credit card paid for it, etc and contact the person. If that doesn't work, then try Customer Service at Coach corporate...it's a little thing to them, but I know if I had lost such a precious thing, I'd be wanting it back. Maybe a human interest story for the newspapers or an internet-based news service? People are losing precious things now because of the economy, and you are trying to RETURN a precious item. Are there any jeweler's markings on it? Anything like a maker's mark that shows where it was manufactured? I hope you are able to reunite the locket with it's owner...and again, you are the COOLEST for trying to do so. :tongue2: