WLS Monthly Meetup in Chicago

Anytime a thread has more than 5 responses it is considered HAWT!!!! as you put it.

Be patient as it is a holiday weekend and some are not real active on the board right now.

 I think what several people are trying to say to you is good luck with your group.  There are many groups that people belong to and I am sure your's will help those who join.

For many of us on the Illinois board who post daily, we have become friends and support each other in ALL areas of our lives.  We are friends and care about each other beyond WLS surgery.  We have tried to extend a hand of friendship to you.  If you choose not to take it, that is fine.  But do not think that your group is the ONE and ONLY group available.  Your knowledge may be helpful to others on this board but not all of us live in your area to attend your meetings.  Have you considered posting ideas here that ALL may take advantage of?

Wow, I'm really not sure how to respond to that Nancy. I'm just chattin' about my new group and hoping to welcome folks who'd like to come out and make new friends. My only intention has been to get the word out about my group beyond the promotion that MeetUp.com does. I'm sure that if the moderators of this board feel that the promotion of a group outside of OH is against the terms of service in any way that they will remove this thread.

I've become an enthusiastic MeetUp.com member in the past year and wanted to create a group I could lead myself. It has a particular special interest focus. I don't think there's anything exclusionary about that. The group can't be all things to all people! People at different points in their journey have different types of support they need. This is just my way to contribute and reach out to other people like me who'd like to make kindred and understanding friends in Chicago. I certainly hope people who are looking for other types of groups will find what they're looking for!

So does this address your concerns? I don't actually understand where you're coming from.

 You certainly are not violating terms of service.  I wish you the best in your group.  I can understand your being excited about it.  But, you are coming off as very unfriendly.  People are asking you to come and join us on occasion and you have flatly refused.    You seem to think that your group is the ONE and ONLY group.  More power to you.  With your attitude, I hope you end up with a group. I do not normally bite people that try to be friendly to me.  But that seems to be your mode of operating.  So, just continue to ignore us and go on thinking that you have the best group around and that the members of the Illinois board have nothing to offer you.    We have tried, and you have turned your back to us at every turn.  Maybe this is clear enough for you to understand.  

Hi again, DagnyK: I'm definately interested in the Chicago angle, but will being starting out with the broader Illinois group and adding from there as I get my sealegs. I feel like I'm absorbing soooooo much at once, as my health ha**** a critcal mass of yuckiness, and I'm now attempting to test blood glucose daily, count carbs (never counted carbs before - just cals, fat and fiber, and that was years ago), and learning as much as possible about WLS (along with the emotional freak-outs that process stirs up for me). So, I'll be tardy to the Chicago party, so the speak, but I'll be there sooner or later! Don't give up~! :) 

Newbie question: Why do posts and replies occassionally show the astericks within the text? Why does the system replace the text with the astericks?

It all depends if you have your settings to adult contents or not. I have mine set to adult but still get the **. I think it is an OH glitch.

 Hi Dagny

The reason for the astericks are filters that are placed on the websites to remove adult content.  You can edit this out on your preference on your main site.  For example what was starred out here were the first letters of the phrase "put in super surprise "   Even though it was several words combined the tail end of one word and the next two words formed what some would term a swear word.  Hope that explains. 

If you have any questions at all, you are in the right place.  You can start your own post or chime in on the daily roll call and ask away.  We will all be glad to answer any questions you may have as we have all been where you are at some time.  It sure is confusing and overwhelming in the beginning and that is where this site is soooo helpful.  

Welcome! 

Nancy I just couldn't guess that one particular word. I'm still not sure!

I used to be an active member here from 2004 to about early 2006, roughly a year before and a year after my surgery. During that time I also hosted a blog that eventually drew some 80,000 visitors. I grew it into a webring with over 40 linked blogs by women in various stages of WLS. It was called "Sassy Ladies of WLS" a twist on the "Gorgeous Ladies of WWF" I still keep in touch with several of those people. Eventually I felt a need to "move on" and break somewhat from being the "former fattie" and I retired my blog and webring. I reached a point where I just wanted to look forward and be the person I had become instead of a "former" anything.

As I approach my five year anniversary I feel my journey continuing to evolve. I just want to connect to those people who walk my path. As it happens, I'd like to go beyond a messageboard with a specialized focus, face to face. I hope to make some 'IRL" friends. I hope my group might facilitate some strong and lasting connections. The "meet and greet" events sound great, I'm sure folks enjoy those and will continue to!

 Just to let you know, we are friends in real life!  This is a pretty tight knit group.  We are here for each other.