Anchored August

[Snoopy56]

Re: Anchored August

Good morning...

Thanks all of you for the support, you are all so sweet and I needed that very much, kindness and compassion. I never thought I would be in this position at my age, as though getting older makes things go smoothly. Ha. I just spent so much time going to school, focusing on my career, always working so hard and doing my best, I feel so betrayed, upset, angry, empty about resigning from my job. Burnt out would be another good word for how I feel about working too. Yet, I have no close girlfriends as in the past, my good friend died in 2015, my other close friend turned mean. I have another really sweet friend up north but she is busy and living so far apart, we don't see each other. The issue is I have not made a close female friend here in the last three years. Acquantainces, yes, good close friend, no, not yet.

Pauly, I get what you mean, I am not whining, just stating how I feel, kind of lonely, lost, not sure I am enough without a job, career. I do like having time to do my own thing though. It is important for us to share what is going on in our lives, how we feel about things. You have had a tough year yet made it out on the other side, bruised but picked yourself up and kept going. I have to do that too. Some days are better than others.

Cyn, thanks for mentioning the shame issue, I am just disgusted at still fighting this battle, I wish and need to move forward with confidence that being AF is the only way for me to be. I am so sorry you are fighting a cold, hope you are able to heal quickly. I am listening to some bird making beautiful conversation outside, I have no idea what it is but love bird talk. My Aunt is a lovely intelligent woman whom I respect, and she suggested several things which I will carefully consider. I do need a purpose, and looked last week online at volunteer opportunities in my area, several being reading to kids, mentoring, that I would love and be good at. So, come fall, I will consider and try out different experiences that interest me.

Lav, your support and sharing of your hard times is greatly appreciated. I did not know that YB was that hard to communicate with, sorry to hear that. Taking time to review all we have to be thankful for is important. So, regarding your statement that nothing is perfect and no one truly happy. I believe that in all the areas of our lives, financial, relationships, health, spirituality, family, career, they are never all at 100%. If they are, enjoy because it will not last long, but usually some areas are fine while other areas are lacking. I have had a few times where all life areas were 100%, and I made sure to enjoy it!! It didn't last long. But, if I look at my life, most areas are pretty good, so I need to acknowledge and appreciate that. Hey, I bought a veggetti and we made zucchini zoodles instead of pasta and it was so good. I will definitely have that again. Your yogurt recipe sounds good, hope it works out.

They are making a big deal of the eclipse, I guess I willl see 90% of it, but have no glasses so will just go outside and look at the refractions that they said would be all over outside. LIttle half moon shadows all over everything. Isn't that so interesting? So today exercise, cleaning, laundry and eclipse. Have a good one.

[paulywogg]

Re: Anchored August

Morning friends,Star I think volunteering will be a great thing for you,one of my customers does some reading to kids through her church,she's called a "surrogate grandma" cute animal shelter might be fun,no maybe too sad,I'm sure you'll find a fit,never ever hesitate to get things off your chest, there's been sooooo many times something's been bugging me and I start to post but erase it cuz I don't want to annoy anyone with my bitching but if I need to talk I'm gonna,I hope you and others do too Lav,let us know how the yogurt turns out,I tried that dairy free Silk yogurt once and about barfed! It was really gross and had an almost chemical taste to it for some reason, Cyn,I agree with Lav that you've had too much summer,I think we all have,I usually love it but this one has been tainted,I was just kickin off the summer season then found out about Jon,then my dad,my sister being sick(but she's stable now and breathing good!) So I'm just kind of done,,wishing you swift healing, did end up in Boulder City,ate at a place that was on Diners drive in and dives,all that waiting and all I had was a club sandwich haha,it was fun to get out tho,we stopped at a candy store too and I got a turtle,Lou got some candy Lego's and gummy sharks Kell got m&m bark,then they went to another shop so Lou could get a geode,he was so excited to crack it open wishing us all a safe AF Monday,I hope this eclipse don't make people crazier today

[treegirl]

Re: Anchored August

Morning all -

This summer must have been a strange one 'in the stars' or something -- seems like there has been such upheaval. The eclipse is a weird reminder of how nature can sometimes be unpredictable, and I guess the politics in the country has gotten us all feeling unsettled (to say the least). But there also have been major changes in all of our lives... sharing here a good antidote. Meanwhile, thanks Lav for the gratitude reminder. I am reading a book at night (which I shouldn't read at night!) which is so beautifully written concerning the lives of two people in the lead-up to and during WWII. Just normal people whose lives completely are changed by forces outside of themselves. (All the Light you cannot see). I also have felt very whacked out recently, and I am seeking healthy ways to feel centered and grounded - I consider it good practice, in case things really head south!

Anyway, sharing our tough stuff is crucial I think, as well as sharing our ideas to get strong. Good luck to all of us! One thing to remember, though. We have already made more strides in beating a powerful enemy than most people ever have to think about or bother to take action on, so GOOD FOR US!!!

Wishing all a great Monday, (and remember not to look at the eclipse without the proper sunglasses!)

[Lavande]

Re: Anchored August

Good evening friends,

I ended up meeting an old friend for lunch & it was nice. We worked together for so long, we totally get one another. We met before she was martied & had her son. That son has graduated from med school & is now doing his residency. How the hell is that even possible? He used to come in on payday with his mom to pick up her paycheck & sit on my lap to bang on the computer keyboard, ha ha!!
I guess I really am that old.

#45 is about to speak on TV re Afghanistan, not sure if I can listen

Star, Pauly & Cyn, glad you are all here with me on this AF ride. I surely was not able to do this on my own. Finding MWO was a huge blessing for me & I am forever grateful for all of you :hug:

Have a nice night everyone!
Lav

[paulywogg]

Re: Anchored August

I won't be tuning in to hear him speak Lav,who needs that irritation? No eclipse that was even noticeable here either,see y'all in the morning

[Snoopy56]

Re: Anchored August

Good morning...

Had a good day yesterday, felt lonely in the afternoon but got through it. The eclipse was interesting, I took pics of the shadow refractions and posted on FB. It lasted about 10 minutes. Did you see where 45 looked at the sun, what a great example for us. Sorry, I can't stand him and everything he stands for, did not watch him speak.

Lav, nice you had a lunch out with a friend, good to get out and socialize. We are supposed to get rain late this morning then a cool off. I am ready for a little bit cooler weather, it has been so muggy out.

Pauly, fun day trip, that diner sounds great.

Cyn, hope you are feeling better.

Have a good one.

[paulywogg]

Re: Anchored August

Morning friends,Star I seen those pics,pretty cool looking yes I saw him looking at the sun too,probably thinks he's even more powerful than it too,Kells bf stayed up til 5 am drinking with his brother the other night then turns around and wonders why he had anxiety so bad yesterday! I gave him a magnesium and told him to knock it off! He says he's getting partying out of his system before the baby come,jeez,oh and cuz he has fatty liver they bought 2 cases of Michelob ultra"healthier beer" omg,the excuses to drink,I don't think he's an alcoholic I just think he's a young dumbass Lav,how'd the yogurt turn out? Cyn,did you get any eclipse your way? Wishing us all a Happy AF Tuesday

[treegirl]

Re: Anchored August

Morning -

After saying that I wasn't interested in the Eclipse, HB got very hooked watching the NASA feed, and I saw a great video on NPR that talked about how the eclipse was used for millennium to prove some of the great scientific theories like the earth is round, and it goes around the sun, and gravity, and the theory of relativity... (check out Skunk Bear on NPR, funny little videos that explain science, I loved them.). Anyway, I like home projects, and so I quickly made 2 ways to project the image. What did you use to take your pics, Star? We had fun looking at the images, though if we had not know there was an eclipse we might have missed it since we didn't get much darkness.

Star, sounds like you are healing -- sorry you got lonely in the afternoon, I get that - those low-serotonin hours can be hard. I make my own granola (cookie and Kate recipe) and I eat a handful of that when I get the mid afternoon blues. I make it with sunflower seeds often instead of nuts, and with maple syrup and good olive oil, so it is pretty low-glycemic, but just enough carbs and a little sugar So that it is comforting... I can post the recipe here if you are interested. Good luck with finding a niche to put your energy into!

Pauly, I meant to say that your trip out of town and the Diner sounded great. It's such a help to get out of town, isn't it? HB and I are doing a little Stay-cation here at the house over Labor Day weekend, and we are planning to get out and see some things we haven't experienced yet around here. We have to plan it, or we'll just end up working! Hard to be motivated to do the right thing for ourselves sometimes, you did a good job doing something special.

Lav, so glad you had a nice time with your friend! I totally get the freaky sped-up timetable! Some family came to where we were working out west, and I got to see them a little. My nephew is now a big shot with the Navy Seals, and I looked at him across the table and thought 'I used to change your diapers!' Now he has 5 kids of his own... that's right, 5... sheesh! Hope your teenage chicks keep surprising you with their 'gifts!, and good luck staying cool today - I am looking forward to cooler weather if it ever comes...

Stay strong today, all! Please share your ups and downs...

[Lavande]

Re: Anchored August

Greetings friends,

Sitting here waiting for some giant storm to get here. There's a tornado warning two counties north of here, crazy!
Hot & humid today, felt like 100 degrees the weather people said. The cold front behind this storm is supposed to bring great relief, at least I hope so.
Did I mention yesterday that I woke up with brand new itchy welts on my neck & left side of my face? Do I really have to go thru all this sh*t again???
I am so freaking tired of summer, it's unbelievably harsh on delicate little me, ha ha.

Star, it must be something in the air - feeling lonely & like no one is listening. I found myself snapping at YB a few hours ago because he wasn't listening, not paying the least bit of attention to me although he knew I was trying to tell him something
It gets very frustrating, I understand. I just keep reminding myself that it doesn't really matter. Everything is fine, I am fine. We cannot make anyone do anything really. Ho Hum!
I saw your ics yesterday, they were awesome. I was actually standing out in the parking lot of Applebees talking to my friend while the eclipse was happening. Neither of us had eclipse glasses so we just talked thru the whole thing, ha ha!

Pauly, I guess it's a good thing that he's just the boyfriend & not your daughter's husband, sad. Sad that he is so careless with himself & you know it's only going to get worse. What's it going to take for him to quit?
My yogurt doesn't seem to e setting up, oh well. I'll leave it sit another night in the fridge. I can always use it for making my smoothies so it doesn't have to go to waste. At least I tried, right?

Cyn, sounds like you had a good eclipse experience, nice.
Today I looked out my kitchen window & saw three deer hanging out around our little pet cemetery area. We haven't gotten Maxie's ashes in there yet but my Golden was buried there 13 years ago & our Cockatiel who was 30+ years old when he passed. Maxie will have plenty of company I think.
So your nephew has 5 kids - wow!!! Doesn't that just make you feel old? Ha ha.

The driveway work begin tomorrow. In order to prepare I had to gather up all my wandering chickens & put them in the fenced run. That's where they will have to stay for the next few days. They are now mixed in with the remaining 3 birds from the older flock. So far so good - no major fights or injuries noted. Keeping my fingers crossed

Have a nice night everyone.
Lav

[Snoopy56]

Re: Anchored August

Good morning...

Pauly, Kells boyfriend is going down a tough road, using the rules to try and control his drinking. I am not fond of the word alcoholic, just that he is having problems due to drinking: relationships, health, emotions and who knows what else. It is good he has you so you can help him, let's hope it gets through.

Cyn, I used my phone camera 7plusS Iphone, for the pics. Fascinating to see those eclipse shadows, we were on the far side of the 90% sighting. My daughter and my brother are far enough south where it actually became dark out. So cool. Thanks for letting me know that you get the afternoon blues on occasion too, I got through them and will get through them, but somedays are easier than others. Thursdays are hard for me most times, with being alone till 10 at night. No morning exercise but when I get back from my trip I am going to look at the other LA Fitness and see if they have classes that morning. Exercising first thing in the morning helps my mood and to get the aches and pains out. It has been a lifesaver since I have not been working outside the house. This week is busy, next week vacation, then after Labor Day I have to be available for work at my son's condo, so in about three weeks I will have time to follow my plan. It will be good to get this stuff completed.

Lav, I just need a little more to do, not a full time job, but maybe 10-15 hours a week of volunteer or part time work and then I think I will have the right balance. Did you see 45 says he wants to shut down the gov't if they don't agree to pay for his stupid wall? Wait, he told us Mexico was going to pay for it. Very scary that his mouth breathing followers clashed with police. The rally's serve to create unrest, what is the point? He cannot govern, has no clue what to do. Getting more dangerous for our country. Pence is a little puppet too, so no relief in sight. Any plans today? I am going to exercise, then my daughter is coming over, I am waiting for the painters, then will have to get paint I think, and having grandson spend the night. So sorry about your yogurt, I am trying a new recipe, vegan alfredo with zucchini zoodles, the alfredo made out of white beans. We'll see how it turns out. It sounds like I am busy, but then tomorrow husband works 12 hours, and lots of empty time. Hey, you will be happy to know it cooled off big time, I turned off the air and highs in the mid-70s, low humidity for the entire week!!!!!!!!

Have a good AF hump day.

[treegirl]

Re: Anchored August

Morning all -

Star, good for you for looking at the 'nuts and bolts' of your life and getting the whole picture... I think that is very hard to do - to step back and unemotionally get a descriptive look at what needs tweaking! Usually we lash out at ourselves or throw a pity party or medicate or whatever when things get painful. But I'm starting to see that clear-eyed observation is crucial- though of course we need to also 'feel what there is to feel'. Maybe it's just good to have a balanced view. Sounds like you have a good plan in place! Do you feel comfortable going to a movie alone on Thursday nights? My single-woman neighbor often goes to movies in the late afternoon as a thing to do since she retires... she's my go-to for whether I should see a film or not! We are lucky up here in no-where's-ville to have a great cinema close by. I am going to try to see 'Dunkirk' this evening before it leaves town, it seems like a remarkable film. (PS, re: politics, I've given up trying to follow all the ridiculousness. I'm putting all my energy into the Flippable seats. Go to Flippable and get on their mailing list - there's a special election in FL coming up - a great woman candidate - and they need help to swing this seat. Check it out! Also, did you find any Indivisible groups where you are? Immediate access to like-minded people, and action oriented, you might find some friends there. Also, this week is the 100th anniversary of the right of women to vote... I am actually going to be part of a group of sign-holders on the town green this weekend! That will be a first --)

Pauly, i second Star, your whole family is lucky to have you on their side. Hard to detach where behaviors are out of control, but I guess our own behavior is all we can control, right? Good luck with everything.

Lav, so sorry that YB is continuing to be on his non-communicative, isolated path. That would seriously be hard to live with. I loved hearing about the deer around your pet cemetery... I remember hearing about your cockatiel-- it must have passed away in the last few years, right? I haven't even touched the sack with Sasha's ashes yet, or the paw print impression. This weekend SD is coming, and she and Sash were best buds, so maybe we'll do something when she's here. HB asked me when I was going to take her crate out of the dining room, and I fell apart, sheesh. Then I realized that what I can't bear is the thought of that spot being empty... so I looked for a nice big plant to go there, and found a lovely white Peace Lily... I think it will be perfect in that corner. Peace, just what we are all looking for, right? (Plus that plant is a know air cleaner, so that's an extra bonus).

I thought I was side-stepping this bug, but got hit pretty hard yesterday afternoon and had a bad night. But back on the Fire Cider, oil of oregano and all the rest today... I will beat this I will beat this....

Wishing everyone a little peace wherever you can find it...

[Lavande]

Re: Anchored August

Good evening friends,

Those massive storms last night actually did usher in cooler weather - ahhh
Much lower humidity too which is greatly appreciated.
Well, the old driveway was removed today. They dumped a huge truck full of crushed stone & packed it down. Tomorrow they will be back to lay the asphalt & make it look pretty, ha ha!! What a job, geez.

Star, it sounds like you are working your way thru everything & that's great! I like that we are now finally learning to treat ourselves with more kindness & not rushing to get to the 'end'. That was a hard lesson for me. I had no idea I was trying to control so much without getting the results I thought I wanted. Trusting the universe, sitting back a little & just letting things unfold on their own is a much saner way to live
As far as exercise goes, I have been lacking this summer with Curves closing. I just purchased access to some online yoga classes & will be trying them out first chance I get. We still have all that exercise equipment YB bought & never used as well. I just need to push myself into developing a routine at home. I will, I promise.
Enjoy your grandson time, it's the best!

Cyn, I sure hope you feel better soon. You don't want to miss a moment of this new & improved weather!
YB is a complex creature & he is changing as he ages too. Just when I think I get close to figuring him out he changes direction which leaves me a bit flustered. After dinner tonight I went along on a trip he had to do for the Amish folks - transferring 30 dozen eggs from one farm to another to be sold, ha ha! That farm has ~ 300 chickens!!! They really have a nice setup though, you would never guess they had so many birds.
I guess you & I need to pick a day to bury our loved one's ashes :hug:

Pauly, hello to you, hope you are OK.

Have a nice night everyone!
Lav

[treegirl]

Re: Anchored August

Morning all -

Cooler here and less humidity too, thank heavens!

Lav, I hope that the driveway project turns out well for you today. It sounds like a big project - I bet you will be glad to have that over with! I don't really like having a bunch of workmen at my house, ever. But some things you just have to do. Around here, all the fancy people just have crushed rock for their driveways... it seems to work OK with snow plowing, though I can't imagine how. Our driveway is in bad shape... if we change it we'll bury the electrical lines that come to the house... the trees have already almost taken them down a couple of times! Enjoy the cool weather! Woo hoo!

Star, I hope you are doing OK... are you getting ready for your trip? Or maybe you have grandson time right now - if so, I hope it is fun.

Pauly, you OK? It will be good to hear from you how things are going for you.

Off to try to get this house cleaned up for company tonight. I just took an allergy tab, I hope that it helps a with the sneezing, really not sure if this is a cold or allergies... anyway, it will be easy cold food tonight, I picked up some gorgeous heirloom tomatoes and freshly made mozzarella and other good stuff... I'm poaching some salmon, and the rest will be salads of one type and another, hopefully easy. Just have to get this house picked up and vacuumed a little. I'd like to eat on our screened porch, but that would have to be cleaned, so... we'll see!

Wishing all a centered, AF Thursday.

[paulywogg]

Re: Anchored August

Morning friends,I'm ok but my stomach isn't started Tuesday at work just feeling like I was gonna throw up, even while driving home I was super nauseaus, my bad eating caught up with me I guess,big waves to all have a peaceful AF Thursday

[Snoopy56]

Re: Anchored August

Good morning...

Pauly, feel better, hope your day goes better.

Cyn, I had my grandson and also his Dad spend the night. SIL is in graduate school and has classes in the city we live close to, so he may spend the night more often. It was fun. Your dinner sounds delicious, has it cooled off weatherwise? Hope you are feeling better. We are leaving on Sunday for our trip, so will pack Saturday. I feel so much less stressed and have more time now, so packing is not a big deal.

Lav, I loved your post referring to trusting the Universe to take care of things and not being so hard on myself. I am working on that and it gives me peace when I refocus. I realized yesterday with my daughter and grandsons here, that if I was working outside the house, I would not have time to spend with their family, my husband, and that it is a blessing to be here, now. My daughter and I went shopping for about an hour and she struggled with post baby body. I was grateful to be there for her, helping her choose things to try on, and encouaging her in that it takes time to get back to her ideal weight. We also met with contractors last night at my son's condo and they are painting this Saturday, getting the entire place repainted. My son seems better in that he was not ticing and had more confidence. I believe that reporting the abuse at work, getting through the process, and now working successfully at the job has given him confidence that he can do a good job and be treated with respect. He deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, and insisted on it and was validated and heard. May it continue. I made a really good vegan noodle soup with brown rice noodles and it so delicious.

So today I am going loads of towels and cleaning in preparation for more overnight with family tomorrow. Whew, but it is fun. Have a great AF Thursday.