Sorry We Missed The PARTY!!

 

Hint, Hint!!  Wink, Wink!!  What do you think???




Hey Ya'll,

Well, I read some of the blogs today, of those that posted about their fun experiences in Chicago.  I was happy for everyone, and sad at the same time!!  I am so glad that ya'll got to meet each other, and bond over our Lap Band experiences.  However, like I said, I am completely bummed that I couldn't afford to make it there with ya'll too.  I did however, get to meet up with 2 of our sister Bandster's up in Oregon, and we did toast to ya'll as well.  But all three of us, wished that we were there with you!!  You looked like you were having the time of your life!!  Especially Gen from Colorado!!  Gen, I can't believe that you Broke Your Arm Dancing!!!!!  I wonder, will your hubby let you go to another of these free for all's again??? LOL

I have noticed on several of the blogs, that there is some "talk" (wink, wink), of possibly doing a 3 or 4 day Cruise next time?????  Did I mention that, I LOVE TO CRUISE???  And would do just about anything to get to make that gathering??!!  Of course, I would prefer that the Cruise be from the West Coast, so it would be less expensive for me to fly out.  But hey, I would be up to Cruise from almost anywhere!!  Just give me enough time to try to save up for it!!  And we (Walt and I, as I couldn't go to Australia without him!) are definitely interested in trying to make it to Australia in 2015 as well!!

Well, there is not much left to say right now, except that I have not been able to make myself get back on the band wagon, since our return home from Portland, food wise.  So I need to kick myself in the A**!!  If I don't want to gain back all the weight I have lost since my last Fill!!

Tomorrow, we will be riding the Bike down to Pleasanton, near the Bay Area (unfortunately not close enough to make the weather cooler!!).  We are going to a huge, Fall RV Show there.  We are hoping to get to see some of the models of 5th Wheels, that we are interested in.  It is about a 2 hour ride each way, and it is supposed to be about 95 degrees most of the ride.  However, it is supposed to be slightly cooler there in Pleasanton, with temps only around 90 degrees.  Even so, I am hoping the show is inside, but with my luck, it will be totally outside!!  LOL

Oh well, I have some more laundry to move from the Washer to the Dryer, so I better go for now.  Till next time...

Aloha My Friends  :)

We're Home!!

Here we are!!  Myself, Tina and Amanda, plus Amanda's adorable daughter!!  Tina's daughter was hiding from the camera at the end of the table, and she is totally cute too!!  I did style my hair that morning, it before we left...I promise, you just can't tell!  Check out how thin their necks are compared to mine!

This is Walt, our friend Hannah, and I Saturday night at the party.  The last function before we left on Sunday morning.  What can I say, Helmet Hair again!!

And here is Walt on his way back to our Hotel to pick me up.  This is our Bike with the Cart behind.  Our friends let us keep it at their house.  This is the only way we could go with the Bike, we needed to carry our clothes!!  That thing fits a mid size piece of Luggage, and 2 Carry Ons!!




Hey Ya'll,

Well, my last post was on Thursday night.  Friday I decided to stay at the Hotel until the evening Services, as I was still tired from the long ride in.  Walt went to the Synagogue, and helped them hang decorations for the party on Saturday night.  They were happy that he showed up, as he was the tallest one, and was able to hang the things in the upper areas the easiest.

Friday night, we went to the evening services at the Synagogue, which Albert participated in as well.  After the service, the family and friends from out of town went to a nice Restaurant and had a really nice Dinner.  Unfortunately, Walt couldn't partake of the free booze and wine, as he had to drive us back to the Hotel!!  If we had the Trike Wheels attached, I "maybe" could have ridden us back to the Hotel.  No.....I could have ridden us back.  It may not have been very pretty, since I haven't had but one practice ride on our Bike, but I could have gotten us there!!

On Saturday morning, we went back to the Synagogue for the Bar Mitzvah celebration service.  Albert did really, really well.  It is really hard to memorize everything that they have to memorize for the service.  After the Service, they held a Luncheon that the entire congregation was invited to!

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of having a few "small" bites of a Bagel that decided they didn't want to go down!!  Oh NOOOO!!  To be at a Synagogue with hundreds of strangers, and have to PB!!  So I quietly slipped into the closest bathroom, and stayed there for about 2 hours!!  I had at least 2 people come in to check on me, they were so worried!!  Of course, it didn't help that Walt kept asking someone to go check on me!!  I even tried the "drink something to force it to either come back up, or go down" trick, 3 times!!!!  It didn't work, but finally it just stopped hurting and it was ok.  This was the first time the drink scenario didn't work! 

I was so embarrassed after this as just about everyone knew I was in there so long.  And because they hadn't completely finished with decorating the room for the party that night, Walt stayed to help finish.  He was going to take me back to the Hotel, then go back, but our friend Jennifer took me back to the Hotel for him.

I was so exhausted from trying to end the PB, and standing for so long in my dress shoes (did I mention that I have trouble standing very long?), that I decided to take a nap.  I really needed it, as I didn't sleep well the night before.  In fact, I think I only had about 3-4 hours sleep (and I almost fell asleep during the Services that morning, they went on for a VERY long time, like 2 hours)!  Because I was so embarrassed from the PB earlier in the day, I had decided while drifting off to sleep, that I was going to bow out of the Evening Party.  Walt let me sleep until we needed to leave, then woke me up to ask if I was going to go.

He said that he would understand if I didn't go, but he wished that I did, so of course, I did!!  But we decided that we wouldn't stay too late, as we needed to get back on the road the next morning to meet with Amanda and Tina in Eugene!  We had a nice time at the Dinner, visiting with everyone a bit more, then left by 9:30.  The kids were all still dancing having a great time!!

Of course, it rained again on Sunday, the day we had to leave and start the ride home!!  And it rained until we got to Albany!  Then the rain stopped.  Oh!  Did I tell you that we had a really great time at Lunch with Amanda and Tina??!!  Amanda brought her youngest daughter with her, and Tina came with her husband David, and her youngest daughter too!!

So Walt had another male to talk to!  He was glad to have another man to talk to.  Although he is not afraid to talk with women.  In fact, he loves to talk with women!  Unfortunately, we only had about 1 1/2-2 hrs to visit, so we tried to make the most of it!  Amanda had to leave a bit early since her older daughter had to be picked up from Soccer.  Then after another 20 mins or so, the rest of us had to leave as well.

Both Tina and Amanda looked fabulous!!  And like they said, except for us eating much less than a normal person, you wouldn't know that we had had Bariatric Surgery!!  They looked much better than I do though.  I just can't wait until my neck thins out some more!!  I guess I am just so aware of it, that I am embarrassed by it.  Oh well, it too will get smaller with time!!  That and my horrible complexion and red face!!  That I am afraid I will always have!

Anyway!  Our ride on Sunday, was really nice all day.  However....Today Was A Nightmare!!  But only because of the HEAT!!  We thought, or should I say....HOPED, that Summer was over!!  NOT!!  It was hot today....really hot!  And by the time we made it home, it was almost 100 degrees!!  Try riding all day, in full Gear, in the heat!  The ride would have been really nice otherwise though.  I can take it up to about 80-85 degrees, but over 90 degrees and it is just too miserable.  I was hot, damp and miserable.  I hate wearing gloves in the heat.  And of course my hair was atrocious!!  It was damp, and clung to my head.  I looked and felt horrible.

But Walt was sweet and took me to Dinner, at a great local Barbecue Restaurant.  We shared a plate and still had 3/4's of it left to bring home!  At least Walt will have Dinner for a day or two!!  Oh, did I tell you why he took me to Dinner tonight?  It was because he dangled a carrot over my head, to not stop for Lunch on the way home!  He told me he would take me out to Dinner.  Boy, does he know my weakness or what???  So all we had after Breakfast, was a bag of chips each at noon, and a really fantastic Super Thick Milk Shake at about 2pm, so we didn't have a Heat Stroke!  LOL

Well,  I better go for now.  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :)

Day Two and We Made It To Portland!!

Hey Ya'll,

Well, we made it up to Portland, after a very interesting day!!  First off, it was only 45 degrees when we left Medford this morning!  We were not expecting it to be that cold, but we figured that once the sun had been out for a while, it would warm up....NOT!!!!  The warmest it got all day, was about 60 degrees, and that wasn't for very long!!  But for the most part, it was just a it on the cold side!!!! 

Luckily, we were expecting it to be colder today, so Walt took the time this morning, before he woke me up, to zip in our Bike Gear inserts, to help with the cold weather.  Plus I wore my fleece long sleeved jacket as well!!  Thank God!!  I would have froze to death otherwise!  But because we were so well wrapped (like the Sta Puff Marshmallow Man), only my face (because I didn't have the part of my Helmet attached that covers my chin, what can I say, I am claustrophobic so we didn't even think to bring it) and hands were cold (and yes, I was wearing my gloves, but they are for Summer and vented).  The rest of me was chilled, but not enough to make me shiver or anything!

We stopped in Eugene just long enough to fuel up, as we had Lunch planned with our friend Laurie in Salem, but couldn't make it all the way without fueling up.  It was chilly there, and looked like it could rain, but we had high hopes that we would make it to Salem before it hit.  WRONG AGAIN!!  Almost as soon as we got back onto the highway, it started to sprinkle.  We figured, sprinkles weren't bad.....but then it started to RAIN!!!  And it didn't stop until we got to Salem!  Luckily, while we were in the Restaurant eating, it stopped (we were in there for about 2.25 hrs)!  So the balance of our ride to Portland was dry!

We had a fantastic Lunch with Laurie, and really enjoyed getting caught up with her!  She used to live by us until her husband was transferred to Salem for his work.  She is a FANTASTIC Travel Agent, so even though she moved out of State, we still use her when we go on vacations!!  However, that has been a while, ahem!  As we planned our last vacation ourselves. 

We are staying at an Embassy Suites here in Portland, not too far from our friends house.  We love this Hotel as it includes cooked to order hot breakfasts, plus a nightly Manager's Happy Hour (2 hrs actually) with free drinks and chips/salsa and nachos!  Plus it is a two room suite, so if one of us is still in bed, the other doesn't bother them!!

Tomorrow starts the marathon of scheduled activities.  We are here to help our friends son Albert, celebrate his Bar Mitzvah.  Tomorrow, we (or should I say Walt) will help them to decorate the room for Saturday nights party (he is tall and can easily reach the high areas, and I am not supposed to get up on ladders).  Then, tomorrow night, is a Church Service (which we will be attending), afterwords, we will be attending a Dinner for family and out of town friends, at a local Restaurant.  Saturday, we will be attending the actual Service that Albert will be participating in.  With a Buffet style Lunch after the service for the entire congregation.  Then Saturday night, is the big party with another Buffet Dinner and DJ.  Like I said, the whole weekend involves food!! 

Then on Sunday, we will get up and drive to Eugene on our way home, for our Lunch with Amanda and Tina!!!  Yea!!  I am so looking forward to this!!  I think that we will all have a great time!  Luckily, Amanda made a comment on my blog today, letting me know that it is supposed to be a beautiful, warm 85 degrees on Sunday!!

I'm sorry to say that this may be my last post, until Sunday night.  As I am not sure that I will have Internet available again until then.  But I will post as soon as I can!!  Till next time.....

Aloha My Friends  :)

Day One - Portland Trip!!

Hey Ya'll,
Well, we survived day one of our trip!  We made it from the Sacramento area to Medford, Oregon by around 5pm.  The trip was fantastic.  We were afraid that it would be a long hot ride, but it turned out to be surprisingly cool, all day!!  It was 60 degrees at 9am when we left our house, and not much warmer by the time we arrived in Medford.  Although it did warm up to around 70 or so degrees today. 

However, when you are riding at 60 plus mph with only a Bike Jacket and a pair of Pants on, over your clothes (that are vented at that!), it can get cool.  Basically, you figure that anything under 75 degrees, you want to wear your Winter gear, or at least have your inserts in the gear, for a bit more warmth.  We have our Summer gear with us.  In fact, I only have Summer gear so far.  But we did bring the inserts.   However, we didn't think we would need them today, while still in California!!  I could have used them too, and would not have been too warm! 

Luckily, it wasn't so cold as to say I was shivering or anything.  It was just on the COOL side!  LOL  If it were, we would have taken the time to put them in the gear before continuing on!  So tomorrow on our ride from Medford up to Portland, we will be using the inserts!  Or at least I will.  Especially since it appears that we may hit some rain or at least showers during the ride.  Aah, such is life!  I will be my first time to ride in the rain, in a VERY long time!  Like 37-38 yrs!!

So tomorrow, we need to leave out much earlier than we did today.  Today we weren't in any hurry, since we didn't have anyone to meet up with.  But we are planning on meeting our friend Laurie in Salem, for Lunch tomorrow.  So we need to leave here by 7:30 am!!  Which means that I need to be up no later than 5:30 am, if I want to take a shower, and eat a bite for Breakfast before we leave.  Yikes!!

Well, that means that I need to get off here, so I can start getting ready for bed!!!  My go to bed before 3-5 am????  That is practically unheard of.  Luckily for me, I brought some handy dandy Sleeping Pills that were prescribed for me a couple of months back!!  I don't use them at home, just when we are away, so that I can be on everyone elses schedule!!  So, till tomorrow!!!

Oh, and I am sorry everyone!!  I know that it has become my custom to add at least one photo to each of my posts, but I am not on my computer, so my photos are not at my finger tips!!

Aloha My Friends  :) 

A Big Welcome To Lisa (Mrs C) !!!

Hey Ya'll,

I have a new Follower, and her name is Lisa (Mrs C)!!  She is Pre Band and can use all the help and support we can give her, so why don't you hop on over and check out her blog!!  The link to her blog is here, The Rest Of My Life.  So Lisa, "welcome to my nightmare".  Till next time.....

Aloha My New Friend  :)

And Away We Go!!!!! Plus, I Made My Weight Goal!!!

Hey Ya'll,

Well, today is the day we leave for our trip up North to Portland!  I just hope that I am this excited by the time we make it to Medford today!!  It will all depend on how my Tush does with the Arthritis in the Tailbone!!  We bought me the Gel/Foam Pad for my seat, so I am hopeful that along with some good "Drugs" (Ala Tylenol 3's or Vicodin) I will make it through.  Wish me luck!!  We are taking our Lap Top, so I will try to update our trip so long as the Lap Top doesn't crash on us!!

Our 1st day, is riding from Sacramento up to Medford.  Then we will finish the trip up from Medford to Portland on Thursday.  We will reverse the trip coming home on Sunday and Monday.  But one of the highlights of the trip will be having Lunch with Amanda (Amanda's Waning) and Tina (Losing It!) in Eugene on Sunday!!  I am so looking forward to this.  I just hope I don't embarrass myself and have to PB!!  I haven't had but one PB, since my last Fill on Aug 25th, but with my luck, this is when it will happen!!  LOL  But at least, they will totally understand what I am going through!  The only time that I have had to PB while eating out, was at a Del Taco.  Now I just hope that I haven't jinxed myself!!

I was also hopeful that I would make it down to 175 lbs by the time we left.  I weighted myself this morning and couldn't believe it, I surpassed it!  I made it down to 174.6!!  Now hopefully I will not gain the weight back, while on this trip.  I will keep you posted. :)  Walt is calling my name, saying it is time to go!!!  So....till next time.

Aloha My Friends  :)

A Fantastic NSV !!! :)

Here is the 1X T-Shirt Nadene bought me.  And the pants I am wearing are too big for me now too!

Is it my imagination, or am I starting to see a definition in my neck and jawline??

And yes, we did have some rain today!!  In the photo above, you can see the cushions on the swing is partly wet, and the ground is still damp.

















Hey Ya'll,

Well, I wasn't expecting to have this NSV, at least not for some time!  About 2 yrs ago, one of my two BFF's brought me back a Women's T-Shirt in size 1X from Disneyland!  I loved it, but looking at it, I just knew that it wouldn't fit, and I feared that I would never lose enough weight, to be able to wear it.  But I thanked her, and put it away in a drawer as something to strive for.  Also, I must say that the T-Shirt wasn't one of those straight fitted ones, like all Mens are.  It was actually cut for a Woman, which made it even less likely that I could ever wear it!

Occasionally I would pull it out of the drawer, and look at it with longing.  However, during this time, I had actually continued to gain weight, until I made it up to my all time high of 228.6 lbs!  I had gained so much weight, that I was starting to wear Mens 3X T-Shirts!  I found the T-Shirt again a couple of days ago, and pulled it out to look at it.  Just looking at it at arms length, I still thought that it was too small.  But I decided to put it up against me, and thought....maybe???  So I tried it on, and low and behold, it fits!!!  In fact, it is almost too big for me.  :)  So I am including some photos taken today of me in it!  I want to wear it while I still can!

Thanks Nadene!! I love it!!!

Till Next Time...

Aloha My Friends  :)

My First Ride On The Gold Wing!! EEKS!!

The two of us on the Bike sans Trike Wheels!!














Do I look small on the Bike?  Meaning, does it dwarf me??

Me practicing turning circles and crazy eights.

Me practicing right turns in the parking lot!










Hey Ya'll,

On the Band Front, all is going great!  I am still feeling like I am in the "Sweet Spot" and I have only had the one Slime incident since I received my last Fill on Aug 25th.  Today Walt barbecued a Porterhouse Steak, and I ate 1/2 of the Fillet Mignon, and about a 1/2 cup of Baked Beans.

We are leaving on Wednesday for Portland!!  And unfortunately, it looks like Janelle won't be able to make it to our Lunch in Eugene on Sunday after all!  It will just be Tina (Losing It!), Amanda (Amanda's Waning) and I, and our significant others/family.  But that's ok, we will have a blast I am sure!!  I don't know about them, but my excitement is increasing by the day!!  And I know that all of you going to Chicago for the Boobs gathering feel the same way about your meeting!!
 
But, of all things to go wrong now.  We started to have trouble with the Headset Mike for my Helmet, the last time we went for a ride (up to Reno).  So Walt called up the Company that we ordered it through, and they will replace it, but it is out of stock right now, and they can't get me a replacement until probably November!!  We leave on our trip up to Portland this Wednesday! 

So we decided to take the Bike out for a short ride today, to figure out if I can make the Mike work at least part of the time.  What it does, is make a high pitched squeal directly in our Headset (and ears)!  But we have figured out that if I tweak the Mike some, I can usually get it to stop...at least temporarily.  We really need the Mike to work, as we need to be able to communicate while on the road.  We do not have a GPS yet for the Bike, so I need to navigate for him.

While we were out, Walt found a Grade School Parking Lot that was almost empty (1 car in it), so he pulled in, got off the Bike and said ride it!!  I was terrified!  It took me a few minutes before I began to feel even semi comfortable!  But soon, I was whizzing around the parking lot!  What I have to remember, is that the rear of the Bike is an extra foot or so wider than normal!  But don't worry, I didn't hit any curbs or anything!  Next we need to get me out somewhere, where I can actually put it through the gears, getting used to shifting up and down, braking, better turning, etc, before I will feel comfortable being out on the open street, and in traffic!

We DID actually receive my Gel Pad for the Seat though!!  And it helps a lot!  Especially when I am sitting on the front seat.  It will allow me to sit high enough, so that we probably won't need to lower the Handle Bars for me!  Which would be a pain in the a**, to have to raise and lower them every time we switched off riding!!  Now, I need to get some sort of cover for a small pillow I have, and some sort of strapping attached, so I can attach it to the front seat back, so that it keeps me sitting fully upright!  Lets face it, the front seat and seat back isn't made for a woman!  And the seat back sort of tilts back a bit!  But the pillow will keep me upright and in a much better position on the Bike.  I also feel that I will have better control of the Bike then too.

Well, I better go for now.  Got lot's to do, and so little time....

Aloha My Friends  :)

A Big Welcome To Amanda !!!

Hey Ya'll,

I just wanted to give a big welcome to my newest Follower!  Her name is Amanda and her blog link is: Life Of A (Hopeful) Loser....  She is in the Pre-Op stage, going through all the requirements for Surgery.  So please check out her blog and give her the support we all know she can use!!  So Amanda, "welcome to my nightmare".  Till next time....

Aloha My New Friend  :)

"West Coast Boobs" or "Oregon Boobettes" ??

Hey Ya'll,

I have just been reading the blogs of some of our Oregon bandster buddies, and it seems that there may be at least 4 of us, plus our significant others/families, meeting on Sunday the 26th for Lunch in Eugene, Oregon!!  They have been trying to figure out what to call our group.  I have two suggestions, one is the "West Coast Boobs" and the other is the "Oregon Boobs or Boobette's"!  What do you think???  Or can you think of something even better???

So far, according to their blogs, it appears that Amanda (Amanda's Waning), and her two daughters will be attending, my hubby Walt and I, Tina (Losing It!) and maybe her hubby and daughter (?), and Janelle (Lap Band Living).  I am not sure, but I think she may be bringing either her mom or hubby, or both??? 

Anyways, if everyone interested in making it, could either contact Amanda or myself, and give a headcount of who is/may be coming, so we know how large a table we will need at the Restaurant??  We can post this number so that whoever gets there first, can check in and request the "Large" table!!!

This will be so much fun!!  A bunch of us together.  I'm sure we will have a great time, and have a lot to talk about!!  Even the men/family can commiserate with each other on how our Surgery has affected them too!

Now, to change the subject, I want to complain a bit about the CA DMV!!  Remember that I went in for my Motorcycle DL back in July???  Well I passed it, then realized that night that they had made a keying error in my paperwork, and keyed in that I needed Corrective Lenses??  So I went back in the very next day.  They told me it was too late to correct it, and that I needed to wait until I received the new DL, then bring it in.  So luckily, I received it that same week, and went back in the following Monday.  They gave me a more thorough Eye Exam that time, then gave me a Temp DL to use until the new DL arrived.

Well, that was 2 months ago, and my Temp DL was to expire today!  So I went back in yesterday.  The DMV in the next town was closed, so ours was slammed!!  It took me 30 minutes just to get a number and sit down to wait!  I didn't have a choice, since my Temp was expiring!  And I would be driving with an expired DL after today.  But luckily, the lady at the front desk remembered me, and that this was now my 4th time in for the DL!  So she gave me a VIP number, that would be the next number called.  So I didn't have to wait long once I got checked in!  Thank God!!!

But the girl I spoke with, said that my License shows that I needed Corrective Lenses.  I went over the whole story again with her.  So she looked it up, went to talk to a Supervisor, came back and said that the last request didn't go through because they didn't have a photo of me!!!  They took the photo the first time in, so I assumed they could reuse it!  The guy that administered the Eye Exam didn't say anything about taking a new photo either, or I would have mentioned it!

So I had to retake my photo, give them my signature again, as well as my Thumb print!  Now let me tell you, I was not a happy camper!  For the original photo, I made sure that I looked my best.  My hair was done up, I was dressed nicely and I was wearing jewelery.  The photo turned out ok.  Yesterday, I went in with dirty hair and an old t-shirt!!!!!  Can you say unhappy and disappointed???  Now I will be stuck with a crappy photo on my DL for years!!  Unless I want to go in and pay again just to change it!  Not to mention all the wasted time, out of my life to do all this!  4 trips, which should have only taken 1!!!

Oh well, hopefully I will actually get this DL!  You would have thought that they could have sent me something, advising they couldn't complete the DL request without additional information, and requesting that I go back in???  Instead of me waiting until I had to go in??  Maybe I will get this one within the 2 weeks they expect.  I can always hope!

Anyway, I guess I will go for now.  Here's hoping everyone can make it to the Lunch.  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :) 

What's Up With This???

Hey Ya'll,

*** Have you ever had one of THOSE days?  Well, I just did today!!  You know the one....where you wake up and your Band is really tight for no reason what so ever????  I should have known something was up, when I stopped in to Taco Bell (yes I know...bad Debi, but it was the first time I ate there in a little over 3 weeks!), to get me a couple of Taco's and a Diet Pepsi (although I prefer Diet Coke). 

I took a big drink of the ice cold Diet Pepsi, while I was waiting for my order to come up, so I could go home and eat.  I could instantly feel my Esophagus closing up!!  I was just hoping it would relax enough, so that I didn't have to run to the bathroom and slime up the Diet Pepsi!!!  I came this close to doing it too!!  But I didn't, and I made it home ok.  But I had to eat the Tacos really slow so as to not get stuck!

I didn't eat anything else today after this, until about 9 pm tonight, when I decided to eat the last 1/8th of the Honey Dew Melon that was in the fridge.  What can I say, it was calling my name, and I figured it was better to eat some fruit, than to eat another high calorie meal!  WRONG!!!  I slimed until I couldn't take it anymore.  Which is when I tried the trick I figured out a while back.  I drank a tiny sip of liquid, then waited the few minutes for it to erupt!!  Yes, instant relief without the heavy forceful vomiting!!  You would think that something soft and mostly liquid like melon, wouldn't cause so much trouble.  Especially after it has had time to start to breakdown!!

*** However, I feel that I have had it easy this time!  This was the first slime/pb session I have had since my last Fill 3 weeks ago!!  And I am not going to have another Fill, until after we come home from the trip.  I didn't want to have to worry any more than usual, about getting stuck in front of everyone!!

*** Well, I got some much needed, happy information from Walt, regarding my Gel Pad for the Bike.  He called the outfit that we ordered it through this morning, and when they heard that we weren't leaving until Wednesday morning, they said that they would have it to us for sure!!  And Walt already got an email today, advising they have shipped it out already.  So keep your fingers crossed that we actually receive it by Tuesday!!! 

Well, I better go for now, got lots to do....till next time.

Aloha My Friends  :)

A Big Shout Out To Janelle !! :)

Hey Ya'll,

I just checked in and noticed that I had a new Follower!  Her name is Janelle, and her blog is: Lap Band Living.  Her Surgery was on Feb 22nd, 2010, and she has already lost 47.9 lbs!!!  That's almost as much as I have lost (except mine took 10 months)!!!  Wow!  I don't know how you guys do it!  Well...maybe I do.  If I didn't eat a normal diet (but with smaller portions), then maybe I would lose faster too!!  Not to mention the occasional (maybe more than occasional (at least in the past)), splurge on something bad!!  LOL  So lets all give her a big hand, and a wish for continued success!!  So Janelle, till next time...."welcome to my nightmare".

Aloha My New Friend  :)

New Updated Before & After Photos With Original Outfit

Hey Ya'll,

Well here it is, 8:30 pm and I am just now eating my first meal of the day!!  Where did the day go???  Although I did have a banana about 11am......

Well, I finally got up the courage to retake my photos using the original outfit that I took my before pictures in.  Hopefully you will see a BIG difference!  LOL  But any difference is a good difference.  I will post them at the end of the post.

I am stressing out, trying to make sure I have our plans figured out for the road trip.  As to which cities we will be stopping in for breaks, meals, and fuel, etc.  But I know that things will work themselves out eventually!  Walt always gets on to me about micro managing everything, because I worry about every minute detail.  But one of us has to worry about these things, because if I forgot to think of something, and he asks about it, then it is my head because I didn't think about this possibility!!  LOL

We will be leaving a week from tomorrow (yikes)!!!!!  And while we are on the Bike, we cannot take phone calls, so anyone trying to reach us will only receive our voice mail.  And we may not be able to take our computer this trip, so I could be totally out of touch with my blogging friends!  Which is why I am hoping to finalize our plans before we leave.  I would hate to not be able to meet someone we were supposed to meet up with, because we didn't know where to meet.  So Amanda, PLEASE contact me!  Even if it is to tell me you can't make it after all!!  LOL

So, without further ado, here are the photos, for better or for worse!  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :)

Obviously, this is my before photo! (cringe)

Today's photo, showing my new short haircut!  At least my arms lay closer to my body!  I don't look like I am a Sumo Wrestler!

The dreaded rear photo!  Check out the Stay Puff Marshmallow Arms!!

New rear photo.  Better at least.  And my legs are together.

The REALLY dreaded side view!

And the new side view????  Now remember, I am NOT holding my stomach in.

And another with me holding my stomach in!  Madonna should be jealous!!  I don't need the bullet bra to have points!!  LOL  Which is why I can't wait to lose them!!!!


















Here is a picture of the Gel Pad, that my fantastic husband Walt, ordered for me today.  It is the one on the bottom at left, to help me with my Tailbone problem while riding the Bike on this long road trip.  Unfortunately, we got a call today letting us know that they were out of stock on it!!!  And they aren't expecting it to arrive in stock until Monday....we are leaving Wednesday morning!  So it appears that I will not be able to use my pad for the trip.  :(  They have offered to upgrade us to the largest pad, which is actually made for people with Tailbone problems (the one pictured at the top left hand side).  The problem is...the passenger seat only has a 12" depth, and this seat pad is 17", which would fit the front seat just fine....just not the back!  I will let you know what happens after my husband calls them back in the morning.

Walt Hates The Trike Wheels!!

Hey Ya'll,

Well, we finally got the Trike Wheels delivered, and Walt finally got them on the Bike (temporarily of course), he rode it around the block to test them out, and.....said that he hates the way it rides with them, and when they are on the Bike, the Bike is MINE!!!  LOL  And the worst part of it, is that the pieces he had to attach so that we would be able to take the Wheels on and off easily, makes the Bike to where he can't make tight turns, as the attached piece will scrape the ground!!

Today we rode the Bike over (sans Trike Wheels of course) to my SIL'S house in Sacramento, to visit with her oldest son before he goes back to Hawaii.  We haven't seen him in several years, and it was really nice to see him again.  And I noticed a new NSV today.  My riding gloves didn't take an arm and a leg to put them on and take them off!!  So my hands have shrunk down a bit too, not just my fingers!!

So now I am working like crazy to get our road trip figured out, as to stops along the way for resting my Freaking Tailbone(!), and for Food and Fuel.  LOL  Since we will be riding about 300 miles the first day, and 265 miles the second day.

Plus I am hoping to meet some of our Blogging friends on this trip.  I am definitely meeting with Tina (Losing It!) in Portland.  And it looks like we will be meeting Amanda (A Weight Loss Journey) in Eugene.  She has said that she wanted to meet, but I am still waiting to hear from her, so we can lock down specifics on where to meet her!  

I am also hoping to meet with Christine (Magic Cat Purrs) while in Medford (and anyone else from that area that would like to meet).  She may be attending her local Support Group Meeting while we are there, so I am hoping that we can meet for an early Dinner, or for Coffee (Drinks, Soda, whatever) after.  I am still waiting to hear from her regarding this though.

Well, I should go, got lots to do.....and so little time!  Till next time...

Aloha My Friends  :)

Finally!! I'm Over Half Way Home!! And The Best NSV!!

Hey Ya'll,

Just a quick post to say.....Who-ya!!!  Last night I had the BEST NSV EVER!!  Last night I was able to put on my Original Wedding Band!!  I think it is a size 6!  I have not been able to wear it in about 10 years!!!  It slipped right on!  Yea!!  And all my shoes are fitting me again!  I don't feel like I have to tie my Tennis Shoes loosely!  They feel like they actually fit!  In fact, I had to buy them a half size bigger to accommodate my widened foot.  Now they are actually a little too wide!!!  But that is ok, I would rather them be a bit loose and wear thicker socks, than too narrow, and hurt!!!

Get this, I have lost 13 lbs since.....August 25th (that's 16 days)!!!  AND.....I am now down a total of 51 lbs!!!  I am over half way to my goal!!  That is assuming I still want to get down to 130 lbs!  I may like myself at 140.  If so, then I only have 37.6 lbs to go!!  But seeing as how long it is taking to lose my Thick Neck and Stomach, then maybe I do need to lose to 130!!  I am 5'3" so I need to lose down quite a bit more before I look my best.  But I am definitely, only about 37-47 lbs away!!

Well, I gotta go, got so much to do and so little time to do it in!!  Till next time.....

Aloha My Friends  :)

HAPPY 101 !!!

Thank You Nella!!!

1. Post Who Gave You This Award:  See above!!
    Thanks Nella: http://nellaskinnybitch.blogspot.com/

2. State 10 Things You Like (or Love):
    Spring and Fall.  Not too cool, not too warm.
    Christmas, I love all the lights, attitudes change, more tolerant, loving.
    Spending Time with Family and Friends.
    Riding The Bike, the freedom of the road, the wind blowing all around you.
    The Beach, the sound of the waves crashing, and the smell of the sea air.
    Traveling, either by Air, Cruise, and now.....Bike.
    Painting, my new found love of interpreting photos, onto canvas in Oils.
    Crocheting, my renewed love of making things for those I love.
    Reading, I luv to read, just haven't had time to in yrs, but that will change!
    Food!!  Need I say more???

3. Give This Award To 10 Other Amazing Blogger's And Notify Them With A 
    Comment In Their Blogs

    (In No Particular Order):

    Nella, I would have nominated you too!!!  
    Cara: http://carasquest.blogspot.com/
    Amy: http://cheeseandsunkist.blogspot.com/
    Christine: http://www.phoenixrevolution.net/
    Nikki: http://tobefatnomore.blogspot.com/
    Caroline: http://lonicera53.blogspot.com/
    Dawn: http://db1119.blogspot.com/
    Jennifer: http://lifeasiknowitsc.blogspot.com/
    Roo: http://abrandnewroo.blogspot.com/
    Alexis: http://alexisswenson.blogspot.com/
    Christine: http://christine-magiccatpurrs.blogspot.com/

Well, these ladies are by no means the only ones that have inspired me, or been there rooting for me.  All of you have!!  I just wish that I could have nominated all of you!  In fact, I DO!!!

Till next time....

Aloha My Friends :)

A Big Shout Out To The Banded Lady !! :)

Hey Ya'll,

I just wanted to jump in here, and give a big welcome to my newest Follower!!  Her name is: (I'm not sure), but her blog is: The Banded Lady, and she was recently banded this Summer!  So if you haven't already found her blog and checked it out, please follow the link!  I'm sure she can use all our help and support!  Especially with the Holidays fast approaching us!  So Banded Lady...."welcome to my nightmare".

Aloha My New Friend  :)

New Before & After Photos, And Here's The Result Of My Haircut!!!

Hey Ya'll,

*** Well, we went to our Hairdresser Roxanne today and I got my....REALLY Short Haircut today!!!  Now I just have to get used to it.  But I do love the fact that it should be so much easier to work with, especially since I don't have much hair left!!  LOL

*** I am also posting some photos taken today showing what I look like now, just 1.8 lbs shy of a 50 lb loss, and what I looked like Pre-Surgery.  Hopefully you can tell a difference!!  One of the places that I wish I could lose faster is my Neck!!  Unfortunately, my family has thick Necks, so once we gain weight and the Neck thickens, it is hard to lose it!!!  This is one of the areas of our body type, that holds on to the fat!!!  You tell me, can you see any difference???

Well, I gotta go for now.  Don't forget to check out the photos below!!  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :)

This photo was taken about an hour ago.  I need to purchase a new bra, this one is way too big and just makes me look larger than I am now!  LOL

Here is my new haircut from the front.

And of course, this is how Roxanne styled it.  I usually blow dry the top back away from the face, so I will try to take some photos with it styled my way as well later.

And here is the back!

Here is my Pre-Surgery photo from the front.

And my photo from today!

And my Pre-Surgery photo from the rear.

And of course, my current photo of the rear end!!

New Hair Cut Tomorrow!!!

I am planning on my hair being short on the sides and back, like the top photo, but the top being a bit longer like Natalie Portman's (Brunette) in the photo below.  Or maybe just like Natalie's!!!

Hey Ya'll,

*** Well, I am finally getting my hair cut again!!  And this time it will be Much Shorter!!  Normally Walt hates me to cut my hair.  He is like many men who want their women to have Long Hair!!  Well, unfortunately, I have very thin, fine hair and the longer it is, the worse it looks!  It just separates and lays....Wrong!!  I have always wished that I had beautiful, Thick hair!  And add the fact, that I am one of these women that CAN"T work with their own hair, so it always looks horrible. 

Growing up, I was never one of those beautiful young girls that played with makeup, hair and clothes!  I was more of a tomboy, and I always used the excuse that I was "Allergic" to makeup, as to why I never did!  However, in my 20's, I decided to start wearing it, and sure enough, after wearing it, I had a Major Allergy attack to the makeup!  I couldn't get the makeup off fast enough, so that I could see again, as the tears were just streaming down my face too fast to see!  And yes, it was a makeup made for Allergy sensitive people, Hypoallergenic, Fragrance Free, etc, not to mention expensive.   Luckily, I worked in a Department Store next to the Makeup Department, so I ran to the Makeup Dept and used their makeup remover.  Talk about instant relief!!

So this time, Walt hasn't even attempted to change my mind about getting my hair cut shorter.  He just says that, "I will have to pay for it, for the rest of my life", if you know what I mean (wink, wink).  But I think that the fact that it will be much easier to deal with while riding the Bike, and wearing the Helmet, and that he is just happy that I want to ride with him, that he has given in to my short hair requirement.  But whatever the reason, I am so HAPPY!!  Tomorrow, I will feel so much freer!  I will post photos tomorrow.  The photos above, are a couple of ideas I have in mind for my hair.

*** On the Band front, I still seem to have Restriction, but not so much as to cause me to have PB's or Slimeing, thank god!!  In fact, I haven't had a Slimeing episode or PB, since I had my last Fill!!  So I am happy, I have enough Restriction, but not so much that I have had problems and I am losing weight!!  And I am not be planning on another Fill, until early in October, after we have returned from our Portland trip.  I want to enjoy the trip without too many problems!  :)

Well, I should go, got lots to do and so little time to do it in!!  Till next time.....

Aloha My Friends  :)

I Get To Meet My Bandster Friends!! :)

Hey Ya'll,

*** Well, I have been in contact with a few of our fellow Bandster's and it looks like I will get to actually meet at least 2 of you!!  I will be meeting Tina of Losing It! in Portland, and Amanda of Amanda's Waning, in Eugene!!  And....Maybe Christine of Magic Cat Purrs.  She may be attending a Group Support Meeting while we will be in Medford over night.

So maybe.....we can meet for an early Dinner, or Drinks after.  I am still waiting to hear from her whether we will be able to meet or not.  I am so excited.  I can't wait to meet some more Bandster's!  Since most of you that I communicate with, do not live in the upper West Coast area, I didn't think that I would ever meet anyone!  But I have already met Alexis, of The Swenson Family, and now I will be meeting Tina and Amanda, and maybe...Christine!!  I almost got to meet Karin of the Lap Band Gal, but the night that we could have met, she will be in Chicago with all the BOOB'S!!!  Lucky Gal!

*** On the Band front, I am still losing....but not as fast.  I am down to 181 lbs, so hopefully....I will reach the 170's before we leave for Portland!  I need to purchase some pants and a new Bra for the smaller, Ta Ta's before our trip, but since I am still losing weight, I am going to wait until the week before we leave to make sure I purchase something that fits!  I have two practically brand new Bra's, but the Ta Ta's just swim in them, not to mention they are too loose around!!  But I am not unhappy about this, as I would like to lose even more of my Breast size.

*** Well, we finally got our Trike Wheels here, and I love the color of them!!  They are a beautiful Blue, one of my favorite colors!  We are planning on eventually painting the Bike and Trailer to match them.  Now, we just need to get them attached to the Bike, so we can practice riding with them on.  They say that it is totally different then riding a normal 2 wheeled bike, as it won't lean much.  So it rides more like a car, which is fine by me.  Now I just need learn how to ride it with all its power!  The Bike is a 2000, Gold Wing 1500.

*** We have been having a few more days of 100+ degree days!!  And us trying not to use the Air Conditioner this Summer!  But so far, we have only turned it on one day, in this latest round of heat.  So I think we are doing great!  I would not have been able to handle this Summer without Air Conditioning, before I started losing my weight.

You see, I don't sweat like you should, so my body doesn't cool itself down properly.  Which makes it easier for me to have a Heatstroke.  But this Summer, I have been able to handle the heat so much better.  I guess it is like they say.....I lost a blanket of fat in my weight loss!  I never would have believed it. 

Well, I guess I should go for now.  We need to get going, so...till next time.

Aloha My Friends  :)

Oregon Bander's-Have You Ever Had A Blonde Moment?????

But oh how I wish I had that BODY again!! LOL

Hey Ya'll,

For those of you in Oregon, I was having a serious Blonde moment last night when I wrote my last Post.  I wrote asking if anyone in Eureka would like to meet for Lunch, to contact me!!!  I would like to correct this by saying, WE WILL NOT BE IN EUREKA on the 26th of September, we WILL be in EUGENE, OREGON!!  LOL

So if there is anyone in the Eugene, Oregon area, that would like to meet up for an early Lunch....say 11 am, contact me either by a comment in my blog, or an e-mail.  We would love to meet ya'll.  Till next time....

Aloha My Friends  :)

Attention Medford & Eugene Oregon Blogger's

Hey Ya'll,

First off, I want to say that I have been VERY happy with my latest Fill.  I do not feel as if I am overfilled at all, but I do seem to not feel hunger much.  In fact, I have LOST "7.2 pounds" in the last week!!  And I finally made it to one of my mini goals of losing 45 lbs!!  I am almost half way to my total goal.  Of course, I should have been at this point about 2-3 months ago!!  All I have been doing, is watching how much I consumed (as I should always be doing! cough, cough), and trying not to eat what I should not be eating!  Go figure!  Who knew it could be this easy???  If only my brain would stop sending me the signal to eat what I shouldn't eat, all would be great!! 

Now, I know that losing this much weight so fast, is generally not good.  But I think that my body is finally giving in.  After not losing for so long (my own fault of course), once I started eating as I should be, the weight is just falling off!!  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it continues for a while.  I really would like to get down into the 170's before our short mini vacation to Portland, Oregon in 3 weeks!  I only have 3.5 pounds to reach the 170's, I think that I can do it!!

Which brings me to the Title of my Post.  We will be staying in Medford, Oregon on Wednesday, the 22nd, and Sunday the 26th of September.  So if there are any blogger's in the Medford area that would like to meet with us for Dinner, please let me know either by a comment, or emailing me directly to the email listed in my blog.

(((***Have you ever had a Blond moment?  I wrote Eureka, but meant Eugene!!!!!  Anyone in Eugene like to meet up?????)))

Also, we will be stopping for an early Lunch (about 11 am) on Sunday the 26th in Eureka.  So if there are any blogger's in the Eureka area, that would like to meet us for Lunch, please let me know, we would be thrilled to meet ya'll.

I almost got to meet a couple of my blogging friends, that I knew lived there in Oregon this trip, but one will still be entertaining her Family from out of State and can't make it, and the other has a meeting she can't get out of, on the first date we will be in Medford, and on the second date, she will be one of the Lucky Ones that will be in Chicago with all of the other "BOOB'S".  Lucky girl!

And I haven't heard back from Tina in Portland yet.  As to whether or not she can meet.  As she teaches, and of course classes are back in session!!  So we are still hoping this meeting can take place, but we do know how hard it is for those that work, to meet on a work night.

So, here's hoping that someone can meet with us.  If not, maybe another time.  I will keep my fingers crossed that we can meet up with at least one of ya'll.  Till next time.....

Aloha My Friends  :)