HOME ALONE!!! but not really....

Yes I am home alone fer real ... at the workplace that is ... I am the very last one to leave wrapping up an awesome workplace of 15+ years ... while continuing with the same awesome organization we have been saying goodbye for the past three months when closure of our department was announced which culminated in an AWESOME farewell party at Brazi's on Longwharf on Saturday 9/31... an awesome way to start the Labor Day weekend.

This is meaningful to my weight loss journey and is related because it was here at my workplace where I worked as a morbid obese woman going up to a highest weight of 327 lbs recorded ... where wheezing and coughing I waddled my way each day across the parking lot to my desk short of breath and having my array of inhalers at hand ... I was working here when with Arthrotec I relieved my knee joint pains and with Toprol XL I tried to keep my high blood pressure under control ... I was also working here when on a physical exam a few years prior to my weight loss surgery I was discovered after lab work to have a VERY elevated fasting blood sugar level and was diagnosed with Type II diabetes and started on Metformin and progressed to Glucovance 500 BID... I was working here when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and started on a Cpap with the alien looking mask to sleep in and it was here that I was started on Lipitor for hyperlipidemia and discovered to have a reaction to it and was started on Zetia instead ... I was working here when I tried countless diets through the years to have my weight fluctuate down and all the way back up plus more just like a yo-yo on a rainy day... and it was here when I was once again attempting to follow another diet program that my bariatric surgeon's nurse manager walked by my desk and asked me IF I tried going for bariatric surgery after I had complimented her on her awesome weight loss ...  it IS a blessing indeed to be encouraged by ones who have walked the walk before me and I was so blessed that day that Jane told me to give her my insurance card and that she would check to see if I am covered  for WLS... and so it happened ... the wheels were set in motion .... ONCE STARTED I WAS DETERMINED TO NEVER EVER GO BACK 

Today I am home alone as my co-workers and friends have all started their new positions in several different departments at the main hospital.  Our awesome workplace is like that ... they told us not to worry ... that based on our experience and background we would be offered the opportunity to bid on and get jobs within the organization as our department closed and they would give us first choice ... and true to word we ALL got awesome jobs ... and realized that sometimes we need a shove to move on to to better and broader horizons...

We had an awesome company sponsored farewell dinner party on this past Saturday for all employees and friends ... we shared so much laughter mixed with a bit of tears and in the end we decided to just say 'hasta luego' instead of goodbye just as we had done at a department luncheon a week or so ago ... after all more than co-workers having worked 24-7 coverage together over so many years we were more than just peers we ARE friends .... I had tons of fun and so did my AL.... I left my house in my green tiny summer back-out dress... I took my picture in my favorite corner that I will now call my awesome DIVERSITY porcelain dolls domain... because I am loving my dollies  ...

Of course I will share pictures... I had an AWESOME time with my dearest friend, soulmate and husband Al as well as with my for-ever friends and former co-workers ... after 15 years we did so many things on and off job premises together ... we are a family indeed... this is the FINAL farewell party .... but we only said 'HASTA LUEGO' 'SEE YOU LATER' instead...

Dinner at Brazi's on Longwharf was superb.... Me and my dearest DH Al...

Friends FOR-EVER! there are always those very SPECIAL ones....

Me and my bestie at work and IRL ....

I got the AWESOME-EST gift ...trust this will be well spent!!!

Bidding upper management "hasta luego" as we move on to new horizons within the company...

My Al had a ball...

I had tons of fun ... wine .. dine and even a taste of the cake .... how awesome to take a forkful of cake and be perfectly satisfied with just a very small taste and put my plate down ... not because I can't but because I won't ... I did not need the extra cals .. more than a bite was not appealing plus I had no space and was longing for a yummy cup of coffee...

Sunday was another fun day ... totally relaxed I found these big arsed barretts in my dresser ... YIKES way to big for my head and even for my dolls .... So after re-arranging my dolls YIKES I got two more --- gifts from my friends .... I MADE MYSELF SOME CHANCLETAS ... yup white CHANCLAS for labor day ... I took those barrets and slid the elastic tie they had around and over white flip flops and voila ....   Love 'em!!!

I took my picture in my white dress ... and had a lazy fun day.... I went running 6 miles and back along the beach and I jogged from West Haven to New Haven to work on yesterday.... because I wanted to ... because I could ... because an old fart like me weighing 203 pounds less who could barely make it up a flight of tears can run now ... to my heart's content ... nobody can stop me... I LOVE IT!!!!  

 I took a picture of my mug ... over the midline of 50s and winking at 60s there are no wrinkles post WLS on my face ... YAY mom and dad thank you for the facial genes LOL.... I wish you had done the same for the shrinkles on the legs and arms but oh well ... I can deal with that....

  My slippers did not last too long ... yesterday my toy poodles were growling and dragging and pulling on something ... yeah what was left of one good slipper as the other was already toast LOL....

Today I am HOME ALONE!!! the very last one to leave our old department ... tomorrow is my last day ... and tomorrow is my monthly surgery anniversary ...  6 years and 7 months post RNY gastric bypass surgery ... 203 pounds lost from highest weight ... I took my life back from morbid obesity and five related co-morbidities ... I am determined to keep it that way...   I thanked my friends and co-workers who were also my care-givers, empower-ers and cheerleaders during my journey ... I am home alone today ... and I can encourage myself by myself ... because I did this for me ... to strengthen me and make me healthy ... to improve my quality of life and be a better me for those who I love ... my FAMILY and my friends and my cyberfriends and life in general ... I am home alone but not really ... when I count my blessings my heart warms over and I know its not so....   

From 327 pounds to a normal weight today ... 6 years and 7 months post gastric bypass .... I am embracing JOY and MAKING it HAPPEN to me.... one day at a time ... one choice at a time...     Yesterday and NOW ... these are snippets of my journey ... thanks for allowing me to share.... 

In your new position  

Thank you OH ... I am going with confidence .... I am forever grateful for the awesome space that you freely afford us to share and  and participate in and with others who like me are brothers and sistas on the journey ... I am grateful indeed ... 

What an encouraging and inspirational post. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

Thank YOU Karen 

Your such an inspiration Marti. Thanks so much for posting. I look so forward to seeing your pics and reading your story. Good luck on your new position, I know you'll do great!!

Thank you beautiful!!!  I find that writing snippets of my journey empower and soothes me at times especially when I face certain challenges... just today in writing this I remembered how for a fleeting moment I felt my heart drop to my feet and back to be grabbed by cold fingers of fears when the announcement of our department closure was made .. I thought of my age, and my family and my house and for a quick minute I panicked.... it was a fleeting moment that did not last very long but it was the most horrible feeling.... then I remembered that I had OPTIONS and experience and education and a business on the side and the option of going back home to Panamá as planned ... then I came on here and while I did not post I found a lot of encouragement and inspiration in others posts ... and I remembered that I was blessed and strong ... I did exceptionally well on all three jobs that I interviewed for and got offered the one I really really wanted ... and guess what? I was one of the very first ones to land the most awesome job... I am blessed indeed and looking forward to the new challenge.... and I was NEVER asked my age ... and when I told my interviewer she could not believe me LOL...

Thats awesome!!! And you certainly deserve this new job. You have a whole new life your enjoying, and doing it so positively. You are such a strong woman. Take all the good things coming your way and embrace them. You are truly blessed and for each and every one of us going thru our own life changes right now, your an incredible inspiration. I cant tell you that enough. Shine on my friend!!!

Thank you Dee!!!