What a great time!

Just wanted to share a few thoughts on the OH conference... First, it was terrific meeting Carmen and Pam finally! Next...Gail & Duane...I hope you found your way to here. Please feel free to jump on anytime! I was able to meet some pretty terrific people and that was a real treat. Dr. Ganz was fantastic! She is such a mesmorizing speaker! I walked away from every single session with added education...and in most cases, new friends. My favorite session? It was a Q&A on post-op plastic surgery. It was a very small class and us girls may have embarassed the few guys who were in there with some pretty dirrect questions about 'the girls'. I noticed one of the only two guys left about half-way through. LOL! Poor guy. The speaker, Dr. Martin, was terrific! I REALLY can't wait till my consult on January 8th now! The vendors were terrific. I loved talking with the woman from AchievOne...doesn't surprise you guys though since I love AchievOne so much, huh? Speaking of which..they brought enough and kept enough cold, that I never had to drink any of the ones I had brought with me! I also came home with vitamins, protein mix, and protein bars to taste test. Mmmmm.... A special kudo's to Darlene for arranging a clothing exchange there. Everyone doesn't have regular ones like we do here in IN so it was a very good thing. I didn't win the contest as a cheerleader, but sure had fun anyway! I danced as much as I could, but my foot gave out early. I ended up in my pj's and my foot propped up by 9:45!! (fyi...I had a bunion surgery 8/11 and have only been back into shoes for about 3 weeks). I'll get the few pics I have on my camera on my profile as soon as I can. Oh! There was an entry form to get into a contest for a cruise! Would love to get Bill on a boat with me! Anyway, with the announcement about that entry form was the statement that if you drew a picture on the back, you'd have a better chance at winning. I think it was because a child was drawing the winning form. So....you know me and my creative juices. I drew a pic (and I am NO artist!) of a overweight woman looking into a full-length mirror of herself...but the image is thin. I then wrote a poem. I don't remember all of it..and didn't think to write down a copy of it for 'me' but the first part said 'Mirror, mirror on the wall; Show me now thin and tall;'. Hmmm...hope that child can read words too and not just look at pics! LOL! The drawing isn't until December. I'll let you know if I win....lol!!! Lexington...I'd like to say it's real lovely, but it rained almost the entire time so I don't know. I CAN say this about it though, there is a Dodge service place...Freedom something...that is terrific! My throttle sensor went out on our way down so the last 42 miles was spent with my Durango accelerating to an RPM of 4-5 and then jerking back down to 1-2. Very nerve wrecking! We had it at Freedom by 7:05 Friday morning. By 9, it was fixed. Any of you who have waited for your car to be fixed knows what the waiting room and restrooms normally look like. Freedom's could have competed with Radison's and WON! When is the last time you got to sit on an over-stuffed sofa, watching a wide-screen LCD TV...to which, you have the remote control for... drinking a complimentary cuppacino and eating a complimentary blueberry muffin???? No, I didn't do that...but could have because it was all there! Instead, I bought me a bottle of water and checked my email at their complimentary computer station! The Radison....hmm... it was 'ok'. The accomidations for the conference was good...except a few room name mix ups..but people took that with a good sence of humor. Our room had sleep number beds, but I couldn't tell the differene between 100 and 25 so I still don't know my sleep number...lol. I think they need to replace some sink vanities. Ours wasn't in too good of shape. I was disappointed in their maid service. To start with, I went to make me a pot of coffee Friday morning. Like a good post-op, I go to open the decaf package. It's opened, coffee gone, and just the sugars/creamers/stirrers are in it! So ok, use regular (and drink lots of water during the day!). That package was still sealed at least. Then I take the pot in the restroom to fill with water...and there is still some old coffee left in the pot! It was never cleaned out from the person who had the room before us! So, I clean it & make coffee. That day, I left a note asking for extra decaf along with a $5 tip (ok, a bribe!). What did I get? ONE pack of decaf! Guess that was 'extra' compared to none! Guess who got NO TIP for the 2nd day! Grrr... Lastly, I'd like to thank my roomie Donna. Donna kept her cool that entire 42 miles of jerking down the highway. She stood by me when someone decided to lecture me on drinking a carbinated drink (diet root beer) even though I'm 2 yr post op..and MY doctor told me it was ok to have it once you are 3-6 months post-op. We explored some (found Redman's) and shopped (she shopped, I bought...lol). It was alot of fun and Donna, I hope you enjoyed yourself too! Everyone who went..hope you enjoyed yourself as well...and to those who didn't...if you have an opportunity to in the future, go. You will find it is so enlightening. Sherri

Hi Sherri, Glad to hear you two made it home just fine, we stayed just a few doors down from you and Donna, I agree with you I was not thrilled with the sleep number beds. I never did get a good night sleep, neither did mom. I also learned so much from the lecturers, especially Dr. Gantz, I had a lovely time and was sad to see how empty the place looked this morning as we were getting off the elevator at the 2nd floor. By the way I think you should have won the costume contest. Brenda

Brenda, Awe darn! Wish I had known that we had Indiana neighbors that close!! Sherri