DeLarla

Wow, I was just having a really great Sunday evening till I read this. I'm so, so sorry. I know how much you love your doctors and your band. My belly feels sick for you now. I am truly sorry and hope you heal well enough for a new one. I'm looking at my weekend's pictures, and I'm not happy with what I'm seeing. What plan will you follow, because I will try to follow with you in memory of your late band.

No steps at all at here. Just the curb, but you can avoid that by coming up the driveway. And my entire house is tile so you could even rent an electric scooter if you want (only if you let me try it.) After all this Harley riding, I'm almost ready to trade my motorcycle in for a Hoveround with a flame-job. I'm beat up.

Just woke up from trip to Brianhead, UT for Thunder on the Mountain (bike rally.) Still cross-eyed, sunburned & deaf from the 90 mph ride home in the blazing sun, but wanted to share some pics of Heaven on Earth. One word to describe the entire trip - Heaven. Or Wow! These are our best pals, Darren & Tina at an overlook on Brianhead Mountain.

I know I've been through this before, but tomorrow is the day I try to give up junk food. I stocked up on colorful veggies and beautiful berries. I got caught up in an unstoppable junk food frenzy, and the only way to stop is going cold turkey. I've been hiding a dirty secret, too. Prior to banding I never (I mean NEVER) drank real soda. I have no idea where this started, but I've been drinking a real Coke every day, then 2 Cokes, and actually opened a 3rd can last week before running to the sink to spill it out, thinking, "What the F am I doing?" This can't be fun and games. This is serious. I'm actually afraid. Anyone else that's damn serious can PM me phone numbers. I'll make my nightly calls and glue the phone to my ear to keep from eating any crap tomorrow. One day at a time. I just need one day. We'll talk about Tuesday later.

I'm still struggling, but I have been much, much better. I haven't bought much new junk food, so I'm only stuck with stuff people give me, or barbeques, etc., and isn't all that free food calorie-free?

Sometimes I have almost-frightening feelings of intuition, and they are always dead-on so I've learned to listen to my gut. I've always said that if you get a bad omen, simply change the surgery date. Maybe it's not the actual surgery, but something else that could go wrong at that date or time. Just my opinion. Wanna hear some proof? Another bandster called me in a near-panic before her surgery. She was freaked out, and I gave her the same advice. She ended up having a horrifying experience. Luckily, she ended up pulling through and is currently doing fabulous, but maybe her problems wouldn't have happened if she listened to her gut and changed the date? Ya never know about this kinda thing.

Today: 5:00 a.m. One huge serving of PB from a pill snapped in 1/2 with water 6:30 a.m. One average size iced coffee 8:00 a.m. Jug-o-water Noon Cup of Cheetos (friggen Erin just HAD to show me the new bag) 1 green snap pea, raw 2 tablespoons cottage cheese 2 chunks broccoli 2:00 Can of real Pepsi (shoot me) Mind you, lunch could have been much worse but I have a lot of restriction from my colon cleanse pills, my morning PB and the stormy weather.

JQ, I couldn't think of anything appropriate for the moment, so I sent Donali a telepathic request for something brilliant. Ask, and you shall receive (applause applause applause.) Donali, can I have your autograph?

I was recently in my surgeon's office two weeks ago with the same type of lecturing on portion sizes, calories, etc. I asked him if he ever struggled with addictions of any sort, and he had to "think about it." If he had to think, then he has no idea what it's like to be in our shoes. After I had the nerve to ask him that, he listened to me at a different level, almost as if he respected the thinking behind my obesity just a little more clearly than he used to. Just because someone's a bariactric surgeon, doesn't make them an expert on obesity. Maybe I missed the point, so my point is Please Don't Feel Bad!

Fine, hubby and me did it last night! There, I said it. Not by choice either, but he can't resist me in a thong (don't lose your lunch.) TMI, TMI, TMI!

Holy cow! That's all I gotta say. We went to the mountains in Utah this weekend, elevation 11,000 feet. After riding in the blazing heat for 6 hours, then hiking up the hills and all over the resort with our luggage, all I could manage all night were a few raisins. I tried dinner at 9:00 p.m. but could hardly get down Soup. I need to move to high ground! I totally forgot what the band is all about, now I need a port really bad because that was the best restriction ever.

Tell me honestly... is that for real poopy? No lie? Mouse, thanks for showing your cute face

Damn, why didn't I just tell the post office it was an electric tooth brush? DOH! I'm calling but the number's busy. The fact we're tying up the lines is funny enough!

You learn something new every day: When you buy one of these "toys" the store, by law, has to open the package and insert the batteries to make sure the item works since, thank God they aren't returnable! Then they turn it off and cram it back in the package. It's not like I wanted to touch the thing, it was embarrassing enough. YES, I had to call the very serious postal worker and tell him the contents. He tried to remain serious but I heard his coffee snort out of his nose as he tried to muffle his laugh. Poor guy.

We were at a ski resort in Brianhead, UT, which is up the mountain from Cedar City. Boy, I sure wish we could travel more and more and more. I'm one of those that can't wait to retire and buy a Winnebago! Wanna come?

I'm always in for some fun, but nobody is answering the line... I'll try again tomorrow. But since you asked, I'm still laughing my ass off at something that happened yesterday. Last week, I sent a girlfriend (no names) a gag gift.. a grown-up "toy" if you will. Yesterday the United States Post Office left a message on my answering machine stating they are holding a VIBRATING PACKAGE. I laughed so hard that I started sobbing at my desk, because I had to call the post office in order for them to deliver the parcel. Make a note: The US Post Office must either verify the contents of "vibrating parcels" or they are forced to open them.

Hey, where's everyone else's pics? There was a 4th of July weekend... did I miss something? Pics, please! Betty... hello? What about that awesome trip you took?

Vera, you crack me up cause I have no idea what the heck you're talking about. And now I'm intrigued at the idea of "less restriction at sea level." Things that make you go hmmmmm.... I'm off to 6,000 feet elevation this weekend. That's still not 11,000, but I'm going to see if I feel a difference. I really need to get serious about getting my new port because that restriction was so awesome. I ordered a full meal, with salad. Chris ordered a full meal with soup. I traded in my entire meal just for his appetizer soup, which wasn't even easy going down. I brought my entire meal, plus salad up to my room and ended up throwing away a baby-back rib dinner! ME, throwing away ribs? Elevation rocks!

What the heck is so wrong with splurging on yourself and buying a couple new new capris and shorts for the summer? Huh? You've earned the reward 60 times over. Go shopping! $50 bucks can get you a couple capris, some shorts and even a tank or two. You can feel extra good in a month or two when you donate them to charity (tax deduction) or take them to a clothing exchange for smaller sizes. Why was it okay to blow gobs of dough on junk food, french fried, fast food? Now live a little. Go shopping. That's an order.

If he's a good gastric bypass surgeon, then I would have no problem going to a guy that's only done 15. Past experience speaks volumes, and I'd think the Band would be easier to place than all those cuts and stitches required in an actual bypass. If he's got a stellar reputation for his bypass skills, I would be happy to be his #16 if that meant avoiding Mexico.

Jodie, if I had my way, everyone would have tons of picture threads because I also love photos. I don't even care if I know the people; I could look at pictures all day. Unfortunately, I'm not able to see/view anything you've posted. Is it me? Can anyone see them?

Dr. Pleatman, how come you haven't accepted my offer of running a clinic out of my Vegas home? Please? Okay, kidding, but thanks for the intro. I really wish someone like you would come to Vegas though.

Jenna, no worries. Last year we had digital cameras going and were posting real-time pictures because there was a whole "Pity Party" going on at LBT. We were all on the computer with a live thread going, so there will be plenty of pics.

I want to offer a very simple challenge. All you gotta do is sit on a bench at your local mall and count all the young teenage girls that go by. I do this, and it's a huge eye-opener. How many of them have bulges, belly pooches or fat rolls? When I was in highschool last year (I mean 20 years ago) there were 3 fat girls in the whole school - I was the middle one. There were no "chubby" kids, just normal thin ones and Debbie, Stacy and me (the fatties.) And I came from an enormous school with thousands of kids. While you're sitting there, you'll notice that about every 5th girl already has little fat rolls hanging over her jeans, and that seems totally exceptable since they're wearing belly-baring shirts. It saddens me that kids are so fat. Maybe they aren't "obese" yet, but 20 years ago kids didn't have rolls or bulges unless they were truly obese. I realize the numbers say that 1/3 of Americans are obese, but when you sit and people-watch the way I do, it's obvious that obesity will "In" next century.

I guess I shoulda said they were pics from West Heaven. Paula, all those places that John Denver sings about, Like the Shennadoah (sp) River and Rocky Mountains, and all the fiddle players singin' about them Blue Ridge Mountains... for now those places are only dreams to me. One day I would love to see something less "west." Paula, are you referring to the famous, "Weenie Bite" game? If so, that was hysterical!. They hang a weenie from a rope (held up by polls.) The girl has to pick her favorite condiment. After the dip it in mustard or ketchup, the guy drives under the weenie as slow as he can, while the woman has to stand up on the back of the bike and try to bite the weenie. A girl named Laurie won, and for the rest of the night the crowd would suddenly burst in a loud chant of "LAURIE, LAURIE, LAURIE." Funny stuff! I wish we could have stayed longer and seen more... I read about some of the places you guys have seen and wish YOU (hello) would post me some pics! Chris and I are towing one bike up to Big Bear this weekend with the dogs to finish off our summer vacation. We would have loved Maui or Europe, but all we can afford for now are little weekend get-aways, but I'll take them!