Hi Jamie, Congratulations on getting your date. Isn't it exciting? I had my open RNY Oct 8th. The day of surgery I weighed 258#. and I'm 5'2 1/2'' My BMI was 47.6 and now I'm at BMI 36.8. I wish you much success. Blessed Be, Barbara

(sorry for the x-post but.....) The secret is out.... I finally have a date for my surgery!!! Whoo-hoo.... doing the happy dance... I am supposed to go in on this Friday for my pre-surgery stuff and then Wednesday (1/19/05) is the first day of my new lease on life! YEAH! Anyways, I just had to share my excitment! Brightest Blessings~ Jamie 257 lbs./5' 4"/44.2 BMI Surgery Date: 1/19/05 "If you are reading this, Thank a Teacher. If you are reading this in English, Thank a Soldier!" HOOAH! It's an Army Life! http://jump.to/ItsAnArmyLife

merry meet y'all, i feel like i need to say something about the not wishing to be prayed for thing. though, it's each one of our personal decission, and i respect that. having open rny in jan. 12th (a week from tomorrow...yeehaww). i'll take all the possitive energy i can get, personally. i realize the christians dont completely agree with how i see things (though i find we're more alike then not...just have different names for stuff), but, they're offering me the purist energy they have access to, from the entity they hold most high. and that is a wonderful, generous, loving thing to do. much like what we do when we do whatever we do for the same outcome. and i do ritual for christians as well as for pagans. i have several christian friends and pagan friends, (faerie, and native american), all gathering to "pray", "chant", "meditate"...whatever, druing my surgery. some in seperate groups...but some together...some alone. the way i see it....it's all pure, white light...and it's all for me. i love them all for what they're doing. and i bless them for doing it. i accept the same from anyone willing to spend the energy, if i know them or if i dont. (of course, sheilding myself from any negative energy that might come through). so i ask that you dont be so hard on them. their intensions are good. give them the same respect and tollerance that you ask for. sending you all warm light, and blessings on your journeys. blessed be, paula

' Gagg. I put pagan on mine, and in addition, I told them No Clergy. So who was knocking on my door in the hospital when all I wanted was to sleep? They just won't take no for an answer, and they mostly won't be very nice about it either. And so many are so ignorant about the bringing in of the greens and holly, the grand Yule fires, etc., and tell me I shouldn't be doing these things if I'm not christian. I suppose many mean well, but then, so did Torquemada. I'm not particularly even pagan, just a respecter of Mother Nature. I respected the heck out of Her for many years before I decided to do an end run and have this surgery. Sort of like a catholic getting a divorce? .

Where is Naples???? Are you close to LA? If it is not a far drive there is a Wiccan church in New Orleans! Brightest Blessings~ Jamie