WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY 2021

pdd1216 · July 2021

I just checked in for the first time yesterday and I will figure out how to respond to folks but I am so enjoying reading your post and learning about your interesting lives with a few challenges thrown in! I'm grateful for a three day weekend coming up. We currently have no plans but I have no doubt something will come along.
Diane in TN

JustKeepTryingNeverGiveUp · July 2021

Beautiful view Machka!!!!

Heather, That's a HUGE ship!! We love cruising too, currently have 2 scheduled for next year and so ready to get back on a ship after 2 years. They are my favorite because once we're on the boat, my DH doesn't have to drive for 7 days and therefore I don't have to worry about his road rage Ha Ha.

And those of you with horses, cherish them and know i'm very jealous! I grew up barrel racing and trail riding but just don't have the place for them where we live now and can't justify the cost of boarding. Looking forward to retirement though when we are in a place to have them in our back yard again.

I'm still catching up on the thread a little at a time when I have a slow moment at work....Monday will be quiet so I'll get more reading in then.

Candy LA

margaretturk · July 2021

Fortunately I do not need to park my car in the garage. It is the prespective of selling that I am pushing the issue. Their behavior coud hurt the value of this home. I have lived through difficult neighbors before. Fortunately there is the alley in between. I am only there in the afternoon to tend my garden and do maintenance. It is nice for Drew to have a fenced in yard. Even though they are blocking me in they make the arguement they moved enough to let me out and the van is in their small driveway even if it crosses their driveway and block me out of my garage. I suppose I could try it but at risk to my car and hitting their junker. No thanks.

I will just focus on my garden and if they do anything like the fireworks again I will just call it in. They have more to lose than I do the are renters and are at the mercy of their landlord and they know I have no qualms about reporting them. Because of how the yard is stituated they would have to work hard to get into my yard. They do not strike me as anyone who wants to put much effort into anything. It is sad but I will just chose to ignore them best I can. I have many other neighbors there that do have my back so I will be grateful for that.

I learned long ago there are those who will have your back, those who will live and let live, and those who will make your life difficult. I just try to minimize those that make it difficult.

Margaret

Thanks for letting me vent...

Margaret

cityjaneLondon · July 2021

Candy - Actually it's a 'boutique' ship, only 999 passengers. We haven't been on it yet. It's newish. We had three cruises on one with 400 and one on a ship with 600. All with Saga, for the over 50s. Our trips next year will be 18 and 15 days,

We have been to the Arctic to visit Penny at the Pole as well as Scandinavian trips and the Baltic. St Petersburgh. Yes, no driving, no organising, no worries. Every whim catered for. Plus I actually love just being on a ship. I'm often in tears at the amazingness of it all, leaving and entering ports. It also suits my OCD and perfectionism, because the time keeping is immaculate.

We had an amazing time at Fatto a Mano. They really threw the boat out for us, with the best very professional, welcoming waiter, extra plates of olives and fries, and they turned the music down when I asked.

We had drinks and ice creams and coffees. The whole thing for free.
Now I will write them a good review.

DH and I walked to the school to pick the kids up, then to their house, then to Fatto's and then home. Phew! About 90 mins fast walking in all.
I will post a photo from my phone.

A good day.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx

cityjaneLondon · July 2021

Here we all are.

Heather UK xxxxxx

Edie kept asking, "How did we get all this for free?"
I said "Ssshh, I'll tell you afterwards.Granny is magic!"

Lagopus · July 2021

Way to go Heather!

Whidislander · July 2021

Tracey in Edmonton, yes my middle son was wise in handling it all, and sought help when he needed it. He went to a therapist for a bit, but he said it was really expensive, but he did say he learned a lot of coping mechanisms. I need to talk to him about going every so often, to kind of reset mentally. I had told him to factor in him going like every other bill. Its not something I want to text him about though.
Rebecca

Anniesquats100 · July 2021

Well I got little Teddy through his vet visit, despite his wiggling and panting and general discomfort. I feel like I've been through the wringer just watching him. It was expensive, and he still needs a canine dental visit. What can I do, he deserves the best care possible.

I am tempted by the bottle of wine in the fridge. But I know it's more the imagined feeling of relaxing I want than the actual result of drinking.

Annie in Delaware

pipcd34 · July 2021

Stats for the day-

Walk w/family- 2hrs 36min 15sec, 157elev, 83ahr, 1504mhr, 3.07ap, 8.08mi= 753c
Strava app = 979c
Zwift home spin bike- 16.47min, 131elev, 123ahr, 153mhr, 18.09arpm, 5.06mi= 163c
Zwift app- 113c
Walk to gym- 10.53min, .53mi= 52c
Strava app- 65c
Rowing machine- 20min, 45aw, 124ahr, 157mhr, 3036meters= 166c
Walk gym to store then home- 29.45min, 1.58mi= 179c
Strava app = 192c

Total cal 1304

bwcetc · July 2021

Barbie ... thank you for July's thread!

Welcome ... to the new ladies!

Margaret ... the miracle grow has helped the zucchini and now some much needed rain will certainly add some acid.

Michele ... your work ethic, sadly, does not fit in with today's workers. I'm pretty certain your willingness to be a team player and get things done, only annoyed those who want to slide by with doing nothing. Sad state of affairs in my opinion.

Ended June 2.5 pounds lighter than I started. I'll take it! Jenn ... consider two pounds lost two pounds you don't have to face this month! My goal is to lose .5 to 1 pound a week ... or 26 to 52 pounds in a year.

Beth near Buffalo

margaretturk · July 2021

This is what I wrote to the owners of the property of the problem tenants...

Your tenant in St. Paul MN_____ is effecting the value of my property ______ and hence the value of yours at ______Perhaps if you raise their rent to cover the cost of the problem they might start to listen. They do not seem to care that they keep allowing the numerous peolple that visit them during the the day to park in such a manner that I who live across the alley cannot access my garage without risking the hitting of their car. They have four places to park . Although one of the spots is taken up with a boat. I have called the parking police three times nothing has changed. They continue to park directly across from my garage blocking me out. There is also on street parking available on Earl and Cypress which they choose not to use. Thank you for your consideration...my name

Holding those accoutable with their pocket book might make a change. I did eliminate the addresses in my sharing here for privacy purposes.

I was going to leave it today and then another car was also parked blocking me in and was parked on another neighbors property. They were not happy. I told them I would call it in. Calling it in gives me documentation and also gives the property owners documention that their tenant is uncooperative.

I am calming down because now I am taking action that might get this problem solved and it does need to be solved whether I keep the property or sell it.

I also put some heavy rocks on steps leading up to my property. Again they would be too lazy to remove them to come and bother me.

Allie taking these actions was my way of taking back the straw.

Margaret

margaretturk · July 2021

Beth I am using pine needles for mulch for my Zuchanni in pots. Still getting some yellow leaves. I think it is because it is so hot this year. I noitce I am getting less drooping of leaves using the mulch. I am glad fertilizer is helping.

pipcd34 · July 2021

(((((

Katla49 · July 2021

Margaret - I like to use Alaska fish fertilizer, and my plants thrive, with one exception this year. Several extreme heat days together managed to damage the hanging fuchsia that I enjoyed. Now it is trying to survive & I have worries that it won’t recover. Dried leaves are plentiful but there are a few leaves and blossoms that are getting by. 🥺

JustKeepTryingNeverGiveUp · July 2021

Heather, now that I'm counting the life boats.... the picture made it look huge though, lol.
We want to do more cruising once we retire but so far an 8 day will be our longest. We live an 1-1/2 away from one port and about 5 hours from one of the others so it's always somewhere in the Caribbean because of the convenience but would love to venture farther out.

Candy in LA

TerriRichardson112 · July 2021

🥭☘️

pipcd34 · July 2021

)))))

exermom · July 2021

Did 30 min of HIIT today then since it’s raining just used the elliptical to burn more calories. The plan for tomorrow is to do a Cathe Friedrich Upper Body Pryamid DVD.

Rori – (((BIG HUG))) I know how hard it was for me to spread my father’s ashes, I can’t even begin to imagine spreading your husband’s. The one thing that helped me, and I’m sure it’ll help you, is knowing that he’s someplace he loved.

Pip – what did you get Kirby for his b-day? Have you ever had paver’s before?

Penny – so glad you made it safely. A trip to the shore is a great thing to do for yourself. What a wonderful NSV you had!

Carol – best of luck on your surgery

Went to Food Lion since the soda is on sale today. It stopped raining so I just came back from my walk around the block. It’s humid so need to cool off. Suggested to Vince that we blow up the inflatables for the pool, or at least some of them Update: done

KJ – I agree with Vicki, let kids be kids. I am not a fan of the kids having nothing but their phone or tablet and spending hours playing video games. Nor am I a fan of them watching TV all day. Hate to say it, but when I was watching PJ, he always wanted the TV on. Denise would have him watch this one show (a kids show, I even forget the name of it) all the time. To me, if you at least had a DVD player, they could watch a series of Einstein-type shows, Sesame Street, etc. But it’s not my child.

Vicki – if the job is 6-6, I know that I don’t want to work more than 4-5 hours/day. Does it have to be 6-6 or could it be like 6-10, 10-2, 2-6?

Tried to download my paycheck stubs from Jan. I thought I’d do it at home so I can do it doublesided. Food Lion has the weirdest website. Even Vince complained about it. When I log into the HR website, my Bitdefender won’t let me go in. Any other way I’ve tried, it keeps telling me that my password has expired but I changed it less than an hour ago! Well, I guess they’re just going to have to print them out from the store. Update: I got 8 of them printed out, but it won’t let me print any more

Diane TN – welcome! We don’t have plans, either. It’s supposed to be nice so I’ll probably be in the pool

Heather – you are something else!

Went for my evening walk and then played mahjongg while I had my feet in the pool. That seems to be my nightly routine when it isn’t raining.

Michele NC

OregonMother · July 2021

Happy July!

I missed the whole heat wave. I was at a work conference in Ft. Worth, where it was about 25-30 degrees cooler than in Oregon. Weird. But kind of nice to have missed it.

Health update:

Stage 3 invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen +, for sure. Still waiting on body CT and bone scan to eliminate the possibility that it has metastasized, which would move it to stage 4. My oncologist and gynecologist are neither entertaining my concerns for stage 4 seriously. They have both given me about 1-2 minutes to talk about it. I am not so confident because of the lesion on my rib, but the oncologist said that could be a half a dozen non serious things and not to fret. My blood pressure at the first oncology appointment was 199/111 and I thought, "Wouldn't that be a plot twist? Diagnosed with cancer and then die of a stroke or heart attack." I thought she might admit me immediately. Lol She just kindly offered me anxiety medication, which I declined. I have it back under control, taking my bp medicine, and I subscribed to headspace, so I've been doing lots of meditation. Sleeping much better, and I took advantage of a quick 10 minute yoga practice this afternoon. I am also quickly ramping up to 10,000 steps a day, so I think I can do this. At least on an anxiety level.

We told our boys last night at dinner. Jayson, the 14 year old, was really the only one who fell apart. Everyone else stayed very brave and upbeat, including me and my husband. We decided to tell them last night because we had all five together -- not a common occurrence because of my oldest boys' working schedule, and my oldest son's girlfriend (who basically lives with us half the time now --insert rolling eyes) was out having dinner with a friend.

We also decided we were running out of time to tell them. I will have my port installed on July 12 -- hopefully -- with chemo starting either the 13th or 14th. My calendar for the next ten days is quickly filling, including the torso CT next Sunday morning at 7:00 am. (!!!!) Bone scan this Wednesday. I will also meet with the geneticist on Wednesday. There is an US/echo of my heart on Thursday. If I remain stage 3, they will only do a double mastectomy if I have one of the BRCA gene mutations (which my father had). If either of the CT or bone scans come back showing spread outside of the breast, they likely won't do a mastectomy at all. Just chemo and plan for the end, I guess. Like I said, they won't really go there with me for any length of time.

If Stage 3 -- four months of chemo, two cycles, two different mixtures. Then mastectomy, either just left or both, depending on genetic outcome, and removal of one lymph node which has "scattered isolated tumors," then back to either chemo or radiation -- can't remember that part right now. After treatments, removal of ovaries, even though I am post menopausal. I will then be on estrogen suppressing hormones for life. But I don't really know where else estrogen could be coming from. I never took A&P.

Hard to believe I will be bald in a matter of weeks. Apparently it will happen quickly. So sometime before the 13th, I will get my hair cut very, very short.

Still not telling my mother or anyone at work. I have decided that I will need to sit down with my boss in the next few days, but really, I won't have time until the week I start chemo. I really wanted to wait to tell him once I know the stage because that will impact him and my job quite a bit. All he knows right now is that I have been diagnosed with a "serious illness" and that I'm undergoing a lot of testing and procedures.

The nurse navigator with the cancer institute has been wonderful. Checking in with me every few days. I will also be assigned a peer navigator. The nurse navigator and the oncologist both encouraged me to keep working as much as I can. We will try to schedule chemo to be on Thursdays -- once I get started -- so that I will have the weekend to recover before I get back to work. I will need full leave if I end up with the mastectomy and then later, after all treatment is through, for reconstruction.

It's a lot to process. I'll be honest, but I know I'm not special. I'm not angry, and so many people have it so much worse than I do. I'm not really in pain. I am uncomfortable on the left side (which makes me fear spread), but it is more than tolerable.

I will be checking in and reading, but it is going to be a little crazy around here for a while. I'm probably being naive, but I feel like life might actually get to a new normal and somewhat stable once chemo starts.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR

bwcetc · July 2021

Flea ... I will be praying that your cancer is stage 3 and that all you've described will completely remove the cancer and allow you to heal quickly. Hugs...

WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JULY 2021

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