The BOOBIES Bunch!

(sung to the Brady Bunch tune)

Here's the story of some lovely ladies

who where traveling to Chicago on their own,

all of them, young and old got together

and met for BOOBS; just girls!

Here's the story, of these lovely ladies

who were busy losing way more than a ton

they were banded and blogging all together

no they were not alone

Then the one day in Chicago, it came together

and we knew that it was much more than a hunch

All these girls had now become a family

That's the way we all became the BOOBIES bunch,

The BOOBIES bunch!

Crazy week ahead of me, crazy weekend behind me!

This week is going to be crazy busy for me. I want to sit down and get organized so that I can post my pics from Chicago on my blog and share with you all the wonders of the weekend. I just don't have time right now. Last night I couldn't do it, and then this week is homecoming week at school for my son & step daughter, so there is much preparation and 2 football games, a parade, a pep rally, and then getting everything ready for the dance. So, I just wanted to let you know that I have every intention of sharing all my pics and lots of stories from the BOOBS weekend. Just be patient with me. I can't say it enough, this weekend was everything I wanted it to be and more. Have a great day! Take care....big hugs!
T

What a weekend!

The first annual BOOBS meeting was amazing. Everyone that I met far surpassed my expectations. I just can't explain what is was like to finally meet these women for REAL. It was surreal. Chicago was beautiful, the planning committee outdid themselves. It was just incredible. I'm so glad that I went. I took a million pictures and will share them just as soon as I can. I'm still on a high! Big hug!
T

I'm haulin' ass to Chicago!

That's right Baby! I'm leaving bright and early in the morning. I'm so excited to finally be meeting so many of these wonderful women. I can't beleive it's actually happening. I'm not worried about clothes, or about who's gonna like me or not. I'm just ready to go. I'm not packed yet and my son has a football game tonight that I have to go to, so I'll likely be packed right before I walk out the door. Today, I have to concentrate on work and tying up all the loose ends around here. It's hard because I want to just be checking out blogs and seeing everyone's cute outfits. But tie up those ends, I must! Anyway, see you there!
Safe travels and big hugs!
T

Getting to know you: Questionnaire

************

Hi all the boobie girls! Someone much more organized than I am thought it would be fun to know more about you, and she enlisted me to think of some crazy questions…so…this is sort of a Gillyified version of Drazil's BYOC. Knock yourselves out.

1) You're trapped on a desert island and you can bring only 3 of your favorite foods along. What do you bring?

Chips, chocolate and wine

2) If you could meet any 3 people, living or dead, who would they be and why?

Jesus

My parents (I know that's technically 2, but give me a break here) I'd like to have an adult conversation with them.

The world's most interesting man (from the Dos Equis commercial)

3) What is your stripper name? (take the name of your first pet and the name of the street you grew up on)

This is lame: but mine would be Dilbert Twelfth not a good stripper name, that's why I go by Trixie Babelicious

4) How old were you when you lost your virginity? Alternative question if you don't want to answer this: What is your LEAST favorite part of your bod since losing weight? Your MOST favorite since losing weight? Ask me in Chicago.

5) Do you believe in ghosts or evil spirits? Would you be willing to spend a night alone in a house that is supposedly haunted?
Yes, I believe in spirits or ghosts and have slept many times in an actual haunted house (my ex in-laws lived in a 100 year old house that had housed prisoners on two separate occasions, once after a fire and once after a flood. The prisoners were shackled on the 3^rd floor and one broke free and jumped through a window to his death. We would here glass breaking and everyone would wake up freaked out, but never any glass, lots of other weird things happened too. I also slept at the Myrtles Plantation that is considered to be one of the most "active" haunted places around. But, as my Daddy always told me, "it's the live ones you gotta be scared of!"

6) What is your natural hair color? If you dye it something completely different from what your momma gave ya, how come? Well, now it's salt & pepper, heavy on the salt so I dye it Golden Brown or Biscotti.

7) Boxers or briefs? Alternatively…bikinis or granny panties? Boxers and, I like pretty panties even big butts look better in lace.

8) If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? (Trilogies do not count as one movie, cheaterpantses!) Who comes up with this stuff? This is hard. I would probably say…."A Christmas Story" or "The Blues Brothers" either way, I think I already know all the lines.

9) What is your guilty pleasure (feel free to go straight to the gutter with this one if the spirit moves you!) Really good wine and scotch.

10) How many pounds gone forever are you celebrating??  :)

Since banding: 38 and holding

Since my highest weight 75

Have bag will travel.

Well, I'm ready for Chicago, can't wait to meet the fabulous BOOBS! I'm very excited and a little nervous about the travel. My flight leaves on Sunday at the butt crack of dawn, so I'm really not looking forward to early morning travel after a night on the town. But it is what it is. This weekend will be fast and furious, but I know it will be great.

I've enjoyed reading about ever one's clothing choices and shoe dilemmas. I just have to let you know up front, I'm built for comfort, not for speed, so I have to wear comfy shoes even if fashion is the victim of that choice. I still am not completely sure what I'm wearing, but I'm sure it will all be fine, I'm not too worried about that. I'm just excited to meet all of you.

In other news, I'm still hanging on at the same weight, some days it goes up a pound, some days it goes down, but no real movement. I guess I'm going to have to be okay with it and just keep doing what I'm doing. I feel good. I had a fill scheduled for tomorrow, but have rescheduled for after the BOOBS trip. I was nervous about being uncomfortable while there, so I'm just going to wait. I hope everyone has a great Monday!
Hugs,
T

Second post today, to say Joey has a point!

Yesterday Joey posted about the inconsistency in sizes and the fact that sizes have changed over time. I had my suspicions about the change in sizes, but this proves the point too. I was looking on line for ball gowns and I love a portrait collar, so I searched that and found this old pattern, size 14, bust 32". Then I searched measurements for a size 14 on patterns today, a 14 is bust 36, waist 27, hips 38. Then on most of the dress charts, a 14 has a 40" bust. So, there you have it.


Have a great weekend!
T

BYOC

1. Last week we asked your favorite thing about being an adult. This week the question is: what is one thing you miss about being a child?
   I miss being really tuned in to the world. When I was a child, I noticed everything, I would study people, the room the environment. Now, I'm preoccupied and don't notice the little things, it's time to slow down.
   


2. When you make a serious life decision – do you use your head or your heart?
   I'm more of a heart than head kind of person, I think things through, but if it's really right, I know it.
   


3. In relation to blogs….are you a never commenter, a sometimes commenter, an almost always commenter or a direct emailer kinda person?
   I'm and almost always commenter. I comment as much as I can, I like people to know I'm reading and I appreciate when people comment on my blog.
   


4. If life was a flavor – would it be savory, sweet or sour?
   Savory baby all the way!
   


5. Repeat question. Summarize your week in life or in blogland.
   In life: my kids go to private Catholic Schools at one of the other Catholic schools in our area yesterday, a 13 year old boy in the 7^th grade shot and killed himself in front of his entire class. It was the most horrifying news, and I cannot get the thought out of my head, how sad for this family how sad for all of the children affected by this tragedy, to say that my heart is heavy is an understatement.
   I'm looking forward to the weekend and getting a little rest. I'm a little less stressed about finding a dress, thank you for all the sweet comments. Have a great weekend! Next week at this time I'll be bringing my own crazy to Chicago baby!
   
   
   

   Big Hugs!
   T

Thousand word Thursday

It's Thousand word Thursday, this weeks topic as per Amy is jewelry, here are mine.

First off, my wedding ring, because of what it stands for. I think it is

simple and beautiful, just like my marriage.

And secondly, my Pandora bracelet, my sweet hubby started this for me for Valentine's Day the first year we were married and each of the charms is special to me. I really love it.

Thank you all for your comments and encouragement yesterday. What a wonderful gift it is to have so many people cheering you on and really caring about your success. Such a blessing. Thank you.

And happy Friday Eve! Yay!

Big Hugs!

T

Hump Day!

Well, it's hump day. I'm glad that the weekend is fast approaching, although I've barely gotten over the last one. Yesterday I had a bad day, my husband might actually call it a mini nervous break down, but either way, I'm feeling better today. This "break down" if you will, came on for the strangest of reasons. I actually got some exciting news on Sunday, something I can't quite share, because I'm sworn to secrecy, but let's just say that it involves me having to buy a fancy schmancy ball gown and be in it in front of lots of people. I have to have the dress by the first week in January even though the actual event isn't until February. And the dresses that the previous women in this position have worn are usually strapless! OY! So, here is where the break down comes in: I have never been able to lose weight for any event! There, I said it. I'm scared to death that this will be one more failure for me when it comes to losing weight for a special event. I could not lose weight for my first wedding, although I was not fat, I wanted to lose 15 pounds, fail. I could not lose weight for my best friend's wedding, I was on a big diet, ordered my dress a size smaller, had to have it taken out, fail! Those are just two examples of many times that I have failed when trying to lose for an important event, the list is endless. I was overcome by my sense of failure and I cried and cried and just felt like such a loser. My dear sweet husband was comforting me and he, unlike me, is such a reasonable man. He said, if you didn't lose anymore weight you would still look great and people love you, they'll be happy to see you do this, but...this time will be different, this time you have a tool to help you, this time you have Pearl!" God, I love that man. He's right, this time I do have a tool. So, why do I have so much doubt?


After lots of pondering and listening to experienced bandster Tina, I have decided to get another fill, I've been waffling about getting a fill, because I still get stuck and PB sometimes, then when I read Jennifer's post (titled: I don't know everything) on thinking she was too tight but a fill changed everything. I've decided to get a fill, I have one scheduled for next Tuesday. I'm going to Chicago on Friday, so I'm a little nervous about going out of town after a new fill, but I'm planning to just get a little one. Any thoughts on that would be appreciated.

So, my plan is to just keep on keeping on and realize that even if I'm not at my ideal weight when this event comes around, I'll definitely be at a much better weight then I would be if I hadn't started this process. I definitely need to exercise more and incorporate weights for my giant arms and just try to enjoy the experience and not cut myself apart. I'm really a lucky person, I have a wonderful husband who has loved me at each stage thus far, and a wonderful community of support here, and I'm going to meet so many of you next week! I think I'm getting over the hump! Happy Day!
Big Hug,
T

The day of eating dangerously

Howdy folks! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I sure did. On Saturday, we did some power cleaning and then had a day of football watching, and friends. It was great fun, I drank a little too much so on Sunday, I was feeling kind of crappy, I had a piece of sausage and one pancake for breakfast, that wasn't so bad. Later on I had one chicken nugget (I know...not the best choices, but I was hung over!) Anyway, one chicken nugget and stuck, bad. I threw up and then the rest of the day had trouble with just about everything I tried. One tablespoon of chicken salad, ouch, soft cereal, ouch. So, for supper I had a skinny cow ice cream and a bag of Funyuns. How's that for good nutrition, oh and 2 glasses of wine. So, guess who is still feeling like she is what she ate? ME! I felt really bad last night and today still have a sluggish feeling and a bad tummy ache. Let's see if I learn from this. Let's hope so.

I'm so pumped about Chicago, it's getting closer. Have a great Monday, I'm swamped.
Big Hug!
T

BYOC

1. If a major newspaper wrote an article about you today, what would the headline be?
Theresa AKA Tessie Rose was cast as the female lead in the upcoming Musical Review: "BOOBS, Lap band, not Lap Dance!", details are still sketchy but Hollywood insiders say that she is expected to be at her goal weight before production wraps in late 2011. There is still much speculation as to which of the spectacular women she will be portraying. New details will follow as soon as they are made available.
2. Name one thing you like about being an adult.

Sex (sue me)

3. What was your favorite Saturday morning cartoon when you were a kid?
I wasn't much of a cartoon watcher, but I liked Josie and the Pussycats, because they had cool outfits.
4. When is the last time you told someone HONESTLY how you felt about them?
I guess yesterday, I don't have trouble being honest with others. My problem is having others be honest with me! I'm a classic, disher not taker….but I know it and I'm working on it. (Actually I only really have problems taking it from a couple of people.)
5. Repeat question: Summarize your week in life and in blogland.
It was a good week, I really have enjoyed Thousand Word Thursday, and you guys left such sweet comments on my Hurricane blog!

On the band front: I still haven't lost anything, since my last reported loss. I keep bouncing back and forth between 2 pounds up and down and the scale just doesn't want to stay in one place. That's okay though…I know that this will take time and if I didn't have the band I'd surely be way up. I am excited about Chicago and if things work out like they usually do, I think the scale will finally move by then. I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'm looking forward to spending mine with family and college football!!! And of course, the weekend project clean!

Big Hugs!

T

Thousand word Thursday

Amy at Babbles of a Bandster asked this week for Thousand word Thursday to take a pic of your favorite decoration in your home, I couldn't narrow it down, so I did two. Happy Thursday and thanks for all of your sweet comments yesterday!
Big Hugs!
T

All of these are done by the same artist, a good friend of mine and I absolutely love them, they make me happy every time I walk in the room!

My pottery collection, I've been collecting pieces since 1982, I couldn't pick just one.

Rita was rude and Ike was icky!

Today I was thinking about all the stuff I need to get together before Chicago and I was looking at my calendar. The 24th of September is an important date, I just can't figure out why. I looked... no birthdays, no anniversaries. I don't know why but that date is sticking out in my head. Finally I realized, it's the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Rita! Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could forget that date. It was huge for me and my family. Then I realized that September 13th will be the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Ike. Wow, I guess I've been pretty busy living in the present since I didn't even realize it. September has been an eventful month for me in the last few years. I'm hoping that Chicago will become a marker of an eventful September memory that's much happier, I'm sure that it will. As I reflect on Rita and Ike, I must say that these events were life changing experiences that I don't think I would undo if I could. They were catalysts for change, they helped me grow and tested my mettle. Actually, it was Hurricane Rita that sealed the deal for me and my husband. He stepped up to the plate and helped me so much, he showed me what kind of man he was and was a huge support to me in a very difficult time.

Right before Rita, was Hurricane Katrina. It was an awful storm, the loss of life was huge and it got so much media attention. Just a month later, when Rita made her appearance and did so much damage, we were left in the shadow of Katrina. I often joked that our part of the state knew what Jan Brady felt like always living in the shadow of "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!"

I can't help but wonder if my weight loss struggle might somehow parallel the storms. So much change, letting go of things from the past, learning what's important and then eventually just moving on with your life, wondering how it is that something that took up so much of your life, could ever be a blip on the screen now? Either way, I know for sure that the human spirit is resilient and that sometimes it really does take life changing experiences to change your life.

I leave you with a few photos...."befores" if you will.

Have a great Wednesday!
Big Hug!
T

Downed power lines in my home town.

3 trees fell on my home during Rita, we also got 18 inches of muddy water in the house.

My 2 sons and I lived in a trailer like this one for 15 months, 2 months we spent with friends and family.

Hurricane Ike brought clear salty water to visit, this is my den with the water mark, we got 37 inches inside for that storm.

The beginning of the clean up, this is my front yard as we hauled soggy things to the curb.



"Flooding is kind of like having a baby, you forget how bad it hurts til it happens again!"

Thank you!

How sweet, really....I was nominated by:

Sam (http://banded4me.blogspot.com/)

and The Dash (http://carasquest.blogspot.com/)

for this lovely award. You are so nice to think of me! I'm supposed to do these things:

1. Say who gave you the award, see above.

2. State 10 things you like:

my husband
our family
my home
the South
good food
good wine
sleeping when it's raining
musical theatre
wonderful conversation
laughing
3. Give this award to 10 others.
I cannot narrow it down to 10, I would say that if you look at the comments from my last 6 posts, those are the people that I'm giving this award to. It amazes me what a wonderful community we have here. It's Wednesday and I didn't even realize it. Big Hugs!
T

Great time in New Orleans

This is John and I at Brennan's Oyster Bar
Just a few of the sights from Decadence

Good times!

We had a great time, lots of crazy costumes and fun all around. John and I really had fun together, we laughed, had some great food, plenty of drinks. It was just a really nice weekend away. We also saw Danny Bonaduce while we were on Bourbon Street. It's always fun to have a brush with a D-lister!

I want to thank you for all of your great comments on my last post, y0u are so wonderfully supportive. It means the world to me. It so tough to get back to work after a long weekend. But back to work it is. Have a great day, big hugs!

Putting it in perspective.

This is me and John on our wedding day in December 2006

This is John and I this Wednesday for date night

I'm down 38 pounds and in 9 pounds I will weigh less than my husband has ever known me to weigh. When we met, I was really big. After Hurricane Rita, I decided that I really needed to change my life, I was miserable about my weight, I was unhealthy and now living in a tiny trailer with my boys while my home was being repaired. I felt so very hopeless. I joined Weight Watchers, again and successfully lost about 80 pounds, I felt great about myself, I felt like I was winning the battle. I was in love and my home was almost finished and then I put on just a few pounds. When I got married in December 06, I weighed only 2 pounds less than I do right now, but on my wedding day I felt beautiful. I was so completely happy and I was happy with myself at that moment. But then, here I was, now married, crazy happy and adjusting to my new life and one thing led to another, many wonderful meals, dinner parties, trips, adventures, many new stresses came into my life too, another Hurricane, being displaced again only now with 3 more people and 2 dogs, neck surgery, life, more life and voila I had put on half of the weight I lost, more at times...I spent my time yoyoing, dieting and then splurging, back and forth, back and forth.

What baffles me so much is that I was looking at my wedding photos and remembering how good I felt and I realized that I only weigh 2 pounds more today than I did then...why does it feel so different this time? I guess that this is not new territory, I've been here before. The last time I was here, it was new to me. I have 9 pounds to go to get to a place that I haven't been. I'm anxious to get there. I hope if feels as exciting as it felt to break through those barriers the last time. I'm trying really hard to give myself a break and be happy with the progress, to enjoy the journey and trust the process. It's hard though, but something I think alot of us struggle with.

In any case, I'm excited to go to New Orleans this weekend with my honey. I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend. Thanks for all of your support. Big Hug!

T

Thousand Word Thursday

Okay, Amy at http://babblesofabandster.blogspot.com/ had a great idea, on Wednesdays she will post a subject, for Thursday's discussion. Today we are to snap a photo of your favorite body part. So, here it is. I like my feet, I've always liked my feet, they are big, a size 10, but they are slim, even at my heaviest, my feet always look pretty slim. This picture was snapped in my office, the floor is kind of icky and I definitely need a pedicure, but there's my right foot.

PS

I also like my left foot, both of the feet have been in my mouth numerous times, and for the record, I also like my smile and my eyes.

This was fun Amy! In other news, date night was fun, I have a cute pic of me and my hubby to post later. I hope everyone is doing great, I'm going to New Orleans this weekend to meet some friends from DC who are coming in for Southern Decadence (the biggest wildest gay festival in NOLA)! It's gonna be hot as Hell ya'll, but I guess I'm ready, I'll be sure to take some photos. I'm going to have one Hurricane at Pat O'Briens, calories be damned!

Big Hug!

T

Yippee!

I'm so excited, maybe I can be 40 down by Chicago, maybe. I'm feeling good and I'm feeling more at peace with my band lately. I still have not had another fill but I think I'm still in a good place. I think the hardest thing for me has been learning to accept the fact that it's okay to eat if I'm really truly hungry. Some days I am hungry more than other days. In fact, some days I feel like I'm hungry within a couple of hours after eating, but then some days I can go several hours. My band is fickle, but it's working and I'm pleased with the results even if they are slower than I anticipated.

Thank you all for the great comments on my pictures, you are so funny and sweet! It's one day closer to the weekend. I hope everyone has a great day!

Big Hug!

T