Gastric Bypass Barbie

Beautiful Blogger Award

My dear friend, Allie (of Pimp My Protein Shake fame) bestowed a lovely award upon me today and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s my first ever blogging recognition, so it’s particularly sweet.

First off, I accept this BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD on behalf of struggling bariatric after-lifers everywhere and will endeavor to give the blogosphere even MORE reasons to find me deserving of the honor in the coming year. What?

Gosh, I guess I need to work on my acceptance speech a little. I feel like Sally Field, “You like me! You really, really like me!”

But, enough of that, in keeping with, what I presume is the traditional response after being presented with the BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD – at least that’s what Allie did – I will offer SEVEN facts about myself and then nominate another blogger to receive the award.

Fun Fact Number 1:

I have flown the Goodyear Blimp. This is something that very few people on the planet can claim, because the experience is an invitation-only thing and it just so happens that I work 5 minutes from the airfield (so I’m well-connected AND geographically desirable.) The blimp toodles along at the blazing speed of about 35 miles per hour and maxes out at 50. It typically ascends to an altitude of 1,000 feet and is flown “by wire” (whatever that means). You use a really big wheel in the floor and two rudder pedals to steer. It is very noisy and the super cool light-up graphic panel uses relatively huge tri-color light bulbs suspended from thick wires. It is not as technologically advanced as you would think.

Oh, the blimp never touches the ground and is wrangled in (like a bucking bronco) by blimp wranglers who have to grab tethers at just the right moment. They offload and onload one person at a time to keep the weight evenly distributed. It is a seriously cool experience.

Word to the wise: If you ever get tapped for this privilege, do not use your cell phone to excitedly phone your hubby and tell him where you are. Not only is it prohibited by FAA regulations, it is incredibly embarrassing when the pilot has to turn around and tell you he can hear both sides of your silly conversation – as can the air traffic control tower – and could you please hang up, because you are creating a cell phone black out for hundreds of people right now by using your phone at the 1,000 foot level. Thank you very much. I am not kidding.

Fun Fact Number 2:

I freaked out in the old submarine ride at Disneyland on my honeymoon because I felt like I was going to drown. Thank goodness they blow fresh air through vents at each little round window, or I’d have passed out cold. Just adding this picture to the post made me a little faint. On the old ride (and probably the new Finding Nemo version), your head is NEVER submerged, and is always completely above water. Through the magic of Disney, you only think you are gonna drown! Fortunately, my wonderful hubby did not leave me on the spot, and we just celebrated 20 years of married bliss.

Fun Fact Number 3:

I like the smell of gasoline, PVC (the kind they use for inflatable toys because it reminds me of Christmas), rubber soled tennis shoes, white out, pine trees, citrus and cinnamon. I detest fake strawberry flavoring, rose-scented air freshener, musk and walnuts in ice cream. The smell of Aqua Net hair spray takes me back to junior high faster than you can say,“Disco Sucks! New Wave Rules!”

Fun Fact Number 4:

In my bariatric before life, I NEVER ate a Cinnabon creation, Ben N Jerry’s Ice Cream, or any dessert from Claim Jumper. I felt these things were blatantly decadent and couldn’t bring myself to indulge in them because it would give people a reason to judge me because I was fat. Having said that, I could eat my weight in Yellow Zingers, Red Vines and Caramel Popcorn. Trust me, I found ways to get fat…

Fun Fact Number 5:

I played Roseann Rosannadanna in high school and am memorialized (complete with Drew Barrymore-style crooked mouth) forever in my Senior Yearbook. Nice.

Fun Fact Number 6:

I was class salutatorian when I graduated from University of Phoenix in 1999. I gave my commencement speech before 5,000 people at the Anaheim Convention Center and loved every minute of it…except for the fact that my graduation robe made me look like Ten Ton Tessie. Isn’t black supposed to be SLIMMING??? For Pete’s sake, it was an A-LINE!!!


Fun Fact Number 7:

I saved the best fun fact for last:

My Paternal Grandmother, Helen Rose Murphy (aka Helen Worth) was a Ziegfield Folly Showgirl from the time she was 13 years old. Yes, that really is a picture of her. She was stunningly beautiful with the most amazing blue eyes. I always wanted to look like her, though she always said that beauty was her curse, because no one ever believed she had a brain under that beautiful blond head of hair.

Some would say I get my love of being in the spotlight from her. I wouldn’t disagree.

So, those are facts about me that have very little to do with why I blog, but everything to do with who I am.

I am now pleased to nominate my friend, Melinda from RecoveringFatty.com, for the esteemed BEAUTIFUL BLOGGER AWARD. She has been one of my biggest supporters and encouraged me to begin Gastric Bypass Barbie back in the fall. She is inspirational to anyone who is trying to live an honest and successful bariatric after life and I sincerely hope she will accept this small token of my appreciation. I am honored and blessed to call her friend. Thanks, Melinda!

Tags: Award Winning Blog, bariatric surgery, Before and After, gastric bypass, Living a Healthy Life after Weight Loss, self assessment, self awareness, WLS After Life, WLS Mentor, WLS Motivation

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Introduction. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.