WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR FEBRUARY 2025

Well, got to FL last night. Had to stop at Publix for milk and thought I could just pick up some sandwiches premade. Well, I couldn’t find anything Vince would eat so I had to wait for them to make one. I swear the person who waited on me had to be the slowest person on the face of the earth. Vince got upset at me because I was taking so long and he had to go to the bathroom. So I rushed to the condo, told him to go to the bathroom downstairs by the pool but he wanted to go upstairs. It’s not my fault that he won’t eat things, it’s not my fault that he wouldn’t go to the bathroom downstairs but had to wait to go upstairs. So I honestly don’t feel sorry. Then he wanted me to take each cat upstairs in a carrier. Finally, after suggesting we carry them like we did before, I just took one and carried it upstairs.

Went to the Y today and did a spinning workout. Needed something that I already had, didn’t have time to get a DVD ready. Then to Aldi. Over $5 for eggs! Home and made pork chops, a meatloaf, salmon cakes, and chicken.

We’re going to get another quote on getting the bathroom(s) remodeled. The one really needs it. We found that when we flush the toilet in that bathroom, some water leaks out. So I just put buckets where the water is. No sense calling a plumber if we’re going to get a new toilet. Vince said that there’s a seal between the bowl and the tank and that seal has probably worn out. We only have one bucket so I used a cat litter box to put on the other side so that water doesn’t go down to the condo below us

It was so nice to keep turning down the heat as we’re driving here and then to put on the a/c. Now THAT was nice

Colby isn’t coming down for the 500 so I’ll go. Trump is supposed to be there. He was there a few years ago and I remember the security. At least I know what I’m getting into

The lady with the guy who is going to give me a quote Wed. called to confirm. One thing I like is the communication. The previous guy didn’t communicate with me very well at all.

Lanette – I was SOOOO hoping Collette had a solution to the stains. How disappointed I was when she said “just give up”.

Barbara – I hope they don’t find anything for you, either

Rosemarie – hugs

Lisa – have a great trip. I can smell the wood burning as you try to figure out how to get that house. I am so mad at myself for listening to the doc about my foot and not following my gut telling me to go to a podiatrist. I’m paying for it now. My heel still hurts and probably will for a long time to come. Had I seen a podiatrist at first, this wouldn’t have happened.

Cindy – I’m trying to send you a friend request. Did you get it?

Rosemarie – I couldn’t handle having a CPAP that covers your nose and mouth. I just couldn’t breathe. Why they insisted I use one I have no idea. When I couldn’t even open my eyes much less breathe, they gave me one where it’s on the top of my head and there’s a “thing” on my nose like the things that are in your nose when you get oxygen. That I could handle

When my father died, Vince couldn’t understand why only a few days after I got his ashes, I had to bury them. I just needed the closure. He did go with me, but I told him that if he didn’t go, I was because I had to do it for me. He owned a tavern and when I told some people I just told them to raise a glass to him.

Allie – agree with all Lisa said

Michele NC now in FL

SophieRosieMom wrote: »

Good morning ladies!


You gave me food for thought at stretched out celebrations for life. I never had anything for my DH back then, of course my life got complicated a few days afterward with the broken toe bone/unusable foot. When my sis and BIL came to visit last summer, we talked about me not having a memorial and he said something like by not doing anything it didn't give others a chance to grieve. I understand his point of view, he had 6 brothers and sisters, all doing well financially and they scheduled huge get togethers at fun to honor their parents/scatter ashes.



OK, I've been at this for several hours, lol. Better get it posted. It's long enough for Pete's sake.

Have a great Thursday, ladies!

Lanette
SW WA State

We pushed off dad's celebration of life for 5 months because of Covid. The date we picked, once the limitations were lifted, was what would have been mom and dad's 65th wedding anniversary. That worked out perfectly for us. Their anniversary was so special to both of them. Dad was so proud, and told everyone he could, including strangers, how long they had been married. He still held her hand, told her he loved her, kissed her good night, after all those years.

Snow day today! Hooray. At first my office wasn't closing. Which was ridiculous. The message from the national weather service was "Stay at home or risk your life." I had decided I was not going in and begged out of the 9:00 a.m. meeting I was scheduled for, and about an hour later, they closed. Then told people not to drive on campus. (Students live there.) Our campus is on the side of a hill, so the roads become treacherous when we get weather in the valley. Even though the top of the hill is only 500 feet or so, sometimes that's all it takes to move into a microclimate.

Anyway. We've had a lazy day. Hubby is still in Seattle, and I am hoping he won't try to drive home because it is supposed to get even worse in a couple hours, but I think it annoyed him that I suggested he consider just staying up there. It's only about 175 miles, and when he checked earlier, there were already six accidents along the route. We'll see what he decides. He does have a Volvo, so he thinks it is made for weather like this, and that might be true.

My youngest kept wanting to drive out to see friends this morning, and I kept waving him off. He even asked to borrow my car instead of trying to drive his Fiat, but I told him no. That I did not want him out on the roads today. He accepted it, thankfully, so he and my middle son have had a fun day. They took a walk in the snow, visited friends and had a snowball fight, came back home and played some D&D, then took the dog out in the back yard for some more snow fighting. Now they are downstairs chatting, so I do not think I ruined his day by not letting me drive around.

I already ever have to say no to him, so it just felt funny to insist that he stay put.

I hope everyone is staying warm. We haven't lost power yet, but they may still be in the future.

Flea
Willamette Valley, OR

Snowflake1968 wrote: »

I am suffering from overstimulation at work.
This is a picture from my desk.


Straight outside the window with the grid is a tv lounge for the residents, slightly to the right of the lounge is the dining room. They play music in the dining room for the residents to enjoy before dinner is served. They have coffee/tea and visit.
To the left of that window is the door to my office and the door to the building. There is an alarm system on the main doors that if a resident that is at risk of wandering comes too close starts beeping. If anyone needs to come in or go out while that alarm is going it becomes a higher pitch steady alarm while the door is open. So we pay attention to insure a resident isn’t leaving.
Just above the copier is a window that on the wall outside has an activity centre for the residents. It has games, videos of animals, old time tv shows, and various music “stations”, it’s set up like an old radio but it’s not an actual radio it’s preprogrammed music.
Then of course, the printer goes, the phones ring, there is constant chatter.
I can’t put headphones in as I need to be able to hear everything and answer the door or the phone. I haven’t come up with a good solution yet but it’s exhausting me.
I have never worked in such a loud environment in an office before and my last couple of jobs were very quiet.
I have been walking outside for a couple of minutes at lunch time to get away from the noise and clear my head but I think I need to do it more.

Tracey in Edmonton

Can you put a large piece of white paper in the window with the little sign so that it blocks the view of the next room?

Or if you need to see the door, maybe a large piece of white paper on the upper half of the window.

Can you wear lightweight earplugs? Not enough to block the sound entirely, but enough to tone it down a little.

Rosemarie2972 wrote: »

I have missed so much that it is overwhelming to try and catch up! Machka I saw your husband needed surgery but I don't know if this happened.

I had hardwood put in the upstairs hall and I do love it. The carpet was from 1986. I am waiting on the carpenter to come and take the carpet off my stairs and remove my husband's stair lyft and put in hard wood. I am very excited about this.

I have lost 13 pounds and have started spin class and am enjoying this.

Best,
Rosemarie from GA

Yes, my husband had his Achilles tendon repair surgery last Friday and it went well. He got the surgery done just within the window of opportunity. As it was, the surgeon had to trim a bit off the piece of tendon before pulling it down and pinning it to his heel. Fortunately they did not have to use a graft.

He's in a cast now but gets a moonboot next Tuesday. I have been working from home this week to help him because he is absolutely not supposed to put any weight at all on his left left leg for a full 4 weeks. So even after he gets the moonboot he's not supposed to walk for a while.

He has a kneeling scooter which has given him (and me!) some more freedom.

Once he is able to walk, he'll have to start doing some physio and slowly, slowly ease back into things.

But, with his brain injury, he's not able to feel much in his left leg so he has no pain and feels like he could start walking any time. Also, he forgets or doesn't retain a lot of what's said in doctor's appointments. So he totally missed the fact that he'll need physio. I told him that yesterday and he was not happy. He had the idea that after 4 weeks in the moonboot, he'd be good as new. One of the reasons I've been working from home is to monitor the situation and make sure he doesn't forget that he is supposed to be resting his leg.

We love our engineered hardwood floors! Granted, I can see the dust, etc. which the carpet would have disguised, but that just means we get the hand-held vac out more often.

Well done on the 13 lbs!


Machka in Oz

Garden875 wrote: »

@OregonMother sounds like y’all have had quite the weather! Glad everyone was safe today. Stay warm!

@Whidislander your dinner sounds lovely!
We had turkey meatloaf and potatoes for dinner.

Here is the recipe for the turkey meatloaf. It is delicious and relatively low in calories!

https://www.skinnytaste.com/turkey-meatloaf-45/

Cindy in Florida

Cindy
That sounds yummy! I tend to eat so different than husband. Its just that for years and years I ate whatever everyone else ate, and never thought twice about my desire on what I really wanted. It was really easy to also just eat what the kids left on their plate. I would be fixing food, sipping coffee or something, then when dinner was over I just was the cleanup crew, oh yum a bite of macaroni and cheese, 1/2 a hotdog or some such nonsense. So now I buy food that I like, like today I could've bought a bag of many sausage patties or a little package of Boars Head breakfast sausage pack of 6. I went for the better quality pork Boars Head. I don't need a huge bag. I just want a breakfast muffin where I make my own easy over egg in there. I buy brie bites and plop in my soups for a nice surprise. I say bring back the pleasure of eating, no regrets. Life is too short!
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa

Heather - there isn’t a lot I can do. I don’t think I’ll look for another job, I’m enjoying the residents and the environment except the noise.
It sure trying at times.

Machka - I will for sure be walking more as it gets warmer, also once my foot feels better.
I would just aggravate it right now.

Lisa - I was so happy to read that you’re gaining weight! I hope you’re healthier for a long time to come.

Barbie - A while ago Margaret posted about doing things for others without waiting for them to ask for help. I’ve thought of that often when people have something going on. Like you, I hate asking for help, and generally won’t.
That’s true too about the customs. We used to stick closer to home I think.
I find music soothes me too, it’s amazing to see what music does for the mood of the nursing home.

Allie - I hope that Delia’s teeth come soon.
My daughter used those amber necklaces on both of the grands and we never knew they were getting one until we saw it.
Lisa makes a good point. For me personally Tracy treats you like my SIL treats my MIL and it’s painful to witness.

Lanette - My FIL was the youngest of 5. His eldest sister and eldest brother lived here in AB. The brother closest to him passed in 91.
The sister that lived here stopped talking to anyone, he worried for years about her. When his brother that lived here passed we tried even harder to reach her. My SIL and I searched and searched on FB until I found a young girl she had fostered. Turns out she had passed 4 years earlier and her daughter did not contact any family to let them know. She let her Aunt and 2 uncles suffer for years worrying about their sister. So the two remaining siblings found out they lost two siblings the same day.

Cindy - When I did best while losing it was when I tracked my weight daily. From the day to day I didn’t notice much change, even when I did a once a week weigh in, I didn’t feel like I was accomplishing much. When I tracked my weight daily and averaged it weekly and monthly I really noticed what was happening and it made me stick with it longer than any other time.

Heather - your son and DIL are dealing with a lot right now.
It sure seems to go in cycles though doesn’t it?

Flea - it’s good your son listened. I miss snow days! I think it’s something we need to bring back into rotation in our working lives.

Machka - I’ve been debating with myself about covering that window completely. I’ve been told I can, but it has come in handy at times when I need to investigate a noise or something from the residents. I can see if there is a health care aide or other staff handy and they can deal with the issue and I can continue working.
I may try some light headphones of some kind.

We are on Outbreak at work for Influenza A, so masks and shields again. 😥 it’s one of the risks working with the elderly.

I didn’t go to ceramics tonight, my stomach was upset last night and today. It seemed fine this morning but when I ate it turned upset again. I don’t think it’s anything contagious just a little upset, but decided to stay home in case.
When I texted to let the shop owner know I wasn’t coming she told me that one of the ladies I met through ceramics passed on the weekend. She had an alcohol problem and MS. She was 49 years old. I feel so bad for her mom who I also know through ceramics.

I’m so glad tomorrow is Friday and it’s a long weekend. I hope I feel much better.

Tracey in Edmonton

@RebeccaMartin2018 Welcome! My name is Cindy from Florida.I joined this group a few days ago. They are lovely people 😊
I have been a participant of MFP for several years. I’m beginning again!

@Snowflake1968 thanks for the encouragement and sharing what works for you!

Lanette - The mouth appliance I use for sleep apnea is a ProSomnus. I had to go to a dentist who specialized in snoring and sleep apnea. She is located in Lake Stevens. The device holds your lower jaw forward a few cm. It is similar to when you pull the jaw forward during CPR, it opens the airway. Don't know that it would work for everyone but works for me.

Cindy - I weigh every day but try to watch trends and not let day to day throw me for a loop. Measurements help too because sometimes if I am exercising a lot the weight will be the same but clothes fit better or measurements go down.

Everyone take care, Sue in WA

John and my efforts at V cards....
To think, a couple of years ago we would never have thought we could paint our own cards.

Yesterday, I was telling the girls the funny story that Cas told, on her latest video, about her cat, Mr Bojangles. The girls were riveted. I asked them, 'Would you rather get your cat mended, or go on a cruise?' Of course they chose the cat. Edie said she wouldn't want to live with regret.
That started a whole game that lasted the whole way home! Would you rather..... ? Huge fun.
Bea had a calf injury and an athletic tape bandage that her father had put on. Bright blue. She still went in the playground. At home she skipped on one leg! (I expect she injured the other one from too much skipping)
Can't keep them down for long. I am always cheered and inspired by their energy and enthusiasm. So is John, very much so.
What a gift they are to us.
Edie is coming to finish her painting on Saturday.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx