Random Musings #10

Good day to all my formerly fat friends! Or, as OH's famous DxE would call us..."Those who no longer belong to the Royal Order of the Deep Bellybuttons." (For such a classy southern gent, he certainly is a little wacky.) Okay... I'm back, baby! Are ya excited? Me too. I've been doing way too much stuff at work and at home over the past few weeks and, consequently, have not really been participating much. I do lurk almost every day, but rarely get a chance to post more than a few words here and there. Which is difficult for a guy like me who likes to hear himself speak. (Or is that - see himself type? Hmmmm...) So stand back, here goes: ? After our last support group meeting, a few of us, as we usually do, went out for a bite at a local diner. Sometime during the course of the evening, the conversation was about friendships and relationships... The fact that we all had some people in our lives that we should rid ourselves of, and the need for us to surround ourselves with people who were more positive influences on us. Then, today, I stumbled across this little essay in a book that I'm just finishing up. I found it to be a fitting epilogue to our discussion... Investing in Friends Even if we have a lot of money in the bank, we can still die very easily from our suffering. So, investing in a friend, making a friend into a real friend, building a community of friends, is a much better source of security. We will have someone to lean on, to come to, during our difficult moments. We can get in touch with the refreshing, healing elements within and around us thanks to the loving support of other people. If we have a good community of friends, we are very fortunate. To create a good community, we first have to transform ourselves into a good element of the community. After that, we can go to another person and help him or her become an element of the community. We build our network of friends that way. We have to think of our friends and community as investments, as our most important asset. They can comfort and help us in difficult times, and they can share our joy and happiness. ? You know what? I have not had a cold all year. I used to get sick for a one to two week stretch every two months - That's six full blown colds a year. At least one of them each year would evolve into bronchitis. Antibiotics wouldn't help. I would literally be sick for 25% of the year. Not now, boy. A little sniffle or scratchy throat? Gone the next day. While researching WLS, no one ever told me about this lovely perk. For 2006, I've actually gained 12 more productive weeks where I don't lay around the house, blowing my nose all evening or go to work feeling like total crap, getting all my co-workers sick. And, not one of them has thanked me. ? The week before surgery, I went to the mall to see where normal sized people purchased their clothes. While there, I broke out the credit card and bought a pair of jeans and a shirt in the sizes that I wanted to be able to wear one day. They were size 38 waist carpenter pants from Old Navy and a sporty-looking XL Nike long sleeved pullover. I wore 'em the other day. They weren't even tight... How is it that normal, semi-"hip" looking threads from a regular store fit me? That is just flat-out, cool. And, right now, I'm still considered obese. I've got 58 more pounds to lose before I'm at my goal of 199. Hot damn... I wonder if I could wear 32 waist or medium shirts. Back in January, that was way too hard to fathom. Now it's a distinct possibility. Well, there you go kiddies. Whee doggie, it was fun to muse again... thanks so much for taking an interest in my occasionally coherent rambles. Be Well, A.J.

Hello A.J.~ I noticed a few weeks ago that your last name is Perna. I went to Wall High with a Linda Perna, I graduated in '83, she graduated the next year, so she'd be 40 now. Is it a relative? Just though I'd ask. She was such a fun person! She made me laugh.... makes me think you might share some genes... It's good to see you are back with your random musings. I enjoy them every time. See you in Lakewood, and enjoy the hell out of that new Old Navy outfit you are sporting! You have earned it! How's your friend at the Wa Wa doing? Michelle (Surgent) Brennan *I put my maiden name in there in case you are related to Linda you can actually tell her who I am...*

Michelle: I hope you are doing well with your recooperation......look forward to seeing you in TR next month Charlene

hey AJ awesome on the outfit!!!! ross was showing me his 'bones' last night -- feel here -- feel here -- i'm so happy that he is happy and he had on a size 2X shirt -- down from a 4X just since 5/22 -- amazing!!! and he is soooo proud of himself i wonder if you can wear a 32 by your cancer walk???? or maybe by the time the Yanks lose in the ALCS????? hugs roberta

You know what's really weird ... I, too, have not been sick or had any colds, flu etc etc... in well over a year now (a little bit longer than since I had my surgery) ... and I don't quite know WHY that is or if it's even related in some bizarre strange way to changes as a result OF the surgery/lifestyle etc etc ... Both my husband and my daughters have all had colds/flu at different times, too .. so it's not like I haven't been around the viruses and bugs etc etc ... It's just really bizarre that YOU too haven't been sick like you used to be either.... Maybe there's more to this than I realized! Haha, -Carol

As usual AJ, you make me think profoundly -- I'm not usually that "deep." I loved the excerpt from you book - Investing in Friends. I think I'm going to share that with someone I know who needs help in that department! Thank you. It certainly says much better than I ever could what I have been trying to convey! Loved the new outfit too. I actually got to see you model it..... And me too, thought I hadn't thought about it, have not had a major cold or sinus infection in quite awhile. I didn't connnect it to WLS, but maybe so -- or perhaps just the increased vitamins we are taking (since I didn't take any before WLS)? Also, heads up -- I start back at the gym tonight with my personal training sessions starting tonight at 6:30pm. Wish me luck -- I told them I needed a boot camp mentality kicking my ass. Care to kick my ass too? LOL Love your musings, sweetie. See you soon. Hugs, Nannette