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Alicia64

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Posts posted by Alicia64

    My father died of Covid

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    ((((GracieJane))))

    I'm so, so very sorry for your loss.

    Grieving is like having a f/t job. One of the hardest. When I was grieving I found that if I cried every hour or so, I'd get an hour of peace. Then I'd cry again. Then an hour of peace again.

    It's so difficult.

    I know it doesn't seem like it, but you will one day turn a corner.

    Hugs to you,

    W.

    • Like 2

    TMJ vs Nerve Pain question

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I've had TMJ for years now. No pain at all.

    But, just in case, I want to tell you about my dad. Like Spryte he had trigeminal neuralgia. It's considered to be one of the most painful disorders.

    He was in so much pain that he had a Gamma Knife surgery done at a renowned hospital.

    I hope this helps.

    • Like 1

    Where do you buy casual jeans and pants for your big & tall husband?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by Alicia64
    Spelling!! :)

    My husband isn't unusually tall, he's 6-foot, but his weight is around 260 and he carries most of it in his tummy.

    His pants situation is abysmal. Trust me, I should have done an intervention years ago.

    I'm getting him a really "manly" fanny pack for everything he carries (that truly weigh his pants down; it's not pretty), but can you recommend a good pants brand?

    And yes, I'm into smart eating and he feels sorry for me.

    TIA!!!

    Learning Mandarin without technology?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I'm so sorry re: the tech problems. Doesn't sound fun.

    Do you know Tim Ferris? He's heavily into world travel and has found the most interesting way to learn new languages (he figured his system out onJapanese as a teen).

    My kids are in college but if they were younger, I'd totally try this out-of-the-box idea.

    Of course some of this system involves some tech, but you can just bypass it for now. He's seriously into how your average comic book in Mandarin or Spanish or whatever comes in very handy. He wanted to go to a high school -- not college -- in Japan and thought that he'd have language classes. Huge miscommunication. No language lessons. He was very close to giving up and flying home. Google to read the story, it's a good one.

    Here are two Tim links:

    Learning a New Language in Record Time (that's not Tim in the photo.)

    How to Learn Any Language in Three Months

    He also explains why he thinks regular language courses don't really work for most long-term.

    Writing this post has made me want to give it a go! Thanks for the push!!

    Wendy

     

    • Like 2

    Who here has a ballroom gown ready to go?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by Alicia64

    38 minutes ago, itsheresomewhere said:

    Where does one find a woman sized ballroom gown in certain spring only colors that is not low cut or back exposed that is only to be worn for a weekend play next month. The play DD is making costuming something everyone has in their closets.  We must be the odd ones out who don’t own a ballroom gown.  I have searched thrift shops within 75 miles and nothing.    It is looking like I might be making a ballroom gown…..

    So now I am curious- who here a ballroom gown ready to go in their closet ( especially their teens/kids)? 

    Dumb idea retracted.

     

    I still don’t really understand “gaslighting”

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    My boys' latest joke:

    Son: "Did I tell you that joke about gaslighting?"

    Me: No.

    Son: Yes I did.

    Get it? He was gaslighting me in the joke.

    The term gaslighting comes from a 1940s movie with Ingrid Bergman. One of the things the husband does is continually dim the lamp lights all while telling his wife that the the lights are totally fine. She thinks that her eyes are playing tricks on her or that she going insane. Which is what he wants her to think.

    It's supposed to be a good movie.

    I hope that helps.

    • Like 4
    • Haha 5

    Question re: older adult kids "boundaries"

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I just wanted to hop in and say that my first two years of having twins were a scrambled blur. Without a doubt I didn't have my head screwed on straight (I was 38 so plenty old too like they are).

    A gentle "no" from you might help wake them up a bit.

    Like, "gosh I would love to but I'm slammed with a, b, and c."

    You sound like a wonderful aunt.

    ♥

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1

    Vent - I'm really upset with dh and his family right now.

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    10 hours ago, dsmith said:

    They are at a wake right now, and nobody was wearing a mask, so they all decided to not wear masks. Dh, my son and I haven't had our boosters yet, and we've been so damn careful up until now. He's a smoker, I have MS and worry about a relapse if I get Covid, and my son is overweight and had a lot of respiratory issues the last time he was sick. I'm going to be a nervous wreck for the next few weeks. My neurologist was very clear that I should be wearing an N95 when in public places, and avoiding crowds, etc. because a number of her patients that got Covid had relapses, but what does it matter what I do when the people I live with just do whatever the hell they want?

    ((((dsmith)))

    I think your neurologist is on target. Would it help to have neuro meet w/ dh?

    I'm praying for the very best, but if possible, take him in.

    • Like 3

    Well this is lame— who does this?! UPDATE: It WAS squirrels! Lol

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    On 12/4/2021 at 5:07 PM, MEmama said:

    So on the first of December I hung a note on my mailbox thanking our delivery people for their hard work and wishing them a safe and healthy holiday. Underneath my note I put a basket full of holiday treats (prepackaged). A few get taken every day, which makes me happy, and yesterday a UPS driver actually left *me* a note thanking me! Truly, that small kindness made my whole day. 
     

    But this afternoon someone came and took the entire basket of treats— every single one! We didn’t get any deliveries so it was just a random person who decided to walk up to my front door and take everything for themselves. I’m kind of shook, honestly, in addition to being disappointed in my neighbors.

    This kind of thing does.not.happen in my neighborhood. It’s a don’t bother locking your front door kind of community, so this is just…unbelievable, really. 
     

    And so now I have to start worrying about packages getting stolen and making sure my door is locked at all times and who only knows what, all because some brazen F@#%er decided to steal holiday treats meant for the mail carrier.

    I don’t know what my point is. I guess this is a Just Agree With Me That Some People Are Jerks post. 😞 

    UPDATE: I'm laughing hysterically— it really was squirrel thieves! Lol

    An hour or so ago I noticed some of the treats were missing from the basket but we didn’t have any deliveries and the mail carrier hadn’t come yet. I felt frustrated and decided to move the basket inside while kids were walking home from school (I know, how Scrooge-y of me!). Anyway, a few minutes later I decided to find out what kitty was watching through the door and sure enough there was a giant squirrel sitting on the table where the basket had been, looking clearly annoyed. I can’t believe it! Usually they leave stolen goods scattered around the yard and neighborhood (they often steal veggies from the neighbors garden and leave them on my porch) but this time they are being especially sneaky. 
     

    And instantly my faith in humanity is restored. 🤣

     

     

     

    Laughing, I had to share this with Dh! He cracked up too. A really adorable Christmas story!!

    • Haha 1

    Well-Trained Bodies- December

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    3 hours ago, Laura Corin said:

    I feel embarrassed.  I'm not in the least someone to be emulated. Most days I spend a couple of minutes stretching first thing, forty minutes just walking at lunchtime and 25 minutes on yoga after work.

    I don't sleep well without a walk or run outdoors, and my back doesn't enjoy my desk job without the yoga, so it's a selfish schedule. But it's true that I walk further and faster when things are difficult. 

    Your example of blending the work out into the day is a good one! You're way ahead of me.

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1

    Well-Trained Bodies- December

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    On 12/1/2021 at 3:49 PM, Laura Corin said:

    Thanks for starting the thread @Soror.

    Today went well. Pj sun salutations,  then I ran a couple of miles at lunchtime.  Then finally some yoga after work.

    This is what I'm finally understanding about lifelong fitness: working out needs to be part of my entire world. I've noticed that as Alec Baldwin is going through his horrific situation, his wife is continually running three miles and doing yoga!

    At first I thought, if my family were in crisis, I sure wouldn't be running!!

    But that's the thing. The people who have totally embraced a certain lifestyle -- around fitness, smart budgeting, smart home cleaning or smart eating etc.-- actually lean on their good habits for strength when life turns brutal.

    Wow. I have to think more on this one.

    Thank you Laura for the model!!

     

    • Like 5

    Gift ideas for a mom with Alzheimer's?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by Alicia64
    typo

    My mom is 77 and she's still at home. My dad takes care of her.

    Last year I sent slipper socks. I also have sent a huge clock so she can tell time, but I don't think she'd know what the numbers mean at this point.

    I feel weird just sending my dad a gift and nothing for her.

    TIA!

    Want to share: this book saved my life

    in The College Board

    Posted

    1 hour ago, Lori D. said:

    How fun to get to share your college survival book! 😄 


    You might also want to pair it with a recently published book on succeeding in college to cover the areas that have radically changed in the 30+ years since the book you linked was published. 😉 That would be topics like:
    - navigating your college portal webpage
    - formatting / uploading homework and papers online
    - accessing online syllabus, discussion sections, and additional teacher-provided resources
    - accessing online databases for research papers
    - using Rate My Professor to help weed through chaff to get to the good ones

    Or something like the How to Survive Your Freshman Year (Bernstein), which expands beyond just the study skills/academics part of college, to include a lot of contemporary campus life topics.

    Lori! You are awesome! Thank you for this!!

    • Like 2

    2021 Christmas Decor Ideas, Tips, Questions, Sharing

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I posted this on K - 8, but thought it would go here too:

    When my boys were 10 and under I would order Christmas books from the library.

    I'd get the books home, wrap them, and put them under the tree.

    Then every evening in December I'd tell my boys that they could each pick one wrapped book every evening. The boys would get to open the "gift" and get a great read-aloud that very evening.

    I don't know who loved this more: me or the boys.  🥰

    • Like 14
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