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PJTP...Good morning everybody!:wub: Off-line most of yesterday because for some odd reason, I developed a major league 'crick' in my neck that wouldn't relax! So instead of typing with my head held sideways and crying all the while, I stayed off the pc and stayed still (you' can't even imagine how HARD that was!)... Now I gotta catch up... Don't hate them, I'm just AFRAID of the bigger ones... Hi BBK! Long time no see... My last dog (before the one I have now) was a Leonberger - had some Newf in him - and had the webbed feet and the love of water. My DH used to do regular 'patrols' for our local utility of an area near water, so he'd come home, get the dog, and let him splash in the river while he was on duty. The dog LOVED it... I wish I could get back to Michigan this summer - with our current travel plans and DD's going to college, I just dunno... I know where that is! I have cousins in that area...I'm an East Sider - lived near Belle Isle all my life until moving to CT Let them get into a bidding war over you, Beth! :thumbup: Awww...baby granddaughter...I miss my grandson! :tt2: God bless your DH...mine hasn't weighed in on where he thinks I should go yet...he fluctuates on a weekly basis between lusting after a shape like Jennifer Hudson's and Janet Jackson's (think 'Rhythm Nation' - booty for days) I'm selling tickets! Bet we could cause one hell of a traffic jam if you, I and slim all did it together...:w00t: Cougar boobies...ROFLMBO...I think I'd be offended, but then, I'm not sure...LOL ROFLMBO...that's my girl! You tell 'em, Beth! What he said... OMG...stop...my sides hurt! You do what YOU want to do Beth...I KNOW you will do what's best for you, and you are an awesome chick! You are powerful, briliant, beautiful, and you'll be great at whatever you decide to do! Don't let her stop you - you didn't let her stop you before, don't you dare start now... What she said...in spades! Off to read some more posts in a different section, now...BRB!:thumbup:

What she said... Hi Teeny Tina! Glad you are having a wonderful Monday...hope the rest of the week goes just as beautifully!

Good morning Notorious Novembers! Please update me - I've just hit the 50 lb lost mark and I'm really happy! Next stop: Onederland! Goal date: August 1st! Thanks a bunch - everyone is doing well and you are all inspiring! :biggrin:

You're NOT complaining too much - I pray your doc has an answer for you, or at least some type of treatment that will alleviate your pain...before I had extensive dental surgery, I was in pain nearly every day. It wears you down and makes you crazy - best wishes to you and prayer for immediate relief! :biggrin: Oh Fanny - I feel so bad for you...I agree - what are people thinking? Here's hoping the third time is the charm and you find a wonderful buyer with bags of money... Okay...NOT! Fanny - you are a much braver woman than I...I could barely LOOK at the pics, let alone think about HAVING a python! :w00t::eek: I've seen small snakes in my yard, little garter snakes, and they don't bother me, but the big ones, like PYTHONS scare the bejesus out of me...anything that could eat / crush / want to eat / want to attack me like that - basically I'm a chicken! :eek: Like watching them from afar, but would never get close... Have a great day, everyone...if I hear anything about the job, y'all are high up on my 'contact' list!

PJTP...HI y'all! Sorry to be so quiet this weekend...nope - I haven't gone on vacation yet. Haven't heard anything about the job yet...they did contact me and ask for clarification on my references. They wanted supervisors only for references, which is tough, because the job I had in Norwich - I was a department head, and the City Manager who was there is long gone. I did give them the doc who was head of my section for the job previous to the one I have now. But no definate word on the new job yet. I'm on pins and needles! Now that I've updated ya'll, I gotta catch up, so... DH and I did the EXACT same thing when we bought our first house in Norwich. Bought on price and configuration (sort of) didn't get a good inspection done, found all SORTS of challenges once we moved in. Made the best of it, renovated extensively, and made a good profit when we sold it. Went through some nightmares with tenants first, but it ended okay. Oh how sad...to see a house you put so much into left to become ordinary again...the house and lots we sold have been improved tremendously by the guy we sold them to...he actually built two new multi-families on the lots we sold him plus a condemned house on the other side which he also bought from us...it's beautiful now. We bought our current house in May, renovated over the summer, and moved in just before school started because relocating changed my daughter's bus stop...in retrospect, we should have FINISHED the renovations before moving in - one you're in the house, it's much tougher to finish! Not no, but h**l NO! ROFLMBO... I pray all works out well for the dog - we tend to like big dogs too...our first was a Labrador, then a Leonberger (which is a Newfie/Great Pyrenees/St. Bernard mix) / Shepherd mix (we lost him - someone adopted him and never brought him back after he got out one day), and now our Mastiff/mutt mix. Nothing but Big Dogs over here! Well, I think I'm caught up now...hopefully I'll have good news to report on the job front on Monday. Everyone enjoy their Sunday evening!

I would encourage him to talk about how he's feeling...some men are notoriously silent about their feelings, and when they begin to feel insecure, they withdraw even further. I encourage you to check out a book called "The Five Love Languages". Google it, or check Amazon.com. Once you read the book and figure out what YOUR love language is, tell your husband about it and ask HIM to read the book as well. When you've figured out your love languages, start "speaking" them... If he's not ready to start, start WITHOUT him! When he sees that you are working to make your relationship better, all the while you are getting healthier and more gorgeous, then perhaps he'll feel better and be more hopeful. If that doesn't work, then by all means try counseling - but if you have had a good marriage up until now (and you are the sole judge of good) then FIGHT to keep it. And TELL him you are going to fight to keep your marriage. Tell him that you have heard that others have to divorce after one spouse or another loses weight and you DON'T want that to be you two...he may be feeling the same way, but by you raising the subject first, he may feel more open to talking about it. I wish you all the best...I know it can be scary to see your dependable, 'think-you-know-her' spouse change right in front of your eyes, but by starting to reassure him and talk to him now, maybe you can head off any challenges before they occur...:wink:

PJTP...Beth, I LOVE the pics of your motorcycle on FB! Must...stay...off...of...EBay......:wink:

PJTP... Wow, Beth! Very nice result...I wish my kitchen floors were flat enough to allow me to do tile...old house = non-level floors (unless you want to pull it all up down to the joists and re-do the underlayment, plus remove and replace all windows after re-leveling them, and re-building the stud walls, etc, etc, etc) I've heard of green board, but thought it wasn't for high moisture areas like shower stalls. Of course, if you can use it for that, it would be lots easier than wrestling with cement board! Maybe I'll use that when I finish the master bath sometime this fall... Tap - thanks for the compliment - given your experience and history, I take that as a compliment!:sneaky: I'll have to post more pics soon...I want y'all to see my projects, too! Now I just gotta find a good one (most of them are over 7 years old and ready for a re-do or refresh) :wink:

PJTP... Glouc, I get a daily email from an inspirational publication, and today's message seemed appropriate for your situation. I've paraphrased a bit, but... Today's Daily Word - Thursday, June 18, 2009 Change I cross every bridge to change with faith and confidence. As I complete one phase of my life, I make ready for the next one. I may be changing from a role as a student to one of being an employee. I may be taking on the added responsibility of owning my own home. I may no longer choose the single life and commit to a lifelong partner. Whatever change I embark on, I build a bridge to my new experience. With planning, insight, and prayer, faith and confidence, I trust as I step forward to change. Now about those wall tiles... Depending on how well they were installed the first time, when you pull them down, the surface behind them will probably come with them. If that happens, no problem (she says happily)...you can replace the wall behind them with a tile backerboard (cement-based, kinda heavy, but in a shower, I wouldn't use anything else). Lay them out in a pattern that minimizes seams (seams - places where water can seep in). Once you've got the backerboard in place, you can lay out the walls with graph paper and with your measurements in hand, go to the home improvement store and pick your tile. Accent tiles are big nowadays - but you don't need many of them to make an impact. If the bathroom is kinda big, you can use a bigger tile. If it's small, a smaller tile may help keep it from feeling claustrophobic. Tile can get pricey, so watch your budget - don't fall in love with something expensive, especially since you're selling the house. Neutral colors (think spa-like) also add value. Once you pick the tile, you'll have to pick the adhesive, a grout color (and grout) and remember to caulk the seams between the tub and wall when you're done. It sounds like a lot, but it can be done - I've done it! :wink: Sometimes the challenge is that once you re-do the tile, the rest of the bathroom looks like it needs re-doing as well...be careful of 'might as well' syndrome...'while I'm retiling, I might as well replace the floor, the faucets, the mirror, the sink..." Great websites: hgtv.com - they will have before and after projects, plus shows that deal with remodeling before a sale to maximize value...Designed to Sell is a good one for that; diynetwork.com - also has good tips and before and after projects. If there's a Home Depot or Lowe's near you, they probably have tile setting classes free - take one before you start the project to see if you really want to do it. Good luck! :sneaky:

Breathe, Glouc, breathe! You won't lose your independence by marrying your guy, you'll just be 'formalizing' your already-great relationship... It's going to be okay, girlfriend...I wish you and your DH-to-be nothing but the best! :crying: You're going to be working for that attorney you interviewed with soon, I hope...and if not, you'll be snatched up by someone else. In the meantime ('cause I work better by schedule, too) set yourself a schedule to get something productive around the house done every day...just for a couple of hours. You'll feel better, the projects will get done, and you may find that once you start, you'll keep going for a while. I don't like plaster / drywall work...I put it off as long as I can, but once I get going, I'm okay...just collect all your tools (or a heap of bags, or whatever) and go! You can do this! :wink:

YAY! YAY! YAY! CONGRATULATIONS! Glouc's getting married in January!:wink:

Yay! Glad you're feeling better and can eat again! What she said!:wink:

PJTP...I'm feeling invincible today - certainly nothing to do with the weather (it's raining and chilly here) but everything to do with my state of mind. Oh - and the fact that this morning, I got on my scale and I've reached the 50 pounds lost mark! :crying::laugh::smile: I was shaking in my chair when I wrote it, but I've never been one for the cloak-and-dagger stuff. I'm much more in-your-face! It's a relief to have told her... Consider it kicked - get your not-so-big-anymore-butt out there and MOVE, soldier! *Ebony doing her best drill sergeant imitation)* I absolutely LOVE my house...and as big as it is, I need to do some major de-cluttering, because it's way too easy to hang on to 'stuff' when you have a big house! Mornin' Slim! She's out of the office today, working across campus with a special program...looks to be a quiet day... Go for it, Glouc! Thanks, Susan - I am starting to feel less worried as time goes by. Even if this isn't the job for me, there will be something else...I believe that! Thanks, G4E! I'm so glad you're having a good day, and give your youngest DGD a kiss for me on her birthday! 3 year olds are so cute and adorable... The votes of confidence from all y'all, my LBT family, are so heartening and encouraging. I :wub: y'all for being with me through all this...I don't know if I would be nearly as calm about this without all of you.

PJTP...just got in from taking DDog for his night walk. Beautiful night...a little cool, but still comfortable. No other dogs around (DDog doesn't like other big dogs much, is mostly okay with smaller dogs) and few people (he doesn't like strangers much either - men and children are a particular challenge. Loves my DH, though...go figure). I think he spent too much time at the pound or something before we adopted him - but loves WOMEN! :blushing: Well her response to my email about my being a 'finalist' for the job was to say that she appreciated my honesty and wished me nothing but the best. Very short, clipped response (very much like her, the way she speaks) and was sent from a Blackberry - we'll see what tomorrow brings...:w00t:

PJTP...just finished my online Finance class, and here I am back on LBT! :w00t: Now that I'm out of the office and relaxing at home, I can definately see that, too. Thanks Slim! Since I felt they were probably going to contact her, I told her what was going on. I wanted to tell her face-to-face, but she was away from the office today on another project. I sent her an email saying that I was in final consideration for another position, expressing a little frustration at my challenges on the job, not blaming anyone - and letting her know I'd give proper notice. She responded (one line - she was on her Blackberry) by saying thanks for letting her know and she wished me nothing but the best. At least it's out there now...and I don't have to look over my shoulder. Welcome home, Fanny! :blushing::biggrin:

Thanks, Slim...I pray all goes well. I really DON'T want to be here another month or two while looking if they KNOW that I'm looking...I just see things getting really uncomfortable. I hope so, Beth...I did email my union rep and told her what's going on, so that if she does try to sabotage my leaving, I may have a cause of action. What I'm afraid will happen is that she will 'damn me with faint praise'...mention things like 'lack of attention to detail' which they brought up in past meetings. Hopefully, with two good references and only one so-so one, it won't make a difference. I guess that's confirmation that they are seriously considering me, though - they wouldn't be asking for so much if they weren't serious about me...would they? :wink2: Can ya tell I'm anxious about this? I wish it was Thursday so I would have tomorrow off...:wink2:

PJTP...apprehension and discomfort...:wink2: What am I talking about? The job I've applied and interviewed for has asked to check my references and wanted people 'senior' to me...no problem - I gave them the name of the doc who ran the program I worked for prior to my current assignment, and another person senior to me who worked with that program. They just emailed me and asked if they could contact my current manager. What was I supposed to say? NO?:wink2: I told them if that was what they needed to make their decision to go ahead, but that I was apprehensive about the effect on my work environment if I am not the successful candidate.:w00t: That's the truth...if I'm leaving, then I don't care if they tell her - especially if I've already gotten the job...if they are going to base it on her recommendation / opinion, then I'm sunk...:eek: I guess I won't really know until it happens...:frown::crying::w00t:

Or even after high school! I found the house I'm living in now by doing pretty much the same thing...used to walk around the block for exercise when I worked in Norwich, saw the house, got nosy, went up the driveway and into the open back door. Yep, squatters were living there, but they were gone when I made my visit (good thing, too). Saw the high ceilings, wood floors, and even through the grime and trash, it was still a potentially beautiful house. About 3100 sq feet, big columns out front, tall windows, etc. Tracked down the owner, bought it from him for a song (he was in foreclosure). Paid some back taxes, put about 50K into it, and for a total investment of around 65K, had a house that was appraised at over $275k several years ago. Of course, lots has changed since then, so I know the value has dropped some, but it's still MY house and I love it dearly...and it all started with trespassing! :wink2:

PJTP...it's a beautiful sunny day in Ebony Rose's neighborhood and I'm in high spirits! :wink2: FairyFacade - I agree, the baby is gorgeous,:w00t: and welcome back! Tap - hope your tummy stays quiet and relaxed today. Somehow the chicken I ate late yesterday didn't agree with me, so I had a bad tummy afternoon, but the upside is that I lost those 2 pounds I'd regained! Now if I could only do it without the sliming and PB'ing, it'd be great! :wink2: Lulu - your vacation sounds WONDERFUL...and I agree, we are living vicariously through you...keep updating us! SheSmiles - Glad to see you back...look for a pm from me - I'm a Facebooker as well... Heartfire - yep, you're right...it's "all my parents' fault"...*sigh* Saw a Yahoo story about a high school in Maine that wouldn't let a young man have his diploma because he waved to his friends and blew a kiss to his mom when he went on stage. :eek: They called it "fooling around" and said there was a zero tolerance policy for it. I think I'd go ballistic...I sincerely hope my DD DOES wave at us and blow me a kiss - I know I'm going to act a fool when she goes up and I hear her name...cheering, yelling, waving, etc... Let them try and stop me!:frown:

Consider it sent, girlfriend! I am flying high right now...and just praying that everything falls into place the way I hope that it will...I fired off an email to my references to let them know the inquiry is coming...

G4E - that brings back such memories! My mom always had a garden in the lot next to our house in Detroit, where I grew up. There was a guy who would always come and beg for green tomatoes - my mom had HUGE tomatoes on her bushes - and my mom would always tease him that there wouldn't be any left for salads or sauce if he ate them all before they got ripe. Nice memory - thanks for bring it back! Job update: They just emailed me and asked for my references! :smile::w00t::w00t: I think that means they want me!!!!! :eek::w00t::eek::w00t:

PJTP...Grrr - I had this great post all typed up, hit the wrong key and lost it all! Now I gotta retype all of that great info! :wink: So here goes: Slim, Beth, G4E and all my LBT friends - thank you so much for all the good wishes. I think they worked! Susan - my prayers for your friend and her family, and those left behind to pick up the pieces. What a tragedy... Tap - hope your tummy continues to treat you well...mine is a little upset right now. Tried to eat some chicken at lunch and have been sliming since...YUK! G4E - good luck with the disability folks - I pray they are clear, receptive and work fast to help you. Had my second job interview today with the Senior Admin Asst and the business office staff person where I might be working. The business office staff person was really nice - friendly, open, lots of experience at the company and in the section. She'll be a great resource person. The Senior AA (who I would be working with) is impressive. Very sharp - both intelligence-wise and appearance-wise. You can easily see why she has the job that she does. She was friendly, professional, personable. Very clear on the requirements for the job, very pro-team environment, and dedicated to the doc in charge of the section. That completed, I waited a bit and was able to meet with the head honcho - who is pretty easy on the eyes, I might add. Very professional, high energy but not in a manic way, brilliant - not just intelligent, and very driven in a good way. He exudes a sense of commitment and you get the feeling he'd go to the wall for his staff and for his projects. He knows one of the docs I used to work with before - so I think that worked in my favor. I think it went very well - I sent off a thank you email to everyone thanking them for their time and reiterating that I DO want to work for that department. I did get the question about stepping back a grade from an E to a D, but told them (truthfully) that job satisfaction is more important to me than a title. I hope to hear something soon - in any case, I wouldn't want to start until after I return from Florida. I would have to give two weeks notice at my current position, and that would put me into early July anyway. Hopefully that will work for them...I'll definately let y'all know what I hear! Thanks again for all of the support, good wishes and prayers - I am certain they made a difference!:smile:

It's been a few weeks since I posted, so it's time to get back on the stick, so to speak... I'm enjoying my banded life...I still feel as if I have an optimal level of fill, since when I do eat, I can't eat very much before feeling full. If I eat too fast (old habit - hard to break) or take too big of a bite, I get a little stuck and have to wait for things to clear. I've been avoiding 'sliders' like ice cream and chocolate, but have an occasional slip. Where not so long ago, that would have meant a 'I'm feeling sorry for myself' binge, now it's just a slip, and I get back on track. Weight loss is slow, but still moving. I'm guilty of wanting it yesterday sometimes ...for instance, this past weekend I tried on a new swimsuit that I bought in anticipation of a family trip to Florida in July. I bought the suit at the size I wanted to be, not necessarily the size I was at the time. Not too far off, but still... It's a really cute suit - kind of old-fashioned in a way, because it has a 'skirted' look to it like ones I've seen in old catalogs. Fits really close to the body, not a flared skirt, more like a mini-mini-mini pencil...scuba gear is what it reminds me of, without the length in the legs. It's white, and fully lined, with a halter neckline. I tried it on the day it arrived, and while I wasn't ecstatic about how it looked, I wasn't horrified either - first time THAT's happened in a very long time! LOL I knew I had some work to do, but had a month to do it in...now it's about 2 1/2 weeks before the vacation, and I'm not quite where I wanted to be, so I'm second-guessing myself and my decision to buy the suit. Normally (my pre-banded life) this would cause me to give up and just eat the first sweet / salty / crunchy / fattening thing that crossed my mouth. Instead, last night I got on the rowing machine and did 25 minutes...I haven't rowed in a while, so it was tough, but I figure MORE exercise is the best way to get the scale moving again. I've lost nearly 50 pounds as of this writing, and I think my "easy losing" time is over. Now, I think I'm getting to the more "entrenched" fat, and it's going to take real WORK to get it off. My tummy is so soft now...where it used to be firmer with all the fat cells packed in there! It's not a pretty sight, but I look at it as a marker of my progress. My DH said he could tell from my legs that the muscle is fighting for dominance over the fat I'm trying to lose...LOL...makes me think of a scene from a kids' cartoon where germs moves through the body and are attacked by antibodies - except I'm attacking the fat cells with exercise and eating right! :thumbup: I'm going to focus on burning as much fat and building as much muscle as I can from this point forward - I know that will get me where I want to be, and the only way to get there is through hard work. I have a goal to be down another 10 - 15 pounds before my trip, and I'm going to make it! Increasing the intensity of my exercise will help, plus watching even more closely my portion size and protein content. My walking is going well - I love to walk, and with summer approaching, I do more outside walking than ever. We're on summer hours at work, which means I have a shorter lunch hour, and therefore less walking time. I think that's why my weight loss has stalled somewhat. I didn't realize what a difference that 10 - 15 minutes would make (a 25 - 35 min walk versus 15 - 20), but it obviously makes a difference. I thought I was walking 'harder' to compensate, but I guess there's no substitute for time and distance... For all those working with their band, congratulations - keep up the good work! :wub: If you and your band seem to be at cross purposes, I encourage you to go back to the beginning - re-discover what made you certain that the band was for you, talk to your doctor or your nutritionist, and get back on track - you CAN do this, and the band can be one of your tools! :mad2: If you're not yet banded, I encourage you to do the research, get the answers you need, and make an educated decision. I did, and it was the best decision I've ever made for ME! NSV (Non-scale victory) - I was kidding around with my DH this past weekend, and he grabbed me in his arms, fell backward onto the bed, and proceeded to tickle me. I laughed and laughed - he loves to tickle me and most often, I love to be tickled. After a short while, he stopped and got this contemplative look on his face. After I stopped giggling, I asked him what was up - he said simply "You didn't cough". I had forgotten that when I was heavier, I could not be tickled for long periods of time without losing my breath and starting to cough. Sometimes the coughing would bring tears to my eyes, and my DH would apologize for tickling me. It was an uncomfortable feeling - knowing he wasn't trying to hurt me, yet knowing something was wrong - why would I be coughing from being tickled? His statement brought it home to me - whatever my weight was doing to my breathing capacity, whatever it was doing to my body to cause the coughing, it's now gone! I can be tickled like the rest of the normal-weight women out there and not worry about losing my breath or having a coughing fit. :w00t: Perhaps a little thing, but one more piece of evidence that I'm claiming my ability to live a normal life with the help of my lapband. :wub:

PJTP... Prayers out to you, Colorado Chick and your beloved mom - I pray all turns out well and she recovers quickly and completely.