WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2020

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Yes, amazing moon last night. It's supposed to be at it's best tonight.

I expect you all know by now that Boris Johnson is in ICU. Stable condition. Not on a ventilator at the moment. Just oxygen.

I had a good morning - exercise and writing. If I get those two things done, my day is good.
Weather fabulous. DH went out for fresh fruit and vegetables and picked up Paracetamol as well. That has been non existent for ages.
I will row this afternoon as I ran yesterday.
I will try to ring my old yoga friend.

I'm making a big pot of ragu today. Having it over roasted butternut squash tonight, with pak choi and cabbage.
I may make a lasagne with some of it. Haven't made one for ages.

DH made a great Viking mathematical mystery for Max. He had done it by 9.50. Got it all right, so the next one will be more difficult.
The Celestial/Terrestrial globe and book arrived at my son's house for the kids Easter present.
Our great excitement this morning was that the recycling collection came!!! Wonderful and a great relief.

I am counting my blessings.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

Barbara- Considered DNA sites but Daughter needs her DNA private so none of our family has for her . Maybe when she retires. She said she’ll even do it then.
My only worry is how bad did they have it to would they want contact after that. Indiana for that year since it was common all records from that timeframe are sealed to the public!! They put tons of restrictions to even make it impossible to be open by siblings. Think they can request any Mom who not of childlike minds (my mom had guardians but luckily laws changed with the times by what I understand abortions were illegal even at that time so the Doctor broke tons of laws! The nurses too that helped! They first tried to perform an abortion but it failed God protected my brothers they came out kicking,crying loudly, looking around even tho they were born early! Was given to a family African Americans near by but not sure if they were poverty stricken or good people or not no telling what they went through. I dream they had a happy life became Doctors to Buisnesses men but doubt it these folks were so evil doubt they chose the best home in mind . If they do DNA still a chance they could match with anyone distant of mine who has taken it follow a trail I bet. I check sites where it can be posted by them so far no Twin boys so they were a rarity that year of 1971 maybe the only ones in Union City Indiana or in Indiana all together I search the sites for all the cities there even. Many were twin boy y girl to twin girls born only. So their at least a rarity ...my biggest fear is finding out they passed already especially from that type of birth so I do check single boy birth records just in case they were split up or one didn’t make it.This virus scares me it could be too late for them if they get it or halt their search if they are .I made Moms funeral announcements public listed myself y kids in case they find it y hubby on it. So they know I exists y the kids my birth records in Texas are open to the public I’m easy to find in searches even. I left a bread crumb trail. Owner of the funeral home Mom told her story to she said if anyone tries to contact she’d let me know! She listed the other site to go to on that page. She knows my whole family. Her Locker Texas grave tells even more including her union city Indiana birth full name even maiden y my name. My grandma name Incase she listen instead of mom on birth records! My Dads full name mentions his town. My kids full names even. I left a neon sign if they come looking even stayed put in Texas all these decades giving them 30yrs so far after turning 18. If I do move someday it will be after I wait a little longer just in case. If they match to their Father Buck in Indiana sure he’d mention her hopefully.

Amber Tx

One of the things I hope to have more time to work on in the future ... perhaps in the break between my first and second semester coming up in June/July ... is my website.

Nevertheless, I've written a little blog about sleep ... machka . net/2019/11/23/sleep/ ... you'll have to take the spaces out around the dot between machka and net to get it to work.

I struggled with sleep for a while after my husband's accident and made the discovery that a sleep mask is a wonderful thing. I tried a really light weight one at first, but found I like bigger, thicker ones.

They provide me with almost complete darkness (the bigger and heavier the better) and they help keep my eyes shut.

Before using them, I had the weird sensation that I might possibly be sleeping with my eyes open. And I was waking up feeling like I'd been in a sandstorm all night with my eyes all sore and gritty. When I looked at myself in the mirror, my eyes were red and I had huge bags under them. But when I started using a sleep mask, my eyes have been much better and my bags are reduced.

Plus I get a better sleep with my sleep mask on.

So just a suggestion to those having trouble sleeping ... give a sleep mask a try. I didn't think I'd like it but now I can't sleep without it!


Machka in Oz

"Get to do"s and "chose well"s Coping Calendar Day 16: rediscover music that lifts your spirits
Welcome back Carey!
Welcome @kkjelson we’re happy you found us too!
Allie what Katla said. You would be such an asset to any care facility. Beth’s and your Jill of all trades ideas are brilliant. You’ve got this!
Marianne in WV good to see you posting, hoping your pharmacist son has all the safety protocols/equipment he needs.
Kim I’m having trouble visualizing the egg carton planted with beans, could you give us a pic? It won’t be warm enough here for beans for quite awhile, but could sure do same with snow peas… “email plant sale” Brilliant! You really are the most resourceful gal. Would love to see pics of your edibly landscaped yards. Praying right now for Cousin Bob’s surgeon, caregivers, family and for his swift and complete recovery. 54 is way too young for a stroke Thankful for the good news about surgery and that he’s at Stanford. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Machka that article resonates with how I’ve felt. Stay home/stay safe/quarantine/social distancing/lockdown whatever you call it is our new normal for the foreseeable future. Congratulations on the TP and yeast!
Tracey prayers for the security guards quick and complete recovery.
Flea now I’m hungry for potato salad 
Just skimmin’ but Lanette’s “do not enter” sign really lifted my spiritsi!
Beth bubbles, yes! Received some at my BFF’s funeral and they did help.
JanetO glad your DS is not laid off or furloughed. Pay cuts are hard but losing jobs and health insurance are worse.

Amber like you, I truly hope your twin brothers have had a happy life. If it’s any consolation I was adopted as an infant and could not have had better, more loving parents.

Meeting a friend for a stroll today and to receive two masks she’s volunteered to make for us. Will go to the post office, Grocery Outlet and Freddie’s afterward, instead of waiting til tomorrow. Wednesday taking both dogs to the vet (Tumble’s annual, Shadow’s nails) the techs come to your car, take the dog into the office to treat then return. Will stop by the Farmers’ market en route home. Two forays into town the same week, I feel quite daring. The sad news is our county now has 3 confirmed cases and the rumour mill says one worked at the mill so the likelihood is for many more.

If you need a lift, search FB or YouTube for Pluto Living.

Lighter, lovelies!
Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD

Barbara- Kind of best hubby thinks if they look for me after my last Aunt (80 yr old racist one) passes away from old age first . If they know their adopted finding out the hateful things done to mom y them may be upsetting for them like it is for me - be best if theirs no more offenders left who carried it out. I do hope they are happy y healthy especially through all this. Heard stories of folks at a spouses grave gets chatting with the person who’s grave is next to them also visiting a dead relative bam 💥 find out its a long lost sibling. Another was organ transplant they said it was a perfect match they wanted to shake their hand say thanks lol found out they were siblings or even birth parent. Coworkers best friends for years finally deviate from work talk y family to childhoods bam find out their mom y daughter (was nurses). I love those type of stories. One was boy went to college folks mistook him for his “twin” he never knew he had he drove miles to find him learning he had not signed up for that semester he had to know gut feelings! They met a mirror reflection.They both approached their parents (think 1 parent hadn’t mentioned he was adopted but the other knew. The article was posted brother reunited ...another young man read it hunted them down Triplets!!! Separated at birth for a cruel Science 🧪 project by a company . They all 3 found each other. https://youtu.be/UfVD0GEyb-E

https://youtu.be/J30G5RaoWNk

Sisters too

https://youtu.be/5H-GybAr9rs

Amber Tx

Kim: Sending prayers for cousin Bob. I hope he pulls through without lasting problems. He seems to be doing very well now. YAY!!!

Amber: I can see how that open freeway would tempt a person to see how fast he can go. No traffic, and very little chance of a wreck. I’ve certainly never driven over 100, but back in the day I topped 90 on the freeway during a low traffic time. I haven’t done anything like that in years. :noway:

SuziQ: I love your gratitudes!

Barbie: Good for your area that TP is available. I was able to buy the second to the last package at Safeway last week. We have enough on hand for now.

M in OZ: It sounds as though the hospital didn’t have adequate protection for its employees. I am sorry there is an outbreak.


Yesterday I was able to send face masks to DS, DDIL and DGS, thanks to the generosity of the neighbor who has been making them for us along with her own family members. We had a gorgeous moon last night, too. It gave me a feeling of peace and awe.

Katla in NW Oregon

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Started my seeds in a seed starter yesterday. I go it on clearance at Target last fall. There was still room under my grow light so I took a cardboard egg carton and put a styro-foam top of an egg carton underneath. The problem I have had in the past in starting seeds is the seed starter soil dries out so quickly. The seed starter kit has a tray underneath that you add water to. That what gave me the idea for the egg carton.

This was written by a friend of mine son who has COVID -19 and is still at home...
On my walk just 20 minutes ago I again had difficulty breathing for the third time in 4 days. I have nurses orders to stay in bed but it's tough day after day. It was 10:10 pm and the road I was on had just 2 cars pass in 30 minutes. I had sat a spell and posted about toads just 2 blocks from my house.
Having experienced those two previous debilitating episodes I started to worry there was a chance I might not make it back without passing out so I called home for help back to the house.
Once inside I still couldn’t catch my breath so I tried a borrowed inhaler but after holding my breath with “it” in for the required 10 seconds I felt I might pass out if I took the second dose.
“GET MY CHIMES!” I pleaded in a no filter pop of inspiration and panic.
Up two flights of stairs went help. I could hear the chimes leave their perch and the sound filled the open chasm between the 1st and 3rd levels of the house. A calm washed over me from head to toe. As the chimes reached me and rang just a foot from me my breathing returned to calm and measured in seconds. It was like magic to me.

Last Friday during the 2nd bout of not being able to catch my breath I learned the goal is to stay calm as panic exacerbates the condition. But on my walk back tonight that wasn’t helping. In hindsight I should have perhaps taken a seat on the side of the road.
“CHIMES!”
I have heard patients needing to be restrained in the ER as they struggle to breath. What a barbaric nightmare. If this could help, what a more advanced technique we would have.
THIS IS FREE
THERE ARE NO SIDE EFFECTS
It doesn’t hurt to try.

I wanted to share this experience in hopes this technique can calm.

He and girl friend have it but are not in the count because lack of tests.

The powerful message this man shares is how healing staying calm in the midst of something so fearful... I am assuming he uses chimes when he meditates when he referred to his Chimes.

@LuciBThinner "lying our flag has never been because I believed that America is better. I love it here, but don't think of myself as better than anyone anywhere in the world...it was always as an idea of uniting to help one another. When we were attacked, it was the closest everyone drew to one another in my adult lifetime. I haven't seen anyone clapping or anything in my neighborhood. We are close enough to one another. I don't know if it's because it's such a small town or just not enough people have heard about it yet. Sounds like it would be very uplifting! How frightening to have the soldiers out with machine guns. I hope the threats go down quickly and you all stay safe!!"

Thank you for the well wishes. Flags can sometimes be seen as right or extreme-right symbol. it's the same in France. It's mostly the far right that uses the Flag in Frane as "their" symbol, which is a shame. Of course it can be seen and felt in many ways by different people. I guess you could start the clapping in countrysides if you wanted to. In Nyc at last news it was only Fridays and Saturdays at 7pm. It's not bad. In some neighborhoods there is live music too. Some one will play acoustic guitar or something. Not mine. just clapping.

sometimes some say 'see you tomorrow" lots of windows in the streets my place gives ono. maybe 100? or maybe just many many dozens. some fleed to the country though

@Snowflake1968 Don't feel guilty about your mom. Not everyone can take care of the elderly or handicapped for physical, financial and/or emotional reasons. Some nursing homes are good. i just spoke to my father's cousin (90) in top shape in top retirement home. She says noone has gotten sick to date because they were very quick to react. All meals left in rooms, no visitors, no going out in halls, to activities (except they can do sports thing with doors open to hallway.) She's doing great and is very serene. They are better equipped to prevent illness and to deal with it.

@Machka9 i used to eat less when stressed, but not anytime recently. once when i had a stressful, conflictual breakup i lost a good 9 lbs in a few days and kept it off for a while. i was at lowest healthy BMI for me (not starving myself at all but sort of a lump in my throat) but i felt a bit too light- like i could be blown over by the wind, even though i was quite athletic, being 5,2 and very light was just a tad too light for me. but that is NOT my problem at present. The current situation is stressful and stress is tiring. Having open time and fairly open distance to walk or ride sounds luxurious. Here it looks like they will now say- for PARIS- no exercise outings between 10am and 7pm. Some are debating interpretation of things said but it seems to be that. I'm not an extrovert. I think i'm in the middle (slight introvert- but tests vary) but i do like to get exercise outside in the sun. i didn't look at the tutorial or video but i was really uncomfortable with online video teaching at first and now i feel better and more natural.

@kymarai soldiers w guns is not totally unheard of, on occasion, to see them passing by (maybe in a train station, as precaution), w terrorist situations every few years here. but usually 2, 3 or 4 max, and this was 6 and not in a usual place at all, and the current dystopic situation makes it x times worse to see them.

@kevrit "Yes, you can make it in an oven. " thanks about the bread.

@auntiebk yes occasionally soldiers probably less than israel but sometimes, but this place and number was unusual. the context made it more upsetting than usual (usually i dont think much about a couple of soldiers strolling w machine guns through a station looking for potential bad guys)

@exermom, yeah about the machine guns.

@SuziQ113 i suppose there are terrorist threats. there is usually an underlying threat and surveillance here, but it doesn't usually impact daily life. there is no talk of it in the news, but i know that alert levels go up and down.

i thought i would write and draw (maybe paint) but i've only done a bit. distance working and stress and fatigue and walks and need to rest. and call some people.

i have been listening to music a bit more than usual.

paris is to be giving 1 cloth mask to each resident of the city in the next few days. mask is not required at present but required masks are discussed by officials.

i think for the cloth mask it depends on the cloth and you can line it with fresh 2 fresh tissues and a paper towel to increase protection. a friend said cotton is not ideal and synthetic is preferable, and i read elsewhere that waterproof cloth is ideal.

i enjoy many of the jokes you guys post. thanks.

It's 8:30pm i feel so tired.
after walk morning radio class and walk and food shopping i washed a few surfaces, put other stuff on balcony for 3 days, took off clothes and put aside, showered and washed hair.
i don't know if washing hair is necessary. now i usually change clothes and shower after supermarket (just small supermarket (natural foods store) but still. found was able to get a box of 50 vinyl gloves today. that's a good snag. after shower i went on Facebook and surfed a bit, talked to collegue about radio class and then stopped for clapping (in pjs and sweater).

wishing you all a good day or evening.