Walking in Myrtle

What have I done!?
Well, firstly, again I walk SLOWER and for a smaller distance outside than I do on the treadmill.
Maybe it's the singing I am doing while on the tread.
I would be thought a nutcase if I was strolling through the streets of the Farm singing Bon Jovi.
Well, we signed up for the Walk from Obesity event this Saturday at the Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, SC.
I knew about this a few weeks ago but wasn't sure if it was to be held when we would be here.
It is this weekend and we are here so we are walking.
There is NOWHERE on the site about how far it is.
It is lists 3 hours as the elapsed time.
The training tips show a 3 mile training schedule so I am ASSuming it is 3 miles.
No problem!

Shattered windshield

Yesterday while driving my lovely (blech) HOUR commute I heard a rock hit my windshield. F$%K!
I could see the tiniest crack, star shaped almost.
At the next red light I leaned over and tried to see if I could feel it at all.
Nope, smooth.
OK, I get out of the car when I got home and felt the place but this time on the outside, nope, can feel nothing.
No biggie I thought.
This mornings drive was uneventful.
This afternoon, however, was bad.
I didn't notice anything while driving home but when I got out of the car I looked back and noticed the small star nick was now a horizontal crack on my windshield measuring about 15 inches long.
DOUBLE F#CK!!
Yes, I'm covered. Glass coverage is something I have always had...just in case.
My problem was I have a $1000 deductible. It is stupid I know, but it saves me money.
Damn damn damn, I don't have cash right now to lay out for this!
I try to call the dealer to see how much they would charge, got no answer, left a message.
I then called GEICO (love them) to ask where they would send me anyhow and how much it would cost.
ZIPPO, nothing nada, zilch!!
Yep, there is some statute which makes glass coverage FREE. The fee is NOT subject to my deductible!
WOOO HOOOOOOO.
Get this, they even come to your house to fix!
It will be fixed when I get home Friday morning.
We are leaving tomorrow after work-- about 6 pm.
The drive will take 10-12 hours. I hope the glass holds up.
I hope I also don't get a ticket.
I hope that if I do get pulled over I can show them I have an appointment to have it fixed.
MURPHY!
I wish he would stop following me around.

old pic at work

The best possible news.....this month

Got the best possible news today!
My surgeon was going to bat for me regarding putting a little pressure on my Dr. to get my information together to submit to insurance.
If you don’t know the story, see this post about this being the NINTH month of a 6 month supervised diet!!
Three weeks ago, thereabouts, I spoke to the surgeon and she would get the ball rolling. I have been playing phone tag with her office staff for weeks.
I have a long commute so as soon as I got into the car today(and yes, I left her a few messages during the day), and left her a voicemail telling her I was in the car for about an hour and to get back to me if she could. ((Throughout the day each time she called me back I was scrubbed so I couldn't answer the phone. By the time I was able to return the call I would only get her voicemail)).
The office coordinator called me back halfway into my ride home.
I AM SUBMITTED!!
OH MY GOD!! She says the only thing she needs from me is the psych evaluation. She did NOT mention needing the Stress Thallium nor the Venous Duplex….I’m hoping their requirements have changed and they don’t need them.
Timing is a freaking little troublemaker in my life. It is comical, my timing in life. We are to be leaving for SC for two weeks. I will call tomorrow and see if I can squeeze the evaluation in Thursday after work. If not Thursday, as soon as I get home. It’s going to happen. FINALLY!
I was thinking back in July when I was getting nowhere with my PMD that I wanted to wait until September anyway. My surgeons’ team was to start placing the Realize lapband as well as the Lapband. The realize band is the one I want. I like the way the port is anchored. Things happen for a reason.
Oddly, I am nervous. I called my best friend up and told her that next summer will be my summer! I am so happy.

5 days, just 5 days

...until we go "home".
Ahh the beach will be great. It always is so beautiful this time of year.
We can enjoy the beach, virtually tourist free.
I love them but I can see why year rounders make a squawk.
We were to be there already. It gets to me that we still aren't.
Right this minute would be an opportune time to actually go.
He just ended a 2 year contract with one of the big pharma companies here in central NJ.
I WOULD have been set and ready to go if my surgery was done.
I worked with my surgeon last week and again told her about the phone tag I was playing with her office staff.

She, and her group are willing to hold my Drs hiney against the fire in getting my gosh darned paperwork filed. See this post to explain it a bit better.
Anyhoo...spoke to one office person, the other is out, got in touch with another, and someone else is out.....played phone tag Thursday and I have a message in to one of them. Hopefully I can touch base with them Monday.

It is SO HARD to do anything phone related during my workday.
It is next to impossible to be on a phone "at will". If I am scrubbed in surgery I cannot answer the phone. Yes, a nurse "could" take the call for me, or even hold the phone to my ear but it is just awkward. Between cases, I get the message, I call, leave a message. This was repeated over and over again.


Sooooo if my freaking doctor had done what she was SUPPOSED to do, we could drive down to the Myrtle Beach,SC for a final time and STAY there!

looking back...

Looking back on my first post .
Thought I would have come farther, further, whatever in this time.
Still being held up from even submitting my information to the insurance company.
Why is she holding me up?
I KNOW ( as we have discussed it before) that she does not approve of any weight loss surgery.
She did though tell me that she would work with me.
I wish she would have told me she would cause delay back in January. I would have gotten another PMD.
I still am firing her, as soon as I get my info I will again request my chart then get another Dr..
Life...is what hapens while you are busy making plans...

Adele exclusive pre release album

I just downloaded a few songs fom this album. The Chasing Pavements song I can't get out of my head.
The video was so different, I had to watch it again.
You can get it now at

Get the official Convention podcasts

Can't deny it, the upcoming November election will be a monumental event.
Yes, I know who I am voting for but whichever party wins the country will break a barrier.
We will either have a man of color leading the country or a woman VP.

Walking today waiting for the rain

HOT HOT HOT and sticky.
Been taking my walks outside for what reason I do not know.
Maybe somewhere in my brain I am thinking that if it is sweltering outside I can lose more weight.
I walked for 3 1/2 miles today.
I'll take it. It is a lot better than I was doing last month.
I wonder why, at my advanced age, I lose interest. I THINK I am in for the long haul.
I actually think I am right now. I have days though where I blow off exercise all together.
I feel better afterwards. I enjoy the benefits. I am losing weight, slowly but surely.
Why does my achieving mind allow myself to slip?
Ahh another answer I will never find.
I wanted to run so badly in the Komen Race for the Cure in October.
There is no way I can do it. I know I can walk (or can I) the whole distance but I wanted to be able to run.
The next marathon goal I am thinking about it the Myrtle Beach BiLo Marathon. There is a 5k and a 10k (again, I think). It is in February. I think I can handle that.
It is at least a goal to strive for.
Mr. would come along.
He was a multi marathoner afterall. Boston, NY and a few small town races. He still holds some record at his highschool.
When I met him, he would always tell me he was a "legend".
He's been wanting to get back into running for the last 5 years at least.
He has come to the gym with me and walked with me a few times.
He's too competative. He gets frustrated if he can't go ALL OUT. I wish he would discover running again...for his own sanity.

4 miles...NOT

I am sooo very tired, and HOT. I feel and look like a drowned rat!
September being a new month!! Another new month I was so excited about perhaps getting SOMEWHERE with my Doctor.
I renewed my vows to myself to keep on keepin' on!
I walked, nearly 4 miles today.
I had to stop, after all I was dying, at 3.88.
With the steps from work plus the walk I went over 10,000 steps per my pedometer.
I couldn't take another step. Jon Bon Jovi couldn't help, Billy Joel couldn't help, Garth either. It's sad when Garth can't kick your hiney into gear.
Anyhow, better to have walked some than none at all.....right?
Think I need a new pair of sneaks. The Treadmill is tearing up the tread on my sneakers.
I LOVE the sneaks I have from Nike, they are Nike+ but I don't want to spend that kind of money now. I have the pouch from Marware that I can put the Nike+ Ipod sensor into. I'll go shopping this weekend, perhaps for NB's. They have been my go to sneaks when I can't find Nikes on sale.

Home made CHILI

Got inspired by a few WLS people on the Ytube.
I am the first to admit, I am a HORRIBLE cook.
I have tried, seriously, and yes, I have burned water!
I can bake, some, but cannot cook well to save my life.
The things I do make which are edible are in the form of a mish mash.
Take ziti or lasagna for example, it's hard to ruin it. It's a mish mash of pasta, sauce (NO! it's NOT GRAVY and yes I am Italian!!), cheeses and meat.
The same goes for a home made soup, I can do that...again, a mish mash.
When I saw the people making all sorts of CHILI for the protein meal I became interested.
The only chillies I have had were one or two from friends/family or Wendy's.
They are OK.
I thought I had a real dislike for beans(except for pasta faglioli) but I was going to try.
The WLS people making chili were upping the beans and substituting ground turkey for the chopped meat.
Eww, I thought...all those beans.
Hey, I LOVE Pasta Faglioli so I would TRY the multi bean chili.
I have made it 4 or 5 times so far, three variations.
The first was made with 3 types of beans and regular ground meat.
The next time it was 3 beans and stew meat pieces.
The last variation was indeed the ground turkey. Since the turkey didn't make it awful, this is how I will make it from now on...for the reduction in fat per serving.
So...in my mish mash way of describing my recipe here it is:
1-2 pounds of ground turkey
1 can black beans (frijol negro)
1 can kidney beans
1 can white beans (Cannellini)
1 small can of tomato paste
1 large can of tomato sauce
2 med can of diced tomatoes(with sweet chillies)
5 clove of garlic sliced and diced and chopped to bits
1/2 large onion sliced and diced and chopped to bits
EVOO and butter
I rinse the canned beans in a colander and set aside to drain.

While I am browning the meat in a skillet with just a drop or two of EVOO.

In a heavy stock pot I put in a slightly more generous drop of EVOO and a pat of butter.

On low heat I stir the onion until it is translucent (huh fancy schmancy). Add garlic....mmmsmells delish at this point...
Still constantly stir the meat as it's browning.

to the stockpot add the tomato paste. Lydia always says to saute the tomato paste a bit to give it flavor...ok...so saute it a bit....

to this I add the tomato sauce, the diced tomatoes (with their juice), and the beans.
When the meat is done browning, drain in the colander and add to the stockpot.

IF..if IF...the mish mash is too dry looking....add a can of water. Stir, getting everything mixed.

When it comes to a bubble, lower the flame, cover and let it cook for about 40 minutes. Give it a quick stir about every ten minutes.
Check halfway through in case you need to add more water and give it a stir.

Serve with a sprinkle of mild cheddar cheese or sour cream.

It is delicious. Believe me, I am a picky eater.
The next time I make a batch I will put up pics.