phyllser

W/Candice's new career she'll probably be doing a gig in Vegas soon and we can all meet there!! LOL Wow! Up early enough to see a beautiful sunrise!! Earl had a terrible night w/sinuses, etc. He needs to see a dr. when we get to CA. I know he has a cold now, but this is going on too long... always having trouble sleeping because of sinus headaches. Congrats on the weight! I am holding my own and that's a challenge right now! When it's just us in the RV I do better. At least no visiting yesterday, so calories were better. But I did succumb to a craving for something sweet last night. I put Zoey in my basket and rode my scooter down to the little store at the park office and got a pint of Blue Bell ice cream. But I only ate 1/2 cup. Then Earl had some and it's now in the freezer. Internet sucks at this park. It comes and goes. So I hope this posts before I lose it again. Oh.... poor baby... sour milk!! LOL! I keep whining because I've only had one latte since we left Buffalo almost 2 weeks ago! Spotted a Starbucks yesterday... too late to take the exit! Linda... you better call and make that appt yourself!! MEN!! On to AZ today!! I think we'll be in CA before Friday. Maybe even Wednesday!

Yes... Melissa... CONGRATS on the job!! You have all been wonderful with all of your support on FB!! I really do love my friend, Laverne, but she is just CLUELESS sometimes and her comments were so WRONG! She did come back and recant after I posted my "EXCUSE ME" comments! Of course, she is a skinny minny, but I happen to know that she has had plastic surgery at least twice! Cuz I remember saying WHAT?? She said she had a pouchy tummy so she had tummy tuck and liposuction and then another time something else... like butt lift or something! She's very vain and .. well, I just won't go in to it. She didn't mean to make such a catty comment, but she did! Jewel... hang in there, kiddo... you can do it and it'll be so worth it! I always loved giving injections, too!! And I was good at it... one time a patient said I was the "best shot in the west!" I got a kick out of that and always remember it. Julie.... so sorry for your pain and troubles you are having. HUGS, Chick!!! Sorry about all the drama, Cheri! You've been through it this week for sure!! Hugs! You are so right... God is good, all the time.. He won't give you more than you can handle! More drama! So sorry! Yes, mothering is never over!! We have not been called on to raise grandchildren either, but do feel the burden for a couple of them... Our little Cody that we spent time with last weekend, and his older brother, Kurtis. Neither our son or the boys' mothers have provided adequate parenting and these boys are suffering from that. It's so hard when you see your grandchildren hurting and there's not much you can do about it. I think probably all the stress right now is contributing greatly to your reflux problems. May need to change the Rx. Should talk to your dr's office. Saran wrap indeed!! LOL!! Too funny! Sorry you are having to close up the lake place already. Sure was a fast summer, wasn't it!!?? Yes, Sandy... good to see you posting! Hope your race went well! We drove about 300 miles today... a long day for us, but we left early and made good time so we were at our destination and all set up before 3 pm. Watching Huskie football game now. We are in Big Spring TX. DH just watched news report on Fox News (during half time) about a shooting in Odessa TX... about 40 miles west of where we are!! I've always hated guns, but I'm about at the point where I think we should buy one! So.. dinner soon, then probably take a dip in the indoor pool here. Tomorrow we head towards El Paso but will stop short of there. We want to do the stretch of I-10 that runs along the Mexico border in daylight on Monday! Too much violence down there lately! Arlene... yes.. DO remember your cell phone!! Essential tool on a girls' outing!! LOL I think we should get t-shirts made in Vegas.. then they'll be ready for cruise is that's what we decide... Janet's Posse... or whatever! Good idea!

You gals ROCK!! Thanks for all the support on FB. Laverne... just a clueless bimbo! Sorry! She IS a good friend, but she really hurt my feelings. Then she came back with all kinds of sweet stuff AFTER I posted a comment on HER comment... "EXCUSE ME?? It shows in my FACE???? I went from a 4X to L or XL!!" Oh, well. She's just kind of shallow and not too bright! I'm over it. I DO need to lose more weight, and I KNOW that, but... that was not a kind thing to say, especially not on FB for all the world to see. On another note, we had a great visit with my cousin yesterday. He had business in the Dallas area so came by the RV afterward. He stayed and visited almost 3 hours! And I don't think we ever ran out of things to talk about. He makes his own wine and brought us 2 bottles of blackberry that he bottled the night before knowing he was coming to see us. And I gave him a bottle of strawberry reisling that I bought in Buffalo from my niece's friend who makes and bottles his own also. He called today and said his wife LOVED it! And Earl cooked some turkey bratwurst and made pasta salad. Then later we went to dinner at the home of a guy who was our pastor in OK. I told you about that. We had a great time. His wife is a real sweetheart, and so is he. We finished a bottle of cranberry Chianti (Earl and I and Laura... Tom doesn't like wine.) and she made some delicious homemade spaghetti sauce. Salad and garlic bread too. I had a real small piece of bread and Catalina free dressing on my salad. Very small scoop of coffee Blue Bell ice cream for dessert that was SO good! So we headed out of Dallas a little before 8 a.m. and managed to drive 300 miles today and reached our destination by a little after 2 pm! We were all settled in and watching Huskie football by 2:45pm! We're going to the pool in a little while.. before dinner, which is going to be whatever leftovers we can find in the fridge because Earl isn't feeling well. He was hoping to grill steak but said he doesn't feel good enough and couldn't taste it anyway. Think he caught a cold from BIL in Buffalo. Hope you are all having a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. Would have loved to hear the BassicJazz Trio perform last night!! You need to do "Harper Valley PTA"!! And maybe a little Dolly Parton (like 9 to 5). I know.... .not really jazz, but you could get away with it and it would be awesome!! :thumbup::scared2:

HAHA!! I'll have to go read the posts. Saw a couple on my phone, but was letting Earl use the internet connection for a while. Yeah, I'm sure she's feeling bad by now. Thanks for all your support, Chicks!! Love you all! Karla, so glad you're going to have that surgery finally!!! Candice!! So happy for you! I know you'll bring down the house tonight! You, Peter, John!! WHOOT!! Didn't make it to the pool. Earl not feeling well and didn't want to go. He went down this morning when I was still in my waking up stage! That lasts for hours! LOL So I took Zoey for a little walk. Not much pain until I was almost all the way back. Only 10 minutes or so, but I did it! We're going t dinner in an hour, but we're both planning on going down to the pool when we get back. It's open until 10 p.m. Hopefully we'll be back by then. But usually when we get together with these two it's talk, and talk, and talk!! And we haven't had a face to face with them in a very long time. At least 5 years!

Hello, all my dear friends! My true friends! FB bummer today. Don't want to go in to it again... but lots of tears shed over a "friend's" stupid comments. So now she puts an explanation on my profile page. I'm taking a break from her. In Dallas area two nights. Heading west again tomorrow. Glad we decided to come on down here and stay two nights. Earl needed another break! Sinus problems, sore throat, sinus headaches. He didn't sleep much again last night. Then my cousin came for lunch, so he was busy with that and dog got sick this morning. And every time he took her out she was rolling in the grass and she got all dirty.. had to give her a bath. So he's been resting/napping since my cousin left an hour or so ago. Good news on Mom & Uncle Ed. Sister Barb spent hours on their finances and app for assisted living yesterday, then took the app and submitted it. So by the end of the day, the lady at the facility called to say they are approved and she has two apartments available for them to choose from and she will hold one for them. They are moving in Oct. 1st!! So Mom said she laid awake all night worrying about it. She has "stuff" she wishes she'd given to me when we were there, etc. I said, just put it in a box with my name on it and let Barb put it in her basement until next time we are there. Well, guess I should go if I want to get in some pool time.. dinner date tonight with our former pastor from OK... a different one than the one we had dinner with last week!!! :thumbup::thumbup::smile::smile2::w00t:

We can probably unload bags and have them hold them. Wish I didn't need the stupid scooter, but don't want to be in pain or not be able to go places cuz I can't walk! I agree... show.. I can take it or leave it but visit time is important! I can bring laptop, too. We had so much fun doing the "Skype Baby Shower" while I was in Buffalo! So... wish you could be there, but we need to try to conference with you on Skype! Hope this new treatment gives you some relief. Sounds like you have the right team working for you now. Italian is my favorite, especially if wine is involved!! LOL I'm always up for a cruise, and Norwegian is about my favorite. Like the dining room flexibility.. no assigned tables or times!

Sorry... I am trying hard to catch up on 6 pages of posts, but had to quit to post something. I am sitting here in tears over a comment one of my "good friends' in OKC put on her daughter's FB page.... 'Phyllis has lost weight it shows in her face still needs to lose a lot more. She said she'd like to lose 175 lbs' Sweet, huh?? "shows in her face"??? Yeah, I know I need to lose about another 50 lb, but I was wearing 4X & even 5X last time she saw me, and now L or XL. So I think it shows in more than just my face. What a bitch! I don't care if I ever see her again. Earl warned me. He said she probably wouldn't say anything at all. This couple is very self-centered! It's always all about them! So why am I so upset!! I've had lots of compliments this whole trip, from people I haven't seen in a long time. But one mean thing from one formerly good friend really hurts! So... on to other things. We are in the Dallas area. Friends we knew in OKC and were in street ministry with came to visit last night. She had lapband surgery too, and was doing well for a while, but always complaining bitterly about the changes necessary in new way of eating in order to be successful. So now it looks like she's gained back most of her loss. So, am I now being the bitch??? This couple married late in life and then adopted a baby when they were 50+ and he is pretty much a little terror at 5 yrs old! Boy do they have their hands full! He had fun with the puppy for a little while, but when he got bored with that they brought in their DVD player and put in a movie for him! That worked! So we are going to be here one more night. A cousin of mine is coming for lunch in a little while and tonight we're having dinner with a former pastor and his wife.. I mean... he is still a pastor... he just isn't OUR pastor any more! LOL! Wonderful people and we've kept in touch since they left OK several years ago. Tomorrow we move on.. west towards NM and AZ. Which reminds me.... EVA.... don't think we'll be spending the night in your area but hoping we can still get toether for lunch or coffee or a short visit somewhere. I re did the remainder of our trip yesterday... as I've had to do afew times!! Earl is just not tolerating more than about 250 miles a day. He gets to stressed and too tired. And then sometimes after we stop, as yesterday, he has to wrestle with the stupid DirecTV dish for an hour or more before he can get it working. So.. I have us stopping I think about 100 miles sort of Tucson area. Can let you know more precisely next week when I see if we're able to adhere to the new schedule. Right now I have us arriving in CA a week from today. The last night we stop around Quartzsite, I think. Maybe not that close to CA... can't remember for sure what I did! I am rambling, huh!! Okay.. back to reading your posts. Tears dried. Emotions settled down. Now I"m just MAD!! LOL

TOPS was Tues. Can't find my weight sheet right now but I think I was actually down a pound! Have been trying very hard to make good choices, bringing home leftovers, etc. And cut down on snacks. Lots of new members, but 6 or 8 gals who were there when we were. Some of us went out for lunch afterwards.. a Cajun place. Got an appetizer sampler... red beans and rice, etc. We planned to stay in an RV park right on the TX/OK border tonight.. our home park for our Coast to Coast membership. But they were rude to Earl, wouldn't let s use the WiFi, and over charged us. We have a lifetime membership there and they were charging us more than any of the rates that were posted on the wall! So, we decided to leave. We weren't even there an hour and they wouldn't give us a full refund! We paid $18 and they would only give us $8 back. Anyways, we drove on down to Dallas area and will stay here two nights. Some friends from OKC came by to visit for a couple of hours tonight. Tomorrow a cousin of mine is coming by for lunch. He sort of suggested we make chili... that's what we fixed last time he visited us for lunch. But it's so hot here... Earl doesn't want to do that! We'll figure something out. He's supposed to be here at noon and we are invited to dinner at our former pastor's house at 6:30 p.m. So we should have the afternoon to relax and enjoy the pool. We went in for a little while this afternoon. Son, Chris' change of command ceremony was today in CA. Was so happy to hear that Earl's brother and his wife were going, and then our friends from Three Rivers went also. That was a last minute thing, but they were in the SF area and were free. They think a lot of Chris and were glad to be able to go. Especially since we couldn't be there. So Chris is now commanding officer of his group. His former boss will be off to Iraq soon. I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open! I guess I better go to bed!

I'm going to make a valiant effort to respond to a few recent posts!! I told you guys we are in OK! Threatening weather here ALL week and the sky has been dark most of today. I just heard some thunder. I do NOT miss the OK weather! It's hot and humid and severe weather warnings all the time!! Hope you get some answers soon, Julie!!! HUGS! I am thinking we will be in your area not this coming weekend, but next weekend. Maybe Thurs/Fri time frame. Texas this weekend... then make our way south to I-10, and then west. Not sure how long that will take, but surely next weekend at the latest. Don't remember what you told me, but we need to park in a place where there is enough room to turn around.. can't back up while towing the car and try to avoid unhitching it at all cost! I have your address in our trip plan, but also found an RV park nearby in case we can't park at your place. But think we should be able to stop and see you. If in an RV park, you can come over and visit. Also, depends on what kind of progress we are making. We like to stop about every 200-300 miles. Earl gets too tired and cranky if we drive longer than about 2pm! Very stressful driving this rig! Anxious to hear what the doc says. Could be appendicitis, but I kind of doubt it. Sounds more like a gyn problem. I LOVE Merrills.. have two pair of their sandals. I have small, kind of thin feet, with toes that cross over and are arthritic! We paid big bucks for mani/pedi for the wedding... about a dozen of us.. sisters, nieces, bridal party, etc. went to a place on Friday morning before the wedding. One of my nieces brought lunch and champagne and several bottles of wine! Made the bill a little more painless, but I think my total was over $50 and then I tipped... got the deluxe pedi. Guess what?? Mani lasted ONE WEEK, and some had to redo their nails the next day before the wedding! Yes, Cody is a cute kid! Very sweet, but, like I said, a few residual problems from what his mom and our son have put him through. Wish we didn't live so far away! Yes, he had a great time with the dog, but what was really kind of sad is how he craves some male attention. As soon as he got here.. "where's Grandpa??" Then he wanted to ride with Grandpa when we went to dinner, and go for a walk with Grandpa, wanted Grandpa to take him golfing, (RV park is part of a golf complex...Grandpa is NOT a golfer, has no golf clubs... Cody just didn't get why grandpa couldn't take him golfing, and he wanted to spend the night with us (school day today!), etc. I could kick our son! When I talked to him on the phone earlier that day he says, "wait til you see him. You won't believe how much he's grown!" And I'm thinking.. when is the last time YOU saw him???? So I asked him.. and he tells me he picked him up in the summer and took him out of state with him for a week. YEAH!! That was like May 2009!!! GRRRR! He has NO idea how much he's grown! Then he told me to be sure and call him when Cody was here so he could talk to him! I called twice, texted once, left one message tagging it "URGENT", and no call back! So today he texts me and asks how the visit went!!! Sorry... do you hear a little hostility!??? He texted me last week wanting to know if we could "help" his older son, Kurtis, get to Nebraska to spend some time with him because he needs some "supervision"!! Don't know that he is capable of "supervision" and don't know why he would need our "help" since he had just finished painting a train (in Nebraska) and I know that usually means a big pay day. Your estimate is about right. I would like to be in DHS by weekend of 25-26 and hoping to get appt at Eisenhower Spine Center first part of that week to get things rolling before our Vegas trip. No hope of getting any resolution before that, but need to get MRI lined up and maybe some more appropriate pain pills. I don't want to take the hydocodone. Sister gave me Darvocet and sometimes it works and usually it doesn't. I suspect she'd had it a while and maybe had lost it's potency. Keep forgetting to ask... did you ever find a housesitter for the Nov. vaca??? We have two granddaughters that turn 21 next May. Told them both we'd take them out for lunch/dinner and a "legal" drink!! I know they've both been drinking for a couple of years! One is at U of WA..living in sorority house, going to frat parties.. so... just sayin'!! LOL! The other.. arrested for DUI when she was about 17!! SNOT!! That is such a SWEET baby! Can't believe the SMILE in that photo.. never saw such a smile on a newborn!!! And I worked a long time in labor and delivery and in newborn nursery!

Geez!! Seems like she's been in Poland FOREVER!! Very nice camper. Looks like it's been well taken care of. Yes... interior photos, please!

Good Afternoon! Out and about all morning! Visited w/friends, got the DirecTV problem fixed... needed new dish and new cable. Works great now. Made arrangements to go out to dinner w/former pastor and his wife tonight. Tomorrow morning... Earl wants to go to McDonald's at 6:30 a.m. to meet with some OLD Winnebago travel club friends... mostly men, but I guess I'll have to go because... one car and I want to go to TOPS. So... we'll see. May park the RV at Walmart or somewhere and wait for him to get back from breakfast with the old cronies. They're all about my mom's age!! Visited with the couple that always comes to Palm Springs in the winter today. They are both 89!! Can't believe it but he showed us his list of reservations for this coming winter. They leave right after Christmas for 14 weeks, moving every 2 weeks! We did that one winter.. move every two weeks. What a pain! And she's the lady who had emergency surgery last spring a month or so before we left. And she's been in the hospital twice w/pneumonia since then. Anyway... all the people we want to meet with want to go out for dinner. Refrigerator is already packed with leftovers. We are going to look for salad or appetizer tonight. I want to get all this stuff over with by Thursday so we can head out no later than Friday, preferably Thursday. Then Friday night meet with some other pastor friends of ours in Plano TX. Good idea to make appt now for back. Thanks for the #, Janet, but I read an article about the Eisenhower Spine Center in a valley magazine that I have from last spring and it's supposed to be one of the best in the ntaion.. and I'm already in the Eisenhower computer system since that's where I went in March the first time I had a back problem. So I called there today but have to wait for a call back. I'm thinking we'll be in the area the weekend before we go to Vegas, so that would give me a couple of days the first part of that last week to get in to see dr. Then I'm sure they will want an MRI. It is pretty miserable and so frustrating because I was doing so good all summer with weight machines, water exercise, bike, walking, etc. I can't stand up for more than a few minutes or walk more than about 1/2 block if that. Pain shoots through my left butt and down to my knee w/strange tingling feeling in my left foot. Nerve impingement somewhere. That's why I'm afraid of chiro. Here's a better picture from last night w/Cody. Don't remember if I posted this photo of Steve w/train they finished last week. He never did call back yesterday.. or today, after my text message and two phone messages, one of them tagged "URGENT"! Creep!

Just checking in! Still on the road and don't always have internet, so trying desparately to keep up with all the posts. We are now in OK, near OKC. Got here yesterday and had a nice visit w/ grandson, Cody whom we haven't seen in about 4 years. His other grandma drove him down and we took them to dinner. He had a great time playing with our puppy.... playing catch outside. Wore Zoey out! Cody is 10 yrs old. He's a sweet boy, but some behavioral and emotional problems. Our son and his former girlfriend have created some "abandonment" issues for Cody. He cried when he had to leave last night.. Wanted to spend the night with us, but... school today, and we're cramped here in the RV with all our STUFF for the winter. It's a difficult situation. Grandma said maybe he could spend some time with us next summer... but, honestly, I'm not sure we can handle him. Pouts big time every time he is told "no" about anything. Well, enough of that. We lived in OKC area about 15 years, so we have lots of visiting to do the next few days. So... off and running NOW!

Yeah, Mom & other half siblings are all blond. Steve had paternity test done at one time... he's his all right. We had a good visit. He cried when they left. He's a sweet boy but I can see he's quite a challenge to his grandma! Disgusted with Steve. He called this morning and said be sure to call him when Cody was here. Yeah, right. Called him twice, left urgent message plus text and he never called back. Fed up with him! Earl is off cigs for several days, plus frustrating day with DirecTV setup and he got really nasty tonight w/dog, etc. He gets so cranky when he's trying to quit~!! Can't get any relief from this pain tonight. Went to bed at 9:30 p.m. last night... very early for me, because couldn't get comfortable. Now I'm thinking about going to bed early again tonight. Darvocet a couple of hours ago has not helped at all. Pain is in my left hip, down to knee tonight. Seems to vary between hip and leg. Have many people to see here in OK and only a couple of days to do it. No plan for tomorrow and I better get one soon!

Gotta type fast! Earl is doing his daily "final walk through" before we hit the road again. So nice to have good WiFi last night! We will be crossing in to OK today and seeing our grandson, Cody. Haven't seen him in about 4 years and are so excited! Staying north of OKC tonight and his other grandma is bringing him down to our RV park and we will take them out to dinner. BBQ place that I used to LOVE is there, so that will be my choice!! He was only 6 yrs old last tme we saw him and now 10. Won't see son, Steve.. he is in Nebraska painting trains! Would like to kick him in the butt though! I know he got big pay day for first finished train last week. He sent me a photo of the train. So a few days later he texts me asking if we can "help" Kurtis get to Nebraska because he needs "supervision"! Yeah?? I better not comment further on that! Going to our old TOPS group Tuesday morning. Scale may be a bit disconcerting! We're good on the road, but not in Buffalo!

Just finished reading about 5 pages of posts! So much going on in your lives! New baby... congrats! New teeth, congrats! Sorry you didn't get better answers at Mayo, Julie. I think I am just too tired to do this! Can't stay awake. Love you and and enjoy all your posts.

Foggy morning. Approaching St Louis with Zo Zo curled up on my lap with head buried in my elbow. She didnt sleep much lasr night-nor did we because of pounding rain and T-storms all night freaking her out. She stayed nestled under our chins.

Good Morning! I'm up early... gained an hour yesterday but I'm still on eastern time. Just time fora quick catch up! We are in Illinois and moving on to MO today. Internet has been spotty. Haven't had it except for my phone for a couple of days. So I've missed a lot. Apparently not getting all the posts on my phone. Didn't know about Mel. So sorry, Linda. But, very curable. Hope treatent isn't too unpleasant. Back is not better. Pain is mostly in my left butt, down to left knee. Very difficult to walk. Trying not o take pain pills. My sister gave me some darvocet. Some days it works and others it doesn't! Got to get in the shower. Hugs to all.

Buffalo visit is over and we are well on our way. Spent last night in Ohio with friends from our younger days. We knew them in Sacramento in our AF days. He was in the Army, but his wife and I were roommates in the hospital when our first kids were born and we hit it off well and have stayed in touch ever since... 44 years!! So we did what we used to do then... played cards all afternoon and evening! She fixed us a delicious dinner.. pork chops in th crock pot and fresh corn and salad. We had a very nice time. Now we are in Indiana, a little short of Indianapolis...maybe 60 miles. May or may not make it in to MO tomorrow. All is going well except back/leg is giving me a lot of trouble. Can barely walk. Pain is going down my left hip in to left leg/knee and foot still tingly. Nerve impingement. Will be seeing spine specialist as soon as possible after we arrive in CA!! Scooter to Vegas I"m afraid. Frustrating but I will be miserable without it.

Hi, Everyone. Our busy visit w/family in NY state is over and we're on our way south to CA. Spending a night in IN, a little east of Indianapolis. May make it to MO tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing well.

Congrats on the fund raiser!!! Oh, YEAH!! THAT Huckleberry!! Now I remember! It was GREAT! One more night in Buffalo. Already cried saying good bye to youngest sister, Shirley tonight.... and I'll probably see her again tomorrow night! One more night sipping wine on the porch if Earl gets everything packed up tomorrow. We'll go over there for pizza! Gotta have a little Buffalo pizza before we leave! May take Mom & Ed to see assisted living place tomorrow in the daytime.

Good Morning! Just time to quickly catch up on posts and add a short one! NO.... didn't know about the huckleberry wine or would have definitely looked for some! Did pick up some unusual ones last week on the wine tour and from someone my niece knows who makes his own... bought a whole case from him at $5/bottle! Winding down our visit... Sister, Mary Lou flying out at noon today. Shirley goes back to work tomorrow... not sure how.. her knee is shot! And Barb and I will try to get Mom and Ed an appt to tour assisted living place we looked at last week that we all liked a lot. Had a fun SKYPE baby shower for my sister Mary Lou's soon to be arriving first grandkids... twins... C-Section in a few weeks. Her doctor son and his wife.. in Utah. So we had the preggie Mom, her mom and Mary Lou's daughter all on the big screen TV. I had to send my niece home for an HDMI cable and I plugged that from laptop to TV and we had our two way video shower! Amazing! They were opening presents people had sent direct to them, we were opening those people had brought to the shower. I took a photo of the cake and held my phone in front of the laptop cam so she could see it! Gotta go get ready for church. Have to pick up Mom in a little less than an hour!! Hugs... hope you are all having a GREAT Labor Day weekend. It got COLD and windy here yesterday!!!

Yeah-Belize!!! Opened that bottle of shiraz tonight Candice! Yummy! Thanks again!! Karla-Ta da dump, ta da dump, ta da dump dump dump!! LOL Janet- have a great time at the concert!! Linda you always have such great words of wisdom!!! Especially the Belize part!! LOL No, not going back to WA- OK and on to CA in time to go to Vegas with Janet on the 1st. Otherwise we'd take our time and make more stops. LIKE Branson!!!

Very busy day... won't get back on until late tonight or tomorrow. Going with sisters this morning to look at assisted living places. Then fish fry at 4 pm... first and only since we've been here... to our favorite place. Then 7 pm baby shower for my sister, Mary Lou's twin grandchildren who are due Oct. 12. Tomorrow doesn't look much better! Mary Lou's last day here.. we have reunion planning meeting in the morning with classmates. then 2 pm... visit our old neighborhood and neighbors. Hope you all have a GREAT day... enjoy concert, Janet! NOTE: As usual, "Earl's" bark is worse than his bite!!

Janet... sorry about the drama with Andrew, but definitely sounds like he needs to move out! Karla.... hope your system calms down. I was surprised this morning when you said your coffee wouldn't stay down. Stress undoubtedly has something to do with it. I know when I get upset with Earl... often I start bawling... just something I can't control when I'm mad. And I can immediately feel my band tighten up like I'm going to toss my "cookies"! Very enjoyable evening and dinner with Candice and Peter at the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls. So happy they were willing to drive all that distance to meet us!! I am exhausted and need to go to bed!!

Welcome, Christa! Band problems are fairly rare and most often easily resolved. I am 3 yrs out and had a problem in the spring... but it was probably my own fault... pushing the envelope, so to speak.. stretched my esophagus and started having problems w/pb-ing, night time reflux, and inability to eat hard protein.. like chicken, steak, etc. So they took all the fluid out of my band for one month to allow my esophagus, etc., to rest. It was resolved by the time I went in a month later so they put back half the fluid I'd had and a month later a little more, but not fully back to what I had. I was probably too tight. My restriction now is what it should be and I have had no further problems. It's important to follow all your doc's instructions.... small bites, eat slow, portion control, chew well, etc., and you should be fine!