This morning I was over at Mighty Girl's blog, checking the status of her "Mighty Life List - 100 Things To Do Before I Go".  After catching up on the most recent adventure Mighty Girl had crossed off her list, I called Doris suggesting that we write our own Bucket List.

After laughing hysterically at ridiculous possibilities, we decided that neither of us would write a lengthy list of  things we knew we would NEVER be able to accomplish - or afford - and write a smaller, more doable, PAIL LIST.


Robin's List

Learn sign language; spend a white Christmas with my family in a mountain cabin; learn to tango; clean the refrigerator ( just wanted to have something crossed off my list); win anything; see the northern lights; get a complete makeover; learn to play the piano; write a book; conquer my biggest fear; quit smoking; get rid of the "old fart" transportation & purchase a new car; go to the Washoe House; have a month's worth of blog posts written in advance; learn french; nap in a hammock.

Doris' List
Ride a zip line in Costa Rica or Orlando or Gainesville (I notice that most of these involve walking across a rope bridge - which might make me reconsider);
finally learn Spanish (I've had the CDs for six years now, but still only know how to say hello, goodbye and where's the bathroom - from the first 5 minutes of the first CD); ride in a hot air balloon; spend a long weekend at a luxury spa; get a mini-face lift (I need major surgery, but I'll settle); write a book; buy a Prius; take a computer course and learn to use Photoshop.



After we do all these things, we'll start a new list.  Funny, now that we've written them down it has inspired us to actually start on them.

What's on your Pail List?

IS ENERGY HEALING FOR REAL?

Over 2000 years ago people believed in the "laying on of hands" to heal many maladies.  Although energy healers are still around, our more cynical "prove it" attitude tends to chalk up any improvements in physical condition to a placebo effect.


Ta-Da!  Enter quantum physics and cell biology research.


A concept in quantum physics called "entanglement" is when one energy source entangles with another so that they interfere with each other.  For instance, if you have a few pendulum clocks hanging on the wall and start them off at different times, after a while they will all swing in synchronicity.


In cell biology research, heart cells in a Petri dish will soon start beating in rhythm even when they aren't touching each other.


When you start to think about it, it's common knowledge that when a group of women are living together, eventually their menstrual cycles will coincide.


Some of the above information is from an interview done by Meryl Davis Landau.  The subject of the interview is Bruce Lipton, PhD., author of "The Biology of Belief" and "Spontaneous Evolution".  Dr. Lipton has worked as a cell biologist and as a professor at the National Institutes of Health, Stanford and the University of Wisconsin.  Read the complete interview at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-energy-healing-happens-even-over-the-phone.html

WHAT WAS THAT?

In the event you didn't think religion had a sense of humor.

Bizarre Pet Gifts

With Christmas on the horizon, here are some ideas for gifts for the pet in your life.

Don't get one for your Great Dane

For the Rodeo Drive shopper

Who wouldn't enjoy a nice massage for a gift?

Don't forget your hamster!  Give him the gift of freewheeling all over the house.

Maybe a course in Transcendental

Meditation for kitty

                                                                                                                                                     

What dog wouldn't want
yoga lessons?




                        

                                                                          

Finally, what wouldn't our feathered friends give for their own flight suit, complete with poop pouch, that gives them freedom from their cage to fly about the house.  No more parakeet poop on your shoulder either.

All these items are available online, so get your orders in early.  May you all, human, 4-legged, feathered and finned have a very Merry Christmas

                                                                     

                                               

      The December issues of

                   Life-Style

                         and

       FAB - Fashion & Beauty

                 are out today!

    CHECK THEM OUT...

We're so excited - and we just can't hide it!

The December issues of 

Life-Style

And

FAB-Fashion and Beauty 

magazines 

will be out tomorrow

November 27th

How To Look Good When You're Up To Your Elbows in Turkey Guts!

It's Thanksgiving morning and here you are.  All those things that could be done ahead are in the fridge, ready to be finished off during the last hour before dinner.  Unfortunately, the turkey wasn't thawed out until last night and, in your infinite wisdom, you decided that - what the heck - you'll take care of cleaning and preparing it in the morning.


You've dragged yourself from your warm bed before the sun comes up, because the family likes to get here early to "help" (by getting a good start on the wine).  Although the bird is waiting for your attention ("Why, oh why, didn't I do this last night."), if you don't get yourself presentable first, you'll have bed head and grody teeth when your guests arrive.

Quickly hop into the shower (you should have done that last night, too), wash your hair, brush your teeth and apply moisturizer to your face while blow drying your hair.  Put concealer on those dark circles under your eyes and do a reasonable makeup job.  Nobody will notice you're not wearing eye shadow - just put your sunglasses on.

Now get dressed in your holiday finery and pull a huge tee shirt on over everything.  This is important because you never spill gravy down your bosom when you're wearing scuzzy clothes, but good clothes are a magnet.


You're ready!  Put on some plastic gloves and pull the guts out of that bird!

You'll Have To Wait To Find Out

There's been an ongoing discussion for some time now about the meaning of the Mayan calendar.  The target date is December 21, 2012. at which time, depending on whether you look at the glass as half full or half empty, one of these things will happen:
           

  EITHER

Earth will mark the beginning of a new positive era

OR

The world will end

OR

We will find out that the Mayans had a great sense of humor

THE SIGNPOSTS OF LIFE

As we travel the road of life, it helps to have a few signs to guide us on our journey.

Your choice

I'm all for those head-on collisions

Please stop the car and read the small print at the bottom

Good grief! Can't you read

Shhhhhhhh

Helmets are advised - and drive fast

That sounds pretty drastic.  Guess they mean it.

??????????? -  Oh, never mind, this is in Nova Scotia.

Move over KFC, there's a new chicken on the block

Is this an oxymoron or just a moron?

OR ELSE!

TOXIN WATCH

If you are concerned about the recent outbreak of Listeria (check out the article on Listeria in this month's issue of our Life-Style magazine),  relax.  You are at far more risk from the chemical invasion of our food, water and even our air than anything those yucky little critters can do.

                                      CHEMICALS - THE MORE THE MERRIER!

According to the Toxic Substances Control Act, which has not been updated in a meaningful way since 1978, seventy thousand chemicals were in use in the U.S. in 2002. There are now actually 80,000 chemicals in use.  Where do we go from here?

           

                                                      

Since the FDA is woefully understaffed and underfunded, the majority of the testing of the effects on humans of these chemicals has been left to the manufacturers - the old fox guarding the hen house scenario.  


Little or no testing has been done by anyone on these chemicals in combination with one or more other chemicals, other than your mother telling you not to mix ammonia and bleach.  But not to worry!  Monsanto and the other Big Chems have only your best interests at heart.

                                                BUT HERE'S THE GOOD(?) NEWS

                  

If you'd like to learn a little more - or find out what you can do - or you just need something else to worry about -  visit the Environmental Working Group's website.  They have an interesting news story, dated Jan. 11, 2011, concerning fluoride that I found fascinating.  Here's a brief quote:

"Just days after U.S. health officials moved to reduce the level of fluoride in U.S. drinking water, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the use of a fluoride-based pesticide on food because the fluoride in pesticide residue could be contributing to over-exposure of children."

They go on, "With today's announcement, the EPA Office of Pesticide Program has concluded that the current legal limit of the pesticide residue on food does not adequately protect children from aggregate fluoride exposures, such as drinking water and toothpaste."

                  GOTTA LOVE THE GOOD STUFF THEY'RE DOING FOR US  

Remember all those health nuts that have been warning about this for many years?  They're starting to look a lot smarter now, aren't they?

A Bra Intervention

Perhaps Victoria won't spill the beans, but you can find the definitive answer to everything you wanted to know about bras but were afraid to ask in the "A Bra Intervention" article in this month's issue of FAB magazine.

Psycho-Stalker

After what seemed an eternity being chained to my computer, (our "bloglift and new magazines complete), I decided it was time to get back out in the world.  The mall seemed like the perfect place to go, I could get in a brisk walk, have lunch and people watch, something I find both interesting and relaxing.  I asked my friend Kristen to join me - people watching is more enjoyable with a partner.

     
I am no voyeur - just dabbling in a social experiment
After lunch we went to the Hallmark store for a card for my granddaughter's 6th birthday.

Me:  See that girl over there by the sympathy cards?
Kristen:  Yeah, another nose picker?
Me:  So I pointed out how some people think their invisible and pick there nose in public, I am talking
         about what she's doing with the cards after she reads them.
Kristen:  She probably works here.
Me:  No, she turns them backwards before she puts them back in the slot.
Kristen:  Hmm, that's weird huh?
Me:  Yes -  it -  is.

Card girl

A short while later.......                                                                       

Kristen:  Where are you going?
Me:  Card girl is leaving!
Kristen:  So?
Me:  We're going to follow her a bit.
Kristen:  What? What about your card?
Me:  Later
Kristen:  You're a freakin' psycho stalker - did you know that?
Me:  Hurry
Kristen:  Why?
Me:  I want to see where she's going!
Kristen:  Why?

Bird watching - People watching , what's the difference?  
Okay so Kristen clearly does not share the same interest in people watching as I do, but we all people watch to some degree, (don't say you don't).  There are a number of reasons I people watch, but the main impetus is observing how other people live and behave and guessing at their motivations and life stories.  People watching restores my childlike sense of wonder for a short time.  Granted I might take my "hobby" further than most by following someone that peques my interest but I remain non-judgmental, unobtrusive and never interfere with my subject.  The moment you do any of these the spell is broken and you are no longer people watching you are interacting.

Back to Card Girl

Me:  Will you keep up?  We'er going to lose her!
Kristen:  Are you serious?
Me:  Yeeeeesssss---

At this point Kristen and I had followed card girl through Forever 21 and a jewelry store where she looked at men's watches and gold chains.  Then she stopped for a hot pretzel and sat down on a bench nearby - and so did we.  After card girl finished her snack she pulled an organizer from her purse and wrote in it, after which she tucked it back into her purse and was on the move again.

Me:  Lets go.
Kristen:  How long are you going to keep this up?
Me:  Do you have babies crying for you at home?  Don't you what to see where she goes next?
Kristen:  No.  And not really.
Me:  Why do you suppose she turned the cards over?  Who's the guy getting the jewelry - and what was
          card girl writing about in her organizer?

There was a period of silence as we continued to follow card girl.  Then -

Kristen:  Maybe she turned the cards over because she wanted to make sure she didn't read them
                twice.  Card girl is pretty young so the sympathy card was probably for a friend of hers who's
                parent passed away.

She finally got it!!

Me:  What about the jewelry store?
Kristen:  For her boyfriend - - -maybe it was one of his parents that passed and card girl thought she'd
                buy him a watch to cheer him up?
Me:  Really?  Would you be cheered up if you received a watch  after the passing of one of your
         parents?
Kristen:  Well no, but if it were a Rolex......as far as what she was writing?  No clue.  Look she's
                going into the tattoo shop!
Me:  Really?  They have a tattoo shop in the mall?  I need to get out more.
Kristen:  Now what?  We going in and getting a tattoo?

So ended our time with card girl and on the way back to the car-------

Me:  I don't think anyone in card girl's life has passed.  The sympathy cards were a metaphor for the end of her relationship with her boyfriend. She turned the cards over signifying her letting him go.  The watch or chain is for the new guy she's seeing.  She ate a pretzel because she was hungry and wrote to remind herself to get her teeth whitened.  The visit to the tattoo shop was to have her ex-boyfriends name reworked to look like a rose.
The possible scenarios are endless, don't you think?
Kristen:  Deep, Robin, very deep.


       

   

WELCOME TO OVER 40? - SO WHAT!

WHAT IS OVER 40? - SO WHAT!?
We're a new face on the blogosphere where all your friends from Fat To Slim - A Mother/Daughter Journey are heading.   


WHAT WILL YOU FIND AT OVER 40? - SO WHAT!?
A warm welcome from a growing community of women over, and way over, forty.  A place where we challenge each other to stimulate our thinking and live our lives to the fullest.  A place where your thoughts, tips and suggestions are encouraged.  In addition to blog posts, we also publish two free monthly on-line magazines, LIFE-STYLE and FAB - FASHION & BEAUTY.  


We invite you to participate in our community discussions.  Sharing in our community's expertise, short stories, tips, suggestions and words of wisdom is easy!  You can leave comments on the blog or on the "Speak - out, Speak - up" page found towards the end of both magazines and of course you can always email us at over40andcounting@yahoo.com.


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Although we're saying goodbye to Fat to Slim - A Mother/Daughter Journey and will no longer be posting there, you can always go back to check out our archived posts.
        
                     

             
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