WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2024

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  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,264 Member
    439439
  • OregonMother
    OregonMother Posts: 1,664 Member
    Annie -- check for a tripped GFCI outlet. It looks like a regular outlet with a red button on it. Push the button in and see if that works. A circuit may also be tripped in the fuse box. You can check to make sure they are all "on". Good luck!

    Flea
    Willamette Valley OR
  • drkatiebug
    drkatiebug Posts: 1,976 Member
    Rosemarie2972 wrote: »
    I need to go back and catch up on the comments.

    Carol: Believe it or not, I am driving from Middle GA up to Athens for this Grief Share group. I like the Athens/Watkinsville area. My husband and I had considered retiring there. Maybe I will go there in the future.

    Best,
    Rosemarie from GA

    I am only 20 minutes north of Athens. If you are ever in town and want to meet up for lunch or coffee, let me know!
  • kevrit
    kevrit Posts: 4,317 Member
    Read up to PG. 47. Have appointments today so will catch up later…

    RVRita
  • SophieRosieMom
    SophieRosieMom Posts: 3,657 Member
    Allie - So sorry to hear about the little one. Big (((Hugs))) heading to Tracy.

    Lanette
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,189 Member
    SophieRosieMom wrote: »

    More thoughts on being a widow - Carol's comment:
    To me, the term "widow" is simply this: a woman who has lost her spouse by death and has not remarried. There isn't a "best" way to deal with it. We are all different. For some of us, it can be viewed as being alone, being lonely, being by ourselves, being independent, being free to do what we want when we want, taking on new tasks we aren't familiar with, being sad, being lost, feeling hopeless.... some or all of the above, depending on the situation, and lots more I haven't listed.

    I also think that having been married while young to the same man for many decades - just out of high school or college, for example, and then losing this person, is different than what others may have experienced that have taken a different route. Being a caregiver for an ailing spouse can add another layer.

    I understand Carol's observation that she's "preparing for widowhood". She's preparing for eventual change, whatever than means for her. Just as others of you are preparing for possible life changes in other ways. I don't think Carol is looking at it wrong. Carol is processing and preparing it the best she knows how in a way that is right for her even though she might find herself in uncomfortable territory.

    For me, it's been an ongoing process and I've been able to handle some things much better than I thought I would, but I've also failed in areas I thought I had prepared for. I learn as I go, and deal with the uncomfortable a lot. :p

    Back in a bit.

    Lanette B)
    SW WA State

    It is like that for my mom- Married my dad at 14yrs old and was married to him for a few months shy of 65 yrs.
    It has been a struggle for sure(for all of us)-her being independent for the very first time at almost 80yrs old. Some choices are a bit off to some of us. Learning to suggest things to her but not so much that she feels we are pushing her, taking over or telling her what to do has been a huge struggle. Still dealing with that.
    A lot, she has been fine with like bills etc, because she handled all of it. Dad had no idea about any of the finanaces.

    She is struggling trying to keep up the property. 3 1/2 acres. She does have a little help now but always could use more. She focuses on one aspect but neglects other things.


    Time to go walk MIL's dog- Hope to work in my garden this afternoon.

    Debbie
    Napa Valley,CA
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,264 Member
    440440
  • LisaInArkansas
    LisaInArkansas Posts: 2,891 Member
    Allie - I'm so sorry.
  • grandmallie
    grandmallie Posts: 10,094 Member
    Thank you for your thoughts and prayers..
    Stopped and got Tracy some flowers and left them at the house
    So hope that helps cheer her up a bit.
  • Joy1580vb
    Joy1580vb Posts: 437 Member
    Allie, so sorry to hear your devastating news. Thoughts and prayers for all.

    Joy
  • TerriRichardson112
    TerriRichardson112 Posts: 19,034 Member
    Pg 45
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,264 Member
    441441
  • dlfk202000
    dlfk202000 Posts: 3,189 Member
    Allie- I am so sorry to hear about Tracy. Prayers are with all of you. Hugs!!!
  • ginnytez
    ginnytez Posts: 1,403 Member
    Preparing for widowhood-I wasn't referring to the doing things as much as if you have someone with some sort of illness, you practice the solitary nature of life before they are physically gone. To me that was different than just doing things separately at times.

    Allie-Prayers for Tracy and family. Very hard situation.

    Take care all,

    Ginny in Ohio

  • kevrit
    kevrit Posts: 4,317 Member
    MFP Timeless Tale of Treachery and Treason in a Kingdom Far, Far Away”
    Spoiler


    Part 1.

    Our MFP Murder Mystery characters and players so far:


    Fairy Godmother [b/]- Rita (Still doting over the disappearance of her goddaughter, Felicity continues to hope that Cinderella will reappear and everyone will live happily ever after.)
    Jinn ——————-Vicki (Jinn wants to get out of her lamp forever and become human. Perhaps her friendship to Rita is causing some mischief?)
    Dwarf (Herbbette) ———Tracey (Like a sister to Sleeping Beauty, Allie’s dependence on Herbbette is endearing to some an annoying to others.)
    Red’s Gran ———Barbara AHMOD (having escaped from the Wolf, Barbara is plotting something, but what or who will be affected?
    Red ——————-Kylia (Red came to the Ball with her Gran. Unaware that she is plotting something. Red suspects something is wrong, but what?)
    Rapunzel (Princess)————-Machka (Depserate to get out of her tower, this trapped temptress may have more than one offer on the table… the question is which one will she pick?)
    Pixie ——————Rebecca (Pixie is flitting around the Ball everywhere. She is gathering information about each party guest to report back to??)
    Nosey——————Michele (Nosey is walking from one group of guests to another. Not staying in any one place for very long. What’s this? She stops and writes notes in a notebook between each group. For what purpose??)
    Sleeping Beauty——Allie (With hopes of moving out of the bed, this princess hopes to soon be known not as the daughter of an evil queen, but as the wife of prince that is charming.)
    Cinderella ———-Lisa in AR (After being missing for a month, Cinderella shows up at the ball, dirty, tired, and ready to confront her kidnapper(s). She simply wants to rest first, but the Ball has disoriented her.)
    Jasmoor———Heather (Heather thought that Jinn was her friend and would help her through anything. But now, she is questioning this friendship..)
    Belle——Joy (Having tamed the ‘Beast’, Joy is happily going about her life. But no one knows her true motives…)
    Grettel—- Linda (Wandering the woods and destroying the evil witch, Linda is becoming more confident and independent. But will that lead her to her goals?)
    Griselda (Cinderella’s Stepsister)——Rusty (After years of animosity, Griselda has earned Cinderella’s trust and her place in the castle. Now that Cinderella is gone, will Griselda be next to disappear mysteriously?)


    Prince Charming——Terri. (I (Prince Charming) am having second thoughts about looking for a new bride. Cinders is just to difficult to get out of my heart. I wish I knew where she has gone. I’m lying low for a bit 😝)
    Aladdin————-Ginny
    Hansel———-Lanette

    “MFP Timeless Tale of Treachery and Treason in a Kingdom Far, Far Away”

    “After the mysterious disappearance of Cinderella, Prince Charming is throwing a fancy dress ball to find a new bride. Some of the kingdom residents question how the prince could move on so quickly, while others are jumping at the chance to earn their spot as the new princess in the castle. No one has seen the Prince since Cinderella disappeared and the rumors are rampant!”

    During the ball, as the dancing and rumors escalate, someone dies in the palace. Who died? Where? When? Why? How long was the victim dead? How did the victim die? What is happening?????

    RVRita (Fairy Godmother) from the Kingdom of Roswell…….


    Part 2:

    The Ball has begun and people are arriving in droves. The entire MFP Women’s 50 plus group have arrived. The band has begun with background quiet music to welcome the guests. The servers are wandering among the guests with low carb, low calorie snacks, water, flavored waters, wine and diet drinks.

    Fairy Godmother stands at the entrance welcoming the guests. Look! Here comes Jinn, Dwarf, Red’s Gran, Red, Rapunzel, Pixie, and Nosey! No one has seen Prince Charming. When will he arrive? The party is for him to choose a new bride. The crowd talks about the missing Cinderella and what they feel the Prince is rushing the search for a new bride.

    The night progresses with more questions as it is near Midnight now, but the Prince has not shown up for his own Ball. Questions are floating among the guests as the band plays on.

    The guest gasps in shock as Sleeping Beauty has just shown up with Cinderella!!


    Prince Charming = Terri. To Fairy Godmother “ (I am having second thoughts about looking for a new bride. Cinders is just too difficult to get out of my heart. I wish I knew where she has gone. I’m lying low for a bit…)

    Fairy Godmother = RVRita To Prince Charming “ I will cover for you until Cinders is found. Please reconsider. Oh, my dear!!!! Cinders is at the door with Sleeping Beauty! I have to see what happened to her!!) {In her mind, she thinks ‘I need to do something more with her! My plan is not working!!}

    Cinderella = Lisa in AR
    Sleeping Beauty = Allie
    Nosey==Michelle
    Red’s Gran = Barbara AHMOD
    Red === Kylia
    Rapunzel == Machka
    Pixie==Rebecca
    Jasmoor= Heather
    Aladdin == Ginny
    Belle= Joy
    Grettel == Linda
    Hansel == Lanette
    BabaYaga= KJ
    Griselda== Rusty
    Jinn = Vickie
    Dwarf (Herbbette) = Tracey


    PART 3

    Cinderella (AKA Lisa in AR) turns to Sleeping Beauty (AKA Allie) at the door, "Look, SleeBea, I REALLY am not up for this. Look at all these people dressed to the nines!" She gestures to her feet, which are in some seriously dirty white Crocs, with weeds and dirt scattering from the holes. "You know how the Prince feels about shoes, he can't see me in these..." and gesturing to the rest of her tattered, filthy ballgown, with a few shiny bits showing through the dirt here and there, "And I look like I've been rode hard and put away wet." Sleeping Beauty, who's hoping the Prince will finally see her at her best standing next to a bedraggled, less-than-spiffy Cinderella, drags her further into the ballroom. There they bump slap up against the Fairy Godmother, who had been greeting the rest of the guests, but looks completely shocked to see the two of them...

    At the same time, Nosy and Pixie are working around the crowd gathering the gossip and any hints about where or when Prince Charming will appear, and what happened to Cinderella. Pixie is flying around and Nosy is walking around the talking groups. They plan on joining up and sharing what they found out to try to work out what is REALLY happening.

    (Earlier, before the guests started to arrive), I don't know why Fairy God mother is so unaware that Aladdin swung by on his carpet to get is BF Prince C away for awhile so he could think things out. Aladdin thought introducing him so some of Jasmine's friend might help him realize the possibilities he has.

    The Prince thinks: {I was quite pleased with Aladdin sweeping by with his carpet, and helping me to escape from the palace for a while. And then he goes and starts trying to pair me up with Jasmine’s friends. That’s a dead liberty! I’m perfectly capable of making up my own mind.}

    Red is overwhelmed with all the people and conversations going on. She is curious as she notices all the note taking and flitting about. She is ready to jump to help Cinderella get presentable for the ball, but grandma is holding her back.

    Meanwhile, Rapunzel is standing on the stage singing (because we all know she attracts her suitors with her lovely singing voice) and watching everything going on.

    When she sees Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty come in, Rapunzel goes into a rousing rendition of "Do you believe in life after love?" Then Rapunzel slides into "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and then into a female version of Elvis Presley's - "I'm Moving On" with Grettel showing her stuff on the piano.

    By the time Rapunzel breaks into "I Will Survive", Grettel begins to think something's up.

    BabaYaga has shown up, much to Hansel and Grettel’s dismay. She has brought sweets to pass around to the guests. Nosy and Pixie are right there greeting her, then begin to follow her around.

    Cinderella elbows Sleeping Beauty, and whispers, so the Godmother can't hear, "Are you listening to what Zel's singing? You think she's right? I need to just wash the Prince right out of my hair? I thought he was my destiny, but after this last business, when he didn't even show up to rescue me, I just don't know." Sleeping Beauty looks at her with wild speculation in her eyes. Could Drilly FINALLY be releasing her hooks from the Prince? Or was she just joshing her? Did Sleeping Beauty finally have a chance for her own one true love that didn't just go around waking people up for a living? Human alarm clocks were just sooo 1540s... and annoying.

    In a corner of the ball room, we find the Jinn, BabaYaga, Red’s Gran, Herbbette, and Fairy Godmother with bent heads talking suspiciously.

    Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty make their way through the crowd and up the back stairs to Cinderella’s room to get cleaned up. On their way up, they pass the kitchen to find all the servants bent over looking at……. A dead body!!! Cindy and Sleeping Beauty scream. The piano and singing play on…..

    PART 4[b/]

    Jinn is begining to think being in the bottle is the only safe place while others are missing, but who does she want to keep her company??

    Gretel is sipping some wine when she notices BabaYaga walk in. She suggests to Hansel that since BabaYaga is here, this would be the perfect time to go to her house and eat it. They decide to sneak out the back so Fairy Godmother doesn’t see them. As they pass the kitchen, they notice Cindy, SB, and THE BODY!

    Cindy and SB look down at what is very definitely a dead body, and Sleeping Beauty slaps her hands over eyes and starts screaming. So Cindy started screaming. Then she caught herself, and caught her friend by both shoulders. "Stop it, girl, stop screaming!" She gestured to the body in what looked like a pool of old red wine... "Screaming won't do them any good, now will it!" She turned, and saw Hansel and Gretel peeking at them, googly-eyed, "Go get the Godmother, you two! Someone's been murdered!" Sleeping Beauty, peeking between her fingers, said, "How do you know it's murder?" Cinderella opened her mouth, and as she began to speak, a voice interrupted...

    Cindy and SB look down at what is very definitely a dead body, and Sleeping Beauty slaps her hands over eyes and starts screaming. So Cindy started screaming. Then she caught herself, and caught her friend by both shoulders. "Stop it, girl, stop screaming!" She gestured to the body in what looked like a pool of old red wine... "Screaming won't do them any good, now will it!" She turned, and saw Hansel and Gretel peeking at them, googly-eyed, "Go get the Godmother, you two! Someone's been murdered!" Sleeping Beauty, peeking between her fingers, said, "How do you know it's murder?" Cinderella opened her mouth, and as she began to speak, a voice interrupted...

    At the screams, Jinn retreats to her bottle, Fairy Godmother, pops in by Cinderella, Red’s Gran and Herbette run into the kitchen to see what the fuss is about. BabaYaga takes her time walking to the kitchen to join the others. The rest of the guests begin to croud into the hallway to the kitchen.

    In the kitchen, Sleeping Beauty drags Cindy out of the kitchen and pushes her up the stairs to her room to calm down and clean up. Aladdin has returned with the Prince to everyone’s surprise. They run to the kitchen just in time to spot Cindy and Beauty going up the stairs, but stay to help with the dead body. No one recognizes this body, and Aladdin discovers no visable reason for the person to be dead. Everyone is suspecting Jinn, but Jinn in is the bottle shaking in fear. Pixie and Nosey go to the kitchen with Pixie shinking and flitting around the body to see what she can find out. Nosey is roaming about the croud to see if there are any clues. The Prince makes everyone leave the scene and he covers the body until more can be discovered. The kitchen is now closed with the servents joining the guests in the Ballroom.

    Fairy Godmother who is WHERE??????

    Part 5

    Meanwhile, back at the castle, up in one of the many bedrooms, Sleeping Beauty finishes combing the bits of tree trash out of Cinderella's hair. Cindy is oblivious to the yanks and mild curses, simply smoothing the same gown the Fairy Godmother made her what seemed like a hundred years ago, and saying as much to Sleeping Beauty. "Don't even TALK to me about a hundred years until you've slept that long," said SB. Finishing Cindy's hair with one last yank, she lays the ornate hairbrush on the dresser, and they both head for the door of the room and then down the stairs once more. There, the Prince is just coming out of the kitchen, looking harried and worried.

    "Who is it," Cindy asks, "And what happened?"

    "I don't know," the Prince said, and in a low voice, "But whoever, or whatever, did the killing, they may still be here in the castle." And then, realizing who he's talking to, "And where have you been?"

    On her way to the tower:\
    Zel tied her hair around her waist and sprinted across the drawbridge and down the road, through the wood and into the meadow ... then disappeared from view.

    A few minutes later, she sprinted up the winding stairs to her tower floor.

    Sure enough.

    There stood the old witch herself, Dame Gothel.

    "How did you get out? The door at the bottom is sealed!", screamed the old witch, "Where have you been?"

    "How did you get in?", asked Zel

    "They have created ladders, little girl. I had to go and get a ladder! And now I am going to cut your hair off and close you in this tower forever!

    As Gothel lunged for Zel, a hand reached out, grabbed Zel's hand and pulled her down the stairs and into Zel's secret tunnel.

    Gothel ran after the pair, but lost her footing and tumbled down the stairs before she could see where they had gone.

    The couple popped up in the meadow and ran into the wood, then stopped to catch their breaths behind a tree.

    "Won't everyone be surprised to see YOU!", cried Zel.

    Outside the castle:

    Spotting BabaYaga in the now crowded kitchen, Gretel grabs Hansel and heads for the front door of the castle. At least the dead body has provided a distraction for them to leave to party and look for BabaYaga’s delicious house.
    They push through the large wooden doors into the cool night air. As they are descending the castle steps, they spot a cloaked figure lurking at the bottom of the steps. They tip toe as far as they can along the opposite side of the large stone steps. When they get to the bottom, they turn onto the pathway leading away from the castle and to the main road. Just when they think they are in the clear, a hand harshly grabs Hansel’s shoulder. He yells. Gretel turns to see the cloaked figure grabbing Hansel. She body slams the figure to the ground, pushes back the hood of the cloak to see that it is….

    In the ballroom, the servants, some with trays, some without are mulling around nervously. Suddenly, one of them drops his tray and faints. Coming too, he mumbles that he saw the body fall out of the larder when he went to get more snacks. “The body fell knocking the wine bottle out of my hand and scaring the life out of me!” He didn’t want to say anything but “I was scared they would blame me for the death! I swear I didn’t do it!”
    In the kitchen, before he covered the body, The Prince took a look at the face and recognized the body! He hurriedly put the face back down and covered the body. He is stumped as to what happened to his friend. He orders the servants to lock all the doors and windows and not let anyone else in or out. Too late for Hansel, Gretel, and Zel who are also in trouble now…

    NEW CHARATERS TO USE:
    Gothel —Witch
    Shrek—-Friendly Ogre
    Fiona—-Shrek’s Ogre wife
    The Beast—Belle’s partner

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