WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2015

CynthiaT60 - I'm doing better thank you. I'm taking half the doze but twice as often. Seems to be working pretty well. With the bypass the meds dump into my system more quickly but also exit the body more quickly. I'm making terrific progress with physical therapy. Thanks for asking.

Janetr OK

Grit, I NEVER diet in New Orleans. I miss the food too much not to try to eat everything I haven't eaten since the last time I was there. I'm going on November 11 through the 15. But I'm lying a little. I will try to avoid some of my fried favorites. I get it now, the obese vs overweight is per the BMI. I'm a 28 so I guess that makes me overweight and not obese too. Yay!!

Cheryl - north of Chicago

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janetr - glad to hear u r doing better

Katla - so sorry to hear about your daughter's loss. It's so hard to go thru. Will remember you all in prayer. (((Hugs)))

Pip - thank you. I too am glad to have the worst behind me. The physical therapist is a little hottie, so of course I have to give it a 'll I've got.

Janetr OKC

Katla, so sorry!

Janet, how nice to have a hottie PT! One does want to work harder when the scenery is good! Mine is a nice boy too.

Katla49 wrote: »

I've got news from DD and it is heartbreaking for her. She had a miscarriage last night. She is so sad, and I am sad with her. I have no idea whether this will impact her plans to move. For my part, I am grateful that I still have a daughter and that she is doing okay. I've been worried about her health with the amount of bleeding she has been experiencing.

Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon

Sorry to hear about your loss. My 'new' DDnL has said that 'if' she gets pregnant, they won't tell anybody until after the 12th week. Because of some things, she is already seeing a specialist in OB/GYN and if she gets pregnant they will 'put a couple of stitches in her cervix'. Never having had that done, it seems like it would be a little uncomfortable. She will see the specialist through out any pregnancy along with her regular OB/GYN - because of this and because she is 37. We'd like a 'baby'; but, if she is unable to carry one we'll still love and treat her daughter the same as we treat our other granddaughters. She's very active and I'm sure she'd be 'gnawing at the bit' if she was ever put on 'total bedrest'. We're still dreaming about twins . . . LOL! I've heard the odds go up as you get older, so maybe ...

Katla - I am so sorry for your loss. We will be praying for your Daughter and your family our hearts go out to you.

Allison-LOL! I meant cramp not crap! But it sure did fit.

Mary from Minnesota

mollywhippet wrote: »

Grits, mixed breeds are wonderful, in my opinion. They are so unique. Nobody else in the world has a dog quite like Bruno or Spot. And I truly believe that mixes are much smarter than purebreds. At least that has been my experience. Our purebred whippet, Molly, is dumb as a box or rocks, but Bruno and Spot (Bruno in particular) are both very smart. Of course, Bruno has a lot of Jack Russell in him, and they are known to be very smart as a breed. Almost any dog will bark under certain circumstances. I feel really sorry for the ones that have been so cruelly "trained" not to bark or have to wear those electroshock collars to keep them quiet. They bark to express joy, fear, or greetings. But that said, I don't care for the yippie-yappie little dogs that bark all the time, either. We have found that we like dogs about 30 pounds or so. A good sized dog, not too small, but they can still fit on your lap in a pinch. You might try Petfinder.com. That's where we found Bruno.

I once had a dog named Susan who was a mixed breed pound puppy. My son picked her out from a litter at the pound for his 10th birthday. That was the best dog I have ever had. She was so smart she was almost human. She was a medium sized dog, but still could be good protection if necessary. One morning I drove my son to school, then stopped at the drug store to get a newspaper out of the machine. (I was job hunting) A man approached me and asked for money. I told him that I didn't have any, just what I brought for the newspaper, and I had left my purse at home. He moved toward me and said in a very scary voice that he could just follow me home and get some money. I opened my car door and Susan flew out of the car like her tail was on fire, barking so fiercely at that man that even I was scared of her. She never barked once until that door was opened, but she was watching and knew what to do. After he jumped back in his truck and took off, she calmly jumped back in the car and said, "OK, I'm ready to go now."

When I met my hubby, she fell deeply and madly in love with him and he with her. That's how I knew he was a keeper. She died about 15 years ago at age 19 and I miss her still. Hubby and I were just talking about her last night, and how she would be annoyed with these two crazy boys we have now.

OK, see what I mean. I'm wasting time again.

Good luck finding the perfect dog. Life without a dog is just too sad to imagine.

Sylvia

I think we are getting closer and closer to looking for a 'mixed' breed. Our first dog (a beagle, was full-blooded; but had been brought up inside and was already well on her way to being house-trained and crate trained (even though we never kept her in a crate). Son has a 'mountain feist' . . . which our vet says is really a 'fox terrier that was born in the mountains' ... although they have been bred to be a real breed. Our 2nd dog was also a beagle and she never 'shut up' under any circumstances. Bayed at the moon, barked during the day. We even moved the fenced pen up closer to the house thinking that being able to hear the TV might quieten her down. No go! We found a home for her with a hunter who lived in the country and she could roam if she wanted to. Then a chocolate lab; not very bright - closer to being a 'box of rocks' but she was a good mother to 13 in a litter. That's way too many to try to get rid of; none of them were chocolates. Smarter if they are black, ok if they are white/golden; dumb if they are chocolates. But, she was a sweetie; but, when the pen door was opened just long enough to put food in her bowl, if you did not close it after going inside, she'd run off. She'd come home after exploring; but, got hit by a car on a busy highway about 5 blocks from home. Had to 'put her down'. I'm glad that I was not the one to find her. DH did and he took her to the vet. I want to say that the boys were with him. We've never put another dog 'down' since. Next dog was our JRT; all we had to pay his brother was what he had in the litter. Runt and only survivor; and now when we look up JRT they are asking anywhere from $600 - $1,950. Even beagles are asking around $400. I've left my name and number with several vets in town. We have a 'shelter cat' and he is an excellent cat - but he was not pinned up like the ones that were 'up for adoption'. The "Cat Lady" said that she had some domestic short-haired cats up by the house and most of them were adoptable. He was like a teenager cat (not really a kitten; but, not full grown). He is a 'lover', too! Cries when we put him in a crate, knowing that he is going to be 'examined' and get shots. During the morning he is always sleeping off he previous night of hunting. By mid-afternoon, he has moved to the car and looking out over the field, looking for critters to hunt. He also misses our dog.

I just want another dog; they give you things differently than a cat gives you. Our cat is very vocal and loves laying on the deck floor getting rubbed as we swing in the porch swing. Have to wear shoes, so he doesn't get over-excited and try to scratch you. We'll just keep looking - something will come along at some point. I've just not had very good luck with trying to find a dog at the Albany shelter where they won't let you take them out of the cage and take them some place quieter in the building. Actually, I'd almost prefer a 'mixed' breed, just not with a Chihuahua or Pit Bull or Lab. All 3 of those breeds must breed with anything that comes their way. Terriers are apparently not too far behind. See a lot of Terrier mixed dogs; but, they are usually pretty smart ones.

Oh well ... this is now a 'missive' and I don't like to do that. LOL! Yeah, right!

Stay off FB, it will only get you into trouble or raise your BP! I got off because my DDnL (next door) does not know what isn't 'fodder' for discussion with anybody. We don't tell her much because within 3 minutes - it's on FB all over the place. Someone showing they have nearly or over 1000 "friends" on FB are only accepting friendships from lot she doesn't even know intimately. And, you can get to someone else's page just by knowing a friend of a friend. Nothing is sacred there.

Katla--So sorry for your loss, prayers for peace and healing.

CityJane--thank you for the welcome back.

Everyone that I missed thank you for the welcome.

I'll try to keep up from here.

Thanks all for your caring ways. If I could I would all invite you over for tea or coffee....As my mom used to say, "Lets laugh and scratch, drink wine and tell lies!" (you don't have to scratch, drink wine, or tell lies...but laughing heartily is always great for the soul!)

So this morning, while my husband was at laundromat telling sea stories to his pal a Marine..(he always tips his hat to me, even if he isn't wearing a hat, and calls my husband Chief), I walked to the church up the street to my TOPS meeting. I got weighed, (once again both the two ladies said NOTHING...and I just walked out of the weight room in a "you have got to be kidding face"). I exclaimed to the ladies out in the larger room, "I will not ring that bell"(you ring a bell when you lose). The ladies all said, "oh you didn't lose?" I replied, "Yep I lost 1.25 lbs, but those ladies in there don't say anything, Marilynn you need to talk to them!" Marilynn and Jeanie were the last weight recorders, and they were awesome, always cheering you on, or letting you vent. I had told them previous to weighing in that I wasn't going to stay for the meeting, because I needed to still clean up the apartment a bit before the sons come up. I told my husband I might just come to be weighed and then leave. I have come to the realization that motivational wise, many of the ladies have none to give. I get a lot of support from the couple of ladies that walk with me Mondays and Fridays, that are TOPS members. That is another crazy thing, there is 40 members and only 3-4 of us that are walkers. Many times all 4 of us have lost that week, and I think its because we all have walked.

Tomorrow I will be visiting my sister (my oldest sis, not the one that forgets I exist). My husband is coming but he will be dropping me off with my sis at a park and going to do his own thing, and then I shall call him to reconvene. It should be a great visit, and I haven't been to this coastal city of Lincoln City for a couple of years. Its about 2 hrs down from us, so a 2 hr drive there, to visit for 2 hrs, then drive back home 2 hrs....my husband doesn't see the rationality of it, but a sister visit is a sister visit! I would have driven down by my self, but I am not great by myself in a car. Being that I got my license at age 51, I will probably never drive with a pleasure feeling. I got it because my husband was ill, and I needed to, but now, I drive probably once in a great while.

So I never did clean today.... I had my breakfast late, (because of my TOPS meeting)....then watched some of my "Ghost Hunters" series shows. Then I read the paper, and then I had lunch. Then I procrastinated some more.... Then I tore out all the "Ad Pages" from my recent magazine I bought. It is called "Real Simple" and it has some great "de-cluttering" hints and recipes. After I tore out half the magazine, then I read it.

Have a good day everyone. Hugs to you that are hurting, a mental cartwheel to peeps that are doing awesome, and a smile to you all that need it!
Becca
Oregon

Katla, I am so very sorry. My heart breaks for you and your DD.

Linda, my hearts breaks for your DD, too.

Miriam, if you adopt the kids and they become your dependents, shouldn't you qualify for some more assistance, food stamps for sure, possibly some welfare income, too? I would think you could file a tax return solely for the earned income tax credit. I have a friend who is raising her grandchildren and she gets a refund of several thousand dollars each year. I'm not sure how much. But I'm thinking more than the $500 a month would be. If I wanted the kids, I'd figure out a way to make it work without my sister. But I'd be sure they knew they were my kids!

Awww Katla, I'm sorry you lost a grandbaby. Hope your daughter recovers.

Katla - I'm so terribly sorry! Hugs to you and your daughter.

I got some frustrating news this afternoon. I'm supposed to be putting on a tile workshop for some art teachers on Friday evening,so I'm thinking I still have two full days to get ready. I'm taking my time and not stressing out over it. The woman in charge told me Friday the 9th. I wrote it down! In big black marker and hung it on the wall to remind myself! Well, she called this afternoon and said it was tomorrow night, not Friday. I could just scream! It's not bad enough that I initially agreed to 12 people and she has expanded it to 20!!!!! So, I have a ton of prep work to do tomorrow. I'm not a teacher, so this is hard for me anyway. She told me that these are all art teachers, so I shouldn't have to do much beyond providing the materials and space to work, but today she tells me I should put on a 30 minute "lesson". And to really put the icing on the cake...the $20 fee per person that I agreed to is now turned into fund raiser for the college, but she said I should submit my receipts and they would "try" to pay for my materials. It's too late to back out now, or I would. I just spent almost $200 at the clay supply store alone. All I can say at this point is...NEVER AGAIN!

Miriamwithcats - I am totally disabled from my job; and for me to work, even part-time puts me into a position of losing the disability checks I get. I agree - the system doesn't work to make you want to do anything; unless, you are suddenly 'not disabled' and that just isn't the case with my disability. I'm Bipolar - stress upsets the 'apple cart' and no other job that I could get would end up paying my 'disability' as high as it is at this point in time. So I 'paint' and run any money I get through my husband and therefore taxes are paid. As a couple we make too much money for us to get any help such as 'food stamps'. When my DGD went to college, she was not working so she applied for 'food stamps' and was told, 'you have to have a job in order to qualify for food stamps'. This year she is not going to be a dependent for her Daddy (she's 19); and, I told her as soon as she got a job (she did, on campus) to apply again. She thinks it is because she is not the 'right' race. That's probably true. If you are not Caucasian - you have learned how to 'work the system' and make every penny work in your favor. She is an honest person and won't lie on any application. Her biological mother (with claiming 3 dependents) got $1,700+ in 'food stamps' alone. That supported her 'habit' it did not go for 'food stamps'. She was 'in jail' and still receiving an 'food stamp' debit card from the state ... go figure! Does you sister work, if so, why doesn't she pay you out of her check and tell the D***-head to go **** himself. They (girls) could be with them, if you had not stepped in. However, you also have to take care of yourself and YOUR child. I'm not criticizing you, I am just wondering how your own sister could be so unfeeling towards her own granddaughters. Does she even bother to see them? Actually, they have succeeded in putting you into a position of an 'ex' with full custody of children with no child support. Karma does not like greedy and Karma will come around soon enough; maybe not for you to care; but, when you stop caring about what all they are doing with their money - something will occur and you will be, as they say, 'in the catbird's seat'. I know about 'selfishness' of a person that you thought you could trust; my stepdaughter is a perfect example. If something happens to my husband before happening to me; I will send her probate papers with a 'crisp $10 bill attached' with the instructions 'not to spend it all in one place'. I guess that people that do not know me think I am 'mean-spirited'. I'm not; but, I worked as a legal secretary all my adult life and I saw and heard a lot of things that would make your hair stand on end in domestic cases. I'd rather deal with a criminal defendant that the attorney is appointed to represent than to deal with some of the men and women we dealt with on a daily basis. I think they comes a time in a child's life that you have to answer their questions about their circumstances and I believe that honesty is the best way to do so. They need to know that you 'love them' and that you 'raised them' ... so do the best you can; and do what is best for them as if they were your own.

Annr - Weight Watcher's ladies don't say anything one way or the other about whether you have lost or gained weight. I joined, quit, and re-joined 3x - always the same. It was pretty demoralizing to go to the meetings and hear others talk about how much they had lost when my weight never fluctuated 5lbs either way. Any weight loss I get now I get a 'good job, that is the way to do it'. Since I have been on this Medical Weight Loss Program, I have only gained once since the middle of May; and I was told, 'don't worry about it - gaining just happens sometimes' and it could be what I was wearing. I try to wear the same outfit when I go to get weighed in every 2 weeks; and it is a one-on-one situation for me and I like it much better.

tazgirl1960 - 'unless' you stay 'online' most of the day - you'll never be able to catch up on the postings. I just read the current day and go back further if there is a comment made that I want to read the story about in the first place.