Hey Everyone

First I have to say I feel better - I knew I wasn't crazy about this knee thing - I finally caved and went to my family doctor this morning since the ortho says there is nothing wrong with it (honestly I was wondering if the ortho doesn't like to treat overweight people) - family doc reviewed the MRI report and feels like I should have my knee scoped right away - it is not normal. Even though I'm not going to do it until after our trip I do feel better.

And my blood pressure was normal for the first time in a long time - it's never been too high but was perfect today.

And the nurse - a thin 25 year old - was hugging me after I got on the scale. Mind you this is only my 3rd doctor visit in 5 years - so it's not like they see me much. She ran down the hall to tell him I had lost 20 lbs in the 7 weeks since I had been there.

Ok - I'm done - it was all about me for a minute.

Hope everyone is doing great today - we are digging elephant ears, banana trees and anything else that won't winter. I always hate this day - even though we've had a few frosts it's so final when we take it out of the ground. My wonderful hubby is so encouraging - he said just think how much easier it will be for you to plant all this next spring - he has no idea how much those little things mean.

Back to the dirt for me

Hugs,
Carol

300+ Christmas Card Exchange
 

Hi everyone

I have been waiting for someone else to mention it but since time is ticking away, I decided that we had better get this started so I talked with Heather and got her go ahead.

Last year we held a 300+ Christmas Card Exchange. I had so much fun doing it because I got real cards in the mail from real friends :) The way it works is those who wish put their names on a list and they send a card to the others that are on the list and in turn receive a card from all the others. I found it such a great way to help support us through all the feasts and treats during the holidays!

If anyone wishes to be on the Christmas Card List, please PM me with your address. I will generate a list and PM it only to those that are participating.

Please do so before Nov 24th so we have enough time for everyone to mail and receive their cards! Some of them travel a great distance! :)

:elf: :candy: :coolsnow: :tree: :present:

Story: I'm relieved to hear you know what the problem is, and it's easily treatable.

2fat: Every little bit counts. Soon you'll be able to walk long distances.

Zelma: Thank goodness there are teachers like you in the world. I think you have the hardest job.It must be heartreaking to see thelittle ones struggling with problems or not getting what they need at home. They will remember your kindness for the rest of their lives. Little gestures of caring are so important.

Catherine: You will be a vision in your new orange coat. You can always earn extra money by being a live traffic sign or road divider.

Rat: Good job on the weight loss andnew (old) clothes. It's so exciting when old clothes fit again. Have a great time with your family and fight off that cold.

Annie: I call costco the $800 club because it's hard to leave there without spending a ton of money. I hope your new CPAP system helps you sleep better.

Sandy: Hugs and Happy Friday.

Meta: Wow, your ticker is heading way down! Good job.

Jar: ZGood luck with the open house. I love Leslie Sansone! She's so real, she's like any of us. I thought I heard a Western PA accent.

Sharon: Woohoo! Look at you, with the new belt!

Brandnew: Ihope you get the job. Sorry about the fraud. It can be a huge pain to clean up the mess. Ugh.

Nancy: I hope you are having fun with the DDR.

Have a great weekend, everyone. I've got a full weekend ahead with lots of social eating events that are going to be challenging.

Lindsay, I was noticing your ticker...you're almost there girl!!! 100 lbs gone forever! Hope to see you make it real soon.

Heather, thanks for you input on the calories. I think I'm going to try and keep mine around 1600 although I'm having a tough time trying to make it to that. I am keeping better tabs on my fat intake too. I think that is where I was messing up. I wasn't reading the whole label on foods, just the calories. Now I look at fat, carbs, all of it. I see where it makes a BIG difference.

Meta, :woohoo: on less than 100 to go!!! I think your right, it is just part of the journey we are on and I have to accept that it will happen again.

Jar, I wanna work with you!!!! How fun to decorate the shops!! I've been wanting to open a candy/ice cream store in our town. It's sorta touristy and there is nothing like it in town. I want to get all of the old time candies in the big wooden barrels. Paint the walls red and white stripes and just have the picture windows all done up for the holidays. I just don't know how to get started or write a business plan or any of that. I know, I must be nuts to want to open something that is so fattening, but I just think it would go over well here. There are tons of kids too!

Carol, good for you on the nurse getting so excited for you!! I'm glad he sees there is something wrong with your knee too, not that that is a good thing, but at least you know you arent crackin' up and imagining things. :rofl:

Story, I hope they get the anemia (?) under control. At least you know what it is now and they can help you with it. Hope all the other tests come out well for you.

Battle, have fun this weekend and don't overdo!!!

I've stayed OP 3 days now...Yay for me!!!
I received the clothes I sent for today too. I got these really nice gray jeans today. They're in size 24, a little snug so I will give it a couple of more weeks. I gained back 6 lbs so I'm sure once I get that back off, they will fit fine. The size 1X actually fit nicely, almost a little big. Wow!! I can't believe I'm getting into these sizes after all these years. I hold up the jeans and look at the butt of them, and put them up to my 32s and what a BIG difference.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. :D
Debbie

Meta~What a great NSV! You're doing great. You'll be at your goal before you know it. And think of how much healthier you are!! I'm just so proud of you being so much closer to your goal. It has to be a cool thing to only have "double digits" pounds to lose.

Carol~You go right ahead and make it about you! I am enjoying your success with you. :hug: Sorry about the knee problem. I totally understand. I had knee surgery several years ago. I'm sure your regular doc will hook you up with a better ortho guy.

Story~ I hope your back feels better & hope you get test results with easy treatments to follow.

BattleAx~Never feel that you have to do personals to everyone. There's no way I can keep up with everything. Especially since I only have a couple days a week where I can take out a chunk of time and really read, think and post.

Jeanne~ You are amazing to be around all that wonderful chocolate. I don't think I could ever stop. Glad your decorating for work is all done. I'm sure you'll have a successful season.

Annie~So glad your machine is fixed. I don't know what Andy would do without his. Wait, yes I do. He'd be very tired & unreasonably grouchy!
Be sure to get lots of rest Sunday night. You're going to be able to make a difference in the lives of others. What a great honor!

Heather~ I'm unable to see other's tickers or get mine to set. (at least I can't see it) And I can't see the pics on the pic sticky. Do you think it's my pc's settings, or is it the web site. Did ya hear Dustin (2d base) got Rookie of the Year? I was so happy for him.

Nothing really new here. I really must be pmsing cuz I'm just kinda down. Actually, A LOT down in the dumps. But it will pass.
The job market here isn't as good as I would have liked, but I'm still looking at other places.
Have a good evening everyone and a wonderful OP weekend. I'll check in later in the weekend.
:hug: to all.

Sandy -- I can't see your ticker, but I see everyone else's. My guess is there's something with your settings... when did it start?

Hi all,

I have been so busy lately, just haven't made it on. I have actually been doing well with eating, and I am losing weight. Yahoo!!! Here are some personals....I am sorry if I have missed some of you.

Debbie: I am glad you are getting back on track. I felt so bad for you when I read the post you posted when you were miserable. I have days like that too, and they stink. Glad to see you grabbed your boot strings and pulled yourself up.

Annie: Yahoo on the new job!! You will be amazing, I am sure. Congrats on all the weight lost.

RK: Great NSV. You are a rock star. You are doing fabulously.

Battle: Great avatar. You look great. Very sophisticated. You really take the weight lose process in stride.

Lindsey: You seem so happy. Good for you!!

Catherine: Congrats on doing so well with the trips lately.

That's all for me for now.

Take care and be well.
Angie

Hello everyone! It's been a year since I found this forum. I could'nt keep up with everybody so I kind of bailed out... although I would lurk off and on to see how you all are doing. I am glad to see you have'nt given up and some of you are doing super! As for me I gained back about 25 to 30lbs. back since Feb. In my mind that was my last try to do it on my own. I have been looking into LapBand surgery, I found a surgeon not far from home who is experienced in the procedure and I plan to attend his seminar at the end of this month. I wish I was a stronger person and could loose it on my own and keep it off. But unless I hire a hitman to stand gaurd at the kitchen door it ain't gonna happin'! ;)

!@#$%^&* Professor. This is my first grad class in 20 years, but I'm pretty sure that this guy is full of UGH. It's an internet class at an established college that is primarily on campus. This guy was two weeks late starting, and I was willing to let that go as new teacher glitches. Since then he has given no real feed back, and we practically have been teaching each other. Now he fell another couple of weeks behind, and decided to give us 7 weeks worth of work this week to catch up. He said he had caught a bad cold in Hawaii. I have been repeatedly assured that this is the exception not the rule. If this happens again, I will be finding another school. I have frankly been spoiled by the professionalism and competence of the instructors I had for my undergrad theology degree, so I expect nothing less. I'm prepared to go to the Archbishop over this, and since I'm someone who can get an appointment with him whenever I want, that would make for an interesting tea. I know that I can do the work in time. I have nothing better to do with my time, but that's not the point. Most of my classmates are school teachers working on their masters to advance or get raises. How they are going to do all this work this week and still take care of their regular teaching duties is beyond me. I guess I won't be doing personals for awhile. I've got one newspaper article to edit for him on a deadline, and then he's on his own for the duration as well.

About 6am this morning (er.. the 16th), my brother called. Their house caught on fire at 3am. The fire still wasn't out until well after 11am. They all got out okay, but they have lost everything in the fire. They didn't have renter's insurance.

It has amazed me how our little tiny community has banded together to help them out. My family has been busy non-stop today, getting clothes for the kids & my brother/SIL, toys, household stuff, etc lined up. They have a place to stay for the night, and will start looking for something more permanent tomorrow. They have had donations from all over town - banks, schools, churches, and individuals. Many of them, they know. But just as many, they don't. It has been a day of mixed blessings, to be sure. I am very broken-hearted at the fact that they lost their entire lives. But, it also makes me thankful that the fire we had here wasn't bad. It makes me thankful that my brother/sil and nieces got out okay. It makes me thankful that my family has been able to work together well, rather than the fighting and bickering that generally goes on. It makes me thankful that the community has shown such wonderful support. And, above all else, it makes me thankful for the life I do have.

I intended to come here and post the good news, and I will still do that. I did get the job. I will start the 26th after all the paperwork, background check, fingerprinting, etc are done in the coming week. I will be working full time for an organization that helps victims of domestic violence. I will be doing grant research, advocacy, publications, fund raisers, and general office work. I know this was the path I was supposed to be on. When I went in for my first interview, it just felt right. My second, I knew that I wanted that job more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. And, now I have an opportunity to do something and be someone helpful for others. This truly shows me that everything happens for a reason.

Do me a favor and hug your loved ones tonight. I know I sure will.

Morning everyone~! I have to post quick! I have to get to our companys Holiday Open House! I'm so excited!

Brenda - I love the Christmas Card Exchange Idea!!!!!!
Also - I wanted to tell you that I noticed your avatar and ticker. . . . . . . . WOWSIE!!!!! Congrats on the loss so far! You look stunning!

AND HEATHER - the same to you on your loss if I hadn't already mentioned it!
AND hippievanlady!!!!!! And everyone else! I guess I didn't realize all the success stories here! I got so wrapped up in getting to know you guys and read your personals that I didn't notice the whole weight thing!!!! So sorry! I know that is why we are all here, but I was just so excited to have all my new friends! ;)

ACTUALLY - I noticed so many of you have HUGE losses!!!!! Amazing! I'm so proud!

PS - brandnewme - I will keep your brother and his family in my prayers!

Just a quickie FlyBy...

Brandnewme.. I'm gonna call you Phoenix.. from tragedy, you and your family have risen! Congratz on the GREAT news about the job. Also know that you have that same spirit of support here as in your little community. Hugs to you!

Luv,
Ratkitten

Catherine -- As a college professor myself, I find that sort of thing inexcusable. I have a syllabus and consider it like a contract. I do get a little off my timeline from time to time, but work hard to keep up with deadlines, feedback, etc. But I'm at a small college where teaching is really valued so my job depends on it... Good luck with &3($&#*%(

Brandnewme -- I gasped as I read your post. Talk about mixed blessings. I'm sure some of the losses will hit them later (especially the loss of personal items), but you can't help but be grateful at the same time! And congrats on the job!

jeanne -- Yes, we have a lot of members with a lot of success. I think we stick around though, because it's an ongoing struggle. I think it's unusual (at best) to have been morbidly obese and then never struggle with your weight...