The Lounge

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THE 4TH OF JULY Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well e…

Not to be on... To do research on for school. I have to write a paper on some kind of Diet, well not really a paper but I have to answer questions. Anyway It has to be something with lots of information I can research. And something I dont have to join to research. I have to answer questions like: Does it include all the food groups, Does it have a calorie level? Does it give reliable information? Do the credentials..... questions like that... wooooo fun huh!!! So past dieters.. give me your best!

Here's a place to add your favorite quotes. Here's mine for the day: My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to $3.00 a can. That's almost $21.00 in dog money. - Joe Weinstein

Hi Everyone, This is my first post. I had the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty on May 24th. Is this the correct online community for me or is there one that is specific to the Vertical Banded Gastroplasty? If there is, does anyone know the email address? Are there other people in this community who have had the same surgery? I know that the lap-band surgery is different and can be adjusted. It has been about 5 weeks since my surgery and I wonder if I'll ever be able to tolerate any solids? Thanks, Janice

Hope you have a great one!

Because I spontaneously whacked all of my hair off too! I haven't had a change this drastic since 2nd grade. The jury's still out on if I'll keep it like this. Part of me still enjoys holding onto my youth through my longer hair.....but maybe it's time to grow up and be a big girl. What do you think? ---I apologize in advance for not knowing how to shrink this.

I just posted on my grandmother and how I truly do miss her. I called my mom and cried to her for awhile, then she told me how I should go to church, so that I can someday see my grandmother again and hug her. Well, I hung up the phone and started thinking how I wish my grandma could walk in the door and give me a hug. Well, next thing you know, the office door flung open and the breeze hit my face. This is too weird. Was that my sweet grandma, or did i not shut the door right when I came in. It is soooooo weird, It frightened me at first, but then I thought, if thats my grandma, I have nothing to be afraid of.

Just wondering if anyone has an incrediable story involving green tea. I know its an antioxident and also aids in weightloss (?). Anyone here experience positive things from it?

Next Monday, Labor Day will only be 10 weeks away! Anyone wanna go for -10 in 10 weeks? I sure need this boost! Im guessing that Jonathan is in transition right now, and will put our info into his site as soon as he checks in. He wanted before/after pics on this challenge. But Ill wait till he gets back and let him persue that avenue! We can start on Monday - and weigh in every Monday afterwards. And you are welcome to set your own "goal". -10 in 10 weeks is a fairly decent weightloss goal for most of us to aim for. Anyone???

You look awesome girl.

Anyone seen anything good lately? (rented OR at the theater)

Time to share wedding stories. I didn't have a wedding. I would love to have one for my 10 year wedding anniversary. You girls all wanna be flower girls? Big poofy white dresses? Chris and I had broken up but were miserable without each other. I went to his apartment to end it for good. We were drinking and crying and trying to break up when he asked me to marry him. I knew I couldn't lose him, so I said, "let's go." He looked at me like I was crazy and wanted to wait to plan a ceremony, get a suit & dress, etc. I said, "no way, if I don't do it now I'll chicken out. So we went to the courthouse (open 24 hrs in Vegas.) I just wanted the judge to do it, b…

Today when I went in for a fill, (I arrived a few minutes early) I was flipping through a magazine in the waiting area and looked up to take a glance out the window. (My doc's office has a huge window with a beautiful garden courtyard in the center of the building.) You'll never guess what I saw in the pretty flower garden! It was noone other than MY SURGEON dragging a hose around spraying a litttle Water here and there giving all of the pretty flowers a drink! He was wearing his scrubs and a big grin. I got a kick out of this! I mean, of course couldn't he PAY someone to do this???? They called my name to go back just shortly after and I HAD to ask the nurse ab…

Have op date of Aug 2. Biggest fear is the weight will come off but I can't keep it off. Also I will miss eating the amounts I do now

Okay, just wondering (and need something different this morning). ... How old is your band? For those who have had it multiple years, did you find any changes after the 1st 3 - 5 years? In your eating, in what the band tolerated, when you got fills? Celeste

For Penni and the Poets. I have a few published, but yikes, they are deep and private and under a pen name and not intended to be associated with me. Oohh, I'm so mysterious. So who's gonna share? Penni, you better start this since I'm the (choke) shy one.

Okay, so I'm waiting for my band, and I 'm trying to do the right things and go to Curves and exercise every day after work. So, every night I go to Jump and Sweat.... good yes? No!!! Last night I got a cramp in my upper thigh, and as I collaped on the couch, a cramp appeared in my right hand that made it curl like a little old arthritis ridden lady. College son says I am dehydrated, and that is why it cramped. DH says I need potassium, ie. eat a banana dear, I just want some advice to avoid a repeat performance. I checked it out on the internet, and the first thing to pop up was people getting severe cramps from using Advair, asthma drug. I would hate to give …

I got to work this morning, and turned up the air conditioning. After a while I noticed it wasn't cooling. I turned it down some more, then noticed again it wasn't cooling. I looked out the door to see if the fan was turning and the whole airconditioning unit was stolen~ I can't believe people would do such a thing! It will be an extremely hot day here today as our temps are supposed to be near 100!

This is for those of you that never exercise (like me)! Ive been banded nearly a year now. NEVER exercised. Oh, maybe I would get motivated here and there, but never lasted more then 2 weeks. Well, summer started and I wanted to get my bat wings looking spify! So every day I started doing aerobics in the pool (my parents have one). No special techniques. No special Water exercises. Just plain ole jumping jacks with arm lifts above the water. I would time myself for 1 minute then change arm movements for another minute. Before long I had been exercising for 10 minutes. That was pretty much my maximum time limit! I did this for about... yep, 2 weeks! …

I got it again today..."When are you due?" AUUUUGGGHHHHH!!!!!! I'm NOT pregnant!!! I'm just fat!!! I know it's my terrible looking but OH so comfy wardrobe. What are you Size 20-22 folks wearing that looks nice? I have the lower belly overhang. That's a big issue in my choosing shirts that fall below that ugly roll, but it's the shirts that confuse people, that and the big boobs, which really aren't that big but somehow look it. I'm always surprised at my ample bosom in pictures. Maybe it's the body dysmorphic thing, anyhow, I have GOT to choose better clothing. What pants? What tops? What do I look for when I shop? HELP? Style-disadvantaged in NC

WOW!!! 3 days in a row we have had celebrations around here - woo hoo! Kelly girl, today is YOUR special day! Wishing you many special blessings for today! God bless... and Happy Birthday!!!

Early tomorrow morning I'm packing up the car and my kids and we're going to Vermont for the weekend. YAAAAHHOOOO!!! Gettin' summer off to a New England start. Maybe we can find a cow to milk? I am going to try NOT to go near a computer for the whole four days (can you say withdrawal???), and that means staying away from here as well. But don't worry, I'll be back. Try not to have too much fun without me!

Moderators, please move this if it's in the wrong place. I have a pair of relatively new trendy jeans, size 20 (they're pretty stretchy) and a suit jacket (same size) and a pair of new Nike shoes (size 9.5 women's) that i'd like to give to someone. They no longer fit and I'd rather give them to someone here than to ebay them or deal with craigslist. If you can use them PM and let me know...first person takes all.

For those of you who are married, were married, or are contemplating marriage. Under the assumption that men need (or ought) to be trained for marriage, Southwest Tech is offering a new 2 year associates degree. TWO YEAR DEGREE: Becoming a Real Man. That's right, in just six mini-mesters, you, too, can be a real man as well as earn anassociates degree in MA (Male Arts).Please take a moment to look over the program outline. FIRST YEAR Autumn Schedule: MEN 101 Combating Stupidity MEN 102 You, Too, Can Do Housework MEN 103 PMS-Learn When to Keep Your Mouth Shut MEN 104 We Do Not Want Sleazy Under things for Christmas Winter Schedule: MEN 11…

Okay so I had too much time on my hands this weekend...In case you haven't heard the new version of 'These Boots are Made for Walking'... http://www.sonymusic.com/artists/JessicaSimpson/video/JessicaSimpson_Boots_RoughVidFull_300.asx

Gosh, we get double servings of cake and ice cream today! To - 2 of my favorite friends on this board! I sure hope you are having a wonderful day. Both of you deserve the best! Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Well, I am an official bandster. Yeah!!! I feel a little tightness in my upper stomach. Other than that I feel good. I'm not full full. I feel like I could eat is food was in front of me. That is a bit disappointing. Did anyone else feel this way. The liquid Loratab is a wonderful thing. Just love those clear liquids. Luckily my husbands mother made me delicious home made chicken broth. I've been trying to walk and get those shoulder pains out. That is so bizzare. What type of full signs are felt once on food?

Today was my first day in a week and a half without any narcotics. Hurrah for me. I can't tell you wants wrong because the Dr.s haven't figured it out. Personally, I think I have just experienced the wonder of a ruptured ovarian cyst. Not one of the 4 different Drs have called it that. They said "unspeicified pelvic pain with unusual bleeding." I've had a "significant" cyst for more than 3 months. Then suddenly, I don't have the cyst, but so much pain I'm puking all over. So much pain that IV pain meds in the ER just take the edge off the pain. But you know what, if it walks like a duck.. Anyway, they don't knwo what's wrong with me. They have scheduled sur…

Enjoy Nextel chicken http://trace.piranho.com/chicken.html

I'm sure all kids get cranky when they're hungry. My daughter Gillian takes it to new heights, though, and I'm just wondering if this is normal or something I need to ask her doctor about. G doesn't eat much, and before meals sometimes she can turn into a BEAR of the worst order. Worse, she'll resist eating and say she isn't hungry; she'll blame her mood on being tired or something that happened at school. But we know that after even a few bites of something, her happy disposition will return. My 4 y.o. gets cranky when she's hungry too, of course, but to what I would consider a normal degree. Gillian's behavior is infantile, literally. We all know how it is to feed a…

I craked myself up the other day!!!!!! I was talking on the phone to my girlfriend yesterday & my dog was sleeping on the couch. I bent over to pat him on the head & I said "I Love you Peanut Butter"-LOL my girlfriend said" Did you just say I love you peanut butter?" I said I don't think I did & than it occured to me I had been calling my dog Peanut & Peanut butter for the past few weeks & have NEVER called him that before. I AM JUST SOOOO DAM HUNGRY That food is always on my mind subconsciosly! LOL Oh my gosh i can't wait for the stupid mushie stage to begin!!!!

I just read in my People mag an artical about Mexico surgeries... wow, they didnt have anything nice to say.... I had two surgeries there and I thought it was great!!! guess I did my homework and found great doctors. anyone interested should read it....

I'm about to lose control and I think I like it!!!!! (thank you Donna Summer!) Guess what I got in the mail today..... a pre-approval letter from MESSa my insurance carrier, and I am APPROVED!!!!!!! now I just have to wait for all my doctor appointments to catch up with the office and a date will be set. Oh my God!!!and by the way thank you God!!! Now I'm feeling a little nervous because it is becomming real not just an idea I am kicking around. Help me my band sisters and brothers, I am this close ready to take the jump and I need a push!!!!

a mosquito has bitten you? I had one bite me in my belly button. It itches so bad and I look crazy walking around scratching it!

Another fun thread! I'm a Libra. Actually, a double-Libra. Many years ago I read the best ever astrology book, it was Linda Goodman's Bedside Astrologer, I think. Anyway, there was the greatest story in there that gave a really cool description of each of the zodiac signs. Does anyone have the book that could copy that story for me? It's a story I tell people all the time. Basically, there's a group of 12 women sitting in a circle, one from each sign of the zodiac. The hostess asks each person to talk about how they feel about old-fashioned calling cards. I guess way before phones were invented, well-to-do folks would have custom calling cards printed, and when …

I've stayed away from the sun since my father died of skin cancer nearly 20 years ago, and I'm not going under a sunlamp either. But my natural skin color is close to baby blue, and now that summer is here I don't like strutting around like a pale-legged plucked chicken. I bought a bottle of Coppertone light/medium self-tanning lotion and tried it on my legs this morning. The fake tan is uneven, and almost as orange as the QT version (remember that stuff from 30 years ago, anyone?). While I'm not wearing shorts anytime soon, I think the world could handle a glimpse of my ankles now that it's 90 degrees. Have any other pale (not just Caucasian, but library-paste-comple…

Hello: Just a quick note to let you know that John and I made it through our first session. We discussed how his relationship with the other woman affected me and our relationship. The counselor was good in that she didn't take sides one way or the other. She did point out to John that our trust was broken by his relationship with this person. We are going to do separate counseling sessions starting next week then come together as a couple to work together. So I go on Monday and then John goes on Tuesday of next week. We did not get too deep into our issues as there was not enough time, but the counselor wanted to meet with us individually first and then meet as…

I've been really very much under the weather with girl issues lately. (let's just say massive amount of percacet and phenagren are involved...) I'll be ckecking in, but my posts probably won't make much sence. I'll welcome each and every new person to Bandlandia in quiet, and offer my prayers of both joy and condolences... Work will be interesting enough trying to string together coherent sentences ...

This will bring back memories for some of you... today was my little Anne's first dance recital. She looked so cute - I just had to show you her picture.

Tomorrow is my son's end of the year party at the lake and he volunteered me to help out. I have no shorts to wear so I asked my husband if I could try on a pair of his new 34 inch waist shorts he got at Wal Mart this weekend, they can pass for womens shorts they are just plain ol denim shorts. I was shocked and amazed to get them past my butt and hips, I did not think they would button & zip up but to my amazement they did with room to spare! Never thought I'd see the day I'd be able to wear a 34 inch waist ever again in my lifetime! So now I have shorts to wear tomorrow to the lake since we are finally getting some sun here instead of the June gloom. My husband was…

Well ladies and gentlemen, I started the day with very good intentions and ended up in my bathtub with a bowl of ice cream. Today I went to work and promised Lisa/Delarla that I would give up junk food with her....but then I was informed that I was being let go from my job. Apparently the company I worked for has decided that it can't support my salary anymore. Just one more lovely event in this really bad couple of weeks i have had. Sorry Lisa. I'll try no more junk food again tomorrow.

Okay, it's me typing to you from my very brand new computer! I'm so excited that I just had to scream it here. It's me, just me! No pop ups, no error messages, no stalling, crashing, re-booting. Just me! Woo hoo! I feel like I'm cruising in a Cadillac! I highly recommend going in huge debt to anyone having computer issues. It's SO worth it! Did I say woo hooo yet?

This is going to be a BitterSweet weekend for me and my Family. My Aunt who has the last stages of Breast Cancer is coming from Texas with her 2 sisters from Calif. 2 other sisters from Calif are driving down from Dallas to Colo to all meet her at my house. My Aunt says that she is not going to be here past Aug even though I pray that the Chemo and the medicine will make a miracle and she will be here for along time. She and I only met for the 1st time last June (long story met my dad for the 1st time 10yrs ago) Anyway she made the journey then and I went to see her in Feb of this year when they diagnosed her with the second round of Cancer. We have planned a trip to …

I'm allowed to call myself a Pollock since I are one. I just went for sushi. All-you-can-eat is $21.00. I was damn starving, and since sushi is pretty expensive, I figured I could eat $25 worth. I could only eat $14.00 worth. So I had to order extra stuff like cucumber salad and eggrolls & ice cream. Then I had to strategically hide leftovers because they'll charge you extra if you don't eat all the sushi. So I had to pay $21 for $14.00 worth since I still think with big eyes like before getting Banded. I could have just ordered the pieces separate, but will I ever learn? Probably not.

Please say a prayer for my family when you read this. First for my nephew Rico, when I was in post op last week he had some kind of attack and almost passed out at the end of my bed. When they put smelling salt under his nose it did nothing to bring him out of the state he was in. He goes to a Specialist today to see if was a mini seizure. Second my Little Brother Chris was admitted to the Hosp Last evening seems they think he has class 2 diabieties. He should be finding out the results sometime this morning. Kinda strange because no one in my mom's side of the family has it. But I know there is always a first. Thank you My LBT Family:)

Glory! I have almost all my appointments done! I have been poked, prodded, x-rayed, squished, smashed, bruised and bloodsuckered all in the name of science and medicine. One stroke of luck, sleep center was all booked up but today when I called they had a cancellation, lucky for me! Unlucky for me ( and her too) the dietician got very sick and canceled because she has to see a doctor this Saturday. I can see a small glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Doc's office sent my paper work in on June 1, maybe I will get a birthday surprise (June 28) Hmmmm. My fifth graders think I have some terrible incurable disease because I have had so many Dr. appointments. …

I'm wondereing what you all think of nursing while having a band. I spoke with my Dr. who said it was okay. He said the body produces its own glucose and my body will regulate itself. He said if my body wasn't getting enough nutrients, that my milk will dry up. But, I spoke with the nutritionist who thinks it's a bad idea. She says it takes approx. 400 calories to nurse and I would be depriving my own body of the proper nutrients. Any thoughts? I'm getting banded in 2 weeks.

Okay this is long story, but I'll make it as short as possible. My grandfather passed away a couple of months ago, and I'm having trouble finding out if anything was left to my sisters and me. It boils down to my dad and my aunt being untrustworthy people. I obtained a copy of the Will, because it's public record, but the will then refers to a Trust agreement, that is not on file with the courts (CO for reference). I don't actually know if the trust is supposed to be public or not. I wont get into the history of why we don't trust that side of my family, but we were trying to do this without them finding out we were looking. But my sister called up the lawyer…

Wow, this summer weather is a total revelation for me. We all talk about being colder than we were, and indeed I am. The air conditioning in my office verges on uncomfortable for me when other people are reveling in it. But what's really amazing is that I walk out into the 90-degree day and all I think is how nice it feels! I'm not sweating, panting, fainting, complaining, or doing any of the other things summer weather used to make me do. Wow. I love it, and now I can love summer just like "normal" people do. :banana

I'm scheduled for the 20th and nervous as can be. I'm starting to have muscle pains in my lower abdominal from a c-section 3 months ago. Do you think I should mention to Dr. I asked OB , she said it's just from the muscle being cut. I don't understand why it hasn't hurt for about a month and now has started again. It could have something to do with picking up my son, Dylan (50lb) all the time huh. I would hate for my surgery to be put off. How long was your recovery time?? Any regrets?? Fear of regaining?? Slipage? What in the heck is PB?? How often are you vomiting? Any hair loss??