VSG Maintenance Group
Recent Posts
Yes, yes to painting those spaces. Double the work to try and paint once items are already there. I shared a similar though with DD. She has a sizeable storage space in the basement of her new apartment. (The landlord taped off quadrants on the floor and labeled them so every apt has a dedicated space, love it!). I told her to order shelves now, so she can set them up as she's moving. Otherwise it's just going to be a pile of boxes and other things and she'll have a much harder time getting it on shelves later.
Yes! I'll be staying in Lake Elmo, but that's not far away at all.
The Finger Lakes were my stomping grounds for four years. Most familiar with Keuka Lake, but Canandaigua and Seneca Lakes were frequented too ! Let me know if you need restaurant and activity ideas. Wine tasting for sure !!
Age: 64; 5' 5"; High weight: 345; Start weight: 271 (01/05/15); Surgery weight: 218 (05/27/15); Pre-Op (-53); M 1 (-18); M 2 (-1.5); M 3 (-13.5 ); M 4 (-13); M 5 (- 8); M 6 (-12) M 7 (-5, Xmas); M 8 (- 9) Under surgeon's goal and REACHED HEALTHY BMI 12/07/15!! (Six months and one week.) AT GOAL month 8. Maintaining at goal range (139- 144) ~ four (4) years !!
124.6 lbs.
Excellent wedding info and photo, Liz! Thanks for your great travel reporting from Espana. And big thanks to Peps for his awesome trip reviews and pix. Everybody else sounds incredibly busy too with care giving and family and summer events. Boy, the time flies!
I've been mostly silent the last 2 weeks, but reading everyone's posts. No reasons for my absence other than I'm still super busy now that we are living on the main floor even though we haven't had movers bring our stuff from storage here yet. There are 2 more big projects to finish (my closet and painting the garage and basement). DH thinks (and I agree) that if we don't get the garage and basement painted now it'll never happen and that storage boxes will just cover up the mess. Both of those projects should be finished late next week.
I'll try to be more timely with my posts going forward. You guys and your daily news are a big part of my daily joy. Thank you for sharing your lives with me. BIG HEART EMOJI!

ANN 5'5", AGE 74, HW 235.6 (BMI 39.2), SW 216, GW 150, CW 132, BMI 22
POUNDS LOST: Pre-op -20, M1 -10, M2 -11, M3 -10, M4 -10, M5 -7, M6 -5, M7 -6, M8 -4, M9 -4,
NEXT 10 MOS. -12, TOTAL -100 LBS.
Wedding Day! This morning it is absolutely beautiful out though it will get hotter as the day goes on. It is 80 F, with a nice breeze and low humidity. DH and I will take a walk into town shortly.
We got checked out of our apartment and transferred to our hotel in Torrelodones, 1/2 hour northwest of Madrid city, quite smoothly yesterday. We were checked in by noon and DH arrived around 1. An absolutely lovely evening with the groom's family, the groom, and a few friends last night at a restaurant 5 minutes walk from here. This is my family through my deceased DH btw. I wish I had taken a few pictures because it was absolutely beautiful, on a hill with views of all the hills around. The food was amazing too though I mostly filled up on appetizers which our table of 13 shared. I ate about 1/3 of my steak and DH finished it. I have eaten so many different types of food and enjoyed it all. I did have a couple of moments when I felt the absence of deceased DH and his brother who passed away this fall. The groom's father and my less well SIL were the only siblings of 5 there as the other remaining BIL didn't feel well enough to travel (his wife is the other SIL with us).
Less well SIL had another really awful spell when she tried to walk 4 minutes to lunch. My BIL arranged for a wheelchair to be delivered here last night so we have it for today and for tonight's wedding. We are getting VERY worried. I don't know how long she can go on like this. It seems like it is more than just osteoporosis. Her oncologist is obviously concerned too as he ordered an MRI of her back.
This morning we are sitting outside on our balcony (see picture below). I am loving the sun, the breeze, and the smells after that cooped up apartment we had with no view of the outside at all. DH and I will take a walk shortly, probably get some lunch nearby, nap this afternoon, then shower and get ready for the wedding. See below for our wedding schedule. I guess this is a typical wedding in Spain!
Have a thoughtful, thankful Thursday!
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Sweet peas! Sound delicious.
There is no good news lately. We try to minimize time reading and watching the news (though we do so every morning) because there is so much that is going down a bad path.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
We have to help our children as much as we can especially when there is something going on that they can't fully cope with. I do applaud DC1 for asking you for help. Hopefully that will transfer to asking a mental health professional to help them.
I bet there are some good books to help explain DC1's issues (sorry that I can't recommend one). It is hard to understand somebody with a debilitating problem which one has never experienced and can't see.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
Sounds like a wonderful trip and a great time of the year to do it. I want to take my DD to Ireland at some point, but we need a break in our other travels. Next year might work in the fall.
Late starts are fine when you are retired. It took me a while to realize that if I didn't get enough sleep during a night or two, it isn't a big deal. You don't have to go to work and be functional and have plenty of time to catch up.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
You are doing a great job at getting back into the groove. It will serve you well in retirement.
Im with you on that bill - I am nervous about so many things in our country right now. That's as political as I usually get online.
Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish
St. Olaf grad? Northfield, MN: cows, colleges and contentment. Your nephew is very talented. When I see art like this video, I have hope for our future.