EIGHTY-FOUR!!

And, as if the weekend could get any better. . . I hit 84.8 pounds down this morning. 2/10ths of a pound from my ASPIRATIONAL goal. Wow!! I did not expect that and am thrilled! 145, you are nearly in my grasp!

So. . . the weekend. Wonderful would be a serious understatement. I spent the entire weekend with S, since we wound up going to see Black Swan and out to dinner (then each home to our respective apartments) on Friday night. Saturday was a great day . . I met with my best friend from 8th grade and her daughter for brunch, then went to have my hair and nails done.

Saturday night was amazing. S and I met at Fiorello's (great pre-Lincoln Center event location) for dinner. The maitre d' greeted us with champagne and gave us one of the very best tables. S was very, very appreciative of my dress and told me so more times than I can remember, which made me feel fantastic. The surprise event was a performance of the U-n-i-v-e-r-s-i-t-y Gl-e-e C-l-u-b (weird hyphens used to hopefully foil Google Alterts from picking up my post. . . ). The group is primarily of men, and they all hale from the glee clubs of a number of Ivy League schools and is a longstanding NYC tradition). They were really wonderful, and the current group from Yale sang as well -- and they were hilarious, and extremely talented.

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What S didn't know, though, is that a partner from my very first firm is very involved in the UGC, and he was there performing, which was a huge treat for me. We also got to catch up with him and his wife at the after party, at which they had a great band (and the Club members did another impromptu performance), and S and I danced the night away! It was so much fun. I don't know when I've ever had a better time.

We actually spent Sunday and Monday together, too. On Sunday, I went to hear S play guitar with a bluegrass group, which was wonderful (and led to him bringing over his guitar, so I was serenaded at home this weekend .. amazing!), and on Monday, we walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and wound up having dinner at a very cute wine bar. What a phenominal weekend. We talked so much (including about that issue my friends had identified to me) and just really spent the time getting to know one another better. I'm more smitten than ever, if that's possible. . . :)

** Addendum! ** I can't believe that I forgot (!) to mention this in the first run of this post, but I told S about my band last night. We were having a heart to heart about all sorts of things, and it felt like a good idea to just mention it then and get it out of the way. He knew about lap bands in general and was totally fine in his reaction. I'm glad that I took care of that sooner than later so I didn't have to stress about it!

. . . THE DRESS!!

Please excuse the streaky mirror situation . . and the fact that I'm not all made up with my hair done in the photo. I was just dying to show you my new David Meister gown for my date on Saturday night with S! I can't believe I own anything with a size six on the tag, much less fit into and feel wonderful in a dress like this. Oh, what a difference 2 1/4 years makes.

October 31, 2008 vs. January 12, 2011

Have I told you lately how much I love my band? Have I mentioned how grateful I am that I get to really enjoy my life now on a level that I didn't even know was possible? I hope I've at least said how incredibly lucky I feel to get to live my life in a body that I like and that is strong, healthy and comfortable -- and to be free from the food prison. Looking at these photos reminds me of how far I've come. But it's been -- and continues to be -- a really enjoyable journey. I don't regret -- or even care about -- a single change that I've had to make to make the band work. It's been a fascinating, fulfilling and wonderful process and has brought so many wonderful and amazing people -- including everyone reading this post -- into my life. Words alone can't express how much gratitude I feel.

Plus Sized Models

Last night, my friend Emily hosted a Girl's Night Out at her home. We do these every few months, and it's generally a great mix of friends old and new. Interestingly, Emily had invited two friends -- really beautiful girls -- and, in the course of talking to them, I found out that they are both plus sized models.

It probably won't come as a surprise to you, but neither of them looked at all heavy! One said that she was a size 14, but I honestly thought she was closer to a 12, so maybe she was going by a stingy-designer-14. And, apparently, the starting size for plus sized models is a size six!! (Hey. . so even in my skinniest dress, I'm still in the range. . er, though maybe not age-wise at this point!) Also, I found out that sometimes plus size models wear padding to fill out the clothing more, depending on what their clients want.

This is one of the girls who was at our GNO last night!
She had the BEST hair. I had major hair envy!

It really was fascinating to talk to them about their industry. Plus, both girls were really nice and very cool (and interesting on other topics as well, of course)!

Does Anyone Have Superman's Cell No.?

What a weekend!! My date on Friday with S was so much fun. He took me ice skating at Bryant Park after work, then for drinks at the Algonquin. A 5-hour date that was really off the charts. We talked the whole time, and really have a lot in common. He also told me that he'd been on the wrong track in dating (using his brain, not his heart when deciding who to date. . . an all-too-familiar strategy. . I did the same thing for a long time), but since had realized that wasn't the way to go.

While we were at the Algonquin (Dorothy Parker's old hangout), S asked me to a black tie event for next Saturday. The next day, I found this AMAZING, floor length, black jersey David Meister dress at Bloomies that I absolutely love and took it to be hemmed (I didn't have any floor length dresses that fit anymore). Well. . . OMG (!!!!) it is a size SIX (WHAT?? STOP THE PRESSES!!) So, clearly, God Himself is sending me a sign that he endorses this date! :) (I am so not a six . . it's just the cut, but I'll take it!!)

When I took the dress to be hemmed, the tailor (a very sweet Asian man who did not speak much English said "You look gorgeous - like television star!," and another guy who came in to drop off his dry cleaning said that my date is a "lucky guy" -- and I hope that's an indication of what S's reaction is going to be! Very psyched about all aspects of this -- the guy, the date, the dress, and him already wanting to take me to a super public event that is bound to set off Gossip Girl blasts up and down the Upper East Side. .

BTW, for any newbies who are worried about getting stuck (and it's funny because this was so nothing to me that I almost didn't mention it), I actually got stuck when we were having dinner at the Algonquin. It wasn't a big deal. I always have enough advance notice that getting to the restroom isn't a problem, so I just made my way there, took care of the issue, and got right back to having a great time.

At dinner on Sunday night.

On Sunday, S joined us (Marjorie, me & another girlfriend ("A") who was with us in the Adirondacks) for brunch and the brain exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Eventually, M and A had to leave, and S and I stayed and did all the interactive stuff together (memory games, language tests, puzzles, etc. -- it was such a good exhibit). At some point prior to that, he'd asked if I'd join him for mass (he's Catholic. . and subsequently got me into church. . my dad practically did a cartwheel when I told him. . . lol) and then a dinner at the apartment of two of his closest friends, a married couple who I'd met once before at one of the UES crowd parties I attended with Marjorie.

There were 7 of us at the dinner, and I had a really nice time. His friends were really nice and very welcoming. I had a great time (and funny enough, I heard him talking in the kitchen to the wife/hostess when I went to grab a card from my purse, and the wife said "She seems really cool!" . . which I assume was about me, um, like 'cuz I'm so cool & such...ha ha)

Then, the next morning, I woke up to the best e-mail from S ever (suffice it to say that it's the kind of e-mail every girl would love to get after a really good date). It's pretty much the best e-mail I remember receiving from a guy. Seriously. . stick a fork in me. . . Wow. What a great guy -- we really had such a fantastic time all weekend, and I'm wondering if I can call Superman and get him to spin the world around a little faster to get to Saturday. . . :)

The Scoop. . .

The beautiful Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal.

I am trying to keep my feet on the ground and not get carried away. But, I have to tell you that this S guy is pretty amazing and special. I don't know when I've ever been more taken with someone. I literally spent part of the weekend (on a long car trip) just listening to him and looking at him, trying to find something -- anything -- that I didn't like about him, but I could not find a single thing. (And I really tried!)

With Marjorie on New Year's Eve at Restaurant Laloux in Montreal

He's smart, interesting, funny, self-aware, has a great family, is well-traveled, successful, handsome, creative, and very warm. Our group (all 8 of us) stayed at his family's house in the Adirondack mountains on January 1st, and his parents were there. They were really wonderful -- fun, open, silly, friendly, very welcoming and they had so much in common with my family. Their overall way of being was similar to how we are, they have similar religious backgrounds, they hold hands when they say grace, and they even have the same "joke" mug that we do . . it's a mug with a ceramic frog affixed to the bottom (so you freak out when you get to that part of your drink and see a frog in there). Even his two dogs and cat were great.

One of S's dogs. .

So, after two days of this, and many really good conversations, I was feeling completely smitten. After we all had a wonderful dinner of that gorgeous turkey shown above, we all begged S to get out his guitar and play some songs for us (he even plays the guitar and has a great voice. . I was dying). We had a sing along (and lots of very nice wine!), and people scattered up to bed now and then. Eventually, S and I were the only people in the living room.

He held out his hands for me to take them, and I did, and he kissed me. Wow. We also wound up having a long conversation about how we'd both been feeling this incredible connection all weekend, and how surprised we were to know that the other person felt the the same way. He said that, to him, I was the most beautiful girl he's ever seen, and that it wasn't just about how I look, but that he felt that I was funny, smart and a really warm person. . . All the things I would want someone to see and think about me. Seriously, I was totally blown away.

I'd like to stop the story there, but there is something not so great that I have to report. You see, S is part of this whole Upper East Side crew who have known one another forever (they are basically the real life equivalent of Gossip Girl). So, my friends have full knowledge of his dating history since, roughly, birth. (Seriously. . I found out at dinner that the uncle of one of the other guys on our trip was there the night that S's parents met.) Anyway, about three or four years ago, he was in a relationship with a friend of one of my friends and he cheated on her, rather than ending the relationship when he should have. He totally broke that girl's heart, and my friend really cautioned me against dating him. My friend also told me that S seems to have some commitment issues, and that she thinks this is why he has never married.

I get worried about information like this, but on the other hand, it was a while ago, and I don't have full information here. At this age, I can't imagine that anyone has a flawless past, and I'm certainly not going to refuse to date someone this incredible because of this. But it is making my happiness a little bittersweet.

Anyway, S and I have been having a great e-mail exchange all week (seriously, it's so distracting. . he's such a good writer, so funny and interesting) and he is taking me ice skating (!) on Friday night. How cute is that? BTW, I am a horrible ice skater! I hope that I don't injure him.

OK, people, hold your breath and make a wish. I do not want to get my heart broken again, but I am totally smitten.

Happy New Year!!

I only have a moment to post today, but promise to do a Christmas and New Year's recap soon! Long story short, I had a fantastic Christmas in Houston with my family. I did wind up getting snowed out of NYC for two extra days, which was a little stressful on the work side, but really enjoyable otherwise. I actually had to fly back into Pennsylvania and take the train to New York. A bit of a pain, but all in all, an outstanding trip!

I just got back last night from a trip to Montreal with a group of friends. We drove back to New York on New Year's Day and spent the night at S's parents' house in the Adirondacks (S is a guy friend of my friends who I'd only met once before, but who turned out to be kind of amazing). It was such a great trip. . . with an unexpected romantic component! Who knew? Not sure what the future holds there, but stay tuned.