WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2024

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  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,716 Member
    A question ... after not visiting Canada for 6 years then finally going last October and again this past September ...

    What happened to all the department stores?

    Where my parents are, there used to be several well-stocked department stores. When I was a teenager, and visiting my grandmother nearby, mother and I would make a special trip to the city where my parents now live to go shopping because the city where we lived way up north didn't have much selection. I continued to do that as an adult any time I was in the area, and up till 7 years ago, I enjoyed shopping when we visited from Australia because the selection was interesting and different from what I could get in Australia and the prices were much better.

    Then the 6 year gap happened and when I returned last October, there were only 2 poorly stocked department stores left. I thought maybe it was some weird anomaly and that at least those 2 would be back to normal this September, but no.

    Where would a person go if they wanted to pick up a couple new tank tops or an inexpensive pencil skirt for work or capris pyjama bottoms?

    The 2 remaining department stores appear to stock lots of other stuff (like a gazillion different kinds of laundry detergent) but not much in the way of clothes.

    They're also oddly messy ... with 3/4 of all the stuff they sell neatly arranged on shelves and 1/4 on palettes all over the place looking like someone was in the middle of restocking the shelves but was called away ... only the palettes of stuff have a price on them like they might be placed there, half blocking the aisle, purposely.

    It's disconcerting being away from a place for 6 years and returning to find so many changes!!

    But I guess in a way it's nice to know I've got better selection and prices here. 😀

    M in Oz

  • 1948CWB
    1948CWB Posts: 1,674 Member
    Machka ~ I imagine the stores have gone down due to people shopping online. When covid hit, I started doing most of my shopping on Amazon and a couple of other places. Must admit though that the area I live in (Atlanta and out lying areas) have wonderful malls, etc. in which to shop.

    Kim ~ I think having a housemate will be very good for you. I hope it works out. It seems I remember you had a similar situation a year or so ago.

    Carol in GA

  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,807 Member
    edited October 7
    So many department stores have gone out of business in the UK because of online competition. M&S, a kind of mixed store, have held on despite everything, but severely cut the number of stores. Ditto John Lewis. We don't have a single real department store in Brighton!
    I buy everything online or from M&S. I've got a top coming this week from Boden. A sort of dressy, decorated t shirt in purple.

    To see the physio today I wore my new pair of leggings, which are a size up from my other pairs. :o:/ I could squeeze into the old ones, but these are more comfortable.

    My arm is a bit sore, but I'm expecting the main reaction tomorrow, or tonight.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxx
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,378 Member
    Stats for the day-

    Walk w/family- 2hrs 7min 22sec, 83elev, 2.89ap, 74ahr, 91mhr, 6.18mi= 562c
    Strava app = 749c
    Walk home to gym- 11.18min, 2.78ap, .52mi= 54c
    Strava app= 63c
    Treadmill jog- 30.04min, 141spm, 138ahr, 167mhr, 5.7sp 1st mile, 6.2sp 2nd mile, 6.7sp .90mi, 9.0sp last .10mi, 9.41min mi, 5k= 324c
    Walk gym to store then home- 16.33min, .2.85ap, .79mi= 91c
    Strava app= 96c

    Total cal 654

    Ran under a 10 minute mile, felt good.
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,717 Member
    MFP Weekly Check-In for October 7, 2024

    Debbie in Napa Valley CA -up .4 this week. Not bad for no exercise classes and only walked the dog a couple times this week. Planning on going to class tomorrow night but will take it easy- asthma is still acting up(nebulizer treatments 3 times a day now)

    Rita in Roswell NM - Down 1.5 pounds this week from last week. Back to losing. My therapist told me that stress can make you gain weight without eating more. Probably what stopped me for a few weeks. All time high 210, started losing this time at 186 pounds. Down to 172 pounds today.

    Barbara on the Southern Oregon Coast - WT way up to 134.7 from last Sunday's 131.2 due 4 days of high sodium Chinese food. Weekly average also up from 130.5 to 132.1.
    Sugar, CI<CO, steps, all below par. Back to line dancing and BB&B. but not dog group, PT or Zumba.

    Lanette SW WA State – weight staying the same in the desired range. Doing foot/toe/calf/hamstring stretches several times a day which are helping the curling toes in my right foot. Still managing around 7,000 steps a day, about half of them walking in the house carrying 3 or 5 pound weights.
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,967 Member
    Allie darlin', I keep forgetting to say how pleased I am for the weight you've lost. You've really hung in there, been very determined, and the weight loss shows it. Well done! I hope the cruise isn't interrupted, but sure don't want you out there while Milton is stomping around Florida and its environs.
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,378 Member
    pipcd34 wrote: »
    Stats for the day-

    Walk w/family- 2hrs 7min 22sec, 83elev, 2.89ap, 74ahr, 91mhr, 6.18mi= 562c
    Strava app = 749c
    Walk home to gym- 11.18min, 2.78ap, .52mi= 54c
    Strava app= 63c
    Treadmill jog- 30.04min, 141spm, 138ahr, 167mhr, 5.7sp 1st mile, 6.2sp 2nd mile, 6.7sp .90mi, 9.0sp last .10mi, 9.41min mi, 5k= 324c
    Walk gym to store then home- 16.33min, .2.85ap, .79mi= 91c
    Strava app= 96c

    Total cal 654

    Ran under a 10 minute mile, felt good.

    Oops total calories burned was 1031 lololol
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,378 Member
    654654
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,716 Member
    edited October 8
    Regarding shopping and department stores ... and things I've discovered I appreciate about where I live ...

    Within walking distance of where I work, I've got Target, Myers, H&M (although it's mostly clothing, so might not be classified as a department store - but it's big with a huge selection) and Rivers which is also mostly clothing but a few other things as well. Plus there are a lot of smaller stores with clothing, books, bedding, bath, sports stuff and all sorts. There's also a large grocery store with some clothing.

    Further out (driving distance), we've got three larger department stores. One of those used to be located in the middle of the city and I was miffed when it moved. But I can still go there or order from their store online. I order from one of the other larger department stores online quite frequently just because I can't be bothered driving to the store.

    So ... if I spill something on my shirt at work, or my bra feels too tight (bloating!), or the zipper breaks on my pants, or I'm developing a blister from my shoe, or I discover what I'm wearing is way too hot for me ... I can nip out and acquire a fairly inexpensive solution. I don't have to wait several days for a delivery.


    1948CWB wrote: »
    Barbara ~ I love your saying about open your heart before your mouth. I have had to do a lot of lip biting lately in dealing with my DH who is still on the IF way of eating. He is losing weight which is great but does cause problems.

    I eat in an IF way, and have done since I was about 17. I didn't know it had a name back then! :lol:
    What are the problems it is causing?
    1948CWB wrote: »
    My HP desktop has been acting WONKY for the last month and I am ready to throw it out. It won't work with my camera (I want to sell some of that jewelry I showed a week or so ago) mainly because the flash drive is not detecting the camera. I think a lot of this has been caused by all the Windows updates. I spent most of Sunday and Saturday trying to find a fix with no luck. On impulse, I ordered a Dell desktop and will see if I keep it or return. I had a Dell laptop at school when I was teaching and I liked it a lot.

    I haven't had a desktop computer in years - not at home or at work. How old is your HP desktop? Why not go with a Dell laptop again. I've had mine for quite a while and like it. :)

    1948CWB wrote: »
    My own decluttering continues slowly one bit at a time. Right now I am sorting through my Mom's & MnL's handbags and will donate them. They are very pretty and in good shape. DH is not happy about me giving stuff away. He hates to get rid of anything. When we pass on our son will have a huge task getting rid of all the stuff in the basement. It makes me want to cry.
    Carol in GA

    A work colleague of mine who is also dealing with an aging mother, my brother and me have all discussed ways we could handle things regarding our parents' clutter going forward.

    Regarding the possessions, stuff, clutter etc of our parents ...

    If our parents pass away, that's easy. It may mean something to our parents but it doesn't mean anything to us, so we just get rid of about 90% of it. We don't want most of the furniture, the stuff in the kitchen or bathroom, the ornaments, the clothing, and most of the books. I would like to reclaim a few bits that were mine but which I gave to my parents when I moved to Australia. There are a few things which have a value in our family history. And my brother has talked about some of the books.

    That may come as a shock to anyone thinking that their kids are going to want this or that.

    The article below is a very good read ...

    Sorry Parents, Millennials Don’t Want Your Stuff
    https://www.thesimplicityhabit.com/millennials-dont-want-your-stuff/

    So, as the article says, have a good conversation with your kids about what they might want and keep those. Then keep the rest or give it away, we don't care. Maybe provide us with some empty moving boxes so we can haul it out to the Thrift shops.


    If the parents need to move into assisted living or if one parent dies and the other moves into assisted living or something ... that's more complicated because the decision of what to keep and what to get rid of is still with the parent.

    In chatting to my work colleague, we decided that the best course of action might be to:
    - take photos of everything in the house. Not necessarily each individual item, but a couple photos of the shelves with all the ornaments, a photo with a collection of favourite clothes, etc. That helps if the person is looking for a particular thing.
    - move what what's necessary into the smaller unit ... like their own bed, favourite chair, favourite robe, favourite pictures, etc. with their input, of course.
    - put the rest of the stuff into a storage unit with a measure of order (labelled boxes).
    - slowly start getting rid of the stuff in storage unit starting with the 23 year old bathroom products and kitchen equipment (utensils, plates, the 3 toasters, etc.) that can be easily replaced if absolutely necessary.


    All that to say ... is there anything in the basement your son wants? If not, he'll just get rid of it all. No worries. That's just a few phone calls to find charities or maybe auction places willing to pick through a basement full of stuff and haul anything decent away, and a U-haul rental to take the rest to the dump.


    Machka in Oz

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,716 Member
    BTW - I find the simplicity habit site has some interesting articles about decluttering ... I referred to one article in my post above, but there are lots more.

    https://www.thesimplicityhabit.com/category/declutter/


    This is another interesting site:

    https://www.happyorganizedlife.com/category/decluttering/


    I follow both on FB.


    Machka in Oz
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,082 Member
    <3
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,807 Member
    edited October 8
    Wow, Tracey, those lights have come out in celebration! :D<3:D<3 I wish success for your daughter and son in law with all my heart. <3

    I agree with Machka, nearly all of it will be dumped. When I sold my furnished rental apartment, two guys came in a van and took everything, including emptying a crammed loft of all sorts of dusty junk (not mine). They hauled it out, and downstairs, and it was gone, for a very reasonable cost. I gave them a big tip! :p It felt amazing. I kept a couple of square roasting pans, which I use a lot, and a mesh strainer. Don't put anything in storage, it's so expensive and a waste of money.
    Everything will end up in landfill one day. Don't waste your precious real estate temporarily preventing stuff from going to landfill. It's such a waste of your space and time and energy. Mental energy.

    I do have a problem with my writing archive, and I don't think they will keep it, digitally or physically. I have asked them to, in an attachment to my will, but I don't see why they should. If I never published it, then why should they. I keep meaning to put some of it on Amazon, and I did publish my poems in the book 'Memory Boxes'. I know they will treasure the published works, especially the children's books. I do plan to publish another novel from my back catalogue! Maybe some more short stories.
    I also need to have another pass through my photo archive. I somehow ended up as the family photo archivist, with family photos going back to Victorian times. I have so many from my boys' childhood. And others of friends and lovers. As a memoirist, it's all precious to me, but not really to others. I do treasure my ancestors, and their stories, but, apart from Edie, I can't see others who would. That's partly why I'm writing my current book, 'What If.... I Am', so some of those stories won't be forgotten. A photo book of the most important historical photos would be a good project.

    I'm not feeling as 'fluey' as I thought I would, and I have a quiet day ahead. More paracetamol and I will be OK, I think.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,716 Member
    edited October 8
    I do think that if we've got stuff that we really like, that matters to us, we should keep those things while we are alive and enjoy them. Use those things. Put them on display. :)

    I've got a few ornament collections that probably won't matter to anyone after I go, but I like looking at them so I keep them.

    j1n20at6pfym.png


    In my comments above, the mention of the storage unit is for the transition from larger place / long-term home to smaller place / assisted living. IMO, storage units are an inexpensive, temporary solution to a transition problem.

    In hindsight, I think a storage unit would have been a good option for my grandmother's transition from a 2-bedroom apartment to an assisted living studio apartment.

    And currently, we opted to get a storage unit to simplify our recent move and ease the stress. That was such a good idea! We've had it for a couple months and I could see us keeping it for about a year.


    Machka in Oz
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,716 Member
    Toward the end of the day on Saturday, my throat started feeling sore. I thought then that I had not drunk as much as I should have.

    On Sunday, I definitely had a sore throat.

    Monday, I was meant to go back to work, but I still had the sore throat and no voice.

    Last night, my sore throat eased, but I hardly slept because any time I positioned myself at a slight recline, I started coughing and coughing and coughing. I've been dozing upright in my chair today, and still coughing. I really hope I can sleep tonight. I've also been feeling a bit nauseated. Last night I was nibbling soda crackers to help me feel better.

    I had a telehealth appointment with a doctor today and got a medical certificate to have this week off to recover. I figure I picked up this disease on one of the flights.

    Incidentally, it's not COVID or a flu. I checked. But it could be RSV or the common cold.


    Machka in Oz
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,717 Member
    edited October 8
    Carol-good luck with your new Dell! Did it come loaded with Windows 11? I'm still getting used to it, lol. Hope you'll be able to resume things you wanted to do. So far I'm content to keep everything resident on this machine and avoid storing anything on the cloud, will probably change my mind one of these days. I keep my financial data and history (that I'd dread losing since it's constantly updated) on a spreadsheet file that I email to myself each day. That way I can grab it from any machine. Kind of the same thing as storing on the cloud but it's free. All other important info is backed up on a thumb drive.

    Kim - crossing fingers your new housemate works out - you are so kind to share your home. Loved the idea of "stealth" decluttering.

    Doing some pickup and counter clearing - Collette coming today. Back in a bit.

    Lanette B)
    SW WA State
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,967 Member
    Morning, my chickens...

    The restless legs syndrome remedy worked of getting up, walking around, getting my mind off it by talking to y'all, plus throwing in the pain med I forgot to take at 4 pm and some Tylenol. That's one of the weirder feelings, when you can't resist moving your legs, as if to get away from the frissons of nerves running up and down them. I can see that having them every night would be seriously debilitating after a short period of time.

    In the end, slept 'til nearly 6, so I'm well pleased. Still working on that next project. My traitorous brain would not cooperate yesterday, but hopefully today I can make some progress.

    Later, y'all,
    Love,
    Lisa in AR

  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,807 Member
    edited October 8
    My new top arrived. I'm really pleased with it. Will look good with my new jeans and Chanel jacket 😍
    is4v4gzwc5d7.jpg
    Of course, I am a bit fatter than the model! :p

    Love Heather UK xxxxxx
    PS I got it for £32.50 including postage because the company sent me a voucher for my birthday!
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,298 Member
    :heart:
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,378 Member
    655655
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,967 Member
    Morning again, my chickens...

    Got a few things done this morning besides ferrying coffee in to the still stay-cationing man in the bedroom. Second load of laundry is whooshing while the first load is drying... OK, yeah, that was it. Been flitting around the internet watching videos and trying to figure out how to complete this project. Finally gave up and took a shower to warm up.

    The house is chilly this morning - 52 degrees outside (11 C), and Egg was helping warm up my lap, but the rest of me was freezing, so I dug up the little electric heater to take the chill off. The hummingbirds have departed for warmer climes, no visits to the feeder in nearly a week now. It's definitely fall headed for winter.

    Of course, "headed for," is the right phrase. Trying to figure out what to wear after my shower is trying to dress for winter in the morning, summer in the afternoon and fall by 4:30 pm, so not easy. Speaking of dressing - Heather, the shirt is lovely, but that neckline would not work for me at all. I have to wear V-necks that don't constrict me in any way these days.

    Back to my doings. Happy Tuesday, my peeps,

    Love,
    Lisa in AR
  • Vickil57
    Vickil57 Posts: 1,894 Member
    <3
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,807 Member
    edited October 8
    Lisa - I don't like constrictive necks either, can't stand turtle necks, but that is just about low enough for me. I need a low crew at least. Mostly I wear a scoop neck.
    I just figured out today, (duh), that one of the reasons I haven't been going swimming is that my costume is too tight. I can squeeze into it, but it's not comfortable. My friend G has recently taken up swimming again, so I was prompted to ask myself what was stopping me! Bingo! The answer hit me. So I've ordered one from Amazon with a big Prime Day reduction. Very much a respectable, older ladies' example, with decent leg cut. :o:p:/ If it fits, I shall venture to our local pool, where I have never been. :o I am a good swimmer, with all the right technique, breathing, goggles, hat etc. Haven't been for years. I used to go regularly on the old ship cruises, but I don't like the new one's pool as much. When I was on holiday in Egypt, I went snorkeling and scuba diving, as well as swimming lots of lengths every day. The 'pool boy' said to John, "You haven't got a wife, you've got a fish!" :p
    So who knows?

    We've been very 'porky' recently, so we are having a prawn curry for dinner. (One of our magic pouches) Lots of frozen veg, including artichoke, and I will assemble a raita. Seems weird not going out to collect Bea. It feels like a Sunday.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

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