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March 16, 2016 I had both knees replaced. I believe successful recovery is due to the large amount of weight I've lost. My orthopedic surgeon showed that he was impressed when he spun around looking for crutches. I explained that my physical therapist said I was capable and I've been walking since I left rehab on Good Friday!

 

i believe most of the ability that I've shown can be shown to be a product of just a few things. I kept active. My friend and I were traveling in autumn to five countries in Europe with our days starting right after breakfast. We would sit for lunch and on trams! We were often out past 9:30! I had been getting cortisone shots for years and this past trip used a band to keep my patella in place. The left knee had been bone on bone or no cartilage since April 2012. The other knee had been very thin cartilage. 

 

Beyone being active and and losing over 241 pounds with my RNY surgery I had begun in September 2014 to lose even more of my excess weight. By June 2015, I'd gone from 78% loss to 100% loss of excess weight. For years, my weight loss was near 193 pounds lost then went up into 220s. That being said, I discovered that my iron levels tanked, won some Bariatric Advantage multivitamins with iron and added an extra iron to my routine. My iron went from 31 to 37 then to 96. My weight loss went to 106% loss of excess weight. I had a stricture that caused me to vomit and once I started needed to heal my esophagus. I went on blended foods again and twice in February had my esophagus stretched. 

 

Because i I had started the process for knee replacements, I had to see my PCP. She added some unrelated exams that she said were necessary and why not do them before surgery; mammogram, colonoscopy and bone scan. I'm 68! The same surgeon who was to do my endoscopy could do the colonoscopy.  Right, a two for one deal! I left that operation and my husband drove me four exits down the highway for the bone scan. Unfortunately, it showed osteoporosis. I'm scheduling an appointment with an endocrinologist. I just had to set up all my outpatient physical therapy sessions for my knees!

 

all the test, the class for the knee replacement and the pre screening test was done in perfect weather. In Boston the year before we had massive amounts of snow. 2016 was a better year for everything I had to do and all my appointments with my two surgeons and the surgeon who did the endoscopy really flowed.

 

Whiile I was at New England Baptist Hospital, it rained outside producing two beautiful rainbows two days in a row! i am proud that I've been this strong and moving so well. My orthopedic surgeon is James Phillips. We joked because I told him I'm recommending him to anyone I see. I said I'll need a kickback. 

 

Linda Lombardo

I have a page that I printed out from my SparkPeople web page. I know that some have lamented the loss of significant weight right off the bat from surgery. My advice is just do you.

I have months where the weight was minimum yet I still lost. I am not able nor willing to go back to that person who weighed herself on an industrial scale at work. I cringe each time that I see some show with the contestants being weighed in that manner and usually with minimal coverage of their body. I can relate to the industrial scale. I would get to work and on the east dock step out of my shoes having put my lunch bag and pocketbook down. I had to make sure no one was coming onto the dock nor in the office because this scale was two faced to be read in office or on dock. Just like you, I would cringe when my weight was creeping up.

In February 2007, on a trip with my friend to Dominica, I had brought a book, some strawberry jam and crackers to share with some preschoolers in the school that we help by providing salaries to the teachers and a playground. I gave my digital camera to my friend to have her take photos of me reading to them. I saw to my dismay that the woman I was in a 4X cotton house dress from National Brand was not the woman that I wanted to be. I decided that very day to make use of my time on the island and lose weight. It is a very hilly place and to walk a mile would mean many steep hills. I lost 12 pounds during my stay. Besides the walking in that hot humid climate, I noticed and changed my behavior around the table. My hostess would provide two chicken legs for me and one each for the others. That dinner, I said no to the second chicken leg. You may think that is a small incremental step. It set my course.

From then on I planned and ate half of what I thought beforehand that I might have needed to survive. I did survive as this is testimony to me here and thriving. I found a little black book to note my diet and exercise. I found a book from the Calorie King that let me extimate my caloric intake. l went online and found a protein powder that I drank for a breakfast.

I accounted for everything that went in my mouth. My story is that I lost 81 pounds with 50 lost before I found a surgeon through a friend. He had noticed that I had been losing and was going to this surgeon for a revision surgery in July '07.

Do you want to know some of the changes? My surgery was January 3 2008, and I lost half my original weight by June 23 2008. I lost like this minus 20, -3, -6, -14, -9, -13, -2, -6, -3. Not all are a month apart. Yet, one was almost three weeks difference. I was never discouraged nor thought little of myself. Was that a pun?

Do the best you can. Take your vitamins and get out there and walk. Some of you will be able to run and do all sorts of cardio exercise. Do you only you.

I have done a great deal of traveling since having weight loss surgery to different social events as well as conferences and conventions for those of us who have had weight loss surgery. I have met and spoken to some who were thinking of having surgery and used the conference or convention to add to their resources.

I did check out a lot of resources such as books, videos on Youtube made by people who were going through the process to get weight loss surgery as well as some hospital demonstrations of the procedure that I was going to have. I remember my husband waking up at 2 am once and saying go to bed while I still had x amount of time to watch a surgical video.

Most recently, I went to my second convention put on by the Obesity Action Coalition. It is an awesome event with speakers who have been in the field for many years. There were some very interesting talks that are available online on Youtube for the general public to watch. The next convention will be in Orlando the weekend of September 25-28 2014. It includes Thursday because this is a training day for those of us who want to speak to our state or federal legislators. It is well worth getting to the event a day early.

 

One thing that I want to share is the support you get by going to these conferences and conventions is amazing. In Phoenix at the YWM2013 Convention,  I went for an early morning hike with those who wanted to get out and move well before the convention would start. I walked the whole way with a friend and we had a great time sharing. It was a 6 am walk and I was ready for a shower on returning to my hotel room in the resort. I had similar one on one talks at the pool with a new friend who was just starting back to work part time. I also had an opportunity to talk with a woman who will get surgery this month. She was such a delight to talk and I missed a hip hop exercise class to continue the conversation!

 

I am going to the ObesityHelp Conference in Anaheim next month. It will be my second OH conference. I was able to attend one in Chicago years ago when I was just a little over a year post op. I had so much fun though at first I did not know anyone and was staying in my room ironing of all things. Yeah, I knew it was a coping mechanism cause I was a bit afraid of putting myself out there. I did get done and everything was crisp and neat. Time to go see if there were other attendees. I was successful and met two sisters who shared were fast friends. From then on we shared a breakfast plate meant for one and even invited another woman to share a breakfast meal! We went into the city to explore, had our photos taken, and ate a breakfast wrap at Dunkin Donuts for lunch. Yes, we could not finish our tiny lunch!

The best part of going to these events is the sharing of our stories. My new friends in Chicago had lost their mother to diabetes related to her obesity. Other family members were going through diabetes and other related obesity co-morbitities. Yes, we can share online through OH, YT, Facebook and other avenues. It is great to see the people face to face. If you can form a group to support you and get together in your state. It will be a life changing experience. I wish you joy in the journey.

 

Bless you for making the right move to lose weight permanently...we all wonder if that is it when we stall. I had many plateaus that I liked to name...lost the equivalent of a teenage football player or 193 pounds. My grandson was 193 pounds when I lost that much weight and I said to him, imagine I carried the equivalent of you on my back. My youngest grandson was 7 at the time and wrapped his arms around me and complimented me because he could! My granddaughters never knew me as obese. You will succeed and you will be seen by new friends as the skinny one! You will walk through airport terminals and you will be looked at for your beauty not your size! You will walk down aisles and not have to turn sideways so someone can pass by you. Great success is coming. Look for it.

I wanted to repost this here to let people know what a wonderful surgeon I had for over 5 years.

He was very professional and made me feel like the problem could be solved that was weighing me down for many years. I saw the small person inside me. I wanted her out so others could see her. So they could know me beyond seeing the obese old woman who did not matter much to them. I was a person of worth though obese. I have always had opinions, fears, and concerns around the situations we humans face in this world.

I think that being obese helped me to see that I was vulnerable as many others are in this world whether through handicaps, sickness, lack of education or opportunity. I strive to bring justice to all.

Here is the review that I did five years ago for Dr Gazmuri who worked at Newton Wellesley Hospital in MA.

 

When I sat down to write this review, I thought of the words in the song from the movie To Sir with Love. Dr Gasmuri made an impression on me even before I met him. A good friend at work shared his experience over the months before he had the surgery in June 2007.

He kept emphasizing that Dr Gazmuri will answer all your questions, and that you could call the office at any time and your call would be returned.rnrnMy friend said he would take me to an informational meeting, and I finally said I am ready to go with tears in my eyes. I had been losing weight meeting with a nurse practioner at the Harvard Vanguard clinic. Yet, I needed something more. I had researched the operation online so the informational meeting was helpful to fill in gaps and present the philosophy of the surgeons in this practice.

 

I met Dr Gazmuri at the second meeting, and just felt completely at ease even in that big setting. He took time to listen to me, and I was yet to become his patient.

I had been given a date for the initial consult which is a 5 or more hour day meeting with many people. I liked Darlene the psychologist, and loved that she believed in hypnosis as I had tried that many years ago. I saw Renee, and went over all my medications. Of course, my picture was taken, and my weight recorded.

Nancy, the receptionist, and I talk quite a few times over the next few months. She is quite helpful. I even spoke with Marina, though, she was just coming in to keep the books having just had a baby.

Tina has been a help to me both in the office, and answering questions in the hospital.rnrnI have been very impressed with the staff and the efficiency of the appointments. I went for my pre op and my weight was down so it was recorded with an arrow down.

Dr Gazmuri was very caring in the times that I met with him. In the hospital he came in just before surgery, and looked cold from the brisk weather. I saw him in the hospital after the surgery and when I told him of two incidents that bothered me he held my hand. He also said he would use his influence to allow me to sleep better.

I had problems with the first protein juice, and he said I did not have to have supper. I could just relax. I had had the dry heaves from the juice. This plus my blood pressure being quite high meant that I would stay one more day. I missed one vitals check up and was able to sleep three hours.

I have sleep apnea, and a problem getting to sleep, and staying asleep. It helped that Dr Gazmuri authorized one less check.

The nursing staff was excellent at Newton Wellesley Hospital. I was given a private room by Diane Hansen because of several issues the patient in the next bed was experiencing which brought nurses and a doctor to see her.  It caused me to be exhausted. I was moved near one and slept until 3 when I needed a shot of lovenox.

Dr Gazmuri came in or Dr Sheila Partridge came in to see me every morning. I was up moving about the hall and my room without any use of pain medications. I felt terrific though I had the jp tube, the IV, and the catheter. I asked about my intolerance to the milk, and was advised to use yogurt as it had less lactose. I will continue to attend the support meetings.

I think the whole experience was great. I was calm and so ready for this operation. I was encouraged by Dr Gazmuri for my pre op weight loss, and commitment to the use of this tool for more weight loss.

I would say that Dr Gazmuri has the best bedside manner, and listens to you. The surgery was a major operation yet the pain was minimal. I just felt pain on the ride home over rough roads! Bring a pillow to cushion the abdomen, is my recommendation.

 

Jan. 15, 2008    

I am not going to make this a long post as we had DLS daylight savings time Sunday and I am tired.

Oh, I get tired but I usually stay up way to late.

I am not going to let this post pressure me into staying up late.

I have places to go tomorrow. I need to sleep tonight.

My news is not of me. My news is of my husband's diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.

He is managing it very well.

His blood sugar level is down where the doctors want it to be with a medication that has helped him.

At first, it caused him some stomach distress, headaches and all but he is adjusting to the Metformin.

Our fridge is still full.

Oh, it used to empty unbeknownst to me where the food went to. He was always hungry.

Totally blown away when I learned on Martin Luther King Day that one of my brothers had terminal cancer from his wife. It was out of the blue. Yet, months later, she determined that he had had the cancers for year without symptoms. He never went to the doctor and had to go to the ER because he was short of breath from a cold. He was first diagnosed with pneumonia and sent home. His xrays showed something on his liver. It was his first indication that something was wrong when he was awakened at home by a call back from the hospital.

He spent many days in the hospital while his wife tried to keep home and work going with this awful knowledge that soon she would be doing it all by herself.
Through the kindness of a friend, I was able to visit my brother and his family for a week in March.
I had started the process of getting disability from my job. It is a very long process. I was scared for my brother and his family with the teenagers. He was wondering how he would be able to tell them the awful news. We had many conversations over many days before he went home from the hospital prior to my visit in March.

Two other family members were being treated for cancer. My dear sister in law had the company of her hasband and sisters on the rides into Mass General. We would visit her at home. She was now more tired and out of sorts than she had ever been. I know that this ultimate entertainer and hostess did not like the position that cancer put her in on the receiving end. Yet she seemed to be winning the battle step by step until we learned in March that the chemo was not working and she would only be on palative care. My sister in law died in early April right after my husband told a story about her borrowing his car to ride from Ashland Mass to Munson Mass when she was a teenager. How she would come home as if all was fine yet had put on nearly 100 miles. He did not discover this right away. My husband suggested that she could borrow his car and she looked up at him with a "you have to be kidding look" and died.

Now, my mom had been fighting cancer longer. Mom had been a recovered cancer patient for a breast cancer from more than 15 years ago. She was a fighter that did not take in all that the doctors said or required. She wanted her own way. I remember thinking that 8 months ago when they had wanted her to go 5 days a week for treatment she boldly said no. She did not want her week taken up with treatment. She held out for a few months without treatment.
Yes, she was determined. She often said, I am not dead yet. So mom battled cancer in her own way. She ended up in the hospital many times often in ICU because she did not follow her doctor's advice. Her conversations were fewer and fewer. It had to do with lack of phone, lack of hearing, needing a hearing aid that she would not wear. Had we known that she wason her deathbed, we could not have made it down in time in June. My sister and brother had visited her that evening and went home. She had talked to them.

Gary hung on longer then he first was told. Yet, he was told in late June that he should set his affairs in order that the chemo was not working. His liver failed him and he went from helping out around the pool to not being able to get up and get into bed. Hospice determined that he needed a hospital bed and when the paramedics came to put him in the bed he fought them off. He was made aware that they were not bringing him away from his home and family but to the hospital bed in the game room at the end of the hall. I was able to talk with him the day before he died. I was trying to stay awake for the phone call that I knew would come. I fell asleep and had a dream that I had been hugged. I woke up wondering about the dream. About a minute later, my sister called to say that my brother had passed. I felt the hug was his way of saying good bye.

Gary and his wife had a great relationship. I was so happy to go visit her for a week in August when she had the memorial service. I was so proud to be a support for her.

This is a year of loss for our family.

I have been fortunate to get my SS disability and still wait for my work disability. It takes so long.

I am doing well emotionally. I do not overeat. I think that I may have been tempted to on all the times that I learned of the pain and suffering of my family members. It is difficult to say whether I would be healthy now had I not had the RNY surgery in January 2008.

I am happy that I made the choice towards better health for myself.

Yes, and I am scheduling a mammogram for my yearly check up.

I flew into Las Vegas from Boston by way of Cincinnati OH which really was in Kentucky, I learned. I had been up since the early morning the day before. One new friend on a list of people going to be in Vegas early was to meet me at the airport. Another was to arrive later and we would all share a cab. Things changed but I did share a cab with the woman who came in from Canada. She was staying at a different hotel for the first evening. More about staying at different hotels later. It certainly gets interesting.

 I called the original person once I arrived at the hotel and was able to put my luggage in her room. Now for some food and a mini adventure around Vegas. It was a trip up and around to the fake Eiffel Tower. We had fun but it was too hot to wait for the scheduled Bellagio Fountains to start.

After getting a few things at Walgreen's including a small case of water which saved me from spending what  4 dollars at the hotel for water. It was getting later in the afternoon, I took time to call the woman who was to share a room with me both Wednesday evening and later on Sunday and Monday evening. Since my luggage was too heavy to drag again across the rugs from the south tower to where the shuttle would be for a different hotel. I packed up my carry on bag that I had folded in my big luggage. I had to take typical change of clothes as well as my shoes, c-pap machine and toiletries.

It was quite a trip. First of all, finding out at that point the woman was not staying at Bally's and had failed to tell me during all the conversations over the Internet did not make for an initial good feeling! Another thing, I had to go find where the shuttle was picking up people and was directed wrongly by the valet in front of Ceasar's. The bag I carried on my shoulder was too heavy for me. I found myself where many other shuttle buses met people but no one knew where the hotel I was going to was. One fellow even said he was just on his second day as a shuttle driver for his hotel.

It was near impossible to get good directions. I was in conversations with two people. One was suggesting that I walk back to Bally's. I was beginning to think it would be worth the cab fare. That is how heavy the luggage was on my shoulder.

I asked the woman who was giving me directions to the shuttle to find someone who would help me. It was not good to give me place names as I was not familiar with where I was. Finally, I said please tell the valet where I was and ask him to give me left right directions. While asking people around me if they knew where the Forum Shops were, I found many who had just arrived from their hotels. Is everyone clueless, I began to think. Last year, I had followed a group who went through many casinos and shops. It was not conducive to me knowing where I was!

I did find my way to the shuttle. Oh, I have to tell you that there was conversation between the hotel valet and that said shuttle bus driver. He waited for me. I had left the Bally's where the conference was to be held at about 4:30 and found the shuttle just after 5:30. I was settled in when one person staying at Bally's called again. She said I could stay there but the return shuttle was not until 10 pm. As we were being driven further and further out from the strip, I couldn't imagine getting back to Bally's for less than $40.

The evening started out with meeting my new friend for the night and her daughter. It was suggested that I could get a free buffet if I won 50 points on any casino machine. This meant that I had to get a loyalty card. Winning $8.30 was my first experience winning in Vegas. To get your free buffet, you had to present your loyalty card and your ID. My friend had left the room without her ID and was denied her free buffet. Her daughter did eventually come down with her ID. A local friend was to meet us and bring us to a free show. He works at a company that has different free show tickets for each evening. You can't ask for free tickets to see the Billboard Awards. I was to go with my friend's daughter to the free show while she walked around Fremont Street with her local friend.

Based on my time zone, the show started at midnight! It was a good show with a local singer who sang songs from different eras. My husband loves the early decade's songs, I knew each song.

After the show, my friend wanted to play some casino game and sat down to play. My feet had been developing blisters from being on for more than 24 hours. It hurt to stand or walk. I had not had blisters for several years. I did not want this to begin my stay in Vegas.

For some reason, my friend's daughter took off to find two young men who had passed by where we were. She did not answer her mother calling her. I was worried that something had happened to her. When she did not answer a page over the loudspeaker, we had Security find her. It was about 90 minutes from the time she left us.

You know that I was dragging. I took a shower and prepared for bed. My new friend's were watching some simple tv show. I was trying to make the best of a situation and was glad when the tv was shut off.

The curtain was open and the sun was bright when I awoke. If it was here in MA, it would have been much later in the day. I was convinced that I had missed the shuttle bus to the Las Vegas Skydive. I quickly dressed and was out of the room leaving my carry on luggage with my new friend.

You see, now I had luggage in two places. I arrived at the place where I was to meet the bus. I needed to text the person who set the skydive group that I was at the shuttle meeting place and not at Bally's. My taxi fees that I had set aside was quickly dwindling. I learned that I was there two hours earlier than the shuttle bus would come instead of one hour. I went inside McDonald's and used the free wifi and charged my phone.

We were part of many who were there to skydive. Somehow, the officials at the skydive company needed convincing that we had a group that should get group rate. I wish they had let us fly together. It was hours before I was suited up. The winds had become so high that we were unable to skydive that day. Four of us had to reschedule. We opted for Sunday morning real early.
 
I was enjoying my first meal of the day other than a protein bar. It cost $14 to have fruit, an egg and some muffins. I brought the muffins to my room for those who had a full stomach.
Can you see a pattern here? I was not to get much sleep after the gala event Saturday evening and I had to get up and out of the room before most would wake.

The good friends that I had made who had a rental car helped me get my carry on from the hotel and bring it to Bally's. I was enjoying my first meal of the day other than a protein bar. It cost $14 to have fruit, an egg and some muffins. I brought the muffins to my room for those who had a full stomach.

I needed to get my luggage from the south tower over to the north tower. I called the bell captain to arrange everything. I had called the room where my luggage was and of course that person was out enjoying the friends she came to Vegas to see.

It was several phone calls between several parts of the hotel including security that I was able to get my luggage from one room to the other. Yet, on exiting the north tower elevator there was the woman whose room held my luggage. She volunteered to go with us to her room. Ah, I even got to go through where the employees get to go with the bell captain.

Everything was in my room, yet I could not find a plug near the bed for my c-pap machine. Another call brought the housekeeping supervisor who moved a bed and plugged in my c-pap. It is the first thing I need to do when getting in a hotel room. Having set up that up, I decided that I needed a nap. We were to have an evening of fun that was to start at 9 and go back to Fremont St to celebrate a birthday. I ended up sleeping and getting ready for the evening only to discover that it was 20 minutes to 9. I had no time to order and eat before we were que up to get cabs to take us to Fremont St. to do the zipline.
The valet scheduled a large party limo to bring us there.

One of our party was suddenly overcome and had to be transported to the hospital. He is a good friend of the party girl so she went to the hospital and the whole idea of celebrating at Fremont St fizzled. I went to eat supper back where the meals were cheap. I asked for a cup of chilli. It was in a bowl. I would never be able to finish the cup let alone the bowl. Two women came over to the table while I was eating with three other friends. They asked if I was Linda and were happy that I was.

I think having white curly hair helped me to be recognizable. I loved meeting all the people at this event. I loved the small group things like this meal and the skydiving.

I went up to my room to find that it was lights out. I quickly got into bed for a peaceful sleep that I hoped would last from 1:30 to 8. It was not to happen as my roommate woke up and opened noisy packages of sugar and coffee at 5 am plus turned off my c-pap machine at the wall.

It was too early but I was not able to go back to sleep. Later, I met with some friends for breakfast. I gave the toys I had brought as a gift gag to Ian's son.

I was to meet for a bus ride to Zappos. It was a great tour. I was able to buy some food at Whole Foods. I had to store my Greek yogurt and cheese. I ate as much as I could and went to some events including the registration. I had some cheese and grapes. I got to say hi to the BTV crew as I was able to let them in the connecting room to where their 'party' was to be held. I was invited to stay for the sponsors 'party' right after. It meant that I could talk to the cute guys who show up at these events from the Bariatric Vitamin companies and met Dr Davis.

I heard the shower and out came a woman who I admired. She was to be the third person in the room.

Somehow, when the others left to go home, I had different fruit yogurt and my cheese was gone though I had put my name on the bag it was stored in.
 
I ate some of the chilli Friday evening. I arrived with a group but we had to spread out to different tables. I saw that one man who had been a grant recipient was by himself and sat with him. We conversed during the meal and he was a bit shaky about going up to be recognized. 

I was just glad that I did not step on someone's foot because I do not know all the moves of the dances. I had lots of fun dancing until my knee let me know it was overworked.

It was great seeing so many people but it was too noisy for much conversation.

I like quiet. It is my style. All the glitz and noise was a bit much. I tend to be an insomniac at home. I found that not sleeping much in Vegas was a different. I wanted to sleep but circumstances meant that I did not sleep much.

Saturday was so busy with visiting the vendors and listening to talks. I really loved the talk given by Katie Jay. I want to go to one of her conferences. I enjoyed sitting at the table of a woman who I admired. I signed up for some of the raffles. (Sunday morning while I was away at the airfield,  my name was picked as the winner for the hotel and conference for free for 2013 for two people. I also won VIP status which I need to find out what that means.)

I took all my loot back to the room and came back to sit with the woman who shared a cab with me days earlier. I loved her style and wanted to speak with her other than a quick hello. It was getting on time to get ready for the gala. I forgot that I had bought tights that were shaping tights. Oh, it was horrific to get them up. I somehow knew that I would not go to the bathroom once I got them on! Yes, that is how tight they were. It held in all my muffin top! My dress looked spectacular. It was a great style for me.

I arrived to talk with several people and have my picture taken by one young man who graciously took several pictures for all who came.

I loved it!

I stayed late but did not dance. Tomorrow, I would get to skydive. I went back and slipped into bed. Okay, I would enjoy some sleep. Not much but some. We were to get to the airfield at 7! I awoke showered and put on my sneakers. I was glad that my feet were not as swollen as they were in them Friday evening. They were cheap Target sneakers. I had opted for them instead of the boots that many were wearing to go with the cowboy/cowgirl theme for Friday's event. I did not need to spend money on boots for one evening.

It seemed that our proposed trip to Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam was not going to happen. I had looked forward to it.

I was glad to hear that I could stay an extra night where I was. It meant that I did not have to get all my stuff including the vendor samples to a new hotel plus I saved on cab fare.

After attempting to skydive, I went around to Palace Station to eat there. It was better than the place that had the buffet full of pasta which I could not eat.

I have to tell you about the failed attempt to skydive. I had to lift my legs again and for some reason I was unable to get my legs up. I had only walked from my room to the car and out to the site. It was later that I could lift my legs easily. I showed one of the attending workers who went to the man who said no. He said that he would not reconsider. In fact, one of our party who had skydived on Thursday and other times was not able to lift his legs and did not do it. I feel my legs were not limber enough. I called my husband and he said we could find a place in MA. I said that I wanted to do it with the group!

I was able to get my money back and used some of it to go to see the play Phantom of the Opera. In fact, I was going to get same day tickets but I was able to buy the ticket of the man who was still in the hospital. I am sure he enjoyed getting that money back. He never was able to go to any events and was only released from the hospital days after I left on Tuesday.

We had fun going as a group to the Monte Carlo for a dinner buffet. It costs a lot and I did not eat a lot. I was there to enjoy the company. We made plans to have breakfast in that same place where it cost me fourteen dollars to have lunch. I chose a part of an omelet that was too dry, some fruit and spoke with many people. I love these small group events.

After the play, we hopped on a bus and rode down to see the Bellagio lights. I had put my luggage in the bell captain's room and it was brought up to my new room. I did not have to hire a cab to get it moved to a third hotel. I was so happy. I fell asleep after everyone left to go home. I had the best sleep and arrived three hours early at the airport.

I thanked all the people who let me stay with them. I saved me a lot of money. I would not have been able to attend if it were not for their generosity.

See my video on YT called a wing and a prayer. I have fabulous friends. Circumstances have been reversed for me lately and I am without an income.

 Aldersgate is the place where John Wesley felt his heart strangely warmed. I have always loved this camp. No, it is not the same place where John Wesley had his enlightening vision that became for him a transforming experience.


Yet, for me, those many years as a camp counselor or as a  resource person who lead children in crafts was transforming. I learned to love the person I was. Not to wait until I was the future skinny person but live in the moment and love me.
I was loveable. I still am.

I am inspired to try next year to be a counselor again. I loved my fifteen years at camp.
It will be fun.

Loved seeing my friend Lydia again. Lydia had to stop volunteering at camp when her mom's heart attack at 92 meant that she could not be away overnight. Lydia and I would have the youngest campers and be in adjoining cabins. Her mom passed the last day of May at nearly 104. Can you imagine? She was walking with her walker at 6:15 and by 6:45 had died. 


I was overjoyed to learn that Christine is pastoring again in a church. She and Mike are such special ministers. I told her of our plans to go to Dominica in October.
What are your plans for the future? Do they include the skinny you? You will use your tool to enjoy life. Yet, you must enjoy life now. Do not put off anything. Do not let life pass you by. Live life to the fullest as Lydia's mom did. As long as you live; live fully. Do not put your life on a back burner.


Linda

You would think that at nearly sixty four that I had all my recipes down pat and nothing new to learn. Wrong. I needed to learn some new healthier recipes. Now, I visit websites that have healthier versions of recipes and adapt to suit my needs.
I found several wonderful recipes in my aunt's cookbooks that I copied while visiting her in February.
One thing that I learned from Youtube, is how to make raw drinks. I add a protein boost with either Jay Robb or one of my other protein powders. My latest protein drinks, I have posted on my Youtube channel; AwesomeForever.
I have made made many meatless meals that have good quality protein.
Linda