WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2016

Barbie, Joyce and Charlie - thinking of you and your appointments.

Kim - see how tough you are! :flowerforyou:

Still decluttering! Sorted out a couple of small kitchen drawers. Found some freezer stickers that had belonged to DH's partner who died of breast cancer in 2000. Almost used up so I threw it away.
Also tore up a few more credit card statements.

Made yoghurt, strained off the rhubarb vodka we had made last March :embarassed: and made a curry with the cooked lamb from goodness knows when that had been lurking in the freezer. Want to defrost the freezer very soon - the ice is climbing out of it!

The bad news is that I can feel my dodgy tooth again. :sad: Will have to see how it is tomorrow. It will be an expensive and invasive business to sort it out, unfortunately. At least I'm not in the south of France this time.

Yoga was such fun this morning - we laughed all the time. I told them I had been meditating all week, deciding whether my "stuff" sparked joy, or not. :laugh:

Heather UK

Brrrrrrrrrrr! Baby, it's cold outside!

Donna in cold, frozen WV

Carol, at first I thought the pictures were your "before" decluttering! LOL Then I saw the broken glass and lock on the door and realized what it was. Hope the rest of your day goes better!

Carol - Oh my goodness! Some people are just plain mean! Sorry about the mess.

Miriam - I thought the same thing about the decluttering! lol

Donna

Oh Carol!!! My first thought was it was your home office, glad it was work... you work in a church, someone (s) must think churches are loaded... Hope that it is just a mess and that nothing was stolen. So sad.

Carol - Same thought here - thinking to myself that you must really hate filing to yank those drawers hard enough to bend them like that! Glad all the people are safe!

Had a quiet weekend away with DH's family, but eating on plan was tough because it was either B&B Breakfast food, fast food, or restaurants all weekend. I can "find" something acceptable no matter where we go, but DH's family is genetically incapable of make a freaking decision about where to go before everyone is starving and "hangry" and arguing. I was more stressed about food this weekend than I have been in a very long time. What makes me even madder, is that I KNOW this is how they are, but I don't want to rock the boat by asking them to plan ahead. Next time, I'm taking care of myself and the rest of them can hang!

Next challenge on the horizon - apparently a snowpocalyse is on the way to the mid-atlantic in a few days. Must check Bread, Liquor, and Toilet paper supply levels before the store shelves are emptied!

Carol ... I thought you were decluttering at first too! Lol! What a mess they've left you...

Accepting help. Here's what someone once told me: when someone offers to help, consider that this might be the Holy Spirit's (or whatever you believe motivates people to do good) leading. Maybe the first time they've responded to a force outside themselves. Do I want to stand in the way of God (or karma or whatever you believe in) working in THEIR lives? By accepting their help, I could actually be helping them. I know ... Still doesn't make it easy to accept help ... Just something to think about.

Barbie ... Hope your appointment goes well.

Michele ... Good luck with the skype!

Beth near Buffalo ... Trying to stay away from candy/snacks that are leftover from my DH's meeting last night.

Carol - Sorry to see you have such a miserable start to your week. Glad no one was there when it happened.

celtikgirl -

celtikgirl wrote: »

What makes me even madder, is that I KNOW this is how they are, but I don't want to rock the boat by asking them to plan ahead. Next time, I'm taking care of myself and the rest of them can hang!

Good for you! Remember this and stick to your guns the next time you visit. Packing protein bars or some other kind of healthy snack to munch on while they decide is one option.

I'll admit I would never have the nerve to do the following to family, but...

I once had a friend who couldn't make a decision or get moving to go out to eat. So one time I stood up, informed the room that I had to have food NOW, declared where I was going, informed the room that no one was obligated to join me there and asked for a show of hands as to who would meet me so I could save a table for the ones who did want to go there. Then I picked up my purse and walked out of the house. I had an appetizer while I waited for folks to show up and was eventually joined by everyone.

I did end up apologizing to my friend later and explaining in detail that I was beyond mildly hungry and what getting too hungry does to me. Having a hissy fit was probably not the most diplomatic way of dealing, but that particular group of friends always made a quick decision and departure after that incident.

Mia in MI

Happy Tuesday ! ! !

Drkatiebug – You should be proud. Any motion is good, then to be better than last time is wonderful. I can’t go 40 minutes on the treadmill, so you are my hero (along with everyone else who keeps moving, you go gurls) !

Sylvia – So sorry about your frozen pipes. That is both an inconvenience and an expense. I hope things move along for you quickly and without too much expense. Your grandkids eating the eggs just cracks me up. What wonderful memories you are making for them.

Gina – Congrats on breaking your plateau ! ! !

DJ – Thanks for rubbing it in. 6 years ago, when DH had a bunch of interviews, one of them was in Florida, and I didn’t push that one as hard as I now think I should have. Although I am also glad that I lived in this area so I was more available for my Mom and Sister, so I guess the bad weather was worth this part of my life. Definitely hope to retire to someplace warmer. // congrats on your outfit being WAAAY too big !

Barbie – I just can’t part with my yarn yet. If someone asks me to teach them something, I will happily give them everything they need. I’m just not ready to flat-out give it away yet, and don’t know if I ever will be. I buy more yarn before I’m done with the previous stash. I have had several groups donate to me numerous times, including the facility that makes LLBean, and I just can’t imagine parting with any of it, until it is a completed project. Kudos to you ! ! ! I did, however, part with some Avon boxes and old brochures yesterday, thanks to everyone talking about de-clutter and straighten (and my DH yelling about the mess, but mostly all you supportive ladies). Baby steps. I will keep your wise words in mind for when I am finally ready.

Bonnie – I’m with you regarding fiber arts. I am doing everything in my power to drag out the inevitable “claw” hands that many people with RA end up having, and crochet or loom knitting is THAT important to me. I want my fingers flexible and strong, and regardless of the pain, there is always something I can do to keep my hands moving. I may give up crochet for a few weeks, but then I start back on my loom knitting until the pain and stiffness moves to a different set of joints again.

Karen – It sounds like you have a very insightful plan. Keep trying to help your sister, and be supportive, and be flexible when she “pushes back”. It’s hard to be sisters and friends, so I certainly hope you will be successful. Taking care of yourself is the smartest thing you could do. Hugs and Prayers ! ! ! (keep the snow, I don’t want it back just yet)

Betty – Good luck with the restaurant meals. You Can Do This ! ! !

Michele – Hugs and Prayers during your Skype session ! ! !

Hugs and Prayers for everybody with soon-upcoming appointments. I hope you feel our warmth and peace !

Carol – So sorry about the invasion of your work and privacy (and the mess that needs attention). I hope CSI can catch the culprits sooner rather than later.

Beth – I love your thought about accepting help. Thank you for sharing such wisdom.

No sticker today. I went back for seconds of the pizza . I am in charge of my food consumption ! So, late lunch today has me currently snacking on 4 oz of sugar snap pea pods, and many are full of flavor, yay ! My new scale arrived today from WeightGurus. Someone on this site saw it on GMA, and it was a great price, so I bought it. I can’t wait to get it set up. The scale I have now had been located in front of DH’s deep fryer, so it is gunky inside, and I just don’t know how accurate it is these days.

I got DS dropped off at school early today, so I was able to ride the bike for 20 minutes. It was hard, because the heat is still not fixed, so I wore my gloves.

No news yet about DS's stolen iPhone. I guess we better take my old smartphone to Verizon, so at least he has something for safety purposes.

Hugs for Everyone ! ! !

Terri in Milwaukee (+14 and sunshine, yay )

Ladies, thank you so much for insight and support concerning my sister's renovation. It will be a long saga, hopefully with some happy results to report back, but slow and steady wins the race on this one. Many many thanks, I have already copied your comments to reflect back on in the weeks ahead as we plan and inch our way along. Change is not easy, so I respect that the smallest improvements are the ones to focus on right now.

Proud of myself for walking past (twice) the large tray of homemade cookies in the office today. But I really didn't feel hungry or "Hangry" so I kept walkin'

Karen from NY

Stronglifts Workout

Squat-1X 5X 65/75/85/95/105/115/120, 5X5X 122
Sumo squats-5X5X107
BP-1X5X 65/70/75, 5X5X 80
BR-5X5X 85

I felt good doing all of these lifts today. I was supposed to do a deload on the BP and BR because I have not been able to add more weight. However, I think I am going to try to add a pound to these next time.

It finally got above 0°F so I am going to take my puppy for a walk. He loves being outside. But, he doesn't like the leash too much though.



Mary from Minnesota

Beth and Miriam - I call those curio shelves. I think they are both lovely pieces.

Sylvia - I love that the earrings are replicas of tools that are special to you. I once saw some earrings that were replicas of blow pipes for glass blowing. I couldn't afford them at the time and am sad that now that my finances are better I have never found another pair.

DJ - I love the organized drawers. I really want to try that method of folding when I get around to organizing my drawers. It's going to be a while since I am still just clearing out floor space.

---

Speaking of clearing floor space...

My de-cluttering project continues. This weekend I emptied 10 boxes. Filled 6 grocery bags with recycling and put them out with the rest of the recyclables. I filled 2 30 gal trash bags. I took 4 trash bags and 9 boxes of stuff to Salvation Army. AND I took 16 boxes to a local auction house for their Thursday sale. I am very pleased with this weekend's progress.

Mia in MI

m1cbry wrote: »

Annr and Katla49: Thank you so much for the encouragement. Annr: I have been thinking a lot about emotional responses and processes lately....it's been an eye opening journey, but exhausting...there are days when I literally think, "Just pass me the Twinkies for cryin' out loud." Probably because it's easier.

Yep journey's like these are ALWAYS eye openers :-) You can vent yell cry moan, but don't whine too much.....at least not without the appropriate crackers and apple slices. You aren't in this alone...hey, it takes a village to move a mountain right? And there are ladies that have moved those mountains (of excess weight) and are here to help ya. I still have mountains, but every day I am mentally slinging that ax.
Becca
Oregon

KJLaMore wrote: »

Need some advice on a family situation/disagreement. I mentioned that my sister has a brain tumor. It is a grade 4 glioblastoma and with surgery and treatment she has one year to one and a half years to live. She had the surgery to have most of it removed and that went well. She will start chemo/radiation in three to four weeks, as long as her health/recovery continues to improve. Here is where there is disagreement. My sister is a snacker. She likes her treats. She eats whatever meal is put in front of her, so with us cooking healthy meals for her, she is eating healthy options. BUT: Her kids and my brother want her to give up her snacks. Her chex mix, her popcorn, her cookies... Since being diagnosed with the tumor at Thanksgiving, she has given up smoking, drinking, coffee, soda, and chocolate. My philosophy is: Let her have whatever she wants because once the chemo and radiation starts, she won't feel like eating anything! Or many foods she would normally like, will make her sick. So...as her personal shopper, do I buy what she wants? or appease the kids and siblings and buy only healthy stuff?

(((Hugs))) I am so sorry to hear about your sister! If it was me and I was the one that was ill I would eat whatever I wanted! I would probably even smoke. I told my DH that when I am 90 I'm going to start smoking again! She should be the One to decide what she wants to eat or doesn't want to eat let alone anything else in her life.



Mary from Minnesota

KJLaMore -

KJLaMore wrote: »

Need some advice on a family situation/disagreement. I mentioned that my sister has a brain tumor. It is a grade 4 glioblastoma and with surgery and treatment she has one year to one and a half years to live. She had the surgery to have most of it removed and that went well. She will start chemo/radiation in three to four weeks, as long as her health/recovery continues to improve. Here is where there is disagreement. My sister is a snacker. She likes her treats. She eats whatever meal is put in front of her, so with us cooking healthy meals for her, she is eating healthy options. BUT: Her kids and my brother want her to give up her snacks. Her chex mix, her popcorn, her cookies... Since being diagnosed with the tumor at Thanksgiving, she has given up smoking, drinking, coffee, soda, and chocolate. My philosophy is: Let her have whatever she wants because once the chemo and radiation starts, she won't feel like eating anything! Or many foods she would normally like, will make her sick. So...as her personal shopper, do I buy what she wants? or appease the kids and siblings and buy only healthy stuff?

Why do they want her to give up her snacks? Do the snacks make her ill? Are they hard for a caregiver to make or clean up after? Are they the only thing she is eating? Are they hideously expensive beyond her budget? If the danged snacks are not causing real problems buy what she wants. You said her meals are healthy so she is getting the nutrition she needs. Now is not the time to make a fuss over what your sister consumes.