TerriDoodle

TracyinKS - I meant to ask about your boss/nun issue....what ever happened with that? Did she actually allow him to use his own money? Not all nuns are bad but at least half of them are so, so bitter!! I guess I would be too if I never got laid! LOL Michelle - are you feeling better? You really had the blues there for awhile. Sounds like you've been so busy you haven't had time to examine your own state of mind. Ever since the beginning of school you've been going full blast and I keep hearing you say that you *think* things will be slowing down soon......but they don't!!? Go get yourself a massage or a facial, girlfriend! You deserve it!!! I've taken the day off today (wheeeee!) and I'm heading to the mall. I need everything but really don't feel like spending the money! :-/ I hate spending money on work clothes! Hate it!! I'm taking Hero to Doggie Day Care today...he'll get so spend the whole day playing with other dogs! He will be totally exhausted by the time I pick him up!....maybe. That's one thing I do like about living in a big city...there's every kind of service you can possibly think of here! Well, ya'll have a good day and I'll check in later! XOXO

Laura, Just want to make sure you see this!! http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/funny-pictures-finished-painting-and-pencil-sketch-of-tiger.jpg

My favorites are: 1) 4% cottage cheese with splenda and pureed fruit or berries and 2) QO Weight Control Oatmeal, maple flavor, with a splash of half-n-half and some flax oil

Emilie - I suppose that's a possibility, but I wouldn't want to do it that way. My esophagus goes into little spasms on just a 0.5 cc fill.....I can't even imagine what would happen on a 3cc fill! Yikes!

Meshelle - I think that the lobster is what gave you problems (if it had 'chunks' of lobster in it)....lobster and shrimp are too rubbery for me to eat at all. One of my problem foods :w00t: While you're trying out this new fill, take bites no bigger than a pencil eraser....especially with problem foods. AND...wait 1-2 minutes between bites. Yep, it could take you 45 minutes to eat a saucer of food!

mzreeda - I've never heard of that!! Wow! I'm a big believer in slow=good. Each time I've had a fill (never more than 1.5cc, which was my first one) my restriction got progressively tighter over the next two weeks. My smallest fill was 0.2cc (yes, 0.2) and it made the difference between being too loose and too tight! I had to go back for an unfill! Being too tight is so miserable and can be very dangerous if you're not able to at least get fluids in (just ask Kat817!) ....proceeding with caution is very prudent.

Port pain for up to 6 weeks is normal.

The port is the last thing to heal...4-6 weeks is normal. I think you're probably OK. By all means call your doctor if you're worried... He just got paid a bucket of money so you're entitled!

I'm sorry Jane :w00t: :w00t: :laugh:

Judy, you are in no way responsible!! SHE made the decision about her OWN body! And besides, she'll be fine. At worst they'll put in a pacemaker, I'll bet. Try not to fret. ((hugs))

Also, many church groups or food banks will take the candy and give it out in Christmas stockings! :-) Macy would be so proud to take her 'leftover' loot to the food bank, eh?

Send me a picture first, then I will tell you if there's enough time. The major factor is if I have the materials on hand. If I have to order some component then we'd be short on time. Many things I can make by hand, but many things that I can't! let me see what you have in mind and I'd be honored! For the recipe, yes, you just dump the whole jar, liquid and everything into the crock pot. OH, I'm so sorry you lost one! Wahhh!! I hate that! I can put them on leverback wires if you want (see this pic: http://www.firemountaingems.com/images/P8512FDB.jpg). The only other issue is that I made yours a wee bit different from Pam's, and I'm not certain I can remember exactly how they were made. In other words, without seeing it either in person or a very good picture, I may not be able to match it! I think I can get pretty darn close just by memory. Tell me, do the dangly parts have 3 beads on each pin? One is dk blue, one is kind of an opaque grey-ish and the 3rd is a shiny gray? Yeah, now I remember! I can make you one....no worries! (Do NOT send me a check! I won't cash it!) Kat, if you make that roast recipe for Rick, you should try the leftovers the next day....the peppers really get mild...prolly no hotter than green chiles. How fun! I like playing with the dangly ones... I made some for myself over the weekend that turned out real cute. I'll get busy! Oh, and I got your check and sweet note today....Thank you, Pamela:smile: I was not able to get on the site at all today, then was busy this evening so I'm just now able to log on! I VOTED TODAY!!! WOOOOO HOOOOO!! I had to stand in line for about 40 mins, but I left work early to do it so no worse for the wear. I'm glad I got that done, I can only imagine the lines that will be forming on Nov 4!! No thank you! Tracy - thanks A LOT....I bought some peanut butter cookies at the store last night!! Ever since you mentioned them I've been hankering for 'em. We had a board meeting at the office today (read: food everywhere) and I had one of the worst food days I've had in a year!! Then I came home, cooked and had 2 cookies on top of all the other crap I ate today!!! I NEED A FILL!!!!!!!:cursing: I'll see ya'll in the morning! Niters!

You probably have "First Bite Syndrome", which I do too sometimes. It's like you take a bite of something (esp. solid food), or two or three, and you get this major restriction. After a minute or so, it subsides and you can eat normally. If this is what's going on with you, you may want to try drinking something warm before you eat. Otherwise just pay attention and just take a few bites then wait a couple minutes....don't just keep eating. You'll find that this issue comes and goes. Usually stress and hormone levels make the problem worse.

Even after being banded a year and a half, I STILL have problems while eating around other people...even my own family. I think I subconsciously try to "keep up" with their pace, or I'm simply not paying attention to myself because I'm paying attention to them! Oddly, I do the best if I eat while I'm doing something else....like on the computer or making jewelry so that I'm not just eating one bite after the other after the other....... Just proceed with caution and when you start to feel anything unusual or especially uncomfortable this is your sign to STOP! for a minute or two...walk around if you can...then resume if you like. To continue eating or to drink at this juncture will only make things much worse. Don't worry -- You'll learn!! :-)

kdlee and Elizabeth, You're describing the beginning stages of a PB! You're either eating too fast, too much or taking too big of bites. Welcome to the Land O' Restriction!

Laura - get a jar of sliced ones for the roast ....and they're in the same spot where they have olives and such. :thumbup: I can't see our baby Violet. Damn work!! Kat - So glad you're happy with your earrings! Makes my day!

Laura - If you're into pepperocini lately then you HAVE to try this extremely complicated recipe (see if you can follow along!): 1 pot roast 1 lg jar pepperocini Throw in crock pot for 8 hrs on low. OMG - It's sooooooooo good....we gobble it down. DH loves it on tortillas the next day, too.

Oh, that's absolutely horrible! :thumbup: Jeez, this is a crazy world. Everyone just needs to get themselves some VIOLETS and it would be a much better place. Pammy - so glad you like the earrings! I liked 'em too. You tell me what colors you want and I'll get working on 'em .... you just pay me "whenever" ... no big deal at all. Oddly, my desk is devoid of work this morning. Wish I was outside playing with my doggie instead. I wuv him a lot. Tracy, if there had been peanut butter cookies in my house last night I would have had 5-6 of them, too. I've been giving myself permission to eat all kinds of sugar lately! Scale stays the same no matter WHAT I do....so WTF!! Love you guys -- have a good morning!

Hi Girls! Man, I have been cranking out the jewelry today! Besides taking Hero to the Bark Park, it's all I've done all day. DH was at the Texans game so it was nice and quiet here. Laura - how were they killed?? That's horrible! Janie - I'll be thinking of you tomorrow....(((Hugs))) Kat - didn't get your earrings? Dang your mail is slow! I mailed them Tuesday! Pam - did you get yours? TracyK - So what did you end up doing this weekend with this beautiful weather? Last I saw it was supposed to be pretty all week. I only have to work 3 days this week! Yea! I'm going to bed......I'm pooped! 5:15 is gonna come mighty early. g'night all! Mmmmmuah!

Kat - you can just send a check...that's great. Thanks. Tracy - Wanna go to the bead show with me?? LOL Better not, it's addictive as crack cocaine. Wanna borrow my dog? He's for rent cheap! I've got so many things I need to do this weekend I don't know where to start.....so I'm starting here! I need to go shopping for some fall/winter clothes and just don't feel like it! :thumbup: Maybe I'll wait 'til next weekend....I have 4 days off in a row. Well, I better get to it.....lots to do. TTYL!

Kat! I'm so happy!!!! What a wonderful day to celebrate!! You should be getting your earrings tomorrow if you didn't get them today! Wear them in good health! :-)

The following is a condensation of a series from the Investor's Business Daily explaining 'What Caused the Loan Crisis': 1977: Pres. Jimmy Carter signs the Community Reinvestment Act into Law. The law pressured financial institutions to extend home loans to those who would otherwise not qualify. The Premise: Home ownership would improve poor and crime-ridden communities and neighborhoods in terms of crime, investment, jobs, etc. Results: Statistics bear out that it did not help. How did the government get so deeply involved in the housing market? Answer: Bill Clinton wanted it that way. 1992: Republican representative Jim Leach (IO) warned of the danger that Fannie and Freddie were changing from being agencies of the public at large to money machines for the principals and the stockholding few. 1993: Clinton extensively rewrote Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's rules turning the quasi-private mortgage-funding firms into semi-nationalized monopoies dispensing cash and loans to large Democratic voting blocks and handing favors, jobs and contributions to political allies. This potent mix led inevitably to corruption and now the collapse of Freddie and Fannie. 1994: Despite warnings, Clinton unveiled his National Home-Ownership Strategy which broadened the CRA in ways congress never intended. 1995: Congress, about to change from a Democrat majority to Republican, Clinton orders Robert Rubin's Treasury Dept to rewrite the rules. Robt. Rubin's Treasury reworked rules, forcing banks to satisfy quotas for sub-prime and minority loans to get a satisfactory CRA rating. The rating was key to expansion or mergers for banks. Loans began to be made on the basis of race and little else. 1997 - 1999: Clinton , bypassing Republicans, enlisted Andrew Cuomo, then Secretary of Housing and Urban Developement, allowing Freddie and Fannie to get into the sub-prime market in a BIG way. Led by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, congress doubled down on the risk by easing capital limits and allowing them to hold just 2.5% of capital to back their investments vs. 10% for banks. Since they could borrow at lower rates than banks their enterprises boomed. With incentives in place, banks poured billions in loans into poor communities, often 'no doc', 'no income', requiring no money down and no verification of income. Worse still was the cronyism: Fannie and Freddie became home to out-of work-politicians, mostly Clinton Democrats. 384 politicians got big campaign donations from Fannie and Freddie. Over $200 million had been spent on lobbying and political activities. During the 1990's Fannie and Freddie enjoyed a subsidy of as musch as $182 Billion,most of it going to principals and shareholders, not poor borrowers as claimed. Did it work? Minorities made up 49% of the 12.5 million new homeowners but many of those loans have gone bad and the minority homeownership rates are shrinking fast. 1999: New Treasury Secretary, Lawrence Summers, became alarmed at Fannie and Freddie's excesses. Congress held hearings the ensuing year but nothing was done because Fannie and Freddie had donated millions to key congressmen and radical groups, ensuring no meaningful changes would take place. 'We manage our political risk with the same intensity that we manage our credit and interest rate risks,' Fannie CEO Franklin Raines, a former Clinton official and current Barack Obama advisor, bragged to investors in 1999. 2000: Secretary Summers sent Undersecretary Gary Gensler to Congress seeking an end to the 'special status'. Democrats raised a ruckus as did Fannie and Freddie, headed by politically connected CEO's who knew how to reward and punish. 'We think that the statements evidence a contempt for the nation's housing and mortgage markets' Freddie spokesperson Sharon McHale said. It was the last chance during the Clinton era for reform. 2001: Republicans try repeatedly to bring fiscal sanity to Fannie and Freddie but Democrats blocked any attempt at reform; especially Rep. Barney Frank and Sen.Chris Dodd who now run key banking committees and were huge beneficiaries of campaign contributions from the mortgage giants. 2003: Bush proposes what the NY Times called 'the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago'. Even after discovering a scheme by Fannie and Freddie to overstate earnings by $10.6 billion to boost their bonuses, the Democrats killed reform. 2005: Then Fed chairman Alan Greenspan warns Congress: 'We are placing the total financial system at substantial risk'. Sen. McCain, with two others, sponsored a Fannie/Freddie reform bill and said, 'If congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system and the economy as a whole'. Sen. Harry Reid accused the GOP ;of trying to 'cripple the ability of Fannie and Freddie to carry out their mission of expanding homeownership' The bill went nowhere. 2007: By now Fannie and Freddie own or guarantee over HALF of the $12 trillion US mortgage market. The mortgage giants, whose executive suites were top-heavy with former Democratic officials, had been working with Wall St. to repackage the bad loans and sell them to investors. As the housing market fell in '07, subprime mortgage portfolios suffered major losses. The crisis was on, though it was 15 years in the making. 2008: McCain has repeatedly called for reforming the behemoths, Bush urged reform 17 times. Still the media have repeated Democrats' talking points about this being a 'Republican' disaster. A few Republicans are complicit but Fannie and Freddie were created by Democrats, regulated by Democrats, largely run by Democrats and protected by Democrats. That's why taxpayers are now being asked for $700 billion!! If you doubt any of this, just click the links below and listen to your lawmakers own words. They are condeming! [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68D9XrqyrWo&feature=related]YouTube - Fannie & Freddie: The Real Story Behind The Economic Crisis[/ame]# http://www.youtube...com/watch?v=pIgqfM5C8lY# [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9juJr8CSY4&feature=related]YouTube - How democrats lied to America, while using community reinvestment act and acorn to destroy the American financial system.[/ame]# Postscript: ACORN is one of the principle beneficiaries of Fannie/ Freddie's slush funds. They are currently under indictment or investigation in many states. Barack Obama served as their legal counsel, defending their activities for several years. Please share this with everyone you know. Send it. Print it. Talk about it. America needs to know!!!

As I said, I'm not trying to start an argument, I just want to get educated...and have someone explain to me how raising taxes, especially on businesses, helps the economy?

Notice to All Employees As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama is officially elected into office, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness: 1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales and bonuses into a common pool that will be divided equally between all of you. This will serve to give those of you who are underachieving a “fair shake.” 2. All low level workers will be pooling their wages, including overtime , into a common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves. This will help those who are “too busy for overtime” to reap the rewards from those who have more spare time and can work extra hours. 3. All top management will now be referred to as “the government.” We will not participate in this “pooling” experience because the law doesn't apply to us. 4. The “government” will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week, encouraging it's workers to continue to work hard “for the good of all.” 5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it's “good to spread the wealth.” Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more “patriotic.” 6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks. Don't feel bad, though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare, free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free foodstamps, and he'll let you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can't pay your mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get a free flatscreen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn't all Americans be entitled to nice looking hair?) !!! If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to rethink your vote on November 4th.

Wow… I cannot believe how much doom and gloom there is around my office here. The markets really suck and there isn’t ANY light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not just the oil business they’re talking about – it’s ALL business and ALL investments – just coming to a screeching halt. When you think about the implications, it’s pretty darn scary. I heard this morning that the 700 billion only scratches the surface…that now they’re saying the number is more like 2.3 TRILLION. You may be enjoying the lower price for gas right now, but I don’t think it will last and the price of everything else will just keep going up and up. In just a few months rigs will stop working, Saudis will cut production and the costs will go way up. People will start losing jobs. Guaranteed. The market delayed trading this morning because the sell-off was so severe. Better start socking away your pennies. It is naive thinking to say this is the fault of our president and that all we need is a "change". This has very little to do with George Bush. More government control and more taxes on business will make this situation sooooooooo much worse and make it last soooooooo much longer unless we just allow the free markets to correct themselves by stimulating through REDUCED regulations and REDUCED taxes. If I have the intelligence to figure this out, I just don't understand why the majority of Americans can't. It is a very scary time. I'm sorry.....I just had to say it. I'm not trying to start any arguments so I won't respond further, but I promise that I will read what any of you have to say to convince me otherwise. I wish somebody could make me understand why the hell the liberals are in the lead. I seriously just don't get it. Ok, I"m ready for both barrells now.....