Have you been to Blackthorne Bay?

Mar 10, 2008

I've recently started a new activity - selling items on Ebay (www.blackthornebay.com) - and I must say it's an interesting learning experience. It can take me hours right now to put everything together for one listing because I'm trying to experiment, research and see what's going on.

I'm sure eventually it will get to be second nature, but for now it's a time-consuming but interesting endeavor. I sold my first item tonight since the store launched on Friday. I was so excited when I got the email!

--BT

Five Questions from Happy Catbert

Apr 25, 2007

1 - What's the one thing you are most proud of in your life?

I became a published author at the age of sixteen! It was one of the coolest things that ever happened to me.

2 - If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Stouffer's Tuna Noodle Casserole

3 - Have you ever been in a fist fight?

Does a one-punch fight count? Then yes - several times.

4 - You can take 5 things to a desert island. What 5 things do you bring?

Sun Screen
Bug Spray
A yacht
condoms
Antonio Banderas

5 - Describe your favorite childhood memory.

My family was always very creative - castles as cakes, cool Hallowe'en costumes, lots of Christmas decorations. One year we bought some paint by number wooden (and real wood!) Christmas ornaments - each of us got a color, and we spent the evening making ornaments. We had a blast, and 30+ years later, we still have those ornaments.

Have fun and don't forget to add the rules so others can play!

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.


Red Wine & Chocolate

Feb 18, 2007

Yes, BT is travelling again. But this time it's just a whisper of a ride over the mountain pass to the lovely Yakima Valley appellation here in Washington. Every year over President's Day weekend, they host an open wine-tasting called Red Wine & Chocolate....as these are two of my favorite things, how could I resist?? Since the wineries don't have to pay a distributer, the wines are often bargain prices for really good quality wines.

I've been to this event a number of times over the last decade, and it's one of the few areas where I can really see a difference in how I'm treated from being MO and being relatively normal. People talk to me. I don't have to 'speak up' to be heard. I'm very soft-spoken, so this is a plus. It's easier to chat it up with strangers and found myself lingering longer enjoying the conversation.

As I came into town last night, I only had time to stop at one vineyard before they closed for the night - my winery of choice was Horizon's Edge. It's one of my favorites. In fact, about 8 years ago, when my father was driving over from Montana for a visit, we asked him to stop in during their Monster Chardonnay event & pick us up some wine.

Of course, anyone else might find driving 200 miles out of their way to go shopping to be annoying, but this is MY father we're talking about. Once when I asked him when he was flying in, he replied "it's only 2000 miles - I'll drive". He arrived right at 10 am when they opened and was the only one there. (People tend to arrive after noon for these things). As a wine connoisseur and former wine consultant for the German vineyard who made Prince William's christening wine (a nice blue bottle Spatlese), my dad had a thoroughly enjoyable time tasting wines, engaged in animated conversation with the winemaker.

After tasting a number of items, the owner pulled out an unlabeled bottle, and said "if you can tell me what kind of grape this is, I'll give you a bottle." I can tell you that was one of the most delicious Black Muscat dessert wines I've ever had. *laugh*

As I walked in the door, the lady asked if I needed a glass. But of course! It was to be $5 for the glass and $2 for the tasting fee. I didn't discover until later that she gave me $18 in change from a $20 bill. With only half an hour before closing of the first day, I went for the wines I knew I would like.....the Chocolate Port, the Cab Sauv Port and the Butterfly Ice Wine. All were delicious, but only the latter two came home with me. I did try a few others, but none that stood out.

I then got to my hotel where the lovely young lady at the front desk said they did indeed have rooms - they are normally $139/night, but she could offer me rates much lower than that. How much would I like to pay?

Uhmm..........

It was kind of like Priceline, without a computer. I made an offer, which she accepted, and I ended up getting TWO nights for the price of one. Cool! They have a heated pool which I think I'll use later tonight.

So today, I headed over to Benton City - east in the Red Mountain area, and stopped in at a few places there. Two were ones I'd been to before (and the reason I drove over there) and the third was a new one. Most of these are boutique wineries - people who work at the bigger, more well-known wineries for a day job, and go home & make their own wines as a hobby. Many of them never make more than 500 cases of wine a year, so they are ONLY available at the vineyard.

First stop was Seth Ryan. I've had several of their reds which I really enjoyed in the past. These people are characters, and I love talking to them. They are in the process of changing out their formulas, so clearing out the old stock. All of their reds were on sale for $10 a bottle.....including their 2000 reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, normally $50/bottle. I bought three. VERY spicy and long, full-bodied the way a Cab should be.

Next stop was Kiona, and it was here that I really started noticing a difference in how people treated me. Groups of people hovered around me chatting, men made sure I had a chocolate truffle, bite of cheese, or that the water jar got refilled when I needed to rinse my glass.

My *favorite* here was the late harvest Red Zinfindel, which was smooth as silk.....and unfortunately, sold out!!! Wah! I *knew* I should have tripped that lady on my way in who was carrying the last three bottles out the door! I did manage to snag two gewurtzaminers and their zippy little Lemberger so all was not lost.

I stopped in a new winery - Buckmaster - which is still ramping up. His own vines are still too young, so he's buying grapes from the neighboring vineyards. Will be interesting to see what he can do when he has his own toys to play with. The Syrah was decent, but I still passed.

As I headed back to Prosser, I turned down Wine Country Road, and checked out two more new places I'd never been before. One opened the year I left - the other has only been open for 2-3 years. It was here that I found the best wines so far this weekend, and the best wine tasting experience. These are more like store fronts, with the actual vineyard being elsewhere.

The first shop was Cowan Vineyards. Unlike the sweet dessert wine style Gewurtzaminer that I bought at Kiona, theirs was drier and a little tart. Quite tasty. I also bought their Cabernet Franc and their Tartan blend - Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Merlot, along with some pepper jelly! Yum!

They had a whole little *BUFFET* of chocolate available, including a chocolate fountain with marshmallows, truffles, little crisps, brownies, bon-bons, and more - and pairing it with their Cabernet Sauvignon made it all the more fun.

The last place is one I will definitely go again - Alexandria Nicole. They, too, had a wine tasting fee, but as I got to talking to the lady at the front about the wines they had available & what they use in their blends, she ushered me in without charging me. In the front, they have some basic wines available, but the back room is where they keep the really good stuff!

Thier Block 17 Syrah, Tempranillo, and reserve Viognier were very good, but the two best were Destiny and an as-yet-unlabelled Grenache which is not yet available. They've had a number of wines that got over 90 points!Destiny is an exquisite blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cab Franc.

These were the most expensive of the wines I purchased this weekend, and worth every penny! http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/foodwine/2003559747_winecol07.html I picked up two bottles of Destiny ($45/bottle) and got put on the list for the Grenache when it's ready.

I have three more wineries I'm definitely going to hit tomorrow before I leave town, then I'll being having lunch with a friend in the area. I won't get a chance to see Darcy and the babe - by the time we got the right numbers for each other, it was too late to hook up. C'est la vie!

Twas a shame that I couldn't talk anyone into coming with me - I've had an absolute blast. Maybe next time!

--BT

Cystic Fibrosis Diet

Jan 02, 2007

Here's some food for thought: The DS creates a condition in the intestines which is very similar to that of Cystic Fibrosis. They have a thick mucus on the walls of their intestines, and don't produce enough pancreatic enzymes. Because of this, they, too, malabsorb fat. Do you know what the recommended diet is for people with CF?? High Fat, High Calorie - Click Here to read about it

In fact, CHEESEBURGERS are a *RECOMMENDED* item.

Here are other recommended items:

"Some people with CF like to keep close tabs on the number of calories they eat in a day. Others find that counting calories is stressful and find it easier to focus on adding calorie boosters with fat in them to the foods they normally eat.

So how can people with CF add calories to meals? In general, they should avoid all diet foods. Whether eating at home or away, here are some simple tips:

Drink whole milk and milk shakes.
Add extra butter or margarine to foods like potatoes or pasta.
Use regular (not diet) dressings on salads or vegetables.
Eat burgers with bacon and cheese.
Eat pizza with extra cheese.
Add cheese to sandwiches.
At breakfast, eat omelets with extra cheese and ham or bacon.
Top salads and sandwiches with avocadoes or guacamole.
Eat calorie-rich desserts such as ice cream, pudding, and cheesecake.
Top hot chocolate, pudding, and other desserts with whipped cream.

Besides eating high-calorie meals, it's a good idea for guys and girls with CF to carry some high-energy snacks with them. Suggestions include trail mix, nuts, packets of cheese crackers or peanut butter crackers, and veggies like carrots or celery with small containers of dressing that don't need to be refrigerated."

Just like DS'ers, they are also recommended to take ADEKs, Calcium and iron. If they can't keep their weight up, then they recommend pancreatic enzymes. --BT

Life in Seattle, circa 1900.

Dec 17, 2006

We have been without power since last Thursday - four days now.  I still do not know anyone who actually has power restored, although I do know several that have generators now.  The food in our refrigerator has all gone bad, and is now filling the garbage can.  We're hoping to save some of the food in the freezer, but it's likely that a good selection of steaks, stuffed sole, whole turkey, ham, and other delectables will be lost.   I would guess at least $1000 worth of food is now rotting.  

We are on a well with an electric pump, which means we have no water - to drink , to wash our hands, to bathe, brush our teeth, or more importantly, to flush the toilets.    I bought ten gallons of water at a store that has no power today.  They put the cash registers & the doors on generator, but the rest is all manual, and dark.   I also bought a few cans of spaghetti, as it's one food I know I actually kind of like cold. 

I was at a Christmas Party last night at a friends- candles everywhere, finger foods, beer, and rum & Dr Pepper.  They have a gas water heater, so they let me take a hot bath.  THAT was heaven!      The thermostat is apparently battery operated as it tells me it's 52 degrees in my house.   It was 59 at theirs, which was positively a heat wave.   I'm wearing two pairs of pants, and three shirts, hoping the layers will keep me warm. 

I can't help but contrast this to Florida.   We had hurricane strength winds blow through Seattle, and there is power out from Portland to the Canadian border.  Yet no one seems in any rush to assist us here.   Had I been on the Gulf Coast, the army would have arrived yesterday with water, ice and MRE's.    The stores are slowly coming back to life with limited supplies.   The lines for gas are starting to dwindle.  (They were two hours and more yesterday).   The only thing I've heard people fighting over were generators, and I've only see one case of price-gouging on gasoline, and even that was mild.  (They were a good 50-60 cents higher per gallon than any other station I've seen)

A friend of my cousin was one of the people who died in the storm - she had a studio in her basement where she does audio books, and a flash flood came through her area.  The basement door opened inwardly, and she couldn't get it open because of the pressure of the water flooding her basement.    (Flash floods give no warning - it's like a mini-tsunami) The emergency crews had to drill through the living room floor to get to her.  By then, she wasn't breathing.  They managed to revive her temporarily, but then she passed on for good several hours later.   She's won awards for her work, and in fact was getting ready to do a book for Alice Walker, the author of The Color Purple.  

We had four big trees crack and fall at our house - two across our driveway, and two back in to the wooded area behind us.  One of them actually lifted the root ball out of the ground - it is perhaps two feet in diameter at the base, and 40 feet high (long?).    Once the neighbors trimmed some branches off that one, I was able to drive UNDER it.   It still forms a bridge across the drive.  Another cracked like a jigsaw puzzle.  There is a jagged stump with prongs up twenty feet in the air - the rest of the tree is sprawled out beside it stretching another 50 feet towards the house behind us.  

Things are just a little crazy here.    Whatever pictures you've seen doesn't begin to describe what we're experiencing.    The best estimates I've found is that it will be at least a week before we have power back, which means a week without water.    They are restoring heavily populated areas first, to get businesses & the majority back in service, and they are working around the clock.....but we are at the end of a circuit, and there is a tree 'resting' on the power lines coming up our hill.....so we are not hopeful that we'll see electricity any time soon. 

I came into work to enjoy a little heat, use the restroom & the internet.     Hope everyone else is doing well.    I'm off on a quest for gasoline for the generator I'm hoping my brother is able to buy - if they don't run out before they get to his place in line. 

--BT

I have parked my @$$

Dec 03, 2006

...in size 10 jeans.

Wow.

That was my mother's size. The last time I was my mother's size, I was in sixth grade. I don't remember what I weighed in 6th grade, but I was 114lbs in 5th grade and 135 in 7th, so let's say 125? I was a good 25lbs lighter back then, in the same size.

I have tried on jeans from a number of places, but the ones I like best are still the Gloria Vanderbilt "Amanda" jeans I get at Costco. They come all the way to my belly button, unlike a lot of modern styles.

I'm not as thrilled as I thought I would be - it's more like startled. My mother was an artist's model, and had a beautiful body in her youth, so it's hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that we're the same size. I was in chubby clothes even in kindergarten.

I'm planning to wear these to the DS Support meeting next weekend, so hopefully I can get a good pic & post it for you. :)

Vitamin D and other stuff

Dec 01, 2006

When I met with Dr Anthone for my annual (aka 14 month) follow-up a few weeks ago, he gave me a prescription for 50,000 units of Dry D3 to take.  It's a weekly tablet which currently makes it the *easiest* prescription I've ever had.   Normally it's done for 12 weeks, but he's asked me to double that time, and then have my D retested. 

I recently hit 149.4 on the scale, although as usual I'm bouncing around a few pounds up.    I can tell that I've recently lost a LOT of inches in my belly area - it's as if my belly finally decided it was time to go.  My skinny jeans aren't skin tight anymore, but I'm still most comfortable in a size 12 pants.  

It recently occurred to me that I've lost over 50 lbs since I started this job, so although they didn't see the big drop overnight, there are people here who have seen me lose a significant quantity of weight.  That's so weird for me.   I've largely been immune from the outside interest because no one here knew me before, and I'm finally getting some questions.    While some people would LOVE such anonymity, I'm actually really happy that it's starting to get attention.

--BT


Uncharted Territory

Oct 10, 2006

10/11/2006 I was recently talking with someone about being in my 40's, and I responded that the 40's are great - I've lost weight, gotten promoted & sold my house! (The paperwork is in the mail - closing should be within a week) For the most part, life is good.

My bloodwork came back, and I'm low on Vitamin D, so my PCP advised me to start taking extra D. From what I know from the boards, I picked up Dry D to take. I'll call her just before the end of October to test it again so I can have an update to take to Dr Anthone.

My annual followup appointment with him is now scheduled for November 10th. I'll actually be about 14 months out then, but oh well. It's when I can go (assuming my vacation is approved). I'm bouncing around 156-159 this week, and it looks like I could be in the 140's by Christmas. Uncharted territory there.

In more uncharted territory, I put up a profile on Eharmony, and we'll see how that goes. I haven't tried them before, so it will be interesting to see who they set me up with.

A Year In The Life...

Sep 14, 2006

9/15/2006 SoOOoooOOooo many things have happened in the last year, some good, some not. Most of you know that this time last year I was in Brazil, a new post-op of only a few hours.

It's getting chilly here in Seattle, and I needed something long sleeved. I was journaling this morning as I pulled out an 'old' sweater to wear, and it occurred to me that this 'old' sweater I'm wearing, I bought in Omaha last December. I have often had clothes for 10-15 years, until now.....Val's post this morning about cleaning out your closets is very apropos. Now my 'old' clothes aren't even a year old.

Looking in my closet I have only a handful of items that are older than 9 months, and most of them don't fit. I've held on to them for sentimental reasons primarily, even though I know I'll never wear them again.

Including the mileage on my car back & forth to work, the flights and other road trips I've taken, I've travelled more than 70,000 miles this last year. I've evacuated hurricanes, travelled to Brazil, started a long (and still-ongoing!!) process of selling my house in Florida, got laid off, got a new job, got promoted (I start my new position on Monday), moved cross country, and had several family members pass away......including my father.

My official weight this morning was 159.8. That represents a loss of 101 lbs since I flew to Brazil a year ago. (Lab Rat for month 12 I believe is 4.5 lbs). My lowest weight this month was 159 even, but as usual I bounce 2-3 pounds. I'm starving today, eating everything in sight, which usually means I have a big weight loss coming.

I took my measurements last night (since my measurements of a year ago were done the night before surgery), but they're at home. I'll post them later in this thread. But needless to say I've lost a TON of inches. I believe I only have ONE measurement which is still over 40 inches.......and I started with several that were at/above 60.

I've gone from a 26/28 to a 12/14 for the most part - a BMI of 51 to 31, and according to the BMI charts, I have another 40lbs to go. I have this weird thing going on where I still feel morbidly obese, and yet I can't imagine where that forty pounds is going to come from?!?!

I have had several friends tell me I look amazing, and as cool as that is to hear, I have trouble really seeing/believing it. Some days I look at my body and see it as being MUCH smaller than it used to be, and some days, I don't see it at all. In the bath, I see my belly spread out, and it looks the same as it always did. I *know* that's not true....but it's what I see.

I worked out regularly for several months, and then stopped for some reason. I've recently started again, and found it's much easier to get back into than it used to be. I also find myself spontaneously running up stairs. I made a note in my Blackberry of the Yoga & Pilates classes at my gym, because I'd like to try them.

Going into surgery, I was pretty pragmatic. If I died, oh well - at least I was *trying* to improve my life. As it turns out, I had an extremely easy recovery process, and have been blessed to find out that several friends are interested in the DS as well, because of me.

One of them (Cat B) had her surgery last Dec 1st (she was the reason I was *in* Omaha buying this sweater I'm wearing) - she has since lost about 115lbs, and is a size 14. She looks *fabulous* - absolutely glowing. Another (Lyricae) was my Angel in Brazil, and after watching my progress, has decided to give it a shot as a way of helping her fulfill her dream.....motherhood.

I have three other friends who I am hoping will someday choose this path. I don't pressure them - if they ask me, I'll give them info, but until they are ready, there's really nothing I can do other than share what my life has been like.

I'm due to have bloodwork done on Monday, so we'll find out how healthy I am on the inside later - but for now, I feel perfectly healthy other than back problems which I've had (off & on) for twenty years. I'm seeing a chiropractor now to help my body adjust to losing 100lbs - since I've been overweight my whole life, my body doesn't know how to carry this weight.

I can eat about 2/3rds of a Wendy's Single w/cheese, a whole Soft Taco Supreme from Taco Bell, or about 5 oz of steak w/soup & veggies on the side.

My only disappointment with it was that I have discovered I was secretly hoping it would fix my personal life as well......and yet I find that I am still unnoticed by members of the opposite sex. I just don't know any single men, and haven't figured out yet how normal sized women meet men in real life. *laugh* That's my goal for the next year (to figure it out )

Other than that, life is good. I'm quite positive I'll be having plastic surgery, and probably out of the country. So tune in next time, for more adventures in.....The Life Of BT. :)

Secret Hopes

Jul 30, 2006

07/31/2006 Where does the time go? A year ago (Aug 2nd), I got my surgery date, and knew I was going to Brazil for surgery. It's been over a year since I was laid off, and it's been six months since I left Florida. A year ago I weighed 260-something pounds. Now I'm 168.

My little wow moment recently was when a friend of mine said something about trading clothes with me & some of her friends. She's always had a cute body & wardrobe.....but it's never been possible for us to trade clothes. I may not be at goal yet (my pre-plastics goal is 130 - my eventual goal is 118), and I may never be - but I feel like I'm finally normal.

Yet I find myself sometimes depressed that there haven't been MORE differences in my life.....my love life hasn't picked up. I'm still going on just first dates, no seconds. Work is still just 'okay' - nothing spectacular. And despite the weight loss, I still feel like I look 'fat' because I'm still apple-shaped.

I thought I had come into this with pretty realistic expectations, and I'm finding out that I had secret hopes that it would fix areas of my life that hadn't turned out the way I wanted them to.....and so far, it hasn't done that.

I may seek out another counselor up here to discuss this with. Here's a pic of me taken about a month ago. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

About Me
Alpharetta, GA
Location
28.7
BMI
DS
Surgery
09/15/2005
Surgery Date
May 22, 2005
Member Since

Friends 190

Latest Blog 33
Have you been to Blackthorne Bay?
Five Questions from Happy Catbert
Red Wine & Chocolate
Cystic Fibrosis Diet
Life in Seattle, circa 1900.
I have parked my @$$
Vitamin D and other stuff
Uncharted Territory
A Year In The Life...
Secret Hopes

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