anonemouse

I'm 23 (24 on August 2). I will be getting banded this summer.

They're nuts. I've told my folks that I would gladly elope if I ever get married. I'm not religious (as you know), so a church wedding would be completely lost on me, and the rest of it seems like a waste of time and money. Potentially thousands of dollars on an uncomfortable dress that would only be worn once, plus the expenses of a rehearsal dinner and reception? Please. I'd rather use the money for a nice, long honeymoon or a down payment on a house.

To prove this, I just found the bag of Hershey's Dark Chocolate Nuggets with Almonds that I bought several months ago. With 2/3 of the chocolate still in it, no less. And, I've got half of a column of Girl Scout shortbread cookies from 3 months ago sitting on my desk. I finally threw out the box of Girls Scout caramel delights, after it took me two weeks to eat all but the last three cookies in it (there were only 15 in the entire box). If it had been a bag of cheddar and sour cream chips, they would have been gone in a day or so, depending on my self-control (or lack there-of).

I'd be a tad pissed, too. Tell her to make up her mind quickly, because she's running out of time to put holds on reception and ceremony locations. I wouldn't bother arranging anything until she tells you that she's made a decision. Take some time off and let her get a taste of what it feels like to plan a wedding. She won't be wishy-washy after that.

It probably wouldn't be a problem if the fences were decent, but at a lot of my sites, the owners apparently have never heard the words "general maintenence." We're talking rusted out fences and gates that look like they're about to fall over. Unstable fences aren't fun to climb, even when I'm feeling 100%.

That's what I was afraid of. Well, hopefully they will get me scheduled for surgery around the end of July and I can just take the rest of the summer off, since I will be starting classes again around the middle of August. That would probably be roughly 3 weeks.

I'd have to say that if any bandster tries to eat that, they get what they asked for. And the pun is intended.

I'm all for Vegas. I LOVED Tunica, so I think I'll pass out from happiness in Las Vegas.

Yep. Negative reinforcement should do the trick, I think.

Northern California would also be very cool. I've always wanted to go to San Francisco. Or, heck. Someplace like New York or Boston would be awesome.

I've not been banded yet. I'm hoping that will change in July, though. I've always been a picky eater. For some reason, I am just particularly sensitive to flavors, smells, and textures of food. A lot of creamy dressings are mayo-based, and mayo has a really funky flavor to me that comes through the dressing. I can't even SMELL ranch or blue cheese dressings, though, without gagging.

Oh my god, you guys do that too? I never met anyone before that did that. I always got made fun of by my family because I can't eat my food if it touches. And textures and flavors get to me, too. I can't eat ketchup, mayo, mustard, creamy dressings, or anything like that because of the flavor, smell, and texture.

If I ever use dressing, I use just a smidge of regular Italian. If it is a restaurant salad, I prefer to just get them with a little cheese on them and leave off the dressing entirely. I only use it on the bagged salads that you eat at home, because I think they have a little bit of a chemical taste that needs to be masked. And when I do use it, I only use a small amount. I like to taste a hint of dressing, but still be able to taste the lettuce, carrots, and other veggies in the salad. I can't eat ANY creamy dressings. I am extremely sensitive to tastes, and the taste and smell of creamy dressing really bothers me. Heck, I can't even use condiments like ketchup, mayo, or mustard because of the taste and smell. They literally make me gag.

I know it's pretty likely that I won't be able to tolerate bread after surgery, but at the moment it isn't even imaginable. I am actually looking forward to the reinforcement of PBs. My biggest problem with diets is that I can't stick to them. I don't have the willpower. I eventually get hungry and binge and then give up the diet entirely because I ruined it. But if I have something that will back me up and make it physically impossible to eat something, I think I can succeed.

Yeah, but it is supposed to be really easy to make. I think you just grind up basil, some pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and olive oil to make a paste. Or at least, that's how they've always done it on food network. I really think it would be one of those things that would be cheaper to make than it would be to buy. Has anyone tried making hummus? I've never tried it, but I think I might try making some eventually.

Are they dried or baked, or are they fried? If they are dried or baked, it probably isn't too bad for you, since you probably wouldn't be eating that much of it.

Ooh, pesto's wonderful. Bubble, you could also finely mince some garlic, roasted red bell pepper, maybe some sun-dried tomato, herbs, and stuff, and put it in the olive oil. That would probably be yummy.

I think extra virgin olive oil is good with black pepper in it. I think you could probably add some oregano or basil (fresh, if you have it), fresh garlic, or even some red pepper flakes, if you like zip.

The semester is officially over! I came out of it with a 4.0 and no finals to take. Now I get to start my fieldwork again. Yay. (Meant with all sarcasm possible.) Lots more work and less pay. What more could I ask for? Oh well, at least I am completely through with the course-work for my Master's degree. I'll probably be teaching labs and classes full time next semester while I work on my thesis. I am hoping to graduate in December.:clap2:

I can't believe I forgot to put Ashes to Ashes by the Tarbox Ramblers.

I am SO freakin' jealous, Wheetsin! My leg hair is super-coarse. Hell, all my hair is super-coarse. It's also very dark, which, in combination with my fair skin, makes me look like I need to shave even when I'm freshly shaved. I am just so afraid to shave something I can't see. I've tried to shave my pubic hair while using a mirror, but I am horribly coordinated when it comes to stuff like that. I get my directions mixed up and wind up cutting myself. I'm too self-conscious to try a bikini or Brazilian wax. Maybe when I lose this weight, I'll find a place to have it done.

Darn her, Carlene! Tell her to straighten up or you'll take her tests for her! She may take you up on the offer, though!

I think the brown stuff is Taro.

Hey, I also have First Health. They literally approved me within 2 days, once they had all the documentation. That is what took the longest. I finally got the rest of my documentation sent to them on a Friday and I was approved the following Monday. They are good about approvals, but they require you to jump through hoops to get it. I did my documented weight loss diet in 2005, long before I ever considered getting the lap-band. What took longest was getting the rest of the documentation. Between getting appointments with all my doctors to have them write letters for me, I had to make appointments with a pulmonologist, psychologist, and nutritionist, and have an upper GI done. You really need to check with the insurance company to see which surgeons are in their network, though. There were only two in my state that they would pay for.

True. I didn't think of that.