hello, i'm trying to get a group of people together to go with me and my boyfriend on our yearly cruise out of galveston. we usually go alone, but it would definitely would be more fun with people. especially people like me (post op). even though we've already started booking it's not to late. here's the information below. let me know if anyone is interested. p.s. i like all of the free stuff that our group can get (e.g., $100!!!!!) WILLIAMS BIRTHDAY CRUISE CARNIVAL'S ELATION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2004 · 7 DAYS ITINERARYDATE PORT OR ACTIVITY ARRIVE DEPART DAY SUN DEC 12 GALVESTON, TX 4:00PM MON DEC 13 AT SEA TUE DEC 14 PROGRESO / MERIDA, MEXICO 8:00AM 4:00PM WED DEC 15 COZUMEL, MEXICO 9:00AM 5:00PM THU DEC 16 BELIZE CITY, BELIZE 8:00AM 6:00PM FRI DEC 17 AT SEA SAT DEC 18 AT SEA SUN DEC 19 GALVESTON, TX 8:00AM GROUP PRICE QUOTE 1ST AND 2ND PASSENGER CATEGORY INSIDE 4A $451.50 PER PERSON OCEANVIEW 6A $551.50 PER PERSON AirfareAirfare is available upon request. Pre-paid GratuitiesOptional pre-paid gratuities: $70.00 per person Travel InsuranceTravel insurance is highly recommended to protect against covered unexpected events. You may purchase insurance through your travel counselor up to 48 hours before departure. See the enclosed CSA Travel Insurance brochure to read more about your insurance options. DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT SCHEDULE AMOUNT DUE DATE $25.00 PER PERSON FEBRUARY 14, 2004 FIRST DEPOSIT $225.00 PER PERSON JULY 9, 2004 SECOND DEPOSIT $201.50 PER PERSON SEPTEMBER 10, 2004 FINAL PAYMENT Additional cruise informationYour group will receive: Champagne and chocolates in each stateroom. There will be one shared ****tail party. Each cabin will receive a $100 on-board credit. Prices quoted are valid until 2/14/2004 and are based on a minimum of 8 double occupancy staterooms. They include port charges and taxes, but do not include airfare or (where applicable) airport taxes or fees. This quote was printed January 20, 2004 at 3:22 PM (CST).

I think you look great. What's your story? It's not easy, but you manage to get through it. Thanks for the compliment, I feel 20 yrs. younger and wish I had done this 20 yrs. ago... Keep in touch Bobbi

I'm in Iowa and when I went to my surgeon last month - his nurse was saying "when you have your plastics" (like she KNEW I was going to! ha!) But they have a surgeon there who cuts you at your bikini line ALL THE WAY AROUND (my first stupid thought was "what if your legs all off" ... duh!) Anyway, then they pull it all up and down and cut off the extra and sew "your legs back on" ... she said it takes care of the tummy, buttocks upper thighs ... But she said it was WAY painful and took about 6 months to feel good again, but that people look FANTASTIC that have had that. I was squeamish about open RNY - and was glad to have had the lap. I don't know if I could do something like that ... I wish there was something you could just put in your bathwater - and take a long soak. The longer you soaked the tighter your skin would shrink. Yeah, that's the ticket! Incredible shrinking skin potion!

I am finding it easier to eat more ... but mostly its because of poor choices I am CHOOSING to make. I eat every meal (nearly every meal) from a 4 ounce ramekin. I got several of these at Walmart. I know I am rounding it up sometimes and I probably get 5 ounces easily. What I find myself doing (I don't dump, get sick or nuthin' on NUTHIN' ... good and bad there!) is eating MORE often. NOT GOOD. And the last two days I'm a sugar fiend. I wish I could have some type of 'governing device' even if it WAS being sick as a dog! *LOL* I am trying VERY hard to not eat bigger portions than what I have mentioned, because I do NOT want to stretch my tummy out. But I am finding that often I am eating MORE OFTEN. So instead of 3 small 4 ounce meals - I might eat 4-5 of them a day. One thing I have found that I am LOVING is some Quaker oatmeal - a packet makes exactly 1/2 cup. It is the Raisin,Date,Nut kind. I hate milk, so I just eat it like it is and YUMMY. I bought some flaxseed today and am going to add a spoonful of that to my oatmeal each day and see if that helps me feel better or anything. I guess it has lots of fiber in it. I've lost right at 100 pounds since surgery - 5/27/2003 and have about 15-20 to get to my goal of 148. I'm 5'10" -- that is my doctor's goal.

May 15th is my New Life day also...! I am down from 406 to 255 lbs... My goal was 250 but I think I will be trying for a bit more... Yes I hear you on all that seat stuff...? Going out to eat, the movies, can't wait to go to Disney World and go on every ride they have...! Maybe it is just me but do you some times still think you are large and not going to be able to fit in the seats... I went out to eat the other day and I was still worried about fitting into the booth? I fit no problem but... Just had that feeling still in my brain...???? Weird...?