GOOD FRIDAY MORNING FROM 'NAPOLIS!!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!! IT'S FRIDAY! AND I'M IN ANNAPOLIS - AND I PROBABLY GET TO LEAVE EARLY!!! WOO-HOO!! Boo-hoo, though, gotta get my driver's license renewed before Sunday! NOTE TO MORONS ON SB 895: The fast lane is called that for a reason. It is not the lane in which you try to control traffic by driving at a sedate 53. Are you impervious to the dirty looks you're getting as we pass you???? GET....OUT....OF....MY....WAY!!! Enough said. So, that pretty much sums up my drive to work this a.m.!! Hope everyone has a great weekend!! My brother's in OC and will be home tomorrow, so I'll have KB tonight until MOTY gets off, and then she'll drop them off tomorrow at 6:15 - poor KB, they never get to sleep in. Not that B would, he's usually waiting at the top of the steps for me!! K will go back to sleep until about 10 or so - lucky girl! Then, they're going to help me bake a carrot cake for my brother's bday, which is Saturday. Since mine is Sunday, and we always celebrate together, we'll probably go to dinner somewhere, just the two of us, on Saturday. I hear a glass of sangria calling my name!!! But just one! Then on Sunday, I'm meeting my bgf for a birthday latte (Mo!), and then the whole family is going to dinner. Then cake and ice cream and PRESENTS!!!! I took off on Monday, and Mom & I are going to Lexington Market to buy our 15 pounds of steakfish for our Good Friday dinner. We'll probably have lunch at our fave Greek restaurant, then I have a dr. appt. at 1, then we'll do some shopping. Somewhere in all that, I need to type, I've been getting inundated with tapes - thank God these folks do stuff wrong or I couldn't earn comp time!!!! So that's it - turning 40 doesn't seem to be as painful as I'd feared - for one, I'm in better physical health than I've ever been, and I'm so grateful for the gift of wls. I just wish I'd done it 20 years ago!! Have a great day and a wonderful weekend!!! And remember, DRIVE IT LIKE YA STOLE IT!!! Tia

Hi Tia, Hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful birthday!!! Oh to be 40 again I will be 49 on my birthday!!! Have a great one!!!! Stephanie

Thanks, Steph! Actually, I don't mind too much - I kind of wish I had someone special in my life, but I AM grateful for what I have, my family, my friends, a job (although not one I like), and all of you! I'm truly blessed! BTW, I think I remember reading (or did I dream it?) that you were concerned about hair loss? I lost hair beginning at month 3 post-op and lasting until month 6 or 7. The best advice I can give you is - don't stress, it'll make it worse. You won't go bald, and the best way to look at it is - I'd rather be thinner with thinner hair than heavier with thicker hair!! Twisted, I know, but really, in the whole scheme of things, it's not a huge deal. And I didn't have a lot to lose - my hair's pretty thin to begin with. I did take Biotin (Walmart), but I didn't buy Nioxin. Pantene has a great 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner that strengthens hair - I think the formula is called Daily Moisture Renewal. They also have a line called Restoratives, and I use a leave-in conditioner/lotion that comes in a pump bottle. Try them, maybe they'll help. You have a great weekend, too! Tia

Hi Tia! Don't those slow drivers in the fast lane just drive you bonkers! I am hoping to get some sleep this weekend. I am also going to work on several tasks at home. I have lesson plans for my girls club that i teach and I need to work on some PTA After Prom stuff. I am in charge of food but I have no idea what to do. I don't know who to ask for donations and I am told we have to have a letter from the school but I don't have the letter. Prom is less than a month away! I am a bit worried. It seems we are just not able to get the support we need and we have taken far too long to get organized. Happy Birthday!!! My daughter was teasing me the other day about me turning 40 in a few years. She said that was so old. I told her that Oprah says that 40 is the new 20. Steph said that Oprah says that because she is 50 and wants to feel young. Out of the mouths of babes. Sometimes I could just slap her! Just kidding. Well, I had better go. I am heading off to the gym in 10 minutes and I need to make two calls before I go. Hugs, Robin

Hey Robin - Thanks for the bday wishes!! Yep, sleep is on my wish list, too! My only problem is that once I'm asleep, I'm usually gone for 2-3 hours - no 15 minute power naps for me! Okay, for the after prom party - which is a great idea, btw, keeps 'em off the streets and safe! I would have the school principal draft a letter - short and sweet, asking local businesses - grocery stores, restaurants, liquor stores, video stores, hair salons, etc., for either cash donations or donations of their products for give-aways. You might also call the local MADD chapter - they may be interested in sponsoring it. Also, your local police department - a lot of time, Fraternal Order of Police lodges will donate $$! Once you've got your letter drafted, just make a bunch of copies - if you're the contact person, make sure your contact info is in there. If there's a grocery store in the area with a deli and a bakery, you might be able to secure a lot of your food that way. Also, you might want to think about donating any leftovers to any homeless shelters - but call them first, they may have rules on taking food donations. Also, check with your church's finance committee, they may be willing to help. Well, hope this helps! I love to plan parties - especially when I'm spending other people's $$$! Have a great weekend and get some rest! Tia

(((Tia!))) Happy happy Friday to you!!!! Sounds like you have a busy birthday weekend ahead of you! Happy Birthday!!! You don't look 40 at all! You are in great health and have so much going for you! I think this is going to be a great year for you!!! (the kiss is from Eric) Nice and gentlemanly on the cheek! I haven't been to Lexington Market in years. They have a place like that in Cleveland that my bro and I visit every time I am there. I love it! That's where I met the cute butcher and I'll have to make sure to stop at his stand next time too! LOL He makes awesome City Chicken. Going out tonight with some friends. I am bound and determined to have a good time! Hoping a certian someone is there....he's great eye candy!! LOL Tomorrow I am going to Baltimore to my parents. My sister and my niece are both in town so I get a double dose of family! I haven't seen my niece since last summer so this should be fun. Sunday is wide open so far and I think after tonight and tomorrow I'm going to need it for some R&R. I did laundry last night so that is out of the way. I could get into some cleaning but not sure I really want to. Work is OK today. Not too much going on so I actually have some free time. The auto business is slow all the way around right now. Hopefully it picks up soon or I'll start bringing a pillow to work to take a nap! Take a bite of carrot cake for me! That was one of my all-time favorites before surgery!!!! YUM! Have a great and wonderful birthday girlie!!!!!!! Lots of birthday hugs to you!!!!! ~Heather

Aw, thanks sweetie! Right back at ya! And Eric! With a ladylike smooch! I've heard of City Chicken - it's not really chicken, though, right? Veal or pork or something? Do tell! Lex Market has a Rheb's stall - the most sublime chocolate I've ever had. And I will have some - I find that a little of the quality stuff does me better than a lot of s/f stuff! Yep, got a famous carrot cake recipe along with cream cheese frosting - it's a hit with everyone. Mom's making me a choc with choc cake with vanilla filling. I won't have much, but that's okay, a little goes a long way! Pre-op, I would've had it for every meal, plus dessert! How things change! I hope you have a wonderful time tonight and that things pan out for you! I know you'll knock his socks off! The next time you're at your parents, we should try to meet up - when our weekends aren't chock full!!! Have a fun time with your family - I know you love and miss them! Be a good/bad girl tonight and wear your condom - um, seatbelt!!!! Love ya, Tia

Hey girl! Yep, City Chicken is a veal/pork combo on a skewer that you marinade in a milk bath for a few hours, then bread crumbs with the eggwash, pan sear, then pop in the oven until done! My aunt used to make it every time we were over and the only place I can find it is in Cleveland. I saw it and it brought back so many good memories I just had to get some and pray I could eat it!!! One skewer is two meals for me....pre-op three to five skewers plus other stuff was a meal! Gotta love how much things change!!! Yummy, chocolate/chocolate cake!!! Funny though, I still don't have a taste for all the desserts. The only thing I have had recently was the Toucan's from Trader Joe's. They are 100 calorie packs and I got the cinnimon graham cracker ones. Pretty good. All natural and no trans fat so I knew it wouldn't kill me! I think one pack has 6 grams of sugar. I do OK as long as I don't go over 9 or 10 grams but try to keep it at 6 or below. Thanks about tonight...I really want to have a good time. If that particular person is there he hasn't seen me since January so this should be fun!!! We have been casual aquaintaces(sp?) and last time I didn't even get to talk to him so here's hoping!!! I try to get to my parent's every few weeks so next time I am going I'll let you know and hopefully we can get together. Love ya, ~Heather

Happy Birthday, Isn't March the best month!! ( March 3rd) turned 30. And my Birthday wish was to come back to OH and get support and read and reply to stories. Your weekend is filled to the rim. Have a blast!!

Hey Yvette - Happy Belated!!! I LOVE March - always been a fun time for me! My weekends are always full - sometimes I just need some Tia time, you know? You have a great weekend, too! Thanks for the bday wishes! Smoochies, Tia