Size 12 is A Plus Size? Whateverrr..

Recently I saw a segment on TV that said Size 12 is now considered a plus size.  And judging by the absence of that size on store racks, it's also the most purchased size of women's apparel.  I'm a size 12 so I can attest to that.  Obesity is a huge problem in this country and nothing to be taken lightly. But Size 12 -a Plus size?  Come on!

I can go up and down...my son's recent wedding motivated me to lose weight and I'm glad I did it.  I felt wonderful!   But I'm not a kale, water, yogurt kind of gal.  It's all about smart portions of wise food choices and I try to keep that in mind.  But I like to cook and I love to eat, especially this time of year.   I make no apologies.  And I still feel wonderful.

I've continued to work out because I want to be fit.  But if my weight fluctuates, I'm not going to beat myself up over it.  I have a closet full  of 10's, 12's and some 14's so I've got it covered.  I've come to the realization that I'm never gonna be a cute little old lady.  I'll be more of a handsome old woman and I'm okay with that.  As long as I'm fit, and it all works, I'm good.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Music to Someone's Ears....

Is anyone else paying attention to the voices of the youngsters on shows, like  "The Voice", "X Factor", or "American Idol"?  I'm talking, 12, 14, 16 year olds!  Where are they coming from?  
The way they handle a song is way, way beyond their years.  I am always amazed when I hear that kind of talent.

It's a far cry from when my sister and I would stand on our basement steps, singing "Johnny Angel", using hairbrushes as microphones.  Sorry to out you, sister, but we were AWFUL!  We would have heard "you were pitchy" all over the place back then. We would've been told to keep our day jobs by one of the meaner judges of those shows.  But you know what?  It wouldn't have silenced us!

To this day, music lightens my mood and singing along to an oldie is sometimes just what I need.  My voice is thinner now -they say as we age, that happens -  (and might I add, that's the ONLY thing that has thinned as I've aged!) but I can still sing in the car or the shower with the best of 'em!

I'll never be on a singing talent show...I've resigned myself to the fact that THAT ship has sailed...  Hmmm...maybe "Dancing With The Stars" will call?

The Old Girl Out Front

Read something awhile ago that has stayed with me...

"When you came into the world, crying,  everyone around you was smiling.  Live a life that when you leave this world,  you'll be smiling and everyone around you is crying".  That is a neat thing to strive for, don't you think? 

Nobody knows what their legacy will be.  Is being nice to folks, putting  on a positive face,  leaving the space we've occupied in better shape, going to get it done?  Leave folks misting up when we go?

I was thinking about this while I was raking leaves today.   We have this huge oak tree in our front yard.  I don't know if my Dad planted it when he and Mom lived here or if they built the house around this tree.  Either way, she's old and she's big....so much so, that her leaves make a mess in the front yard and then some blow over the house and mess up the back yard, as well.  Every fall, I grumble about the ten million leaves I have to rake.   In the spring, all is forgotten and I love the shade and the coolness the old girl provides.

Maybe things will go that way for me.  So folks won't be wailing at my wake but if they're ticked off at me, half the time, and love and appreciate me the rest of the time, like the old oak tree out front, I'm okay with that.

Flip Flops Or Thongs?

I was cleaning out my closet, moving summer stuff out of the way for the winter stuff.  Came across something and the question begs to be asked.  So why did a comfortable rubber summer shoe of our childhood have to take a backseat to a specific style of ladies' underwear?  Yep, I'm talking "thongs".

I still refer to "flip flops" as "thongs", much to the amusement of my granddaughters.  I don't do it often but I get this look, like,"Oh, Grandma", when I do.

Old time "thongs" were quite innovative when they were first introduced.  I mean, who ever had colorful rubber shoes before?  Thinking back to them evokes great memories of throwing on a swimsuit, a cover-up, putting on my thongs, (the shoe kind!) grabbing a towel, and walking to the public pool with my sisters and friends.  

I guess "thongs", the new kind, evolved from strippers.  (Sure, they're attractive on THAT body type!). And I guess places, like Victoria's Secret, saw the chance to bring them to the general public and then Walmart, K-Mart and everyone else followed suit.  Honestly, I don't get it.   I bet most of us spent our entire childhoods and most of our teen years, pulling our underwear out of "there".  Why in the world would we want to go there again?  Spoiler Alert:  you won't see me in pasties or using a stripper pole any time soon either (considering my history, that could be dangerous, maybe even deadly...) 

Don't worry kids,...When I say I'm going to put on my thongs, I'll be wearing rubber shoes.  Count on it!!!

"What's Wrong With Your Foot?" Oh, I Had A Mammogram".

Every year, I have a mammogram...I know that it's a valuable tool in the fight against that insidious disease -breast cancer.  And I know so many women who have fought and won the battle because of that machine.  But I don't have to LIKE it.

I don't want to be dismissive of its importance or jokey about its use -- but come on!  Everyone knows that women had little say in its design.  It had to be a sadistic guy...I just know it!  For the men ...consider what putting your "junk" in a vise would feel like... Ouch.... 

I know I'm a bigger wimp than most but twice now, during my yearly examines, I've gotten light-headed and slid to the floor.  The first time, I'm still not sure how I managed to snap out of the machine, on my way down.  Most recently,  the technician helped me ease down to the floor but not before I banged the heck out of my foot.  She had me lay down until I regained my composure.  EMBARRASSING!  She was so kind and told me that everyone reacts differently...and it doesn't matter if you're flat as a board or as ample as Dolly Parton.  It's an uncomfortable and unnatural position to be in...

Oh, I talk big about not going back but I'm going to keep getting mammograms.. They're too important to discontinue just because I'm a big baby.  But I AM  going to start wearing steel-toed boots to my appointment from now on!

They're All Good, Aren't They?

I celebrated a birthday this past weekend.  My 61st....I'm always glad to have them and this one was very nice.  I appreciate folks, taking the time, to wish me well.  Not a fan of time going by so quickly but it's all good.

With the exception of the age of 21, which has everything to do with alcohol, why is it, that birthdays that end with a  "0" or a "5" are celebrated more joyously?  Last year, I paraded around town, in "60"glasses, with a gag cane, thankful that I'd made it that far...and this year, at 61, to behave like that, I'd look foolish.  Okay, I looked like a fool last year but no one cared.  And that's my point.  I was given a pass because my birthday ended in a "0".

Shouldn't we have the same degree of giddiness for every year we live?  I know I'm fortunate to have been on this earth for 61 years and I thank the Lord everyday for it.  I also know I grumble every once in awhile because I creak when I walk and groan when I get out of a chair.  But these bones and muscles are entitled to that.  They've walked a lot of miles and withstood some mild abuse thru the years.

The cemetery's full of folks who'd love to have made it to 61, so I'm going to celebrate, big-time, each year, no matter which one.  Party, anyone?

Now That's A Tall Order!

Now That's A Tall Order!

Where was the fashion industry 40 years ago - when I needed them?

I'm a tall gal.  I was always ahead of the curve, in terms of height. In grade school, I could pass for the Mom of some of the boys in my class..  In high school, I'd have had a basketball career -if I'd  also have had an athletic bone in my body.  So you get it...I'm tall.

It's not that uncommon anymore.  There are tall women all over the place! And the fashion world is taking notice!  Finally!  

That wasn't always the case.  Back in the 70's, when jeans were popular,  my dear mother, a talented seamstress, sewed strips of patriotic fabric, along the bottom legs of my jeans, so I would fit in.  Luckily, the hippie movement was in full force so I only looked like half a dork and not a full-blown one. 

Then there was the stirrup pants era.   Stirrup pants were stretch pants with a band of fabric that went under your foot, causing your slacks to maintain a smooth line and keep your slacks in place when wearing boots.   Remember?   They seemed like a great solution for a tall girl... That little band, tugging  the slacks closer to the ankle...NOT SO!  For about two years of my life, I walked around, tugging my slacks up, so the crotch wasn't down to my knees. Maybe suspenders would've helped... Nah, that could've been painful...

Thank you, fashion industry, for recognizing tall girls-finally!  We appreciate it!

P.s. And I would kiss the lips of the person who came up with the idea of capris, where height doesn't matter, at all.  You, sir...or madam, are a genius!