Daniel's Update!!!

Well, I have found that I have become the proverbial lurker. I read the posts several times a day, e-mail responses...but often I never post. Well, I got to thinking that it is about time that I did. So, needless to say, here is my lastest update. On Thursday, I celebrated my 40th birthday. Pretty hard to admit to that. (I have been celebrating the anniversary of my 35th birthday for years...) It has been nice to hear from several people that I look thirty or so. They may be stretching the truth...but I do know that since losing weight, I do look a little younger..and I look like I have more hair!!!! YIPPEE!!!! Thursday, my business department (at school) threw me a surprise party. They had chicken salad, crackers, fresh fruit, nuts, and a cake. It was nice that the nuts were there (very personalized). I was really ticked off though about the cake. I have brought in sugar free candy for my diabetic staff, tofu hot dogs for the vegetarians...etc... and what do they do...they bring me a store bought cake!!! TICK ME OFF!!! All I do for these people and they bring me a cake..and then try to force feed it to me. Oh well. After dining on chicken salad, crackers, nuts, and a little fruit..one of my students came to the planning room and told me I needed to go to the school store (I run it) due to an emergency. As I unlocked and opened the door... they popped out from all over the place and threw me a surprise party. Pizza, soda, cheese bread, and cake. After trying to finish a half a slice of pizza and a bite of cheese bread...I cut the cake for them. They didn't push me to eat it. Before the end of the day, a friend brought me my third cake of the day. A walnut filled chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and walnuts. It was all sugar-free!!!! Tasted like saw-dust!! The walnuts on the frosting were the best part. The evening found me celebrating my birthday with 500 people. I was nominated 1 of 32 finalist out of 10,000 teachers to be teacher of the year in my county-wide school district. It was a wonderful night. I didn't win..but the nomination was nice. With the same feelings in mind... I was nominated for teacher of the year through Walt Disney. This is a national recognition. Sadly, I am not one of the 10 finalist (out of about 12,000 throughout the country). Oh, well.... nominations are just as nice. The past two weeks have been rough work-wise. I was told that I would probably be excessed. The enrollment numbers were low and somehow my programs weren't even promoted for student registration. No students..no classes...no Daniel!!! Oh well. Well, I have to say, there have been a lot of good things that have happened, but also some not so good. What is amazing though is that it hasn't really mattered. What has mattered is the fact that I have lost 170 pounds since. I have gone from a size 56 pants to a size 34 (or so). I size 3x shirt to a small. I can do things that I haven't in years. I have more energy then ever. In about two weeks I go for my nine month appointment. I hope that I am finally allowed to exercise. I wasn't allowed to (no gym work-outs...) due to losing to fast. I think that I have lost in 9 months 95% of my weight. I know the dr. and nutritionist is concerned, but I am doing fine. Love being told that I need to eat ice cream. Can you imagine...a prescription that reads eat one sf klondike bar a day. LOVE IT... Well, all is wll..and I hope all is well with you all!!!!! Thanks for everything as always...

Daniel ...HAPPY...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! they get easier as the numbers go higher..30th and 40th were the toughest for my sisters!!! Congratulations on being nominated for Teacher of th Yearboth locally and for Walt Disney that's a great accomplishment just being nominated. You must be a phenomenal teacher!!! Congrats on the weight loss that's fantastic!! Once again Happy 40th and many more!!! pat