It's a sad day in Fat Tony Land

Tony, Have you talked with your pastor? Well down here in the south People here take care of each other in binding times. Talk with him if you worship there maybe they could take up a collection plate on Wednesday night. Get up and testify, tell them what is in your heart. You speak your heart and in put in Gods hands and if you thithe (spelling ) maybe if you put it in God's hands you will be rewarded by God? Look to your neighbors at church you migth be surprised. Quit taking the diet pills. They just get your nerves at edge and if your addicted that is even worse. Don't punish your family. Enjoy your life and the pills won't help. I tried them and my kids paid the price and the lbs came back plus more. please just think about it. Enjoy it. How far out are you from your money goal? Maybe OH can help and rally for you. Email me if you need anything? Heather Stine

Tony, If God leads you to it..he will lead your through it in his own time not yours. We often fail to see the big picture..praise God he does and knows what is the best timing for us. Keep thanking him for his infinite wisdom and blessings. I will keep you in my prayers. Mary

I appreciate all the help and support (not to forget those that emailed). Yous are by far the most supportive people I've seen. Yous, yes, I'm from Jersey. How far am I? 4K Heh. It's killing me because I have a car that's worth over 10K and I can't sell it for 5! The mature part of me is understanding that My God is saying "No." The immature part, is saying "WHY! WHY! THE FRIGGIN GUY HAD THE MONEY AND NOW I AGREE TO GIVE HIM A REFUND!" Threw a tantrum, beat up my mailbox (man that was fun, I really hated that mailbox, ripped it out of the post and smashed it to pieces, non destructible? I wonder if I can get a refund.) Threw the post, almost bit it in rage. I'm not usually like this, it's the Phentermine. Yeah, that's the ticket. It's the Phentermine. I got insurance, found a doctor, got the approval letter in three weeks! Three weeks to accomplish what some people can't! Three weeks to do what takes some people a few years! And what stands in my way? a lousy stinkin four grand. Talking with my pastor? Asking church for help? Pastor/Church is so broke we move into another building every 4 to 6 months (because not enough money to pay rent). I tithe, I offer, I support, but I know church is elbroke right now because I am on committee. My God can make a way, when there seem to be no way. He works in ways I cannot understand. Clock is ticking. If I don't sell my car by this Monday (after Thanksgiving) I can't do surgery. If my Jesus wants me to do the surgery, I can fing 4K in the street or get a lottery scratcher. I feel like the air has just been let out of me. I need to go pray/worship for a lil while. Dad, if you say no, I'll still thank you. Matter of fact, I will thank you more if your no is definate. Just because I'm let down, does not mean I'm defeated and does not mean I'll hide from you again. It's 12PM in L.A. Read Isaiah 43. Thanks for letting me vent.

Tony: I just moved from the LA area (and I used to live in Claremont). List your car on three dubyas dot craigslist dot com. It is FREE. I've bought and sold lot's of stuff on there and found an apartment and house to rent in addition to a great move-out housecleaner. I love craigslist. Also try the autotrader online. I almost bought a car on there a few years ago but my dad found a better deal for me through a relative. Good luck and keep us posted. I'm thinking of you. Julie

*hugs n hugs* Sweety look at it this way (and I know it's VERY hard right now)... but maybe if you were to have surgery right now things may go very wrong. I live every day trying to be optomistic about my fragile post-op health. Perhaps if I had waited I wouldn't be so sick. Perhaps I shouldn't have done this at all. I don't know! So perhaps it's simply in the cards for you to wait. Doesn't make it any better, I know. Have you talked to the doc about the rage? *hugs* ~Audrey~

I am praying for you and your family, Tony. Even if the surgery does not go forward now, it may still happen at a later date. God may not be saying "no", he may be saying "wait". In any case, don't forget this: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom. 8:28 KJV). God bless you. Tracy

Hi Tony, It is so hard when we want something, and our Father desires for us to wait. Keep your faith and your patience, and know that everything He does is for a reason. You are asking for His blessing, and He is giving it, but maybe not in the way you were hoping. When one door is closed, another opens. He has something for you to learn from this experience, it is up to you to figure it out. That said, I am troubled by your need to worship in back rows and A/V rooms. Do you feel pressure from your church family to only look a certain way? Or is this just something that you and only you care about? If your church family has a problem with your appearance, then you need a new church home! If not, then maybe the Lord has a plan for them and you, about learning how to maintain a workable budget. Are the church members that poor and hurting, or do they need to learn new ways to reach deep into their pockets and learn how to tap new resources? I am praying for you and your church, that the Lord will touch your lives with richness of love and spirit! I wish I could do more to help you out, but please know that prayers are being lifted up for you!

Tony, I know this must have been a terrible blow for you this close to surgery but don't decide for yourself that it is not God's will to have the surgery just because YOUR plan fell thru. Believe me, I know- I was supposed to have surgery back in December - I had surgery alright but woke up to the Dr telling me they could not do my gastric bypass due to a liver problem they discovered when they opened me up for surgery. Read my profile for the story but to put it shortly, my liver biopsy was clear and I ended up having the surgery 3 months later. But those 6 weeks between the 1st surgery and finding out that I could have the gastric bypass after all were terrible. I cried and cried. Keep in mind that before the initial surgery, I had been denied twice..... I am a firm believer in the fact that our Father works in His own time to our good . Many blessings for peace to you! Terri

I'm accepting it. I realize that maybe it's just not the time for the surgery, all the doors were opened for a reason, I just can't figure out why. But for whatever reason, not now. It's not like I can't sell my car in a week. It could happen. He is never late. He is never early. He is always right on time. I'll be cool, I just needed to vent. Now I can explain what REALLY happened. I agree to pick up the guy from the airport, a very secure and safe place. I don't usually get afraid, but something told me to make the exchange (car for cash) at the airport. He arrives at the airport, I pick him up. I'm over 6 feet tall and over 4 hundred pounds. Him? Under 5 feet tall and about 125 soaking wet. He drives the car, instead of paying the full price, he asks me to lower it by five hundred. I agree. He then complains on 50 other things and I know he wants it cheaper then what we agreed upon, but so long as get my surgery money I'm fine. He offers me two or three grand, I don't remember what the total was. I refuse instantly and I know something is fishy. He's still driving the car. He demands his (nonrefundable) deposit back. I told him that I will be a gentleman about it and return $800 of his $1000, because I've incurred fees. He drives the car very fast then goes towards the security gate. Great, drama. I don't need this. He pulls up to the gate and says "We're going to the bank, and there is nothing you can do about it." I thought of hitting him, but how hard can you hit when you are sitting down? My kid is in the backseat, he's seen me get pissed before, but never physical (except for the hummingbird mailbox today). I take off my seatbelt, and the look in my eyes told him that I was about to do something, so he bangs a U turn and goes towards the gate. He demands the ticket. I want to choke him, but my kid is with me. I simply get out of the car, grab my son by his hair (didn't think, just wanted him out) and exited the car. I said one word. Police. One minute late, four squad cars, a few dogs and even a chopper came to the scene. Once I explained what happened, that he would not let me or my son out of the car and he demanded we go to a bank, they let us go. Don't knwo what happened to him, don't care. Thank God I didn't do the sale at Starbucks like he wanted. Him stealing my car would not have been the worse thing that could happen. Part of me is mad at myself for not tearing him apart.

Okay, Now I think that this guy is quite the rip-off artist, who was planning on you being a timid person. I have a great admiration for the way you handled yourself, and protected your son! I think you have yourself a moral victory, and should feel good about sticking up for yourself. Are they going to prosecture this guy? It sound like you should make a complaint to ebay as well.....