The Birthday Patrol is here to honor our very own: Darrol Houser of Lancaster CA Jamie Kluck (Smileyjamie72) of Palmer, AK Linda Murphy of Albany, NY Nannu Caraway of Marbury, AL Patricia Cohen of Mena, AR Shantamar of Northport, AL HAPPY BIRTHDAY ... YOU GO, DEAR FRIENDS, IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! God bless you and may all your wishes come true!! & {{{HUGS}}} & Melissa Mermaid & All Your AMOS Pals P.S. The Birthday Patrol celebrates your real birthday (not surgery anniversary dates). This way EVERYONE can participate. Click on "Birthday Patrol" (profile link) to find out how to sign up for the Birthday Patrol. Customarily, ONLY THOSE WHO ACTIVELY SIGN UP FOR BIRTHDAY PATROL ARE ACKNOWLEDGED BY A POST ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS. Please do not feel left out if you don't "sign up" ... There is no other system available to us for gathering this information. Birthday Patrol is NOT an official OH project. P.P.S. VERY IMPORTANT: If you have ALREADY REGISTERED for "Birthday Patrol," please double-check the list in about a week after submitting to make sure you're on it; the computer has not always been kind!

I have been using the Walking Forum as my own personal space to log my walking goals. I have decided to expand a little and issue a challenge to all the walkers in OH land. HOW IT WORKS Set a goal in minutes or miles for the month of February. Every time you walk, go to the walking forum and log it. At the end of the month see it you reached your goal. It is that simple! EXAMPLE I will walk 10 hours in the month of February. or I will walk 25 miles in the month of February. These can be any type of walks - around the neighborhood, the track, treadmill, mall walks, Walk Away the Pound videos, what ever. But they do need to be walks, not exercise in general. Come on, let's get out there and walk! Seven

Boston Gathering of Friends of WLS Friday, March 24, 2006 - Sunday, March 26, 2006 Adults Only Registration Deadline is February 10, 2006 Late Registration Deadline is March 3, 2006 This weekend is about connecting with people that can understand the journey we have taken and having some fun with fellow WLSers and support people. I have finalized the Hotel information for the Boston Gathering. The cost of the hotel is $79.00/per night, this is per room. You can call the hotel to make your reservations at 1-800-325-3535 or (781) 848-0600 by March 3, 2006: Sheraton Braintree Hotel 37 Forbes Road Braintree, MA 02184 (Exit 6 off Interstate 93/state Route 128 ) We have been very fortunate to secure the $79.00 room rate again this year. The hotel has a good size pool, hot tub and saunas. They also have a full gym (Braintree Athletic Club) they offer daily memberships at $7.00 a day. If nothing else, it's a great get away for the dreary end of winter... As a lot of us did at past gatherings, I recommend doubling, tripling and quadrupling up. Saturday during the day you will be free to go sightseeing in Boston or do whatever you like. There is a wonderful shopping mall across the street from the Hotel. It is a very reasonable car ride from PA, NJ, NY, CT, NH, VT, ME, MD, RI If you are interested in flying into Boston you have three airports to choose from. The first one is Boston''''s Logan International Airport, the other two are located about an hour away from Boston. They are in Manchester, New Hampshire and Providence, Rhode Island (TF Green). There is a shuttle to the hotel from Boston''''s Logan Airport. Braintree is also on the T''''s red line (the T is Boston's rapid transit). The red line is accessible to South Station (where most Amtrak''s come into from the South.) The Tara (as it's known in the area) will gladly pick you up from the Quincy Adams T station. Please feel free to bring your Significant Other, but children will not be allowed at the Friday night or Saturday night events.In addition the Boston area has a WEALTH of nearby attractions. In late March you're looking at doable weather for walking trips in Boston. Also historic Plymouth is only a 40 minute drive (the Plimoth Plantation and the Mayflower are there) And Quincy, the next town over is historically rich as well. Here is a brief overview of the weekend festivities: Friday, March 24, 2006 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Mix and Mingle 10:00 p.m.- 11:00 p.m. - Private Pool Party Saturday, March 25, 2006 5:30 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. - Dinner/Dancing - Keynote Speaker being arranged Sunday, March 26, 2006 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Farewell Breakfast Here are the costs associated with the weekend. COSTS: Deadline: February 10, 2006 Post-op = $67.00 Pre-op/Support = $80.00 This includes the following Registration Fee = $25.00 Saturday Night Meal = $32.00 (4oz - post-op) = $37.00 (8oz - pre-op and support) Sunday Breakfast = $10.00 (4oz - post-op) = $18.00 (8oz - pre-op and support) COSTS: Deadline: March 3, 2006 - LATE REGISTRATION - Money Orders Only will be accepted Post-op = $92.00 Pre-op/Support = $105.00 This includes the following Registration Fee = $50.00 Saturday Night Meal = $32.00 (4oz - post-op) = $37.00 (8oz - pre-op and support) Sunday Breakfast = $10.00 (4oz - post-op) = $18.00 (8oz - pre-op and support) I am still working on getting a charter sightseeing tour similar to the duck tours we did last year, so more information on that to follow. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at [email protected]. Hope to see you all there!!!! Marie Friends of WLS

ObesityHelp Hawaii Cruise 2006 Norwegian Cruise Lines - Pride of Aloha! Welcome to The Whole New Hawaii!!! Imagine Hawai'i. What do you see? O'ahu's glittering Diamond Head and dazzling Waikiki Beach? Maui's lush valleys, tropical beaches, waterfalls and rainforests? Kaua'i's spectacular Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon? Or the Big Island of Hawai'i's volcanoes, black-sand beaches and 13,000-foot-high mountains? Hawai'i is a kaleidoscope of natural beauty, and each island offers a unique and thrilling experience of its own. So which Hawai'i Island do you choose? We invite you to experience them all - on one unforgettable life-changing vacation. Come and join us while we travel and learn together. We had a marvelous time while sailing to Alaska this past summer - so now we are headed for warmer weather and clear blue waters. We will be joined by some wonderful speakers who will share their pearls of wisdom while you collect your own pearls from the beaches of Hawaii. Come and spend a vacation with you WLS friends and family. ObesityHelp will be there to take care of your needs and feed your brain. We will let the chef feed your pouch. Some of the classes that we will be holding are: Chair Exercise that anyone can do - anywhere Road Signs to Success I've lost all of the weight...now what What do I do with all of this skin - I do not like the layered look Thin Brained vs. Fat Brained Behavior Changes in becoming the New You Scrap booking Class Craft time under the palms Where did all my Vitamins Go? Learn to walk again with Grace! These are just a few of the many options that you will have for learning and sharing. We will have plenty of time to see the sites and play. You can be as busy as you choose or do nothing at all - That's the beauty of a cruise. Hope you will join us. Monica Ganz, Ph.D. Director of Events and Chapters ObesityHelp, Inc. 866-957-4636 x 385 I would be happy to mail this information to anyone who would be interested in this amazing cruise vacation. Simply call our office and request the packet for the ObesityHelp Hawaii Cruise 2006. Just a $300.00 fully-refundable*, per-person deposit holds your space. All-Star Cruises & Travel, Inc. is a fully-certified, full-service travel agency. We are ARC-appointed, CLIA-approved, IATAN-approved and members of ASTA. We take very seriously our commitment to excellence. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Mr. Daniel J. Schmier President/Dean of Students PS. We're asking that everyone get deposits in ASAP. We're working to get our group a complementary cabin upgrades through Norwegian Cruise Lines and they won't consider it until all deposits have been received. ObesityHelp Hawai'i Cruise 2006 Sailing Date: Sunday, November 5, 2006 Cruise Company: Norwegian Cruise Lines Name of Ship: Pride of Aloha Itinerary: Sunday ~ Depart Honolulu, O'ahu Monday ~ Nawiliwili, Kaua'i Tuesday ~ Nawiliwili, Kaua'i (Scenic Cruising) Wednesday ~ Hilo, Hawai'i (Evening Sail by Mt. Ki'Lauea) Thursday ~ Koni, Hawai'i Friday ~ Kahului, Maui (Optional Tour to Lana'i Available) Saturday ~ Kahului, Maui Sunday ~ Honolulu, O'ahu Group space held: Category K (inside) 30 cabins Category KK (inside) 11 cabins Category E (oceanview) 30 cabins Category BC (oceanview w/balcony) 5 cabins Catogory BB (oceanview w/balcony) 21 cabins Catogory AA (Owner's Suite) 3 cabins *Cruise Cost: Category K (inside) - $899 per person (3rd/4th guest $479) Category KK (inside) - $910 per person (3rd guest $479) Category E (oceanview) - $1219 per person (3rd/4th guest $529) Category BC (oceanview w/balcony) $1569 per person (3rd guest $589) Catogory BB (oceanview w/balcony) $1609 per person (3rd guest $589) Catogory AA (Owner's Suite) $4189 per person (3rd/4th/5th guests $919) Included in Cruise Package: Seven night sailing aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines Pride of Aloha, a ****tail party as hosted by Dan Schmier from All-Star Cruises & Travel, Inc., Obesity Help onboad conference fees, port charges and taxes.

Hi, We are doing a fun game with the December 2004 babies and the January 2005 babies on seeing who is the biggest losers. We need everyone who had surgery in December 2004 to join us if they wish. All you have to do is click on the link below and click reply on the first post to Liz and tell her how much you have lost to date and she will add that to our number of pounds shed. http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/12-2004/postdetail/11790.html?vc=0