Reminder To People Who Want Me To Call Them For Free

It goes something like this:

"Hi, Doc. Read your blog. Really like what you got to say. I need some help with a situation. I really prefer to speak to you on the phone. Can you call me? 580-469-****. Thanks!"

I get a dozen or so emails like this each and every week.

I charge $50 for a 30 minute phone call to speak with me or $100 for a one hour phone call.

Why do I charge?

1. My time is valuable. You may think that it's nothing for me to devote an hour or two of my life to listen to your problems. However, what you don't understand is that you are just one of about a dozen or so people a week, close to 50 people a month, or close to 600 people a year who also think they deserve 1-2 hours of my times for free.

2. 99% of the people who want me to call them for free on the phone have no true intention of ever actually hiring me for conjure work. They are just people who want to dump their problems on me, to have me listen to them, to be able to confide in me because they have nobody else they can talk to. That's the truth and it's one of the first lessons I learned when I first started in this line of work. They claim they are interested in hiring me for conjure work but that's a lie. They just want somebody to talk to.

3. Charging people to talk to me weeds out all of these people. If person is willing to pay to speak to me they are also willing to hire me to be their conjure worker.

So that's why. Hope you understand. :)

You can communicate with me via email for free but if you want me to take time out of my day to talk to you on the phone then you will compensate me for my time.

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Pink Vigil Candle Service Pictures

Last Sunday I held the Pink Vigil Candle Service, as promised, for those who bravely battled breast cancer. After setting the lights and praying, I pulled up a chair and meditated on bible verses concerning healing and deliverance.

Psalm 103:2-4 KJV

2. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thin diseases;

4. Who redeemth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and mercies

Jeremiah 17:4 KJV

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: For thou art my praise.

Isaiah 41:10 KJV

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: I will uphold thee with he right hand of my righteousness.

Psalm 50:15 KJV

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shall glorify me.

Before I knew it nearly an hour had passed by. I closed in prayer.

Thank you for all of my readers who submitted names of your loved ones to be included. My honest hope and prayer is that breast cancer, as well as all cancer, will finally be 100% curable in the near future and that not another person shall lose their life to it.

As a sadder note, my mother's test results came back. The cancer has spread to her lymph nodes. She will be beginning chemo in the near future. Please continue to pray for her.

God Bless All,

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Prayer Request & Pink Candle Vigil Service

My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago. I've been putting it out of my mind because denial is far easier than having to deal with the reality of the situation. Or should I state that denial is perhaps the first phase of accepting a harsh reality.

My mother and I have bumped heads continuously throughout my life. We are very much alike. I think I'm more like her than my father. Sometimes she makes me so freaking angry that I want to tear my hair out. For example, she doesn't tell me stuff. Technically, she has yet to tell me she even has cancer. Of course I knew from other family members but the fact that she withholds information from me just drives me bonkers. She's my mother and we only get one. She is the one who bore me and brought me into this world. We can all exist without a father being present in our lives but for the majority of us our mothers are the only thing that stood between us and certain doom in this life.

My mother is having a mastectomy on Tuesday. I know she's a fighter and she will pull through. However, I would appreciate any prayers, well wishes and positive energy that my readers would like to send for her. Her name is Linda.

As a man I know that I'm going to be oblivious to many of the struggles that women have to endure in life. I also know that women are likewise oblivious to many of the struggles that men face. I hate the fact that cancer is one of these. The very notion of cancer linked to just being female (or male) is just absurd to me. I mean, I think we all can understand lung cancer from decades of smoking or liver cancer from decades of alcoholism. But to develop cancer that is linked to just being "XX" is freaking nuts. I don't understand what mother nature was thinking when she concocted that aspect of human existence. I feel the same way about prostate and testicular cancer for men. I feel even worse for children with cancer.

They did tests and determined that the cancer was fueled by her hormones and so they told her that her choices were chemo followed by being on hormone blockers for the rest of her life, which is completely horrible because it transforms you into a different creature and also effects your mind, or she could have surgery. She chose the surgery. We are also looking into options for reconstruction. They have made a lot of advances with that aspect and now it's routine for tummy tucks to be done and the tissue used to reconstruct the breasts so that the results are surprisingly realistic and natural looking. The only thing I'm concerned about is that they are only doing one breast. I mean, I can only speak for myself but if I was a woman and was diagnosed I would want the peace of mind of having a full mastectomy and not having to possibly go through round two at a later time. But it's not my call.

Next Sunday, July, 31, 2016, at 7:00 pm CST, I will be holding a pink candle vigil service for any woman who has survived breast cancer or reproductive cancer. I will also be setting angel lights in memory of the brave women who have passed on. Any of my readers can participate by sending me an email to MySecretHoodoo@mail.com with the subject line of "Pink Candle Vigil Service", along with the name of the woman. Pictures can also be included if you so chose. If you have a loved one who has non-reproductive cancer, feel free to join in as well as I won't turn away any request for this. If any of my readers would like to join me by setting their own lights in their homes that would be wonderful as well.

Additionally, if you can afford it then please consider donating to the Susan G. Komen foundation or similar programs and charities that help combat breast cancer with research and prevention. There are also programs that provide free mammograms to women who may otherwise not be able to have one. It's extremely important that we support each other, men included, as we are either women ourselves or we owe our lives to women. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their life time and we need to drastically reduce this number.

God bless each and every brave woman touched by this. You were heroes long before this and will continue to be such.

(For the men out there who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, feel free to join in as well. Although statistically smaller with only one in one hundred men diagnosed, your struggle is the same.)

October is breast cancer awareness month.

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Had To Cross Up A Client

I had a client do a chargeback on their credit card for a reading. The client gave me the excuse that the chargeback was done in error and that they would make sure I got paid. I gave the client ample opportunity to make it right. So after a considerable amount of time without the client keeping to their word I was forced to cross them up. Additionally, I feared that the client may be performing credit card fraud so I contacted the client's local police.

So let me state that there is a reason why I ask for your full name, birth date and a picture for your reading. Not only does it help me to tune into your energy for your reading but if you decide to screw me over because you don't like what you were told during the reading then it gives me recourse to do what I have to do to make sure you get what's coming to you in return.

It always amazes me how a certain percentage of people seeking a reading somehow think that we readers are supposed to tell them exactly what they want to hear instead of what we honestly pick up on. They then think they are entitled to a refund or believe they have the right to badmouth a reader because of such.

This is the second time I've had to cross up a client, with the first being an insane transgendered prostitute who hired me for a one question reading for $15. She was upset that a wealthy, elderly client broke off contact with her because she truly thought that this guy was going to financially support her for the rest of her life. She was mistaken. I was honest with her and told her there was no hope in the situation and that his health was not good. She went 100% psycho, ranted, told me that not only was I wrong but I was the worst psychic ever, demanded her money back and threatened to talk shit about me everywhere she possible could online, etc. She is the reason why I no longer offer one question readings. I crossed that whore up good and I sure as hell would not shed a tear if she is currently in her grave as she was seemingly racing toward it at full speed even before she crossed my path.

So bitch, let me get this real clear. Not only did you do the chargeback and then not keep your word to make it right, but a chargeback is not free. I additionally had to pay $25 for the chargeback fee, meaning I ended up paying you for your reading. So I want you to know that I crossed you up something fierce and I am more than happy to keep hitting the work for as long as it takes until your life is transformed into a steaming pile of shit. :)

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Witch Ball

Witch Balls, a.k.a. glass floats, originally were hollow spheres of glass that were used by fishermen to keep their nets afloat. In the 1700s such devices began to be re-purposed as charms that were believed to protect against witches, spirits, curses, and general evil. With time spheres of glass were being deliberately made for use as witch balls. Most were traditionally blue, the color of protection and especially protection against the evil eye, and possessed strands or webbing inside which were believed to trap any witch or evil spirit that ventured too close. Witch balls were often hung in eastern windows where it was believed that the rays of the rising sun would kill or destroy any trapped spirit within.

Today, witch balls are made in a variety of colors, designs, and sizes. Many people are attracted to them for their artistic appeal. Popular also are the gazing balls, close cousins of the witch ball, being large spheres of glass that were generally displayed in gardens to catch the light and dazzle the eye.

I picked mine up last year from Iron Elegance. I stumbled upon their website after purchasing a blue witch ball from another website and being horribly disappointed with it. It was such terrible, shoddy work that I can't believe the company really had the nerve to sell it. It contained massive air bubbles in the glass and large cracks that were not part of the design. The top part of the sphere, where one would hang it, was not attached properly and at a weird angle, making it impossible to hang . I seriously don't understand why they just didn't recycle this piece. Even the blue color seemed fake, as if it was painted on and not genuinely tinted glass. So when I found Iron Elegance I was entranced. Their witch balls are very beautiful and professionally made. You can tell they truly care about their products. Too bad I didn't discover their website first. If you are looking for a place to purchase a witch ball for yourself then I strongly recommend them.

http://www.ironelegance.com/maintemplate.asp?category=Witch+Balls

As far as my personal opinions on witch balls, I believe they became so very popular in the 1700s as this was the time that most prosecution of alleged witches were coming to an end. However, the belief in witches was still widespread. As such, people invented all sorts of rituals, devices and apotropaic charms to keep witches at bay. Witch bottles also developed and became popular at this time as well.

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Look What I Found Behind My Shed!

It's a giant Polkweed. You can't tell from the pic but it's very tall. It's well over my head and I'm 6 ft. I bet the root must be massive! I'll harvest some of the leaves but I don't want to harvest the taproot because it will kill it. I've never seen one this big before so no sense in destroying it.

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Making Your Own Powdered Incense Blends - The Easy Way

Like many people, I hold to the belief that hand-made spiritual products are more personal and powerful than commercially bought, mass produced products. Here is the method I use to create my own powdered incense blends.

1. Buy mass produced powdered incense, such as 7 Sisters of New Orleans powdered incense! I know this seems to contradict my opening statement but I can assure you that this is the most cost effective method for creating one's own unique blends. One can purchase the individual cardboard tubes or the bulk bags. Most business that sell their own line of powdered incense buy the bulk bags. Below are some links to such.

https://www.wisdomproducts.com/category/7-sisters-of-new-orleans-incense-powders/241

https://www.wisdomproducts.com/product/indio-incense-powder-5lb-bag-perfumed/569

2. Purchase the essential oils you will need and/or use custom blends of oils you have already prepared.

3. Purchase and or obtain the herbs and roots you will need. Powder or grind the herbs to the size you prefer.

4. Purchase container for your finished product. If you bought the powdered incense that comes in individual cardboard tubes then you can reuse these.

5. Get a bowl, spoon, and zip lock bags.

6. Portion the powdered incense into zip lock bags and set aside. If you are using the individual cardboard container variety then make sure to save the containers.

7. Place the ground or powdered herbs and roots you are using for your custom blend into the bowl.

8. Add the essential oils or custom oil blend to the bowl by allowing it to drip onto the herbs directly. I don't use a set ratio but just wing it based on scent. If you want to create your own specific ration of oils to use then so be it.

9. With the spoon stir the ground or powdered herbs to distribute the oil as thoroughly as possible.

10. Spoon the herbal mixture into the zip lock bags of powdered incense.

11. Knead the zip lock bags to distribute the herbal mixture throughout the powdered incense.

12. Pour the contents of the zip lock bags back into the cardboard containers the powdered incense originally came in or else new containers.

13. Create a label with the information you desire it to have, name of custom blend, time, date, moon phase, astrological info, etc., and attach it to the container.

Voila! You are done! :)

This is a very simple method of creating one's own powdered incense blends. Now, from here it's not that difficult to create blends without any base at all, blends that just contain the herbal matter. Such would be burned on charcoal, of course. Also, if one wants to make their own powdered incense from scratch one just needs to get a hold of wood shavings and then add salt peter to it to make it self-lighting. If this is not desired then one can leave it out and just burn it on charcoal as well. The wood shavings can be dyed if one so chooses.

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Product Review - 7 Sisters Of New Orleans Powder Incense

Brand: 7 Sisters Of New Orleans
Type: Powder Incense
Name: *ALL*
Package: Cardboard Tube
Color: Various
Label: Various
Link: https://www.wisdomproducts.com/category/7-sisters-of-new-orleans-incense-powders/241

So I recently bought a very large order of 7 Sisters of New Orleans powdered incense. Due to the sheer number of items I decided not to do individual reviews over each one. I purchase this large order because I use these to create my own incense blends. By themselves, I'm only moderately satisfied with this line of incense powders. The labels are nice. The powdered incense itself is brightly colored. The fragrance is not good. Some are very faintly scented. Others have no scent at all. For those that are scented their fragrance does not match the scent of their corresponding 7 Sisters of New Orleans oils.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, I give this a 8. I would definitely purchase this again, especially for the purpose of creating my own incense blends.

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Than You For Your Prayers

My Schnauzer, Pepper, is back from the vet. She seems to be almost back to normal. However, she looks horrible. I'm still shocked by her appearance. They had to shaver her and the dermatitis patches on her back make her look like she has a horrible case of mange. Even more shocking was the vet bill. Almost a grand.

So a huge thank you for my readers who took the time to prayer for my beloved pet.

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Prayer Request For My Dog

I constantly get requests for prayer from readers and now it's my turn to ask the same.

Three days ago my Schauzer, Pepper, developed dermatitis near her tail. She had this before in the past and I still had medicine left over from before so I didn't think much of it. Dermatitis causes dogs to bite and gnaw off the fur on the infected area. So she had gnawed off the fur near her tail and so the next day I went and bought a collar from PetSmart to prevent her from doing it. I put the ointment on her and figured that in a few days things would be fine. The next day the situation appeared a bit worse and the area had spread a bit. Again, I wasn't alarmed and continued to treat her. Yesterday I came home to find that it had spread to nearly her entire back and the fur was falling off except for a strip that was weirdly wet and stunk horribly. So I got a wet rag and was wiping her down and to my horror all these maggots started falling out of the patch of wet fur. I keep my dogs outside during the day so little did I know that my dog had actually caused herself wounds from her gnawing on her skin. While she was outside flies came in and laid their eggs on the wounds and she developed a horrible case of maggots. Maggots can be good temporarily to debris a wound but their waste is toxic. I took my dog in to the vet today and he said that she may not make it. I was completely shocked. He told me that if I didn't bring her today then she would not have survived the holiday weekend but even still because of the toxins she may not survive. She is on IV and is being pumped full of antibiotics but is deteriorating. The vet says that it's the worst case he's seen.

So for my readers out there, please say a prayer that my dog survives and heals quickly.  Thank you.

Also, a warning to people who may be in a similar situation. Because we are in the Summer months when it's warm day and night, flies develop extremely quickly. So if your dog develops an open wound it's important to keep him/her inside until it heals. In my case maggots took over in just a couple of days, so be warned.

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OKC Pride 2016

So Pride 2016 has come and gone. This year's celebration has been a bit somber with the Orlando Pulse shooting. However, the gay community will heal and push onward.

OKC's Pride is truly something. We are inundated with tourists and surprisingly, there are usually more straight people in attendance than gay people. Below are some pictures and videos of myself, friends and of the activities.

OKC's gay bars are unique. Many people would be surprised to learn that we have multiple gay bars when certain larger cities only have a few. Most of our gay bars are located in what is called "The Strip". It's also referred to as "gay town" or "The Gayborhood". We have the largest gay resort in the Southwest, called The Habana Inn, complete with multiple pools, bars and a restaurant (Gushers). Located within walking distance are 8 gay bars/clubs. Three are located in the Habana Inn itself. We have The Finish Line, a gay country bar/club, The Copa, a gay bar/dance club, Tramps, a gay bar, The Boom, a gay bar and drag entertainment, Phoenix Rising, a lesbian bar, The Wreck Room, a dance club for the younger crowd (currently closed), Apothecary 39, a gay hipster bar, and Angles, OKC's oldest gay bar/dance club (currently open only for special occasions). Additionally, there are two other lesbian bars, Partners and Alibis, that are a bit further away. Every Pride people come from multiple states away just to attend the festivities. This year my friends and I met two men from England who came down as well. As a whole Pride celebrations last the entire month of June but with most focus on the week of Pride and the Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the end of Pride week. The weekend of Pride kicks off with an annual block party. Saturday is for a gay arts festival and concert at night. The celebrations conclude with the annual Pride parade on Sunday. All three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the bars are packed, normally with long lines to gain entrance.

The parade is perhaps the most attended activity during Pride. During the parade beads, condoms and candy are thrown. This year our parade was cut short by a torrential downpour of rain. The parade continued but most attendees made a mad dash for cover, their cars, or to the nearest gay bar until the storm passed. I was completely drenched!

If you are in the OKC area in June around the Summer Solstice then do mark it on your calendar and make plans to attend. You won't be disappointed!

Crystal

I look like I'm a little boy sitting on my bestie's lap!

Being goofy with Crystal

Drunk me

Michelle and I walking toward the parade

Ducked into Angles to get out of the rain.

Eddie

 Some blue haired chick

Boutique where you can buy the standard homosexual uniforms.

T.J. with his wizard's staff

Chris

The concert 

Drag queen

Out & proud military men

Apologies in advance as the videos are not that good because of the storm. It began storming about 10 minutes into the parade. Sad, but what can you do?

This is Angles, OKC's oldest gay bar. My best friend and I ducked in there to seek cover from the storm.

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In Honor Of Gay Pride Week - Remembering Hollywood's First Out Actor

His name was William "Billy" Haines. He was the number one box-office star in 1930. Just a few years later and he was blacklisted from ever working in Hollywood again. His rise and fall began at the age of a 14 when he had his first sexual experience, a homosexual encounter. From then on there was no denying his sexual persuasion. At the age of 15 he ran off with a boyfriend. By 16 he was in New York City and was "kept" by multiple men and women. He was discovered at the age of 22, in 1922 and was offered a contract with MGM. In 1926 he first began receiving attention and praise for his work. This was also the year that he would meet the love of his life, James "Jimmy" Shields. Then the unthinkable happened. With the depression came a turn in public opinion. Homosexuality was no longer tolerated, not even for a masculine gay guy like Billy.  Billy was given an ultimatum. Either break it off with Jimmy and then marry a woman to give the impression to the world that he was a  "normal" straight man or never work in Hollywood again. Billy said no deal as nothing was worth losing Jimmy. As a result he was blacklisted from working with a big Hollywood studio ever again. His acting career was finished but Billy wasn't. He simply reinvented himself and became the number one interior designer to the stars. Billy's faithfulness to living a truly authentic life shone like a rare jewel. In a sea of illusion Billy was remarkably real. The love between Billy and Jimmy was so strong and passionate that when Billy died of lung cancer at the age of 73, Jimmy couldn't live without him. Jimmy killed himself just three months later. The couple had been together nearly 50 years.

To read more about the first "out" actor in Hollywood, read Wisecracker: The Life And Times Of William Haines, Hollywood's First Openly Gay Star by William J. Mann. 

The following documentary, Out Of The Closet, Off The Screen: The Life Of William Haines (2001), is based in part on the above biography.



To listen to a podcast about William Haines, click the link below.

You Must Remember This - William Haines: Hollywood's First Openly Gay Marriage 

William Haines' interior design company is still in operation today. Check out the website below.

WilliamHaines.com 

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Very Powerful Week Ahead!

So as most of us prepare for another work week ahead I thought I should take some time to remind people that this week is set to be the most powerful week of this year. There is a lot going on this week.

Sunday, June 19, 2016 - Tuesday, June, 21, 2016  is the Full Moon. As workers and witches may know, the full moon is the most powerful time of the month for the performing of spells. It is the time when magical workers are considered to be at their most powerful. This time would be extremely good for gathering Full Moon water. June's Full Moon is called the Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon or Honey Moon.

http://mysecrethoodoo.blogspot.com/2011/08/full-moon-water.html

Monday, June 20, 2016, is the Summer Solstice, the official start of the Summer season and the longest day of the year with regard to daylight hours. This day is also known as Midsummer and for Wiccans and witches, is also known as the sabbat of Litha. Expect Wiccans, witches and Druids to go crazy at Stonehenge.



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Friday, June 24, 2016 - June 25, 2016, is St. John's Eve/St. John's Day, the most sacred and powerful day for practitioners of Voodoo. This day celebrates the Summer Solstice and is considered to be the most powerful time for the performing of all good or beneficial spells. It is traditional on St. John's Eve to gather water from a local river. This "St. John's Water" is then used to keep away the law and enemies through the year. For more information, click the link below.



http://mysecrethoodoo.blogspot.com/2012/06/st-johns-water.html

It is also traditional to gather St. John's Wort at this time of the year. The plant is then hung around the home to ward of evil and witchcraft.

http://mysecrethoodoo.blogspot.com/2012/02/st-johns-wort.html

Friday, June 24, 2016 - Sunday, June 26, 2016, is the annual Pride festival celebrated in most major cities. Pride commemorates the Stonewall riots of 1969, when mostly African-American transgendered people had enough of intolerance and police brutality. At that time it was still against the law for gay people to congregate in their own establishments. Most of the gay establishments were actually owned by the mafia which used their influence to try to keep the law at bay. However, with the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich, NY, this failed. Patrons got tired of routine police raids and realized that if you want equal rights you have to demand them and fight to get them. Thus, a major series of riots ensued. The birth of the LGBT activism was a result.

In the past Pride festivities were very much risque and not something straight people would want to bring their families too. Everything has changed as younger generations of LGBT people have come into their own. Today's Pride festivities are very inclusive of all people and persuasions. Pride festivities are also becoming quite the trend with straight people. The same is true with straight people going to gay bars. In my area, it's believed that roughly 75% of patrons of our local gay bars are straight. Sure, women like to go because they can have a good time without having to worry about being hit on by creeps. However, gay bars are a ton of fun and a very different environment to traditional straight bars. It is trendy for straight men to go to gay bars as well. Most of them seem to bask in the attention they receive from gay men. Big ego-booster I assume.

As Pride festivities become more mainstream expect their significance and local importance to grow. My local Pride festival is expected to draw over 100,000 people this weekend and in larger cities I would assume the number would be far greater. Clear your calendars because this weekend is an excellent time to go out and party!







This years Pride festivities will be especially important as we remember the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting. The shooting stands as a perfect reason why we need Pride festivities and gay activism.

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Standing With Orlando Pulse Victims, Family And Friends

My apologies for not blogging on this sooner. My life has been very hectic as of late. My heart was truly broken for the victims of the Pulse shooting. I can not begin to understand the pain and emotional turmoil the family and friends of the victims must be going through. Though I didn't know any of the victims personally, a friend of mine did and lost 4 friends in the attack.

 I am outraged that this occurred in 2016, a time when our society has made so much progress toward the implementation of basic human rights for everyone. I am also outraged that this occurred in the month of June, the month where Pride celebrations are held around the nation. I do not think that this is a coincidence. I think the shooter specifically chose this time to do what he did. I also knew from the beginning that the killer was a self-hating gay man who could not accept himself and so lashed out at others in an attempt to destroy that part of himself.

Forty-nine people dead. Fifty-three people injured. Most of the victims were young, in their early 20s and 30s. They had their whole lives ahead of them. An act of hatred robbed them of their future and potential.



Please show your support for the gay community. Prayers are wonderful but let's not fall into the trap of thinking that prayers are all that we should be doing. Action speaks louder. Donate blood. Give to gay charities. Show support to the gay community. If there is a Pride celebration in your area, go to it. Let the world know that love will always conquer hate.

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A Haunting Case And A Warning To Young Gay Men

On the night of March 4, 2016, twenty-six year old Joey LaBute got back from a date and decided to go out and meet friends and family at a local gay bar. Around midnight, Joey told his friends and family that he was going to get a drink. However, Joey was caught on camera going into the restroom and then leaving the bar by himself. His friends and family then texted him with no reply back. A family member called him and he answered and said that he was driving and then hung up. A final text of jumbled letters made to his aunt was the last communication Joey LaBute made. He was never seen alive again. Three weeks after going missing his body was found in a local river. At autopsy no cause of death was determined but it was concluded that there were no drugs in his system and that he had a high blood alcohol content which may have been caused by the decomposition process. Even more shocking, the coroner believed that Joey LaBute was most likely dead before having his body placed in the water as there was no water found in his lungs or stomach. Joey's car was found in the exact place he originally parked it and it is unlikely that he was driving it as he claimed during the phone call.

What happened to Joey LaBute?

Below is an episode of True Crime Garage podcast where the hosts discuss this case.

A warning to young gay men.....

There have been claims that Joey LaBute was on Grindr. If so, Joey LaBute may have met with foul play while hooking up with a guy for quick sex. This may explain why Joey left the bar, why he didn't reply to texts, and why he lied and said that he was driving. If this is true it automatically leads to speculation that there may be a serial killer on the loose, one who targets young gay men. If you are currently using Grindr for quick sex please show extreme caution. You never know if the guy you are going to hook up with is sane or a complete psycho.

Due to the mysterious circumstances of Joey LaBute's death, some speculate that he was the latest victim of the so-called "Smiley Face Killers", more info below.

If you live or were in the Columbus, OH, area, especially the area of the Union Cafe on the night of March 4 and early morning hours of March 5, and recognize seeing Joey LaBute, especially in the company of an unknown man or men, or if you have information that you feel may be important to the solving of this case then please call the Columbus, OH, police at 614-645-4730.

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Mandy's Reading

This is Mandy (fake name for anonymity). She recently got an email reading from me and this is her experience.



Sent: Friday, June 03, 2016 at 2:13 PM
From: xxx
To: DocConjure <mysecrethoodoo@mail.com>
Subject: your reading was AMAZING

Hi Doc



I want to give a testimony for DocConjure.



My reading with Doc was amazing!!I had 10 questions email reading with Doc on Thursday  June 2 2016.

I had come to him for a reading and love work. He was pleasant and thoughtful, not judgmental at all.

 he was able to answer all my questions and it  is very accurate as the things he was telling me what is going on in my life and He also told me things I suspected about my lover .The reading with Doc is only the beginning. There is more work to do and I would like done by him, and I'm sure he will get the job done. I can’t wait to start and to see the result.

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Are You Being Strung Along?

We've all had it happen to us. We meet a hottie or someone we are really attracted to. We may even feel like we formed a strong connection with them. All the signs of mutual attraction are there. The body language reveals attraction and interest. You may even sleep together. Everything goes great until things change. All of a sudden the guy or girl acts differently. It's almost as if they have suddenly become a different person. All of a sudden what appeared to be a solid foundation to build a relationship upon now appears more like quicksand. If you can relate to this then chances are you've been strung along before.

As a conjure worker who does a lot of love work I routinely am approached by clients who are being strung along by the person they wish to have a relationship with. Most of them do not appear to know they are being strung along. That's the purpose of me writing this blog entry.

So what exactly am I talking about when I say "strung along"? Another name for it is "leading someone on". Stringing someone along is a deceptive game that players play. In effect they are putting a leash on you and walking you around as their pet, that is until they bore of you and abandon you. There is no true love or feelings there for you. There is no hope of a relationship. It doesn't matter if you are a man or woman, straight or gay, everyone is capable of being either a player or a victim. Let's take a look at some of the classic warning signs that you may be being strung along by some one.

Classic Signs You Are Being Strung Along

1. The person never actively attempts to reach out to you for communication.  If you are always the one who has to text, call or go over to their place to see them then this is a bad sign. If he or she actually liked you they would actively attempt to contact you. This is just a game to them. They have no actual interest in you and thus will not actively attempt to communicate with you.

2. The person only selectively replies to texts or returns phone calls. They are only giving you the bare minimum they feel is needed to keep you hooked on them. Again, if they were truly interested in you they would be actively seeking to communicate with you.

3. The person only wants to make contact when they need something from you. Sorry, but you've been shelved. You are just a toy they take off the shelf when they feel like playing or when they need something from you. You mean nothing to them.

4. The person never wants to have sex with you. The overwhelming majority of people are sexual with only a minority of people being asexual. Therefore, if a person truly was interested in someone there would be a desire for physical intimacy. No desire indicates no true interest.

5. The person only wants to have sex with you on their timetable, when they want to. If you find that this is true it means they are using you and are not interested in your desires. You are just a sex toy to them and as such your desires do not count.

6. The person always tells you what they think you want to hear or always agrees with you. This is especially true at first when they are trying to reel you in. In a true relationship people will have differing thoughts and opinions. You will learn to tolerate each others' views.

7. The person always gives you an excuse when you confront them about their behavior. One of the most common excuses used is "I'm busy with work". Nobody's job takes up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They are lying to you. It only takes 2 seconds to answer a text. Remember that.

8. The person feeds you fantasies of futures or goals together but makes no attempt to make them a reality. Pay close attention if the fantasy changes. When they sense you shook off one fantasy they will create a new one for you to believe in.

9. The person avoids any emotions or intimate talk. This is in regards to emotions outside of the fake ones they use to get you hooked on them. It is very common in today's age for these people to only want to text their victims because texting is so impersonal. If they refuse to speak to you on the phone or are hesitant and avoid situations where they are forced to interact with you in a more personal way then it's a sign they are stringing you along. If they truly liked you they would want intimate close contact with you, and more importantly, they would open up to you about their feelings or express them in some manner.

10. If the person doesn't want to be seen with you in public, doesn't want to take you out on a date in public, doesn't want you to meet their friends, etc., then you are being strung along, period! This is a huge warning sign that they do not view you as a potential mate. You are prey to them. You are beneath them and they do not want to be tarnished by being seen together with you in public.

Now that you know some of the classic warning signs let's look at some interesting things about people who constantly string people along.

What You Need To Understand About People Who String People Along

1. They are vampires and parasites that are using you for usually one or more of the following three things; sex, money, or feeding their ego.

2. Most of them have very poor self-esteem and even though their egos are inflated they are also very fragile. They need constant ego-boosting in order to maintain their inflated egos. If they do not get such their egos crash and they become very despondent. These vampires feed by mind fucking their victims and stringing them along.

3. Many to most of them were either fat, unattractive, nerdy, or a dork in the past. Even though they may be a perfect 10 now they still carry with them their former self image and attempt to compensate with their overly inflated egos.

4. They hate you. They despise you. They make fun of you behind your back. They tells lies about you and spread rumors and gossip. They secretly hate you because you are stupid enough to like or love them.

5. Many to most people who habitually string other people along are mentally ill or suffer from a personality disorder, such as Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

6. It is very common for these people to be current or former drug addicts and alcoholics. A criminal background is also possible.

So the big question is, how do we stop them? How can we prevent becoming victims to people who wish to string you along?

How To Prevent Becoming A Victim , Take Your Power Back And Turn The Tables On Them

1. Listen to your gut instinct. If your gut instinct is telling you the person is stringing you along then it most likely is true.

2. Show apathy and disinterest. These people want their prey to constantly give them emotional reactions, either of love, anxiety, obsession or even anger and hatred. The one thing they can not tolerate is apathy. They can't feed off of apathy. So showing apathy toward them is the same as throwing a monkey wrench into their plans for you. Remember, you can easily fake apathy. It doesn't have to be genuine. Even if you are torn up inside and still have feelings for them you must learn how to fake apathy.

3. Take control of the conversation. You can do this by cutting conversations short, not allowing conversations, and then ending conversations when you chose to end them. Remember, these people already are only wanting to contact you on their terms and timing. So if you take control of the communication in this manner it will highly upset them. One classic technique is to interrupt them abruptly wile they are feeding you bull shit. Remember to do it in an apathetic manner, not showing anger or any emotion. Let them talk and then respond, "Sorry, I'm going to have to let you go..", and then hang up the phone without allowing them to respond. Do a similar thing to end the conversation when you want it to end and not when they chose to end it.

4. Turn them down for sex. Even if you do want it. Reject it. Show apathy and disinterest. If you really want to hurt them mock their skills in the bedroom or tell them they are boring in bed.

5. Reject the false fantasies and goals they feed you. You can even mock them. Laugh and tell him/her how stupid and silly such ideas are.

6. Learn to respond with "maybe" instead of a yes or no when they ask you questions or want you to commit to doing some action. Your real answer is no but you want them to feel ambiguity and a little anxiety. This is especially true if the only want you because they need something from you. Give them the run around.

7. Stop contacting them. When you stop contacting them they will pick up on the fact that their prey is trying to make a run for it and will then usually contact you to keep you hooked. You can then implement these techniques on them.

8. If you reach the point where you finally want to sever the "relationship" completely let them know you know they are trying to string you along. Make sure you do it in the correct manner. Never ask them if they are stringing you along because you are giving them your power. I like to tell them that I know they are stringing me along and that I don't mind because I'm bored. It has worked so far for me. Every time I did this I have received no further contact from such people. Once they know that you know the gig is up and they move on.

If you play your cards right it is possible to reverse the table on them to the point where they become obsessed with you and begin to feel all the mind-fuckery and anxiety they invoked in you. It's a very sweet experience to watch them squirm and lose their shit!

Now, I need to let my readers know a couple of things below.

1. A person is not stringing you along if they are honest with you and tell you they only want sex. If you are pushing a relationship then you are stringing yourself along and they are innocent. The same goes if you are willingly giving them money or items or doing things for them because you want to do it. You can't later hold such over their heads and claim to be the victim.

2. I would advise that you not seek to do any love work on these people. You are not going to have a satisfying romantic relationship with them. If you don't cut it off, and even if you temporarily turn the tables on them, eventually it will return to the point where they have full control over you again. You will not change them. You can only teach them a lesson and turn them loose. Remember, these people are horribly damaged goods. You can't fix them.

3. Even though you shouldn't do love work on them you can do enemy work on them or revenge work. Remember, that deep down inside and far beyond their inflated egos, they are very damaged souls. As such they are very easy to destroy or push over the edge, if you know what you are doing.

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Natalie's Reading

I recently read for a client named Natalie (fake name for anonymity). Here is what she has to say about her experience.

Sent: Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 9:47 AM
From: xxx
To: DocConjure <MySecretHoodoo@mail.com>
Subject: Re: New client/fan!

No worries Doc! 

Here’s the testimonial:

I came to Doc after weeks of reading and creeping on his website. I liked how empathetic yet straight forward his attitude was towards his work, and decided to get a reading with him covering different areas of my life, including my love life. He was so fast to reply to my messages, and I received my reading the day after i sent him my questions! He was very honest about my situation and told me things that I didn’t exactly want to hear, but am definitely better off knowing, as I can now make better decisions equipped with this knowledge. Doc was very professional with his work and you can deal he takes a great deal of care - I would recommend Doc even just for the good customer service and speedy replies! 

I would love if you could use a fake name to ensure anonymity :) 

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Q&A - May 17, 2016 - Gastric Sleeve Edition

So since my last blog entry I've received numerous questions from readers who are interested in learning more about the gastric sleeve surgery and what it all entails. So let me answer some specific questions I have received as well as give some information.

Question:

"Can you go over the process of what you went through for the surgery?"

Answer:

Sure. Let me break it down in a simplified form.

1. I spent a great deal of time researching bariatric surgery to see if it was right for me and which one I should get.

2. Once I decided on the gastric sleeve surgery I tried getting it in my local area. However, since I did not have insurance the self-pay option was going to be around $20,000.00. For a while I contemplated saving it up and figured it would take me about 3 years or so to do it. However, as part of my research I was made aware that the surgery could be performed in Mexico for a fraction of the cost.

3. I researched the surgery in Mexico. I finally decided that going to Mexico would be my best option. I picked a website and surgeon. I began saving the $4,500 needed for the surgery and $800 more to have my gall bladder removed at the same time. I also had to pay for 2 first class flights to San Diego as well.

4. I saved up a total of about $8,000.00, just to be safe. I then booked the surgery and bought my plane tickets.

5. I arrived in San Diego and was met by a driver who then took me across the border. I spent the night at a very nice hotel in Tijuana and the had my surgery the next day.

6. My surgery was done as an out-patient in a clinic. I stayed in the clinic for two days. Day three after surgery I went home.

Question:

"Why did you have your gallbladder removed?"

Answer: 

A side-effect of losing a large amount of weight quickly is the development of gallstones. Gallstones are extremely painful. In the past surgeons in the U.S. automatically removed the gall bladder at the time of surgery. Today surgeons usually prescribe medication to prevent the formation of gallstones. Since I didn't want the extra charge of having to pay for a prescription, since the gallbladder is not necessary for survival, and since I had already been diagnosed with gallstones, I decided to just have mine removed at the time of surgery.

Question:

"Did you have to go on a special diet before surgery?"

Answer:

Yes. Most patients have to go on what is called a pre-op diet. A minority of surgeons do not require such. The normal pre-op diet is 2 weeks in length and consists of mostly liquids. It's purpose is to shrink the liver, as most obese people suffer from fatty liver disease, and to produce a safer surgery. During the surgery an enlarged liver can prove problematic and is easily damaged.

Question:

"How would you rank the pain of the surgery?"

Answer:

On as scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, it was about 3. It was a breeze. It just felt like I was punched in the stomach. The most painful part was the removal of the drain but that pain only lasted a few seconds.

Question:

"How are you able to get in all of your required liquids and protein amounts?"

Answer:

Easy. You constantly sip all day. I carried a bottle of water with me everywhere I went and constantly sipped, talking a sip every few minutes. For protein, I drank protein shakes. You need about 60-80 grams of protein a day and 2 protein shakes give you 60 grams as well as also count for your liquid totals as well. Just so you know, eventually you will be able to drink as normal. I can down a whole bottle of water at one time now if I so chose. The sipping is only in effect in the first few months after surgery.

Question:

"What is your diet post surgery?"

Answer:

Immediately after surgery you will be on a week of clear liquids, followed by a week of full liquids, followed by a week of pureed food, followed by a week of soft foods, followed by normal food. When you get to normal food your emphasis should be on protein first and then non-starchy vegetables. It should be very low carbs.

Question:

"How much do you eat in one sitting?"

Answer:

About 2-3 ounces at first. With time you will begin eating more as the inflammation from the surgery goes away. I can eat about a cup of food now. Right after surgery I had saved some plastic pudding cups and washed them and used them for my food as they held pretty much the amount of food I was able to eat. You are able to eat more of food that breaks down easy and less of denser foods.

Question:

"What happens if you eat too much?"

Answer:

You throw up. However, it's not like how you threw up before surgery. Since your stomach is now so small it's more like baby throw up. It is painful though. Yes, I've thrown up numerous times. It takes time to learn when to stop eating. It's been a long time now since I overate so I haven't thrown up in a long time.

Question:

"How do you know when to stop eating?"

Answer:

You begin to feel a restriction in your stomach, your stomach getting full. It's subtle at first and with time you learn to stop there. You can continue past this and you will get a not-so-subtle feeling that is your last warning to stop eating. If you eat past this last signal then you develop pain and throw up.

Question:

"How do you distinguish between "head hunger" and "real hunger"?

Answer:

Head hunger comes from cues to eat from your environment and usually is geared toward a specific item. Real hunger stems from cues within your body and any food can satiate it.

Question:

"How often do you eat a day?"

Answer:

Three times plus an occasional snack. My doctor warned me against the notion that people have that they are supposed to eat multiple times a day as he believed this defeats the purpose of the surgery. Some people even go as far as eating every couple of hours. These people tend to lose considerably less weight in the long run, in my opinion.

Question:

"How much can I lose if I got the surgery?"

Answer:

It's up to you. The surgery is just a tool. If you rely on it alone to do all the work then you are not going to lose the amounts of weight that patients who use it correctly will. The average is 60% of excess weight but this figure includes all those patients who did not use the surgery correctly or who were not dedicated to the program and their goals.

Question: 

"I heard that most people who get the surgery will eventually regain the weight. Is that true?"

Answer:

Patients who are not dedicated can cheat the system. For example, if they don't follow the low carb diet and do not focus on protein first then they can gain weight. If they go back to eating junk they will gain weight. Additionally, there are what is called "slider foods", which are foods that break down really fast and do not produce the necessary restriction in the stomach. Examples of slider foods include: chips, crackers, pretzels, popcorn, nuts, ice cream, milkshakes, pudding, and alcohol. If you consume too many slider foods you will gain weight. There is one slider food that is actually good for you, salad. I can eat a ton of salad without feeling restriction. For example, I regularly get salads from Subway and I can now eat the entire bowl in one sitting.

Question:

"What do you do about holidays?"

Answer:

Easy. I allow myself to eat all the holiday foods I desire. However, keep in mind that a holiday is only one day. Problems arise when people confuse the holiday season with the actual holiday. If you are going to eat some candy on Halloween, then only do so on Halloween and not the entire month of October. The same for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the rest of the holidays. I only allow myself to eat ice cream and cake on birthdays. The rest of the year I do not eat sweets.

Question:

"How do you handle eating out at restaurants?"

Answer:

You must come to accept that you are going to waste a lot of food. Most of us were raised to clean our plates but after surgery you simply aren't able to do that anymore. You will get sick to death of left-overs so eventually you will reach the point where you don't give a damn that you are wasting so much food. Your waiter/waitress will think there is something wrong and you will constantly be asked if there is something wrong with the food. It gets tiresome but I just smile and say the food is fantastic. I often go out to eat with my friend who likes to take my left-overs home with her for her or her mom to eat later so that helps as well. If you want you can also ask if you can order stuff on the children's menu but honestly you will get tired of doing that as well.

Question:

"Is it true that you can stretch out your new stomach?"

Answer:

No. The stomach does not regenerate or grow back. The stomach does stretch but when you remove 80% of it there is no way in hell it could ever go back to being what it was before. What does happen is that some patients abuse their bodies and purposefully overeat with time until they reach the point where they can tolerate more food without throwing up. However, this can be reversed by going on what is called a 5 day pouch test which resets the restriction.

Question:

"Does the surgery produce malnutrition?"

Answer:

No. In the gastric sleeve there is no re-routing of the intestines so there is no issue of malnutrition as there is in other types of surgery, such as the gastric bypass. You also don't need special vitamins either and there is no problems with absorbing medication.

Question:

"What can be done to prevent excess skin?"

Answer:

Nothing. You abused your body and stretched your skin out. A deflated balloon can never go back to being what it was before it was blown up. The same with skin. However, there is an answer. It's called plastic surgery.

Question:

"What are the major side-effects of the surgery?"

Answer:

1. Being cold all the time at first. For the first 8 months I was constantly cold. The summer of 2015 I wore sweaters and long sleeves shirts as well as used a personal heater to stay warm. Eventually this will pass.

2. Not being able to sit comfortably for long periods. My ass fell off and is now bony as hell. I can even feel my tailbone when I sit down. So I have no padding.

3. Hair shedding. The stress of losing weight causes your hair to shed. You will not go bald but your hair will thin out. When your weight stabilizes it will grow back. Despite what people claim there is nothing you can do to stop it.

4. Excess skin. As noted above, it can't be prevented. Genetics and how heavy you were determine how much you will have. You don't have to live with it the rest of your life and can have plastic surgery to remove it.

5. BM changes. For the first three months I had constant diarrhea. This was followed by months of constipation. No biggie. I just took laxatives. Eventually things will settle down to normal. Be prepared for accidents just in case.

6. Your farts will be horrible. Since you are consuming mostly protein your farts will smell like you have the grim reaper up your butt. They are terrible! You will be so embarrassed. Also, for some reason they will be very loud. I guess the fat muffled the sound but I am still shocked by how loud mine are now.

7. Gallstones. Losing a large amount of weight quickly can cause gallstones. They are painful. To avoid them you can have your gallbladder removed as you do not need it to survive or you can take prescription medicine to prevent them from forming.

8. Body Dismorphia. Most people who lose a great deal of weight suffer temporarily from the inability to properly perceive their new body. When they look in the mirror they still see the same old fat person. I too suffer from this and I'm told that eventually your brain will begin to process the new information and you will eventually get over it.

Question:

"How bad are the scars from the surgery?"

Answer:

Not bad at all. The incisions are less than an inch, 5 in total. I have to hunt hard to find them.

Question:

"I'm a vegetarian and was wondering if the surgery would be right for me?"

Answer:

I've encountered a few vegetarians who were successful with the surgery. However, vegans are another issue. I've known only 2 who had the surgery and they were both failures as they were unable to consume the necessary protein and ate far too much carbs.

Question:

"Did you require someone to help take care of you when you got home and how soon can you go back to work?"

Answer:

No. I could shower and use the restroom as normal immediately after surgery. No catheters were used. You likely can return to work after a few day to a week as long as there is no heavy lifting.

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Today Is My 1 Year Weight Loss Surgery Anniversary

Today marks the one year anniversary of my weight loss surgery. I previously touched on this in a past blog but today is a huge milestone. My whole life has changed drastically in one year. I truly feel like I've been reborn.

I don't want to go too much in depth about what caused me to gain a massive amount of weight. The fault was my own. However, there were a lot of things out of my control that happened in my life, a lot of deaths of very cherished people, the depression that comes with such, health problems that prevented me from being active, etc. As a result I reached a dangerous size. I was morbidly obese. I knew I couldn't do it on my own. I mean, I could lose weight but I could never keep it off. It would always come back but with additional gain. I had tried all kinds of spells and workings to lose the weight but it wasn't until I changed my mind on how it could be done that I stumbled across the solution. I was always opposed to weight loss surgery and so this put stipulations on my magical workings which would limit my results. When I finally got desperate enough that I was willing to do anything and changed my mind and perceptions, the solution just fell in my lap. My weight loss spells manifested in a way that I previously was opposed to and it also manifested alongside another working I did to be able to travel to California. Life is funny like that some times.

On May 12, 2015, I had my weight loss surgery in Tijuana. I had traveled to San Diego and then was taken across the border. I had a procedure called Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, or "gastric sleeve" for short. About 80% of my stomach was removed. The normal human stomach is the size of a football. My new stomach is the size of a banana. As a result of the surgery I can only consume small portions of food, ranging from a few ounces to a cup of food, depending upon what I'm eating. However, the amazing thing about this is that I am fully satiated from eating so little. When our stomachs are full they send signals to the brain that makes us feel satiated and we stop eating. Since my stomach is so small I get those signals way quicker and with very little food. So I feel satiated off of a few ounces of food while a person without the surgery may have to eat an entire plate of food, or more to full satisfaction. Before surgery I could eat an entire large pizza by myself in one sitting. Today, I can't even finish one slice. I believe the surgery, along with quitting smoking, saved my life.

My Stats:

Highest Recorded Weight - 388 lbs
Weight at Time I Decided to Have Surgery - 370 lbs
Weight on Day of Surgery - 350 lbs
Current Weight, 1 Year After Surgery - 190 lbs (and still losing!)
Goal Weight - 170 lbs
Total Weight Loss Since Surgery - 180 lbs
Highest Recorded BMI (Body Mass Index) - 52.6
Current BMI - 25.8
Largest Pant Size - 46
Current Pant Size - 32
Largest Shirt Size - 4X
Current Shirt Size - L 

I want to give a shout out to my niece, Jazmine, who thought it was funny to say that my legs are so skinny they look like teenage girl legs. Trust me, I am taking that as a compliment! I would much rather have "teenage girl legs" than massive tree trunks. Also, a shout out to my friends who told me that I went from a "2" to an "8" on a scale of attractiveness. That was much appreciated! Finally, a shout out to my best friend Michelle who told me, "Now there is no one out of your league, only people beneath you." (Kind of a mean-spirited comment but it's definitely and ego-booster!)

So what's next? Well, I have 20 more pounds to lose and then I will be at my goal weight. I also need to start saving for my plastic surgery to have my excess skin removed. I do suffer from a bit of body dysmorphia, meaning my brain is not processing the new reality of what I look like. When I look into the mirror I still see the same old fat me, but I'm told this will take time and that eventually my brain will adjust. I also need time adjusting to the new sexual and romantic attention I'm getting from both men and women. I know it sounds strange but when I was big I was invisible. I could go out in public and not get any attention from women or men. Not anymore! I swear I can't even fill up my car tank without someone hitting on me. Again, a lot of the issues I'm having is due to the temporary body dysmorphia and hopefully I will adjust to the attention in time. However, I do somewhat miss the invisibility that came with my obesity. Guys, if I walk into a bathroom it's because I genuinely need to use the restroom. I'm not looking for a hook up. Just because I politely thank you for any compliments you give me does not in any way shape or form indicate I am sexually attracted to you. Ladies, I don't feel comfortable when you approach me and begin touching my body. The arm or shoulder is okay but when you start touching my abdomen or thighs you make me feel uncomfortable as I still have excess skin. Plus it's very awkward for strangers to touch people in those places. Also, if I seem quiet or shy it's because I am. Please don't assume I'm a snob. When you are big you retreat into yourself for comfort and protection and it will take time before you can learn to come out again.

So I've thought about whether or not I should include pictures of my transformation. Like most conjure workers I am hesitant of putting anything out there that enemies might use against me in spiritual attacks. However, after praying and consulting with my spirits I now believe it's perfectly okay and that these pictures may help inspire other people who are currently in similar situations to make their decisions for surgery.

Here are my BEFORE pictures:

I'm the blob behind the boy. This picture was taken in April 2015, one month before surgery. 

My driver's license photo. I routinely get questioned over this. Cashiers always say I look nothing like this and I have to explain to them that I had weight loss surgery. 

This was taken on the day of my surgery. 

Here are my AFTER pictures:

So, for all my readers who are in a similar predicament and who are interested in the surgery I can not recommend it enough. It will change your life. I truly believe that it saved mine. I had the symptoms of borderline diabetes, had high blood pressure, had high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and had heart murmurs which produced bouts of faint. The surgery put an end to all of that. Today, I am perfectly healthy. The years I wasted yo-yo dieting seem like a bad dream. Please don't buy into the hype from people like Oprah who want to sell you a system that makes you dependent upon a corporation. Those things really only work for people who are just overweight and not obese or morbidly obese. If you are of the latter groups you really should consider the surgery. If your insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery then consider doing what I did and travel to Tijuana. It was wonderful. It felt just like a vacation. I went to Tijuana because I did not have insurance. The self-pay rate in my state was about 20 grand. I had my procedure in Tijuana for $4,500 (with $800 more to have my gall bladder removed at the same time.) This has been the best decision for my health that I have ever made. I think you will feel the same way. Now, the gastric sleeve has the lowest rates for complications and mortality. Don't take my word for it. Do your research. I researched everything for about a year before deciding to have the surgery. 

This is a video from one my favorite Youtubers who had the gastric sleeve. This video is about 10 things she wished she knew about before having the surgery. Check her channel out for more videos.



One more thing, about pain. The whole surgery was a breeze. There was very little pain. It just felt like I was punched in the stomach. The only truly painful experience I had with the surgery was when they removed the drain. That hurt like a bitch and my entire abdomen cramped up something fierce. However, the pain only lasted a few seconds and then the drain was out and it was over with. So for all those out there dreading about how painful it's going to be, don't worry about it. I was so scared it was going to be painful and it was a complete breeze for me.

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