Sharing the good times

[Gabes-Apg]

want to share some MC good times.

On saturday i organised to catch up with my dear friend Maria (who is a naturopath)
she has two beautiful children that always give me lots of hugs and lots of laughs.

she is the friend that was my next of kin when i had to go and have my colonscopy.

going to her place is great, they generally eat gluten free, she always has lactose free milk in her fridge. For our catch up i made my GF/YF/LF savory muffins that i have been making very regularly and took a pack of the leda chocolate biscuits (that we sent to tex)

prior to mc, at work, my work buddies and i would have lunch out and about at least twice a week, even if we took our salads to the park, weekends it was easy to catch up with friends have a coffee etc

since mc, and with limited diet at the moment i feel a bit isolated, I have only eaten out or had coffee out, or packed a picnic to eat in the park less than 8 times. I think the bad experience a month or so ago and limited eating options when away from home.

to have 'my food' (which the kids thought was very yummy) in an environment where the diet is not questioned or frowned upon.... was FANTASTIC. my friend maria has been having increasing IBS issues and I shared the wonderful knowledge from this site (I must have said 'well the mc family thinks this or the mc family has discussed that' about 15 times!!!)
i left the leftovers with her and she rang me yesterday on sunday morning when she wasnt feeling well, my food was her saviour!


This weekend is easter in australia, we get a 4 day weekend.
Friday night, TK and I are heading up the mountains (2hrs drive away) to spend the night with some long term friends of mine. They are a GF/YF household so it will be easy to turn up with my special foods and not have to go through the spanish inquisition about my diet, they have built the place with the long term plan of being a Bed and Breakfast, so every bedroom has its own bathroom (perfect for potty type people)
it is a the type of place that you just wear your comfy clothes (no need to dress up) and you dont feel like a guest you feel like it is your home.

yesterday, TK asked if I was i up to two nights away from home as he would like to organise to stay saturday night at the gold coast and if I had time to investigate some 'gabe allowed eateries'

(shame the weather forecast is a bit dodgy with rain etc) even so the bit of preperation will be worth the treat of being out and about. if the digestion doesnt cope i still have two nights to recover before returning to work so bring it on.....
I am printing up my little cards to give the wait staff.....
will do some food prep tomorrow night so i have enough 'staples' with me.

looking forward to 2 nights away..... and i am sure that eating out will be a positive experience this time!

[Matthew]

Gabes

I love getting on this sight and finding someone with an up beat positive I can do attitude. Makes me feel even better because since being diagnosed with MC I find that one of the most therapeutic things I can do is to master PMA(Positive Mental Attitude)

Even if it just getting up in the morning and looking in the mirror and getting a good case of the giggles seeing my bed hair. I sometimes look like one of those troll dolls from years back. Or wandering around my woodworking shop looking for a pencil that is tucked behind my ear and laughing like an idiot at my own foibles

One of my most memorable canoe trips was three days in the rain but it washed the canyon walls and brought out all the colors of millions of years of striations that I never would have seen otherwise. My canoe parteners just complained about the rain.

With your attitude I know you will have a great time.

Enjoy your weekend. I know it will be great, even in the rain.

Love and thanks-

Matthew

[Bifcus16]

Gabes,

That sounds great! Hope you enjoy the weekend.

Matthew, so much is about attitude isn't it?

Last night we went and saw Lady GaGa in concert. I perfectly understand that she would offend some people's sense of propriety, or musicality, but I had a ball. Every time I looked across at DH he had a big grin on his face. That whole empowerment thing she has going - whether you agree with how she expresses it or not - is very powerful. In GaGa terms "I am a Free B*tch" I swear that I have been more productive at work today as a result - despite being severely sleep deprived (could have done without the 7:30 am meeting).

I may be hoarse from yelling, have tired muscles from standing and bouncing and have only had about 5 hours sleep, but hey, you gotta have fun!! You can't beat acting like a teenager to make you feel young.

Lyn

[Gabes-Apg]

Thanks for the encouragement Matthew

the other aspect of the positive attitude is that others around you may be having challenges, but as part of the living in the now theory....you have to celebrate the good times - guilt free!!!

Lyn - i am sooo please you enjoyed the concert and Lady Ga Ga is definately someone who lives in the now and does things without worrying about what others might think. and i dont think i could go to a concert like that on a school night!

one of my favourite sayings is by dr seuss..... i like nonense it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, It's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, And that enables you to laugh at life's realities

[MaggieRedwings]

Thank you all for the upbeat attitude and it has sparked me on to a day that I will smile more and possibly giggle at myself.

Gabes - Have a blast of a weekend.

Love, Maggie

P.S. - And I love Lady GaGa - she is one unto her own.

[Mars]

Gabes, Matthew and Lyn -

You all made me smile this morning. I love the "pencil behind the ear" example Matthew. I do things like that all the time and just have to shake my head and laugh.

It's been awhile for me to laugh at myself with some personal issues that have been going on. Those things are behind me now (most of them) and I find myself "belly laughing" again. Isn't it GREAT!! My husband even commented on it - saying how good it was to hear me laugh like that again. :)


BTW - SPRING is here - the birds are singing every morning and the sun shines more and the flowers and trees are blooming. For those of us with seasonal depresion - NOW is our awakening time - moods get better and health seems to improve! YAAHOOOOO!

Thanks for the great "tudes" this morning - absolutely made my day!

Love and very giggly hugs,

Mars

[harma]

Hi Gabes, also very good of you to put the positive things here too. Thanks for that. We have a long Easter weekend here too, also from Friday through Monday. I also have a Sunday or Monday lunch, brunch or Diner with friends, only they have asked me to bring my own food. That sounds so great having GF, DF, lactose free eating/drinking friends. But bringing my own food is fine with me too, to get invited is the most important thing for me. Just to get out an socialize, food and drinks comes in second place nowadays.

You are an example for all of us, with your positive attitude and trying to make the best of it. Another light in this support group.

[Gabes-Apg]

More than happy to share the smiles....

Had my acupuncture last night, fixed up the spleen/liver/upper intenstinal zones.... slept well