***THE SENIOR WW CHALLENGE*** Thurs 1/17

We got Maybean last night and he will be here until Saturday while Maija is in DC for the Right to Life March and Debbie is in Chicago with Jim for a concert and to meet his Dad and stepmom. I had a good night's sleep with only a few issues with the dogs and Maybean. He wanted Bridgette's spot in the bed and she won't give up that spot for anything so Maybean started hitting her with his claws out and all that got him was her growling! So I ended up putting Maybean in the bedroom he had shared with Maija along with his blanket, food and water and closed the door. He stayed quiet in there until 6 this morning and I couldn't believe I slept that late. But I don't think there will be play between him and Bailey as he's as big as she is now and Bailey is terrified of him. I've seen videos of dogs and cats and always thought they were funny until I see my almost 12 year old beagle backed into a corner and trembling with fear and my little Bailey so frightened she walks constantly looking over her shoulder to see if he's anywhere near her. He can now get into everything and I had to move little waffle into the bathroom and close the door as Maybean can jump on everything including the top of his cage and I saw him on my kitchen counter stretching and he could reach the top of the fridge! He thinks he should be allowed to just sit in the kitchen sink and last night when I took him out he actually bit me in the face! So it could be a long three days!

We resolved an issue we had yesterday for now. Our son lost his job in November when his company was bought out and they brought in their own people. He has been looking and doing a little consulting work but nothing so far. Well we have been asking are they okay and been told oh yes everything is fine. His wife handles all their finances. This week he's at a trade show in Dallas doing consulting work and talking to his contacts to see if they know of anything. So Tuesday night his wife facetimed us asking us for $20,000 or they would lose their house next week! We were stunned as that's a huge amount of money to ask anyone for and we have lived frugally to be able to have a comfortable retirement. Plus I wondered why she didn't ask her brother who is a lawyer and very wealthy for the money. She said she was too embarrassed and then added if you can find a way to get the money please don't tell Mike as I will at some point but he would be embarrassed that I was asking. Well we weren't having them in the street but like I said that's a lot of money. We know even though she said I can pay you back in two weeks as he's getting a check from a company he used to work for as he's cashing out his retirement fund with them we probably won't see that money again as it was this time last year it was the same story but only $2,500 and we never saw that and she didn't want him knowing. So we went to our bank to see the safest way to get the money to their mortgage company and the lady there said would you like me to check something for you? What she brought up on her screen is public knowledge and their house was in foreclosure and set to be sold next week! So she saw what their house payment and they have missed 10 months of house payments! She said you need to talk to the bank that has their mortgage to see what forms of payment they accept as you would not want to send it the wrong way and not have it accepted. So that was another fiasco as they didn't want to tell me as we're not on the account and I kept saying look I know the balance due, I know the account number all I want to know is do you accept a cashier check or money order. I wanted to do money order as if it got lost we would get the money back. So after 20 minutes of going from one person to another they said we do not accept personal checks and I said totally understandable and only accept certified checks which include cashier checks and money orders. Don't understand why that was such a difficult question to answer! So got money orders and went to the post office and sent it overnight return receipt. We were going to send it registered mail but they said that's such a secure system it takes 2-3 weeks to be delivered. So I let her know it was sent and should be there by noon today. I then said I have to tell you we cannot do this again as we just don't have it. With all the help we've given Debbie I know she'll pay us back some of it but we also know with Cindy we'll never see it again. So we were pretty disappointed that she let things get this bad and what I don't understand is why she missed 10 months as he was working until November. Plus did our son know or is the real reason she doesn't want us saying anything is he didn't know since she handles the mail and paying the bills. So that's my new stress but Fred said we have done all we can and this is something they have to figure out or ask her brother next time but I think if she did that he would tell Mike. So knowing we've done what we can for them made me more relaxed as the day progressed.

Good morning Ruth and friends.

Don has his annual physical this morning. We’ve already gotten our blood work and his was very good. I won’t go this time. I have laundry to do.

I’ve had too many days of haphazard eating so today I will control it. I’ve planned food for the day.

Tonight is our home owners association annual meeting, which is usually contentious. I plan to go and am hoping Don will go with me.

Let’s see, supplements:
Geritol complete but only 3-4 days a week as I eat lots of veggies, fruit.
Magnesium, for my heart and bones. No vitamin D or calcium as my count was high. I’m actually not allowed to take calcium.
Biotin and Chromium
I stopped fish oil as it really thinned my blood too much, doctor was ok with that. I may start taking it again though.
Preservision for eyes., per eye doctor. I have dry macular.
I have a policy when I start a new supplement, I need to see a difference or I won’t continue. Of course unless the doctors says take it.

About calcium - no supplement and no dairy yet my blood calcium is good. So you see you can get calcium from vegetables. I was told not to supplement as they think my blockage was from calcium.

Back to the laundry.

Sharon

Sandy Sorry about your family problems too. It seems no matter the age we will always worry about our kids.

The problem with the kitten and your dogs was why we gave our kitty up. He just was tormenting Kelcy and we couldn't have that. Well he was also tormenting us with those claws and ruining furniture. An older cat might have worked.

I have been on the phone with two different companies regarding that travel insurance. I was told to pay the bill and submit a receipt but it will have to have info on it that I no longer know since the trip was in July 2016 and I don't keep informed for 2 1/2 years especially when I think it was all taken care of. So I will pay the $300 and hope that I can get the needed info and get the money back from that care flight. I just am tired of dealing with them.

I am not going to make it to Silver Sneakers. I just think I am not able to handle that today. I don't want to get dressed or leave the house and would have to do that soon. I spent an hour on the phone already and have not had breakfast. I need to call and make appointments for my mammogram and dexa scan and bloodwork. I have a concert at the clubhouse tonight that I have paid for and I just don't feel like getting dressed to go to SS and dealing with travel to get there. I could make up my own routine and do it so perhaps I will give that a try. I think this is one of the down days I have been told about.

Supplements---I take calcium, fish oil, , zinc, B complex

Good morning. Sandy what an awful story about DIL. I would be very learly about not letting DS know. 10 months of problems is a lot she has kept from him.

Guess what weather Im having today. If you thought gray and rain your are right.

Just had fresh pineapple and cottage cheese for breakfast Fulins for a birthday lunch with the Sweethearts. Crochet group this morning and work this evening.

Have to run..............

Sandy I agree and would tell your son.


I did 20 min of constant movement so counting that as aerobic exercise. I will get a couple of cans and do some movement with them when I am off this computer. I am glad I did not rush out to go to SS. I have been on the phone and set up all 3 appointments plus the cleaning women for Feb. I only have them every 6 weeks because I am "cheap" Well that is part of it but I don't mind the cleaning if I can reach it and have time to do it. As much as I hate making phone calls I am glad to be done with them and can not handle another one today.

I have never worn out a Coach item but my wallet is looking very worn. I have another one (of course) so will get it out and use it. If Don were alive he would be ordering me a new one for Valentine's Day and be so happy that it was something I "needed". I really miss him but that made me smile because he loved buying me things from Coach. Some of them still have the tags on them. I think that memory made me feel better.

Twice this week I have heard a story from a woman at the Grief Session and from my "new" minister yesterday. Both stories concerned being in a grocery and seeing an item that reminded them of their person who had passed away and how much that person loved that particular item (one was cookies and the other was something I can't remember) Seeing that in the grocery brought them each to instant tears. The minister said his was about his father and how much he loved that cookie and he just started weeping uncontrollably. The minister was also saying that grief is like being on a roller coaster and so earlier today I felt the plunging and now I am OK again. Also people mention how they still talk to that person so I am glad I am not the only one doing that. Luxury cars are a constant site in this area and we always said there was never a day we didn't see a Mercedes. So I still drive and say out loud--There is today's Mercedes. That is a fun memory that I am glad I am still doing.

Jane, You are entitled to a slower day. Still sounds if you have a lot on today's plate. And I am sure you can find some activity in home as well. Just dance a bit, sing and take Kelcy for an extra walk. Enjoy your day.

I weigh every day so guess that challenge is useless for me. Have done it for years so no changing that.
Supplements, Super B complex, Fish Oil, Multi vitamin for 50+ Women, extra fiber and Hair, Skin and Nails. Used to take Caltrate +D but they told me to stop using that.

Went outside to fill bird feeders and take letter to mail box. Had on my big girl Columbia Boots, decided to walk up the highway and did those boots ever increase the workout. Have 4200 steps of my daily 5500 so should be over that by bedtime. It is a very gray day and had skiff of snow during the night but is a mild 34 degrees with no wind so really a joyful walk except for the semi's and farm pickup's with trailers. Highway was wet so a lot of road splatter. Thankfully I was close to a gravel road intersection so I could walk a little ways down that road to avoid the splatters. Only two cars went by while was out there and most seemed to be respectful and pulled into other lane. I don't do that often but just on impulse I decided to walk and never thought about the wet roadway and splatters. This week will be a really different story so no walking outside for several days according to forecast temps, strong winds and possible snow most everyday thru Tuesday. Will see, it is what it is. Trying to talk DGD to stay in Ottumwa as she is to work nights this weekend. Her dad lives just 2 blocks from her house and they can see that her SO and children are ok thru this snowstorm. Yes we always worry about them.

Sandy, sorry about your new situation. Hopefully we have ours weaned away but guess one never knows.
Sharon, hope Don's DR report is good.
Geri and Vicki enjoy your busy day.
Carolyn hoping your are felling better each day. I think I saw that Starbucks drink on Facebook this morning. No Starbucks close here so have not had anything from there.
Praying Mr. Mike's stress test provides good news.

Hello to all who follow. Going to quilt some this afternoon. I did get to Hospice yesterday afternoon and stopped at Blood Bank but so one came to the counter so not going to worry if I do not get there on Monday. Always another day somewhere else.