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Hi Everyone!

The Experience...
We had a very large turnout yesterday with 19 people showing up on a cold 
rainy afternoon! Outback Steakhouse was absolutely wonderful in their 
service, care and food.  We all know they have the most extension gluten-
free menu and offer us 3 desserts but this location, on Pineville-Matthews, 
went above and beyond! I sat down with the manager ahead of time, as usual, 
and went through my package of information.  Josh indicated they are just 
starting to get more celiac cliental but it is still relatively new.  I 
said we are so thankful and appreciative to have Outback as a choice.  The 
service was top class – the best of the best!  They gave us own dedicated 
row of tables and did not rush us.  They were so flexible and courteous in 
every way.  My server, who even acknowledge he didn't know anything about 
celiac, was an extremely quick learn and even corrected my own stupid 
error.  I did not read the menu line that said order the Tilapia without 
the lemon butter sauce.  I sometimes get carried away chatting with 
everyone that when it comes time to order my meal – I rush through it.  A 
very important lesson for me!  So I encourage every celiac in the Charlotte 
area to add Outback Steakhouse to your list of choices.

Rebecca Says...
[This is a new standing addition to our monthly summaries.  You might 
recall that Rebecca is our young 14 year old celiac who desires to become a 
doctor!  So, here is what Rebecca says...] My first addition to this 
wonderful support group is to congratulate everyone on a fabulous meeting.  
I hope everyone has learned so so much, and of course they did, since I was 
here...:>)  I hope to see you all next time!

Welcomes...
This month’s meeting brought several new members.  Most are newly diagnosed 
and a few brought a spouse or a friend.  Several found us via our web-site 
which helps confirm the right choice in the url name (albeit long).   We 
welcomed seven new members: Joyce, Jim, Bill, Annette, Stephen, Pam and 
Ashley. 

Joyce just found out this past January she is gluten sensitive and milk 
sensitive.  She knows she has a lot to learn but is looking at it as a 
challenge.  Joyce is the most optimistic person and has such a warm and 
pleasant personality.  Joyce also has a very loving and supportive husband, 
Jim, so she will do fine.  

Stephen is still working through what all this means and Carol helped him 
with identifying the right tests to get.  Stephen has a great soap to tell 
everyone about.  It is called "Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild Soap" and has a blue 
label.  It is pure and natural, wheat-free and may be the mildest soap on 
the market (that it barely removes your natural skin oils).  Stephen says 
it's a must try!

Annette wants to share with everyone a wonderful soy company "Revival Soy" 
and says their products are gluten-free.  Check out 
http://www.revivalsoy.com - Annette says the products are wonderful and you 
won’t regret it.  Bill would love some ideas on what he can easily pack for 
lunch, so send in your ideas and I'll pass them on to everyone.  Here are 
some of my favorites:  veggies (all kinds) and dip, lettuce wraps (lunch 
meats, chicken, tuna fish, cheese, etc.) and salads (with favorite 
toppings).  I also eat an apple everyday… and shhh some chocolate!  

Pam and Ashley have been close friends for over six years and both were 
diagnosed with celiac within the past 8 months, what do you think of these 
odds?  We also heard that Pam has this great hidden talent as a baker!  We 
will not let Pam rest until she opens our first gluten-free bakery here in 
Charlotte!  Karen sat next to both of them so I’m sure she has the inside 
scoop!  Jackie was also nearby so maybe we can get the Hollywood angle...:>)

Thank You!!
Carol and Steve bought everyone a large "Celiac Awareness" Green Ribbon 
magnet that we can stick on our cars.  You are starting to see these 
ribbons pop on cars everywhere for different causes but I bet we will be 
the first to advertise for Celiac (in Charlotte).  I just wonder how many 
people we will reach now.  Thank you so much Carol and Steve for a 
wonderful gift and a gift that keeps on giving.  Just reading the word 
celiac might make a difference to that driver behind you.  That driver’s 
curiosity might then lead him or her to research the word and, if sick or 
knows someone who's sick, might just get their doctor to run the test! 

Additional Notes...
Pat, our dietitian, came with her daughter Jackie.  Pat is very concerned 
with all the recent hype of adding oats back into our diet.  I fully 
support her concern!  Personally, I don’t understand the desire to have 
oats again.  I know oats is still a very controversial topic.  However, 
let’s get real, we are just talking oats!  As far as I remember I think the 
only thing oats was good for was oatmeal??  Am I missing something?  I know 
I never lost a tear over not being allowed to eat oatmeal (now pizza would 
be another matter)! 

Our little Jackie's head did not get any bigger from her Hollywood debut as 
an actor.  Recall, she and mom recently appeared on our local WBTV-3 news, 
with news anchor Tonia Bendickson, for a short series on celiac disease.  
Although Jackie did walk in with a pair of these VERY BIG Hollywood looking 
sunglasses, she humbly said, "Do you like my glasses - I’m an optimist"!  
WBTV did an excellent job covering our condition and Tonia has the most 
captivating and charming news personality.  This was huge win for Charlotte 
and WBTV!

Rose, Bill and I had a good long conversation on water – city vs. bottled.  
This would take another page to do the topic any justice.  I think we need 
to be very careful with what we consume and something that might be totally 
safe for a person with a normal intestine just might not be so safe for a 
celiac.  Since our intestine is very permeable, the chemicals contained in 
city water, that might otherwise be considered "safe", may actually cause 
us celiacs health problems.  This could hold true for any artificial or 
potentially toxic ingredient, so don't automatically assume every symptom 
is related to gluten.  Really analyze everything you consume and your daily 
habits along with the symptoms you are experiencing.

I had brought Dr. Peter Green's book, "Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic" 
along to share with the group and was amazed at how many people had already 
purchased a copy.  It is the best celiac book on the market and is 
the "FIRST" authoritative patient and physician guide to be published by a 
leading celiac medical scholar!  Rebecca was excited to learn that Dr. 
Green was at Columbia University since this is her DREAM come true 1st 
choice in med schools!  So, check out my web-site for an overview of this 
book, the chapter headers and the link to amazon's order page.  If you buy 
one thing this year, it must be this book!  It's better than a house call - 
as in the olden golden days when the doctor came to your house to care for 
you when you were ill...:>)

Well, there was a wealth of conversations and information shared but we’re 
just getting too large to capture it all.  Everyone told me what a 
wonderful time they had.  You'll just need to come out for afternoon of 
great conversation and support!  Nancy and Ben said they will be thinking 
of us as they lay on the beaches of Jamaica, Jan is headed for Miami and 
the rest of us are bracing for the winter storm that is suppose to hit!  
Next month we will be going to P.F. Changs, so mark March 18th – noon - 
down on your calendar.  Have a great month!

Warm Regards, Janet 
Charlotte, NC
The Queen City
http://charlotte-celiac-connection.org
http://www.charlotte-celiac-
connection.org/Celiac_Disease_A_Hidden_Epidemic.html

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