As you probably heard from the other midwestern bloggers, there was an earthquake this morning. I woke this morning to my bed shaking. Now I was a bit groggy but it didn’t take too long to figure out what was going on … I was just shocked at how long the tremors lasted. I swear my building even shook. It felt like EVERYTHING was moving. Nothing fell off the walls though; some of my colleagues said photos fell down or off walls at their homes.

Then I went back to sleep.

I actually forgot all about it until I turned on the radio in the car (couldn’t find my iPod) and the DJ mentioned it. I was like, I’ll be damned. LOL I think it was a 5.2 on the Richter scale at the epicenter (in Illinois). It was definitely the strongest earthquake I’ve felt. Then again, the only other one I remember was about 20 years ago in Michigan!

There was an aftershock about 11:15; we were in a staff meeting and the floor started to shake. It was much less severe but definitely noticeable.

This afternoon I went to see my surgeon. Really nice guy. He said either the Lap band or gastric bypass would work for me, but I chose the bypass for 2 reasons. One, the weight loss is greater, and two, I won’t be able to eat sweets and high-fat foods. With the Lap band you don’t have that restriction and hello, I’d be popping jelly bellys again like there’s no tomorrow. The next step is to attend two nutrition classes (couldn’t get into those until the end of May) and meet with the psychologist at the beginning of June. After that, my paperwork will be submitted for insurance approval.

I’m excited. It’s like now I have the motivation to start eating better and exercising consistently because there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I had dinner with my friend Kim tonight and she was just raving about how beautiful I am now and how I’ll be that much prettier when I’m happier with myself. Ah, I love the fawning friends.

I told the dietitian that I am at my highest weight ever. When she asked me why I started thinking about the surgery, I told her that the final straw really was when I got on the scale in November in the fitness center. I. Was. Shocked. I knew I had gained weight but fuck me, that much? Ugh. They stress over and over again that this surgery is just a tool. It’s not the end-all and be-all of weight loss … and I’ll have to do work to figure out WHY I eat like I do. The danger of cross-addiction is great, one reason why they ask patients to abstain from alcohol forever. I can’t really argue with that, given my dad’s issues, but still. I’ll survive, though. Ugh.

MM is going to be at a mini convention tomorrow, hawking his “B&B.” How do I know this? Because my girl Gigi is running the show and she told me about it … I wouldn’t be surprised if she marched her ass over to him and introduced herself. I know I would if the tables were turned LOL. I’m interested in her assessment of him. I’ve decided that I’m not going to contact again; it’s up to him. Pffft ….