TerriDoodle

It's Omnipaque. My doctor uses it regularly without complication. I have my band filled with it and have never had any leakage problem after my first fill (which leaked). Hadar Spivak is my doctor and has done thousands of lab band procedures, if you'd like to put your doctor in touch with him.

Our systems all want to adapt and grow, and want to stay the same. That's why, when we try to make too aggressive changes, our system tries to maintain the status quo by swinging in the opposite direction. This is one of the reasons, for instance, why strict diets don't work. Telling yourself never to let chocolate pass your lips brings on an instantaneous intense desire for ten pounds of chocolate as your system struggles to keep the comfort of the way it's always been. That's where "one day at a time" comes in. It's gentle enough not to kick in the "man the battle stations, something big is trying to force us into being different" part of ourselves. But it does move us into action. We're not just sitting around doing nothing. We're doing it—today. However, one day at a time is not an excuse to do it once and then forget it. It requires us signing on again the next day. And then the next. -- M.J. Ryan Professional Thinking Partners www.mj-ryan.com

I'm a big M.J. Ryan fan...she's an author, life coach, and professional motivator! I subscribe to her daily motivational emails and this was today's. I liked it and thought you might too. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Our systems all want to adapt and grow, and want to stay the same. That's why, when we try to make too aggressive changes, our system tries to maintain the status quo by swinging in the opposite direction. This is one of the reasons, for instance, why strict diets don't work. Telling yourself never to let chocolate pass your lips brings on an instantaneous intense desire for ten pounds of chocolate as your system struggles to keep the comfort of the way it's always been. That's where "one day at a time" comes in. It's gentle enough not to kick in the "man the battle stations, something big is trying to force us into being different" part of ourselves. But it does move us into action. We're not just sitting around doing nothing. We're doing it—today. However, one day at a time is not an excuse to do it once and then forget it. It requires us signing on again the next day. And then the next. -- M.J. Ryan Professional Thinking Partners www.mj-ryan.com

uH.... well, here's a tip for ya: If you run out of ritas (or water or anything else for that matter), you can ask other floaters (guys) for a beverage....but they will most likely ask you to show 'em your titties!! (no kidding). I just tend to make sure I have PLENTY to drink in my ice chest....or go without! But hey, Michelle, this might just be your ticket!!

Oh, and you see that picture of the hundreds of people in toobs all over the river? Those ARE your lifeguards! If anyone ever gets into any kind of trouble at all there are all those able-bodied young guns to help out. And they do!

ABSOLUTELY!! The river companies have special toobs you can rent that have the ice chest in them already. No way you can float w/o an ice chest!! I'm just trying to figure out how to float without BEER!?! Having a hard time wrapping my head around toobin' with .... Cosmopolitans?! LOL This is seriously cracking me up! Comparing parasailing to toobing on the Guadalupe River!!! LOL :glare::Dancing_biggrin: Don't I wish!! Toobing is safer than riding your bicycle, I'm sure! Not to mention a motorcycle, KAT!!

Say hello to your new little friend!.... your port!

DUH!! Why didn't I think of that??! I've got at least 5-6 beach towels!! I'll bring mine, too. What a dummy. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I've got chillin' down to a fine science!

It doesn't work that way here in S. Texas!! We have to dig up the bulbs every year and put them in the refrigerator until November! Needless to say, you don't see a lot of tulips and daffodils in this neck of the woods. Michelle, that breaks my heart. I'm so sorry!!! I hate hearing that ... my son was one step away from getting checked into residential treatment until I heard one too many horror stories. Actually it was a message board (link) that 'saved' him. The message board was full of residential treatment 'alumni' who were there to offer opinions of the various centers, along with opinions as to the variety of alternatives available. I had a few of the people tell me to just give him a thorough psychiatric evaluation....so that's what we did instead of sending him off....and it literally saved his life. He is a very healthy honor roll senior now, getting ready for college, does not do drugs or alcohol, has a job, and always (without fail) makes curfew. Please encourage them to get a psych evaluation before sending her off. It's important to take that step first. If she's an internet person, please also encourage her to get educated about the 'troubled teen industry'.... it's not as it seems. G'day all!!!

Kat, it's not recommended to tie your tubes together...especially in large numbers. What we do is just kind of latch your foot onto the tube next to you, or hang on with your hand to their foot...something like that. It's usually not an issue at all. Oh....another thing you'll want to bring (IF you're going toobin') is to bring a beach towel. It's best to have it to drape over the toob where your arms rest because those black rubber things get hot as HELL!

Thanks for all the nanners and stuff,girls....ya'll are so sweet! ....and patient! We'll see what the scale says tomorrow! Laura, I don't know what they'd have to promise me to make me move again. That is just WRONG. TracyK - so why did you have to go to the doctor today?? Odd. I don't think I told you guys that I scheduled my plastic surgery for July 3rd. I'm only going to get my eyelids done....and a little botox. Maybe when I'm richer I'll do the rest. Anyway, looking forward to that day!

Here's some info about the river and how they control the flow....and the current conditions (in red). We haven't had much rain this Spring (yet).... so things are pretty mild: GuadalupeRiver Flows Flows above 550 cfs may be unsafe for parts of the river. Consult an outfitter. Flows between 350 to 550 cfs are above average, and should only be tubed by experienced people. Even then, great caution should be exercised at all rapid areas and you may need to walk around them. For these levels, we suggest you consult an outfitter for the area you'll be tubing. Flows between 250 to 350 cfs are optimum. There will be fewer shallow rocks to hit your rear on, which is a major plus. [TODAY the river is flowing at 132 cfs] Flows from 150 to 250 are low, but you can still tube. Some parts of the lower Guadalupe may require getting out of the tube and walking across a shallow rock shelf, but the river is still fun. Though manly men generally refuse the "bottom tube", when the water gets below 200 CFS you may wish you'd considered it. Below 150 cfs release rate, and you will have to walk short distances where the water gets too shallow. Do the Flows Change Often? Yes! The dam's main purpose is flood control, and therefore rain up river can mean fluctuating release rates. If there's been heavy rain recently, make sure you call ahead as the flow can change at any time. Predicting the Flows When the river is at conservation levels, it is under the control of the Guadalupe / Blanco River Authority. Above 909', it is in flood control level, and under the control of the US Army Corps of Engineers. Therefore, noting the level of Canyon Lake itself is helpful in this exercise. When the lake is at 908.9 feet or less it is in conservation mode. Releases will be very low. At the normal level of 909', expect a great tubing trip. [TODAY the lake is at 908.78] When the lake rises past 909', expect quick releases from the Army. These may happen with little notice, so consult an outfitter if recent up river rains have been heavy. Remember it's the rain *above* the dam that's relevant, where it will feed into the river. The Army seeks to keep the lake around conservation levels, as is the mission of the Canyon Lake. The other caveat to this is that the Corps of Engineers wants to work with the water sports industry, and therefore changes their normal flood control release procedure between April and August. So instead of releasing a torrent of water to keep the lake within a tight regulation, they release it slower so we can be tubing!

You big baby!

The toobs have bottoms but the water still rushes in. Trust me, you want the bottom!! But you don't have to decide now.... you'll see when you get there. Laura...it's not so much sharp rocks under your feet...but slippery ones! If you slip and hit your bottom hard on a bunch o' rocks...your fun is OVER! Also, if you happen to get dumped out of your toob in some fast water the rubber on your shoes will help you to regain your footing. Muy importante! The 'whitewater' you see in the pic below is about as rough as it gets. 90% of the river looks like the second pic!! ... although we shouldn't have quite so many people....I hope!? It's fun no matter what, really. The 3rd picture is just purdy. It's what the river looks like around Gruene.

Hey #8 is a new one!! I'll have to try that!! Thanks, Judy!! I'll be solidly in the 170's then!!

Laura, Go look at the exercise forum if you haven't already. you'll see lots of beginners moaning about the same thing! It's perfectly normal! Be patient!!!

Are you kidding?? How do you think I got to 179.8??!! :rolleyes2:

Here are the phone numbers if you want to call the hotels and ask them any questions: Gruene Homestead Inn Phone: 800.238.5534 or 830.606.0216 http://www.gruenehomesteadinn.com/index.htm San Antonio - River Walk Drury Inn & Suites P: 210-212-5200 · F: 210-352-9939 http://www.druryhotels.com/properties/sanantonioriverwalk.cfm

Kat, you reminded me.... I forgot to mention that I DID hit a new decade of numbers today. ---> 179.8 <--- Woo freakin' Hoo!! I looked back on my weight chart to see when it was i dropped from 190 to 189 and it was August!! Uh, yeah.... Slow Loser Poster Child here, but I don't care!! It's still moving in the right direction!!

Haydee, Gruene Hall is screened in...so it helps with mosquitos but doesn't eliminate them! Hopefully the weather will stay nice and dry 'til then so they won't be so bad. We'll still need the bug spray anyway ! Good thinking! Thanks for the offer to haul groceries... I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that!

Oh, and Pammy - You won't get stuck...I promise! The toobs are HUGE...so much so that I always get one that has a bottom in it to keep me from falling thru! What does that tell you! (Also the bottom is made of hard plastic and keeps you from busting your butt on the occassional rock.

call Continental Airlines - they have excellent customer service and can answer your question.... I assume the regulations are all the same no matter what airport or airline you're using.

Like these...!! (Or you can wear just a pair of tennis shoes...although they tend to hold water and get heavy...which could cause you to lose balance.)

Oh, I'm sure i'll use the coupon!! Thanks for sending it...that was so sweet of you! He washed and waxed it, but it really needs a good compounding and the carpets shampooed too...so I'll take it in before the summer. Thanks again! No, we ended up hanging around the house. I didn't feel like fighting crowds and looking for parking. I was really tired last night too...but couldn't figure out why :confused2: Slept like a rock which is unusual for me! Maybe it's Spring fever! I sometimes go to IFest...but almost always go to the Bayou City Art Festival. That's my favorite! Good luck at the docs, Tracy!! I know how you love to go! Crossing my fingers for you. That's a great idea, pam! I always have these ideas of where to put things...then end up changing my mind about 4 times before they get in the ground....which usually means another couple of runs to the nursery. I'm not a great gardener, but i must say that I like how our back yard is looking this year. It was new when we moved 3.5 years ago so we had to start from scratch. Michelle - You definitely should at least CALL your doctor. They may not be able to see anything but can poke and prod and depending on where and how it hurts can determine if you've fractured something, pinched a nerve, pulled a muscle, etc. Not something you really wanna mess with. At least put a buttload of ice on it.

G'Mornin'! Tracy, sounds like you're having a great weekend! We want pics! Yep, our weather has been stupendous this month, too....but it's gonna start getting hot very soon. Today there's a crawfish festival in Old Town Spring (close to Haydee...maybe I'll see her there!) and it's a lot of fun. They have 3 stages with zydeco, blues, country and rock music....crawfish everywhere in all forms, craft booths, etc. A part of me wants to go and another part wants to stay home and be a slug. DD was very active yesterday, I doubt I could get her motivated. DH is playing golf...again. He's having a good weekend!....2 rounds of golf and an Astros game. Must be nice, eh? Ya'll have a good day...I'm gonna hit the showers!