WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR DECEMBER 2017

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  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,277 Member
    7777777777
  • langman22
    langman22 Posts: 786 Member
    KJLaMore wrote: »
    Oh, about the Christmas decorations/ornaments. My tree is up (did I tell you that?); but it's still naked. lol The kids ask every day "Miss Kel, when are you going to put lights and ornaments on?" I told them I will do it this weekend. It has been nice to have the smell of the tree all week, without the worry of the little hands all over it. I even gate it off, mainly so that they can't get under it or try to climb it (it has happened before the gate idea). But they always want to touch. Many of my ornaments are bells and miniature nutcrackers. Then there are the eight to ten cardinals that I have perched here and there on some fake snow on the branches. I will post a pic or two when I get it done. Also not in a big hurry because putting on the lights is my LEAST favorite thing to do during this season! What a headache.
    Karen- Is that a butt shot? Looks like the legs and butt and wee-wee of a boy. Congrats!
    Terry- L <3 VE the bookmarks! Do you make them for craft shows?
    Rye- You are an angel to be caring for that feral cat. Sounds like over the years he is becoming more of your "outdoor" cat, rather than a feral cat. He seems to like how you love him. o:)
    Marcelyn and Cheri and Sue- Wow! Just WOW! On the snow! :o DD called this morning asking if both of her winter coats were here. Yup. Both here in snowy Michigan. We are sending her one in the mail today! How bad does it get down there with four inches of snow? Do the schools close? Are there travel advisories? Just wondering what we may be driving into in January.
    Okie- A neighborhood party! You lucky gal! We used to have those in our old neighborhood; then we moved into this house and this neighborhood doesn't get together. We used to hold a neighborhood Halloween Party, but as the kids of the main families grew up, the party petered out. I like your gift idea for your sister. I think that is how you should shop for people. Listen to what they talk about. Most people talk about things that they like or want. I tell my kids that all of the time, when they say "...but we didn't know what to buy you!" Me: "I'm your mom! Think about all of the things I have mentioned that I would love to have and also think of what I have gotten you. I buy you the things that I like." <3

    ttfn KJ

    First time I've tried the bookmarks. They are pretty easy to make (especially if you have two good hands. I made them just for small token gifts for me to give this year. I've got some other things I'm going to try as well and will post pics if they turn out.
  • langman22
    langman22 Posts: 786 Member
    KetoneKaren wrote: »
    Kelly As Heather noted, it's a boy! Katie is in shock, she was sure it was another girl. She's a bit discombobulated, LOL!

    Terry OK, this is my first attempt at a bookmark, minus the hole & ribbon. Not as nice and neat as yours, but I am kind of excited about doing this with old cards I love (what good are they? I would eventually throw them away). And people do still read real books, so...

    v111evj4l3p2.jpg

    Karen in Virginia

    I think your bookmark looks good! They really aren't too bad to made either. Love a quick craft.
  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Wendy: Tell all. How do you do the unicorn horn? :huh:

    Allie: Yesterday I met a woman with an elderly Yorkie-poo while I was out walking my dog. Her little dog was full of zip and energy at past 15 years old. Good luck with the job and the pup, and congratulations! :star: I like dog names with two syllables so Toby & Alfie appeal to me more than Finn does. I think the two syllable names make it easier to call the dog. Just my thoughts.

    bbjnkidz: I am sorry for your loss, especially at the holiday season. :(((HUGS)))

    M in OZ: The holiday meal sounds like it is quite a feast. I love prawns, but no chowders for me as they universally contain milk or cream & I can't digest it. It sounds like there are plenty of choices and you should be able to take good care of yourself. :star:

    Becca: I have never seen Larry, Moe and Curley Santas before. What a hoot! :bigsmile: We have some crocheted snowflakes like yours that I bought at a craft sale in the 1980's.

    (((Betty ROC & Barbara, the southern Oregon Coastie))) Never give up on yourselves. Barbie is an excellent success story of someone who has grappled with cholesterol issues and come out healthier than ever. The right medicine and lifestyle choices can work miracles for you. Don't give up until you've found the balance that works for you. :heart: DH has a home blood-pressure monitor from ihealth. He's had guidance from his doctors, and found an article in NPR about six months ago that helped him get accurate readings. :flowerforyou: :star::flowerforyou:


    I actually got my slippers on my feet and the stubbed toe is not complaining. I think I'll give yoga a try today. Were having a bit of deja vu all over again. The furnace isn't working & needs a new part. We expect to get it all done today for a price. $750+ seems high to me. There is a $600 part, plus labor and incidentals. :ohwell: I'd rather not freeze again this winter. It has to be done. :grumble:


    Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

    Heather posted a quote similar to this that I wanted to use, but I couldn't recall it quite right. I went online and found this one.

    "So many of us believe in perfection, which ruins everything else, because the perfect is not only the enemy of the good; it's also the enemy of the realistic, the possible and the fun."

  • Marcelynh
    Marcelynh Posts: 974 Member
    How bad does it get with 4" of snow in Houston.... well......

    North of us it isn't a problem. They get snow enough that people know how to drive in it, or on ice. The biggest problem in Houston is people refuse to slow down so they are trying to drive 70mph bumper to bumper on ice and you can imagine the mess it creates. We have so many overpasses and fly-overs that ice badly and that's where the majority of accidents happen.

    I was raised in the Colorado mountains and grew up driving snow so I just stay home until the idiots get off the road... lol

    Yes, they have travel advisories out. Yes, schools can be closed. Today they were all just delayed in opening, the schools opted to wait a couple of hours until the ice thawed.

    I always love when it snows in Houston. You see the news crews out doing "on the spot" news segments and they are videoing one lone single snowflake falling... people really do lose their heads over it. lol But to be fair it isn't really their fault, they just haven't experienced much snow. In fact this snowfall is the first time that two of my grandchildren, ages 4 and 6 have ever seen snow. No kidding, they've never seen it. Their dad got them up at 4 am to make sure they got to see it and play in it before it melted... a good dad, he knew how excited they would be. And they were! Played in it, got pictures, went back to bed then got up and played in the bit remaining.

    Marcelyn
    hoping her lemon tree survived at the home house
  • oceanmelody
    oceanmelody Posts: 479 Member
    Thanks for all the encouragement and advice, ladies! I guess I have been trying to control these cholesterol numbers for so long and do not want to admit that I might not be able to control this either. There is so much else in my life that I cannot control right now. I am going to visit the doctor on Monday and consider my options.

    The past six months have been pretty much nonstop stress for me. I could write a book. Through all that I have kept logging and mostly staying within my calorie allotment and trying to exercise when I can. It was just so disheartening to see the numbers go up. But maybe this is one thing I have to stop worrying about for now. Barbie, you have said some inspirational things and I thank you for them.

    Just about an hour ago I got word that my friend had died. Feeling very sad but I left my desk and went for my lunchtime walk anyway. Tried to enjoy the sunshine and blue sky. I think I need to spend the rest of the year tying up some loose ends and figuring out what I can shoot for next year. What is do-able? What is really important for me to do? For those of your who are still working--how do you fit exercise in to your life? Especially you colder climate ladies? I do the lunchtime walk and try to hit the elliptical a couple of times a week, and cannot figure out how to do more and still sleep and do laundry etc.

    I probably have a year to a year and a half to go before I can retire. But I am more determined than ever to have a healthy and active retirement. My friend only enjoyed hers for a year before the cancer struck.

    I am enjoying the crafts you all are posting. If I can get my hems done I will take a picture of my embroidery for you.

    Betty ROC
  • wildhorsewendy
    wildhorsewendy Posts: 563 Member
    Betty, sorry that your friend has passed. I believe in a pain-free, beautiful spirit world of joy, so she is in a better place now, I believe. We all have to take the journey one day. Reading near-death visits to the other world give me so much peace...

    Katla, I am still working on the perfect unicorn horn but trialling and gathering ideas. Apparently you can order some pretty cool ones. I am trying home=made ones first. I found a likely stick on one of my forest walks and painted it horn colour, (ivory) then hot glued it to a flower head band and just put the headband on Esme's forehead and arranged her forelock around the base of the horn. I have heard of using paper mache to make horns as well as clay. The problem is the weight of the horn will pull the band downwards and make the horn droop, and of course movement will also affect the placement of the horn. I am trying to design something I can ride with that will stay pertly upright. I think people glue them or attach them through holes and twine to the headband of their bridles. I really wanted to make a horn that would stay in place without needing any bridle or band...using fishing line to attach it invisibly... May be possible on a horse with a thick forelock to braid it into the forelock. So, 1. create a very lightweight horn 2. attach to headband, bridle band or forelock. Anybody else have any bright ideas? I can feel my next photo shoot coming on...

    I'm loving those bookmarks. Do you use a craft knife to cut out all those little windows, or is there a crafty secret?
    <3 Wendy
  • klanders30
    klanders30 Posts: 2,569 Member
    Betty My job is pretty stressful and busy and I live in NY (here comes the snow!) so I can relate about fitting it all in. If I had a treadmill or eliptical or bike at home, I know I would just start my day that way then head to work. I don't so I pack my gym clothes along with my lunch and a snack, i change into my workout clothes before I leave work, I walk out of work with the gym clothes on and drive to the gym. I don't always stay 45 minutes, sometimes all I've got in me is 30 minutes but it is something and has made a difference in keeping me in maintenance and my bp in the normal range. It is a small thing, but I try to be consistent with it, if not I would not feel as happy, not as energetic and couldn't eat the foods I enjoy.

    So sorry about the loss of your friend, I think a walk in the sunshine was the right thing to do, peace-filled.

    That southern snow is headed my way, I may get a snowday from my rehearsal tomorrow (not sure if I'm happy about that or not). I did manage to get in some frantic grocery shopping before I got home, so we are all set for a happy snowy morning tomorrow, big breakfast in bed if it snows, always fun!

    NYKAREN
  • dogladytwo
    dogladytwo Posts: 97 Member
    Machka9 wrote: »
    Today, Friday, my husband and I both had very long busy days at work, although his was about 3 hours longer than mine! Since I was off earlier than he was, I had the time to go to the first Carol's Service of the season. :) I've been going to this one for the past 4 years and I enjoy it. My husband has accompanied me for 2 of those years, and was hoping to come with me today, but he had too much work to do ... and in fact, will be putting in a full day tomorrow (Saturday) as well.

    Then I went down to the local oval and ran 2.2 km! Round and round and round ...

    I struggled running 1.2 km yesterday because I had difficulty breathing. But during the run, it occurred to me that my asthma was acting up (I was squeaking when I was breathing), so today I used my inhaler before I went out and it was better. This year has been really bad for hay fever, and I'm guessing running around a grass oval with trees surrounding might be affecting me.

    I'm still not loving running, but I'm thinking it might give me more "bang for my buck" than walking and possibly also than cycling. It might also help me improve my cardiovascular system. Maybe less huffing and puffing cycling up hills.

    M in Oz

    I would rather run as well....I have allergy related asthma but I do most of my training inside. I think I have less need of my inhaler when I am cardio fit so, if running does it for me.....run I must, Glad to hear I am not the only one that feels this way! :smiley:
  • skuehn48
    skuehn48 Posts: 3,047 Member
    Hi all: Well yesterday was Dson's birthday and one of the things he wanted was an Instant Pot so we and DD went together to get him one. He was quite excited, promised to make something for Christmas. We had dinner with him, his fiance and DGD at Cheesecake factory in Belleview. I had an appetizer salad and DD and I shared a piece of cheesecake. Then we went outside to watch Snowflake Lane. It was fun and they had artificial snow with lots of music and small floats.

    Mary - Congrats on the job. Love that rear-end shot and hope everything goes well.

    Betty - I sympathize with you. I do not now and never have had high cholesterol but about 4 months ago I was diagnosed with an enlarged aorta and the cardiologist put me on a statin to help prevent a heart attack. I really question this but supposedly the statin will help stabilize plaque. Stick with it. The goal is to be as healthy as possible whether that involves meds or not.

    Allie - Yay for new jobs and new pups. I like Alfie too.

    Barbara - If it hurts when you take your blood pressure make sure you have the right size cuff. It does make a difference.

    Wendy - When my DD was riding in costume classes we made my white gelding into a unicorn using a styrofoam cone that I cut down and carved and then coated with glitter. We attached it to the browband with velcro and pulled his forelock down around it. I will try to get a picture posted.

    Joyce - Yay for singing in the cantata. You go girl! What kind of music folder do you have? Does it have a strap to slip your hand through on the spine? That helps me quite a bit as I have small hands and some arthritis. Also a strap across the bottom to keep it from flopping open all the way. JW Pepper has some with those features both 3-ring and elastic bands to hold music whichever you prefer. Good luck.

    Everyone take care, Sue in WA
  • langman22
    langman22 Posts: 786 Member
    Betty, sorry to hear of your friend’s death. ((Hugs))
  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,259 Member
    edited December 2017
    Marcelyn you have more snow then here in Minnesota! Yours will melt quickly.

    Betty so sorry for your loss.

    AllieCount me in for Alfie too.

    :heart: Margaret
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,277 Member
    stats for the day:

    bike ride hm 2 gym- 8.37min, 142mhr, 10.4amph. 1.4mi= 113c
    apple watch- 68c
    wak TREADMILL- 28min, 117mhr, 1.32mi= 187c
    apple watch- 201c
    walk sta 2 wk- 9.18min, 117mhr, 3.2ap., .5mi= 69c
    apple watch- 54c
    walk wk 2 stat- 9.37min, 4.ap, 141mhr, .5mi = 60c
    Apple Watch- 49c
    ride dome 2 hm- 19.56min, 7.7amp, 152mhr, 2.5mi = 196c
    Apple Watch- 138c

    total cal 639
  • DamitJanit
    DamitJanit Posts: 1,329 Member
    Call me crazy but I love to see other people happy and succeeding .

    Good Evening Friends,

    Heather, the movie sing a long sounds like so much fun. The only one that I can think of in the US is The Rocky Horror Picture Show where the audience dresses as the characters and sing along with it. It is where my nic, Damit Janit comes from. It’s a cult film so not exactly like the Sound of Music. It sounds like such fun. A huge “Congrats” on progressing on your writing.

    Mary, my fingers are crossed for the possible jobs. (later) Congrats on the job offer!!!!

    Michele, have you tried putting it out in the sun for a while?

    Allie, congrats on the new fur baby!

    pretty-pink-welcome-smiley-emoticon.gifto all the Newbies. Come often and join in the chat. This thing works!! Please sign your post with what you want to be called. It makes it easier for us to respond to you. Also a location is great, be it specific or general. We are happy to have you join us.

    I had a board meeting at the Moose this morning then went out in the rain to get the last few things for our Christmas party tomorrow. It’s been fun planning it but I’ll be glad when it’s over. We have 32 ladies signed up. I may end up having to skip a page or two as I am still behind, but I’ll just say good night for now and see how tomorrow goes.

    Sending love, good thoughts and sunshine to all of you.

    I Love youwriting-a-love-letter-smiley-emoticon.gif
    DJ
    Myrtle Beach, SC

  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,531 Member
    Worked on the trampoline today. The plan for tomorrow is to do Shape Bikini Body DVD (one of the new ones)

    Went to the mahjongg Christmas party. Took my cheese "tree". Had most of the cheese, only had tea to drink (no sugar or milk), some nuts, a cracker. Then totally blew it when I got home. It was snowing, had some of these bars that I'd made but I really didn't like the way they came out. Now I feel so "yuk". I didn't even feel like having any dessert.

    While we were at mahjongg, this lady who has WPW had an attack. She couldn't get hold of her husband so Dianne's husband took her to the ER, went to her home and found her husband. He went to the hosp while Paige came home. Just found out that they're doing more tests. I have a feeling that she won't be coming home from the hosp. today.

    Still need the Christmas lists from the kids. Wish we could get them to do it earlier so that we can get our shopping done. I'd really like to have all the shopping and wrapping done by the time Steve comes on the 18th. I want to enjoy my holiday, too. And I won't if I'm under the stress of buying. It's bad enough that I'm under the stress of all the cooking.

    KJ - every year we send a list of what we want for Christmas to each other. If I don't do that, I usually buy what I want and give it to Vince to give to me. I just want gift certificates to Lowes Hardware this year.

    Been thinking of Lenora, too and hoping she's OK. I am really torn if I should call or not. What do you all think?

    Allie - I like Alfie. I agree, it's less confusing for him

    Betty - so sorry about your friend

    dogladytwo - awesome

    DJ - I was thinking about that (putting it out in the sun). But I should probably wait until summer to do that. I'm thinking that perhaps I should soak it in Biz while in the sun if soaking it doesn't do the job in the wintertime. Did you get any snow???

    Michele in NC
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,277 Member
    ....
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    lhscapil wrote: »
    Machka - your restaurant Christmas dinner sounds so good!! Best part is - no dishes and eating leftovers for a week. Sounds like you are getting super busy with the new responsibilities but I know you'll tackle them with ease. Good luck with the running and glad you have an inhaler. Hay fever - yuk!


    Thanks!

    Yes the no dishes and no dealing with leftover ... and no shopping and no cooking are all very appealing aspects of a restaurant Christmas dinner. We just have to show up at a certain time and enjoy! :)


    I have several inhalers ... one in the pocket of my winter coat, one in my backpack that I take to work. I think I've got one at work ... I should check that. One in a basket in the dining room. One in the dressing room. One in my cycling handlebar bag.

    I was diagnosed with Exercise Induced Asthma in early 2005, and then in 2014 went for lung tests again and they suspect I've got mild 'real asthma' as well now. I was 47 then, and had the lung capacity of a 70 year old. :( Losing weight and getting fitter has helped a lot, and most of the time my asthma is under control, but it does flare up now and then.


    M in Oz
  • coastalgosgal
    coastalgosgal Posts: 2,900 Member
    ⚓⚓⚓
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    cityjaneLondon wrote: »
    Karen - Many congratulations on the coming baby boy. Lovely - one of each!
    Today my wig arrived for the singalong. I am going as an Austrian damsel in a dirndl dress, white stockings and blonde plaits! The wig is bright yellow with bows. :D Most people go as nuns, but I didn't fancy that. If I get too hot I'll just take the wig off!
    The Sound of Music singalong has been going for many years at the Prince Charles cinema in Leicester Square. It's a pretty regular Friday occurrence. I've always wanted to go. :bigsmile: It's nice that it's near to my cancer friend's 64th birthday, so doubly lovely. <3:D I just hope it doesn't snow and mess the trains up. One birthday of hers I was due to go up for a meal and theatre visit, but we had two foot of snow in a few hours. Everything came to a halt so I had to cancel at the last minute.

    Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

    You'll have to post photos of yourself all dressed up! :)
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    KJLaMore wrote: »
    Oh, about the Christmas decorations/ornaments. My tree is up (did I tell you that?); but it's still naked. lol The kids ask every day "Miss Kel, when are you going to put lights and ornaments on?" I told them I will do it this weekend. It has been nice to have the smell of the tree all week, without the worry of the little hands all over it. I even gate it off, mainly so that they can't get under it or try to climb it (it has happened before the gate idea). But they always want to touch. Many of my ornaments are bells and miniature nutcrackers. Then there are the eight to ten cardinals that I have perched here and there on some fake snow on the branches. I will post a pic or two when I get it done. Also not in a big hurry because putting on the lights is my LEAST favorite thing to do during this season! What a headache.

    My mother used to afix a light to the end of each branch ... then we'd look at it from different angles and she'd decide that we didn't want two red lights so near each other or that one part of the tree looked a little dark, so we'd go through and unattach a whole bunch and reattach them. It would take such a long time.

    I unfurl the string of lights and drape them round and round the tree. I might attach it at a couple places just so it stays in place, and I'm done in about 5 minutes.

    I do the lights first, and I figure that by the time I get everything else on the tree, it will look fine.



    M in Oz
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    edited December 2017
    I've got the first slow cooker meal of the season simmering in the slow cooker. My husband usually does the cooking and pretty much the only cooking I do is with the slow cooker ... and pretty much the only time I do it is around Christmas when I'm on a break.

    I often use McCormick and other packets for the sauce and recipe suggestion:
    https://www.mccormick.com.au/products/recipe-bases/slow-cookers/mccormick-slow-cookers-country-chicken-casserole

    So I'll put the chicken mince and veggies into the slow cooker, then add a packet of those spices and things. And then usually add some additional spices.

    Most often I'll do a curry of some sort ... but didn't feel like that today, so I went with this ...

    e5vy0frzxweq.png
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,616 Member
    Saturday -- no cycling, but ...

    Distance: 5.1 km run
    Moving Time: 37:27
    Pace: 7:16/km

    This is my first 5 km run since ... oh, probably since I was a teenager. I know I was doing 2-3 km runs back in the very early 2000s. But for some reason, I only got up to about 3 km and stopped.

    So, although I'm not moving at a blistering pace here, it actually felt good to run 5 km. :)


    And our post-run meal was good too. :)

    M in Oz
  • klanders30
    klanders30 Posts: 2,569 Member
    Lisa sounds like a great way to keep moving while you get all your writing done.

    I'm loving all the ornament pics, I will get moving on decorating next weekend, I would much rather do this with DD, DH is missing DD so much that he decided to take a day off and drive 6 hours to go and pick her up from school next weekend! Makes me laugh, but I don't get in the way, they have a special bond, in temperament they are very alike, though she is more expressive emotionally, they are both fair minded, rule following, adventure seeking folk.

    Oops just found out that my morning rehearsal is being cancelled due to snow conditions....The fact that I am relieved isn't just because I am a "scaredy cat driver" but no, the fact is, I am less than excited about this gig! You might remember I stretched myself to audtion for this job, thinking it would be a growth opportunity. Well, not so much, the gig is pretty similar to my regular job, so I'm less than excited about it, just feels like I'm working an extra day, :/ The good news is the gig is over in early March and I do not have to extend my contract--well at least I tried something, not everything works out, I guess.

    Before the snowflakes actually starts to fall, I will drive to the gym. Maybe I can even knock out the christmas cards today.

    NYKAREN
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