calling out to women 50+

I'd like to start this thread specifically for women who are 50 or over.

As a 53 year-old woman, myself, I am finding new challenges, unexpected difficulties and wonderful insights on my path to getting to and maintaining my health, weight and body shape.

What seemed to work for me as little as five years ago doesn't work quite the same anymore. My body doesn't seem to respond to what I consider healthy eating habits and good workout schedules as it even in my middle to late 40s'.

SO, I am would to hear from those out there who are finding themselves in situations. OR NOT, maybe you can enlighten the rest of us as to how you keep your shape, or how you're getting into better shape and a healthier overall lifestyle.

Hopefully this will be the start of something wonderful, educational, funny-offer up jokes anecdotes, whatever!

LET'S GET STARTED!

BEB, sorry my life confuses you, it does confuse me too sometimes... Switzerland is an unpleasant place to live under a bridge, so we had to have a place when we arrived here while we waited for our stuff to catch up with us. So we lived in a rented apartment.That was in Blonay.

Yvorne is ours. We rented it out while abroad and had wonderful tenants till the last ones (not found and managed by our company like the previous ones, but by an agency that was supposed to protect our property and supervise the rental; to say they did a lousy job is an understatement).

The chalet was purchased some 50+ years ago by Pierre's grandfather in view of his retirement. He used to spend vacations there with his family and loved the place, so when he heard it was being sold, he just snatched it. Very lucky for us. Now it is owned by my mother-in-law, his daughter, with the understanding we shall own it in the future, as none of her other children wants it - they all live in the Zurich area, so it's not convenient for them. No one lives there on a permanent basis but anyone can go anytime. A caretaker who lives in the next village looks after it and makes sure it's always in pristine order.

I will take pictures as soon as I find my camera. It disappeared in the heaps of boxes and I must confess I have had other worries till now. But as soon as I find time to breathe again, I promise I'll put some shots in my gallery. We do not see the lake from here, but are surrounded by mountains. Every morning when I open my window I see a different postcard and it's really thrilling. High mountains are always spectacular, be they capped by clouds, covered in drifting veils of fog or made sharp, blue and pink by the morning light. I love mountains. I was born on one and will always feel at home in their midst.

Time to go mop my kitchen floor before I take Dummy for his walk. Tomorrow is our son's birthday and he will come back here. Maybe I have time enough to bake a cake for him, or to make his favorite, tiramisu. The sky is so blue it melts into the grey-green top of the mountains. It will be a hot day, still cool and comfortable compared to where I came from. Life is good.

My heart goes out to all those in pain or faced with hard decisions and harder days ahead. Fit and healthy, strong and lean, but also determined and resilient, always. We are 50+ women, let them hear our roar!

Helene, in sunny Switzerland

My weight is about 2 lbs. less than in January, 09, so I’d say there has been no change there. But I started taking monthly measurements in January and today I was 2 inches less in the waist and 2 inches less in the hips. Wow. My clothes fit better, though I wear the same size and people have been telling me I lost weight. Of course, I told them I didn’t.  The weight lifting program I started in September is working, slowly, but working.

My joy and celebration was a bit dampened by my sister scolding me that I am obsessed with exercise and proper diet. It was probably the new skinny pants I was wearing. She discovered that I worked out at the gym in the morning and was going to an evening dance class at night.  The dance isn’t a heavy workout and it is lots of fun but it certainly would have been too much for her. Oh well. I think that not logging but just watching my intake has helped me focus on the lifestyle in a healthier way.

Robbie—Hope the pain lets up and you are feeling better soon. Two days ago my nephew (30) broke his tibia at the ankle. I knew all about it after reading your posts. He is in a hard cast and will need an operation in a week to 10 days. Instructions are to stay in bed till the operation and he doesn’t know what the instructions will be after the operation.  So good you didn’t break the tibia!

Helene—When we returned home we found that our tenants had pulled out all the wiring for television. Instead they had wires running along the walls and floorboard. They were probably stealing cable access. They also absconded in the night leaving unpaid bills and a month’s rent. We have never fixed the television access since we don’t watch. The fun of the peripatetic life! Good luck with the last 100 boxes. We still have some unpacked boxes from several moves ago.

Carol—Sorry to hear about the trouble you’ve been having with your parents. It is such a difficult stage. My mother-in-law went to assisted living grudgingly because it wasn’t safe for her to be alone and we couldn’t be there constantly for her. Fortunately, in the end, she was very happy there. It would have been frustrating to spend all that money and hear her complain about the place. Good luck.

Robbie -  I was on crutches once ...and it is exhausting . They are not as easy as many ppl think so I really feel for you. It's like you need a buddy system for everything - someone to carry things etc. I'm sorry you're feeling badly - and I think eventually Tom and the boys will see that you need help but in the meantime don't hesitate to sit and give orders! Pain is exhausting too - DH falls asleep every night by 8 on the couch - pain just wears you out and then for you throw in crutches - double whammy. One day at a time... Prayers for quick healing and less pain. Wish I lived close - I could come hlep! When my g/f fx her tib/fib I cooked once a week for them for months

Phox I don't think 2 classes in 1 day is excessive esp when one is FUN!!! I golfed 18 holes yesterday and then last night I walked 55 minutes. It sure beat sitting on my arse while DH was at his golf league. I guess I could have cleaned house or something but ... walking was a better alternative I haven't been logging - just not enough hours in the day but I do feel like I am making good choices

I haven't been able to quit thinking of woman from my aerobics class with cancer - it's in her pancreas, liver, colon, ovaries and uterus It's scary I guess because it could be anyone one of us, Did a lot of praying while walking last night and also for SD's friend who was diagnosed with leukemia

Life is sooooo not for sissies

Off to shower - golf league is today. Chance of showers so I'm riding today - dragging the clubs and a huge golf umbrella...not in the plans LOL

I really enjoy reading posts.

robbie:  Why can't you get someone in the house to do chores and cooking till you're off crutches?

clharr:  can you just hire an aid anyway and send them to your parents whether they like it or not?  Maybe if you spend the first day with them and the aid it will help them get accustomed to her.  Can you get yourself appointed guardian so you can do what's best for them, regardless of what they want?  I see elderly who just don't know what's best for them.

Didn't meet my July 1st goal.  oh well.  Hoping with the 3 day weekend I can do something to see a change.  Funny, how I went down, down, down, till just a hair away from my goal, now nothing. 

Phox, I am sorry you had lousy tenants too. I forgot about the unpaid bills: they ate up all of the safety deposit we should have spent repairing the damages they brought to the house... And the stupidos at the agency forgot to forward those and we had to pay belated payment taxes too... What they didn't forget though was to pick up their commission for a job badly done. I made them spit it out again by threatening to call my lawyer. Didn't cover the expenses but gave me a HUGE satisfaction...

Robbie, whatever you do, mind your hands and shoulders: usually they both suffer badly - especially the hands - from using crutches. They are just not meant to support our weight, even a feather one like yours... So you better learn to order those men around, that will at least serve to make them more aware and appreciative of your daily chores ...

Waiting for the kitchen men. Floor is mopped, kitchen sparkling, so now I am going to go shine the mirror in the entrance as the mold it gathered during the move stands out sharply in the surrounding cleanliness... Will it ever end?

Edited: Kitchen people just called to say they won't make it today, which is good because I can now go shopping. Walking= exercise

Robbie: I am with the girls,  ASK FOR HELP!.....you are not a burden, you are a woman in a cast who needs a little help, don't be like i was and concerned to be a burden, back in 76 at 20yrs old i had ankle surgery i had ripped all the ligaments off the bone jumping off a hill, and they had to remove a ligament from my upper calf and attach it to the ankle bone i was in a cast for 8 weeks, barely walking (relearning to walk at 10 weeks)....the funny thing is my job was up 24 stairs every morning i had to climb them (with throbbing ) to deal with...ggrrr and i agree those crutches do take a little mastering if you find the tops are hard on the armpits you can rap foam cushioning around them, ask for help.....you are always there for them, it's there turn!!...funny thing i was married to Ed when i had the surgery... i was home alone one day i made myself a sandwich in the kitchen but couldn't carry it out.......had to eat it right there..lol

Bonnie: Enjoy your golf, i know this weather has been mostly the pits...this is our CANADA DAY 142nd and rain is in the forecast!  Just can't get a break and it's promenade weekend so all the buskers are out, midway, sales, restaurant deals, shopping stor sales everything!

Helene: Thanks for the explanation i appreciate it i mostly had all that but that 2 storey house you showed us a pic of what place was that then??

Well off to shower, and then whoooooooo knows what i will do today, that Don popped over last night i paid him $40.00 he loaned me that one day and said nothing just returned upstairs so hopefully i will not ever see HIM again!

Have a good day girls...check in later!

***Oh guess what they are having another car rally on Aug15th to end at the same place...woohoo!!

BEBwhere's the sun?

I just have a minute but wanted to wish a Happy Canada Day! Sun or clouds, celebrate the day and take time to appreciate all you have. In many ways we've all won life's lottery by being born into countries where we could grow and thrive (albeit even a little too much! lol!)

Time to waddle home for lunch!

robbie:  or else don't say anything to your men.  Just stop doing things.  Sort of like going on strike.  When they ask about dinner.  Say, "I was wondering that myself, what are we having" and hold up your crutch.

Robbie  It's so hard Asking for help, but if certain people would use their good sense, they'd Realize that assistance is needed, and being compassionate, would Offer their help for the duration of your use of crutches! I was on them from Mid-January until mid-April, and then some, and used a cane from then on. Doing Everything took longer and because of that, I would get fatigued faster.  Couldn't drive either, which was Really the worst part of all...being a prisoner in my own home! I did at some point, finally ask for help with laundry and household cleaning, meals, etc. DS surprised me and was the best for helping and always asked if there was anything I wanted b4 he'd leave. DH felt some chores Didn't Need to be done as often as I previously did them, which then became a minor issue!-Lol! You'll just have to be very assertive with need for support! Pain pills at night might be a good idea so you can get your rest and body can heal. It seems like Forever, but it won't be. Work though, is the toughie, so good luck.

Phox  Congratulations on the inches lost!

Your nephew isn't getting a "plate" put in for the tibia is he? I have a rod through the ankle from one side to the other and a plate on the outside of the leg from ankle to lower portion of the calf, and a long screw from tibia to ankle, besides others. Instructions after surgery will probably be to keep leg elevated as much as possible for a certain length of time, perhaps non-weight-bearing and on crutches.  I had a hard time staying off the leg once I found I was physically able to put a bit of weight on it, but that's because I'm stubborn and at first, didn't realize the medical reasons to stay off it.

Bonnie  That was so sweet of you to cook for your g/f for so long when she was down! 

Walking for nearly an hour after 18 holes is really Something! Good for you! With all your activity and making good choices, you can skip the logging probably forever-Lol!

Ohio  Sorry you didn't meet your July 1 goal. Sort of makes one wonder if they are setting goals too high, but you'll get to yours, just try to be patient. At least you went Down, not Up, before the stand-still!

Helene  Love your Edit! Hope you had fun walking shopping!

Chris    Just loving what you said: In many ways we've all won life's lottery by being born into countries where we could grow and thrive (albeit even a little too much! lol!)  It's so true.

Robbie - Sometimes a wheeled tray or small table makes it possible to carry your stuff and get around easier. If you are non weight bearing you sort of have to hop behind the trolley but if you are allowed to put a bit of weight on the "boot" it's a bit easier. My friend used a wheeled 3 drawer storage cart. She would put her dinner plate and cutlery inside one drawer, newspaper and coffee inside another etc etc and make it from the kitchen to the dining room to eat. You could also ask your men to use your crutches for EVERYTHING for just one hour and see if they can relate!! There's nothing like first hand experience to turn the lightbulb on.

Went for a golf lesson this morning. I have apparently developed a few idiosyncrasies over the decades that need to be undone if I am to improve my skill and accuracy and that will not come overnight but it is very helpful to know what I need to concentrate on. I really enjoyed the pro. He is the dad of a friend of DD's. It's a beautiful day here today, not too hot, lovely sunshine. My flowers are blooming wonderfully and all is well with the world. I hope you all have a great holiday weekend. I'll be on the coast, scouting out fabulous gourmet items at Urban Fare and enjoying the seafood. 

Bex, reading your post last thing before bed was such a pleasure! Glad you are having fun and loving life. Same here. I have sooo many practical problems but I couldn't care less. Just feeling groovy!

'Night all!

Helene, in Switzerland

Read all the posts, it is wonderful that everyone is in such fabulous moods......well almost everyone...i hate to admit it but i really miss my son, going down to Canada Day today i felt so lonely without him, everywhere i looked....kids! with there parents.....wha...i was going to stay for the fireworks but after eating a snack $40.00 dinner at a table alone decided to come home and crash! on the couch..........so tv and food is what is on my menu tonight, don;t even feel like watching the fireworks out the window in the back.....i know i know i had dinner downtown but after a few escargot and some crab dip pitas i'm still hungry............boy am i glad Rick is coming saturday!.....tomorrow i am to meet Kyle at the dentist...hope he remembers after several reminders.....the super here metioned he has Kyle on video tape destoying the wall ashtray in the other building.....? god does it ever stop.......i need a vacation!

I am grateful for all the encouragement and support. Thank you all. I feel a bit better today, and I did tell Tom he had to do better, and am now handing out chores to the kids as well. I keep hoping the doctor is wrong about healing time, but we shall see.

Jill: I have to go see my brother July 10 because I have a teaching job there (Orange County) on the 13 and 14. So, he’s just going to have to be patient. I did want to take his spin class (he teaches the Silver Sneakers), but such is life. I confess, I read obits of people I don’t even know just to make sure they’re old enough to die.

BEB: Sounds like you’ve learned to recognize trouble when you see it (Don). Good judgment.  Funny you suggested cushioning--a friend at work surprised me today with foam pads to cover the top and handles of my crutches. Much better. Try not to think about Kyle--he'll manage better than you expect, I'd wager.

Bex: A hole in two: why are you wasting money on a lesson? I love those chairs at the pedicure place—I guess that trade is dominated by the Vietnamese everywhere these days. Please enjoy the coast and the holiday and drink a glass and eat some cheese for me, will you? I will look into wheeled cart, but for now, no weight bearing allowed at all.

Kathy: You’re lucky the "bad" food talked back; good disincentive; I'm afraid my stomach is junk food friendly. I, too, have tried over the years to train myself not to respond when my buttons are being pushed, but I find it most difficult with DH. Sometimes I just walk away and wait for a better time so I don’t make him feel defensive and escalate things. It takes some self control, which I only started developing at age 50. So, ONE good thing about aging, I suppose.

Bonnie: I’ve never seen a hole in one—except in putt putt. How fun. Sorry to hear about your friend. My boss’s mom had cancer surgery today and the goofy surgeon told her he wouldn’t try “if it would create a blot on his record.” My boss said, “Oh, the kind of blot where you pull the sheet up over her head?” Where do these guys get their bedside manners, anyway? Sorry DH is suffering, but at least he’s going to be better eventually.

Helene: You must take a new title: soup queen! Sounds like you found a true craftsman for your cabinet—that’s a coup. What a shame that your tenants were so thoughtless. We had granite counter tops in our old house, which I loved, but the new owner replaced it with something she thought infinitely superior and I thought hideous. Different strokes . . . Didn’t you visit your friend in Washington state last year, too? How wonderful it is that you can enjoy a long term friendship; I really treasure the few I have.

Carol: I am sending you all the patient thoughts I can, because you need them. Wow, we are the sandwich generation all right. Poor old dad and his pants. It’d be funny if it weren’t happening to you.

Phox: Great job with the measurements. I don’t need to be proud of you since you can be proud of yourself. Do you mind if I ask how your son is doing?

Ohio: I took your advice. Nick is cooking dinner tonight, and Chris will be cleaning on Sunday, and I’ll just shut my eyes to the clutter that doesn’t bother them (but makes me crazy). Hang tight—you will make that goal, I know it.

Chris: Waddle? You? No way. Happy Canada Day, right back at you.

Well after a nap and some well deserved relaxation i feel a bit better now, going out to watch the fireworks out back, thank god the rain held off.......i have a whol bag of fireworks i quess they will keep for another time.........

What is everyone's plans for the big July4th down there in U.S.? girls?

Jill: i am in if you want to chat later! On IM?

I enjoyed reading everybody's posts.  It' rainy here.  I'm feeling a little sorry for myself - an American stuck in the Orient on the 4th of July.  I miss American and western holidays sometimes...  The 4th of July is one of my favorites in my hometown in Alaska.  It's the old-fashioned kind with egg tosses, boat races, log rolling, timber contests, salmon derby, street dances, gold tournements and all kinds of other events.  It's mostly good, clean fun type stuff.  I do have to admit most American fireworks displays are pretty pathetic compared to the ones in Japan.

Helene - It sounds like you have accomplished so much while dealing with the challenges of bad rentors.  On top of that, it is a cherished home with very personal memories.  If it were just an investment property without the emotional attachment, it would be bad enough, but I imagine your feelings about the damages are hard to describe.  I know you are dealing with the reverse culture shock syndrome also.  After you get settled into your home and get it into the condition you envision, you will feel so much better. 

Robbie - I hope you have a good day.  I'm with the crowd that things you need to take painpills at bedtime.  Sleep is so important to healing.  I'm sure you will have people to help you if you just reach out.  Helping people is a two-way street.  It's your turn to be helped.  When the time comes you will give it back out to the helpers or someone else who needs it.  That's one of the joys of life I think. 

BEB - glad you could enjoy the holidays.  Now that you are alone a bit more, perhaps you can learn to enjoy that time more than you have in the past.  You are so fun-loving.

Bonnie - I wish I could keep up with your level of exercise.  I'm sure if I did, I would be losing weight and inches so much faster.   Golf is such great exercise and I enjoy the cameradie also.  Unfortunately, DH doesn't enjoy it much, so we quit after a couple of years of playing.  LOL  we were both terrible players...

Rebbex - I love those golf lesson guys, too.  Wouldn't it be great if we always got such good advice in our daily life too.

On the lottery - someone just won 100,000,000 yen with a lottery ticket bought from the place where I always shop...  If you all won a million dollars, what would you do?

oh - Sorry you didn't meet your July goal.  I had almost six months of that.  You just have to keep plugging along.  I do know that our actions today show up two or three weeks later (at least in my case), especially the exercise.  Slow and steady wins the race.

clharr - I hope things are going better with your parents.  Whenever I have a tricky problem to resolve, I do brainstorming on a big piece of paper and keep going until I have exhausted ideas to try.  Sometimes surprising ideas come out of that kind of activity.

phox - the weight training must be working well if people are noticing that your chape has changed.  Good going there.  The weight loss will follow.  This is a journey not a race... LOL

       &nb sp;               &nb sp;               &nb sp;                ***

I lost one kilo during the month of June.  Thanks partly to the cabbage soup helping with keeping my calorie intake under control. 

I have learned that lower calorie intake in the early part of the day is the way to thwart DH's penchant for going out for eating and drinking in the evening.  If we stay in, I eat more fruits and vegetables to get the calorie intake right.  If we end up going out, I try to stay concious of eating healthy foods and limiting drinking to a glass or two of wine.  I have been a bit lax on the exercise.  I think it is partly because it is so hot and muggy.  Everybody here is sleepy all the time.  I took an hour nap today...  that was a luxury I am paying for by getting behind in work.

Now, time to teach the babies English. 

Robbie: Good for you to have put those men in your life to work. You will have to compromise on the way they do things, but it's always better than struggling to do everything yourself. I found out, after many years, that men are not that bad, they are just different. We work by hints and hyperboles, they like to hear things said straight, or they just dismiss them as noise. Often, when I complained Pierre or the boys hadn't done something I had hinted at in so many ways, they retorted with a baffled air: "Why didn't you just ask?" So I took the time to explain to them I felt it was rude to just demand things from people, that it made me feel like the proverbial shrew, and promised to be clearer in the future. Now they usually ask: "That's what you would LIKE us to do, right?" and we all laugh. I guess it would be just as hard for them to see things our way as it would be for us to see them like they do...

BEB, it's hard to let go, especially when it doesn't happen in a smooth and happy way, like when your children leave for college or a new job. But the feelings we have are the same: worry they won't know what to do, they'll get in trouble, they'll forget what's important or put themselves in dangerous situations without us being able to help or advise. But as Robbie said, they usually fare better than we expect them to. Kyle obviously has huge problems if he needs to destroy things the way he does. And I doubt you, as his mother, can help him in that. Your job as a mother now is to love him, and in the past was to try and teach him what he needed to know about limits and surviving in a civil society where certain rules apply. Obviously, for some reason, he didn't get the message clearly enough, and needs to be retrained, but YOU can't do that anymore. It is up to him now, because he has to learn it his way, since yours wasn't clear to him. It's nothing you did. Most children get it, he didn't, so now he'll have to find out why what you said was important. We all come on this earth with some things to sort out. What happens to us is nothing: what matters is the lessons we learn from the experiences we meet on our way. Do not get angry at him, he needs your love more than anything else. But remember: loving doesn't mean letting someone get away with murder. That kind of "love" just denies the right of a person to evolve and grow. You want Kyle to grow, so you have to stand your ground, but with your love for him lighting the way. You have to find friends for yourself, or some activity that can help you think of something else. Hang in there.

Marc called to say he will arrive in Aigle in about one hour, so I have to go. Weight still at 80 (176 and some oz). Tomorrow I'll be below 80, for the first time in 3 years. Today I am wearing a pair of pants I have never worn. I realized this morning there were so many clothes in my closet I had not even tried on, still persuaded they were still too small but Lo and behold! they fit!!! Where did my thunder thighs go? And I do have a waist...

Weather gorgeous again. I'll dig for my camera, because you have to see this. To go to Aigle, I follow a path along a torrent, so beautiful and refreshing... Last time I went through, a baby crow was learning to fly, with two adults proding and flying at him till he took its first tentative flaps. He just lifted above the ground for a short while then went down on the spot but he looked so stunned it was comical!!! Kitchen guys just left. They put the microwave in place, secured the dishwasher and calibrated the hinges and drawers. I am a free woman till 4pm when the clock man is bringing my grandfather's wall clock all repaired and revised... Tomorrow the electrician will set up the new light fixtures in the kitchen and dining room, and reconnect my phone plugs. Things are looking up!!!

Have a great day all!

Helene, in amazing Switzerland

Helene - Such wise and very true words you wrote to BEB - so very well said, You truly have a gift with words. Yeah for pants that fit that you haven't been able to wear..this is working!!! Sounds like things at the house are progressing

Robbie - glad that the "men" are starting to pick up or well listen to orders LOL True what Helene says - we hint they don't get it - you have to be direct with them. Did they give you instruction with the crutches?? you know about not leaning your armpits on them because of the nerve that runs under there??

Kathy - I do the same thing if I know I am going out - like a little savings account for calories to be had later LOL I wish that all my exercise was making me lose - I need to get on the scale but don't want to be disappointed either. Just haven't been able to find time to fit in P90X...eventually I will and then this fall maybe I can get serious with it..LOL I had thought I'd get serious this summer but I'd rather golf and be outside in my yard

Bex Yeah for golf lessons...I took at least 1 lesson a year for about 10 years - it really does help - golf looks soooo easy on tv - LOL it is not!

Chris - Is the new pic flowers you got for anniversary??

Ohio - are you golfing?? Come on I know you can make your goal! fruits and veggies

Phox - yeah for lost inches!! I looked at your new quilt - beautiful!!! I used to sew my own clothes and my girls but never attempted quilting

BEB Happy Belated Canada day. I hope that Kyle remembers the dentist and that you are able to secure the kind of help he seems to need. Very wise words from Helene

To answer Kathy's question if I won a million - we would all have a get together at a beautiful spa resort!!I would pay off all my brother's and sister's homes, give all our 4 DD's a big chunk, set up funds for the Gkids and take them to Disney World,  go back to Hawaii and take the Alaskan cruise with DH, pay off all our debt, pay off my g/f 's house so she could retire and take my dream vacation - a week at a golf school LOL then I would just save the rest ...I love to be able to help ppl in need so that's what I would use the rest for - like right now that friend of SD's family trying to stay with her while she is getting tx at the city hospital ...the city hotels are so expensive it cost us and arm and a leg when DD was in ICU 2 years ago - that's the kind of stuff I always wish I had money to help ppl

the 4th plans - we are playing in a  red , White blue golf tournament - par hit from white, boogie hit from red , birdie hit from blue - it's fun! Then off to our camp for a cookout - we always have a little fireworks display. Sunday - maybe go to see GS and DD's

Helene: Thanks professor...lol..wise old owl!!... Kyle IS acting out but i wish i knew the causes with the ADHD, and ODD and his sincere lack of remorse makes me question if there isn't a more distinct underlying problem....but the waiting list for help here is ridiculous, not to mention every agency, court, P/O health care seems to be passing the buck, not my problem , not out problem...well whos problem is it, the kid needs help.........so Kathy to answer your question what would i do with a million bucks......

I would get the heck out of this building, move somewhere in the country, hire the best strickest English Nanny there is on the planet or maybe call Jo from "super nanny" hehe and have her "retrain Kyle", then hire a good Lawyer, good shrink and then .......plan that trip for all of us to fly or cruise and meet at Helenes!

Something i wrote last night just wanted to post it...here now: 

Well i saw the fireworks from home, went downtown yesterday treated myself to a light dinner, i felt so darn lonely i came back home, everywhere i looked i saw families.....woman and boyfriend, woman and friends,... families....i miss Kyle,.. i miss Rick....even Angel is looking at me funny?....

Duncan the super yesterday came and knocked on my door and asked me if Kyle was living here or not i said "NO" i quess he was talking to mgmt who obviously got my letter saying i had Kyle leave!....apparently he keeps coming back on the property and has done damage to the ashtray on the wall in the other building, Duncan says he is "caught on tape" does it ever end!  grrr...so anyway he said if he sees Kyle on the property he will have him arrested....now it gets interesting...i told Duncan okay this may only be temporary as Tyler is moving and Kyle is in no way ready to be on his own, Mgmt must have got my email saying that i have Kyle Off the property anyway i have to meet Kyle today at the dentist and they want to pull all 4 of his wisdom teeth...they will be crowding like my bottom ones did so out they will come, maybe next week...now with Tyler moving and Kyle going to be in some pain i will probably bring him home.....with the understanding he stays in the apartment...the minute he is fine i will see then....so i am waiting to hear from the lawyers on my rights........also last year i made an arrangement with mgmt that Kyle could sleep here but couldn't be ON the property till the eviction notice expired which is 4 more months now...the sticky thing is when to approach them with all this.....after i talk to the lawyers for sure...and i guess after i talk with the dentist today...and i still have to contact his P/O when i know all of the above..........life is such a drag when you have to live it through someone elses eyes!  I don't know...i just don't know!  Thank-god Kyles troubles since 2 years old has made me a stronger woman!!

Well Kathy your very sweet and thankyou for your kind words, in fact all of you have been especially kind not to mention you all by name but you all know who you are during this very upsetting and trying time, you never realize just how important your kids are till they are gone.....i too see this now, doesn't make my decisions any easier and now i am finding it difficult to type as i am weltin up but not to worry "I WILL SURVIVE", thank-god i am seeing Rick tomorrow, it will be a nice distraction and we will be having a very deep discussion to "airing out the b.s."...and then onto something fun i hope! 

I hope noone here thinks i am being callous or selfish for wanting a little happiness in my life and leaving Kyle out for the wolves, i have my spies watching him, he has my cell and home numbers if her needs me, and knowing he is at Tylers isn't really at this point anythng to worry about, now once Tyler leaves things may get dicey?!and decisions wil have to be made?

I am sorry i can't respond to all your entries and comments but i did read all of them and it sounds like "THE FAMILY HERE IS DOING QUITE GOOD!, spirits are high, weight is down slightly and activities are soaring, hope Hoppy (Robbie) is getting served!!!!!!!!Be good to your families!And Carol i hope things are getting a little easier for you it is a hard transition when we go from child to parent with our parents!I know you will do what is best for THEM! Prayers to all.............Lee (BEB)

Today I (stupidly) weighed and I’m up 1.5 pounds since Friday. It's beyond distressing. I have not eaten more or differently, but there it was. Ideas for someone who can't excercise?

BEB asked, “ What is everyone's plans for the big July4th down there in U.S.?” We’re going to cabin as previously planned. Anyone have thoughts about how I traverse the mile between my house and the fireworks?  Car won’t travel there. Maybe I could have Tom pull me in a wagon? As for, “I hope noone here thinks i am being callous or selfish for wanting a little happiness in my life and leaving Kyle out for the wolves,” you’re kidding, right? Everyone here has been very clear that you need to maintain limits with Kyle. I, for one, am not so sure helping him after teeth pulled is such a good plan. Can’t his dad come do that?

Kathy said, “I do have to admit most American fireworks displays are pretty pathetic compared to the ones in Japan.” That’s funny, because I’m pretty sure our fireworks come from Asia—guess the original is better. They do a pretty good job at Grand Lake, and I’ll be thinking of you, my hiking ex pat friend.   I’m sorry if I missed this, but are you a teacher?

Helene: How wonderful to have a visit from your son and get the house more sorted out. That should add to your peacefulness, and your well-deserved pride fitting into the “new” old clothes.

Bonnie: Yes, they told me about the leaning, but it’s hard not to cheat when you can’t carry anything. I’m looking into renting a knee roller. Ever seen one? And, I didn’t catch Kathy’s question, but I love your answer. You have a spot in heaven waiting for you, angel.

Helene, I'm so happy that you are now enjoying the results of all of your soup and walking. It's kind of cool that your scale wasn't available so you got to see the number all at once. I LOVE it when I'm surprised by something fitting that I assumed was too small. Hasn't happened in while to me! lol. Glad things are shaping up at the house. Oh, and I agree, very wise words to BEB. I can apply them myself with my 24 yr old DS.

Robbie, I hope your doc is wrong too but of course the most likely way for him to be wrong is for you to behave yourself. lol. Glad you're taking the director's role at home. Who knows, maybe they'll get so used to it that you can keep it going a bit when you're back on your feet. IF you can get used to lowering your standards a bit! lol.

We keep having towel emergencies. Right now there are five ‘adults’ in the house and 1 of them showers 2-3 times a day. Heaven forbid they should use a towel more than once! DH has decided he will be in charge of laundering towels because he’s gotten angry at SS so many times for hording damp dirty towels in his room. We probably have 40 & could only find 5 or 6! I am very concerned about this plan. I don’t think DH is going to take the constant burden well but I guess I’ll just have to stand back and watch. Yikes! I’m hoping to perhaps spread the burden by each of us taking a day or something. Unfortunately, that plan would still involve nagging to get the job done!

BEB, glad you were able to enjoy the day. Hope things go well at the dentist's. I'm still praying for you!

Bonnie, yes those are my anniversary flowers. The pic doesn’t do them justice…the colors are really beautiful: several shades of purple contrasting w the yellow roses. DH wasn’t happy because he’s asked for red roses. I get the symbolism but I probably like the yellow ones better. Lol. Hope you get lots of golf in without interruption from thunderstorms. Sounds like the prospects are good.

Bex, think of me when have really good seafood. I really love it but so seldom get it. Hope you enjoy!

Ohio, just keep exercise and healthy eating in the forefront of your mind and you will get there. You enjoy your weekend too. Do you get Friday off?

EDIT: Oops, forgot to answer the questions:

1. 1 Million Dollars (lol, I hear Austin Powers in my head). Oh, dear, I'd probably worry myself to death!!! We would tithe, catch up on retirement funds, fence in the backyard, install that darn jacuzzi tub, maybe even sell the darn eyesore for one with finished floors(!), put a small amount aside for each of the kids (don't want to ruin their lives), maybe take a trip, and leave the rest to charity. Unfortunately, a million wouldn't go all that far.
2. The 4th? Not sure. State College has pretty good fireworks --supposedly the 5th largest in the nation. It's such a mob scene, though. We wouldn't get home until 2 AM & well, Sunday morning looms. I hope one way or another DH & I can celebrate our anniversary.