WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2020

Good morning all! Happy Saturday! Getting ready to hop out and do my weekly shop.
Lanette- I was worried for a mo that it was YOU with the fever. Sorry to hear about your friend's son, however. It is so hard to be far from our family when they are sick (especially during current times)
Amber- The whole situation with the MN police/admin is distressing. My daughter called me when it first happened (I hadn't even heard the news) and was sobbing hysterically, it stressed her so much she actually threw up a couple of times. Her hubby (my son in law) is currently going through training with the DFWPD. She is worried, both, about the "old boys club culture" he could possibly be working with, (because he is quite liberal thinking and DOES speak his mind against what he feels is unnecessarily violent action) AND she is worried about the anti-police back lash.
Clean Eating- To me, it would mean, eating foods as close to a "whole food" style, as possible. But, I agree, it is hard to use the word "processed" with the idea that all things processed are bad for you. Milk, bread, canned foods, yogurt, cheese...all processed. I draw the line more at "pre made" or "convenience" foods. I stopped by frozen foods and many "premade meals". Almost everything we eat is made by me. lol Yet, if not careful, I can still pack on the pounds...
Beth- Are you able to find masks to help you with lip reading? Would you want any? I have a friend who can make them. I wonder if this is something that is available online? Masks with clear inserts to aid with lip reading would be beneficial not only to those who have hearing loss, but also teachers and care providers whose children/students rely on seeing the sounds made to learn or understand.

Here are a couple of bits of good news that I received this week: I was contacted by our township that they are holding zoom meetings and beginning approval for zoning requests. So...I asked them to resubmit my zoning request and sent back their reimbursement of the $400 fee (they had returned it to me a month ago, at my request). They sent me a link to the zoom meeting and the agenda and the notice for my request is right there on it! Whoot! I also got a message from the director of zoning that due to the new laws (due to the virus) regarding zoning for childcare, if state licensing will grant me the group license (which they will), the township is REQUIRED to approve me for zoning! SO...it is all a formality, thanks to this unusual event called the Coronavirus. Very strange how things work out.
Also...a little over a month ago, I applied for a childcare grant that was offered. I have heard nothing, other than a mass news blurb that went out last week that due to reduced staffing at the state offices, grant approval and payments are going to take four to five weeks longer than expected. Other providers have been getting emails about the status of their grant requests, or phone calls for verification, and a couple of them have received their grants. I was beginning to worry that my request had gotten lost or I had somehow missed a "submit" button or something... Anyway, I made a call and asked someone just to make sure they received my grant request and they did and it has been approved! Hurray! A little financial relief on the way.
So all good things. The weather has been lovely, other than a bit of rain. Sending love and hugs to all who want them or need them! Gotta get busy! ttfn xoxoxo KJ (Kelly)

barbiecat wrote: »

I see my life as a series of "chapters"--some longer than others. Each has contributed to the life I have now and the person I am now. I don't regret any of it or wish to return to any of it. I love the chapter I'm in right now.

Lisa, Congrats on your new status. Enjoy the new opportunities and create a structure that works for you.

Barbie in NW WA

Yep, label them chapters, lives, or what you will, sequential sections of our lives seem to have thematic overlays, maybe because, as humans, we communicate with stories.

KJ - Congrats on the grant, woot! And the zoning, woot! woot! There had to be a pony under there somewhere... (For those who don't know it, at this link, https://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/got-to-be-a-pony-in-here-somewhere/ you'll find Ronald Reagan's favorite joke). And you are the ultimate optimist to me...

I've found my new happy place this morning... last week, we strung clotheslines from the t-posts that were here when we bought the house. Between work and the everlasting rain, I haven't had time or energy to put anything on the line. This morning, the hubby's working a rare Saturday, and I was by myself, able to hang clothes on a clothesline for the first time since I was a child. With our country seemingly going up in flames, it was a rare moment of peace, dappled shade, birds singing, a domestic task that's quite satisfying...

And brought back a memory from childhood - Mama yelling "Lisa Carol, put that book down!" while I was attempting to hang clothes on the clothesline one-handed. I had a book in my other hand so I could read. I pretty much always had a book in one hand or both. My fairly rare punishments weren't grounding, but not being allowed to read for any length of time. She knew me well.

And in keeping with Karen's postings seen from windows all over the world, an Arkansas view out my window in the back bedroom:



Love y'all,
Lisa in AR

the scale finally went down a pound! measured myself and realized I have lost avout 5 inches overall, so was building muscle. Walking hills has done wonders for my body.

Made it back from son's. In some way surreal. I took the way that avoids freeway and pass fewer businesses. Many are closed and boarded up. Some are boarded up but still open. Beautiful day here and many people in yards mowing their grass and playing with their children. The hopeful aspect is people are just going about their daily lives as best they can. I gardened at our house and son's so feel much better.

I do want to give a counterpoint to what I said earlier. I may have mentioned this already the young man who helped us yesterday was a person of color. He was frustrated too because he just want to do his job and where he needed to get his part was one of the hard hit areas. He did an outstanding job and was reasonable. I did complete a glowing review today.

So I know it is the character of the person that is important and each person deserves the benefit of the doubt. A neighbor of John's and I had a long discussion. I told her when you watch the news it looks like it is mostly people of color doing the looting. She follows a news service where there are live and are in the thick of things. She said it is a mix of all colors doing this. She and I agreed you have to be careful listening to the main media because they have a story they want to tell and they will edit things to fit what fits their story. She also said it looks like it is serial arsonist who is setting the fires. Someone took a picture and bystanders tried to stop him. He is dressed from head to toe in black and very calmly goes in and sets the fires.

John is so fortunate to have such wonderful neighbors. I have meet several of them and like them all. Well maybe not the dog who chased me. The owner of the dog I met when we were helping a neighbor who got stuck is a snow bank so I like her too.

Hopefully they figure out a way to put a stop to this looting and burning down buildings before more people get hurt. They need more people to enforce the curfew and they need special vehicles to take them off the scene. They were going to transport them in buses. I think they need a vehicle that separates them from the driver.

Our leaders here have underestimated the help they need. I don't blame them. They have never been faced with something like this before.

Another up side are the people who are coming out to help the business owners whose businesses that were destroyed to clean up. This to me is where one finds hope again. I also wanted to add there are already people coming forward offering to get meds and groceries for those in need who have no way to get these things because of businesses closing and no public transportation. Friend just sent a picture on Facebook of bags and bags of groceries being dropped off by people to help those who cannot make it to the grocery stores along one of the hardest hit areas.

What must be protected and what must be restored when anger rages. quote from Karla McLaren.