WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2016

Lenora,might I add a discount? McDonald's has a senior drink. I'm not sure how much it is but when I get my item off the $ menu and ask for a senior drink it's $1.72. Also our Pizza Hut gives a 15% discount. Now whether that it is a local thing or not, I don't know. Walgreens sends me an Email about every month for senior Tuesday. I think it is 10 or 15% There are also discounts if you have AAA. Many of them are like what is on your senior discounts. Payless has a 15% with our AAA card.

Sylvia, how would your son accept changing locks and phone numbers. That way she couldn't get a hold of him to come back again. ell I guess he and you would have to change email adressess also. It's a shame he takes her back.

OK, I am going to be on my soap box. Why do people, especially of the younger generation and I am including my daughters who are in their mid to late 30's think that they can only communicate by texting when using their cell phones? WOW, that was a long sentence. Today Michelle was out looking at cars. So she was sending us pictures and she and her Dad, him in the bathroom, would send questions and answers back and forth. He eventually took our land line and just called her. That worked until the next car came along. I can't tell you the amount of texts that she sent me. Charlie has just now learned how to dial a number on a cell phone so he can't text her. And just like the way I am typing here, I type and text one fingered.

I think I told you about the tin can she was looking at. She came to her senses and said no to that. Yes, it had voice activation everything in it, keyless start, but it was a tin can and she has 3 good size dogs and frequently babysits 2 other dogs. She ended up getting a Kia Soul. She said she would never get the Cube because i looks like a box. Well the Soul doesn't look much better. at least it has better ground clearance. She was very stressed, this was her first car she has bought herself since leaving home and then being married. Her boyfriend went with her and helped.

Pip, I love your dogs new haircut.

Joyce, Indiana

Hi Friends,
Last week at this time I was decompressing in the executive suite of the Marriott Hotel and Spa in Newport Beach, California.(That’s where the new profile pic was taken.) The national conference I was in charge of was over, and I was just reveling in the relief. I took full advantage of the beautiful salt water lap pool and got in two good swims before checking out on Sunday afternoon. Visited with a dear couple who I’ve known for years from when we all lived in Honolulu. She had a stroke a month ago, and I was shocked to see this normally smiling and vibrant woman walking and talking like a zombie. She is getting great care and will recover, but her story was an eye opener for me.

The time change last week threw my four legged alarm clock for a loop and I missed out on some workout time. We’re back in sync now, and it feels great to be back into my usual exercise and food. routine. Did my workout with resistance bands today for the first time in 2 weeks. Wearing this fitbit has been a revelation. I’m really a slug! Struggling to hit the 10k steps per day, especially weekdays when I’m tied to my desk.

It’s taken me a full week of reading to catch up with this busy group. Have to say the photos of grandbabies and furbabies made me smile. No trips on the near horizon, so I’ll be back here again soon.

Stay well. We can do this.

Rori
Colorado Foothills were we just had 6 inches of snow

MARCH goals and progress to date
Eat mindfully. = B
Strength train 2x/week = C
Beat February step total = A
Take first step towards getting HI condo sold = A
Weigh less at the end of the month = Up 2 pounds, but still time
My word for 2016: Optimism

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Hi gals,

KJL – the school pool is open for lap swimming $5 a visit, a discount to $120 for 25 visits but they have to be finished within the month… so you have to go every day…. And $5 is a lot for my budget - I regularly eat under $5 – but I cook.

Welcome newbies!

Sylvia – keep her emails (don’t read them – just keep them) you may need them sometime in a legal battle.

Lisa -we have turkeys here too, I love it when they decide to take on the cars in the road and the traffic comes to a stop – others get pissy, but I think it is really quite funny.

Jane – thinking of you!!!

Lenora - Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read everyones posts – good wishes to all, just tired I gardened for at least 3 hours everyday for the last 6 days, and I’m tired and sore…. To bed now and NO alarm clock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kim from N. California

kimses you make an adorable bunny, the wedgie comment made me laugh out loud.

rori i missed why you are selling condo in HI, i am so jealous, dreaming of visiting hawaii someday.

heather beatrice is filling out, she is a stunner!

Forgot to tell you how the food drive luncheon went, well it was a bumpy road, but we turned it into a brunch, added tote bags to sell and all the $$ went to the community food pantry, my school raised the most $$ from an individual building and i carted a carful of canned goods to the pantry on friday. Felt good, if a little overwhelming for being so busy and sick. I will be the lead on the food drive next year. I am going to list all that work to be done so i can be more ready and organized next year. It is such a wonderful mission, the folks who volunteer regularly at the pantry are amazing folks.

Peaceful day everyone.
Karen from ny

I'm 49 in July. Would you mind if I joined? Thanks, Maryam Elizabeth

Good morning everyone. Sunny but slightly cold here. Was hoping it would be a little warmer so I could do more outside today. Busy mind and body keeps me going. No pity party today going to try and be grateful for what I do have. As long as I stay busy I think I can be successful with that.

For those who garden I have tried planting bulbs each year but the squirrel and other animals keep digging them up. Any suggestions on what I can do? Trying to plant things that return each year with little or no maintenance. Love color in my yard. What to make it so when I sit out there I can take in the beauty and appreciate it. If that makes sense.

Anne from Wisconsin

Joyce, he has already changed his phone number, and she doesnt have a key to his apartment. He changed the passwords on his bank account, along with other accounts, and almost immediately got about 50 notifications from his bank saying someone had tried to access his account. He doesn't have much in there, but who knows what damage she could do.

This morning I woke up with pain in my gut, but this one doesnt feel quite like the blocked colon pain. Maybe more kidney, if I had to guess. Its kind of on the side. Thought maybe it would go away, but so far has not. I hate getting old. Everything hurts.

Typing is taking a long time. Bruno is on my lap and every so often he sticks his nose over the edge of the ipad and pushes it out of the way so I can focus on petting him. He's being very cuddly this morning. He especially likes when I stroke his face and run my finger along the groove that runs from his nose to the top of his head. His eyes close, all blissed out, and when I stop his eyes pop open and he says, "Why did you stop?". Silly, sweet dog.

Gotta go. Bruno needs me. Later, ladies.

Sylvia

Good morning all! Happy Sunday! The sun is out, but it is still a chilly 33 degrees. Not that cold, but still colder than it has been lately. I am taking a phrase I got recently from a Finnish friend, to heart: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices." I will be walking with extra layers today.

I spent yesterday cooking/prepping for the week for my family, daycare, and for my in-laws who are in their 80's and recuperating from hospital stays (again). So, because I was inside pretty much all day, except for my walk; I will be outside for a couple hours doing some yard work. A blustery night brought down more branches from the trees. I am going to get those picked up and get them (and the pile collected from my daycare kids) burned today. The kids really wanted me to burn them after they picked up, but some of them are so unpredictable in how they play and meander about, I didn't want to risk any of them getting too close to the fire pit.

Anne - I struggle with keeping bulbs growing also. I would love to hear some of the "greenthumb" ladies ideas for saving the bulbs. I have all kinds of wildlife; moles, deer, bunnies, and a few squirrels but not many. I think the hawks and eagles are keeping the squirrel population down.

Welcome Maryam Elizabeth!

BArbie- Your father sounds like my father. I grew up in a large family, father worked at the post office, mom stayed home with six kids and cared for us and grandparents (all in one little house). We received government cheese, eggs, and milk. Always on a budget. But I married a man whose family lived buying on credit and paying off debt and so here we are; in our 50's and trying to get on top of a huge debt. Back to life on a budget. I have found out a LOT about myself during this time. I am MUCH better at saying "NO or Sorry we can't" than my husband is. I think, not being able to afford things that others seem to do/buy without giving it a second thought, is a blow to his ego. The "good provider" thing. He has been a great provider, but I keep telling him that we need to get ourselves in shape financially so that we don't have to depend on our children later in life. We really should have been doing this earlier; because just beginning to dig out now, is a little scary!

Katie- Prayers and good thoughts to you as you send your/God's message to others!

Kim- Wowsa! That's a LOT of money for $25 visits to the pool. I saved up and got an annual pass for our high school pool. It cost $150 for unlimited use for a year. I swim about two to three times a week. A friend with a pool, now that temps are getting better? You could barter pool tending services for pool usage?

Pip- Bullwinkle is looking posh and fluffy!

Heather- I just can't say enough about that darling baby!

Janet- Can you do protein powder/shakes? I found protein powders to be an acquired taste. Took me a week or so to get used to the taste. I stick with chocolate and add half a banana and unsweetened almond milk. Fage no fat greek yogurt has only 9g carbs and 23g protein. Cottage cheese has 12g carbs per cup and 24g protein. Finding good protein sources without the added carbs IS hard.

Rori- Good to see you back on! Sorry to hear about your friend who has suffered a stroke. DH's best friend suffered a major stroke a couple of years ago; and it just tore DH up to visit him and do things with him and see him struggle for his "old normal" lifestyle. It has been two years, but he is talking much clearer and is able to walk well and has gotten the okay to drive again. He is not working anymore, but is in good financial shape to where that is not going to be an issue. But yes, I agree, so painful to see the vibrancy gone and know that this person has so much to say and offer and is not capable, YET. Hopefully time and therapy will help her!

Penny, CJ, Lenora- Names do seem to be getting crazier, but maybe that is why a portion of the population is going back to the "old" names. Thinking about names, though, has made me wonder if anyone really likes there name when they are younger. My mother wanted to name me Rachael, but my dad over ruled and named me Kelly. I didn't like my name growing up; but I was grateful I wasn't named Rachel. I remember telling my parents that I wanted to change my name to Desiree. (Glad that didn't happen). My daughter thinks it is funny that the name I had picked for her; I ended up not using. She just didn't look like an Andromeda (thank God for that). Then, if my son would have been a girl, he would have been named Sara Aurora. Can you imagine?! Sara Aurora LaMore. Not sure what I was thinking. So I have a Lauren and a Colin. I think their names suit them. I have many nieces and nephews with the older names: Evelyn, Eleanor, Isabel, Charles, Walter, Carl...

Well, I have been multitasking while I have been trying to read and post. It has taken me over an hour to read and respond. Gotta get busy and get things done. Love and hugs to all! Beth- Hello! For some reason I know I wanted to reply to something you said, but it is slipping my mind! special hug to you!

KJ, Becca, Kim etc and all those on a budget - I really do feel for you. Sometimes I worry that when I post about things I am doing that I might be upsetting someone. I know that not everyone has my good fortune not to have to worry about every penny. I used to be in that situation before my remarriage, going week to week and thinking twice before I bought a new tube of toothpaste, so I can definitely relate. Every time I spend a week's grocery bill for a family on a pleasure trip for the day I am very aware of it. Sending my very good wishes to you and hope that things get better. :flowerforyou:

Lisa - I am touched that you thought of me when you read that article. She does have some very good points to make. Believe me, I have had my struggles with food and comfort eating, or I would not have got so big. However genetic luck gave me a taste for savoury things rather than sweet (although strangely I do like caramel) and I have always loved vegetables. I was brought up the same as anyone else in the 50s, with a post war time diet, but my tastes expanded from the 1960 onward when we went on our first camping trip to France. We started then to eat more "Frenchified". My repertoire enlarged again at university when I became obsessed by recipe books, primarily Elizabeth David, and had them by the side of my bed. After I married at 20 we shared a house with a fanatical foodie who hugely influenced me. He had friends who moved in very foodie circles.
As I said, I have had my battles, but now days I don't fear food and enjoy what I eat so much. Some of it may look a bit odd to others, including DH, :laugh: But I have found my maintenance sweet spot, combined with my 600 exercise calories. My challenge at the moment is alcohol - nothing serious, but I want to do even better.

DH had some devastating news today, which I am not at liberty to share with you, about a family member. He is very shocked and has gone out for a walk. It's the kind of news that has far reaching effects and wrecks lives. I feel so sorry for him.

Lots of love, Heather UK

Thank you KJLaMore

morning well almost good afternoon...
I am a blooming mess. have the shakes which is unlike me, I do not like being rushed.. we went to feed DFIL and he wouldnt eat so we came home, made Tom breakfast and on the way home he said if you really need to pick some groceries up you can go ,I will drop you off and I will go to Home Depot, so I am doing stuff around the kitchen and then he changes his clothes and says he is ready to go.. well he said later, which I meant to be around this time, so I hadn't really looked at the circular and gotten coupons together, so teasingly he said come on you have 5 min. well I didnt know he was teasing, so here I am rushing around trying to get coupons together, make a quick list, then he starts counting down.. I was about to beat him with a stick... and I was rushing around the store, with my list and coupons, told him I would keep it under 100 and I did 94.00 but still grrrrrrr.
Then came home and put it away.. I have tried to have things organized in the freezer and in the fridge so all he has to pick something and heat it up...less I have to do for the next week when I stop in in the mornings to take care of the dogs and get mine and his lunch together..

Karen from NY: We're selling our Honolulu condo because we are very certain we will not be returning to live there and it will simplify our lives. Extra cash in the retirement account will be nice, too. I wish it didn't need so much work, but at least I have an absolutely wonderful and cooperative tenant who will work with me, if he doesn't just buy the place himself. I've never sold a property, and not looking forward to the stress of it. Baby steps for now. I'll be heading there in May to replace the kitchen appliances and do some cosmetic improvements to the bath.

It's a beautiful first day of spring here. Most of the snow has melted, the sun is very bright, and I've got 6800+ steps done before lunch.

Rori
Colorado Foothills