Saturday Roll Call

Well, we made it up here safe and sound with a detour through some small towns. We regularly listen to a small christian radio station from Madison that we can start receiving at about the Rockford area. They were giving the traffic details and were saying there was a bad accident on the interstate just a little north of Madison so I whipped out the map real quick and found a different route. We did not set any time records getting up here but we got here safe and that is all that counts. We have some plans to see some fall colors today. On the drive up we could see the trees changing and many of them are just spectacular. There is a narrow gauge rail road that has a little ride that we are going to go on and then we will wing it from there, probably just do a lot of walking and maybe get over to the outlet mall and walk somemore there.

Take care and have a great day. Come on in you newbies and tell us about yourselves. Christine

Hi everyevery one!  I have been waiting for Saturday all week.  Today my DH Joe and my son Jacob and me are going into Hoffman Estates to Goeberts Pumpkin Patch.  I have been going there since I was a little one and now Jacob is going to be able to enjoy it too.  I am still on the hunt to find the perfet Halloween Comstume for Jacob.  I want him to be a dog or a lion.  A costume where the head of the animal isn't on top the hood.  I want one where there is just ears on the hood and his face i could decorate if I wanted to.  Oh well.... sounds trival I know.  I was hoping for a nice autumn day ... cute halloween sweatshirt on Jacob for all the pictures.  But NO, its going to be pushing 90.  We are going to take my Aunt Ree with us and then out to lunch at Houlinan's because I still have a GC to use from Christmas '06.  My Aunt Ree is like a grandma to me...and today I am going to tell her that I am going to being having surgery in 2 1/2 weeks.  I know that she isn't going to take it well.  I have heard her say Negative things  to my cousins that have had gastric surgerys.  But I have it all planned out how/what I am going to say.  Wish me luck.   Well that is my day in a nutshell.  Hope everyone enjoys their weekends!   Gina

Good Morning Gina, Chris, and Mary, Well I feel much better today I had a run in with the flu bug,but I think I a getting over it anyway I lost 4 lbs, not too bad for not eatting for two days,  Gina, have a good time at the Pumpkin patch today, and good luck with your anut. hope everything goes ok with her, Chris enjoy your day hope you see alot of pretty colors on you drive Christina, tell your hd to be careful with his diet my aunt got real sick on that diet, I wish him good luck with it, Mary sorry to hear about you foot, hope you can get it feeling better soon, everyone else hope you have a great day I think Summer is back

Good Morning IL - Not much to report.. Just another work day for me.  I did order some stuff from Medifast so I can't wait to get that.  The tracking shows it should arrive on Tuesday.  Calvin is going to try to do Optifast per the recomendation of our surgeon and I'm just looking for higher protein foods/snacks to incorporate into my day and they have some decent options.    I'll have to report what I like later.  I've tried a few samples and over all, it's not too bad. Ok, I hope everyone has a great day! Christina

Christina, Dave and I liked the Medifast soups, puddings, bars. Dave likes the chili and scrambled eggs. I was not fond of those last two. I do find that the soups and puddings need a litle extra s&p or Splenda. The chicken noodle and the chicken rice are really filling. Chris

Good Morning Chris and IL, Today is going to be a major laundry and cleaning day.  Time to start getting the fall/winter things out and the others put away. It is going to be a warm one today , just got ack from a walk.  I need to see that foot doc again as I am know having heel pain and it is affecting my gait when I walk. Enjoy your trip Chris, do you stay at the same place when you go up ?  Where is the outlet mall as I am planning a stop up there on my way to visit a friend in nothern WI  next month. Have a wonderful time and everyone enjoy this lovely weather. Mary

Mary, we have like 5-6 favs of little hotel/motels we stay at. The only water park hotel we stay at is Chula Vista. The Tanger mall is at exit 92 which is the exit for Kalahri and the casino. Chris

Today is the begining of Spoon River drive. For those thats not familiar here is the link http://www.spoonriverdrive.org/   it is a fun way to get in a lot of walking. The weather is grat for it too. Last year it was all rainy.  Tomorrow is my stepdads memorial service. Then Tuesday morning there will be a military service, at our local park.  Nice to see Christina and Calvin at support group. Christina thank you for your kind words. It was also nice seeing Christine and Dave at support group I enjoy coming and seeing faces from the board. I also enjoyed meeting some new ppl. I was able to share some of my experiences with lap band.

Hope to see everyone next month. Karen

Hi IL Board members!!! Wow...sounds like you are all gonna have a great weekend!!  I am working, of course...but, my vacation is scheduled for the end of the month. I can't wait!!!! I've been doing really well with walking....After the Walk from Obesity, I think I got hooked on walking!! I take the dogs every morning after work for a 1-2 mile walk...it keeps them tired and happy for the rest of the day while I get some rest. Last week, I participated in a 4K walk for an animal shelter....and I've signed up for a nearby 5K walk for next weekend in River Forest.......I made sure to check that it's ok to bring one of my four-legged walking buddies. If anyone out there lives in the Chicago/Oak Park/River Forest area and needs a walking buddy, please contact me. Everyone have a great day!! Paula

The fall colors will probably be at their peak up here in about 9-10 days, but they are not too bad right now. The little train ride was great and even better because we had a 2 for 1 coupon. Chris