mdrai

Oooh look! I changed my avatar all by myself!! Woot!

Denise -- You look amazing! We are rocking the lap band world! :boink:

Good Monday Morn, Vi's!~~ Today is my 5 month band-iversary! My official weight this morning is 253.4, which = -63.6 lbs! That's -10.6 lbs for this month! YAY ME! I really don't know why, but I've been riding a huge whoosh since getting back from the Lake! I'm not going to question in, just ride it for all it's worth! I go for my fill on Weds... haven't had one in 2 months... wonder if he'll give it to me?? Judy, you need a new suit! Look at you! You're 1/2 your size!! Good work!! Make it a great day, everyone!

((Terri))... So sorry to hear all that you have going on right now... my good thoughts are with you... those in your life are so lucky to have you!!

Yay, we're back!! Thanks for e-mailing Pam... gosh you're smart! I just sat here & whined! YOU did something about it! Yay you! My theory on "treats" is... it's all part of the journey... this is a life-long process & "treats" are a part of it... of course, I realize that I didn't get here because I'm good at rationing them (ha ha)... so I really try to avoid eating them... but if I do... I try to ENJOY it & not feel guilty or blame myself... & then get right back on the straight & narrow asap! That's just me! Time to go do some work... catch ya'll later!

Laura, you look great! + you are so much more brave than I am... it takes me dozens of pics to get one I'm ok w/having posted... I can't imagine doing it in my undies!! :car: A "sexy" seminar is definitely going to be on the agenda in May! (I may need remedial help!) I was the lap band poster child today! I spent about 45 mins talking w/a guy friend (another PTA parent) about it... He's a "I can't live w/out Diet Coke" guy... isn't that funny?... what folks think they can't live w/out... oh, and the pre-op diet didn't go over too well, but then, it never does, does it? There's just no way around that one. My wedding band is about to fly off my finger now... I have to be really careful when washing my hands over the sink!... I have a gold chain w/gold fingerprint charms on it of each of my children... I think I'm going to put my rings on it & wear it every day until I get to goal, then I'll have the rings sized... Anyone else freezing?? My hands & feet are ALWAYS cold... it's been cold & rainy here for 3 days now & I can't warm up!! I seriously think it's the missing insulation!! I've been drinking hot tea like crazy, + wearing my woolie socks... brrrrrrr... I'm going to snuggle up in bed & finish reading my book. I'm reading "The Almost Moon" by Alice Sebold (she wrote "The Lovely Bones")... it's ok... not great by any means... but I always have the need to finish a book once I start it, unless it's really bad... have a good night, Vi's!

Oh, and the "few weeks ago" pic is me trying to channel my inner Laura for a fun & funky/sexy full-body shot in my new jeans & SIZE 14/16 top! Obviously, she'll have to teach a seminar at our get-away on how to do that, as I need help!!

Hot, I'm not! And boy they're big! Thank you, Tracy!! I'm sure you had nothing else to do today -- lol! Oh, and while I LOOK preggo in the 1st one, I'm not. he he.

My new bumper sticker: "Will diet & exercise for dancing boobie bananas!" :biggrin1:

Good Friday Morn, Vi's~~ Ta Da! I'm posting just to use my siggy again, finally!! Today I hit -60.8 lbs!! Yay me!! & I e-mailed some progress pics to TracyKS to post for me, because no matter how easy it is, I just don't get it. So hopefully she'll post them before I change my mind like I did last time! LOL! Happy Day! Happy Day!!

Yes! I thought that was terrible of him to do that. What was just as bad was that his other blue team members stuck by him & voted Jez off! So they're as bad as he is! That's more "Survivor" or "Big Brother" type thing to do... that's one of the reasons I like "BL"... folks are there improving themselves and it usually doesn't have the sneaky, lying, negative aspect to it... darn it!

Funny for the day: This is supposed to began actual letter sent to the American company, Proctor and Gamble regarding their feminine products. She really gets rolling after the first paragraph... . Dear Mr. Thatcher, I have been a loyal user of your "Always" maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favorite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants. Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from "the curse"? I'm guessing you haven't. Well, my "time of themonth" is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call "an inbred hillbilly with knife skills." Isn't the human bodyamazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers' monthly visits from "Aunt Flo". Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying jags, and out-of-control behavior. You surely realize it's a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps.Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always maxi-pad,and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: "Have a Happy Period." Are you kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything "happy" about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlu a and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like "Put down the Hammer" or "Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong", or are you just picking on us?Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flex-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull*. And that's a promise I will keep. Always!

NSV Alert!! I just made dd's 9th birthday cake... a chocolate mousse cake... from scratch!... and didn't even so much as lick a finger!! Amazing & hallelujah! (Now if I can keep away from it tonight!!)

Thanks, Terri!!

Tracy & Pam, you both look FAB-U-LOUS! I am 8/10s of a lb away from my -60 mark... it's driving me crazy! So far this month I've lost "only" 6.2 lbs... I know it's down, but I really want to average 8 - 10 lbs/month (altho if I'm honest, I'll remember the little "no-no's" I enjoyed last week @ the lake!)! I've got a few more days left in the month, and I'm obsessed!! Fill is next Weds... 2 months since my last one... was at a good spot the 1st month, which is why I didn't schedule another one, but then it loosened... a lot... but by the time I scheduled, I had to wait another month. Bleh. On a good note... I did something NEW today! When I went to my friend's to use her eliptical, she also worked up an upper-body weight lifting routine for me, and I did it for the first time today! Yay me! My "bat wings" are starting to scare me... I'm afraid I'll accidentally slap someone w/one! They are certainly wiggly/jiggly! Oh my! :eek: So I'm hoping that adding the lifting will help. Who is this person I'm becoming?? 4 aqua classes each week, eliptical 2x/wk; and now weights! Watch out world!!

May is fine w/me... but first we need a final tally of who's in so I can then check on avail cabins... the sooner the better, of course... so what say we close out on Friday... ok lurkers... you have 'til then to pop out & say "yeah" or "nay" to the trip so we can then lock in location & date! After that, it's all gravy! Oops! I mean... uh... slushie crystal light! Kat, I think you have the list of all of us who wanted to be on the "list"... who haven't we heard from who you'd've thunk we'd've heard from by now?? We could pm them or something in case they missed this thread... (We can also get a cabin that sleeps a few more than our actual number "just in case", too.)

Thanks for the update on Kat, Terry... glad we did that phone tree info thingy! Kat, I think I said this before, but one of my best friend's had thyroid cancer & she's absolutely fine 9 years later... they told her that if she was going to get cancer, that was the one to get. All my best prayers & thoughts for you, as I know it is still scary. Hey, how much does a thyroid weigh, anyhow?? (There's me, always looking for the silver lining!) Jen... best wishes to you, too... you're like the energizer bunny... chugging along doing what you have to for your family... and with a sunny disposition to boot... keep on hangin' on, and something wonderful will find you!! In the meantime, ((hugs))!

And exactly why do you all think that you're going to be sleeping??? Panda, I'll add you to the list! How about you, Janiebug?? Yes to being on the list? It obligates you to nothing at this point... just the possibilities & opportunities of the future...

Don't be confused... I'll take care of it... don't worry your pretty little heads about all that detailed stuff yet... We need to FOCUS on the task at hand... step #1 (some of you are already up to step #87!)... WHO ELSE IS COMING??

This is the list so far for our April Gathering: 1. Michelle 2. Kat 3. Terri 4. Pamela 5. Jennifur 6. Judy 7. Haydee 8. TracyKS 9. TracyK 10. Laura Who else wants to come & share in the fun?? Need to know so we can get a cabin that'll hold all of us!

This is the list so far: 1. Michelle 2. Kat 3. Terri 4. Pamela 5. Jennifur 6. Judy 7. Haydee 8. TracyKS 9. TracyK 10. Laura Who else wants to come & share in the fun??

We decided no spouses/sig. others... just Violets for this one. Re: separate bedrooms... I doubt it. Depending on the final number + what house we get, rooms most likely will need to be shared &/or perhaps dare I say it some couches may have to be slept on! Yikes! But let's not worry about all that just yet... we still need a final count... I see only 10 firm "yes's"... who's missing?

No, he's not a professional, but a paid hobbiest. He has had several exhibits + sells his work at a few places. He enjoys it but fears it becoming a "job". We joke that he was a hidden artist beneath his computer nerd exterior! :mad:

Deep Creek Lake Rentals & Real Estate | Railey Realty & Railey Mtn. Lake Vacations

You name it, they have it, altho April is a bit "early" in the season... the region is more a winter (skiing) & summer (boating, Water sports) area. Off the top of my head, they have... boating, white water rafting, horseback riding, antiquing, a spa, biking, hiking, nature trails & waterfalls, historic areas... altho last week we mostly just hung out around the cabin enjoying the fireplace & hot tub, w/a few nature walks in the gorgeous woods & along the lake each day! If you'd like to see some photos from last week, go to: Photoblog & Muses - David S. Raimist It's my dh's photo blog.