Gobble Gobble...

Hey all - I've been horribly absent from Blogland lately. Just can't seem to get my blo-jo back.  Really, there hasn't been anything too exciting going on to tell you about!

I love Thanksgiving and normally it's one of my most favorite holidays, but this year, eh.. just not feeling it.
Last year at this time, it was my first day of regular food b/c it fell just about 3 weeks after my surgery.  I remember being nervous about not being able to eat much but it all went down just fine. It's so funny to think back at when I was just banded and all the things I "thought" I would never be able to eat, drink, etc.. 

This year, it's just me and Timmy cooking for ourselves. It'll be much different but I'm sure it will be good.  We are having an ongoing battle as to whether or not to actually cook a turkey b/c I know I'll only be able to eat a little and it seems like such a waste and so time-consuming. I would prefer to just get a turkey breast but we'll see!! I do love me some green bean casserole so you can bet that there will be plenty of that. We are going to "party hop" to a few of our friends houses that day so it should be fun.

I always miss my family on Thanksgiving and this year is no different.  I can't wait to see them all in about a month up in the great white north of Northern Michigan for Christmas.

Hope you all have a happy thanksgiving!! Gobble Gobble!!!

**sorry for the blandest post ever.. hope your turkey doesn't turn out this bland!! ***

Eighty is GREAT-y...

Well, I finally hit 80 down yesterday.  I let out a little "yahooo" when I got on the scale in the morning. My weight loss is so slow but I'm at least moving in the right direction!!

This past week or so has been crazy. We have officially moved into our new house and now the unpacking and setting up begins. I haven't been too hungry which might have contributed to my stellar weight loss this past week. 

I'm off work today to unpack. I may take tomorrow off as well or work from home b/c I haven't been feeling too hot and I have a dr. appointment mid-day.   I have to say I'm a super fast unpacker..  now just need to find where my nails and hammer are!

More later!
xo,js

1/2 Marathon - CHECK!

so today was the big day.. the day I have been training for for the past 2 1/2 months - getting up every Sunday, walking a new distance...

We got up at the crack of dawn.. (these 1/2 marathoners mean serious business)

Jen 1, Jen 2 (me) and Jenn3!

Both the Jens are runners but Jen1 wanted to walk the course with me and Jenn3 ran and beat her Personal Record (go Jenn!) and then met up with us around mile 7 and walked the rest of the way with us.  She's a freaking rockstar!!  She also served as group photographer, getting action shots.

We also walked with a woman from work's daughter Courtney. The woman, Mary,  who is 56 was about a mile ahead of us with her other daughter the entire time.. she's also doing the 3-day this upcoming weekend and has more energy than anyone I know!! 



After a couple of trips to the bathroom (who knew they give you a boatload of water in these races!!) we finished just under 4 hours. I do have to say had it been without the two trips to the bathroom, we would have finished around 3:30.. which I would have been happier with but hey, we didn't get picked up by the sweeper van AND we weren't the last ones on the course!!  WooHOO!

Overall, I'm glad I did it.  It wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be this morning when I started remembering my lack of training this past week!!  I do have to say that the training walks we did over the past couple of months would have been so much better had we had refreshment stations at each 1.5 mile!!

Tim made a comment that pretty much sums up how I feel about this - "just think Miss Magoo, 2 years ago, you NEVER would have even thought of walking 13.1 miles.. I'm so proud of you"..  I feel the same way about myself today!!  So, what's next?? 

xo,js

Birthdays, Bret Michaels, Bandiversary and Beautiful Brides..

Hey all!! So, it's been a long time since my last post!! I had totally planned on doing a big 1 year Bandiversary blog but life got in the way and time just slipped past me!! So, unfortunately for you, you will get lots of babblings and bullet points.. with some pictures thrown in!!! 

• My Birthday was awesome!!  It's really my favorite holiday of the year and there is no shortage of me lettting everyone know that it's my special day. I mean, it's borderline obnoxious!!!  My girlfriends took me to the State Fair to see Bret Michaels.  I love Bret Michaels, not in a "Oh I think he's hot (because I don't!)" kind of love, but I genuinely love him as a person.  I know he has the whole "Rock of Love" personality scuzziness, but other than that, I think he's a good guy, total survivor, and bad - ass rocker. Plus he lives here in Scottsdale too. Anyways, here are some pics of the night.. super fun!



• My 1 year Bandiversary was on October 29th. I am officially 79 lbs down. I wish it were more but I'm totatlly happy with my progress and I've always known I was a slow loser!! I don't diet, I enjoy life, I still drink (sometimes a little too much beer!) and I know that if I were more disciplined, I'd have lost more but I'm good!  I don't make excuses, I don't blame my lack of weight loss on anything other than the fact that sometimes I indulge and don't exercise as much as I should be. I know that the lapband is not a miracle cure for my obesity, it's a tool and if I dont' use it correctly, it won't work.  Barbara said it best the other day in her blog - stop making excuses and suck it up buttercup!!! Loved it!
• This past weekend, we headed to Chicago for our friends' Margo and Steve's wedding. It was spectacular!! I don't know if I've ever seen two people more in love on their wedding day and a more beautiful bride! There was so much laughter, dancing and love that I'm full on it all still.  I love my friends.  (Deb - I'm sorry we never connected. I'm hoping to be in chicago again soon!)
  
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•  Our move is next weekend.. and we are in serious packing mode!! This weekend we are having a garage sale to hopefully get rid of lots of stuff!  I'm so sorry to the girls I have promised Sisterhood clothes too.. I've been so busy that I've been seriously slacking on getting those packages out. I hope to do it this weekend!!
• I'm meeting Vickie for lunch tomorrow! I'm super excited as I haven't seen her since July! 

Ok, that's all I have for now. I wish I would have more to say on my 1 year but I don't!!  Life is just chugging along.. 

hope you are all well! xo,js