ReneBean

Hey Y'All. I am a little bummed out today. The job that I have been waiting and waiting to hear about went to someone else - not even someone that works here and has a clue about how we do stuff - but someone who worked for my boss before at another company. Can you say "SUCKS!"? Sure y'can. Otherwise, all is well. DH and I went to the gym five times last week and I am feeling pretty good about it. We aren't doing that "go crazy" thing and trying to work out for 6 hours a day or anything. This week we are bumping up to 35 minutes - vs 30 minutes all last week. I was doing pretty ok on food until yesterday when I wallowed in junk food all day. You know those little packages of cheese crackers with Peanut Butter? Yeah. That's pretty much all I ate yesterday. A Nutritional Extravaganza... NOT. Anyway - today is better. Today is another day. Cindy - DH and I held off the state fair until next week, too. Maybe we can hook up there? Of course, if you are going in, like, the MORNING (shudder) that won't work - but hey, you never know. :]. Too funny starting the October thread. Don't go all "Department Store" on me... Next thing you know - you will be starting the December thread before Halloween! **Cindy - re: Subarus.. DH and I used to always say that we were going to get one - because when the weather was rough and everybody was huddled together in the slow lane doing 30 mph - along would come a Subaru and blow by us all.... Never did get one - but still think about it. You will have to let me know how that works out. :] Mary - Hugs!! Hope you get time to come and play again soon. We miss you. Sherry - hope they don't jack you around at your job. Hugs! Darcy - I don't dare start going to those on-line gaming places... even just for the non-gambling variety. My DH whines cause I spend so much time on my computer as it is... I can't imagine how it would be if I was doing tournaments or earning badges, or Patches, or whatever the heck you get on POGO. :] Oh - and Kat says to put on a smile like you know more than she does... uh - you probably won't have to fake it. My saying is this. Skinny girls got LOOKS. Chubby girls got SKILLS. What's more important in the dark? Hugs! Eileenie - I like the smocked top the best. I think that one will look really cute on you. But, Roamans has always pissed me off because they have the biggest sizes - but the skinniest models. I don't order from them too much. (But then, I don't need Giraffe size. Stumpy sizes that you can get anywhere work for me.) Rita Ann - good luck on the job front, Hon. I would rather MOVE than look for work - I feel for you. Hugs! Patty - Man, Halloween Decorations at the Big D?!? I am jealous! I want to go.... and, alas, they never take the calories out of cheesecake for me. I wish they would - but they never do. Hugs! Jumbojet - stop in - set awhile. tell us about yourself. Congrats on your new band and welcome to the club. Gas is still a consideration for me - not as bad as it was - but still a consideration after 8 mos. I feel ever little bubble - way more than I did before. I does get less painful, though. Ira - Dearest... I knew you were still out there lurking. Good to get confirmation. How is your DW doing since her surgery? How are YOU doing? Come on, Ira. We'll try to keep the estrogen to a managable level for a day or so.... :] Oh - and great work getting to goal. You da man! Anne - How ya doin? Did you get lost in the September thread? Kat - I am dying, here.... LOL!! Commode Snakes... hahahaaha... it really isn't funny - but seriously - it is! Glad you got home to your Snake Free Potty Zone. Betty - yep - the posts fly fast and furious round these parts... Hugs! How are you doing? Sounds like you are still busy all the time... Hope you aren't letting yourself get too stressed out. Hugs!! Well - my lunch hour is way up now. I have to get back to the old grind... xo Hugs all round!

Hi All Eileenie - they HAVE to charge for parking at the hospital - or everybody who commutes to NYC would be parking there and taking a cab to work. Have your SIL see if the hospital will validate parking for patients and family. Hugs for everybody. I am thinking good thoughts for Olivia. Rita Ann - I know exactly what my problem is - I keep eating cheesecake! But the scale was nicer to me this morning - back down to my pre-trip weight minus a few pounds. A new low!! It's karma for exercising, I think. I guess I had better keep on going! Oh - and Nov. 10th is the day I would normally fly out - but maybe I can work out a Saturday return. I will keep you posted. It would be great to meet up with you! I don't have any info on December yet - but that is definitely a possible date. Cindy - DH and I determined that I get flaky about going to the gym when I start working too many late nights and not getting enough sleep. Shocking revelation, huh? So, my goal is to keep everything on an even keel for the next month or so. I really do feel better...but maybe that is all in my head? I say, whatever works. Hugs! Mandy - hope you have a fab trip!! Take lots of pictures. We want to see them. :] I hope your foot doesn't give you too much trouble. I am with Darcy - Needle + Foot = HELL NO. Hope it feels better, soon. Darcy - Dang! I was going to sing a chorus of Hello Dolly for you... "You're Still growing, you're still GLOWING, you're still going strong!" Oh well. I guess it's better to have a healthy Darcy! Sorry you are feeling punky. Kudos to chasing the dream! I am so happy that you are doing the whole dog training thing. My dream was to be a famous singer/songwriter - but I figured I could never do that if I weighed 300lbs.. and now I am too old to be an American Idol... *sigh* Oh well. Maybe in my next life. Hey everybody else!! Love you guys! I will check in again soon. Hope to see all of you have stopped in. Hugs all Round!

Rock on! That's Awesome! :]

WoW! so much going on for all of you! I am still swamped - no doubt it will take me a month to catch everything up to the appropriate levels without the meager help of the gal who is out on surgery leave. Let's see... new for me - I have actually gone to the gym twice this week and my DH and I are scheduled to go back tonight. I guess I have gotten the motivation for that much, at least. I don't know why I even fight the exercise thing. I feel great after only two days of doing it. Aside from the fact that my knees make really awful crunchy noises... it's all good. I figure it's a race against the remaining cartilage in my knees. Which will last longer? the Cartilage, or the extra Hundred pounds on my body? I guess we will see.... My scale has not recovered from my last trip to NYC - it is still showing 3 lbs heavier than I was before I left... *sigh* I suppose that it would be better if I didn't eat everything in the Big Apple while I was there... But, I will get past this and then continue on toward the magic 299. My Christmas goal is the get below 300 lbs! The re-dedication to exercise is my main weapon in that. Actually, the fact that I am not going to NYC in October will help. I won't have that whole "gain 10 lbs while I am on my trip" thing to overcome. AND I won't have any excuse for a disruption to my excercise regimen for a whole month. I was supposed to go back to my band doc next week - but I just saw him a month ago - and I haven't lost any weight since then!! So - I pushed him back to the first week in November. I don't want to get lectured by him again, at least not so soon. :] Well, I have to get back to the old grind. Love you guys!! Some day, maybe I will get a chance to do personals again. xo

Howdy! Back in the Big D today. My work isn't as backed up as I had feared - which is a big plus - but my co-worker who has been out is going to continue to be out into the month of October... so I don't get to come to NYC again until November. *&^%$&^*). I get a little stir crazy if I don't get to travel... it's amazing how quickly you get used to the routine - 3 weeks at home, one week in the city... I actually LIKE that. Now, I guess I am going to have to make November count - if you know what I mean. I may even take a couple of extra days at the beginning for the purposes of shopping. I mean, seriously... I haven't actually been in the Toys R Us huge store to shop yet. And I haven't even looked for big girls clothes there... I expect there are more than 2 stores, even.... Anyhow, I still think we should all hook up in November.... assuming that nothing happens to cancel that trip! Regarding the shooting - no worries - we stay at the HILTON - not the Holiday Inn. Sorry for any stress that anyone may have experienced. Like Eileenie said, I had no clue. I didn't know what she was talking about when she e-mailed... I didn't even turn on the news that morning...thanks for your concern, though. Love you guys. Well, I have to go - work is not just calling - it's yelling. **Betty - sorry I missed your big day. Hope it was good, even though you missed your show. xo TTL

So, tonight we went downtown to Bubba Gump's on Times Square. We got a seat RIGHT at the front window and we got to watch them film a commercial (probably some fashion/dept store thing) right out in front of the restaurant while we ate. Pretty groovy! We wandered around down there for a bit after dinner. We passed by some kind of commotion and were told there was a "high profile event" at the Tropics Club. They had skinny blondes in bikini bits dancing out front and the huge spot lights to the sky, the cordoned off side-walk and all like that. We didn't see anybody we recognized - but there were some folks dressed to the nines. It was all VERY downtown NYC. One thing we have noticed - everybody in the city is working some angle... there were a couple of guys out front of the Times Square Toys R Us - one dressed as Sponge Bob and the other dressed as Shrek. Those guys were charging $10 bucks to get your picture taken with them. They must have been making about $600/hour. Amazing. I have already been informed of my trip dates for October and November - so once those are confirmed, I will let you guys know when I will be back. I swear, we should try to get together a little group. Pat - isn't it about time for you to make your annual shopping trip to NYC? I am thinking November would be good for that. :] What about you, Sherry? It isn't that far, is it? We could have a pajama party at the hotel... drink too much in the bar and then stay up all night watching HBO or something. I think that would be REALLY fun! We could go the Chart House before the bar thing.... Seriously - let's play. Well, I have to get packed up for the return to Dallas... so I had better sign off. I can't gurantee that I will be in tough too much for a bit when I return... It will probably take me a month to catch up. *sigh* Love you guys. I will try to stop by more. I miss you and I need the motivation when I am at home - not when I am here in Food Land. TTL! xo

So, I am here in glorious Fort Lee, NJ - enjoying another working holiday... I am going to get the food porn right out of the way, so y'all who are trying to be good - skip on down to the line of stars.... BEGIN FOOD PORN: So my co-workers and I have decided that since we are going to be here in the great North East on a somewhat regular basis, we are going to do all the touristy crap we can think of and sample as much of the local flavor as we can stand.... Tonight was our best hit, yet. We had dinner at the FABULOUS Chart House Restaurant in Weehawken. Now - about every table has a marvelous view of Manhattan across the Hudson - the whole city lights, skyline, river thing. So the atmosphere is prime. Then we start looking at the menu and everything sounds delicious. So we all order something different, starting with the Lump Crab, Mango and Avacado Stack. I don't know what all they put in or on this stuff - but it was incredible. The fruit is sweet and light, the avacado is creamy goodness and the crab is juicy and to die for.... Awesome. Then, they bring out the prime rib and king crab legs. The rib was like butter, the crab legs sweet and tender... and I can't even describe how good the garlic mashed potatoes were. My co-workers tried the Macadamia Crusted Mahi - another winner - and the coconut shrimp with peanut sauce. I also heard that the Lobster Bisque was delicious. Then - because CLEARLY we hadn't had enough - we ordered dessert to go. Now, I couldn't nearly eat it all - but I tried to leave the guilt behind and enjoy. I would say that the Chart House is a great place to go if you want to celebrate anything - or if you just want a REALLY nice meal and a great view of NYC. I am more full than I have been since prior to my surgery - but, as I type, I am eating - nay, SAVORING - a delicious piece of key lime pie... *sigh* Seriously - it was really great all around. If you visit the area - I can heartily recommend the Chart House. ********************************************************** END FOOD PORN ********************************************************** So, that fabulous meal almost makes up for the fact that Eileenie and I are going to miss our monthly lunch date tomorrow. *sniff* Darned picky Boss. Now he is really starting to tick me off... expecting somebody to be there to take his calls? What's THAT all about?!? Oh well... I am scheduled to return again next month - so we will give it another shot, then. Hugs Eileenie!! Give Gracie a squeeze from me. Also in this edition of NYC Tour Guide, the Center Line Harbor Lights cruise... very pretty and very informative. A little history, a little Pop Culture. Very nice. (We did Carmine's after that trip - but I have already exceeded my Food Porn limit for the day. It's right off of Times Square - for those that are coming this way, it's pretty nice, too. Family Style Italian Food) Anne - OMG! Those kids are soooo cute! and Photogenic! Good luck on the Job! Hope you get it! Girl time! I enjoyed a little girl bonding at work on Friday night... every once in a while, you just need some human interaction with people of like minds and understanding. Hugs! Mandy - Bad! Bad, Mandy! Forcing us to shop for jewelry! *sigh* Just what I need... another way to spend my money. *sigh* Betty - the gym... um, yeah. that's it... the gym. Congrats on your raise! I may NEVER hear about the job I have interviewed for... I mean, you would think after posting for the job on two separate occassions, interviewing me both times, they would either hire me for the position or tell me to drop dead.... *sigh*. Glad to hear your employer has recognized your true greatness! Darcy - Are you planning to re-do your kitchen, soon? That's on my list - but it ranks as a Long Term Future plan. Good Luck with the Nuking. I have to think it would be the best first option... I would not be excited about the knife, either. LOL!! I can't believe you missed that whole Gay Cowboy Controversy, either. It was HUGE - It was EVERYWHERE... there were novelty songs for goodness sake! That is just too funny!! Dianne - ooooo I love that Backgammon... I get hooked on the electronic version...Maybe I will have to sign onto this Pogo site after all... dangerous though that may be. You look fantastic!! Hugs for you & Lucy. I hope she feels better, soon. Pat - you were cute back then, too. Now you're just THIN and cute! No luck in finding someone to replace the lame girl? *sigh* The joy of being the boss.... you get all the crappy shifts! Bummer about the crazy GF. Sadly, those crazy chicks don't generally get any saner... Cindy - Glad your FIL is doing well. I hope your friend stops by. I like the sound of your pile of fur & computer. I always love it when I am graced by the furballs... And gee, aren't you the lucky one! Now you can tell the world you are HOT and really mean it. :] Kat - Congrats on the 32 pounds!! You Rock! (and it's all your fault!) OF course, you have been actually Exercizing - which explains your success!! Gold Star for you! Where are you going to be in TX? Reacharound Ridge.... hahahahahaahhaaaa! Sherry - Keep your chin up, Hon. I really don't think that either of our jobs can continue on like this forever.... Enjoy working from home. I always liked it when I could stay at the house. The lure of the jammies is strong... Mary - Hope you feel better. Patty - did you get your report all done? I found out today that nobody is covering my desk while I am gone - except my supervisor - who has numerous other duties. She won't possibly be able to stay current... so I will have a big ol' pile on my desk when I get back on Monday... Oh Joy. I have my fingers and toes crossed for you. I hope that attorney earns his keep! If not, he'll have to answer to all of US! Eileenie - you have had way more than your share of drama in the last little while, haven't you? I am thinking good thoughts for you and yours. Rita Ann - Howdy! Look Gals... A Bona Fide Jersey Girl! Woo Hoo! Eileenie - you are not alone anymore.... :] Well my darlings - I must get to bed now. Tomorrow is another day- and I have to get up and be a part of it, even if I can't have my Eileenie Fix. DANG! I have really missed you guys - but it has been so darned crazed at my job... remember back several months ago when we were really overstaffed and I was worried I would get laid off?? I look back on that worry with longing, now... *sigh* Oh well. Love you guys!! Irene

Wow! I can't beleive how much posting has gone on in the last five days! You guys have been busy! I have to get to the whole "work" thing - but I wanted to let you all know that I am alive and well. Had a great vacation - except I ate everything in the universe and am afraid to step on the scale... We had a fabulous time seeing the grandkids - adorable even though they are 8 & 9 and a little bit of hell on wheels... We went to the zoo, two aquariums, and spent far too much time at places like the Main Event & Speed Zone. I think a Grand time was had by all - and while I was thrilled to have them, I was thrilled when they left as well. I still don't have the energy for children... although I did have an NSV of sorts while they were here. Tanner was being an 8 yr old boy - and I was playing with him - and I actually RAN after him through the house one day... without really thinking about it - I ran. Now, I can't tell you when the last time that I RAN was - when I wasn't late for a plane connection or something. It freaked me out a little bit... and my DH commented on my energy level too. We rode the local commuter train into town rather than taking two cars - so we walked a lot - and he said I was walking too fast a lot of the time and wearing him out. So - now I guess I have to get back on plan - and get back to work on the weightloss, body size thing. Well, I am already past due to return from lunch - I will try to check in again soon. Love to all!! Irene

Pat, Hon - I will go with looking older any day. You look FAB. Kat - I can't get over the difference in the before & after. You look great! and look at those skinny ankles... I envy you your skinny ankles! :] Cute puppy pictures everybody. Love the puppy party! :]

Hey Y'All... It's a rare moment when I have some time to kill and my desk is the best place to do it... so here I am! I am all done with what I have to do at work - and Just waiting for the plane to land at DFW so I can run and grab the DIL, SIL & Grandbabies for the big vacation. Mary - we miss you, girl! Come out and play some more. How are you? How are the boys? Darcy - sorry about the week from hell. Keep your chin up and think good thoughts. Payback - that's funny! Just think, all these experiences will make you a better caregiver in the future. :] Sorry you are feeling icky. Hugs!! Allison - let me chime in and say that Nate is incredibly cute! Kat - I guess my restriction just isn't as good as yours... cause I can still eat a fairly normal portion. Not nearly what I used to eat - but still, like a regular person eats before I fill up. So for me the loss is very slow. I am glad you are getting more bang for your fill. :] Cindy - yep - my motivation seems to run in cycles... and it depends a lot on how stable the rest of my world is. Right now, not much is really stable... so my motivation is just to keep on keepin' on thru the changes. I know that if I EVER hear about the promotion, if we EVER get our desks moved (a somewhat regular occurence)... well, at least the house is pretty clean. *sigh* I suppose it would be TRUE growth if I could just get past all this stress crap and keep my motivation anyway - but I don't see that level of growth occurring anytime soon! I really shouldn't complain... I certainly don't have anything really WRONG in my life - just a little unsettled at the moment... This, too, shall pass. And I agree - I am learning some things in this phase. Plus, I know I will ramp up when it is cool enought to actually go outside for more than ten minutes, too. :] Sherry - dinner is the very best time to eat breakfast food, in my opinion! And I am actually getting a vacation from my vacation... The kids leave on Wed. or Thurs. of next week, and I don't have to go back to work until after Labor Day! How flipping fantastic is that! I will have a whole four day weekend to get myself together and recover from the visit. Pat - I am DYING laughing about your description of the day of your test... too funny! And don't you worry about slow going for you! You look fantastic! I still have over a hundred pounds to go - which is why my doc wants me to get up off of that thing... Of course, he is right - but that doesn't make me like it any more.... :] I am sorry for your friends. I hope Jae makes it through. I will think good thoughts for all of them. Dianne - I am so waiting for the photos. Glad you and DH had a great time. Hugs!! Well, I have to run and get the kids now. I will try to check in at some point. Love you guys!! Hugs! Irene

Hey Y'All!! Sounds like everybody is on an even keel these days - that makes me so happy. I love you guys and it makes me happy to know that all is right with our little world. Kat - you goddess of weightloss! 50 lbs ROCKS Allison - you too!! 30 lbs is no small accomplishment! Darcy - great quote! Hope the doggy daycare comes together. Dianne - you have as much fun as you can stand!! Hope your thong knocks his socks (and lots of other clothing) off! PAT!! so good to see you!! Hope you keep coming to play. Hugs! Everybody else!! I love you guys too, but my lunch is almost over - and I am darned lucky to have one at all today! Busy as always - especially since tomorrow is my last day before vacation for a week and a half. I pick up the kids at the airport tomorrow night at about 11pm - and then we are off to six flags and the zoo, and the aquarium - you know - basically all the touristy crap we can cram into the week that they are going to be here. Thank goodness I will have a couple of days after they leave to recover before I return to work!! I went to my band doc today. My new "official" weight is 311 - which makes 20 lbs since the day of surgery. 45 lbs since I first determined to get the band - including the pre-op pounds. My Doc scolded me... he wanted to see more weightloss. :[ I think I am screwing up his curve or something - but hey, we do what we can. 20 lbs in 6.5 mos isn't so hot - but whatcha gonna do? The whole point of getting this procedure was to go slow. I guess I am just taking that to extremes... I figure 3 lbs a month is better than a kick in the head, you know? Anyway, the doc guilted me out... so now I am going to have to try to eat less while I am out doing the tourist thang. *sigh* He wants me to check out the Aftercare program at the Surgery Center - you know, the whole Counselling gig. I think I will - because I am not sure how much of my behavior is due to laziness - and how much is because I am afraid of change - afraid to be thin... I know there is some of that - but losing slowly like I have - it's like I am sneaking the weightloss past my subconscious.... I swear - it seems like my scale never moves at all - but when you look at start and end there are 20 lbs missing. 20 lbs missing with no trauma to my twisted little psyche is a good thing... even if my doc scolded me. Well - I am rambling - and it probably sounds a little crazy - but that's me. Love you guys!! I will try to check in tomorrow and while I am out on Vacation - but I won't make any wild promises. xo

Hey Guys... Another glorious day in mortgage lending.... TGIF Patty - you aren't being selfish. You are trying to help. Adultery is damaging to your friend and all the people around her that she involves. I am a firm believer that Cheaters never prosper so I hope she can see her way clear to either end the affair or leave her husband so she can pursue her new romance in an honest fashion. Trying to remove yourself from that bad karma is just a natural response from someone as True and Loving as you are. She is wrong in her actions toward her husband and toward you. You are at least aware of the issue. If she cannot accept that her behavior is hurting you - then drop kicking her into the ocean may be your best option. Hugs and good luck with that whole thing. Cindy & Sherry - wise advice as always. Hugs! Darcy - I am hoping to avoid that whole PB concept as much as possible in the future. I consider my experience just a warning to chew more...Oh - and I would have deleted those OOPS posts - but I guess we can't do that anymore... And I thought that the system wouldn't let us post more than once in any 30 second period? Guess that safety is turned off... Just call me Spazz Finger.... Eileenie - hope you can play again soon. Hugs!! Allison - WE all advise on everything. No sense in holding back around here. We try to make sure that all advise is given with love and taken the same way. You are doing much better on the whole exercise and dedication thing than I am so far... Keep up the great work! Cindy - are you getting all fired up, again? Putting those folks on Ignore is probably the best thing to do. Feeding the flames is a waste of time. And while I haven't read the post and know nothing - I will say that the IDEALS or Communism and Socialism are actually sort of ok, But just like Democracy, in PRACTISE, these systems do not live up to their Ideals. I feel that in Practise, democracy works best of all the systems - but then, I have been conditioned to think that by 41 yrs of living in the USA. I just try to keep an open mind. Hugs!! Well my Dears... I must go. Lunch is over and I have to get back to the rest of my day. This weekend is going to be all about preparing for compancy. I have to clean up my office so people can go in there without falling over stuff.... crack the whip over my DH so he gets his kitchen in line and I expect we will have to shop for food and stuff. Hope y'all have a great weekend. Love you guys! Irene

Oh my. Can you say TECHNICAL PROBLEMS? Sorry about that! Here is the rest.... I was able to stop long enough to eat lunch today, so I thought I would check in. It's so much quicker to keep up than to catch up - I am sure you all know what I mean. Kat - I call that particular form of exercise "Abdominal Work" and if it wasn't for that, I would be getting NO exercise at all. Cool idea on the heart things. Betty - Honey take care of that foot - whatever happens...It sounds like you need to win the lottery, too. I am so tired of this whole "work" business... All I want for Christmas is the $211 million dollar winning lottery ticket! :] Eileenie... the only BAD thing about not coming back to NY this month is that I won't get to sneak in a 2nd lunch with YOU. :] Oh well, I guess I will have to wait til next month. Shoes - it's all about the shoes - but I suppose I could be convinced to buy at least one purse... :] Allison - Hi and Welcome!! Congrats on your new band and the 24 pounds! Are you still on Mushies? Or have you moved on to real food? Having nothing to do sounds pretty good to me, right now... Tell us a little about you? Where are you from? What do you do - you know... give us all the 411. Well, I have to get back to the huge pile on my desk. TTL!! Irene

Hey Folks... I was able to stop long enough to eat lunch today, so I thought I would check in. It's so much quicker to keep

Hey Folks... I was able to stop long enough to eat lunch today, so I thought I would check in. It's so much quicker to keep up

Hey Folks... I was able to stop long enough to eat lunch today, so I thought I would check in. It's so much quicker to

Hey Folks... I was able to stop long enough to eat lunch today, so I thought I would check in. It's so much quicker

I can't think of anyone more deserving of Love and Blessings and a Quick recovery than YOU! Hugs!!

Hey Guys It has taken me the full 3 days to get caught up after being in NY this time... They transferred the gal who used to cover my desk to another department - and so the files from Tuesday on just sort of stacked up... yippee! Welcome home! Here's a weeks work for you! I was also not sure if I wasn't going to have to turn around and go right back... They needed another person for week three - but they covered it with somebody else... so I get to stay home. *whew*. Let's see - next week, I start my vacation. DH's Daughter and her family are coming. Yay! Grandbabies! I got to skip all the hard stuff, you know, giving birth, raising a child... and move right on to Grandma. Such Fun!! I have no word, yet, on whether or not I got the transfer to a new job, yet... I am keeping my fingers crossed. I think it would be a good job - and maybe more money - which is always a good thing. Everybody think good thoughts. Hopefully I will hear by the end of the week... but one never knows. As usual, the trip to NYC affected my scale in a negative way... DANG! I had been hitting 309 for several days... now I am back to 312. DOUBLE DANG! A little too much good living in the Big Apple, I think... or maybe just too much alcohol or something.... Oh - and I had the joy of my very first PB over the weekend. I am no longer a virgin... I had this leftover half sandwich from Fridays - on that Chibatta bread... that nice, dense, crusty bread... yep. Chewing is NOT optional. ICK. Well, I have to run on home now... DH is probably starving - and since I am bringing Del Rancho burgers tonight, I guess I had better Git. Uh - yeah. Burgers aren't helping the scale, either... I will try and check in and maybe do personals again soon... xoxo Irene

I wept when I heard about Ryan's upcoming battle with Cancer. It is such an ugly disease, and someone with so much beauty in his heart should not be subjected to that. I hope that Ryan's family can take some comfort in the fact that he was spared any of the torments of ongoing cancer treatment. All my best wishes to them and I hope they know what a blessing "Whippledaddy" has been to all of us. Love and Hugs.

Oh yeah, Sherry - Totally - you lost a whole chin... isn't that the most awesome thing? Now I can't see a whole lot of difference either - in the pics from actual surgery date and now - but if you go all the way back - to my first photo on LBT - I think you can tell... of course, I haven't figured out how to do the side by side thing. I will have to rely on the kindness of strangers... In order - they should be Irene 1, then Surgery day 331 and finally 5.17.06 316. Now I am less by about 7 lbs - yippee - but you get the general drift. :] Hmmm. That first picture is pretty small - but I don't have a copy of it on my laptop - so I pulled it out of my profile. I will have to try and upload it again from my office. I have it on my computer at work.

Well My Darlings... It's my last night in New Jersey for another month at least. The storm knocked the power out twice and screwed up the TV... it's a good thing I have a book and my laptop or I would be bored out of my mind. My travelling companions both had hot dates tonight - friends and relatives... So I did one of the things that I like to do... I ordered room service and vegged out. I was going to veg in front of the TV - but that didn't work out - so I finished my trashy novel instead. Love conquered all, as usual. So now, I am here to report on my lunch with the Glorious and Beautiful Eileenie... Ye Gods! Has she gotten thin, or what?!? It just makes her eyes get bigger and bigger. Amazing. We went to a Mongolian Grill place - Eileenie called it a "Man's Place" - and it did seem a little testosterone heavy at lunch... we decided it must be the "all you can eat" appeal. But, even with all the men there, I didn't get a single boyfriend... so I guess I have lost "IT" - whatever it is. Or maybe it only works in the presence of refried Beans... who knows? We talked about everything and nothing - the band, our families, the people on LBT that we don't hear enough from (IRA?? ZAN?? we love you and miss you... Ira - we were wondering how your wife is doing - how her surgery went. Zannie - now that we stay in Fort Lee, it's much easier to get downtown. I thought if I knew where to find you, I could come visit you next time...) Anyway - neither Eileen or I has come up with a way of making a comfortable living without actually working - so we figure we'll just keep on doing that until we win the lottery. Eileenie - sorry I said the "E" word in your car. :] Darcy-Baby - there is just NOTHING worse than throwing your back out. ICK! I hope you feel better soon. Mary - glad to hear you are getting some quality time with the boys while you (shhhhhhhh - exercise). We'll have to Celebrate the Final Decree from afar. Hugs! Dianne - have fun with Ma - and gold stars for you and the "E". Good luck with the fleas... I scar up something awful when I don't keep the cats medicated. The fleas find me a tastier treat than the cats, I guess. Sherry - I will have to look at your photos and come back... but I bet there's not a darned thing wrong with them!! And I bet you look LOTS thinner now... But, I also know what you mean about looking and only seeing the fat. I may add some before & after shots, too. I have been thinking about it - since I am nearing the big 50 from my "starting" weight of 358. Chris - sorry the whole dating thing isn't going so great. I hope you trip over the right guy soon. It seems like that is how one finds the right one - completely by accident. Maybe the best friend of some you actually date or something. Hey, I picked up mine at a hot dog stand. Life is full of possibilities.... Hugs! Cindy, you and I are going to have to arrange for a lunch date some day when you are a retired lady and have nothing better to do than tool around town, visiting your banded friends. Well, I am going to go visit the photos of Sherry and see about maybe posting some.... Night all!

Hey All! I can heartily recommend "The Color Purple" on Broadway. It was WONDERFUL - but I also recommend springing the extra bucks for a front row so your knees don't burn by the end of the show! There just isn't much room for having Legs in those seats... I mean, I expect to have to wedge by big ol' butt into the seat - but I didn't expect to have to wedge my legs in...By the last act, I was squirming around like a 3 yr old, trying not to cry. But even that couldn't detract too much from how great the show was. IF you haven't read the book, I recommend that you do so prior to seeing the play - but it isn't a requirement. The book is like a 2 boxes of kleenex read - but the play is very uplifting at the end. It's been so many yrs since I did read the book that I am going to have to read it again... Eileenie - you mean you don't want to go to "OUR" place? (and see my boyfriends?) Geesh! I have no idea where to go - except for the mall or the Italian place... we'll do the e-mail thing in the morning. Darcy - getting your first house together? That will be fun... or at least a learning experience.... :] Oh - and get your ass back to the gym, now - Y'Hear?!?! I don't want any more excuses out of you, young lady! (Mom, enough? lol!) Mary - Hugs! Sucks not to be able to surf at work, doesn't it? I am not enjoying it much. Hope you get to fill us in on what's happening with you, soon. Is the big D final, yet? How are the boys? We miss you... Cindy did the "E" word, Cindy did the "E" word... (hear the sing-song chant) Hip Hip Hooray!! So, are you marking off the days, like an advent calendar? How are you ever going to be able to focus on teaching? I wouldn't be able to do it. I would have to either do the whole year - or none of it, but I tend to be pretty OCD... Yes, I am here in the City that Never Sleeps... But only til Friday afternoon. Of course, my lunch with Eileenie is always the high light of my trip. :] Kat - God save us all from our relatives. I swear they are all insane. Like ANYONE would have a recovering patient doing hard exercise... especially your most beloved. WTF? And don't worry about the chocolate... I mean, my personal challenge right now is to drag my butt to the gym at least ONCE in the week after I get back to town. It doesn't have to be a big change... the small ones do start to add up, if you can make them and maintain them. Hugs!! Don't let the old baggage get on your nerves. Just love that man and help him heal. Well my Darlings... I am dropping off to sleep in front of the computer... so I had better get a little nap in before tomorrow. Love to all! Irene

Hey Y'All - Here I am in Fort Lee, NJ - hangin' at the Hilton. We went to NYC tonight and did dinner at Bubba Gumps - very nice food! Then we walked all over hell and gone gawking like tourists. (uh - I guess we are tourists, so that's expected, right?) This trip, I am here with co-workers - no boss-type people here this time. Very relaxed, just me and the girls. Anne - I will send my info for Christmas cards - but I guess that means I have to get off my petute and send some this year, huh? pizza? Normal people eat pizza. Seriously, they do. :] And too funny about your DS. Yep, Management fast track for sure. That boy is EXECUTIVE material! OK - we want pics of the hair. Red sounds like fun! Darcy - I don't know why it's so hard to get motivated to exercise, either. Darn it! It feels great after you do it... but for whatever reason, I just fight it with all my lazy bones. Can we make some kind of a Pact? Maybe I can just say that I will go at least once to the gym within the week after I get home. Maybe if I can force myself to go once a week, I will be able to work up to twice. Seriously, anything is better than sitting on my @$$ in front of the TV, right? Cindy - How exciting is a Disney Cruise! I want to go... Great Job on getting on with the "E" word. :] And don't apologize for being passionate about your work! If more teachers were passionate - more students would be better prepared for the 21st century! (lol) What a way to motivate.... "Hey, you guys have been doing a crappy job - now get out there and teach!" Eileenie - mind your toes, now... No dancing for you this week, I guess. Hope the tootsies are feeling better. Sorry I missed your birthday! Hope it was fabulous - from the food porn, it sounds like it was Choctastic. Sherry - Babies are pretty cute... OTHER people's Babies are the cutest of all... Ah. yep, BP can make you dizzy - but it doesn't sound much like your doc is really into what's going on with YOU... if you know what I mean. Maybe you could get a 2nd opinion? Dianne - Great job on the "E" for you, too. Dang it! You guys are guilting me out. I am going to have to get back to the gym! Kat - I am so happy that all went well for DH and the surgery. We will continue to think good thoughts for a speedy and complete recovery for him. Thinking good thoughts for DD, too. Hugs!! Betty - sounds like you had a great time on your trip. Enjoy your time with your DS. Hugs! Well you guys - I have to sleep now. It is WAY past pumkin time for me, but I wanted to check in. Since I don't have any spoiled husbands or cats demanding my attention while I am here, I don't have any excuse not to keep up with my beloved LBT pals!! Love you guys. I will check in again, tomorrow. (or sometime today, or whatever) xo

Honey, I'm HO-OME... Hey Guys - I am still alive and I have been thinking of y'all - but DANG my job has been stressing me out! Forget about giving up Ice Cream - I want to win the (&%$#)(O_+ Lottery and retire to a Carribean Island somewhere! Geesh! I have been working about 10-12 hours a day consistently for the last little while - and it's making me insane. I decided I had better stop in, even though it is well after nine pm, cause I want you guys to know that I love you all and I am thinking of you. I spent the last hour catching up since my last post - Ye Gods! So much stuff! I can't even begin to do personals for everyone with so many things. I am glad to hear that spouses have jobs, nieces DON'T have cancer and everybody is hanging in there. Nobody is failing, either. I can say that I was feeling like a total failure because my scale has been showing the same number for like a month, now - but when I went in for another fill the other day, the "Official" scale shows a loss since my last fill of 8 lbs... My new "Official" weight is 314 - down from 322. So, I wasn't too excited about that - since I knew the last weight was high because I was all puffed up - but I was glad to see the new number. Then, the next darned day, MY scale dropped to a new low - 309. DANG. I was pretty pumped about it. I won't get TOO cocky until I see that number appear several days running - but GOSH! I might ACTUALLY get under 300 lbs in this Lifetime! You know - as far as hunger and fullness - I almost never get a recognizable hunger pang anymore. My stomache growls pretty much any time I eat or drink - so that's not a hunger sign. Now, I just WANT food at certain times. Unfortunately, I tend to eat what I want... Spoiled, A little? The lack of hunger is good - but the flip side is that neither do I ever really get that "oh, I'm full" feeling until I have eaten far more than the 1/2 to 1 cup of food that is supposed to be optimal. If I start eating - I keep eating. The only good news is that RECENTLY - a big ol' plate of food that I would have previously called my First helping, is actually enough to make me feel like after thanksgiving dinner, you know? That OH MY GOD I AM SO FULL feeling. I am hoping that this new fill will just make it so much of a Pain in the @$$ to eat, that I will lose interest after the first little bit. I keep thinking strong thoughts about no erosion, no slippage and no infections. I REFUSE them. I will not have them, ever. Because honestly, I don't think I have learned any self control, yet. I would just puff right back up without my band. FOR SURE. Well - I have been here for far too long, now. I have to stop at the store on my way home so I have cream for my coffee in the AM. I love you guys, and I am thinking good thoughts for everybody. I will be in NY from Tuesday thru Friday of next week - and I might have some more time to hang with my peeps. (My party-boy boss isn't going for that week and I am thinking my other co-workers will be more sedate - but one never knows.) I will try to check in more - I miss you guys - and I really lose motivation when I don't stop in. Hugs all Around!! xo