WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR OCTOBER 2020

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  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,320 Member
    Has anyone heard from Kate UK?
  • Snowflake1968
    Snowflake1968 Posts: 6,725 Member
    Barbara - I’m happy that Joe’s pressure is down, that is a relief for both of you.
    Rodger and I talked the other night about care when we’re older, he told me if he ever got combative I should ship him off. That he wouldn’t want me to have to deal with him then. The hard part I’ve seen in my last year is it is those men that are hard to convince and finally get into a care facility.

    Heather - that’s how it should be on our birthdays.
    I can’t wait to see pictures of your newly painted room.

    Machka - will they not pay for an at home companion a couple days a week or so many hours a week.
    Here we have home care providers for the “in between” my Mom was authorized for up to 10 hours per week, one of their duties was to ensure she was bathed as my brother couldn’t do that. They mostly visited with her though, but could have taken her for drives and such if she wanted.

    Barbie - happy Birthday to Jake.

    I am up early on a Saturday again, I am going to start making some food for Thanksgiving dinner and do some tidying.

    Tracey in Edmonton
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 16,506 Member
    S
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    hello, all, I hope you are as well as can be and not too sad or overwhelmed and finding nice moments, amidst all the things going on in the world.

    Nice moments, and things:
    Very nice meeting with colleague on Friday. he's super busy so after over a week of not evening managing to find a common time of easy availability on to speak 15 min on the phone we met for 8 am breakfast meeting. that is pretty much never done here, for various cultural and climatic reasons. It's much more an evening place than a morning place. it was rather fun. now the sun rises after 8 am, so it was dark out. we met at a café on a pedestrian street which is on our paths to work, with little detour.

    So much is challenging and complex that it's nice to have little nice moments.

    Also my students in one class in addition to their presentation (which was so-so) wrote and sang a duet, accompanied by guitar, using vocabulary and context relating to the subject. It was really beautiful. Lovely pertinent text and beautifully sung. They are not studying music, but she has a couple of clips on youtube and I guess he is an amateur musician too. I checked her pop clips, and the song they sang in class was much better:especially the combination of their two voices. it was uplifting. They let me film it with my phone, but I promised only to share it with those two, not to post it anywhere.

    Weather is lovely and crisp. Sunny, 50s, pleasant.

    My present luxury is still going to café daily. Now with heightened security measures, we can no longer stand nor sit at the bar where it costs just 1.20 for an espresso. Sitting at table it costs double. But it usually lifts my spirits tons to go there and sit and read the paper or just have that moment of me time. That makes about 60 euros a month (figuring I don't go every day, due to work) but there is very little eating out and much less socialising these days.

    A very close friend's significant other is a rather successful young jazz musician (meaning at 30+ he's able to eat out a living doing just that, has several concerns, albums and is known in his field), and is launching a CD this evening in second consecutive concert evening.
    Im thinking of going. It's 28 euros, but it will probably be fun.
    Undoubtedly every second seat will be empty etc.

    cleaning person came last week and this week. the rate here is 10 euros per half hour, and half is credited to taxes (to get people to pay legally and allow hirees to have healthcare, etc, charges, rather than hiring under the table). Once it's medium clean I tend to take much better care of it and keep up a bit.

    I was planning to go to an exhibit this afternoon but I have la flemme (= laziness or I don't feel like it ; I'm feeling too lazy).

    It was great to go last weekend w a fellow-student, but w no appointment, it's less tempting;

    From work I have a museum pass that gives free entrance to 2 in many museums and I don't make use of it enough, for sure;

    On up side :
    things done
    I DID do my 15 min cleaning, PLUS dishes, etc, AND I cooked a big pot of chickpeas, destined to make hummus rather than buy it (BIG ECONOMY - a tiny container is 4 euros, and this organic concoction will make a big amount (to freeze partially, probably about 4x as much), for probably 2 euros, and with less oil/fat no doubt.

    I DID to 15 min filing and bill paying

    2 C fruits and 2.5 C veggies
    I read on WHO site that they suggest against COVID eating 2 c of fruit and 2.5 c of veggies daily. I've been aiming for that for a week: I love fruit but haven't been eating so much as it seems high in sugar.
    So this week I've been having the 2C for breakfast: 1 small banana, 1 small apple, 1 small pear, and a few blueberries, +soy yogurt and cereal protein powder or a bit of unsweetened cereal flakes.

    And for lunch: 2.5 c of veggies, usually cooked but sometimes salad, plus a protein (usually a tofu thing recently, plus a bit of crackers or bread.

    and then open for rest of day.

    it works well and I feel a bit better with all those fruits and veggies.


    I'm personally not too worried about getting COVID, not that it's not possible but after being a bit freaked during mid-lockdown, I think I can only sustain that fear so long.

    I work mostly with young people with masks, and distance, so there is not much risk of putting others in danger. I don't have much contact with people who older except myself (57).

    I'm much more worried about potential risks of depression due to restrictive measures, overwork, not seeing students live, etc.

    Here, now eateries remain open with spacious seating, you have to give your name and telephone number before sitting down, have to pay at the table, maximum 6 people at a table, get-together, 10 people maximum outside, (possible exceptions for guided visits).

    Challenges:
    money is tight. The lack of rent for 4 months during lockdown is catching up with me. I have several bills to pay and have not been a spendthrift by any means, but nor have I been counting money closely. One employer is paying late (not paying in September but paying double in October). Last time as, after 6 years, I've gone from a yearly contract to a permanent one. Informed of this my bank is not covering me, which is super unappreciable. I told them I would write to the press and consumer organisation but I don't know if I will really bother.

    I requested a year of training to finish thesis. Normally if the employer gives no answer after 30 days, that is a yes. But this one employer is being a bit agressive as he is wont to do. He wrote to me at 6pm last Friday and then at 11:40 pm yesterday! I wrote back write away Friday evening last week and at 8am today, so he also has to deal with getting a mail to start the weekend. From experience that is a tactic they use: sending tension-filled letters or mails at the start of weekends or school holidays.

    This guy tried to fire me between 2015 and 2017. I was totally stressed for a year, until I realised how dishonest he was, and then slowly developed a thick tough skin and slowly became highly activist for workers rights.

    Now in response to a simple request to have time for training, which is a right, he is going back to the same song and dance. I reminded him of the past dynamic, (which he ended up losing in after 2 years), and said I hoped that things will be more harmonious.

    But I feel pretty good physically, relatively speaking. I haven't been hungering for sugar;

    I made my "homemade nuttela" with crisp breads for dessert today.

    (1 T tahini, 1 T unsweetened non-fat cocoa powder, and about 1t maple syrup).

    Suffering a bit from laziness and/or being indoorsy.
    it's comfortable doing little but doesn't feel good in long run;

    I have tons of work however during the week w three schools and no end of things to do, between planning and tech stuff to figure out.







  • Katla49
    Katla49 Posts: 10,385 Member
    Rebecca: You are lucky to be close enough to Athena for occasional visits. Our grandchildren are thousands of miles away. We don’t expect to see them live and in person this year. We take advantage of zoom and facetime. DH will not fly due to his medical situation. I won’t leave him home alone to go visiting so we’re stuck. Maybe 2021 will be an improvement. :cry:

    Tracey: Our son is a long time Doctor Who Fan. One of our local stores has Doctor Who items for sale and we’ve bought him several Doctor Who Christmas ornaments over the years. :smiley:

    Heather: I miss my grandchildren, too. I have the option of facetime and zoom. It is better than no visits at all. Is that possible in your situation? :flowerforyou:

    Barbara: Joe’s BP down to acceptable levels is very good news. CONGRATULATIONS!!! :bigsmile:

    SuziQ: Thank you for reminding us about the value of kegel exercises. I haven’t had any problems in a very long time. Keeping up with good muscle tone “down there” is important. :flowerforyou: DH has been an insulin dependent diabetic for more than 50 years. He is very good at managing his blood sugar levels, measures several times a day and keeps careful records. :star:

    Machka: DH is unlikely to board any jet, now or in the foreseeable future. If we’re to see our kids in person, they will have to come here. We may go there but it will have to be a very long road trip & it won’t be happening in 2020. :ohwell:

    Barbie: Happy Birthday to Jake! :star::flowerforyou: :star:


    We have cloudy skies and wet pavement, but it isn’t raining at this exact moment. I have an opportunity to go horseback riding tomorrow. It looks like the most likely probability will be to ride in the arena due to the damp weather today.


    Katla in beautiful NW Oregon
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    HEALTHCARE IN THE USA
    My sister has some help. She is schizophrenic and has long been on disability. she is a much less severe case than most as she has been able to clean, shop, pay her bills, etc., eventually with a little family help from time to time.

    A couple of years ago she had complicated cancer requiring about 7-8 weeks of various daily treatments. One sister who lives near her was very very little available(had a heavy load at that time)but took care of the basic follow up and continuity. Since the sister with schizophrenia is very smart and sensitive and kind, but can be confused, it was important that others accompany her to main drs appointments, for giving and getting information, following up and implementing various things. Fortunately each of her 3 other siblings were able to free up 2-3 weeks each to fly out and take care of her for that time (me during xmas school vacation). She's in total remission since;

    But also medicaid or medicare paid for some physical therapy and occupational therapy, and the housing unit paid for a ramp and a bar to be put into her apartment. And she was in a wheelchair and could not walk more than a few meters, alone, so since then they also pay for a helper to come 2h 2x a week. (shopping, laundry, cleaning). My sister was not messy, but she lost energy with the chemo. It also means other company for her 2x a week, which surely must be good. The helper still comes. Sis was not in good shape, overweight but able to manage. The weeks of chemo and radiation put her in a wheelchair and walking with a walker. She's never gained back her energy pre-chémo.

    All would have been paid for by medicaid or medicare, even some local medical taxis, but it would have been hard to manage (she would have been too tired and confused) and lonely without the siblings.

    the main doctor thought we were getting paid to go help. he couldn't imagine that we were just helping because that's what you do. I was a little insulted, but I guess it's a lesson for him.
    his name was Dr. Fleagle, but pronounced like bagel. :D he was very close to retirement.
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    I smell something like brownies and want to make some brownies w base of chickpeas. I'm sure there's a recipe online.
  • Faetta
    Faetta Posts: 1,059 Member
    SuzieQ Yes, I do the Kegel exercises. I had great success doing them until I had colon cancer surgery which disrupted my exercise routine. I have reached the point once again where the only time such is a problem is doing my high leg lifts. I can cough, sneeze, choke, or croak without any issue, but lift knees up to boobs repeatedly and quickly and there will be trouble in panty land.

    M in Oz From what I have read about your getting your masters, while it may not pay big dividends employment wise, it will in real living especially in understanding medical and legal because the way you earned it taught you how to think as compared to a full-time classroom setting where many times students are taught what to think. Both of my parents were Phd's, my father a high-level government space scientist, and my mother an educator. They both drove home the fact that a degree based on parroting the professor's ideas, theorems, concepts, and beliefs was useless except to gain higher employment and pay. One based on information that activates your mind to solve problems and invent new solutions is one of value in everyday life. It is sad that your husband has no one to take him out frequently and give you a well-deserved break. It would be good for both of you. I take out a long time friend in early-stage dementia several times a week to give her husband a break.

    Allie I am also hearing an alarming number of sirens. Only one fire-engine. It is raining gently which explains the lack of fires, but the abundance of police sirens, ambulance, and the fire tool trucks indicates bad accidents. I expect to hear life flight at least once this morning as they fly over my neighborhood headed to Portland.

    Lanette Thanks for sharing your rain with me this morning. It is so refreshing even if it is aggravating my newly found fall allergies.

    Heather You sound a bit like me being hesitant about using something that meets your standards excellence because of fear of damaging it. I try to keep everything looking just the way I like it. With age and fading ability to repair, refinish, restore, or maintain everything to my standards, I am accepting "patina."

    Fae - Failing Jill of all trades, mistress to none, on deserts edge near the river where the mighty sturgeon still swim, accepting patina.
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    chickpea brownie recipe DONE, (baking). 2 C chickpeas, 1/2 nut butter, 1/2 maple syrup I used much less: 3-4 T. 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/4 GF flour, baking powder, it was dry so I added a spoonful or two of soy milk. batter is good.

    having computer issues.
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    who disagrees with my congratulations to Machka !?
  • bwcetc
    bwcetc Posts: 2,747 Member
    Machka ... " In an ideal world, someone would come by one morning a week and take him round to Bunnings hardware, have a cup of coffee and a chat with him, and that sort of thing. However, that sort of thing isn't available.
    "    . You would think something this would be so simple, but I know it's not. My son rarely has visitors from those outside of the medical community, but sometimes those he has formed friendships with over the years at various schools/churches will visit. I don't recall if you are affiliated with a caring church ... sometimes (not always) there are those who would do something like this with members of their church. Or, perhaps, if you were to share this statement with friends? Sometimes, especially when we are independent people, others need to know that we are receptive to help. And taking someone out for coffee would be so easy to do.

    Barbara ... very glad to hear that Joe's eyes are getting back to normal.

    Flu Shots ... my son and I went for our flu shots this morning at our medical group's "drive thru" flu clinic ... a result of Covid protocols. I'm hoping this is something that they retain in the future. We had filled out all paperwork online before the scheduled time slot. Arrived at the facility and drove up to a nurses tent. Gave our names and scheduled time slot for confirmation. Rolled up our sleeves, jab 1 for me, jab 2 for him and we were out of there! Easy Peasy!!

    I am incredibly behind on so many things, so once I log off of here, I plan to do some baking, laundry, and cleaning. Notice that baking was number one! :D

    Beth near Buffalo

  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 2,932 Member
    Katla49 wrote: »
    Rebecca: You are lucky to be close enough to Athena for occasional visits. Our grandchildren are thousands of miles away. We don’t expect to see them live and in person this year. We take advantage of zoom and facetime. DH will not fly due to his medical situation. I won’t leave him home alone to go visiting so we’re stuck. Maybe 2021 will be an improvement. :cry:

    Tracey: Our son is a long time Doctor Who Fan. One of our local stores has Doctor Who items for sale and we’ve bought him several Doctor Who Christmas ornaments over the years. :smiley:

    Heather: I miss my grandchildren, too. I have the option of facetime and zoom. It is better than no visits at all. Is that possible in your situation? :flowerforyou:

    Barbara: Joe’s BP down to acceptable levels is very good news. CONGRATULATIONS!!! :bigsmile:

    SuziQ: Thank you for reminding us about the value of kegel exercises. I haven’t had any problems in a very long time. Keeping up with good muscle tone “down there” is important. :flowerforyou: DH has been an insulin dependent diabetic for more than 50 years. He is very good at managing his blood sugar levels, measures several times a day and keeps careful records. :star:

    Machka: DH is unlikely to board any jet, now or in the foreseeable future. If we’re to see our kids in person, they will have to come here. We may go there but it will have to be a very long road trip & it won’t be happening in 2020. :ohwell:

    Barbie: Happy Birthday to Jake! :star::flowerforyou: :star:


    We have cloudy skies and wet pavement, but it isn’t raining at this exact moment. I have an opportunity to go horseback riding tomorrow. It looks like the most likely probability will be to ride in the arena due to the damp weather today.


    Katla in beautiful NW Oregon

    my husband is a DrWho fan also- he has used his 3D printer to print different things from the show- mainly the tardis-he made light switch plate covers and small ones that actually have lights in them. He has made even more things from Star Trek and other sci-fi shows he likes. His Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy has been the biggest seller at the craft fairs in the past- even with people who don't know what he is- he is just cute.
    Debbie
  • Snowflake1968
    Snowflake1968 Posts: 6,725 Member
    bananasandoranges wrote: »
    who disagrees with my congratulations to Machka !?

    When scrolling on phones it is very easy to hit the disagree button and not even know it. I’m sure someone hit it by mistake.

    Tracey
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    @Machka9 where my sister lives she hasn't made use of it but there are also people training and learning art therapy. it would be possible for a masters student in some kind of care to just visit as part of work training or volunteer work if you live anywhere near a college town.
    and many people are idle with COVID.
    I would imagine some idle young retirees would be happy to help as well.
  • bananasandoranges
    bananasandoranges Posts: 2,410 Member
    my close friend sent me a link to buy a ticket for 20 euros instead of 28 euros this evening at her significant other's Cd launch this evening.

    I have a tendency to be a homebody and I'm not convinced it's great for me. my past therapist used to always encourage me to go out and mostly it was good advice.

    I can see serious serious resistance today though.
  • Faetta
    Faetta Posts: 1,059 Member
    edited October 2020
    Snowflake1968 wrote: »
    bananasandoranges wrote: »
    who disagrees with my congratulations to Machka !?

    When scrolling on phones it is very easy to hit the disagree button and not even know it. I’m sure someone hit it by mistake.

    Tracey

    If whoever did it hits it again, it will remove it. I wish they would remove the disagree button and replace it with love. If such a negative option is offered, it should be "don't like", since politics and religion are forbidden here, how can one disagree with facts about someone's life. The only thing one might disagree with is if we give our opinions about fitness, health, etc., but still how is hitting disagree educating anyone? Make a statement why you disagree is one thing but hitting a negative button anonymously just causes bad will and hate. There is no way of knowing if it was a mistake or not. Hopefully, forum admins will take note and eliminate this easy to hit button that attracts accidents, trolls, and jealous nonachievers.

    I love that this thread exists and such a diverse group of advanced years women get along and offer a shoulder to cry on and also a gentle foot to the butt when motivation is needed. Feel free to hit disagree with this post. No skin off my teeth. I mean dentures.

    Fae
  • Faetta
    Faetta Posts: 1,059 Member
    bananasandoranges wrote: »
    chickpea brownie recipe DONE, (baking). 2 C chickpeas, 1/2 nut butter, 1/2 maple syrup I used much less: 3-4 T. 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1/4 GF flour, baking powder, it was dry so I added a spoonful or two of soy milk. batter is good.

    having computer issues.

    I have also made chickpea brownies using dates and sour cherries. I like chickpea better than black bean for brownies.
  • Whidislander
    Whidislander Posts: 3,439 Member
    Faetta wrote: »
    Spent the day working in the yard and not looking forward to heavy leaf fall in about a month. Two neighbors that refuse to manage their trees or keep leaves clean up as they know the slightest wind will carry them to my place that seems to be the leaf collection spot of the neighborhood. I am tired and sore and fighting a melancholy feeling. I think that the feeling is that this fall my daughter would be 50. The wonderful young neighbor lady brought me a pan of soggy sticky brownies, just the way I love them, and I only ate one which was a surprise to myself.

    I will add a brownie to my Oregon produced 4% butterfat cottage cheese and Washington grown organic unsweetened applesauce breakfast in the morning. Adding a little unhealthy at times is healthy for the mind.

    Bamboo fabric sleep shorts ... I love them as they are so soft and light and breathe great. The only downside is the cotton elastic band that is hard to dry as towels or heavy jeans. I fear that all the extra drying time will wear the light fabric out and hanging them in the house takes all day and half the night to dry. Outdoor hanging would be best but I am not set up for it and did it for too many years and like to get laundry done as fast as possible. At $20 each, I want them to last as long as possible. I suppose if the extensive dryer time wears them, I will whine about it, then pony up the dough, that is if they are still available. Finding them was about like finding the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. I think I have that on my bucket list along with the Fountain of Youth. Ponce De Leon. Wasn't he the one that discovered the Fountain of Youth? Too tired for accurate recall of High School history. I might have ditched that class anyway.

    Fae preparing for playing dementia fighting words puzzles and then dosing off to happy dreamland

    You need to buy another set of those sleep shorts so there will be one pair drying and you wear the other set.👍 Yes its another pricetag, but in the long run, both of your shorts will last longer.👍
    👍Rebecca
    Whidbey
    Washington
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 16,506 Member
    D

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