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Well now I remember why I don't go on vacation. Left my house 18 hours ago. 1st flight on time. 4 hour delay at next airport. Finally made it to the third airport and Now have been sitting on the runway for almost 4 hours before they decided the plane doesn't actually work. Headed back to the terminal with no word on when or even if we will ever be departing. I'd seriously rather be back at work.

My husband and I for a little while now have been in a rough patch. We've been having little fights and such. On Friday I made a very stupid money mistake that caused us a great deal of inconvenience and some extra money, but I took care of it and fixed it right away. So my husband was furious about it. Saturday night he came home and said he wants to start sleeping in our guest room and that he is considering us officially separated, that this mistake on my part was the last straw for him. this might be temporary this might be permanent. He has not used the D word yet, and he says he's still wearing his ring. We are being civil and durring the evening still talking an…

I ask that you mention which service you watched it on and say a sentence or two about it! Ripper Street - Netflix, set in White Chapel right after the reign of terror of Jack the Ripper. the central characters are detectives working in a fairly troubled police station where the people don't really trust them. And the women from a Brothel are major supporting characters, but in ways you wouldn't entirely predict. Grizzly Man - Amazon prime. Documentary about Tim Treadwell who was obsessed with grizzlies. Making of a Murderer - netflix documentary 8 part series about alot of bad behaving people that everyone has heard about. By the end you don't know what to belie…

"I feel skinnyyyyyy, oh so skinnyyyyy....." So this happened. I'm back to my lowest post op weight today. Yay. This is big. I've been bouncing into and out of Onederland for SIX months. A month and a half ago I made some big changes to my food and behaviors. It resulted in the loss of ten pounds I gained back from my low weight last year up to that point. So today I'm back down to 193, back on track, and feeling great. Less than fifty pounds to goal. I started thinking I'd make a list of what's going right. When I can't figure out why things are slowing down or going in reverse, I'll pull out this list and see what I'm doing or not doing. Here goes. Feel free to…

-- Spoiler Alert if you did not see this week's episode -- Did anyone else catch that Robert had a gastrectomy this week? I wonder how well Mrs. Patmore will do preparing a liquid diet? I am sure she can make it, and make it delicious, but I bet she will hate it!

I am extroverted and out going but only have a very few close friends. I value those relationships deeply. One of my closest, M, is about 10 years older, a fellow horse and animal lover, never married and fairly low income as background. For nearly 2 years I let her ride my extra horse because she couldn't afford her own due to some financial setbacks. I never asked her to pay for gas and of course I was the one that did all the cleaning out of the trailer etc since I hauled to a riding place sort of between where we live. My logic was, she can't afford it and I had to haul anyway. She bought a miniature horse that is trained to drive but M didn't know anything…

I currently have them... I don't need support or advice or anything like that... I'm ok... In fact, they kinda make me laugh... Anyway.. Just making conversation...

So, we are going to a theater performance soon and I need something to wear besides a maxi skirt or jeans! Borrowed 2 dresses so I didn't have to buy one. They both fit, and both look okay. Asked my daughter for her thoughts on which I should wear & got the standard "Either one, they are both nice" response! ARGH!!! I think part of the problem is that I still don't see *ME* as I am now when I look in the mirror. I know they both are nice, but which do YOU like better!?!?!?

Damn Kindle...more on next post.

Earlier this week I met a guy, and he wanted to take me to lunch on Friday. About my age, professional, works near me, owns his house, has a car, divorced with two adult children, etc. He's a civil engineer, so his thinking tends to be pretty linear. Not necessarily a trait that works with my sense of humor, but I figure what the hell, why not give it a go. Because, well, the guy I really have the hots for is unavailable. Anyway, we're talking, and he wants to take me to a sushi place on Friday. Prior to surgery, I loved sushi. Oh heavens, YUM. When I started hemming and hawing, and he noticed, I told him I had a little secret. And then I told him that I had ga…

Several people have mentioned how much I make them laugh, and I should write a book or a blog or something. Confession time... I've had a blog, albeit a private one, for years. http://sharonslife.blogdrive.com/ I went through and removed a couple of things that were a little too explicit for public consumption. The first couple of pages will be familiar to you guys, because you've seen it here. I suggest you go all the way to the beginning (just keep hitting NEXT at the bottom of the page), and read it in the order it was written.

I am not pissed off anymore. Carry on. Ha! Actually was on hold for united air for two hours and skype puked right when she answered. I wanted to throw my phone out the window which just made me laugh at how things have gone today so I am all chill now...on hold again of course...rocking to the elevator music. Any kind of luck I am home on Monday. ..woohoo!

I just made myself a cup of Peppermint "Tea" and am watching and old movie from TCM. If you are snowed in today, what are you doing for fun?

I'm headed to a dinner party Friday and I offered to bring a veggie appetizer. It was a selfish move -- I wanted to make sure there was something WLS-friendly there for me to eat that wouldn't derail my food plan. Any ideas for making something classy and healthy? I'm tired of my old standby, the raw veggie and dip tray. I did read over the Food and Nutrition thread before posting this here, but I think that doesn't get as much traffic. Thanks in advance!

I am making progress in life... and I am pretty excited about a couple of things planned for this year: -my first ever Hawaiian vacation -getting a surgery out of the way and done with so I can move on! Should be fully healed by mid Feb! -very exciting new project at work Some goals for myself: -reduce bodyfat from current 29% (a year off from serious exercise does that to you even if you don't gain weight!) down to something in the 22-24% range -keep rehabbing that hip (doing great so far!) so I don't miss out on this hiking season -get fit enough to consider that crazy Iceland riding vacation where you are in the saddle all day, riding fast and hard for a week…

Of course I had to pick up whatever virus was out there when I was coming home from surgery this week. Has anyone tried sugar-free cough drops within a week of surgery? I'm wondering if the menthol is going to be extremely unpleasant or if I can try it. The "plain" cough drops have never helped and I need something for my sinuses, throat, and cough. Thanks.

I don't know WHAT I was thinking. A friend of mine caught me in a weak moment, and I agreed to teach a class on The Five Love Languages the day before Valentines Day, for a local kink group. I've taught this class several times in the past. I can see how this one is going to go... Q: Are you in a relationship now? A: No, I just broke up with my man of 4 years because he was no longer speaking my love languages.

So yes.... i have been on this forum for the past 6 years and have posted on a many of things. I have a question.... How many of you have lost the weight, got in shape only to have your spouse now not be interested in you...?? We have been married for almost 25 years. The first 5 i was thin.... then gained weight gradually through out the years. The last 5 have been what i would call "normal" size. Years before the weight loss we didn't have sex maybe a few times a year. I was kind of ok with that.... I blamed my weight and my lack of interest on my size. He assured me that it was not my size. He got tested for Low T and sure nuff... he now takes Testosterone s…

I know this is a strange question. As some of you know I got laid off last week and I am in the process of going through interviews. I work in commercial insurance in a very specialized division and as it turns out, quite a few companies interested who sought me out. (Not bragging here. Just trying to set the stage.) So I had a good interview yesterday that has some good perks such as working from home and a built in book of business and a pension plan (which is pretty well unheard of now), etc. BUT they don't have enough to pay me what I have been making in the past and it will be commission only. It has the potential to be more but in the short-run, it could be …

A page I follow posted about this book today. Has anyone read it? I love that author's blog.

Had surgery about 8:30 this morning. Was home by 2 and stopped by Staples, the grocery store and post office on the way home. I can't believe how good I feel. Actually kind of wired.....been puttering around the house for almost 3 hours. Finally decided I better sit down and relax or I may be sorry tomorrow. So looks like I'll be eating thanksgiving dinner at Grandmas after all. Won't have to wait for leftovers. Yeah!

Have you all started decorating? I know some folks will go all out. I would love to see. I think I will put up a few things for the kitty and I indoors. We all know how much the furbabies love to re arrange the ornaments from the tree to the floor. Or having to rescue them from the trees because these silly brats are stuck. Never a dull moment around the holidays.

I went to see my primary care provider (PCP) on the 18th. I asked about WLS and was told given my current weight and co-morbidities I would more than likely qualify. I had done some research and knew my insurance covers lapband (LB). My PCP told me my insurance usually recommends the VGS, which is the procedure I was told currently works best and the procedure I wanted. I don't want the LB. I've heard about too many issues with it and seen too many patients come back due to problems. I have co-workers who have LB and they said they would get the sleeve if it had been available to them at the time of their surgeries. I received my paperwork today to start my consul…

Let me first say, I desperatley love my husband and daughter more than anything. Then there's my car...to some, it may be nothing, to me it is so dear. It is the nicest and most expensive thing I have ever owned, I rent and have moved often. I have lived in 3 states (Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota) and been through some terrible weather, and a bad accident with it. It has survived. My baby is a black 2 door 1985 Buick Riviera with 70,000 miles. Yes, you heard me, 70,000. was a collector car with 40,000 when I bought it. Beautiful motor, minor rust just started on passenger door. Very quiet and depedable. I could go on and on. Anyways, here is my agony. When I was …

I know many of you won't care but because I am so excited, I had to share; I was lucky enough to get tickets to see Adele!!! That is all.

I'm breaking a one year stall by weighing my food, measuring my portions, tracking it in MyFitnessPal, and committing my food plan in advance to my OA sponsor every day. Today and tomorrow are just Thursday and Friday. The food may be different and fancier (and prepared with love by me for the family), but it's still just fuel, not my reason to live like it used to be. WLS operated on my stomach, not my brain. The brain work is the hardest part, and I do it for life. One day at a time. Merry Christmas to you all. As my sponsor says, a clean food plan is the most loving gift I can give to myself. Today I happily open that gift.

I'm picking up my daughters from college for Christmas break next week. I'll meet my youngest's boyfriend for the first time. I told her I'd take us all to lunch. She suggested I wear my new black maxi dress because I look "cute" in it. I had such a wave of emotions after I hung up the phone. I'm so happy to share her joy, and thankful she wants me to meet her boyfriend. It's the first serious fella since her senior year in high school. It also made me think of all the years I was the frumpy mom on the sidelines, hiding from the world, avoiding social events. It had an effect on my kids. I didn't realize how much until my life changed 180 degrees and I became a…

Wasn't quite sure where to put this so I figured The Lounge was as good as any other place. So...I got a silver frame and a watch case for the boyfriend for Christmas. His daughter is getting married in March and I thought a frame would be better than taping a picture to the wall, which is basically what he does now. Suffice to say he was not terribly impressed with the frame when tape is good enough in his opinion. Happily, I also thought a watch case would be nice since he has about ten wristwatches and they're all over the place so I was looking forward to his reaction when I gave him gift number two. What I didn't know was that he has so many watches because they'r…

Look at my sig! Look! I'm in the two's now!

Now that my energy levels up I have not a single clue what to do with myself on a Saturday night. I have been mostly just cleaning up everything, organizing and purging all day and walking. Even the carpets got shampooed yesterday. Tonight, I'm staying home for the first time in a long time. I went and grabbed some lentil vegan Soup with a couple of people and then returned home. I have lost desire to go out to parties or bars for a nightlife. I can only go shopping so many times a week. I think it's high time I find new hobbies or Bari sis/bros to socialize with. I do read and I also make jewelry. But these don't require company and are sedentary. I don't own a…

Have you ever picked out a piece of clothing or whole outfit that was not your size, but you liked it so much you bought it for when you can finally wear it? I found this ordinary shirt at Dicks Sporting Goods while shopping for a few things. I was going from a 5xl to a 4xl and looking for Under Armor stuff for working out. I ended up not finding anything online, but while in their store, I found a 2XL Reebok 2 snap henley that, for whatever reason, just struck me as a great looking shirt. So I did what anybody would do when they find a shirt they love but don't make in their size. I bought it. It's still folded with its tags on in my dresser, waiting for the day I fit …

I take Effexor XR, an extended release SSRI that comes in a capsule. Directions say never to open the capsule. Only take it whole. This is NOT a medication that I can skip until I can take pills the withdrawal effects are horrendous, even dangerous. My surgeon has not offered Any advice or solutions. I don't know where else to turn.

The topic title refers to posting on this site wirh my Kindle but applies to the subject too!

I've been selling candy bars at work for a while for a fundraiser for my daughter's field trip. They really haven't tempted me at all. Until today. Today the doctor was out of town, so there were no patients and few phone calls. Mid-afternoon, I was bored. That used to be a trigger to eat. So here's how this conversation went down: Me: Mannn, I just really want to lick that chocolate bar. Girl#1: Yanno, I used to lick stuff and spit it out, it's not as good as when you swallow it. Girl#2 (who couldn't stop giggling): Yeah, it's never as good if you just lick it and don't swallow it. Girl#3: Y'all are GROSS!

Hey guys, this might seem like an odd request but I don't really have anywhere else to ask this. I'm working on a gift for someone. It's a crochet scarf that's going to look like sheet music. White scarf with black lines and music notes on it. I want the notes to be from an actual piece of music so what I'm looking for is a piece of piano music that is kinda simple so I can crochet the notes but also kind of well known does that make any sense at all? thanks in advance if anyone can help

Someone said if you heat the Quest bar up a little it will be so much better. Well I was running late today and figured the defroster would heat it for me. I opened the wrapper a little bit and sat it up there. Within a few minutes, my car smelled like cinnamon rolls and I was eating a warm chewy Quest bar.

I found my theme. This is a great metaphor for my weight loss journey.

Well, here we are again, back in the hospital (since Friday evening, actually), this time Dave has a bowel obstruction. And it has been quite a time. Friday brought immense pain, vomiting, and a quick ride to the hospital. No idea of when he will get out, but at least the obstruction is easing a bit. He has more tests today to find out the cause. His pain has eased, but he is so weak...could it be that he hasn't eaten since Friday morning????? Now THAT is a diet!!! He is now on liquid nutrition through an IV, and is slowly regaining some strength. His nose tube came out this morning (Hallelujah!!!), and hopefully his drain from the initial surgery will come out soon. It…

Greetings all... In Australia, November 25 is White Ribbon Day. This is a day to draw attention to Australia's campaign to prevent men's violence against women. Unfortunately, this issue is global. In my profile pic is a copy of the White Ribbon Day oath. It's an oath I take every year. And now, I'm imploring you to do likewise. Take it for your own wives... Your daughters... Your sisters... Take it with your sons... Take it privately or publicly, on the White Ribbon Day website (http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/day?gclid=CMyu5NmurMkCFZeWvQodG-gNDA) ... Please gents, take the oath.. Women's safety is a men's issue. Stand up... Speak out... Please.. Thank yo…

I am currently watching the first episode of this season's Project Runway and one of the contestants is a plus-sized plus size designer. I hope she makes it far in the competition and we get to possibly see a plus size challenge.

Did you have weight loss surgery between 2005 and 2010? If you have struggled significantly with weight loss and maintenance since then, you may be eligible to be interviewed as part of a Quinnipiac University research study on substantial weight regain (or inability to lose enough weight) after bariatric (weight loss) surgery. Participants will receive $50 for the 45-90 minute confidential interview. Location will be wheelchair-accessible. Please call 203-533-9572 for more information. Protocol #0315: Approved by the Quinnipiac University Institutional Review Board, Valid Until 1/19/2016. **Please note that this is NOT a commercial post; I am a medical studen…

SO, On Monday, September 14th I will be going to Atlanta from Boston on business with a few colleagues. The funny thing is the last time I was in an airport was 16 years ago, me and my wife went to las vegas. It was hell walking around especially in the heat, and I always tried to dress well, but lets face it, when your a big/fat/overweight guy, looking hip or classy, is not easy on a budget. At that time, I wasn't as big as I was before my surgery but I was well over 300 pounds. The stares from people when I got on the plane were of them saying, oh please don't let this fat man sit next to me. Thankfully myself and my wife had two seats in an end row to ourselves…

Its no secret how happy i am 6 months post op, just by the way i feel and move, and just live...Yes i still have a stretch ahead of me till all the weight is off, and then plastic surgery..But i wanna share something that happened at work today. I work in a corporate environment and there are many people from all walks of life on the floor i work on, One in particular is a very attractive blonde lady who is a yoga instructor in her free time...Needless to say, we as men (Yes ladies, we are primitive animals) here at the office tend to sneak a peak every time she walks around. So i was walking out of the building and she was in front of me, and all of the sudden stops de…

At my appointment with the psychologist. So nervous. Funny thing is I am a Psych nurse. Oh help me.

I finally got a Sam's card today and purchased a two pack of the Prostak Blender Bottle. Anyone else use these? Description: Leak-proof, expandable, and unbelievably powerful, the BlenderBottle ProStak is the all-in-one solution for the serious athlete. The patented BlenderBall wire whisk delivers smooth shakes every time, while the unique twist n' lock jars offer unlimited storage expandability. Keep powders and pills in place - with or without the bottle. The ProStak's unique interlocking jars have individual lids, making it possible to carry pre- and post-workout supplements, Meal Replacements, and Snacks, even without the bottle. The ProStak's screw-on lid and le…

Cancer-Free!!!!! It is official, and what I have been waiting for, for over 5 months. My husband Dave, is now cancer-free, out of the mouth of the surgeon, himself. The pathology came back with minimal lymphatic cancer cells, which means there will always be the possibility of return, but the surgeon is very optimistic about Dave beating this forever. From stage 4 colon cancer, intense chemotherapy, HIPEC surgery, and now surgical recovery, 6 more chemo treatments, onto a future bright with hope. HOPE. NEVER give up, people. NEVER!!!! Pray until you can't anymore, let the Lord hear your plight, your love, your hope, and BELIEVE! Miracles DO happen, and even though Dave…

I had to put it out there I stepped on the scales today and have officially reached a 100 pound reduction since I started this journey. I did not think I would ever have gotten here as quickly as I have, but I follow my nuts recommendations by the letter, and do an hour of cardio a day. Just 45 more to go for my goal!!!

When I click, I get the spinning thing (two little arrows circling like dogs chasing each other). It spins and spins, but the notifications list never opens. Everything else on the site is working properly for me, including the little, neighboring Messenger envelope. My browser is fine; I'm able to open new tabs to open other websites. I shut down my laptop and shut off the DSL modem (all three lights are as they should be) and rebooted just in case. All this tells me the problem is with the website, yes? Anyone else having the difficulty? Know a solution? Thanks. Addendum. Found the way to the notifications list via My Settings screen. (I need to start drop…

When I was recovering from surgery I was scouring craigslist for some stuff related to my home remodel. Cool. Well, I somehow stumbled into the personals "missed connections" In my pain pill induced stupor I had this romantic vision of eyes meeting across the train platform but before the fated lovers can speak, or exchange phone numbers, she is wisked away... and true love is missed. Well, not really, but it sounded like a fun romantic thought. So, the other day I went by a local business to pick up an growler beer order "to go" (for my sons to try a microbrew I really liked and wanted to share with them) the place they have you wait is like on display for EVERYB…

I'm five weeks post-op and tonight my boyfriend of nearly three years broke up with me. This is my first very serious, long-term relationship like this, so I'm hurting a lot. We'd been having some problems, but I didn't think they were that bad and wasn't expecting this. It's a huge blow to my support system. I'm trying my best to keep it together and not break down cause I'm scared of how it will feel if I do. Has anyone dealt with something like this soon after surgery?