Kat817

Kirafiki, you make very good points! rlynne, while you work at getting the money together for another fill, working another program cannot hurt. Kirafiki is right on the money in regards to the band not working at it's optimum level without being properly filled. Being banded without being filled, is like buying a brand new car, and then it has to sit in the driveway because you have no money for gas or insurance....it still could be a great car! If you let the finance company repo it without ever fueling it and driving it, you will never know how great the car might have handled, or what kind of attention you would have drawn as you drove it down the road. And that is not the fault of the car----it cannot fuel itself. Nor is it the fault of the dealership (or the Dr. in this case) for you buying a car (or a band) without the means of fueling (filling) it. Take a few months and work whatever eating plan and or exercise plan you can, and try to gather the money to add to your fill. If after you have reached restriction, you still feel the band is not working for you, then at least you give it a fair shot. Good Luck to you.

Hey Girls~ Been a busy weekend. Had Rick's oldest friend from childhood here for the weekend. His Mom is dying from ALS. She is in the final stages, and the house is full, as well as having some other issues with members of his family, he usually stays with us when he is in town. Yesterday we did the big family breakfast thing, and then went to Becky & Gary's grandsons birthday party. Then off to the skating rink to watch our daughters, organize this roller derby thing. They have turned into such amazing women, they just impress me! Yes they can irritate me, and upset me. But watching them yesterday just amazed me. They talked to the owner of the rink, and several of the staff in regards to practice etc. Then the ease with which they approached women skating, and how they helped little kids, and give them pointers on their skating, and things like that---I was just proud of them! Kinsey and Connor on skates was fun! Kinsey is actually pretty good--she does the windmill thing to regain balance fairly often! But she skates around the rink, not holding the wall, and she goes. She listens to the DJ, and if they reverse she does too! They play this game, where they have several large ducks, in a circle in the middle of the rink, and when the music stops, they all race to get a duck, and hold it in the air, and everyone else leaves the floor. Then they take away a couple of ducks---like a musical chairs, no chairs.....so Kinsey wanted to play. The music stops and she is right there at a duck, and she reaches for it, about the time this big kid---16 I'd say comes barrelling at her on roller blades, just flying---and she froze---just like a statue froze! He scoops it out of her hand and swoops around her. Everyone in building boo'd. He was embarassed by that and come back to give her the duck, she looked at him and told him "that's ok, you can have it, I'm gonna get hurt out here" and come off the floor! It was funny, but she was done! They gave her a prize anyway, but she was not gonna do anymore!! When she goes skating with Kinsey---they go on Wed. night, it is family night and costs $2.00 or $5.00 for a family. She learned to take her old pants. If she tries to skate with her regular jeans, she falls down as she is always trying to pull them up. So she takes an old pair that are WAY to short for daily wear but they fit around!!! Kinsey insists on going to the bathroom to change her skates, because she doesn't want anyone seeing her in those short pants! Vanity at 5---fun is just starting. Connor--he had no sense of balance at all! He would go on the floor if someone would hold his one hand and let him hold the wall with the other! He is still only 3, and doesn't have that balance yet, and no natural tendency to recover it. When he slips, he just falls, there is no attempt at stopping it! I will say, as heavy as he is, and as heavy as those roller skates are, my toes took a beating!!! Today we might catch a movie this afternoon, Rick is putting on some new turn signals on the bike this morning. We'll see what today brings. I want to go to a movie, because I SERIOUSLY want to go riding, but the mud is horrendous! So trying to talk myself out of it!! Well I am off to pay a couple of bills and talk to my DH!

I am here! And Rick is home again! What a chaotic mess his job is. They have a moron in the lead position here---the highest position at this location. He is on his 3rd camp, the other 2 were shut down. It is very obvious why. He sent Rick and another guy down to Odessa. Rick was to organize the schedule and get things set for the rotation of the mechanics etc. He saw no reason to go as the guy he is on even par with, he job shares with, is already there in Odessa. But he went, and when he gets there, he finds out, that someone over this camp boss' head, has sent this crew to Brighton starting next week! Well the boss got all pissy and told Rick to get home, that there was no one running the shop here. Well Duh! He told him that repeatedly when he sent him. So he headed home....in the middle of an ice storm, turning to snow. Getting shut down on the hiway right at the TX/NM border--interstate closed. So he called in to dispatch. The trucks run black boxes, so he reported in, since he was idling for so long, so it would be documented. He was shut down for 3 hours, on the side of the road, before State Police said he could go on with chains. Which he did. He finally made it in about 11 last night. He said the weather, and roads were TERRIBLE! It even took me 40 minutes to get from here to his work to pick him up, it was snowing so hard. It is normally a 15 minute drive or so. So anyway..... The boss tells him, he will sign his time, since he knew about the shut down. When Rick questioned him, the boss said he would not be paid for that down time. My husband told him he was full of Sh*t! So even tho he was supposed to be off today, he is already out of here this morning and in the bosses office, where he said he will get it settled, or he will be out of work! I told him to skip it, use a pay phone and call the 1-800 # and report the moron! We'll see! Got my W-2 in the mail, and they were withholding at a lesser rate than I had filled my W-4 out for. I always claim single and 0, would prefer a refund. They withheld married and 2. I kept telling Rick and the witch at work it was wrong, she assured me it wasn't.....she was wrong, and I fully believe she is behind it. I am not going to let it go. I am reporting her and the accounting company if nothing else, file a BBB report on them. Just for S&G's if nothing else. Suzanne, have fun at your Dude Ranch. Riding in the snow, sounds cold---well it IS cold! But it is soooo amazing! Around here, it hushes everything, it is quiet, and the trees are snow covered, and serene. I love it! Take a cameral!!! It has been such a yucky time here, it snows then rains, and we have about a foot of snow on the ground, in some places and a foot of mud in other places. I don't like riding in the mud----too much hoof work when I get back home! Then after you clean them, you gotta clean the stall----it is just too much work! Keeping Kinsey for awhile tonight, while Manda goes to a team meeting dinner at work. This is interesting.....my daughter Abbey, is trying to get a womens Roller Derby started locally. Ay yi yi........she will do it too!!! If one DD does it, I will likely have both DD's and DIL with no teeth!!! LMAO Thank goodness I am too old! Well not to mention, I haven't been on skates in years! 3 years to be exact, and that was for a kids birthday party--not someone TRYING to take me out! LOL Laura, I hated the high school drama, of one upmanship! My oldest DD had a girl, that for whatever reason, saw my DD as her rival. If we bought her something, the girl made a point of getting bigger and better---starting with hairbows in Kindergarten, all the way through High School. No matter what or where---Stepheny, would try to one up her. With parties, fighting over boys everything! Now she WAS Kinsey's ballet teacher, and Manda ended up pulling her out of class, because she always made comments about Kinsey being too skinny and her costume falling off....and saying she was going to put her in the little girl class, because she was too skinny for the right outfit....all the time with her size. Then it all become crystal clear, when we run into them with her daughter....who is adorable, and also a little butterball!! You know----like kids are supposed to be.....NOT skinny. Grrrr!!! I hated it. Don't miss having kids in school. Gonna go try to find something to eat. Oatmeal maybe......Cya later

Hiya ladies, Went to lunch with Marie yesterday, we had eaten, and were sitting there, solving the worlds problems, when Rick called, and said he would be home in a few minutes, then was leaving, going to try to beat the storm! UH! NO! But I went and got his Rx filled and come home, and had him packed and ready when he got here---and he left! So I pouted all day. He made it to Carlsbad NM about 1 AM, good weather. He had a reservation, at the place they stay there, and he called me from the lobby, he had been there about 15 minutes, and could not find anyone working! So I hunted up the ph. # from when he was there before, and called with my land line, and it rang and rang, he was standing right there, I could hear it on my cell, and no one showed up. Door was open, computer, and key machine right there, for Rick to mess with had he wanted to. He said he even tapped on his horn, but did not want to wake everyone in the motel....and after we were on the phone laughing at the absurdity of itfor another say 10 minutes, she got out of a car that pulled up out front. She LEFT!!! Left everything open! She was in a panic, when she saw people there. Rick said she offered them early breakfast, and all he said she is hoping he does not report her! I told him I would, if it had been someone else, he would have been vulnerable too---anyone could have gotten in to ANY room that did not have the inner security bolt latched. In this job economy, and people treat their jobs like that. I told him she was probably "working" in the car out there. He said he thinks it was her BF. Anyway today he will go on in to Odessa, and get the crew set up. And with any luck, maybe come home Sunday or Monday, if the storm allows. Today I took my Mom to town shopping. Picked up a few things I could eat easily while he is gone, and if the snow flies again, I can just hole up and pout!!! One thing I forgot was to buy a couple of books, so will go through my own library out in the garage. Tracy, I would call the post office, and explain the situation. Ask their opinion. It might automatically return if there is a double forward--they would know. Congrats on the unexpected money---wish I would get some!! Well I am going to go build a fire, and change from my jeans to my jammie pants. No reason not to be comfy, and cozy. TTYL

We are hoping and rooting Saints---no questions ask. I like Drew Brees, and don't like Manning!!! And you know, it is only partly the brothers fault I don't like them--I am sick to death of hearing about them from the announcers! I think if Phil Simms could marry them, it would have already made the news, to hear him talk no one else is on the field when one of the brothers is playing. Not the rest of their team, and the other team, regardless who it is, is worthless......until, they get ahead, then he comes through with all the praise, he is such a suck-up, it is him I cannot stand, so.......we go Brees!!! Again, hope that does not offend, it is my personal peeve!!! My DD, has a brother (on her Dads side) that is that way with teams. We bought him a tshirt one year for Christmas, and when I would go to get the same team the next year, he had changed, because they lost! He is still that way! And he changes jobs, always searching for one better....never hanging in and allowing the one he likes to get better! Going to lunch with Marie today. She has been working for a woman who is handicapped, helping her move, so we haven't got to have lunch in a few weeks, will be good to catch up. Looks like Rick is taking a crew to Odessa tomorrow, he will probably come back on Sunday. Take them down, show them what to do while they are there----and come home. Of course he will be travelling right through our next big storm! This time of year it is always a problem, but at least he is going South, so the further he gets, the better the chances it will turn to rain. I responded to a post on FB, from one of Rick's friends former GF. She moved back to Ohio, but we kept in touch. We were never close friends, and could never have been, as there were some serious core value differences in us. But she put a copy and paste post up about 'Shame on Americans for supporting Haiti like we are while Americans are homeless' etc. I responded that I didn't feel guilty, that yes I had sent my $10.00, but I had just finished prepping taxes, and knew that I had also given $340.00 in charitable donations that were documented, and not counting the item donations to ARC that I had receipts on, not counting the donations to the church, it is calculated differently--and not counting the money put in the UNICEF trick or treat boxes, or Salvation Army Kettles at Christmas, and not counting the hats and gloves we bought for that homeless drive, and all those kinds of things. I also buy raffle tickets, and cookie dough, all to help kids raise money to do some of the same things the Haitians need help doing. This is an extraorinarily extreme disaster that struck a place very ill equiped to handle it. If it would have happen here in the USA the outpouring would stagger her I believe. But those hurting, hungry people are unable right now to help themselves....so no I do not feel guilty. Well she did not respond on the original post, she first sent me a snotty message on FB about how she thinks I still should have spent my $10.00 here at home,and let them take care of their own. I responded in the same way I did the first time,that there are kids who have no family to rescue them, entire generations have been wiped out. So this morning I get up, and there is an email from her, with my statement of generations wiped out quoted, and she wrote "it's a good start!" I am so livid, and just sickened by her. I am at a loss what to say or whether to say anything.....it has me so angry. Sorry to go on about it......but that is what is on my mind today!!

Excellent suggestion Kiz!! You might also check to see if there is a Fill Center in your area. I know of several here on the board who use them for fills. I do not know the price line. It is true that each company picks and chooses benefits from the insurance provider, so while 2 of you may have the same provider, with different employers the coverage will vary. I too have had insurance changes and stressed during them....about whether they would cover anything band related. I was self pay, but our insurance at the time DID cover band, it was just an ordeal. I was 10.5 months into a 12 month program, when I was hit by another car, and injured. Due to surgery following the accident, it interupted my 12 months, so I was going to have to start over! I was so upset! In the end, I received a settlement from the accident, and I self paid. I self pay my fills as well....and they run me about $150.00 each----and I have to travel 6 hours to get there, and 6 hours back. Each of us has our own issues, especially with the economy today. I can sympathize, with you thinking it was a covered benefit, and finding out differently. If you had went into it knowing it was not, it could have factored into your decision making---now it has thrown you for a loop. But I also feel since you have made it this far, you will find a way, or find a less expensive way (hopefully with your old Dr.---really good idea!) to get it done. This is not a contest, of who has it harder, or who paid more or who paid less. We all had something in common, in our need to lose weight, to regain health. To self pay, and support those you do on your own is a tremendous accomplishment Candeta, and you should be proud of yourself. Miss Me, I saw nothing wrong with your posts, did not take it as yelling. It is very hard with a typed post to make ones point always come across as it is meant in the first place. Good Luck to you, and keep working at it, you will find a way. Sometimes we have to be very creative!!!

Well, I didn't go shopping yesterday! LOL I was going to, then got hung up on a discussion with one of Rick's co workers in regards to the Haiti thing. Then my brother showed up. By the time he left, the guys headed out after the first game, and so Rick and I actually watched the 2nd game together! So I get to go in and do my shopping in a little while. It is sooooo cold out right now, I am not going out yet. It is 9:30 AM and 7 degrees, with the wind blowing the wind chill will be even colder, probably below zero----not my kind of weather at all! Years ago, back in my other life, my ex, broke my index finger on my left hand. The arthritis is getting SO bad in that joint, it is limiting me doing things. I can no longer crochet, even reaching in the fridge and lifting the milk, is impossible with using that finger, so I do everything looking like I am pointing! As for the games, first one, didn't go the way I wanted it to. I wanted the Jets to win. I don't like Manning, I think he is cocky, and I know he is super popular, I just personally don't care for him. I like Drew Brees, and I have no issue with Brett Favre. So I did not have a strong opinion one way or another, but leaned to the Saints since they had never won before. Was happy with the game. Now all I can say is they BETTER kick the Colts butt! LOL The really sad thing is, part of the reason I like or do not like some of these players is all because of the stupid announcers. Phil Simms, just makes me mad as hell, he is such a suck up! Whoever is in the lead, he cannot say enough good things about, while he dogs the losing team....then if the score flips, so does he! So, sadly, if he likes someone, I seldom do! Sorry if some of you like him....is just a personal opinion! My weight is stuck. It has bounced the same 2-3 pounds for months. But I must say, it has bounced them, and stayed there, with zero help from me. I need to work a bit at it, and I have no desire to move lately! Sit here, or in my chair reading, or playing the DSlite! Seriously, I am a slug! I have done fairly well, I think most days since the 1st, I have managed my water goal. I have not kept a close count. I have a small cup--one of the kids old ones, and it says 7 oz. on the bottom of the cup. Whenever I walk in the kitchen, or while I am cooking or whatever, I just fill it, and drink it. I do it multiple times a day. Twice a day I do it as I swallow, my vitamins in the morning---after I chew them, I drink it and then I drink it to swallow my antacid pill at night. I am shooting for 10 of them a day, and most days I know I get them in. I eat everything. Some things are harder--like pasta. I still make an effort to get most of my meal from whatever meat we are having. But if I would just cut out the potatoes, it would help, but I love them!!! LOL All in all, I am happy with my restriction level, and diet, I just need to move more, and figure I will as the weather improves. Going to uncover the elliptical this week tho, and try to get a few minutes a day in on it, just to limber up some. This winter has been hard on me! I better get myself ready to go---or I won't again! Suzanne, keep your chin up, and don't forget to put you and hubby first. It is going to be hard, but Laura (Violets Laura) and I have been talking about---my Grandma used to say "If you want to change something, then you have to change something" Right now the only thing you can change is how you respond to being the one everything is dumped on. If you change, they are forced to change too. If you don't, they won't. Sad but true. We are here supporting you in this hard time. You do so much for so many! You volunteer, and you pick up slack in everyones shifts at work, and take care of family---it is impressive!! But if only for today---put YOU and hubby first. The world will not come crashing down!!! HUGS

Normally Rick and I would be watching the games....normally! But a couple of the guys showed up a short while ago, they had been working out of town, and they are all out in the shop, one brought his bike, wanting Rick to help change the tranny oil. So I told Rick to hang out, watch the game out there, drink some beer, it was fine. I have a pot of chili cooked, going to sit out the fixings for a frito pie-and let them each do their own thing to it. I made my weeks menu, and grocery list, and think while they get loud, I am going to go shop for the week. I don't have a lot to buy, but can kinda shop around as I please. Rick is a get in and get what you NEED, and get the hell out of the store kinda guy! I want to look at a couple of things, so now would be the perfect time! I am really glad the guys showed up. Son was supposed to come over, and help Rick with a lift he installed, and DIL has a fit everytime he wants to come over here, she has plans. So he is going to look at open houses today and left Rick hanging, so was a good thing someone come over, and helped him, both physically, and got his mind off the fact that our son is being a CHIT! I have some nice get even plans in mind. She has already ask me to babysit this week, and I want the boys---I really do, but I am not playing her game----I am playing my own! LOL Ridiculous! It wasn't like she wasn't invited over too, when he ask for his help. But she is hell bent on getting a new house, whether it is financially a good move or not, she is determined! I think it is a bad move, but keeping my mouth shut, I said it once or twice, and made a couple of suggestions.....now I am staying out of it. We have not had any new snow now in 24 hours. Sun is shining, and it is so bright with all that white out there as to be blinding! I have dishes of birdseed all over the back porch, because they were starving, and hunting all over! So I looked out at them while I was cooking breakfast, and then looked back at my pans, and everything was in technicolor--my eyes were totally freaked out from the bright!! Well I am off to the grocery store, maybe Walmart. Wish one of you were here to go with me!!!

Hey girls~ Taking a minute while dinner is in the oven. Yes we have snow! Measured in the back yard yesterday at 22" it has snowed off and on all day, but when it quits the temp goes way up, so it has all melted off that fell today. We have piles of snow that will take awhile to melt! I know exactly what you mean Suzanne, I am not enjoying the shoveling either, but we don't get enough snow to even think of a snow blower or anything usually. We are doing the neighbors, he is improving, but not enough to exert like that in the cold. She always opens the door and thanks us. We are in the middle of that AZ storm. Sorry you will be sharing it! Hope you guys have a BLAST at the dude ranch. Go! Forget about the family at home and the problems with them! Enjoy 1 on 1 time with hubby doing something fun!!! Have to say that the last few weeks I have been really down about not getting the last of this weight off. Today for some reason, doing laundry, I was folding jeans, and I looked at my jeans, and was totally overcome with JOY!!! I looked at this pair of jeans I was folding, and they were not huge, they are low rise, non stretch denim, stylish, and are smaller than my husbands! Not quite as small as some in my closet---and I CAN get them on, but they are TIGHT! But the ones I am wearing now are mostly 10's----and I thought, there is not one thing in my laundry I would be ashamed to have anyone else fold. For many years, I would have croaked if anyone saw the size or state of my panties, or bras, and the size of my jeans, and how the inner thigh was worn on ALL my pants. None of that is an issue now. I am healthy (give or take a few ailments age has attributed to!), and I have come a long way! So if not for tomorrow, but at least for today, I was HAPPY with how I am. I was playing some games on line, and met a woman from Durango, which is 30 miles from here. She mentioned meeting up for lunch. I agreed without a second thought. That is something I would have never done before. I was always self concious. I lost this weight once, and I WILL do it again. Maybe not today, but I have the ability, I know I do! I know you all do too!!! Tracy, the little Megan I took care of for all those years, she was an August baby, and we (her Mom and I) struggled with the same dilemma, about holding her back. The school ultimately refused, but I still believe it might have been the best for her. We thought it would be better for her self esteem to lead rather than always play catch up. But she settled in. She is a junior in HS now, and is not struggling, with either school work, nor self esteem. So whatever you do.....you will make it work for her! Gotta go get my peppers out of the oven and put some garlic bread in. See y'all later!!

Just finished shoveling snow.....again. We have well over a foot and it is still coming down hard. Supposed to get another foot minimally. They shut the yard down, sent everyone home, so Rick was here, we had fun doing the shoveling. My DD did not even go in at all today, they were closing too, and schools were closed. It has snowed all day, just a fine flurry, but almost a white out at times. I have a bird sanctuary on my back porch, they were looking for food, so I scattered seed out there. I felt so bad for them. Made a big pot of potato soup---think I will have a bowl now, and eat early. Everyone have a good one!!!

gramma-O I wondered if perhaps you came here from New Posts. I will say in defense of the thread tho, that there is no way with the title that it could be confused with a lap band support thread. The title is self explanatory. Just as it takes all kinds of people in this world---we have all kinds here on LBT too. If you enjoy the rest of the site, then I would simply suggest, watching what a title reads, and where it is located prior to opening to read it. I am not personally aware of any other lap band site that does not also have open areas where members discuss any topic of their choice. I do know of other sites, but they are set up, much as this is, and include areas just like this. I hope you find a site to suit you.

Gramma-O, I appreciate how you feel. I am not sure how you come to this thread, but it is located in an area of this site, called Rants and Raves. In this area you will find a wide variety of subjects covered, and very few band related. When you come here, you develop relationships and friendships, and find things in common as well as differing opinions with those you communicate with so frequently---and when it was found threads were veering way off subject, this area was added, so they could be discussed, and debated. There will be stronger language and stronger feelings on subjects in here. It is totally possible to spend hours a day on the site and not enter into the Rants and Raves or the powder Room (personal subjects, also not always band related) areas. Many of us are very involved in our politics, as it affects our lives, and we choose to discuss them. No matter how much room we take up here, there is plenty left in the General Support areas of the site. Under thread tools you will find a way to unsubscribe yourself from this thread if you choose to. Good Luck with your band.

OK, let's get back to the debate at hand, or even maybe to the thread subject. But leave the name calling, regardless of sides, or parties or belief out of it, it is against the LBT rules.

HI Tonya, welcome to our happy little group!!! That is the good thing about us here, we can be happy, or grouchy, or mad, and vent it out, rather than eat it up. Please hang out, and let us get to know you. For those of you here, who have been waiting with me, I finally heard from my Dr. He feels like it is good news!!! The biopsy is not normal. But the skin lesion is NOT cancerous. So he thinks I might be dealing with a ductal infection. So we are going to do a round of antibiotics, and then redo the biopsy. Not something I am looking forward to----but in comparison to the decision I thought I might be making today, it is way doable! There is a very aggressive form of breast cancer that presents with a scaly inflames skin lesion. He was concerned that we were dealing with that. We are not. I do still have a mass, and it is now palpable, meaning I can feel it from the outside. BUT he is leaning to the possiblity of it being infection. There is cellular change in the biopsy, the biopsy was not normal. But it is not cancer at this point. He cancelled my appointment with the surgeon! Back many years ago --we are talking the 80's, I lost twin boys. I was carrying them in a placenta previa manner, and I hemhorraged. This happened on April 16th, and I was scheduled for C section delivery on May 8th. Due to the babies sizes, and my loss of blood, they did the section delivery, and managed to stop my bleeding, but it was kind of precarious for awhile. They give me a shot and also oral meds, to attempt to stop milk production. It did not work. I got engorged, and ended up with mastitis, which is an infection in the milk ducts. In retrospect, I did not treat it timely, nor probably as directed. I was in a mental place, that my health was low on my concerns. Probably the only thing pulling me through it was Manda. So now the Dr. is thinking, maybe that is changing. He said it is possible that it is cancer forming, and we are not finished testing, but, he feels safe testing and not rushing in to do anything. He did say that if this is an issue caused by the infection 30 years ago, that I might think about removal of breast tissue. He said it is pretty common. He said they remove tissue, and replace with implant, but it is not much reconstructive, because your own breast exterior as well as chest muscle wall remains intact. He said this would be a pro active approach.....IF we continue to have results following treatment. He talked to me on the phone for 45 minutes. He said he was incredibly relieved when he got the report, and wanted me to be as well! SO.....I AM! Suzanne, if I could trade places with you for awhile, now, knowing this is good, I would do it in a heartbeat. Just to give you an emotional break. I know it is hard, but you might need to be a hard ass, and pull away from your sister and her entire family and allow them to deal with their own issues for awhile. Maybe you NEED to tell them about your own, so they know you too have things to deal with. I am sorry they are drowning you in problems and guilt right now, that is so hard to deal with. Big hugs my friend!! Well I have some phone calls to make.....so will go, wanted to share the results, and thank you so much for being there, and praying with me.

Suzie, glad it helped to vent to someone who knows all the ins and outs of your situation. Hopefully he can help shoulder some responsibility. I just come in from throwing a hissy fit in the yard!! Seriously! I got dressed to go out and help Rick shovel snow. He had his crew go on a 3 hour delay as the snow and visibility were so bad. So I get out there, and he is taking a break, his back hurt so bad---he had already done most of the neighbors. He wanted me to come in and watch a program he likes and I hate (don't think he realized that point to be honest). I told him I would take a turn, and then he could come back out. Oh hell no, just give him the shovel, he was being such a stubborn MAN. He did not care if I helped him, but neighbors were out, and he was not going to have me shoveling and him be in the house--------so his pride is going to tell ME what I can and cannot do? He kept reaching like he was going to take the shovel from me, so finally I THREW it loudly on the porch, and stormed in, put my jammies back on and he is on his own with snow removal! He took a break and found his TV channel changed too! I will NOT be told what to do and not do, he knows that, and does not do this normally, it has to be the other men being outside that made him think he had to be too. What he doesn't take into account, is that normally, he is at work, and I am outside with those same men shoveling. Oh well, it's his to deal with now. I feel a little bit bad about it, but still more mad than bad!! LOL Will check in later!!! Maybe I'll just go make snow angels in the backyard! Yeah right, lay my butt down in the snow, I would never get back up!

Good morning! Suzanne, glad to hear your cousin is hanging in there, sometimes it is best that way, that they remain still and heal some before becoming aware of anything. Many years ago, when my brother was injured so severely, he was in a coma for 19 days, then when he finally come out of it, they ended up inducing one, so he would quit thrashing---and continue to heal. So.....hoping her body is healing, and she is unaware of the pain. Poor thing. Your poor family has sure been through the wringer this last while. How is your sister doing? Tracy--good for you, almost in the new home completely, how does it feel? What do the girls think? Jenn-----watch out for those old school mates. Rick and I went from 4th grade to graduating together! We never went out or dated at all. Were friends, tho not close. Then a few years out of school, I ran into him, and OMG! We clicked! We lived together for awhile, our kids were little. Then the oilfield here busted and he was out of work, and ended up going back to school to get his degree, and I could not leave the state with my DD due to divorce agreement. So we went our separate ways, but never completely. He would ALWAYS come and get DD to spend the day when he was here. There was never hard feelings. Then when it happened we were both single again at the same time....LOOKOUT! We did the long distance thing for 2 years so as to ease the school thing with the kids, and finally ended up him moving back here, mainly because the parents were here,and we knew would eventually need help. At the time all those years ago, we had no idea how much help they would require!!! Amazing what a couple of decades does to people! And the rest is history!!! Michelle, our leaves are long gone....the snow finally tried to melt this weekend, was a beautiful weekend....and the snow is due to hit again today!!! And will snow most of the week. Winter is here again....grrrrrrrr Kinsey is with me again! Her preschool is of course closed today with MLK holiday, so daycare closes too. So DD had to work, and Kinsey is with me. We are going in to have lunch with Papa, and buy some groceries, so I can hole up the rest of the week and hibernate. I have heard nothing about my test, and figure with the holiday, I won't hear today. I plan on calling tomorrow to find out something....anything. The stress is getting to me. I am an eating machine. If it is not nailed down I am inhaling it. And I cannot go to sleep----then when I do, I am out like a light, and have hell getting up in the morning. Time to know something so I can plan accordingly. A man we have known for most of my life died this weekend. He had a heart problem, and had a complete heart transplant 19 years ago. He was married to a friend of ours, and he had his kids from his first marriage, then they had theirs, so together they had 8 kids. For years they would panic when any of the kids even got a runny nose, because of Joe's heart transplant. He was tuff tho, and he did great! He raised those kids, had 18 grandkids, and 3 great grandkids!!! He took them all fishing, and they all played ball, we spent a lot of time together at the ball park. One of his sons is our sons age. He ended up getting cancer, of the liver, and they said it was likely intensified due to the anti-rejection drugs being filtered through the liver all these years. He was unable to take the strong chemo due to the heart, kind of an evil circle. He was 69----and lived a long time past when they thought he would. He got his heart when he was basically my age, and to think he would have died then, and got an additional 19 years, is amazing to me. We are going to his rosary tonight, then I will go to the services tomorrow. Sweet, Sweet man, may he RIP. Well if I am going to get us ready to meet Rick for lunch I better get a move on....see y'all in awhile!!

My point was that people DO interpret and understand things differently. It is not a divine understanding you get when you believe. I have had this same bible discussion with many----from others just interested as myself, to preachers, and even a catholic Nun. The one word those TEACHERS used, every single one of them, was Faith. You just have faith that this is what it is meant to be. I have no problem with that, but I am not going to buy the idea that every word is exact truth, and in exact form of how it was originally written. Questioning is not disbeleiving. To question implies belief. For instance away from the Bible---because believe it or not this is NOT a bible thread----we will take a simple sentence, and show how people say it and mean it make it mean totally different things, even tho it is the exact same sentence. "Oh my God, I am pregnant!" Said along with jumping up and down and tears of happiness by the couple who had been fighting infertitlity for years, it is a happy statement. The same sentence uttered in fear by an unwed HS girl, is still the same sentence, but means a world of different things. Literal translations CANNOT be done. You said I love you in French is I love you in English------yet you said them both in English! My point was the EXACT translation is not possible. For simplicity use Spanish, and White House becomes Casa Blanca---or literally translated House White. Which would HAVE to be switched to make the sentence make sense in the other language---and in the simple act of moving the words, destroys the EXACT translation. No one could even guess at the simple, necessary changes the books of the Bible have gone through. Quote: First of all, the bible was written by men, not God, not women and each man who has rewritten the bible has added his own interpretation of what the original words mean when translated into another language. WRONG!!! What part of her statement do you consider WRONG!!! And why?

Once again, Patty you are turning a thread regarding something totally different into a thread promoting the Bible. I have absolutely nothing against the Bible....but neither do I base every breath I take on it. I try to conduct myself, in action, and thought in what I would think would be a manner that would be considered Christian like. It may not seem that way to you, or to another person, but this is a personal relationship between ME and MY saviour---you do not figure into the relationship. If we set up a study here on LBT, and had 50 randomly chosen members read through 25 different threads,(each one reading the exact same thing.) Then write up a "report" for lack of a better word, on what they read (now they cannot go back and reread it for exact quotes, that is not an option), what certain members said, and how the threads made them feel, what they learned from the threads, etc.....we would get 50 totally different responses. How individuals react and replay things that happen to them, things they hear, and things they read vary as much as the individuals themselves. Every one of the 50 may be true, but they will still all differ, and have differing highlights. While one thread might really strike a chord with one member, another may barely remember it. Now that we have all 50 reports, say we want to share them with bandsters in Germany or Italy, so we need to translate the reports. To translate in exact terms is impossible, so somewhere someone has to take some liberty in making it understandable. This is how I see the Bible in a way. It is told from different perspectives....in the view of the person writing. Then has been translated. I am not saying it is not a good book, nor that we should not pattern our lives along the lines suggested---I am just saying to ME it is not the be all end all. And while I DO read it, and I DO believe, I also do not believe every thread on this forum should be bent to allow you to promote your views. This thread was regarding Palin and FOX. You have said you like her....good enough. I think it is a good thing her being there. She has followers, she has those who dislike her intensely---but if it makes even one person more politically aware in a country that needs it then good, she IS just where she belongs.

Politically, I do consider myself a liberal. I feel we should have the right to make our decisions regarding some issues ourselves, a decision we make ourselves. As opposed to all matters being decided with the government involved. Simply considering myself liberal does not make me a sinner. If it makes me less in your eyes, then you are the one judging, and we have all went down that road with you before. It is not your place to decide whether me being a liberal or a conservative is right or wrong. In fact a large part of the reason I consider myself a liberal, is that I do my best to accept others as they are. ACCEPT them. Not brow beat my beliefs into them. I believe others are as capable of making a decision regarding their religious and political beliefs as I am, and I do not think the 2 go hand in hand. As for the topic of this thread---yes I believe Palin is right where she belongs. No problems at all with her being on air, on FOX or any other channel. I can watch if I choose,and change channels if I don't. No one is telling me that I HAVE to watch, or that I CANNOT watch. As usual tho, this topic gets turned to a religious, and moral one. Can't say it surprises me tho!

Hi Girls~ Been a slow couple of days for us. Feeling blah. Not bad, not hurting, not happy, not sad.....blah. Today we have Connor with us, so we went to a flea market, then he wanted to go to Burger King. So we went to BK!! We are the grandparents afterall, and spoiling is our department! I took a couple bites of a burger, but it was not going to go down well, I could just tell. So I drank some more Diet DP, and let Rick have it. Come home, and what did I do? Ate a mini candy bar, it went down fine! Go figure! Michelle, I have never been that tight. I choose to keep my band really loose compared to most. But it has worked for me. I know the band is working to the best of its ability for how I have it adjusted, it is ME that is not working to the best of my ability! I have not gained, I have not lost. But that in itself is good. So I am not complaining. I feel good where I am, and while I know I want to get the rest off, it is not imperitive to me to do it RIGHT NOW! Spring and increased activity will do it. I actually got hit on --- at my age! Of course it was by a man also my age!!! I took Connor to go out to the play area, while Rick ordered. When we got over by the play area, there was a sign on the door, that it was reserved for a party. Pissed me off! No kids allowed in other than the party! They did not close it off when we had my DGD party there! I told Connor "We should have went to McDonalds". There was a man with 2 little kids at a booth there, he tells me, something about together we have 3 kids, I say we can take 'em. Joking, I laugh, and said it was ridiculous. We talked about that----the play area being closed on Sat. and how many kids were in the place not being allowed to join in. Then out of the clear blue, he says to me Would you and your son like to join us? I laughed and said it is my grandson--he said his were his grandkids too, and said I looked way to young to be a grandma! Yeah right! Then I told him nicely that Grandpa was ordering our meal! He apologized, and said he meant no harm, that he hoped "Grandpa" wouldn't be mad! I laughed. I told Rick I had an offer of a dinner date! He has given me grief ever since about picking up men. Because we went from there to Ace Hardware, and some older man held the door for me. He is loving giving me crap about it. I will say the man at BK---had incredible eyes!! He was dark headed, darker skinned, would have guessed at Hispanic, maybe--but light slate blue eyes! And he treated his Grankids well. So while I did not get hit on in some classy joint, it was at least a seemingly nice man!!! Rick just told me to tell you all about my new boyfriend!! LMAO Funny day. Kinsey's mouth is much better. The canker sores just run their course. She is eating Manda out of house and home now!! Tracy, hope the move goes smoothly, and you are up and operating again quickly! With all that space, maybe you should carry a GPS so you can find your computer!! Girls, my boob is such a sight today, nice and greenish yellow. The bruise is healing quickly, and is such a sick color now.....and goes up fairly high on my chest, I had to change shirts, because if I bent over, you could see my technicolor going on! The soreness is gone. Markings are still there, that is some ink! Gonna go read for awhile....will bbl.

Once again, you want to be able to tell everyone else why they feel or think the way you think they do Patty, and that is not right. Nor Christian. I have plenty of reasons for not caring for Palin---and not a single solitary one of them has her christianity figuring in. I would find a candidate being a christian a plus---and I am a liberal. You act as though the 2 cannot go together. I am, my parents are, as are my inlaws, and I would put their Christian actions against yours any day of the week. If they ever questioned my own beliefs, they would try to sway me by action, and show me how much better life is with Christ in it, as opposed to attempting to scare and threaten one into belief. And they would never take it upon themselves to tell me why I believe the way I do, and I can guarantee you, they know me much better than you ever will. I honestly did not think she (Palin) had the intelligence required to help to bring our country out of the disaster it was/is in. That was what made my decision, not her beliefs. I have many times crossed party lines to vote....it is not because I only vote one party. I am not a fan of hers, but I in no way hate her, I don't know her. The next question is...Do you? You say she is a nice person, like you have known her as a neighbor for years--do you really know her any better than the rest of us who watched her explain her foreign policy or have read her book?? Is it really her you want to use as an example of a Christian woman? I don't think she is any better than "Ricky Hollywood" she was trying to belittle. I for one will be interested to see what HIS book has to say about your Christian woman. BJean, good to see you again. btrieger, I have no issue with ANY news channel or reporting if it is truly fair and balanced, unfortunately it is really hard to find. The stations are owned and operated by people with beliefs, and they want that shown and shared----understandable, but not always aligned with my own of course!! However with FOX and MSN, one can usually find something to agree with and quote---or at least enough to rile up the other!! LOL

You got my Hell Yeah Tracy!!! What a great incentive that will be! I felt so inspired yesterday when I walked out of the hospital, and it was pushing 40 degrees, I wanted to go walking, and take the kids to the park, all kinds of things! Of course, everything is still covered in snow, so those things only appealled until reality set in!!! I am so ready for spring!!! When I look back, over my personal log, it is not as detailed as time goes on...but it verified that I always stall during the winter. I have had my band since 2006, and every winter, I seem to totally stall out, and then come Spring, I drop pretty quickly. Some of you got the FEVER with the new year, that for some reason never lights me up! But it is the weather. Wonder if I have mild seasonal disorder???? At any rate it gives me hope for Spring. This spring and summer, I am getting back down to my goal weight, and plan to stay there this time! LOL Saying that I HAVE to laugh. Yesterday in radiology waiting to go back for the biopsy, I grabbed a magazine (I was stressing! I NEVER usually read mags in Dr.'s offices or places like that full of germs!)It happened to be "O" Oprahs magazine. In it was an article on "How to successfully keep the weight off" and all her pics she was super thin. I looked at the date and the magazine was from 2004!!! WTH? The magazine looked new! Someone had apparantly just donated them, but 6 yrs old??? Anyway, she needs to reread the article I believe! I tell myself if I had someone cooking all my meals for me, healthy, and tasty, and could afford a personal trainer, and afford ANY type of exercise I wanted to do. I mean if I woke up and wanted to walk on a beach, and could afford to go anywhere in the world to walk on a beach.....I would not have an issue with weight. I think I am wrong tho, I would probably be just like Oprah, and fight it anyway. Why she does not have a band or something I don't know, she wants the weight gone. Cindy, the Dr. looked at Kinsey's hands and feet--she took off her shoes and socks, and said the sores are simple canker sores, but they are soooooo bad. My gosh, she has tears running down her face to eat a pancake. She cries out in her sleep Manda said. Today she seems less swollen. I hope it improves. I have been hyper paranoid with my grandkids the last couple of days. Between yesterday and today, there were 5 obituaries in our little paper for 4 & 5 year old kids. One was a friend of our DD's from school, that lost her 4 yr old son---we don't know how. And the other horrible thing was that the 4 they detailed in the obituaries, 3 of them had birthdays 1 or 2 days before they died. Seriously! Birthdates were Jan. 6th, 7th, and 8th. And they died on the 8th and 9th. The other one would have had a birthday on the 23rd of this month. That one, the picture showed, obvious problems. But the other 3 showed no problems, and the obits did not ask for donations to anything like Childrens Cancer Research or anything.....just wierd,and scary. No stories about local kids and H1N1. No idea. My MIL said one of the little girls died in a fire. When I read all of them last night, it sure made me feel less stressed over ME. I would go through this everyday before wanting to go through what those poor families are. Did any of you read Pamela's story about the little girl in her class? She spent NYE night with a friend, and while she was away, her home burned, killing her entire family. No matter, we are all blessed beyond belief! We are so lucky nothing of that magnitude is in our lives. Trying to come up with something Kinsey might want to try to eat........wish me luck!

I'm home. It hurt. I know nothing. That's my day!!! LOL, pathetic but true!!! They did a skin scrape biopsy of the area that is affected on the skin. Then they did another ultrasound, and another mammogram, getting an idea how to go in for needle biopsy without going through the area where the skin has issue, so as not to contaminate the sample. They finally decided and went for it. They did 3 core biopsies. They hurt, but the magnification compression they had the section of my breast under, was so friggin' painful, the needles were not as bad as I anticipated. So they smashed, then poked 3-4 times, and I was soooo relieved, until they actually released the pressure, and it hurt even worse--WTH??? LOL I kept thinking, it will ease, I will go home, ditch the bra, and kick back. Then he told me I would be better and less painful, to keep it on, and maintain the support for a few hours. Grrrrr!! Figures huh??!! About 2 minutes after we got to the hospital, while I was waiting to be registered, the woman ahead of me was being signed in, and the computers went down, the entire server was down. So they did it all by hand, and it was still down when I left. So who knows if that will interfere with my results. At any rate, that part is over with, and on we go from here. Hope it is all worry for nothing. Got Kinsey back from my Mom and she is sleeping on the couch. I am really tempted to go join her on the sofa and sleep! But Rick took me to lunch, and it is too soon for me to lay down, I would reflux.....dangit! I think I will kick my recliner back maybe tho. I feel exhausted, this messes with my mind in serious! Will be in later. Thanks for all the well wishes, and prayers, I KNOW they help!

OK, I am out of here, Rick is stoking the fire, and we are leaving. It is going to be all good today, I refuse to believe anything else! I have to drop Kinsey with my Mom. She got sick last week, and had a high fever-----from that she ended up with a mouthfull, and I do mean FULL of canker sores. The inside of her upper lip is nothing but a mass of blisters. And the entire right side of her tongue, top tip and bottom, are all covered in blisters. She cannot eat, we have her drinking all kinds of things, and she wants to eat. She managed some rotisserie chicken and potatoes last night. The pediatrician, give her some meds for herpes simplex and it did not touch it, and the culture come back finally that is is not a herpes virus. So.....what is it? The culture was not run for anything but that. DUH!!!!! So we have her rinsing her mouth with benadryl liquid, mixed with liquid Maalox. That is a battle unto itself. Getting her to use it. OK Rick is giving me the "look" he knows I am stalling!!! Silly man, why would I do that???? BBS

I am such a night owl, a 5 hour nap, is a nights sleep for me!! Suzie, you are so right, having Rick is such a comfort, but marriage is hard work sometimes, and blending families is even harder! I do believe the aging parents are as difficult as the kids were to be honest. It is the old thing, that YOU can say anything you want about your kids, siblings and parents, but you don't want anyone else saying them, even if it is your spouse! So we kind of tip toe around issues, until the other one recognizes them, then we deal with it! LOL I kept thinking about the "needy" vs "not needy" thing, and I am not sure now where I fall!!! I was perfectly comfortable being alone, I never felt a need for a man in my life. Rick come BACK into my life following the bad marriage, but if he hadn't I would not have taken a chance on a complete stranger, I would not have trusted my own judgement. As I thought about it, I decided, I don't need to HEAR the I love you's everyday, as much as I need to know those I am hearing them from are happy. It comforts my soul, to know those I love are happy---and when I sense they are not, or know there is a problem, is when I stress. Had lunch with Rick, DD, DIL, and 3 grandsons today! Was chaotic and fun, and I think Taco Bell was probably glad when we left!! Not really! Tracy, the BOO on the grill was kinda tame, if it is my ex, the last time he was here, he erected 3 GIANT (think 2"X4"X10 ft) crosses in my back yard--with a written message mounted on deer antlers, that showed me being stabbed with the message "You're gonna die bit*h". So....I just can't imagine prison tamed him down to Boo!!! I agree, with his record, his time served for my attempted murder, etc, I would get off------but I would still likely be arrested and all, which I have never done! And would prefer to keep it that way!!! I keep my concealed carry permit on me now, and when I am coming and going alone, I am armed. However nothing new has happen. And there has been inches of snow in the yard, and no new footprints! Nice way of keeping track when I was here alone! Going to the inlaws to see BIL tonight. Will check in later!