WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY 2017

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  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,067 Member
    edited July 2017
    Lisa~ so great to see you and glad your back...
    Lenora~ Credit card has my name on it, but its under his name..I think or under joint account... my lawyer said since his car is in his name then I dont have to worry about it, but will drop her an email and just tell her his plans...
    oh my lawyer has all the records for the tickets, the inn everything,I just played dumb....he might lose out on all of it if there is a funeral to attend... working 8-5 today and will get out at noon to take care of the dogs and get back
    Rori~ Bless you I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers,Dementia is no joke and very hard on the caregivers... may I suggest some extra help.. now here in Connecticut we have Community Care for the Elderly,I am sure they have something like that in Colorado... it helped my FIL tremendously. they do an intake assessment and have all sorts of different kinds of things to help, Adult day care, companions and homemakers, meals on wheels, life alert .. I mean everything for a percentage of income... now my FIL had SS and a couple of pensions and he paid 108.00 a month for all these services . It might give you peace of mind to know that all of this exists .. hoping this helps xoxoxox
  • klanders30
    klanders30 Posts: 2,569 Member
    rori (( <3 )) Thinking of you, keep reaching out for support, your talents and strength is such a gift to your marriage.

    Lisa Love the travel shots.

    The to do list has grown over the weekend so I'd better get crackin'

    NYKAREN
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,677 Member
    edited July 2017
    Rori - I really don't know what to say about your situation, but my heart goes out to you. I have quite strong opinions on these matters, but this is not the place to air them. Sending you lots and lots of love. If you want to pm me or email me then please do.
    Sorry I won't be seeing you in London. That day in my diary has been warming my heart. One of these days I really am going to come over to the States. :o

    Doing lots of laundry today. Washing everything in sight just in case I want to take it on the cruise. I booked in three suitcases with the car people, so we have plenty of leeway. Will do a toiletries etc shop tomorrow.

    My yoghurt last night was a failure! I forgot to turn the temp to Normal so it was too hot. I have salvaged the milk by making rice pudding in the IP. DH loves it. <3<3

    Didn't put any weight on this weekend. Sooooooo much walking! I would like to go away a pound under, but we will see. :)

    Lots of love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxx
  • Peach1948
    Peach1948 Posts: 2,473 Member
    (((Rori)))
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,557 Member
    Good evening!

    Funny thing ... just something I noticed a moment ago ... it's pouring rain out there, but our weather internet site says it's clear. <<shakes head>>


    Anyway it was Monday all day today :) and that's my work, university, gym day. It's a day where I walk a lot, between work and uni etc. and where I don't eat much because it's just too inconvenient.

    At the gym ...

    Spinning Class -- 50 min | 24.89 km

    Rowing -- 20 min | 3.3 km

    Walking -- 70 min | 5.7 km
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,246 Member
    (((Rori)))

    Lisa love the pictures!
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,557 Member
    2017 Monthly July
    Walking Distance (km): 82.4
    Walking Time (min): 1030.0
    Cycling Distance (km): 620.2
    Cycling Time (min): 1914.3
    Stairs Climbed Number: 155.0
    Stairs Climbed Time (min): 124.0
    Other Distance: 11.4
    Other Time: 75.0

    Totals
    Total Distance (km): 714.0
    Total Distance (miles): 443.7
    Total Time (min): 3143.3
    Total Time (hr): 52:23:19

    So that's that for July!!
  • csofled
    csofled Posts: 3,022 Member
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  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,209 Member
    morning peeps - taking it easy to save my knees -

    thanks kljmore i got your addr. you'll be on my list to send it to. would you be able to fwd it to your friend to sign?
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Heather: I'm happy that you enjoyed your visit and are home again. :smiley:

    Michelle: I put pillowcases on the same way you do! :bigsmile:

    Carol in GA: When my grandkids were here last I took them to a nearby park and let them play while I sat and watched. Would something like that work for you? :huh:

    Becca: Summer here will involve al sorts of desperate strategies in a few days. We plan to hide inside with the air conditioner on. :ohwell:

    Joyce: We were members of a church while our kids were growing up, but walked away from it due to serious conflicts about good works. We thought we should do things for the community. Another faction thought we should be helping only ourselves, and not necessarily our own members. We haven't been to church in a LONG time. :noway:

    Rori: You are perceptive. Arrow and I have bonded, a good deal for both of us. DH was suitably impressed when I took him out to see Arrow last week. He is no longer in fear that the horse will attack me at random. Is Arrow likely to act up? I'd say there are many things that could set him off. Fear, or pain caused by bee-stings are examples of things that could cause problems. Before MS took a bite out of DH's ability to do adventurous things, we sailed our boat up the coast, through the Straits of Juan de Fuca, to the San Juan Islands & Gulf Islands of British Columbia, Canada. We had glorious adventures and I wish we could do it again. Those trips were certainly not risk free but they were worth the risk. Riding is a similar pastime in that there is risk, and for me it is also worth the risk. :bigsmile:

    I am so sorry that your DH's situation is declining. You are wise to take actions that will help both of you to manage the current and future situations. AARP has a lot of material out regarding Alzheimer's and other dementia, and I think it might help you find ways to make things more manageable. Information always brings the chance of being useful. Look for Alzheimers Disease Cure Research and Prevention Tips-AARP. :heart:

    Sharon in Lethbridge: Good question about CBD oil, and neither DH nor I have any experience with it. We do have Medical MJ on hand and it does reduce/eliminate pain. Good luck with your research. Please share what you learn. :star:

    Lisa: I love the photos of your trip. Thanks for sharing! I've missed you. :smiley:


    My remedy for leg & foot cramps at night is TUMS. One or two will do the job for me. As I understand it, leg and foot cramps are linked to low calcium levels.

    Yoga this morning, and it is almost time for me to get on the road. We're taking our dog to the vet this afternoon to discuss his health/behavior. Not sure what is up with him but he looks ratty, acts depressed, has runny poo and isn't eating well.

    Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

    “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison
  • coastalgosgal
    coastalgosgal Posts: 2,900 Member
    Rori, my thoughts are with you! My father had Lewy Body dementia. I know my sister's and I simplified his life as much as we could. And there are good days and bad days. There is a whole community waiting to assist you. Never ever think you are alone in this! I think if there was anything we could've done different, it would have been to enroll in a support group early on. Learn from others that are walking the same path as you. Just like stewardesses say, put on your oxygen mask first before you help others with theirs. Hugs friend!
    Becca
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,677 Member
    Lisa - So happy to see you! <3

    I have noticed that it will soon be time for the US kids to go back to school. Ours only started their holidays last week. :o Scotland has its holidays earlier than England.

    I've had my pre holiday bath and body scrub, toenail cutting and hair removal. :D:D:D Feel all soft now. B)

    Made lovely paneer curry tonight. Feel very virtuous. 2nd AF day.

    Started to put some cruise clothes on the spare bedroom floor. I HATE packing. :'(:'(:'(

    Lots of love, Heather UK xxxxxxx
  • Peach1948
    Peach1948 Posts: 2,473 Member
    Katla ~ We did take the kids to the park after lunch but it was so hot and no shade. There were no other children there because this was the first day of school in the county I live in (they live in a different county). We played a lot of computer games and watched movies. They will go home this afternoon and start their school on Tuesday. They had a good time eating out and going for ice cream. And, I had a good time looking at pictures with them and playing their games.
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,634 Member
    Lisa - glad you are back in these parts! Great photos-thoughts of cool Alaska will come in handy during the hot spells!

    Heather - when do you leave on the trip? Paneer curry sounds yummy.

    Rori     - ((HUGS))) Ladies, so many of us on this thread have DH's or close family members (even ourselves!) with debilitating illnesses - Dementia, MS, Parkinson's, RA to name a few. Perhaps that's what has drawn us to this thread - for caregiver support and reminders to do good and healthy things for ourselves. Like Becca said, we need to put on our own oxygen masks first. Tho sometimes it's hard to even find the darn things when it gets crazy.

    Regarding the weather.... I'm going to try very hard to not dwell on it. I was making myself crazy checking all the weather websites, comparing the "worst case", etc. Well, it is what it is and this too shall pass. o:) Worrying about it won't make it any cooler. Am praying that everyone's A/C works and no fires break out.

    That's the quick and dirty! Enjoy this Monday! <3

    Lanette
    SW WA State

  • suebdew
    suebdew Posts: 1,298 Member
    Hello MFP friends. I have been reading along but not posting. Suffering from my bad headache. The meds make me a bit dizzy and hungry. Decided today to try to go without any and see what happens. Been to water aerobics, did laundry and made brownis for a Sunday School party.
    Rori - bless your heart. So sorry your DH is having difficulties with his memory. I so cherish the time I got to meet and talk with you. Hugs.
    Lisa-so glad you had a good time in Alaska. Time to get back on the journey. Also for me!! I am joining a new challenge Biggest Loser which starts this weekend. Hope to be able to contribute.
    Heather - I am sure you mentioned it but what is your cruise destin nation?
    Lenora - I ha e am abundance of figs. How do you fix yours?
    Kelly- a lot of roads in N TX are being converted to toll roads. It is frustrating when you pay a toll and get stuck in heavy traffic.
    Re- so good to see you posting again. I really enjoy your company.
    Well last week every day was over 100 degrees. For some reason iris hotter out here and a,so colder in winter. My car said 106 one day. Best to just stay home.
    Enjoy all the pictures. Enjoy your day
    SueBDew inTX
  • coastalgosgal
    coastalgosgal Posts: 2,900 Member
    Uuuck lost a whole long comment! Dang nabbit!!!!
    Becca
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,677 Member
    edited July 2017
    Lanette - We leave on Friday. :o 16 nights. Waiting to hear from the company about our car pick up. Because we live some distance from Dover we have to share a car, but it wasn't too bad last year. Not too much of a detour. It's wonderful to be picked up for free and you can take as much luggage as you wish, which lessens the strain of packing. Plus someone else carries the bags to your cabin! :D

    Suebdew - We are going to the Baltic. Copenhagen, Stockholm 2 days, Helsinki, St Petersburg 2 days, Tallinn, Wisbar (Germany ) , a Danish fishing island, and Holland (we hope to visit Haarlem ). The only place we are going on organised visits is St Petersburg. Looking forward to the Hermitage by Night, with a concert, wine and tour without the crowds.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxx
  • KJLaMore
    KJLaMore Posts: 2,847 Member
    Pip- Yes, my friend lives pretty close, so I can run it over to her to sign. I told her about your ride last year and we looked up the link and watched the video. I am sure she would be thrilled to sign.
    Heather- Some of the southern schools start school in early August due to the hotter temps. I know in Texas the kids get out some time in May and are back in the first of August. Same with Tampa schools where my sister works. My DH is so jealous of his European counterparts in the company he works for. He came home talking about how some of them are off for the next two-three weeks. I told him I would be willing to move there, but he wasn't so keen on it. :s
    Lanette- You asked a couple days ago if my DH's RA is in remission. It is not. He was just diagnosed two years ago at age 48 and it hit him hard. He was like a stone statue most days and I was dressing him, helping him in and out of chairs, helping him lift things like a half gallon of juice, open things. He is moving easier now and his pain is less thanks to the pain pills and RA drugs. But he still struggles with fine motor tasks and lifting and bending. Like your hubby, he has those days when he feels he HAS to do something and then he pays for it the next day. Or rather, I pay for it the next day. Grumpy old man.

    Weather wise; I live on the east side of Lake Michigan and the weather changes hourly. The weatherman is almost NEVER right. Or he is right if you live 30 minutes inland, but on the lakeshore, it could be something entirely different. Because I work at home, the weather isn't usually a problem, but in the summer, I worry about my son because he has a Jeep Wrangler and likes to drive it without the top or doors. He hasn't been caught in the rain, yet, but I can see it happening!
  • MartiB856
    MartiB856 Posts: 85 Member
    :neutral:
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,209 Member
    .
  • jmkmomm
    jmkmomm Posts: 3,247 Member
    Lisa, glad to see you back. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Yes, your husband is acting silly. For me it is very good to see a husband acting silly. Doesn't happen very often here.

    Katla, you were right to leave that church. They were looking out for themslves and not thinking about why they were there as a church. But it wouldn't hurt to find another one at this point in your life. Your husband is slowing down and he can find some good fellowship that can relieve you. Has your husband ever thought of getting on a horse himself? There are many therapy horse programs. It would help with his balance and self confidence. Plus it would be something the two of you could share together since you no longer share the boating world like you used to.

    Well Charlie's venture to get him a new sheet for his bed didn't last very long. He wants a sheet that fits on his pillow top mattress. He has a regular sheet and of course that doesn't work.. We talked about it especially on the cost. He said he knew and he would spend money on it. So we went to Walmart since that is about the only store he goes to for anything. After looking, I couldn't find any sheets that specifically say pillow top and of course they were more than he wanted to pay. Last night he was saying he would need to pay around $50. I didn't think it would be that much but I agreed with it. So we are seeing sheet sets for $25 and he freaked out and said we would is it leave. I got him to at least go down the drapery aisle. He has gold drapes that were hung in 1978. They are so ugly, I have to
    D him that his coffin will be lined in it. He agreed to look at burgundy. So we found one he liked but it was single panel and it was close to $20. Oh my my. I don't know what generation his brain lives in. So we were going to go to Bed Nath and Beyond. Well he forgot to take the turn and that made him even more mad so our trip didn't last long. He thought that while we were at Walmart he could look at pants. I don't do that with him at all. He is so bad to shop with. As far as pants, he refuses to look for a waist size that he currently is. In his mind, he is still back in that old generation. Plus he likes the old polyester pants that don't fit his body size well and he has to put his hand and feel his crouch to see how it feels like. So he is out in the store showing me what he has found after trying on 10 pair and he is feeling his crouch. I send him by himself, he is gone all afternoon and comes home without anything. He did buy a pair about a month ago and has never worn them. I try to get his to wear suspenders and that is a no no for him. So he is still wearing clothes from many moons ago. Most of them he can no lager button but that's quite OK with his because he now wears a long shirt because of his ileostomy.

    Joyce, Indiana
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,209 Member
    stats for the day:

    **wahoo hrm not recording :0/ **

    all apple watch hr-

    bike ride hm 2 gym- 13.09min, 13.3mph. 2.9mi = 93c
    Plyometrics exercises- 15.24min, 3ets of 10each, hamstring leglifts, push-ups, all 4's elbow to knee, reverse bicycles, leg lifts, pelvic lifts, crunches, sit-ups, on butt-knees to chest= 102c
    SPIN CLASS- 30min, 86ar, 96aw, 10-13g, 12.8mi = 212c
    bike ride gym 2 dome- 6.21min, 12.6amph, 1.3mi = 43c
    bike ride puy 2 sumn station- 15.15min, 12amph, 3mi = 112c
    jog sta 2 wk- 5.10min, 10.07min mi, .5mi = 58c
    jog wk 2 sta- 5.22min, 10min mi, .5mi = 56c
    bike ride dome 2 hm- 18.06min, 8.6amph, 2.5mi = 143c

    total cal 819
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,557 Member
    Poerava14 wrote: »
    Yesterday, the stress of the work week and dealing with DH's dementia gave me a massive, stubborn headache. I went to Walmart at 6 AM, and once everything was put away, I went back to bed for the entire day. The recent news stories about CTE (brain damage from multiple concussions) in football players hit me hard. DH has all the symptoms. Today, he went around the condo for 2 hours looking for his wallet. Finally, he found it after searching his sock drawer for the 3rd time. This kind of thing happens 3-4 times a day, every day.

    Given the circumstances, I made the difficult decision to cancel my trip to Europe this October because I need to put the time and resources towards building a network for his care going forward. My girlfriends were very understanding. It's also fortunate that my business travel has decreased significantly. This is a good time for us to explore the research, the benefits from Veterans Administration and whatever else we can grab to make the next chapter as sane as possible.

    So sorry to hear this ... my grandfather went through all this starting when he was about 70. :(

    And yes, do research things. You might be able to obtain in-home care once a week or something to give yourself a break ... things like that.

  • drkatiebug
    drkatiebug Posts: 1,974 Member
    Rori, hugs. And prayers for all you are dealing with your husband. I have a friend going through the same thing, and it is heartbreaking. The thing that is so amazing to me is how young he is. She eventually had no choice but to put him in a facility, because her once gentle, love of her life turned violent with the disease.

    Skip this paragraph if you have no interest in the "church" discussion. My advice: if having a church family is important to you, then keep looking for a good fit. It's unfortunate that those who are supposed to be most welcoming fail at it miserably a lot of time, but we are all human which makes us do selfish and unwelcoming things. Expecting perfection will lead to disappointment, but there are plenty of good congregations that are trying their best to love and support each other. Don't let the human failings of others be an excuse for neglecting your own spiritual needs.

    I've been sick with a summer cold and neglecting my exercise. I'm back on it today.

  • GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS
    GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS Posts: 2,573 Member
    Michele – I was just about to mention to Joyce that quite often ‘organized churches’ can be rather ‘cliquish’. When we were active in the Catholic Church, we had our boys enrolled in parochial school, so we had friends who also attended both. Many of them, well most of them have moved and the church has doubled in size. It’s difficult to get into a group and they apparently no longer had a Catholic Women’s group where I met a lot of friends before the boys entered school. Tami and Will were going to a small Baptist Church that was around the corner from their home, the preacher married them. Really nice guy; but, then a woman who had been a member there decided she wanted to be the Head of the Children’s Church and he told her that he had several people in mind and had not made a decision yet. She got all up in his face and told him that ‘she had been there before he came, and she’d be there when he left. So when she took that approach and knew that she would be divisive factor of the congregation, he told the church the following Sunday that he had decided that things would be better if he left since some had voiced their displeasure with him. Tami and Will went for a little while longer; but, it wasn’t the same. They are planning on building or buying a home and decided to go to a church that is actually closer to the school that Mallory goes to and she was thrilled to find that most of her classmates went there. So it all worked out well. Most everybody is happy, I guess. A lot of Tami’s customers also go there. That can always split a church. The Methodist church in the town I lived in bought the city block my mother own, for expansion; but, a group of the younger members wanted 'more' than just a 'basketball court', the wanted a 'pool' and all the things you'd find in a 'full gym'. Weights, racquetball courts, that sort of thing. So they bought land and built another church. Not even sure they remained in the "Methodist" version of the same "Southern Baptist Committee" that makes decisions about things.

    We went to a Catholic Church in Macon where the Head priest started his Priesthood there and retired from there. Loved him, he never played favorites, he was a priest to everybody. Even would not accept invitations to have dinner from anyone; but, the priests ‘in training’ (2 of them were suggested to take his place). We fell in love with them. Funny that they were priests because they were both so young and very entertaining; they also had bikes and canoes stored in a fenced-in area behind the Rectory.

    Rori – I’ve had to call Louis from the grocery store because Louis lays it on top of my pocketbook with money, so I put the money further down in the purse or fold it to go in my little cases; and, get there and have forgotten it and/or what was on it. Since he is the one who makes it, he can remember it; but, what he does that drives me wild (when I am writing it out is to tell me ‘what we don’t need’, but at he has called it out. “Milk … we’ve got enough to last a few days.” So I gave it to him and told him to write it out. No problem there, a lot easier; but, I forget it, thankfully, I charge my cell, turn it off, and put it in my pocketbook; but, I have forgotten it before. I go into town as few times as I possibly can and I know my route to make it efficient, a big circle. I’ve forgotten library books.

    Today while at the vet a man backed into my rear passenger door and one of the girls came in and asked if I drove a Honda telling me that this man had come back in and told them that he had hit it (backed out, he had to have been on the phone or something … he was easily 25 feet away and he apparently just back straight back. He started talking about ‘he really wanted to handle it without having to get his insurance involved and asked if I would get up 3 estimates'. I told him that Perry Body was going to fix it and I’d get the estimate from them. He got quite huffy and wrote down the agent's name and telephone number. The girl told me as I was leaving that she had called the police. I told him that I lived in Dawson, had my dog with me and I was not going to drive around and wait to get 3 estimates and then have something, like him not paying Perry and/or they get into it and find that something else is wrong. He hit it pretty hard and Perry said ‘well I can already tell you that it will have to have a new door and that ‘ain’t’ cheap, so he will be wanting to get his insurance involved. I got home and the door won’t even open. That really made me mad; but, I had gone to my insurance carrier and told them what had happened and what he had said, and that he had left even when I told him that the police had been called. Of course, the police would not make even an ‘incident’ report. He got held up at a wreck that happened at the intersection up the road. I laughed and asked if a white Ford pick-up truck had been involved … because it happened in about enough time for him to have gotten there, just in time. M-E-O-W! I was PISSED! So the policeman came in about the time I asked them to call again. First thing he asked when I told him that he had left was ‘if he had given me his information’. I told him that he had; but, that I had really pissed him off. I was almost in tears. This is the 4th time that car has been damaged. I am beginning to think it is ‘jinxed’ … I call Louis and told him what had happened, the first thing he told me to do is go to our insurance company and then we’d just have to hope they don’t rate us higher or drop us altogether. I told him what the guy said he wanted to do and he said, ‘no way’. I told him that he could take it and his truck and trade it in and we’d just have his business vehicle. So, I looked at it and can’t even open the door. My Agent called him and told him that we'd be willing to work it out without getting his insurance company involved; but, got told he had already reported it to his insurance company. Agent knew him and told him that I did not mean to be unwilling to help; but, if something went wrong, they'd have to get involved and since it wasn't my fault, I should not have to file against my insurance.

    Hugs to you with dealing with DH; I wonder if I am getting there. My Neurologist’s nurse told me (very flippantly after 3 weeks I had not heard anything about and MRI I had had and called the doctor; that I had ‘mild age-related dementia’. I’m 66 – that did not make me feel very good, so I called my GP and he said he’d get the records and look at them. Was probably more upset that the Neurologist has ‘yet’ to call me to talk about it. I wish that he was not one of the only 2 in town.

    I had a friend that had Alzheimer’s just suddenly hit him (the symptoms). I had seen him a month before at K-Mart; and then mentioned him to BF about whether his wife was still working or had retired. She told me that his wife had to have him put into a nursing home … suddenly got mean and did not recognize her or anything else. Didn’t know where he was (home).

    It’s scary (to me). {{{{{HUGS}}}}} to you and your husband as you go through whatever situations you find yourself in.

    Karen in Virginia – Louis thinks I ought to try to sell artwork; but, when he puts it as a ‘job’; I don’t have any interest in it. I’ve always done it for pleasure, at my leisure. If I was going to do it as a job; I would have done it in my early 20’s, not in my late 60’s. Art school took the pleasure out of it. I did not do ‘anything’ with it for years. Louis did not know I was an artist until after we married and he found my supplies.

    For me (after I got used to having to retire because of a disability) has been nice. Of course, it makes me wonder how I worked, with 2 boys, getting them to whatever event they were taking, and still be a ‘good wife’ to Louis. But, if they were ever sick, I could take off and be with them without my pay being docked.

    They do make thick mattress sheets (18” deep) which is about like ours. The hardest part for me to make up a bed (because of the headboard, is to get the sheets on the mattress. I know my DDnL#2 said if we ‘ever’ bought any sheets for them that I needed to get California King (that is what the thick/deep sheets are called). Both at home and their lake house his DFnL build the bed which has drawers underneath it and they only use the top mattress, no box springs. I think the first time Will stayed with her, he fell in love with the bed and wanted to have one. He had gotten one of those sleep number beds and HATED it. Said if 2 people slept in it, they both rolled to the middle. If he has a queen-sized bed, he ought to find sheets; but, they won't be cheap.

    Talking about 'what generation' he is living in ... only when I have been on a 6-month driving restriction and Louis having to do all the errands, including grocery shopping, he got so that he'd give me 'more $$$'; now he has reverted back to giving me less money and I end up having to use 'my' checkbook to pay the difference

    Tere in RVA – I’ve been accused of having a ‘lead foot’ quite often; but, when my son (and sometimes even Louis) drive my car I am gripping the edge of the seat. One the road coming into town, there are about 4 sharp turns. The 3rd one is the one that gives me the ‘willies’ because for some reason it has never looked (or felt) like it is slanted in the correct way. I’ll put my cruise control on the 55mph limit and it just ‘hunkers down’ as I take these curves; but, that isn’t so bad; but, when they try it at 60 or 70mph, it looks like – from the front passenger seat that one day we are going to land in the cotton or peanut field.

    Ginger – I will NEVER be able to put another pillow in a pillowcase now! That’s hysterical. Lordy Mercy, I know their frustration. When I realized that one of my sons – actually both were sexually active, they got a big box of condoms in their Christmas stocking (every year); but, apparently one did not 'think' he needed them - we have a beautiful, smart 21-year-old granddaughter, who is my heart and soul. Of course, that did not take long before every mother in the neighborhood knew it. One even asked me if I needed a bunch of ‘firm’ bananas to teach them how to put them on. My response was, ‘that’s a great idea’ … they need to learn ‘how to use them correctly’. She just shook her head. The boys in the neighborhood (and that is all we had – no girls) thought it was cool and all of them had good relationships with their parents. We also would get on to each other’s’ kids if they were doing something they were not supposed to be doing. When they got into arguments at our house we had a couple of pair of boxing gloves to use. Did it this way because one boy would ‘fight dirty and wore a signet ring’ and was a ‘brown belt’ in some sort of martial arts. His Dad is a ‘black belt’. This made it (fights to settle arguments) on a more level playing field.

    Sue – Lately I have been making fig preserves. I take the stems off, wash them, drain them; so the only water that is in them is the left water after I wash them. I put sugar over them and squeeze a whole lemon over them (putting the juice in a dish so I can pick out the seeds. Cut up the lemon in small pieces, slice or chop it up the lemons; then I pour sugar over them. Probably close to 3 cups. I actually do mine ‘by sound’ … when you pour it over you can tell when it start sounding ‘different’. Then I put them in a heavy pot and turn them on low and let them cook down, folding them over so they all cook and the ones on the bottom don’t burn. Wash my jars in the dishwasher (while the figs are cooking); boil to rims and tops on the stove in a pot. When cooked spoon them into the jars up to the edge where the rims go on. Take a spoon (curved side in), push inward, and let all the air pockets rise to top. Take a wet paper towel and wipe just inside the jar and the top of the rim; put the tops on and rims and turn closed (but NOT extra tight, just tight enough to make the rim and top tight against one another. Put them on a folded dish rag and go sit and wait for the tops to ‘ping’. When I hear that, and feel the top to make sure the center is flat; I tighten them as much as I can. Let them cool. If I have any juice left, I pour in in jars, doing the same (sometime might have enough to fill 1 1//2. Put the full one up for later use, and put the ½ jar in fridge to pour on pancakes, waffles, or toast. IF you find one that the top has not ‘pinged’ and the center is still raised, take the top off, wash it and boil it again. Wipe the rim and just inside the jar and put the ‘boiling hot’ top and rim back on and try it again. If it doesn’t ‘ping’ just put it in the fridge and enjoy them.

    My DMnL used to make ‘candied’ figs. DH and I love them; but, I have only once done it correctly. I think one of the things she did different was to refrigerate the sugared figs overnight and cook them every slowly. They tasted like candy and you could pick them up. I think maybe putting the sugar on them overnight and cooking them on a lower temperature and longer might be the trick to that. I know when I cooked the pears that we had (they turned out more like candied pears and I did put sugar on them overnight and cooked them slower and longer. It’s a day of it; but worth it. You’ll use most of the twelve ½ pint jars.

    The worst thing about the pears was ‘peeling’ them and I had picked up enough to fill a 5-gallon paint bucket.

    The first batch I made I burned them … the pot I had been using had bowed in the middle – so I went and picked some more and put them in a thicker pot. The next time I used that blue and white speckled pot to cook something in – 15 bean soup; burnt it, too. I cried for an hour. Had used dry beans – first time I had ever done that (I buy the little package of beans with probably 15 different kinds of beans. I thought they would be soft after soaking overnight; but, they were more al dente; but, the cooking of them made them soft. That was a case of ‘live and learn’. The first pot got thrown out, soup and all.

    Our weatherman/woman were really instrumental in there not being any more casualties than they had in SW and Central South GA in Jan with straight-line winds hitting the west side of Albany and the late January tornado that obliterated the east side and stayed on the ground 70 miles through about 6 counties. They were telling people to ‘get in their safe place’ … NOW. You could hear the wind over them. Three tornados merge into one mega-storm. We had been told that one was headed our way (would have passed right over us).

    Joyce – Louis ends up getting close to 5 or 6” cut off the hems of pants in the shortest pair he can find. 30” long (sometimes 29 – inseam). This last time he ‘tried’ on the pair of jeans he bought at Bass Pro Shop (in Macon). He has a belly (not from drinking beer; but you get the pictures and no @$$-a-tall! His belly is big because of a hernia. Have to laugh at him for being pregnant. Sometimes this hernia will turn and it looks like a baby’s foot sticking out on a pregnant woman.

    Allie – Happy for you that things are beginning to ‘churn’. Once you are able to ‘start a new life’ you might have a few bumps to go over; but, you will feel so much better. Less stress for you. Keeping you in our prayers.

    Lenora
  • coastalgosgal
    coastalgosgal Posts: 2,900 Member
    Just got off the phone with eldest calling from Portsmouth! Its so nice when a son calls you after they get off duty! We talked for an hr and a half, until I asked him what time it was there. It was 2:18 am! Oh to be young and handle that!

    Suppose to be in the 100's later this week, here on the coast! Crazy!!
    Becca
    Oregon
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,067 Member
    Aunt Margaret passed away early last evening..no more pain.
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,246 Member
    edited August 2017
    Allie I am sorry for your loss.

    A bicycle was almost hit in front of me today. It was a young man about fifteen riding a banana seated bike with no helmet. He was in a bike lane but on the wrong side of the street. He was riding against the traffic. He went full speed through a red light. The person in front of me had the green light and was accelerating because they were going up a hill. They barely missed him. I was turning right going in the same direction as the bicyclist. I did yell at him because his actions he almost got him killed. I wanted to yell at him are you Blank Blank Crazy. It would not have been the drivers fault. He flew out of nowhere in the wrong lane. Someone was watching out for that young man today. It did take me a few minutes to calm down. I was just going to the bank about a mile from my house.

    It was interesting I had a bad feeling before I left for the bank too. I am just glad no one was hurt. Counting blessings because things can happen in the blink of an eye.

    :heart: Margaret

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