Genuine July - 2016

[paulywogg]

I'm sick of summer too Lav,usually I love it but it's too damn dusty this year,I can breathe two days out of the week, yippie

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Pauly, good for you making the decision to stay away from the party that will be booze filled, good choice. You have done so well now for a long time again, keep it going, alcohol makes everything worse. I watched the speech to and promises everything, even things he is against, so it is just politics again, tough year and I am sick of watching it all.

Lav, stay cool yourself and the poor animals. My heart really goes out to people with no air right now. Whew, it is soooo hot. Typical summer though right? Or is it hotter than normal? I just know it gets hot in July, would be nice to be off, but then I would wrinkle up as I would be out at the pool the entire time!

Cyn, when I was in New England a few years ago in the summer, there was no air conditioning. It was too hot for me, I hated feel over heated all the time. The new hot tub is fun, I figured out how to cool it off, leave the cover off overnight. I have to talk to someone about the chemicals so it doesn't turn green. I had a pool for many years, but this is different, so will find out today for sure. I am having guests over and trying to think of food to have that is easy: cheese, fruit, crackers, bread and lunch meat. There, I just figured it out. Good for you for planting the rest of your plants, dusk is the best time, less sun so they can get a good start. Any plans this weekend?

Dill, hope your volunteer time was satisfying, that is so wonderful for you to commit to weekly. Being retired is the new normal now, right? I am reading a new book about the Fishing Fleet, English women sent out to India to find husbands, a degrading but necessary activity, as if you were not married, you were poor and it was a hard life. Being married didn't sound to good either. The rules were so stupid.

Have a great Saturday, all.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Star that spread sounds good to me, I love cheese and crackers, I nearly almost never get hot which is a good thing, oh sure if we had no air I'd be singing a different tune but I keep the thermostat at 79 I know some people who put it on 70, to me that's too cold brrr,don't wanna go to work,bleh,hello Cyn,Dill and Lav hope we all have a great Saturday

[treegirl]

Hi all -

Back from another mega-errand run; I did it early so that I could be home before the real heat set in. (It was 95 here yesterday, looking at the same today.) I took the dogs with, and they got their walk in as well.

Star - my plans for the weekend? Since I leave again at o'dark on Monday, I'm doing the usual; nails done on girl dog so she doesn't slip on the stairs, dog laundry done at the laundromat, pick up more canned food, pick up special treats and dog food at the store, get all bills in the mail, make more dog vegie mix, clean thehouse, etc etc etc. Ha! I have one more day, so things shouldn't be too stressful. What's up with your hot tub water turning green? Test the chemicals often - that's one thing I remember we had to do. It can be a little tricky to get the balance right at first... good luck and have fun. Here's that article on the Capricorn moon - I thought it had some really great guidance - and this period extends through August 2nd, so let's get going! Capricorn Full Moon: Everything You Need To Know - mindbodygreen.com If this link doesn't work, just go to mindbodygreen.com and search 'Capricorn Moon'.

Pauly - I second Star's congrats - good choice on the party. Really smart not to put yourself in that position. If the choice is between AL and cake, I'd say cake is better!! Good luck with the air quality... that's tough in a city.

Lav - I imagine you are so stressed about your chicky girls... so hard to keep them cool. Around here there are farms that have moveable chicken coops, and I see that they move them into the tree groves at this time of the year. I hope the heat breaks and you get a break! I was thinking today that I always think that summer will be the way it was when we were kids - time off, enjoy the outdoors, read books, etc. It just never seems to turn out that way! Between traveling, hosting people, and the land, I feel like it is the most stressful time of the year for me!

Dill - see my comments above about summer - ha! - I was actually glad to hear the cicadas, I thought well at some point all of this madness will end! That's kind of sad... I guess I'm still working on those boundaries. Hope your volunteer time went well.

OK, off to do more prep for leaving. I'm determined to see my sweet neighbor before I leave town for 3 weeks - I know it always makes her sad (though she loves the dog sitter, so she'll at least have someone across the street to say hi to.) Here's a great summer recipe that I just love - I invited her over to share it with me:Arugula Lentil Salad From Heaven (12 Min, Vegan) - Hurry The Food Up I skip the bread croutons, and it's still super-yummy.

Wishing all a great AF Saturday --

[dill]

Hello All,

Cyn, summer is my least favorite season too, but that sound of the cicada still gets to me. Perhaps it is because I used to work a school calendar and I knew that when I started hearing those insects that the opening day of the school year was not far behind! Lol! I have some other memories that are triggered by that sound and often it brings on a feeling of nostalgia, and loss, too. I hope your schedule settles down soon. I feel for you having so many disruptions to your routine. Thanks for the link, I will look at it later this afternoon.

Star, Fishing Fleet sounds interesting, but perhaps depressing. I am getting off to a slow start with my Something to Hide book, but I seem to recall that this happens to me every time I try reading a book by Moggach. She takes forever setting up the characters and then later in the book it gets interesting as their paths cross. That's wonderful about getting a hot tub! Good for you!

Pauly, I think it was wise to avoid that particular party. Good choice. It takes practice to attend social events without drinking. That one sounds like it would have been a really hard one! We set our thermostat at 72 in the summer and 65-68 in the winter.

Lav, how did Maxie's blood work go?

I have to run and pick up the grandkids. Have a peaceful AF Saturday everyone.

[Lavande]

What a day but it's almost over, ha ha!

Busy morning gathering supplies, chicken feed, etc.
This afternoon a huge quick moving storm blew in & brought trees & power lines all over the area, ugh!
Some of the roads are still blocked but the power is back on, geez.

Wishing everyone a peaceful night!

Lav

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Cyn, great links, I enjoyed the one on the moon, I hope to get out more and notice the skies as I was out in the hot tub last night. Our good friends were visiting, we went out to eat, then myself and my friend in the hot tub. I called the sales man and he helped me get the chemicals adjusted, so I will check again this morning. Another thing to learn, and that is fine by me. I have always loved the water, went swimming yesterday two times, plus the hot tub, so feeling good! You sound so busy, fun to travel, have new experiences. Three weeks is a long time to be away though, nice that you have made such good arrangements for your dogs. I loved your description of summers when we were young. Exactly.

Dill, The Fishing Fleet is not depressing at all, it has pictures, and is a great historical witness to women's history, something I have always been fascinated by. The women who went out were wined and dined, lots of parties, etc. The native people were treated very poorly in their own country. I had always wondered about the Raj, and know I have a book that is telling me all about it.

Lav, sorry your area was hit by strong storms, we had some earlier in the week. Hot and humid. 90 degrees, feels like 100. Ugh! Swimming is the only reason for me to be outside in that heat. My grandson is coming over this morning to swim, it will be so fun. Swimming and books, love it!

Pauly, I will feel the same way tomorrow, Monday, not wanting to go to work. But, I'll definitely go! I love the moula. My friend brought tomatoes from her garden, they look spectacular. She is a gardener supreme. Hope you can relax today and do something fun. Are you getting used to hubby's new schedule? I was feeling lonesome yesterday for awhile, then just thought I would go to the pool, what am I doing. So I did and I felt better, but it is HARD to be alone on Saturdays. Just happy he has a job!

Very grateful this morning for all my blessings, hope you are all good and AF.

[treegirl]

Morning all -

Lav, what a storm that must have been! Sounds like your power is on, thank goodness. Do you have a break in the heat?

Star - that book sounds great. Reading history and/or books about other lands is my idea of vacation! No airplanes needed! I'm glad you liked that moon piece, I did too. It's a great reminder to keep on being our 'best selves' and to make our dreams come true. Sometimes that message gets lost in daily life. The swimming sounds great - where do you swim?

Dill - oh my gosh, of course the cicadas would be a mournful sound for you -- that 'return to school' feeling is really ingrained, isn't it. I do remember, though that I used to look forward to one new outfit for the new school year. I haven't treated myself to that in many years! Hope you are able to stay cool and enjoy these days.

Pauly - hope all is well. I had blackberries this morning in my 'overnight oats', and I thought of you!

Well I did it - my neighbor came over and we had a nice long dinner and chat together. She loved the lentil/arugula/sundried tomato salad. It is truly a winner - 12 minutes to put together, and so yummy. I am so lucky to have her as a friend/neighbor - who else could talk with for 2 hours about brain plasticity, meditating, and camping in the old days! I actually relaxed and turned my 'To Do' list off for a while. I'm proud of myself!

Off to finish up my chores today before I go. One of the things I am doing this time is getting all our estate information and instructions together -- I spoke about it when I gave my presentation, and then thought that I should take my own advice! So, here's a challenge to you all for the coming weeks. Where are all your crucial documents? Who would step in and take care of your finances and belongings if you were incapacitated or departed? Do you have those legal documents prepared and kept in a place where they can be found? Are your beneficiaries up to date? Does anyone have access to a list of your passwords? It's hard to think about, but it is a real gift to your kids to get all this information organized and in one place. Life is unpredictable.

Off to the races - wishing all a great AF Sunday -

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, still rumbling along here trying to watch what I eat but still going over the calories for the day,I can't starve or else I get thinking about bad things if you get my drift, oh well I'm just gonna accept who I am as I am but not go hogwild either, think I'll uninstall sparkpeople,most of them are trying to lose 100 lbs anyways, I feel like it's just more pressure over nothing, sounds like everyone is keeping busy and trying to enjoy the summer hopefully it'll start cooling off or at least rain once in awhile, hello Star,Lav,Dill and Cyn hope we all have a great day

[Lavande]

Good evening friends!

Had most of the family here for dinner, my grandson had spent the night last night.
The power co is still working around getting things back to pre-storm order. All that crazy weather brought absolutely no heat relief. Tomorrow (Monday) is supposed to be the hottest day we've had in 4 years
I am not a fan of summer, no way.

Strar, you are enjoying summer enough for the both of us I guess, ha ha! Glad to see someone appreciative of this un-favorite season.
I hope you enjoyed time with your grandson.

Cyn, glad you enjoyed your two hour lunch with a good friend - sounds perfect
Believe it or not we are all organized with the estate stuff. That is something the overly morbid YB feels strongly about so it's done. Remember a while back when he insisted we get the new headstone on the family lot? Yeah, it's done all with all the other stuff. I wish you a safe & wonderful trip once again.

Pauly, I get fed up with calorie counting, carb & protein counting & all that. I have found I do better by planning meals mostly around plants - veggies, salad greens & add some protein in the form of chicken, turkey (small portions), whole grains (less pasta these days). I don't consume a lot of fruit because it just doesn't agree with me but I do try to eat a small banana most days to get sufficient potassium for my B/P. Avoiding heavily processed foods & dairy has been a help for me.
I think we do have to accept that we are going to be different as we get older. Smart food choices & exercise are our best bets.
Lately I've been making a curried millet salad which is real good scooped on top a bed of salad greens in place of pasta salads. And we thought millet was just birdseed, LOL

Hello to Dill, hope you day was a good one!

Peace to everyone tonight!

Lav

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Hope everyone has a great Monday, got up a little late and have to go.

[dill]

Hello friends, the grandchildren stayed on all day yesterday until quite late. I don't have the energy after they leave to do anything much. Sorry to be MIA but that is why.

Lav, I am so amazed that you can still muster up the energy and focus to post after a long day with your grandsons! Kudos to you! I know it seems morbid that YB wanted to get all the funeral stuff set up and the headstones done, etc., but I know too that process after losing a parent. My brother and I had to do all that stuff after my parents died. But Mr. D's mother pre-planned everything. She was a widow then and asked us to come with her to the appointment, but she got it all done ahead which made things so much easier on us after she died. We appreciated it. She was the best and I miss her still.

Cyn, I worked on updating all that executor information this spring. It's all done. Well, at least all the things I could think of. But, reading your post I remembered the one thing I had not done: Telling my children about it and where to access it! LOL! I'll do that today! It's pointless to get all that done if no survivors know you've done it! Duh.

Pauly, I have no idea what spark people is, except I'm guessing it's focus is weight loss. I think the best weight loss program is still weight watchers. Have you tried that?

Star, I'm with Lav on summer! I'm really glad you are out there enjoying it. I actually got in the pool with gdaughter yesterday. The pool is just little. Perhaps like a large hot tub. It's a great size for her and it is also a great size for an adult just wanting to cool off!

It's hot, hot, hot here. So, here's what I'm thinking: "This too shall pass." LOL! Have a great AF Monday everyone.

[paulywogg]

Morning friends, Dill,I don't really need to lose weight, I'm just trying to be healthy sparkpeople is an app for weight, fitness and wellness basically, I think Lavs eating makes the most sense, I've been trying to load up on protein and I don't really care for that eating plan,or paleo or whatever, I think just eating foods in their natural state is probably the best, I'm just tired of not feeling good sometimes, it's not all the time but nutrition defo makes a difference in how I feel,had smoke from California fires yesterday and it made the day depressing and ugly,today my eyes burn hope they get it under control quick, hello to all and I hope we all have a great start of the week

[Lavande]

Here I am checking in at lunchtime - greetings to everyone

No kids today, a trip to Curves & the supermarket done. All I have to do now is try to keep my poor birds from roasting in this awful heat. It is seriously nasty out there!
The DNC is revving up in Philly so I am watching it on C Span, off & on.

Pauly, balancing your diet, supplements & exercise will help you feel better.
Unless you are an extreme athelete you don't need to consume large amounts of protein. Protein can actually be harsh in your kidneys especially as you get older. Generally speaking a three ounce portion of grilled chicken is sufficient. You know those large white restaurant style salad dishes? I bought a stack of them several years ago so we eat salads as main meals. Fill it with salad greens, load it with veggies & put your sliced, grilled chicken or turkey on top. I use lots of chick peas & black beans in place of some of the meat. I just feel better when I eat less/no meat & no dairy. Keep experimenting & you will finds the best foods for your body.

Dill, enjoy the kiddie pool! Why not?? Ha ha

HVe a wonderful AF day everyone.

Lav

[SnoopyC]

Good morning...

Back to work yesterday, I was really tired after all the company over the weekend, barely made it though the day, but I did. I do think the heat is draining to all of us. They are taking forever with our back yard project, I am disgusted with how little they do each day. My friend thought it would be at least another two weeks, that is how much they still have to do. But, it is out of my control, except to ask when it will be completed.

Pauly, I agree, I have to eat healthy to feel good too. That would be tough to have to breathe in smoke from wild fires, not healthy at all.

Dill, I get it, being too tired to post, but fun time spent with grandkids is worth it. We had our grandson over on Sunday and he was so much fun, took him swimming (of course) and had a lovely day. I am so grateful to see him and live close to him.

Lav, you were able to get a few things done for yourself, good. Your salads sound so good, nicefor hot weather too!

Hello to Cyn on her travels.

Have a good one all, AF of course.