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I just don't enjoy alcohol since my surgery. I go from sober to slurring my words with just a few sips and then 15 min. later I'm cold, stone sober. I can't get to that mellow stage. It takes all the fun out of it. You need to be on FaceBook. :smile: Ahem. :cool2: You mean the troll who ate the chicken? Not worth responding to IMO.

WHOO HOO CC! That is fabulous! Thanks Susan...age is a number. So is weight. As are calories, minutes of exercise, and alcohol content. Numbers are bad. :smile: Haven't a clue what voting you are referring to, but good luck! But you will be crying for joy, right?? Last of the children is grown...independent etc. You are free!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Morning all! Thanks be it is Friday...and peaking out from behind the huge black clouds is a bit of sun! I am hoping for sunshine this weekend....I wanna go play in the dirt!! Its been torrential rains for 3 days now, time for a bit of dry weather. hope all are doing well.

Morning All! I had an unexpected business trip yesterday... travelling by train is just so civilized! Lots of legroom, and lots of coffee! (I got to travel first class....whoo hoo - one advantage of a late booking!). So although I spent in total about 6 hours on the train, I got to read a book, have a sleep, prepare for the meeting, and have (in the evening return) as much alcohol as I wanted - wine before dinner, wine with dinner, aperitif after dinnner.... So to catch up on the news: Ebony - Have a great vacation? Beth - How many gallons of vinegar have you gone through? Slim - $135 per person for a reunion?? Man, you'd really have to love your relatives to pay that!! Brandy - 'travel whore'? Or I would SO love to be able to be one....love to travel, but the money is an issue. She - YAY!! Can't wait to meet you! Fanny - Wish we could meet you, but I understand the priorities. We'll have a drink for you! Lu et al - yes we need to choose a date soon. Between vacation request deadlines, and figuring out the budget to afford a trip, we need lots of prep time! Have a safe wonderful memorable 4th of July all!!

Mornin' all... Whoo hoo - a non-work day, and the sun is supposed to shine AND the temp above freezing...happy days are here ! So, once the sun is up, I may get to go into the garden, and do some raking - although I suspect the ground will still be frozen, but still outside playing in the dirt!!:w00t: Until then I will post here, do some inside housework, maybe watch a movie... Beth - congrats on the NSV Heartfire - I love sugar snap peas; wish I could get some fresh ones here, but that's months away yet. Lulu - pear martini? Time to fess up - I've never had a martini in my life, and since being banded I have consumed MAYBE 6 glasses of wine (my choice of alcohol) in total - that's over 14 months. CC and Beth - Will check out 'Knowing' - you're the first people I 'know' who have seen it. Sick - I'm not a cooking snob - pm the recipe to me.

I know NOTHING :grouphug: Uhhh yeah, the cancer sticks and alcohol were best friends in my pre new years world..... Its not just pregnant women who love porn. Just sayin'

Yes...I stay constantly lathered up. Literally. You called me? Beth, that's still technically illegal here in Texas! Ah, but that's a big "if"...I remember the first time the nurses showed me the "shaving cream trick" of bathing a pt. Good times. Nothing like that. You just said something about visiting PG for a week for an old-fashioned revival. I found out quite by accident (when taking organic chemistry) that the old wives tale about oxygen curing / preventing a hangover is true. Turns out the chemical process the liver uses to break down alcohol is oxygen dependant. Increase the O2, increase the efficiency of the detox. Netflix rocks!! I can / will kick all y'all beyotches ass' See above Good luck! Absolutely false. My wig is pink. Too late! I heard that! I can help you with that. My hands are certified as "manual mammographers" Heh heh heh heh..... Beth, please quit posting my personal pictures without my permission. Both her accounts have been banned, I believe. On a unrelated note, my new favorite drink is a "firefly". Gotta beware of them, though.....

Good Evening Gang It's already 8 and I haven't eaten and I'm Hungry - Had boot camp tonite - so this is going to be a run on and in no order post Eva LOL on the turn my closet into a bedroom LOL I would but too many clothest LOL... Yep I have never had company for a week ;0) - I made up a spreadsheet of food and what we will or might do - and they are laughing at me - Well I like to be prepared that's all - I make up spreadsheets when I am going on a trip on what to pack - or I get all confused and mixed up - so I make list ;0).. Fills - Band - Eating - IMHO I think that some pple rely too much on fills and not what they are eating - and the fact that we are only suppose to eat like 1 cup food - then we think - omg how can I survive on 1 cup food - I'm full yes - but I only ate 1 cup of food - hell normal skinny pple eat more than that.. I know I myself have a problem with that - Also finding sweet spot for some w/the band is almost impossible - that's one of the pitfalls of the band vs other WLS.. I think regardless on how tight we are or aren't we do know how to eat around it and most of us have at one time or another.. It's all about eating healthy Melissa - Glad you are going to the shrink - I think you really do need to talk to someone in person - what I am the most concerned about is your diabites and your sugar intake - not your weight issues - your medical conditions are very serious and they are going to kill you - there was an artical in the paper the other day - diabetic have 10 yrs less life span than non-diabetics.. I don't want you dieing.... Ok gang - i was going to say more - but it's now almost 8:30 - I gotta put food in my tummy haven't eaten since lunch and that was chicken soup.. Meredith good luck at the doctors tomorrow - do they know iff your band went back in place.. Hugs I bet you are starving.. Oh I know pple who arent catholic and give up stuff for lent - I thought that was funny - but I'm Catholic - and I have never followed that give up something - I am going to curb my shopping though - it's out of hand.. What is codependency? What's the definition? There are many definitions used to talk about codependency today. The original concept of codependency was developed to acknowledge the responses and behaviors people develop from living with an <A href="http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/dir/alcoholism-self-help/" target=_self>alcoholic or substance abuser. A number of attributes can be developed as a result of those conditions. However, over the years, codependency has expanded into a definition which describes a dysfunctional pattern of living and problem solving developed during childhood by family rules. One of many definitions of codependency is: a set of *maladaptive, *compulsive behaviors learned by family members in order to survive in a family which is experiencing *great emotional pain and stress. *maladaptive - inability for a person to develop behaviors which get needs met. *compulsive - psychological state where a person acts against their own will or conscious desires in which to behave. *sources of great emotional pain and stress - chemical dependency; chronic mental illness; chronic physical illness; physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional abuse; divorce; hypercritical or non-loving environment. As adults, codependent people have a greater tendency to get involved in "toxic relationships", in other words with people who are perhaps unreliable, emotionally unavailable, or needy. And the codependent person tries to provide and control everything within the relationship without addressing their own needs or desires; setting themselves up for continued unfulfillment. Even when a codependent person encounters someone with healthy boundaries, the codependent person still operates in their own system; they're not likely to get too involved with people who have healthy boundaries. This of course creates problems that continue to recycle; if codependent people can't get involved with people who have healthy behaviors and coping skills, then the problems continue into each new relationship. back

I weighed at WW. I lost 2lbs. Now that is two of the ten I gained since Vegas, but I'll take it. Lori, we booked the cruise for several reasons. I want to go on the new ship Magic.....we want to go to Belize......DH always takes off at Christmas .........and I want a Christmas Break. It just so happens that two of my kids are going on a vacation at the same time. Now, if something happens between now and then we can always cancel. We are doing Christmas on Thanksgiving. I think it will be a nice change. We do Thanksgiving at my house every other year. I think we will do the same with Christmas. That way the kids can go to the in-laws on Christmas too. Our family is up to around 25. It is fun, but a lot of chaos. I think we are also going to scale down the gift giving. I have all my decorations down......now to pack. It shouldn't take too long. Tina, so sorry you are having problems. I think the medication will really help. Also try to get out and walk. It really clears your head, and make you feel healthier. Take it from someone who detested exercise. I just feel so much better. Peaches, I just loved the poem......thanks! Cheri, being a child of an alcoholic I have read many codependency books. Ugh! I just wish I would have not been such an enabler. It really hurt my kids. Jodi, I will be bored with you on Friday. I don't go out on New Years......too many crazies on the rode. We don't have mass transit like NY. Everyone drives down here......and some should not be allowed to drive anything!!! I think the Houston area has most DUIs in Texas. Crazy! Meredith........get well soon! Sorry, I only read the posts on this page......Later! I better get to packing!

TGIF! I'm so glad it's the weekend. I'm having a good week with food. Went for a doc appt yesterday and went down on the scale - finally! He still won't put a fill in so I'm working on my "behavioral issues". Day 3 of no sugar... except maybe alcohol if I have it. So far so good. On another scary note, I ran into a woman I have gotten to know at our monthly support groups. She's had the band a year and already it has eroded so it was removed. She is devastated. Doc said he won't put another one in. I felt so bad for her. Anyway, have a great weekend everyone. Kathy

CRS. Don't be offended if I don't respond to everyone. Arlene-happy B-day. My year to turn 60 also. Dec. 30. Great--baby will be fine. Joyce--like everyone else, had no idea you broke your elbow. You and my dad. I have a screw in mine. Apples--hugs, with that much snow why aren't you still in Arizona? Can't farm! Melissa--I have a feeling you won't stop eating till you deal with some of your codependency issues. Don't be offended, we're all codependents in various stages of recovery. Standing up to your husband--but also giving him consistent messages will help. Ask him if he would wave a bottle of booze under the nose of an alcoholic. I also think he's placing enormous pressure on you to carry the burden of working full time and providing insurance in a time and economy where that's almost impossible. The reality is, you're not going to find a full-time job with insurance unless you go back to school and upgrade your skills. Or are you the one putting that pressure on yourself to provide that? Instead, you're so stressed out you're ending up costing a lot of out-of-pocket money on your medical needs. Maybe your DH needs to take an extra job to cover insurance. However, someone posted that ultimately you are responsible for your own health and what you put in your mouth. Are you sure you aren't rebelling against all the expectations on you by putting your own health at risk? Take control of your life and of your food. Easier said than done. But ultimately, it's the only way. Sorry if I'm being too up front with you. I'm just especially aware of how fleeting life is. Don't waste it. Meredith, I'd like to know what to put in my increasingly curly frizzy hard to manage hair. Don't think a bush whacking will take care of it. I'm talking over the counter. Also will be posting the funniest post my daughter's best friend put on her page in response to my request for jokes. Cheri

Just get me to the plane in time for my ride home. Actually, I did get sick from drinking 1 time. My first husband and I were at my uncle and aunt's house in Milwaukee (both of whom turned out to be confirmed alcoholics-they divorced after she tried to set the bed on fire-with him in it). We hadn't had lunch and they took us to a brewery where we sampled the beer. Then we went to their house and sipped on wine well into the evening before they grilled some brats soaked in beer. I think I had one Southern Comfort Manhatten thrown in there too. Next morning, bright and early, with the sun shining in through uncovered windows, I finally gave up trying to sleep and went in the bathroom and stuck my fingers down my throat. The brats hadn't digested-just pickled. TMI I know, but funny. I actually told that story at my uncle's intervention. My husband, who ended up with an alcohol problem himself, started drinking Southern Comfort a lot after that. I had a five month old baby with me and I decided I'd never again drink that much. I don't think she liked the taste of my breast milk the next day either. So that's my drunk story. Once in a while I don't mind getting a nice buzz if I'm not driving anywhere. But I am not at all fond of headaches and throwing up. Cheri

Janet.......have a great vacation with the family. We will miss you! Cheri......sound like you had an awesome Thanksgiving with the family. My extended family is full of dysfunction.......mainly alcoholism. I still love to see them and remember good times as children. Apples, have a great time at your Christmas get- together with the family. Laura.......so sorry about your dad. It is so hard to watch our loved ones suffer with so much pain. I know you are such a comfort to them. HUGS! and Prayers for you and family. Chris......I hope your DW is bettter today......scary! Sham......It is hard to make that guess on your dress size. I think you go down a size every twenty lbs. Be sure you get a dress that can be altered several sizes. Kelly.....congrats on the first meal. If you felt full for several hours it sounds like you may be just where you need to be. Okay gang, I offered to babysit my two granddaughters while DD and her husband go do some shopping. I will be busy today. I am back to journaling, and looking forward to a fill on the 9th.

Janet, I've eliminated the bad carbs but picked up some things with complex carbs. Atkins has some surprisingly good things. Their Daybreak Chocolate Chip Crisp Bar has 0 gram sugar, 10g Protein, only 3g net carbs. Atkins only counts the carbs that shoot up your blood sugar (hi glycemic) as carbs that count toward total carb count. The bar does have 6 g. fiber-most of it soluble because its made from soy and oats. I still have to take my Miralax everyday--more than ever--because fiber makes me constipated--and the gas is unbelievable. Doesn't matter how much liquid I ingest. I also found an Atkins candy bar called Endulge, only a couple of carbs, they use the sugar alcohols that don't raise your blood sugar so net carbs are very low. Tastes a lot like a 3 musketeers/milky way and it has protein and fiber. One of each of these a day seems to really take care of my cravings while keeping my carbs low. I'm more into keeping my carbs low and my protein high than into total calories. I add some vegetables and a little fruit. Both the Atkins products really fill me up. We'll see if they help with the weight loss, but they do add fiber and no simple carbs. And they taste good. Took over an hour walk today. Yesterday no walk. Spent my day and night with various children--which does give you exercise. Cheri

Tina, I'm the one with ADHD, Candice is the one with bi-polar, and Jessica has something else. I've had situational depression (I was married to an alcoholic) and my physical limitations and pain from the osteoarthritis I have. I have gone to counseling, couple's counseling, group counseling, OA, Alanon, and I forget what else. I have read just about every book published on codependancy. I have been on anti-depressants and on meds for ADHD. I am currently looking at getting back on the ADHD meds in order to help me not use food to medicate the ADHD and also to help me focus enough to keep teaching and handle my aging parents and take more responsibility for our finances. My first marriage didn't make it but I learned a lot from it. I chose to learn about myself and what I needed to do to become healthier emotionally. I learned that I couldn't save the marriage myself and that couple's counseling was ineffective if only one person was genuinely trying to change while the other spent all the time blaming me for everything. Codependancy is a huge co-factor of obesity, so you and your partner do need to work on yourselves. Sounds like your partner has major co-dependancy issues and is trying to change and let you get yourself better. So do it. Cheri

What card? I never got a card. I will have to call the dr. office on Monday and see about one. I was supposed to get a card to show for eating out too. I forgot all about getting it. I had to live with my parents during the week when I moved to the country and still worked in Houston. HATED IT!!!! My mother is a saint, but even earthly saints have a few flaws. My dad, well, he was an alcoholic, nuff said. And of course, I was pregnant with #3 so I was no sweet thing either. MY DS has been here a month today.......I probably have seen him six times. I think he is moving completely out before the 1st. Now, my oldest DD told me she rented an apartment and is moving out of her home ( it is for sale). I am glad to hear that news. She won't be moving in after DS moves out. Whew! Linda, I know what you mean about feeling guilty when your kids get overweight. All of mine are overweight. I know I did not teach them the proper way to eat and put them on the pathway to obesity. They are adults now, and they know the right way. It is their choice. My oldest had lap band and lost 120 and gained it back. He has now lost 50 on Quick Weight Loss. The DS living with us eats a lot, but works out a lot. He like food too. My DD that just had the baby has a major weight problem, but she wants to start eating right. Her DH cooks and is skinny. She does have support. Janet, so sorry for DS problems. They still want to talk to mama. My DS that was in the service would call me from Germany when him and his wife were fighting. Sometimes she would call. What was I to do?......I was thousands of miles away. I would just listen. Then I would get on my soap box. Then they probably questioned why they called in the first place. lol. Heck, if they are going to call and whine.........I'm gonna preach!!!! That'll cure em!!! Lori, I am glad today looks better. I hope you enjoy your party tonight. Cheri, I haven't flown alone in many, many years. I too, am very anxious about my flight, but I have been telling myself this is something I have to do. We will have this victory......call it a NSV! Eva, You ready for a roommate? I will be there soon!!! Julie......Are you feeling better??

So sorry about your DD. My first husband had issues with alcohol. I found attending 12-step meetings to be very beneficial. The Lord bless and keep you.

I have a little thing I do that really has worked for me. I usually don't get stuck often. Has happened twice with Eva since we've been here. Gabbing, one extra bite and it might hit. I put my fists into my armpits and pump like I am doing the chicken dance. Granted, you might not want to do this in the middle of a restaurant...head to ladies room or outside. It most always works for me and no food popping back up. Sorry for your mom's continuted troubles. Hugs. Apples, I got a great visual on that. Would pay $ to see that. Wish I were with you and Eva and Janet and Phyll. West Coast reunion. Hope you all can make it to the Midwest reunion. Laura, I've not had any Tramadol now for two days. Didn't like the fact that I kept waking up at night. Very relaxed from muscle relaxer but figured something was in the Tramadol just like Vicodin. Plus, it wasn't working that well on my pain. Supplemented my regular anti-inflammatory with arthritis strength acetiminophen and got more relief. I've also been hanging from my inversion table which has been slowly stretching out the spine and surrounding muscles and relieving the pain in my neck, lower back and hip. So, no trouble getting off the Tramadol. Been on liquids for two days. Protein drinks and SF pudding. Love the new Jello chocolate SF Mousse. They have choc. mint, too. Unfortunately, SF means sugar alcohols which means lots of gas. Amazing how the weight is melting off. Hopefully, with soft Proteins tomorrow and then the harder proteins I hope the carb cravings are gone. When I think about what I went through before and after the surgery because I was so determined to get the band and shrink my liver enough to get the 1 incision surgery. I gritted my way through liquid diets and then gradual reintroduction of food, then Bandster Hell while I hung on by my fingernails until I could get to my first fill, which wasn't enough, and then the second fill and adjusting to that. Then getting to goal and beyond. Reached one year of having the weight off last month. A year ago I had my feet knocked out from under me and had all kinds of body pain and limited movement while I healed. Stuck to my food plan. Didn't gain and eventually lost more. Back up to where I was last January but I'll be dipped if I'll go any higher and I'm determined to get back down and stay there. I don't want my clothes to not fit. I don't want to buy a bigger size. I like being in size 10 pants. I like wearing a large in tops and some mediums. I want to be able to walk all over Europe on my tour and sing my heart out and totally enjoy myself. I don't want to go back on blood pressure meds or increase my cholesterol and pain meds. I want my eighth grade students to continue to think that I'm a "beast" in my leggings. I want to be able to play with my grandkids. I want to be able to dance with my husband. I wanted to be able to look down and see my feet. All the reasons for losing weight are still valid as reasons for keeping it off. I think all of us need to list the reasons we went through the torture of getting the band and why we wanted to lose the weight. Some of us are at our ultimate goal and some of us have settled for major improvements. And that's OK. But if don't want to end up back where we started we have to stay hungry, not for food, but for a healthier, more manageable life. For many of us, this time of year is the hardest. We don't see the sun, we can't get outside, it's hard to get to where we can enjoy exercising. So this is the time to remember how far we've come and why we've come this far. Cheri

Miranda, thanks for what you wrote.. I throw food out all the time now.. I make it for some reason or other and if DH doesn't eat the leftovers fast enough I throw it out... He never knows the difference.... Or I do send stuff to my kids or whomever, too.. I love rice pudding........the kind that is cooked on the stove very slowly and is so creamy and delicious.. DH doesn't like that, so I just never make it anymore... DH is a 34 year recovering alcoholic.. I've never seen him drink so don't know how he was then, but I've often made that same analogy about drinking and eating... You can quit drinking and smoking and drugs, but you have to eat to live.... Most everything is a temptation... A whole box of sugar free/fat free Cookies is still bad for you..... Anyway thanks for the encouragement.. Hope you have good days ahead, too.. Well, no sleeping with DH again tonight.. We spent all this time cleaning the bedroom and putting up our new sleep Number bed and it doesn't work!!!!! Dang air pump doesn't blow any air.. I've just been on the phone getting a new one on the way. They promised to have it by Wednesday... So, back to my recliner... At least my bedroom is spring-cleaned... and we are working on the living room now... Hey, Long, sorry you have a bug.... My SIL had it for a week... hope that doesn't happen to you.... take care of yourself Bye all, talk again later.. Julie

julie~ Caliou has been one of Nelson's FAVORITE cartoons since he was 3! He STILL likes it to this day. Actually a lot of the PBS shows he enjoys.. like Curious George. It's funny that your dear likes it too, thought maybe it was just a boy thing. LOL.. They sell the DVD movies too! Then you can REALLY get some stuff done. Amazon.com: Caillou DVDs for Kids & Family I think I saw them at Toysrus one time too, but I bought most on Amazon. FYI Long/Great~ I like the new name, BTW. And I cannot wait to see a pic of that shirt! WTG! Just come down slow and easy. I haven't been camping since the Peace Corps. It's hard to believe way back then I hiked the Inca Trail in Peru! I joined the PC weighing 210 and left weighing 160. I remember thinking I would conquer the world at that weight and NEVER put it back on! I will do that trail one more time in this life time. On my bucket list. PJ~ ditto. I am enjoying the parents. : ) Enjoy your vacation!!! YEAH!!! Bills bills bills... and pooped pooped pooped! I know I will have more energy. My parents haven't seen me in 3-4 weeks and were shocked to see the difference in me. Although there has only been like 8 lbs since they were here.. I have been at the gym a lot. Mom said it looked like more than 8. Guys I have a question: Do you guys notice a correlation between getting pain/stuck when you are dehydrated? Yesterday I was so busy running around, errands and cleaning and didn't get in enough Water. For the first time since my last fill I had trouble with dinner.. and then noticed trouble at Breakfast. No PB, just severe pain that made me stop eating. Bites were not big and had just started eating- so had not had too much. I spent the morning drinking. LOL.. water, not alcohol. I had 1.5 liters of H20 and LIVED on the potty today! : ) I ate lunch and was FINE. Nelson was jumping on my bed yesterday afternoon (after I repeatedly warned him not to or he would get hurt). I was in the other room and heard a loud thud, but didn't hear anything for 20 seconds after that. He was doing one of those "hold the breath before I cry really loud" moves! I am still not sure exactly what he hit. Foot board? Rug? Post? But I was convinced he broke his nose when it happened.. bloody nose, indentation. But alas... all is well. We were soooo lucky it wasn't worse! BOYS! CBL~ peas

WOW! I don't know how anyone can resist the bad foods that are in your house! THROW IT AWAY - GIVE IT AWAY - GET IT AWAY FROM YOU!!! My heart goes out to you who have families that still want these foods around, but they have to have some understanding... this is like being an alcoholic with a bottle of booze sitting on your counter! The hardest thing about being addicted to food is the fact that you cannot simply stop eating. Those cravings will always be with you - there are ways to compensate, but you should not have to deal with this kind of temptation in your home. If you are keeping these items for yourself - please - just throw them away. It really is not as hard as it sounds - and it is very liberating. Stock up with snacks you can allow for yourself (as Janet recommends - the SF puddings, SF fudgecicles, etc.) - be creative and come up with your own substitutes. When the cravings hit, you will be surprised at how helpful this can be. Please be kind to yourself and get rid of the things that tempt you...

Wish I could afford any kind of retirement place. Doubt I'll move out of the area with so many grandkids and both our families here. I'll just have to deal with the cold like my parents and grandparents and most people we know. We will, I'm sure, downsize. Most trailer parks around here are, unfortunately, not retirement communities but are for the poor and dispossessed. The uneducated, addicts, alcoholics, drama specialists, etc. Not fun and relaxing. Most condos are priced out of our range. They cost more than our house. I'm kind of leaving it in God's hands because I have no clue what life will bring. Great ideas on Chicago. We do need people's input. The Segway tour could be wonderful for those who can't walk distances. What a great idea. I'm thinking we should have "It's a beautiful day outside" plans with alternate "The weather sucks" plans. There's as much to do indoors as out. Gotta get going. Student coming for tutoring at 9:30. Lunch with my friend at 12:30 at Panera. I love their chili. We may go on to Borders after that. I also have $10 in Kohls' cash to spend and there's a Kohls there as well. Have a great day. Cheri

OMG Charlene - That was WONDERFUL !!! It got me crying too (I am very emotional too - I cry at a pepsi commercial ;0) Apples - Sorry for the delay in Xmas - but you still will be having it - so that's what counts and you have your DH all to yourself for 3 days - and yes we know what you should be doing - but you would have to keep the house at 80 degrees - By the time everyone does arrive you will be full of energy for it all .. I too have worried about throwing up - but I can say I haven't had the stomach flu in 20 yrs (knock wood)- have had the other end but no throwing up - I have my lapband doc's cell phone # so if I did get sick to my stomach - I would call him and he could call in a script for me.. Julie - Here's and ugly Xmas tradition that I had when I was with my DS Dad - he would come home Xmas Eve and pick a fight - say he was leaving and I had to pack his crap and take him to his Mom's -- Christmas with him wasn't every very good.. Hugs on your loss - like someone said - we are never ready for death but at the holiday's it's just a little harder - I know my sis's dad died the day after xmas.. I think we all most likely have some bad crap that happens to us all - Sounds like both Deb & Cheri had dh's who drank - they went to alanon - to help them deal with the crap that we have w/pple in our lives who abuse drugs &/or alcohol I know that's why I went - I needed to talk w/others who have walked in my shoes - It's easy for us to give advice - but when you are smack in the middle of it - it's totally diff - you can't see the forest for the trees - and we think love will concur all - Cheri Hugs on the tooth issue - I love my dentist - but still hate the dentist ;0) Not fitting in - I always found that black pple accept white pple more than the other way around - My DS Dad was black - so as you said I have lived on the black side to - and I would say they were more accepting of me than the white side.. In fact I had a neighbor once and she was the older sister of a guy I went to school with - She use to watch DS when he was a toddler - We became Bff's - My DS calls her Auntie and I am Auntie to her kids - Her Mom & Dad have told me I am an adopted member of their family - When my bro died last yr and they came to the funeral - my DIL thought that Auntie Linda was DS Aunt on his Fathers side cuz she's black - I said nope - she's his Aunt on my side :0) The only real new freinds that I have are you guys and my #7's - But that's cuz I live in the same town where I was born - I have made good friends w/the pple I have worked with too - But I think some pple just click - My gf Candy who I met when I 1st started my job 30 yrs ago - heck we are like sisters. I think we all need pple like that in our lives - No Man is an Island - Great - I am glad you had a good day and are resting that knee ;0) LauraK - Did you get unfilled some?? Laura - Glad Nelson had a great early Xmas - they are so special at that age - to bad they have to grow up ;0).. Heck your weather is better than ours - it was 66 today with a little wind.. I don't remember my Stepmom being cold during Chemo but again - it's not as cold here as NC Eva - I hear you girl on the rain - heck 1/2 is almost flood conditions :0) Glad the soap & lotion fit in with your decor ;0) Well - I am off for the next 4 days - kids s/b here tomorrow around 10 p.m.ish - will hit the gym for carido in the a.m. - had gym tonite weights arms - think I will be sore in the next few days.. Gotta finish up my food shopping tomorrow and watch It's a Wonderful Life tomorrow night - Well the dogs need to be fed - who know who has posted since I started this 1 hr ago :0) Cbl

Morning gang~ Janet.... you look AMAZING in those photos! WOWZERS! And regarding the Juniper Berries reference... are you telling me I can have gin?! LOL. Kidding. Back in 2001-2002 during my struggle with infertility and 10+ IVFs, I didn't have a sip of alcohol for two years. And ever since then really lost my taste for it. I will have one glass of wine on special occasions, but that's it. I am a cheap date these days! Really.. on vacation, DH was commenting how much less our bills are now that I am eating off the appetizer menu and he is eating less and no dessert! : ) Apples.... Happy Anniversary Baby, got you on my mind. <singing> Meredith, Meredith... you made me laugh and cry regarding the olives. You have no permanent damage my dear. : ) After all, we are only human! You are almost done! Keep up the good work!!! TOM is visiting AGAIN, darn it. And he's back with a vengeance and 9 days early! Actually had to cancel my gym today... feeling horrible, crampy and accidents. And of course I had my annual appt with the gyn for tomorrow but had to cancel b/c they can't do pap. Any of you menstruating women notice a change in your cycles after being banded and losing weight? My cycles are ALL over the place and crazy heavy! TMI I know. I had the 0.2cc put back in yesterday... and I know it's early to say, but I think I am either VERY close or at my sweet spot! Things going down well but feeling very satisfied after a small amount! yeah!!! Have a great day everyone! xoxo peas

Hey, you guys still up??? Hopefully you are all tucked in and sleeping by this time... It's 1:30 here... I've been doing pretty well the last couple of days.. Actually slept all night in bed with DH last night.. He was shocked, of course!! So, tonight I went to bed but didn't take any sleeping or pain pills..... No pain tonight, so why take the dang pill........ Well, I rolled around for quite some time from 11:30 to 12:30 and then must have dosed off, but only to wake at 1:00 with aches and pains, but not my shoulder!!!! Go figure... I guess those pills have been covering for other things I wasn't even aware of!!!.... Anyway I had to read your posts and Apples, I surely do understand your need to vent a little.... I'm a very organized type and make plans and when someone messes with my plans I get grouchy!!! I'm glad you got all that off your chest.... Did you happen to tell DH he better not do it again for at least a week or two??? Hope this new day is a better on for you... Lori, hope you know what you're doing tomorrow... I don't like the sound of you cleaning for 8 hours this close to your surgery.... might hurt something..... I'm hoping you have the day off and enjoy it emmensely.... Janet, it sounds like you aren't having a bad time adjusting to this furlough day... If it wasn't for the money, it would be a good deal..... Just for your information.............. I hate coffee..........and everything about it... DH is addicted... He is a 37 year recovering alcoholic and evidentally drinks coffee like he used to drink beer and liquor.. I never knew him when he drank... But this coffee thing wouldn't be so bad, but he makes such a mess with it.. He spills making it, pouring it, drinking it........ And everywhere... the counters, the living room....(hard on carpets, thus another reason to consider something other for new flooring in the spring!!) the vehicles.... Maybe if I like drinking it I would be more tolerant... but I have never liked it at all.... Then when he tries to clean it up he uses my dishcloth and wipes, but doesn't rinse the rag so it makes it stained.. I don't have a decent looking one in the house anymore because of that... When he was gone for 15 months on active duty in Iraq from 12-03 to 2--5, it was the only thing I didn't miss about him... I even got to missing his dirty socks laying everywhere.....(That's a whole new vent, so won't go there....) So, there's my venting for the evening, too.... This site really is like group counseling... They sometimes tell you to write your feelings down and then throw it away... just get it out... I guess that's what we do here sometimes... Well, I'm hoping my pills will kick in soon, so nightie night everyone... Hope you are all snoozing away.... Til tomorrow.............. Julie

Morning from the frozen southwest. The lowest I saw it last night was 25 degrees. I'm sure some of my plants are going to be mush, but I did set up lights and covers for a lot of them. I have quite a few plants....not as many as I used to but still I have indoor plants and outdoor plants in pots. A lot of them are frost sensitive....not sure how well they will survive a hard freeze even with protection. Brrrr. It's still only 31 degrees out. Yes, I am a wimp. Went shopping yesterday and bought a new MP3 player...it's so tiny and all it does is music, no video or anything else. It can do radio but you have to add a radio card. My old MP3 isn't recognized by the computer anymore and I really like to take my stories with me while I work. I also bought some outdoor fabric to redo my cushions on the front porch chairs. Every one of them is ripped and I don't like what is commercially available as replacement cushions. They won't be fancy, but they should work. Then I went to the sushi bar for lunch. That is always nice and relaxing. So yesterday I didn't get much done but shopping. Of course I'd be up for a trip to Chicago. Right now I have nothing on my schedule except a trip to NC or OH at the end of September. Cheri...you are too funny. It's almost nice to see someone post stuff that is "taboo". I have to monitor myself so I don't blurt out inappropriate things. My DH has no problems in "that category". He will take me any way he can get me as long as he can. It keeps him happy. I'm almost at the point I don't care either way, but I do like the intimacy. My arthritis is acting up. My fingers and hands are sore, my back and hips are sore, and my right hand keeps going numb. I started with the ibuprofen yesterday and think I may have to stay on it for a bit to stay moving. It's still low dose so I'm hoping I won't have to go on the high dose stuff again. I'm also very stuffy today. Hope it's just allergies because I don't want to be sick. We are going to a pajama party tonight at my friends house. She lives half a mile away so no problem with driving. I made posole for it both vegetarian and regular so people have something to absorb the alcohol. She is also providing many beds for people to sleep over. Happy New Year's Eve. I'll try and check in later as I don't have much planned for today either. Wow. Eva