L8BloomR

WELCOME BACK, ANGELA!! Can't wait to hear about your trip!!

I try to stay off these political threads because they usually follow a very predictable pattern: Someone on the left (usually) starts a thread slamming someone or something on the right (or perceived to be), then someone on the right takes the bait and tries to explain or defend the thing being slammed. Then more left-wingers enter to make accusations about Pres. Bush and/or various other Republicans and their beliefs (or their intelligence) while making statements they believe to be facts, and then more right-wingers respond to say they disagree and to give their version of the facts, etc., etc. Can't anyone see that one person's "facts" are another person's "fiction", and vice-versa?? Why must hatred or distrust of the other side take precedence over your respect for the other's right to hold and believe views you don't agree with? I am trying hard to be fair-mined, but it seems to me that those on the left spend more time trying to put down the other side's viewpoint, while those on the right seem to spend their time defending the subject of the thread and their right to have their own opinion. You on the left, of course, will disagree with what I just wrote, and that is OK. You can have your opinion and I have my opinion, based on reading many, too many, of these threads. I just don't get why these threads keep starting....nothing ever gets solved because it CAN'T. If it could, there would not be 2 major political parties, umteen minor ones, and a gazillion differing points of view. But then again, that is only my opinion.....

Thanks, BJean; that is all any of us can ask!

This is not a "fact".... it is an opinion. You may think this in all honesty, but many of us don't.... what makes it a fact? Yes, there are dead bodies, but there have always been. Clinton had his share in Somalia; in fact, most presidents have sent soldiers off to foreign lands and some have died. You can believe in a cause or not, but for many of us who believed Bill Clinton and others in his administration who said that Saddam had WMD and was a danger to our country.... and who believed it again a few years later when Pres. Bush said it, we believe that this war was started with good intentions. That is my opinion.... and I'm sticking to it!:biggrin1:

Mousecrazy and Jack, You guys say it so well, I can't think of anything to add!! :clap2: I am always so amazed at how little respect there usually is on the left for any other viewpoints. Thanks for standing up for the "other" side!! You guys are great!!

Thanks, Marni, for the encouragement. I will be getting another fill in 8 weeks, and I'm sure that will make the difference. I finally did feel some restriction today (a little!) and it felt good! I would almost be happy to experience a PB, just to know that this is working! :nervous Karen

Angela---so glad you are having a wonderful time in Paris!! Thanks for your good advice!! I do take the supplements, but I know that for me, surgery always causes hair loss. You should have seen how bad it was after my knee replacement---I almost bought a wig!! Sorry (for you) that your trip is almost over.... but at least you "will always have Paris" (memories)! Karen

Hi Guys, I am still here.... just had my second fill and it doesn't seem to be working very well, although I am being very careful just in case!! I guess I am going to be one of those people who will not get restriction until my 3rd fill?? :cry My doctor even gave me 3cc, so now I am up to 5cc in my 10cc band. What is it gonna take?? Yes, I get a "pinching" feeling sometimes at my portsite. AND I have been losing my hair, although it seems to have slowed down now. So I guess we are all "normal" no matter what is going on in this band-journey, huh? We HAVE been a quiet bunch, haven't we?? I think I have been quiet mostly because I didn't feel like I am going through the same things as everyone else, and I was hoping my fill would change that! And I just found out that my Dad has lung cancer, and it took the wind out of my sails a bit. I am dealing with this better now, and I will try harder to check in more because I need this group as much or more than anyone!! Karen

He's learning..... I'll send you tickets to his first recital !! :biggrin1:

Thank you so much, BJean. Yes, it is a tough road. I had cancer 15 years ago and beat it...but my dad is refusing treatment and I do agree with him, as hard as it will be to watch this happen. Thanks for your good thoughts.... Karen

Thank you, Terri and BJean, for your kinds words. I appreciate them so much, especially from you, BJean, since we are on opposite sides of a lot of these issues. It says a lot about you that you can be so gracious. Unfortunately, I have to stop posting for a while; just an hour ago I found out my beloved 89-year old dad has lung cancer and I need to help out there for now. Thanks again, Karen

Angela, have a wonderful trip to France!! We will miss you here, so post as soon as you get back and tell us all about it!!! Have a great time!! :clap2: Karen

Count me in, in the Slow Losers Club!!! Frustrating, but remember that at least we are not gaining!!!:faint: Karen

Wait until the day when I can retire..... you may have some competition there!!! :success1: Thanks, T.O.M., for your nice post!

A Lexus?? My dream car! You ARE lucky! :biggrin1: My son was a Marine in the first Gulf War, and is now serving in a civilian capacity in Afghanistan and Iraq. So I should be one of the ones screaming for the war to be over, etc. But he tells me how important it is that we keep doing what we are doing, how much we are helping, how grateful most of the people he comes in contact with are. So when I never see news reports about anything good there, I am suspicious. I know that there is an anti-Bush, anti-war agenda and I guess I try to state the other side when I can. If you read my post to T.O.M. I just sent, you will see that I do understand that your feelings are legitimate and well-reasoned, but I hope you will acknowledge that mine are as well. I don't come to my conclusions lightly and I believe in them whole-heartedly or I wouldn't post them here. I believe George Bush is a good man.... who is not perfect and who has made mistakes. I believe that the past liberal presidents were also good men, although I was uncomfortable with their policies. I am conservative; I will not be as comfortable with liberal ones as you would be, and vice-versa. I try not to make blanket statements or compare a president to Hitler or anyone else. It is inflammatory, untrue, and it is insulting to people who actually did live under Hitler influence. (My Jewish friends get incensed when they hear those kinds of comparisons.) The reason I post occasionally on these threads is simply to remind people that there are many ways to look at things, there is more than just one correct view, and more than one side to an issue. It is great to "agree to disagree", don't you think?

Wow, T.O.M., that was alot of info to process....too much to try to answer at least now while I am at work. All I can say is that when Clinton was in power, people on my side (politically) felt like there were so many dirty tricks and schemes going on and felt an uneasy feeling that things were changing for the worse. Now that this president is in power, I hear exactly the same things about him from the other side. I am sure some things are different because of 9/11. To someone like you, that would make you very uncomfortable. To someone like me, who likes this president and thinks he is a good person, it doesn't worry me. I will admit that if the next president is a liberal, I will probably go back to worrying, maybe even about the same things that are being done now. Let's face it: We feel differently, see things differently, about the same things! You are more comfortable about liberal policies, I am the opposite. You have a situation with your wife that is being impacted, I don't. I live in So. California where the illegal immigration problems are overwhelming, and therefore I am probably a bit more worried about lax security than you. I would never call you a traitor; you have every right to state your opinions. I just don't agree with many of your views, as you don't with mine. I post in these threads occasionally to show that there are 2 sides to virtually every issue, and that they can be legitimate on both. Thanks for your thoughtful post! Karen

BJean, I am not challanging you. I was really interested in knowing if you felt any changes in your life since George Bush has been in power. I keep hearing that the Patriot Act has impacted our lives in a bad way but I haven't seen or felt the changes and wondered if anyone else has. I do think it is unfair to judge someone by what their father has done. I don't see what Iran-Contra has to do with this president. And appointing judges to the Supreme Court that are worrisome is not unique to Pres. Bush. Clinton made some appointments that scared me! And I agree...it is frustrating to take part in a pi$$ing contest---unless you are a man, which makes it easier to PI$$ !!

I agree that it is a bit scary if someone is in power that you don't trust, especially if you feel changes are being made that you don't know about. But I honestly do not know what freedoms President Bush has "chipped away at", although this is not the first time I have heard that charge. I just don't see that any of my freedoms have eroded, or anyone else's for that matter. I don't see that anything has really changed. I would naturally expect a little tightening up of a few things after 9/11, but I don't even see those things in my daily life or in anyone else's. I do admit that the concept is a bit worrisome. Have you had anything change in your life? I am asking seriously since I would like to understand where the concern is coming from.

I agree! I read EVERYTHING I have the time for. I am a Conservative, but I want to know all sides to each issue, so I read the liberal blogs and the liberal news. But I do like Fox News for one main reason: They debate almost every issue, and the debates have an equal number of liberals and conservatives on each side. Oh, and they are the only news channel that lets the conservatives finish their sentences! :biggrin1:

hmmmmm, I was going to ask if anyone has noticed that every article, story and tv report from NBC, MSNBC, and NPR is always a critical article against President Bush! At least you don't have to see your tax $$ being spent to support a tv network you can't stand. I hate it that NPR gets federal funding!

I have no problem comparing them. I believe The WSJ is a respected news source, while almost anything political reported on by the NBC group has become, in my estimation, an anti-Bush piece. I am not saying that the firings were exactly the same between Clinton and Bush, but if Clinton can fire lawyers working on cases like Whitewater and replace them with lawyers friendly to him, then you have to call it what it is. These firings go on with all Presidents and they most certainly ARE "political". To not comment on it being done by one president while making a huge case of of it being done by another one is wrong, in my opinion.

Interesting that no where in either of these left-leaning articles or in your post is it mentioned that Bill Clinton fired all 93 lawyers when he came into office, instead of letting them go when their tenure ended like most other presidents. Also, at least a couple of the lawyers fired recently were involved in not pursuing what appears to be openly fraudent election hijinks done by Democrats. Please see this link to a Wall Street Journal Editorial for another side to this story.... http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110009784

Thanks, Denise....but you have to give yourself alot of credit for your wise choices!! The water idea is great. I can't believe you have developed so much self-control to give up all other drinks! You are doing unbelievably well and it is due to your hard work, exercise, and your smart food choices. No bread, no potatoes.... no DESSERT?? You are amazing!! Wow and DOUBLE-wow!! Congratulations! :rockon: Karen

Congratulations, Angela, on your new "project"!! You are such an inspiration and now others will find that out, too! But keep our Nov. Bandsters at the top of your "favorites" list, please!! We need you! Karen

About 12 years ago I lost about 75 pounds using fen-phen. I looked great and felt wonderful....but my husband was impossible to figure out!! Some days he was so proud of me and other days he freaked out. I also had recently started my own business and was having lots of dealings with men and getting alot of attention. I thought my weight loss would make my long-time marriage even better.... but for the first couple of years it made it worse. Gradually, though, my hubby began to relax and started to really appreciate the new, "free" me.... I wanted to go out more, have more fun, was less inhibited and laughed more. He loved it! Then all the studies came out with the bad news about fen-phen; I had tests done and discovered it had damaged my heart...so no more "fun" for me! I truly believe the Band is the healthy answer to our weight problems, and that as you become happier within yourselves your husbands will respond likewise. They just need some time to adjust to the new you and to see that the really important things will NOT change! Hang in there! Karen