WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2016

Karen in Virginia – I went back on FB, mainly to be able to see pictures of my DGDs. DDnL#2 does not have too many pictures posted on FB and so few of her daughter, who she tries to protect. We called to wish DGD#4 “Happy Birthday”; but, she was with her daddy. We’ll call back this weekend when she is home with her Mama.

Re – I had my technical support team to check it out for me; they did a total scan (found a few things that needed to be removed); changed my default browser from IE to Google Chrome. Seemed to have helped. They said that IE had a lot more ‘pop-up screens’ and changing would help that.
I made some ‘kick-@$$’ vegetable soup from left-over ham and beans, 15-bean dry beans in my crock pot, cooked on low all last night, turned it down to warm for the day, turned it up and added some tomatoes (Ro-tel original). DDnL#2 ate a bowl full. I think the new meds are already kicking in. I’ve been asked to attend DOGD’s boyfriends’ college graduation. We’ll have to get up about the time the guys leave on their trip to make it up there and back. She was a lot more laid back tonight and usually she is ‘screaming’ at someone before they leave.
Speaking of tribble … if I wear ‘white’ or ‘off-white’ … I am going to have something ‘on it before I even ‘get’ to where I am going’. Oh wait, that’s dribble, isn’t it?

Michele – Gay Gasper Rebounder? LOL! Actually, RITFLMAO! I know, I know … I can see the irony in a lot of things. Gutter mind. Sorry …HEHEHEHEHE!!!

GOOD GRIEF!!! 5000 sq.ft.????? WOW!!! I grew up in an old colonial-era 2-story house that had 4000 sq. ft (±) and for the area … it was considered ‘big’. Parents, in my Junior year of HS took the big wrap-around porch and made it into a Williamsburg-style home. Redecorated the downstairs on one side, putting in A/C and totally redoing the kitchen/den area. First the architect had drawn in the kitchen in the back of the house; then when they started doing the demo, they found a 24” square heart-of-pine post that went from the underground (sitting on a huge piece of Micha) all the way to the tallest part of the house; so he had to redraw the plans; putting the den area where he had drawn in the kitchen. After it was done, my mother was really happy that it then made the kitchen next to the DR. A blessing in disquise. It had a large foyer, LR (divided by double pocket doors), dining room, kitchen/den area, laundry room, large back foyer, 2 stairwells, center hall top and bottom floors, 2 bathrooms, and 6 bedroom, and that did not count the cedar closet under one stairwell, or the ‘hidden’ closet under the front, nor the linen closet upstairs and what had been the top floor porch. Sad thing is, when they took the porch off, they trimmed up the huge magnolia tree beside it. No more ‘sneaking out’. Oldest sister and I would do so, not middle sister, she was afraid of heights. We’d shimmy across a branch that went over a concrete patio. One Christmas we were all home and started talking about the things we did as children and teenagers. My oldest sister ask our mother how did she allow us to do that (climb down the tree); she said she did not know it (until then). I’ve learned a lot more about my sons since they have grown up and had children of their own. Very eye-opening. Is your house all on one floor? Is it an ‘old’ home? Our house used to be a Civil War Clinic; and, when we moved into it, under the front porch (between the foundation of the porch and the house, they had taken down solid brass candelabras and wrapped them up to hide them so they would not be stolen. I had pulled an old cast iron vent that had fallen out of the foundation out and when Daddy asked where I got it, he sent the son of maid up there to see what I was talking about the ‘hole in the wall’. He brought out these lanterns with the globes wrapped up in sheets. Daddy had the wired and put in place (D/R and front foyer). Living in an old home was a lot of fun. We had a “Christmas Ghost” … we would all be sitting in the LR and could hear someone walking upstairs. One Christmas Daddy and my BnL walked up each stairwell with guns – but nobody up there, nothing they could find. But, every Christmas as long as we lived in the house, we’d hear foot-steps. We downsized when we built out here. It is plenty big enough for the two of us. My parents entertained a lot.

Barbie – I agree with Sue about listening to your body. There is one thing that I do, even if I am not planning on it; but, if I feel sleepy and sit in my chair. I will get up and put my C-pap on, so much better than falling asleep and not have it. I sleep a lot more comfortably when I do. If I go get in bed … I might not be able to fall asleep there. I usually listen to my body when it says, ‘lay down’ (or relax now)! I’m a lot safe and so are others around me.

Gloria – Throwing parties, when you have ‘blended extended family’ can get very big, very quickly.

Donnajz4241 – I am going to guess your name is ‘Donna’ … post what you’d like to be called (even if you want to use an alias, place (general or specific), tell us a little about yourself, hobbies, family, fur babies, etc., so we can get to know you. My advice is to take that 75-100lbs and break it down into smaller goals, maybe 10-15 lbs. and then it will be less overwhelming. Tracking everything that passes over your lips is key as well as exercise. Walking is one of the best (and for most) the easiest exercise to do. We burn calories just sitting; but, not enough to burn off what we eat. Some people have pedometers or Fitbits, etc., to keep up with the number of steps they make in a day. I walked 4 miles just moving furniture around in my den, thought it looked good, DH came home and did not like it but agreed we’d try it for a week; so walked 4 more putting it back. It is really heavy 1920’s’/ 30’s style of furniture and heavEEEEE!!! When ‘he’ designed the house, I think he took my penchant for playing ‘musical furniture’ into mind, so that there isn’t much I can do to change it around. That and making the doors ‘slam-proof’.

Grace – Hello, we hope you will keep coming back and posting. You’ve come to the greatest spot to get encouragement (and a lot of ‘entertainment’). You’ll find we are quite the ‘chatty’ group of ladies who are very supportive of one another. About the only things we don’t discuss is ‘politics’ and ‘religion’. Other than that … we will say about anything, especially once one gets used to the others on the thread.

Joyce – That’d be hard on everybody. As a child I used to really find it hard to sit through 6 stanzas of “Just As I Am” during a revival … sung at least 3x, even ‘if’ nobody ‘came down to the front of the church’. Probably one of my least favorite hymns to this day.

Sherry – I’m sorry things are so bad there; maybe something will open up soon at some other place. Sweetie, you’ve got to eat or else you will be ‘flat on your back’ and it doesn’t sound like that is a good position to find yourself in at your present location. Is the next door neighbor still friends with you? Hope so, you need a friend on your side.

Y’all with RVs or 5th wheelers … be care when you travel in them. Saw the aftermath of a wreck (5th wheeler – apparently he was either going too fast or lost control or someone ran him off the road. I don’t think there were any injuries (or else they got them loaded and gone before I came up on it. It looked like a convention of State Patrol, Sheriff Deputies from 2 counties and a lot of gawkers. Look like they had just ‘up righted’ it; or else it got sideswiped by some big. Inside lane blocked both sides of the highway. With all of the troopers and deputies standing around, it must have happened close to an hour earlier.

Heather – When my two were born, we never knew what they were until they popped out; DOS had a head full of hair, the OB said, ‘well looks like we might have a girl, here, then the shoulders …. UH, maybe not; then the rest … “It’s a BOY and he is perfect.” So much changed between DOS and DYS (only 27 months apart. Two different cities … DYS and DOS, I stayed in the hospital because I was ‘considered’ to be ‘high risk’. When DYS was born, none of the ‘pre-delivery prep like done with DOS’. Born in a ‘private’ hospital that was owned by the MDs in the building. Treated like queens … 3 meals and 3 snacks a day for ‘nursing mamas’. My neighbors were up there 2 hours after he was born with a bottle of wine (and a Playgirl magazine that they had ear-marked appropriate (to them) pages. OB made rounds and told me I could have one glass of wine with them. They were all about 2 sheets to the wind; with the neighborhood babysitter as the DD. Nurses came around at least 3 times to tell us to try to hold it down. All rooms were ‘private’ so I did not have to worry about disturbing a roommate.

Kate – Growing up we had all kinds of different lights on our tree (11’ so it would touch the ceiling … we got to hand the decorations on the limbs we could reach. WJ put the tree up and hung the lights and the ornaments at the top of the tree. We had regular lights; a couple of strings of the ‘original’ bubble light (they now have them out again); big round rights with little bits of plastic chips on them, candle lights, anything different; we had it, or so it seemed. The most fun we had was wrapping presents (for a family that Daddy had gotten their names from the local churches or Sheriff; who would not have a Christmas without him. It was always to be ‘anonymous’; but, then one year a family told them ‘they really wanted to thank the person who had given them so much’. When his name was released, they came to him wanting money. He never did it again, and he had been doing it for YEARS. Sort of took the meaning of giving out of Christmas for him. We’d wrap toys and clothes and shoes, several bags of groceries and the Sheriff would deliver it.

The first Christmas after my DYS and his wife were engaged, she and DGD#4 bought a small tree and decorated it at his place; she said when he came home and saw it, he went over and hugged it. He had been away from home working at that night over 10 years and never had a tree and has never been back home during Christmas (because of ‘hunting season’ and he manages a hunting preserve. His 5 bosses are extremely generous to him, especially at Christmas. They did not get to come home this year. He had been ‘catching up’ and DDnL#2’s ‘ex’ was giving her a huge problem about visitation rights.

I had a ‘new’ friend when I was a Freshman in HS; they had just moved to town that school year. I was amazed at their tree; it was covered with “Angel Hair” and where it was around the lights it just ‘glowed’ … and that was when “Angel Hair was actually spun glass’ and would cut your hands to pieces. But, it was beautiful! I did it one year; but, did not ever do it again. It was a huge mess to try to ‘un-decorate’ the tree. Come to think of it, I am not sure they even had ‘ornaments’ on it; just a bunch of lights. I got a new string of lights to thread through my macramé tree; and, it has a little box so that I can make it change how the lights are, from solid to blinking, and 5 other settings. My DYGD sat in front of it just mesmerized tonight. But, the real ‘excitement’ was the ‘new toilet bowl light that is movement activated. My DOS went in, was going to turn on the light at the sink. He yelled to the kids to come there. My DMGD thought it was ‘cool’ and wanted one. I’d really like to find another one and hopefully have it delivered in time for her birthday (Christmas Eve). She’ll be “Sweet 16” this year! Oh my, how time flies. She still won’t drive, although she did get her Learner’s License. I don’t know if she has to have it renewed if she does not get a regular license.

Rita – Go back and check you tracking pages … she when you were losing and what you were doing then. Sometimes you sort of have ‘to shock you system’ to knock it off a plateau. If you eat the same thing, day in – day out, your body gets accustomed to that and doesn’t do as well. So do something out of the ordinary, even if you have to take a ‘cheat day’ and go over your caloric intake that day; and, exercise a little longer. Also drink more water.

Marion – You can do it!!!!! We all have fallen off the wagon; but, we all just have to ‘get up and brush our knees off’ and move on. Set small – 10 or 15 lb. goals at a time and not see it as needing to lose the entire amount as the goal. Makes it so you can ‘celebrate’ several times, instead of ‘waiting’. I know it worked for me.

Mary from Minnesota – We had wallpaper put up in an ‘old house’ … none of the walls were level or plumb; but, the wallpaper guy said that what is at eye level all the way around the room should be in a straight line … everything else will work out, it is the optical illusion. When we live in a ‘new’ house and I wanted to put up a plaid wallpaper … we marked a line at eye level; and hung a major crossmark … on that line. Some people ‘wrap’ around a corner, he said to NOT do that because if the corners are not plumb it will throw everything out from that point on.

Beth – That seems to be the same thing we get with our Japanese Magnolia – puts out lfowers before it puts out leaves. So we’ll get buds because the late Winter, early Spring is warm, then BOOOOOOOM … a freeze. I do not buy any kind of ‘plants’ such as ferns until the Pecan trees start budding out their new leaves. You cannot ‘fool’ them … when they start budding out new leaves … no more freezes. At least not down here in Southwest GA.

Took Cracker to Vet to have her nails ground down. For the first time since last Friday she has gone out and come back in when called. I asked the vet about it, her going down nearly a quarter-of-a-mile to go ‘play’ with a dog who has an invisible fencing. The vet asked if I knew whether or not this dog might have been ‘fixed’; and, then said, if not then if she were ‘in heat’ and the wind is right any dog (male or female) would go to investigate. I only thought male dogs did that unless you had them ‘fixed’. Apparently, male dogs wander just to wander; and, female dogs want to check anything out, just ‘nosey’. Like the rest of mankind. LOL! Louis did say that over the weekend the wind was blowing from their direction to us. Maybe she did not smell anything to go investigate. Whatever, I was just happy she stayed in the yard today. Hopefully, it will continue.
Apparently, she does not like the food we bought for her either. Been very picky about eating. Said that it’d be okay for a short period of time to mix some puppy food back in it for a while, to see if she eats around it. Then we’d probably need to change to a different food. I think it was Pedigree that we chose; maybe we need to just move to an adult Kibbles and Bits.

Lenora

Carol: Sending good thoughts for your BIL's recovery. :flowerforyou:

Sherry: Prayers that you get just the right situation for personal peace, security and safety. (((HUGS)))

MrsGLT: I like to crochet and to knit. I'm better at knitting because I've had a lot more practice. Working with yarn is very soothing and always helps me feel centered. :flowerforyou:


Tomorrow morning DH is going to the eye doctor for an appointment with a specialist. We're hoping that there will be good news and that DH will get to have his cataract removed soon. We're still waiting for a confirmation that the pest control folks will be out to help us with raccoon problems. Send good thoughts our way for this to happen tomorrow afternoon. We need to have this problem resolved.

Katla in Beautiful NW Oregon

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison

KB 5x17x13
15 min HasFit strength workout with 4kg dumbells (maybe too heavy yet will see)

Kate UK

Sherry~ I know things aren't looking great at this moment, but take it an hour at a time my friend.. make that move, take a deep breath.. go to the Dr if needed girl.. but please please don't do anything rash~ we do care about you!!!!
working 9-5 today and then 7:30- to who knows when tomorrow..

❤

Good morning all! Happy Friday! It is great to see so many new faces this month and see so many of our friends checking back in.
Beth- Wowsa! Sounds like it has been a crazy couple of months. Hope things can calm down a bit and get a little more "routine" for you. Prayers for strength and patience for you and your hubby! How is your son doing at college?
Sherry- Sending prayers for the move! That will be a relief. Please don't go away; as some one else mentioned the tag on your post was probably an error. I know my touch pad is so sensitive that as I pass over things it will sometimes click on things I don't want it to. My guess is that is what happened.
Re- laughing out loud at the mental picture of you smacking your Veruca-self around! Snap out of it! LOL!
BArbie- thanks again for your never wavering leadership!
Karen in VA- I know exactly where that water comes from due to the fact that my DD was a curious child and decided to figure out the water in the toilet when she was about six. She dropped the tank lid on the rim of the bowl and turned out toilet into a bidet! Our very own potty fountain!

Yesterday we made our countdown craft. Instead of doing the countdown paper chains, we made santas with paper beards. The kids cut off one curl of the beard for each day until they trim the beard down to Christmas day. I wanted to get pics; but I forgot and the kids took them home. Today we make jingle bells for the kids to ring during the community Jingle Bell Parade tomorrow. On my to do list for the weekend is to get my tree, get it up and decorated, put the greenery up in the house, get lights up outside before we get the snow and freezing temps next week. I will also need to get started on my daycare family gifts. I make cookie dough, wrap and freeze it and send it home with homemade hot cocoa mix and a book and treat bag (with playdoh and other non-edible things). Parents get a $50 Thank you coupon to use toward childcare. If I can do one thing each night for the family gifts, it should be done in a week. I am also waiting for the baby shower invites that I ordered to arrive. They were supposed to be here by last weekend...OH well. It'll all get done.

KJ I wish I was a kid in your nurturing and fun daycare.

Karen VA I think single servings are a great stategy. Portion control, and eating smaller meals throughout the day. For me the afterschool snack or dinner prep/eating mindlessly is where I lose it. Strategy for that, I have an apple in the car for drive home and a big bottle of water to eat while I'm prepping dinner, I think that will work!

I started the day with a single egg and a kind bar, feeling very very tired today, but will power through. I need a nap this weekend for sure!

NYKAREN

Sherry, please don't go. We all care and worry about you. Your posts are marked awesome by me at times. Hang in there.

Woke up with UTI today. Going to doc for back and must get meds on top of that.

Rita, in Berlin CT

Katla -Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison
Thank you for this saying really needed this now

Barb B iIn Indiana

Sherry: I have no idea why anyone would consider your post as offensive. I agree with others who've encouraged you to stay with us. Don't give up on this group. You have friends here. I worried about your "drink the koolaide" remark. It didn't offend me, but is scared me to think you might harm yourself. Don't give up on us or yourself! (((HUGS)))

No, I didn't abandon you all Thursday I did a Jari Love Extremely Ripped Total Body DVD, then volunteered at the Green Room then went to the crochet class. Today I did a DVD that I copied from a VHS that I had called "aerobicize". I didn't believe we did such things! It was really weird. The plan for tomorrow is to do a Leslie Sansone Walk away the Pounds DVD

For the longest time I wasn't agreeing that what I have is a cold, but I do think it is. There are times when I get into sneezing fits, and yesterday at the Green Room I had a coughing fit to end all coughing fits. Then when I was coming home I had another one. While we were eating dinner last night, I had one and Vince gave a Halls cough drop. That felt good. So I think what I have is a cold. Weird -- I haven't had one in a long long time. I can also tell that with this cold I'm not exercising as hard as I usually do

Grace - welcome back!

YEA Re!!!!!!! You're just like "A Christmas Story" going to the Chinese restaurant....lol Ra Ra Ra

Ordered this armband for a phone, figure I can use it to listen to a radio station while I'm exercising.

Came home from crochet last night and Vince said to me "you need to go downstairs". Say what???? Well, he'd bought a new TV for my exercise room. Personally, I didn't have any problem with the one that was there but he's sure that eventually he will need knee replacement and he'll have to exercise on the bike. He wanted a larger screen. Made a meatloaf for us to have during the week

Grace, Marion - welcome!

Also ordered a pair of pants online. The ones I have are a 8P size and they fit me well. I could only find an 8short. But if they don't fit, I can return them to the store.

Lenora - hoping for the best for Louis

Helping Vince with the outdoor decorations. He told me to bring in the ceramics from around the pool. See, he wants to add more shelves in the garage to store them and he kept saying that I shouldn't bring them in until we clear the shelves of things. Well, last night he told me to leave my car outside and bring the ceramics in. Guess he agrees that it's getting cold.

Kate - the truth of the matter is...you only look like a fool when you DON'T go to the gym

Carol from NC - welcome back! Am I ever glad to see you. There's a question I've been meaning to ask you. Remember when you were here you had an app on your phone where you just touched a certain area and it colored in? What app was that? How's your son?

Beth - so glad to see you back! Everything will work out. So sorry to hear about your hubby

Bootcamper - welcome! Congrats on becoming a grandma. So very sorry about your mom

Oh, there's no way I can keep up with everyone new. So let me just say "Welcome" to you all

Carol - only good thoughts for your BNL

Re - I find staying home is not good for my diet, I munch too much. But if I go out like shopping or something, they I can avoid food

Lenora - loved reading all about the house you grew up in. Sounds amazing. Did you ever get caught "sneaking out"? All the living area is on one floor (2500sq ft), LR, DR, kitchen, full bath (2), a half bath, bedrooms (3), vince's office. Downstairs is another bedroom, a full bath, a game room, my exercise room, and then another room where the bar is. That's downstairs and is the other 2500sq ft. The nice thing is, I don't ever HAVE to go downstairs. Like a few years ago when I fractured my foot, it got dusty and I needed to vacuum, but I could live without having to go downstairs. This house was built in 2007. What happened is that the people built it and then 6 months later they got a divorce. So we got basically a new home. The reason we found out that they got the divorce is because the wife was cheating on the hubby. I've never once met her but he's real real nice. When we had the detached garage built, we needed bricks like the ones that were used on the house. The contractor found out where they were from and when he explained where they were going to the guy said "oh HER". That's when our contractor said "no, different people"

Sherry - that is so wonderful for you. I really hope it all works out. NOOOOOO don't go. I bet someone hit that button by accident. I just recently sent out a memo and it was meant for one group but I hit the wrong button and it went to another group. So accidents happen to us all. I usually don't mark the posts because you can't find out who thinks it's "awesome". I would if there was a way someone could know that I think their post was "awesome"

KJ - what I used to do when my kids were little is put a hanger up and then 24 candy canes on it. Each night they'd have a candy cane. This also gave them a visual of how long it'll be until Christmas. I also wish I was a kid in your daycare

Well, gotta go out, take in the ceramics, then help Vince with the outside decorations.

Michele in NC

My DSIL sent me this pic (very poor) of my brother's 60th birthday. I felt so bad that on the Monday I started my new regime. Over 18 months I lost 57 lbs. I have kept it off for 3 years. I hope it may inspire some new people.
I asked for this pic as I had none of me at my worst. My brother and his wife came for lunch today and we had a wonderful time, despite discussing politics and religion. Love them so much. The food wasn't bad either.

Heather UK xxxxxxx

Sherry … saying a prayer that all works out.

Ladies, I see that Sherry’s post was flagged… three times … what does that mean?

Karen in VA… thanks for the hello!!

KJ … You have the most clever ideas! And yes, It has been a crazy time. My son in college is doing really well all things considered. At thanksgiving, he told us he had only had 2 or 3 migraines. Miraculous, when you consider he hadn’t been able to attend high school on a regular basis for over 2-1/2 years due to 20-25 migraines a month! He’s at crunch time like all college students. Only a few more days of classes and then finals. I’m praying that with all the stress, he is able to finish strong. He flies home on the 15th!

Jao6710 … welcome! Great group of ladies here!

Heather … beautiful transformation! Always love seeing your photos!

Well, I got caught in snow/rain combinations twice in the past week without proper outdoor attire and now I’m feeling a little off today. A little tight in the chest, headachy, and scratchy throat … boo hiss … probably a cold coming on.

Good news … I stayed on track yesterday and am on target for today! Plan to do some decorating today. New artificial tree ... the other was 30 years old and a little worse for the wear. A White Elephant party tomorrow with some neighbor ladies and then just taking it easy.

Beth near Buffalo

Beth ~ I just don't understand! I went back to that post and see the flags. Clicked it on and I do see that some clicked abuse. Just don't understand why? Must be a really mean soul to do that. And then, like a fool, I clicked on abuse to see what would happen and it added another one.

Sherry ~ So sorry. Please stay with us. We love you.

Carol