Friday-it's FINALLY here!!

Hello, OFF family!

 

 

I read daily,  but don’t have much to offer.  I am enjoying, however, a week of staying home, but I’m usually sleeping in erractic hours or busy working online.

 

 

Both Dan & Derek were here for dinner last night…I made salads, steak and lots of their favourite fried onions, baked potatoes and sugar-free lemon jello & whipped cream sprinkled with lemon zest & sliced almonds for them…always a joy to have them both together.  Dan had come over directly from work and his wife, Amy, had a BootCamp for exercise and Derek’s partner, Kathy, was doing a tour on her Coast Guard ship and didn’t get home til very late last night. So we had a nice visit, just the four of us. 

 

 

Dan brought an amazing CD about how some adventurers had a passion for flying and over ten years searched the Arctic for some lost bombers that had been forced down by bad weather in WW2 and abandoned there…they finally found and retrieved one of the planes..it had been buried by 250 feet of ice and snow, brought it up piece by piece and it was totally restored and flown again.  Dan had seen this bomber fly in for the International Fly-In at Oshgosh, Wisconsin. He had been at the Fly-In as he is the builder of many electronic devices for aircraft and represented his company at the trade show there.  He is also on an INSANITY programme…halfway thru…and is determined to earn the T-Shirt claiming his success…..he has lost 40 pounds and looks amazing! That’s why I am so careful of what I feed him …mind you, we all benefit from Dan’s food programme! *s*

 

 

Derek was here today and gave us the scoop on his struggles with the credit union. Surprisingly, he Manager was totally agreeing with Derek that three separate incidents should NOT have happened. I doubt that he wanted to argue with a 6’4, 275 pound ex-bouncer….lol… So that admission alone made Derek feel better and they repaired most of the damage. The manager also wants to speak to us as we were so fed up with the mistakes and obstacles the credit union did during our struggle to get Mom’s estate settled that we were ready to pull ALL of our financial assets out of their credit union…now he wants to “make it all better”….we shall see. They had caused us so much terrible stress and upset,  and the time lost because of their mishandling of the account held by Mom and I additionally caused my two sisters to think that I was stalling giving them their “share” of the estate and both have cut me off completely, including my nieces which really hurts.

 

 

It’s my turn to present a programme for my sorority next week…I have it ready…in my head…about Recognizing & Acknowledging our Best Qualities and how our dreams got sidetracked because of  OTHER’S opinions, putdowns and lack of support.  As visual aids, I need to gather up two large sheets of heavy paper per lady and a few boxes of wax crayons. However, the biggest visual aid I need is a paper mache cat…..I will start making that hopefully tomorrow. I have all the supplies to do this.

 

 

I have been asked to speak at the local Lioness Club meeting in November so I will use next week’s workshop as a test and do it for the Lionesses too.

 

 

Another activity for me is creating custom Mandalas for several friends (and a few strangers it seems) to ease their stress.  Each Mandala requires research and then meditation before I design the final piece. I choose to gift them with the mandalas…..the creation of each mandala is also calming and relaxing for me so I am able to give a gift with love and good intention.

 

 

I see my Oncologist on Sept 28^th …perhaps they can do something about the intensity of my side effects from my cancer meds.

 

 

Until then I continue to can tomato juice and chilli sauce like Mom used to make…the aroma of the spices and cider vinegar fills the house and I love it. Looking forward to making a pear crisp/crumble for Derek (special request) and making  applesauce, apple pies and more.

 

 

I send loving healing energy to all of you who struggle with depression, family issues, financial issues, health issues and more.  You are all in my prayers and thoughts. HAPPY WEEKEND!

 

Nancy B

Good morning Nancy and everyone......

Nancy.....you are so talented! I love your Mandalas! You have a lot scheduled for yourself. It amazes me all you get done!!
Glad you had some good quality family time together. We all need that! Have a great weekend!!

I am just checking in quickly as I am leaving for Iowa in just a little while. My car is packed and all I need to do is get dressed. I will try to check back in this evening if I can.

Have a wondeful day everyone!! Many prayers for those in need.

Love  and  hugs  to you all.....connie d

Safe travels Connie!  Hope the trip there lifts your spirits some!!!

Hugs, Laureen

Hi Nancy and OFF,
I hope the credit union offers you some kind of relief from the mess up. That sucks when things like that happen.  I'd be interested to hear how your project with the sorority goes.  Sounds neat.

I'm getting ready to scoot up to my church to get something.  Then to my AA meeting.  Hopefully, I can get to the meeting on time.  I have volunteer work this afternoon.

Have a blessed day.

Hugs,
Trish

Nancy,

How could you ever think you have nothing much to offer?  Dear woman, you are simply incredible with digging deep, no matter the challenge and making forward progress.  You run circles around most of us and I love reading your posts, the ones about your family, the ones about your activities and the ones about your 4-leggeds!!!  Sending you my best wishes. . . Laureen

So it's that wonderful day of the week, for those of us who work the Monday to Friday gig, and I have a full plate planned for the weekend, starting with a farewell party to my oldest dearest best girlfriend, who has taken up residence in Hallendale, Florida, she is back in NJ to see about what last minute things she has to take care of to get her home sold and she is hosting a party for all her friends to say goodbye.  We have been friends for almost two-thirds of our lives and while distance does not dismantle friendship, knowing that I cannot just get in my car and drive to her house in under 2 hours, makes me a little sad. . .  anyway, I am happy for her and her family!  Let's not make it about me!  lol  Tomorrow is my son's birthday and so I volunteered to babysit so that he and his wife could celebrate his birthday and their 9th wedding anniversary which was Wednesday!  So this ol' gramma is sleeping at their house, in between I will do my usual weekend chores, hopefully find time to get a much needed mani/pedi and then on Sunday we are having a family celebration for my son's birthday!

On a separate note, you all know how I feel about the alcohol component that affects a good number of post-WLS patients, I recently had someone I know instant message me on Facebook, seems their spouse is in treatment for alcoholism, after losing their job due to a DUI and what this person has found out is that there are SIX people there who are from the place I had my surgery. . .  so it hits home even more, the realities of post-wls transfer addiction. . .  I pray and hope that these people find their way. . .it's no joke, what addiction can do to people and I'm sure each and everyone of us here knows of someone who has faced serious life situations due to, heck, whether we admit to it or not, most of us are addicts ourselves, our drug of choice was food. . . which is a big reason why many find new addictions post-WLS (shopping, gambling, sex, alcohol, drugs). . . anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs, Laureen

Wow Laureen,
Did I read right?  Six Barix patients in treatment at the same time?  I was the only WLS patient in my rehab, that I know of.  Fortunately, the therapists were very familiar with RNY clients needing rehab.  My shame comes from already being sober for six years.  But, that two year relapse totally kicked my ass.  I honestly believed I could just go back to AA, and start over, like I had two other times.  Not so after RNY.  It's a totally different animal.  Now I know a few women in AA around my way who have done the transfer addiction thing.  Plus, I am active on the OH forum about transfer addictions.  

By the way, I started sponsoring a woman, a newcomer, who goes to the same meetings I do.  She and I have loads in common.  The neat thing is that with all my years in AA, I had never sponsored anyone before.  I did not have a program worth anything, and was not a good sponsoring candidate for a very long time.  I take this responsibility very seriously, and I am honored to help her on her journey.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs,
Trish

 Yes Trish, you read it right, however, I did not post it on the PA forum because of various reasons. . .  I don't know who they are, other than the person who is now in there, nor is that necessary, but it saddens me, yet the good news is they are in treatment and hopefully will embrace a new way of life that includes what we know works. . .happy you are working with others because that is key to ongoing recovery and you have much to offer!!!

One of these days I hope to make a meeting with you!!!  I have a friend who goes to the Keys at noon and one of these days I will go with him. . .  he works in Bristol and so it's convenient.

Okay, gotta walk Roxie girl and get on with my day!

Hugs, L

Hi Laureen,
The Keys is where I make my meetings.  On weekends, the meetings aren't at noon.  Saturday, they have meetings at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 8:30 p,m.  Not sure about midnight.  Sunday, the meetings are 10:00 am, 3:00 pm, and I believe 8:30 pm.  Again, not sure about midnight.  My sponsor is speaking tomorrow.  She has 23 years last week.  I love her to pieces.  

I totally respect that you did not post about the Barix patients in rehab on the PA forum.  I was not shocked about the transfer addictions.  I was shocked at the coincidencr of all of them in treatment at the same time.

I am enjoying sponsoring.  I've been also giving back by my volunteer work at the agency down the street from the Keys.  It's an agency that offers free services, workshops, and case management to anyone dealing with addictions.  A lot of our clients are newly sober, and living in recovery houses.  The employment workshops offered are excellent.  They are a 3 workshop series, and if attending all 3, 90% of the clients find some gainful employment.  Rick teaches resume writing, overcoming the barriers of transportation, criminal histories, and all that go with the population.  All of the staff, and most of the volunteers are in recovery.  They are helping to organize the Recovery Walks down at Penns Landing today.  I couldn't go because I am still wearing the boot to prevent the stress fracture.  I wanted to volunteer there with the rest of the staff.  

Gotta go,
Hugs,
Trish

Trish,

My friend goes for his lunch break during the work week, so not sure exactly when he goes, but I know he says it keeps it real green for him.  I think it's great that you volunteer in your local community to help those with addiction find their way up and out of the hell that we often wind up in because of it.

I thought it pretty amazing too when I was told how many people, all at the same time, are in treatment, but while I don't know who exactly, with one exception they are, I sure do know of quite a number who used to attend support group, that are no longer around and there was quite a good number of them who were into the partying lifestyle and that is not judgment, but it was a real observation from someone who has lived the lifestyle and is familiar enough with the facts of transfer addiction to be fearful that they were on that slippery sloop. . .  I just pray and hope that most find their way towards a different outlet, one that is not so very dangerous, because for those of us who've had WLS, it is a very physically dangerous path to take from all the recent evidence comeing out.

I admire your continued perservance through many challenges to keep at it and one of the things I am thinking of is going to Barix and asking about starting some sort of "recovery" oriented meetings for people who have had WLS and might have found themselves on the path of self destruction.  . .  I reached out to another person, who openly has admitted their issues to see if they were interested and what, if anything, we should do. . . .  I will also be talking it over with my sponsor, who like you, I love to pieces, she will celebrate 27 or 28 years in November and she is one of the most wonderful people I've had the great privilege to have in my support system.

Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

Laureen

Good morning all. No new news, Just checking in
Nancy sounds like you are doing good. Will be thinking good thoughts for your next appointment!

Nan