You May Be a Lard Ass

<div class=Section1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>Please allow me to preface thiscollection of cartoons with a heartfelt disclaimer.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It is not my intent to be insensitive to thevery real difficulties faced by those people struggling with beingoverweight.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Being overweight is repletewith health as well as social problems.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I did not create this book to ridicule nor hurt the feelings ofanyone.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I have a bit of insight into theramifications of being overweight stocky pleasingly plump obese or justplain old fat.</p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>In 1970 I contracted what is nowcalled Hepatitis C.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>In those days theycalled it Non A / Non B Chronic Active Hepatitis.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>All the doctors could tell me was that it wasincurable and oh yea eventually fatal.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I was fortunate to have relatively few problems with my liver for acouple decades.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Then in late 1989 myliver decided it was ready to make me pay for the sins of my youth.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>In my case one of the side effects of endstage liver disease was the sharp drop in energy levels and a reduced metabolicrate.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This caused me to gain over 135pounds in about 14 months.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I was neverreally what would be called thin.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>However I had always been able to lead a fairly active lifestyle.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I skied in Aspen fished in the Alaskanwilderness bodysurfed in Hawaii.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Butthese activities not to mention my love life were reduced to nil.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>In the early 90's I was told that I wouldneed a liver transplant.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I was placed onThe List.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I was no longer able to workand soon found myself on disability.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>This book grew out of the need to deal with the mental aspects of mydwindling quality of life and my relentlessly expanding shadow.</p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>I am still on the list awaiting atransplant.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>I have also kept up thestruggle to gain control of my weight.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>Istill have my good days and my bad days.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>It has been about two years since my last hospitalization.<spanstyle='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>At present I have managed to lose 97pounds.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>However I am still working tolose that final pesky 70 to 80 extra pounds.</p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-align:justify'>I would say that my sense ofhumor is the largest single factor in my ability to rebound as far as Ihave.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>The ability to laugh in the faceof adversity may not cure you but it certainly makes the experience moretolerable.<span style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>These pages represent myrefusal to allow my waistline to weigh me down.</p></div>