WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH 2018

Budgeting one thing I do is ‘virtual shop’ I go to a site and add everything I want to my shopping cart. But I don’t check out. If I go back in a couple of days I usually don’t want to really spend my money on much if any of the stuff I put in my cart the other day.

I still have the satisfaction of ‘shopping’ but I get less junk and save my money. lol

Happy World Theater Day!

"The theater has been one of the most popular forms of entertainment since the Greeks, and the acting industry today is a hard but potentially prosperous career. If you have ever been in theater or seen a live show, you know how fun theater can be."

Wendy - What an interesting challenge, to make learning to ride safe for someone who processes information differently! Hope the lesson goes well!

Allie - Congratulations on having that behind you!

Betty - Glad you are still hanging on. You're in my thoughts.

Michele - Loved your plan for the flooring! Be sure you service something nice and stain-inducing! My Irish Wolfhound had the same effect on people as your Sheepdog. He was obviously very friendly, but nobody in their right mind would try something with 150 pounds of dog standing right by my side. I love Luna, but I do miss having a giant dog.

Rye - I've had dogs and cats together for nearly 40 years, including a regular parade of foster greyhounds fresh off the track. In my experience, only a small percentage of dogs can't learn to be cat-safe (at least with indoor cats). I know some cats never learn to be dog-safe either although all of mine have been good. I don't take Luna with me when I stay at my sister's house because one of her cats is a total butthead and terrorizes the dog the entire time she's there. Anyhow, I do it by making sure the cats have the advantage and not encouraging them to be "friends." It's cute if they cuddle up on their own, but I'd rather have safe cats than dog-and-cat best buddies. I make it clear from the beginning that dogs are not allowed to mess with cats in any way, and if there's a scuffle the dog is the one that's going to get in trouble. (The cats know this and take advantage of it sometimes by deliberately antagonizing the dog.) I give a sharp verbal correction if a dog shows undue interest in a cat. Sadly, neither the dogs nor the cats can be trusted with the birds unattended, so the parrots only get supervised free time.

Trisha - Gorgeous dogs! You've got your hands full there (in a good way) with such a high energy breed!

Lanette - Sometimes my teeth get that way, where I have sort of a non-specific pain but I can't pinpoint it to a single place. Sometimes a bite adjustment helps. I wear a bite guard at night to which reduce night-time tooth grinding, and remembering to consciously relax and massage the jaw muscles now and then also helps.

Lisa - Oh, I'll have to check out the Door Buddy! There are times when it would be useful to be able to keep the dog out of a room while allowing the cats to come and go.


It's a grey day here. Nice day to sleep in or spend the day reading (neither or which is in the cards). Tomorrow morning I leave for the probate hearing so today will be spent getting as much done as possible before my time off.

-Yvonne in TX

Barbie - Allie, what helps me the most with budgeting and living on a very modest income, is writing down everything I spend. It helps me see where my money is going and helps me decide which expenses I could have done without. It helps also, to wait a day to buy something so you have time to think about it. I frequently ask myself "How could my life be better with less?" Good luck on this new chapter in your life.

Good point, Barbie! We were living on a very modest income several years ago and recording EVERY expense was an eye-opener. After a few months, I was able to forecast recurring monthly expenditures and gave myself and DH good discretionary allowance which was used for gifts, books, clothing, etc. But it set a limit.

It made it easier for me to tell people who wanted me to purchase items from their Pampered Chef and similar parties, "Oh shucks, I already blew my budget on things like that for a couple months." I will admit I still go overboard at Christmas but again, I budget for that or at least try to.

And, budgeting protected savings. Big expenses like car tires, car repairs, etc. are paid from what we have in savings and I no longer have to dip into it to buy groceries!

Allie - good luck, I know now you have all kinds of expenses that you really cannot control right now but once it gets smoothed out you'll be good to go I know. I also believe the universe provides!

Rye - love your idea about putting items in the cart on Amazon and but giving it a few days. I was going to buy a couple 8 gig thumb drives a couple days ago and did just that. Then I rummaged through drawers and guess what - I found 2 of them right off. Felt good to delete them from the shopping cart.

Cats and dogs.... we've had some that get along very well and some that didn't. Most recently, we moved here with a couple little older mixed breed doggies, then got a kitten who was murder on them! Would attack and scratch them and I swear sent them to an early grave. THEN I brought home Sophie the schnoodle when that kitten was nearly full grown, and the tables were turned. Sophie terrorized that cat big time! Didn't mind the claws and would jump on her, sit on her, pull on her tail. Finally, they would relax together on the sofa - not exactly cuddle, but really liked each other. We'd take Sophie on a walk and the cat would follow along!

Turn clock forward ten years. Enter Rosie the mini schnauzer pup. Kitty and Sophie are now "elderly". Rosie lives to torment that cat -she's more "terrier" than Sophie and is pushy, yappy, and snappy. I think the cat loves it but doesn't tolerate it for long and certainly doesn't sleep next to Rosie on the sofa, tho she might at some point.

Here's a photo of Sophie as a pup and Kitty taken about ten years ago:


OK ladies, time to suit up and get a walk in!

Lanette
Drizzly SW WA State

coastalgosgal wrote: »

Thanks Barbie! You're amazing! And.... I love ya!

March Goals
-log my food daily
-drink 64 oz of liquid a day. (Wine doesn't count... Jk!!)
-exercise nightly
-read daily

Get beads every week! Each bead is a lb lost. When I lose it, I put it on a bracelet!

Tonight I'm kind of hungry! I got this!
Becca
Oregon coastie with the mostie!

Just starting my plan and was trying think of some good goals to start with. Using yours! And I love your bead and bracelet idea. That is awesome! Thank you!

barbiecat wrote: »

Caregiving is not for sissies. Today I took Jake to the doctor get his stitches out. She said the incision looks like it's healing well. He is restless and wants to be stronger right away, but the short trip was really tiring for him. He took a 3 hour nap after lunch. I am happy that he's doing well. I have huge admiration for those of you who are caring for someone on a much more ongoing basis.

Barbie

You are doing great!! I think because we are emotionally vested into our caregiver jobs, that's what makes it so draining, so chaotic feeling. It wasn't just Jake that went through surgery, you did as well. I learned that from a nice lady mental doctor up the way in Astoria. We were the ones that pick up the pieces and carry on. So, don't be hard on yourself...caregivers are like rock stars!!!
My Chief gets his staples, and one stitch out the 6th of next month!
Becca
Oregon

Hi Ladies,
I'm back. I was offline for a while. We've had snow off and on for the last 4 weeks. It's still cold, but no snow on the ground. still can't seem to lose any weight. I seem to stay within a 3-pound radius. It's not where I want to be. If I could lose these last 13 pounds, I'd be happy. Guess I'll just have to keep plugging away at it until they drop. I haven't exercised like I should, either. Well, I will lose this weight. I'm committed to it. I need to do it for my health.

beckyobryan153 wrote: »

Hi Ladies,
I'm back. I was offline for a while. We've had snow off and on for the last 4 weeks. It's still cold, but no snow on the ground. still can't seem to lose any weight. I seem to stay within a 3-pound radius. It's not where I want to be. If I could lose these last 13 pounds, I'd be happy. Guess I'll just have to keep plugging away at it until they drop. I haven't exercised like I should, either. Well, I will lose this weight. I'm committed to it. I need to do it for my health.

I will quote a favorite quote.
"Losing weight isn't the key to happiness, happiness is the key to losing weight".

So then, you're thinking how can I get happy and lose this weight already...

Here are some phrases that help me:

" The most important ingredient in food preparation is my mood!"

This next phrase will make you ponder:
"Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything.
Maybe it's unbecoming everything that isn't you,
So you can be who you were meant to be in the first place."

You can do this! You are more than just the sum of your parts!
Becca
Oregon

Sometimes I think my goals are too small. I mean, the fact that I stretch when I wake up, put feet on the carpet and rise, (without pain or aching), makes me happy. That I converse with husband naturally, and still haven't tired of each other is a blessing. We still have forward movement with are life, with this move and all. Unpredictability, and change is a welcomed friend to us, we have learned to adapt and adjust to it. My goal of losing weight will come. My goals of happiness are more than mere pounds or ounces. It's the weight of conformity, of measuring up, of negative self worth, that I have let go.
Becca
( Helen Redding is singing " I am woman" in my head now) in
Oregon