Coffee and...part 13 :-D

Well, I guess I will go back to the health and diet forum. I have decided to get serious again about diet and exercise. I have a hard time with the discipline for long, but if I don't get the weight down, I'm going to have swollen and painful legs from here on until a stroke or heart attack takes me out.
I had a beloved aunt who was not feeling well just as she retired at 61. At 62 she had a stroke, then fell and broke her hip, recovered from that but began having more and more strokes until she could only move her eyes. That's so scary that I am a bit stressed, so time for an overhaul......

Break time again, any goodies on the table? No time for baking probably. It looks like a few folks are jumping on to that diet wagon. It does pay to take care of yourself. Woodspirit, your poor aunt........ is she still living?

Darius, that is long term planning on the pie. Lots of salad stuff sounds pretty good to me and will make you feel better pretty quickly getting all those vitamins and all that roughage. I have to laugh and shake my head at those ads for fiber. Gee, if people just ate right they would have all the fiber they need, then if they drink a lot of water all the plumbing works without artificial stuff. Common sense is pretty uncommon.

Sarv, you're right to tell your brother what his step daughter is doing. You were left in charge of a minor, and you can bet she isn't going to tell. I wonder if he knew the kids know how to get into the liquor cabinet. Well, now it will get a new lock and maybe be kid proof until they figure it out again.

I've been up close and personal with the weeds again today. Mountains of them. It is faster to make piles as I go and then pick them up and take them to the compost pile in the wheelbarrow after they have wilted. I found some little surprises, baby columbines. I know I pulled up two, and when I realized what they were I put them in little pots on my windowsill so I can watch them and not forget to give them TLC. A neighbor stopped by for a while and went home with some valarian plants for a shady spot she is developing. She rents the house so doesn't want to put much money into plants so I give her starts of this and that. I'm always glad to find homes for them and she is happy to get new stuff. She got a ton of iris cast offs last fall. When she comes again she will bring me some starts of larkspur and something else that is coming up in her flower beds, and I will see if she wants some of the columbines.

Time to get back outside and make use of the daylight.

Hi all, went out for supper after work so just getting some DG time now. Darius, wish i was a smart as u and cld get my butt going on healthier eating and exercise. I keep overdueing on the breads, meat and cheese. And this sitting all day isn't helping at all either. When (more like if this past week) it finally decides to get a bit warmer and less windy, I have to decide when walking is going to work for me. I really should lose 75 lbs. It seems like a mtn. to me. How did I get this way? My mom always said you just gotta put in less than u use! Sounds so simple doesn't it? Motivation is still a major problem!

No oopsies at work today. A gal I trained with and I managed to get most of the day side by side so we did some visiting and note passing. That's allowed as long as neither of u are on a call. It was slower today, sometimes a minute or two between calls so that was nice. She's only 20 and is expecting her first baby. Her boyfriend has wanted to get married for awhile so I think she's finally going to say yes. Doesn't 20 seem so long ago now? lol

My tulips are so cold and wind-whipped, they're not looking very nice. Tues I will have to get the RU stuff dug - been putting it off because of the icky weather. We may even get a little snow overnight. Enough already!!!!!!

Woodspirit, since your leg swelling doesn't relate to a broken leg as did mine, perhaps these remedies suggested by my physical therapist won't be useful to you. However, just in case...the broken bone was near my ankle. After the cast came off, he said:

walking was okay (but 2 1/2 miles from the bus stop to home after work really hurt - so use common sense).

ice - on his advice, I filled large zip lock bags with 4 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol and froze it. This makes an icy slush you can store in the freezer. He said limit applications of ice to no longer than 20 minutes. I had to put a towel between the bag of slush ice and my leg to avoid burning my skin, as this is a problem with slush ice.

When you can, elevate your leg.

Draw all 26 letters of the alphabet in the air or tub with your toes. There was another exercise where with your leg extended, and holding a towel/rag over the ball of your foot, you flex the toes toward you (not too hard - do it gently enough that this doesn't hurt) and hold 30 seconds. Repeat 2x.

I wonder how soaking the towel with a tea like camomile that is said to have antifungal properties and then using that between the bag and pillow when elevating your leg would work?

massage - using a lotion, tightly (but not too tight) grasp just below and around the ankle with both your hands, and then pull your hands up the leg, squeezing (gently) as you go. This is supposed to move fluid up and away from the ankle and to be helpful to ligaments down there.

'Course, the above situation would never have happened if I had been following one of the best tenets of living ever: Watch where 'ya going!

I was late meeting a neighbor downtown who had offered a ride home from work. When I got off the shuttle to his campus, there was an office of campus security right there. They very kindly kept a phone in the hall about 30' from the front door outside their door. So I thought I'd call him at his office to let him know I had arrived.

Now, what not-so-little old lady, with trifocals, running toward a telephone trying to beat the clock, is going to notice a 3" step lurking in the shadows of the floor just before the dadburned phone? Not this one.

Landed on me bun right beneath the window/door to the security office. Let me tell ya, if you're going to break your leg, do it right outside the door of a security outfit. It seemed like they were swarming, with the utmost politeness, all over me before I hit the floor.

Everything went most expeditiously from there, and the nature of my job (medical transcriptionist) was such that DH could ferry tapes to and fro from my office while to-and-froing his office each day until the cast came off (30 steps to front door from street).

With respect to diet and exercise, my future looks pretty bleak if I don't start putting into practice what I know, too. I appreciate all the reinforcements we share with each other on this thread to the end that we all take better care of ourselves. So, following are two things I did differently today, after Darius' inspiration:

Visited a health food store today and acquired flax seed ($1.49/lb), which has omega-3 oil which is released when you grind it up in your blender. I plan to sprinkle it on morning breakfast oats. The capsules were too expensive.

The first vegies for our kitchen this spring have been self-sown volunteers of Chinese red mustard. Will shake 1:1 parts ext. virgn olive oil with freshly squeezed lemon and some Italian seasoning in a jar to use in tonight's salad. Will lay off the hot dogs and beans tonight. Am taking this 1 day at a time, right now.

MaryE, aren't columbines accommodating? Sowed a pack of seed of Aquilegia 'Black Barlow' 2 years ago, and can't wait to see what colors come up among its volunteers. Volunteers make a treasure hunt out of spring, don't they?

Sarv and Darius, think you can fool your tastebuds by substituting carob powder for chocolate? There must be a recipe somewhere to wreak the proper alchemy. I haven't found it. The last time I tried, the house cleared out faster than you can say 'fire'. heheh

If you really want to gross out a dinner guest, try pureed mint-pea soup. My friend has never let me live that one down.

Well, I guess I'll have mercy on you folks and save more kitchen oopsies till later.

Kooger, I'm not so smart or I would have continued on my proper path.

Darius, for a mortal with hormones, you approximate the path very well.

Kooger, our posts crossed in the ether - I had a hard time when I was working, too, finding the time to organize myself to do everything right. Convenience won too often. For a mortal with hormones, you are doing very well, too.

Well folks have been lurking on this thread for the past several days. darius, I don't know you, but I sure am glad that you are out of the hospital and on the road to recovery. Caladonia, you sound like a brave soul, babysitting teenagers. The age I like to babysit are the ones that when you put them somewhere, they stay there!!. Am enjoying this spring tremendously. Although our weather hasn't been real good yet. Plenty of rain and cool days. I have been ill for the past 2 years with a mystery illness, which was finally diagnosed 3 weeks ago. Itwas side effects of a cardiac medicine. After 2 years of not feeling well enough to cook meals or anything else, my enery level is mind boggling. I have done all my house cleaning, and am now starting 3 new flower beds that have been planned for some time. Feel great.

defoecat, Welcome! I think my illness is finally getting some resolution, too... side effects of medicines. Life's a Bear sometimes, isn't it?

Yes, it is. And to think that I took that medicine, because my cardiologist said that I needed it, and felt like s---- for 2 years. I went to specialists, endrochronologists, finally changed primary care Dr. and he's the one who suggested that it might be the meds, and took me off it. So I know how it feels, not to feel good. Hang in there, as there has to be brighter days. Does anyone around here every sleep? I see posts at all hours of the a.m.?

My mother almost died from an untreated potassium deficiency last year. Her primary doctor (supposedly the best money could buy) kept telling her that the symptoms were all in her head! It took the doctor at the emergency ward to correctly diagnose her, which was verified by test results within the week. She seemed like her old self very quickly after treatment began for potassium deficiency.

It shouldn't be so difficult to find a good doctor.

Sleep?? What's that? I tossed and turned in bed for 2 hrs and finally decided to just get up. I have so much on my mind, that I cannot settle down and snooze. It's 3:30am here!! Remember when we were teens and could sleep the whole night and half the day away?? I'd love to do that again.

Future DIL asked me yesterday if we would pay for their rehearsal dinner. We already gave them all their wedding $$ to buy a house (long story, not worth repeating), I was so shocked that like an a** I said OK. Now I am so mad at myself. Why don't they ask my DH - he just floats thru life while I feel like I get dumped on daily (pitty party here I think!) I have a really really hard time saying NO to people - never want to hurt anyones feelings.

I need to get back on the healthy eating plan here too. I crave sweets and usually give into my cravings. I could easily give up meat - since the incident of meat getting caught in my throat, I just don't care to eat it anymore. Going to give up the diet colas too (I hope)

I've had a sore arm for over 5 months and really should do something about it. My arm hurts from the elbow to the shoulder. I thought I had just pulled something, and rest and time would heal it. I started exercising (lifting some weights - not much poundage tho), but it has not improved. I can hardly get a blouse on and lifting a shirt over my head about sends me into orbit. I even have to have DH help me get undressed. I am just not a doc person I guess, but something has to give here - I am in too much pain. Wouldn't you know it is my right arm too and I have about 20 flats of annuals to get in. drat...

Kitty killed the first bunny baby of the year - good for her- they ruin my garden every spring. However she brought it up to show us, played with it, and then ate the head off. The rest is laying by the door- yuck- need to find me a big shovel soon.

Nothing here to eat, even tho we went grocery shopping!!

Caladonia, not a doc either, but DH had something similar with his arm, put off going to see about it for months thinking it would get better. It didn't. Finally went and found he had a torn rotator cuff muscle. So better ship yourself off to see about it and get some help.

No time for baking here.....spent most of yesterday cleaning out weeds and crab grass from part of the front garden beds...boy, they sure took off when it warmed up! Welcome Dcat, yes, we are up at all hours, but not as bad as the nightowls. I'm always up early, thought when my kids were grown and I retired, I'd sleep in luxury until 9, but apparently my internal clock hasn't figured out the no kids-no job thing and it wakes me at 5 or 5:30. Regardless of what time I went to bed.

Sarv, I think you need to readdress the issue of the rehearsal dinner.....maybe call the future DIL and tell her about your sleepless night...and suggest that since you "tapped out" your bank account with the house purchase, you are a little cash poor right now and maybe they can find a different donor. A good solution to the "can't say no" affliction is just to say, "i'll have to think about it" and then gird yourself to the NO response a little later. I can say this with authority as my son and DIL just approached with a similar question. Wanted to know if I could help them with a down payment on a larger house. We helped with DS's downpmt on the little place, and he paid back about a grand, but no more. I stalled, and suggested he first get some realtor figures on the existing house, to see how much more he can get for it than what he paid, then approach his bank to see how much they would pre-approve on a new mortgage. Then we can talk about help. AND repayment. I'm just not inclined to hand them a chunk of change, without them doing some homework. And making an effort towards watching their budget.

I also gave them a mini-lecture on cutting down on expenses. They eat out two or three times a week, and DS grabs breakfast out every day. They both smoke, and like to indulge in their hobbies. I still cut coupons, and pay off my credit card balances every month. They take vacations! ( We took our kids camping!) I asked DIL how she could consider a trip to the UK with me and still expect to get a different house... I'm driving a seven year old car which I will continue to drive until the wheels fall off, and some of my clothes qualify for the Smithsonian. I don't hesitate to buy something used if it serves a purpose and I sell my books when I am through reading them.

Don't get me wrong, we aren't poor (been there, done that) but I simply hate wasting money. An affliction suffered by all depression children. Suggested they get little notebooks and write down every nickel they spend so they can see where their disposable income goes. If all that fails, they can wait until I die, and then get what's left of my savings. Whew! Sorry to bore you with all that.

(Dcat, if you haven't noticed it already, we get a lot of things off our chests here....LOL Feel free!!)

Those doctors will prescribe anything new that comes across their desks....everytime I get a new script, I look either at the enclosure or check on the 'net to see what the side effects are. Some I have just refused to take. MDs usually won't tell you about side effects, because they think that then you will have them .....assuming we are all just too dumb for words. Some of their 'cures' are worse than the diseases. I lean more and more towards natural remedies for most things.

My Massachusetts friend gave me a valerian, is it primarily a shade plant? Or grows anywhere? It looks pretty healthy, and she had it in the sun, but I didn't ask. I suppose I could go look it up but heh heh heh, I know someone here will have the answer. (Darius, are you paying attention?)

Sore arm? Consider your position at the keyboard....! I'm not kidding, I was getting a bad ache and pain in my right arm and finally realized I was not keeping my elbows and the keyboard level which was putting stress on the shoulder, wrist and etc. Now I have raised the chair, put a phone book on the pull out so all is level and the problem has lessened. Spending less time chatting with my beloved friends on DG might provide additional help, but ya know there's only so much you can sacrifice for your health. LOL

We don't have much of a bunny problem or squirrels either for that matter. We have a good supply of red tail hawks, and a number of other carnivores that keep the small mammal population in check. They don't seem to get after the voles or the ground squirrels though, we've got plenty of those.

Sigh, I suppose it's too early to think about planting anything. Give me one warm day and I'm just itching to get started. Maybe the four oclocks could go in...they have such a hard shell, it takes a while before they sprout. I'm trying them around my climbers, someone on another forum said they are lethal to Jap. Beetles and we've had LOTS of those. Most of the other roses didn't make it through our snowless winter. They were only $2 at Home Depot a couple years ago, so I got my use out of them....

Off to the shower....hope the sun is shining on you today.....I left some chocolate cake on the counter for those who can indulge. And there's a pot of Amaretto flavored coffee to go with it.... enjoy.

M5 - gosh I think our kids are related!! Ours eat out at least 4 x a week and not cheap places either!! DH and I go to Wendy's for a treat. Any talk about buying clothes- not just one outfit, but many!! I do have to say that future DIL often gets a ton of things at Good Will tho.

She (future DIL) has a firey temper and I am doing everything to avoid setting her off. Plus a rotten upbringing and I do feel sorry for her somewhat....(but hey, I was from a broken family -that's what they were called in my day, and I turned out just fine) The only difference is that my mom is a saint and hers is a ^&*&. Hope the apple falls far from the tree in her case!!

Ya know, I have spent hours on the computer, maybe that is the problem with my sore arm. Just wish it was in my left arm!! I didn't exercise at all this week and it is just as sore. Maybe I will try the aleve route for a week. I always want to try heal myself...

Man, is spring ever taking its own sweet time. It was warm for two weeks, now cold, snow, wind. Will it ever end? Seems like we have summer for fewer and fewer weeks.

Pass me some of the flavored coffee please

Well, I ll pass on the chocolate cake - bout the only chocolate I indulge in is dark/bitter or extra bitter. I can put a piece of that on the top of my mouth and leave it there till it melts!! Yum yum!

m5, i also had that sore arm problem from being on DG too much. :) Now I have to watch my extra computer time because I spend 5 days a week on it for 8 hrs. I've had sore wrists a few times and shoulders too - another reason I've put off gardening, don't want to overdue on the wrists till they're more used to typing all day. A good friend had rotator cuff surgery on Fri. She's a hairdresser and it was better than they thought it wld be. Wasn't torn at all but she had a spur that was causing all the pain and limited motion. Still, she's going to be off work a minimum of 4-6 weeks and perhaps as long as 4 months, she was told. sarv, I think you need an ortho doc.

And I am having oatmeal for breakfast or Red River Cereal -- that's my favorite. That's my contribution to healthier eating this morning. lol http://www.redrivercereal.com/ darius - will try to get urs sent this week. :)

The swelling I have is not from an injury, it's probably poor circulation. I will know more when I see the doctor Thursday. But I decided to go back on the South Beach Diet, partly because my excellent doctor said it was the only diet he would recommend.
Right now I am having to take diuretics which immediately caused leg cramps so I have to cheat on the SoBe diet and eat a banana a day. If it's not enough to stop the cramps, I will buy some potassium. Did you know kiwis have a lot of potassium too?
Anyway, I started with an exercise program yesterday. I think exercise helps to stimulate ciruculation and I need it anyway. I am using the cardioglider and walking and they next week, going back to Curves. Wish me luck; I'm trying to avoid a lot of drugs.

Good morning all. I just have to jump in here about the sore arm. I had SEVERE pain in a ring around my arm between the elbow and the shoulder. Nothing seemed to help it, I thought it was a position thing too. Went to my chiropractor, and after a complete examination, he said it wasn't anything in his field and wrote me a Rx for therapy at Baptist Hospital. It turns out the trouble wasn't in my arm where it hurt, but in my shoulder! After very simple therapy, it was OK again. Seems like I avoided a very serious problem with rotator cuff and possible frozen shoulder by addressing it early on.

The trouble has not returned, but at the first "twing" I do my exercises again. My point is.......GET IT FIXED NOW while it is still fixable wiwth therapy, I know too many people who have had to have surgery.
Pati

(Sure could use a piece of that chocolate cake to go with my coffee! YUMMM)

Good Morning... The sun is shining! (although still very cool outside) Maybe I can get some work done with the weedeater later if it warms up some.

Sarv, I agree with what everyone suggests about maybe a torn rotator cuff... please get it seen by someone before it becomes a really BIG problem!

After all my grocery shopping yesterday, my dinner ended up being a protein drink and a bowl of cottage cheese and pineapple chunks. Yesterday I went by the little health food store in Murphy that sells mostly supplements but they do have one cooler and one freezer. I was hoping for some flax oil but they were closed.

Once home, I went to Google, and also re-read some of my posts on flax. Now I'm glad they were closed as I now know I need to grind flax seed rather than take just the oil, as the benefits are awesome. See my old "healthy" threads here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/505174/

I had a long talk last night with a cousin in Colorado (who really lives by the Bible) about my sister. Marie suggested my sister has never really felt loved (by either family or all her husbands) and that I should make some overtures in that direction. Today. Sigh.

Happy May Day everyone! Lets all go dance around the maypole - oh wait, my feet hurt - never mind! LOL....

Darius, perhaps Marie is right. Similar situation with my sister and now that she's in a loving relationship with a wonderful husband - she's 110% different. It's worth a try. Sometimes, I have to look at it as they (my sister and brother) are all the family I have left and if I don't show them that I love them and care about them - who else will? Family's important. But on the other hand - be realistic. Sometimes you're not going to like each other and that's only natural for any relationship. But, you know me - I think it will all work out for the best.

DH and I are about to go out and finish painting the last peak on the house and we'll be DONE! It's sunny and cool here too, but we'll probably warm up quite fast.

well - better get to work. Just checking in on everyone.

Have a beautiful day!

m.

Dear, Dearest, Darius. It's not easy being the strong one is it? Perhaps your sister is just not a lovable person, which makes it even harder. Just remember that you can't change all that has happened to make her feel that way, but reaching out to her may make a difference. Also remember, stress is NOT your friend, and it's possible to reach out and not have to be in constant contact with her. Distance seems to be your friend.
Think carefully, judge how much you can offer her without jeopardizing your health,(and your sanity) *smile*

(((hugs))) to a good person.
Pati

Pati, Thanks. No, she's not too loveable, but then neither am I in person. My being strong is often a detriment in the friendship department although that has dwindled as I have aged. I think earlier it was that so many women felt threatened by my competence and self-confidence. Plus, I used to be cute to boot!

My goodness, three posts were written while I was writing this one.

GOB,s thank you for the information on the torn rotator cuff. I fell when walking on frozen, uneven ground in fading light in March, and have had the same symptoms since in my left arm. I was just beginning to think I could resume my pursuit of chamber music (piano and classic guitar) because tendinitis in the other arm was letting up. I don't know what I will do now. By not returning to work after being laid off, I gave up medical insurance in order to pursue this and another type of occupation that would have been more meaningful than office work. I have several health issues now that make a solution hard to envision.

Darius, did you get those test results? I hope you are getting some rest and recuperation right now. We need warm weather NOW, don't we? PS - regarding your cousin's advice, it sounds like what my conscience has been saying to me about my mother and sisters. It's hard walking that tightrope with family - you want to stay with them, but find it hard to cope with the consequences of negative contact. Pattischel put this dilemma very well - be very careful of stress to yourself. We want you to celebrate many more May Days with us.

As you know from my post in the previous incarnation of GOB, we had to put Fifi to sleep a week ago last Thursday. She had cancer, and although we could not afford treatment, DH put it on our credit card. I don't regret keeping her comfortable and extending her life and miss her horribly.

The point I want to make here is that, when we first noticed she was sick in October and brought her to the vet, we told the technician at the front desk about our financial situation and asked her if there were any options for senior citizens with financial limitations. She said, "no".

Well, they did offer a senior citizen discount, but we did not ask for it in the right language. We found out about it when we brought another cat in for the first time in March and they gave us a form where the senior citizen discount was mentioned. Evidently, they feel that giving us this form when we first brought Fifi in years ago was all the notification we deserved.

So, Darius and other pet owners, if you keep a cat file, put this information on the file's cover in large, noticeable print. And then there's pet insurance. At this point, in retrospection, I think that's a very important thing to do if anyone can afford it.

Yesterday's storm has passed and blue sky is coming out. BetsyBug, we'll be "dancing around the maypole" in spirit. Buds and flowers are really coming out this morning in the garden - DH and I will head to a trail with ladyslippers later today. Defoecat, welcome to GOB.

Another PS - Julie, for plants that need a long time between sowing seed and flowering, I either have disasters before the flowering or don't get around to sowing. Which happened to me this year. Soooo...I buy a pot of a "mother plant" early in the season before the retailer marks up the price and take cuttings. Would that help you to recoup your losses in that cold snap?

You are a hoot! I have found that I have become more mellow with age, or perhaps I just choose my battles a little wiser! *grin*
Pati

lol, I remember cute, too. and thin. Well, I'm forced to at least try to be a healthier size. I used my cardio-glider today and walked the track at the community center. I am the clandestine gardner there, so I took a little bucket of 5-10-10 and dressed the raised beds in front of the building. There's an odd mix of plants there, yellow iris, rose campion, some daylilies, pinks in the front and a couple of other things I don't know what they are yet.
Last year I almost pulled some things that I thought were weeds, but waited just in case, and they bloomed. Still don't know what they are.
Whoever planted these beds originally (it was the 4-H club but i don't know who the leader was) tried to have some kind of perennial blooming constantly. I added the rose campion and the pinks.
I will have lots of daylilies to divide later this year when I can see what they are and try to identify them on the daylily forum.

Bluespiral, thanks for the tip on the senior citizen's discount. I'll ask about that next time at the vet, I sure do qualify!
Pati

Good morning all.A nice breakfast of Scottish Oatmeal hit the spot.It is the ground kind rather than rolled and remains more intact.Follow that with a small bowl of rhubarb crisp and a cup of coffee on the back stoop on a beautiful sunny morning and all is well with the world.
As to pain and discomfort,early treatment has seemed to be the best route for my bursitus/tendonitis in the shoulders.Naproxin works for minor discomfort,but for the real agony, which I'm sure you have all experienced,a shot of cortisone has been the only "cure".For me,each shot will keep the really bad pain away for several years.
Relationships,particularly family, are so very touchy and personal that I shudder to even suggest anything other than be true to yourself.My thoughts are with you Darius,for a satisfactory conclusion (if that's a proper choice of words).Besides that,don't go out and overedo it.
Kids,you have to help them,and hope that someday they will get the picture.I like the bumper sticker on some of the big motor homes, "we are spending our childrens inheritance".

Lovely shot, Robert. Is that current? What's the reddish colored shrub?

Thanks for the reminder of good oatmeal. I have some steel cut oats in the pantry, but I just forget about them! Probably because I have SO much stuff stored in there. I probably should make an inventory list, and one for the freezer, too.

The orangish shrub is a pair of Azaleas about 15 or more years old,taken this morning with a cup of coffee. A freezer inventory is something I've been needing too.So much gets piled on that it all but disapears and then when it does reappear it is so freezer burned that it hasa to be thrown out.

It's spitting SNOW Pellets here! ARGH!!! ;-)

I was outside moving some hosta and a few other perennials to a new bed...I knew it was mighty cold, but when the pellets started..."That's IT! I'm going inside!"

Karen, I'm planning on doing a little of that "Mother Plant" routine, too. If I can talk DH into taking me to a nursery about 30-35 miles from here this afternoon, I may come home with LOTS of Monrovia "Mothers". hehehe (I'm planning on spending the last few of my unemployment checks on something will LAST a while.

I think the Jupiter's Beard is very adaptable According to the PF it should handle full sun to light shade. I had some planted in my WS containers, but so far, I haven't seen anything germinate. (SO I'm substituting some GOAT'S beard in the places I wanted to plant Jupiter.)

I'm about ready to put a pot roast on, complete with pearl onions, garden tomatoes frozen from last season, and some red potatoes. I doubt there'll be much left over, since it's justa little one...but maybe I can offer you a sandwich later on. ;-) (OK...so it's *not* health food...but boy will it taste great! :-D)

~julie~

Julie... Pot Roast sounds healthy to me! Yum!!

Gosh GOBs theres a lot going on today!
I remember thin - not sure I was ever cute though. 5ft 10 and built as my granpa so elequently said like a "brick Sh.t-house". That basically describes the bone structure, not todays extra pounds! I have enormously broad shoulders - even at my thinest I had to wear a 16 top to get my shoulders in, not my bust which was always pathetic!! I was also always the capable practicle sort, it does put people off, so I sympathise Darius.
Kooger I need to lose around 70 lbs too, but it just doesn't want to move. Years ago I had part of the thyroid gland removed as it was encysted(?) and that has left thyroid function at the lowest end of normal - don't need supplements to survive but .....
I know you need to take in less than you use, but aside from not eating at all I don't think I could take in much less. Don't eat much in the way of cakes - don't like sweet things, so sugar and substitutes are not an issue. Don't eat chocolate -I love it but it gives me migraines, so its not worth the 'cost'. I have a potassium deficiency which I combat by eating two bananas day - I suppose I could cut those out and use pills instead. Aside from that there isn't much I eat thats not salad type stuff. Guess I should up the output then but that means exercising and that makes me hungry!!
Help! I need a miracle weight loss cure!
I'm moaning again sorry folk.
Off to do some more yard stuff.

I have decided chocolate is the anti-Christ.

What a gabby bunch we are! I thought I read this thread yesterday but maybe not, anyhow it just took me about 25 minutes to get here from where I left off. Somebody asked about valarian, sun or shade. Mine grows in the shade and I haven't tried it in the sun.

No night owl here, I get up with the chickens and go to bed most nights by about 9pm. The time shown on my early or late posts might look different because I am on Pacific time, 3 hours later than Eastern. During lambing season I am up in the middle of the night for a few hours and I posted then while I waited to get sleepy, but that is all over until next March.

Shoulder pain, ouch, I have that too. Reaching my ribs on the opposite side hurts, but reaching up is ok. Reaching back to scratch my back hurts too. I think I got mine taking a flying lesson off a horse about 2 years ago. The flying part was ok but the landing wasn't good. Same horse that dumped me a week ago. My hubby had rotator cuff surgery a few years ago, it is better but not 100%. He was in constant pain before the surgery, now is just uncomfortable. I should go see a doctor but without insurance it is very expensive. I haven't been to a doctor for anything in a whole lot of years.

Chocolate cake? Yes! Thank you.

Weighty matters, not too bad, I must have chosen the right ancestors. I gain about 5-7 pounds every winter and run it off when I can get outside to start gardening and riding. A friend discribes her extra pounds as the result of being over fed and under moved. So I guess if you can't eat less you have to move more. Everybody has different metabolism and genetics, so some will always be heavier and others thinner. Easy keepers and hard keepers is what we call it on the farm.

Potassium pills supply lots more than an armload of bananas. Anybody who takes a diuretic should be taking potassium. Strange that the doctors don't tell you that it washes out the potassium as it gets rid of fluid. Potassium effects all of our muscles, the heart is a muscle, duhhhhh. The docs have missed something important here. They are quick to write prescriptions and I find a conflict of interest since many of them also own stock in the drug companies.

My sister and I have a distant relationship, I like it that way. We live a couple of hours apart and I can choose to be available or busy when she calls. We never were close so this is ok. I learned a lot about her when we inherited our grandmother's house via our dad. The house has been sold and I will never do any kind of a money deal (buying or selling property) with her again. 'Nuff said. We get together for lunch sometimes and we exchange Christmas presents and that is about it. I will raise some tomato plants for her again but those are a gift and I choose to do it.

I've been working on my largest planting area, the weeds got ahead of me last year and I am determined not to let that happen again. Then there is the rest of the yard to do, vegie garden to plant, some late pruning to do so I can walk past the grape vines and not around them, another new bed to put in because I have dahlias that need to be planted. It never ends until the ground freezes and the snow flies, then there is too little to do. Feast or famine. I should do something desperate in the winter like giving my house a good cleaning, repaint the place or something. Instead I watch it snow and watch the birds fight over the feeders, go out and feed the horses twice a day and carry in firewood, do laundry in the basement and hop on the exercise machine for a few minutes every time I go down to tend the laundry. I guess that really is quite a bit of exercise some days.

Ok, time to get out there and tackle a few weeds. See you later.

LOL Woodspirit!! That explains why four Ghiardelli dark chocolate bars leaped into my cart at Target this morning! I thought chocolate was one of the major food groups. I looked on that new pyramid the FDA put out and didn't see chocolate anywhere so I decided it was just another bureaucratic snafu.

Oh BOOO! Julie, flurries here too. Melting right away but it's nasty cold and damp outside. Waiting for GS to come and pick up the rest of the iris we dug out yesterday. Glad we got out there when we did, today is not a day for playing in the yard. Spring ain't sprung yet here.

Oh well, we can't be lovable all the time can we? Sometimes my mouth operates without checking my brain, and mostly if people ask your opinion they only want to hear support for what they've already decided, no matter how idiotic it may be. Oops...there I go again. Snort. And I must confess to pruning a slip or two at a garden center....it is helpful to the plant, and that's a good thing. My dear stepmother was a whiz at that sort of gardening....must have inherited it from her.

Pot roast sounds deee-lishus. Don't quite know what to make for dinner, have to go browse through the freezer and see what strikes my fancy. Eyed some lovely asparagus yesterday at the market, but they wanted almost three dollars for a bunch...and they weren't even gold plated. Would like to make some cream of asparagus soup but not at that price.

Darius, some people have an empty place in them that constantly requires filling with love, attention, and help, to the point that it is a burden to those around them. Give what you can but not so much that you can't keep yourself healthy in the process. There should be give and take in any relationship and eventually people that you help too much end up resenting you for it. from wherein comes the phrase "No good deed goes unpunished..."

Supposed to warm up midweek here. I sure hope so.

Well, I got a little exercise today, running the weedeater. Managed to trim back 2 hostas by accident, and shredded several new sprigs of Poison Ivy that had come since I did this 2 weeks ago. I usually put on disposable gloves and pull the poison ivy first, just forgot to check this time. But I did come in right away and wash, before doing more weed-eating. Usually I get poison ivy just from saying the name, LOL.

I did try calling my sister about 2 pm but no answer except the machine. I didn't leave a message because I doubt she'd return my call. Mary, you have the ideal ... a distant relationship with a sister, unless sisters are really close.

I often wish I had a full sibling instead of just these half-brothers and half-sisters. At least we'd have the same genes if not the same attitudes. Some years ago my mother mentioned she miscarried when I was around 1-1/2 to 2 years old. Really gave me an emotional ding that I could have had a full brother or sister.

Before I forget again; Valerian, I grew it in Cornwall - its virtually a weed there. It grows in full sun. It spread seed around and ended up growing in the crevices in a dry stone wall where it was as happy as you please. Hot as it gets anywhere in the UK and virtually no soil. Hope this helps.
Siblings - well I have none exept step siblings and the relationship there is now non existant, having been told I wasn't wanted at my stepmothers funeral.
I have 3 kids of my own, all in their 30s (nearly 40s) and as different as chalk and cheese. The eldest only calls me when she wants something and never speaks to her brother at all, despite heavy efforts on his part. She does occasionally speak to her sister, mainly because she feels sorry for her, but rekons she hardly knows her. The middle one - the other girl, is a lot easier to relate too, but she is as stubborn as they come. She was quite close to her brother, before he moved to the US 14 years ago, and they are still in regular touch, but she is also very independant. Now divorced she gets on better with her ex than when they were under the same roof.
The boy is the baby of my family though only by 18 months. He would love to be close to both his sisters - is a real family person and very hurt by the eldests attitude. So you see full siblings are not necessarily any closer than half siblings.
As they say you can choose your friends but not your family.
We all have problems of one sort or another, and you can only give so much before you damage yourself. Don't feel guilty Darius and beat yourself up, it has to be give and take on both sides for a relationship to work. Just keep the door open to friendship, but it sounds to me as though sharing a house would be a recipe for disaster.
I have visitors coming again this evening, but after they leave on Wednesday I'm going to have to get down to some serious stuff and try and shed a few pounds at least. I know even 10 or 12 would make a heap of difference. If I look at 70 I'll fail before I start, but if I do as you eat an elephant, one bite at a time i might at least get somewhere.
Back to sleep again now I rekon!! :>)

Carol, if you choose to look at weight loss in small increments, you will do fine! Look at Howie (Gardenwife's hubby) who has lost over 100 pounds, just by weekly goals, and consistency.

Hi all, been out all day. Had GD this weekend, and she kept me busy as usual. Went to a plant sale yesterday, it was COLD, so didn't stay long (it was outside) Then church this morning, home for lunch, and then a memorial service for a friend who recently passed. It was a very touching moving service. Everyone was invited to share thoughts or things that happened with him. He was a dear generous neighbor. Will miss him a lot. On the sibling issue, i have a brother who is 9 years older than I, and a sister who is 7 years older, then my TWIN sister. Have never been close with the 2 older siblings, as they resent me and my twin, because when we were born, they were sort of self sufficient, and we got all the attention. Natural, when you think how much work it takes to tend to one, much less two at a time. Well anyway I speak with the older sister, whenever I call her. We live in the same county, but evidently the phones don't work in both directions, so I am usually the initiator of the phone calls. My brother only calls when he wants something, or I can do something for him. On the other hand, my twin and I are close. We are about 2 hours away from each other, but talk 2-3 times a week. My mother is 86, and lives just up the road from me. I am her primary care giver, and even though the older siblings live in the same county, very seldom will they ever call her to see how she is. My twin would do more if she were closer. I see how it grieves her that we all don't get along, but there comes a time when you just have to stop, or slow down the giving, when you get nothing in return. Have a son who is 40, and acts like he is 4. Been married 4 times, divorced, but living with someone at the present. Can't keep a job and is forever asking to "borrow" money. I thought the concept of borrowing, was eventually paying it back. I have just decided that although we are not rich, I am spending his inheritance and having some of the things I want, and doing some of the things I want to do. I will arrange to leave something for the GD, but the majority of it is for me. Spent 33 years working, now I'm going to enjoy the money along with the retirement. Talk about getting things off my chest, hope you don't ask me to "quit lurking about this thread" Thanks woman to woman chat is rare, and I appreciate the opportunity to "vent."

defoecat, this is JUST the place to vent!

I just talked with my sister, finally. Since our spat, she has decided to stay in FL for another year so her daughter can finish high school there. She'll bank her money from the sale of the house and rent an apartment. We have agreed to stay in touch occasionally, just not do the plans for a business together, or to live together.

Puts me back to Square One for a means of getting out of here, but it will be for the best in the long run I hope.

I always say that fish and visitors stink after 3 days. Could never image living with someone, that I didn't necessarily love and agree with 100% of the time. Lonelyness has got to be a lot better than turmoil and conflict. I have learned to pick my fights. I always ask myself if it will matter to me in 3 days. If the answer is no, then, I just bypass the issue. If it is somthing that I feel passionately about and will affect my life down the road, then I am hell bent and determined to fight for it.