Blog

Yes, the fill I had before the trip is working.  I’ll probably cancel next weeks fill, but want to wait until it gets closer.

I am noticing a major change in my eating habits. I am definitely eating LESS food and I am definitely seeing a change in my body.  No scales here (haven’t checked the fitness center, I might tomorrow), but luckily, I packed the size smaller skirt in my bags, as the size I was wearing is getting too big, and I can comfortably wear the new size.

Whew!  And I have a ton of clothing at this size. I was at this size for almost 2 years.

Man, 5 days.  Yikes!

I woke realizing that I was

• having fun
• missed my husband and dogs
• sleeping well

I went to the Air and Space Museum near Dulles Airport — free to get in, $15 in parking, not bad for a family.  Very nicely done and I’ll upload pictures later.

It is basically several large hangers with planes arrayed from top to bottom and from side to side.  From balloons to gliders and sail planes, to beginning to current times.  I think there was a Mooney displayed — I couldn’t get close enough to see, and the part that was disconcerting was that it was white and red, Mooney’s are notorious for coming in hideous colors — we flew two of identical Moonies that were orange and cream.  Sounds good on paper, but odd in real life.

I had a good time.

Accomplished a goal — had seafood for lunch — Joe’s Crab Shack and had some of the best food and service on the trip.  Worth the charge (unlike the Shoney’s in Bossier City — don’t go there).

The rest of the day has been about resting, relaxing and gearing up mentally to go to work.  Got my nails done, and have just been hanging out at the hotel.

Looking forward to the rest of the week, may do some tweeting.

I am happy and sad at the same time.  My fill is working.  I can’t eat much. This is a good thing. It is something I am going to have to get used to.  It is a bad thing too.  I am still working on learning how to eat right.

Proteins are tough, breads are tougher, veggies are still okay but haven’t had much of a chance to eat them.  I’m going out and getting something to eat with the plans of having the leftovers in the room to eat tomorrow.

It will be interesting to see how things go from now on.

Today I did the tourist thing. Drove to the further station out on the Metro (Vienna/Fairfax) and took the Metro into Union Station — well, that was the plan, but I got a little diverted. My goal was to get a pass on a Hop On Bus Tour, which I finally did, but got distracted and off the wrong station.

Once I got to Union Station, I found a bus tour and took it around one loop — decided where I wanted off — Air and Space Museum.  By that time I needed to eat, so I ate part of a filet of fish sandwich (McD style).  Yes, the fill is working.

Walked around Air / Space and then got back on the tour bus (sounds easier than it was).  Met lots of fun people on the tours, and generally had a good time.

Also took the "blue" tour and went over the Potomoc to Arlington National Cemetary.  All very cool.

Was almost touristed out, so took the train back — noticed there was a Metro station near the "blue" tour.  It was a Red Line train so went to Metro, tried to get an orange train but landed on a blue train.  Not a bit deal as they run the same route, there, so I got off, got on an orange that took me ALMOST to the right station — it went "out of service" two stations from where I parked.

So had to wait for another train.  It came, finally got to my station and couldn’t remember which side I got off on.  Finally found my truck and made my way back to the hotel.

By the way, I love this Embassy Suites hotel!  It’s one of the smaller properties — the New Orleans property was HUGE, about twice as many floors, much better atrium plus another property where we stayed at.  This has only 6 floors, has two swans living in it — though I wonder how they feel about it — must be like my dogs — they have a home with good weather, get regular meals, etc.  They are "royal swans" and must be birds that are frequently raised as pets.

Breakfast is completely made to order when it comes to eggs, etc.  Very good service and very good food.  Manager’s reception has had different food each night — last night’s ended up being my supper. 

Room is extremely quiet and I slept the best I have on the entire trip.  I should be in pretty good shape before I head out to Charlottesville.

Definitely having a good trip!

I made it from Knoxville to my hotel today. I may have been too ambitious on how much driving I can do in one day. The other bad part, is when I am at touristy places, they are closed.

Once I got settled into the hotel, I drove into DC and made it all the way to the Potomac, the Capital Building and Washington Monument.

My plan tomorrow is to find a train station, and take the Metro train to Union Station.  Then I’m going to try to take a tour.  We’ll see how that goes.  I figure that I have less chances of getting lost if I park in a train station.

One nice thing about Embassy Suites, at least this one, tonight, is that they really had enough food for me to have dinner in the manager’s reception.  I’m going to hit the breakfast in the morning.

I am tired.

It’s going well, I left Brandon about 9:00 am after getting gas, etc.

Had a very nice visit with the family, and right now, and stopped at a rest stop outside of Brandon, doing the rest stop thing.

I-20 is boring and I wish my GPS had a Wal-Mart alert, I want to stop and get some AA batteries and a one to two adapter for my car lighters, though I think the cooler and Zune are probably enough to pull juice off the battery.  Don’t want to screw up the electrical system so I’ve been keeping the amateur radio gear off.

By the way, love the cooler, it’s a good size, carries about two meals plus drinks and injectable meds (insulin and symlin).  Got it at Wal-Mart and made by Coleman.

Drove a lot, made a lot of little stops and generally taking it easy.  However, I-20 is BORING!

Really had a nice visit with my mother, want to go back through but don’t know yet.  I really hate I-20.

Would like to hang out in Chattanooga Tennessee but got there to late and went on to Knoxville.  I should be half way to Washington, DC.   I would like to get there at a decent time will depend on when I get up and going.  It’s 9:25 my time and 10:25 there time which always takes a bit to get used to.

I’m staying at a decent but cheap hotel, they claim they have wireless but I haven’t gotten it to work, thankfully I have my own internet.

Looks like the latest fill is doing good, which makes me real happy.  Still have some head work to do.

I made it to my mom’s in Brandon, Mississippi, took her and my sister out to dinner, and went and saw my sister’s two houses she is trying to sell. Both are nice. One is my niece’s, and one is a builder’s who hasn’t been able to sell.

She is probably going to rent the nieces.

I miss my dogs, especially Macy, as she is in my face all the time.  It’s hard to be without them.  I’m not falling asleep and my head is spinning with thoughts.

My mom isn’t getting that I don’t want to make any plans.  The next few days are all about not having plans.  Weird thing for me, but it’s a good thing.  My plan is that I have to be in Washington DC on Friday or cancel my reservation and that I don’t have to be anywhere until Tuesday morning.  That’s not like me.  I usually have life planned to the minute.

Only problem was a disaster of a lunch at a Shoney’s in Bossier City, horrible service, horrible food, and very over priced.  Won’t do that again, $2.00 for tea I can’t drink is ridiculous, part my fault.

I went in and got another Fill today – apparently, I have to pay a $30 copay.  We’ll see after it’s processed.

Also got my labs back.  A1C is 7.9 and my lipid panel is all too high.  I know I need to be on a cholestral lowering drug, just finding one I can swallow is a problem.

I definately need at least one more fill and I am really tempted to try to go in this week, but since I’m going to be traveling it is not a good idea.

I have restriction with some protein, but not with carbs.  I can eat all the carbs I want with no problems.  I’m still doing a really good job with "bandster" eating.  Not drinking while I eat, eating protein first, then veggies and then carbs.

I ate out in public for the first time during the diabete meet up.  It went very well, too well, as I do very well with eggs and sausage and that’s what I had. At least I know what is safe.

I’m still eating 4 – 5 times a day, and wish I could get to 3, but just am not there yet.

Still not losing weight — got on the evil scale yesterday but I’m maintaining my surgery weight loss.  I know how to lose weight — go on a liquid diet for 6 weeks, but I’m not ready to go there again.

Good news, next fill is the Tuesday after I get back.

In honor of LeeAnn being in the area, we put together a diabetes twitter meetup. Brian, LeeAnn and myself all met there, along with Amy, Brian’s wife.

I loved the way we organized it — LeeAnn picked a range of days, I narrowed it down to a single day and location, and Brian picked the time and place.

We ended up at a Cracker Barrel in Arlington.

I got the waitress to take a picture of the group:

LeeAnn is on the left front, I’m left back , and Brian and Amy are on the right.

Here’s Brian and Amy

And Brian has an interesting tatoo