**FREE&FAITH** Music - Listening or Hearing

This is a cross post from my other blog. I think it will be of interest to anyone - regardless of belief.

When I was growing up and listening to a lot of music, my friends would tease me because I always misheard lyrics. There is a name for that now: mondegreens. Huh.

I looked up and found a list of common examples of misheard lyrics:

"I Can See Clearly Now"

by Johnny Nash: Some listeners hear "I can see clearly now Lorraine is gone" instead of the correct lyric "I can see clearly now the rain is gone". 

"I'm a Believer"

by The Monkees: The lyric "Then I saw her face, now I'm a believer" is sometimes misheard as "Then I saw her face, now I'm gonna leave her". 

"Losing My Religion"

by R.E.M.: The line "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight" is often misheard as "Let's pee in the corner, let's pee in the spotlight". 

"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"

by Eurythmics: The title lyric is sometimes misheard as "Sweet dreams are made of cheese". 

"Blowin' in the Wind"

by Bob Dylan: The lyric "The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind" is sometimes misheard as "These ants are my friends, they're blowin' in the wind".

 

"Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap"

by AC/DC: The title is often misheard as "Dirty deeds and the thunder chief" or "Dirty deeds and they're done with sheep". 

Kind of silly, right? But I'm sure we can all relate. Misheard lyrics are one thing. At least we are paying attention to what we think is being said. What bothers me is when we don't apply discernment to what we hear.

I think it was the pastors Joe Schimmel and G. Craige Lewis that first prompted me to pay attention to lyrics and meanings.  One song we've probably all heard at least once is "I Write the Songs" sung by Barry Manilow, but written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnston.

On the surface of my mind, I always heard the song as a lovely melodious tribute to the creativity. Then, as I said, I was prompted to get out of my social emotions and pay attention to what was being conveyed. 

Here are the lyrics and, as you read them, think about who is speaking and what the message is. I boldfaced some of the words:

I've been alive forever

And I wrote the very first song

I put the words and the melodies together

I am music, and I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

My home lies deep within you

And I've got my own place in your soul

Now when I look out through your eyes

I'm young again, even though I'm very old

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

Oh, my music makes you dance

And gives your spirit to take a chance

And I wrote some rock 'n' roll, so you can move

Music fills your heart, well, that's a real fine place to start

It's from me, it's for you

It's from you, it's from me

It's a worldwide symphony

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

I write the songs that make the whole world sing

I write the songs of love and special things

I write the songs that make the young girls cry

I write the songs, I write the songs

I am music (music), and I write the songs. 

People might say that the song is from the viewpoint of God - I read that's what Johnston claimed. But would God want to make anyone cry? Would God want your spirit to take a chance?

G. Craige Lewis once pointed out that Lucifer was created with "tabrets" and "pipes," built into him. Some people think of Lucifer as having been a chief musician in Heaven. That's debatable,  but it's how many people think of him.

My point is that we (okay, me) often hear without listening. Even I have thought a lot of innocent-sounding songs have deeper and darker meanings buried in them.  Mainly, I chose these because something in them just felt wrong in my spirit. You might some debatable but here is a list:

• "Stairway to Heaven" Led Zeppelin
• "Sympathy for the Devil" The Rolling Stones
• "Hotel California" The Eagles
• "Riders on the Storm" The Doors

Actually, I didn't like anything by The Doors because the lead singer creeped my out for some reason...

Here are a couple of videos showing more songs. I noticed I already had some on my list.

And don't think that so-called "gospel" and "Christian worship" songs are any better. So many people striving to be "stars" are doing anything to get there. Anyway, people, be more discerning in your every day life, as I will be.

Peace

--Free

Allulose Is Different

 For a long time I've struggled with finding a satisfactory substitute for table sugar. Here are some that I tried and discarded: 

• Stevia - hate it, hate it, hate it. On my palate it's so sharp that I feel something is cutting me. I have tried it blended with other substitutes and... nah. Not for me.
• Monk Fruit - this came close to being the most likeable. However, it took a lot of tricky measuring to get the right balance. An nth too much and I get a nasty aftertaste. Also, it did give me a bloated feeling.
• Truvia - From what I remember, it wasn't horrible, but it depended on what it was in.
• Erythritol - This is a hard no. This reminded me of a watered-down version of the saccharin Mom used in back in the day. One teeny touch of this on my tongue created an almost visceral reaction.
• Swerve - I was okay with this for a lot of things but too much was nasty. I realized why when I read the ingredients.
• Aspartame - This is right up there with Erythritol and that old school sweetener. So gross.
• Xylitol - More than any other sweetener, this has that cooling effect that puts me off. The only acceptable use is in gum and mints - where you want that effect.

I've had other replacements when trying various beverages. Recently, I bought a fizzy mango-flavored drink (can't remember that name) and was so disappointed at first sip. I hadn't noticed the label to see the dreaded Stevia... That was a precious $1.50 poured right down the sink?

Years ago, I remember a product called Just Like Sugar. It was awesome and this is back when I wasn't as desperate to lose weight. See this link because I can't go back that far in my head! (Glancing back at that post, I realize I was kinder to some of those sweeteners than I am now...)

So JLS was great - while it lasted. Of course the creator passed and the product just went away. It was when I was looking into what happened with JLS that I found what had to be the main ingredient in it: allulose. Cue the heavenly choir.

I got a bag of allulose a while back, but I didn't get serious about using it on a daily basis until my last doctor visit. My blood pressure has been good but my doc wants to get it lower. She reminded me how much BP affects kidney disease. That did it.

Instead of using sweetened coffee creamer, or even using regular milk or half and half with brown sugar for sweetening, I have buckled down. I am using evaporated milk with water (or a little half and half) with allulose. I wish I had gotten serious about the allulose sooner.

I have noticed that if I have my morning coffee with allulose instead of other sweeteners, my appetite stays curbed most of the day. I know that's no good if I don't make better choices in what I do eat. So I am trying to do a lot of veggies and fish for meals and, for snacking, nuts and dried fruits. I will have another coffee sometime in the afternoon and at some point, I will have a cup of tea (with milk and allulose).

While allulose is not as sweet as sugar, I am having to get used to that. When I first started using it in my coffee, I used a lot - trying to get it sweeter. Now I realize I don't need the higher sweetness, I just need enough to give flavor to my coffee (or tea).

I am so used to sugar being sugar-sweet that I am teaching my tastebuds to appreciate the flavor not sweetness. Does that make sense?

I won't go into the supposed pros of allulose except to leave that links for you to look at. You need to do your own research and check with any health providers to be safe.

• From Cleveland Clinic
• Healthline

Honestly, I have yet to bring it up with my own kidney doc, so I can't preach. I just know that I need to lose weight and this is helping me start.

I found a video showing how to make a DIY brown sugar with allulose for baking (and coffee!) 

Before I close, I want to share this video that I have not yet watched. It's not the first time I've heard allulose mentioned in relation to metabolic changes. Again, do your due diligence!

Peacc

--Free

Wearing Makeup at 60+

Well, folks, after not wearing makeup for years, I am having to practice using foundation. I have a wedding to attend this winter, should the good Lord let me live and nothing happen. 

I have worn the occasional cosmetic, but I usually stick with eyeliner and lip gloss. The last time I owned foundation was a few years ago and I think I wore it three or four times total. Normally, I wouldn't bother, but I am going to be in the company of some fabulous girlie girls and would like to join in the reindeer games - at least when it comes to the photos! Also, this wedding is a 3-day affair; no need being the homeliest one in that many photos.

Now, here's the thing, I haven't worn makeup for so long the I was really having a time finding something suitable. My requirements are pretty standard:

• The shade has to be right. I don't want to look "made up" and I don't want my face to be a different color from my neck. 
• Back to the not looking made up, I'm shooting for a "no makeup" effect. Basically, I just want to even things out and have a "finished" look. Without looking like I tried!
• I don't want to leave makeup marks on everything. My or other people's clothing, dinner napkins, etc. That's so unattractive - especially with "deep" brown makeup. 
• Most of all, I don't want to irritate my skin.
• It would be nice if the result lasts for several hours. Back in the day, I hated doing touchups and regular blotting for shine control.
• Finally, sunscreen is a must.
• Final finally - LOL - is price. This makeup situation is temporary, so I don't want to splash out!

After 3 days of looking at different brands shades (and considering my requirements), I found something decent. I will have to make adjustments for sunscreen and the transfer situation.

I still had some Juvie ad Black Radiance to play around with (even though they are old) and am disappointed. The Juvia is as I remembered and good, but too heavy, My amazing Black Radiance no longer makes the same BB cream I loved. 

What I have learned is that cosmetics have come a long way since I wore them. 

The first thing I found was a color-matching product from Almay that did its job so well, it was like magic. I kind of love it for an everyday look. 

Goes on grayish &
blends in matching

Almost invisible 
it matches so close

My neighbor said it was fabulous for every day, but suggest for the wedding photos, I might want to "build it" more. Hmmm.  Since the Deep shade was only $4 and change, I'm going to try the concealer from the same line to see if it has more coverage. And I love that all the Deep shades are half what the other shades cost... And sticking with the under-five price, I went ahead and ordered some Maybelline Age Rewind. Just in case. 

The next wonderful thing I found is this stuff that... "grips" your makeup...

Child!

The first one I ordered, Amazon lost in the mail and had to refund me. The second one was so late arriving that the lost got to me. I've tried both and the work about the same, but maybe the Sheglam is friendlier to my skin and lasted longer.

That grip stuff solved some serious problems. First, it kept the foundation in place for hours. Also, it prevented transfer. It suctioned the foundation to my face like crazy - without drying my skin, Of course, I first applied all my moisturizer and sunscreen beforehand...

Now all I need to do is find some decent lip stain and I will be ready. I have some time to play around any get better at applying the makeup. Wedding photos, here I come!

Peace

--Free

I Am Mad At Medicube...

...Or at myself.

There is a story to this story and the first part is the post I was preparing to write a couple of weeks ago. Here is the start of it:

Most of my skincare routine is based on products I know and that have proven good for my skin. However, there are times when I want to rotate in a different product (or products) to give my skin a break. Lately I have been looking for a collagen-based face cream. Every time I do a general search, one brand keeps popping up: Medicube.

I'd never heard of Medicube until I saw it a while back all over Amazon. I was curious and even sort of interested until I started seeing "viral" and "TikTok" all over the reviews and photos. That set off an alarm in my brain. I have trust issues with people paid to hype products. Influencer marketing is not new to people around my age... 

One of the originals...

I'm not a big TikTok user and I am always surprised to remember that I once had an account. I do see TikTok videos come up in a lot of YouTube videos, especially the "reaction" videos. Most reactions videos are like those weird nesting images within images. You have one video talking about other videos that are sometimes talking about other videos. We are living in weird times, people.

Anyway.

When I continued looking through the Amazon search results, I noticed that there are other brands slapping labels on products: "Viral on TikTok" or some other social media tease. Think I'm being dramatic?

Found all these products on first
couple of pages of search.

Here's the thing, I used to love the product review community about 5 or 6 years ago. I was part of it in my own small-fish kind of way. Reviewing products then was fun and a way to get to try new stuff for no or at low cost. 

Because I still love reviewing products but don't like to exaggerate any claims - and because I am don't "engage" on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, etc. - I just stick to my humble little blog. I don't go out of my way to cover products I end up not liking, but I won't over-hype the stuff I do like. That's not the point of doing actual reviews.

I no longer trust social media to be truthful about products. 

As a matter of fact, the best way to put me off a product is to slap "viral" on the label. This is my take on the new social media selling game:

• Viral means it's backed by influensters
• Influensters are paid spokespeople
• Spokespeople are in it to make a commission or grow their following
• People will exaggerate to make money or grow a following
• Viral products come and go

When I look for products, I want something that is actually good - viral or not. Most of the products that I have used off and on for years are from long-standing brands. Back when I wore a little bit of makeup regularly, I used Fashion Fair and Black Radiance, Covergirl and Revlon. I stopped wearing makeup for the most part in my late 20s and early 30s and stuck with the occasional eyeliner and lip color and, of course, focused more on skincare. I used L'Oreal, Black Opal*, and more recently brands like e.l.f., and an assortment of natural carrier and essential oils. 

I don't trust a flawless (or seemingly so) influencer advising me on skincare. If you want to impress me, get rid of the photo filters and layers of makeup. Or just tell me why you love the product. Don't try to jive me, hype your numbers or impress the brand you work for.

Yeah. I was on a roll... And now I am mad because I have to catch, cook, and eat my own crow. Confession: I tried Medicube and I kind of love it. (I still wish brands would stop with the hype marketing.)

I tried the Triple Collagen Serum (TCS) because someone I personally know said it was actually good and I trust her opinion.

I like the cap cover

The serum was so good that I tried the other product this person was also using - the Triple Collagen Cream (TCC). 

That was so good for my daytime routine, I spun the wheel a third time and hit the jackpot again. The Jelly Collagen Cream  (JCC) seemed to be me going too far at first, but it turns out that I like to combine it with the TCC as my night treatment and I know it is going to be a winter season must-use.

It is not sticky

Of course, you don't personally know me, so I probably sound like just more of the "viral" hype. But here's the thing: I am not an affiliate or getting any compensation in any kind of way for telling you about my experience. 

My skin has been pretty good all my life but, as I age, it's gotten tri-polar. I'm 64 now (thank you, Lord!) and my skin has lost all its mind. Depending on what time it is on a particular day, I can describe it as dry, oily, or combo. And, in the past several years, I've been developing little spots that are not freckles... 

I do like the products I was currently using, especially the Topicrem Balm and La Roche Posay Cleanser. I am still using the balm on my neck and body and the LRP cleanser. I did like the L'Oreal face cream I was using until they changed the formula. But this Medicube is next level - and affordable.

My routine recently has been:

• Cleanse (with the LRP) and a good lukewarm rinse
• Apply the TCS, wait a few minutes
• Apply the TCC (at nighttime, I mix in the JCC), wait a few minutes
• Apply a thin layer of Vaseline (or CeraVe Healing Ointment), wait about 5 minutes
• Apply Sunscreen (only during the day, of course)

That takes care of the whole day. I will reapply sunscreen, if I go outside. By the way, this one is on my Subscribe and Save. It has zero white cast and is, by itself, very moisturizing. I use this one when I can find it on sale or on eBay for cheaper. Again, no white cast. None.

What do I like about the Medicube products I'm using?

• The effect on my skin's texture & moisture retention
• My skin feels velvet-soft and a more firm.
• Affordable
• Doesn't take a lot to treat my face and neck
• No irritation (so far)
• No scent to it
• Well-packaged and labeled
• The effects last all day or all night*

* Confession: I went to sleep one night without washing my face & my skin was still feeling great the next morning!

Mostly, I loving what it is doing for my skin overall. It's hard to explain without you being able to feel my skin for yourself, but the softness and texture is amazing. I took a before picture after the first few days so that I can do another photo later for comparison. I am excited to see the difference myself. For now, this is how I look after the daytime treatment. No makeup or filters used, but I do have on a light application of some color-changing lipstick.

see the "not freckles"???

(I was taking the photo and my SIL made me laugh out loud about how it feels to have teeth again!)

Last thing I want to mention is something I asked the lady who turned me on to Medicube. After I got the TCC and before I got the JCC, I asked which she would pick if she could only have one of them. She said that she likes having both but, if she had to choose, she'd go with the JCC. Now that I have used both, I would have to choose the TCC. In my case, I could use something else (or more Vaseline) in my night routine if I had to, but the TCC is my must-have.

That's the last of my two cents' worth of opinion.

By the way, my goal is not to look young; I just want to take care of my skin and keep it in good shape. The added benefit is not having sun damage or looking as haggard as I sometimes feel. It's enough that I am still working in losing weight. If y'all do nothing else, wear sunscreen and stay healthy and happy with yourself!!!

I'm still not trusting any viral marketing or influencers. This time I am so happy that I had a good recommendation from a trusted source. We should all use that method.

Peace

--Free

DISCLAIMER: I am and will not be compensated for any products mentioned in this post. I don't have any affiliation with Amazon or any of the other stores/sellers linked to. I am just sharing my experience in using the products mentioned.

Comedy Bits. Raised Like This!

 This is just a quick post about a video I saw. It's a funny bit by one of my favorite comedians. And it is funny, but it's also true - at least for me. I was raised in a home like this:

We had to use all those words in place of less polite ones. One time, one of my brothers learned how painful it could be to fall on that bike bar. My dad asked if he was okay, you know, didn't hurt his "perky". 

If you passed gas, you either had either "pooted" or "lost your manners". Lost your manners could also mean you were misbehaving, as in, "Have you lost your manners?" Going to the bathroom you either went Number One or Number Two or "made water" or "poo'ed", or - and this is the most hilarious - did a "hard job" but it was pronounced "hod" job. And that was the remedy for almost everything. Feeling grumpy, didn't sleep well, couldn't concentrate? Maybe you need to do a "hod job".

I just had to share these little tidbits of my young life. I just love Mike Goodwin because I sure can relate to his comedy.

If you really want a giggle, check out his "What you not gon do" jokes.  I put those in the sidebar.

Peace

--Free

Finally Learned to Cook...

 ... At an age when my metabolism has taken a nap!

I was thinking of my mother today when I turned out the perfect skillet of cornbread. I've made cornbread maybe 10 times in my life, but only a few times has it come out so wonderfully. You know cornbread is good when you can just eat it solo right out of the skillet.

Mama (and my sister) could make cornbread like this without even thinking about it. Of course, they both swore that they made their best cornbread when it was meant to go into the holiday dressing. I didn't even learn to cook decently until I was close to being 50. That's coming from someone in a family where even the fellows all can cook.

The first time I made something really good was done on a whim. I wanted some pinto beans, and my sister wasn't feeling up to cooking. My oldest brother happened to be visiting at the time. When my sister came down and tasted the beans, she did a doubletake. She gave my brother a spoonful to taste. He looked at her, then they both looked at me. I was sure they were going to drag me for messing up a pound of pinto beans.

Nope. The first thing one of them asked was where I learned to make the beans so well. You know I was glowing with joy. I told them I'd read the instructions on the bag. And that was the day they both learned that there are instructions on the bag.

For a long time after that, I cooked a lot of beans - pinto beans, mostly, but I also learned to make decent navy beans. The thing is, any kind of bean or stew-like dish in our family goes with cornbread. If you don't have cornbread to go with the beans, we all become Smokey from "Friday".

I slowly learned to cook some of the things that had been staples in our home. I learned to fix what we think of as Mama's Texas Bean Stew (pinto beans, ground beef, and a host of seasonings and secret ingredients); I can do baked chicken pretty well, and I do all the fish, pork, and veggie-based recipes. I learned fast how to make hot water cornbread, too.  But the cast iron skillet cornbread was my stumbling block.

Cornbread isn't hard to make, but it can be tricky to make it perfectly. "Perfect" means like my mama. It means a tender center with a crispy crust and a buttery, melt in your mouth crumb. Very, very tricky.

Even now that I know the hacks for Mama's cornbread, I don't always get it right. Any little variation in the alignment of the stars can ruin it! 

I long ago posted the quick recipe on the sidebar and added to the Sidebar Recipes page:

I did not share my hacks though. Until now. Ready?

• Always get your lightly oiled cast iron skillet sizzling hot before pouring the batter. I heat the skillet at 450F (not 400 as in my recipe above) & test the sizzle with a drop of water. (Turn the oven down to 400F for baking.)
• Always let the batter rest. A couple of hours at minimum but overnight in the fridge is best. 
• Always add the baking powder last. Even if you rest the batter overnight, don't add this ingredient until just before you are going to pour the batter.
• If you forget & add the baking powder beforehand, that's not a disaster, but... it's just better not to.
• Let the rested batter come to room temp (about 65-70F) before adding the baking powder. Gently fold it in and don't overmix the batter.
• Before pouring the batter, add a little more oil.
• When the batter is poured, add some small and random pats of butter around the top of it.

Like I said, there will be times when your bread is better than it is at other times. I have never learned the trick to getting it just right every time...

If you luck out, you will get what I do on the best of days:

As I told my family, I wouldn't have been such a skinny minnie when I was younger if I'd known how to cook!

Peace

--Free

Exercise for Seniors

First, let me just say that this is the first time I have referred to myself as a "senior". In my head, I'm still trying to grasp being an adult of any kind! But, yep, I am now 60+ (plus 4 years, to be real). Anyway...

Just a couple of years ago, I was walking outside a lot more. These days, either the sun is hotter or I'm just more sensitive to it. I can really only handle walking very early or very late in the day and, even then, the summer humidity is brutal. Of course, I have the underbed treadmill that I was gifted, and I do use that a couple of times a week, but it feels very passive in some way and not as strenuous as an outside stroll. Still, I need more exercise that is geared towards building and keeping strength. I have started doing a couple of things that make me feel so much better.

Isometrics

Isometrics exercise is something I find doable. I've been doing them a few times a day for the past few weeks (I have more energy now that I can eat better). Here are some benefits:

• Low impact
• Low or no cost
• Can do them almost anywhere
• Can target certain areas of the body

The low impact part is what got me first. I hate putting my body in any kind of pain in an effort to be healthy. I will leave that to the young 'uns. The low-cost part is what made me really happy. I don't want to invest in a lot of stuff that will just add clutter to my life.

What got me started in the first place was when I ran across a video on isometrics. However, the workout was geared towards younger and more athletic people. Thankfully, when I looked around, I found a lot of articles like this one. I just started out doing the exercises shown. 

It's been about 3 weeks now and I have invested in a set of resistance bands (one band was free thanks to a local senior program). And that is it for cost. 

Because of my age and the health issues that run in my family, I am also concentrating a lot of boosting my blood circulation.  I never thought much about my circulation until a neighbor mentioned that she was having problems and has to wear these special socks. She is about 25 years older than me and when she joked for me to "get ahead of the game", I listened. Also, I have been working on improving my balance and gait, both of which are sometimes off because of a neurological issue.

Boosting Circulation

There are a lot of really simple and zero-cost exercises that help boost circulation in the legs. This video goes through just a few. There are a lot of other videos and articles with more ideas.

Since there are times when I am forced to be off my feet because of temporary illness and balance issues, I have started doing a lot of what I call foot and leg movement exercises. There are leg raises, ankle pumps, and toe circles.  I can do those while sitting or lying down. 

There are also ways to just boost your daily movement quota. If standing at the sink, you can walk in place or lift up on your toes and back down (as if wearing heels). This is a good time to do some of those circulation exercises.

The main thing is to just move. That doesn't mean you have to be constantly walking or running or doing anything out of your comfort (or safety) zone. Just moving at all is better than being still. As part of this new exercise kick in my life, I try not to sit for longer than half an hour without standing and moving around for a few minutes. That sounds easy, but I didn't realize how passive my life has gotten. 

Move, move, move

I am always talking about how fit so many of my older neighbors are. What they seem to have in common is that they are always moving around. Most don't use smart phones or computers, and I guess they don't watch much television. I see ladies who are close to 90 still walking a few blocks over to the store or walking down the street to the church. By the way, this is an old article, but still inspiring.

(Speaking of my neighbors, one lady who passed away last year (at 92!) walked up and down one of the hallways each afternoon to get her exercise. This is after she'd had to start using one of those rolling walkers and didn't like to go outside with it. Before then, she would take a trek outside and around the building in the warm months and, in the snowy months, she would stroll around the community room, doing 3 or 4 circuits. Absolutely amazing. Up until her last year, she was doing her own laundry and coming down most days to work on jigsaw puzzles or have coffee with her friends. Her health only went downhill after she slipped and fell in her apartment. Knowing her, she was probably doing chores. The lesson I take from this is to just not stop moving.)

No matter how much you hate to exercise, here are some more ways I found to keep moving as much as possible:

• If you are on the computer a lot, find a way to stand for much of the time. You might have to put the computer on a higher table or desk or counter. I have a stand for mine that raises and lowers. Sometimes I will set it on my dresser and stand while typing. At the very least, set a timer for taking a "stand up break" just to get off your behind for a few minutes.
• While doing dishes, keep using your feet to lift and raise yourself, or just move from side to side in a little step-dance move.
• If sitting while chatting or watching TV, raise and lower your legs. Do some of the heel and ankle pumps. Clench and relax your calf or thigh muscles. With your arms up and to the side, do arm circles. This is another good time to use resistance bands to do some arm stretches.
• If you have trouble walking outside, try walking up and down the halls of your home or building. If a 90-something year old can do this with her walker, there is no excuse for the rest of us.

The older I get the more I appreciate living and I don't want to lose that appreciation. I'm going to keep moving as long as I can before I am forced to be still. 

So many of us talk about living a long life. I'm not afraid of death but, if God grants me more years, I want to be healthy enough to enjoy them.

No matter what you decide to do for your health and well-being, keep safety in mind. Talk with your doctors about what is best for you. Use your common sense. I'm not a professional (as if you didn't know); I'm just sharing my positive experiences.

Peace

--Free

P.S.:

I did buy one thing during Prime Day this year. I got one of those vibration plates after reading about the benefits. I was able to do a 0% payment plan with my Prime card, but had the plan of returning the machine if it didn't live up to the hype, I will do a post soon on the pros, cons, and supposed benefits along with my observations.

Clothes Shopping In-Store Was... Weird

 Is it just me, or have a lot of us gotten spoiled in our shopping habits by online access? I can't be the only one. Can I?

This year for my birthday, I decided to focus on 2 things: my health and my wardrobe. I set aside my monetary birthday gifts for clothes, and I bought myself some resistance bands for exercise and am buying another health-related item when Prime Day hits. 

Anyway, about the clothes shopping...  Instead of heading to Amazon.com or Walmart.com, I went to Old Navy.com and found a nice blouse and a couple of pairs of jeans. There was a bit of a sale (I think there is always a bit of a sale at O.N.) and I decided to get dark blue jeans instead of more of the black jeans I have. I have about 5 pairs of black jeans because I have been self-conscious about my weight. Now that I am losing weight (thanks to my dentist), I decided to go blue with the jeans. 

I chose "boyfriend jeans" without knowing anything about that style because they looked really cute on the model. I got them in my usual size and... Is it vain of me to say how thrilled I was that the jeans were absolutely huge on me? They were sagging like crazy when I tried them on. I will temper that by saying that I think "boyfriend" jeans are meant to be worn loose and kind of slouchy. I'm not a fan of "slouchy", and I wasn't crazy about the rolled cuff. Even if I were still a size 4, 6, 8, or 12, those jeans would not be flattering on me. I'm not sure how the model wore them so well...

Since the jeans were too big (I love saying that), I decided to return them in-store. It's been a minute since I've shopped the store and wanted to get an idea of how O.N. sizes run. Sure enough, from looking at several pairs in various styles, either those pants run large or else I've lost more weight than I thought. (The waist is looser on my regular sized jeans and I'm not struggling at all to get into the next size down. Again, I really like being able to say that just a little over a month of having my teeth.)

My SIL was with me and agreed that O.N. sizes did runs slightly large. We looked around for about fifteen minutes before I was sick of trying to shop in-store. It just felt very inconvenient and irritating. For one thing, for every style of jeans I liked, we had to sort through jumbles of sizes. Everything was neatly folded, but nothing was sorted by size. Finally, I just got a refund, and we left. It is just too hot and humid to be sorting through denim. 

By the way, what is up with stores not running the air a bit cooler on sweltering days? I can remember surviving Arizona summers by strolling through stores and malls. 

Apparently, Old Navy didn't get the memo

I wonder if stores here realize they might get more business if they made the atmosphere more comfortable. Another thing the SIL and I noticed is that both Old Navy and Staples (I had to do an Amazon return there) were not only stingy with the AC but seem to lack staffing. Those poor employees at Staples must hate Amazon returns. If they had turned up the AC, I might have strolled around and bought some notebooks or something.

So, again, is it just me? Have I gotten spoiled to shopping from the keyboard the way remote workers have gotten spoiled to being productive in their PJs?

Anyway, I am back home and have had a nice cool shower - for the second time today. I'm pretty sure if I go out anymore today while the sun is up, I will need a third shower. Arizonans like to say, "But it's a dry heat." Where I live, we say, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity."... By the way, I even cut my hair. It was just too much to care for in this summer weather.

Now I can go find some jeans. I guess I'm just not used to being out in the hot and understaffed stores anymore. When I go online, all the stores let me go right to the size and color and style I want. I don't have to refold stuff (or feel like a jerk for not doing so), and I don't have to wonder why they mixed put the stonewashed denims in with the dark blues I want... It's just not as tedious. 

Peace

--Free

I wrote this the day after my birthday, then immediately got a nasty cold. Just remembered that I wanted to post this, so...

Yoni Oil - Multi-Use & Muli-Amazing

(This post was sitting forgotten in my Drafts folder because I thought I'd published it a couple of months back! Better late and all that...)

Yoni???

This post was going to be "just for the ladies" until I realized that Yoni Oil is so multi-use. Also, I almost passed on trying this oil when I learned where the word "Yoni" comes from:

"'Yoni' is a word derived through Hinduism for vulva and vagina, and sellers make a variety of claims for their own blends of oils – some claim that it will promote 'freshness', others that it will moisturize and some say using this oil can support vaginal health."

The whole Hinduism thing threw me because I try to never knowingly dabble with other religions. Then thinking about the "claims", they sounded a bit, eh - the way things like colloidal silver sounds to me. Just not my thing. However, after reading some reviews, I decided that the product itself wasn't of another religion, just the name. Also, the stuff was dirt cheap the first time I bought it. It's still affordable, even more so because I now have a subscription.

Ingredients & Info.

The set of 3 that I got came scented as Strawberry, Pineapple, and Mango. 

At first, scent was of no importance to my single-gal life - when you think of where this oil is mainly meant to be applied. But, when I read the ingredients, I noticed that each bottle had some differences. See the instructions here for all the scents, with ingredients for the Mango version:

I will talk about some of those ingredients in a bit. The Strawberry has some interesting ingredients:

(Mugwort can be used to relieve itch and bacterial issues. Angelica for moisturizing, regenerative, and skin health. Sea buckthorn for moisture and post-menopausal, um, "vaginal atrophy" - yikes!)

When I got to the Pineapple list, I had to do cover some ingredients that were also in the Mango oil: 

Y'all know I've used a lot of EOs for my skin and hair but... 😕. In case you need help, as I certainly did, here are links to zedoary and Cnidium monnieri. I had to ask even more about the Hong Mei EO and saw in some links that it is also called red mandarin.

Hong Mei Ren (红美人) and Red Beauty are the same mandarin orange variety. They are known for their sweetness, thin skin, and juicy flesh. Hong Mei Ren is a premium Japanese mandarin orange that is also cultivated in Ningbo, China according to Skc Fruits. It's often referred to as "Red Beauty" or "Mandarin Jelly".  (see this source for more info)

Yoni vs feminine sprays/wipes

At first, I was just applying the oil to my undies and panty liners. It was some kind of awesome. I found it to be much nicer than the sprays and wipes I've used. I was never happy with the sprays just because I was breathing in particles every time I used them. The wipes were okay, but they created so much waste. 

The Yoni oil has a pleasant scent but doesn't just cover up odor, it eliminates them. I noticed that there was no noticeable odor in my undies or around my vaginal area when using the oil. And, if you are past a certain age or have experienced pregnancy and/or menopause, you understand how mysterious the female body is! There are so many hormonal and other changes that happen, it can be wild...

Uncomfortable dryness is something else the oil combats - and without messiness. Vaginal dryness is not a problem just for those with a sex life. It can be very unpleasant all around.

(By the way, I did once try another feminine product at the suggestion of a friend: vaginal suppositories. They were made for dryness, odor, and Ph balance. Maybe, but talk about messy. Ugh! I threw those out after one try, and they weren't that cheap.)

The Yoni oil actually works better than everything else I've tried. I love the fact that it takes just a couple of drops of oil to be rid of the various 'issues'.

Other uses

After I'd been using the oil for around a month or so, I accidentally discovered another use. My underarms were really dry after using a new deodorant. I think it was whatever gave the product its "shower fresh" scent. Whatever the reason, I found myself with itchy underarms one day. I took a shower to get rid of the product and applied some lotion. Later that evening, the itching was back. It's as if the deodorant had dried the crap out of my skin. My Yoni oil was on the bathroom counter, so I rubbed a little into my pits and the relief was almost immediate. And the thing about Yoni oil is, it's not heavily oily like some of my other skin oils so it doesn't stain my clothing.

The next morning, I applied more Yoni to my pits while I looked for a replacement deodorant.  I continued using the oil for the two days it took for the deodorant (a non-allergenic cream this time) to arrive. During that entire time, I had no need for deodorant. So, it seems that during the dry fall and winter seasons, I can use Yoni to control pit odor. Of course, living where I do, the summer humidity is crazy, so I still need a good antiperspirant. 

Pretty soon, I was using a little Yoni oil under my boobs (ladies get what I mean) and even dabbing some on my feet every day. A couple of times, I have, in a pinch, used the oil on my scalp. I have tested it on my neck and face. It does no harm, but I already have face creams and oils that work better for that.

Guys, you listening?

Like I said at the start, I originally meant this to be a ladies-only post. Once I realized the various uses for Yoni oil, I had to open things up for guys. I am sure that a lot of them can use some dryness relief in the groin or underarm area at times. Or maybe the oil would be good for foot odor? All I'm saying is that this oil is too good to be restricted to just ladies.

A caution

Because there are so many versions and varieties of Yoni oil, I can only talk about the one that I used. Once I learned that there was even such a thing, I started seeing all kinds of Yoni oils. I've seen them listed on almost every retailer website, "healing" sites, and on Etsy. I've seen those made using primarily rose or some other type of oil.

This goes for any product you hear about, but if you do decide to look into using Yoni oil, be careful of allergic reactions and other problems. Can you imagine something "breaking out" in that precious area??? 

Finally

I've been using the oil for about 5 months now. I am happy with the results. Right now, I have it at a very affordable price with a subscription, but I will continue to shop around for better prices if this one goes up. 

I usually link to the product I use, but I decided that you can look for the brand I am using and do your own research. Mine is from a no-name type of producer called "Wovarkie". When I do a visual search, I see the exact same bottles on other sites and, sometimes, with what looks like a different brand stamp. So... you know.

Peace

--Free

I Was Not Tornado Ready!

 We are were under a tornado warning right now recently. We were  have been for a couple of days. I have not been prepared, people.

(Um, I didn't finish this post the same day I started it so, use your judgment about the tense.)

 I moved here to the Midwest almost exactly 8 years ago. The first thing I worried about was tornados. We are so close to Kansas, like Palin said, I can see it from my backyard. Like Palin, I exaggerate. BUT Kansas is close and, technically, I live in Tornado Alley. There are tornado sirens and designated shelters. God help me.

Anyway.

When I first moved here, I was terrified of a tornado coming through. Once or twice, we had windstorms severe enough that my neighbors and I congregated in the halls (sturdy walls), ready to make the run to the shelter across the way. My neighbors were all so very nonchalant. Most of them used these occasions to catch up on local gossip. A few of them kept reassuring me that we haven't had "a touchdown" in years. 

I guess because nothing like that has happened for the past two or two and half years, I got comfortable. I was so comfortable that I was sleeping pretty hard this morning - even though we were under a weather advisory. When my phone rang at 6:37, I thought I was dreaming until the third ring. Yeah. 

The call was from my brother (he lives about 12 minutes away in the next town) asking if I'd heard the tornado sirens. I had not. I almost hadn't believed the annoying phone shrilling just 20 inches from my ear.

I snapped right awake, ready to panic. My brother calmed me down and said to just throw on some clothes and go back to sleep. That way, I'd be ready in case of "a touchdown".

"Back to sleep"? Crazy man... I was going nowhere near sleep again soon. I got up and made coffee. Then I tried to put together some things I might need to take to a storm shelter.

G.I. brat here. I'll be sleeping "ready roll".

The first thing I did (I mean, after making coffee) was to put in my dentures. That's a new consideration, right? After that, I dug out my backpack and threw in some essentials: Bible, wallet, sneakers, water, some feminine hygiene items, and my bag of prescription meds. This is when I realized I have no idea in which "place of important things" I'd put my birth certificate...

And that was also the moment I realized that I am not tornado ready. I mean, as far as having stuff in a "Go Bag".  Even as far as knowing where my very important birth certificate was.

Wow. I'd be a lousy girlfriend to Red Reddington, wouldn't I? He'd be calling for Edward with a "wheels up" alert while was running around, trying to decide which face cream to pack - or where I'd even put such a cream.

I kid. A bit.  But I did get motivated later on to find that birth certificate. Typical me. I find motivation in the strangest ways.

Even though I only took about 5 minutes to get my bag ready - you know, after I made coffee - I was not really prepared. For one thing, when I was grabbing meds, I forgot a really important one that I keep in the fridge. I also forgot to pack the syringes for that med. I also forgot to pack anything important to my vanity - other than the teeth. I had nothing for my hair, no lotion, no face creams, and no sunscreen. And, good Lord, I would never be able to get my perfumes into anything but a small carry-on bag...

Yeah, I am not prepared to get on the move in a hurry. 

Now that I am a little less frazzled, I am thinking about all those silly TV shows. You know the ones where someone has to get out of town quickly because of a crazy ex or maybe the FBI is on their way? (Like I said, I'd be a terrible chick for Reddington.) 

I'm with Floridians

There is no one I've ever known who could clear out the way those fictional TV characters do. I would never be able to leave that fast. Ever. Just for a normal, taking-my-time move, my hair and skin products alone require a separate logistics plan.

 I would need a couple of days, at least, just to think about which clothes to take. There would be none of that dumping a drawer into a suitcase for me. I can't just be willy nilly dumping things into a bag. I'm a woman who keeps underwear separated into "The Good", "The Bad", "The Ugly", and "Keeping Only Because I am a Hoarder".

Best bugout bag ever

Seriously, this tornado warning situation was a needed wakeup call - literally and figuratively. This is the day that I am going to put together a realistic Go Bag.

Stay Safe out there, folks.

Peace

--Free

P.S.: As I was posting this (with the tornado scare over - for now), we are under a heat advisory.... 🙄

**UPDATE (to the update?)** Dental Update #12 Almost 3 Weeks In

 I wrote this original post 7 days ago and... I'm back with more good news. I am eating salads almost every day and sometimes twice a day now. I can chew the peppers and onions and thick pieces of tomato. It is glorious. 

What I have learned is that it is all about the adhesive. I think I mentioned before that I had to try a couple before I got what I like. I settled on a powder, and I learned how to use just the right amount: enough for a good hold, but not so much that it's caked on. If I don't use my adhesive properly, I have trouble chewing and enjoying some foods.

There are a couple of things I've noticed and have to be careful of. While I'm mostly protected from brain freeze when eating cold things (because of the top palate), but I can also accidentally swallow something that is too hot. If I don't feel the heat on my palate, a hot food or beverage can hit me wrong going down my throat. I know, I know and, yes, I do realize it when it hits my tongue, but...

All in all, I can say that I really got lucky in choosing a great dentist. My teeth have been working well and my diet is so much healthier now that I can chow down on veggies. I'm not going back to eating as much meat as I always did, but it's nice to have a piece of turkey, chicken, or pork chop every now and again.

I will say it one more time for the folks in the back: don't hesitate to get started on your dental journey!

****************

If I said at one point that I would do a diary about having my teeth, I lied. I tried to keep a daily record for my dentist and ended up only noting the highlights. In the 18 days that I have had these teeth, these are the main highlights:

• Days 1-4: I felt like crying. A lot. I couldn't eat anything. The teeth felt too big, and my tongue was taking up too much room, blah, blah, blah...
• Day 4: I ate a potato chip. Best chip ever.
• Switched from using liquid adhesive to a thick paste.
• Learned that the better your dentures fit, the thinner your adhesive should be.
• Switched from a thick paste to a powder. This has been much better.
• Day 9: Ate part of a sandwich of tomato, avocado, and spinach.
• Learned that it's not what I eat, but how I eat. I can eat almost anything - but some things require a bit more care.
• Day 12: My jaw and face muscles have gotten used to having dentures. The teeth don't feel as big and my tongue is back to normal. The gagging issue has greatly improved.
• Day 15: My dentures stopped feeling like dentures and started to feel more a natural part of my mouth.

It kept getting better and better. I still and not able to eat whole raw carrots and broccoli, but will be getting some to slice thin and eat with a bit of dip. I think the best day I had was when I was able to pull out the walnuts that have been in my freezer for over a year. I made some brown sugar bread with them and... heaven. Pure heaven.

There are still days when I wake up and think, "This is my life now". Mostly, though, I am just thankful to be able to chew food thoroughly.

I've run into a couple of more things that are normal for people with dentures. One is that I've had to go back for minor adjustments. Another is that it's as easy to develop bad habits with dentures as it is with natural teeth. I have been tempted to sleep in mine and have to fight that urge. I must say, though, that it's easier to reach all the nooks and crannies when brushing dentures! 

Sounds like that dental lisp...
(source link)

This will most likely be the last post dedicated to dentures. If I can offer any advice, it would be:

• Almost everybody has a hard time adjusting
• As soon as you are able to eat with dentures, do not be tempted to eat without them
• It really does get easier, bit by bit. You might feel that you are never going to be even close to normal again without your natural teeth. I think everyone feels that way for the first several days or weeks.
• For encouragement, go search out videos with "dentures vs food" or "food vs dentures". There are a lot of wonderful people who share their experiences and helpful tips.
• Check out the Subreddit for dentures. Great group of helpful people offering a lot of encouragement and advice.

So, yeah. I am at the point where I have accepted that this really is my life now. I am very glad to have a beautiful smile again. I am very blessed to be able to eat and enjoy food again. Just remember, you can't make the journey if you don't start the journey.

Peace

-- Free

**REVIEW** Junoon (The Powder-iest Perfume EVER)

  I love a perfume with a powder note. Shalimar, Emeraude, and Ana Abiyedh Poudree are some really good ones. I thought that AA Poudree was as powdery as it gets (although Valentino's is strong, though not my favorite), but, noooo. I have now met the powder bomb of powder note perfumes. 

That, my people, is Junoon from Al Haramain, and it's my first from them.

Oh, my word! This blows everything else out of the water when it comes to being powdery. All those others are powdery, but this is Powdery - like peppers are spicy, but a ghost pepper is spicy.

And I love it! I can't get enough of it.

The first time I sprayed it, I was kind of thrown. Unlike the other scents above, the powder in this one is not tempered by the florals or other notes. Or, at least, it's not tempered much. The powder was almost too much for me at first (what?) and I was kind of bothered by that.

Once I waited a moment or two, the powder settled - almost like actual powder does when tossed in the air - and I started to get more of the sweetness of the vanilla and the soft iris. After about 5 minutes, the scent was everything I wanted in a powder - sweet, soft, powdery and floral without the sharpness I got from the Valentino's scent.

The bottle is simple elegance

The best thing about this is how well it plays with others. I layered it with Lattafa's Eclair and that was just yummy. Eclair by itself lacks something I need and the Junoon solved that. I also have tried this layered with Khamrah, then sandwiched between Khamrah and Nebras. That last one was a bit much for daytime, but would be good for a night out.

I also discovered that this works really well to tone down and femme-up more fragrances that are labeled as "unisex" but that lean masculine. I paired this with the outright male fragrance Habit Rouge and... What!?!?!? It was something not like Shalimar in scent, but it had that Shalimar vibe. 

I am not sure if Al Haramain scents are like Lattafa's in that they need time to get better. If this one gets any better, I may not be able to stand it.

So, yeah, I have found my powder bomb scent. I can't wait to try it with Molten Caramel....

Peace

--Free

The Random & Unexpected (When Getting Dentures)

 I watched a lot of videos when I was trying to understand the ordeal of getting dentures. I watched stuff on extractions and living with them; changes in the face and voice; eating without teeth; and the whole thing of being fitted for dentures. I thought I was going to be prepared. I was - sort of, but there were a lot of things I really didn't expect. Here's a rundown:

• Getting my teeth pulled was not the worst of it. The worst was the blood and gore for the first few days afterward. Oh, my Lord, how I hated that. I learned to keep some warm salt water near me for the first day. I was able to rinse and spit. The salt kept down the taste of blood. It also helped keep me from piking because of my vivid imagination about all the gore in my mouth. After the first day or maybe day and a half, things calm down. Then I would sit broth. Again, the savory water really helps settle a queasy stomach, and I was queasy for at least a week.
• Once I was over the gore, I had to get used to looking at a very different face in the mirror. I really understand now how much one's teeth have to do with the entire facial structure. It's drastic, people.
• I got used to talking and eating without all my teeth quicker than I am re-learning to do those things with teeth. 
• People tend to assume things about why you are without teeth. Whenever I wore a mask in public, it wasn't because of vanity, it was because I learned what some people assumed. It was my eye doctor who called this to my attention. She knows me and was sympathizing that some people would assume I was a drug user. What??? I had not thought of that. 
• Just as some people might have treated or thought of me differently when I was without teeth, I see a difference in how I am treated now. I'd always taken for granted that, for most of my life, strangers have tended to be friendly or civil toward me in public. Of course, I'm from Alaska, where strangers smile and chat with each other all the time. When I moved here, I notice the same is mostly true of people in small towns like where I live and, often, even in the larger places. When I was without teeth, I didn't feel that same casual kindness from strangers or passersby. Today, I went out to the store, and things were better. (I realize that I was probably behaving differently myself, or just being hyper-critical of people.)
• The longer I went without teeth, the more my face "shrunk" (maybe "contracted" is a better word). Since I was without a lot of my teeth for the past 2 years, then most of them for a year and, finally, all of them for about 7 + months, a lot of my facial muscles had lost something. This is why I'm going to take more time than usual to adjust to my dentures. My dentist is awesome and has explained this all to me. We aren't going to do any major tweaks or adjustments (if any) until my jaw and the rest of my face has re-adapted to a full mouth of teeth. I may not need any adjustments, so we're going to give this some time. (BTW, I was able to talk better within just hours of getting my dentures. By the 2nd day, I was getting really good. So this is a re-learning game.)
• There is a potential gagging issue with dentures. That's because the upper plate does go back a ways. I had a terrible time the first day, but I started getting used to it pretty quickly. Again, my dentist will make some adjustments later, if needed. He wanted to know how bad it was now. Honestly, I can handle it because I think I'm still getting used to the dentures.
• I don't know if this is true for everyone, but I am producing more saliva than before. This isn't a bad thing, since I used to have dry mouth. It's a new thing, so... Weird
• My bottom implants are wonderful. I am so happy that my dentist was able to put them in. I'd heard from another doctor that it wouldn't be possible. Of course, that same doctor is one that was so rude and uncaring that even his nurse looked dumbstruck, and I left his office in tears and I had to beg my brother not to go in and say something... It's not wild at all that his name is synonymous with a farm animal. Because of the implants, I never have to worry about my bottom plate sliding around or popping out. I snap the plate in, and that bad boy is locked in place until I remove it. 
• This is a very weird observation that I hadn't realized it until the day I got my dentures. The first thing I did when I got home was to put on a little lip gloss! I know, that's so random. I've never worn lots of makeup - maybe for special occasions or when I was in a mood - but I have always loved wearing lip gloss and a little bit of eyeliner. There was no way I wanted to call attention to my mouth when I was without teeth, and I really didn't ever feel like dressing up my eyes. But these lips are shining and lightly tinted now, baby!
• Even if I wasn't aware of being a lot less confident before, I do feel so much more confident and generally happier now that I have teeth again. 

I am sure that, as time wears on, I will find more things to add to this list. Out of everything, this is the most important thing I want to say: If you need dentures, don't hesitate out of fear or vanity. I wish I had started the minute I had a chance.

Peace

--Free