I liked that article, Mary. Last night at the restaurant, DH was the devil who tempted me to go through the door! LOL I was sorry when I came home and checked my BS.

My bs was 123 this morning...that's 3 over what it should be but it's GREAT for me! I think I'm finally after all these years learning how to eat for my health. I haven't been eating much or sometimes nothing in the evenings. I'm just too full and nothing sounds good. I've had the fullness for a long time now but I would still want to eat...now not nearly as much. I think of foods but they don't sound good. Of course I am not buying any sweets. On the trip once I bought a candy bar for hypoglycemia...it tasted kind of too sweet to me, but we were out and I ran out of my glucose tabs so I ate it and felt better. I had a few hypoglycemic episodes on the trip...once we had just gotten to a restaurant and I felt it so I ordered tea right away and put sugar in it...I haven't had sugar in my tea in many years!! I mostly have these episodes when traveling. Which reminds me I need to put some glucose tabs in my purse today. My weight is down to 165.5 again and since I am being careful about my eating, I did change my sig.

We've been getting up earlier than usual since we got home because we got up earlier on our trip. The sun shone in more there and that started it I think. Whether we will continue that here with less sunshine going into fall I don't know. It was cloudy and cool when we first got home but yesterday and this morning the sun is shining here too and it's supposed to get to 83 today...probably late afternoon though. Its still cool now.

Yesterday I didn't get as much done as I wanted but I did a few things. Some of our emergency water which I usually keep in our bedroom (in a shallow cardboard box) was leaking...and dh was upset with me because of the damage it could do to our carpet/floor...but it hadn't leaked into the carpet yet. I transferred it into the vanity of our small bathroom (off the master bedroom), but later we found more had leaked in there too, so he wiped that up and put the remaining jugs in a large shallow tub in the garage. Don't know where others keep their emergency water supplies:?: The garage would not be handy if you didn't have much time which is why I had chosen the bedroom, but obviously I can't do that anymore. I used to keep it in the attic but that's also not convenient and dh complained it would weigh down the attic floor. After moving the water, I vacuumed the bedroom carpet and rearranged that corner. We have lots of RME food packages our son left here and some bagged water as well. Hopefully the small bags of water won't leak:?: Maybe I should put them in the garage too.

I also continued working on the budget and got that one acct I was off closer to reality I think...but will continue to let it go for a while as I said yesterday. I transferred money to cover the extra expenses from the trip but will wait to see if I need more. I love my budget as it really keeps us straight! I also changed the black ink in my printer finally...it had been telling me it needed to be done but looked ok, so I put it off and yesterday it wouldn't print til I did it! Never had that happen before.

My sister's home is always so neat and clean even now with all her pain and problems. I always come home inspired to do better with mine but then I get lazy when I get home. One other thing I did yesterday was gather together some children's books the gc don't seem to care about, and will give them away. Haven't yet got a large bag or box to put them in though.

So many things to do right now...emails I need to respond to, a letter I need to finish writing and mail, carpets I need to clean. Seems I get very little done in a day even with getting up earlier, but I do a little bit each day. I got my weekly menus and grocery list planned yesterday. So one step at a time. I'm got a growing list of things I need to do now that I'm home in addition to my regular cleaning tasks. The cleaning as been put on hold so far while I'm catching up with other things.

Woke up this morning with my foot in a cramp, but that was the only one I had again. They seem to go in cycles so hopefully this one is almost over. My sister gets them too. We are a lot alike in many ways.

Well, almost time to get ready for church. It will be good to get back to our home church, however we enjoyed a good service at my sister's church too. She has a good pastor she really likes and who seems very loving.

New here, just saying hello.

Welcome Perunning! We are currently a small group and are happy to have you with us. I look forward to your next post and getting to know you. We don't just talk about weightloss, we mostly just share our lives and enjoy both our similarities and differences.

I'm working hard today on catching up with things since we returned from our trip. So far it's been mostly phone calls. I'm hoping to clean the carpet in my office and the hall but not sure I'll get it done today as also need to get my nails done and a haircut. Will see. Must cook tonight we have been eating out way too much. I did not maintain my weight loss (1#) but then figured I would continue to fluctuate a few pounds as I usually but at least I have a new "low point." Considering how much restaurant food I've been eating I'm surprised I lost at all.

Dh is giving Halo a needed bath today. It is to get to 87 degrees today so a good day for an outside bath. She has adjusted back into her routine here and seems happy to be home too.

Well I have much to do and even though I'm getting up earlier these days, I still haven't gotten as much done this am as I'd have liked so far. After being away from my home I'm always anxious to clean, organize and update things that I've neglected in the past even. My sister's home is SO clean and makes me see my house in a not-so-good light. :dizzy: At least it gets me busy improving things for a while. Like want to get back to de-cluttering for one.

Need new glasses so have called for my current prescription. I'm wearing old glasses as my other broke, so now I want to get both new frames and lenses.
We are continuing to get our kids mail and it's been 1 1/2 years now so hoping to get that straightened out and need to do some shopping...these are some of the things I need to do beyond housework.

Hope you are all having a good Monday.

Mary, I haven't gone for an eye exam for so long and now I'm afraid to go. I know I have to do it. I'm just procrastinating.

I don't know if you are able to take care of the mail problem with your kids or if they have to do it. If it's something important, I think they need to contact the sender and change their address.

Nothing is really new with me. I have accumulated some books from my spare room that I will donate to the library for their used book sale. I have cleaned some clothes out of my closet. I want to donate them to Goodwill, but want my step-daughter to go through them first to see if she wants anything.

Where did Halo stay while you were on your trip?

Instead of going out to get my hair and nails done I started posting comments to my children on old pics. I have a family group on FB where I post things pics and comments for my children and grandchildren to learn about our families. So 1/2 my morning is now gone without me doing anything else. The good news is I was down another 1/2 # this morning. Yesterday I ate pretty well except I got hungry late after noon and ate 3 sl of my lower carb/calories bread with Smart Balance. I also ate 3 small caramels twice...once in afternoon and once in evening, but at least they were all pretty light things. I didn't eat dinner as I didn't like what I made and made a high protein mocha instead. Guess it worked out ok, but I know I have to be careful all the time.

Our son came over for wood and brought one of the gk. I gave her the gifts from our trip for the children and their mail. She was pleased with the shirt I bought her. While they were here I was outside with them picking tomatoes and green peppers and slipped in some loose dirt and bark dust and it seemed like I kept falling, I couldn't break my fall. I yelled so I wouldn't fall on her and asked dh to help me up. Falling was the easy part, getting up was the hard part! :( I wasn't hurt just felt a little scraped but when I looked there were not even any scrapes and today I am not sore at all. That was my second fall in the past 1.5 years though, but neither time was hurt. My after trip soreness has disappeared too and the cramps with it, so thankful for that, but my left leg has been hurting some probably from that arthritic hip I think. That may have also partly caused my fall.

Halo asked to go out about 2 am and she stayed out for more than 30 min. We can't let her bark so have to stay alert..so our sleep was not good but I did sleep this morning and don't remember dh leaving to go fishing. In fact this morning I was talking to him and then realized he wasn't there.:D I do remember Halo coming in and banging her paws on my side of the bed though at some point. Our bed is too high for her so hope she never tries to jump but she will bang her paws against it.
I told her to go back to bed and I guess she did.

Carol - Hows the cPap thing coming along? Hope you are finding comfortable sleeping. My dil has tried to change her mail SO many times but we still get it and they were getting ours not sure about that lately. One problem is they have moved three times since they left out house, and also moved back in and then out again recently. The mails has been screwed up from the very beginning though. I also went with her to straighten it out once and they said it would be ok then but it has not. When I get some time I will try again on my own. Our younger son took care of the dog while we were gone since it was so long (17 days).

Mary, I don't understand how their mail could come to you if it has their address on it, unless you live very close to each other.

I am doing OK with the CPap. I thought the new mask wasn't working so I tried to use the old mask a couple times but hated it, so I guess I'm getting used to the new one. It slips around sometimes, but overall, it's good. I would really prefer not to need it at all. I can't remember what it feels like to sleep without it.

I was having a lot of back pain when I laid down but that has let up. Just a little achy sometimes, not actually pain. I have started eating Kale again. I bought some frozen kale, and I put a sprinkling of it in when I cook my scrambled eggs. It seems that every time I go back to eating Kale my pain lets up. That's what happened when I was having all that shoulder/arm pain. Most people tell me that it's a coincidence, but it has happened so many times I have a hard time believing it isn't doing something. Maybe there is something in the kale that I am lacking. Nothing online says that kale relieves pain. I have tried collard greens and mustard greens with no results. Just the kale. I quit buying it because when I bought the fresh kale I couldn't use it fast enough and it would go bad. I am going to continue to buy the frozen kale.

I have started to take better care of my daily appearance. Even if I'm just staying home, I am fixing my hair and putting make up on, and I'm even wearing my Spanx, which I usually only wear when I get dressed up to go somewhere. It is making me feel better about myself. I notice since I've retired I haven't been doing these things.

Carol we are still getting their mail from when they lived with us the first time. They then moved out to a couple houses and even though she tried to get the mail changed several times it continued to come here and even some of our mail goes to them. Then they moved back in with us for three months. And now they are in their own place and she again tried to get it straightened out and felt for sure they had it right but we continue to get their mail. I don't think they are getting as much of our mail now but they do now and then. When I can find time I will try to do get it straightened out myself. I did go with her once but it still didn't work.

Glad you are adjusting to your new mask. I wish you didn't need it but glad you have adjusted. Glad the kale is helping you. Guess I should try it but so far I haven't liked the taste.

Hoping to finally get my nails done and maybe my hair cut...also want to shop for glasses today. Been waiting for dh to get off the phone so I can get my breakfast (I use a loud blender), hate to ask him to move into another room but I'd like to get my day started. Hopefully he's about done. Yesterday we shopped at Costco and and Winco. Didn't have much to buy but still spent almost a $100 at Costco! Amazing how easy it is to do.

Chrome is giving me trouble so I'll stop now...you all have a good day.

Mary, it sounds like they are forwarding the mail according to last name without regards to the first name, or maybe your son has the same first name as DH. It can get very confusing. I think one time my pension check was held with the neighbor's mail when they were on vacation. The check was over a week late, but it came the day after they returned home.

Most people think it is coincidence that my pain subsides when I eat the kale, but I'm thinking maybe it contains something I am lacking. The taste is definately different. I don't notice it much when I have the frozen chopped kale in my eggs, and when I cook it by itself I sprinkle some Feta cheese on it. I have also bought some baby kale and added it to salads, but I don't use that fast enough and it goes bad.

I made Chicken Broccoli Alfredo with bowties today for dinner. I use Alfredo sauce out of a jar, Walmart brand. Then I cook some boneless skinless chicken breasts and frozen broccoli and mix it all together with the cooked bowties. The pasta is probably going to spike my blood sugar.

Determined to clean the office and hall carpet today. I thought dh was going fishing this morning so it would be perfect timing but he decided to wait til this afternoon. I'm going to go ahead with it though. I'm still having trouble with Chrome...used FF for a while and today I may try Edge. I really like Chrome so wish they'd get it fixed so it doesn't mess up like this now and then. Or perhaps I just need to delete and reinstall. Been through this many times.

Our son just asked us to go to a Trail Blazer Fan Fest on Sunday afternoon. Should be fun.

As to the mail problem, my dil gave them all the names in their household in yet another attempt to prevent this from happening but it didn't work. I know it's frustrating for her so hopefully I can straighten it out since we are the ones who are getting their mail. Their moving so much has not helped the situation but she has given them the info each time and the PO should be able to handle it. I've talked to our mailman as well but then sometimes it's a different person too.

Dh made Pinacbet last night, a Filipino dish he likes to make when we have eggplant in our garden. It's funny the last two times he's made it he's forgotten something. The previous time he forgot to buy bitter melon and okra. This time he remembered those (I reminded him) but he forgot the eggplant which was the reason he was making the dish! It was still ok although could have used a little more seasoning. I think he's losing his touch. Well I think I am too sometimes.

Glynne - How are things going with you?

Where is everyone?

Yea the office and hall carpets are clean!! Such small spaces really but a lot of work. I sometimes think cleaning the machine afterwards is almost as much work as the carpet cleaning and I always end up tracking some debris or water into other rooms which then has to be cleaned as well. Maybe it's just me. I could never do my whole house in a day....but I'm trying to do better about doing one room (plus hall sometimes like today) at a time...it is esp imp right now after everyone has moved out. The cleaning was not perfect....I still see a few stains but I will try and get them next time and it does look a lot better. Some stains I didn't think would come out, did too. And maybe all the work will cause some more weightloss. :carrot: I snacked too much the last couple days and am up 2.5# but hopefully it will just be part of the up and down thing I do before I lose again, sodium etc.

Dh just left to go fishing, I'm going to rest a bit and then start my regular cleaning for today. I got my nails done yesterday but I still need a hair cut. Decided to let my glasses go til next month. Dh may work again on my broken frames, in case he can fix them after all, but I still plan on getting another pair.

Missing hearing from you all...hope you are ok.

Good afternoon GG's,

It is a nice sunny day here today ~ temperature is mid 80's this afternoon ~ that is not too bad. It was mid 60's this morning ~ it would have been nice walking weather, but I had other things to do and didn't do that.

I'm back home now after spending a week in Ohio. I got to visit mom again, and spend time with my sister and her daughter and granddaughter. It was nice to see family, but because of some family stuff going on ~ it wasn't a very enjoyable time.

It made me feel sad to not get along so well with my sister.

Anyway, I am glad to be back home. I'm real tired. I did get my suitcase unpacked today and the stuff put away.

Surprisingly, even though I ate out some and didn't follow our way of eating while I was gone ~ I actually lost a couple pounds. This morning, I had to go to the store and got some snacky stuff ~ kind of a last little splurge before getting back down to business tomorrow.

Maddie was glad to see me yesterday. She had a whole week's worth of hugs saved up for me ~ I sure enjoyed that.

Kind of tired still ~ so I'll get this posted.

Hope you all are doing well.

Good morning GG's,

It is sort of sunny looking right now. Temperatures have been a little cooler lately ~ that is welcome and enjoyable.

Jason had wanted me to drive him to an appointment yesterday because he had worked all night and wouldn't have had very much sleep to be able to drive safely. The time to leave got closer and closer and I hadn't heard from him ~ called and tried to make sure he hadn't overslept. No answer. The time of the appointment came and went. Finally I heard from him and he had changed the time of the appointment and forgot to tell me. It turned out ok ~ I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep anyway.

Jason had done his grocery shopping earlier in the week, so we were able to do the vegetables yesterday. So, today is free for both of us.

I have things I need to do ~ now to get in the mood to do them.

Mary ~ sorry you saw the scale go the wrong way. You are not alone. I saw mine go up too ~ but not surprised ~ I haven't been doing very well with the food. It does surprise me that I seem to hold my own or even lose a little when I am on a trip, but then I undo that when I get back home. Sigh......

Carol Sue ~ hey ~ if the kale works ~ who cares ~ keep doing what helps you. Your chicken broccoli alfredo recipe sounds good. Is this the weekend when your grandson stays with you?

I keep wondering about Sandy and Karrine. Hope they are ok.

Not much to tell. Hope you all have a good weekend.

Need to get ready to go get my hair cut. Dh has gone to get his fishing rod repaired. There is only one place that does this and it is in Portland. Halo is sleeping in. Since we got home she has been getting us up once in the night (around 2 usually) and again early like 5:30-7:30), then she sleeps in while we get up. Hopefully she will be able to give up the middle of the night outing again after a while. Maybe she is just testing to be sure we are here.:?: They said she barked a lot at their house and she is not barking much here...I think they just didn't understand what she needed. When she starts bugging me by barking and not being satisfied with anything during the day, I put her in the living room so she can look out the window and then she falls asleep. Quiet the rest of the afternoon and sometimes later! :D

Yesterday we went to see the Star Trek movie...got there, bought our concessions (yes I still have to have them!) and waited for the movie to start. Finally they came and told us they were having trouble with the electronics ...they kept in touch while we waited and finally they gave us 2 free tickets each for our trouble. We went back for the 7 pm movie, using one but we still have another for any other movie we want, no expiration date. So, not counting the concession costs (plenty!) it was a very cheap movie. I felt like I ate junk all day but my weight actually dropped. Only one pound now to be back down to my sig weight. And my bs has been ok to great most of the time...I had one high after the concessions but no worse than it often is.

I am continuing to post old pics for my kids with comments about the people in them that I know. There is a lot I don't know. Mostly it is one son who checks them out, and one dd who does some. Oh well, I'm trying at least. I hope to also have copies here at home when I die and perhaps then they will care more.

I quickly dusted and vacuumed the family room the other day as dh was sneezing a lot. He seems to have a cold though as he is coughing a lot now too. It is loose at least. I checked his lungs and there is some wheezing (which I can hear at night esp) but otherwise they sound pretty clear and he has no chest pain.

Glynne - Glad you made it home ok...it's a difficult time I know but I hope you and your sister can make things up as you need each other for support.
Continuing to pray for you.

Gotta run...have a good day you all!

Good Morning All. It has been a few days since I posted. I have been busy doing some things that need done, finally. Sometimes I get on the computer and hours go by before I realize it. I shouldn't be doing that much sitting. I know of a woman who has her computer set up with her exercise bike, but I don't think I could type and pedal at the same time. LOL

I had lunch with a cousin, niece and nephew. These are people I didn't interact with for years, but recently my cousin has been planning these little get-togethers. Both her sisters have passed away and I think she misses the female companionship, as now she just has her husband and 2 sons. We went to Denny's and were there for 2 hours, just talking over old times. I was good. I just had a cup of soup, because I know DH likes me to eat supper with him and didn't want to be too full. I don't know if I mentioned before but my nephew is going through treatment for cancer. The new treatment they started is working much better for him and he feels good enough to be back to substitute teaching, so that's a plus. He was told that his cancer is not curable but can be treated for a long time, but I don't know how long a time they mean. So far so good. He is in his 60s. My niece, his sister, had a series of very bad heart attacks last year and was in really bad shape for a long time. She looked good for what she has been through, but I don't think she will ever be back the way she was. So it was good to see them and talk to them, even though get-togethers like that are really not my thing. I'm not a big socializer.

I was surprised to learn how unhappy my cousin was when she was growing up. I went and stayed with them a couple times when I was young and I loved it there. It seemed like a perfect family, like Ozzie and Harriet. But she was the youngest of 3 girls and she got the impression that her birth was an accident and her parents really didn't want another child. Her sisters were much older than her and she said her parent didn't pay a lot of attention to her and she felt neglected and resentful. It's funny the way it appeared so good in my eyes, but wasn't so good for her. The grass always seems greener.

Yesterday my grandson came and stayed with us overnight. The first thing I noticed was at only 8 years old he walked into our house and took over the television remote control. They learn early. LOL We took him out for dinner the just came home and he watched TV, and we watched what he wanted to watch. Rusty is starting to get a little better with him but he still did a lot of barking and growling. Then my step-daughter and her husband stopped over to see him, so we had a nice little visit. I don't know if my grandson was trying to put off bedtime, but he told me he didn't want to sleep in the room where I have the extra bed. I have some stuffed animals on a shelf in there and he said he's afraid of them because he feels like they're watching him. I really think he's too old to be afraid of little stuffed animals and just didn't want to go to bed. DH waited until he fell asleep on the couch at 10:30 then carried him in. I'm really glad he doesn't stay here very often. I think it stresses us out too much because we are not used to him being around without his parents. I guess if we saw him more often it would be different, or if he stayed for the day then went home at night.

Gayle, it's nice that you had some time to spend with your mother and sister, even though you said you and your sister didn't get along so well. Sometimes sisters are like that. I know there are some uncomfortable things going on. I'm sorry about that.

I can imagine how it made you feel for Maddie to be so happy to see you! She spends a lot of her time with you and does love you very much! Jason probably appreciates his time with you, too. You're a good mother and grandmother.

It's surprising that you do better with your eating when you are on a trip than when you are home. Most people have the opposite problem. We don't go away much so I can't speak for myself. I know when we do go away I am at the mercy of what's available. I know around home I do better in a restaurant than I do at home. In a restaurant, they give you a certain amount and that's it, but at home, it seems that there are always leftovers and I end up eating second helpings when one helping is enough.

Mary, the scale keeps going up and down for me and I'm beginning to doubt that I will ever see a good drop. I have to be very strict with my eating in order to see the numbers go down and I have a hard time being strict for very long.

We also clean our carpets often. I like how fresh they smell after they are cleaned, and sometimes we use the cleaner on the sofa and chairs. We only do the bedrooms about once a year, but the rest of the house gets done more often. So far there haven't been any stains that won't come out. I usually go over the stains with some Resolve before we use the machine and I think that helps.

I can't imagine what happened to Sandy. She hasn't posted for a while. I looked back on some old posts and she was having computer problems shortly before she stopped posting. I hope she's OK. And I still pray for Karrine and Nan.

We planned to go to the gym this morning, but I got very little sleep due to my rt leg hurting. I think it is really my hip causing it. I should have taken some pain med but I didn't until after 8 and by then I was too tired to go. I took aspirin and it did help but not completely. I'm hoping to clean the family room carpet today so hope my leg will cooperate. I don't think dh minded not going to the gym because he is going fishing this afternoon and will get exercise that way...he has to walk pushing a stroller holding his fishing gear down and up an embankment down to the river plus just the fishing movement. Cleaning the carpet will be my exercise. ;) I hope it tries fast because it will be impossible to keep Halo and later, dh off it. I'm just going to clean around the big heavy furniture but dh is going to help me move the exercise bike and maybe his recliner.

Carol, I have NOT been cleaning my carpet frequently for quite some time now...I didn't clean it while my older son and also while the family was here...so that's more than two years. I'm trying to catch up now, doing the dirtiest rooms first and there are plenty stains. The rooms with less stains are our bedroom and the living room so they will be the last I will clean. From now on I hope to clean them all more frequently though.

Yesterday was a fun day....after church, we went to the Blazer Fan Fest. It was fun to see some of the players, listen in on an interview with two and also watch them play in a short game..only 4 quarters which ended with a tie so went into overtime, tied again and then after that the team that got the first basket won. Mostly it was fun to be there with the kids as we hadn't spent much time with them since we got home. We all bought food and shared it...entrance was free but the food there is of course very expensive! Then dh was hungry for KFC so we picked up a few pieces to bring home for our dinner. I only ate two small wings, and we shared the sides except the cookies...he's taking what's left of the chicken and both cookies with him when he goes fishing today. My weight was up again today. Seemed like the more I ate yesterday, the hungrier I felt...that's what carbs do to me. Better I don't even start. Not sure what dinner will be tonight and dh will probably get home kinda late.

The way your unhappy cousin grew up sounds very much like me. I too was not a very happy child...won't say it was all bad.. there were some very good things .. but I was lonely and unhappy a lot of the time it seemed. My parents were 38 and 43 when I was born...today that doesn't seem old but it was for that time...they were the age of most of my friend's grandparents. I think they were sorta done having kids and then I came along. At least that's how I felt. I actually think I was a pretty good kid but since I said and behaved in ways that they had not experienced with the first two children, I guess they were unable to understand and accept, and that only widened the gap. I didn't express these things (don't think I'd have even known how as I didn't really understand it myself), so probably no one would have noticed just as you didn't.

I have not had any good drops either but am happy when I see a new low now and then, then for a time I go up and down 1-4# before settling down to another new low. I'll take that as long as it keeps getting lower.

I need to do the first of the month budgeting now, then I can get off this computer for a while. Still having trouble when I use Chrome so using Edge. Don't like it as well but even after deleting and reinstalling Chrome isn't working well and often crashes.

Hi Glynne! Sandy, hope all is well, and I too am still praying for Karrine and Nan.

I'm not buying new glasses afterall! I found another pair that were the same prescription as the pair that broke. I knew I had them but couldn't find them...funny thing is we were on our way to shop for glasses when I opened up this middle compartment in the car and there they were. I thought sure I'd looked there! :o They are still one or two prescriptions behind like the ones that broke but the changes are so small I can see see well with them. Even the doctor has said every time the change is no minor it's up to me whether I get new lenses. I don't like the frames as well which is why they haven't been worn much but now at least I have an almost new pair I don't have to spend money on for now.

Yesterday I cleaned the carpet in our family room. Took me about two hours and still wasn't completely dry when we went to bed. Fortunately dh got home late and Halo slept in the living room (her favorite place) for more than five hours! I finally made her go out to pee, but she was kinda scared by all the furniture and other things I'd moved out of the room and she had to go by..but she finally did and then went right back into the living room. :D She looked at me like what is going on here:?: The carpet seems dry now and everything is back in place. It had some pretty bad stains and I didn't get them all out but it sure looks better. Next I will probably clean the living room carpet..it shouldn't been too stained but needs to be cleaned. It'll be easier cause I can close it off from people/dog but it is Halo's favorite place so she may bark at me.

Again today we didn't get to the gym. Halo woke us up about two and kept whimpering and barking so I couldn't sleep anymore. I told her to go back to bed and she did for a while but then was again at our door carrying on. Dh finally got up at 8 and realized she was hungry. I thought of that but thought her bowl was still full. I stayed in bed til 10 and got a little more sleep but we don't like to go to the gym that late.

I've been eating too much in the evenings so my weight is up 3#. I know I'd better control my eating today. I don't want to ever gain more than 4# above my low point. I had my usual pb mocha for breakfast and a chicken salad sandwich for lunch with Trop 50 OJ. The chicken salad had more mayo in it than I'd like, next time am going to cut way back on that, but it was good and otherwise healthy (had onions, celery and mushrooms in it) and I ate it on my usual low cal/lower carb ww bread. Dinner tonight is chicken stir-fry (with green beans) and rice. I eat only a small portion of rice usually.

I feel lazy today...keep seeing things I need to do, but don't do them. My kitchen floor needs mopping, the dining room chairs seats need cleaning (the kids get them so dirty when they are here!, the living room needs cleaning and our bedroom needs vacuuming for a few...;)...with the carpet cleaning I am way off my schedule.

Hope you are all enjoying nice fall weather. I love the change! Haven't had a lot of rain yet...just sprinkles and it's in the 60s during the day. My kind of weather...although I wouldn't mind if the sun was out...some days it is some it isn't and that's ok with me.

Rusty doesn't whimper or make any noise like that but all the tags we have on his leash jingle. DH sometimes hears him running up and down the hall with his tags jingling and when he does that he needs to go outside. We let him out right before bed and he's usually good all night but sometimes not. I never hear it. If I take him to the door he won't go out unless I go out with him, and I won't do that. DH can get him to go out by himself. I guess Halo is older and can't make it all the way through the night sometimes. Like me. LOL

They are going to start working on the sewers in front of our house this week or next. They might dig up part of our driveway, and if they do, we might have to park our car on the street for a while. We will keep the new car in the garage and park the old car on the street. We can use that one but we don't trust it to go a longer distance. Local is ok. It depends on what they do if we will have to pay or not. Some have had to pay and some haven't. Nothing we can do if we have to pay. I think I have enough food in the house if I can't get out to the store. Some people's driveways have been blocked for days. It makes me wonder what would happen if there was an emergency and an ambulance had to come. Hopefully that won't happen.

My PC just did an update that took a couple hours. I hope it didn't make any changes that I won't understand.

I think Halo may just be lonely or even scared at night and wants to be nearer us. She slept most of the night just outside our open door whimpering a lot. She came into our room once or twice and dh put her out outside once. I don't really think it's a bladder problem because she can go a very long time when she has to. She was sleeping all night most of the time before we left on our trip...she's just been this way again since she got back with us. I might put her bed in the hall and see if she's happier there. I'm the one that is more like you, ;)

Doing several loads of wash to day as we are running out of things...clothing and towels. Hoping to clean out the fridge and mop the kitchen floor tonight.
We are going to a movie this after noon...The Magnificent Seven as dh's been wanting to see it. I joined Atom and got one ticket free.

Soon we will be able to get new phones as our contract is almost over. My phone is acting wierd so I'm glad.

Sounds like a mess with the sewer work in your neighborhood, Carol. I'm sure if you needed an ambulance they would still manage though, probably park in the street and take you out on a stretcher. I hope all the work doesn't cost you too much.

Very busy today so will close now...take care you guys.

Mary, our ambulances around here always park in the street for some reason. I don't know about when someone has a very long driveway. Ours is only a couple car lengths long, but when they are working on our sewer, the street is filled with construction vehicles in front of several homes at a time. They stopped the digging at the house next door to us and probably won't be back here until Monday. We can hear them working a couple blocks away. This is a project they are doing in the whole community....replacing the main sewer lines and connections to each home. It's been going on a couple years now. I believe we are also paying for it through our sewerage bill, labeled as Capital Improvements. I heard that if the lines that go to your home are cracked, you have to pay out of pocket to have them replaced. Hope ours are OK. It's always something. If I have to spend money, I want it to be on something to improve the looks of my home.

Good afternoon GG's,

The sun kind of comes and goes today.

Got to talk to mom ~ she sounds so good lately. What a relief that is from when she was sick last spring.

Tomorrow Corbin turns 19. Last year as a teenager ~ where has the time gone?

Yesterday was a cooking day. Two pots of soup. Pans of roasted vegetables and a bowl of beans.

Jason will be stopping by today ~ always look forward to seeing him.

Steve came to me the other night ~ he had found a deal on air fare to go see his brother near Nashville. I am glad that he will get to go, but I hate the drive to that airport (south of downtown Houston). I hate driving on the interstates ~ especially in the city. The last time I did it, I felt like a nervous wreck. I told him I would not do that again. So, I told him, I wasn't gonna do that drive this time, that he could park the car at the airport. Surprisingly, he didn't hassle me. I'm not sure if he is gonna park it, or he might ask Sara to take him and pick him up as she works down that way anyway and though she doesn't care for the drive, she is used to it. We take an online drivers course thing through AARP to get a discount on our auto insurance. One of the things they say on there is that for older drivers ~ if you aren't comfortable driving on certain kinds of roads ~ not to do it. So, I'm sticking to that.

Carol Sue ~ I hope they get that construction work by your house done soon and that your lines are in good shape and won't cost you a bunch of money.

Mary ~ hopefully Halo will get back into the routine she had with you guys, so that you all can rest better again.

Not much else to tell. Weight has crept up ~ I am having a hard time getting back to behaving with the food.

Hope you all are having a good day.

Gayle, I used to drive to the Pittsburgh airport in my younger days but I would never do it now. In fact, one time I drove to NJ by myself to visit relatives. Looking back I can't believe I did that and am so afraid of driving now. I really just need to do it more often. They built a new housing plan up the street from my house and if I learned all the streets, I could cut through there to get to the grocery store without having to go onto US Rt 30. I don't mind going TO the store, but coming home I have to sit on the highway and wait to make a left turn. That's scary, because we were rear ended there once years ago. I would like to take that online course to get a discount on our insurance, but DH wouldn't take it so it wouldn't do me any good. He thinks he knows everything already. Anytime anything is for older people he says it's not for him. LOL He's not old! We always park our car at the airport now when we travel. We never have a problem.

Nothing new with me. The weather is nice and sunny today but chilly. I'm happy to see the hot humid weather gone. I guess they will start on our sewer lines tomorrow if it doesn't rain.

I'm back, did you miss me??? LOL We just spent four nights at the WA coast doing some crabbing. It rained most of the time and I only crabbed one day (cloudy but mostly dry) as I use a fishing pole with a crab trap on it and I was not going to sit on the dock in the rain to do it! I don't even eat the things I just do it for fun and it would not be fun that way. Dh had three pots to throw out and he didn't do as well as expected with three pots but he got 11 Dungeness and a bunch of red rocks. We give the rocks to friends. We still enjoyed being there despite the rain...the coast is so calm and beautiful no matter the weather. We ate lunch out once a day and then just snacked or ate leftovers in the evening. Our son moved in and took care of Halo while we were gone. Today when we had to leave, the weather was just perfect on the coast. Kinda wish we could have stayed another day but it's difficult with the dog.

Halo was beside herself with joy when we got home and she just kept barking for a long time so finally I decided maybe she just wanted in the living room...she's a happy girl now in her favorite place so maybe it wasn't welcoming us so much as just being glad to be in there.:dizzy: I'm sure she'd spent a lot of time in the garage since we've been gone...most of the time she was loose in there though with food and water, not in her crate.

Now to get back to my carpet cleaning and decluttering and catching up with things in general again. I hope to clean the living room carpet this week.

Parking at the airport when traveling...here it costs quite a bit and is actually cheaper for us to pay for an airport van to pickup us up both ways and when the kids were not around that's what we did. You give them the time of your flight and they schedule you so you are there in plenty of time.

Carol - Hows the sewer work going now? You really should drive more Carol because if something happens to your dh you may have to be the one to drive.

Sandy - I miss you and hope you, your husband and dd are ok.

Glynne - Glad Steve is able to visit his brother and understand about the driving. I don't drive much anymore and never drive into a big city. I just drive here in my own small city and mostly to get my hair cut or do some shopping. Even with the shopping, dh often goes with me and then he drives. I really should drive more, but I try to do it at least once a week to keep myself in the habit.

I have a very annoying cough...started before we left and dh had it too. Just a tickle in the throat all the time and sometimes a slightly sore throat on the right side only. Dh's is almost gone but I cough a lot still and especially at night. I'm sick of the cough drops I've used so many. I didn't sleep much at the resort even thought the bed was very comfortable...between coughing and hot flashes ..ugh. Hope being back in my own bed tonight will help some.

There's no place like home, Mary, no matter how nice of a trip you have. It's always good to get back into your own bed. Sounds like you had a nice time. I did miss you but didn't mention it here because I know you go on these little trips now and then.

Rusty is always so happy to see us come home, even though we don't stay overnight very often. DH goes up the cellar steps first and opens the door and Rusty runs down and up the stairs until I come up. So excited to see us. I tell him that's his exercise. LOL So I think Halo is happy to see you, and isn't just interested in being in the living room, although that's probably a plus for her.

Yesterday they dug up a part of our driveway and put in the new sewer pipe. Now the hole is filled with dirt and tamped down. Eventually they will replace the black top. It's a spot about the size of a car and our driveway has room for 4 cars. We have a double driveway so we can drive in and out past it. I think whatever charge we're going to have will be on our next sewerage bill. We haven't heard anything. The one guy told DH that they would probably plug up the drain in our garage and DH was afraid of that, but they didn't even mention it. He likes to wash the car in the garage and let the water go down the drain. They are trying to get people to stop doing that. Today they are working on some houses down the street. They have about 10 more houses or so to do.

When we park at the airport it's about $10-$12 per day. You can park off site for less and ride a shuttle bus but we prefer to be at the airport.

I didn't get much done in regard to housework yesterday as I was so busy catching up with things...budgeting, mail, tag renewals, bills and other things that need to be handled online or by phone. I did notice a huge amount of dust on a table in the family room..so did a quick dusting of it and the patio door. Will do better job when I can.

I shopped for birthday gifts for my son and grandson. Their birthdays are the same day and the party is Sat. I got some clothes for my grandson and cards for both of them. I also got a GC for my son. I want to also get a toy for my grandson and probably something else for my son today. I have a nail appt this afternoon so I will go shopping afterwards.

Last night I made barbecue beef and used one of our green peppers from our garden. Served it with rice and a bagged salad dh bought. It was ok, and dh seemed to like it. Tonight we are having Tilapia.

The otc med is helping me at night but I still cough quite a lot esp when I first get to bed and during the day and evening. I don't really feel sick but am just sore from coughing and very tired. So I'm not going to the gym unti I feel better. My weight was up 2# but it is now down but still 2# above my sig and my bs was very high this morning. The infection plus I haven't been eating as well.

Ok, need to pay a couple bills and update my budget...so many transactions come in when we've been traveling. Got a charge from Hertz for a toll charge ...we didn't notice that we took a toll road but that's all I can think of. Before when that happened they billed us not our rental car though, but perhaps different states do things differently.

The sun is shiny nicely this morning...hope you are all having a good day. I know some places are starting to get snow already. I'm not ready for that!

Slept in til after 10 this morning...still coughing but the OTC med is helping me better than any I've ever taken and it's just a store brand (I guess, it's called Major). It helps me sleep more at night with less coughing.

Yesterday I got my nails done and got the rest of the gifts I wanted for my son and gs. Now to get them wrapped, I wore out before buying a gift bag but may have one around here. If not I'll be going out again today.

I was so tired when I got home yesterdayI asked dh to fry the tilapia. We also had sliced tomatoes and a salad.

Not much happening this week as I'm just trying to get over this cold. Hope you are having a good week.

Good afternoon GG's,

Sunny off and on today. It has been cooler ~ enjoying that.

In kind of a funky mood the last few days. A lot of things all mixed up together affecting me. Feeling kind of a little blue. Part of it is that my eating hasn't been good and I have gained back quite a bit of what I had lost when we started that diet. Sometimes, my eating is just plain out of control. That makes me feel bad. Then (probably an effect of not eating well) I feel like a slug. I have things I want/need to do, but just don't feel like doing anything ~ then I feel bad because I waste so much precious time doing nothing. Need to move more ~ I think about it, but don't get much further than that. Wishing I could talk better with my sister, but after our time together up in Ohio recently (and I know part of it was the stress we were under) I don't look as forward to talking to her ~ I guess that will pass with time. She is very outspoken and has such strong opinions about things. It is like she can't help herself ~ she interrupsts me and trys to tell me what I should do or how I should handle things. I guess she is just trying to be helpful, but sometimes what I need is just someone to listen and not try to “fix it”. Then, don't laugh ~ I have had these blue moods from time to time before and it sort of goes along with the phases of the moon (around the time of the full moon).

I have been going to church lately. I inquired about the ladies quilting group (The Piecemakers) and they invited me and were very welcoming when I went last week. Came time to go again this week ~ my throat was a little sore-ish and I just didn't feel like going. That made me feel guilty. Maybe I shouldn't have started, but thought it would be good for me to get myself out of the house and be with people. Hope I feel like going next week and can maybe find a happy medium ~ either not attend every week, or not stay as long (it is an all day gathering). Off and on over the years, I have attended bible studies and ladies groups. Part of me likes it, and part of me just prefers to stay home. I think as I have gotten older, I like the staying home more. So, not sure what I'm gonna do. :dizzy:

I made a little to do list ~ I did get a couple things on it done ~ so I guess that is something.

Mary ~ hope you can get over that cough and cold and get to feeling better. Glad you got to have a little “get away” to the coast. I love being at the ocean too. Of course we missed you. :D

Carol Sue ~ How is the work on the sewer lines going? I'm like you ~ I don't mind driving around my area ~ it is familiar to me. It is the interstates I don't like. If I had to do it all the time, I would probably be ok ~ in NC ~ that was the only way to get to work. Granted, it wasn't as big of roads as here in Houston. There was a lot of traffic on it sometimes, but because I did it every day and knew which lane to be in, it wasn't as stressful as driving on the interstate when you don't know which lane to be in and there are cars zooming all around. :?:

As to the parking having to do with air travel. There are two airports here in Houston. The one (Bush) is nearer to us and we have done the parking (at a hotel) and that has worked out well. The other one (Hobby) is south of downtown and kind of not in the best area ~ we left the car at a hotel down there one time and didn't have as good an experience that time. So, not sure what Steve is gonna do this time as that is the airport he will be flying out of.

Maddie is home from school, so I'd better get off here. Gotta get my hugs.

Hope you all are doing ok.

Still coughing a lot and Halo is still coming in whimpering a lot too so neither of us is sleeping well. I don't like to keep the door shut as I might not hear the ding-ding but sometimes we do because of her but I can still hear her whimpering outside the door. Sometimes I feel like putting her bed in our room to see if that would help but neither of us really wants her smell in our room. I notice it in the other rooms and would like to keep the bedrooms more fresh smelling.

I need a gift bag so will have to go out for that today. Also need to buy groceries. Last night I got by with just fixing a chicken salad (baked panko battered chicken tenderloins cut up and put on salad fixings). I made it sort of like a tex mex salad adding some corn chips (small strips). Met to have salsa with it but forgot and we didn't miss it but we did have diet soda..just one 20 oz bottle to share. Dh bought milk and a few other things but I still need to plan meals and shop. Hard to get back into doing this after eating out so much.

Nothing exciting to talk about ...

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, Mary. Hope that improves. I have been a bit congested lately but I'm hoping to nip it in the bud. I always tend to get this when the cooler damp weather starts.

Gayle, I hope you continue with the quilting group. Sounds like it would be nice for you to get in with a group who has the same interests as you.

When I worked, I drove on the highways a lot. It never bothered me. This started around age 60 I think. We got a new car and I didn't like to park it in the parking lot at work because a lot of people were getting damage to their vehicles. So DH started driving me to and from work (only 3 miles) and I got out of the habit of driving. I was going to drive today, to Target and to get my hair cut, but DH wanted to go to Target with me and so he drove. I know I need to do it so I don't forget how.

I have heard that the moon really does have an effect on our moods, so I don't think it's silly.

My weight is up a few pounds. Not a lot, but enough to make me mad at myself for letting it happen. I made stuffed cabbage rolls yesterday and we had them for dinner yesterday and today. I guess they aren't too bad. I use extra lean ground beef in them, and the rest is just cabbage and tomato sauce, with a little bit of rice. Lately I've been eating DH's chips, etc. I stayed away from them for years, and I don't know why I've started eating them again. I was eating cheese curls, and I don't even like cheese curls. LOL I'm blaming it on the change in the weather.

I don't have much to talk about, either.

Today is my son's and gs' birthday. They are having a party at Chucky Cheese. I am still not feeling well, coughing and throat feeling wierd again (both sides now) and my ears are sorta stopped up. Feel like I just got off a plane. So not sure whether I'll go to the party. If I do, I probably won't stay long unless I get to feeling better. I hate going out when I'm coughing.

All I did yesterday was shop for the gift bag and for groceries. I made chicken noodle soup last night and it was very good, but today it doesn't even sound good. I think dh may cook tonight. All I want to do is lay around. Hope you guys are doing better than me. :)

Just checking in...not much to talk about since I'm just staying home and coughing. :( It's upper respiratory, not in my lungs. My bs has been high (infection plus poor eating..just eating what sounds good to me), but it was down to more my normal morning high this morning. My weight is dropping again. I asked dh to bring me rice cakes and I ate them and drank mochas yesterday. Left out the PB because of eating Smart Balance on my rice cakes but added the protein. Only thing I could get myself to eat and now I'm even getting sick of them. Today he offered to bring me home something but I couldn't think of anything I wanted. Will sure be glad when this is over. My house needs a good cleaning and all I do is lay around.

Hope you start to feel better soon, Mary. If I didn't go out when I'm coughing I would never go out. I cough 24/7/365, but it is a chronic cough and no doctor can figure out what's causing it. But I understand what you mean when you are coughing from illness. My cough changes considerably when I'm sick. Are you taking any medication for it?

I'm sitting here with a runny nose, but I think that's from the change in the weather. Very fall-like.

We went to Bob Evans for dinner tonight. They have been sending me coupons for $$$ or %%% off and we have been taking advantage of them. They are probably trying to drum up business. I don't know if you have them in your area, but they have such good chili. They make it with sausage instead of ground beef, and it's a little spicier than I make it, but very good, with cheese and tortilla chips on top. They have a special going on that you get a mug of chili and a small salad for $6.99 so I got that, and DH got the turkey dinner. I guess he's getting anxious for Thanksgiving dinner. LOL With our coupon, we only paid $18. This is our kind of eating out. We don't go to fancy restaurants. DH won't eat Bar B Que, Asian, Mexican or Italian, so that doesn't leave a lot. He's a meat and potatoes man.

Nothing else new here. New week, hoping to stick to diet for the week and get in some exercise.

Didn't cough as much last night, so perhaps that's a sign I'm better. I think I have a little more energy too. Like you, Carol, I have a chronic cough...maybe not so constant as you, mine is kind of positional I think and I think it's due to my hernia or perhaps the previous fix of my esophageal. Since that surgery I've also had GERD. But this cough is a lot different than my chronic cough. It makes me think of when I had whooping cough as a child..that was terrible! But this cough doesn't end in a "whoop" like whooping cough does. I'm glad they have vaccines against whopping cough now.

I didn't go to the birthday party...I didn't want to be coughing there plus honestly didn't feel up to it. Dh went and said it went well and the kids like their gifts. My son called me later as he didn't know I was sick until then. Then yesterday after church they came here with flowers and root beer and ice cream for me! So I had root beer floats the rest of the day! My weight has not changed but my bs was up higher this morning. Nothing was tasting good to me and at first I didn't even think root beer floats sounded good but they were. I also ate a little of dh's Filipino dish, Pinacbet last night which is fish and veggies. I didn't eat the rice though. I'm planning on fixing dinner tonight..we are having sirloin steak and a Hungarian style potatoes and green beans dinner. So hopefully I can make myself do it. I just feel so tired but I know I have to move a little to get stronger too. This is why I hate to get a cold or flu...because it hangs on me so long. Thank God it doesn't happen often. I hope to get back to the gym soon...I feel like I'm getting so flabby.

Hope to get a little cleaning done today..so far I've only daily cleaned the small bathroom. I had to make out the cash withdrawal for dh to take to the CU and that's about the extent of my work so far but it's something at least.

We use coupons to eat out sometimes too. Our gd was selling one of those books..like the Entertainment book, but smaller...and we got our money's worth from it. But sometimes they don't work out for us.

It's definitely looking like fall here, however my roses and some other flowers continue to bloom.

I’m having trouble with 3FatChicks. For some reason I can’t scroll down, then it finally scrolls, but goes all the way down the page and won’t scroll back up. Also, if I type, it doesn’t show up for a long time. So I’m typing this in Word and will try to copy and paste. I’m not having trouble with any other websites.

I’m glad you’re feeling better Mary. I know it really gets you down. I’m thinking that you get it worse because of having Whooping Cough as a child. I was diagnosed with it at 7 years old, but I don’t remember whooping, so it might not have been it, just a bad cough. I’ve had trouble with cough all my life, but it became chronic around age 50 and beyond. That’s nice that you son and family came to visit you and brought ice cream and root beer. That sounds good. I haven’t had a root beer float since I was a teen.

Gayle, I just read back and saw that Corbin in 19 now. That’s unbelievable that you have a grandchild that old. I doubt if I will live to see my grandson turn 19, as he’s only 8 now.

I heard on the radio this morning of a man who is 98 years old and still works. He has been an usher for the Pittsburgh Pirates since he was 18 years old….for 80 years. That is just a part time job, because it would only be during baseballs games, but still it’s unbelievable that he can still do that at 98. I don’t know if they’re called ushers.

Our neighbor told us that we will have to have a trap installed on the sewer line at our own expense, and that will come later. We haven’t heard anything about that yet, but he said all the houses on their side of the street had to do it. Our house and the 2 houses down from us are much newer than the ones across the street. When our sewer line was stopped up we had to have a plumber come and flush it out, and he said it was grease stuck in the trap, so apparently we already have a trap. Maybe the older houses never had them but they were put on the new homes. I hope that’s the case. Now I have to worry about having to do that. We haven’t heard anything official from the sewer company. This guy across the street seems to have all the information about everything, or he thinks he does. LOL I hope he’s wrong.

Now I will see if I can copy and paste this to the thread.

I had to shut down my computer and restart before it would let me paste this. I don't know why it's only 3 Fat Chicks.

That is strange about you having problems only with this site, Carol. Perhaps the administration for 3FC could help you. I continue to have problems with Chrome but not as much as before.

I'm a little better ...a little more energy and coughing less but at times it's still really bad. Last night I did fine cooking dinner and even ate a little but later on I was so tired and I coughed so long I thought it would never stop. Dh was worried about me and felt bad cause he couldn't help me. But just having him nearby helps. I took the OTC med before bed and I coughed only a little in the night and got some sleep. Woke up about 2 when Halo started whimpering...this time dh just told her to go back to bed and she did. I think she just gets lonely...she will go out but don't think she really has to at that time and I've told dh he's just encouraging her when he puts her out then. She didn't wake us up again until 6am ...she may have heard me get up and my coughing. But I felt I got a pretty good sleep overall. Some times I think I have more energy, the next minute I feel so tired. Sure will be glad to be over this thing. I'm wondering too whether I could have some strain of flu like last time (2012). I'm feeling much the same way and it's gone on so long for a cold (started when we were in MO) however the worst has only been about 10-14 days I think.

I'm also trying out an OTC product for my bladder issues and it seems to be helping me some. It's 3x day for a couple weeks and then less often but sometimes I forget to take it. I wonder whether it will cause my BP to go up. Maybe I should check it.

I fixed dinner last night and my energy level was pretty good and no coughing at the time.....broiled sirloin steak with a rub and mushrooms on top. Dh had trouble chewing it but liked the flavor. Only way he can easily chew beef anymore (and sometimes chicken even) is if I cook it in the crockpot til it's very soft (ugh). And that takes planning...I'm wondering about a pressure cooker. I've only used a pressure cooker for canning and always was rather scared of them, but I know you can get small ones and perhaps they are safer now:?: Do either of you know how the meat tastes cooked in a pressure cooker:?: I served the steak with a Hungarian Potatoes and Green Beans dish...I had to make some substitutions but it was pretty good. I'll probably make it again. Of course, I usually like any dish with potatoes. I didn't eat very much but at least I got some protein and veggies.

My bs is still high but my weight is only 1# above sig despite how I've been eating. The root beer and ice cream is gone, dh helped me finish it off last night. Glad it's gone but it was sure good and helped me when nothing else sounded or tasted good. Hopefully I can get back on track with my eating soon.

The kids grow up so fast it seems...I have a gd who will be 27 in Dec. And her brother will be 24 next month plus I have two gd who will be 21 in the spring. These are quickly followed by two in their teens then there is a gap at least between them and the younger ones. To me it feels like my own children shouldn't be much older than these grandkids but they are actually middle age! But I do have two dil who are only 29!

My son posted a video of a man in his 80s who looks good and showed how he works out and he also models. He looks old but in good shape. I'm glad they are now using older age models. Sometimes the ability to be that way at that age is in their genes but some also simply take better care of their bodies. We used to have a guy in his 80s that looked super good at our gym. I haven't seen him for a while though. We have lots of people in their 80s but they don't look as good as him although some look pretty good and some not so good. I think not smoking/using drugs or drinking too much plus eating healthy in moderation and exercising regularly plus keeping interested in life and having a positive mind really helps. I want to get back to the gym...I feel like I'm stiffening up ...I usually do stretches and some cardio here at home but haven't felt like doing much lately.

Sorry to complain so much...I know it will pass soon...just tired of it...being sick seems like a waste of time.

I'm back down to my sig weight again. Strange considering how I've been eating. Otherwise not much change. My bs is still high. Mornings to about 4 pm I am at my best so I try to get a few things done then and I mean few. Today I plan to finish cleaning the main bathroom and hopefully my office a little.

Dh went to the gym this morning and came home exhausted, because it's his first time back in several weeks too. Last night we just ate leftovers, but tonight I'm planning to broccoli beef stir-fry and rice. Hopefully I can slice the beef thin enough for dh to eat easily.

Hope you have a good day.

Good afternoon GG's,

A little sunny, a little rainy. I didn't get out to get the papers before the rain started, but thankfully it was just raining lightly and hadn't been raining very long, so the papers didn't get wet. They are in plastic bags, but sometimes the angle they are laying at ~ the water runs into them and gets the paper wet.

We have a pool pass and I haven't been very good about using it, but wanted to try harder and was gonna go today, but am having to go to the bathroom too often, so will have to try again on another day.

I've been working on a mini quilt for a fund raiser at my old grade school. I have it all done except to hand stitch the binding on the back side. Then put a little rod pocket on the back and with a dowel make a little thing to hang it up with. I was pleased with how it came out. At first I had a little trouble with the stitching because I was using two different kinds of thread. I learned that you have to use the same kind for the top stitch as the bottom stitch. And thanks to videos on Youtube, I was able to learn how to do the corners, joining the ends of the binding and refresh my memory on how to do some embroidery stitches.

Mary ~ I'm sorry it is taking so long for you to get to feeling better. No fun feeling crummy. Hope for you it doesn't go on too much longer. The root beer floats you had sound yummy. Funny ~ when I was up in Ohio with my sister, we stopped at an A&W and she had one. Then a couple weeks ago, my son was having a sweet tooth attack and got stuff to make some. He said he hadn't had one for years.

Carol ~ Seems like every once in a while there are problems when trying to navigate around this site. How is the work on the sewer hook ups going? Your meal at Bob Evans sounded good. We (my sister, her daughter, granddaughter and I) ate there when I was up home. So many things look good ~ hard to know what to pick. I can't remember now what I had.

Hope you all are doing ok.

Our son was here overnight because he had to get up very early this morning and we are closer to his work than where he lives. Halo was very happy to have him here and slept in his room. I guess he took her out when he got up and she hasn't been out yet since! She was asleep when dh left (went to get a new tire for the old car) and I got up very late and have tried to get her to go out but she refuses. Hope she doesn't wait too long and go in the house.

Last night I started coughing a lot so I finally took my OTC med and it helped until bedtime so I took some more then. I'm down to one pill but have ordered more so hoping it comes soon.

We ate late last night as I didn't start cooking til after the debate. I made Cowboy Casserole...ground beef, onion, salsa, and beans (I used white but wished I'd had pinto or black beans), and topped with cheese and cornbread batter. I used a mix for the cornbread and forgot to put the melted shortening (I was going to use butter) in it, but it still tasted pretty good. I drizzled a little butter over it when I realized what I'd done. My son liked it and said the little bit of butter was plenty. Served it with a salad.

My bs remains quite high so I took an extra Amaryl this morning. The doctor thinks I take it in the morning anyway but I haven't been since starting the Januvia. Right now I think I need it and probably should have started it sooner. I just hate that med so didn't want to do it.

Glynne - At first I didn't understand what you mean about the papers, because we haven't gotten a paper for many years. We never read them and they just piled up, so we stopped our subscription. Between the TV and the internet we get enough bad news. I think it's neat that you are so crafty and that you make things for your kids/gk and the school! Yes youtube is great at teaching us all kinds of things...my son learned how to clean a deer from youtube! There is so much online, I think I could spend my whole life online. Guess for every good thing in this world there is also a downside.

Hoping to mop my kitchen floor today but so far I haven't gotten to it, my energy level is actually better when I get up and do something but sometimes it just takes too much energy to get up. I need someone to give me a good kick in the rear I guess.

Gayle, I still get a newspaper. Part of me wants to stop because there isn't that much in it that I read, but there are things in there that I wouldn't know about if I didn't read the paper so I continue. It costs me $5 per week, and I get some coupons from the paper, so using those coupons helps to pay for the paper. That's the way I figure it. Our local Civic Association recycles newspapers so DH takes them there and puts them in their bin every month or so.

I have never been a pool lover but recently I have been hearing about how good it is to walk around in a pool when you have problems with legs and knees. There really isn't anywhere around here for that, and I don't want the problems that go along with maintaining a home pool.

They haven't done any more with our sewer but they are still working on other homes on our street. About a half mile of our road is homes, and the other half mile is woods. It's strange. The part of the road with homes has one street name, and the part with the woods has a different street name. The wooded part is actually in a different community, and in the next county. LOL But it's just one continuous road. DH always goes out and talks to the sewer workers. He asked the one guy about the trap, and he said that if we already have a trap, they will cut through the asphalt and open it up, and put a lid on it. When they paved our driveway they covered up the trap and it's supposed to be open. I don't really understand it. I'm still hoping we will not have to pay anything, but I might not find that out for a long time. They are milking this job.

Mary, that Cowboy Casserole sounds good but DH wouldn't eat it. He doesn't like beans very much, but puts up with them in chili, and does not eat cornbread. Also, doesn't like casseroles because he doesn't want his food mixed together. He told me casseroles are for women. LOL They are easier to make than standing at the stove cooking all the different foods.

I have 3 pressure cookers. I have had one for years that came in a set of two. A big one that is like a normal pressure cooker, and a smaller one, just a few inches deep. I never used the bigger one but used the smaller one a lot because it held enough food for the two of us. There is one lid that fits either cooker. Now I don't use it much, because I too am afraid of it, but yesterday I used it to cook the beef I was putting in my vegetable soup. It gets very tender, and I just put the meat and water right into the soup, and I don't have to cook the soup as long to get the meat tender. Now I bought an electric pressure cooker. I like that. They are becoming very popular. The most common one is called an Insta-pot, but mine is a generic name that I got at Aldi's. It was only $39.95 and suites my needs. I don't use it alot. It can also be used as a rice cooker, but I know you already have one of them. Look at them on Amazon.

It's possible that your cold is still lingering because of your age. It's always harder on us. If it was the flu, you would probably have a fever, too. Maybe a touch of pneumonia? What type of OTC meds are you taking, if I may ask?

I think it's great that you and DH still go to the gym. I know you haven't been going lately because you haven't been feeling well, but you do go much more often than I exercise. I have been doing more lately and I'm noticing a difference. Normally, I have a hard time walking in stores without a cart to use like a walker, but yesterday after we checked out I realized I forgot sausage. DH said "I'll take this stuff to the car and you go back for the sausage." So I walked through the store all the way to the back where the sausage is without a cart, and I was almost all the way back there before I realized I was walking very well without the cart. That made me so happy. I might try it again the next time I go in for just one thing, but usually as I am walking through the store I see more things I need and end up needing the cart. Besides walking on my treadmill I am using the weight machine, and also doing leg lifts when I'm sitting in my recliner. My legs seem to ache all the time, but maybe that's just muscle soreness from doing the exercising.

Something must have been going on with my computer or server yesterday because the site is working fine today.

Dh went fishing this morning, so it's just me and Halo. Last evening and night I think I coughed a little less but woke up coughing a lot this morning. Carol, you can have the flu without a fever even though it is common. The last time I had a cough like this was in Dec 2012 and I was tested and did have the flu and I had no fever. Viral infections esp do not always present with a temperature. I do not feel this is in my lungs. I have no congestion or other discomfort in my chest. My left ear is plugged up and on that side I do hear wierd signs sometimes like wheezing, sometimes rather growly and sometimes musical but as far as I can tell this is not from my lungs. It's possible it is coming from the bronchials perhaps but I feel no discomfort from any place below my neck. My throat is not sore but in the earlier part of this (mid-Sept) I did have a minor sore throat on one side. It is mostly just a tickling in my throat which leads to my coughing, often prolonged coughing. I have a doctor's appt coming up before long and hopefully it will be gone by then but if not I'll have him check me. I don't often have sickness (usually it's just aches and pains with me) but when I get anything it tends to hang on me a long time. This started about the 12th of Sept, but didn't get this bad until the first part of Oct.

I love beans and my lunch yesterday was the rest that was in the can, a good size serving. I added bits of cheddar cheese to it and salt and pepper and it was yummy. My dh is like yours Carol as he doesn't care for beans either. He will eat them though, just doesn't want them often. I could eat them more often instead of meat or with a little meat. Since dh won't get home til late I may not cook. If I do it will be baked panko chicken tenderloins and a veggie stir fry and of course rice. I ate a small amount of beef and broccoli stirfry with a little rice as usual, but then later I was hungry and nothing else sounded good so I ate quite a lot of rice..the way I was raised with milk and sugar....you know I rarely use sugar but I had a little left from some baking months ago, so I used it! Not much tastes good so overall I'm not eating much but when it tastes good I eat it and it's not always a good thing. My bs shows it. I also think the infection maybe keeping my bs up somewhat too. I think I'm going to start taking the extra Amaryl more often for a while. Dr thinks I'm taking it anyway.

I've been looking on Amazon for a pressure cooker. I think I want an electric one. I don't remember seeing the brand you mentioned but when I check again I'll look for it. I have some reward points from our visa that can be used in payment on Amazon so was thinking if I found I might get it free that way, but the one I looked at mostly (high reviews) was a Cuisinart and I only had enough points for about 1/2 of it. So thought I'd look in town and see how they cost here. I've heard Costco has this same one too. The price you mentioned sounds great...I'd really prefer not to pay more than $50 for sure. The one I was looking at on facebook after my rewards points are applied would be less than $50. Not sure about shipping cost though as don't think it qualified for a Prime membership free two day shipping. If I can get one in town I'd prefer that but not up to shopping right now.

So glad to hear you are exercising more again! It does help even though the body suffers for a while in the beginning. I actually feel better (even now) when I'm up moving. I notice my energy improves for a while but then all of a sudden I crash! My legs sometimes feel better when I'm moving but afterwards I will ache too. I think that's mostly just getting back into it...if we don't do it regularly our body rebels for a while. Of course some exercises aren't good for our particular conditions sometimes so have to think about that too. Most of my conditions go in cyles...they take turns, LOL!! Isn't it fun getting old?!! Guess I should say being old, not getting old in my case. Depends on the perspective, my sister who is 82 says I'm young...;) I think she just wants to be the "oldest" one. LOL

Never got to the kitchen floor yesterday but today's better as dh is not home.

Glynne - hope you are having a good day.