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.