HAPPY NEW YEAR!

.... I know-- it's been a while! I'll make it my resolution to do better (again!)! I'll blame it on the cold that it has froze all of my brain cells!

It's our Anniversary Celebration for Support Group this month! Everyone is invited to attend but our guest of honors will be those that have had reached their year mark! :) If this is you be sure to send in your pictures and we will spotlight you!

January 27, 2011 at 7 pm at the EIRMC Cancer Center! RSVP so we can have everything ready! 529-7373

Also if it has been a while since you have been in.. stop procrastinating and come see us!

Be sure to mark your calendar for February 24th at 6 pm for our Support Group- I want your input on what you would like to have for each months group meeting! After all we do it for you so it should be what you want!!! It's our Blizzard Brainstorm!

November Support Group

Once again FYI- October Support Group has been cancelled... but I'm here to tell you about November!

Our holiday party is going to be November 18th at 6:00 in the New U Clinic. Please RSVP if you can- and you are more than welcome to bring someone with you (we would like a head count for planning if possible!) !

Don't forget your white elephant gift for our exchange... this is one of my favorite parts!

This is off of my Hungry Girl e-mail but thought it may be of some help to you!

Dear BB, I totally agree -- butternut squash is a bit of a pain to work with! But since it's SO delicious and great in recipes, it's worth the extra effort. Here are some fantastic tips 'n tricks I've come up with over the years from working with every one's favorite winter squash...

1. Look for a long squash with a short round section. The round part is mostly hollow, with seeds and stuff that need to be removed. But the long part is all flesh, perfect for cubing, spearing, etc.

2. Start by hacking off the ends and then slicing the squash in half width wise. Then you'll have two easy-to-work-with pieces with flat ends.

3. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin. Drag it firmly down the length of the pieces in strips. Keep peeling until you get to the bright orangey-yellow part. EZ.

4. Once your squash halves are peeled, use a sharp knife to cut them in half lengthwise. If your squash is unusually firm and tough to slice, try nuking it in the microwave for about 45 seconds to soften it.

5. Carefully slice or scoop out the sections of the squash with the seeds and fibers attached, and throw them away. Then chop or slice the rest of the squash. Done!

Happy squashing!

October

Wow! It's October -(and I'm blogging during the first full week of it ;) ) already! It's officially turned Fall... not totally happy about this either but I will keep this if Winter NEVER comes! Grid Kid football is almost done and we so far experienced a season without a game in snow, cross our fingers that it change in the next week during playoffs!

Pro and College football are in full swing.. YAY! I'm not very excited about how much they want to charge for Sunday Ticket so I can get my Colts game.. hooray for ESPN on my iPod though! And can you believe that preseason started for NBA?! My favorite left from the Jazz so I can't decide to follow him to his team or hope Utah is going to survive without him! Any suggestions?!

Halloween is soon too! Dig out your costumes and see what you have cause chances are you aren't the same size as the last time you wore it (in a good way of course)!

Good news---- no staff changes to announce this month!

Bad news---- what we had lined out for Support Group this month didn't work out! :( Next month is our holiday party so write it on the calendar so you don't miss it! It will be on the 3RD THURSDAY due to Thanksgiving! Please pass the word around about both of these items!

Happy Harvest everyone! Enjoy your fresh things we have left! :)

September

Ok ok... I know I've been a slacker on the whole blogging thing! I lost my partner in crime that helped me come up with things! No worries though- I'm gonna step up my game! (And if I don't get after me next time you are in here please! I do need reminding at times!) Oh and by the way in case you couldn't tell... this is Lesley- I'm not going to write this thing generic anymore- it's just me yapping! ;)

This Thursday the 23rd is Support Group- 6 pm in the Clinic! In our new yet not quite done classroom! :) ... you will have to come check it out for yourself! Lynae is going to be putting on a presentation for us. Any of you that frequent Support Group know exactly who I am talking about and know that we are in for a fun night!

We have a change in the dietitian position again too! There must be something fishy going on with it.. maybe I should reconsider my initials after my name ey?! Kristine got engaged and accepted a job offer at a school in Utah! CONGRATS girl... although we are sad that we didn't get to have you around for long! Good luck! ;) Amanda is our new gal! Don't worry she is just as fun and nice as the other two.. you'll love her!

Paula does get to change her title! She recently passed a test and now has her B.N.! What does this mean you ask!?! She is a certified Bariatric Nurse-- lots of knowledge to better help us out!

We have been getting lots of referrals for new patients from you guys! THANKS!!! Trying to work out something with the hospital to show our appreciation for those who you send to us and have surgery! You guys rock-- keep it up!

Lots of 'New' Stuff

Happy August.. I know it's almost half way over!! School is getting ready to start again and the fairs are amongst us! Which brings me to the first matter of happenings..

Support Group is Thursday the 26th at 6:00 pm in the clinic. We are going to try our best to hold it outside-- and escape the sprinklers! This month is going to be a fair-like event! It would be great if you bring a sample of something that shows off one of your skills to "enter into our fair"! But ummm sorry... no animals! Lesley doesn't do well with those! ;) Please pass this info around to anyone you may talk to.. especially note the time change!

Next......

We have changed our monthly informational seminars to the first Thursday of the month at 6:00 pm in the Cancer Center rather than holding them on Saturdays. The response has been good so far! Let anyone who you think may be interested know. Also if you would like to come and be a special guest to share your experience at a seminar let us know... we would love to have your input!

And last but definitely not least...

Many of you have been in recently and noticed that there have been some new faces and others missing! As much as we hate to see anyone go we realize that there must be bigger and better adventures to be had in other spaces!

Carolyn took employment at a different facility so Paula and Didi are now co-coordinators of the New U program! Way to go girls-- you are doing awesome!

Paula is sharing her adjustment top notch skills now! Didi and Terri are RNs which have worked on 3rd floor for many years (and still do) and are now helping out here in the clinic! YAY!

Our wonderful Eric is still here to encourage and help you get the most out of the good weather we have right now (can't it stay forever?! PLEASE!!) and to keep you going when it gets nasty! He's here for ya!

Just one more to introduce to you... promise! Kristine is our new dietitian! She knows she has some big shoes to fill but we're pretty darn sure that she's going to be great at it! What about the food coach that you've been: a) scared to face b) glad to see or c) indecisive depending on the week?!? Sandi took on a big and exciting adventure! She found a wonderful microbiologist who swept her off her feet and moved her to St. Louis (the Rams or Cardinals-- who really did she go for?)! We are happy for her even though someone threatened to lock her in the closet so she couldn't go! :)

I think that pretty much covers our big stuff-- come in and visit the 'new' New U! Look forward to seeing everyone!

---Lesley (ya-- I'm still here too!)

O one more good thing.... FOOTBALL IS STARTING!!!

Summer Fun

It's tonight!

It's Support Group!

That's Thursday, July 22nd @ 7 pm - meet at the new U Clinic.

Is the summer heat an excuse to slow down or lazy around? - Not a chance!

Eric will be presenting lots of ideas for warm weather activities!

Come and join us for a walk and inspiration and support and fun, fun, fun!