WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2017

Thanks Barbie for continuing to be our anchor! Love ya!
Becca

I need to ponder my goals for this month.

Did an hour of Kelley Coffee Meyers 30 Minutes to Fitness (there are two workouts). The plan for tomorrow is to do some HIIT.

Have to volunteer at the Green Room this morning then I'll go to WalMart to get the hamburgers and hamburger buns for this weekend (I'll probably have a veggie burger) and some other things and also to Sams since we like their London Broil. They seem to have a better cut than WalMart. I guess Vince will have some leftovers. Then, I'm going to try another way of making that marbled cake. Hopefully, it'll turn out better. I don't think I have much room in my freezer for more!!!!!

Marcelyn - thanks so much for the pictures and telling us all about what's happening. Really makes it much more personal. You have no idea how much we all appreciate this. Glad things are somewhat looking up for you. I thought I remember hearing about a bedding store that opened so that people could sleep on the display models. Is that true?

Cathy - awesome jewelry (and your grandson isn't so bad himself!). I can't decide which I like best, the earrings, or the (is it) pink ring, or the necklaces. Oh, no, a blown tire. Glad you're safe. Your van looks horrible

Dana - you reminded me how my grandmother used to take all the buttons off a shirt when she was getting rid of it. I don't know how many white buttons I had. I donated them to the local elementary school, maybe the art teacher could use them. And heaven forbid we throw out the straight pins that come in a new shirt!!! Some things are mortal sins. I love my French Door refrigerator. Is that a black range you have there? I only see 4 knobs for the heating elements. How do you turn on the fifth element?

Joyce - I don't like the way Tom is being nice about Allie's dogs, either. Something's up. Not sure what, but something's up.

Allie - (((HUG)))

Sharon - I think it's just part of being a mom -- wanting to make everything right. And it hurts when we know we shouldn't or when we can't. It hurts BIG TIME.

You know, it just dawned on me that Maria (Pete's mom) never once asked for my phone number. I'm mother of the bride. She did ask for Jess' phone number. But never mine. Well, I called Denise today and left a message asking her to call Maria and tell Maria that it's still not too late for her to send her favors to me and I will incorporate them into mine. I would be humiliated if all I was giving was a lousy mirror. If she chooses not to send them to me, at least Denise will know that I made the attempt. Think I'll try making another marbled cake today. I think I have down the method for it. I THINK

I always forget about that "like" button on the bottom of posts. Many times I totally agree but don't say anything because I forget that the "like" button is there.

Lisa - hope you and the doc do find a good solution.

NYKaren - in MY gratitude journal, chocolate lands in the top ten.....lol

Karen in VA - Hope Jillian heals quickly. The good news is that she's young and as we know, the older you get the longer it takes to heal

Terry - I only have one more part of the gecko, then it gets fired, and I will be bringing it home and will post a pic. Next up is a dragonfly (completely different from the one that is hanging up). So sorry about the bone spurs

Exercised, volunteered at the Green Room, went to WalMart then Sams, home and made 2 more marbled cakes. I think the marbling is decent. Made biscuits to just bake when Steve gets here. Need to go back to WalMart as I totally forgot to get chicken thighs and sometimes they are still frozen. Also, need to make the lemon squares for us to have one night.

Called Denise and said to her to please tell Maria that it's still not too late for me to incorporate her favors with mine. Personally, I don't think she will. But I wanted Denise to know that I was trying to compromise. I would be totally humiliated to give out just a mirror. But if it doesn't bother her, so be it. I also asked Denise for her phone number. Not that I have any intention of calling her. But I wanted Denise to know that she never asked for my phone number, she did ask for Jess'. The only reason I would want it is in case I ever needed to get in touch with her. Not that I'd care to, mind you. Denise was saying about how Maria already has them bagged up so I just told Denise that I'd take them out of the bag, no big deal. Not that Maria even cares to work together. I mentioned to Denise how Pete is always talking (and this is true) about how the two families should be together, I wanted to show her that I was trying. Not that his mother has even bothered. But that's her loss, not mine.

Heather - I like to make food for company ahead of time, too. This way I can really enjoy the company.

Yesterday we drove by one gas station at about 5:30. When we drove by it again 3 hours later, the price of the gas had gone up .10!!!!

Melissa - welcome! You've come to the right place for support.

Allie - it so warms my heart to see how you've grown emotionally.

Michele in NC

Thanks Barbie!

Margaret

Michelle
The Gallery furniture store did have people come there. The owner himself invited them all. It's a high-end store, but it didn't matter that $12k mattresses were being used! Cool!

Yes, both of my grandmothers were very resourceful. My paternal grandma was from Oklahoma and the family moved to California in 1925 to find work. It must of been really hard back then. She taught me how to can foods, make jam and bake. I even learned to sew and crochet from my grandma. She always called me "Honey" and loved to give hugs and vitamin C!

The stove is stainless steel. I think the fifth burner was on the digital key pad. It's a warming element only. I can't until Saturday!

I saw on the news the Governor Abbott was having AG Paxton pursue anyone price gouging. Water was being sold for $24/case!! Abbott used to be the AG. I really like him; I voted for him when I lived in Austin and also I had to deal with the AG's office back then too. If someone hired an attorney against the TxDOT offices we had to have a state attorney step in to represent us. Anyway, he is a good guy and knows his stuff!

Dana

Dana – If you are talking about rocks; I have heated up the rocks in the oven in a pan covered with aluminum foil; and, taken some old broken crayons I haven’t used (I’m pretty silly when it comes to my ‘art’ supplies – I want them in one piece with the covers). When I break them I through them in a box. Back to the rocks. I put another pan covered with aluminum foil on top of the stove. Pull one rock out at a time and start melting the crayons on them. Sometimes (depending on the colors used) it is hard to tell one color from another; other times, it is obvious. I’ve used Paint pens on the few I have done over the wax coating. You can buy these pens at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby in a bunch of colors for less than $2. Just make sure you keep them closed when not in use and shake vigorously before you use them. You could also use acrylic paints; but, if I did I would use a spray sealant, just so the colors would not fade. I have had 3 rocks with the words: ”Hope”, “Love”, and “Faith” painted and outside for several years. I did not put any sealer on them; but, the only thing was the orange paint has faded over the years. I’m talking about 3 years. There again, you can buy big bottles of this for about $4 a piece. It dries quickly (so there again, keep the bottles closed). Foam brushes are good for a smooth coat. Then you can buy a ‘set’ of brushes for about $10 - $12 in all shapes. Some are bristle (hard) brushes; others are sable (soft) brushes (or you can buy just a few (more expensive) and pick and choose what you will be painting with. I have not tried ‘oils’; but, other than more brilliant colors; you’d have issues with drying time. Not worth the hassle. I would use the cheapest sealer, my preference would be a matt finish; but, a high gloss is also acceptable. Either way, the paint would need to be dry; and, you’d have to spray one side, then turn them over for the other. It doesn’t take long for it to dry. I would use a pair of tongs, to turn the rocks over to make sure every surface is covered. One thing about the crayons is that the excess will form on the bottom, which I personally like as it means the rocks won’t scratch any other surface such as a wood table top. I take a butter knife and while still warm, slice off some of the excess, just not all. I’m still trying out different things to use. Thinking of also buying some sequins and other things to make them sparkle. Glitter and that sort of thing. With the acrylic paints you can use things to make patterns. Pencil erasers for circles. Lay a leaf in the paint then lay it on the rock and mash it (carefully) on the hot/warm rock. I saw one on the ledge of the window at a donut place in Natchez; but, it was not a pretty rock and it was too big for my liking, so I left it alone. I still like the idea of leaving them in very public places. Grocery store shelves, along a path around a lake that people walk around. I get my rocks from a place that sells gravel, rocks, and sand … The last time I bought some, I got 6lbs for 77¢; so it is a real cheap hobby and it apparently brings a smile to those who find them.

Tiffanie – I drink the Sparkling ICE – Lemonade (even though it is carbonated) … it still has no calories. Tea or coffee counts; but, then you have to count the sugar put in it. I drink blueberry juice (hard to find full strength – Ocean Spray – it is wonderful). Got two bottles of it here in Louisiana. I count the calories; but, I also count it towards my liquid intake. But, I would not count 'milk' as liquid. My thought is 'if' it is 'clear liquid' it counts towards your daily liquid intake.

Allie – Margaret is right about being able to claim on TomCat income for Social Security and you will get more because he makes more than you have. Also, consider the difference in collecting early at 62 versus working to retirement age (now 66 and could go up). My BF who worked for the IRS was planning on working until she ‘retired’ at 'retirement age'; one day her supervisor was just giving her a work over and that night she went home and put pen to paper and the next day she walked in and told them that Friday would be her last day. She wasn’t going to be making that much more if she waited and would have to put up with this woman she despised for 3 more years. She went back to work for a CPA firm … supposedly ‘part-time’ … it ended up ‘full time’. The wife of this man would come in once a week for a few hours and come around giving everybody hell about ‘taking advantage of her husband’. Then he started making them clock in-and-out. She told him that she’d give him 35 hours a week; but, they would be only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays. She ‘likes’ that money; but, she was not going to deal with his wife. I think she is about to back out and stop working altogether again. In a way I would like that because then the two of us could do things together again.

We’ve seen a jump of about 20¢ since we’ve been in LA over this week. If some @$$-O is charge $5 – report them to your Sheriff … 'price gouging' is what they are doing. It is ‘illegal’ for someone to charge more than a % over what they pay for the big underground tanks. They have to keep records of when they buy the gas for those tanks and they have to be deemed ‘empty’ when they go in and ‘fill them’. They don't have to be totally empty provided they don't have sludge build-up in them and would require to be dug up and cleaned out. I was sitting at a game when they started saying you could only buy 10 gallons at a time. I left to go get gas and the owner had gone up 50¢ a gallon in less than 15 minutes. I argued with him about ‘gas gouging’ and he said he wasn’t doing it. I called the Sheriff while standing there and reported him. The Sheriff was there in less than 10 minutes and this man had to pull out all his forms to show when he had purchased gas the last time. I got my gas for the 50¢ less per gallon. After that he just took down his ‘sign’ on how much it was worth. Typical jerk-off. I think that people who come into an area because of a disaster like “Harvey” ought to ‘sit their @$$e$ in jail’ when they take advantage of people in this manner. When we had storms in Albany back in January – Louis did not even ‘go there’. Too much of a hassle. Besides, he had enough work without being put off in getting paid.

Tonight for Will’s birthday we took them to "Rue 61" (a restaurant in Natchez, MS). I ordered fried shrimp. I ate 3 and that was ‘stuffing’ them … I got ill thinking of even trying to finish and looking at all the other ‘fried’ food on my plate that I did not touch. I was very happy that I had ordered a cup of gumbo. I’ve still got indigestion so bad I can hardly stand it.

Joyce - I’ll make sure to just replace the feather pillows. Just need to find 2 standard sizes. I’ve got king-sized feather pillows but Louis likes his really small one (about ½ of a standard sized pillow) since it has been slept on for so long, I can’t remember NOT sleeping with them.

Growing up the water in the town I grew up in would have ‘suds’ in it if you turned the water on high. Didn’t smell or anything; but, the suds just was kind of kooky.

I would say count it; others would probably say it is a diuretic. I count my Sparkling ICE drinks. IF the bottle shows ZERO calories, then you count the drink as zero calories; but, like juice. It’s liquid; but, the calories are from the sugar. I think you have to make that choice on your own. You’ll get 50 different opinions on that.

Lenora

Welcome Michelle, nice to have another girl from UK not many in this group in fact think there are only 2 now, Heather and myself. Apologies if there is anyone else. My brother and his family live in Derbyshire, lovely part of the countr. I am in Liverpool

Kate UK

Joyce I am an orchestra teacher at elementary school level so yes september is new year's to me!

Michelle welcome aboard, keep checking in, the accountability and support is terrific here.

Rori as a first baby step, sounds like a good plan. Start out small and build that relationship. Good for you on the weight loss.

Goals:
• maintain gym habits
• maintain meal prep habits
•read more-watch less
•steer clear of toxic or negative folks at work

NYKAREN

I lost 0.5 lb last week. Delighted!

Michelle - Welcome from me down south. Hampshire.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx, getting ready to leave for my nephew's 16th birthday bbq.