DeLarla

Zoe, dig up that recipe. It can't be that hard to make, but I'm curious what your recipe calls for. Marie, it's kind of a bland paste, but the garlic and olive oil make it a good dip for veggies. It's normally served with olive oil drizzled over it and bits of pita bread.

It's weird that I'm wearing Michelle's clothes since it's the first time in my entire 42 years that I fit into anyone else's clothes. I'm a hard fit since I'm so tall, but I noticed my tall jeans are now too long on me. I guess when the thighs shrink, stuff hangs lower. But Average length is still too short. Great idea... we can lay the clothes all over the big bed and everyone can pick a number or something, then pick one item, or some other fair way. I'll have some stuff too, but mine is mostly too big. But I'll definitely contribute. Anyone wanting their clothes to go to a good cause, send them to my house before October 8. Anything left over after the bash will be donated to the women's shelter. Lisa Bonekovic 8130 Fox Tail Way Las Vegas, NV 89123

This is a good roll of laughing here... keep me laughing, please! I work with such a dull bunch that ME, the birthday girl, had to take someone else out for lunch! Get me through this boring day! The driver's license thing is killing me. And now that I look at my picture, it's damn slimming! I'm not that thin, but I somehow contorted my body just the right way to make me have a waist. I think it has something to do with the closet being open... for a Libra girl to post a picture showing the inside of her messy closet is a big stretch. I'll have to get all geared up and get on the bike, then have Chris take some pics. I'll send them as Christmas cards that say, "Hey, F-Off from Vegas" (snorting refries out my nose.) Oh, and my jacket is kinda sloppy big. The 2X fit like a condom, but this 3X slips and slides too much. Why can't plus sizes come in halfzies the way normal stuff does? But it is a mighty fine jacket, and it smells like new car!

All I can say is I LOVE MY VET! My kitty is on thyroid meds. $1.00 per pill. But he's worth it.

Veronica, we're just trying to reel you in - then we're going to eat you!

The world is especially beautiful today. And his undies mixed with yours goes as one of the greatest romantic quotes of the decade.

Thanks for uprighting me, Donali. I hate the pic, but I was in such a hurry and didn't feel like waiting till tonight to have Chris take one.

I'd be happy to pay for postage. I have to stuff money in Michelle's purse next week when she's not looking cuz she mailed me 3 boxes.

Welcome, Cutie Pie. Good luck! xo

Count me in for a big fat hug from Vegas! Welcome.

Great. Now I'm starving. You mentioned some of my favorite foods whether in mushy or solid stages. Now I gotta have a tamale! I live on Hummus & veggies, and I'm not in mushy stage. Ricotta mashed with potatoes was great. Or potatoes with any soft cheese. Polish - the insides of cheese pirogies!

HELLO... I'm the queen of accepting hand me downs! Michelle has sent me three boxes! And I wear almost all of them, but you said the key word, "TALL." I can't wear some of the pants Michelle sent me cause they're too short, so I cuff them up into Capris. I wish I could give away my clothes, but they were all 26/28 talls, and everyone was already smaller than that. Are you coming to the Vegas Bash? If so, bring them and I'll exchange some stuff with you. I have some 18s in storage that I'm not sure I'll ever get in again. I'd be happy in a 20/22. Please don't give them away! I owe Michelle the world because I can't afford to shop! I'm wearing her Tommy jeans and cute blouse right now (thanks again Michelle!)

All newbies are required to post pictures in your underwear. I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself. Just kidding. HI and welcome to the greatest site around. Peace and good luck!

OH MY GOSH MARIE, that's the biggest NSV ever! I have never weighed less than any man in my life... EVER. I just got my new drivers license (I'm laughing) and I put 190 for the weight. That's hysterical - I'd be bone thin at 190. So hubby says, "so honey, do you really weigh less than me?" Uh, NO! CONGRADS! Penni, I agree that you'd have gained way more pre-band. One pound isn't even fat, and you know it. It's just some water fluctuation. You can't gain a pound unless you consumed more calories than you should have, and we both know you made some bad choices, but heck, you eat tiny food now. You didn't gain a pound, seriously. By the way, I went to a new doctor, and his scale shows me a full 10 pounds lighter. I gotta steal that scale!

All you need to do is change the way you're thinking about going alone. I went to Mexico all alone. I figured I came into the world alone, and I'm going out of the world alone, so this very initimate decision to have weight loss surgery was something I felt I should do alone. Besides, you won't be alone. You'll probably be in the hospital with several other people getting bands, so you'll all bond and become a whole new family. You won't be alone - we'll all be here for you. You can do this. You CAN do this.

HEY, when do we get to hear about the SEX? Geeze, Donali... don't you know us by now. Tell all, tell all! I'm beaming - love is so cool... especially when it's new love or finally closing that long distance gap. Woo hoo! Vera, you slay me! "It's underwear on the floor" needs to go into the funniest band quotes post - I guess I should start one!

My husband has never been fat, but now he's getting a bit of a belly. But he's proud of it and says it's a sign of wealth. Men seem to accept being overweight more than women, I think. Plus, women have more body fat (don't we?) Men have more physical strength, which makes them have stronger muscles, and muscle burns fat faster. Heck, I don't even know what I'm talking about, but yes, more women get banded than men. However, I think eventually men will catch up. I had my surgery in May and asked my doctor why there were no men. He said he's been doing quite a few, and more men opt for the surgery every day. You never hear society cracking jokes about fat men. It's always fat women. It's simply not acceptable to society for women to be fat.

There ain't nothin' belated about it, Darcy... today she is a my birthday! Woo hoo, thanks everyone for the Happy Birthdays. I really, really, really wanted to post a picture but I was in a big hurry this morning. Attached is the best I could do (pretty goofy and embarrassing but I was in a hurry.) Alex, are you out there? Can you flip the picture for me? Anyone? Love, Birthday Dork aka Biker Dork.

Thanks, Kathy! Look at your pretty picture! I love love love it.

I always had crappy birthdays till last year. Then I decided I didn't want any more bad ones, so last year I planned my own party. No lie! It was a blast. This year same thing - Chuckie Cheese Pizza. Far out!

Zoe, that's entirely disgusting! Liver flavor - uggghhh! I'm cracking up here just thinking about that!

Good to know. I have an autoimmune disease called Sarkoidosis. I don't know much about it, but I think I'm quite sure I'll suffer from osteoarthritis. I should start taking GC now. I had my dog on it for awhile, so maybe we'll both share.

Hey now Miss Becca Lee! Just because I'm having my 42nd birthday dinner at Chuckie Cheese with all my neighbor kids doesn't make me one. I'm not a kid. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not, but if I don't win I'm never coming out of my room! Actually, Penni, it sucks that you binged... but did you really eat too much, or just the wrong stuff? I'd rather eat the wrong stuff than too much. Every time I see a pound go away I tend to binge. Today I was good, and I had no intentions of being bad for dinner, but then Chris cooked, and it was just too damn yummy. He fried an entire chicken in garlic and olive oil, baked potatoes stuffed with butter & soft cheese, plus corn. Throwing away half my potato still has my head freaking out - it's right there in the garbage, and it's really mad at me. But for a banded person, half a large baked tato, cheese, 2 chicken wings plus corn is too much. My belly is filled. Penni, good to have you back. It's weird around here without you. So, now let's talk about me some more - HAHAHAH. Don't throw your shoe at me! Chris gave me presents early because he won't see me in the morning, and it only took him 13 years to figure out the true meaning of giving. I told him not to spend much, so he got me beautiful leather gloves, biker goggles and 2 charms for my charm bracelett. But that's not the good part - he snuck over to Harley and picked up my jacket that I didn't know was in yet. That's the kinda gift I like, the one where he goes out of his way to do a nice thing for me. So he made me put all this black leather on, and I look like James Bond. I feel ridiculous, be he's all excited that he finally has a biker wife. I finally made it to the "surrender" stage, so I put on my new goggles and gloves and hit the streets. I went farther today and got involved in more traffic. And I even went to Bab's and took her for a ride to the corner and back since she only weighs 80 pounds soaking wet. She was so excited. It's all so funny. I go from being fat polyester girl to big bad looking biker broad overnight. I'm actually embarrassed riding that thing around - I feel so flipping stupid in all my Barbie Biker gear! But it's kinda fun, I suppose.

Zoe, nice to see someone other than me that goes to a vet instead of a doctor! You missed my post several months ago when I had an infected incision. Kitty had a vet appointment, so while I was there I lifted my shirt and showed the vet my infection. She's the one that diagnosed my problem and told me I needed to have the pustule lanced and packed, so she sent me off to Urgent Care. I asked her to do it, but she said that would be illegal, but I'd trust my vet before my doctor any day. Glad to know our fur babies are in good hands!

I disagree. To me, five pounds a month is fantabalistic. Think about how much five pounds is. That's a bag of potatoes, or 20 sticks of butter. In 30 days? Sounds amazing to me.