I wouldn't call my Forester compact, but it's Not Large, and it's AWD, and gets mid-20s mpg.

My sister is now using me for inspiration! Which is strange, because she's the reason I'm doing this form of dieting (the medication route). She had gastric bypass and lost 135 pounds in a year, so she and Mom were really doing the hard sell for me to have surgery as well. But, I really don't like the idea of messing with my insides when there's no guarantee that it'll keep you thin after you lose the weight. Sure enough, in the 18 months since the wedding, she's put 35 pounds back on, and that's while she's been exercising regularly as well as not being able to eat large amounts due to the small stomach. So, she's on Weight Watchers now (along with her hubby).

Ok, I have coffee, but I am still have cravings for the beignets -- it survived the night. Since I am wearing tightish jeans for me (omg) date Friday, I will have to be happy with the cereal instead. Vanity, thy name is 36 y.o. woman!

(Hee. And for those who have known me for years, yeah, the patented Erin ass-buffing salt is getting taken of the shelf and dusted off (heh, much like myself!) and vigorously applied pre-date. Not that I think there will be any need, but it's the principle of the thing!

My mom always, always was the best about attacking dollars stores and presenting me with a box of random school supplies at the beginning of the year. I've also bought belts (school unis), food, ties, a backpack and medications for my students. I also always check the $250 auto dedection for teachers without a qualm, and wish it was more. And I was not an aberration among teachers or administrations -- our registrar, with three kids of her own, would quietly bring in boxes of school supplies and jackets, ties and belts gleaned from her family.

Google Street View camera photographs "alien" [link] and "ghost" [link]

Sure enough, in the 18 months since the wedding, she's put 35 pounds back on, and that's while she's been exercising regularly as well as not being able to eat large amounts due to the small stomach.

Oh, jeez. Your poor sister.

OH, gosh, it's Allyson's birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

So the band around the stomach is forever?

Apparently Google street view is going to taking pictures in Halifax in the next few weeks. I so want to rent some kind of giant cupcake costume and just hang around and try to end up in some pics.

you should put big "HI Google" signs in your front yard.

lunch from home was unsatisfying, but filling. I think I need to go buy some little dessert.

So the band around the stomach is forever?

If you have lap-band surgery, the band can be adjusted from the outside to allow for more food to enter the stomach. Also, it can be removed relatively easily. However, if you have gastric-bypass (which my sister did), it completely rearranges the stomach and makes it permanently smaller.