My beautiful peonies!

That looks like ponies, doesn't it? LOL Anyway, after being totally convinced that my peonies weren't going to bloom I've been totally enjoying them for over a week now! Thought I'd show you a few photos of them, plus some close-up shots I took of a few other flowers I have. I never could figure out why I couldn't get nice close-ups and then I read the instructions for my camera....ta da!!! :)




Now all I need to do is get some petunias so I'll have lots of color in my yard!

Love those Prius commercials!!

These commercials actually make me feel happy!! LOL! I guess it's good that it doesn't take much to make me happy, right?

The commercials are just SO creative! I'm doing some research to find the company responsible (the AD company...Prius is made by Toyota...which really depresses me!) I prefer to buy American...like right now I drive a Buick and it's paid for so I don't really want to take on car payments at this point!

Here's a video on how they made the commercial:


Just a moment in my day I wanted to share with you! :)

Cool as a cucumber!

Many of you know that I am post menopausal (since 1999 no less!) and have long been over MOST of the troublesome symptoms, except for all the new ones that are AGE related now that I'm 61! We'll talk about those at another time! Right now I'm thinking of all of you who suffer with nightsweats!

I was fortunate enough to only have severe hot flashes for about 5-6 years and feel totally HOT all the time up to this day. That doesn't mean everyone will have the same experience, so don't get hysterical if you are creeping up to the point where your hot flashes may end. I'm just saying that I have to have a fan (or some kind of cool, moving air) on me at all times to feel comfortable. That means winter, spring, summer or fall I have a fan on me and especially when I'm sleeping!

There's nothing worse than breathing dry, warm, stagnant air when I'm trying to sleep. I don't care how cold it is outside (or inside), I like to have a small fan that moves the air around while I snuggle in a warm blanket. My body heats up under the blanket and even though I feel the air from the fan on my face or shoulders, my legs and feet are constantly moving to find a cool spot on the sheets. Usually, it's hopeless and I end up throwing the blankets off me or bringing my feet and legs out from under the blanket until I finally start to feel chilled and have to cover up again. As you might know, this can be exhausting!! Especially when it goes on all night!

So why am I saying "cool as a cucumber"? I've found a new product that I will be sharing with you very soon!

Another "springy" bush/tree!

Had to share this with you. My neighbor's brother has the most beautiful wisteria in his yard! He was telling us that it took about 5 years of careful growing and training before it bloomed. If you're interested, just do a search for wisteria or growing wisteria.

Darn blackbirds!

I KNOW they're God's creatures too, just like the more ATTRACTIVE birds, but they're such bullies and gluttons and they eat me out of house and home! :( I even bought more expensive birdseed that doesn't have corn in it, which helped but there are still enough of them to drain the feeders. And I've noticed that the cardinals and other birds are staying away....grrrrr!!!

I've got 4 hummingbird feeders out there now since the Orioles like to feed off them too! Been taking lots of pictures but usually through the screen from my office so they don't turn out so great. I'll post some that did though.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and thanks so much to all those who gave their lives in service to our country!!


Take a look at my daughter's lilac bush!! And the lovely bouquet I brought home:

Quotes from The Secret

I've been posting quotes from The Secret on my Facebook page and on Twitter (look for MinniePauz on both) and it seems to be very popular, so I will do it here also and hopefully encourage some of you to give it a try. I bought the book, read it and then loaned it to a friend and haven't seen it since. :) Fortunately, most of the quotes are online so we can refresh our enthusiasm whenever we want. Here's one for today: "You can change your emotion immediately .. by thinking of something joyful, or singing a song, or remembering a happy experience."

Who comes after the babyboomers?

"Gen X is 1961-1981, so currently 28-48 year olds’s are Xers. Please for the love of god don’t lump them into the baby boomers!! 1941-1961, so 48-68 year olds, are more rightly defined by the BB term (using Strauss & Howe “Generations” methodology)."

I hardly ever hear anything from this group. LOL...guess the babyboomers have been making too much noise (er...news). I wonder how many there are? This was a response to a post about "Menopause the Musical" and the person who wrote the review made a boo-boo when she lumped the Gen Xr's with the Boomers. I was pleased to see someone stand up for their group, but why be so angry? ("for the love of god"?) hahaha...well, I guess they don't want to be defined by the qualifications to be a boomer.

Even some of the boomers don't want to be recognized as such! That means someone might know they have a AARP card! Even worse, someone might see them using it! I've had mine for over 10 years and I've actually used it once. Got $10 off for a motel room one time. I actually never think of pulling it out or asking a merchant if they give a discount!

I kind of understand the Gen X person because I don't want to be called a SENIOR just yet! The official age is 65 and I'm only 61 (on Monday), so for the love of god don't lump ME in with THEM!

Homemade chicken salad.....Ummmm!

I just finished making a batch of chicken salad. Another effort to stay away from all the stuff that makes me fat! And even though I used real mayonaisse (not the low fat stuff), it's still so much better than a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream, right?

I find that I'm kind of anal about making chicken salad. I bought a bag of frozen chicken tenders, baked them in the oven with a little celery salt and pepper for flavor, then.....here comes the anal part....I minced the chicken, celery, onion and hard boiled egg by hand. I'm not talking about chopped into small pieces, I mean MINCED! :) I didn't want to do the chicken in the little chopper I have because some of it gets too mushy and then the other stays in bigger chunks. This way I get it all the same. To finish it off, I put the mayonaisse (not too much) and a little more celery salt and pepper.

It was so good! I've been munching on it all day. I put a forkful on a couple of crackers and that way I don't end up eating two pieces of bread. I also like to just eat it by the spoonful.

Then I went to get my hair cut and told Gina (who's been doing my hair for 13 years) to do something different. I'm tired of always ending up with what I call an "old lady haircut"! So today she did pretty good, but it's hard to take a picture of myself...LOL. What do you think?

It doesn't really show the shape in this picture, but it's shorter in the back and then comes down to my cheeks on the front. Kind of cute, even if I do say so myself. And since I'll be 61 on Monday, I definitely want to be cute!

Losing weight is NOT easy at 61!

Back in 2002 when I was 52, I decided to go on the Atkins program to lose weight for the Minnie Pauz Meltdown Cruise. I lost 55 lbs. in about 3 months and felt wonderful! I managed to keep the weight off for about 2 years and then gradually started bringing more carbs into my diet and by 2005 I had gained back about 30 lbs.

Then I quit smoking (on March 1, 2005) and decided it was too hard to try to watch my weight until I was a committed NON-smoker. Well...to make a long story short, the last 4 years have brought me to the point where I know if I don't do something now, I will never get it under control again.

I did manage to cut out sugar and bread for all of March, but I find myself slipping again and having things I shouldn't, because I lost about 2 lbs in the entire month! I have a machine that I use about 3 times a day to get my heart rate up, but what I really need to do is walk, walk, walk!

By the way....the woman in this cartoon is NOT MINNIE! hehehe.....it's one of her friends. No one, not even myself, have ever seen Minnie's face

Since I don't have the self-discipline to do it right, I've decided to sign up for a ZUMBA class. They actually have them for us older gals who may not have done anything strenuous for quite awhile! That's me!! I'm going to blame it on all of you because for 10 years I've been sitting at this computer working on the website and trying to get you all laughing!

The other thing I'm going to try is NutriSystem. Those ads on TV and seeing Marie Osmond looking SO good now has inspired me to give it another try! My son and DIL both lost weight on it and honestly, the pictures of the food (read "ice cream sandwich") has finally gotten to me! :)

If any of you have tried this or any other program, (my final effort will be Weight Watchers) let me know by posting. Everyone is different and I know it's my own fault for letting things slide the last 4 years, but as always, hearing about someone else close to my age who turned it around will inspire me!!

A few years ago I said I was going to be super healthy when I turned 60...hmmm, I'm not there yet! Ihave psoriasis, sleep apnea and psoriatic arthritis, plus I'm overweight and totally out of hormones so I have quite a challenge in front of me to be "the best me I can be"!! But, as I said, I'm not ready to give up. The women in my family live to their mid-nineties so I don't want to be sitting around for the next 30 years and not be able to enjoy it! Wish me luck and give me some encouragement!

Should you be taking iron supplements?

I was reading the March 30 issue of First for Women and came across the article about the "tiredness mineral". Come to find out, the symptoms of iron overload are very similar to some of the menopause symptoms, such as fatigue, blah moods and foggy thinking. Even a minor build up of iron can prevent every organ from performing at its best and cause the body to feel extremely run-down. Iron overload can lead to headaches, joint aches, abdominal aches and chest pains, according to Dr. Teitelbaum. More possible difficulties: trouble concentrating and remembering details, premature aging of the skin, hair loss and high cholesterol.

THE HEALTH-SAPPING EFFECTS OF EXCESS IRON

"When iron isn't used by the body (either because of a genetic condition or because more is consume than the body needs), it gets stored in the brain, skin, joints, intestinal lining, ovaries, liver, pancreas and heart." Jacob Teitelbaum, MD author of From Fatigued to Fantastic. (btw, as much as I like Dr. Weil, I think I've found another very reliable guy to go to!)

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVE IRON OVERLOAD

Sufferers of iron overload should stay away from the synthetic nonheme form of iron. Check the labels of supplements, multivitamins and fortified processed foods (cereal, bread, enriched pasta) to avoid ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate and ferrous fumarate. The article says if you do this for 4 weeks it will ease the symptoms.

THE CRITICAL TEST THAT DOCTORS AREN'T GIVING

The basic test to check iron levels is a serum iron test, which determines how much iron is in the blood. Dr. Teitelbaum recommends a full set of iron panel tests (which includes serum iron, serum ferritin, transferrin saturation and total iron binding capacity to determine if surplus iron is being stored in organs. The cost, $200 to $500, is generally covered by insurance.

If you're in your 30's...you should have iron panel tests done once or twice a year to ensure you aren't storing excess iron.

If you're in your 40's...have panel done once or twice annually, plus limit intake of nonheme iron (as mentioned above), since this form is most likely to be stored.

If you're in your 50's+...since menopausal women no longer menstruate, 74% suffer from iron overload. Dr. Teitelbaum says it's crucial to stop intake of all suplemental iron (unless otherwise advised by your doctor). This also applies to women who have had a hysterectomy. Two to four daily servings of whole foods like beans, shrimp, salmon and beef will deliver the 8mg of iron that is recommended for this age group.

Bio-Identical Hormones. Are they really?

Bio-identical hormones.
Are they really?

We have Oprah, Suzanne Somers, Christiane Northrup and even Dr. Phil's wife, Robin McGraw on the bio-identical bandwagon, but we're still as confused as ever and I personally feel there is still pressure to sell us (middle-aged women) some very expensive drugs that are being hyped as the fountain of youth!

At least one of them is a doctor (Northrup), but
honestly, you can always find equal numbers of doctors, scientists and researchers who either agree or disagree with the safety and the efficacy. I wanted to laugh when the opposing doctor in the audience stated that the drugs you get from the compounding pharmacy (she doesn't accept the bioidentical term) are not monitored by the government, so you don't know what you're getting and if it's safe, etc. The laughable part was because of the 20+ years that the FDA was in bed with the pharmaceutical industry and pushed Premarin and Provera on women like it was candy, saying it would "make you feel like a young woman again"! How is that any different than people saying bioidentical hormones can help a woman get her quality of life back?

If the FDA did nothing to protect us until they were forced to by the WHI report, why should we have confidence in them now when their chain is still being jerked by the pharmaceutical companies? The compounded hormones have been used for many years, but no one said anything about them until the traditional hrt drugs were forced off the market because they
were proven to cause cancer, etc. THEN the pharm companies started demanding that the compounding pharmacies not be allowed to do what they've been doing all along--creating prescribed, individualized doses of hormones for women.

I actually tend to trust what Suzanne Somers says because I can see that she has done the research and does use everything herself. She clearly states that her regimen is not for everyone, but she is proof that she's doing something right if she feels as good as she says
she does. She certainly looks good at 62. And so does Dr. Northrup, but I'm pretty sure both have had some kind of cosmetic enhancements. It's not just hormones that make them look good.

Read More....

A day in February

I'm still quite sad over the death of one of my neighbors, a 56 yr. old male who died of cancer. I believe it was less than a year since he first found out he had lymphoma to his death on Friday the 13th. He and his wife were such wonderful neighbors. They helped everyone as much as they could and I feel so bad for her. They had no children and were each others' best friend. So sad.

I have to have another "thing" taken off my leg. The first one was a cutaneous horn that had squamous cancer cells in the skin. This is like the beginning of another "horn" but doesn't necessarily have cancer cells. The doc is going to take it out anyway.

On to happier things....like The Bachelor! Tonight's show looks like it's going to be a shocker, especially with what's her name coming back!! I can't believe she has the guts to do that! And I can't believe I'm getting so riled up about it! LOL I guess when you don't have your own drama to live through, you have to find it somewhere. :)

I'm trying to get my thoughts together for putting my business up for sale. Yup, putting Minnie Pauz on the block! I have a lot to learn about selling an online business. Well, part online part of it is me.....I can't sell me! Or can I? My thought is that I might stay on as the creator of MP and do speaking engagements, etc.

So, we'll see where we end up by 2010.

A review of 2008...

How original. It's even taken me 19 days into the year to say something and, as always, it's reading other people's blogs that makes me sign in here and try to say something clever or profound.

I think what I'll do is forget about trying to be clever or funny or even profound and I'll just share what's in my head....just like the title says, except now it will be a YEAR in the life. Then maybe I won't feel so bad if I don't write every day. I KNOW I can write at least once a YEAR! :)

When I look back to review 2008, I find that it wasn't a very eventful year, but there were several events towards the latter part of the year that might make 2009 more challenging.

First though, January 2008 became the last time I spoke with my Mother until November 2008. No, she didn't die but she did make it clear that she doesn't consider me a daughter to be proud of. I was so stunned when I recieved an email after I broke our silence to find out if she was ok (a trip to the hospital). I thought maybe we could at least get back to talking on a regular basis, but I guess she felt she had to say something to clarify her feelings. This was just part of her email: "I have watched you sit on your butt and eke out a very scant living for yourself, while you were able, physically and intellectually, to get out and get a job, plus do your computer work to supplement your real-job income. Your web site abilities are commendable. But, all you did was sit at home so you could watch your soaps and Oprah every afternoon."

This is my mother's opinion of what I have done with Minnie Pauz (www.minniepauz.com) in the past 12 years. This did it for me....I can't find any further reason to make an effort to repair our relationship. It's sad but it's been going on for several years and I feel I've exhausted every pathway of recovery. I do feel better knowing the mother/daughter relationship is a problem for so many women so I don't feel like some kind of freak who can't get along with her mother. I didn't respond to the letter/email, rather I haven't MAILED my response. It does help to write as if I was going to send it though. The tough part is that this has also affected my relationship with my sister and I haven't quite come to terms with losing this also. It's been a year now and I just don't feel the same trust we've always had. I'm going to let it go for now, but if anyone wants to get into a discussion about it, let me know with your comments and we'll do an entire thread.

The other outcomes of 2008 have to do with my health. For the first time in 10 years I'm fortunate enough to have healthcare coverage through St. Joe's Mercy Hospital. They have a program for people who are employed but still have a low income...well, menopausal cartoons don't really bring in that much so I qualified! :) Now I have discovered that I have high blood pressure, severe psoriasis, severe sleep apnea and psoriatic arthritis. Most of it is not news, but the progression of the arthritis has been a bit troubling. It has helped me make the decision to take Humira, which hopefully will slow the progression AND clear the skin at the same time. Since all of these meds work differently on each person, I can only hope it will work for me without any of the scary side effects that go along with this powerful drug.

After 3 1/2 years of dealing with psoriasis, I'm really looking forward to seeing clear skin!! It's hard to explain something that has bothered you (in various ways) every day, every minute for so long. The itching, the scratching,the flaking, the cracking skin, the bleeding, the burning, the pain and yes, the heartbreak of psoriasis is real. It's been embarrassing and altogether tiring. I hope the Humira does it's best work on me!! I would like to hear from anyone with experience with P and also with Humira.

Then there's the sleep apnea....I'm trying to find a donated bi-pap machine since the program I'm on does not cover this. The cheapest I've seen one is for $400 which is out of the question right now.

One thing I forgot to mention was that I discovered I had a skin cancer (on my leg) right before Christmas. How much more am I to deal with? :) The blessing is that I have the healthcare program that took care of the surgery. I learned some new words through all this: cutaneous horn and squamas carcinoma. I'm thankful it wasn't a melonoma!!

So, I'm heading into 2009 with a few challenges and a change in my family structure and I'm looking forward to whatever lies ahead as I always do. Can't help myself. I've always been a curious person and basically a positive thinker so there's a lot of life to live. I turned 60 in 2008 so I'm figuring on at least another 30 yrs!

Today, as Barack Obama is inaugurated, I believe there's hope for us all if we take the responsibility to make whatever changes we can to make our world work. Here's wishing all of you a happy and prosperous and healthy new year!!

Grandchildren with cellphones!!

Two of my grandkids spent the night last night (Bailey, 10 and Zach, 9) and I let them stay up until 2 am thinking they would sleep in late in the morning and I would have some peaceful time for coffee on the deck. Well.......not exactly what happened!

First, a little background. All the grandkids love to complain how I keep them awake at night with my snoring. I admit it, I KNOW that I snore, but they make it worse by waking me up saying, "Grandma, you're snoring!" I never feel like I get a good night's sleep when they are here.So this morning I wake up and they're sitting on the bed giggling. Bailey had FILMED ME WITH HER CELL PHONE!!

Not only could you hear me but there I was with my fat face (oh yes, she did a nice close-up!) kind of hanging over to the side....oh my, it's horrible. The snoring wasn't even that bad....my mouth wasn't even open like you would think.But here's the worst part, she's threatening to put it on youtube!!! LOL Of course, I would kill her if she actually did it and I've got to make sure my daughter doesn't get a friend to do it. I know neither of them would know how to do it.....whew!!!

Anyway, just be sure if you give the kids their own phone that it doesn't do videos!! (my daughter gave Bailey her old phone)

PS: At least I had my teeth in!!!!

Follow-up on June 27 post

This is what the supplements have done for my legs. I already showed you the improvement in my arms, but this is quite dramatic too:

Advice for all ...

After a post on my message board about how do you enjoy the new freedom that menopause (or even peri-menopause) brings when you still have young children triggered a response, I thought I would also share it here on my blog.

Something Dr. Phil always says is the answer, I believe. "Children learn what they live", so.... what if your kids grow up living a life that includes "Mom's time to pursue her interests and needs"? If you're consistent about creating time for everyone, including yourself, your kids adjust to that as normal. I believe this is where most of us went down the wrong path...we gave UP our needs and taught our kids that they deserved our attention 100% of the time. By the time they get out on their own, we have conditioned ourselves to ignore what we want or need or enjoy. I've heard so many women say now when they have the free time to pursue what they want to do, they can't figure out what they want to do!

So why not see what you can do about creating a new "normal" for your family and let everyone help figure out how much time each family member needs or wants? You might be surprised at how understanding and giving your children might be when they find out that you need some time too.

The supplements are working!!

I am more amazed than anyone, but I can honestly report that the supplements I've been taking have greatly improved the psoriasis and I have pictures to prove it!

The first one was taken in June and the second in July, so there you are! I still have a ways to go for it to be completely clear, but at least I can wear short sleeved shirts without feeling like I was grossing everyone out!

I have to thank Dr. Rallie McAllister for insisting that I try this particular combination of herbal supplements from Nature's Sunshine Because Rallie is a medical doctor who has now come to a more natural approach to medical problems, I was willing to try what she suggested, but make no mistake, I was skeptical as hell. For 3 years I've been reading psoriasis message boards and only found one natural solution, but it was for a complete cleansing diet and I just wasn't ready for that yet. I think I might be after seeing these beginning results.

Things are looking up for this old gal!!

Lost 5 pounds!

I will admit that I've been watching what I eat, but that's mainly because I want to do things right while I'm taking these supplements. The biggest effect, I think, is from taking the fish oil. It really helps clean out your colon on a daily basis and THAT'S GOOD!!!

Today is the last month of June and I have no idea where the rest of the month went! I haven't been very productive, that's for sure.

I've been trying to work on redesigning the website, but it seems too big of a job and no matter how I move things around, it always looks the same to me. I'm stuck!! I need some help!! Just can't afford to pay a designer right now!

I have managed to get more bird pictures. I just love the rose-breasted grosbeak. I've had two males and a female on this feeder at one time. They are very peaceful birds and have the most beautiful song. Think I've mentioned them before on my blog.


Today I'm going to try to get on a health program at St. Joe's. A friend told me about it and I really need to check it out so I can get a complete checkup before I try to get on the Humira for the psoriasis. I want to make sure I'm healthy enough to have my immune system compromised by the Humira. The psoriasis is getting worse by the day and it's embarrassing to go out in public. I still can't get over that this has hit me so late in life and with such a vengeance.

Supplements, psoriasis and weightloss....

Don't know why I feel that I'm getting nothing accomplished lately, but man the weeks go by fast! I do need to mark this week on the calendar as when I started these new detox supplements sent to me by a doctor friend. She's convinced that she can help me improve my psoriasis. I'm afraid I'm kind of cynical about it and have the papers ready to apply for Humira's financial assistance program (because the shots are $1200 each 2x mo. and I have no insurance).

One thing I'm sure of though, Im bound to lose weight. Yippee!! I even bought healthy food today! Organic lettuce and milk, lots of fruit and fresh veggies too. I'm kind of rev'd up now!!

Let me know if you're interested in the combination of stuff I'm taking, ok?

She asked me to give it (the program) two weeks, but I'm not sure if I can hold out that long since the psoriasis seems to be spreading faster than usual. That may be the heat.

It's on both arms and the backs of my hands now, plus I see a few spots coming out on my palms. I certainly never expected this to affect me in my 50's! Never even knew anyone in my family that had it, but it must have been there somewhere.

I wanted to show you how the red rosebush turned out. I should have taken the picture a few days ago, but I forgot.

A rose is a rose....

But when they don't bloom, it might as well be a weed! I've had these two rose bushes for about 8 years and only one of them blooms. The one that doesn't bloom was given to me by a neighbor who moved and should look like this


but all I get are these tall healthy stalks with no flowers.

The bush that does bloom is red and it is pretty, but not the kind of roses I enjoy....here it is after blooming This might be called "Purple Simplicity", not sure. This bush is the same one in the picture above.

The leaves on the red bush kind of surround the other one. I might think that was the problem, but I have tried pruning both so they get plenty of sun and air through each plant. I've bought a rose book, trimmed them, pruned them, washed the plants with dishsoap to get rid of the bugs, given them rose food, and even put banana peels under the soil next to the plants. Oh well, guess I'd better enjoy what I've got and maybe some day I'll find a yellow rose blooming by my deck! :)

Old Rockers

I'm not talking about the kind you sit in. :) I'm watching Good Morning America and Cyndi Lauper is performing and it's actually making me feel a little better about my age and all the aches and pains I'm starting to experience.

There was Cyndi in black leather singing one of her rock songs and I realized her actions were really tamed down compared to how she used to bounce and run all over the stage. I've always been a fan of hers so I'm not putting her down, just noting how one of our age group (babyboomers) is showing signs of....well, you know!

First of all she looked a little "thick" around the middle. We can relate to that, right? Maybe it was just that leather jacket, but I'm not sure. Besides, it was HOT and HUMID out there today, so what was she covering up? What really caught my attention though was when she got down on her knees during the song....now, bless her heart for being able to sing while she's doing ANYTHING else, but I really felt for her when she put her hand on her one knee and PUSHED to get herself up!! She struggled getting back up on the stairs later on too and asked for a hand.

I love that she sang "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"!! One of my favorites! I still love her energy and her uniqueness, I just feel a bit closer to her now that I've seen that time is also taking its toll on celebrities too, not just me!

Gardening, birdwatching and dentures

Ever since Mother's Day, my daughter and I have been working on my yard. It's amazing how even a tiny little yard in a mobile home park can look really awful or really pretty with just a little landscaping. My daughter has a knack for it and knows which plants should go where and since she's been laid off since January, I've been trying to give her a way to make a little $$$.



Here's a picture showing how she trimmed the pine tree branches and put mulch and some plants under it.




Here's the flower bed that is behind that green electrical box that she designed too. I also have a birdbath over there, a hummingbird feeder and 3 regular birdfeeders, hence the bird watching in the title. :) I can see the birds while I'm sitting on the deck (or from the window next to my computer) and I'm constantly excited about the variety of birds I get. Everything from various woodpeckers to rose breasted grosbeaks to orioles.





I took this picture of one of the woodpeckers (called a red-bellied woodpecker) through the window so it's not as clear as I'd like but it's the first one I've seen in my yard in 12 years! For some reason, maybe the cold weather we've had, but the hummingbirds are not coming like they used to. :( Anyway, I get a lot of enjoyment out of a pretty yard and trying to attract different birds. I had a problem with blackbirds this year though. Don't know why they took over my yard this year. I finally switched to sunflower seeds only, which seems to have worked, but now the other birds don't come as often. I suspect it might be the neighbors' cats that keep hiding in the hasta leaves though! I really wish anyone who lets their cat roam should be required to put a bell on them!



Now about the "denture" part of my life! I just wanted to mention that I am going to start another blog that is only for people with dentures and with PROBLEMS with their dentures, most likely caused by their DENTISTS. I was going to start it when I realized I hadn't posted here for nearly a month (over a month?), so I will try AGAIN to post here more often. Still trying to "find my voice". Seems strange after 12 years of running my website, but it's hard.

Another holiday.....

I have to repeat over and over "Low expectations = high serenity" "High expectations = low serenity". That way I don't expect my kids to do anything and then I'm happy to get a call on Monday morning with "Happy Mother's Day". Oh hell....I still can't help wishing someone would take me out to dinner or come over and help me with the lawn.



Then there's always the problem of sharing Mother's Day with the kids' step-mother. More than likely my ex will take her and all the kids & grandkids out to dinner. I don't know why he couldn't invite me too. :) His wife and I get along much better than he and I ever did! Here we are at the family (his family) Christmas party:

Anyway, about the low expectations. It's hard to follow my own advice, ya know? My Mother is not talking to me so it was really hard to find just the right card to send her. hehhehe....I found it though!! It has a black&white photo on the front with a woman screaming bloody murder and on the inside it says: "Oh come on, I wasn't THAT bad!" Happy Mother's Day! I literally cracked up in the store. I'm not sure if it will tickle her funny bone or not, but at least I sent her a card. Sent one to my daughter too. And to my daughter-in-law.

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely Mother's Day!

Dealing with stress

I keep saying I'm going to start doing yoga (and there's even a video called "Yoga for Menopause", but like so many other things I plan to do, it hasn't happened yet! My stress manifests itself in ways that it's not openly noticeable to others and even I don't know all that is going on in my physical self. It's one of those things that you just know you'd better tend to.

I've been under quite a bit of stress for at least 3 years. I quit smoking, had all my teeth pulled, dealing with psoriasis, helped my son recover from drug/alcohol addiction, dealing with the IRS and of course, being self-employed. So, I've been trying to find ways to build my immune system back up. I'm beginning to think it's hopeless, but I recently started taking DHEA, plus I take vitamin D-3 and St. John's Wort.

Yes, I prefer not taking drugs for everything, but mainly I don't have health insurance so for now natural is my main option. I may as my dermatologist to write a prescription for Zoloft though, just to see if that helps the stress and therefore the psoriasis.

I'm trying to get a walking routine going again. That will help with the stress and my weight! I've done one day so far! Trying to build up to 30 min. walks every day.

What is your best stress buster?

Single women and car repairs.

These 4 words do not go together. No matter how knowledgeable you try to look and sound, they still know you are bluffing! It took me months to find WHERE to take my car for the leak problem....not an oil leak or gas leak, but water was getting in my car and soaking the carpet. Once the temp dropped below freezing I had to start wearing ice skates to drive....no, not really, but the floor was frozen! It was great when things warmed up a bit except then the horrific smell would fill the car!

Took the car to a auto collision place and this guy had the car for 10 days!!! Found several small leaks in different locations and finally found the main problem somewhere up front. One thing you don't want to see is your car with the seats out and the carpet and padding out. Very sad. :(

Final cost was $553, but he took off $100. But he also said I need a new waterpump...another $240!!! Lord when does it stop!!??

This was after a week when I also had to buy a new dryer and was waiting for my taxes to be done. I've already traded the dryer in for a nicer (more expensive one) since I bought too fast, but the good news of the month is that I only owe $150 on my taxes. That's great news of course, but that means I barely survived on last year's income! Oh well, this year is looking better, except any extra money I've made or saved is going to pay for the car and the new dryer!!

A great gift for the grandkids! I love to get them things they will use for years to come and these Bongo Bags are wonderful! Moms love them and so do the kids!

Middle Aged Woman song

http://www.minniepauz.com/middle-age-video.html


Song by Lisa Koch www.heylisa.com Buy her CD!!!!

Gay menopause....

Kind of an oxymoron, right? :) But I'm not talking about "happy" menopause, although I swear I got an email from someone who said they had never had one hotflash or moodswing in the 9 years since their period stopped, so maybe there is such a thing.

I was watching CBS Sunday Morning and they had an excellent piece on Suzy Orman, one of my favorite experts. She gives excellent financial advice and is especially interested in helping women become financially independent. She's inspirational to me because she said she wasn't that smart when she was younger and she brought herself from poverty to being a billionaire! I watch her tv show often and always catch her when she's on Oprah or any other talk show. Just love and admire her!

I had no idea she was gay! It doesn't matter, of course, but I'm surprised that I never heard anything about it. This brought to mind about gay couples (lesbians) going through menopause. Plenty of good/bad stuff here!

If one menopausal woman in the house is tough, what if there are TWO? You can see where the bad would come into play, but what about the good? WEll....having your partner REALLY understand what you're going through would be a plus, wouldn't it?

What if the women are 5 or 6 years apart in age? This brings to mind Rosie O'Donnell and her life partner. I think Rosie is a few years ahead of Kelli. Uh oh....that means possibly going through it all TWICE!! I wouldn't call that GOOD, would you? Another couple is Ellen and Portia. Ellen just turned 50 recently and I've heard her mention being warm a few times on her show. :)

What if one has it really, really tough and the other breezes through with no problems? Even thought one might be happy that their loved one doesn't have to suffer, can you spell R-E-S-E-N-T-M-E-N-T?

Considering that perimenopause and the entire process through post-menopause can last anywhere from 4 to 15 years, this can be quite a strain on a relationship. I found one book titled: Off the Rag: Lesbians Writing on Menopause but it looks like it's out of print. (you might be able to get a used copy though) Here's what the description/review said: This book offers a full range of the often unpredictable experiences of menopause from a large and varied group of women. For lesbians, it is a dramatic departure from many other menopause books which treat this natural occurrence as something which makes us less "womanly," or something which inteferes with the sexual pleasure of a male partner. Traditional hormone replacement therapies and alternative herbal and naturopathic remedies, as well as doing nothing at all for uncomfortable symptoms are offered in these women's stories. The book encourages women to follow our own best instincts and to persevere until we get the help we need, if that's what we want.

My conclusion is....I'm still glad I was not married or in a relationship when I went through MY change! I've always said that I saved some guy a lot of heartache because he didn't have to put up with me during menopause!

How do you feel? Would you rather go through it alone or with your partner/mate?

Wyeth needs a new approach...

Wyeth has a long history of getting the FDA to push their drugs through the approval process and keep other companies from being able to produce generic forms of the drugs.....I'm particularly talking about hormones. After reading this article by Tara Pope in the NY Times, I wrote:

We need alternatives. Why should having choices for our health needs be any different? I also agree that pharmacies should continue to be regulated by the states and should not be allowed to make unsubstantiated statements about compounded products.

I’ve been helping women find their CHOICES for 11 years by showing them both sides of the story. In fact, there have been many women who have been taking Premarin for years and years, my own mother for one, and she’s 77. For some women the synthetic hormones will be fine, but for others who no longer put all their faith in their doctors OR the FDA, they want a choice and the the compounded drugs are a choice.

I believe Wyeth must accept the fact that they only SHARE the pie now, not dominate the market. They also need to show women that they are trying to help, not just trying to make money. This means they need to talk more directly to the average, every day woman with language they can trust and believe in, not have someone like the gorgeous Cheryl Ladd trying to convince us. It’s not working, Wyeth!! Those ads are causing more resentment than confidence. Their PR people need to contact me for an entirely new approach that WILL work.

Don't squeeze the Charmin!!

Besides the clear message this cartoons sends about severe mood swings, I'd like your opinion on something else. Is it plain to see that 'Minnie' is in a grocery store? I drew this one several years ago and actually there was more detail (like a sign that says welcome to joe's market....or something like that). But when I needed to crop the size I cut out the sign and the cash register to the left.

Ok, second question...do you think it's funny? Usually if you have to ask, it isn't. Or if you have to explain the joke, it isn't. Personally, I think it is pretty clever. hahahaha.....but no one likes to laugh at their own jokes alone! :)

We had a severe storm front move through Michigan last night....about 11 pm the lights went out and the temperature plummeted to 20 or something. The wind blew hard and it rained hard, but the most incredible sight was the lightening. Weird, it was green!

Anyway, I called and reported it to the electric company at 3am because I was afraid no one else on the street did and because I was getting a bit worried since the furnace would not come on without electricity and it was starting to get cold. It was all automated, even the thank you for reporting this outage and I finally fell asleep wondering if I was going to have to go to my daughter's house today. Then at 6am my fan came on! Oh yes, I still use a fan every single night.... I was thrilled!

I came to my office and started the computer....everything went fine, as you can see. Then I turned on the tv in my office and all I get is a blue screen. :( I have satellite so I unplugged everything, turned it on and off, switched boxes, switched cards and nothing but a blue screen. Frustrating because now I know I'll have to go through the process of speaking with someone from India named "Bubba" and just hope his level of English is understandable. Didn't want this crap today and when I go out later to the store, maybe I'd better stay away from the toilet paper aisle!

Time alone is so valuable....

but you don't realize it until you haven't had any time alone for a long time. People (neighbors and family) "worry" when I don't come out of the house for a few days. They tell me it's "not healthy". Hmmmm......I think I'm actually healthier.

1. I'm not out getting contaminated by everyone who is sick, but still goes to the grocery store or the gas station, leaving their germs all over the shopping carts, the gas pump and the air.

2. I'm not having an anxiety attack like I do once out in traffic or crowded stores. It's not REAL bad, just enough to make me quit what I'm doing and go home.

3. I'm saving money.....especially when I don't have it. It's easier to do without (junkfood, etc) than to face going out in the traffic.

When my son was living here all of last year, I hardly ever had a full 24 hours to myself. Now that he's not here I still kind of feel like I'm not alone sometimes. hahahaha.....then I feel selfish if one or two of the grandkids want to spend the night. I kind of pout (to myself) about having to share the ice cream or mainly, the tv! :) But I fight the urge to say no and allow them to control the remote all night. I just keep telling myself, they'll be gone tomorrow and it's all MINE!!

Time alone can be lonely too, but not so much since computers have become such an integral part of my life. I actually can't think of a time when I've felt lonely for the last several years.

The thing that gets worse the longer I'm alone? Procrastination!! When I don't have anyone to answer to or anyone who sees how much time I actually spend on the computer or sleeping, oh boy, do I overdo both!!

What do they mean I don't get out? Look at me here!!

Quit Smoking, ok?

Did you see the Oprah show yesterday? She had Dr. Oz talking about smoking, plus the whole audience was smokers and there's a plan on her site to help people quit. This should really help a lot of people because she can put the best info and reach the most people in one spot. I'm very pleased to announce that March 1 will be my 3rd year of not smoking!

Here's something interesting too....I have mentioned many times that smoking can bring on early menopause (mine at 41), so it's not news that all the chemicals in cigarettes can affect our hormones. That makes me think that quitting might make peri-menopause easier. There hasn't been any formal studies (that I know about) comparing peri with smokers vs with non-smokers. That could be very interesting.

Then I came across some information about how the FDA does nothing to regulate the tobacco industry. This is right after the latest report about the FDA saying that the hormone estriol is not approved by them for use in hormone replacement. This is ridiculous! Just another one of those crazy facts that rule our daily lives. I found the info on a site I support that is trying to keep our kids smoke free. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/ I really think that getting involved with a group like this might help those of you who need a "bigger purpose" than just saving your own lives. I know, it sounds crazy, but while we're smokers, we ARE crazy!!

Black Monday?

How are YOUR finances? Mine have been pretty poor up to now, but not because I shopped myself into debt for Christmas. In fact, I paid cash for every present. I do that every year. So how did I end up over $16,000 in debt? Taxes! (and $3,400 in dental--no insurance). Over $11,000 is taxes. Whew! Then when business slows down (like the economy has been doing most of 2007), it makes it tough to just meet minimum obligations each month.

This causes stress and stress causes so many health problems!! And, if you don't have health insurance like me, that causes more stress and before you know it, you're unable to motivate yourself to sell, or create or just enjoy an afternoon with your grandchildren! What's that lead to? Depression, of course, and a vicious circle that becomes known as "my normal life".

FDA is overstepping responsibility.

At least in my opinion! For them to come down on compounding pharmacies, when they've been doing what they do for hundreds of years, is ridiculous! Now women who are taking "bioidentical" hormones will have to worry if they will not be able to get their prescriptions filled. Where is the power of the FDA going to end?

I hate to actually get in the middle of this, but it's pretty clear that the FDA has buckled under the pressure of Wyeth and their power to cause this kind of scrutiny over something that has been used without incident for years and years. Of course that's what they (the FDA) did when they allowed Premarin to be used for 20 years and then we found out it was causing more trouble than it was helping. When Premarin was taken off the shelves, the breast cancer numbers were reduced dramatically.

Here's what I wish would happen. Wyeth needs to talk directly to women about what happened and what changes have been made. They need to show women that they DO care about their health and that Wyeth is creating products that will help many women in the coming years. (They really should hire someone like "Minnie Pauz" to help smooth the road ahead)

Anyway, here's the link to the FDA report and there's more here, including comments from some prominent people and an audio from the FDA. In the meantime, I'm using cartoons to express myself on the topic.

OOps....missed a few days!

Or maybe it was just one? Actually, I didn't look to see the date of my last post. I've kind of been hoping to get some people stopping by from my message board since I changed my signature to show this blog....they could be coming here and reading but leaving without typing a message. If that's the case, then I must be pretty boring!

Oh well, I'm just getting up to speed after the holidays. Have to go to my daughter's tomorrow at 6 am so she can leave for work and then I get my granddaughter up at 7:30 to eat, get dressed and catch the schoolbus at 8:25. I've been sleeping in for over two weeks now so it's going to be rough to get used to getting up early again.

Been playing online all day instead of working on my newsletter, but I love this site: http://www.eons.com/ It's like a myspace for the over 50 crowd! Check it out and report back, ok? :)

My picture for today is one my daughter (same one as above) took while they were in Florida! Thought this would warm you up if you're in a cold climate!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is my oldest son's 40th birthday. Seems impossible, but 40 years ago today I was a 19 yr. old army wife, stationed in Naples, Italy and had my first child in the Naval hospital there. Unfortunately, my husband (ex now) was already in the hospital with hepatitis from eating fresh clams from the Bay of Naples. I was quite the brave girl to handle all this in a foreign country with no relatives to help out. :)

So here was my first born then:

and here he is now (with his lovely wife):


Now I'd also like to wish all of you who have birthdays in January a very wonderful day, no matter how old or young you are!

Minnie Pauz Loves Snow!!

New beginnings!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Talk about a FRESH start! Look at what I woke up to this morning! I've already been out shoveling and it's somewhat invigorating once you get all bundled up and get out there!



I live in a mobile home park so all the neighbors were outside helping everyone dig their cars out after management plowed down the middle of the street. That makes it twice as hard to get our cars moved--well, it's basically a pain in the butt! The main reason is that this park used to be only two streets and everyone (including me) has two parking spaces to park, on the street. Then a few years ago a new owner expanded the park and now there's all doublewide homes and each one has a driveway for two cars--off the street. But those of us who live in the old part have to shuffle our cars around so they can come and plow the street. What a crazy dance, but like I said, it brings all the neighbors out and makes you want to have hot chocolate!

So the new year starts with a snowstorm.....or did the old year go out with a bang? However you look at it, it's a defining point. I can't say 2007 was the best year. I don't feel like I accomplished much. It was like an uphill battle all the way and nothing was finished. I've still got my son living here, I'm still in a battle with my dentist about my dentures, I'm still not where I want to be with my business.....guess I'll have to set some new goals and see what I can get done in 2008.

One thing I'm going to tackle (again) this year is getting organized and getting rid of clutter! I did it a few years ago with my friend, Pat's help. It's not quite as bad as it was back then, but I'm definitely feeling overwhelmed with clutter! For now that's the only commitment I'm going to make for the new year.

Need more traffic!! :)

Hey!! Did you notice I just posted YESTERDAY? See, I'm getting better already and there's still one more day before 2008!

So, I was looking back over my recent posts and now that I'm building momentum, I think I'm ready to tell the world about my blog. I really want some comments on what I'm writing each day!! It's hard to tell if anyone is out there, stopping by, reading my blog? Part of the challenge is to hit on a topic that resonates with one or two people and then have them tell someone else and on and on until it's VIRAL!!!

I realize I have to get focused first though. For the last several years I haven't been able to narrow it down. I've gone from menopause to Minnie Pauz and cartooning, to middle age to being a grandmother, to ...... well, it's just all over the place and until my main voice comes through or I say something really controversal, I'm just going to be another blah blogger.

That's it for today folks. Need to go cook dinner for my son and his oldest son, Tye, who is 12 1/2 and knows EVERYTHING! The one I gave a cell phone to for Christmas and he's since decided it's not what he wants regarding the type of phone or the program. Maybe I'll just put arsenic in his mashed potatoes...the little ungrateful.... Oh well, he's just a product of his environment, isn't he? Kids today feel so entitled.

The new year is almost here!

I'm ALWAYS excited about an upcoming NEW YEAR! For me it just wipes the slate clean and everyone gets another chance to do it all RIGHT!! :) As I said in my most recent post, I'm going to try (again) to blog every day starting on January 1, 2008, even if it's just a picture I took that day...... well, I may end up using another picture if it's more appropriate for what I'm saying on that day, but at least there should be SOMETHING to read or look at here EVERY DAY!!

I quit making resolutions a long time ago. Now I make little promises that have no consequences if I don't keep them......meaning they don't hurt anybody, except maybe me. I try not to make myself feel guilty though. I have enough of that in my life. I'm trying to forgive myself for choices I made back in 1981 for cripes sake! Don't need any NEW guilt!

Ok, so how do I sum up 2007? Wow, I'm just glad I got through it. Nothing exceptional about business, that's for sure. I may have had a little media coverage, but nothing huge. My biggest surge in subscribers was when someone posted my site on a MSN health message board....over 400 new subscribers! That was fantastic! I wish someone would do that at least once a month!

I guess the biggest issue "I got through" was having my middle son living here with me since October 2006! It was an opportunity for me to redeem myself as a mother and help one of my kids when they needed it most, but I have a hard time setting boundaries and it's gone past where I had hoped it would end. I love him dearly, but I don't agree with the decisions he continues to make and I'm not standing up for what I believe in, so basically it's MY problem and I need to deal with it. On the other hand, it's not just me. I can name 4 of my closest friends or relatives who also have a 30 something adult child living with them! It seems to be something of a trend with this generation. Or is it OUR generation, the babyboomers? Are we all trying to "make up" for something we did as our children were growing up? This is a topic I don't feel qualified to write about in depth.

I'll just head into 2008 with the hope that we'll all become stronger and more loving and more forgiving. and things WILL be better!

Whew! Made it!

Well, that's another year I made it through! Sometimes you look back and wonder how you did it. There were some family crisis's (not sure how to spell that) and a full year of worrying about my business (http://www.minniepauz.com/), my weight and my dental issues, along with the war, the economy, the planet and it's most innocent inhabitants.

Anyway, I hope 2008 is better for all of us! New year, new promises to blog every day....even if it's just to log the day with a photo. Actually what I should do is take one every day....hmmmmm. I still haven't figured out how to get the photos where I want them here! What's today, the 28th? I've got a few days to practice! :) Ok, here's one that shows how I watched my youngest grandkids (in Dallas) open their presents on the webcam!! It was SO
wonderful...much better than trying to talk to them on the phone!

Then here's a picture of what I sent them! I leave the toys and clothes to everyone else and I usually get them something that will be used for several years (picnic table, wagon, etc). These are Bongo Bags and I didn't realize the kids actually enjoy them. My daughter-in-law told me they love to get inside and roll around, but mostly it makes them want to pick their toys up (and keep them in the Bongo Bag). The first thing one of the boys did was crawl inside! My son got a picture of it but hasn't sent it to me yet. Anyway the fingers are pointing to the Frog, the Elephant and the Alligator......

Baby boomer or Middle Aged?

I've decided I'd much rather be called a baby boomer than to be called a "middle aged woman". I guess it's because the "MAW" tag seems to put one at the tail end of the age line....more towards the dreaded "Senior" group....and the BB tag could put one anywhere between 43 and 61.

The MAW brings to mind things like menopause, midlife crisis and incontinence, where the BB title more often makes you think of free love, former pot smoker and leaders. Well, who would choose the former?

I realize it's just semantics, but there seems to be a definite difference in the FEELING (and status) of each title. How would you describe yourself? Here's how "Minnie" does it......

Shopping in China?

I'm on a rampage after all the problems with the toys made in China and since then, finding out how many of the products we use every day are made there. It's shameful!!! So I've been trying to get everyone I know to BUY USA!! I've always thought of Wal-Mart as one of the most American stores there could be, but the truth is 70% of their products are made in China. I also just joined this organization: www.wakeupwalmart.com and would encourage my readers to take a look and then take a stand.

Why you should buy from small toy shops, not Wal-Mart
The Boston Globe reports that shoppers are buying toys for their children at small stores and avoiding Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) whose Chinese toys they fear.
One Cambridge, MA store, Stellabella Toys, has shifted its merchandise suppliers from Chinese to European and U.S. toy makers. Stellabella bought as many LEGO toys (made in Denmark) and Playmobil products (made in Germany) as possible. And it added new lines, including German stacking toys and wooden trains from Maple Landmark Woodcraft of Vermont.
More than 65% of consumers will refuse to buy toys from China this season. This hurts Wal-Mart which offers cheaper prices by importing Chinese merchandise. That's because 80% of all US toys are manufactured in China, where they are cheaper to produce. It is more likely that the Chinese toys will end up in mass merchants like Wal-Mart, which often carry large volumes of toys.

I don't know if Wal-Mart will start buying safe toys -- its purchasing volume could drive down the prices and thus bring back some of those shoppers. But in the meantime, you can check out the toys sold by small stores like Stellabella. At least it's supplying what American shoppers want -- safe toys for their families.