Archive for the ‘Women’ Category

After the Party’s Over

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

by Susan

I'm usually exhausted after the party is over....this time the party was Thanksgiving at the King's.   I was exhausted by Saturday, but pleased with the way my dinner turned out on Thursday and the fun we all had.   I think my children and grandchildren thoroughly enjoyed their time here.   I really enjoyed having all of them.   I'm rested today and starting to plan the next party which will be Christmas at the King's.

I had a few minor mishaps while preparing the dinner but all turned out well.  My daughter was ill so my husband was my right hand in the kitchen this year.  We ate dinner and visited for nearly two hours.   Some of us took a walk after dinner since it was a beautiful day here in the Ozarks.  One of my sons joined us while the other two and their dad reclined in their easy chairs and chuckled about us , harassing my youngest son for joining us. 

We all ate leftovers on Friday evening and now the food and the family are gone.  My only grandson was able to come for leftovers on Friday and  was amazed that I still had pumpkin pie left.  I told him I made two pumpkin pies this year.  I also made brownies.....a favorite of all my kids and an apple cake, which was a big success.   

Saturday morning at 4:00 a.m. my oldest son and I were playing our traditional game of Scrabble before he had to catch his plane to head back home.   Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he heads to Iraq in about two weeks. 



Posted in Children, Christmas, His and Hers, Iraq, Scrabble, Thanksgiving, Women, ozzieblackcat, party | Comments Off

I Wish I Looked Different

Friday, September 12th, 2008
by Susan

Sometimes I really wish I looked different.   We go through life with this one body and even though we try to keep it healthy and looking it's best we may be dissatisfied with how we look.   I am.  Women like myself, who are senior citizens, probably understand very well how this dissatisfaction with our appearance can worsen with age. 

I keep hoping I will get to the point where I'm comfortable wearing red and purple, and don't care too much anymore about how I look, but I'm not there yet.   My self esteem has always been connected to how I feel about my appearance.  Lately, I haven't had good self esteem. 

My hair is thinning and my waistline is thickening.   I know both of these things often happen to senior citizens in spite of exercise and eating right.   I know aging is a normal process but by golly......we don't have to like it.   I want to age gracefully and happily and I know acceptance is the key to achieving that wish.   I'm just not ready.  I wish I looked different.........younger, thinner and happier.  

I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.   According to one article I found, many people are actually Obsessing On Body Image.   I'm not obsessing yet, but just having a rant tonight.   Thanks for reading. 

Posted in Health, His and Hers, Mental Health, Self Help, Women, depression, life, ozzieblackcat, self esteem, senior citizens | Comments Off

Undecided Voter

Friday, September 5th, 2008

by Susan

If my dad were alive he would vote for John McCain.   If my grandchildren were old enough to vote they would vote for Barack Obama.  I'm an undecided voter and as a senior citizen it puzzles me to be undecided at this time in my life.  I usually make up my mind early.   Somehow, this seems like a very important election to me......more so than all the other presidential elections I've voted in over the years.


Maybe my indecision has to do with increased depression.......I'm not sure.   I do know that I feel a certain amount of anxiety associated with this election.   This has been one of the most interesting races to date and I've probably spent too much time sitting around watching television and the Internet in an effort to learn as much as possible about the candidates and the issues.  

I feel a bit of anger when some of my loved ones  tell me who they are voting for and they haven't listened to the speeches of all the candidates.   They obviously base their decision on something else.....but what?   Have they done some other kind of homework so they are informed?   Maybe I'm taking my one vote too seriously.     

I found an interesting article about undecided voters at WebMD and learned that I may not be undecided at all.   I just don't know it yet.  

Posted in Anxiety, His and Hers, Women, depression, ozzieblackcat, senior citizens | Comments Off

Bloggers Unite for Human Rights……..by Susan

Thursday, May 15th, 2008
I'm writing today about Domestic Violence for "Bloggers Unite for Human Rights", because it is a human right for all of us to live our lives free of fear and free of abuse.   Domestic Violence happens in all kinds of families and relationships.  It's devastating to all who are involved.  I know this from my own experience in being raised by parents who engaged in some domestic violence.  It's very confusing for a child, in addition to being extremely frightening and dangerous.  

When my parents started fighting, my sibblings and I would disappear to our rooms or outdoors.  Mom and Daddy were oblivious to where we were or what we were doing.  Oddly, none of my sisters have ever talked with me about our history of living with domestic violence.  I guess for them, it's still our "family secret".  I'm happy this topic is now publicly discussed and there is hope and help for the victims of domestic violence. 

No one deserves to be abused, be it verbally or physically.  Men, women and children can be victims of abuse.  Physical violence even among family members is wrong and against the law.  It could be happening in the house next door and you may never know it.  Too often it is a well kept "family secret".

Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence.  Both men and women can be abused though most victims are women.  Children in these homes are also likely to be abused.   Sometimes the people being abused don't see themselves as victims because they think it only involves hitting, but domestic violence can be psychological, emotional or sexual abuse as well.

According to http://domesticviolence.org , in addition to pushing, hitting, slapping, choking, kicking and biting, the following are other signs of domestic violence:

1. threatening you or your children
2. threatening suicide to get you to do something
3. using or threatening to use a weapon against you
4. keeping or taking your paycheck
5. putting you down
6. forcing you to have sex
7. keeping you from seeing your friends or family
8  keeping you from going to work

These abusive behaviors can happen repeatedly in any kind of relationship and are often followed by a period of making up until the next cycle occurs.   If you are being abused please know that you aren't alone, it's not your fault and help is available.   It's your human right to be free of domestic violence.   You can find a list of helpful groups and their website links at Internet Resources. 

>Bloggers Unite     

Posted in ABUSE, Bloggers Unite, Blogging, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Family, Human Rights, Mental Health, Relationships, Women | Comments Off