What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas!

Yup, at 47 I got a tattoo on my lower back! I still cannot believe it as I always said "I will never get a tattoo!" I just had this need to get one as a tribute to my Dad and brother-in-law. The irony is my Dad was so not a fan of tattoo's. My sister got one when she was 35 and he always gave her grief about it! (Sorry Daddy...It was just something I had to do!)

The experience was actually pretty exciting...the tattoo salon was in the Mirage Hotel. I figured that the Mirage wasn't going to have a fly-by-night tattoo parlor in their hotel and I was right. The owner, Mario Barth, has another one in Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino and both came highly recommended. We went to the salon in the afternoon and I spoke to the artist who would be doing it and I described to him what I wanted. He told us to go to our show, CHER, and come back after the show and he'd show us his design. Steve got a modified design of the same tattoo, only his doesn't have wings and his says "Jim" instead of "Daddy".

When we got back to the Mirage, it was about 10 p.m. and the whole atmosphere of "King Ink" was changed into a club. Steve and I went into a private room with "Big Tony" (who was one big Teddy Bear!). He was so moved by the events that led me to him and the reason for my getting the tattoo. Anyway, it was a little painful BUT I kept thinking about my Dad and BIL, Jimmy and it was worth the uncomfortableness, believe me! This was also Steve's first (and only) tattoo and he told me it didn't hurt at all...I was just a baby!

My sister, my girls and my sisters children are coming to FL this weekend for my fathers Memorial Service on Monday. It will be another couple of rough days for our family but at least when it is over, we can all truly start the healing process. Today was my sisters birthday and I just wanted to be with her and give her a hug. It will have to wait until tomorrow though. I so want to take her pain away...she is my baby sister, and I wish I could help her more. She is staying until Wednesday as my niece still has school. I will see her again on 6/14 as she is flying down here so that Steve can take us to Charleston to see where the accident happened and we'd also like to thank the Dentist whose office is right there and who was the first on the scene. He tried to help my Dad and BIL and we just want to thank him.

On the Band front: Just when I think I don't have one and am counting the hours until my next fill a week from Monday, I get "backed up" at lunch and full on stuck at dinner! Me thinks bread is no longer welcome! I took one bite of Panara Breads new lobster sammy and WHAM! Tonight, I didn't feel like cooking so Steve made me a hot dog. Same thing but worse! Both times bread was present so no more bread! At least not the soft kind.

I have lost 6+ lbs since my first fill on 5/3 and I am hoping that now that my life will be getting a little more normal again (if thats even possible) I will be able to get back on track with my exercising and healthy eating.

I really have been negelectful in my commenting on others blogs but I swear, I have been trying my best to keep up with Google Reader. I miss you all sooooo much...please know that!

I am almost back....

My life has been a whirlwind since getting the news on May 11th about my Dad and brother-in-law. We went to New York on May 13th and stayed until this past Thursday, May 20th. Friday morning we left at the crack of dawn to drive to my step-moms house to spend the day and night with her. We got home yesterday afternoon.

Today we are just spending the day relaxing at home and packing for our trip to Las Vegas. Yes, you heard me right...we are leaving tomorrow for a 4 day trip to Vegas that was planned before this horrific accident. I originally was going to cancel but than I decided that I should take some of my fathers ashes to the Golden Nugget which was his home away from home. With the support of my sister and step-mom, that is what Steve and I are going to do this week.

Next Saturday, my sister and her two children will be flying to FL and on Sunday our girls will be arriving. Monday, which is Memorial Day coincidently, we will be having a Memorial Service for my father at his Golf Club. Once we get through next weekend, hopefully, we will finally be able to rest knowing that our loved ones have been taken cared of.

We have since found out that the driver that hit them was using his cell phone at the time of the "accident". Maybe I can join up with Amy W. and we can both be guests on Oprah!

On the Band front...not much going on there. I lost a few lbs these past two weeks but not as much as I would have liked. While I am definitely eating less, my choices just plain sucked. I plan on using my few days in Vegas positively and will be using the gym each day and eating healthy. As I said previously, my father was my number one cheerleader and he was so excited for me when I made the decision to get the band. I will make him proud and lose this weight once and for all!

I plan on going through each of your blogs today and catching up. I feel so out of the loop. Thank you all again for the support you have all given my family...it means more than I can say.

Thank you!

After spending the last two days with my sister, grieving for her husband/my brother-in-law and our father, I came home to my Moms house to these beautiful flowers from a bunch of B.O.O.B.s! What a sight and to change gears from crying to smiling was the best feeling. Thank you so much for ALL your kind words - you have no idea what it has meant to me and my family.

My brother-in-law's wake will begin tomorrow and will continue on Monday. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday. We still have a few tough days ahead of us so I have to ask you all to continue to keep us in your prayers.

I love you all....

Sorry about the double post but

I just wanted to thank everyone for all your kind words. This has been a horrible time for me and my family and all the support I've recieved here has helped so much. My husband came back to me safely and I am so blessed to have him. My sister and Peggy will never know what I felt today when I saw Steve pulling into the driveway on his motorcycle and my heart breaks for them.

We will be flying to Long Island, NY tomorrow and will be spending the week with my sister. Jimmy will be put to rest this coming Monday and will be waked on Sat and Sun. We will than have a Memorial Service for my dad in the coming weeks.

I'm not sure if I will be able to post or comment during this time but know that I will still be reading your posts. This community has become my drug of choice and I need you all on this journey if I am to succeed. And I will succeed, my dad said so.

Thanks again.

I am overwhelmed.....

with all the support you have all given my family and me. Steve is home, safe. I thank God for that. I will write more later but I just wanted everyone to know, my husband came home.

Let me introduce you to my Dad and Brother-in-law

They were both killed today when stopped at a red light on their motorcycles. They were hit from behind by a man who never touched his brakes upon approaching the intersection.

My Dad was 80 and my brother-in-law was just 50. My sister lost her father and husband and her children lost their father and grandfather. I lost my Dad and brother-in-law and my children lost their grandfather and uncle. At this time we do not know what caused the driver to do what he did. Was it a medical condition? drugs? alcohol? cell phone? Who knows. All I know is that they are both gone and my family is devastated.

If you read my blog this past Sunday, I posted this pic of my Dad along with a few others. This picture was his last one taken. But for the grace of God, my husband Steve could have been at that light with them. They were all in Myrtle Beach along with a few of Jimmy's friends enjoying Bike Week. Steve and the others had gone through the light while still green but Dad and Jimmy waited at the red light.

I was so fortunate to have had my dad with me this past weekend. We spent some daddy-daughter time on Sunday morning while my husband still slept. My dad was so looking forward to this trip with his two sons-in-law. My dad lived every day of his life to the fullest. He golfed 4 times a week and rode his motorcycle every single day. He loved it! He was never sick a day in his life! I am so fortunate to have had him for so long. He was my biggest cheerleader in life and was so supportive of all my weight loss efforts. I will have a treasure chest full of memories of my dad.

Jimmy was just starting to enjoy life. He was always a hard worker and many times during his 20+ year marriage to my sister, he worked 3 and sometimes 4 jobs so my sister could be home with their two children. My sister went to school during this time and just recently went back to work as a teacher. The additional income allowed him to cut back on his workload so that he could spend more time with his family. I am grateful that they had this time.

Please keep my family in your prayers. My husband will be driving back to Fl tomorrow on his motorcycle without my dad and I know this is killing him. He told me many times that he didn't really want to go on this trip but was just going to take care of my dad. Although he'll never say it, I know his heart is hurting because he will feel like he failed. That's who my husband is. While I will thank God every day for sparing my Steve, I will never go a day without thinking about these two great men who were taken from us so violently and tragically.

Life is so precious...you just don't know what is going to happen from one moment to the next.

Happy Mama's Day and a little Road Trip!

I will not be with my chicklets today :( but its okay because they will be having breakfast with my mama and sister and my girls will be coming to Florida in less than three weeks to see us for a week. We will celebrate than and I cannot wait!

I had my friends over last night for a BBQ and I told them about the band. I have been slowly telling more and more people and I am so blown away by how everyone is being so supportive and non-judgemental. Even the part about my going to Mexico...its easier telling people now that its done. Most people who I told up front were concerned about that part but now its like, "why don't more people go to Mexico?" I guess its the fear of the unknown about having surgery in a foreign country.

I did really good with my eating while everyone was here and than while I was cleaning up I popped a two little pieces of a brownie in my big mouth and guess what happened? Yea, you guessed right, STUCK! Holy schmoley! So that makes it brownies and leftover turkey meat that is on my "do not eat list". Its probably a safe bet that I should include all dryish cakey things, huh? Well, today I am actually a little sore in the belly area and it really wasn't a bad stuck episode, it lasted about 10 minutes or so and I didn't do much sliming. I'm sticking to liquids today just to be on the safe side.

The "boys" started their motorcycle road trip this morning. On their way to Myrtle Beach to meet up with my brother-in-law for a few days. Its about 400 miles from here so Steve and my dad will be doing it in 2 days. Brutus didn't really go with them but I just could not pass up this little photo op! Yes, I know, I am sick but he lets me put anything on him because he knows there is a cookie in his future if he does! I am referring to Brutus, by the way, and not Steve just in case you are confused!



Doesn't Brutus look sad that they forgot to take him?




I have to finish getting ready for work so I wish you all a wonderful Mothers Day whether you are a mother or not!