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Post by suewms on Mar 23, 2020 12:15:23 GMT
This is a place for all those in their 50's & 60’s to get together and gab. Talk about what is on your mind be it the WW'er program, family, friends, or anything you'd like to share. The Lighter Side Cafe is open 24/7....First one here please use the copy/paste method to get us going. All like-minded people are always welcome here.
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Post by suewms on Mar 23, 2020 12:23:46 GMT
Good Morning, WW Friends ~
Happy Monday!! We woke to about an inch of snow on the ground this morning and it's still gently falling. I don't think I will try to walk today, but since I need exercise, I will take my Kindle downstairs and ride my stationary bike for a while. Hopefully that will help with the sciatica pain I am experiencing. I also found that Silver Sneakers is posting exercise videos as well as my Fitness Studio, available both on Facebook and sent via email. I think that is so very thoughtful of them.
Ann ~ I hope you're okay this morning. I was surprised when I opened up the Cafe and found no one here. Of course, I just noticed that I am a bit earlier than usual. This was good practice for me to remember how to open the Cafe. Looking forward to hearing from you.
Judy ~ I just read your last post from last evening. Glad you are doing well working from home.
Pam ~ Glad you got your friend moved without a problem. So sad when there is that kind of conflict in a family. You are a very good friend.
Today I have a few things to do around here, then our governor has scheduled a news conference at 11 a.m. that I would like to watch. I have started a new time travel romance book that I will work on today. I am getting emails of more and more stores closing around us. Really ?!? I would have thought they were already closed! But I guess not .....
BBL. Make a great day!
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Post by judy709 on Mar 23, 2020 12:53:13 GMT
Hi Sue,
Thanks for opening today and hi to Pam and Ann.
Nothing new since last night’s novella I wrote. Lol
i didn’t really rest too well and I’m back at work at my kitchen table today!
Ill check in later. Sue, I saw the Silver Sneakers message in my email so I shall check it out! i had shredded wheat and a banana or breakfast with 1% milk. Off to a healthy start. Have a good one!
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 23, 2020 19:19:52 GMT
Hi gals. Just now getting online and into the Cafe. We took advantage of the early senior shopping hour at BJ's and left the house shortly after 7 a.m. and headed to Leominster. Luckily it wasn't crowded. We were met at the door by a cop who was handing out Clorox wipes! We got what we could. No TP or PT there but we are all set in that department. Only thing I was not able to get was rubbing alcohol. Right now it's snowing out there!!!! I guess Mother Nature feels the need to filter the air I remember my gramma used to say that all the time whenever it snowed or rained! Sue thanks for getting us started. I hope the bike helps with your sciatica pain. Nothing worse than that! I suffered last week with back pain and it went down into my leg and finally it's just about gone. That really is thoughtful of them posting the exercise videos. Judy your turkey breast in the instant pot sounded really good. We made one awhile back and it was tasty as well. What I like the best is that you can brown meat first and then add ingredients after all in ONE POT Makes for easier clean up. I heard from Toni (Steve's wife) and she was in tears. Steve was sleeping and she wanted to reach out. I was happy she called. She told me that it's easier for her to call as that way she can 'talk'. I fully understand. Waving to Pam. Hope y'all have as stress free of an evening as you can. Judy I'm sleeping but not as well as I have been. I am also having very strange dreams.....dreams of being lost and in a strange place.....
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Post by sunshinep396 on Mar 23, 2020 19:33:39 GMT
Hello friends!
I slept very well last night and woke before my alarm this morning. It is sunny and very warm today--82 at the moment. It is laundry day and the last load is in the washer, so I am chugging right along.
We face-timed with DD3 last evening and her anxiety is through the roof. Her boss called and wants her to come back to work, her DH was still not working from home and the only kids in daycare are kids of healthcare workers, so the daycare owner is not recommending they send the kids back right now. She cried, I cried and tried hard to make her feel better. We are both very aware that it may be a long time before we see each other in person again. By this morning, things had improved. MI governor ordered shelter in place, so she won't have to go back to work and her DH has been told to work from home also. I also suggested she look for some online or tele-counseling. She does take medication for her anxiety.
DH's wound care doctor had ordered a removable walking cast for him to wear to help take pressure off his wound. He picked it up today and it's the wrong thing. He called and the provider will have the correct one over-nighted and hopefully, he will be able to pick it up when he goes for wound care tomorrow. It's a 40 minute drive and today's was a wasted trip.
The pork loin came out great! All I did was put it in the crockpot on low and pour a can of rootbeer over it. It simmered all afternoon and was easy to shred. I put it in a pan with bbq sauce and simmered until warm. We had it on a bun with air fries and sauteed yellow squash and had enough to freeze for another meal + lunch leftovers for one day this week. Tonight will be black-eyed peas & sausage with brown rice and some sauteed shredded cabbage. I add just a tsp. or so of olive oil and a clove of garlic saved from my favorite Garlic Expressions salad dressing. When all the dressing is gone, I save the garlic cloves that are leftover in a small container in the fridge and use them for flavoring different dishes.
Ann - Glad all is well with you and Carl and your shopping trip went well. I feel for your friends--added sadness at an already difficult time.
Sue - I knew you had snow, as DD3 posted a pic of one of her "new co-workers" with nose pressed to the window looking out at the snow. I'm with you on stores still being open, but I guess they were trying hard to stay afloat and not have to lay off employees. Such a stressful time! Exercise is definitely a plus, both for WL and stress relief. I'm glad you have other options on snowy days.
Judy - It gets harder and harder to face-time with precious family and not get teary. Good idea about virtually playing with DGKs! The lack of traffic is strange, even in my quiet neighborhood. I have started noticing every vehicle which passes, simply because there are so few. The description of your turkey dinner had my mouth watering!
Today marks one week we have been socially distant. It hasn't been as bad as I anticipated, but strange none-the-less. I think it is bothering DH more than me, which is funny, since I am the social butterfly. His medically-related trips today and tomorrow will help, I think. As soon as laundry is done, I plan to spend some time reading in the green room.
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 23, 2020 20:46:00 GMT
Pam keeping DD3 in my prayers. Hope she can find online help. So sorry DH made that trip for nothing. Hope the right one comes in.
It's snowing heavily now and beginning to stick. One more thing to deal with.
Stay well.
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Post by judy709 on Mar 24, 2020 1:32:59 GMT
Hi all, We had quite a bit of snow today! It looks pretty and freshened up the scenery. Mother Nature chugs right along and pays no attention to viruses just like kids, pets and animals. We had a very pretty red fox dash across the snowy yard at dinner time. Today I dashed into my office to pick up a few things especially checks from donors that really shouldn’t sit for too long. I brought them to the right place in our office - however no one was working so I put them in the dropbox. It did feel a little bit creepy going into the office which was like a virtual ghost town. I saw our college president briefly and another vice president and that was it. They didn’t stick around long either and it’s a good thing because our governor called for all of us to stay home. It’s not a law yet but pretty much a requirement that all but essential businesses will now shut down. I do think it’s kind of funny that one of the essential businesses here are liquor stores, but I guess there would be a riot if they closed down too! Pam, I’m so sorry that your daughter is feeling such a level of anxiety, but I’m glad that she is now at home alone with her husband. Maybe she can access an online therapist and someone to talk to to help her through this scary time. It’s so hard to be away from our love ones when they’re going through such a tough time. I’m sorry your husband received the wrong walking cast after all of that running around, but I guess this sort of thing happens sometimes and I’m glad it will be corrected tomorrow. Doesn’t it seem like a lifetime ago since this started and not just one week? My DH was saying that we’ll never be able to look at big crowds again and feel comfortable.
I worked pretty hard today because I had to redo some budgets for our department, set up some conference calls, doing agenda for one of the calls and conference with other people so I was tired by the time for o’clock rolls around.
Sue, thank you so much for the tip on the virtual Silver sneakers class. I just finished a half hour session and it was my first exposure to Silver sneakers. I liked it quite a bit. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be but that shows you just how out of shape I am right now. Pretty pathetic for me but I will get there. Our work yoga teacher is offering online classes, too. Also, I do plan to join my 7:30 am WW class tomorrow via Zoom. My eating has been a free for all at times. Tonight we had burgers through our delivery service - Hello Fresh. So good!
And I’m glad you were able to make a trip and get most of what you needed at BJs. I wonder when Scott people will catch up with all the need for the toilet paper, paper towels and so forth. Already people are reporting plumbing problems here because I’m sure they’re using the wrong materials to flush down the toilets.
My husband and I started watching The Stranger on Netflix earlier today. I had seen it a couple of months ago but I don’t mind watching it again because sometimes I forget the plot lines after watching so many other shows! I really do want to focus on more reading and other creative projects like knitting or even my little coloring project or playing the ukulele in my free time. Too much screen time is not good for me !
Have a great night everyone and I’ll be in touch tomorrow. Sleep well café dwellers!
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Post by sunshinep396 on Mar 24, 2020 3:55:28 GMT
judy709,I didn't know you play the ukelele!!!
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 24, 2020 11:53:34 GMT
Wising all a good morning once again. We took advantage of the senior shopping hour at Hannafords and picked up all that we didn't get to bring home yesterday. Now we are all set for awhile. I keep a running list and when it's filled up, we shop. Carl is out there right now as I type plowing once again where the snow plow came to block driveways Such a pain, but oh well...it's part of the beauty of living in 'snow-land'. Judy I also think it looks so pretty! It surely must be odd seeing your place of employment so sparse, Judy. Glad that you are able to work from home. Brings in $$ plus keeps your mind occupied. I've made my hummus, wiped down the bathrooms and kitchen counters and dry mopped the kitchen floor. Once Carl gets back, we'll enjoy a cup of coffee (or 2) together and walk LuLa while we pick up the mail. Stay safe and prayers continue.
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Post by suewms on Mar 24, 2020 14:06:07 GMT
Good Morning, WW Friends ~
Happy Tuesday! I got up early and went to Meijer for the Senior shopping hour before the store opened. I was back home before 8 o'clock. Ann, like you I keep a running list in my phone and when it is time I go. I got everything on my list except a couple of things. They were completely OUT of eggs and Egg-Beaters. But I got most of what I had on my list.
Our Governor has locked down the State of Michigan. On top of that, DH and I suffered a terrible loss last night. We were talking about the day and asked each other if we had heard from DH’s VBF (who has been home sick with what sounded like the flu). We had been in text contact with him all week (after having lunch with him the previous Sunday). He did not answer after midday Saturday so by yesterday afternoon DH suggested I call him which I did, only to get a message that his VM box was full. DH said in almost 30 years of being close, that had never happened. We both had a terrible feeling something was very wrong. I texted #2 son in Grand Rapids who said he hadn’t heard from his dad since Friday. He offered that his sister had returned to this area and was at their mom’s. I called her; she had not talked to him, but she offered to go over and check the house. There they found him on the couch, unresponsive. Then she texted me that he was gone. The Sheriff’s deputy who came to the house asked if I would talk to him as we knew much more about his illness and duration, etc. I explained to him that if it were not for the fact that we are both in our 70’s and VBF seemed to present with flu-like symptoms and our health care system is already taxed to the max (which he assured me he understood) we would have gone out there to check on him in person. We talked to both sons last evening and the one in Grand Rapids drove home immediately and #1 son started the drive home from North Carolina. Needless to say, our hearts are broken!! DH is still in shock. In this terrible time, we can’t even get together to support each other which makes it even worse!!We are still trying to wrap our heads around this terrible loss!! Prayers would be appreciated.
We are fed and planning to go for a walk later. At least the sun is shining today.
BBL. Make a great day!!
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 24, 2020 14:52:26 GMT
(((Sue))) my heart goes out to you your DH and all friends and family involved. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
I pray that you enjoy your walk.
Be gentle with yourself (((hugs)))
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 24, 2020 17:01:44 GMT
Just got back from a hood walk. If I go again I'll dress warmer. Still cool even though we have sunshine.
Not many out and about today. I guess they are all parking it at home.
Stay safe.
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Post by sunshinep396 on Mar 24, 2020 17:42:30 GMT
Oh Sue! What heartrending news! I am sure you and DH are both in shock. Be alert to any signs of infection in DH or yourself and seek medical advice early on. Keeping you both in prayer.
So far today, I have managed to get dressed, do a yoga session and eat a brunch/lunch of leftover bbq pork on a whole wheat roll and air fries and a bit of shredded cabbage with Garlic Expressions dressing. I also did quite a bit of emailing and my cousins wife has mailed 60 masks she made that we will give to hospice and DH's wound clinic nurses.
Our governor held a televised question and answer period last night and one of the panelists was a psychiatrist I worked closely with. I reached out today and he is sending me some info for DD3. I am really worried that her anxiety will spin out of control.
I plan to have some outdoor time this afternoon. It is still mostly cloudy, but very warm-- 79 now and 84 predicted. DH will need help getting sweet corn planted. He has already been in the garden way too much, against doctor's orders. We strongly feel that growing as much as we can will be good for us and for family and neighbors with whom we share.
Praying all of us stay healthy!
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Post by ann1953 on Mar 24, 2020 18:27:02 GMT
How nice of you and DH to share produce. Praying the psychiatrist helps DD anxiety. Enjoy your outdoor time Pam. Send some of that heat my way
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Post by suewms on Mar 24, 2020 20:18:22 GMT
We took a short hood walk which we enjoyed very much. My sciatica is going away slowly but surely. I had a long talk with DH's VBF's daughter. I had encouraged her to call me whenever she needed to and she did today. She is quite tearful but holding up well. I am sure it is especially hard for her because she and her dad had a terrible row right before she left for Florida (for Spring Break). She said she called him when she got back and left him a message but he never called her back. That was most likely this past weekend. At any rate, both her brothers are home now and they are starting to organize things. We are awaiting autopsy results. We won't be able to hold a Celebration of Life until all this Cornonavirus stuff is over.
DH and I are having the last two quarter-pound all beef franks (from Sam's) tonight. DH brought home a container of Coney Island chili and chopped onions to put on them. They will really hit the spot (and still keep me within my SP for the day).
While shopping I bought another 3 lb bag of Halos at Meijer. We have eaten the last 3 of the old bag this afternoon so it is a good thing I replaced it.
Hope you all are having a good day.
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