A neighbor asked us if our treadmill is for sale. Dh told him it isn't for sale (4 of us use it on occasion, depending upon our other activities/seasons), but we wouldn't mind if he came over to try it out a few times to see if he really wants to buy one. Turns out his mom (an elderly lady with some dementia) needs exercise. Here's the plan dh and this friend hatched: Our teen dd would walk over to their house and bring his mom over to walk on the treadmill for 15 min or so, three times per week. This is to save our friend the trip of taking his mom to a senior activity center. He would pay our dd for this little caregiving job, and I would be home. I'm wondering if this is a bad liability idea . . . I mean, is it ok for someone else to use our equipment? Does our dd's getting paid change the equation? What do you think? In case you were wondering: No, dd does not have a car to drive friend's mom to the activity center. This plan is feasible because dd can walk to the neighbor's house. ETA: This is a close friend --helps us out when needed, watches ball games with dh, remembers the dc on their birthdays . . . We would want to help if we could.

That is cool! And yay for you, increasing your steps like that!

The others? Not so much. Grumbling. Excuses. Dragging of feet. I make them do things, anyway, but I'd like to do something tangible for this ds to show that his helpfulness is appreciated. We do not have an allowance system. We cover all the dc's needs and occasional wants. The older ones have outside opportunities to earn money for extra things. What would you do for an 11 yo who consistently cooperates? I know the others need negative consequences for their self-centeredness. I'd like them all to see that their db's quick and cheerful compliance pleases me. tia

There is? Share the knowledge!:D

My dh weighed 120 or 125 when we married. He was 28. 5'9". A couple of his siblings are similar, but another is shorter and rounder. Another sister is tall but with a more athletic build. They all have the same skin/hair/eyes, but come in different shapes and sizes. If the dr isn't worried, I wouldn't either. (Here we are a few years later -- nearing 50 -- and dh is worried about his expanding middle. :D)

Just a vent here . . . I don't get out to the gym any more. Since we were paying for 3 family members' individual memberships, we decided to purchase a treadmill for all of us to use at home. And I use videos for strength/Pilates/yoga. Often I'm online reading reviews and watching clips before choosing what I'll try next. And OFTEN a video gets negative reviews because it's "too easy" for the reviewer. SERIOUSLY??? Shouldn't a video with "beginners" in the title BE EASY??? I know many people will find the videos I attempt too easy. Why did they review a video for beginners??? Is it not possible for them to consider that there may be an overweight, middle-aged non-athlete who might want to try to workout? And who might find those popular ones discouraging? And who might NEED something "easy" to build confidence and heart health? That a video might be a WONDERFUL A+ video for the right audience? And then there's the "too short" review. REALLY? The workout time is LISTED on the description. If you wanted to exercise more than an hour, why did you pick a 30 minute workout? And then sometimes there's the insulting, "This may be useful for older people." All the while giving the lowest rating. I'm sure there are older people who aren't looking for beginner workouts. ARGH! OK. Vent over.

Dh has had a terrible bout of sinus infection(s) this year. He was feeling better on antibiotics and steroids, but relapsed as soon as the course was over. When he called the dr, the nurse called in a new set of medications to our pharmacy. I went to pick them up Friday night and found that our insurance company wouldn't cover the nasal spray (name brand only version) -- $150! I said, "Let's not do that one," and brought home the new antibiotic. Dh was MISERABLE Friday night. And, of course, the dr's office was closed for the weekend. I convinced dh that we should get the medication after all and called the pharmacy, asking them to fill the prescription for nasal spray. Just as I was going out to pick it up, we discovered samples of that very spray from a previous dr's visit! (Dh was hospitalized with respiratory problems last summer -- maybe it was from that round.) Of course we'd like to save money, but I feel obligated since I specifically asked the pharmacist to fill it. What happens if you don't purchase the medication? Does it go to waste? I'd be embarrassed to call back. OTOH, I wonder if we should get the medication anyway since dh frequently has these problems and the samples will run out. Of course, after the dr's office opens, we could ask for a prescription for a generic spray that would be covered by our insurance company . . . We have a close relationship with our pharmacist. 7 people in the family, and 2 with special needs. You know? It's personal. :tongue_smilie:

Thanks for the details I hadn't considered. I'm a moderate C but hopefully be shrinking a little in the future. It was pregnancy/nursing and eventual weight gain that bumped me up into that range. The pregnancy/nursing season is over, and I can't use is as an excuse for the weight gain any more!

Wider straps as in wide-enough-to-cover-the-sports-bra-straps? I'm one of those people who is bothered by peeking bra straps. Maybe I should invest in all black sports bras and tanks so it wouldn't be as noticeable. Thanks for the information . . . I'm off to google. :D

Sigh. This makes me think I'll have to go try them on. Which makes me think I'll just put up with the floppy T-shirt necklines until I lose some weight. :glare:

I'm venturing into yoga. For cardio, I wear one of my big fat ugly t-shirts with stretchy capris. For yoga, however, it bugs me when the neckline of my shirt gets caught on my chin. What brand do you like? I'd like to order online, if possible, to minimize the pain of shopping for something this size. :glare: I'm finding it a little difficult to tell specifics. I mean "shelf bra" could mean absolutely no support unless it's strong fabric compression, right? I don't need support for high impact -- just enough for walking on the treadmill or stretching. tia

Yes. Not sure dh and my dc would agree, though. My first real choice would be one of those unmarked cemeteries with no casket. I've seen photos, but there aren't any in our area. I hate the idea of spending all that money on something that will be buried. It's not like I'll be enjoying the satin pillow, you know . . .

Is the room large enough to pull the couch a couple of feet away from the window/wall? Could you put a folding screen (bamboo, maybe, to allow light) behind that particular section of couch? Sometimes the decor camouflages these quirks. We've had windows in odd spaces in some of our homes. Having furniture in front of windows isn't my first preference, but sometimes it's what works best. In one house, we had to turn the sectional diagonally in order to see both the television and the fireplace (there was no room to have both on the same wall!) Another house had windows in the center of the wall with no other place to place a headboard. :tongue_smilie: Comfort comes first!

:grouphug: Praying for you all.

See, that's why I think cremation-and-scattering makes the most logical sense. Dh disagrees (a little). He believes it may be important to our dc to have a grave to visit. I do have strong religious beliefs, but my personal ones don't influence this particular decision. I think the decision I (we) make should take into account what would be best for our dc, along with the financial arrangements we've prepared. KWIM? I agree: "What to do, what to do?"

:D I agree with you. He must wait a long long time before he heads out of here. I've told dh the same thing. :D

If you have made plans for your eventual death, did they include a joint burial plot for you and your spouse? I've thought about this recently. My parents prepurchased their plots. My mother's body is buried there, and Dad's name is there in his space. Now he's remarried. He and Mom were married 43 years, and I doubt either of them thought there would ever be another love in their lives . . . Dh's mom, otoh, was buried in her family's plot, beside her parents and an aunt. She died suddenly and before they had made such plans. They had been married over 30 years. After her death, FIL remarried his current wife. Dh and I recently attended their 25th anniversary celebration. I suppose they have made plans to be buried near one another. I'm not sure about that, but I do know she was divorced from the father of her 7 dc before that man passed away. I guess my question is really a discussion of whether or not it makes sense to buy plots for couples. KWIM? It is rare for couples to die together, right? Who knows what will happen later? Dad still puts flowers at Mom's grave, and I think he visits his wife's late husband's grave with her. (Both spouses died of cancer -- they met at a widowed persons' support group.) Any thoughts? I know I'm not articulating well, but dh and I have ongoing conversations about our wishes, and this point confuses me. tia

This is an interesting question, and I think I'd go with whatever Jane wants to be considered. I would tend to think one would choose the most recent event, but in this case, the most recent event may be one she'd wish to forget. :tongue_smilie: I have a close relative in a similar situation. She has married and divorced 3 times, having had a child each with husbands #2 and #3. After #2 passed away (10+ years after their divorce), she claimed (and received) widows' benefits. In addition to that child's social security as his survivor. I was thinking :confused:, but apparently the government considered her #2's widow.

Yes, of course, that makes sense. I'd have to ask him/her to speak with me after class. I wonder if it would embarrass a college student? Maybe a small dose of embarrassment would make a difference in future writing . . .

What would you do? Suppose using a computer was not an option (in-class discussion questions on a test, for example)? What if the student's printing wasn't any easier to read? What if the writing was legible, but microscopic? I am flexible. I taught first grade for 8 years and can decipher pretty well. :D I have dc with special needs. I do not ever want handwriting to get in the way of academic success. I just don't know what to do. If I were to ask a student to rewrite something that was on a test, it's possible the rewritten version would be a new improved version. This wouldn't be fair to the other students. Any ideas? I want to handle my work, including grading, professionally, and without embarrassing the student(s). tia

Thank you! Thank you! I knew there must be something I was missing! :tongue_smilie: Cool. A clean inbox! And my own files to browse at leisure! :D

I need a bigger PM box! :tongue_smilie: I know how to clean it out, but so many lovely people here have sent me encouraging words . . . Is there an easy way to pick them all up and drop them into some kind of Word file? Or email them to myself? tia

You'd be wearing some clothing during the measurement, right? I wouldn't want to be stripping down in front of someone else, but if I'm wearing something, it wouldn't bother me.

All along I knew I needed cardio. It was information I read here with you all that convinced me I needed to add strength training, too. (Strong Women Stay Young is the book I think was suggested.) So . . . I picked up a resistance band and a few dumbbells. Now that I'm not only overweight but also have back and knee joint issues, I discover I need flexiblity, too? And some articles add in balance and stretch . . . I knew cardio should be at least 3x per week and strength at least 2x (not on back to back days), but I just read I need stretch every day. Every day? Good golly. I've never been athletic and hadn't taken a regular class since high school. I was clumsy and inflexible and hated having to do it anyway. Now I know I have to. I have a treadmill and some DVDs (including a pretty good offering at the library and Netflix). Not only is this a physical challenge, it's an organizational one for me! If you are active and are a regular exerciser, would you mind sharing your schedule? How much time does it take? (Theoretically, I think I should take longer because I'm trying to LOSE weight, but I'm curious to know how long it takes to maintain.) I like Leslie Sansone and am intrigued by barre workouts. I've tried Pilates and want to keep at it. Does yoga count as "stretch"? I have a Yoga for Dummies DVD on hold at the library. Also . . . if you're trying to follow a Pilates or yoga move and your . . . ahem . . . fatty tissue gets in the way, what do you do? These are beginner workouts, and sometimes I can't fold my leg or stretch my chest over because some of me is in the way . . . Do I need to lose weight before I attempt these fold-up things? Or does leaning over count? WWYD? tia

I work two evenings a week. I love my job, but, it's at the end of a long day. (Dh and I get up at 5:30 a.m.) On these two evenings, I need to take a snack to get me through those hours. 1) I want to choose a drink. With caffeine. I don't have access to a coffee maker (and no hot water for tea, either). I can get a drink from a drink machine, but I'm not sure there are any good choices there. So . . . knowing I'm TRYING to lose weight AND I'm trying to stay awake, would you go with a cola? Or a diet cola? Or that citrus green tea? Or what? Are the calories worse or is the artificial sweetener worse? (I don't drink colas as a rule, but I'm willing to make compromises for my evening job. I just want to make the best possible compromise.) 2) A quick snack that isn't messy and doesn't require preparation. I'm skipping meals these nights as I leave before the family eats. If I went to the work cafeteria, I'd have to pay a set price for a whole meal. (I only have a 15 minute break.) I've looked at granola bars and protein bars and get confused by all the nutrition facts. Good grief at the amount of sugar and fat in a little bar!!! I do need something to fill the hole and give me some energy. Is there a brand of cereal or nutrition bar that makes good sense? Or would taking a ham and cheese sandwich be smart? Fruit would be juicy/messy. Nuts gets stuck in my teeth. I drink water all day long. Those are choices I make at home. I'm far from a healthy eater, but I'm willing to learn! What would you take to eat on the run? tia