Apples2

Laura...omitted anything about your dad. Happy to hear that things are taking a turn towards the positive again. Take care and don't worry about not being there right now. Put a fire under your sister's A$$ (in a sweet way) and let her handle it right now.

Laura....I promise that if you and Julie make it for lunch, I will not try to feel you guys! Poor little Nelson. He most likely isn't sick. Just wants to hang out in his "normal" home. We always noticed that if we upset our kid's schedule, they (and us) paid for it for a couple of days. Having all the company yesterday was most likely fun for him but he needs time with mommy. You'll get back into the swing of exercise when he is in school. Try to go when you can until that time. I freeze cheese and butter all the time. If I get a good deal with coupons or sales, I buy ahead and throw in freezer. Not a big deal. Just make sure to use freezer bags or freezer paper. Hey...you sound like me. I LOVE to clean and organize. It's my de-stresser. I always feel so good about an organized closet, drawers, etc. Hopefully your weather does not turn wicked. My DH and I always laugh about our DS when he moved to Daytona from Santa Barbara. You would need to understand this kid to laugh about it. When he was younger we called him the "Happy Wanderer". Followed thru to adulthood. When things got quite, I had to run to find him when he was little. Anyway, his name is Charlie....he is a whirlwind of activity. Always setting his sights high on things and somehow achieved them at a young age. Well, he flew from SB to DB the day Hurricaine Charlie hit back in 2004. That entire year was filled with hurricaines. We always rib him that he started it all. Well, time to go feel the guys!

Julie...not sure about when I will head to the lake this week. Still knee deep in bookwork today but hoping to finish it all by tonight. Thinking it will be tomorrow night b/4 I take off or even maybe Friday. Have a birthday party for a special 5yr old neighbor girl up there on Sat. evening. We are known as Uncle and Auntie up there. 90% of our fun up there is adopting the kids. We have a load of them under the age of 5. They all know where my treat box is and respect the rule of 1 a day. (OK...I'm not that strong....I sometimes sugar them up and send them back to momma!). We sometimes have a housefull of kiddies. We watch movies with them (I keep a supply of updated kids movies), put puzzles together, play ball with the dog, etc. If my two DS's would provide grandchildren, I will be prepared. We have already informed them that they will be spoiled rotten and then we will return them to be straightened out by mom and dad. Love bookwork but I'm off and cannot find it. (Banging head against wall). Later.

OMG...just re-read my last post and notice that I stated that I "feel" 6-8 men every meal. OOPS. Maybe that would ease my stress!!!!!!!!!!! Naw...I'll just feel DH and average of 6-8 times during a meal and all will be fine.

Happy Hump Day to my LB friends! Laura...congrats on your successful party. Sounds like fun was had by all. Sooooooooooo encouraging when friends notice the weight loss. Such a boost and helps keep a on track. Keep goin' girl! You were talking about leftover deli meat. I freeze it all the time. I need to have it on hand all the time when I pack lunches for guys that are out in the field and cannot make it back to the house for meals on certain days. I HATE throwing food away so I just freeze the leftovers and use at a later date. I never notice that it affects the quality of the meat. In fact, today the guys are getting grilled ham and cheese sandwiches with chili. (Both ham slices and chili are getting pulled out of the freezer). Hopefully you will get the answers you are looking for with your Dad. Sometimes it is totally frustrating. It sounds like the docs are not truly listening to your father and the symptoms he has. I know from personal experience that docs do not like it when a patient (or family member ) self-diagnos. It's almost like it's an egotistical thing with them. Hang in there and keep us informed. Meredith...wanted to comment on your post about the fact you have only made healthy choices in cooking and eating since surgery. GOOD FOR YOU!!!! That's huge part of the battle in forever changing the way you eat. Funny how you talked about people at work changing the way they eat, throwing a donut away, etc. You will notice a lot of different reactions from people. Some good...some not so good. Just be tough and try to ignore what bothers you. I have been through the wringer with this type of thing. At first there were things I could not blow off. Getting comments about "being too thin" and "you better not lose any more weight". I was bombarded for quite some time with comments....even when I was 50lbs from goal. Well, pretty difficult at first but then realized it just made me tougher. Not their business...Made me so angry sometimes. But, I bucked up and just focused on me and being healthy. Try not to be nervous about your fill. I was and wondered afterwards what the big deal was. Congrats on the weight loss. So fun when it comes off like that all of a sudden. You talk about not knowing what you would do without all of us....Right back at you. It's all of you that keep me coming back every day. Good luck getting through the rest of this semester and enjoy your down time until starting up again. All of this will be worth it in the end! Julie...enjoy your soak! Good feeling getting rid of the larger clothes. I, too, need long pants. I have the best luck just ordering online. There's not too many places around here that carry them. I ordered from Woman Within, J Jill, Macys, Champion and Amazon.com (have free shipping with them). Great....No raisins??????????? I eat about a cup of them a day. It's like I crave them. I mix them with my smoked almonds. B/4 banding I never ate them. Now it's like my body is telling me that I need them. Janet...have a question for you about watermelon. I notice that I can eat more than 1.5 cups of melon. It's like it is a slider food for me. Same goes with most fruit. Do you notice that. My family thinks I am really strange. I cannot eat melon without salt on it. Best thing ever! Eva....to answer your question on the crops. We grow corn and soybeans. We usually do not get into the fields to plant until mid-May and finish the first week of June. Our harvests can be wonderful with great weather and then we can have very bitter, cold harvests with snow and ice. Just depends on what the weather is any given year. I LOVE harvest. Besides feeling an average of 6-8 men each meal, I unload the semis when they bring them into the yard. One truck after the other. I have to be pretty innovative with meal planning. Time bake on my oven and the slow cooker are my friend that time of the year and in the spring during planting. I usually do my baking and make the meals at 4:30am, get my cleaning and laundry done and then I am free when the trucks start coming in. As far as my eating every 2 hours. I sometimes carry a cooler but I prefer not to. When I do it's something life lettuce wrapped chicken with mayo, greek yogurt with Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, smoked salmon, etc. I prefer carrying snack bag sizes of beef jerky, fiber cereal that is high in protein, dried edamame, dried soy nuts, protein bars (Myoplex or Pure Protein which I buy on Amazon.com or Walmart or Target). I am a planner and make sure I am never without a couple of these items in my purse. Welcome Larry! Take a deep breath...try not to be nervous about your upcoming surgery. See this as a life changing, positive experience. Good into it KNOWING you can succeed. Come back here often with any questions you may have. This thread and LBT in general helped me a tremendous amount. We are a tight group and always willing to welcome new people. Fire away with any questions you have! Looks like I really like to hear myself talk! Better get back to work. Force feeding today. Band is still tight due to stress. Like I said the other day...nothing too major and it should all calm down soon. DH handles everything a lot better than I do. To think, b/4 the band I would have been STRESS EATING. Hope everyone has a GREAT day!

If...to be perfectly honest...yes that's exactly how I felt. Had my first fill and felt tight the few days after and then back to where I was. Second and last fill a couple of months later and the same thing. I know I was struggling with it and asking for advice on this thread. Just could not wrap my head around what that sweet spot was. Well, about a month after the second fill I could tell it was there. Not overly tight but some restriction. I could request a fill from my doc at any monthly appt. I struggled for awhile deciding if I wanted another. Decided to sit where I was and am so happy I did. I never want to risk being too full and I also like feeling "normal" and being able to eat most things. We are all different and require a different amount of fills. I just like where I have been with the restriction I have. I get hungry every two hours or so. Not where I feel overly hungry...just enough to know I should eat something. I love it this way. You will know when you get to where you want to be. Wishing you luck!

Oh Julie...hope you don't think we were judging you on the cookie thing. I know Long would not be judgmental either. I think we have all been there with the "favorite" foods in the house. Heck, Janet proved that the other night with her icecream! Maybe this next fill is what you need. I know the temptations are not as strong when a person is hanging around that sweet spot. I, too, am a person that loves to bake and cook. It is difficult to cut something out that a person loves to do. I find it very difficult to cut down on amounts I cook in the winter with just DH and I. I despise throwing food away...I just freeze in individual sizes for DS to take home to his freezer. Win/Win situation. I have a solution with those cookies in the freezer. Have DH go to freezer and lick each one!

So nice to have an "in-house" nurse, Phyll. If I do not catch you b/4 your surgery, wishing you good luck with it and a speedy recovery. I realize that it is tough work after the surgery but just think how good you are going to feel not to be restricted by that knee any longer. We have a friend that is due in Dec for his second hip to be replaced. He's 50. He stated that the pain after surgery was well worth it to be able to not have the constant pain he felt b/4. Anyway, Phyll, peace and love and all that stuff and will be thinking of you as you prepare for this surgery. XOXOXO:wub:

Mornin' Girls Meredith....just want to take the time to tell you how much I admire you for working full time and plugging away at school full time also. What a load! I almost killed myself working full time and doing a full load of school between the age of 17-20. I guess I didn't notice so much then but when I think about it now, don't know how I did it. All of you not feeling restriction...get in there and get your fills but don't over do them. It should be a step by step process. Watch what your band is telling you. I know with me, the fills took about a month to kick in. I expected instant gratification. (I think that instant gratification factor is what got most of us to that obesity stage). I know that with me it took breaking the habit of grabbing and eating. I MADE myself get into the habit of planning my eating for the day and MAKING myself stick to it. Even when I was on the road (which I am a few days a week). If I worry about not having things available that are band friendly, I make sure I have pre-planned things with me. I am at the stage where I have no embarassment about pulling out MY food and just do a little explaining that certain foods don't work for me. We have social situations at least twice a week. Most times there are foods that I can eat and if not I either wait to eat or pull out my own. My band, my choice of what I feed it. The social situations do get easier. I know that I felt moments of panic and didn't even want to go. Now I welcome any situation. Julie....I love harvest season. We do not have wheat so we do not start till about the middle of Oct and go through the end of Nov. Sometimes a little earlier. Crops look good right now. Got a nice amount of rain over the weekend and think that it saved our A$$. Sorry about your cookie issues. Have you ever thought of making DH suffer? Just buy the little pre-packaged sweet treats for his lunch. (Little Debbies, etc.) Or, get him to switch over to throwing an apple, pear, grapes into his lunch box. That way it's not there for you to be tempted. I am not a sweet eater but LOVE chips, etc. During my first few months of weight loss, I could in no way have them in my house. I would fill that void with low fat popcorn. A great sweet snack is sugar free jello with a tablespoon of fat free cool whip. Give it a try when you have those urges. Better dig into to it all. Behind because of the Aussies but was worth it. Memories that will last a life time. Have mega-bookkeeping to get done today, laundry, guys to feed, flowers to tend to and a co-op picnic tonight. You all have a great day!!!!!

Good Evening, Girls! Great...sounds like you had quite the day with your flat tire. What is it with all the auto troubles with you girls lately??????????? I see my nutritionist on a regular basis. There is no charge and just nice to check in for ideas once in awhile. Laura...sounds like you have a handle on the menu for tomorrow. Don't sweat it. Sounds like a great summertime meal. And, remember, they are there to see YOU. How were your dad's #'s today?????

Hey Gang! Nice to be back. Didn't get home till about an hour ago. Got caught up on this thread but will not try to respond to all....sorry. Had a wonderful time with Aussie DD and her DH. Was heartbreaking to say goodbye to her. We fell in love with DH while he was here. It was all good with no bumps in the road. She has really matured since her last visit 10 years ago. I, of course, could not eat the day she left. Was so sad and band tightened. Then had a major stresser over the weekend (too long to explain but not too major...just something we had to deal with) and band has been tight ever since. Never thought I would complain about MAKING myself eat but that's just how it is. Chose high caloric foods that would slip through band so I could eat more often. Made sure that I got my Protein grams. Didn't lose weight thank goodness. Will need to keep a check on it and eat more this week but not easy since I am still tight. Janet...thanks for being so open and sharing your eating downfalls. It can only help the rest of us. Sounds like you had a number of "crap" days last week. Laura...hope your dad continues to improve. Everyone else....(love ya...just don't have time right now to respond to your posts). Hope you all had a great weekend!

Mornin' Gang...Got caught up on this thread but in no way am I going to try and respond to anything. Just too far behind. We are having a great time with our "fake" DD and her DH. Picked them up at the airport last Monday and have been on the run since then. They are easy to have around and I have been having fun making all her favorite dishes that she grew to love while living here and while back to visit for four months a few years back. She's been complaining about gaining weight on their 3 mo. world tour so I made sure to alter all the recipes to be low fat and low sugar. She's actually not "fat". What I would call thinner than a normal person but in good shape. (She's a kick-boxer). So anyway, I have tried to really watch what I have around here. I make veggie/shrimp appetizers, have plenty of fruit around and make sure the meals are healthy. Wish I had more time to share but DH is over my shoulder needing me. MEN!!!! Helpless!!!!!!!!!!! Hope everyone is doing well. For any of you struggling....hang in there. It's all worth it. Laura...thinking of you father and your family. Julie...hope you are feeling better soon. Janet...will get you that recipe when I have more time. Catch you all in a week's time. XOXOXO

Just a fly by post...heading out to the door. Up North to the lake. We are having the time of our lives with our DD and her DH. About a 20 hour visit yesterday until early this morning. Lots of catching up to do. Taking them to a "hick" bar tonight....they gotta see how we live out here. DD is turning 30 next week and we will be hosting a party on Friday night for her. Activities planned for the weekend from sun up till sun down (or later). Just love that girl and her DH is wonderful and has a great sense of humor. Clicks with DS. Just wanted to check out....know it's important. Wouldn't want to start the "panic chain". (You know I love you guys for even noticing I was missing). Take care and have a wonderful weekend. Talk to you all on Tuesday of next week. XOXOXOXOXO

Meredith...there are just times when it is impossible to weigh and measure EVERYTHING. It is a good habit to be into. Teaches us a lot about portion size, etc. Helps us to eventually eyeball what we are eating. I now just automatically know portions sizes by looking or know my limits as to what to eat by how my tummy feels. I had some of the same feelings you are having when I didn't weigh and measure. It's a good habit but so is choosing everything that is healthy at this stage of the game and it will teach you to make more healthy choices throughout your life. It will all come together for you. I think that as long as you don't overdo the dressing put on the salad, Protein and lettuce/veggies are a very healthy choice. At first I did not like filling up my new pouch with lettuce as there is not a lot of nutritional value in it. But I always craved it so much so I would just throw a handful on my plate with my meat/fish/etc. During the weightloss stage, I used Walden Farms zero cal dressings. I really like the taste of them but have heard others stating that they did not. I still have them on hand for DH and he really likes them also. Worth a try! On those occasions when you cannot weigh and measure, try to eye things up. It's actually a good way to learn to guesstimate what you are eating. You will know when you get to the stage when you trust yourself with the amounts you are eating. My pouch has always been good to me. I have never pb's, don't really know what it is to slime, and it tells me when I am full. I get hungry every 2-3 hours but I don't mind that. But you will find out, as all of us banders did, that there are days that your band is lose and you could eat your lips and your fingertips off and there will be days that your band is tight and you WISH you could feel hungry. It's all a learning process and that's what us experienced banders are here for. I relied on everyone here for many months. It's important to plan any Snacks that you have and also important not to let yourself get too hungry and have the urge to binge. Make sense????? Hey to the rest of the gang (man, that really sounds Gomer Pylish!). Had a VERY long day yesterday. Left home b/4 daylight and did not get my people home till after 10:30pm. Stayed up visiting until 1:30am. DH's butt will be dragging in the field today. Letting Aussies sleep in. They have been on an "around the world tour" for close to three months and are shot. We have made no plans and will leave it up to them what they want to do. I am sure DH will not take a break with the workaholism and I will be entertaining 24/7. Did insist guys come home for dinner (lunch) so at least DS has and hour today to get reaquainted with his big sis. It will all fall together and DH will just have to catch up with us when he feels he can pull himself away from the work. Cannot remember who mentioned about lifting and band getting tight. Linda????? I have noticed this from the very beginning. That, flying and stress. Now, I KNOW I don't get stressed when I fly so I know my band just tightens on me and have to be very vigilant of my eating days b/4 I fly so I get enough cals and do not lose weight the days after flying. I try not to lift much anymore as to not tighten up my band. Fickle, fickle, fickle band! Just as I explained above to Meredith. Laura......hope your dad is doing better. Anxious to hear. DH's mom has been on dialysis for over five years and functions quite well with it. Sad if your dad has to give up his pilots license but he will adjust if need be. Great..........(seems weird writing that) Smart not to buy a MOB dress now. I predict that you will weigh less a year from now. The body goes through so many transformations after a person gets to goal. You will be happy you waited. A couple of months ahead of time should be sufficient time to find one. Keep looking and trying on different styles. By the time you need to make the purchase, you will know exactly what you want and what looks good on you. I love separates due to the fact that I am long legged and short waisted. They just look better on me. Janet....sound like you had and "Apples" day on Sat. I tend to start a small project and it turns into an all day deal. Good example is the past week when I was getting ready for company. My house was basically already clean but when I started I didn't quit for three days and then started again on Sunday until I couldn't find anything else to do. I was cleaning, painting, hanging pictures, rehanging pictures, recleaning, etc. I swear I cause work for myself. And, as I mentioned the other day...I am way too picky about my house and am trying to make a stab at changing that. Would like to be a little more free and easy about that. Think it has to do with all the traffic we get through here and always having to have the house ready for extras just dropping in for a meal. Julie....hope you are feeling better each day. You have been through the wringer and it will take some time. When we are so used to taking care of others, it is difficult to accept help. Linda...I pray for your little grand daughter. I think of her often and think of what you are going through. Issues such as these are never easy and wear on a person. Take care. Doodle...what a good granny to be the "mom" while your daughter is away. Damn all brownies. Funny you guys mentioned them cuz my Aussie daughter talked about my "special" brownies most of the five hour drive home from the airport. She was begging me to make some and I kept just putting her off and saying not sure. Well, when we walked in the door I presented her with a pan all for herself. We stuck them in the freezer and she says she will have only one a day. She is a police officer and needs to fit into her uniform when she gets home. OK...know I left some of you out but not on purpose. Just a little brain dead this morning. 4 hours of sleep does not do it for me anymore and only 5 hours the night b/4. I am a believer in 8 good hours of sleep. Keeps life nice and mellow. Going to have to catch up this week. You all take care and will check in when I can. Think we will hit a casino a few hours south of here this week and stay over one night then off to the lake for a couple of days and a weekend full of parties. (I love a good party but, no, do not always have a drink. Maybe have one drink once a week on the weekend.). I have to be quite careful. 1/2 ounce vodka, crystal light and Water and I am a PARTY ANIMAL. Can't handle much. Never had much tolerance for alcohol b/4 banding. 2 drinks and I would slur so for 30 yrs of marraige I have been the D.D. Don't mind a bit and parties are all about the cooking, visiting, games, etc. My friends love me cuz on girls night out, they have a built in ride home. Gotta go plan dinner and supper. Need to make a blueberry dessert, making chicken strips on the grill, scalloped corn and homemade mac and cheese. Have no menu planned for supper yet. You all have a great day! :smile2:

Drive by post... Laura...hang in there...thinking of you. Just got home and taking off at 6am. Airport is about 5 hours away. Excited to see my Aussie girl again. It's been 10 yrs. Think I have everything ready in the house. I am waaaaaay too picky. Gotta change that. Busy but fun weekend and now a whirlwind of activities for two weeks. Not sure how much computer time I will have. Just want to tell you all to have a good couple of weeks. I am sure some of mine will be spent at Mall of America, the lake, taking my girl around to see friends from high school, etc. Hope everyone stays healthy. Talk soon!

Mornin' All... Meredith...I LOVE chicken salad. I slice cucumbers and plop it on top of them instead of crackers. What a great job to get into for a career (PA). Wishing you luck. Well, ready to run out the door and up North to the lake. The dog is already by the door saying "Hurry up, Mom....time is awastin'" This weekend includes: new cafe with the GF's tonight, beach and party barge tomorrow along with dinner on our deck with friends tomorrow night. Saturday planning a bday party for a close friend. Everyone brings something to throw in a huge fryer (not healthy). I am cutting up whole porkloin into strips and putting a homemade rub on them. Figured this is healthier than soaking up fat with breading. Sunday is a pot luck picnic with the entire resort and Monday I pick up our Aussies at the airport. My kind of weekend! You all have a wonderful and safe weekend. Talk to you sometime next week. CHARLENE....I AM LEAVING NOW AND WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN I AM BACK!!!!!!!!!

Long...I had somewhat of a rollercoaster ride since I hit goal so really cannot say. If you remember, I just kept losing. I had more than doubled my cals right after hitting goal. My doc did not encourage that but the scale kept going down...more than 20lbs past my goal. It's been a slippery slide for me and have been ONLY maintaining since Feb, 2009 when I stopped losing. I am now taking in at least 2500 to 3000 cals a day and just not gaining. I do think it will happen down the road here but it can be just as frustrating as not losing. I never thought it would be a chore to eat but that's how I feel some days. (By all means, this story is in no way a brag). I was the same weight I am now when we got married and some days think that this is just where I am going to be. What counts is that I feel good and am healthy. You WILL be able to figure out what it takes to maintain (just like I had to figure out what it took in cals in order to stop losing). If I were you and you feel you are right where you want to be, I would start with 100 cals over the amount you were losing on and go from there. If you still lose, up your cals. The body likes to be fed and have enough cals to burn. Never good to keep cals too low. (I know you know that already!) I bet you did get stressed about moving at this stage of your life and with your GM moving, daughter getting hitched, etc. What a great DH to back down. Hopefully, there will be another time, if that's what he wants. We are basically stuck where we are. I have wanted to move so many times. Think it just has to do with the fact that we CAN'T because we are married to this farm. And, DH would lay down and die without his land, his crops, open air, etc. I am the one that has given up a lot because of this farm and our business but I accept it and am happy to do anything for DH cuz he's everything to me. Speaking of stress....yesterday did it to me. Did not notice a tight band then but holy hell...could not eat until about 3:00 today. I'll be up and eating again twice during the night. Will be off for the lake in the morning to de-stress and losen up my band. Another full weekend planned and then pick up my Aussies at the airport on Monday. Cannot wait. :biggrin:

IMO do all the research you can b/4 you make your decision. WASA HAS experience with both the band (not a good option for her as it turned out) and the sleeve. From what I can tell by her posts, she has done a great deal of research on the subject of all WLS. I know she has provided some links on WLS previously and maybe can do the same for you. As for the band, I have had a great experience but I do know people personally that continually have daily struggles and health threatening issues. Prior to banding, I was unaware of how the sleeve worked. If I experience any unmanageble complications with my band I will definately look into the sleeve. Wishing you the best in any decision you make.

IF....just some lunch and snack ideas for you. I am a "pre-packager". I buy products and then break them down into the 100 cal. snack bags. I have a couple of bins in my pantry full of meals and snack for on the go or just for at home. *Beef jerky (I order Worlds Kitchen from Amazon.com) *Kashi Go-Lean Crunch and Fiber One cereals *Soynuts *Pure Protein bars (WalMart) *Myoplex Lite protein bars (Right now eatins the full strength since I am in weight gaining stage) *Cheese sticks rolled with deli meat Just some ideas for you!

That kid is going to make out just fine in life! Way too funny!:biggrin:

Mornin' Gang... Janet...great photos of you and your friends. Scenery up there is beautiful, isn't it? I felt the same as you do about being able to live there. I felt the same way about Alaska. Had youngest living in Homer for a couple of years and spent some time up there. Tried to talk DH into buying some acres and farm. Didn't work. Meredith...good going on the "real food". I LOVE salmon and eat it almost every day. Smoked dried tomato is my favorite. You handled the whole wheat bun OK? Yep, been caught in less than my underpants on a couple occasions. Men! Don't they know we need at least 1.5 hrs notice? Sending the xoxoxo right back at ya! Laura...woohoo on the scale going down. It really does help to document what we eat. So much easier than guessing and letting ourselves get away with a few extras here and there. Truly believe it makes for a successful bandster. Long....how did it feel to wake up and suddenly be in the maintenance mode?????????? Phyll.....you look so nice in those photos. You are such a pretty lady. Bet you are a load of fun! Well, I am off and running this morning. Getting done what I didn't yesterday. Have a full day ahead of me plus a wake tonight so better get back at it. Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Congrats on reaching goal, Bill. I think Levis still puts the waist size on the back outside label so you can announce it to the world. You deserve some reconition for your hard work!

Kath....so happy to hear that you are more optimistic and had a positive visit with your daughter. As you have probably noticed about this thread; you can get support on any subject. There's always someone with some experience on almost anything. We are here for ya!:thumbup:

As others have stated...good to wait at least a year after you reach your goal. I reached goal in Oct, 2008 after losing 139lbs. I was SURE I would need some work. Now, don't think so. I am really surprised at how my breasts have firmed and also the tummy. We all carry weight differently...worth the wait to see how things turn out...you might be surprised! Good luck and hope no matter what you decide that you get the outcome you are looking for.

Hey Long....told you I would be able to hear you all the way from Colorado when you reached goal!....I was sitting in the coffee shop with a friend and I heard ya! LOL Not sure when I will make it to the lake. Everything today threw me about 2 days behind. Just going to hit the ground running in the morning and see how much I get done. Again, congrats on goal! Laura...I know exactly how you feel about "first time company". Ever wonder why you never get an drop in guests when the house is perfect? That question should be out there with "What comes first, the chicken or the egg". Good luck and try not to be nervous. If that lady runs out over something as simple as what you described, she would be one stressed out mother!