November Survivors - week1

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

Good morning friends,

Last thing I heard before I fell asleep last night was that President Obama had been re=elected. I was also relieved & slept well

Wishing everyone a great AF Hump day - I'm off to see the dentist, etc, etc.
Lav

[cyntree]

November Survivors - week1

Hello first-rate survivors -

Chill - you really earned that moniker this month. You can never write too much about how you got through it all - I feel apprehensive just reading about it in the past...good job extricating yourself, and I hope you get some well-deserved rest now.

Kas - great pic, thanks. Just reading the slide of your waterways from small farms and villages to dustbowl to invasive greens made me sad. I'm feeling like I'm not sure how much progress 'progress' has given us. When I was without electricity I felt a strange kind of freedom. When everyone else was thrilled with the return of power, I felt nostalgic, and instead of feeling more 'human' as everyone else seemed to, I felt somehow less so. Ah well, maybe more of the wonder and question of 'fitting in' that we often discuss...

Hope all easterners can cope with the coming storm. I feel out of place here in FL (though I did go to party headquarters and make phone calls yesterday, just to feel useful); I'm worried about home. I left the dog-sitter without a shovel, but being a resourceful girl she brought one from her home to ours, thank goodness.

Greetings to all - Rusty be careful and rest as much as you can, please. Everyone, please take good care of yourselves ----

[Chillgirl]

November Survivors - week1

Evening Guys

Thank you for all your kind words and congrats to all the Obama supporters!

Kaslo - Im curious if working with the environment and having the knowledge of the crap thats out there, does it make you very cautious about the products you buy? I mean are you very into natural eating and healthy cleaning products in your home. I've recently been buying all the green ones but it is tough always keeping to it as they are always the most expensive.

LBH - Clone me a Lord Bird Heart

Lav - Having done all the work on getting my own head straight I am just not up for coping with someone who has had a lifetime of issues to sort out and deep seated unhappiness. "Chronically unhappy men" can stay away! I reckon YB did you a favor by allowing you to make your space a negative free zone.

Rusty - You definitely get to screen all future suitors, If you were closer I would take you on all my 1st dates as my chaparone How do you do it with all that traveling!? Please take care of yourself.

Star - Glad to hear your blues have gone, I find this time of year an adjustment as its dark so early that we seem to lose half the day.

Cyn - Greeting to you in Florida!

I made a very bold decision today. As I am now further away from the gym I was using I calculated the cost of fuel I would spend to get there and was quite shocked at the amount. As my main exercise routine is spinning classes or static bike I decided to buy a rather expensive proper spinning bike and cancel my gym membership. I have room in the garage to make an exercise area and the bike comes with 4 spinning class DVD's. Im just praying I have the same discipline to work out at home as I do for going to the gym but Im usually pretty good at motivating myself. I also bought a mat and dumbells and intend to make the area a proper workout zone. I will also save a huge amount of time and when I get round to finding a job I have no excuse not to get up early and have a workout before breakfast!

I have put some photos on photobucket of my apartment and of the Red Lodge Estate.

Red Lodge by chillgirl_01 | Photobucket

[Kaslo]

November Survivors - week1

Chill I could try to answer that question sure. I have shortened this up, my answer was too long. Cleaning products...I definetely do not use any phosphorous laden soaps, or perfumed stuff. We use unsented drier sheets. I have cut back on the amount of soap that gets discharged to water treatment. I have used TSP but wince when I flush it knowing its caustic as hell. Mostly I use green cleaning products. AND elbow grease.

I dont like that our use of hormones is feminizing a large number of wetland and salt marsh species. I would not take a hormone replacement therapy just for hot flash control, thats over kill in my opinion, but I sympathise with people who do. I just dress for it. I try to eat organically grown vegetables, but mainly because they taste better. I have seen the tox work that went into the advisory for pregnant women not to eat farmed salmon more than once a week, and I thought it was solid research, but I got quite irritated with the outfit from Harvard who announced that eating eggs was worse than smoking. I dont smoke, or drink, obvi, but I watched my mother smoke and drink herself into the grave at 90. 90 isnt bad. People are basically rather hard to kill compared to many species. We are wiping things out at a horrifying rate, and most will never know what they even were.

In the end we have a lifespan that is limited by our genetics, our environment, what we are exposed to, etc. I know people die or are dibilitated or have shortened lifespans from exposures to toxic substances. Both chronic and acute. Mr Kaslo and I work on these very issues in western and northern Canada. We try to live sensibly. But I could get hit by a truck tomorrow. Thats my biggest risk, where I am.

I could write a whole bunch here, but I think I will stop now.

[Rusty]

November Survivors - week1

Good Evening Sober Friends of November,

I am at the airport awaiting my flight to Nashville. Today has been a challenge, emotionally and physically. I got all 5 of my staples out today but I have been suffering from lightheadedness and dizziness on and off. It put me in a blue mood as I was told walking would be the only exercise I would be able to safely do for the next 8 weeks or so. My energy level is low and I am struggling to snap out of this melancholic funk. Fortunately, drinking is not even a thought for me and I have to accept that sometimes I'll feel like this. I am just not used to being idle. I love those sweat-splashing workouts and they will have to wait.

Cyn-I sure hope everything back in CT is ok. I so understand why you're worried. How long are you in Florida? I loved hearing your perspective on the power outage. I agree with you, it is sort of a freedom. You can't be tied down to a TV, laptop or household chores that involve using energy. What did you do with all your spare time when you had no electricity?

Kaslo-I am trying to "walk the talk" as I pursue this career in the environmental management field. Rather than waste hundreds of plastic bottles and pollute the environment, I refill my water bottle at the airport. O'Hare Airport just put in filtered water fountains where people can fill their bottles of water. It's really nice. A very small perk to ease the burden of flying, I guess.

Star-I'm with you on concentrating on our relationships rather than the materialistic part of the holidays. Already in the stores, it's Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. I've decided to re-connect with a close friend from high school and nurture that relationship. She lives about 3 hours from me but she is an empty nester now so hopefully she feels the same way.

Chill-good for you for deciding to work out at home instead of the gym in order to save some $$$.:goodjob: You're very disciplined when it comes to exercise so I am sure your converted garage will serve you well as far as a makeshift gym. I have not looked at your photobucket pics yet but will try to do so this evening.

Well, I guess we are boarding now. I hope everyone enjoys the freedom of an AF night.

[papmom3]

November Survivors - week1

Chill!!! Your pics are gorgeous!! This place is so you! minimalistic, clean and simple yet with enough nature to satisfy you. Elle looks so at home! And it comes with a garage and did I see a soaking tub? I'll be right over!!
Thank you fo sharing the saga of the last couple of weeks with Mr. S. You were treading on dangerous territory and I'm so happy you saw it for what it was and got the Hell out of there!!
I have no doubt you will take full advantage of your new workout space. Just think of the garage as your own personal gym right next door! If you could get up, out and drive to the gym in the past, you can walk down the stairs and open the door. Way to go Sistah!!

Rusty-please take it easy!! Concussions have a nasty way of rearing their ugly heads days/weeks after an injury with post concussive syndrome. Your poor brain took a huge beating and it needs rest and TLC. Heed the dizzyness and lightheadedness and think twice about your upcoming crazy travel schedule. You will be able to work out again, but you might just have to wait until after the holidays unfortunately. Better to wait than to be dead, no? I'm thinking of you friend and feel for you. I am no good as a patient and can't stand not being busy. Sorry for the blue mood but that's part of the after effects I'm sure. hang in there.

Cyn and Lav-the snow is here! It's a teeny bit of a mix, just enough to cause the driving to be a tad icy. I'm hoping the accumulation will be minimal tho. Right now we're at an inch or so.

Star-good to hear you are back to normal and out of your post vacation funk. Just think, someday you will NEVER have to go back to work!!

Kas-your description of how you live your life was very interesting. You have such a unique window into the natural world and climate change. Thank you for sharing!!

I haven't eaten dinner yet so I will go do so but just wanted to check in and say hi. :hallo:

[Lavande]

November Survivors - week1

We need to start week two, don't we?

Rain didn't really start until about 6 pm & it seems to be trying to turn into flakes now at 10 pm. Not really expecting much down this way - at least I hope not

cyn, I hope it's nice in FL - enjoy & don't worry about life up here :H

Chill, your pics are awesome! I hope you are very comfortable in your new digs
I have a nice treadmill but haven't been on it for a while. I actually get sore knees & ankles when I use that thing

Kas, I just read an article today that listed 10 more things possibly causing breats cancer. Cleaning agents, air fresheners, etc were big on the list.
We really do need to try to live without all these funky products.

Rusty, as a survivor of the mother of all concussions-
I'll be honest, it truly does take a long time to feel like yourself. My neurosurgeon told me it would take two years after my head injury/surgery. Yeah, it was a lot more than that!!!!!
Just take it easy & don't push yourself too hard:l

Papmom, I hope you don't get a lot of snow. It just seems too early for all that!

I should sleep like a champion tonight. Chasing 2 little boys is tremendous exercise!!!
Wishing everyone a comfy night!
Lav