WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR AUGUST 2016

I don't think I could ever live in a apartment or condo where you have shared walls. I saw an episode on on House Hunters where they saw a house that had a shared wall but it was just a bathroom. That wouldn't be to bad unless they liked to sing in the shower and were bad at it. But I do wonder how much longer we can stay in this 2200 square foot bi-level. I wonder if the stair lift needs to come before any of our other remodeling. Our staircase isn't very wide so I hope it can be done.

Joyce, Indiana

beth sending you strength. Loved the article, hit every emotion I am feeling. We are at that tense 2 weeks to go point and I can't even suggest she clean her room. Will she magically pack without my intervention???
I will be thinking of you tomorrow , sorry you will have to drive two cars home. Musicians and their baggage!!! Best of luck to your son as he starts his grand adventure. NYKAREN

n

Ilikegardens – I might check the next time we go out to a Mexican Restaurant. I’ll just have to see what I feel like.

After seeing what damage a regular pressure cooker can do, when I got one for a wedding present, I gave it to my Mother. I did not want to have that kind of mess in my kitchen (or possibly all over me and my children who stayed under foot whenever I was in the kitchen. I’ll take my slow cooker any day. I’ve got 3 to choose from. The 2 I like best (my big one and my little one) have crock pots that are removable. Makes for easier cleaning and storage in refrigerator.

Tracey in PA – Received call from DYS today they live in Louisiana (across the Mississippi from Natchez, MS) and said they’ve had some rain; but, nothing like in Baton Rouge (where one of his former bosses live full-time).

Isn’t it strange that things that you’ve been asking for DHs to look at; finally get fixed when they break. I’m just glad that it did not break the tiles or you get hurt. My DH would have come straight up out of the bed and rushed in to find out if I am ok or not. We have one of those pre-fab showers (hate it) and if I drop my razor on the floor, he comes in to make sure I am ‘ok’. A few years ago, we went out to our son’s place (before he got married) and were staying in the trailer at the lake. I went to step out of the shower; and the floor was another 9” or so further done. Lost my balance and tried to hang on to the shower to break my fall. All l did was end up getting all tangled up in the curtain and the rail came down on me. When DH tried to come in, the door opened into the bathroom and I was blocking it. Shower still going full blast; I’m totally naked but covered with the curtain. I hit my back on the toilet. I needed him, but, he could not get to me until I was able to move away from the door.

NYKAREN – I would be climbing the walls on a ‘diet’ that told me to cut out coffee! I’m basically a ‘junkie’ for the coffee caffeine that I get. It doesn’t even bother me to drink it at night. Which we do.

Marcelynh – For a while we had 2 of us with March birthdays; two with April birthdays; then Mothers was in October and quite often we’d ‘forget’. When oldest sister married her DH had an October birthday … so that was easy to remember. Then when my middle sister and I married both our DHs had November birthday. So then it got easier.

By Christmas – Those daggers will be ‘in her hands’ … not just ‘in her eyes’. But, babies any time are great (especially for grandparents … who love to ‘spoil’ them).

Charleen – Sounds like you and I have the same problem with our hair. Mine is fine, fairly thin; and several cowlicks to boot! I don’t trust too many people with my hair. The man that I get to ‘perm’ it, when I do … is getting a bit older … I’d say he might be my sister’s age (70) and this last year has been so very hard for him. His wife was following him home one night; and, a deer ran out in front of her. Unfortunately, she did what most people would do, slammed on brakes and tried to miss it.

My husband has always told that I’d be better off most of the time to just take my foot off the gas and hit it.

You need to be really, really careful painting that deck, especially when you get to the part that slopes. I know DH ties his ladders a lot of time when the ground slopes a lot.

Joyce – I agree that the Olympics seem to be ‘all about Michael Phelps’. I get tired of swimming, don’t like track and field, and definitely don’t care for ‘golf’. I love the gymnastics part; but, they are always at a time during the day or late at night and I only find them ‘if I surf the channels’ … I think Sunday is supposed to have more gymnastics; but, I don’t know what time.

I know it costs ‘money’; but if you are doing some remodeling on a (more than one floor) place; it might be worth having someone with some architectural knowledge come look at the place and also to ‘talk’ to the chairlift people. The ones I have see on TV; ‘say’ they can make them ‘wrap’ about a landing. I don’t know how much room it actually takes up; but, it seems like the seat can be folded up when not in use. Also don't know how someone who might be in a wheelchair would get in and out of one; then, there'd have to be a 2nd wheelchair on the other floor. One reason DH has not ever wanted another house on 2 or 3 levels. OK, when we were younger, just inconvenient with small children. But, I really like the 2-story house we lived in when we first moved back to Albany ... it had a lot of charm. I would have liked to have done a few changes to the layout and built it out here. My parents owned a large 2-story house; they made their den into a bedroom; so, after we left, they really had no use for the upstairs except when we all came home to visit. But, they also put a door at the bottom of the back stairwell; and then had a wall and door put up at the top of the 'open' stairwell up front.

Becca – Apartment living can be a real B****; I know if I ever need to live in another apartment; I will look for one on the ground floor with a brick fire wall between us … sound-proofing. Nobody above me. They’re probably all condos; but, I like the idea of having your own little place, with a carport and patio that is ‘private’.

Carol (Peach1948) – Maybe you could check with a place like “Stanley Sweeper/Cleaner” whatever, and find out what to do about the smoky smell. They do all sorts of things to clean up after fires and floods. I hope that you also replaced the padding under the carpet; if not, that is probably your source. I remember going into a house where both people chain—smoked. I mean, light one cigarette off the one they had just finished … for 40+ years. It hit you like an oven door blasting heat, when you walked in. Everything was ‘yellow’. Got a couple of things. One was a mattress and box springs; and, even though we put them both in zipper covers (waterproof) the smell was still awful! Had them a week and threw them out. We finally bought the boys a set of twin beds and then I bought a bed and mattresses for the other room. I don’t think you can get smoke out of a place. Getting all furniture out of the house as well. Since DH stopped smoking, going into a house that reeks of smoke gives him a headache.

Did you also paint the ceilings? DH says about the only thing to do is wash the walls real good in a strong solution of bleach and then put “KILZ” on the wall and ceiling and paint over them. Replace carpets. If you have flooring or counter tops … it get absorbed into it … hard to get rid of it. Wish I had some other suggestions.

Lenora

Did an hour of Upper Body Bikini Blast and Sweaty Fusion DVD. The plan for tomorrow is to do a Sculpt Mom Walking and Stott Pilates Walk to Total Fitness DVD

katla - I like to put frozen fruit (blueberries or strawberries) on my cottage cheese/oatmeal/steel cut oats because as they defrost, a "juice" forms.

SugarDarling - did you teach fitness classes or were you a personal trainer?

SO FAR the weather.com is predicting a 50% chance of rain the day of the pool social. Well, if it rains, then we'll just be inside watching the pool...lol

Exercised, made these "No Pudge Brownies" from scratch, but they came out awful, very very gooey, used the hedge trimmer on the weeds that are growing back that Vince can't get with the tractor. I declare the weeds DONE. Then went in the pool. Now getting ready to go to dinner with friends. Am going to have the black bean burger at buffalo Wild Wings. Boy, is that high in sodium! I didn't realize until just now. Am baking different brownies right now. Went in the pool. Had to do my part to keep the pool clean, eh????

Anne - the haircut looks wonderful

Vince said Denise called while I was in the pool. Said something about "save the date" cards. We never did that when we got married. To me, that's an expense you really don't need, having the cards printed up, the postage. then there's the invitation. Then the "thank you" cards

Barb - welcome!

Lenora - we have this thing that you attach to a hose and the force of the water lifts the leaves up into this bag. It's really quite handy

Marcelyn - what a schedule you have of birthdays! So sorry about your drainage problem. But at least you know what to do, the only thing is when you can do it

UtDiane - welcome! You are so right, counting calories and not following a certain diet is the only way to lose.

campfire - welcome. So sorry about your diagnosis. You CAN lose

Lenora - can you tell me how you dh ties his ladders when the ground slopes? We have a bush at the corner of our house that is quite large. when Vince goes to use the hedge trimmer on it, he has to stand on a ladder and I have to hold it. That REALLY scares the heck out of. So what exactly is it that your dh does?

Michele in NC

P