I am originally from the San Fernando Valley in California, yes, I know...I'm a valley girl. My family moved here in Irving, Texas after the 1972 earthquake...where I still reside. My friends call me Sunshine a nickname given to me by a friend who said that every time I walk into a room I always bring a ray of sunshine through my never ending smile and happy fun loving attitude and that I make the best friend. I am a very caring, loving and loyal person who lives life to the fullest. I really enjoy taking in nature and all it's glory, and animals I hold very close to my heart especially my Chihuahua, Rosalea! I truly love life, it is a gift that I cherish. I am divorced and a mother of two grown children. My son is in the Marines, who has been in for ten years now and plans to retire from the Marines in a few more years. He has served three terms in Iraq and is now one his way to Japan for three years. I also have a daughter in the medical field and an Animal Behaviorist & Trainer. She is married and has a boy of her own. I am so very proud of both of them! I love shopping at flea markets, pawn shops, thrift stores and garage sales. My favorite foods are good old country cooking, Mexican, Italian and Thai...I love hot and spicy! My hobbies are designing floor plans & furniture, as well as beading all sorts of things from jewelry to lamp shades and etc! I enjoy playing chickenfoot and mexican train dominos, as well as playing card games like phase 10 and Krazy Bee with the ladies downstairs in the gameroom! I have always been overweight from the time I was born at 8 lbs. 8 oz. I have always been riticuled & teased all my life, especially in school. It was very hard on me when I was in school wearing clothes that were never designed for anyone under 30, more or less a teenager. It has always been very difficult to find clothes that not only fit good but looked good on me even now. School wasn't the only place where I had a hard time because of my weight, I even had trouble with employers & workmates. I would be told that I need to loose weight because of their health insurance, also so I can look better in their uniforms & my presentation to their customers. There was even a time where I was hired to work at a new job and had to embarrasingly quit the very first day when they couldn't find a uniform that would even fit me. I was even turned down for another job because of my weight, when I told her (the manager) that it was illegal to put my weight into considering in hiring me for the job...she just looked at me and said; "Just try to prove it!" To this date I still get unnerving looks and hear cruel comments behind my back when people walk by me...especially when I am in a grocery store or a restaurant. I cannot even eat at IHOP on 183 here in Irving, because I cannot fit in any of the booths that they have...and they have no regular tables. That was very embarrasing walking out of there after I got stuck between the table and seat. There are many other eateries I cannot eat at for the same reason. Through the years I have watched my sister, mom and friends get weight loss surgery and feeling many different feelings for them being able to get the money and/or insurance acceptance to get their surgery...and here I am, not able to get it because I am now dissabled, living on SSI and Medicaid. Until now, I am finally getting a chance to get the WLS myself and I am beyond ecstatic! I am ready, willing and now able to get they surgery!!! Update: I had my RNY Gastric Bypass weightloss surgery October 28, 2009 and have lost all but 14 lbs. WooHoo!