A very eventful week!

I had an appointment with the surgeon on Friday and I have a date for surgery. Tentatively it is October 1. I'll have 3 appointments prior to surgery. Fortunately 2 will be the same day so I only have to make that drive on 2 days. I'm very excited and can hardly wait! My sister goes on September 5 to see the same surgeon that I saw, so we are both getting closer. I talked with my cousin's ex-wife because she had bypass 5 1/2 years ago. Some things have changed since she had hers done, but she had lots of good information to share.

Today my sister and I went to Boyd's Bear Country because it was Baskets and Bears Weekend. Longaberger Baskets come with factory store merchandise and we both spent a bundle, but I did get some very pretty Christmas lunch plates, decorated with a poinsettia. I will use them as a presentation for Christmas cookies. We both signed on as consultants to get better prices. We are now checking to see how we can get the maximum for as little time spent as possible since we are both very busy.

I am this week's Spotlight Interview on esyBEAD's blog. Read all about it at http://etsybead.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/member-spotlight-purrfectlydivine/ I am thrilled!

Another step closer!

I had another nutritional appointment in my quest for lapband surgery. Three was a SNAFU in scheduling, but I still will be seeing the surgeon next Friday and hope to have a surgery date! Three will be one more appointment after the surgeon appointment before surgery. at this appointment I learned more about what to expect and about the 8 day fast prior to surgery and the recovery immediately following surgery and why the diet will have to be what it is and why there won't be a fill when the band is inserted. I'm having a problem with billing and need to call Hershey again on Monday to straighten things out. I'm hoping that won't be a problem.

Today was a family reunion at my sister's house today. Most of those there were from my mother's side of the family, but there were a few from dad's side, along with a couple of my my sister's close friends, both of whom I know. As usual, there was way too much food and lots of time spent enjoying each other's company. For today, the diet went out the window. As Scarlett O'Hara said, "Tomorrow is another day."

I hope the weather is nice tomorrow so we can go for a ride. It has been a little cool this week; when we rode the other evening, we wore sweatshirts and I was still a little chilly.

I really ought to go and work on some beading. I have 2 pieces going and really need to get the one finished, especially since I know exactly how I'm going to finish it.

I learned a new skill!

How to reply to a post in a google group via email!

Since I'm back from vacation I'm trying to get reconnected with all of my online groups before it is back to school, not just inservice days, or else I'll never get caught up. Since school hasn't started, I'm putting in a few extra hours at the deli this week. It will make up for the pay I did not earn last week, but I miss vacation! DH was ready to back on vacation after 3 hours at work on Monday because he had so much to straighten out.

Since I have difficulty getting photos where I want them in a post...

Here is a picture of one of the banners at Graceland.

Summer School has ended

Summer school went very well this year. As soon as we were finished DH and I took off for vacation. We headed out to St. Louis to meet with members of his chat room. We did some of the tourist things like Grant's Farm, where some of the Budweiser Clydesdales are bred and housed, and the Anheiser-Busch Brewery. The center picture is of the fence around Grant's Farm. The "pickets" are barrells from guns used in the Civil War. It is called Grant's Farm because the first house president Grant lived in after he got married is there. Parts of the brewery date to the late 1800's and are beautiful. The photo on the left is where some of the Clydesdales are housed at the brewery, and yes, the windows are stained glass. The photo on the right was taken inside the brewery. We also went to the Gateway Arch, but due to time contraints (we should have done more research) we were unable to go to the top like I wanted, but we did go through the Museum of Westward Expansion at the base of the arch. Getting in there was like going through airport security. We left St. Louis and went through Memphis. We got there too late to tour Graceland, but were allowed to park for free and tour some of the exhibits and visit the gift shops, which we did. We took a few pictures, including the banners in the parking lot. After that it was on to Atlanta to visit relatives.