What I've Been Waiting For

I saw the surgeon on Wednesday, I was same weight as last month. Two things have happened since that day...

He filled me with another whole cc, which he said was a lot! I'm now at 8 cc...and, the band is marching! The difference is the restriction is finally there. For example, I've been on liquids until this morning (Wednesday night and yesterday) because the tummy has to have healing time after each fill. I made a piece of cheesetoast because that's a fave food of mine.

I ate three fourths of it and suddenly, the stop sign went up from the band! Had I eaten another bite, it would have been my regret! So, it's finally coaching and doing it very well.

Mag-e and I started Obedience Training last Monday night. I work her at least 20 minutes each late afternoon. We walk at very brisk pace and are both dripping with sweat and heated to furnace level at the end of it.

Since Wednesday at 2:15, the scales are down 4.2 pounds. Me thinks we're back in the game, I'll keep ya posted!!

Happy Friday and good huntin'!

A Brighter Monday

Beautiful Bouganvillia hanging in my backyard. This was two weeks ago as it began to really bloom. Today, kapow! It's kickin' and growin' and lookin' gorgeous. Gotta luv it.

Following the death of my sweet mother, I faded into some dark shadows for a couple of years. Percy, my shuga man, was a little light in my life, and he worked hard to turn me around.

It finally happened. Life was re-ordered, smile back in place and moved ahead. But, during those times of shadows, I neglected everything (except Percy) that had been important to me. My yards had been a priority and the beauty of the plush yard was like my own park. For three to four years however, I neglected it all. No water, no love, no talk, no grass!

After Michael came into my life, we both finally decided it was TIME to get the green back in view. The backyard was sodded last October, I've tended it well and it has flourished beyond belief. It's similar to life. We must nourish what's of value and allow it to thrive and grow, being enriched on daily basis.

Hard work and determination over the past years...through health issues...have brought me to this place today. Yesterday, "A Rough Night in Jericho"...today, all's better. I will have those valleys and watch some clouds gather. The important aspect of it all is to recognize the time to act and move forward.

Saturday's post was a small piece of past memories coupled with today's life stressors. There are several folks reading this blog, and one of those 'special friends' posted a comment on the last post. One illuminous, glaring piece of 'go get 'em and keep your chin up' rang true. For that, I thank her a multitude of times.

Today, I have a brighter me 'in place'. It makes all the difference in the world, don't we all know. The yard's are tended, the plants are fed, I managed to get a delicious piece of 'cheese toast' (one of my faves) down without any rebellion from tummy and my happy is returning.

Who knows why we ebb and flow? Who knows how we all handle life stressors? Who knows how challenging each day will be? Who knows if they're job will be secure tomorrow? Who knows some of the grief our family and friends deal with daily? Not me. I only know that life's on a new course, new destination and a heck of turn around.

In no way will I allow me to falter in this quest. Yep, there have been various challenging events in the past months. And no, not all related to being banded. It's just the rythm of life's synchronized patterns. Crescendo's go wild and suddenly the soft, playful side kicks in. Through each day, it's a must that folks recognize and zone in on the truly significant portions and fill 'er up.

Yep, I had some clouds on my horizon last week. They had been gathering in the distance for a while. Today, it's like partly cloudy, but a really nice day to begin this week. And, btw, a special cousin sent an email after last Saturday's post. I thank him for that. A comical 'run in' with a DETECTIVE over a stop sign in his neighborhood prompted a hilarious description from him.

We must always remember that we have family and friends standing in the wings, ready to charge and stand with us if we need it. Life moves in many concentric circles. Many of those overlap and some stand alone. For me, life is made of many islands. Church is one, home is one, the mall is one, etc. My island(s) generate a zest for life.

Let go and experience some of the better parts of each day. I'm 'on the road again'. I see my surgeon Wednesday at 2:45 and get the fourth fill. Who knows what's ahead after that? Success, for certain; hard work, of course; new clothes, always!

Have a marvelous Monday, a tremendous week and coke, with a smile!

See ya round the corner.

Family is a given, but good, good friends are a luxury. I appreciate you all!