WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2022

Good morning ladies!

Karen - that's just great how everything is turning out so well for your brother and your upcoming move. I could feel your joy

Heather - welcome home and thanks for taking us along on your journey. I bet the grands missed you and can't wait to hear about your cruise.

Barbara - very proud of your obedient pups! I found out a while back that Rosie LOVES plain Cheerios. If I yell "Cheerios" at her when she's ignoring me in the back yard, she stops what she's doing/eating/rolling in and comes running back to the house. I give her a few when she comes in the door. It's a miracle, lol.

Lisa - same here, I check my credit card and bank balance daily. And totally agree - don't allow any entity access to my main bank account. I did set up a checking account with a very minimal amount at another bank for "Google pay" which I might close. I also closed Paypal, though it was no longer able to withdraw funds from my bank and switched to using the credit card to withdraw funds. After giving it some thought, even that made me feel uneasy.

Flea - hope they can get Covid on the run for you without adversely impacting your treatment. So very sorry to hear about your situation. I think you said you had a booster or two and I'm crossing fingers it will do the job and you'll have a mild case and get over it quickly. Your co-worker sounds like an insensitive clueless #%)@ nut. You had every right to put on an N95 and if she didn't like it, too bad. I thought it was expected that a person undergoing cancer treatment could wear a mask and it's been that way for a while, even before Covid. Sorry your DH isn't a good caregiver. Mine never did excel in that area either.

My doc told me folks are generally contagious a few days before they even come down with symptoms and about three days after. And the tests aren't always reliable anymore, some folks never do test positive and finally the loss of sense of smell signals that's what they have. It's still a dangerous world out there for the immunocompromised with the regular flu and colds around as well. Is there any way you could go back to working remotely and stay out of harm's way for a while since you are still very vulnerable? This bug is so transmissible.

I can't remember if I mentioned this - the first couple days I had Covid, I used a povidine/iodine nasal spray and gargle several times a day to minimize the infection taking a firm hold in my nasopharyngeal area. I purchased it last year after hearing good things about it and stuck it away "just in case". Maybe that's what helped speed my recovery, not sure. This is it: https://www.immunemist.com/ It should work on any respiratory virus that tries to set up shop in my nose and throat.

The wood pile and outside tasks:

Better close for now. Rosie wants breakfast and she won't settle for Cheerios this time.

Make it a super day!

Lanette
Chilly and clear SW WA State

We had much more Fall weather than this year. We are going to get a taste of winter this week. Snow over several days and then single digits this weekend. I need to remind myself to try to take it easy as much as I can.

DH is acting irrationally because of cancer. Latest treatment a disaster. Although he is sick I need to be better at setting boundaries. I need to remember when he gets into his snipe mode and controlling mode I need to not take it. It is best to say I am sorry you feel so ill. It sucks. Then walk away. He is beginning to realize he needs to take ownership of his illness by some of the things he says. I say it is his body and it is up to him to decide what is best for it.

Unfortunately he does still gets under my skin with his need to control (because he feels so out of control with his illness) it hurts my health and does not help him either. I for the first time stood and prayed to stay neutral as he ranted at me. It didn't work I broke down.

I am learning meditation skills to help me regain my balance. This is one reason I kept my son's house. It gives me a retreat to go to so I can be strong enough to deal with someone who is so ill. I think this is why I always say to people you are not selfish to take care of you and set healthy boundaries. When you heal yourself you can model to those who are ready to listen how they can help themselves.

Time to go take some of my flowering pots I brought in before it got cold and cut the flowers off and make a bouquet.

I am grateful for the beauty flowers give me.

Margaret

Margaret
I used to have a spouse who thought his illness made him king. And he was mean about it. My mental health plummeted, and I eventually left. Both partners in a marriage deserve consideration of their needs, even if one is ill. Good luck with setting your boundaries.

Annie in Delaware

GodMomKim wrote: »

Ok Ladies,

I was a bit shocked at some of your reactions to a gift that takes so much time and love and is given with care.... reject the gift, throw it in the trash, ask the gift giver to not give.... wow. regifting or bringing it to share with the office, neighbors, freezing and eating over time... those make sense to me.

So my question is what do you give to neighbors, friends, and service providers? All my neighbors bring me gifts, and when I was a gardener all my clients gave me a Christmas gift or tip, and even now some of my more regular embroidery clients give me Christmas gifts/tips. If I did not do cookies, I would be out spending far more on gifts to these folks. Last year I ended up with 4 beautiful poinsettias, a couple of starbucks cards, and 6 (ish) bottles of wine. Any one of those cost more than a single tray of cookies, and like Debbie I do customize the trays if I know what one family really likes.

Confused in California - Kim

Same, Kim. All that work.

I don't bake much, but this year, I am giving everyone $25 Amazon gift cards. Not as personal as a plate of treats, but I don't make anything that special. I do appreciate when others give us things, but it doesn't happen often. When they do, they are eaten over time.

Hubby bought me crackers when he picked up my meds. He is trying. And I agree that I shouldn't be a jerk about being sick, but he also needs to step up, and he thinks he is, but I still feel largely neglected. Or when the dog is ringing her bell to go out, and it is ignored because I'm usually the one to do it. Increases my stress level. A lot.

Flea
Willamette Valley OR