Okay, has anyone seen Battle of the Blades? I heard about it on NPR and now I'm obsessed with trying to see it

Heh. I heard that story this morning too.

Insurance will cover surgery, but not a diet-food progam that I can't afford to purchase on my own, so I'm going with that.

That's a big consideration. Good luck, Kathy.

Oh dear God - this is horrifying: 'The train took my baby,' mom screams as stroller is dragged

At least the baby was not seriously injured .

Screaming "the train took my baby,'' a mother watched in horror as a CTA train pulled away from a North Side station with her baby and stroller stuck in the doors.

The southbound train dragged the stroller until it hit a barrier at the end of the Morse station and the 22-month-old girl flew onto the tracks, missing the third rail, police said. The mother jumped onto the tracks, scooped up her child and handed her up to someone on the platform, he said.

Swine Flu Fears Lead to Girl-on-Girl Brawl on D Train

After a rough spring that saw as many as 20 to 40 percent of New Yorkers exposed to H1N1, subway riders have resorted to defending themselves with their fists.

Violence struck on a southbound D train Monday morning after two women got into an argument over one's refusal to cover her mouth while coughing. It ended with her spitting on the other, a punch, and the second woman dragging the first to the floor of the car by her hair.

Kathy, from everything I've read and heard, lap-band may well be the safest way to go, especially because it can be adjusted. I know someone who had it done, and she's been happy so far with the results, a couple years now down the line, FWIW. She had plenty of counseling and dietary support all the way through, and I think that's key to making the experience a big success.

[OMG watch the video - this is seriously the most horrifying thing I have ever seen.]

Dear lord, that was hideous.

Good luck to you Kathy it sounds like you've thought it out and made a decision that is best for you.

wrt to sleep dep - mac is still not fully adjusted to the time change and so is up too early still, but nothing compared to infant/toddler sleep dep. This is where my brother would start suggesing baby benedryl or a quarter ambien.

ION - I had a panic attack this morning and am feeling all sorts of out of control - no real clear to me reason why. I think my brqain/body is lagging in adapting to the lack of crisis-mode in our house. Possibly I am just now processing the summer stuff. joy?

She had plenty of counseling and dietary support all the way through, and I think that's key to making the experience a big success.

Theodosia beat me to it Kathy...as has everyone else with the good thoughts.

My professional experience with a lap-band patient leads me to underscore the 'plenty of counseling and dietary support' portion of the program. In many ways, the actual surgery seems to be the easiest part...which for a needlephobe like me, seems amazing.

Wishes for great outcomes headed your way.

For Halloween, this guy used 3D mapping software to make a giant-sized paper copy of his own head.

Thanks, everyone! I'd been thinking about it all summer long, but, strangely enough, finally decided to do it while watching the Ken Burns national parks miniseries. I want to go to those places, but physically, I just can't do it. When my mom and I took a day trip to the Grand Canyon last year, not only did I have problems just walking to the rim from the parking lot, but I had to skip the helicopter ride Mom took because they had to weigh you beforehand to determine seating arrangements, and I wasn't going to humiliate myself that way.

Someday soon, I want to ride the river at the Grand Canyon, and I want to go hiking in Yosemite and see Old Faithful in Yellowstone, and I want to do it without having to stop every 300 steps to catch my breath.

For Halloween, this guy used 3D mapping software to make a giant-sized paper copy of his own head.

That is freaky and awesome.