CONSTANCE, NIC, DINA, MARGO, JUDY, PAM, MARILYN, OTHERS??

Oh, I'm sick to death of talking about me! I want to know how you all are doing.  Connie said recently so many people she knew were going through a really rough time - well herself included. How is everyone doing? Are you holding up, are you getting through this bad patch? Dina, I'm worried about you, can you check in please? Connie, what are your doctors saying, what's next for you? Pam, it sounds like you're on the upswing and I'm so proud of you for taking your life back! Margo, it's been so great seeing you so active on the board again and you seem - I dunno - more mellow? More accepting? How ARE things for you and Michael? How are you doing? Don't go away again, ok? Marilyn, how goes it on the financial front for you, and health wise, are you doing ok with the diabetes? And Nic - ah, Nic, I know how 'different' life feels, walking around with that space that used to be filled by your Mom; some days it's so much easier than others, right? It'll get better, I promise. Are you doing ok, though? Are you getting what you need from your family, your friends? Are you taking good care of yourself? Anyone else who needs to talk - jump on in. Reenie is taking a break (and don't all sigh with relief at the same time, you might just blow me off the planet!) M.

doing good, talking to myself as usual lately.........think I may go AWOL for awhile...hope you all are doing and do well. 

Why Kim? Why go AWOL? What's up? M.

nothings up ...just need a break, feel like anyway lately I talking to deaf ears...so Im taking a break...Ill be back in a few weeks probably....take care and be well

i just have a second or two--mellow? me?//nope.... but i'll take that as a compliment and run with it!!

two weeks ago i went out of town on a retreat weekend with fellow OFF board members (over fifty forum  here on OH) --i wrote to judy about it on one of her posts...anyhow-while gone our 12 year old blue and gold macaw, chico , almost died-he is michael's pride and joy...so we have spent two weeks and more than $600 in vet bills , meds and food trying to get him well- we will know hopefully tomorrow results of bloodwork- he could have PPD which is somethig i cannot pronounce but used to be called Macaw Wasting Disease- like Lou Gehrigs (ALS )in humans..not pretty way to die--soo we are praying that is NOT what is wrong--if it is not; we will never know what it was that he has had...just praying...and i am praying also for michael==cuz i just do NOT see his mental state surviving if chico dies ...and --last year when i went to dallas with the same group our dog trinity died in michael's arms..dunno if you remember that scenario...

i am still trying to find FT work- put in an app with the county where i work now- would be an awesome job as a Deputy Clerk in one of the courts- my super is actually a great guy so it would be under him but i have a feeling he has a "pet" for this job...we'll see..starting pay is $2.68 more per hour than i get now- would be  40 hours and bennies......a few weeks back i was working on trying to get this one job that would have been a wonderful career move-didn't get it -wa s #2 choice (becuz i don't have health ins and she wasn't offering it she would have felt guilty if i got sick-ouch!!) i may have written about it--i was very disappointed about not getting it... geographically that job would have meant staying in this area somewhat--the job as deputy clerk would give me a chance to move closer to my kids tho not all of the way out there (don't wanan drive that far!)

i am still donating plasma and it is really getting to me- but it's also money in pocket

am trying to make some Christmas presents fo rthe grands..hope they will apprecaite hats and scarves-i would but i am old!! have to think of how to stretch the budget...and don't have that Kmart discount i had last Christmas!

michael has busted arse around the house trying to get it sellable but i still have a ton -i mean ten tons-to clean and declutter ..and time is wastin...not that ppl are lining up to buy!!! we need out from under the morgage and just walking away from it is NOT an option.....

i am actually getting into a funk about teh upcoming holidays and lacka money-and i know we are not teh only ones in this boat--but it is really starting to wear on me...i was prepared to pay some bills til chico got sick-now we are overdrawn again and it will be weeks -months- to get out of that cycle again....

as is sit here, i am waiting for my friend from OFF to come over-i have not met her face to face yet--we should tonite otherwise it will be tomorrow!!! she lives in nebraska but is here vsiiting her step mom-and we are sposed to go to cedar point tomorrow nite--she has had a dream of riding amusement park rides since she lost her weight and so tomorrow nite is it!! we will freeze our buns off....

my mother and i are having words-or lack of them and it has me bummed but i haven't dealt with it yet-have to find the right way....

well- that is more than a few seconds but that is my life in a nutshell..

i am holding my weight at 179-180 depends on what time of day--so i am still down from orig weight of 233 but no where near to my goal...stress-dammit thats my excuse!!!! tonite i feel bloated and gassy and not sure why but it will pass! sorry!!!

anyhow- that's life....
oh-btw-i'm glad that you don't know my full name since you called connie by hers!!!!!
hugs

I am here going slowly crazy trying to keep my life going with grad school, a new grade level, both my kiddos are struggling in school this year. My husband is making me crazy, he is very clearly sliding into depression and his anxiety level is increasing and he is TOTALLY against medication for whatever reason, known only to him...

My dad's best friend just had a major heart attack, he has been fighting cancer for about 2.5 years so there is basically nothing they can do for him other than make him comfortable, they are sending him home with hospice, that just totally sucks...

honestly I feel like everythign around me is just craptastic...

the hubster is home 3 days aweek and does NOTHING except sleep or play computer games...@@ but if I say something to him he is madder than a hornet becasue I am treating him like one of my students...ugh... then freakin help out a bit here man...

My sister is finally starting to deal with her grief and she is grabbing onto me and wanting ot spend every weekend with me and she is trying to plan "new traditions" for the families during the holidays and while that sounds like a good idea, it also feels really forced and that hurts me.

I am starting up a prayershawl group at my church right after teh new year. it was/is somethign I wanted to do right after my mom died but I couldn't even say those words let alone explain to others how being able to make something for some one else, by using something my mom taught me right before she died, helped but it does.

dumb stuff still is very upsetting , like the american girl catalog, my mom wanted to buy my daughter a doll for christmas and I know that my dad would buy one for her if I told him that but somehow that doesnt' seem right either...ugh

I check in about once a week so I am here jost not every day...

my weight is steady, if I want to loose any more I know it will involve exercise adn I am trying to convince teh hubster that a gym membership would help us both wit hdepression.
I noticed that teh weight I gained and tehn re-lost came out of my thighs... they are horrible now...really really bad... and I wish that would go away @@ ugh...

my sister is trying to convince me to run the danskin womens triathlon for ovarian cancer in the spring... I may do that, it is something that my mom was so proud of my sister for doing, and the nat teh same time doing it now after she is gone seems wrong...any ideas about that for me???

THANK YOU ELIZABETH FOR THE HOW TO MAKE A SIGNATURE...:)
nic

I think your sister trying to keep tradition with the family is a good move. And do that triathalon! Your mom would want you guys to keep doing these things. Its in honor of her memory to keep living and doing these things, and it keeps the family together. Thats a good thing Nic. It's just that the pain is so raw right now and maybe it is more that it makes you think of her more and it hurts. That doesn't mean its wrong...it just hurts. But just remember that your mom would want you guys to live and be happy and that she is over there on the other side knowing how you feel hoping you will be happy and watching over you guys. Imagine her joy when you guys finish that race! She'll probably be there next to you guys whooping and hollerin right along with you two! Remember we don't die and dissappear...we move on to a better brighter place... we must continue to move on here too and grow for our loved ones to make them proud. Our loved ones are still with us NIc. Its just their physical presense we miss soooo much. Lots of love and hugs!!! Hang in there sweetie!!!    Oh an your welcome !! :)  The signatures are cool

Margo, I'm sorry I didn't respond to this right away. I was so sad to read all of this! I honestly don't know how you're coping - and how long have you been donating blood for $$ ??? Are things really that bad for you two? Gosh. Listen, if you can mange to stay as upbeat as you are in the face of this incredibly adversity, you are my everlovin' hero and I worship the ground you walk on ...    And, by the way, you never responded to my question!!!!  How do I get to the over-fifty Board??? I want to take a peek at you guys - I'm really have a hard time dealing with my age, I look in the mirror and see a very old lady ... just not wearing it well ... anyway, you hang in there, and any time you want to talk, you know where to find me. And what is your real name???? I didn't know "Margo" was short for anything??? Love you, Maureen

ahhh...but i did...somewhere- so here goes again


http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/over_50/

they are a great group-- we have a what's new thread daily--i think todays just says something about it being monday--


and i'm not telling what margo is short for- just taht i am s posed to be Margot-the french spelling-dropped the t in 5th grade and my mother was po'd!!!  the name is 10 letters long---and i also have my birth name to answer to...confused???

reenie- there are days like this past weekend where i simply cannot cope any longer --nothing helped however i have to go on cuz nobody is gonna do it for me......i have to say that i am about at he very very end of the rope tho.......

um yes ...money is that bad for us...this vet issue has put us back into overdraft and that takes forever to get out of when income is fixed...

i have been donating plasma twice a week since june and it is running havoc with my iron --well it isn't--i am just having real issues......if iron and protein are not at specified levels i cannot donate and i drive 38 miles one way to do so --if i drive there and find out i am too low i have wasted gas =money...see?

normally i eat a great deal of cheese for my protein and i love it--but cannot have cheese due to it makes plasma cloudy..rice noodles potatoes ( i know!! but in small quantities!!) do as well...

and pure meat protein is expensive -hence your thread about eating and crap in grocery carts....

life 's a *****  but then you die soooooooo...i just keep pluggin along.....and praying for a better job.........and a winning lottery ticket!