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CLICK ON THIS TO SEE THE OLD ME IN ACTION ON JIMMY BUFFETT'S LIVE AT WRIGLEY FIELD DVD!

Well, I finally have a surgery date of 3/15/06. I really am not that worried about the surgery. After running around for a month with all the pre-op stuff, I am just ready to get on the losing side. I have enjoyed reading everyone's profiles on ObesityHelp as I get ready for this....it helps get me excited about getting this done.

Other info about me....I am a devoted Parrothead, having seen close to forty Jimmy Buffett shows across the country, and a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. I will update this after the surgery to let you know how it went.

March 17, 2006

Well I am back from surgery my surgery on March 15th and everything went great. I cannot say enough about how great Dr. Gorospe and Dr. Kirk from Tulsa were. I woke up virtually pain free and was walking the hallways in no time. The nursing staff at Southcrest Hospital was terrific. I was feeling well enough to be released the day after surgery. Two days out the only pain I feel is when I get up out of bed or getting out of a chair. Other than that, I feel great. Was able to tolerate the broth and jello they gave me at the hospital without any problems. No real hunger as of yet. Everything seems to be going fine. I will try to update regularly.

March 20, 2006

I am now 5 days post op and doing well. The gas the was bothering me is now under control. I have gotten off the pain pills and am only taking tylenol liquid for the little pain that I am experiencing. I am running a little fever but I guess that is normal. All in all, I can't believe how well everything has gone. My fiance Barb,who is an RN, has been a tremendous help, being by my side every step of the way and keeping track of the endless numbers of vitamins and supplements I now take during the day. I can only hope those of you who have yet to have the surgery have as easy of a time with it as I have. I'm truly blessed to have had such a skilled surgeon, outstanding hospital care and supportive family and friends. If everything goes well, I plan to return to work on Wednesday, one week after my surgery.....amazing.

March 27, 2006

Still doing well. Been faithfully getting in my water, protein shakes, & supplements. Ready to get of the liquid diet in 2 days and move on to soft foods. I'm back to work full-time with no problems. I've even been able to get back on the treadmill and still feel great! Friday I have my 2 week re-eval with my doctor. I'll let you know how the weight loss went. I can say that the blood pressure and blood suger levels are still terrific.

April 2, 2006

I had my two week (plus 2 days) follow-up with my doc on Friday. I lost 20 pounds since surgery, 33 since consult. He seemed pleased with my progress so far. No complications from the surgery. Am still having a hard time getting my 80 gms of protein in with just my food and am having to use protein supplements. Have been faithfully walking on the treadmill for at least an hour a day. Cards Fan from the Men's Board challenged us all to log in at least 50 miles of walkingrunning for the month of April. I started the month with a walk of 2.5 miles yesterday. I can really tell that my clothes are fitting better and am able to wear shirts I haven't been able to button for a long time. So far I am very happy with the surgery.

April 19, 2006

Been a while since I've updated. Still doing well 5 weeks out. Can really tell a big difference in my clothes. I haven't weighed since my 2 week visit but I'd guess I've probably lost another 20 pounds. I had my first difficulty with real food over the weekend. Had some leftover steak that was terrific the night that I cooked it, but when I re-heated the leftovers in the microwave, it must have dried it out. Half an hour after eating it, I started getting uncomfortable and soon was praying to the porcelain god. I was pretty uncomfortable for the next couple of hours. Other than that, things are going pretty well, food & liquid wise. I am doing well on the exercise front as well. I finished Card Fan's 50 miles in April challenge on April 16th. I've really started enjoying my time on the treadmill. I have accepted the challenge to increase it to 75 miles by the end of the month.

May 31, 2006

Well, two and a half months out, and things are still going great. I am down 95 lbs. since my pre-op high, 73 lbs. since surgery. I haven't missed a day of walking since April 1st. I have logged over 200 miles walking since then.

Barb & I just spent Memorial Day weekend with some friends in Chicago. Saw my beloved Cubbies drop 3 out of 4 games, but I'm got to tell you,win or lose, Wrigley Field is the best place on earth. I can tell you that is is a lot cheaper at the ballpark when you are not buying a boatload of $5.75 beers and brats, pizza, etc.

This was a very different Chicago trip for me. Instead of waking up hung-over every morning, this trip I woke up feeling great every morning and started each day with a one hour walk alongside Lake Michigan. I managed to eat healthy all weekend and actually lost 4 lbs during the trip, instead of gaining ten as I usually would.

Had some great milestones during this trip. Was able to fasten the airplanes seat belt without an extension for the first time in years. I used to dread asking the stewardess for one. At a couple of meals we sat in booths, which I used to avoid like the plague. No problem any more.

My life is getting better and better and this journey is still beginning. I would like to thank all of you at Obesity Help who do a better job of updating their profiles than I do. They are a constant source of inspiration for me.

July 7, 2006

Things are still going great. I guess the big news is that according to the BMI index, I am no longer morbidly obese...I am simply obese. Woohoo! I have now lost 118 lbs. from my pre-op high weight on Feb. 22, 2006. That's a little over 4 months...unbelievable.

Getting the hang of eating regular foods. I opt for seafood whenever possible as it agrees with my pouch the best. The problem is that there isn't an abundance of good seafood where I live. Hardly ever get sick anymore, and when I do, it's usually red meat or fast eating that is the culprit.

Had a terrific 4th of July weekend at my brother's lake house on Grand Lake near Tulsa Oklahoma. We had over 20 people there for the 4 day weekend and it was a blast. We watched fireworks sitting on a boat listening to a live Jimmy Buffett concert via Sirius satellite radio. For me, it doesn't get much better than that.

I spent every chance I could on one of the jet skis that we had there. Last summer, when I rode them, I made sure to stay near the boat in case I fell off because I was unable to get back on them at my weight. Now getting on them is a breeze, so I was all over that lake and had a blast spinning circles and jumping the wakes left behind by large boats. I even had a hell of a spill jumping a wake, and was thrown off the ski, losing my sunglasses in the process. What a blast!

I am still working really hard on the walking. I have logged over a hundred miles walking for each of the months of April, May and June. I am even starting to do a little jogging, but it's gonna be a while before I try any 5k's. I really believe the exercise is the key. I managed to lose 4 lbs. over the 4th weekend.

Well, that's it for now. I am adding some new photo's of Barb & I taken over the holiday weekend below in the Before and After section.

July 8, 2006

I know I just updated yesterday, but I just had to brag a little. Inspired by tales on the Men's Board of Dx's and Scott Williams recent 5k runs, I decided to give it a whirl on my treadmill. I've been walking faithfully for the last 3 months, but haven't done any real jogging up to this point. I got on the treadmill, set the speed at 4.5 mph and started pickin' em up and layin' em down. Forty one minutes and fifteen seconds later, I had completed my first 5k. Not a speed burner by any means but not bad for a guy who was winded after walking a flight of stairs 4 & 1/2 months ago.

After I had completed the 5k, I dialed the treadmill down to 3.4 miles an hour and walked for an additional half hour, logging in 5 miles total for the day thus far. Not too shabby for a fat guy.

July 10, 2006

I got on the scale today and I have officially lost 100 lbs. since surgery on 3/15/06. I had lost 20 lbs. pre-op, so that makes a total of 120 lbs. down. What a difference this surgery and 4 months can make.

August 7th, 2006

Things are still going great. I've lost 138 lbs. total and 118 since surgery on 3/15/06. Unbelievable!

This past Saturday, I was able to jog for 5 miles without stopping. Took me an hour and 6 minutes. Not fast, but I'll take it. Would love to be able to do a 10 K someday.

Oh, got all my bloodwork done last week. All my numbers looked great except for my protein, which was still a little low. Need to add another protein shake each day. My doctor said that he was jealous as my cholesterol was now lower than his, and he is a skinny guy. My total cholesterol was 166, and my good and bad cholesterol numbers were right in line. Not bad for a guy who was on zocor for the last 4 years. I haven't taken zocor since surgery.

September 5th, 2006

Well, I had a terrific Labor Day weekend. We had some friends invite us to join them at the 3rd annual Irish Fest in Kansas City, Mo. While I was checking out the festival's website, I noticed that they were having a 5K run at 7 am on Sunday morning. I had been thinking about trying one of these as I have been able to run the 5k (or 3.1 miles) on my treadmill four or five times. My best time on the treadmill for a 5K was 38 minutes, so I was just hoping to break the 40 minute barrier without having to stop or walk.

About two hundred runners signed up for the 7 am event. As we started running through the streets of downtown Kansas City, I quickly noticed how big a difference there is between running on concrete streets and my cushioned treadmill track at home. My feet and joints definately prefer the treadmill. I set what I thought was a comfortable pace for me and spent time watching the speedsters pass by me. That was fine, because didn't know the course and it gave me plenty of people to follow. The course took a couple of turns, and then, I found myself watching as the runners in front of me started making their way up a pretty steep hill. That was one thing that I hadn't expected and something that I hadn't simulated on my treadmill. Nevertheless, I started making my way up the hill. It seemed like every time I reached what I thought was the top, there was another hill staring me in the face. In all, I would say that a good mile of the 3.1 miles of the race was uphill. But I kept chugging along...not fast mind you, but definately jogging. I also noticed that I started passing some people that had to start walking to get up the hill...people who looked like they were in better shape than me. That made me feel pretty good. And while there were many times going up that hill I considered stopping and walking, I kept thinking of my buddies in the locker room at OH and all they've accomplished...Scott W. with his running, Terry Baldwin and his cycling, Buckeye and his amazing transformation, and many others, that I just kept putting one foot ahead of the other, until I finally had gotten to the actual top of the hill and it was downhill the rest of the way.

Barb was waiting for me at the finish line. Prior to the start, she had asked what time to expect me to finish. I told her that it'd hopefully be around 40 minutes. I figured that my best time on the treadmill was 38 minutes, so I thought that I probably better add a couple of minutes on for a "real-life" run. So she said that she was shocked to look up the street at around 33 minutes and see me coming down the street. My official time was 34 minutes and 22 seconds. I still can't believe it. I must have really picked up some speed going downhill, because I didn't think that I was running that fast during the race.

Anyway, I did it, and in better time than I ever could have imagined. I was walking on air for the rest of the Irish Fest, thinking a lot about how far I've come in six short months and excited about the future. Barb told me a bunch of time how proud she was of me, and that makes the sore legs that I am sporting right now worth it.

Funny thing, as they were announcing the race winners, they were also having a raffle drawing for all the participants. My number got drawn, and you know what I won? A twenty dollar gift certificate for pizza. Sometimes life is funny. Lose a hundred and fifty pounds, run 3.1 miles and get rewarded with 20 bucks worth of pizza. I didn't use the certificate.

Oh, and to top it off, we hit some of the Labor Day sales on our way home to Oklahoma and I am now fitting comfortably into a size large shirt. When I started this journey, I was a tight 3XL. I don't think I've been in a large since junior year of high school. What a terrific weekend!

Happy to be at the finish line!

November 9, 2006

It's been a while since my last update. Things are still terrific. I am now down nearly 180 lbs. from my highest pre-op weight. I have been trying to train for an upcoming 10K race here in my hometown. It's a little more than a week away, so I've got a lot of work to do. I had a medical checkup today and the nurse was running my blood pressure and pulse. My pulse rate was 51, which I guess is low. She asked me if my pulse always ran low. I told her that I didn't think so, but that I've been working out a lot lately. She said "that explains it, athletic people tend to have lower pulse rates." If you had seen me last January, prior to surgery, you'd know what a shock it was to be referred to as an athletic person. Oh, and my blood pressure was 113 over 73, no bp medication. As Borat would say, "Niiiiice!" Life 9 most post-op is full of funny moments. This past halloween, Barb and I were costume shopping at a busy shop. She walked by me without recognizing me three different times. Oh, and the costume I wore? Fat Elvis. I'll have to post some pictures. It was pretty funny. A lot of people thought it was strange that I would dress up as a fat guy after losing 180 lbs. I don't know what to say to that...I do know that every time I had to bend over to pick something up, the fat suit reminded me of how much I used to hate to tie my shoes every morning. I'll try to post some updated pictures soon. Thanks for checking in!

CAESAR'S COCKTAIL WAITRESS & ELVIS

NOVEMBER 18, 2006

Well, I was able to do it. After training pretty hard for the last month or so on my treadmill, today I completed my first 10K (6.2 mile) race! I was able to run the entire race without stopping or walking. I finished the race in 67 minutes, shaving seven minutes off my best time on the treadmill. It went pretty well, but it was sure good to see that finish line! As a special bonus, as you crossed the finish line, they presented you with a bottle of Head Country Barbeque Sauce. So, after completing a 5K and a 10K, I've been rewarded with 20 bucks worth of pizza and some barbeque sauce. Fitness does have it's advantages. My father, who is 65, also was able to finish the race in 84 minutes, which was pretty good considering that he hadn't really trained for it except for his normal walking routine. All in all, it was a pretty terrific day. Shows what you can do if you set your mind to it.

HAPPY TO BE AT THE FINISH! GOT RIBS?

My Dad & I with some friends who also ran the race.

December 7, 2006

The last few mornings, I have weighed in at 217 lbs, which puts my BMI in the 29.5 range. I am no longer in the obese category and now am simply overweight. To the best of my recollection, and despite 30 plus years of yo-yo dieting, this is the first time I have not been obese since my junior year in high school. I have gone from "super morbidly obese" to "overweight" in a little less than 10 months. I have gone from years of inactivity to being able to complete a 10K race without stopping. All of my co-morbidities have been reversed. I feel better about myself than I have in years. For those of you still struggling with the decision of whether weight loss surgery is right for you, I can honestly say that I would do it all again in a heart beat.

Yesterday, I received quite an honor. The physical therapy company I work for received a commendation from the Governnor of Oklahoma. Three years ago, I was approached by a local vocational rehabiliation program inquiring whether our company was open to hiring a developmentally disabled young lady who was interested in part time employment. To tell you the truth, initially I was reluctant. A major part of my job consists of managing 25 to 30 employees, which is challenging enough, and I was wary of taking on a project that could lead to headaches. But the more I learned about the vocational rehabilitation program, the more I was impressed by it. If we were willing, the disabled lady would come to our work place with a job coach, whose job it was to train the gal in her job responsibilties. The coach would continue to accompany her to work until we were satisfied that she had mastered the job skills that were required. After that, the coach would pop in periodically to check in and see that the employee was still doing a satisfactory job. After careful consideration, I approached my brother who owns our company with the proposal, and he gave me the green light to proceed.

Three years later, I can tell you that this gal we hired, Lindsey, has never missed work, has never called in sick, and has never caused me a moment of stress. (I wish I could say that of all my employees!) She rides public transit by herself, shows up every day when she is supposed to with a smile on her face and does her job well. I was impressed enough with her success, that when asked, I agreed to join the board of directors of the vocational rehabilitation program that found her and many others like her, meaningful jobs in our community. A little while back, I was informed that my company and I were to be presented with a commendation at the Oklahoma Govenor's mansion for our support of the program. It was an inspirational ceremony, filled with countless success stories like Lindsey's.

Every community has a similar vocational rehabilitation program. If you, or someone you know, is in the position to offer a job to one of these eager individuals, I encourage you to find out about the program nearest you. You will learn, as I did yesterday, that you are not only offering these people a job, but an opportunity to gain self-worth and the feeling that they "fit-in." Because most of us have faced the discrimination directed towards the obese, we should all know how important it is to feel like you "fit-in." I also need to thank the employees of my company who welcomed Lindsey with open arms and made her feel like she is just one of the gang. My getting her the job was the easy part. Her co-employees were the ones who made it a job that she can look forward to going to each day. Here is a photo from the ceremony at the Governor's Mansion.

December 9, 2006

I'll tell you something else that occurred to me that drove home what a wild year this has been. My town has a fancy dress-up X-mas gala every year, which Barb loves going to, but I never really enjoyed, because I felt like I looked bad no matter what I wore. Anyway, I agreed to take her last year, but I kept putting off deciding what I was gonna wear. At the last minute, I went through my closet to find a button down long sleeve shirt to wear and realized that not one that I had would fit...they were all too small, except one with a checkered pattern that wouldn't work, because my sport coat also had a pattern on it. At the time, I wore at least a size 18 1/2 to 19 inch neck, and the nearest big man clothes store was an hour away from the town I live in. In a panic, I called all the clothes stores in my town and not one of them had extended size men's shirts. I actually had gotten so big, that there wasn't one shirt in my town that fit me. I don't know if I had ever felt like such a loser in my life. So I ended up wearing the checkered shirt with the sport coat that didn't go with it and felt ridiculous all evening.

Well today happens to be Gala day here in my town again and we are going again. I just got back from the local Penny's where I just bought 2 new size 16 inch shirts off the rack (on sale no less). I smiled all the way home thinking of how much has changed in a year.

December 27, 2006

Barb & I just got back from a trip to Cancun. We had an awesome time. It was nice to be able to walk around the beach and pool without a shirt on and not be embarrassed.

One of things I put on my pre-op list that I wanted to do after surgery was parasail. It always looked so fun, but I was always afraid that I wouldn't be able to fit into one of their harnesses. Well, I was able to mark one more thing off my list and it was awesome! Check me out!

When I was in the air and soaking in the view of Cancun, I couldn't help but reflect how much my life has changed in less than a year. This time last year, I never would have tried parasailing, or riding jet ski's in the ocean (which we also did.) I would have been sitting on the beach envious of all the other people having fun. I've said it before, but having the weight loss surgery was the best decision I've ever made.

We were able to upgrade to the Puff Daddy suite at our hotel, which had our own hot tub on our balcony. It cost a little extra money, but sometimes you just have to treat yourself.

February 2, 2007

Last weekend we had a surprise 40th birthday party for my brother. Friends and family flew in from all over the country. We had a blast and he was really surprised. To get ready for the party, I went to buy a shirt at a store in our mall called The Buckle, where they sell trendy clothes. I never would have fit in anything in that store pre-wls, so it was one of my post-op goals to buy something from there. I ended up buying 4 shirts from them, all size large. Not even XL! I had a blast trying on different shirts and even picked up one of their frequent customer cards. I have a feeling I will be shopping there often. Oh, that reminds me....I need to get off the Casual Male mailing list. I will never step foot in another one of their stores again.

Here are some photos from the party in my new duds.

My brothers and I. (I don't know how I ended up being the shortest.)
With our sister, Kim.

As I said, the party was a great success and I received many nice compliments about my weight loss. It is funny to see the reaction of people who haven't seen me for a while.

February 27, 2007

Barb & I just spent a weekend with her sister's family in Scottsdale. It was a lot of fun. The weather was terrific and I was able to get in 18 holes of golf on Saturday. It's amazing how much I enjoy the game again after giving it up because it was just to hard to swing properly when I was really big. Sunday we went to a big arts festival in Fountain Hills. It was nice to be able to walk all afternoon and not get tired. Monday, Barb's brother-in-law and I went to my beloved Chicago Cubs practice facility in Mesa and watched them work-out. It was a real thrill to watch them going through their drills as they prepared to begin their World Series run this season. We were able to get really close to them throughout the day and most were very friendly. We got a ball tossed to us by Kerry Wood as he walked by us, and I was able to get it autographed by Derrek Lee and their new skipper, Lou Pinella. It was a fantastic day!

At the practice field holding my new ball signed by Sweet Lou Pinella and Derrek Lee

March 15, 2007

When I finally decided last in February 2006 that I was ready to change my life by having gastric bypass, I called my doctor's office. Because I was self-pay (thank you Oklahoma Blue CrossBlue Shield...not!), my doctor was able to put me on the fast track. My surgery date was March 15, 2006. I had approximately 5 weeks to get all my pre-surgery consults done. First up was my cardiologist evaluation.

Non-obese people don't realize that it is hard to find out what you weigh if you are morbidly obese...most scales "only" go up to 280 lbs...320 lbs if you have an industrial model. I had not been below 320 lbs. for many years. When I went to my surgeon's seminar in July 2005, I weighed in at a whopping 399 lbs. Seven months later, in my cardiologist's office I got on the scale again, and to dismay, I had actually managed to gain more weight...I weighed in at an amazing 405 lbs. As ashamed as I am to admit that (and I haven't told many of my closest friends that actual number), I post it here as a testament to how RNY surgery can change one's life.

As the photograph above (which was taken on my bathroom scale this morning) can attest, I now weigh in at 204.2 lbs. That is 201 lbs. less than what I weighed in at my cardiologist's office last February. I have officially dropped a deuce! As my profile above details, it has been an incredible year! I have reclaimed my life back and now feel that anything is possible.

I need to wrap this up because early tomorrow, Barb & I are leaving for Orlando, Fl. I am going to Universal Studios and I am riding every damn rollercoaster that I haven't been able to fit in for the last 20 years and I am gonna love every minute of it. But before I sign off on this my surgiversary day, I need to thank some people.

First, of course, is to thank the love of my life, Barb. I truly mean it when I say that I couldn't have done this without your support and encouragement. You always accepted me no matter how big I was, but when I made the decision to have the surgery, you stood by me every step of the way. I still remember you staying with me in my hospital room, documenting every detail. I hope you know that had you not been in my life, I doubt that I would have had the motivation to go through with this surgery.

Secondly, to my parents. They also were instrumental in making this surgery a possibility. I also have to thank my brother Todd and his wife Tracy. Without their support, I wouldn't have been able to have this surgery. Next, the rest of my family and friends, who never made me feel different when I was super morbidly obese. I think that one of the reasons that I didn't have this surgery earlier was because that you never made me feel any different than any of you, no matter how large I had become. Finally to my support group that is the Men's Forum at Obesity Help. I never could have done as well without all of you guys....Dx, Scott W., Buckeye, CardsFan, Boner,Randall, A.j.P, and so many others.

I need to close now, but I will leave with my one year surgiversay photos. Thank you all.

MAY 17, 2007

Well, it has been a couple months since I have updated my profile. And what a whirlwind couple of months it has been. I have only been home one weekend out of the last two months. I have been to Chicago two consecutive weekends to see Cubs games. Then the weekend after that was Jimmy Buffett in Dallas, followed by front row tickets to Billy Joel in Oklahoma City. Last weekend, Barb & I spent in Malibu, where I went to law school. We stayed at a terrific little hotel right on the beach. Somehow, we got upgraded to a suite with it's own secluded balcony (the only one on the premises with one). As I was commenting on how much we were enjoying the room, the owner confided to us that it was Robert DeNiro's favorite room whenever he stays there. Anyway, it was a terrific trip to visit my old stomping grounds in Malibu. I still find it hard to believe that I lived there for three years. I wish I felt as good about myself then as I do now, as I guarantee you that I would have spent a lot more time on the beach (although I may not have graduated.) Tomorrow, Barb & I jump on the plane for a weekend in Las Vegas to see a Third Eye Blind concert. The weekend after that, I am joining my brothers for a weekend on Grand Lake outside of Tulsa. A friend of mine, commenting on my travels, joked that Scott was on his "Look at me now" world tour. Sometimes it almost feels like that.

I can tell you that I still get a kick out of sitting in my plane seat, grabbing the seat belt and still having about a foot of slack left after tightening it. That is a feeling I don't think I'll ever get tired of.

My weight has been good. Hovering right at 200 lbs. Once my travels slow down, I will get serious about dropping the last 10 lbs. I am still walking at least 4 times a week and making good choices as far as food goes. At my last monthly WLS support group, I got a certificate for having attended faithfully for over a year. In fact, I think I have only missed once in the last year and a half, and that was because I was out of town.

For those of you on a similar journey, I hope my profile serves as inspiration for you. Here are some recent photos of me from Malibu.

September 27, 2007

Wow, I can't believe it's been over four months since my last update. This summer has absolutely flown by. It seems that Barb and I have hardly spent a weekend at home all summer. We've been to Chicago three or four times for Cubs games. We traveled to Kansas City, Wichita, and Tulsa to see one of our favorite bands, Third Eye Blind, three times in less than a week. Went back to Kansas City over Labor Day for Irish Fest. Unfortunately, they did not have their 5K race this year so I wasn't able to see how my time would have improved over the first one I ran last year. This weekend I am off to Kansas City again to meet some high school buddies and attend my first NASCAR event (heaven help me, I never thought I'd ever say that, but they assure me it will be a lot of fun.) Next weekend, we are off to Las Vegas with a large group of friends where we will have an early birthday celebration for Barb. I feel like I have really been living my life, so I guess that's why the summer has flown by.

As far as my weight, I seem to fluctuate between 206 and 209 lbs. I get on the treadmill about 4 times a week now for an hour at a time. I think that if I ever want to get below 200 lbs. I will need to get back to working out every day. But I feel great and if this is to be my constant weight, I'm all right with that.

Some various photos from the summer:

I sent my pre-op Wrigley photo to Jimmy Buffett with a short note about being on his DVD and my surgery. He was good enough to send it back signed, with a little encouragement for the Cubs as well. Its tough for me to look at the photo with the shape I am in, but it's a reminder that I never want to go back there again. Here's a scan of the photo with his signature.

Here's a photo of Barb & I during one of our trips to Chicago. The guy in the wig is a friend of ours, Scott Derenger, who is a Chicago comedian by trade, Wrigley Field Suite waiter by day. He was good enough to get us into an unoccupied luxury box for my birthday. Thanks Scott! Go Cubs Go!

This is a photo of me at a WLS support group meeting when we had show and tell. I brought the Cubs jersey I wore during the Buffett Wrigley DVD and show the group how huge it was on me now. On the tv in the background you can see the shot of me from the DVD.

This is a photo from earlier in the summer when my brothers and I were able to take my Dad to Wrigley. It was the first game he had been to there with us, although we learned that he and his Dad had seen a game there together back in the 1960's. He hadn't been back there since.

This photo is Barb and I at one of the three Third Eye Blind concerts we went to in a five day span. The other gal is a singer in a local Wichita band called Big Fat Fun. How ironic is that?

You don't know how much I wish this next photo had come out better, but it is the best that I can do. You get the idea. The University of Oklahoma's football team looks pretty good so far. This cheerleader was so impressed with my Cubs bucket hat that she let me on the field during halftime to take a picture.

As Jimmy Buffett sings in the song Come Monday, "Yes, it's been quite a summer..." I will try to update a little sooner next time. Things are great and I only expect them to get better! Keep fighting the good fight!