WOMEN AGES 50 + FOR DECEMBER 2019

Morning, afternoon and evening, all...

Back home safe from my work Christmas party yesterday. Even in a group of 50 to 60 people (not my favorite thing) it was lovely fun. This time last year, I was at the same party and knew no one at all... and this year I knew all but the newest employees. Lots of hugs--hope my immune system is strong enough to throw off all the germs. Four different fun games (two were the Kahoots app, if you've ever heard of it - great fun for groups, and everyone could play on their smartphones).

Lots of door prizes, a few high-dollar prizes that you could submit entries for - you get entries throughout the year for things like co-worker credits, when someone sends a credit to HR for something you've done to help them that goes far beyond your job title, and you get more entries when you donate to the organization, or give a higher donation this year than last year. Tons of laughter, moved really fast, never got slowed down. Just exhausting - three hour drive there, four hours of party, three hours back.

Friday night at 6:30 is Corey's work Christmas party. There won't be any hugs - lots of manly men doing manly work so lots of handshakes. It's a landscaping company, and he's the one who fixes all the equipment, dozens of massive mowers, weed trimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers, spray trucks, etc., and this time of year, all the trucks and trailers are in, so he can get all the regular maintenance on them done. He fixes the heavy equipment, too, for irrigation jobs, which they do all winter long. He always laughs when he tells people his job title - Asset Reliability Manager. They'll also have food, yes, but most buffet servings here are Mexican foods (as was my work Christmas party), so I can just grab fajita fillings of grilled chicken and some cheese and/or beans, and I'm a happy camper.

I'm so looking forward to our own quiet Christmas together. Just a time spent with each other, most likely both reading books on our Kindles on the couch, with the fireplace lit up. Don't wish to decorate, happy to look at other folks as we drive by. Michele, folks like you and Vince make the rest of us very happy as we ooh and aah over your hard work while we sit in our car in our laziness and drive by!

Am also looking forward to two weeks of paid days off! Am finally going to work on my favorite niece's quilt - I'm calling it "Deep in the Heart" as it's been constructed in my mind for more than a year - a massive star shape, made of materials showing the night sky and stars, then surrounded by iconic Texas fabric designs, including saddle leather iconography, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrush, and so on. I think it will be lovely. The other part of my design brain is working on my son's, which he wants just a black one, but I've found the Hannon family crest online, so I'm going to either recreate it or buy a flag with it on and incorporate it in a quilt somehow. That may be another time, though.

Sorry, didn't mean to write a book

Love y'all,
Lisa in AR

Michele when I made Minnesota my home. I think I only went back for Christmas once. Even then flying was a pain and it was an eleven hour drive in good weather. I decided I would rather visit when it was less stressful. My mother would either get sick or have a melt down because of the stress of the Holidays. It is also very stressful to travel with small children no matter what time of year. I am for the solution that is the least stressful for all.

Neither of our boys will be with us on Christmas Day. I am fine with this because it gives us another day to celebrate. For me the important thing is just to be with them and celebrate my time with them whatever day it is.

Decorating is fun for me because it makes me think about all the people who had touched my life. I would say well over have of my decorations inside are from family and friends or if I bought them they reminded me of someone or it made me smile.

I just finished my Christmas letter. I like to make a letter put together with comics. I sometimes cut out pieces to make my statement. I make sure I limit myself to one page. I started doing this as a way make a Christmas Letter fun and not a chore to do. This weekend my goal is to get my cards done with the included Christmas Letter.

For cookies I make two pans of cherry bars and a batch of chocolate chip cookies (my version). I have neighbors who ask if I do not bring them their cherry bars for the season. I have four neighbors who like them so only have a few left for us.

My mom would make 10 different kinds and they lasted til they were dry and hard. I think this was part of her stress. She had a tough time giving herself permission to make less.

There is an adage for fashion. You are all dressed and ready to go with all your accessories. Now take one accessory off so you will look more put together. Perhaps preparing for the Holidays could use this advice. Take one thing off your plate and use that time to pamper yourself because you are worth it.

Margaret

Hello Ladies! I am sorry for being so far behind ... couple things caught my attention

Heather ... why are you writing in past tense regarding writing a good song? As far as I know, there's no time limit to creativity ...

Rori ... I think you are incredibly strong and being proactive in your husband's care. Having recently encouraged my mentally astute but physically disabled son to change his living arrangements from independent living to a "group home," I have some insight into what you might be experiencing. I have friends who do not understand why I just don't take care of my son at home. There are others who recognize the pragmatism and love my decision to get him used to living without me entails. You are doing all the right things.

Terri ... your poetry really resonates with me and I love the images your words bring to mind.

Machka ... my reaction to pineapple isn't an "allergy" per se, but as much as I love it, it does not love me ...

Janetr ... prayers for your daughter...

Christmas expectations ... still no progress on the shopping front ... no one is giving me any ideas ... no one is going to get any gifts ... just sayin'

So ... I had 6 month blood labs and a physical this week. I follow Dr. Bert Herring's Fast-5/AC: The Power of Appetite Correction ... which is a fasting program (not severe calorie restriction) that encourages a "fasting" period of 19 hours and a window of eating that is 5 hours. Lots of science behind this but that's not the point today. After living this way for almost a full year, I have released 25 pounds and my labs across the board have improved with my glucose levels showing the most improvement. My doctor was thrilled today. I am thrilled as the last couple of months have been slow going with the weight loss. Improved health is just as important as weight loss so I plan to continue this lifestyle. It suits me.

Beth near Buffalo where it has been snowing ...

exermom wrote: »

Kim – the reason we can’t fly to Denise is because Vince does A LOT of decorating for the holidays. We can’t leave with the computer controllers outside. What we’d have to do (in one week or even less) is bring in all the extension cords, the inflatables, the blowmolds, the controllers, the blocks, take down the arches, the lights on the arches, put them away so that we can at least get one car in a garage (in the meantime, we need to dry out the inflatables). I hope I’ve covered everything. The reason she says that she’s having the anxiety is because “it’s such a long trip” and she wouldn’t be able to hold PJ since he’d have to be in the carseat. We’ve tried explaining to her that air travel with a baby is very difficult. I flew to FL when Jess was an infant and I swore that I would never do it again. Now I was willing to make a two DAY trip with 3 little children, and this was pre-9/11, before airlines jammed everyone into a plane (there are no extra seats) and gave you less room. To drive up to her (at least 9 hours) then we’d have to turn around and drive another 9 hours back. Plus, how does she get her car here? Are you saying that we drive another 9 hours to take her back and then another 9 to get home? I don’t know that she’d be any less anxious having us drive or Pete. I really do think she just wants to take the easy way out and that’s not to come. Going to Iowa put us back so we’re scurrying to get the decorating done. Mother nature has not exactly cooperated, but at least it isn’t snowing.

Michele in NC

18 hours in the car in a short amount of time with a baby is a very long time. I don't know if she's nursing or not, but even if she isn't, it won't take them 9 hours -- it will be longer. I do understand your position, but I definitely see her arguments, too. Especially if her husband doesn't have a lot of time to take off because he took those weeks off after his son was born. Even if he has the time, his employer might not be too keen about having him gone again for days.

I am sorry that you are having so much family conflict about what to do about the holidays.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR