Kirk VandenBerghe here, Luise Volta's son. She asked me to send you all her warm greetings from Ventura, California. She's having a wonderful time at her workshop and thought you might enjoy the attached picture.
April 19, 2024, 04:21:23 PM
News:
"Welcome to WiseWomenUnite.com -- When adult children marry and leave home, life can sometimes get more complex instead of simpler. Being a mother-in-law or daughter-in-law can be tough. How do we extend love and support to our mothers-in-law, adult children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, and grandchildren without interfering? What do we do when there are communication problems? How can we ask for help when we need it without being a burden? And how do our family members feel about these issues? We invite you to join our free forum, read some posts... and when you're ready...share your challenges and wisdom."
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42
Grab Bag / WWU Members' Perpetual Fantasy Cruise Begun Mother's Day 2013
April 13, 2013, 08:16:12 PM
OK, so lets start signing up and offering our ideas here for our first Annual WWU Fantasy Mother's Day Cruise! I'm in! Sending love...
43
Helpful Resources / "When Parents Hurt"
March 26, 2013, 10:35:21 AM
Just thought I'd let those of you interested know that Joshua Coleman, the author of the ground-breaker "When Parents Hurt" is going to be on the Today Show on April 1. Sending love...
46
Grab Bag / Washington "Wilderness"
January 25, 2013, 08:30:05 PM
My little, ground floor studio HUD unit in the woods is 440 sq ft. My happiest childhood memories are of our summers...spent in our log cabin in the Huron National Forest near Sand Lake, in Michigan. This little spot of mine with windows on one side only is decorated in "Early Log Cabin." LOL! The paintings and prints are of wild life and even wilder scenery. All three walls have drift wood "sculpture" hanging there..."originals" created by Nature. Today I ordered a floor lamp that has two bears climbing up it. I deserve this. It makes me happy. 
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/climbing-bears-torchiere-floor-lamp__j0932.html
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/climbing-bears-torchiere-floor-lamp__j0932.html
47
Grab Bag / Weight Loss
January 07, 2013, 01:40:33 PM
Since it's a new year, I thought I would post the number of pounds I have lost and my new goal...(since I've reached my original goal of 145 pounds.) Anyone interested can come over to www.MyFitnessPal.com. Several of us are over there. I'm "Weegi" to anyone wanting to "friend" me. :-) I started out at 205. I'm 5' 3". Very slow and discouraging process over the next two years. Then, in 2010, I went to MFP at 187 pounds. Today I've set a new goal weight of 135 pounds! Why not? 
48
Had a great Thanksgiving...but...a neighbor called last night to ask me to come see her refurbished chandelier and I tripped over one of my planters by the door in the dark and fell. I landed on the right side of my face in the grass. Unfortunately, the way I feel this morning tells me that it was yet another whiplash-type fall, snapping my head back on impact with my full weight behind it I can tell that I've re-injured my neck and shoulders where I have permanent damage from a whiplash when I was 25. (Dr. is out until Monday.) I have a black eye on the right side and wrecked my glasses. I'm not a pretty sight and hurt all over. Used ice last night and this morning and am going stay in bed for a day or three. Thankful for Audible.com books. It's a great comfort to have the distraction. Love, Princess Grace
49
I hope this isn't a viiolation of copywrite: everyone I know gets TUT on a daily basis. (I will ask Kirk and delete it, if indicated.)
"Neither a promotion, losing weight, finding a soul mate, writing a book, nor becoming a billionaire will ensure happiness.
Nothing ensures happiness. No destination is great enough. No dream come true will do.
Because happiness, dear one, that's not present at the start of a journey will not be present at its end."
"Neither a promotion, losing weight, finding a soul mate, writing a book, nor becoming a billionaire will ensure happiness.
Nothing ensures happiness. No destination is great enough. No dream come true will do.
Because happiness, dear one, that's not present at the start of a journey will not be present at its end."
51
Grab Bag / Inspiration: I Watch This Every Morning When I Get Up And Start My Day Laughing!
August 27, 2012, 06:15:01 PM52
Grab Bag / Capitalization, Colored Lettering and Changed Fonts
August 22, 2012, 08:13:49 AM
Just a reminder that we can all make our point without doing it forcefully by using capitalization, colored lettering or changing fonts. In cyber-speak that's seen as "flaming" and can offend. Thanks.
55
Grab Bag / "Atta' Girl" Lists and Journals
August 06, 2012, 11:25:24 AM
Attending funerals and listening to the sincere and touching testimonies of friends and family always brings the same question to mind; did the deceased know that? Did the person speaking so directly from the heart ever say that or write it...or before the funeral...even think it through?
I would like to suggest that when we get a minute, we do that. Why not write it down and pass it on when it is still an option? Ask the person being acknowledged to keep it at hand and when things get tough, as they always do, to read it over and over again. I've started collecting kindnesses that others have put into words...not cards...original thoughts and comments. They are going into my "Atta' Girl" box. Often they are in an email or in a post on one of my Websites. I think I will remember but I don't. When I need to hear it again, it's no longer "there."
And I find myself doing that with those near and dear while making the same recommendation. Why not? What does it cost? What is it worth?
I would like to suggest that when we get a minute, we do that. Why not write it down and pass it on when it is still an option? Ask the person being acknowledged to keep it at hand and when things get tough, as they always do, to read it over and over again. I've started collecting kindnesses that others have put into words...not cards...original thoughts and comments. They are going into my "Atta' Girl" box. Often they are in an email or in a post on one of my Websites. I think I will remember but I don't. When I need to hear it again, it's no longer "there."
And I find myself doing that with those near and dear while making the same recommendation. Why not? What does it cost? What is it worth?
56
Grab Bag / Olympic Gold Winner
August 03, 2012, 06:54:47 PM
For those of you who remember "Amflautist", who posted here for a long time and who is on www.MyFitnessPal.com with several of us from WWU, I thought you would like to know that her daughter was on the Women's 8 Rowing Team that just won the Gold for the US! :-))
57
Grab Bag / The Only Diet That Has Ever Worked (for me)
July 28, 2012, 05:53:32 AM
July 28 is a big day for me. A year ago today our beloved Pooh posted a thread on Grab Bag titled: "I decided to start a diet."
Several of us were curious and went over to the fitness link she provided, which is 100% free. Exactly a year later, four of us have lost a total of 167 pounds, interacting and supporting each other all the way. Whoa!
Right off the top, I want to say: THANK YOU, POOH! You have changed the quality of my life, solved a mystery (weight) that I have unsuccessfully struggled with for the last 45 years (since I was 45) and have undoubtedly contributed to my overall health and longevity.
None of us are doing it the same. That's the beauty of it. Each one of us has learned to do what works within the framework it offers. My plan is built around knowing how many calories my body burns every day, 1200. (It was calculated for me.) Two huge databases are there for us to use. The first provides the number of calories that are in specified amounts of individual foods and if you can't find what you are looking for there, you can add it to the data base. (I was so tickled when I immediately found McDonald's Caramel Sundae. (See - I told you it was different! LOL!) The second database provides the number of calories burned in specific amounts of various exercises. That list is also very comprehensive and can be expanded.
What I have learned is how many extra calories I have to burn daily, via exercise, over and above the basic 1200, to attain weight loss. I choose what I want to eat and how and when I exercise. (For me, exercise is usually two half-hour, fast dog walks plus Curves.) However, the amount of exercise I do can change daily or I can skip it completely without going off my program, by just doing even-steven.
I don't do well, long term, with either deprivation or rigid structure. I often eat more than 1200 calories a day because I have earned those extra calories exercising. To lose weight, I simply don't eat all of the calories I burn exercising. And I never eat less than 1200. I was told my body could then go into starvation mode and store fat.
It's honestly that simple for me. The others do it differently and are having the same dramatic results. There's a great deal of freedom in the program. For instance, each of us eats what we choose, from a true vegetarian intake to all kinds of other variations, according to preference. The same is true of exercise. And we're all winning.
I found the plan very simple to follow, once I understood it. As you know, I'm 85 and not the swiftest minnow in the creek. I made it up at first that it was just too complicated for me but of course, that was the whiny little kid in me. LOL! Not so, I just log in my exercise, log in my food and stay within the parameters I have set for myself.
We dialogue with each other nearly every day and our program also offers us the option to chat privately. Our menus are published daily, (if we choose) as well as our exercise, (also an option.) We read each other's menus, get ideas, share recipes, commiserate when we hit a snag and cheer each other on. Those who want to, share their weight loss, as well. It's all elective. And I gotta' say we've become very close over the last year.
I started at 187 pounds a year ago today. I'm 5' 2", so I had no place to put it. I am now at 156 and headed for a goal of 145. However, I will not be stopping my daily check-in at MFP and will continue to calculate my food and exercise when I reach my target weight. That's because I have come to value my health and I actually enjoy the extended family we have created there. Come on over and take a look, if you are so inclined. We're at: www.MyFitnessPal.com and if you want to 'friend' me, I'm 'Weegi' over there. ?
Several of us were curious and went over to the fitness link she provided, which is 100% free. Exactly a year later, four of us have lost a total of 167 pounds, interacting and supporting each other all the way. Whoa!
Right off the top, I want to say: THANK YOU, POOH! You have changed the quality of my life, solved a mystery (weight) that I have unsuccessfully struggled with for the last 45 years (since I was 45) and have undoubtedly contributed to my overall health and longevity.
None of us are doing it the same. That's the beauty of it. Each one of us has learned to do what works within the framework it offers. My plan is built around knowing how many calories my body burns every day, 1200. (It was calculated for me.) Two huge databases are there for us to use. The first provides the number of calories that are in specified amounts of individual foods and if you can't find what you are looking for there, you can add it to the data base. (I was so tickled when I immediately found McDonald's Caramel Sundae. (See - I told you it was different! LOL!) The second database provides the number of calories burned in specific amounts of various exercises. That list is also very comprehensive and can be expanded.
What I have learned is how many extra calories I have to burn daily, via exercise, over and above the basic 1200, to attain weight loss. I choose what I want to eat and how and when I exercise. (For me, exercise is usually two half-hour, fast dog walks plus Curves.) However, the amount of exercise I do can change daily or I can skip it completely without going off my program, by just doing even-steven.
I don't do well, long term, with either deprivation or rigid structure. I often eat more than 1200 calories a day because I have earned those extra calories exercising. To lose weight, I simply don't eat all of the calories I burn exercising. And I never eat less than 1200. I was told my body could then go into starvation mode and store fat.
It's honestly that simple for me. The others do it differently and are having the same dramatic results. There's a great deal of freedom in the program. For instance, each of us eats what we choose, from a true vegetarian intake to all kinds of other variations, according to preference. The same is true of exercise. And we're all winning.
I found the plan very simple to follow, once I understood it. As you know, I'm 85 and not the swiftest minnow in the creek. I made it up at first that it was just too complicated for me but of course, that was the whiny little kid in me. LOL! Not so, I just log in my exercise, log in my food and stay within the parameters I have set for myself.
We dialogue with each other nearly every day and our program also offers us the option to chat privately. Our menus are published daily, (if we choose) as well as our exercise, (also an option.) We read each other's menus, get ideas, share recipes, commiserate when we hit a snag and cheer each other on. Those who want to, share their weight loss, as well. It's all elective. And I gotta' say we've become very close over the last year.
I started at 187 pounds a year ago today. I'm 5' 2", so I had no place to put it. I am now at 156 and headed for a goal of 145. However, I will not be stopping my daily check-in at MFP and will continue to calculate my food and exercise when I reach my target weight. That's because I have come to value my health and I actually enjoy the extended family we have created there. Come on over and take a look, if you are so inclined. We're at: www.MyFitnessPal.com and if you want to 'friend' me, I'm 'Weegi' over there. ?
58
Grab Bag / Grammie's Signature
July 25, 2012, 11:39:27 AM
Grammie - I was thinking about your signature this morning: Change the changeable, accept the unchangeable, and remove yourself from the unacceptable. ~ Denis Waitley ~ and thinking of how it reminds me of the Serenity Prayer. It seems to me that we can Change, Accept and Remove...because we are strong and powerful women. What is often to hard to determine, for me at least, is what is actually changeable, unchangeable or unacceptable. I my early years I got stuck in thinking everything was "changeable." I think that was bred into some of us...the "don't ever give up" premise. I, for one, was never taught survival, or selectivity regarding my limited energy and resources. It is a whole new concept in my life to get that there are unchangeable things. and unacceptable ones, as well. Thanks for the quote and the opportunity to see that maturity brings options.
59
Grab Bag / To LostMother
July 24, 2012, 08:01:57 PM
I have removed your post. It as one that does not fit my Web-site. I am sure there are Web-resources that will support you in dealing with the religious issues that pertain to your situation and I encourage you to seek help until you find it. Perhaps you will want to enter counseling, which isn't available here, either. Blessings, Luise