It's Veterans Day!

And I'm thinking... Having a "holiday" and being off on a Thursday does that to me... I'm thinking about veterans that I know, and those that I don't. How they served this country, and what they gave (or gave up) so that I could live in the best country in the world.

I've been thinking... about blogging for quite some time, but as you see I did not get enough rounded up in my head until yesterday to actually get some down on paper, Or on this blog. I think the reason behind me not blogging, in addition to just plain being extremely busy and out of touch with my bander friends, was the fact that I have a very hard time writing things in a way that makes sense to anyone except myself. After going to Florida and spending 3 wonderful days with my BFF. I found myself thinking alot about and feeling the need to get on here again and start talking. I also need to get back to the gym. That free membership that I won was up in October and I did sign up for a paid one. however, I have been to Zumba class once since then and not even gotten the gumption to get up and go to walk on a treadmill or ride a bike... I need some enthusiasm, or encouragement or maybe just a good swift kick in the ass to make me go again. I love my Zumba so it's not that I don't want to go... I just find that with all the "Crap" that is still going on at work I say... "I'll go tomorrow" a lot lately!

For the most part friends, I am able to eat some things normally and not worry about it when I try to eat. However, I'm not able to eat before at least 10 or 11 am and sometimes not until later than that. Then I have to be very, very careful not to eat to fast and to make sure that I chew it all to oblivion before I try to swallow. Can someone please tell me why it is that you are so much tighter in the morning and then can eat almost anything (and/or EVERYTHING) just before you are supposed to go to bed?  All in all I am feeling well with my band and my loss to this point. I do not have any reflux, but there are a lot of times that I feel as tho I have a lump in my throat and it just does not go away till well into the afternoon. UNLESS I get myself a cup or two of the hottest (and I mean really hot) decaffeinated tea or hot cider from Dunkin Donuts! Then and only then it seems that I can adjust into a "normal" day in the life of a bander, If there is such a thing!

My "happy" goal that I keep talking about is easily within site and now I find myself wondering if I should lower my goal expectations, or raise them? which would it be? Should I make my happy goal lower to make myself work harder at hitting it? My BFF made a comment at one point when I was there and she said she was worried about me making myself sick and when I slime is that a sign that I AM at my sweet spot and should have some more taken back out? I don't think I need to have any more out, BUT, I do however, do NOT believe that I want any more in at least until well after the Holidays... If I can make it thru Thanksgiving and Christmas... Which are HUGE Food holidays in my and my DH's family, I will be excited beyond belief. And then January 12th is my Bandiversary. I really want to be, at the very least. to my happy goal and/or below by then. Sssooo... What do you think banders? My next appointment to see the Doc is 11/22. And I'm gonna tell you right now, I am NOT having a fill that day!

Me and Eileen - MIA

Not really missing... just busy still... altho' I'm thinking that I have begun to slow down a bit for the winter. LOL! So here are some updates for now.

The wedding on 10-10-10 went off beautifully, without a hitch. I sang the best I know how and every time I started to choke up in the middle of a note the best man would look over his shoulder and smile at me. that would make me look the other way and concentrate on the song, not my emotions at the moment. I'll post a couple pictures as soon as I can but at the moment they are held hostage in my old PC that died last weekend and is in the shop right now.

10-14 I had my appointment to have my fill... and yup, no questions asked I got .50 cc's put in. I was good for a couple days and right up until after the show. then I started having problems. the feeling of a lump in my throat all the time and just not able to eat, even remotely normal. Only thing I could get down was hot hot liquids. So I called the office abut couldn't get in until the 25th

10-23-10, my barbershop chorus had a joint show with our brother barbershop chorus. it was a great time. could have had a few more people in attendance but we had approx 175 there and that was enough for this first time having a joint show! my quartet was the first performers. and I know your going to get tired of hearing this but...Can you say nervous? We made it thru and the entire show was a success. And of course pictures will be posted later... again after I can access them on the PC again

I had my appointment with my surgeon to have my UNfill on the 25th. And he seemed unconcerned at the need to take some out. I dropped 6 pounds, and am within 8 pounds of my "Happy" goal now. He ended up telling me that I must be very close to my sweet spot and took 1/2 of what he had put in on the 14th out. So I am at 3.25 cc's in right now. For the most part I've been good at that until of course I got ready for my trip to see my bff for a quick whirlwind trip to Florida on 11/4.

I can only assume the anxiety, and nerves over flying, seeing my bff for the first time in almost 2 years, since she retired and moved to Florida and the anxiety of telling her about my band, AND trying to "make a good impression" as the perfect band patient had a lot to do with it. But the entire trip was centered around me wanting to eat, and not being able to eat. Getting to a restaurant and ordering, taking one bite and ending up boxing it all home because I would have to run to the ladies room and slime. Never actually threw-up. but there were at least 4 episodes where I felt like I should have just said I wasn't hungry and ordered only a drink. But the "coming out" was a success I think. both the BFF and her hubby told me how proud they were of me for doing this for myself. BFF wished she could have been here for me on surgery day. and we both cried and hugged a lot. I love her so much... she really is my sister from another mother.  I did drop another 3 pounds tho'... UNOfficially I am within 5 pounds of the first "happy" goal... Yippee!!!

Any way, we came home (DH & I) on 11/7, (told you it was a quick trip) and the story that headlined the local paper the next day... Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear

stargazette.com, Star-Gazette... (I posted previously)  We NEVER felt or heard a thing... it was a smooth, uneventful flight... Or so we thought.

Now I am preparing for my boss's retirement next week. Anxiety... ugh, here I come AGAIN... BUT hey, tomorrow is Veterans Day, I would like to say a big, "Thank You" to all the Veterans out there reading this. I appreciate the sacrifices you and your loved ones made to keep America Free, and I don't have to work! Yahoo. However, I do on Friday! ;-)

Until next time...

Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear | stargazette.com | Star-Gazette

Elmira-bound Allegiant flight hits large bird, damages landing gear stargazette.com Star-Gazette

OMG It's Wedding Weekend!

No NOT mine, thank god! Altho I would marry my wonderful hubster again in a heartbeat, this weekend is my Brother's wedding! I cannot believe that it is here already. Brother seems to be fine, Bride is a nervous wreck, Matron of honor has pneumonia, and I am crazy excited yet extremely nervous to sing for them!

I'm not nervous to sing, it's what and who I will be singing in front of. I am singing "God Bless the Broken Road" and there is a LOT of inside meaning to this song for both the bride and groom. I have yet to practice the song without crying at some point. So tell me how am I to get thru it on Sunday in front of family and at such a special occasion that I want to be perfect for both of them! AARRGGHH!!!

And let us not forget that I have this Band that NO one in my family knows about except my brother and DH! We ALL know that nerves make it act up, and I am so afraid that mine will prevent me from eating at all this weekend... Hey that might be a good thing tho since I have a Fill appointment next week and am to get a fill NO questions asked! :-( Remember, we (my surgeon & I) agreed to disagree on this subject??? I've been hovering in the high 180's for 3 months now. I do not feel that I have lost anything since I was last in to see him but with all the commotion going on in my life in October and the planning and preparation it isn't any wonder if I haven't. I haven't been to the gym in a month and I am so upset at myself for that! Oh well, some day I hope my life will slow down and I will be able to get back to concentrating on me and Eileen. I am within 25 pounds of my "Happy" goal. I hope I can get there before Christmas!!!

OK, Sorry for the short but rambling post... But I am off to decorate! I hope to post again after the wedding. Maybe even with pictures!!!

Life "CRAP"

Oh Yeah, Life "CRAP" is the only way to put it... My reasons for not being a good blogger THIS time! :-)

#1. Lots of stressful changes at work, to the point where people were demoted and escorted out of the facility. Others left for other jobs with no notice. 2 from my office giving notice that they are retiring sooner than expected, and now the one that just got a promotion to my office is looking to get promoted OUT and that leaves me all alone by myself in the office that is (when fully staffed) is at 6 employees. I will drown and that is not a joke! On top of all that a vacation in November that I have been planning for months will probably get canceled because of all the people leaving and the office not being staffed... someone has to do at lease SOME of the work! Good thing this isn't a choral trip or I would really be pissed!!! (Like I'm not anyway :-(  GGGRRR!)

#2. My Chorus "fun" stress... we are having a show on October 23rd, just preparing, selling ads for the program, tickets, learning the show script and songs, and trying to learn 3 new songs with the quartet.There is so much work that goes into a "show" and it is all over in about 2 hours on "show" night.

#3. Family "Happy/fun" stress... my brother is getting married on October 10th and I am singing in the wedding... I just found out they want TWO (yes 2) songs at 2 different times.  I'm trying to help the bride get organized and stuff done because my brother LOVED the way I put MY wedding together... UGH. Oh, and we are moving her from Harrisburg to Mansfield where he lives THIS Weekend! That in itself will be a feat... Harrisburg is 3 hours away!

#4. Family "happy" stress... I got a new baby... I adopted another kitty! she is 2 months old and boy is she a trip. the 2 older cats don't care for her much but they are getting used to her... slowly. She on the other hand, if she doesn't want to eat, she is scurrying around right under your feet, OR sleeping as close to, if not ON your belly! I forgot what it was like to try and train a kitten what she can or should not climb on!

#5 Family "really Crappy" stress... My sister that I visited in Ohio has moved to Atlanta, GA. and one of her cats, she had 3, when moved from Ohio to Atlanta... had heart failure and died Wednesday night/early Thursday morning! As much as they are animals, they become our children and my sister sometimes has depression issues anyway... She is a mess and they have only been in their new house 4 days. Already a $5000 vet hospital bill and no energy to "move in".

Ok, I'm done with my post of life crap! I was returning an e-mail to our LB buddy BG from work (Oh and btw, THANKS Everyone!!!  for not posting, and for commenting on my few, as I was the wonderful winner of the SWA challenge, hehehe! BG assures me that my winnings (thong) will be arriving shortly) for support and said I should just send this to my home e-mail and then post it as my reason for being out of touch lately, huh? Well here it is. I was supposed to get a fill yesterday, but had lost another 3 pounds so he was ok with not filling again, however, he said let's get you back in 3 weeks and put a smidgen in to maybe "bump up" the numbers for next time. I'm down 54 total pounds now and I am losing inches because of the ZUMBA classes at the gym. I am happy! ;-) Altho' I have started to become hungry between meals, to the point where I eat to fast when I do eat, things get stuck or I swallow air and I end up then having to go the bathroom and slime or actually throw up.  So I'm guessing that a fill in 3 weeks will be needed.

So there you have it... My Life "CRAP"! It really is the only way to put it!