ifyourstomachoffendsyou

Conferences were so so. But I had a good time with my roommate. She, however, had some issues with another passenger in my car so there was considerable tension when we were all together. I do feel like I've gotten a good break from Roseland. I can feel myself healing from the trauma of Mikey's death. I often feel like my kids suffer from ongoing traumatic stress syndrome that makes them hypervigilant. They appear ADHD even when they aren't biologically ADHD. Well, I think the reason my ADHD has been off the charts is for the same reason. Weather has been beautiful until today. Cold and rainy. However, we haven't had rain in a long time. Not as much color this year because of the drought. Leaves curling up, turning brown, and falling off. Still, enough color so that I'm getting my fall color fix. Hoping to see a few colorful sunsets but we need more clouds to get those great fall sunsets. Need to catch up on sleep and laundry. Cheri

All those with credit card problems, it might be appropriate to inform the authorities in LV about the problem at the Desert Rose. Who would we call? Maybe I'll check with my son-in-law.

Apples, we're reporting it to the fraud department of our credit card co. It might not be a good idea to call the Desert Rose as the manager may be involved. Cheri

My credit card was also compromised after Vegas. Only place I used it was the hotel. Someone tried to buy a car with it in Brazil. And a few other purchases. Visa caught it right away. I'm back. Not quite done with posts. Finish tomorrow. Cheri

Man, I hate pbing. Lost a lb. Got 2 more to get back into my "safe" range. Then 2 more for insurance. Once the weight is off I'll be able to eat my meat again at night. I end up eating sliders at night because just eating a couple of ounces of meat just isn't satisfying. Once I'm done pbing I want something that tastes good that won't trigger that tightness. I have to eat unbelievably slowly and I'm almost instantly tight. Just a few lbs of weight gain makes such a difference in the band. Interesting about the various PSs. I have a very flat, flat tire that is well hidden by my clothes. I only lost 75-80 lbs and I have no rashes and it doesn't get caught under me. For, me, it would be purely cosmetic and only I would see the improvement. Same with the underarm skin and boob lift. The thing I really want to do is get my varicose veins treated. I may get partial coverage from my insurance but then have to pay the rest myself. However, if I up my flex dollars and preplan for the expense I can do it pre-tax. Even then, I'd like a thigh lift to pull the skin up on my thighs. Then I could wear shorts and be less self-conscious in my swimming suit. Since I love to swim, I think I'd be less self-conscious if my legs were fixed up. Thanks LakyK for the complements. Have a great trip to Guam. Couldn't post my concert clips. My husband is going to try to figure out why. I think its not a recognized format. Be gone from Lapband till maybe Friday night or Saturday. Gotta go to 2-day conferences in South Bend, IN. Can't say I enjoy them much. I liked last weeks conferences better. Gotta go pack. Cheri

Can't figure out if I can download it here. Didn't work. I'll maybe try FB. Cheri

As far as food preparation I like it nice and easy with no pre-planning needed and food ready quickly. As far as eating, however, I'd like more variety. We eat out or I pick up fast food at least once a week. I get the McDonald's chicken Selects, 3 piece, not the meal, and I pick off most of the breading. That chicken is just so tender. Chipotle BBQ sauce helps it go down without sticking. Takes me at least half an hour to eat it but it's so worth it. So today I've had coffee with low fat milk, 2 Protein drinks, about a third of a can of refried Beans with lowfat cheese, and two hot dogs no bun with mustard. Debating whether to add a salad with raspberries and strawberries. Walked for over an hour this morning. Sang in my concert this afternoon. Went well; a few people made some stand-out mistakes. Found out our director can really give the evil eye. Glad I was never on the receiving end. Whole point of this choir is to create one beautiful sound with no mistakes or voices standing out except for solo parts. Most of it was gorgeous. This was our cathedral concert, the same songs we'll do next summer in European cathedrals. I'll try to post some of it.

Thanks Apples, you crack me up. You need to know a couple of things about me. I don't grocery shop. My husband does that. I don't pre-cook food and then package it for later. For me, a simple recipe is to take a piece of meat, season it, and pan fry it with a little spray olive oil. Pressure cook a veggie or throw canned green Beans in a pan. dinner is done. I have never baked. I enjoy cooking meat and not much else. I cooked for my family because I needed to but I stuck to things that required only 3 ingredients. I can go to the store with a list and check things off and still come home without something I need. Fortunately, I lived a block from the grocery store. I love Atkins Protein drinks because they satisfy my chocolate cravings and I don't have to make them myself. I should tell my husband to pick up those 25 calorie Swiss Miss cocoa packs again, so thanks for the reminder. I have done more with making myself salads because Ken can easily stock up on ingredients I like and he makes what he wants and I make what I want. What I don't want to do is cook when I get home and he's a terrible cook. He'd eat hot dogs and junk food all night long everynight and be perfectly content. I'm also very inconsistent when I'll be home and whether I'll have to run right out again. Also, I hate egg whites and they make me pb. I'd rather eat a real omelette once in a while that actually tastes good to me. Especially if its made by someone else. I can't eat boiled eggs either. My main problem has always been things like Cheetos and candy bars and ice cream. If I could live on them, I would. So, I have to go back to what worked for me during weightloss. It's just that it gets boring and I crave mouth excitement. Also, many of the high protein pre-made foods are very high in Calcium and my Dr. wants me to limit calcium, so, less milk in my coffee, fewer protein drinks and Atkin's bars, but I haven't come up with anything to take their place that satisfies my mouth cravings. Cheri

Apples, so glad you're back. Wasn't the same without you. Arlene, you're just going to have to pick a color you like and not worry about it. I think Lori does your shade of blue. We just have too many posters. I think I tried turquoise and no one liked reading that. Well, guys, I'm really struggling. It isn't just sweet foods, I am just wanting to eat. I've gained a few lbs as a result and now my band is tight which makes it difficult for me to eat solid protein. So when I can't get enough good food into me I turn to sliders. I also noticed more reflux with the weight gain. The problem for me seems to be my ADHD is really kicking my butt. I can't stay still or concentrate. Food has always been my way of staying in one place in social situations and has always helped me concentrate. I can't concentrate for beans and my restlessness is off the charts--partly because without all the weight I can actually get up and move comfortably. There are nights when I can't shut my mind off either and fall asleep. Sometimes I feel like I'm jumping out of my skin. Don't know how much of this has to do with the grief process, or how much has to do with a difficult situation with my husband, or how much has to do with the stress of teaching where I teach. I just can't seem to shut down. I actually have excess energy that I'm having trouble channeling. There's a lot I can't do physically because it triggers joint pain. I'm limited by my fake knees, too. Also, my friends are work friends or they're lap band thread friends, which means I can't call them up and meet them somewhere for a cup of coffee. Getting involved with a new choir is helping with some of my excess time. You wouldn't think I had any, but I do. You can do a lot of food damage in just a couple of hours with nothing better to do. Even at work, as crazy as it is, I have some free periods where I have trouble focusing and getting anything done--like correcting workbooks or writing down lesson plans. I want food--particularly chocolate--to settle me down and help me focus. With the weight off, I've lost some of my focus and drive for watching what I'm eating. Knowing me and my ADHD I've gotten bored with it. Mentally, I've finished the project. I have terrible trouble sticking with anything for very long. For example, Facebook is getting boring; I just skim it most days. Facebook games got boring a long time ago. I used to do Sudoku till I got really good at it and it wasn't a challenge anymore. I wish I could run and swim whenever I felt like it. If I had an arthritis pool nearby where I could walk and swim laps I'd do that. Swimming might actually help me sleep at night. Most other exercise keeps me awake if I do it in the evening. Anyway, I'm going to do three no or low-carb days in a row. Basically, back to protein drinks for a couple of days with mushies like refried beans. Take a couple lbs off to loosen the band and then start adding solid proteins eaten frequently throughout the day. I wish I had Apples here to cook for me. I really hate cooking. So my food really lacks variety. I need to keep things really simple. I hate food preparation. I like things that are ready in just a few minutes. I don't do anything that takes more than three simple steps. Anyway, enought b!!ching. Gotta do! Cheri

Hi all. I'm here. I'm reading. No time to post. Concert tomorrow at 4 in Matteson at St Lawrence O'Toole Church. Phenomenal acoustics there. I am so looking forward to it. Singing is great exercise. So is walking. So is running up and down the stairs at work. Trainers, shcmaners. Just get up and out and move. Find what you like to do. If you like to swim-find a pool. If you think you'll like running and there are no medical contraindications and you have most of your weight off, go ahead. Just start very slowly. Run a half a block and walk another one. Like to dance? Put on some music and go for it. Like to sing? Join a choir. Find someone who likes to do what you do and do it together. I, personally, like walking by myself. It's like meditation time for me. I often have glorious music going through my head to match the glorious weather--or to make up for the bad weather. As you lose the weight you'll feel more and more like moving. If you like housework, go for it. Take your grandkids to the part and follow them on all the equipment. You'll get a workout. Cheri

Done Cheri. You can pray for me at my school. I have a number of students with really bizarre behavior with whom I have lost all patience. I really don't even want to have to teach them. I have so many students who need my specialized help and who want it and cooperate. I just don't want to deal with kids who take all my attention and don't let me help those who want it. We keep taking these kids because we're a private Christian school and we need the tuition. But some of them need much more specialized behavioral help than what we can provide. Unfortunately, the Chicago Public Schools, which is their alternative, is not likely to provide that help either. And parents are in denial and don't get the children the help they need. I'm finding myself resenting these children because I can't give them what they need and they're preventing me from doing my job with the other at-risk students I teach. Cheri

Gas advice? Feel free to fart frequently. Move around a lot to break it up. Hot bath can get you farting. Some people swear by gas-x. Others by papaya. Walk around and do something noisy so people don't know you're farting. I like to sharpen pencils. LOL. For me, avoid sourkraut. Avoid chocolates with the sugar alcohols instead of the sugar. Also, some SF high protein granola bars or protein bars have chicory root or its active ingredient, inulin in them. As Jim Carrey would say, "Do not go in there."

Arlene, You may have noticed some of my restlessness in LV. I kept stating that I needed to get out of the hotel and see some of the sights until that could be arranged. Jodi, who may also be ADHD, agreed to go with me and that suited her better than sitting around in hotel rooms also. I also spent a lot of time Saturday outdoors by the pool. So, although I have at times been on meds, I have worked very hard on compensating techniques that allow me to be me and to meet my own needs. I have designed my job so that I am not the one to do the paperwork, which overwhelms me, and my assistant does those things I'm not good at. I have increased the number of students I see in order to pay for having an assistant. The more contacts I have, the more NCLB pays into my program. I also acknowledge the gifts that go with my version of ADHD, like the creativity and writing skills that I put to use in raising money for the school. I'm a big picture person and am able to see where RCS needs to go to be successful and come up with ideas to get us there. I see what training the teacher's could use to help them deal with our student clientelle more effectively and I use the public funds offerred to bring in that training. Before, we never used those moneys. I take care of myself with my walking and stair-climbing and by singing in my two choirs. This challenges my brain and develops my gift as I am currently doing more reading of hgihly complex music with complex harmonies and counter melodies and difficult rythyms and working on tonal quality and blending in with a large choir. Doing the contemporary and Gospel helped train my ear even more and developed my lead voice skills and improvisational skills. I consider my flexibility to also be a gift of ADHD and use it all the time to get through my complex schedule and stay fresh for whatever comes up with the kids. I also have a mantra that runs through my head. When something occurs to me or I see it, take care of it right away or I'll forget. If I can't do it right away, I mention it to my husband or to my assistant. Frequently, they do it for me or set it up so I can do it. I write reminder notes to myself on the back of my hand. I wear a watch that's waterproof and 10 minutes fast so I can wear it to bed and in the shower because once off, I forget to put it on. The 10 minutes gives me an adrenaline jolt that helps keep me on time. I've learned that I do not have to be all things to all people, so I'm not scattered in a million different directions. Church service, my kids and grandkids take priority on the weekends if I'm needed, and RCS takes priority during the week. Exercise, choir, and lapband thread I do for myself. I watch a few favorite TV shows, and try to get 8 hrs of sleep. I seldom talk on the phone and never text. I don't do housework or grocery shop and I only prepare simple meals like throwing fish or a burger or other piece of meat in the pan and a veggie in the pressure cooker. I do my own laundry, my husband does his own and the sheets and towels. I don't entertain hardly at all. I only go to grandkids events on the weekends. Once in a while on weekends I get together with siblings and parents but none of us are at each other's beck and call. I have a couple people I confide in at work and I have you. I don't do any other activities at my church. I used to be a churchaholic but I gave that up for Lent and neve got back into it. I stopped rescuing people and started letting them figure things out for themselves. Once in a while I just can't help it, and I'll write an epistle on lapband thread where I'll share my experience, strength, and hope with people who might actually get something out of it, and if they don't, oh well. I don't have to live with them or be with them frequently. I can be so reticent with giving my kids advice that sometimes they actually ask for it. Ain't that a kick in the pants. Choir and a good sermon once a week really feed me spiritually as do the devotions the faculty has once a week. So, over all, I've become a fairly well-rounded person who is mostly sane inspite of having ADHD. ADHD is a fact about me, but it does not define me. I take it into account, but it does not rule my life. How's that for a long answer to a short question? Cheri

Jodi, Walking is some of the best exercise you can do. I wouldn't feel too guilty about missing any of the trainer stuff. Melissa, I hate to say it, but your mother was maybe saying what you needed to hear. You can choose to be hurt or you can choose to remember that running is very hard on the joints, especially for women, no matter what their age, and especially if you're still overweight and out of shape. Walking is just as good for you and is much easier on the joints. I speak as one who's had double knee replacements and will never run again unless its an emergency. If you'd seen me in Vegas, you'd know that I'm in great shape and I mostly walk, do some stair climbing at work, occassionally dance or swim, and never go to the gym. However, with the weight off, I'm naturally much more active and that helps, too. You risk injury that could set you way back and even contribute to emotional eating if you go straight to running. As far as your eating is concerned, you know what you have to do. As a diabetic, you know more than anyone that the sweets are killing you. Pray that God makes you willing to do what you need to do. Until you are desperate enough to totally turn your will over into God's and become willing to do whatever it takes, not much is going to help. For me, getting the band was my way of submitting my will and using one of the best tool's God gave me to jumpstart and help maintain eating right. You got the band but you haven't been willing to submit to the rules governing the band that make it an effective tool. Even the cost of the band has not been enough of an incentive. I don't want you to beat yourself up because of this, because that just leads to more emotional eating. You just aren't ready yet. Pray that God will make you ready. But be prepared; he sometimes comes up with some drastic measures to make us willing. And we can't blame him, because mostly he allows the consequences of our own actions to do most of the teaching. For me, borderline diabetes and continual arthritis pain were the clinchers. Ask yourself, what will it be for you? How much more damage are you willing to submit your body to? From your posts, you seem like you might have ADHD. You might be where your son got it from. As you know, so do I. Studeies show that those of us who have it have a much harder time with successful weight loss. Eating is one of the ways we control our ADHD. Sometimes, you have to get treatment for the ADHD before you can be successful with weight loss. What works for other people doesn't always work for us. I, for example, do not journal my food. I can't remember what I ate 5 minutes after I've finished, and I'd lose a journal within days. Just the thought of trying to do that makes me want to eat. I am totally incapable of being anal about anything, much less food. However, I did write a blog until I reached goal, and after that I posted on this thread regularly. I asked my husband to hide his food and to eat it in another room. Or I got up and left the room. At work, find ways to pace while you work. Portable headset for phonecalls? Get up and go the washroom when they argue. Go back and walk the aisles of the warehouse and learn the inventory. As long as you have the headset on you shouldn't be stuck at the desk. Take frequent Water breaks or fetch a cup of coffee. Water bottles at your desk don't allow you to get up and move around. My most creative ideas come when I'm wandering. Think about solutions to some of the companies problems. Explore websites of similar companies. Become a resource and an expert on what your company offers. Start a gratitude journal. Start writing out pats on the back for what you did that day. Write yourself affirmations and post them and repeat them frequently. During a very difficult time of my life, I used to go on walks and to the beat of my footsteps I would say, "I am somebody, I am worthwhile, I am somebody, I am God's child." I quite literally drummed that into my head. Live in the moment. Easy to say but think of it this way, "Do the next right thing." What is the baby step, task, or reponsibility that you need to take care of right now? If the problem or task or responsibility seems insurmountable, determine a place to start and a small first step and then do it. I love this saying: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. And remember to keep those bites small so you don't (metaphorically) pb. Remember, I've had 17 years of Alanon and 10 years of Overeater's Anonymous and 5 years of counseling to help me eat as much of life's elephants as I already have. So take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and take your first small bite. Give yourself a pat on the back. Thank God for that bite. Remember to affirm that you can do it. And then take the next bite. OK. That's enough of an epistle. Digest it slowly. Choose not to take offense. Take what you like and leave the rest. Cheri

Apples, I'm glad the weight's back. Have you ever been evaluated for malabsorption? That keeps my dad unbelievably skinny. He gets Vitamin K shots to help. Jessica, lookin' good and doin' good! Joyce, thanks so much for the photos. Some really good shots. DGD, Skylar, is over. I'm taking her with me to babysit other DGD, Leah tonight. They love to play together. Jodi, I know you want your mom to abide by your food rules, even when you're gone. However, some of the best memories for grandparents and grandkids are getting together and having normally "forbidden" foods. Why not compromise with your mother and discuss a few treats that can be special for when Dassi and her Grandma are together? Things that you can't have in the house because of your eating disorder (addiction), but that, eaten in moderation, are not a problem for Dassi. Frankly, you can't police Dassi when she's away from you. Her friends will have foods, she'll buy her own treats as she gets older, they'll be available at various parties, etc. For her, the key will be to learn not to deny herself, but to eat in moderation. The things we totally tend to deny our kids tend to be the things they seek out when they get to the rebellious stage. My parents certainly had a majority of healthy food in appropriate portions at our house with built-in treats as part of the well-rounded meals. It's not their fault I turned out to have a food addiction. My siblings do not. Luck of the draw. Cheri

Gorgeous day in Chicago. Catching up on laundry. Have to do an Atkins run. Got plenty of my shakes but like some of the soy bars and treats. Trying to find some alternatives to the peel off small cans of chicken and tuna that I kept at work. They were perfect for lunch but they're no longer being made. Don't want pre-mixed tuna or chicken salad. Not fond of mayo and celery and onion. Plus they give you crackers. I like my tuna and chicken plain out of the can. I have to watch how many Atkins things I eat each day because they're packed with Calcium, which I have too much of in my blood. Trying to stick with only a 150% of my Calcium needs per day and no more, even though women my age generally have no problem with more and need more to prevent osteoporosis. The milk in my coffeee and the Atkins products were adding up to 200-300% of my daily needs. They still aren't sure why I have the slightly high Calcium reads. I still think it was the combo of high Vitamin D, high Calcium, and laxative. They still think its my parathyroid. But so far no proof. I have found that the Atkins is constipating, so I'm trying to cut back on it. It's just that its so easy for Breakfast when I can't eat real food, and frequently I have little time for lunch. And I need smaller Snacks throughout the day to keep me going from 7 a.m. when I get to school till 5 p.m. when I leave. I think my Sjogrens Syndrome has improved on the malaria meds. I only take one antiinflammatory at night and I'm off my flexerall. I have little pain and lots of energy. I'm back to doing my stair climbing for 20 minutes to half an hour at school before the kids start coming in my room. Its amazing how doing that 3 or 4 mornings a week keeps me in shape. An hour or twos walk on the weekends, and a night or two of choir practice each week also really help me maintain my all over fitness--particularly my cardiovascular. People don't realize how much exercise singing is. Stomach muscles, diaphragm, body position. Controlled breathing. Love it. Laundry, shopping for BD presents for 2 oldest granddaughters, babysitting 2 youngest granddaughters tonight, church tomorrow morning, and BD party tomorrow night. Monday night dress rehearsal for first concert after a meeting after school at Elim and Tuesday night first concert of the season. Wednesday night meeting at Roseland and away at dyslexia convention during the day Thursday and Friday. Crazy week. You may not hear much from me. Cheri

Hi all, Good day today. I think yesterday was good for me. I needed to grieve. I kept putting it on hold in order to get to LV and then to handle all the details of my job. Tonight's memorial was a celebration of Mikey's life. Kid's choir sang; they were very good. Today I could feel some of the anger at Mikey's death coming out. I realized how angry I am at people who say he's in a better place. That's a given. However, God's intention for each of us is that we live full, productive, God-honoring lives. We were designed to experience life. Death entered the world because of evil. Tragic, unnecessary,stupid, early death is never God's intention for our lives. Doesn't mean he hasn't planned for it and can't turn it for our good. But I have a God who grieves over tragic, unnecessary deaths just like we do. This isn't a matter of death coming as a release and a relief. I don't know if any of you know the poem, "Do not go gently into that good night. Rage, rage against the dieing of the lgiht." That's how I feel about Mikey. I rage against the dieing of the light in him. I already see God bringing good things out of his death. I see a difference in his classmates, who were one of the most difficult groups I've had to deal with. Was it worth his death? No! Someone tonight said our loss is God's gain. God gets to enjoy him now. Well, I want him back. I know I can't have him. I know I have my memories of him, and I am coming to the point of acceptance. I can't change what happened. But I really wish I could. So, denial, anger, grief, acceptance. Part of death, part of life. Moving on. Cheri

Hi all. Cried a lot today. Going to school started thinking about Mikey. Memorial tomorrow night. Hopefully, the pain will start subsiding after that. People keep saying, "He's in a better place." Frankly, that doesn't help. I believe that, but I still miss him. It was still a horrible death. I look at the kids I teach and wonder how long I'll have with them. I've always had such a sense of urgency with these kids. I might only have them a few months before the get pulled out because the parents can't afford it. How much time do I have to let them know they are loved, that God loves them, that they can succeed, etc? It's why I start teaching at 7:30 and don't finish till 5:00. It's why I'm so driven and so passionate about my job. People keep saying I made a difference in Michael's life, but he made a difference in mine. He was one of those students whom it was a joy to teach. His face lit up whenever he learned something new. He loved being in my class and never created problems. He made me smile. And I miss him. Cheri

So, I'm having a hard time catching up on all the posts. Someone said something about Dassi's pics and someone else's and I can't find them. Apple's cryptic messages. Thanks for all the encouragement about Mikey. Couldn't sleep last night. Not about Mikey. Just think I went back into hypervigilant mode after letting go over the weekend. Hope to sleep tonight. Simplified my work schedule somewhat. It's always a balancing act. If my groups become too big I lose the advantage of small group instruction. Some kids need one on one and can't give it to them. Next week got all day conferences on Dyslexia on Thurs and Fri. The following week I go to a Christian teachers convention on Thurs. and Fri. Stay in a hotel in South Bend In. Gonna go to bed, see if I can relax and sleep. Cheri

Hi all, Back to reality. Teaching, 2 and a half hours of choir last night. First concert next week Tuesday. Love the music. I'm getting challenged totally. Picked up another child to privately tutor after school. Now I'm there till 5 o'clock. However, I'm making enough extra where it should help pay for my choir tour to Europe next summer. Friday night is a memorial for Michael J Pierce. The staff is contributing money for the family's expenses. We're also starting to get contributions coming in for his memorial scholarship fund from the fund-raising letter I wrote. One thing his family said at his funeral was how much Michael loved school and how his eyes lit up whenever he talked about it. That was Mikey. I miss his smile and those lit up eyes so much. Grieving takes a long time. A sculpture display at an art gallery at the Bellagio moved me to tears. Talked to a couple of you in Vegas and grieved some more. Chatted on FB with Mikey's older sister (from my first 8th grade class at RCS) and grieved some more. Grieving right now. My heart goes out to all those in your community, Laura. The horrific death of a child and the endangerment of so many family members whose lives are hanging in the balance is really hard. I really appreciate everyone who helped me get out of that hotel and see some of the sights. As a first time (and probably last time) Vegas tourist, and as a slightly claustrophobic ADHD person, I really needed to not feel trapped. I enjoyed hanging with people but I also need to move. I put $5 in the slots just to say I did but I really couldn't stand being inside the gambling areas. Complete sensory overload. Jodi and Jeff, thanks for all you did. Jodi, you looked great. I loved helping to create a new look to match your new body. The hotel was very nice. Loved the pool. Wish I could have spent more time in it. Almost missed my connecting flight home. Forgot the hours difference between Denver and Vegas and was wandering around thinking I had all the time in the world. Phew! Another ADHD moment. Looking forword to the pics Joyce. Your idea of a CD also a great one Phyll. Glad everyone made it home safe. Much love, Cheri

Lori, Probably in white pants and white and purple top with white sweater. See you in front of the Burger King. Got your no. programmed in my cell. Cheri

Home from work. Starting to pack. Still very nervous about remembering everything I have to do. I can handle 20 kids and teach kids with major learning disabilities to read, but this kind of stuff with all its details makes me feel stupid and incompetent. Lori, weren't we going to meet in a food court or something and wait together for the others?" Cheri

So, we will be Janet's Banditos and shoot up the town. If I had cowboy boots, I'd wear them. And a hat. At least if its country. See if I can remember the "Boot-scootin' Boogie." I can Electric Slide to almost anything. And I can Cha-cha Slide. But no bull, there'll be no Bull in my future. I think Jodi's the only one young enough for that. We'll miss all of you not coming. Sandy, if you'd joined us sooner, maybe you could have gone as an honorary Bandito. Maybe you and I could meet downtown Chicago somewhere, sometime. Never got around to trying to get a Lapband Card. Hope it won't matter. I don't text. I'll have to try to remember to turn my phone on after I get off the plane. Tell me who am I meeting and where! Gotta go shopping for a bigger purse to take on the plane. Mine is very small and holds very little. Too bad all you purse-a-holics can't loan me one ahead of time. Also gotta buy laxative pills since I normally use Miralax mixed in Water. Can't take my big bottle with me. Cheri

I'm here. Took me an hour and a half to catch up. Taught yesterday, went to Dr., ate, went to 2 and a half hr choir practice, crashed. Came home today, ate, tutored, watched taped "Chuck" and then checked e-mail and read 5 pp of this. No time left to post. All those with adult children issues-hugs. My daughter's still shaky. Hope the meds kick in soon for her. But she's not calling me so that's an improvement. I'd love to win big in Vegas and pull my school out of its financial hole. They are down 25 kids since last year. Once again we don't know if the school will open next year. We need to reduce tuition so parents can afford it but we need to increase donations to make up the difference. Husband's reading all the fine print on air travel. PIA. Too much to remember. I'm hardly going to bring anything. KISS (keep it simple, stupid). Love to all Cheri

Just a few more pix.