My board contribution - Random Musings

Hi everyone, Every Monday, I post a little blog-type entry on the New Jersey board. It's just an outlet for some of the WLS-related thoughts that rattle around in my head. And, since I'm commited to becoming an active member of this board as well, I thought that it might be nice to post this stuff here as well. If you find this type of thing to be a little too much or self-indulgent, just let me know... I'm not easily offended. ?????????????????? Random Musings #3 Monday's are a really slow day for me a work - So, I like to take advantage of the time to catch up with my pals in the OH community. You know... post, blog, muse, lurk... that kind of thing. Just keeping myself involved. Well, my weekly musings posts have really become more for my uplift and edification than for anyone else's benefit. But, if you happen to benefit from this in any way at all, then that's cool too, isn't it? ? One of the regular posters on the Men's Message Board, Will Walker from Virginia (Will B. Thin), recently had serious complications a week after his surgery. I hear he's doing better... but not completely out of the woods yet. Like all of us, he just wanted to be healthy for himself and his family - He took the leap and as a result, nearly bought the farm. It reminds me that WLS takes courage. It's NOT a cop-out. It's a cop-IN. Get back IN the game. Please take a moment today to think positive thoughts for Will and his family. ? Sometimes I get some whacked-out e-mails from some people on OH and I get a little freaked. But, this week I got a few really nice e-mails from people who just identified with me, my posts, my profile, or whatever. I've never really made myself, my thoughts, and my opinions this accessible before (More often than not, my opinions tend to offend delicate sensibilities). Now, I find myself becoming less guarded as I become more like the person that I'd like to be. ? Here's one of my favorite quotes... I think, in some ways, it pertains to all of us who have been where we've been. "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." - Prince Gautama Siddharta ? Oh man, I had a good weekend. I baked in the sweltering 95 degree sun at the Mets game at Shea with my dad & my brother on Father's Day. Damn, it was a good day. The Mets beat the Orioles 9-5, I (slowly & carefully) drank 2 light beers without incident, David Wright hit a Grand Slam in the 5th inning and 40,000 crazy Mets fans (including us) lost their collective minds. After all that, I hit the gym at 5:30 am this morning and officially weighed in at 298 afterwards. It's the first time in over 10 years that my weight has started with the number "2"! That's 6lbs down this week and a total of 119lbs gone since the beginning of this year. I'm having one of those days (Aaah! - don't jinx it!) where you feel like nothing can go wrong... So cool. Hey, thanks for paying attention... Hope your day is going just as nicely as mine. Be Well, A.J.

AJ...way to go on the weight loss. I bet it was exciting to see your weight start with a number 2! I am so happy for you. I am glad you had a good Father's day. We just played it lazy and went and bought stuff for our garden. I enjoyed the heat. I wish the Yankees would have won and then it probably would have been a perfect day. But none the less I stillenjoyed it. I am going to ask my doctor next month when I can have a drink. I am not a big drinker but every now and then I could go for a cold one. We are getting ready for my daughter to graduate from high school on 6/24 so now is an exciting time. Both my daughters are going to the prom on Thursday so we are busy, busy busy. Hope your day remains good for you. ~~hugs and well wishes~~ Chris

A.J., Thanks for the post...I enjoy your musings. It sounds like you had a pretty great Father's Day. My dad and I have a rather stilted relationship, and I called him on the phone and had another stilted conversation about not much at all. It is kind of sad, because I know he feels "left out" and that my brother and I don't let him into our lives, and that now that we're grown up we should take the initiative to be more involved with us. He doesn't get that it's just not going to happen, but I still just feel sort of sorry for him as a person. I know that he's lonely. I know that he still is in love with my mom and it's not reciprocated. I know that he will never leave his current wife even though she's not the love of his life because she cooks and she cleans for him. I love him, I do, but I just can't imagine having a different relationship with him. Too much history and too little everything on his part. Sigh, oh well, those are my musings... Thanks -- this post gave me the opportunity to say the above for the first time since yesterday. I hadn't even realized I was thinking about it. Beth

Hey AJ Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights and letting your guard down. Sounds like you had a great weekend to kick start this great day of yours! ~~~Good day vibes sent your way~~~ Congrats on the wt loss! it's fantastic!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us AJ.

Hey A.J. Thanks for sharing man. No news rom Will since yesterday isn't it? (The last once came frm Dx if I kept my self updated?) Best Regards Alex

I for one enjoyed reading your musings. What better way to develop a friendship with someone that to simply tell them what is on your mind? Dawn

I enjoyed your mussing, A.J. I hope you continue to put yourself out there! It's a great feeling being able to speak your mind and know you will survive when your done. Father's day here was quiet.. My DH and I went out for lunch then to our son and daughter-in-laws for dinner... not much excitment but it was a nice day. Glad to hear your weekend was fun filled! Anna D

Keep the musings coming. I enjoyed them thoroughly. Congratulations on hitting a huge goal with your WLS. Seeing those numbers that we haven't seen in years is such a powerful motivator. Have a wonderful week. Lisa S. 227/157.6/140 5'6.5"