Good Morning PA peeps!

     It's been a while since I began a posting so here it goes.  First - a Happy Father's Day to all the dads, granddads, step-dads, foster dads out there It's been almost 20 years since my dad died and I do miss him especially during the summer.  I remember sitting and watching/listening to the Phillies games with him when I was a kid.  I really did get my love of baseball from him. 

     My job will be officially beginning on July 1st.  Attended a meeting this past week about my benefits.  Have still been going in and doing some volunteer work.  My summer hours will not be bad at all (8:30 to 2:30).  Still get to go to Cape May for a week in June, July and August.  Am heading down there on Thursday for my first week.  I can't wait.

     To all the teachers out there - happy end of school.  To all the parents out there - happy summer with the kids.

     Well that's about it for a gorgeous Saturday in beautiful Roxborough, PA.  Hope that everyone has a super weekend and that we all make healthy food choices.  Take care.

Donna

Hi Laura,

     I see that both you and I had Dr. Boe as a surgeon.  I will be celebrating my 4th surgiversary at the end of this month.  Congratulations on your continued successing and good luck with your surgery.  Thanks for stopping by.  Take care.

Donna

I am so sorry Jill that I cannot make this meeting.  I have at least 3 other commitments that day and can only honor two of them.  I will miss seeing all of you guys.  Know that I will be there in July in order to celebrate my 4th surgiversary. 

Donna

Lou,

     Congratulations on your 7 year surgiversary.  I will be 4 years out next month and know that I will always need to be vigilant about the pounds slowly creeping on.  I have been maintaining for the past 8 months after a 30 pound regain.  I am slowly (very slowly) starting back down the scale again.  I have stopped beating myself up for the regain and am trying to focus in on the here and now and being positive.  Thanks for stopping back in - I remember from my early days seeing you post a little more often.  I always liked your avatar.  Continued successing.  Take care.

Donna

Good Afternoon PA peeps!

     Want to give a shout out to all the mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers etc. on your special day tomorrow.  I have never regretted for a minute not being a mother.  That being said, I have the utmost respect and admiration for those of you who have taken on this role.  I relish being a godmother and an aunt but I know that maternal genes were just not a part of my makeup.  I hope that tomorrow will be a day filled with many good things for you and that you will know that you are appreciated (not just tomorrow but always).  Enjoy your special day

Love, Donna

Laureen,

     I commend you on the healthy way you are dealing with this.  Of course I am selfish and want you to stay on as a leader.  You have been there the entire 4 years I have been at Barix and have become a true friend to me.  Know that I am grateful for your service to all of us at Barix.  Glad that you will not be a stranger and still be a part of us.  My love and gratitude always.

Donna

Thanx Lynn, Trish, Beth and Ida,

     The principal had a meeting with the IMS board on Thursday.  Hopefully she will have some answers for me as to my start date when I speak with her on Monday.  I am crossing my fingers for July but know that September might be a real possibility.  I appreciate your good thoughts.  Take care.

Donna

Good morning PA peeps,

     Just wanted to share my good news with all of my OH friends.  After 2 years of being unemployed I finally have a job.  I am not certain if the position begins in July or September.  Some of you know that for the past year I have been doing volunteer work and substitute teaching at my old school.  The principal who fired me left the school and the new principal saw that I was an organized and dedicated teacher.  She has offered me the position of School Secretary and I have accepted it.  Many of you know that experienced, mature workers are not appreciated in the business world today.  That is also true in the world of education.  After spending this past year subbing in grades 1 to 8 I realized that it was time for me to come out of the classroom.  I still will be tutoring Math and there might be some opportunities for me to work with some students one-on-one.  While I am happy there is a lot of anxiety inside of me.  I know that over the next few weeks that I will need to process these feelings and not eat my way through them. 

     I see my job as being one of helping people - parents, teachers, administration, students.  I still get to be around the kids but I don't have to put up with a lot of the BS that is present in the classroom today.  I bring many gifts to the table and I know that I will be an asset to the school.

     I would not have made it through these past 2 years without the prayers of support of my OH friends and my Barix support group.  Just wanted to share my good news with all of you.  Have a good day and take care of yourselves.

Love, Donna

OH should have a board for VSG and DS.  You might be able to get information from there.  I had an RNY 4 years ago.  Sorry that I can't answer any of your questions.  Just wanted to welcome you to the board.  Please keep us posted about your WLS journey.  Take care.

Donna

Good Morning PA peeps!

     Hope that everyone had a good week and that this weekend has some time in it for rest and relaxation.  Last week at Barix I shared that I have a great deal of resistance when it comes to logging my food.  This has been a problem for me since day 1.  I also know that if I did log my food that I would be more conscious of what I was putting in my mouth.  During my therapy session this week I spoke about this.  My therapist helped me see that I do not need to know WHY I do this, I just need to do it.  For the past 3 days I have been recording my food and trying hard not to judge myself.  That is all I can do for now.  By taking this one step I am taking back the control in my life and stop being a victim when it comes to what I eat.  Just for today I will pray for the grace to continue this positive action.

     I am off to the hairdresser today for a much needed cut and color job.  Nothing much else on the agenda this weekend other than food shopping and laundry.  Hope that you all make it a good one.  Take care.

Donna

Hey there Lynn!

     Saturday's meeting was good.  Christine facilitated for the first time and did a great job.  There was a pre-op woman there who wanted to stay with the "old-timers" and ask questions.  At almost 4 years out there is so much that I forget about that time that it is good for me to be around "newbies" and reconnect.  Nothing specific stands out for me.  It was just good to be there with people who "get" it and can relate to what you are saying.  Once again I spoke of my defiance at not journaling my food.  It is something that I need to address with my therapist and figure out why I have so much resistance. Maybe someone else will remember something more specific.  Sorry.  Hope that all is well with you.  Love to see your picture on the board.  Stay in touch.  Take care.

Donna 

Good morning Trish, Beth and PA peeps to come!

     I am looking forward to a much needed mani/pedi today and also hoping to get outside and enjoy the weather.  Beth I also have laundry on the agenda for today and some other errands. 

     On the job front there is some promising news to report - a position for a school secretary has opened up at my old school and I am being considered for it.  The principal and vice principal both know how organized I am and flexible - subbing, running the candy sale, helping out with standardized testing.  The pay isn't the best - $25,000 - but it comes with benefits and a lot less stress than being in a 7th/8th grade classroom.  There might also be an opportunity for some one-on-one remedial/advanced Math tutoring.  Right now I am trying to organize paperwork for the book orders.  I am asking for some prayers and positive energy to be sent out into the universe.   

     For those of you who celebrate Easter have a blessed holiday.  May everyone rejoice in the new life that nature provides at this time of year - the possibilities of new beginnings.  Take care.

Donna    

Good day PA!    

     Did someone say that spring began the other day?  Just sitting here looking out my window at the spring snow falling.  Nothing surprises me anymore about the weather.  Any way Happy Passover to those out there who celebrate (the Jew Crew).  And speaking of the Jew Crew - Beth V. and Lisa Hunt have both been on my mind recently.  Hoping that all is well with both of them and their families.  As you all know for at least 2 years I was a super lurker on this board and just read about other people's lives.  While that wasn't the best way to utilize the board I did feel connected in some way to people who I was lucky enough to meet through cooking class or Barix.  It took me a long time to become active here and I am glad that I have.  Enough about me.  Nothing much happening here today.  Hope that all of you got to work safely and also arrive home that way.  Have a good day everyone.  Take care.

Donna