SIDEBAR #55 - Travis Alexander forum

[coffeejunkie]

Good Morning from INDIANA!! Woohooo we made it home around 7 last night. L-O-N-G exhausting weekend...In and out hotel, always changing clothes, and going out eat and meeting up with other grandparents, family members. Trip down was awful! I didn't take enough pain meds and the ride was very uncomfortable and painful. I learned that when traveling with a bad back is NOT the best choice, and I took pain pills before we started home and took them every 4 hours. It helped! Glad be back home Wedding was nice and was nice seeing my ex DIL and her family. Wasn't nothing fancy, but it was sweet.

Oh my GOSH! Been reading all I missed out on, adoption, having babies, ect... I had my first son at age 15 and lived with my parents/grandparents who helped me raise him till I married DH at age 18. He adopted Ryan as his own and we went on have 3 more kids. My grandparents\parents were big in the church and the church totally excepted what happened. I have been blessed so much in my life.

Thyroid issues are NOTHING too mess around with. I had mine radiated out when I was in my early 30's and been on Synthroid every since. I get my T3-T4 levels checked every 6 months and my meds are adjusted accordingly. Please have yours check, NINER...it can cause a whole load of medical problems!!

 

[coffeejunkie]

Grandson and his bride

 

[coffeejunkie]

Grandson and his bride

View attachment 83053

Can anyone see this pic? It looks all back to me...

 

[Susza]

Pages, I don't even want to think about what is instilled in my carpet and padding. With messy children, dogs, cats, an exploded furnace, the carpet has got to be ripped up and out. German Shepherds shed in tumbleweeds of hair and it is everywhere, despite my meager attempts to brush them and vacuum as I could do it all day and never get it all up.

I would like to replace the upstairs cRpeting with laminate flooring that looks like hardwood and put area rugs down instead of wall to wall carpeting. I have read people don't like that because they want softness under their feet. What do you think? My children are grown and I only have one still living here. You can't see her floor anyway because of the clothes....

I have hardwood throughout the first floor with oriental rugs which seem easier to keep clean. Those floors need to be refinished, but that is the last thing to be done as we have to leave for several days and the way the house looks now, there is no way it will be any time soon. They were refinished about 5 years ago and the guy did such a bad job, the finish wore off in 3 months and the urethane he used made the special walnut color look orangey before it wore off.

RSBM

This last bought of viral/bacterial pneumonia that took away almost my entire lung breathing capacity was a good wake up call in a sense. I just had no idea I wasn't as well as I thought I had fooled myself into thinking I was in. Now that I know, and my DH knows, we are far more cognizant of our surroundings and "stuff" that has accumulated over 25 years. Purging now will eliminate months of my surviving family members doing it should I die. Hopefully not soon as there is still a huge mess lol.

This time I was scared. Not to die, but watching my DH become overwhelmed, exhausted, and trying to manage it all between work and me. I have never seen him like that before as he is always in control, very methodical and Type B. Sometimes I think we tell ourselves everything will be fine when we go, but I am not so sure at the moment. Have you ever thought about it or am I being too morbid? Xo

BBM 1: I think it's a very good idea to take off the carpeting, Zuri. I have wooden floors everywhere except in the kitchen (tiles). And I realy love it. It's so easy to keep clean, it's beautiful and really nice to walk on. Once I bought a soft and cosy carpet to put next to the canapé and in front of the balcony door... I didn't like it because I always imagined all the dust and dirt that it might be hiding despite regular cleaning - it just didn't feel good for me. During winter time I'm wearing warm and soft GIESSWEIN house shoes or simply these thick socks with rubber dots on the sole; that's perfect for me.
How big is the upstairs surface? Too big to put real hardwood? There are companies that have a kind of outlet offers; often, there are some irregularities that you can hardly see and the price can be very interesting.
I'm saying this because several times I had the impression that on laminated surfaces the dust "flies" as the plastic creates this kind of "electricity" - not sure if I'm explaining well. May be you could check this with an expert?

Sometimes I think we tell ourselves everything will be fine when we go, but I am not so sure at the moment.:
What exactly aren't you sure about? That everything will be fine? That your DH will have a break down?
When times get really difficult I happened to observe this survival reflex that you describe: "we tell ourselves everything will be fine when we go" even if we have some secret doubts. I think that's a very positive attitude that allows you to remain the actress and not to slip into a victim position. Don't know wether I'm clear...
Now, is there any possibility for your DH and yourself to plan some 2 or 3 quiet relaxing days to fill up the batteries, sleep & eat well? Just a time out somewhere in a small mountain chalet with good air and beautiful fall colours?
I wish it would be possible. (((HUGS)))

I hope I succeeded in attaching the pic...

 

[Spellbound]

Bernina, you remind me of the days when I left my first marriage at the age of 45 with $50 to my name. Determined and in need of saving my sanity, it was better than staying and making myself sick. Little by little, I had plans, determination, and my dog and, ate a lot of bagels and bananas, .... we did it! I may never be rich nor have many luxuries, but what I have is worth more than the losses. I sure hope you can do as well. If there is something I can do to help or encourage you, don't hesitate to let me/us know.

Pages, what a tale of mishaps you shared. I am glad all has worked out for you. Do you know what caused the waterbed fire.... electrical?

CoffeeJ, hooray for you. The painfulness aside, what a beautiful bride. Glad you were able to be there for the wedding and now are home and can rest.

Susza, beautiful floors!

Daisymae, precious memories to you. Thinking of you with special thoughts today.

 

[MsJosie]

Can anyone see this pic? It looks all back to me...

Yes, I see the beautiful picture! So glad you were able to go.

 

[YESorNO]

Link: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/e6/fc/8e/e6fc8ee6710da637bdc4d625405a4411.gif
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20 degrees when I awoke (40 now) and frost was on everything. :coldout:

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A Small Indiana Town Scarred by a Trusted Doctor

"On a spring evening last year, Debra Davidson flipped on the television to watch the local news. When an item came on about her longtime physician, she perked up and leaned forward. Then she screamed. Her husband rushed into the living room to see if everything was O.K.

Everything was not O.K. The report said that her cardiologist, Dr. Arvind Gandhi, had been sued by two former patients who accused him of performing unnecessary operations..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/business/a-small-indiana-town-scarred-by-a-trusted-doctor.html
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Mysterious Joy Hibbs Murder Cold for Decades

"April 19, 1991 seemed like a normal, sunny afternoon along a quiet residential street in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania. That is, until a house went up in flames.

Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters discovered the charred body of Joy Hibbs, 36, in her son's bedroom. It initially appeared Hibbs had tragically perished in an accidental house fire, but an autopsy revealed that was not the case. She had been stabbed numerous times and strangled. Police believed whoever killed her started the fire to cover their tracks.

It's now been more than two decades since that afternoon, but the crime still baffles local law enforcement..."

http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/cold-case-spotlight/mysterious-joy-hibbs-murder-cold-decades-n383346

WS thread: http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...Hibbs-36-Bristol-Township-19-April-1991/page3
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New ISIS Video Highlights What Child Soldiers Go Through

"The latest in a series of ISIS propaganda videos showcasing child soldiers has been released, and the details are chilling: It depicts recruits as young as 5 going through drills at a military training camp for “cubs” in Syria..."

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/new-isis-video-highlights-the-burdens-of-child-153001941.html
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A terrible story,( and a little graphic, IMO):

Miami Herald investigation: Young inmates beaten and raped in prison broomstick ritual

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article35039946.html?ref=yfp
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[YESorNO]

This is kinda interesting:

HISTOGRAPHY

"“Histography" is interactive timeline that spans across 14 billion years of history, from the Big Bang to 2015.
The site draws historical events from Wikipedia and self-updates daily with new recorded events.
The interface allows for users to view between decades to millions of years.
The viewer can choose to watch a variety of events which have happened in a particular period or to target a specific event in time. For example you can look at the past century within the categories of war and inventions..."

http://cargocollective.com/matanstauber/Histography?ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

Histograhy- Timeline of History website:

http://histography.io/
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[YESorNO]

A very sad and unfortunate story- but there are lessons to be learned, IMO:


The Lonely Death of George Bell

"Each year around 50,000 people die in New York, some alone and
unseen. Yet death even in such forlorn form can cause a surprising
amount of activity. Sometimes, along the way, a life’s secrets are revealed....

In discovering a death, you find a life story and perhaps meaning. Could anything in the map of George Bell’s existence have explained his lonely end? Possibly not. But it was true that George Bell died carrying some secrets. Secrets about how he lived and secrets about who mattered most to him. Those secrets would bring sorrow. At the same time, they would deliver rewards. Death does that. It closes doors but also opens them..."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/n...york-city.html?_r=0&ncid=newsltushpmg00000003

RIP George Bell :candle: I will remember you.

Death plucks my ears and says, "Live - I am coming."
~Virgil

 

[YESorNO]

At Home, Many Seniors Are Imprisoned by Their Independence

"...Though only 67, Ms. DeLaPaz retired early with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and now struggles to leave her Manhattan apartment. She needs constant oxygen, and carrying even a portable oxygen unit troubles her breathing....

Remaining at home, however difficult or isolating that becomes, gives older people a sense of control that may prove illusory, Ms. Murray said. “They feel like they have their freedom even though they don’t, really.”.."

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/h...ors-are-imprisoned-by-their-independence.html
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Playgrounds For Seniors Improve Fitness, Reduce Isolation

"No more sitting around in the park feeding the squirrels. Playgrounds designed for seniors have caught on in Asia and Europe and are beginning to make their way across the Big Pond. The parks include low-impact exercise equipment such as elliptical machines, static bikes and body flexors and are intended to help promote balance and flexibility. Better balance means fewer falls, goes the reasoning...."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/...niors_n_7452270.html?utm_hp_ref=health-post50

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Seeing The Glass As Half Full At Age 88

"...So joints, do as you will. We enjoy this day as much a we did when we were younger. And tomorrow when it gets worse, we will enjoy as much as today. The glass is at least half full, and around 90, a half-filled glass is something to cheer..."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richa...ge-88_b_6992558.html?utm_hp_ref=health-post50
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My Conversation With Kathy Bates on Ageism in Hollywood (with short clip)

"...One of Hollywood's most respected character actors, Bates has been able to achieve success in an industry that is notoriously biased against certain age groups and image types. In the clip below, she shares when she learned to develop tough skin in order to deal with what can often be an insensitive business."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tavis...rsat_b_7665304.html?utm_hp_ref=fifty&ir=Fifty
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[YESorNO]

100 Years of Fitness in 100 Seconds

[video=youtube;5hr17Dn-Ikk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hr17Dn-Ikk[/video]

 

[YESorNO]

Anyone ever eat spagetti squash? (my mother raved about it, but it didn't look appetizing to me when I was younger). I found this recipe and would like to try it:

Spaghetti Squash Mac and Cheese (but just what is "ghee"??? I don't want to look it up, just in case it's disgusting- :floorlaugh: I'll just omit that and use what instead???

Anyone know?):

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Spaghetti-Squash-Mac-Cheese-32094860

 

[YESorNO]

I'm watching pennies with my SSI-DI or whatever they're calling it now days.........so being "unattached" has a price, it'll take months to dig myself out of a financial hole that I allowed the ex to put me in :gaah:but I can do it!
So..I applied for food stamps "online" something my Docs have always told me I'm approved for......yeah, right, a whole $20 a month. Hadn't applied even once over the last 26 years being disabled. With a cord of firewood being $200 this year, I thought it would help. Even the case worker thought it was pretty bad, and re-did the application 3 times. Oh well, $20 can help.

Had a great weekend, will give an update tomorrow, tired but happy!:happydance:

BBM Good for you- $20 is $20 and will help buy/pay for something, IMO.

Glad you are finally enjoying yourself.

 

[YESorNO]

Good Morning from INDIANA!! Woohooo we made it home around 7 last night. L-O-N-G exhausting weekend...In and out hotel, always changing clothes, and going out eat and meeting up with other grandparents, family members. Trip down was awful! I didn't take enough pain meds and the ride was very uncomfortable and painful. I learned that when traveling with a bad back is NOT the best choice, and I took pain pills before we started home and took them every 4 hours. It helped! Glad be back home Wedding was nice and was nice seeing my ex DIL and her family. Wasn't nothing fancy, but it was sweet.

Oh my GOSH! Been reading all I missed out on, adoption, having babies, ect... I had my first son at age 15 and lived with my parents/grandparents who helped me raise him till I married DH at age 18. He adopted Ryan as his own and we went on have 3 more kids. My grandparents\parents were big in the church and the church totally excepted what happened. I have been blessed so much in my life.

Thyroid issues are NOTHING too mess around with. I had mine radiated out when I was in my early 30's and been on Synthroid every since. I get my T3-T4 levels checked every 6 months and my meds are adjusted accordingly. Please have yours check, NINER...it can cause a whole load of medical problems!!

:welcomeback:

 

[YESorNO]

Grandson and his bride

View attachment 83053

Your grandson looks very handsome and the bride is beautiful.

:congrats:

 

[YESorNO]

BBM 1: I think it's a very good idea to take off the carpeting, Zuri. I have wooden floors everywhere except in the kitchen (tiles). And I realy love it. It's so easy to keep clean, it's beautiful and really nice to walk on. Once I bought a soft and cosy carpet to put next to the canapé and in front of the balcony door... I didn't like it because I always imagined all the dust and dirt that it might be hiding despite regular cleaning - it just didn't feel good for me. During winter time I'm wearing warm and soft GIESSWEIN house shoes or simply these thick socks with rubber dots on the sole; that's perfect for me.
How big is the upstairs surface? Too big to put real hardwood? There are companies that have a kind of outlet offers; often, there are some irregularities that you can hardly see and the price can be very interesting.
I'm saying this because several times I had the impression that on laminated surfaces the dust "flies" as the plastic creates this kind of "electricity" - not sure if I'm explaining well. May be you could check this with an expert?

Sometimes I think we tell ourselves everything will be fine when we go, but I am not so sure at the moment:
What exactly aren't you sure about? That everything will be fine? That your DH will have a break down?
When times get really difficult I happened to observe this survival reflex that you describe: "we tell ourselves everything will be fine when we go" even if we have some secret doubts. I think that's a very positive attitude that allows you to remain the actress and not to slip into a victim position. Don't know wether I'm clear...
Now, is there any possibility for your DH and yourself to plan some 2 or 3 quiet relaxing days to fill up the batteries, sleep & eat well? Just a time out somewhere in a small mountain chalet with good air and beautiful fall colours?
I wish it would be possible. (((HUGS)))

I hope I succeeded in attaching the pic...
View attachment 83055

BBM I had laminate floors in my large living room and kitchen when I lived in Pa. and didn't notice any electrical energy thingy at all. I loved the floor because it was very easy to clean and it was indestructible. If you have dogs, with their scratchy nails, or little children with their toys, it's a blessing, IMO. I think that laminate is better for people who have breathing problems because there are no "spaces" in the finish- as in wooden floors- where dust accumulates. It's a solid finish in comparison to real wood. Real wood is beautiful tho'.

Your floor is just beautiful!

 

[GigiG]

Anyone ever eat spagetti squash? (my mother raved about it, but it didn't look appetizing to me when I was younger). I found this recipe and would like to try it:

Spaghetti Squash Mac and Cheese (but just what is "ghee"??? I don't want to look it up, just in case it's disgusting- :floorlaugh: I'll just omit that and use what instead???

Anyone know?):

http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Spaghetti-Squash-Mac-Cheese-32094860

ghee is a kind of clarified butter, melted butter with the milk solids scraped off.

 

[Susza]

Hi YoN,
I discovered ghee while traveling in India. It's clarified butter and very common there probably also because storage is easy, it doesn't need to be refrigerated. It's worth preparing it yourself as it's quite expensive when you buy it; well, at least here in Germany and Switzerland.

Here are some more benefits that I find very interesting:

"Ghee" comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "sprinkled," and it basically means that the milk fat is rendered from the butter to separate the milk solids and water. It’s made by melting butter and skimming the fat off of the top. You’ll be left with a yellow liquid when it’s hot and a creamy looking solid one when the ghee cools down.

Not only is this easy to make, but ghee also has a number of benefits. Here are some reasons why you should incorporate it into your diet:

1. Lactose Friendly

Since it’s made from the milk solids, the impurities have been removed, so people who are lactose intolerant usually have no problems consuming ghee. However, be sure to consult with your physician before trying it.

2. Doesn’t Spoil Easily

Ghee doesn’t need to be refrigerated, and according to Care2, some mixtures can last up to 100 years.

3. Promotes Flexibility

According to Dr. Vasant Lad, director of the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M., ghee helps to lubricate the connective tissue and promote flexibility. This is why many yoga aficionados and practitioners consumer this type of butter.

4. Rich In Vitamins

Ghee is rich in healthy fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are important for promoting bone and brain health, and for boosting the immune system.

5. Healthy Digestive Tract

Ghee converts fiber into butyric acid, which is beneficial to intestinal bacteria. It also helps to increase appetite, fostering better health and weight loss.

6. Lowers Cholesterol

Studies have shown that ghee can reduce cholesterol both in the serum and intestine. According to the Times of India, it does this by triggering an increased secretion of biliary lipids.

7. Higher Smoking Point

Since it cooks at a higher point than almost any other oil, it won’t break into free radicals like other ones. Free radicals can potentially be harmful to one’s health, and when an oil smokes, it can be hazardous to a person's respiratory system if constantly breathed in.

8. Weight Loss

When the ghee is derived from grass-fed cows, the butter contains cancer-fighting fatty acid conjugated linolenic acid (CLA), which aids in weight loss.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-ghee-8-health-benefits-clarified-butter-290774

 

[Susza]

BBM I had laminate floors in my large living room and kitchen when I lived in Pa. and didn't notice any electrical energy thingy at all. I loved the floor because it was very easy to clean and it was indestructible. If you have dogs, with their scratchy nails, or little children with their toys, it's a blessing, IMO. I think that laminate is better for people who have breathing problems because there are no "spaces" in the finish- as in wooden floors- where dust accumulates. It's a solid finish in comparison to real wood. Real wood is beautiful tho'.

Your floor is just beautiful!

Thank you, YoN. Good to know!
Yes, I am very lucky to have this floor in all my rooms.
I love wood very much and I am still angry with my dad (who is a cabinetmaker) that he didn't allow me to learn his beautiful job...
Not that I listened very often to what my dad wanted me to do but I would have needed him to allow me doing 1 (more was not allowed) of the 2 years in his workshop as every other "boss" would have been still more sceptical / macho... You know what I mean?

 

[GigiG]

Some of us live closer to Crazy Town than we might like!

Zuri mentioned (yesterday?) the murder of Dr. Caroline Ekong, which occurred not too far from where she lives. The guy accused of killing her planned it for over a year, even though she hadn't had contact with him for three years:

http://www.delawareonline.com/story.../73980366/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=

A few day ago, about 35 miles from where I live, a wife, her 13-year-old daughter and the daughter's 18-year-old (?!) boyfriend were charged in the murder of the husband and THEIR (husband & wife's) live-in lover.

http://nypost.com/2015/10/16/wife-got-teens-to-kill-her-husband-and-their-lover-police-say/

Then yesterday, in Detroit (not sure how far that is from Spellbound) a pastor fatally shot a man in the church. The pastor was alleged to have been having an affair with the victim's wife. And fathering her child.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...ly-man-killed-pastor-s-unbelievable/74208220/