WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2015

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.

mparker1216 wrote: »

I got a new walking partner today. A 14 week old golden doodle.
Maryann in Michigan

More information please!! And pictures!

I want to see the golden doodle pics too!!

And, yes, sunshine can make a world of difference in one's outlook! A better day today.

Good Evening,

[bMia --[/b]the tour was fun. Our tour guide spent a long time talking up the wonders of working at Scentsy. Did soon very nice the headquarters is very nice. Interesting to see how it started and where it is now. I was surprise that the scent was there but not overwhelming.

Michelle -- I am feeling some what better. I went to work.

DJ-- I like the words you live by.

I came home and went to the Y walked the track.

Tomorrow is volunteer day I will take my clients to their volunteer jobs. I work alone side of them. There is a lot of walking involved so that will be helpful.

Tomorrow is also our in service time. Need to be at work a hour early.

So I am getting my lunch etc pack tonight and go to bed soon.

Wishing everyone a good night!

Liz
Caldwell, Idaho

Thanks to everyone for the kind words. I am happy that my daughter is doing well physically. I have been concerned about possible bleeding problems all along, as she's had them throughout this pregnancy. She says she's doing okay in that regard. She had a very difficult pregnancy with DGD and nearly died in childbirth. Her pregnancy with DGS went much better. She loved this baby and had concerns about heavy spotting all along. It is her broken heart that I'm worried about now. She is so sad and I have no way to help.