WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2015

Hello everyone -

I got the job at the Y. I'll work every Sunday 12:15 - 5:15 and every other Sat. (not sure of the shift hours for that day). I know most people don't want the weekend hours but for me it is perfect. Hubby always works and my kids are usually too darn busy to spend weekend time with me. DS works from home so I can catch them on week day afternoons except for Tues. and Fri.

I think I have finished my Y Safari. Burned nearly 1/2 tank of gas on my adventure. Here is the plan:
M - 7:00am water class; T- 8:30am water class, 10:30am senior strength; W - 10:30am yoga stretch @ church Y;
Th - 7:00am - yoga stretch, 8:30 regular and deep water (30/30); F - 7:00am water class, 9:15am senior strength.
Every other Sat - 8:30 water

I will still have my TOPS and study group on Mondays. I hope to help with a summer lunch program for school neighborhood kiddos twice a week.

Busy will be best for me!

Plan to work in the yard and garage tomorrow.

Toni in Tennessee on one of the most perfect late spring days ever!

Thank you everyone for the get well wishes. I am covered today with a prickly rash - I always get it when I have a fever. So I stayed inside today and can't believe it - I didn't eat everything in sight. Missed a nice day in the sun , though, +27 degrees Celsius. Drank lots of water....

The forest fire near us - according to the news tonight - is 10 sq kilometers and is being monitored. Which really means they are just letting it burn. My brother is the Fire Chief in town and they were called out yesterday when started and they were told to stand down because they couldn't get to the fire. there are no roads to get to it. It is in the forest near where there was clear cutting a couple years ago. The tree planter people were up there so hope they got out all right.

To all the U.S. people. Enjoy the Memorial Day Weekend. Hug a soldier and say thank you.

To my Western Canadian friends - please do a rain dance. We are soooooo dry.

Great big hugs to all

Lillian in West Central Saskatchewan

Toni – Congrats!!!! What a busy schedule!

Lesley – I need you at my house to be my house angel

So I had to share! I read. I read a lot. So at any time I am reading for one of my two book clubs, and one serious non-fiction work, and one or more pleasure items (books and magazines). The non-fiction always is a slow go, I read a bit, sometimes looking up words, researching concepts… well the book for the last few months has been The Extreme Life of the Sea by Palumbi, it is interesting and well written, and they take chunks of serious issues about the sea and make it very readable, so this section is about reproduction within clownfish and this is a bit of a long quote, but had me laughing out loud…

“The 2003 Disney film Finding Nemo formally canonized the anemone dweller’s adorability. The eponymous clownfish vanishes from his home anemone, forcing his widowed father to take off after him. Finding Nemo get many things right – the anxiety of leaving home and the obnoxious yelping of seagulls- but it punts away the most fascinating aspect of clownfish. As sequential hermaphrodites, they lead unique home lives. All are born male, with the ability to change sex. Like a wild card, it’s only good once: once males turn into females, they can’t turn back into males. The film supposes a lifelong romance for Nemo’s parents, but genuine clownfish live only as part of larger groups. A handful of fish share each anemone, all beginning their lives as immature males. The largest and most dominant male turns into a female; the next-largest develops functioning testes. She lays eggs, he fertilizes them. The others bide their time, defending the anemone and the family’s precious eggs. One of the mated pair will eventually die, to be swiftly replaced by someone down the ladder.

If the matriarch dies, the fertile male who was #2 now takes her place as #1, metamorphosing into a female himself. A simple hierarchy of size and strength determines the family’s whole structure, conflicting with the acceptable social norms for children’s movies. Finding Nemo painted a simple picture for more than just the sake of simplicity; a real clownfish father who lost his mate would not develop a psychologically complex of grieving and overprotection. He would simply become Nemo’s new mother, Nemo (the only other fish remaining in the anemone) would rapidly develop mature gonads. He would become his own father while his father became his mother, and they would raise little incestuous Nemos together without a drip of sentimentality. In retrospect, the producers at Disney probably made the right call. “

Loved the last line “”Disney ..made the right call” LOL, now you truly know how twisted I am.

smiles Kim in N. Cal

Lillian-I like your two-year rule a lot better!

Karla- I really hope we are able to downsize. My husband is a little reluctant. We have our poppy to wear. It is very important to honor our troops.

Janet-I know what you mean about staying home when events are going on in the neighborhood. We live in tourist area ourselves. At least we know the back way sometimes.

Terri - good job on the planks. Those are hard to hold. Hope your knee feels better.

Heather-so sorry to hear about your friends. When it hits so close to home we do feel our mortality. (((Hugs)))

Carol glad that it's just a war wound. It's nice that you plan out what you're doing on your trip. Especially with food. Its easier to stay on track.

Heather- hope you pull it off without a hitch! Your DS will be surprised.

Kim - I love your goal of planning a fun activity each week. It has gotten me thinking of doing that.

TNToni - congratulations on getting the job! I would think that it would be a very fun place to work.

Lillian - take care! We will hope for rain.

We had a very busy day today.
Have a great night everyone!

Mary from Minnesota

Dreamwriter, thanks for the info. I wish it would help my husband though. He still hasn't had his lab work done that was ordered about 2 weeks ago. I'm sure it has to be sent out so I don't know if the office will have the results when we next see them. Right now he said he is not taking any expensive drug or clinical trial. He said if it kills him then so be it. His father had that attitude after he developed cancer and he died fairly quickly, he just gave up. He also said he may go the same way our next door neighbor did, shoot himself in the head while his wife was sleeping in the next room. I know he is depressed but to a person who is depressed they don't always see it. He has rationalized it that this is the correct way. I don't think he understands that when he goes off of the cortisone, eventually he will go back to the numerous stools a day. He takes Simethecone for his gas and that ahs made it better. But I can't get him to understand that the Simethecone is only hiding the symptom, the cause is still there. Men.

Mary in Milwaukee, I always liked to have my husband at work whenever I had a yard sale. There were a lot of things that went back in the house when he was around.

Janet, glad to know I have some one close 'looking' after my nephew when he is down there. His Mom has a sister that lives down your way and she and my nephew, even though they love us dearly, think our side of the family is a little cooky and they love to see her side of the family. My nephew would love to move to Myrtle Beach but they financially can't right now. But since a lot of kids find work in the place they go to school he may stay there. With pharmacy, they do do clinical work in a local hospital so that gets them a lead into a place of employment.

Kim, I used to read the regular forums here and I would read these posts that people eat anything they want, as long as they exercise the right amount of calories off. I tried to say that not all calories are the same and they were well on their way to open heart surgery if all they ate was the pizza and ice cream they said they were eating. But there was no arguing with these buff looking guys so I jsut decided to stay away from the other forums and find a permanent home. That's how I found you guys.

Ma5y, Oh yes, we will be here in June. I think we have been here several years.

Kim, N. Car. That article takes the fun out of watching Finding Nemo.

Maybe our mammograms, well your mammograms, because the breast tissue isn't as dense anymore. I know the last one I had said there wasn't any breast tissue left in mine!!!!

I have a sinus infection and it's Friday and my doctor won't be in until Monday, nope Tuesday. I have the most massive headache. The bright light here hurts my eyes so much but if I make it dim, the straining hurts them also. So I will just say night night.

Joyce, Indiana

Lillian - So sorry that you are under the weather. Get well soon. I am not sure that I will have any tomatoes. DH decided he wanted to grow tomatoes from seed that he got from some online Patriot group. the tomatoes are just popping through. I have planters out front in my perennial bed and all over my deck. Hoping to get it power washed this weekend. The yard is overtaken by all DH's "treasures"

Katla - Pharmaceuticals would require admitting a problem and seeing a doctor. Going out on a limb and saying "That probably ain't going to happen.

Carol in NC. - Enjoy your trip. I love discovering museums and art galleries.

Toni in Tennessee - Yeah for your Y job!!!

A lot of pruning the last few days. Also a lot of plant buying and repotting. Loving it all.
DH and I at each other's throats. ODG, I just want peace and happiness.
Had a long talk with DS but he is still confused. It is so hard for me but I let him know that I will love him no matter the final decision.
Good thoughts to all of you.
Good night
-Sharon in Lethbridge.

Hi Everyone,

Read all the posts but can't respond individually. Got to get on the road for a Board of Director's Meeting. My new boss is being presented today. (Actual vote in a month-then it will be official) also 17th wedding anniversary. After the meeting DH and I will be off to the Baptist Camp in Ocean Park Maine until Tuesday. I will try to check in when Or if I can get a signal.

Naiomi2015 in 46F and sunny Massachusetts

Hi guys, after some speculation that I might have whooping cough , apparently it's bronchitis. I have AB and something to suppress the cough, since it's not productive. Was warned I might get sleepy. Can't wait for that; haven't had any decent sleep for several nights.

Toni, congrats on the job! If you don't mind me asking: where are you in TN? Feel free not to answer if you'd rather not.

Katla: you could buy riding boot socks (usually they're argyle) and wear them over your pants. Lots of people do that.

Cynthia :flowerforyou:

Dipping into the posts like a hummingbird, here and there…

Carol – hope your injuries heal quickly, and you really enjoy Dallas. We’ll be there the 4th and 5th for my favorite niece’s graduation. Well, quite a bit up the road, in Allen. Hope everything’s not underwater!

Katla – I admire your dedication to the sailing club and the riding, hope the sore back doesn’t slow you down.

Lillian – hope the fires stay away from you and yours, please keep us posted.

Heather in the UK – Glad you are clear of cancer for eight years as well! Hope that continues, and so sorry about your friends.

Toni in TN – Congrats on the Y job! Busy is also best for me.

Ma5y – we look forward to seeing more of you in June.

Joyce – so hope the headache is better today…

Cynthia - take care of that bronchitis! I haven't had it (knock on wood) since I quit smoking some years back. Used to get it every year. Horrible feeling, not being able to get a breath, or to sleep, for the coughing. My sympathies, and hope you feel better soon.

___________________________

The quilt is jamming right along, the panel pieces are deconstructed, reframed ready to be quilted separately, then assembled. You can see the pieces hung up in the picture below. Still mulling the free-motion quilting over in my head. I tend to design as I go along.

Speaking of design, my husband and I also started a media company this spring, called LCH Media (the LCH is for Lisa and Corey Hannon) to accommodate my book ISBNs and our designs. We design furniture, and I do quite a bit of other design and creation work on the needlework side. I’ve designed some one-of-a-kind handbags, quilted, reversible, washable things, and we’ve designed and built most of the furniture in our house that isn’t upholstered. Bed, entertainment center, coffee table, end tables, that kind of thing. Plus a 12-foot long hall tree that I’m now using for my sewing center, as you can see in the picture below.

We originally built the hall tree for the first house they put us into, which had almost no closets—it held a dozen coats, and as many hats, plus all the shoes/boots underneath. When they moved us into the manager’s house at Thanksgiving, we didn’t need it, but it was perfect for when I took over the dining room for my sewing room. I use all the space underneath for storage, and the back to hang up stuff (obvs.)

The handbag also pictured below is one of the ones I designed—my husband’s boss happened to walk in when I was halfway through building it and bought it before it was even finished as a Christmas gift for his wife. Need to get that design nailed down and drawn out, and make a few more. Won’t be that stained-glass pattern again, there are hundreds and hundreds of tiny squares in that one handbag, but in a simpler, basic bag.

No plans for the long weekend... just a quick (45 minutes each way, but you get used to it) grocery run into town today, and then quilting, exercising, reading, writing for the rest of the weekend.

Ahhhhhh... love this life.

Lisa H in West Texas

Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. – Samuel Beckett

morning ladies~
busy busy today.. the chain saws are buzzing outside and DH is sanding and spackleing in the kitchen,
I went and fed my DFIL , he was trying to get out of bed at 6 this morning to get his car, so they got him up and dressed..
he ate well.. and now I am home trying to assemble a grocery list and food to make and freeze.. for when the kitchen is totally torn apart..
Stuff that the DH will eat..
there is dust everywhere which I will have to clean once he is done.. DH has asthma but it doesnt flair up alot as an adult.. I have him wearing a mask while he sands,I dont need him keeling over on me

I have Chester on my lap between the sanding and the chain saw's he is a nervous wreck,, at least he isnt shaking

Finally caught up reading posts. Phew!
Happy beautiful May day to everyone!

My son is traveling to Sydney, AUS tomorrow (from home here in DC) to see his GF who is doing a semester abroad over there. We are exciting and doing final packing and planning today. 5 am start to get him to Dulles for a 9 am flight (we live an hour south of DC, Dulles is on the other side).

We’ll grill something yummy on the charcoal grill tonite (my son is really getting good at smoking meat) and probably go out in the boat or float with some drinks on our creek before dinner.

I’m doing OK on my May goals:
• Make that scale move: 3 pounds so far in May
o Burn more calories, averaging 2500 cal burn, and 2100 cal intake. Could do better! Just 100 more cal burned and 200 less intake would gain me another 0.5 lb/week.
o Fitbit: 10,000 steps, 10 flights of stairs, 30 active min every day: Averaging 7k steps per day, 30 active minutes, and 7 flights of stairs
• Be happy and positive! Meh.
• Get some quick and healthy dinners into my cooking rotation. Could do better here. Loving cold bean and corn salads now that it’s warm.
• Stop that mindless eating when tired and PO’d. Doing better. Except beer.

I tried buckwheat cereal for bfast this am. It sorta tastes like quinoa. I don’t love it. I’m a big fan or hot breakfast cereals with eggs or cottage cheese, or chicken sausage (Applegate) + some hot sauce all mixed up for bfast. Lots of fiber & protein for ~300 cal. Then I do a fruit for mid-am snack.

Mary/Fancy – good luck with the move! We’ve been in our rural place 20 years and I have a very hard time imagining moving.

JoanMichelle – ah the lake! We love our summer lake vacations in Ontario. Hope you are having a great time. WRT weight loss in the first week… I always lose a lot at first. I think I’m just clearing out my system/gut. After the first week, I’ve been carefully watching my weight loss vs net calories to see where I am. My calories in from MFP – calories out from my fit bit has been a VERY accurate predictor of weight loss over the last 2 months. Once I get a bit more light and fit I will switch to a heart rate monitor. Right now most of my exercise is walking, but one goal is to switch to some more sweaty work sometime this summer.

Sharon – “DH is bored, depressed and critical.” I’m with ya. For now I’m hoping that a thinner me will be a happier me, and a happier us. Argh. Frustrating.
Joyce- do you have a walk-in clinic so you can get some antibiotics this weekend, and not wait for Tues? Our family practice docs are so overwhelmed they rarely give same day appts any more, and everyone just gives up and goes to the walk-in places for basic stuff. Oh and good luck with the DH. It’s hard for them (or anyone) to see how difficult it is for others when they are so negative about their health. I guess the rationale is that they are the sick ones, so they get to be that way. Tough spot, sorry.

Lesley – good luck with the BFFM! Looks like a good program, I’ve been looking at it.

Terri – oh I need that shirt!

Toni – Congrats on the job!

Lisa – lovely quilts. I used to do some of that. I need to figure out what crafty/artsy thing(s) I want to do now that kids are out of the house. Been putzing with water color, but while I’m still working, I can really only manage to concentrate on one other thing and for the next year or two that’s gonna be weight loss/exercise.

Get well sickies, welcome back vacationers, have fun with visitors!
You all are a great inspiration to me, thanks again!

Today’s reason to lose weight: SCUBA trip this winter!
I’ve spent decades diving at this weight, but its harder and harder to move around with a 50 lb weight belt. I worry about climbing back in boats with my bad knee.

Cindy in SoMD

Barbie: I LOVE the galloping horse. Learning is a challenge and I am generally having a grand time, although not today. No more back strain if I can avoid it and that should be relatively easy to accomplish. I have the “if it hurts don’t do it or figure out a way to do it right” point of view.

Sharon: Going to the doctor would make sense if I seriously hurt myself but this is not that serious. Avoiding getting hurt makes more sense in my situation.

Lisa: You and your DH are very creative.

Cindy in So MD: I’ve found that being happy is a separate goal from losing weight, and it requires effort on my part. No one is happy every minute, but it is possible to do things that give happiness a better chance. Being healthier is one of those things. Doing things you love to do, spending time with people whose company you enjoy, noticing the simple pleasures like watching birds, sitting in the sunshine, & spending time in pleasurable hobbies are also good happiness strategies.



We have plans to rendezvous with sailing friends this weekend at a favorite destination that isn’t too far away, but today is COLD and neither DH or I is willing to deal with the cold. We’ll go tomorrow if the warmer weather that is predicted shows up. I’ve had enough rest and Advil that my aches and pains from the riding lesson are easing considerably.

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

May Goals:
1. Log every bite and swallow.
2. Cardio exercise at least 3 days a week. Work on flexibility and back
strength.
3. Have fun every day.
4. Drink at least three glasses of water daily, preferably more!
5. Eliminate alcohol. Accomplished but here as a reminder.
6. Monitor sleep. Try to average 7 or more hours of sleep nightly.

Happy Saturday! Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Hello out there! It's been a great morning here, in spite of the rain. I got almost 11 hours of sleep last night and felt LOTS better this morning. I weighed myself, even though I can feel I still have a little bloating, and I am 2 pounds LESS than the day I left for Spain! Hooray!

Last night I made a "stovetop pizza" from a recipe I saw on facebook. It was really easy to do and wasn't bad except that it burned a little on the bottom. The recipe didn't say how high to have the burner. I might do it again someday. Hubby liked it, but he likes burnt bread. I used turkey pepperoni and low fat cheese.

I got two ENORMOUS cantelopes at the store yesterday. The first one was incredibly sweet! The second one is a little greener, so it should last till after we finish of the first one. I love cantelope!

We went to swim laps at the pool this morning and I discovered something amazing. I sink! In the fat old days, I could float standing up, with my shoulders entirely sticking out of the water. That was at over 300 pounds. Today, I sunk up to my eyebrows. At 170 pounds. It'll be interesting to see how much of me sticks out of the water when I get to my goal weight. I may need a snorkel.

The kiln is loaded full of things from the birtday party that was held in my studio the day before I left. It should be finished tomorrow, then I can glaze it all and get rid of it. I hate to owe things to people, so I'd like to get it finished and returned to them as soon as possible. I especially hate to make kids wait.

Meg, what a nice tribute, for everyone to wear blue. It still just breaks my heart to think about it. I was once a young female cop with a baby, so it tugs at my heart something awful. Is there a fund set up somewhere for the family? I'll google it and see if I can find it.

Well, I've got to go. We are going to the lake tonight. Have a great Saturday!

Sylvia