Motivational speaker??

Found some new settings on my computer! : )

Yesterday was a weird day...I talked to two different people about gastric bypass surgery, one who approached me about the topic is someone I never would have guessed would have been interested, let alone actually come up to me to ask about having it. He's someone I don't know very well but see often at work. The other was another lady at work who's friend is considering the surgery, and I gave her my phone and email for her friend (cause I'm willing to talk to anyone about it and answer any questions I can), and suggested the site http://www.obesityhelp.com/ - a fantastic website with all kinds of info on all the different surgeries, what to expect, how they work, etc. and very interesting forums where you can learn so much more and interact with others considering surgery or who have already been through it.

Anyway, I had some shopping to do after school, and as I was leaving the store I recalled an incident a few years back. I was at a friend's house, and another friend was there, and we were talking...and I said that I've always had this "feeling" that I was supposed to be or would become a motivational speaker. Weird, huh?? Anyway, one of the friends just busted a gut at that one, like "yeah, sure...what EVER! You??" It's just one of those feelings, like you know something is supposed to happen to you, but you're not sure how, why, or if it ever will...or if you're just plain nuts.

Well, yesterday as I was walking out of the store, it kind of hit me...I HAVE become a motivational speaker! No, I'm not on a big stage raking in the money telling people how to become millionaires or whatnot, but I AM telling anyone who is interested about the surgery and how my life has changed because of it, and what it can do for them. It's life changing to say the least. One thing the guy at work said to me was "Don't take this wrong, but before you always looked...."uncomfortable" with yourself, and now it's like you're a whole new person."

That's cause I am. I ditched the 100-lb. person who was riding on my back. Good riddance. (Or as Briana wrote to me in a note when she was little...Good Rits!)

Simmer....simmer....!

Do you remember the Saturday morning cartoon "Mrs. Munger's Class?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmHEbOC16X4

Well, I walked into the school office to see my friend Carol the other day, wearing this blazer, which I really like...and she burst into hysterical laughter! Seriously. Hysterical!

I was a bit puzzled. : )

She said it looked like an "old librarian Mrs. Munger sort of print."

Well then. Hmmmpf. I happened to like it. A lot. It's got this cute ruffly effect on the bottom part and is fitted really nicely. Just happens to BE an old librarian print I guess.

But, as I was walking out, another person walked past me and said I looked "beautiful!" I turned and told Carol that I was gonna listen to Lori instead. : )

I put it on to show my girls yesterday, and they were puzzled at Carol's response too, they both liked it (or so they said!).

So I guess whenever I wear it I'll have to run over to Carol and tell her to "Simmer...simmer!"

But we're still friends. ; ) We went for a nice walk on Monday (same day) in her favorite park, and took another teacher and her dog. I must be warming up to dogs or something, cause then I took our dog, Willa, for a walk around our block yesterday. That dog can go! My thumb is actually a little numb still from where the leash cut off my circulation. It was another nice day out though, and felt good to go for a walk.

I think it's sorta funny, yesterday I went into the grocery store to take in some dry cleaning, and when I went to the counter the one lady, who I sorta know through kids, asked me directly what I was doing to lose so much weight. I'm pretty open about it and tell anyone who asks that I have had surgery, and I usually get the same response "so how's that going for you?" It seems most people really only hear the horror stories, so I'm happy to tell them that it couldn't be better.

I think my body may have found it's regular weight though, cause the losing has slowed down to almost a halt, which is fine with me. I'm still a bit above the "ideal" chart weight, but I don't care. I'm happy right where I'm at, but I bet once summer comes and I can get out and ride bike and such that I might lose some more. But I don't want to drop so much that then it's a struggle to stay there and not gain a little back. I've had too many years of struggling with it, and if this is where I'm gonna be, then that's fine. I'm actually down 94 lbs. from where I originally started with my first visit to the surgeon.

Still amazes me.

Cold, caramel apples and chocolate!

Isn't that pretty?!

Alex and his modeling talent!!

I'd LOVE to taste these, I bet they were delicious.

So I took a little road trip with Bri and Alex this week up to my sister's in Ashland, Wisconsin. We went through Duluth on Monday, and stopped to wander around the shops in Canal Park. One place we went into was this Chocolate Factory where they had beautiful "caramel" apples. But they weren't just caramel, they had amazing concoctions of whatever you would want on an apple. They looked SO good, but at $5.50 each, I didn't buy one, cause I know I couldn't finish it anyway.

Yesterday we walked out on frozen Lake Superior to see some of the ice caves at the Apostle Islands. I had kayaked out there a few years ago with Paula, and it's really cool. Seeing it all frozen was pretty neat too. She said it was about 2 1/2 miles one way, so we had a good 5-mile walk across the ice, sometimes a bit slippery (no, I hadn't taken my Yak Trax with me...idiot!). We all fell at least once, but no injuries. I've never walked on a frozen lake before, it sorta scares me, even though people drive big huge trucks out there. Guess that comes from growing up in Ohio where lakes don't freeze like that. It still amazes me, after living in Minnesota for 24 years, that people drive out onto the frozen lakes.

Anyway, we had a good walk, my legs were tired, then we stopped in a little town and had lunch. I had chili and 1/2 a grilled cheese sandwich, a little protein.

Paula is such a great cook, it sorta inspires me to actually take some time and make some decent meals. But that all takes time planning too, and shopping each week off of a list. Not what I'm used to. But I'll think about it at least. You never know...I could certainly use some inspiration and new meal options.

Going home tomorrow, still have a few days of spring break then back to the grind. It's been a nice break!

I've even hugged a puppy! : ) They have an adorable little dog named Jake, who is just the cutest. Bri's been amazed cause I don't much pet Willa at home, but Jake has captured my heart. He's little, and soft, and all one color! Even his brown eyes match his brown fur, which does NOT fly all over the place like Willa's. I'd take him home with me if I could!