Over 50 And Getting Healthy #4
 

Time to change, .....
 

We were getting kinda full, so thought I'd start a new one.

I don't really have a whole lot to say today.

I skipped work today. Had a hard time sleeping last night. Was so very tired when I got up to exercise before work, I couldn't make myself do it. Was up about an hour and only had enough gumption to SIT, so I called work and took a day off with no pay. I went back to bed about 5:45 AM and finally fell asleep and slept till almost 10 AM!!
I've just GOT to do something about this waking up all the time and not being able to sleep the night through.
Blasted Drs can't agree on anything either! One gives you Ambien to take, and another says not to take it because it will make you so you can NEVER sleep normally.
As one of my sons reminds me every so often, " IT SUCKS TO GET OLD!"

I heard that there was a homeopathic place in town, and I'm going to go talk to them if there is. See if they have something safe.

It's 84 degrees here right now. Gonna go see if that sunshine has humidity with it. If not, I'm going out and sit in my swing and read.

Everybody have a great day.

Willow, you must have needed that sleep. My father always said that your body will tell YOU what it needs not visa versa, and he nearly always spoke good sense (except when I was a teenager and he was a damn fool and never spoke anything but rubbish but he got wiser as I got older - or so it seemed at the time). Summer is over for us too, Sue. I put the electric blanket on for the first time last night though I wouldn't put bets on that I am the only on in the UK to do so because I am quick to feel the cold. My mother expects me up for a week after her op but I told her I could only manage 3 or 4 days. She said she was having 2nd thoughts about it all and was going on about the tinitus again - I can see another falling down in the offing, oh dear, I really need some time to myself and DH this holiday time. Angel, I am sure you were choked singing at your friend's funeral - that took a lot of love holding it together to do it for her. When is your next WW meeting, Willow? Tell us how it went and what you did, won't you? Sheila, hope you are ok and not overdoing the painting. Puss cat goes for blood test tomorrow and a weigh-in but the way he is shovelling fish down his little gullet I would be surprised if he has lost too much despite looking a little leaner - vet did say he was classed as overweight when this was diagnosed. Perhaps it's not just our kids who sometimes get forced into our bad eating habits......

I feel better now, ...
 

Puss, I think you're right. I can tell usually when I'm going to come down with some malady. I usually start to feel real tired and require more sleep. It's just that this darn body doesn't seem to want to STAY asleep anymore.

I sure hope your kitty has fooled the vet and is all well now. If so, I think it's all to your love and attention.

My little grandson stopped here with his Dad after his first day at "BIG KIDS SCHOOL" and had to tell me all about it. He is sooo excited about going to kindergarten, instead of pre-school!:lol:

My son said he will help me build the framework for around the ductwork in the basement.

Tomorrow is suppose to be weigh-in at WW for me. I have to go to Mayo, so don't know what time I'll get back to town. If not in time tomorrow, then I'll go Friday. I think I may have gained. I had a few really bad days there. We'll see tomorrow. I went to the curves site and printed out some forms for charting weekly progress etc. It's free if anybody wants to print some out. You need to download Acrobat Reader, but that is simple and only takes about 10 seconds. I enlarge to 100% too.
http://www.curvesinternational.com
This book I bought the other day is pretty cool. It even shows how to do the curves workout at home. All you need is an exercise TUBE, not a band, and a chair. The tube needs to be 4 feet long.

I'm going to go make supper. Having fish, but not sure yet what I'm having with it.

Hello to everyone! Have a good evening!

Hello.. I'm new
 

Hi,

I'm new to this site and this is my first post. Have to get my feet wet and get use to all the new features.

I'm 50 years old and I'm currently doing the South Beach Diet. Have been doing it that for about 8 weeks and have lost 10 lbs. I seriously started trying to lose weight right after New Year. Began on the Atkins plan, but couldn't stand all the restrictions and I wasn't losing. Joined Weight Watchers in February and did real well doing that WOE. I lost 25 lbs between Feb. - May, then went on a 2 month plateau. While doing WW online I heard about the South Beach Diet and the prevention.com site. I went in for a dip and never got out!!! I really like the plan and I love that I'm eating healthy and not feeling hungry.

It has been a slow journey for me but I'm determined to reach a healthy weight (actualy I'm tired of being fat ;) !) Now that I'm in my 50's I realize that time is catching up with me and that I have not lived a healthy life style (I smoke and I use to drink wine every day). I know that I have to take 1 step at a time so getting the weight off was first, the drinking went with Phase 1 on the SBD, now I have an occational glass of red wine. The smoking is what I'm concentrating on right now. I'm down to 3 cigarettes a day and I'm going to give it up completely on Sunday.

Well that's the jist of my story. Thanks for listening, hopefully I will get the support I need here at the very least I hope I'll learn something from all you guys.

Welcome Summer!!
 

I'm glad you decided to join our little group! These ladies are such a super group! You'll get lots of loving support here.

I too had tried the Atkins diet, and couldn't stay with it. Too strict! I didn't really have any interest in the South Beach Diet because I thought it was just another low carb thing, but a couple of weeks ago, I started reading more on it someplace, and I changed my mind about it. It sounds a lot more sensible.

I joined WW last week, and today is my weigh-in day. I'm going to go in just a few minutes.

How I wish I had never smoked a cigarette in my life!

I'm going to start asking Puss for some of her recipes and see if I can adjust them to lower-calorie ones. She describes them so well my mouth starts watering! :lol:

Hi everybody else!
I was on time for my appt. at Mayo, despite the slow, stop and go traffic of early morning commuters and school buses.

But, I could have gone a long time without hearing the report I got.
My arm looked alright on the MRI.
However, there is a nodule in my right upper lung that wasn't there in January and they want to keep a close watch on.
They said it's very small, and now, instead of going back in 6 months, I'm back to 3 months. If there's any growth or change in the nodule, then I suspect there will be biopsies, and I don't know as I want that done because I think the biopsy needle leaves "seeding" of cancer cells all along it's track when it's removed from the tumor.
I don't even know yet if it IS a malignancy, but, my chances of having a primary lung cancer are tremendous because I smoked 1 to 1 1/2 packs of cigarettes a day for 42 years. The longer you have smoked, the greater the chances of developing lung cancer. Doesn't matter how long ago you have quit.
I quit 4 1/2 years ago.

I called work and asked if I could stay away from the soldering until they find out what this is in my lung, and they won't do it without a Drs say-so.
What jerks! It's not as though they don't have any other jobs for me to do. So, after I got home I had to call my primary Drs secretary and ask her to ask him if I need to stay away from the solder smoke and if so have him fax a statement to my work.
The man already thinks they're nuts! He couldn't believe that they make me bring a note from him every time I have to go there. He faxed a letter to them 3 years ago explaining everything, and now they made me take an FMLA form to him. He just smiles and shakes his head. That's the kind of treatment you get after 20 years of service.

I'm going to go to a WW meeting now, and after that I'm going to Curves.

Guess I'll have a grilled chicken breast and veggies for supper. Maybe a can of soup for lunch.

Pray I haven't had a gain!

Welcome Summer and well done on the weight loss and also the cigarette reduction. I think I am the only one on here who still smokes and I hope to quit (for the 3rd time!) around Christmas when I hope my weight is nearer where I want it. What is the South Beach Diet? I have never heard of it before.
Willow, you must be worried about the nodule but try to remember that most lumps - even on the lung -- turn out to be benign. I remember years ago someone having to have a lung removed because of NUMEROUS non-cancerous tumours and he must be older than God now. I think your company stinks! After all those years! Like my dad always said (he was very anti-management and a union member all his life) "you are just a number to most places, you drop down dead and they will shove the next man on the line so's not to break the production". All the hours you have put in too. How did WW's go? I lost a pound today so back to 147 but there ain't no rhyme or reason to this sometimes. Sue was right when she said don't be surprised if that chicken saltimbocca I had laden with cheese kicks my metabolism in. I feel so virtuous now that I have been very good today but you watch, that will probably put that pound back on tomorrow.
Thanks for asking about puss cat, had blood taken tonight but won't have the results until tomorrow. Vet weighed him and the little fat rascal has GAINED - got to be the mountain of fish he gets through every day. He only used to get it at weekends so he must think every day is Saturday and SUnday. I asked the Vet if it's possible that his kidney's had taken a hammering but have repaired themselves. She said it is possible in some situations and said she was stunned herself how well he was that first day compared to his blood results. We will have more idea over what is going on when the results come through tomorrow but I am not getting my hopes raised too much because she said she has only known complete recovery/reversal of renal failure twice in eight years. Got to be all your prayers though because she was expecting him to be lifeless and thin today ha ha may have to rename him the Great Pretender. Hi to Angel, Sheila and Sue. Hope you all had a good day and Willow, I will say a prayer for you tonight too. xx

I'm a nervous Norvus today, ...
 

I can't seem to keep myself busy enough, so I'm back to bug you gals.

Listen to this! After the way I ate and no exercise this past week to speak of, I still lost 1.2 pounds! I would not have been surprised to see a couple pound gain, so I was more than delighted to see a loss, .... ANY loss!

Before I go any further, I want to apologize to Summer. I was remiss in not congratulating you on your loss so far. I think I was so befuddled when I got home this morning that I'm lucky I remembered where I live! But, you do deserve kudos for your hard work. You should be very proud of your accomplishments.

I have to tell you ladies what my 6-year old grandson did this morning.
He lives about 3 hours away from me, and I had been taken to the examining room and was waiting for the DR to come in when my cell phone rang. It was early & I was puzzled who would be calling me that early.
It was my grandson, calling to tell me that he lost a tooth and that the tooth fairy had come last night and taken his tooth.
He said, " I had 2 loose teeth, and one of them came out yesterday and I put it under my pillow and the tooth fairy came during the night and took my tooth and left me some money for it." I asked him how much she had paid him for his tooth, and he said " $5.00 ".
Then he said, " I think she tried to take my other loose tooth too, because it was REALLY loose this morning, and I pulled it out." :lol: " Now I'm going to put that one under my pillow tonight!" :lol:
He is such a little turkey!! :D
Inflation is even hitting the tooth fairy! My kids got a couple dollars for theirs! :p
Anyway, it made me feel good that he wanted to call me and tell me about losing his first tooth! :love:
My Dr really got a kick out of that one.

Well, I've used 12.5 of my points so far today, and I'm going to have spaghetti for supper. I've been hungry for it for a couple of weeks, and I stopped and picked up some italian sausage to make meatballs with. I might as well get it out of my system.

The WW leader today made us promise that if we ever had thoughts of not coming back, that first we would come and tell her. I thought that was nice of her. At least you didn't feel like she was just there to put on a talk and get out of there. Made you feel like she really cares if you get healthy or not.

Some of the points have changed too. I wasn't aware of that before. Points for some meats have gone up, and the sizes of some things have gone down, like corn; a 7" ear of corn used to be what a 5" is now, or something like that.

Well, I need to quit babbling now. I'll probably see you later.
Have a great day!
Prayers for a good report on kitty!!

Fatpuss,

South Beach Diet is a low carb diet. It was developed by Dr. Agastston, it is different from Atkins in that SBD is low fat and allows good carbs therefore you are allowed more variation. I really like the plan in that the food I eat is fresh, healthy, no limits of allowed food and I don't feel hungry. You can find more information on Prevention.com follow the links to South Beach Diet there is also a message board dedicated to South Beach Diet. There are quiete a few members on the board from England and Canada.

What Plan are you on??

Willow - loved the tooth fairy story, so cute. I have to admit I have all my kids' milk teeth in a little box - macabre, or what? I still have their dummys (pacifiers?) and the little plastic bands that were put on their wrist by the hospital when they were born. I still have daughter's first ballet shoes when she was 3. Psychiatrist would have a ball on me I think. Well done on that weight loss, lady!!:dance: :D so very pleased for you!
Summer, thanks for the link to the diet you are on. I am not on a particular plan, just low fat guide but I started on Rosemary Conley's menu book (Brit fitness guru about 60 years old now and looking good). I eat pretty much what I like but with regard to
knowing which foods are fatty and also in smaller portions than I used to. But, I have days where I lapse and just eat rubbish like cake. I seem to have come to a grinding halt and I think that's because I won't exercise . I may have to if I am to lose any more but I will wait and see ha ha.
I joined this site on a Sunday morning (May?June?) when I was really down about my weight and Willow was there to pick me. Willow, Sheila, Sue and lately Angel have been there ever since to shore me up when needed. I guarantee this is a brilliant group for support. I started at 164lb and am now 147lb - with 3lb variations lately -which may not sound a lot to someone of regular height but I am only 5' 1"and was starting to get 'painful crunchy knees'. When you meet the rest of the group I know they will be quick to offer support to you too. How much do you hope to lose and have you set yourself a target? Willow, well done, again, you have done well.

http://www.miscellaneous.ca/designs/...rgoose/txt.gif to Summer! Glad you joined us. Hey, you're doing great with your weightloss, so far! http://www.gilly.0catch.com/emoticons/cheer.gif

Willow....take care of yourself, hope nothing comes of that nodule.

Fatpuss....sounds like your kitty is feeling a little better..& gaining some weight...that's great!

My nurse called me Monday....said my white blood count was very low. Gotta stay off of the Methotrexate (low-dose chemo) til Monday, then go to dr. I had a test a couple of years ago where they draw blood cells out of the bone marrow. Can't think of the name of it. But it was very painful. I hope I don't have to have that done again. My white blood cell count was very low then, too.

I'm tired tonight...just wanted to say hello. Take care. http://www.gifanimations.com/Image/A...tsmice/bye.gif

Good Morning everyone and Welcome Summer! You have done a great job so far. Stick to your guns and give up those cigarettes on Sunday! I, too, have "been there and done that" and it is very difficult to do. I quit about 12-13 years ago. Kicking and screeming all the way, but after my husband's heart surgery we both gave it up. Even after all these years, when someone goes by with a cigarette, I can recognize a Marlboro Light :dizzy: I don't know if you have gone back and read all the posts, so I will give you a quick intro. I will be 55 this month - can't wait to get my Senior Discount at Dunkin' Donuts - KIDDING - and like you, I was just tired of being fat. With health problems and meds, it has been a struggle to get the extra weight off this time. A couple years ago, I did the "Mayo Clinic Diet" and lost over 30 lbs. As soon as I stopped, it came back and brought a few friends with it. Now I am doing Diet Workshop. Meetings once a week and REAL food. I try to exercise at least 5 days a week for 45 minutes or more.
This is a fun group. We laugh, we cry sometimes, we share what helps and sometimes what doesn't. Large vanilla/chocolate twist soft ice cream cones do not help, if you want to make a note of that. :shrug:
Willow and Angel, I pray your health problems do not get over whelming for you. When do our "Golden Years" start? Hello Sheila, hope you haven't lost us. Have to go get ready for work, just wanted to say Good Morning and Welcome. Be back soon. Sue

New Member
 

Hi Everyone,

This is my first day visiting the forum. My aim in joining is to find a supportive group of people to chat with about food and weight issues and most anything else that comes up.

I am 60 years old, still working 9-5. Plan to work for 5 more years, but also thinking about what I will do with my time after I retire. :)

I live in the midwest, and the weather is moving into fall. Fall is ok, but I do not like winter. Why don't we move? We are too deeply ingrained here, I guess. Kids and grandchildren and all the other friends and relatives all live nearby. I would dreadfully miss my grandchildren if I didn't get to see them on a regular basis. Then of course I am almost joyful when they go home after a few days visit. Is it just me, or do other grandma's feel this way too? Makes me feel quilty :?:

Looking forward to the weekend, have a few things planned. Clean the house, organize the storage room. Hope I at least do one of these things so I don't feel like such a loser come Monday.
:(

Take care.

Bluet

Hi, everyone!

Welcome Bluet! I know exactly what you mean about grandkids visiting, although with me it's kids. My son, DIL and GD are coming for Christmas, which I'm really happy about, and my son mentioned that vacation was from December 19 to January 11, but he wanted to be home by January 5 or something like that. He was thinking they'd come for the whole vacation--yikes! I was thinking they'd be here less than a week! I love 'em, but we have a tiny house and my dad lives with us as well as my youngest son. With the two extra adults, and my precious granddaughter, who is special needs and has lots of medical and regular baby equipment, I think my claustrophobia would be activated.

Welcome to Summer21 and congratulations on your weight loss! Puss, I hope your kitty is doing better.

I really enjoy this group. We've had our share of joys and sorrows, but I think we're all hanging in there and losing weight along the way, too. I follow the Weight Watchers plan and have lost 51 lbs. now (lost 1 lb. this week). Charlotte's graphics are incredible, too--you'll come just to see what she's posted!

Charlotte, i sure hope you don't have to take that painful test. I'll be praying for you. I hope your treatments kick in and you'll get some more energy back even though your white cell count is low.

Willow, congratulations on the 1.2 lbs.! The tooth fairy story is way too cute. What a neat kid!

Sue, you crack me up with your Dunkin' Donuts discount card. Are you one of those ex-smokers who lingers outside taverns breathing deeply? :)

Well, a lot has been going on at my house (besides painting!). My youngest son moved in, and has already been on a couple of job interviews so we're hoping. And my daughter joined the Navy yesterday and found out she's going to be shipped out to boot camp on October 8! She'd been told it usually takes six months to a year to get a placement, so we are all in shock. I am really hoping that things work out well for her. She's pretty excited, but nervous, too.

Other than painting trim until it rains, not sure what we're doing this weekend. Maybe another trip to the Farmer's Market--the tomatoes were wonderful!

Mmmmm! I heard that word! ... Tomatoes, ...
 

I bought two big, beautiful tomatoes yesterday, and they are the vine-ripened ones too. Ohhhh, to die for. I had a whole one cut up in my salad with supper last night.

WELCOME Bluet! I'm so glad you've joined us!
I'm from the midwest too! Wouldn't that be something if we were neighbors or lived near each other? And I'm 59 years old, and I have LOTS of grandchildren. 12 to be exact, and yes, I tend to get nervous when they are all here, but I get a sick feeling in my stomach when they all leave to go back home too. I feel lonesome for them before they have even left the driveway.
I think I'll be less uptight after I get the downstairs done because that's where I'm going to have all the "kid" stuff, and then there won't be so much congestion up here.
Believe me, I think every Grandma has the same feeling when the grandkids go home, then feels guilty for having such thoughts. :D
I think it's normal, we just think we're the only ones like that.

I don't believe I'd be happy living any place but here. I'd miss the 4 seasons so much, and I think all the seasons are beautiful, but, I enjoy fall the most I think. Like our WW leader said yesterday, you can smell September.

I have 6 sons also, and some are in the same town as me and some are anywhere from 3 to 7 hours away. I have 5 Daughters-in-law.

I feel pretty good today. I don't know if it's because I've been eating healthy again the past few days, or if it's because I had a small loss yesterday or if it's because last night I finally got some sleep. Whatever the reason, I hope it keeps up.

I was thinking at work today that I want to start riding my bike back and forth to work. It's starting to get a little cooler now, and it would be good exercise. I'm going to give it a dry run tomorrow morning I think. I'll have to do it early because it's suppose to get up to 86 tomorrow. I don't think we'll have many of those days left this year. I'll just have to decide which of 2 routes I'm going to ride on. One is closer but has no street lights(kind of out of town) and a lot of truck traffic, and the other is longer but has street lights and sidewalks most of the way. It would be just my luck that I'd be bumped along by a Big Mack truck! :lol:

I don't know if any of you have heard of these stores or not, but there is a FAMILY DOLLAR store here, and I buy my laundry detergent and a lot of odds and ends there. I went there after work today and got 2 big boxes of laundry detergent, (Trend and Sun) and pink salmon for 1 dollar a (big) can, family size cans of veg. soup for $.50, an 8-roll pkg. of paper towels for $5.00, 3 books of bed-time bible stories for when the grand kids are here, measuring cups and spoons, and I can't even think of all I got right now, but I only spent $34.00.

I still haven't taken charge of that rose bush either. I'm not going to be able to procrastinate much longer.

Sheila, congratulations on your loss again this week! You made it to, AND PAST, your half way point! I'm proud of ya! Aren't you just feeling on top of the world?? You should be!

Oh gosh Charlotte, I'm praying you don't have to go through a painful test again. You've been through enough already!! Maybe just laying off the methotrexate for a bit will help matters. Do they give procrit for your problem? Maybe that would help.
I don't understand why they can't sedate a person when they do a bone marrow aspiration. That seems so damned barbaric to me!
With all the modern conveniences, and they can't stop doing painful medical procedures! Unbelieveable! I'll never let them do one on me! Not while I'm awake anyway.
These things always remind me of one of my nieces, who is 2 years younger than me, and what she said to a Dr. one time when she was really little. She had an abcessed ear, and my parents raised her and her 2 siblings, so my Mom took her in to the DR, and he lanced that abcess. Well, they ended up having the nurse, my Mom and the DR all holding her down, and she was crying sooo hard and all of a sudden she said, (charlotte, you might not want to read this because I know you're very religious)
" I don't like you! I don't like you! G-- DAMN you, I don't like you!"
My Mom said she could have died on the spot! Don't know where it came from. I'm sure she heard SOME adult say it at SOME time. :o
There is a story about one of my nephews and the DR too, but, another time.

I had pork teriyaki stir fry for supper tonight. with 2 pieces of toast and ICBINB spray, and some kosher dill pickles.

Sue, you mentioned senior discounts. Well, I don't know about where you live, but in my town the parking lots at most of the stores or malls have parking spots designated for people 55 and over that say, preferred parking for seniors. I parked in one once when I turned 55 and a man yelled at me and embarrassed me so much I've never tried it again. He didn't believe I was old enough to be using it, and really blasted me about letting people use those spots who really are old enough and need them, blah, blah blah. I suppose in a way it was a backhanded compliment, but, I avoid them anyway. I guess the exercise is good for me anyway.
Golden years, my foot! :lol:

Puss, I think it's beautiful that you kept your childs baby teeth and booties etc. I have heard of DNA being done on peoples baby teeth that their parents kept and paternaties being determined through that.
But, I think it's just a wonderful thing. I don't think it's macabre at all!

Does this Rosemary Conley have a web site? That's interesting that she's older and has a fitness forum.
I always think you're saying Rosemary Clooney when I first read her name, and have to re-read it. She was a famous singer when I was a kid, and she's also an aunt to George Clooney, and I bet you know who HE is! MMM, MMM, MMM!

See? I told you, eventually you're gonna have to do that nasty "E" word! I wouldn't dust Richard off again though! I just don't think he's your type. :lol: Maybe just some old fashioned walking and some old fashioned exercises like we used to do in school. Sit-ups, jumping jacks :D , touch-your-toes ;) , side crunchs, ....
I haven't had Richard out for a while either. He's fun occasionally, but I don't think I could make a habit of him.
You've actually done quite well with your losses, so I wouldn't get discouraged just yet. Maybe you're body is taking a break for a few days. And, now that I think of it, didn't you just have a loss???

Well, I better get moving here. I get going and I babble!

Again, Bluet, welcome.

Summer, hello if you're around! Stop in and see us!

Everybody have a great night!

Hi everybody! Hope all had a good day. Mine was very long...worked at the station, then went & cleaned church, while hubby cut the grass. Anyway I'm tired!!http://www.jeffpylenz.com/INCREDIMAI...RS/Groaner.gif

http://www.gifanimations.com/Image/A...elcome_002.gif
to bluet!! So glad to have you. I have 11 grandchildren....so, how do you think I feel when they go home?.....http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-081.gif...I do love them, & they're hardly all ever here at the same time.....I think my age is catching up with me!

Willow...yes, I'm a christian... I'm also old enough to have heard all kinds of language!
:lol: I just felt sorry for the child! I had to sit on my son, when he was 2...& hold him down, for the dr to sew his head up, where he fell. Yes, I wonder where the sedations & painkillers are..especially with all the money they collect from us!!
The bone marrow thing, though...the dr told me, when he was doing it the last time, that he could numb the site...but there wasn't any way of numbing the bone. He could have knocked me out, or something, though. Even over the head! AT the time, I would have been thankful!:dizzy: Oh, yeah, congrats on the weightloss! You've really got it going again!!http://www.gifanimations.com/Image/A...od/apple_1.gif

Sheila...congrats on the weightloss! http://www.gilly.0catch.com/emoticons/cheer.gif

Hello to Sue, Fatpuss & summer....take care!

I'll try to check in tomorrow...have a great weekend. http://www.funnygreetings.com/graphi...tes_lg_clr.gif

Hi Sheila, Willow, and Angel

Thank you for the warm welcome to the forum.

I know all about remodeling and plaster dust. My husband and I live in the original farm house that he grew up in. Our home is over 100 yuears old and we have done major remodeling to many parts of the house. Each time we are done with a new remodel, I always say "Never Again"! :^: , but that never stops us. Now that we have reached our 60's, I think we are most likely done with the remodling.

All our children are grown up and married and moved away from home, so it is just myself and my husband in this big house now.
We have three daughters and one son and six grandchildren, with another due shortly.

I live in Wisconsin, and we really do have three seasons here, with winter being the longest of course. I think Spring is my favorite season, when the weather starts to warm up and the flowers start to bloom. I have several perenial flower beds around my house and my hobby is working in them and having them look nice and discovering new perenials to try. Willow what are you trying to do with your rose bush? I have about 6 rose bushes in my flower beds. This was a good year for roses.

Where are you ladies posting you weight loss? I noticed that you mentioned it to one another. Have any of you gotten interested in Kathleen DesMaisons' Total Sugar Addiction Recovery Program?

Well gotta go, getting tired, hope I can sleep all night for a change.

Sincerely,

Bluet

Welcome Bluet, you have come to the right site for support. Don't feel guilty about how you feel when the grandkids leave, I don't have any grandkids yet but even when grown-up kids visit it's nice when they go just to get the place back in order and the old routine back. Having said that, son rang today to say he will be coming tomrrow with his friend for sunday dinner. He was only here last weekend so I guess he wants to see as much of the cat as he can before it gets more sick. Having said that, you wouldn't think he was sick! Son's friend is Hindu and vegetarian so I have been scouring cookbooks for veggie roast instead of roast beef. He is a lovely guy and wouldn't mind if I gave him the full dinner minus the meat but I have bought some quorn which I believe is a good meat substitute. Will let you know how it turns out. Sheila, it is brilliant that your daughter is in the Navy - I remember you saying she was interested in joining. Glad your 'boomerang son' is applying for jobs. It's not easy, don't know about you ladies but I still don't know what I want to do. Maybe when I grow up...that's another thing, anyone else like me who still feels like I haven't grown up yet? What's that about, I wonder. Angel, you could certainly get a job doing your wonderful graphics but I am sorry you are unable to take your Methotrexate. I believe it's a wonderful drug for arthritis but blood tests have to be done regularly for toxidity. I hope your pain isn't increased too much. Willow, I have heard Rosemary Clooney sing (didn't she die recently?) on the tv years ago. Nice voice. Rosemary Conley must have a website as there are clubs like WW all over the country but hers incorporate exercise at the meetings too. I will check it out. As for paternity tests on baby teeth, I was at the supermarket last week with DH and son and a little old lady pulled my husband to one side and said "isn't he the image of his mother?". He may be the only one husband would consider paternity on as daughter is the model of DH. Son is built like a barn door with shoulders like an ox and we often wondered where he came from ha ha. I don't even know whose teeth are whose in the bag. Sheila, YOU LOSER :dance: :cb: well done on the loss, brilliant for you.

Thank you for the welcome. :goodvibes. You know, this is so special, I have always wanted to be able to chat with someone from England. I have read sooooo many english novels in my life time. I imagine that living in the English Country Side would be ideal. I always thought I would come back in my second life as a beautiful sought after English Aristocrate with tons of money. Ha
wouldn't that be outrageous?

All silliness aside, I truly would like to visit Great Britain someday, it is one of my dreams. We just had a nephew and his wife go to England for a friends wedding. They just fell in love with the country side and the people there. They had the pleasure of staying at a cottage that the grooms parents rented for them.

Today is one of my grandsons birthdays and I baby sat for some of the grandchildren that were too small to go to the party. I am tired, didn't get done what I planned to do. But, enjoyed the kids.

We are having beautiful weather right now for September, hope it continues until April, and then we can start with Spring again.

GOOD EVENING, LADIES!
 

I just now sat down to eat my supper. I have been working in my kitchen all day, except for 2 trips to shop, one for about an hour and the other about a half hour. I'm :tired:
I started about 8:30 this morning, and didn't plan to do as much as I ended up doing, but, now that I did, I'm glad I did it.
I took things out of cupboards and drawers and cleaned and re-lined the drawers, threw away a bunch of stuff that was still good but not necessary. I mean, ... how many stirring spoons can one person need? I've still got about 6 that I kept. I went and bought new silverware holders, and I had so much of that, that I put enough for another household in a tupperware container for the kids to play with.
I took everything off the counter tops and couldn't believe I was hanging on to some of that stuff. :dizzy:
I have a couple little corners where "things" get shoved when I or anyone else is in a hurry, so I bought 2 little 4-shelf stands to put in there and put my coffee grinder and stuff like that on them. Looks cute! and neat!

I still haven't finished wiping up the floor in there. Just did the places that were back in corners before I put the stands up. I'll finish it later.
I did manage to vacuum my living room and bedroom too.

I don't know if I managed to wear off any calories or not because I didn't actually do anything STRENUOUS, but, at least I wasn't sitting all day.
I had to laugh this evening when I ran to get some fresh veggies, my shoes felt loose! I was laughing because I thought, "that would be just my luck! I'll lose weight in my feet!" :D

I ate pretty good today. Had an omelet with stirfry veggies and 97% fat free ham and a slice of FF cheese with 2 sl. whole wheat toast with ICBINB for breakfast.
Had spaghetti and meatballs for lunch.
And for supper a huge salad with an ounce each of deli low fat ham and turkey and a slice of ff cheese. Had lots of different veggies in it. So, .... I'm stuffed. Couldn't eat it all.

Puss, what is quorn? Is it a ground-up vegetable? I would be lost if I had to cook for someone who is a vegetarian. I really should learn how to cook those kinds of foods. You just never know when you're going to need to know that. That would be a good challenge for me when I retire. Go to school and learn that.
One time I was going to try a recipe using tofu, and that was the first and last time. It was the most God-awful tasting thing I've ever eaten. I think it was suppose to be spaghetti sauce, and it was terrible. I remember it had tomato in it, so it must have been. Also meat loaf. AACH! I just know that I had to have misinterpreted the instructions. There were big lumps of this whitish stuff in there, and it didn't taste anything like the rest of the ingredients, like I was told it would. :shrug:

I'm delighted that kitty is still doing good! I think :angel:'s are watching over him!

Charlotte, I hope you're feeling ok today. I gotta tell you I just love the lady with the rollers in her hair eating the yum yums! Adorable!

Bluet, it's nice to have a big house though when everybody comes home for the holidays, etc. I suppose it does get expensive to heat etc, though.
I closed off the bedrooms upstairs, and just use it for attic or storage space now.

What part of Wisconsin do you live in? I live in southeastern MN.
The rosebush I referred to is a climbing 7-sister rose bush, and it has canes about 20 feet long and it has gotten out of control. It's taking over everything, ... my clematis, my iris', tulips, rhododendrons, the electric meter, ...... :lol:
So, I'm going to cut off the canes to the top of the circle of fencing I planted it in, and then try to dig it up and re-plant it out behind the shed where it can fight with a blasted grape vine I haven't been able to get rid of in 30 years. I have dug down so deep trying to find the end of that root to that grape vine, and I think it goes all the way to **** because I can't get it. I chop it off way down in the ground, and it comes right back up. :dizzy:
Anyway, I'm not looking forward to fighting with those canes to that rose bush.

We don't actually have any other place that we post our weight losses, just here. I don't know if you know it or not, but they have journals for members here too. You can make them public or private. But, we just tell each other when we've had a loss. Sheila and I both go to Weight Watchers,(I just joined last week) and I have weigh-in on Thursdays.
I am always so happy to see someone have a loss. It makes you more determined to stick with it yourself, I think. And, even if someone should have a gain or stay the same, it's nice to know you've been around so they can vent and maybe help figure out the reason.
I've gotten to like these ladies so well by now, that I'd surely miss them terribly if anyone quit posting.

I've never heard of that Kathleen DesMaisons Program. Is it a low carb plan also? Is that what you're doing for weight loss?

I better get a move on again. Hello to Sue, Sheila and Summer!

See you all later! Have a good evening!

Hi to everyone. I am up really early to get the roast beef in the oven but it was still slightly frozen even though left out overnight in the kitchen. That's a sign that summer is over for us. I have the central heating on already and my electric blanket on at night but I did say I've always felt the cold more than the average. I look at films about arctic explorers and know I wouldn't have lasted a week! Bluet, what kind of novels have you read? I am a bookaholic - which is why I don't exercise, I suppose, a waste of good reading time. I don't live in the country but it's a one street shopping town and we get foxes, badgers and hedgehogs in the garden all the time. At the moment I am losing a battle with badgers who have a set across my road by the canal and keep digging my front lawn up searching for slugs and snails etc. They make a terrible mess. I have never been to the States but the Americans I have met and made friends with when living in the Middle East and Far East have been really nice and friendly. My uncle worked on Wall Stree for 40 years and retired to Florida about 10 years ago but misses New York. I was listening to the radio and the English reporter was re-entering the US after having to leave for a short while for visa requirements. The lady Customs official said "never mind, you won't have to do this once you get that little piece of paper". The reporter asked her what she meant and the lady explained she meant citizenship. The reporter explained that she didn't want US citizenship and said the official was open-mouthed and couldn't believe anyone would not want to be an American citizen. That's what the programme was about, US nationalism. I suppose the official is so used to many nationalities which would kill to get US citizenship that she couldn't understand this English reporter being happy with her British passport, ha ha. Whenever I see films about the Mid West it always looks idyllic - I always wanted to live on Walton's Mountain! Willow, sounds like you had a good clear out in your kitchen. Had to laugh about your 'sloppy shoes'. I have narrow feet to begin with and only consolation to gaining weight was I could fit regular shoes. Now I am back to skinny feet and having to pad regular shoes. Quorn is soya ground beef substitute and I had a taste of the finished thing and to be honest, it tastes just like stuffing - the sage and onion mix you stuff Christmas turkey with. Much rather have the beef, myself. Well, I got on the scales this morning - my proper weigh in day - and am now down to 146 which is the lowest I have been for years BUT, I was here a few weeks ago before putting the 3lb on so a real breakthrough will be when (if) I get to 145. I was planting tulip bulbs yesterday and kitty thought it was great - think I mentioned he's been using newly dug flower bed as a ready made toilet!! Haven't the heart to shout at him now he is ill. Hope everone has a lovely day, hi to all our friends here.

Hey, Fatpuss, I wanted to live on Walton's Mountain, too! Although I think it was supposed to represent an area in Virginia, I'm sure it was filmed on some place in California. Don't hit me, you other U.S. citizens, but every so often I think I would rather be Canadian. British Columbia only--too cold for me in most other places.

Quorn, huh. I eat vegetarian chili, fake sausage, and some other things with soy in it, but I don't know if I could eat something that's named "Quorn." Just sounds a touch strange. Not a big beef eater either, though. Give me a hunk of salmon or some other seafood and I'd be in hog heaven!

My friend had a neighbor who ended up with a badger in his garage. I've never seen one outside of the zoo, but they certainly have nasty claws, and I understand they can rip up a trap pretty easily. I don't think I'd like to see one on my lawn. My DH saw a coyote the other night. You wouldn't think there'd be coyotes in the middle of a fairly large city, but we've heard reports that they live here.

So glad your cat is doing better. Hey, I understand about big boys eating you out of house and home. My son better get a job soon because I can't afford to continue to feed all 6'5" of him!

Congrats to all you LOSERS out there! It's nice to see those scales going the right away again.

It rained last night--hallelujah! The ground just soaked it up. This week it's supposed to be cloudy and rainy and I don't mind a bit. I've been putting off some house chores because it's been too hot inside so this will be the perfect time to attend to those.

Speaking of pets, we've had this reoccurring problem of a cat peeing in the bathtub. We took the suspected culprit in and it wasn't him. Then we took the second cat in and she had a slight bladder infection so we treated her. The peeing stopped and then started again so we took her in again and she still had some bad cells so we treated her again. The peeing stopped, then started again so we took her in again, but she didn't have any problems. Then we thought it was behaviorial. My DH saw the third cat, the only cat we didn't have tested, tearing out of the bathtub the other day so we took her in, and she has a raging urinary tract infection with crystals so it was probably her all the time, poor cat. When you have three cats, you just don't know who is doing what unless you catch them in the act. I always have to laugh when the vet asks me if a particular animal is vomiting--we're always finding vomit and we have six pets so it could be any of them!

Planning on going to the Farmer's Market and stocking up on great veggies again today. Hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday.

Guess I better pop in and say hello before you all think I have left the planet. Just came home from GD's soccer game. The kids are only 6 years old and some of them play like little pros and the others don't have a clue. I felt sorry for them, it was so hot. They all have their insulated water bottles with them though, and the coaches constantly rotate the players.

Went out to dinner last night to a great seafood place. Had broiled scallops and boiled new red potatoes and a salad. And homemade bread that was delicious. I promised my DD I would make some bread while she is here. I have been wanting to try a round loaf on my pizza stone. I have no willpower when it comes to fresh bread and butter. Dinner tonight is chicken. Mine plain, DH's chicken and gravy on a biscuit. Haven't made that in years, so I was reminded. ;)

I smiled when I read your last post Sheila - I was born in P.E.I. Canada, and became a US citizen when I was 18 or 19. I am still a Canadian in my heart though.

I'm with Willow - tried tofu once and that was enough for me. I would rather eat a little less of the real thing. Like dressings, I have tried many lowfat, no fat, sugar free/fat free etc etc but I still prefer the original Hidden Valley Ranch. I just dip my fork in it when I eat a salad and get it on the side at a restaurant. I notice that many products with a reduced amount of fat have an incredible amount of sugar. There has to be a better balance somewhere.

Haven't exercised in three days.:shrug: :( No real excuse either, just a lazy spell I guess. Back on track in the morning.

Welcome Bluet! I have just scanned the posts and realized we have two new friends! Just the mention of remodeling and plaster dust makes us almost "kinfolk". I was looking through old photo albums one day and found three different pictures of myself standing on a ladder with a dustmask on and tearing out plaster and lathe. The funny thing was that one was in my house, one in my sister's house, and the third in my other sister's house. They got quite a kick out of them. My ripping and tearing days are through I hope.

Gotta get those biscuits in the oven. Take care all. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Sue

Hi Everyone,
Can I join the party? I'm not yet 50 (will be by the end of the month). You seem like a friendly, supportive group and I definitely need that.

A nice weekend, ....
 

I accomplished a lot this weekend, but not as much as I'd like to.
Today was laundry day, and I also went shopping for a new(bigger) tool box and a new drill.
I was going to put a bracket on my shed for a trash bag and when I went to use my drill, it didn't work, so, guess someone must have dropped it or something. Anyway, I went and bought a new one, and my tool box was getting too small for all my stuff, so I bought a bigger one and transferred everything to that one.
I got my bracket on and now I'm putting padlocks on 2 doors downstairs. People have figured out how to trip the locks on the knobs. I was just getting started on that when my sister from Michigan stopped in. So, when I'm done here, I'll go finish putting those on.

I'm eating my supper as I type this. grilled pollock Walleye, stirfry veggies with cooking spray, and oyster sauce, and 2 slices of whole wheat toast with ICBINB. Strawberries for dessert. And tea.

I started to tackle that rosebush, and I quit because I need to find some gloves that I can pull on those canes with and not have the thorns go through the gloves. What a mess!! I think I'm going to have to cut my clematis off of the lattice work because those blasted canes have intertwined with everything. I might even advertise for someone to come and dig it out for me. Maybe someone will want it free for taking it out.

I've got my clothes all ready for work tomorrow, so now all I have to do is get something ready for my lunch and I'm all set.

So, ... how was the roast, Puss? I already know it was delicious. :D

I don't have any HEAT on yet. I couldn't imagine. I still have my air conditioning on. It has been pretty warm here the last couple of days. My house is always too cold for other people. In the winter I close the vent in my bedroom and a lot of the time I crack the window that goes to the porch just a bit so the cool fresh air comes in my room. Then I put lots more covers on, .... till I wake up sweating.

Hedgehogs look so cute! Are they a nuisance? They look like miniature porcupines crossed with a mole.
I know that badgers can be vicious. They can gut another animal with one swipe of those claws. My Dad used to trap fox and stuff when I was a kid and every once in a while he'd get a badger in a trap. In those days they paid bounty on fox, racoon,beaver, all kinds of stuff.

That quorn sounds very good to me. If it tastes just like dressing, I want to try it because the dressing is one of my favorite parts of a thanksgiving meal.
Does it come already seasoned like that, or is it a dry thing that you have to add liquids and seasonings to? I wonder if the health food store here would have it. I need to check that out. I love sage and onion stuffing.

See? You got some exercise planting those bulbs and you had a loss today. Good job! I bet you'll be at 145 next week. It's going to go slower for you now because you're getting down close to where you should be. That's always the slowest part to lose. But, hang in there, you'll make it to your goal.

My former neighbors cats used to come and use my flower beds for their potty. That always made for some loud cussing on my part! Just what I wanted, to be happily pulling weeds and stick my fingers in a cat turd! :dizzy:

I had a couple rubber plants and they of course were in huge pots, and my cat started peeing in them! That's when we discovered she had a kidney disease.

One of my favorite authors is Torey Hayden. She didn't write enough books in my opinion. She was a special needs specialist teacher, and her books were about some of the children she worked with and once I started one, I couldn't put it down. You experienced every emotion there is while reading. I'd go from crying to laughing in a minute.
Then, I looked for years for the only book of hers that I hadn't read, and it was out of publication and everything. I wanted it so badly, and finally found it in a search for rare and out of date books, only to find that it was a fiction! I was soooo mad! I wanted it to be another of her true-life stories. She told them so well you were right there in her classrooms. So, I never did buy THE SUNFLOWER FOREST.

Sheila, I've never been to Canada, but, my relatives have been there on vacations, and I'd love to go some day. They say it's absolutely beautiful.
I do love the part of the country I live in though. It's bluff country, and it truly does seem like you're driving through a postcard. The town I live in is also on the mississippi river, and I've put in many hours in my life on this river.

Sue, I thought of you today when I was reading the fishing report. They say that the panfish are starting to head back into the back waters already and the bluegills and crappies are biting on jigs with waxies both with and without bobbers. Water temps dropped about 7 degrees and they figure that's why they're biting like crazy.

Your dinners last night and tonight both sound sooo good. I love new red potatoes with parsley.
If I started on homemade bread, I'd eat the whole loaf. Especially if it was still warm.
I don't have a pizza stone. Are they hard to get used to using? I hear that the crust gets done better, .. more evenly without drying out. True?
I KNOW those biscuits were good!

Hello Connie!! WELCOME! So glad you decided to join us. We love getting new members. Age doesn't really matter here. That's just the way the thread started out, and we've kept it. Anyone is welcome. But, now that you mention it, I guess we are all in our 50's but Bluet, and I'll be 60 in April.

These gals definitely are supportive and friendly.

Stick with us and you'll enjoy it as much as I do. Is there a certain plan that you're following, or are you following the sensible, balanced way of eating? There are so many different plans, and I guess each person has a different thing that works for them.
I just want to get healthy and of course I want to look better too.
I have a hundred pounds that I'd like to get rid of, but, I'm just going to eat healthy and stay as active as I can and see where it takes me.

I was on a mood thing a couple of weeks ago, and, like I said earlier, I don't know why I do that to myself, because I feel so much better when I'm being healthy.
So, yes, come on and join the party!

I need to go gat the rest of my work done and get to bed for work tomorrow.

Hello to Bluet, Charlotte and Summer! Hope your weekend was a good one!

Hi Everyone,

Well the weekend is over, time to reorganize my mind and think about heading out the door early for work tomorrow morning.
Puss, I read anything actually my favorite are romantic novels in the 1800's taking place in England, western romance novels, any books that have a good story line and history to them.

We live on Lake Michigan, 120 miles north of Milwaukee. I am still waiting to have a rose grow 20 foot canes on any rose that I have grown here in all of the 39 years we have lived in this house. And then mabe not, ;) I would not look forward to trimming it either.

Kathleen DesMaisons has written three books, Potates Not Prozac, The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program and Your Last Diet. She also has a support web site too. I have been following her program since April 23, 2003. Her program is about being sugar sensitive and getting steady on her program of breakfast every day with a protein and complex carb, three meals a day with protein and complex carbs and a complex carb three hours after your last meal and eventually, if you choose, giving up sugar and white flour completely. I have lost 20 pounds since I started her program, but now I am frustrated and on a plateau. I know I need to excercise everyday, but I am lazy about excercise.

Even though Wisconsin is nicknamed the Badger State, and we live in the country, I have yet to see a real badger. We have a Yellow Lab and a Chesapeake Bay Retriver, and they don't allow any preditors to hang around our farm. Even the farm cats hide from them. We have deer and raccoons though, those I have actually seen from time to time, they can do a lot of damage to the crops.

I picked up a summer cold, from one of the grand children, and am feeling a little punk, hope it does not hang on too long. Also, I did not get a darn thing done with the house cleaning or the storage room cleaning, so I am very very envious of the cupboard cleaning going on here. :s: Well, it won't get done next weekend either, because that weekend is totally booked too.

Take care you guys, I am really glad I found all of you out there in cyberspace. :D Thanks for reading my ramblings!!!
Talk to you later.

Bluet

http://www.coolgifs.de/welcome/a_t_we03.gif Connie! Glad to have you!

Hi bluet...You ask about posting our weight loss. If you want to post a journal-like deal, you can go to www.fitday.com ....or, what I did...is made a Homepage, & posted weightloss & pics. Your website clicks on at the bottom of your post! I'm a couple of weeks behind...need to catch up!

Willow...you must be some great cook! Every post has delicious sounding recipes! Too bad I don't live near you. :lol: How's your health doing now?

Fatpuss...I know you're enjoying your kitty's feeling better. I'm happy for you & hope it lasts. Thanks for thinking of me.

Sue....remember.... http://gilly.0catch.com/emoticons/yesyou.gif

Sheila....how's it going with your son? Is he working, or painting?

Hope all are doing well....take care... http://www.agifs.hpg.ig.com.br/criancas/criancas4.gif

WOW, this board even grows while I am sleeping. Welcome Connie. Glad you joined us. Dare I tell you I am a stamp addict too. I have been stamping for a couple years, but only went to a Stampin' Up open house three weeks ago. My checkbook was almost $100 lighter when I left. I gave the first card I made with the SU stamps to my sister, who promptly framed it. It was with Feathered Friends. I have to set my timer sometimes, or I would never come out of my stamp room. :dizzy:

Hello to Willow, Sheila, Fatpuss, Bluet, Angel-lover, and Summer too. Have a great day all. Be back soon. Sue

Couldn't resist passing this on, ....
 

Dear Dogs and Cats,

When I say to move, it means go someplace else, not switch positions with
each other so there are still two of you in the way.

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The other
dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in
the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it becoming your
food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me
to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help, because I fall
faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king-size bed. I am very sorry about
this. Do not think I will continue to sleep on the couch to ensure your
comfort. Look at videos of dogs and cats sleeping, they can actually curl
up in a ball. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking
tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize
space used is nothing but sarcasm.

My compact discs are not miniature Frisbees.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some
miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not
necessary to claw, whine, try to turn the knob, or get your paw under the
edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I
entered. In addition, I have been using bathrooms for years, canine or
feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog's butt. I cannot
stress this enough. It would be such a simple change for you.

To pacify you I have posted the following message on our front door...

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.

3. I like my pets a lot better than I like most people.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is
short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

5. Dogs and cats are better than kids. They eat less, don't ask for money
all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive
your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink,
don't worry about buying the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, don't
need a gazillion dollars for college, and if they get pregnant, you can sell
the results.

Hi Folks!
 

How was your day?
I only slept a little over 3 hours last night, so I'm pretty tired tonight.

I lifted some weights this morning for about a half hour or so. Upper body. Easy does it at first. I can feel it a little tonight though.

I ate pretty good today, but I used some of my Flex Points. Had spaghetti and meatballs and some veggie-only soup for supper. My usual omelet with veggies and toast for break. and a sandwich and veggies and dip for lunch.

It was 94 degrees here today, so I didn't go out after I got home from work. In fact I got a phone call and sat on the phone for about 1 1/2 hours. I sure don't do that very often!

Bluet, congratulations on your 20-pound loss. That's great! I have heard that a plateau after about 20 to 25 pounds is normal, but if you stick with it you will eventually begin to lose again.
I know, ... it sure gets frustrating though. If you don't exercise much, you're probably right, and need to increase that a bit. They say that weight lifting is better than aerobics for weight loss because it builds muscle that uses the sugar that would have been stored as fat.
I'm gonna try it for a while. I have a couple books by Joyce Vedral, with photo's showing how to do each exercise with the weights.

Are your roses all tea's or do you have any climbing roses?
I decided today that when it gets cool enough, I'm going back out there and I'll try using a rake to pull the canes out of the other plants, trellis' and electric meter.

You must live near the border with UP Michigan. It's beautiful country up there. I had a relative in Manitowac, and have some in the UP too.

Charlotte, glad to see your post. Hope you're still feeling ok.
I'm doing pretty well too. Kind of a cough and sore throat the last couple of days, but nothing that I need to take anything for.
All I need right now is some sleep. :D

My sister wants me to ask all my kids to come home this coming weekend so she can see all of them. So, we'll see how many of them can get here. I have a feeling that I'm going to be doing some cooking this weekend.

Hi Sue! What is stamping, anyway? I've seen people post about it before but never knew for sure what they meant.
I don't get out much. ;)

Hello to Connie, Sheila, Summer, Puss, and anyone else out there.
Hope you're all having a good day!

Charlotte, I went back and read all the stuff you did in one day--it sounds like you're on a roll again! Hope you're not overdoing, though. Easy to do when you feel good!

Willow, I love the letter to the cats and dogs. I'd add, "The throw rugs are not your personal vomitorium. Please use the Pergo I had specially installed for that purpose!"

94 degrees! Yikes! It made 70 here, I think, with some sun breaks. The people next door are outside in jackets. Yesterday we saw a woman at the bus stop in a parka and knit hat. I think she was overdoing it just a tad because it wasn't THAT cold. It's supposed to be in the 60s and raining this week, which is A-okay with me.

Sue, I'd love to know what stamping is, too. My DIL does scrapbooking, which is pretty cool. I'm not crafty at all so I just covet what other people make. Homemade bread. Ahhh! I can almost smell it. With lots of butter, preferably real. I can't remember the last time I had homemade bread. *Sigh*

Bluet--20 lbs. gone. Wow! I hope your cold goes away soon.

Connie--welcome! Please tell us more about yourself. I just turned 50 in April so I'm not that much older. How are you going to celebrate your 50th?

Okay, everyone cross your fingers that my son does well on his second interview tomorrow. He really wants this job, and I hope he gets it. He spent most of the day sending out more resumes. We have the 2nd worst economy in the country so I hope he can find something.

We didn't do any painting at all yesterday. Went to the Farmer's Market and bought some great vegetables and fruit, went for a walk (the only time it sprinkled during the day, wouldn't you know?), and just kind of puttered around the house. That felt great after all these frantic painting weekends. We still have some trim to do in an area where nobody sees plus some touch-ups, but I think it looks pretty darn good.

Hi Everyone,

Willow, I can see I am going to have to get in my car and drive the four or five hours it will take me to get over to Minnesota and help you with that damm rose bush. I live just west of Manitowoc, so I probably know your relative ;) Just west of the lake, so we are always " cooled by the lake breezes".

So all the kids and the grandchildren are coming on the weekend. How many kids and grandchildren do you have? Yes, you will be cooking. It seems like everyone gets hungry the minute grandma's house comes into sight.

Yes, I am going to have to start the excercise routine, especially if I plan on keeping up with you girls. I can feel the peer pressure from here. So tomorrow morning I plan on getting on the treadmill as soon as my feet hit the floor. I am telling all of you this so, I will be more commited to actually doing the treadmill. I'll let you know. :smug

Our new grandaughter Anna, is being baptized on Saturday, then we have a family reunion on Sunday and a group chuch dinner on Friday evening. I think I will be all peopled out come Monday. Everything always seems to fall on one weekend, and then the next weekend there are'nt any functions to attend. Oh well

I was really tired today at work, still feeling the effects of this virus. I was falling asleep in my recliner watching TV before I came upstairs, so I guess I'll head off to bed and dream of all the dragons I will slay tomorrow.

Oh, by the way when you guys say you put SI?N?CB?? (don't remember how you spell it) :^: on your bread, what is that?
Just curious, I don't hardly use any butter or bread spread, because I take meds for high cholesterol. Talk to you later forum buds.

Take Care......

Bluet

Good Morning All! Have a few minutes before I have to get ready for work. Looks like everyone else posts when I go to bed. ;) A quick answer to Bluet's question. ICBINB stands for "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" I use the spray on toast, vegetables, popcorn, etc. Unless you drink it by the bottlefull, its basically calorie free. And NO cholesterol. :)

Ahhhhhhh, stamping. I could spend hours discussing, but I will make it short. Just think of a stamp that says something like "Paid In Full" or "Received 9/9/03" and substitute a picture or other words. Could be a flower, a bird, Christmas themed objects (my favorites) etc. Stamped on different colors of ink pads or stamped with clear "embossing ink" then heat-embossed with different color powders. See what I mean. I hope this does not constitute advertising, and I don't think it does, but try www.GINGERWOOD.com That site will take you to hundreds of other sites. You will learn anything and everything about the rubberstamping hobby.

Bluet, I don't know how much room you have, but the one thing that keeps me on the treadmill is the TV that I can watch. I usually tape a movie (like the "chickflicks" DH doesn't want to see) and and watch it while I walk. Fast forwarding through commercials makes each hour about 45 min.

Willow, I just loved the letter to cats and dogs too. It is just so true. Try reading a newspaper with a cat. :lol:

Sheila, it is only 50 degrees here this morning. The heat came on during the night. Brrrrrr. Seems that I slept much better though. I like cooler nights. Our windows in the bedroom stay open a little bit all winter. My son went up one day and said "Who is visiting? Your Canadian Eskimo relatives?"

I have often thought of doing scrapbooking too and organizing the hundreds of pictures I have in cardboard boxes. But there is only so much time in a day. I have a sign that says "Why Stamp? Because housework makes you ugly!" On that note, I must hit the road. Have a great day all. Sue

Hi everybody....I'm not getting to post as often as I'd like...maybe that will change soon, hope so.

Well...wouldn't you know it...the Methotrexate I take weekly to help with the Remicade treatments has pulled my white blood cell count down real low. Had to stay off of two doses & go in for lab work yesterday. Nurse just called, said it's still down. I gotta stay off 2 more doses & go back the 22nd. Can't win, for losing, sometimes!

Sue.....sounds like stamping would be fun. I might try it sometime.

Bluet...hope you enjoy your grandchildren's visit! & those baptisms for the little ones are so special!

Sheila...hope your son gets that job!

Hi to Fatpuss, Connie, & Summer!!

Willow...that letter to the dogs & cats was cute!

This month is grandparents month! I noticed several talking about their grandchildren in their posts. Here's a few things you should remember when the grandkids visit!!!!!

1. A king-size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 square foot house 4 inches deep.

2. A 3 year old's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

3. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42-pound boy wearing Batman underwear and a superman cape.

4. The glass in the windows (even double pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

5. When you hear the toilet flush and the words's "Uh-oh," it's already too late.

6. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

TO BE CONTINUED...... http://www.agifs.hpg.ig.com.br/criancas/menino4.gif

Hi everyone and a special welcome to Connie. I was trying to figure out what stamping was and only when Angel menioned the website did I know you and Connie had one. I am a novice at IT really. You are both very pretty women and so talented with icons and images on the websites. Angel, good to see you back posting and feeling a little better but don't overdo things to set yourself back. Sue, a seafood resaurant would be a good diet day for me - hate the stuff. Is a pizza stone like the ovens in pizza resaurants with real flames underneath? Sheila, fancy your DH seeing a coyote. I saw a documentary about resettling them into another area for their own safety but can't remember if it was Arizona or some place else. Sheila I am sorry for having a good laugh about your three cats peeing and also Willow's cat in the rubber plant pot. Our cat used to fight with a neighbour's cat and was so stressed he started peeing into the fireplace. A chill-out injection from the Vet sorted it out, thank heavens because although neutered, it was still like Tom Cat pee smell. When the vet said she would recommened an animal behaviourist if the injection didn't work my husband went balistic. Asked if they were going to ask our cat whether being abandoned by his Tom Cat father traumatised him ha ha. Bluet, I didn't know that Wisconsin was the Badger State but I would love to see a real life raccoon, they look so cute on TV. Badgers in the UK are a protected species so we can't harm them but DH asked our retired neighbour (who hates cats and dogs) if he would stop feeding them because he is encouraging them and it's not his lawn that is being destroyed. He is nice enough but I doubt he will stop. The UK cities have a big problem with urban foxes, only last week a baby was attacked in its own sitting room by one and a young woman in Central London had one in her BED!! Seems it jumped into her room from a balcony and she woke up with something on her leg and it was under the duvet. It must have been alarmed because it bit her on the knee. I like all animals but I don't feed wild ones because I don't think its fair to them because they lose fear of people and in turn become pests and then people turn on them. Bluet, I think the romantic fiction your refer to is called Bodice Rippers in the trade ha ha. Willow, the Quorn I got is is the brand name and it was in the freezer section of the supermarket. Looked just like ground beef but you need to season it. It is much less calories and fat than the real thing. Son's friend liked it but the rest of us stuck to the beef. It was a shame, Willow, that your favourite author changed direction from fact to fiction. A friend at work loaned me 7 books by James Patterson - forensic detective thrillers - and I have enjoyed them but after the first couple they become much of a muchness. I know a few people who have visited Canada and they all love it. One couple newly retired went with another couple and a police patrol man pulled them over. Seems they were driving BELOW minimum speed! That would never happen where I live, the main motorway into London and max speed is 70 mph but most people do a minimum of 75-80 and some lunatics do 90-100 every morning. DH and I have the next two weeks off together though I have to go up North in a few days as my mother had her op this afternoon. She phoned me all day yesterday and even this morning from hospital crying about the tinitus and asking if I would stay a week and can she come back with me. DH has threated to strangle her - she only went back home 3.5 weeks ago - and she is driving my brother insane so much he is only going to visit every two weeks. We had a lovely day transplanting a budleia tree and putting in a new azaelia. I planted some spring onion, lettuce and raddish seeds in the greenhouse and garden. I bought myself a new jacket yesterday (size 12 UK size 8 US) and this morning tried it on before I got showered wearing nothing on underneath but hiding my bits and bobs . I paraded myself to DH thrilled that a size 12 fitted and he said it was very nice and so was what I was wearing with it. I said if it was that nice maybe I should wear it to his work's boat trip. He said it wasn't that nice!!

Done it again, didn't realise we were on page three already and missed Sue and Angel's posts. Angel, sorry your bloody count is still down but a doctor friend of mine says it doesn't mean you can't go back on it at a later date when bloods are better. I guess you have been there already, eh? Sue, looks like we have the same weather. My feet were like ice last night despite electric blanket being hot.

Wow!! Lots of posts!
 

Hi everybody! Looks like everyone has been busy while I was sleeping and at work.
My day was pretty good so far.
I'm working overtime all week, so I have to be to work at 5 AM. It'll make up for the day I missed last week.

The personnel office manager came out on the floor late this afternoon and said, "you forgot to sign at the bottom of this FMLA form."
I said "I didn't forget at all. I'm not signing it, because we no longer have to let anyone have access to our medical records."
What it says at the bottom is that 'I give my permission for the company's medical representative to get information from my physicians about my medical records.' I know that we no longer have to, but, she insists that I do, so, we'll see what an attorney says about it. I'm really tired of their crap.

Sheila, I'm not craftsy either, but, I'd like to find something to do after I retire and maybe sell stuff a couple times a year at sales. I think I'd like to get into sewing again. I used to LOVE it, but, I haven't sewn in so many years, I'd probably have to learn all over again. I'd need to get a sewing machine too.

The stamping sounds like it would be fun. And the scrapbooking too.
I truly pray that your son gets that job. It's sooo bad right now, and it doesn't look like it's going to improve much any time soon either. So disheartening. I feel so very bad for those who have children to raise and have lost their sources of income.

Bluet, my son lived 2 blocks from lake Michigan, in Manitowoc. He and his wife were there for about 3 years. He was manager of the Mills Fleet Farm store there. He also had a karate studio there and taught Tai Kwon Do. I used to go visit them and take my DIL's mother and sister along, and I think it is one of the loveliest towns ever. I used to have a blast at that river walk they have in June. I would spend the whole day checking out all the vendors and listening to all the bands. I want to go again. Maybe my DIL and I can go next year. They now live in the Twin Cities area, and he works for a different company now. Her mother passed away a few years ago from non-hodgkins lymphoma, at age 56. Very sad. Anyway, if I come to Manitowoc, I'll let you know and maybe we can meet in real life.
Of course, you're always welcome to come visit me in Minnesota too.
I have 6 sons, 5 DIL's and 12 grandkids.

I haven't heard anything back from any of them yet. I told them to let me know by Thursday evening so I can get food prepared. Now that I think of it, I haven't heard from my sister for a couple of days either.
It sounds like you're going to have a busy weekend coming up too. Congratulations on that new Granddaughter too.
You spoke of starting to exercise, .... I have an article I got today from about.com that I'm going to post after this post. I actually had Puss in mind when I decided to copy and paste it here, :wink: but, I guess it could be inspirational for all of us.

Sue, thanks for that URL. I haven't checked it out yet, but I'm sure going to.
I too have a tv in front of my treadmill, but I still think the treadmill is a tedious thing to do, so, I've started to do it in shorter time spaces. Like 10 to 15 minutes at a time, more often. I'm still not crazy about it though.
I rode my exercise bike for 25 minutes this morning before going to work. My muscles are still sore today from lifting weights yesterday morning. And, I'm going to lift again tomorrow morning. If it ever cools off, I'll start going to Curves again too.

Charlotte, so sorry you had to stop the methotrexate for a while. Hopefully, it won't be for long.
I just LOVED the reminders for visiting Grandkids. Looking forward to the rest.
I'm glad you're feeling better for now though. Don't wear yourself out though.

I had some really goofy foods today.
For breakfast I had a cup of bran flakes with a carton of strawberry-banana FF yogurt in it, with a cup of tea.
Lunch was a sm. carton of 1% cottage cheese and a little raw broc, caul, and carrot.
Supper was tuna salad sand., vegetable soup, and fresh strawberries.

I wonder what Thursday will bring on the scales. I'm trying to talk the woman who got me to join WW into getting a bike and go bike riding in the evenings and on weekends when it's cool enough.

Does Puss mean that you and Connie have a web site together?!? Cool! I have to get back there and finish looking at it.

Puss, I can well imagine the expression on your hubby's face when the vet suggested an animal behaviorist! :lol:
My one DIL has a cousin who has a hobby farm, and has about every kind of animal there is, but, she has a raccoon that lives in the house and is litter box trained too.:eek:

On the subject of books, .... I have a penchant for true life stuff, and more specifically, about serial killers. My family thinks it's funny. They're used to me though.

I'm glad to hear you and your hubby will get some time together this next 2 weeks. I hope your mother is doing well after her surgery. Hope nothing about it ruins you and hubby's vacation.
I got a good laugh out of his remark about your jacket.

Well, folks, I need to cut this off and get on my exercise bike again for a little while.
Good luck to everyone with your foods and exercise.
Hello to Connie. Hope your day is going well. Take care and come back soon.

EXERCISE, .....
 

Finding Time to Exercise ..... Puss, are you reading? :D

It CAN be done!
Be honest...on your list of priorities, where does exercise fall? Is it even on your list? Some of you don't exercise because you think you don't have time. You're waiting for your schedules to ease up, for school to start, or some other future event. The truth is, there's never a right time to get moving. It's now or never, so read on to find out how to make exercise a reality.
Why You Don't Exercise:

We all have excuses for why we don't exercise. Recognize any of these?
Exercise is boring. If you don't look forward to your workouts, it's no wonder you skip them. People often force themselves into activities that don't interest them which, of course, increases the quit-factor.
There are no immediate consequences to skipping a workout. It's not like you'll gain 10 pounds or suddenly get heart disease if you miss one day. But, it's easy to let the time get away from you until, pretty soon it's been a month since your last workout. Then come the consquences- weight gain, low energy and more.
You're waiting for things to calm down. Haven't you figured it out yet? Life doesn't calm down as we get older. Jobs, kids, family, social obligations...they're never going to go away. If you're waiting for a clear schedule, you're fooling yourself. Find a way to do it now.
You're waiting to fall in love with exercise. Think you'll suddenly wake up one morning, itching to get to that workout? It just doesn't work that way. You have to work at it every day and find that motivation wherever you can.
You get frustrated by lack of results. Are you a scale-watcher? Remember, it takes time to see results. If you're obsessed with the scale, it's that much harder to stay motivated. Focus on what you're getting NOW--energy, stress reduction, satisfaction, etc.
You don't have huge chunks of time to do all this exercise. You're in luck--you don't need lots of time. Just 10 or so minutes throughout the day and you've got yourself an exercise program!
Finding Fun in Exercise

You may not think of exercise as being fun, but maybe you should change your perspective a little. Working out offers a different kind of pleasure. No, it's not sitting-at-the-beach-sipping-a-tropical-drink kind of pleasure, but a wow-my-life-is-better kind of pleasure. Sound cheesy? Perhaps, but it's true that exericse gives you:

Satisfaction. Admit it--does anything feel better than finishing a workout? Is there anything that makes you feel better about yourself?
Relaxation. If you do it right, a good workout will leave you both energized and relaxed. You're alert, but not stressed and you're able to accomplish more.
Weight loss. Duh.
Better health. There's no better prescription for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other conditions related to overweight.
Confidence. There's no better confidence builder than exercise. You become comfortable in your own skin and you typically become more graceful, balanced and agile.
If you want to learn from the experts, i.e. people who've been working out for ages, read on to see how they did it.

Next: Tips and Resources for Busy People

Ever wonder how other people do it? You know them--people who always seem to find time for exercise. Hey, the had to start somewhere. Maybe you can learn a thing or two from them about making exercise your top priority:
"When I worked full-time and went to school, I used my lunch hour 2 days a week for walking/running workouts. I kept a resistance band at my desk and did whatever exercises I could during the day...if you really want to do something, you'll find a way."

"I make time. I work full time and...squeeze it in wherever I can. I take my resistance band to work and use it at breaks or lunch. I also take a little extra time on bathroom breaks and do the stairs. You may have to divide your workouts into mini-workouts."

"I started running at home on the treadmill, lifting weights again when I could...I find time, I make time, and I talk to folks about what they do. The hardest part is getting started and making it a routine. After it's a habit it's a cake walk.."

"I thought I didn't have time until I made it a PRIORITY- since changing my perspective on it - it's the LAST thing that would ever get dropped. We always manage to find time for something that is important to us."

"Most days will pack my gym bag the night before, so it's there as a reminder of what I need to do after work. I keep a notebook and plan my workout schedule for the week in advance each week so I have an idea of what I'm going to be doing."

"It make it a higher priority than other things. I wake up an hour earlier just to be sure I have the time for exercise. If that eats up available leisure time in the evening, so I can get to sleep early enough to be healthy, so be it."

It's not easy making exercise a habit, nor does it have to be the equivalent of moving a mountain. It starts with a decision and is followed by taking an action. That action can be as simple as walking the dog or as complicated as training for a marathon. Either way, there's no better time to start than now.

Hello Everyone,

Wow, so much information, it is really hard to keep everyone straight. You guys sound like you have been cyber-friends forever. :) I am really enjoying this group of people, thanks for letting me join.

Puss, I was watching BBC America this evening, I love Ground Force and Changing Rooms. What happened to Allen Titmarsh he was my favorite on Ground Force. I really had to listen close when I first started watching it to understand what the designers and hosts were saying, but now I can readily understand what they are talking about. Some of the things we call one thing you call another, but it is just fun to watch and listen. It is amazing how close we are through technology. :lol:

Really, Puss, Bodice Rippers, that's a new term for me. Well, I'll just keep on reading my Bodice Rippers. :devil:

Hope your Mother is feeling better, heaven forbid that you DH would strangle her. It is nice that she has her family to depend on though. :^:

Is that cool, or what? A size 8 US jacket. What a nice compliment DH paid to you. :D I am happy for you, I can imagine how thrilled you were.

Willow, well anytime you get on over here to Manitowoc, just let me know when you are coming. I'll take a few days off of work and we can get in some sight seeing and stuff. Yes, the River Walk gets bigger and better every year. Just whatever you do, don't bring that rose bush along. Just kidding, I would probably like it. I have one climing red rose, but it is small yet. I don't have any tea roses anymore, they froze out one winter. I do have just regular rose bushes, a couple of pink ones, a white one and a couple of red ones. I have to better understand how to winter them over, so I don't loose any. Last winter I lost one and almost lost the white one, but it eventually came back. Oh, by the way, good for you for standing up to human resource people at work. Even before the new laws the insurance companies were not releasing information the way they used to. It's about time we got that privacy act.

Sheila, ooooh, cold enough to be wearing jackets. Way too soon, it's only September. Somehow I had the impression that Washington had mild temperate climates, because of the ocean. Well, it is nice to keep learning new things. I get a lot of garden magazines, 4 at least. When ever they feature a garden from the State of Washington or Oregon, I am soooo envious. The gardens are always so lush. The roses are so fantastic, I just guess I assumed the weather was much milder than here in the midwest.

I hope your son gets the job that he wants. The economy is not too great over here either. We haven't hired anyone for a long time at the company I work for. Just tell him never give up. The right job is just waiting for him.

Sue and Connie, where are your home pages? Can we visit them? I kind of got lost in the conversation and I am not understanding how to find your pages. I have a DIL and she and her Mother are wonderful stampers. My DIL made the wedding programs for my son's and her wedding. She stamps all her thank you notes. Her Mother is a quilter and does beautiful sewing also. I tried quilting once, it is still 1/2 done in a box in the storage room, that I did not get cleaned last weekend. Ha :(

Guess what ladies, as soon as my feet hit the floor this morning, well I took a detour to the bathroom first, then I put on my tennies and got on the treadmill and walked for twenty minutes and then did some stretching. Tomorrow, I have to get up earlier and head for the treadmill as soon as my feet hit the floor. I only allowed myself ten minutes to drive to work today and it usually takes about twelve if there is no snow or ice.

Sue, I have plentry of room where I have the treadmill, and I tried watching TV while walking, but it was too distracting and too much noise for me. I have several excercise CD's that are just music I play, and that seems to work out ok for me. Thanks for the suggestion though. And it was only 50 degrees last night in New York. Gosh guys, it is only September. :(

Angel, that was a cute post about grandkids. Every one of them is probably a true statement too. I could probably add some more from my treasure trove of grandchildren experiences if I thought about it for awhile. :p

Had a work day from (well u know) today. Brought it all on myself too. Got too upset over small things, not worth it. When oh when will I ever learn?:?:

Take care forum buddies. Talk to later.

P.S. Is there spell check on this html? Also thank you for the heads up about what ICBINB stands for. I tried every kind of word combination I could think of, before I asked. I did not want any of you to think I wasn't cool or that I was not a with-it Grandma.

Bluet

http://www.countrycolors.nu/graphics.../chocsign1.gif http://www.countrycolors.nu/graphics.../beartray1.gif Hi everyone...gonna have another long day...thought I better post now.:dizzy:

Bluet....that's great that you're inspired to go right to the treadmill in the morning! I can't exercise....but if I could...still would be too lazy for that! You're a gread addition to the thread. I can't keep up, either....just do the best I can. I really enjoy reading your posts! I've got 11 grands...so probably could write a whole book!:D

Willow...thanks for the well-wishes. I'm doing ok, for now. I'll let the dr worry about me.:lol: Hope all goes well with your family visiting. Do you think there'll be any problems with nosy sons & DIL's? I hope not. Hope you can enjoy this visit.

Fatpuss....I can't believe the speed limits there! We can do 70 on Interstates in certain (few) places. Most around here are 55-65. The patrol cars will (hide out) to catch us speeding. I guess they're low on revenue! Sorry you're still having problems with your mother. I'm afraid I wouldn't have the patience you have. Don't guess you have much choice..........

GRANDKIDS VISITS CONTINUED...

7. Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

8. Super glue is forever.

9. You probably do not want to know what that odor is.

10. Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Plastic toys do melt.

11. A six-year-old can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year-old man says they can only do it in the movies.

12. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy. It however makes cats dizzy. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy........
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