WOMEN AGES 50 + FOR NOVEMBER 2018

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  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,202 Member
    marycilec wrote: »
    New member here, just started today, 51 yo wife and mom, 200 pounds, 5 feet tall. Working on a Lifetime Wellness college class, where a friend recommended me to join MFP. I do not add sugar nor salt to anything, but fruit has lots of sugar to begin with. Gave up pop, and aspartame this month. Started walking 30 minutes per day at slow pace, and 1 pound weights for 30 minutes weight lifting. My goal is 140 pounds. Thanksgiving was nice, didn't overeat.

    :) Welcome. You have come to the right place. It sounds like you've made a great start on this journey to wellness. It has helped me to come back to this thread every day and join in the conversation. Interacting with people who share my goals has been a big part of my staying on track for a long time. Tell us more about yourself and ask any questions or comment on what others have said. Tell us a name to call you and some info about where you live.

    :) Barbie from NW Washington

  • prisoner2food
    prisoner2food Posts: 81 Member
    ❤️
  • PressingPatience
    PressingPatience Posts: 49 Member
    edited November 2018
    Heather, your Christmas cake sounds like it's going to be scrumptious. I made a fruit cake a few years back that I really enjoyed -- it kept for quite a long time too. ^_^ Good thing, because I was the only one eating it. :D The hubs kinda liked it but it was a little "strong" for him. hahaha! I might make one again some day, I haven't baked in a while (it's a long story, but the long and the short of it is, no working oven). One day though. One day. ^_^

    Willow in WA USA
  • PressingPatience
    PressingPatience Posts: 49 Member
    marycilec wrote: »
    New member here, just started today, 51 yo wife and mom, 200 pounds, 5 feet tall. Working on a Lifetime Wellness college class, where a friend recommended me to join MFP. I do not add sugar nor salt to anything, but fruit has lots of sugar to begin with. Gave up pop, and asperatame this month. Started walking 30 minutes per day at slow pace, and 1 pound weights for 30 minutes weight lifting. My goal is 140 pounds. Thanksgiving was nice, didn't overeat.

    I gave up soda for a while too. Didn't drink it for almost five years. Then one day, I just craved a Diet Coke, and I don't even know why. And bam! I was drinking Diet Coke again. It's the only stuff I drink. I've cut down to one single serve Diet Coke a day... I wish you have better luck than me. That stuff is quite addicting. ^_^

    Willow from WA USA
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,658 Member
    Lisa - you can't beat the feeling of a potential employer WANTING you, especially after unwarranted criticism from a current employer that really stings. I'm not sure I could meet up with that "former" employer for an exit interview without unloading a bit, lol. So I'd prefer to skip it or Skype it. Whatever you decide, you'll handle it professionally.

    Karen in VA - you also can't beat being appreciated by your CEO and "team". How wonderful you'll be able to transition into retirement... will you be available for emergency staffing after you've hit the big 6-5? Bet they'd love to have you even if it's only a day or two now and then.

    NYKaren     - so glad your daughter made it home safe and sound. Keep us posted on her long-range romance, lol. Sounds exciting whether anything comes of it or not. What a great experience for her studying abroad for a while.

    Barbie - that list of all the expensive challenges at your house is mind-boggling. So glad you meditate and could handle everything with finesse. I too envision you all bundled up and "puffy" as you walk your dogs. B) Add a raincoat tomorrow!

    Pip     - Kirby will love that smart TV! Do your dogs watch it? Mine love and "talk to" animals they see there, our older dog takes a toy up them.

    Sue in WA - hope your DH's oral chemo drugs do the trick. Did you say he'll be taking anti-nausea drugs as well?

    Heather - you must have been waiting for the right time to sell that old wedding ring. How nice you have it and can exchange it for money!

    Thanksgiving was very nice. I went to my BFF's and enjoyed seeing everyone - her family - who have "adopted" us over the years so we are always invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The past couple years I've skipped because DH never wants to go. I decided this year I'd go without him - wise since he's always chomping at the bit to get home. He was OK with it as his RA is really flaring. Brought him home a plate.

    Anyhow, I am reminded how grateful we are to have been, well, placed into this wonderful extended family and their generous friendship. They will look over us and care for us as we age.

    I decided to do more closet cleanout and was surprised to find a brand new quarter zip pullover, tags still on it. It was on my next week "Eddie Bauer" outlet shopping trip - they always have huge sales. Anyhow I must have picked it up a year or two ago. Saved me a trip and some $$. I have basically gotten rid of all my old dressier clothes and sweaters. Many of them were turtlenecks which I can't stand - make me hot (why did I buy them and suffer? Sheesh). Or they were just plain too big. So transitioning to quarter zip pullovers.

    Regarding that cat/hanging Christmas tree jpg, we gave up having a tree years ago because Angry Cat (a rescue, no good deed goes unpunished :( ) would knock the decorations off and get tangled in the lights. She finally became ill two years ago (I didn't poison her, really!) and we had her put to sleep and haven't been in the mood to put up a tree again. Our "outdoor" kitty who was displaced by Angry Cat is now back in the house on cold days, purring and happy.

    Had X-ray of bum shoulder last Wednesday, tummy started to hurt from the Celebrex anti-inflammatory, so pulled out my bottle of Curamin from the health food store. It has Bowsellian, special Curcumin and several other ingredients that do a bang-up job. Takes three capsules a day and is spendy. Glad I had some on hand and will watch for sales to keep a good supply on hand. Anyhow, that plus ice and PT exercises, I think I'm on the mend. Will be curious if the X-ray shows anything.

    Also my foot metatarsalgia flaring up, drat. So I consulted with Dr. Youtube yesterday and realized I can tape it! Placed an order with Amazon for Kinesiology tape. Won't be the first time I've taped toes with success so hoping it is delivered today, but for sure tomorrow. No walking I'm afraid until I get that toe under control. :(

    Enough about me. B) Welcome new ladies!

    Lanette
    Sunny and frosty SW WA State
  • klanders30
    klanders30 Posts: 2,569 Member
    #25 moment-well that’s an easy one today :) Hugging DD upon her arrival this morning. Just squeezing that little sliver of a human being made my heart grow 5Xs bigger! She’s a little sad, I can tell and will hopefully share details as we go along, I’ve learned not to ask too many questions or she just clams up.

    I love watching people greet their loved ones in the airport—makes me cry.

    Kelly. Taking time off from working with little ones is vital to your professional health. I’m glad you take that time to recover and renew. I don’t know what I would do without summer :#B)

    NYKAREN
  • PressingPatience
    PressingPatience Posts: 49 Member
    edited November 2018
    lhscapil wrote: »
    Lisa

    Regarding that cat/hanging Christmas tree jpg, we gave up having a tree years ago because Angry Cat (a rescue, no good deed goes unpunished :( ) would knock the decorations off and get tangled in the lights. She finally became ill two years ago (I didn't poison her, really!) and we had her put to sleep and haven't been in the mood to put up a tree again. Our "outdoor" kitty who was displaced by Angry Cat is now back in the house on cold days, purring and happy.

    Lanette
    Sunny and frosty SW WA State

    That's too bad (about the cat and the tree). We put ours up on a table and our cat is too old and fat to jump up on the table to get at it. The dogs ignore the tree altogether.
    My Mister (old, fat cat) -- he's 11 years old and weighs about 19 pounds (~8.6 kg)
    ve1fg0d6j68p.jpg

    Willow in WA USA



  • coastalgosgal
    coastalgosgal Posts: 2,900 Member
    ⚓⚓⚓⚓💞💖👍
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,095 Member
    Afternoon chica's
    Oh I am as Heather would say knackered....have a load of laundry in the dryer one in the wash and have the bed made and a dog stuck next to me..life is good.
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,267 Member
    lhscapil wrote: »
    Lisa - you can't beat the feeling of a potential employer WANTING you, especially after unwarranted criticism from a current employer that really stings. I'm not sure I could meet up with that "former" employer for an exit interview without unloading a bit, lol. So I'd prefer to skip it or Skype it. Whatever you decide, you'll handle it professionally.

    Karen in VA - you also can't beat being appreciated by your CEO and "team". How wonderful you'll be able to transition into retirement... will you be available for emergency staffing after you've hit the big 6-5? Bet they'd love to have you even if it's only a day or two now and then.

    NYKaren     - so glad your daughter made it home safe and sound. Keep us posted on her long-range romance, lol. Sounds exciting whether anything comes of it or not. What a great experience for her studying abroad for a while.

    Barbie - that list of all the expensive challenges at your house is mind-boggling. So glad you meditate and could handle everything with finesse. I too envision you all bundled up and "puffy" as you walk your dogs. B) Add a raincoat tomorrow!

    Pip     - Kirby will love that smart TV! Do your dogs watch it? Mine love and "talk to" animals they see there, our older dog takes a toy up them.

    Sue in WA - hope your DH's oral chemo drugs do the trick. Did you say he'll be taking anti-nausea drugs as well?

    Heather - you must have been waiting for the right time to sell that old wedding ring. How nice you have it and can exchange it for money!

    Thanksgiving was very nice. I went to my BFF's and enjoyed seeing everyone - her family - who have "adopted" us over the years so we are always invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The past couple years I've skipped because DH never wants to go. I decided this year I'd go without him - wise since he's always chomping at the bit to get home. He was OK with it as his RA is really flaring. Brought him home a plate.

    Anyhow, I am reminded how grateful we are to have been, well, placed into this wonderful extended family and their generous friendship. They will look over us and care for us as we age.

    I decided to do more closet cleanout and was surprised to find a brand new quarter zip pullover, tags still on it. It was on my next week "Eddie Bauer" outlet shopping trip - they always have huge sales. Anyhow I must have picked it up a year or two ago. Saved me a trip and some $$. I have basically gotten rid of all my old dressier clothes and sweaters. Many of them were turtlenecks which I can't stand - make me hot (why did I buy them and suffer? Sheesh). Or they were just plain too big. So transitioning to quarter zip pullovers.

    Regarding that cat/hanging Christmas tree jpg, we gave up having a tree years ago because Angry Cat (a rescue, no good deed goes unpunished :( ) would knock the decorations off and get tangled in the lights. She finally became ill two years ago (I didn't poison her, really!) and we had her put to sleep and haven't been in the mood to put up a tree again. Our "outdoor" kitty who was displaced by Angry Cat is now back in the house on cold days, purring and happy.

    Had X-ray of bum shoulder last Wednesday, tummy started to hurt from the Celebrex anti-inflammatory, so pulled out my bottle of Curamin from the health food store. It has Bowsellian, special Curcumin and several other ingredients that do a bang-up job. Takes three capsules a day and is spendy. Glad I had some on hand and will watch for sales to keep a good supply on hand. Anyhow, that plus ice and PT exercises, I think I'm on the mend. Will be curious if the X-ray shows anything.

    Also my foot metatarsalgia flaring up, drat. So I consulted with Dr. Youtube yesterday and realized I can tape it! Placed an order with Amazon for Kinesiology tape. Won't be the first time I've taped toes with success so hoping it is delivered today, but for sure tomorrow. No walking I'm afraid until I get that toe under control. :(

    Enough about me. B) Welcome new ladies!

    Lanette
    Sunny and frosty SW WA State

    unfortunately, they don't watch, I'm bummed they don't howl either at the sound of a fire truck
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,267 Member
    Katla49 wrote: »
    Pip: Congrats on the smart TV. Tell us about it. :star:

    Sue: Happy Birthday to DH! :smiley:

    Marycilec: Welcome!

    Barbara; We have fog today. I wonder whether your beach walk was foggy. I enjoy foggy walks at the beach & count you lucky. :flowerforyou:

    Heather: I would love to hear about how you make your Christmas Cake. Do you share your recipe? :huh:

    Lisa: I hope your trip goes well and you end up feeling positive. Your Sally Field moment is well deserved. :star:

    Rita: Your sky is beautiful! :heart:

    Heather: I’m sorry about your rough night, but delighted with your walk with DH and your new driver’s license. WTG!!! :smiley:


    Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving with our niece, her bf, and her youngest son. It was a delightful dinner, and on a day my son has dubbed Saturkey Day. In his thinking, Thanksgiving is for immediate family, and Saturkey Day is a celebration with friends and family. On Thursday I had a little private pout that we were so far from our kids, and had no one to share a Thanksgiving feast with, but yesterday was a huge step in the right direction. We had our feast with our niece & family and enjoyed every bit of it. :heart: They'll be back in a few weeks for the Christmas Ships parade.

    #25: “What moment this week are you most grateful for?

    How can I possibly choose? I have a list that includes calls from our kids and dinner with our niece, her SO, and her youngest son. I think giving her youngest son the recipe for Paula Deen’s Pumpkin bars is my favorite moment. With one ingredient trade, it becomes FodMAP friendly, and he can have it and enjoy cake again. The one ingredient change is to replace all-purpose flour with Gluten free all-purpose flour. I sent him home with an unopened pouch of the gf flour and a printout of the recipe.

    Katla in beautiful and foggy NW Oregon


    kirby wanted it, I could tell, I couldn't care less. it's hard to say no to someone that is so good to me
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Pip: Congrats on the smart TV. Tell us about it. :star:

    Sue: Happy Birthday to DH! :smiley:

    Marycilec: Welcome!

    Barbara: We have fog today. I wonder whether your beach walk was foggy. I enjoy foggy walks at the beach & count you lucky. :flowerforyou:

    Heather: I would love to hear about how you make your Christmas Cake. Do you share your recipe? :huh: I’m sorry about your rough night, but delighted with your walk with DH and your new driver’s license. WTG!!! :smiley:

    Lisa: I hope your trip goes well and you end up feeling positive. Your Sally Field moment is well deserved. :star:

    Rita: Your sky is beautiful! :heart:


    Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving with our niece, her bf, and her youngest son. It was a delightful dinner, and on a day my son has dubbed Saturkey Day. In his thinking, Thanksgiving is for immediate family, and Saturkey Day is a celebration with friends and family. On Thursday I had a little private pout that we were so far from our kids, and had no one to share a Thanksgiving feast with, but yesterday was a huge step in the right direction. We had our feast with family and enjoyed every bit of it. :heart:


    “What moment this week are you most grateful for?

    How can I possibly choose? I have a list that includes calls from our kids and dinner with our niece, her SO, and her youngest son. I think giving her youngest son the recipe for Paula Deen’s Pumpkin bars is my favorite moment. With one ingredient trade, it becomes FodMAP friendly, and he can have it and enjoy cake again. The one ingredient change is to replace all-purpose flour with Gluten free all-purpose flour. I sent him home with an unopened pouch of the gf flour and a printout of the recipe.

    Katla in beautiful and foggy NW Oregon


  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,711 Member
    edited November 2018
    My 'moment' today - I emailed my DDIL and son to ask if we could touch base with the grandchildren this coming week. I suggested picking the two older ones up from school and taking them back to their house where Bea will be with the nanny. My son immediately rang me to say Monday was a brilliant idea :D:D:D:D:D
    As DDIL is working in London, I can go out and get fish and chips for dinner for the three of us. :D:D:D<3<3<3 As the fish shop owes me a large cod and chips because of their botched order the other week, that will be a reasonably priced dinner. Neither my son nor I will be eating chips anyway. (Fries) So two more large cod. (They are HUGE). We will have mushy peas. He has a pickled egg and I have a pickled onion.
    Can't wait to see the kids. It is about a half hour walk to the school gates from here.

    Much love, Heather UK xxxxxxx

    Katla - the recipe is from a book called 'Cakes for Romantic Occasions' that I found on Amazon. I have made the Rich Fruit Cake and the Chocolate Fudge Cake many times and in many sizes. I like the book because she gives amounts and cook times for all the sizes, so no guess work. None of it is slimming, but I don't eat it anyway. DH will eat nearly all of it. He loves Christmas cake. I enjoy making it, putting on the marzipan and royal icing and adding all the traditional decorations. :laugh:

  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,267 Member
    Ppppp
  • drkatiebug
    drkatiebug Posts: 1,976 Member
    As a teacher our vacation was the same as the student breaks. We did get three “personal” days while school was in session but they could not be taken the day immediately before or after a scheduled break. Too many people would want to use the day, and substitutes would be hard to get. When we bought this house, we were scheduled to close two days before Spring break. I was scheduled to chaperone kids for three days of my spring break and really wanted some time in my new house. I wrote a letter to the board asking them to make an exception for me in light of my giving up three days of my break for them. They granted the exception. I would have been mighty upset if they had not. Coworkers have been known to blatantly call in sick, but I could never bring myself to lie.
  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 19,030 Member
    edited November 2018
    Another 80+ posts! 😱

    Short bio
    I'm 72, and live in Northern Ireland. Married 52 years, and have 2 daughters and 3 grand'kids'.

    I'm retired, but work as a volunteer Group leader for a lifelong learning charity. I lead 5 groups, and belong to another 10, so am kept pretty busy. I love the Challenges on MFP as the keep me accountable. I'm assistant coach in charge of an optional strength Challenge for a small walking group.

    Pre 2015, when I joined MFP, I had hip problems whichnimpacted my mobility, and gained a lot of weight, which I had to shed to qualify for hip surgery. Lost 40lbs, got a new hip and have lost another 20. Trying to get down to a maintenance weight that gives me wriggle room for high days and holidays. 10 more lbs to go.

    I love all things arts and crafts, and am studying Shakespeare, Latin and art history, to name a few.

    November Daily Goals Doing fine on the goals, Minor drop on the scale this morning.
    Food
    ~ Pre-log; stay under goal; balance macros/micros; Hydrate adequately
    Cardio:
    ~ 9,500+ Steps daily
    ~ 30+ minutes interval walking
    Strength:
    ~ 15+ mins lower body physio daily or ~ 15+ minutes arms/core/abs
    Flexibility:
    ~ 5 mins stretch before/after workouts
    ~ 10+ mins yoga or tai chi
    Daily Mindfulness Practice/meditation
    15 mins Daily Declutter session

    30 days of Gratitude in November
    1) Smell: I Love the smell of my Cocoa Butter Therapy treatment Oil. It reminds me of summer days.
    2) Technology: My Seniors Travel Pass, which allows me to travel free of charge anywhere in Ireland. Including state owned ferries and flights to various offshore islands, such as Rathlin and Aran.
    3) Colour: The clear deep blue of the autumn sky peeping through the rain clouds.
    4) Food: 🍫 What else needs to be said!
    5) Sound - the sound of hubby snoring in the middle of the night. Very reassuring
    6) In Nature - walking along the coastline which is just a mile from my home.
    7) Memory - nursing my 11 day old granddaughter at 6 am on her first Christmas morning.
    8) Book: The book which means the most to me is my Journal. I have been writing Journals for over 20 years. I started in hard-backed notebooks, and they have gone through many reincarnations. There are so many volumes they have their own shelves in my study. At present I am using a bullet Journal format. I also love all things sci-fi and art books.
    6zo9w1lf2tzc.jpeg
    9) Favourite place: My favourite place is my garden. It's quiet and peaceful. It's taken us almost 40 years to create, and we have many mature trees which block out the houses around us. When we started, it was a flat field, with the countryside beyond, and a field of cows directly behind us. Now the town has washed past us, and we are in a leafy suburb.
    28t84zqhv8ns.jpg
    10) Taste: Today, I am grateful for the taste of the cup of tea Hubster just brought me. It reminds me of how fortunate I am to have him in my life.
    11) Holiday: The annual family holiday we have with our elder daughter and her 'children'. I am amazed that they still want to have holidays with their grandparents.
    12) Texture: I like the crunchy texture of a fresh crisp apple.
    13) Abilities: I have a knack of zoning things out, which comes in very handy at times. I was always a dreamy child, and I have never given up the habit.
    Loving the variety of Gratitude entries from everyone. Noticed a few people with similar answers to mine, so I'm obviously not as odd as I thought! 😂😂😂
    14) Sight: The sight of the dawnlight when I opened my eyes. It means that I had a good night's sleep, and wasn't up before daylight.
    15) Season: It has to be Autumn. The colours are spectacular, and I love kicking through the piles of leaves in the woods.
    16) Body: I am grateful that my body has responded so well to the changes in my lifestyle, and that it seems to heal itself quickly.
    17) Knowledge: I am eternally grateful for all knowledge, but especially grateful that experience has taught me that if we believe we can do something, we will find a way to get there. This knowledge keeps me trying, and looking for ways to benefit from ALL the that Fate sends my way.
    18) Piece of Art: Art is one of my chief interests, so choosing one piece is impossible. I love the huge piece of work by David Hockney depicting his native Yorkshire. It was composed of lots of 6'x4' canvases painted in situ. Really like his recent works using iPad technology. Also love Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore sculptures. I could go on, but there are too many to mention.
    19) Touch: My husband's hand in mine. We often hold hands when we are out walking.
    20) Person: My dearest Mother-in-Law, (God rest her soul). She welcomed me into her family and treated me as the daughter she never had. She was good to all her daughter's-in-law. She said if she kept them happy, they would look after her boys.
    21) Song: This one makes me want to dance!
    https://youtu.be/PIb6AZdTr-A
    But this one is my anthem!
    https://youtu.be/KCkmIyC6v00
    22) Story: I love stories, per se! At the moment it's Game of Thrones. I am working my way through the books.
    23: I started a family tradition when my granddaughter was little and they started coming to us on Christmas Eve and staying for the Christmas holiday. I would leave most of the decorations off the tree, and we would all finish decorating the tree before they went to bed on Christmas Eve. I am so grateful that as the family grew, they never missed a Christmas with us, and even now when my grandkids are adults, they still want to come to us for the traditional family Christmas. We suggested that, this year that they might like to have Christmas at their own house, but it wasn't a popular idea. My DYD and her partner will be joining us, but my DBIL and DSIL will be travelling to Florida to spend Christmas with our niece and her American family, before going home with them Upper NYS for a few weeks.
    24: Challenge: I'm grateful for the daily step Challenge to,which I belong. It keeps me walking no matter what.
    25: Moment this week: The moment I stepped on the scale this morning and saw that I had dropped below 166lbs. I've been fighting down from 170lbs for over 10 weeks after a holiday week in London at the beginning of September.
    Irish Terri

    f2ob3tkby1dx.jpg



  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,529 Member
    Did weight Loss Pilates DVD today. The plan for tomorrow is to do one segment of 10 MS Butt Lift DVD, hold my plank, then take the extremepump class

    Mary – welcome! At this point, I really don’t like to have any artificial sweeteners. To me, they have an aftertaste. Good for you giving them up! Baby steps, sounds like you’re doing well.

    Barbara – ditto what you said to Lisa. Not sure what causes your cookies to break. I know what causes the pierogi to break. Sometimes they just aren’t sealed as well as they should be. But that’s OK, then it’s more for me! Or sometimes the dough is real thin for some reason in one spot. But it’s not a big deal. Last year not a single one broke. When Vince worked for Mars, he worked during the Y2K issue and that year no one was allowed to take vacation around the New Year.

    Lisa – when we got Shadow from Jess, we knew that she didn’t get along with any other cat. So….what we did initially was Vince made a screen door and put it on the door to her room. She could smell the other cats, but they couldn’t get to her and she couldn’t get to them. Then one day she was in the living room. Vince had no idea how she got there, the door was closed. Well….he’d just stapled the screen to the frame of the door and she pushed the screen away from the frame and was in the living room. She’s “interacting” with our cats on her terms. We open the door, if she wants to come out, she can. Then again, if she does and she’s uncomfortable, she knows that she can always go in the bedroom. It’s just taking time….

    Lanette – hope you toe is better real fast

    Willow – your cat is precious…but I’m partial to cats anyway.

    Got most of the lights on the arches today. Just have to put them on the top then put out the extension cords. Maybe Tuesday. Made banana chocolate chips muffins to take to the library for Christmas. I’ll also include some of the cookies that I don’t want after the holiday. Got a donation for the Salvation Army ready.

    Michele in NC
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,267 Member
    Oooooo
  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    edited November 2018
    Machka9 wrote: »
    KetoneKaren wrote: »
    Machka9 wrote: »
    GodMomKim wrote: »
    Hi Gals,

    Machka – I read part of the “hack” on combining holidays and vacation time to get a longer time away, and got as far as the – and only use 17 days- and burst out laughing, at my last job you got 5 days a year could not be accumulated nor taken in conjunction with a holiday or sick time. The US is not as generous as anywhere else – and at that job, we only got 6 holidays New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

    Standard annual leave here is 20 days (4 weeks). Then we get 12 (I think) state holidays. Plus many places have RDOs or Purchased Leave options which add another 10-12 days (mine is 10 days in my current job).

    Plus weekends, of course.

    So if we're strategic about it, we can get a couple months off each year.


    This coming Christmas, I'm "forced" to take December 25 to January 1 (inclusive) off. Dec 24 is a voluntary holiday, so I'm not sure if I'll take it or not yet. I suspect about 80% of my work colleagues will take it off, so I might join the masses and take it off too. So that'll give me 11 days of leave, and I'll only use 4 days of annual leave.

    Then I'll have to decide if we'll go somewhere. That's the challenging part. It depends. It depends on what's going on with my health and with my husband's ability to travel ... and with the fact that, since it's summer and all the kids are off school, it's a busy travel time.

    Nevertheless, it'll be very nice to have time off.


    M in Oz

    Kim & Machka I read this with amused longing as well...I've been working for the same company for nearly 30 years. I have finally worked my way up to 15 days of paid annual leave. PAL time can't be taken in conjunction with holidays.
    Karen in Virginia

    Both you and Kim mentioned that. Why can annual leave be taken in conjunction with holidays? That seems really odd ... what difference does it make if a person takes annual leave in conjunction with a regular weekend vs a long weekend?

    Here, and in the places I've worked in Canada, it's expected that people will take annual leave in conjunction with holidays. Occasionally it has been a little bit of a fight to get there first because the place might need some staff on ... so the first half of the staff that book the leave will get it, or something like that. But I didn't miss out very often because I usually went for the holidays that were outside "school holiday" time.

    Where I am now, I think that as long as there's one person in our "immediate" department of about 30 people who turn up, the rest of us can take it off. I'm thinking of this coming Christmas Eve, for example. Most people will likely take that day off, but chances are there will be at least one person who will work it because that person is banking time for a different holiday.

    All that said, our purchased leave is supposed to be used up within a year, so I'm expecting HR to get all excited and start sending me emails soon. I've got about 4 or 5 days of it I will need to use very soon. :grin:


    Machka in Oz

    +++++++++++++

    Machka

    It makes no sense to me either. Exceptions are made when people request the time in writing 3 months in advance at my workplace.

    +++++++++++++

    Lisa You have a lot to deal with right now but I have noticed that you are exceptionally good at multi-tasking and that can stay on your feet on shifting sands.

    Kim Green tomato recipes sound yum-yum.

    Michele We love Hellman's best.

    Barbara LOL!!! I'm snarky & irascible too. And pi$$ed off half the time. <3

    Kelly I made pretty decent ricotta out of failed yogurt a couple of times.
    Now that we make yogurt in the Instant Pot, it's nearly foolproof.

    Rita Pretty sky!

    Lanette Yes. I can stay on as a prn employee and pick up occasional shifts after I retire. Right now 2 shifts a week is perfect. I am so grateful for the flexibility in my job.

    Katla I like your "Moment". Very sweet.

    _________________
    phu9w30rwiou.png

    #24 Challenge - I appreciate the challenge of home-schooling my grandboy. It gets me up & going every morning. I am forging a really special bond with my grandson. And I'm learning new things all the time. Brushing up on lots of subjects. I had no idea I would enjoy it so much.

    #25 Moment - Insane laughter from both of grandkids yesterday while taking them home from a movie. I still don't know what they were laughing about. We had a good time at the movies - J.K. Rowling's Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. So good.


    Karen in Virginia

  • suebdew
    suebdew Posts: 1,298 Member
    We had a great Thanksgiving with son and his family at the ranch. DH got to go fishing two days and we played lots of games with the whole family participating. I ate too much and am sure it won’t magically disappear. Plan to go to Y tomorrow for my balance class.
    One of our Christmas traditions is having chicken gumbo for Christmas Eve dinner. The whole family loves it but it takes awhile to make.
    We planned to do some decorating after church but took a long nap instead.
    Lisa - I taught jr. high typing class and it always amazed me how good those kids could type. They did tend to break the machines and the other teacher and I would repair them after school. Good skill go have.
    Caught up with all the posts and enjoyed reading all the comments.
    SueBDew in TX
  • OregonMother
    OregonMother Posts: 1,664 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Sunday -- a fitness organisation here advertised a run in a local reserve (natural area, where building is not allowed, but which often has trails for people to walk or mtn bike). What caught my eye was that it advertised running distances of 5K and 10K. The 10K distance fit in my plans, and so I signed up. I also signed my husband up when I found out that it would OK for him to walk the 5K.

    So today, that's what we did! I ran a 10K trail run! I've run 10K on pavement, but not on a trail ... it's a bit harder on a trail. The route was two 5K out-and-backs, so I got to pass my husband 3 times. :) The first 5K was faster than the second ... my legs were feeling it toward the end.

    As it has been for almost a week now, it was cool, drizzly, misty and slightly foggy. But that was OK.

    Distance: 10.01km
    Elevation: 164m
    Moving Time: 1:21:19
    Elapsed Time: 1:22:20
    Pace: 8:07/km


    Machka in Oz

    I love trail running! I have a sticker on my car that says "Pavement sucks!"

    Good job to both of you.

    Felicia
    Willamette Valley, Oregon
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,095 Member
    good morning ladies~
    im up and slept pretty well fell asleep around 5 woke up at 7:30 and took a melatonin and went back to bed didn't get to sleep until after nine but slept until almost 5.. so thats a good stretch..
    working 10-5 today and after the weekend to let things sink in hoping Mary will not have her undies in a bunch, I will be nice and kind like I usually am , and will just do my work and go home..
  • LisaInAR
    LisaInAR Posts: 2,020 Member
    edited November 2018
    Morning, afternoon and evening, my chickens! Happy Monday, past or future... :wink:

    Kim - I was hoping you'd let us know how the holiday went with your mom. Pleased that it was as good as it could be. That kind of vigilance for hours on end is exhausting... . Your advice on making the decision after this evening's meeting is spot on. I pretty much want to know what the motivation is for wanting me there.

    Heather - I love seeing you become a part of your grands' lives, one step at a time. Those memories are priceless ones for all of you to make.

    Michele - that's pretty much what we did for Egg. Made her a space in the spare bedroom we're using as a storage room, with plenty of hidey holes. Took her nearly two weeks to come out and interact. Now, she and Mrr tie up every once in a while, but more sound and fury than actual physical fighting. Sounds awful when they do, but fewer and further between all the time.
    suebdew wrote: »
    Lisa - I taught jr. high typing class and it always amazed me how good those kids could type. They did tend to break the machines and the other teacher and I would repair them after school. Good skill to have.
    SueBDew in TX

    Sue - that brought back a memory. I broke every sewing machine I ever used in the home economics lab. Seriously, I'd do something as mild as put the bobbin in wrong, and a brand new machine would just self-destruct. My home ec teacher was just in despair after I ruined three of 'em to the point where they needed professional repair. So she put me on the old treadle machine that was just there for show, but still worked. I immediately broke the only belt she had for it. My project for the year ended up (seriously) being putting photographs into family albums. At her insistence. Now I have two machines that I maintain myself and keep in running order. She'd be so amazed! :smiley: But then, most of my high school teachers would be amazed that I survived, I was pretty off the rails by senior year.

    #26 - Which pretty much leads me to my gratitude for a form of expression: I know you're only supposed to pick one, but I couldn't. First is that I need to write like others need water and food. All types of writing work to satisfy that need for me, business, journalism, fiction, non-fiction, blogging, whatever. And I'm grateful to find late in life the satisfaction that comes from color, whether it's in quilting or painting, where I'm self-taught in both, and still learning. I have a mild obsession with patterns of all kinds, and all my forms of expression spring from that obsession.

    Weight-wise, after ten days off, the bread-baking (OK, and eating it too) caught up to me on the scale this morning, and it's time to settle that right down. I'm hoping to hear on a knee surgery date soon, so it's time to get it back together.

    Love y'all,
    Lisa in Arkansas

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