WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2017

Electric Tea Kettle Does anyone have a suggestion? Our old one died and the replacement smells like icky plastic no matter what I do. Thinking glass or stainless would be better. Corded or cordless - either would be fine.

RE-- your photos are "RE-markable!" GREAT JOB!!!

Here's an idea about the job/interview offer....I'd go thru the interview anyhow and if they really want you that bad, see if you can negotiate some flex hours/personal days off more to your liking.

As I look back, I could have kicked myself for not asking for more right off the bat when they are in the mood to be "giving".

Anyhow, being able to interview them is good experience. And if it doesn't fit right now for you, that's OK - it might in the near future.

I have a feeling you are an excellent employee and give 1000%.

Have fun with it!

Lanette

Vvvvv

Hello everyone. Just dropping in to log my food & exercise & try to catch up on the posts. Tried to stay up to date at least reading them since the weekend, but it really got away from me already (only Tuesday & behind so many already). So many I had to just skim over (already spent over an hr "skimming"). Anyway, had to get home earlier after work today since hubby had a union meeting to go to (he's president for his local CSEA union at work) & forgot to mention it until last night. Was disappointed since I've been trying to get to a stability ball (for abs) class at the Y on Tuesdays & haven't made it yet. Glad I did at least manage to still fit in going to the Y to do 30 min. of the wt machines & 15 min on treadmill to warm up 1st. Made it home just in time before he went to pick up daughter from track & field practice at school (she has an aide stay with her for it) & then he had to leave as soon as he got back home with her. Made her a quick frozen dinner & myself a nice big salad & some leftover chicken with tomato sauce (she refuses to eat veggies - her loss).

That's been one of the biggest challenges for us since adopting her 4 yrs ago - being back to the days when we had to coordinate everything around "child" care. Even more difficult now with her. Our son is 27 now (only child of our own) & it'd been a long time since we had to worry about it. She's 15, but can't be alone due to intellectual disability (in older terms: mentally retarded). Miss the freedom DH & I once had to spend a lot more time together, too. We've only been able to get away for one or two nights at most only once a yr for our anniversary & occasionally for a few hrs. about once every few months. Had once envisioned being able to travel, etc. at this stage of life, but not to be. Oh well - it is what it is. Maybe some day.

Regarding all the talk of mothers : I feel compelled to share this advice. Cherish the time you have, if you're fortunate enough to still have yours around. Don't let other stuff get in the way. I know from experience how easy it is to become so wrapped up in the many day to day demands of job, home, etc that you don't make time to spend nearly enough time with those you love. My dear sweet mother passed away last April at the young age of 77. This came following several yrs of declining health after heart problems & then stroke about 1 1/2 yrs prior. She also had diabetes & severe osteoarthritis that got progressively worse & eventually also made her wheelchair bound when the stroke made things worse. The last time she was really coherent was at Christmas time of 2016. We were then told by Dr that she didn't have much longer on New Yrs Eve (12/31/16) & would likely be gone within a week or so, but she spent the next 3+ months just wasting away & hopped up on morphine to tolerate the pain she was in. It was the worst 4 months of my life (&, of course, in hers). I spent every day after work (& on wkends) at her side, watching her die such an agonizingly slow, painful death. She had a DNR & insisted (when she still could decide) that she didn't want to be hooked up to any machines other than oxygen. So she ended up essentially starving to death as she wasn't able to eat hardly anything (like in tsp. of food at best) & often threw up most of it. It was so heart-wrenching. She also barely knew who anyone was any more near the end, either. As much as I wished for her sudden recovery back to the mother I once had, I also found myself praying for her to just pass on & be at peace in the last few wks.

Well, I can barely see the screen now as I type this, it's still such a sad memory & miss her so much every day. What I wouldn't give to spend more time with her. We were able to share many great times together through the years as adults, but so wish I'd made the time to do more with her. Regret that I was so often working late & then rushing to get home when I did stop to see her after work & to do stuff for her most of the time & didn't take the time very often to just sit & talk with her more or take her to do other things the last few yrs especially. She was always so understanding of the limits on my time due to my job & especially after we adopted my niece that I had even less time, but I still really regret not finding a way to make more time to spend with her. Now it's too late - can't ever get it back again.

Well, really gotta go now. Need to get lunch, etc ready for tomorrow. Have a meeting with a caseworker from the ARC tomorrow after work at our home to try to get some services for daughter so won't be able to go exercise. Hoping it doesn't take too long, though, so maybe I can fit in some treadmill time at home afterwards.

Have a good day on Wed. Take care everyone.

-- Becky (NY)

Also wanted to mention that weather/temperature is certainly a relative thing. We've been feeling like it's been nice to have it warm up the past couple of days since it's been in the 40's!

Unfortunately, forecast is for rain/snow mix overnight with a HIGH tomorrow of only 20 & then single digit temps overnight tomorrow night. BRRRR! At least I think it's supposed be at least maybe get back to 50 (heat wave) on Sat, but with rain. Should melt some snow. Then back down to 30's. Wish it would just warm up & stay that way & be SPRING already!

Oh well - when it's 80's in the summer, we'll be wishing it was cooler. But only like between 65-70 - the temp range I like best (if not humid, too). At this point, though, I'd settle for not needing to wear & take different shoes/boots to work every day. Want to wear the spring dresses I can finally fit into again, too. Soon, I hope.

-- Becky (NY)

⚓.

I've strayed here

Re- wow, you are looking great. Love the progress pictures. I agree you should go for the interview, at least you could see your friend.
Sending prayers for all facing surgery and for Zac.
SueBDew in TX

Hi Gals,

Lanette (and everyone else looking at health insurance costs) --- so there are just 2 of the Direct Care Clinics in all of California (at least that I could find) one about 2 hour drive and the other about 11 hour drive…and I did check on the Mennonite one –that sounds great for the Christians; but I’m not. It gives me hope that there are good folks looking at really good options. Thanks so much for sharing!

DJ – I smiled when I read about no discount for cash at the Doctors, that is the same experience I have had, in fact when I had first been laid off and lost my insurance I had a dentist appointment and found out that they charged cash clients more then they charged insurance… I know they had a “group rate” via the insurance company, but with the lack of paper work – and I offered cash – not a check that could bounce or a credit card with charges, but actual cash and they were nope! I left and did not go back.

Re – you look great!!!! And I would lobby for you to interview, it is always a good experience even if you decide against the job..and you never know it might be that you could move the hours around a bit, not maybe as far as you have now but – and I would work the money out and see if you saved ½ of it how much more quickly you could retire, then you would have the other ½ of the pay increase for the fence and clothes as you continue to shrink!

Becky - such good advice about spending time with those you love! And a big high five to you and DH for taking on a child who needed you! I am so impressed with you, Gloria, and others who take on round two of children in their retirement, my mom has also done it and I see first hand the challenges it can be.


Smiles.

Kim from N. California

Re great job!

Sharon Happy Anniversary!

(((Beth))) Continued prayers for your family as your dad recovers.

Margaret

Re you look terrific, that definitely should give you incentive to step back from those nasty little ol M&M's. Good job, lady.

Janetr OKC

Beth - {{{{{HUGS}}}}} - I know it has to be difficult to learn things 'long distance' and I'm sure you'd like to be there.

Ladies - I typed out a novel tonight, getting a lot off my chest, then purposefully deleted it. Please keep my DOS and DGDs in your prayers. I'll leave it at that. If my DDnL#1 is NOT Bipolar I will kiss the first Kodiak bear I run into on the @$$! My backdoor mat reads, "Do NOT leave your DRAMA with your Mama!" I think the "NOT" must have worn off or something. I've never wanted to 'smack' someone in the face - HARD, as much as I have over the past 2 weeks. I've only slapped this son once in his 40-years and that was right around Thanksgiving Day when they decided to 'argue' in our home. I have been trying to get that Karma OUT of my house ever since.

Chewing nails is not doing very much for my stress level here. I am talking about 10-penny nails, not fingernails.

Lenora

Hi ladies -

Welcome to the newbies. I hope you stay around.

Margaret and Rita - Hugs and prayers are coming your way.

Beth - Praying for your dad.

Sharon - Happy anniversary!

Congrats to all the losers out there! I seem to be bouncing up and down the same half pound all month. Trying to get back to better logging and taking my BP and 2 hour BS each day. Your stories all inspire me. Keep them coming.

Kate - so enjoying your pictures from Spain! We are severely limited financially so all my vacation experiences have to be vicarious ones.

Re - Your pictures say it all! You go girl!

Gayle - Praying for your grandson. You are such a blessing to those boys!

Allie - Hoping your work situation settles and you can feel secure about your job.

I am planning to get together with a teacher friend this week while she is on Spring Break. She wanted to do lunch and a movie. At first I said, "Sure". I am such a people pleaser, but when I thought about it, I didn't really want to see that movie. I called her today to tell her No to the movie, but yes to getting together to actually talk and catch up. It felt good to speak out about what I really wanted. Doesn't that seem so silly? That I don't say what I want because I want to please people??? I am facing the same thing about going to see my sister this spring. I really don't want to go, but she is ill with cancer and I feel I SHOULD go. (she's doing very well) I am going in the fall for sure. She called today but I didn't get the call. Not sure I can say No to her. Grrrrr! Why is putting me first such a struggle!

TNToni

The photo is a couple of years old now.