peaches9

Gotta run quilt class this a.m.

oH JANET, you are too funny... Your money will be worth more here.. but its best to exchange your US $ for Cdn$ at your own bank... Someplaces in Canada take US dollars but they won't give you as much on exchange.. You will count back your change, just like you do with American money

Oh Linda, I'm with you hun... have the LIIT it will taste so good. I am currently sipping a glass of Argentinian wine... its not as good as the French but it was cheap and came recommended from a friend. $7.45 per 750 ml.... Re Port tipping; Mine is tilted forward too... not where it was to begin with.. but the nurse who does my fills just grabs a hunk of my "Skin" and she can kinda turn it a bit.. then if she goes in at the right angle she hits it fine every time. In fact I think if I had a syringe I c ould do the damn thing myself... trouble is can I just walk up to a pharmacy and ask to buy a syringe??? Wow, another weird day today! My DH is on the phone right now with his estranged brother from B.C. We havn't been able to locate Joe in 35 years... we tried a couple times but I don't think he wanted to be found. Anyways, while I was in France someone found ME on facebook and asked if I had a brother Joe... turns out this lady is his Next-door-neighbor.... how weird is that. My DH and he have been on the phone now for 1 1/2 hours!!!! I am making Coq au Vin for supper, oh does it smell good!!!! I can haraadly wait for supper... GET OFF THE PHONE :smile2:

Welcome KSaulsb1 We are bandsters that have been friends for two years. Mostly we got banded sometime in the Month of JULY 2007!!! Pretty cool huh? You are just gettin started on your journey, so good luck to you and may the BAND be everything you hoped for! We give a lot of suuport to one another and also TOUGH LOVE at times...:biggrin:

Steph, I am so glad Jeff is considering getting banded. Remind him of how important he is to your family. I was very please with Dr. Ortiz's clinic. The only uncomfortable moment is when you are dropped off at the line to cross the border, you have to walk across with all your luggage, go through the border check and then be picked up about a block away. Remember that you know have to have a passport to get into MX now. If Canada's cost is close to MX, I'd consider going there instead even though I had an excellent experience at Dr. Ortiz. Hey, tell them that I refered you, maybe they will give me a finder's fee. Steph; Canadian Banding in Toronto is $16,000 which is like $13730 in U.s. dollars.... plus they have a new financing plan... pay $2900 Cdn have the surg. and then make payments over the next 4 years!!! I think 400-$600 per month.. I'd have to recheck that out. Web site is... SLIMBAND.ca or TLBC.ca (this is where I had my surg) Can

I know how that is... HUGS to you GF.. tomorrow will be brighter!:smile2:

O.k. ladies, here is the LINK to the Elvis Fest. activities... have a read, The most fun one that I have been to is the FRIDAY night Street dance... its free! But you'll notice that the other venues are inexpensive too.... The OFFICIAL Collingwood Elvis Festival 2009 So perhaps you should all read this site and let me know what the POLL results are ... remember that SAT night I have a SURPRISE in store for you ALL>>>> :smile2: Hee, hee I am getting so excited... France is now a memory and ELvis weekend is approching.... I am going to lose 4 more lbs before you all arrive....ummm that would be a goal of 172 lbs by the time you come here.... :biggrin:

Kari (Michigan) I'll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you so that you passport comes in time.. I am CERTAIN that it will. Now I've forgotten... you are Driving right? Are you bringing DHusband? or are you driving alone???? Can you arrive a day earlier than the other girls... say Wednesday??? It's totaly up to you, but you are more than welcome to add an extra day... we could get SO caught up. Denise: Your adventure in the French quarter sounds wonderful,, I would so like to be there with you :biggrin: My co-hort at work asked be yesterday... when is your next vacation???? :thumbup: are you kidding me??? I am so broke now, its gonna take me 1/2 a year to get my 'kitty' built up again.:smile2: Stephanie; if the tax situation is not as dire as youonce thought perhaps you could STILL come to Canada... where would you FLY from.... Helena? or White Falls?? I am sure the flight would be $500-600 tops, and you might not have to spend more than $200 for spending money...really!!!! Think about it o.k.? Oh weigh-in this morning 176.0 on the nose... so I've lost 0.8 lbs in two days since I've been home....yeahhhhhh I know there's more but I just can't think right now, got Lady Clarol on my head right now.....mushy thinking:blush:

Hi Girls; Food today CALORIES/CARBS/FAT/PROTEIN890/86/34/62 so a pretty good day!!! But I dint' get on the scales this a.m. as I had not had a BM since getting home on Sunday... So perhaps tomorrow morning I'll post my new weight. There is a JULY challenge right??? I need a challenge to continue... Janet: temperature here has been cool, and wet... so its getting all the crappy weather out of the way so that Elvis Festival Weekend will be GREAT!!! I'll be prepared though for the temp. to cool off at night...nice for sleeping. About 75 degrees F. During the day it c an get up to around 80-85 this time of year... quite pleasant. and good Beach weather...I'll check the long range weather forecast and keep you posted o.k.? July 16th..long range forecast. 21 High (70 degrees Farenheit)and low is 17 degrees Celcius.(63 degrees Farenheit) Now ladies, bear in mind that this is a forecast and not etched in stone... it could be warmer.... Bring shorts, tops, slacks, a light jacket, sweaters etc..bathing suits (we also have an awesome indoor YMCA pool and hot tub) Jammies for sleeping....Janet I'll give you extra blankets o.k.??? Beautiful sandy(soft) beach, no stones or tiny pebbles... just shallow water and sand... 14 mile long beach. Stephanie; Great news on the Taxes... I am so happy Jeff willl now be able to get his surgery... YEAH.. Mexico is dropping their prices too...even here in Canada the prices have come down... he COULD come to canada too if he's afraid of Mexico. Just a thought, what with your Dollar being stronger than ours... do you think he might like to opt for a Gastric Sleeve instead of a band, could do without all those Tune-ups... they are a PAIN. If I'd known then what aI know now... I'd have gone with the SLEEVE... One shot and your done. Phyl: You know what to bring, as our weather is pretty much the same as Buffalo N.Y. but your Flying right??? and then driving up to Canada? Do you want me to send directions or you'll just mapquest it? Linda: You hubby will be the only guy now, so I hope that is not offputting for him... Peter and he will get along just fine. Am I forgetting anyone who's traveling??? I hope not but just remind me if I am...:biggrin: No exercise yet since being home, I know I'll have to improve that... I am still getting back into the swing of things.. I slept 12 hours last night... and I have to DYE my hair tonight... my WHITE roots are really getting noticabel :smile2:

Karla; I DID go to a Patchwork Quilt Shop/Museum... it was in an old ancient winery in Sallal D'aude... tiny little town on a river very beautiful. They had antique quilts from all over the world as well as Quilt Art of the French ladies.... just breathtaking.. unfortunatly, all THOSE pictures were on our camera which was lost... I am just starting to remember all the photos that WE took and now they are lost forever... I only have my DD pix

five more, mostly of Barcelona Spain, luckily for us it was only a 2 1/2 hour drive from Narbonne-Plage.... It was amazing the differences in the countries... Spain has CLEAN bathrooms for the public, complete with toilet tissue!!! While in France, I didn't go anywhere without a 'roll' in the car... just in case. A couple of times I got stuck using a 'turkish toilet' which consists of a stall with two placemarks for your feet, spread 2 feet apart witha hole in the floor you are supposed to aim at... ya right!!!! My squatting muscles are just not what they should be!!! LOL... trying not to pee on my own sandals... oh joy So you can imagine my GLEE when there was a clean, equipped toilet in the parking garage avail to anyone, no charge... oh yeah, they sometimes charge you to use the bathrooms in France, and then they still might not provide tissue...yuk I'm pooped and going to bed.... Barcelona.bmp

O.k. I'll post a couple here, but if you want to see ALL the pictures from France and Spain go to my FACEBOOK and scroll down until you see my daughters name and she has posted all HER pictures.... as WE lost our Camera the last day of our Vacation.... dah! guess I can only put up 5 at a time:sneaky:

Yeah, where is the QUILT picture????? I wanna see it too!!!!

HI girls! I;m home!! YEAH... it was so nice to step off the plane in Toronto!!! Home sweet home!! Picked up the dogs, 1 from the Kennel (dogy JAIL for Twig) and Woody was at a girlfriends. Woody is all healed up from her DOG FIGHT bites just prior to HOliday... SHe is looking good, although she got sick in the night IN OUR BED!! Don't know what's up with that? Gave Twig a bath to get all that loose fur off of him and get him a nice non=kennel smell. And I finished the last of my Swiss Chocolate last night!! So officially this a.m. I weight 176.8 lbs. down -2 lbs over my trip. Now this is truely a mirace, as I ate a LOT of junk, drank Vats of wine, but did do a LOT of walking thru castles, Abbeys, Catherdrals and museums... I am so happy to beable to eat Canadian/American food again! I loved France but I can't wait to sink my teeth into a McD's Fillet-o-fish, I am having one today... I logged onto Spark People today to re-start journaling my food, so that I can continue to lose before you gals all come on the 23rd. Stopped into see my MOM on the drive home from the airport = she was watching the Master Golf tourn on TV and looked FAB. She is feeling much better since her last Spinal fracture. THANK GOD:thumbup: I have to tell you my DD is the luckiest girl in the world. Bryan is so patient, hardly lets anything Flap him and was a real treasure to have a long on this trip. He can drive like a Kamakazi pilot and cooks too! I din't cook in 2 weeks, he BBQ'd everyday or we went out for dinner. Alas, no more Baggette, no more Creamy Cheese*(it tastes like sin on a plate) and no more Choc or wine.... This a.m. all I really want is for my tea to go down, so that I can have a bowl of steaming oatmeal.:tongue_smilie:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KARRI!!!! Love you!

OMG Stephanie, what mother hasn'tleft their kids in the car for a few minutes... I used to do it too! I remember once when Meg was little she kept climging on the coffee table... I'd tell her now, take her off of it... do the time out thing.... she JUST KEPT DOING IT.... so of course she slips, falls and bites her tongue.. I had to take her to the ER as it would not stop bleeding, and in case the bump to her head was bad... so Xrays etc... and THEN the third inquistion started..."What were YOU doing when your child was climbing on the table??""" Dah, I was right there, 16 " away from her... but she wouldn't quit doing it.. and she fell.. "BUT I WAS THE NEGLIGENT MOM"... they made me feel like crap!! Doctors taped her up and let us go, but a week later I get a "visit" from a Home Nurse... just to checkand see if Megs' was doing o.k.... yeah, right!!! Thew were snooping around my house and sizzing me up.. They totally overdo it, and I am so sorry you are going thru this.... I am hoping the JUDGE is a parent and has some common sense. HUGS TO YOU GF Wearing my Canada Day Tshirt with our FLAG on it and I had some sparkler pins with Canadian Flags for all 4 of us to wear today.. The French kept asking what the sign. of the pins were... So WE BRAGGED!!! YES, July 1st is just like your July 4th for us... It celebrates our departure from the "English Constitution" that we used to abide by, and now we have our OWN CDN Constitution... so we celebrate the BIRTH of our Country... Beach today is marvelous, except for the salt water... but still beautiful... Candice

Karla, have a great visit with your Dad... sounds like he was having a Great Day... Thank God for that! Have fun tonight!

Hi Stephanie, glad you took the time to pop in, even if it was SHORT AND SWEET. Finished reading a really good book today.... LOOK AGAIN by Lisa Scottoline, think I picked itup at Walmart just befoare I left Canada. I was crying the last 4 chapters... really a good read.... Hey, is Jeff still considering Lapband??? whats the progress on that? And what happened at DS birthday party???? and yes, there is plenty of cool stuff to do after retirement... although I don't think its still hit Peter just yet... don't think it'll hit him until Sept/Oct... but I'll be there to hug him and make it all better :-) Turkeyscewers BBQ'd for dinner tonight, Bryan is such a good cook... I don't think I've cooked supper since we've been here???? Breaky a couple of times.. that's it. How spoiled am I???? Well, I am being tasked with Playing CARDS so I'd best sign off for now.. Love C p.s. Tomorrow is CANADA DAY!!!! :thumbup:

JANET: the Hunk in the Brown Tshirt across from Peter at the Restaurant is JAN, he is my "Swiss Son" from Geneve. When Megs was in highschool she took part in an Exchange program in France... she lived for 3 months with a French Family (and girl) in Vichy France.... then when it was time for the French Vichy girl to come to our house in Canada.... the Mother got pissed because we wouldn't let the Boyfriend of the girl come too!!! Can you believe the gall??? A teenage girl wanting to bring along her BF on a School Exchange program? Well, needless to say the French girl did not come, so we contacted the School exchange people and said that WE still wanted to host a French student.... so we Got JAN, a boy, a much better pick than a girl anyways... teenage girls AUCHK!!!#!#@%#!%@ So JAN became our 'son' for three months and we just loved him like he belonged in our family. Very funny, and pickedup English very quickly... even though he didn't spend much time "IN" class.... he was a pleasure to have around and very thoughtfull. I remember he MADE me a birthday card... so sweet. He came once to visit us about 9 yrs ago, he wa living in FLA at the time working for Edward Jones..... Now he is a school teacher in Geneve and loving it. His parents keep bugging us to visit them in Switzerland.. we havn't made it there yet. But perhaps now with BABY on the way, we may make the trip someday. p.s. really 12:23p.m. France time

Stephanie? where are you girl? Havn't seen you posting for several days WUWT???? Hope you are o.k. Karri, thanks so much for putting up all those recipes,they look delish and gave me some good ideas for once I am home and eating properly again. Janet; Thanks for always being there to motivate us all, this would be a much harder way of life without YOU!!! Phyl; what have your antics been like this week GF? Have your Antidepressants started kicking in yet?? Zoloft is good, that is what I take too. Denise; Must be really hot where you are right now, how do you deal with the summers? Or do you get used to the Heat and Humidity?? Hey, who wone the JUNE challenge anyways? The NORTHERNERS or the SouthWESTERS???? Love to all, C

Hi gals; Having a relaxing day today. Yesterday, we did too much!!! WEnt and saw the Roman Aquaduct (built 19yrs BC) then on to Nimes to visit the Roman coluseaum.. The history and age of these things boggles my mind. But it was hot yest. 40 degrees Celcius... way to hot for this Coldblooded Canadian!!! I am really glad we didnt' travel here in July or AUg. We have 4 more days here and then DH and I drive to Paris, and the next day flly home. I am missingmy Doggies! There are dogs everywhere in France - makes me home sick. Didn't drink any wine yest.... almost WINED out, can you believe it???? Think I'll go to the beach this aft. and I'm into my second good book of the trip. Karla, you are doing so well with your WL... kudos to you...

Meaghan is Blonde, Bryan is next to her in the GREEN shirt, MIRIAM is in a ROSE coloured top(and with a little shrimp in her tummy), JAN is in a Brown Tshirt(He was our adopted Swiss Son from the Exchange program), Peter and I are obvious I think.... Peter is the Greying Bearded one. One shot is of us all having a FRENCH Lunch in the Solarium of Car`s France Beach house..note all the wonderful wine and cheese. Jan was awesome to pick out about 8 kinds of French cheese for us to try! One shot is of us all having Dinner out in a restaurant( a short walk to St. Pierre de Mer), note the black pots in front of us on the tables.... these are MUSSELLS (divine!) The Lady that owned this restaurant was a character.... she told us all the best Wineries to visit.... huuummmmm, having some White right now as I type :thumbup:

I think this is a pic of my DD???

Karri, I LOVE the recipes... I can't wait to get home to try them... I'll have to resume my cal counting and exercising and these recipes will be great for getting be back ontrack after vacation. Thanks for posting them here. Quiet day today , well except for my snoring DH who is sitting next to me while I type... he's been catching flies while he sleeps... his mouth drooped open and its kinda funny :thumbup: I have to admit I wouldn't trade him for any other... he treats me like a Queen! :smile2: Tonight we are having Paella for dinner, albiet a French version this time. Last night we had FIsh (yuck) and Cassolete(really French) it was quite good, its like a hodge-podge of White Beans, sausage meat(brats for Linda ha,ha), duck, all baked in this little clay pot... divine... I will sure try to re-make it once home in Canada. THe fish we bought at the fresh market in the a.m. but here it comes WITH the head, tail and skin and bones intact!!! :w00t: and YOU have to deal with cleaning it and cooking it... BLECKT, I like my FILLETS of tilapia from COSTCO.... already dressed and NOT resembling the original creature. They sell DUCK, HORSE and a few other things here... that I don't ever want to try. Can you imagine eating HORSE??? The French love it, very tender apparently.... and get this... the horse meat is imported from CANADA...!!:frown: how horrible is that? If Canadians knew we were exporting horsemeat I think there would be an outcry... My DD is still 'organizing' all the photos so I'll be sending up some soon. :smile2: Love C

Linda,you are a remarkable, LOVING, intellegent, accomplished woman... be proud of YOU! I am proud of you just knowing you! and i am only just beginning to know you (2 yrs) just think of how much we;ll all know of each other after the Lucky 7's visit in July... whoo-hoo we;ll have fun. France update: Our guests just left this afternoon to drive back to their home in Geneve, Switzerland. Jan(the boy) was our Exchange Student son when he came to live with us in highschool. He is married now and his wife is expecting their 1st baby in NoV. He says "Mirium is carrying our little shrimp in her belly"... Isn't that cute? They are a sweet couple, oh yeah, I already told you that he brought me 2 boxes of Swiss Chocolate as a gift right??? Ha,ha,ha...:thumbup: But alas, I am still on vacation... went touring Wineries yesterday, we bought 6 differnt kinds and now we'll sample some ea day. Jan took 6 cases of wine back to Geneve with them... good prices in France and the quality is awesome... I don't think I've drank this much in over 3 years!!! Hope my BAND dosn't erode!! DD is starting to get on my nerves a tad... I'll do some deep breathing later