post-travel "tights"...

It seem that a lot of us bandsters get the "tights" (as our beloved Tina calls it) when we travel.  Alas, I am not one of those.  In fact, I am quite the opposite as I seem to be able to consume vast quantities of food whenever I am traveling.  A few examples from our recent trip:

• Pizza with crust?  Yep.  
• An entire sleeve of Nutter Butters? No problem.
• 3-course dinner, including dessert?  But, of course.
• All of these in the same day?  You bet.

However, I also have noticed a trend of my band completely shutting down within a week of returning home.  Two bites of oatmeal this morning went down just fine.  Then I was burping and squirming and panting trying to get the rest of it down.  I finally gave up.   Same with the leftover braised-beef stew I just tried to eat for lunch (it was very moist even re-heated).  

I was surprised to realize that I actually was not hungry anymore after just the two bites.  And, the two bites of oatmeal this morning did hold me for a little over 3 hours.  So, it's not that I think that I'm "too" tight, just that I'm WAAAAY tighter than I was just 3 days ago (and, it not OTR related).  

A similar thing happened shortly after returning from Chicago, so I'm thinking it might be a pattern.  We'll be having a long weekend in Austin in December--I'm curious to see if the "tights" hit me again when I get home.

 Anybody else get loose when they travel?  (and, I mean your band, not your morals)

things i learned on vacation (part 2)...

Lesson #3:
I like S'mores (yes, I am 40 years old and have never had a S'more until last week).  Thanks to my cousin-in-law Ashley for capturing this moment.

Lesson #4:
My husband is an excellent photographer (I already knew this, but some of his pictures still amaze me).  Seriously, how did he manage to make a common seagull so breathtaking?!?!

things i learned on vacation (part 1)

Lesson #1:
It is possible to gain 10 lbs in 1 week (even with a lap band) if your diet includes regular consumption of Coke, peanut M 'n' M's, & Nutter Butters.

Lesson #2:
It is possible to have fun on vacation even if you've lost your neck!

i've got the pre-vacation blues...

Darrell and I are leaving tomorrow night for Monterey, CA!!!

Sunday is our 3rd wedding anniversary, and since we "eloped" and didn't have a big wedding we usually take a nice vacation on our anniversary.  We are flying into SFO and staying @ an airport hotel tomorrow night--since our flight gets in after midnight (3-4am East Coast time).  On Sunday, we will rent a car and drive down to Monterey where we will be staying at the Spindrift Inn on Cannery Row.  

I have made arrangements for an in-room couples massage after dinner on Sunday--an anniversary surprise for Darrell.  Things have been really stressful for him at work, lately, and I really want him to be able to relax this week.

We plan to go on a whale-watching excursion & visit the Basillica of San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission.  Other than that, we plan to just play things by ear & spend a lot of time relaxing in the beautiful natural areas.  I'll probably get in some birding and Darrell will most likely do some photography (he's really good--definitely the artist in the family).

Darrell's cousin & his wife (Chris & Ashley) are stationed nearby and we hope to spend some time with them and their adorable daughter, Izzy!  Ashley is also a photographer (she even gets paid!), so we may even get a photo shoot out of it.  You can see some of her work at Dreaming In Stills.

Izzy is on the right.

Anywhoozle,  it's the day before vacation and I have the blues...I want to be on vacation NOW!!!  But, I guess I need to finish the laundry first--otherwise we'll have nothing to wear.

Cheers! 

BYOC

1. If you were given $1,000,000 that you had to spend ONLY ON YOURSELF.... how would you spend the money?

Travel

A little lifting & sucking perhaps (boob lift, neck lip, hip & leg re-shaping)

2. Who would you say is the one person that's had the most influence on your life? By that, I mean the person that has molded you in to the person you are today?

My husband.  I have known Darrell my whole life--we have been friends for 30+ years (since the 3rd grade).  To make a long story short--Darrell never stopped believing in me even when I stopped believing in myself.  He helped me find my true self again after I lost my way during my 20's.  In the time that we have been together I have learned so much from him: tolerance, patience & balance to name a few.  Darrell has made me a better version of myself.

3. What is your normal morning routine? Are you a bear in the morning, or is the morning your favorite part of the day?

Darrell is my alarm clock...he always wakes me up with a gentle, "good morning."  First step is coffee--we set it up the night before so it is ready as soon as we get out of bed.  Next, I unload the dishwasher while making breakfast.  Lunch gets packed; take out trash & recycling; clean up breakfast dishes; start a load of laundry.  After that comes snuggle time (my favorite part) with the pup--he sits on my lap while I check email & such.

4. If you're a Facebook and Twitter user, which do you prefer and why? If you're just a Facebook user, what do you think of the new changes? 

I refuse to Twitter.  Can't say exactly why, but the whole thing just rubs me the wrong way.  My husband Twitters...I do not follow him.

I am withholding judgment on the Facebook changes until I have really had a chance to get used to them.  My first gut reaction is that I like the ability to unsubscribe from people without un-friending them.

5.  Repeat question....how was your week in real life and in blog land this week? 

Real life:  insane.  Husband's job is extra-stressful; my parents' neighbor is an ass (police may become involved eventually); I seem to be super scatterbrained and keep mis-placing phones, keys, etc.

For Jen...here he is...

2004

2006

2006

2010

2011
I'm actually very happy here...
just squinting because of the sun.

before/after photos

OK...so I know I just posted these, but I am seriously pleased with the side-by-side.  Since I've only lost 40lbs, I've been struggling to see a real difference.

 

 

Face shot comparison photos...

I am almost exactly 15 months post-surgery (it seems SOOOO much longer) and about 40lbs down.  The following is a history of my face through the years...

1979 (8 yrs old)

1985 (14 yrs)--moi!--the athlete!  I do believe that is a jawline that I see.

1987 (16 yrs/ 130 lbs)

Just for kicks--
Darrell & me in 1988
on our way to Europe

1989 (18 yrs/135 lbs)--last day of high-school Senior year

1991 (20yrs/140-ish lbs)--Sophomore @ Oxford College of Emory University

1994 Summer (23yrs/40-150 lbs)

2004 (33 yrs/165 lbs)--This was one of the first camping trips that Darrell & I took together. 

2005 (34yrs/185? lbs)--After only a few months, the weight has started creeping up again.  You can tell that I am not comfortable.

2010-July (39yrs/225 lbs)--This was taken about 1 1/2 months after surgery.  I had lost 16 lbs at this point.

2010-B00Bs (39 yrs/217 lbs)
not yet happy with the way I look and seriously uncomfortable in front of the camera.

2011-B00Bs!!!

(40 yrs old/ 203 lbs)

a stolen picture post...

I did not take any of these pictures.  I "stole" them all from other people's blogs & FB pages.  Apparently, I'm down with OPC (Other People's Cameras)...

The L(i/y)ndas

Kristin (love her!), me & Amanda @ the Thursday pool party

Friday afternoon walking tour w/ Amanda & Maria (I still want her to tell me bed-time stories)

Friday night meet-n-greet:  Julie, Angie, Becky, Amanda & Moi

I had fun!

Saturday night dinner with the whole group.  Yep...that's Deb's mother snuggled up on one side and the lovely Justine on the other.  Lucky me!

Me and My Gracie!!!

more chicago pics...

Tina & I headed south of town to the Hyde Park/University of Chicago area on Sunday.  We toured Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie house (I was underwhelmed).  We also took a walking tour of the surrounding area and even wandered over to the 57th Street Beach area.  It was a wonderful day and a very charming area.  A nice way to relax and unwind after all the excitement of the previous 2 days.

A few pics from Chicago

We felt like Alice in Wonderland when we found this teeny-tiny door.

My attempt at a self-portrait with a reflection in The Bean.

The Bean