Miss Donna Mae! :-) :-)

You are amazing! Thank you so very much for my gifts - I love you for thinking of me so much... Yes I opened them! I waited until last night when I brought my daughter home from the airport so I had someone to share with!!! She said that I am very lucky to have found people that care so much Merry Christmas ... love you!!! Linda

well you're very welcome!! I hope there was nothing broken, but if it was don't tell me I'll feel too bad!! It was fun, and you were a fun person to buy for. Yes, we are lucky we have this board. I think ours is so special. Merry Christmas to you Linda -- oh and ahem, a new man in your life!! How cool is that!! Have fun!! love donna

You are an amazing person - I just thought I would let you know that I am wearing the top and earrings you sent to me and I have gotten so many compliments on both this morning...I love the color (green glaze)!!! I feel so pretty today thanx to YOU! (oh and nothing was broken - I LOVE the size of the mug!! and I will burn the candle on Christmas Eve day while we are just hanging around the house - it smells so good even without being lit!!) Merry Christmas Donna - 2007 is looking very bright for all of us... (and yes - there are ummm "several" new men in my life - I decided that it was time for me to get out and have some fun so I put a profile on a personals site...WOW at the response!! Yes...there are DEFINATELY some major psychos out there but there are also some nice guys - I'm not looking for exclusivity at this point - new attitude, new body, new life - all adjustments that I need to get thru - I have some huge trust issues that I am dealing with all but I am trying - and all that matters is that I am having a good time ) Love you...hugsssssssssssssss... Linda

Hi Linda, I'm glad you liked them. It's so funny I looked at that top and just thought, this is Linda!! And I'm sure you look beautiful today, as you do every day!!! Several new men!! Ahhhh, leave some out there for some of the other ladies!! What fun you must be having. And that is what is important, to have fun. I always remember when I was a young girl going out on a date, my mom would always say 'be careful' (whatever that meant -- I said it too!!), and my dad would say 'have fun'. He always told me that when I left, 'have fun'. I can imagine how strange it feels too to let someone in your life even on a casual basis. I've read where women say when should I tell him I've had gastric, do I tell him, is it important?? So how do you feel about that? I personally tell everyone. I always feel that the good hype is better to get out there than bad hype!! Oh, one more thing and then I'm back to making fudge and cookies -- how does your daughter feel about you dating? That must seem strange to her, as well. love nosey donna

you're not nosey silly - I'm actually glad you care enough to ask the questions! And it really helps to put my feelings into words so feel free to ask away! It was a strange decision making process - when or if to mention the WLS - I'm guessing that I must be very comfortable with it because I have been telling my new "friends" by the second date. I think it's important for several reasons - #1 I am probably the most honest person you will meet (almost to a fault) and #2 IF things progress to the intimacy level there is the skin issue that needs to be addressed. It just so happens that the skin issue was the part that was making me the most nervous and I'm finding out that by being upfront and very honest about it it really isn't as big of a deal as I assumed and feared it would be. It is what it is and until I hit lotto or marry a very rich man it will have to remain an issue (unless insurance miraculously chooses to cover everything I need done).. I (obviously) am a huge advocate of this surgery so I feel that if I can educate even just 1 person I'm giving back some of what I've been given...the men that I've told ask questions and have really supported me - so that makes me happy As for my daughters - I wasn't very worried about telling my older daughter that I am dating - she's very accepting of it...my fear was telling my baby and we talked about it on Sunday night when she got home from Rome - she was very mature about it which really surprised both myself and my oldest daughter...as they said .. it's been 3 years since my ex and I split it's time for mom to meet someone and be happy again! I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of both those girls...I love them more than life itself and they are such a great support system. I am going home tonight to make chocolate chip cookies...it's all I have left to make other than the pies which I will make on Christmas Eve morning... love you.... Linda