Back from Richmond event!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let everybody know that I returned alive--just barely, from the Richmond get together this week-end. What a great time finally getting to meet different long distance friends, re-connect with others and make a few new ones too! What a great event. David and Natalie could give lessons on how to put on a great and thoughtful wls event. I just have one thing to say about all the partying--my whole life I have been known as the "wild one"--I would be like a grandma compared to most of the gang in Richmond. Never before have I been around so many people who make me feel really boring. Here is a link to some of the pics I took Hi everyone! Just wanted to let everybody know that I returned alive--just barely from the Richmond get together this week-end. What a great time finally getting to meet different long distance friends, re-connect with others and make a few new ones too! What a great event. David and Natalie could give lessons on how to put on a great and thoughtful wls event. I just have one thing to say about all the partying--my whole life I have been known as the "wild one"--I would be like a grandma compared to most of the gang in Richmond. Never before have I been around so many people who make me feel really boring. Here is a link to some of the photos I took:http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=twositpics&x=8&y=16 Anyhow--here is an update on a few of the long term grads that many of us know-- Leilani http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=G1025993964 Actually--ya know she needs to come out of her shell a little--kind of quiet and shy! NOT! --Exactly like you might picture--beautiful, kind, warm and a wild woman. Oh--and her hubby, Paul--what a cutie--the best part--not just cute but nice too! son Keoni--another cutie--plus really nice. They were awesome to shuttle me around all week-end. Eileen http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=F1064118232--Well this lady needs a new picture. Beautiful and nice. Loved getting to finally meet and talk and get to know each other. Oh--and Mike (hubby) was a peach too. Nannette-- http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=R1050537300 I hadn't seen Nan since DC--when we first connected- loved her then and love her even more now. What a transformation! She has been through a lot since wls and she is just amazing. Oh--and she has had all her plastics and looks incredible! Makes me want to get more done. Kim B. http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=B1019513868 Beautiful inside and out! Just a stunning woman and sweet too. Val http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=C1001187151 Ya know I definitely would not have recognized Val from her profile pic. Smart nice and dedicated--all that schoolwork in the middle of the night--lol! Steve- http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=W1069617074 a handsome nice guy. Oh and looks way thinner in person than what you would picture from his profile. David B http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=B1077745868 Looking even better than the last time I saw him. Great organizer--the soul behind the event. Oh--and the man knows how to throw a party! Track http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=M1060572623 Fascinating man--so glad to get to see him again after meeting originally in DC. He is definitely inspirational with the complete turn around to his life--health wise. I am just really disappointed I was packing and missed his playing his music on Sunday morning. Empress Pixie/Natalie http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=C1077545479 Another one who has been through a ton since wls. Oh- and she has lost a ton too! She is way more beautiful than her mb pic shows. She, too, did a great job on organizing the event. Eileen http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=F1064118232 Way prettier than her mb picture shows. I just loved meeting Eileen! Hubby Mike loved him too--Two really great people. Patty http://obesityhelp.com/forums/VA/postdetail/38509.html?vc=0 How adorable can a woman who has a 30 year old daughter look? Are you kidding me? I would have thought she was in her 30's! Really cute, really nice and a great wls success story. Oh--and a love story there too. See Rick Tony T http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=T1010975170 I first met Tony in DC and loved him then. Now I just love him even more! What a sweetheart. Honest to goodness check out his before and after if you want inspiration. Just a great guy--and handsome too. Gina/Roxxi http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=H1036626493 How cute is she? A newlywed! Can you imagine she got married in December and kept it a secret until the Virginia event? Another great success story. I met Gina in DC too and boy--has she come a long way baby! Rick http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=P1077891096 Geez--another DC alumna. It was great to get together with this witty and charming fellow again. Oh--did I mention he's a wild man too? He and Patty are just adorable.

Hello Lynda, I wish I lived closer and could come to the get togethers in Richmond. I had my surgery at MCV in 4-04. And made sooo many great and wonderful friends there. Did Teresa Bastin show up at the get together? David has his surgery right before I did Shelia 240/105

Sheila--You should definitely try to get to at least one of these Richmond events. It seems to me that people come from all over the state. Teresa Bastin? If I had a picture I would have a better chance of answering that question--so bad at names.

Hi Sheilia! Nope- Teresa - who made it to DC - couldn't make this time around. Keep an eye out for future events- the next is scheduled for June 23-25 in Richmond. David

hi linda great pictures and you got a gorgus family..god love them.. friends of wls surgery who ever they are are having a thing like oh s had in boston in a few weeks im passing its not being held in boston its in braintree if it was in boston id go the saturday night .. oh well maybe oh will have one up here/ hope alls well its snowing like crazy im hoping for a snow day but it aint happening .. joann

Hi JoAnn, If you want to go to the one in Braintree send me an email and maybe we can get together. Ya another lousy day outside!!!!

Joann- I saw that thing about the Braintree event and sent an email to the woman who posted about it. Vhttp://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/MA/postdetail/6645.html?vc=0 Actually this event was not run by OH--OH cancelled the event they originally had scheduled for Virginia so a couple members took the bull by the horns and planned their own event. I have been to two OH events and the planning on this event was WAY better than either of the OH events. The meals were great and lots of little details. Way more bang for the buck than at an OH event. Ya never know--maybe that Braintree thing might be fun. Of course it would be good to see who the speakers are which they list as TBA.

I plan on checking out your pics when I get home (gotta get going soon) But I had looked at Lei's already and I must say you are so gorgeous!!! You gotta update that pic of yours.....I LOVE THE longer brownish hair!!! How long did it take to grow it out??? I keep trying to grow mine out, but I hate that awkward stage when it gets to the ears Anyways you look AWESOME! Take Care jesi

Jesi--Thanks for the compliment. Funny you mention the hair--several people did this week-end and the hair has been an issue for me. I am not a hair person--at all. I don't really know how to style it. My hair is baby fine and straight so it tends to just hang there. Add to that the fact that my ears tend to stick out it has made it complicates things even more.It would get to the around the ear stage and I would cave and cut it. I always figured it looked ok short and took little effort so that worked for me. Phew--talk about short story long Anyhow--my husband asked me to grow it out. It may have had something to do with the fact that I kept going shorter and shorter. Grudgingly I agreed to try--just to be a good sport. My hairdresser was working with me and trimming a little bit each time--she told me if I just tried to let it grow I would never make it. I went about a year and a half--Then my husband mentions one day that he would like it to grow long enough to have a ponytail out my golf cap. That ended that--no way was it ever gonna be that long. I announced that I was gonna cut it but try to keep it feminine. The first cut had some issues--mainly relating to the fact that I don't know how to style hair and my ears make the hair stick out. I went and we cut the back a little shorter and that is how I ended up here. This works for me most of the time. although--I must blow it dry or it looks like crap--but there are many different variations and that is kind of fun. Aren't you glad you asked and got my whole hair saga? I'm thinking two years is almost what it took. Oh--and the hair color--living in Florida the sun bleaches it dramatically so I've been trying to wear a hat more often while golfing. Anyways thanks for the compliments and good luck with your hair.

Hello girlfriend!!!! Last weekend was absolutely awesome - so many wonderful moments and one of the absolute BEST was that I finally got to meet you. Of course, the fact that Paul and I couldn't be on time to even ONE of the meals, meant we were never together at the same table(s) - which in turn was the best time to play catchup and chat. Hey - you didn't PLAN it that way, did you? Those two days flew by way too fast and I refuse to let it be another 3 or 4 years before we see each other again. Count me in for at least ONE trip your way this year. Paul's going to be in the water a LOT in 2006, so I'll have a lot of free time. Hey? Can we count on you coming up for the JUNE Boogie/Splash in Richmond? I hope so, might even be able to share a room with you this time, if the Sub is under water. Loved the pictures, lol, well, most of 'em. Good grief woman, start pulling that camera out BEFORE the drinks start flowing - did you notice I was always sitting in a mans lap?!? -- Lei