WOMEN AGES 50 + FOR FEBRUARY 2018

Lanette, Where I am are dirt roads all over and there are no other people here. I have all sorts of choices to walk. Always take a walking stick in case of creepy crawlies!

Stats for week of 1/28/18 to 2/3/18:
Walked (aerobics) 5.58 hours this week averaging 47.86 minutes a day
Averaged 4.47 --1/2 cup servings of veggies a day
Averaged 1.86 -- 1/2 cup servings of fruit a day (need to up this to 3 a day)
Averaged 69.85 oz (8.73 cups) of water/liquid a day (not counting anything with caffeine in it)
Walked 67,837 steps or 29.07 miles last week averaging 9,691 steps a day!
I think this is a record for me!!

RV Rita in sunny Columbus, NM Chihuahuan Desert

I was just telling DH that I'd bought two books on running and he asked which ones. Turns out he'd got one of them for me for Valentine's Day. Oooops! He was a bit put out, as I would be.
I can't cancel it now, so will give my copy to my running/yoga friend.

One problem I am having is that the great music I have chosen for my running tracks is giving me the most terrible earworms. Really bad. It goes on all day, but it is much worse at night and I am having terrible trouble getting to sleep. The tracks just circulate in any order, but sometimes one gets stuck all night. Two nights running I have had to go and read in the spare room. Not falling asleep until 2 am. Today I tried running with a different album, but the original tracks are still pounding round my head.
Some people think I don't like music, because I am so anti ambient muzak in public spaces, but there are two reasons why I don't like it. Firstly I resent music being imposed on me as I feel it is a very personal choice and very much depends on your mood and secondly, if you had my earworms trouble you would understand. One listen to a well known tune and I've got it in my head for days. As it happens, I love music, but I am sooooooo sensitive to it.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

Hi, Lori!

Love having my bowl of pink grapefruit every morning. I think of my Momma, that did as well, but she had the sharp spoon to dig into her grapefruit. I like the eating, not the digging..... But she's probably looking down from heaven smiling and saying, "if I had containers of grapefruit segments, I would've bought them too"!
Sunday is me making husband breakfast day. He made it easy by buying hash browns in little slabs to just cook in the oven. I made eggs, bacon and a piece of toast. I spoil him, but just once a week. So then he asks what I am making for lunch!! I say I don't do lunches! Tonight is easy as I am making teriyaki chicken, with my precooked chicken from last week! So its making sticky Japanese rice and warm up the sauce in a pan. Lazy!

I am dreaming of decorating Whidbey island rental homes these days. It helps me sleep! What colors, what rooms will look like. I want to paint this scene:


But instead of using bright colors, use a forest green, a golden yellow, earthy orange, and a dark plum purple, representing the seasons.

Becca
Oregon

Hi Sisters, I have been through a time of stress, with my daughter in and out of hospital. (She had to go back in middle of the night due to pain-I told her she was leaving hospital too early as her pain wasn't under control yet but she had to learn the hard way!) So I've had sleep deprivation and then on top of that, still trying to pay two mortgages on a reduced income-awaiting our pay out for our shares- and on top of that, we have got uninvited visitors coming for 5 days so I have had to do a huge amount of cleaning to get the guest room and upstairs bathroom ready for guests, washing and drying bedding, scrubbing toilet and shower and sink, mopping and vacuuming. And I've got no spare money to buy "guest" food AND these are not my "chosen" people. Neither one would be classified as sensitive! But I have put up with their visits for years as the husband is a "fishing" buddy of my husband. However, I feel judged and inadequate and TOTALLY STRESSED by their LOOOONG visits!

The husband gets up early and is in my sitting room where I start my days which throws me off to a bad start. Anyway, I obviously have more to learn from these people, because God keeps sending them to visit us! Meanwhile I am stress eating and piling on the weight so I must rein myself in. I know that I will be drinking wine while they are here to deal with my company stress issues! I actually hate cooking, so being required to plan and prepare food for days on end is one of my major stresses. They like gourmet food too. And it is guaranteed that while they are visiting, the animals will pee and poop and vomit inside or there will be a flea outbreak. LOL

These people are RICH, they have no children, they holiday in fancy countries with rich people several times a year--go on African shooting safaries etc. Why in Heaven's Name they want to come stay with us every year, I don't know. Perhaps to remind themselves how good they have it compared to us common folks. And how glad they are they never chose to have children. LOL The woman is well-known in USA as she held a high position in the government, has gone around the states giving speeches...but I won't say her name. Usually I buy all new sheets and towels for the guest room before they visit, but this time they are getting the rag tag bag of mismatched stuff because there is no money for fancy stuff.

Okay, I am calming myself down. I get my "knickers in a twist" over them every time they come. I will just have to do my best to enjoy hearing their Rich Life stories and drink wine. LOL. They do like the dogs and they like New Zealand. They like us, I guess. There must be something about our country/animal/children family life that they desire. I have to bolster my self image and know that I am worthy, no matter what!
Wendy

afternoon ladies~
well I went and fed DFIL , and then came back home and got Alfie and went to dads, Sean a little cranky, but we got over it and we are taking it a couple hours at a time..
tomorrow is back to court to up the alimony.. Sean barking at me for that, your fine to go make more money.. well I will see how tomorrow goes.. and how weds goes, as that will be the pre-trial..
about homes, well after 2 marriages, and living in apartments,that were mostly in 2 family homes, and living at home before I got married..
I think I am happiest here in the condo, although I would have really loved to live down in Florida in the double wide manufactured home.. but I have everything I need here to live the rest of my life in comfort... even my dad said 3 days before he passed that he thought I did well getting this place,and that he was so happy for me..
On that note, Joyce, I have asked the good Lord to help us find the will if there is one.. to no avail yet..

Wendy - maybe it's time to be truthful. With yourself and them. You've already made a start by giving them the sheets you have, rather than new shiny ones. You don't have to tell them you don't like them much. Just say, "No, can't afford shopping, and it's not really my bag, anyway. Want to help me get some new queens situated?" And if they (she) say/s no, then, hie off to the honeybees. Or, "No, I can't go shopping, I have things to get done. You're welcome to tag along." Let them fit themselves into your lives, but don't fit yours around them. There's an old saying that, "You teach others how to treat you." So re-teach them who you really are. You might find you actually like them if you're not trying to be someone you're not, and you'll all enjoy the week. Or not, and they won't come back.

Seriously, the best part of getting past 50 is that I no longer feel I have to be whatever it is that others are expecting. Except "Mom." I'm always Mom. I'm OK with that, in fact I kinda roll around in it.

Speaking of which, we're setting the expectation now for our daughter that we will be leaving when her husband gets back in May. We're talking more about our plans, we're making sure to let her know that, if they both end up deployed, we'd definitely take care of the kids, but we'd take care of them where we are, in our home, wherever that may end up being. And honestly, be happy doing it. They're great kids. It's living in someone else's house that makes this a little odd. We're ready for our own space. We've been here three months today, we have a bit over three months left to go, and already chomping at the bit!

Lisa, that is really good advice and I think I will do my best to follow it this time. Usually I take time off work to play guide/hostess. My hubby is taking one day off, so I will probably do the same. Then I'll be saying you'll have to entertain yourself as I have to work. And it'll be plain old meat and potatoes unless they want to buy the groceries! It is really a status pressure thingy. She is a perfectionist with really high standards and it is hard to live up to what she expects! Why I think I SHOULD have to live up to her expectations, I don't know. It's the "want to be accepted" part of me, I guess. I know that God must be trying to address my inferiority complex. My self image ain't too strong and to be with a true Super Achiever, who has made a huge success of her life (like having a President call her to give her a job in his cabinet one year-LOL) well, just makes me feel kind of a waste of space. LOL And I am a bit envious of her jet setting child- free lifestyle. She likes to tell me about the wonderful spas she goes to all over the world...SIGH. Jealousy is green. I do like/admire her most of the time, but I know from past experience how stressful it is to host someone who is so very different to yourself. I have to remind myself that I must not be THAT awful cause she keeps coming back. My husband and I are both very tolerant and genial hosts and would never offend anyone if we can help it. We would rather cut off our arm than make someone feel unwelcome. I guess that's all that matters. LOL Wendy

Hi all: Long day today. Got up at 2:15, left by 3:00 to get DD to the airport. Traffic through Seattle at 4:00 in the morning is not bad. Came home, fed horses and goats, then got ready for church. Thought I was going to fall asleep during the sermon. We had a potluck and baby shower for a new baby in our church. It was fun but had to come home and take a nap. Haven't exercised much except for taking care of critters.

Janetr - My best friend moved to Parker from Sioux Falls, SD about 5 years ago. Her DH died and she wanted to be near her DD and DGKs. They live in Centennial. She bred her labradoodle and there were 10 puppies. We are getting one of them, a chocolate female. My DD is picking it up this weekend.

Lisa - We moved to 10 acres in WA. We got a good price because it had been neglected for 8 years and the blackberries and brush had taken over. It is taking us time and we really need a compact tractor but we are getting there. There is a manufactured home on the property and I love the floor plan but feel like it is really cheaply built.
It was built in 2007 but we are having issues with roof leaks, doors are not standard so difficult to fix when knobs break and I am not convinced there is real wood anywhere except for the library shelves and maybe the frame. We have had electrical problems with wiring being loose and spent nearly $2000 on a septic system which was inspected before we bought and was supposedly in good condition. I am all for stick and stone construction. Our 100+ year-old house in Sioux Falls was way sturdier.

Pip - You and Kirby and the kids enjoy your last days on the ocean property.

Wendy - You have gotten some good suggestions about your guests. Wishing you the best.

Everyone take care, Sue in WA