WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JUNE

Good morning. :drinker: :drinker: The sun is shining!!!!

So I had a better day yesterday and I started on the office. I had a lovely stroll down memory lane and then chucked out a bunch of stuff. I had really old tax docs, and tons of craft instructions and costume discussions and tons of old schoolwork. why was I keeping it all?:grumble: I haven't looked at some it for 10 years. today I need to organize all the stuff I am keeping and i will be using my label maker to the max.

My new little apple tree fell victim to the Bodi. we suspect him anyway, Its broken at the base from either a really really strong wind or a happy puppy tail. :noway: I am betting on the 95 pound year old puppy. we are trying to salvage it but I may just go get another one.

Alice - loved the bog dog story:happy:

Mimi - thanks for all the info. It makes why we do this all that more clear.

Jeannie - congrats on being under 150. I am right there behind you. Hopefully tomorrow I will be with ya. ::bigsmile:

SuzyQ - I hope you can get outside soon.:happy:

Michele - I don't know about exercising helping with the hot flashes because I exercise A LOT (3 to 6 hrs a day)and it doesn't phase my hot flashes:explode: . congrats on the new suit.

Reb - enjoy the R & R. :yawn: You certainly deserve it.

MacMadame - be careful grindstones can really injure your nose.

tiarapants - good luck with the proofing. :yawn: I hope it is a subject you enjoy.

Jackie - I am glad things are going okay. I am sure you will lose once the routine sets in. :flowerforyou:

Auntiebk - it isn't that bad and you know you can do it. I believe in you.

for those of you I missed I hope you have a fantastic Friday. :flowerforyou:

I'm very busy getting ready for my daughter's birthday party tonight. We plan to grill. Anyway, wanted to share this sort of funny way too true video about the oil spill sort of. That makes no sense, but you will understand if you watch. Have a good Friday!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM

Definitely listen to your body. Take it easy xx

:yawn: First day off and feeling out of sorts, both physically and mentally.

I think giving blood yesterday was not the greatest timing. I also had to do some personality profile tests for work which I did yesterday before going home. Also not the greatest timing on my part, but wanted to get it out of the way. And you know.....all those things to do before you can actually leave work for 2 weeks :ohwell:

Got my blood work back this week and my cholesterol did not budge despite doubling meds :grumble: :grumble: This afternoon my annual physical, so will see what the doc says.

Will check in later.

Rebel

Forgot to say 'thanks' for all the hot flash tips! :smokin: I'd not heard of some of them before so I will research it all a bit more and see what would work for me.

Hi everyone....

Just about three years ago, I was still living alone in my own apartment. I'd been on my own since 2000,and enjoyed the freedom and solitude. In 2003, while in NC to spend Christmas with my US family I collapsed and was rushed by ambulance to hospital. I had been unconcious from the time of the episode until I woke up to a round of ct, mri, eeg, ekg heart monitoring...you name it. Obviously I survived. :bigsmile: I remained living alone until 2007. Then I had a good talk with myself, and came to the conclusion that I didn't ever want to have an episode like that again while alone:sad: . And I damn well didn't want my kids to have to try to decide what would be best for me.:huh: I was 69 at the time and the prospect of ever putting them in that position was something I couldn't live with. :noway: I value my independence and decided to be proactive about my future. My children have their own lives and I have mine, and I want us to enjoy each other without worrying what to do "IF".

Long story short, I investigated retirement life-style facilities for active, independent seniors, and found one that I absolutely totally enjoy:laugh: . I chose one that offers full dining room service& housekeeping. There is staff on duty 24/7, and if anything happens to me, I'll get prompt attention. My Dr. knows my wishes, as do my children, and I have a living will that makes any decisions mine.:bigsmile: I don't want to live with one of my children. I've decided on a full care facility should it ever become necessary.
The stress it has removed from my life (and theirs) is enormous.:laugh: None of us has to worry about "what will happen to Mom?)

I tell you this because I have children ages, 50, 49, 47 and 37. I'm 72, so could possibly live a lot more years. :smokin: Now is the time to make some plans for later life. I'm so happy I did, and I urge my kids to start thinking ahead.

I've read the posts from caring, unselfish people who are taking responsibility for aged parents. You all deserve so much respect. I couldn't do it for my Mother (brother and sil did, so I didn't have to). I know how I felt, and I didn't want to run that risk with my four. Reading your posts has made me realize how right I was to make the decision I did.:flowerforyou:

Thank you Ainslieglen

ainslieglen, - thank you for your words of wisdom. You made me think.

I am making a list with everything I want to accomplish during my 2 week "down-time" and one of them is updating our will and putting our affairs in order (again). I have been fortunate that my parents and in-law parents went into a care home they enjoyed. It was a huge relief! I don't want to be a burden to my children.

Update on doc visit. I am a little down-hearted about the cholesterol level not coming down despite doubling dosage. He doubled my dosage again and will check again in 3 months. I know most of it is due to genetics, since both sides of the family have it whether skinny or not and whether fit or not.

Doc also suggested I start taking Vit D and Calcium. I already take vitamin D.

Today was RESTING day. I feel the need for restoration. I am tired, just really really tired.

Bound to feel MUCH better tomorrow!

hugs Rebel

Hello, I'm back! I got super busy and lost you guys. I thought maybe nobody was posting any more, but couldn't imagine that could be so.

Finally found you today when Barbiecat congratulated Suezzque for the weight loss. I kept on looking until I found the latest post.

Still superbusy - 4 more days of school and the next day I start driving 1200 miles to Nova Scotia - alone!!!! Well, with two cats, but they don't help a lot. After I finally get there I hope to have a little more time and can get caught up some. I'll be there for about 2 months.

I've been messing around with 3 or 4 pounds lately and not sticking with it every day. I've actually lost about 28 pounds but I changed my ticker when I discovered that my scale was 10 pounds lighter than the doc's.

I lost my Mom a month ago, and that led to a lot of stress eating, which I'm still trying to get under control. Which reminds me, it's time for my morning workout and walk, and I'd better get started. Lots of packing and cleaning and other necessary stuff to get done this weekend. I might not get back on for a week or so. This time next week I hope to be crossing the border from Maine to New Brunswick!

I skipped reading all the months that I missed, so I don't know what's up with anyone and who all the new folks are, but it's good to be back.

Karen

::drinker: suzzzque, you are a wonderful wife to be so supportive of your husband's love of fixing up houses.....it sounds you have found a way to be a good sport about it.......what about the yard? Are you a gardener that has to give up the work you've done in the yard?

THATS the hard part about flipping houses. I've taken a start of Moma's houseleek, Grandma's irises and Wisteria and my own hosta collection from place to place. It seems just about the time we get a place looking really good hubby is ready to sell it. and turn a dollar. Having a good looking landscape helps. :flowerforyou:

Most everything in these beds has been there less than a year, so I'll be able to dig it up and bring at least a start of it with me this time too. I've been delaying digging and separating my tulips until we get word on this house because if we get it they'll go in a pot for easy moving and if we don't I'll spread them out where they already are. WAIT is a 4 letter word for a reason! :grumble: My biggest problem is tend to remodel and decorated the soon to be house in my head so its hard to think of anything else.... And I don't even know if we're getting it or not! Hubby assures me it will be our last house, if we get it, so I'm looking forward to being able to settle in. So far the longest we've ever stayed anywhere is 8 years.

I'm feeling better today and REALLY want to get outside and piddle in my flowerbeds, but it is windy and both hubby and common sense told me NOT to get out in it. I'm beginning to get cabin fever. Gonna try walking with Leslie again and see if I can last more than 5 minutes this time.

Been thinking alot about my Daddy these past couple of days. Perhaps its because Sunday is Father's Day and then the following week would have been his 92nd birthday. Hard to believe he's been gone almost 4 years. In my guest room closet hangs Daddy's favorite sweater. The left cuff is worn where his watch was. It is his signature brown color.... When I am especially missing him, I put it on and somehow wearing it makes him almost seem closer.

I remember when it was my turn to go to work with him as a child. The acrid smell of the West Texas oilfield... Lunchtime in the "dog house"... Watching him add water to the grape kool aid in the old Miracle Whip jar and shake it... stale bologna sandwiches wrapped in wax paper for lunch... Having to go behind a tank out on the lease to use the bathroom in the wind... I felt so privileged to be a part of his grown up world for a whole day.

I remember summers at the little league field watching Daddy coach ball.... Even now I can close my eyes and smell the grass and hear the chatter of the players followed by the cracking of a bat, the thud of the ball in the catchers glove... Daddy's voice above it all.

I remember Daddy's voice at mealtimes... asking the Lord's blessing on our food.... "Lord bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to Thy service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others."

I remember the time all us kids chipped in together and bought him a black and white t.v. at Christmas for the kitchen.... how he misted up when he opened it.

I remember Daddy teaching me to roller skate. He seemed so sure footed. I have to smile as I recall the time he took my children to the local skate rink and how nervous the owner was to have a 75 year old man on the floor.

I remember chocolates from Daddy every Valentines day from the time I was a little girl.... From my earliest memories of him there has always been that familiar heart shaped box with a red bow on it from him every year. Even when I married the chocolates kept coming! One year I hinted that I was dieting and didn't need them, but he showed up with a tiny little box anyway.

I remember the time I was sitting out in the truck in front of my house with a young man who is now my husband waiting for curfew... How Daddy came to the front door to flicker the porch light off and on until his seventeen year old daughter came in the house.

I remember how Daddy beamed when I sang in public and especially at church.

I remember how he began to lose his appetite this past year and how the only thing he wanted to eat was sauerkraut salad or pineapple cake. How I loved to cook for him.

I remember Daddy.