Did anyone eat beans during the mushies? I am thinking pureed black bean soup, navy bean soup, etc.... Too many carbs? I am liking the fiber in them. Also, speaking of fiber, what about putting benefiber in your drinks etc while on clears to get some added fiber? OK, maybe I am obsessing about the fiber......

Hi BJean, I think all their wildlife is scary, but I have never dived there before. Oz is on the opposite side of the globe to us so I think its very long haul, but I have always wanted to go.

Jane x

Yup, those two things, the travel and the wilde beests, are the reason I haven't wanted to make the trip. But I dunno if I had the chance to go I probably would.

Your photos of the Sex in the City party were very cute. You're a better man than I for being able to manage those shoes until the wee hours.

Which brings up a good question: wine? I have teetotled since surgery because of all the stories I've heard. Plus my dietician says that alcohol is hard on the tummy. Have you had any problems? I have a tendancy to get drunk on small quantities (being part red Indian, ya know) so I've been afraid that I would totally make a fool of myself by waking up with a lampshade on my head and burn marks on my knees.

I can tolerate wine pretty well, but the 1st time I had it I was a drunk as a scunk on 1 glass. However I persevered and am back to normal, but I am much more a light weight now. It depends if you want to risk the extra calories and the possibility of dependancy transfer. I know I will always have to watch the booze, have it as a fun thing rather than a way of life if you get my drift.

Jane x

PS Part Red Indian is cool!!!

Well I've always enjoyed getting a good buzz and have been known to have a few too many from time to time. But alcohol just never has made me feel as good as ice cream used to. Weird, huh?

I totally understand the dependancy transfer situation. I imagine I could figure out how to do that. Not that I'm on self-destruct, mind you. But I am a girl who likes to have fun. Many of my friends like me better with a few drinks in me because I'm generally so darned uptight all the time. I'm one of those chicks who grew up needing to have everybody like me and so I've been bad about trying TOO hard, if you know what I mean. That kind of behavior often makes others uncomfortable and kinda feel sorry for you.

Gawd, youth is wasted on the young! Thanks for the feedback, Jane.

Hi BJean, ain't that the truth. Can you imagine if our older brains were transplanted into 20 year old bodies. What a party would result!!!!

Jane x

PS You don't sound uptight to me.

Set me up for that transplant! LOL

I just saw recent photos of old friends on Facebook. They look younger, after 11 years, than they did when I lived near them. Well... some teeny bit scary deer in the headlights eyes, but no saggy chins or winkles anywhere! Amazing what money can buy.

P.S. Something about being anonymous here defnitely works like alcohol on my inhibitions! In fact, I've been known to get rather brash and offensive. It's lots of fun, I have to admit. And quite liberating for someone who normally prefers to be politically correct in polite company.

Wish I had the cash and the time to do all those things your old friends have but I still have to work. Hey, they may have photoshopped their pics, did you look closely at the shadows, were they pointing the right way etc??

I like the way this site works, its lovely to chat and meet people with similar issues and viewpoints, on the whole. If you want to upset anyone thoygh you just need to criticise their surgeon, like poking a stick into a hornets nest IMHO.

All the very best to you

Jane x

I use to dive but have avoided it for years because of the weight gain, I hate bathing suits altogether at the moment lol. I plan on recertifying next Spring though and plan to hit the water lots next year!! Its the most amazing feeling you can have - its a whole different world under water!!

When I got to a certain weight, maybe over 200lbs I found I started to get really sick under Water. In fact I once had to do an emergency ascent, from only 13m fortunately, puking all the way up and trying to exhale at the same time. it was really scary. I put in down to abdominal fat not giving the organs enough room to expand with pressure changes on ascent, forcing my dinner up. The fishes liked it though!

I am so looking forwards to nosing around on a tropical reef again, I love watching all the little activities going on, and fish cleaning stations are my favourites.

Good luck with your surgery in September, and good luck with the fishes in 2011!

Jane x

Thanks Jane, wow I never even thought of that with the change in weight, but too cute about the fish enjoying it lol

Thats good to think about for next year for sure!! I cant wait!!

And Congrats on your loss - wow you have done amazing, you all have!!

Jane I noticed you've dropped another couple of lbs. Cool.

Btw, my friends invested a ton of cash in cosmetic surgery so they wouldn't have to photoshop I guess. :-) I don't know if I really think that cosmetic surgery is the right thing to do. They're a little older than I so perhaps I'll someday change my mind but I watched a facelift on the tube and it was frightening! They actually lift your skin up off your face to reposition it.

Jane I noticed you've dropped another couple of lbs. Cool.

Btw, my friends invested a ton of cash in cosmetic surgery so they wouldn't have to photoshop I guess. :-) I don't know if I really think that cosmetic surgery is the right thing to do. They're a little older than I so perhaps I'll someday change my mind but I watched a facelift on the tube and it was frightening! They actually lift your skin up off your face to reposition it.

Hehe would any of your old friends husbands like to sponsor (with no strings attached) a posh-ish talking Brit woman through PS? I am just asking, cos if you don' ask you don't get. We are constantly told our accents are cute and I can do the crystal cut glass accent when required, al la Kristin Scott Thomas in 4 Weddings and a Funeral. Please hold out hope for me that a rich Texan or similar will rescue a sad Brit damsel (bit past sell by date) in distress??

Jane xx

HA! How do you look in your jeans when you're picking oranges? One owns a chain of jeans stores and the other sells irrigation for organge groves. I must say, most American gents respond well to British accents of any sort. And you're so right... it never hurts to ask! I'll let you know when they're ready to adopt you. But they better adopt me in the process as well.

I'm personally all in with my Okie influenced Texas drawl. And no, there sure ain't no call for that unintellectually stimulatin' verbiage. In fact, it's practically all my one man can handle. Bet you can imagine that.

Sista lets package ourselves together, more than any Texan man could handle I would wager LOL!!

Jane x

PS I can do oranges and jeans hehehehe!