Good grief, Charlie Brown!

Golly, gadzooks, gee whiz!

It's been a while since I poked my nose into my own little patch of cyber space, hasn't it? Let's remedy that post haste.

I've signed the consent form for the surgery - no suing the surgeon now! I've also had an appointment with the respiratory therapist and was viciously attacked by aliens posing as pathology nurses in a failed attempt to get blood from an artery to determine my blood gas levels. [If my blood has gas, I beg your pardon here and now.]

I also have the impending joy of an at-home sleep study to determine 1) if I have sleep apnea [umm, hello, I'm male, over 40, over weight and on blood pressure medication - of course I have it] and 2) just how often I stop breathing during the night. I'm not too concerned about doing the "study" as it's for my own good. At least I don't have to do it in a strange, oddly quiet, white room in some hospital or sleep clinic, knowing there are actual people monitoring me the entire time.

That's kind of spooky and exhibitionist/voyeuristic at the same time...

Image no doubt (c) estate of Chrales Schulz or some person/organization

it's a date

Well, the date for lap-band surgery has been set, and what an interesting ride it will be from now until 10/10. At first, the surgeon's office suggested 12/09.

"HA!," I laughed.

That's the day before I head to the US for 2 1/2 weeks to visit my brother and attend my 25th (gasp!) high school reunion.

With the date set for October, I also have to follow a VLCD, or very low calorie diet (read protein shakes) for 4 weeks. If you do the math, you can see that I 'should' have only shakes for my time overseas.

"HA HA!," I laughed again.

Well, as is oft said, "What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger." We'll see about that. ;^)

Just a thought...

...if, in doing lap-band surgery, they have to poke holes into your tummy (abdomen to the non-childish minded in the audience), why can't they just suck some of the fat out and give you a head start on your weight loss?


[pic copyright James Jensen www.jjenson.com]

Journey of a lifetime

I've been quiet on this blog for a few weeks - a month, more or less. Lots of things on the proverbial plate...

...and that's precisely the crux of the situation. For most of the past 30+ years, I've always looked at the plate as never large enough. I've always wanted more. This is spifferific if we're talking metaphores for living life to it's fullest.

Alas, we are not. Rather, we're talking food portion control. For most of those aforementioned 30 years, I have been "larger than life", "Rubens-esque"...overweight. Some people reading this may recognize the routine, substituting their own abused substance: I live; get depressed; eat any carbohydrate in sight; get sedantary and stop exercising; gain weight; feel I need to punish myself, so eat more; get sick and tired of being sick and tired; attempt behavior modification (Weight Watchers, go to the gym, etc); lose some weight; feel on top of the world; start to treat myself; becomes two treats; becomes larger treats; gain weight; get depressed; and, golly-gee!, we're back at Square Numero Uno.

Well, it's come to the point in my life that this monkey on my back (or the girth around my midsection, as the case may be) needs to be kicked and kicked far, far away, never to return. Therefore, I have elected to have lap-band surgery. All things going to plan, I should have this done in Melbourne in August. None too soon, if you ask me.

I am so looking forward to gaining this tool that will assist in keeping the weight at bay. So, you're on notice and forewarned that this blog may turn into, for a time, at least, a journal of this journey...of an extended, healthy and joyous lifetime.

acqua di vita

aitch_oh_aitch
silent...supple
raging...roaring
falling...fertility

aitch_oh_aitch
ebb & flow
crash upon the shore

soothe my soul

mobility

life is about

moving...

always foreward...

with

strength

dignity &

a bit of

panache

Long time...no blog

Greetings, fellow blogbots!

I will fess up to this right now: I have been in a bit of a prolonged funk/a cave/my own private Idaho. Why? That's for me and my therapist to discuss.

Suffice it to say, the desire to blog has returned. Whether or not you benefit from my bloggings, that's for you to determine. I'm doing this for me, dammit. Love you like my luggage, but if you know how I treat that... .

This blog is all about me. So, sit back; fasten your seatbelts and make sure your tray tables are in the upright and locked positions.

Thanks for taking this journey with me.