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Showing posts from October, 2022

Hot Tub Talks

This past week we have had warm sunny weather and a relatively empty resort.  For us that is a series of wins.  It was peaceful  and relaxing.  One day we  had some clouds and a bit more breeze.  Up until this point I'd spent my time rotating between the beach and the pool.  I neglected the hot tub because it wasn't appealing to me on a warm sunny day.  So on our cooler, breezy day  I decided to spend a bit of time there.  The husband isn't a hot tub guy (for more than a few minutes anyway) so initially it was just me.  He will make his appearance a bit later in the encounter. As always I'll issue a warning ....hang it up right here if you are squeamish.  When I arrived at the hot tub there were a few ladies there and another couple.  Its a big hot tub and they all welcomed me immediately.  Super friendly crowd.  I found out why perhaps everyone was so happy as the encounter unfolded.  I also learned a lot of things that as a middle aged woman I never knew.  Always be l

I'm Owning It. I'm A Pool Karen

 I'm a people watcher.  I suppose if others around me are also people watchers they are most likely blogging about me right now.  That crazy lady at the pool with her head phones on jigging in the middle of the pool all alone.  I kinda made up my own little  water aerobics class today.    While away on vacation I've enjoyed being plopped by the pool.  Boy do you see a lot of fun stuff people watching at the pool.  Yikes and wow.  Here are my top five things you should never do at the pool based on my keen sense of observation today.  If you are squeamish about straight talk this one may not be for you.  Here we go: 1.  Never attempt to do a mushy tik tok video with the man of your dreams with your brand new iphone while you are in the water.  I mean sure you tried to set up your phone positioned next to a cup on the pool edge and got yourself all snuggly and kissy hanging on each other like primates in the wild but look what happened.... your phone took a nose dive. That was an

Go Gray Or Go Home

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I've been thinking about making a big change  for a while now.  I've done the old decision making two-step.  You know how it goes...yippee woo hoo Oh yeah let's do this... I'm all in today, then tomorrow I'm thinking nah, nope, no way it ain't gonna happen.   Sheesh I'm so stinkin female!    I can't really hide the decision though because it's already becoming VERY evident!  I'm letting the gray hair grow in.  UGH  I just said that out loud didn't I? It's getting real over here.   I have been  at  the point where I had to go get the touch ups done every four weeks and even then that last week I'm using root touch up sprays to keep the skunk line in check.  Man...do I ever hate that skunk line.  I  know for sure that I'm gonna laugh/cry/cheer and question myself all the  way through this decision  but as of right now I'm excited.  I've been coloring my hair for so long that it has become illusive as to what my real natural

Let's Start At The Very Beginning...

 Growing up I was a big Julie Andrews fan.  I wanted to run up a mountain and twirl my skirt and sing to the top of my lungs like she did with her  beautiful  head of hair as it blew perfectly in the wind.  I had her haircut back in the day just hoping when I twirled it would look like hers.  I  hate  to say it but nope.  No such luck!   The Sound of Music was a favorite for our family and I'm pretty sure I have it memorized.  One of the songs in that musical was Do-Re-Mi Let's start at the very beginning A very good place to start When you read, you begin with A-B-C When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi And the song goes on.  I remember being so excited during that part when they sing while swinging from trees and running around the city in their matching, albeit  gaudy, outfits made from some awful drapery! :)  It made me feel like I could do anything.  It pumped me up! I danced around my living room singing it to the top of my lungs!  (ok ok I was a kid!) Starting over at t

The Eyes Have It

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  I have been in a love hate relationship with my eyes over the past several years.  While living in China I developed severe dry eyes.  I've had so many things done to my eyes and seen so many different specialists in an attempt to help get them up and running again.  I have so many crazy things I have to do in order to just keep them functional.  Gels, drops, eye masks, special cleansers and an abundance of medications.  We are getting there in terms of improvement but it has been with a lot of trial and error.   I've found my diet hugely affects things.  When I made the decision to cut out sugars (a definitely struggle for me) and carbs I not only lost weight but I saw a LOT of metabolic improvement.  My dry eye specialist has attributed my improvement to flipping my metabolic switch.  I have to say I agree.  I have had so many little health things improve with that strict regimen.  I am keeping after it in an attempt to not have to suffer from eyes that are glued shut when

Central Giant Cell Granuloma

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 That title is a mouth full isn't it.  I remember when I was hit with the old dreaded CGCG I did a lot of googling to figure out what in the world that thing is.  Several years ago I had a large, benign but fast growing tumor in my jaw.  The CGCG is a rare and yet aggressive tumor that essentially is developed as a result of your immune system turning on itself.  Its a bone seeking tumor so it lands primarily in the femur (our largest and thickest bone) or the face because the face is very boney in structure. I'm so glad mine was the face....the femur would have most likely resulted in the loss of my leg.  God is good. I bring this beast of a tumor up because although I conquered it several years ago I have been having some issues with the aftermath of late.  As a result of my journey to have this tumor removed and then the reconstruction phase I lost 8 teeth and a lot of the structure of my jaw was shifted as a result.  8 surgeries later and I was like humpty dumpty and they g

Let's Get This Party Started!

Somedays I think I  have so much to say.  Other days I like to just keep that all up inside my head and let it roll around a while.  I've always loved writing things out and  seeing my thoughts on paper.  I love reading blogs and getting a glimpse into the minds and hearts of others on their journey.  This little spot on the old world-wide-web is for me  and all my musings.  Grab a cup of coffee and sit a while  with me.  Whatever season you are currently in there is one thing I am certain of ~~there are others in the same boat  and those who are miles ahead of you.  It's always good to learn from those  who have gone before us.  I'm doing that now with this time we often call mid-life.    I love to travel, chat, drink coffee, babysit grandkids (a lot) and quiet dinners with my husband.  We are learning how to navigate our "meet me in the middle" age life.   The kids are grown now.  The grandkids are rolling in every few years.  We have more time to talk and walk