Annice’sAngle

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The Zen of Pontoon Boating

Monday, September 5th, 2011

Annice

Every August for the last four years, a group of us (women over 50) spend the day on one of the most beautiful lakes in this country.

OUR LAKE

Hope you don’t mind if I don’t share the name of that beautiful pristine lake in Tennessee, but we just don’t want all the tourists coming with their loud motor boats, radios, etc. Even though we only spend one day on the lake, it becomes an event for us gals. There is a core of us who embark on this journey every year, but sometimes friends drop out (usually because of family commitments) so others join in. It’s always a surprise, and it always works out.

Why is this day so special for us women over 50? It’s simple. It gives us one day where we can leave behind all the demands of our families – kids, aging parents, husbands, partners, meals, laundry, and on and on.

TAKING OFF

For one full day, our fearless captain Gwen, steers our Pontoon Boat so we can just “be.” For some of us, it’s an escape from the everyday hassles of computers and technology that

LIFE IS GOOD!

sometimes overwhelm our modern and crazy life. It allows us to bathe our bodies in the cool freshwater of the lake and feel the chill on our skin when we get out. It allows us to anticipate the taste of a slice of juicy cold watermelon after a piece of tangy barbecued chicken. It’s a time to visit with each other without interruptions, and it’s a time to say good-by to summer and agree to plan two visits to the lake next year even though we all know it won’t happen. It just is.

TOO MUCH FUN!

Tags: aging, baby boomers, beautifulwomenover50, feeling overwhelmed, friends, oops50, women's journeys, womenbabyboomers, womenwritersover50
Posted in Annice'sAngle, Beautiful Women >50, Entertainment, Friends, Health Tips, Living, Main, Relationships, Travel, World | 3 Comments »

Precious Gus

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Annice

Over the last two years, I’ve been writing about Gus, my 11 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. I wrote about Gus on steroids, Gus constipated, Gus at the vet, and Gus on a very expensive diet.

If you recall, we rescued him nine years ago, complete with a bullet underneath his belly. And since that time, he’s blessed us with so much love and affection, charming anyone who’s ever been to my house. He was my boy. I’m so sad to say that he died suddenly of liver cancer (at least that’s what the doctor thinks) three weeks ago. It happened so fast, I still can’t believe it. I was in Cleveland coping with the sudden death of my father when my husband called to tell me Gus was sick. I wish I could have been there to say good-bye, but since that was not meant to be, indulge me in a few photos as I say my sweet good-bye to my sweet Gus.

Gus with Stick

Gus taking it easy

Gus Sleeping

Tags: Dogs, feeling overwhelmed, pets, women over fifty, womenbabyboomers
Posted in Annice'sAngle, Family, Home, Love, Main, Pets | 11 Comments »

Care-giving for Husbands and Dogs

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Annice

Just when I thought my care-taking days and nights were diminishing, life decided otherwise. For starters, my husband’s surgery to pin his hip back in place failed, and ten days later he was back in the hospital for a full-blown hip replacement. While I know this is a very common procedure, it doesn’t mean it’s easy or pain-free, not to mention what it’s been like for moi. This time, the doctor recommended home health care, and thank god for Care Partners (and drugs).

Care Partners is providing quality nurses, physical therapists and even an occupational therapist who come to our house for support and care which is not only needed but greatly appreciated. But, it’s a slow recovery, and my husband hates being dependent on anyone, even me. And he won’t let me insert a photo of him doing his physical therapy, claiming he has privacy issues.

And for those of you who asked about my sweet rescue, Gus, I’m happy to report that his anal infection is practically gone and he’s doing much better thanks to the very expensive auto-immune drug treatment he was on for thirty days. Now, he/we have a new problem. Well, it’s not entirely new as he already had a bad knee (ACL) so, you can imagine the beating his knee took while being severely constipated and forced to squat to do his business. This all happened while Len was in the hospital, and I had to actually help Gus (all 85 lbs. of him) get up and down despite the customized dog bed I had made for him and Carli. Thank you Kathleen for making such cool looking beds for both my dogs.

In between Len’s surgery, I found myself scurrying home to help Gus go out and then finally taking him to the vet – very difficult getting him into the car. The doc gave him a stronger anti-inflammatory (short term because it could damage the liver) and after 2 days he was improving. Now he is back to himself and Len is home and I’m exhausted.

And just when I was feeling sorry for myself, I turned on Dr. Oz (daytime T.V. is quite an experience), and on that particular day I saw a short piece about a young mother who has three (NOT 1 but 3!) autistic children. That certainly put it all in perspective for me.

Tags: aging gracefully, beautifulwomenover50, carepartners, Dogs, dr.oz, droz, hipreplacement, honestwomenover50, husbands, pets, women over 50 style, women's journeys
Posted in Annice'sAngle, Family, Health, Home, Journey, Love, Main, Pets, Recuperation, Relationships | 6 Comments »

A Big Pain in the Hip

Tuesday, February 8th, 2011

Annice

It’s not supposed to snow a lot in Asheville, but this winter (like the rest of the country) we were covered up. During the last snow storm, my husband decided to shovel his car out of the driveway even though I told him there was a huge sheet of black ice and it was too dangerous, and in fact stupid. However, my dear husband was determined to get his car out of our driveway no matter what. Did I say I live on a mountain 2200 ft. high and our driveway is one hell of a steep slope?

I won’t bore you with all the details about our driveway and the fact that a standard 8 ft. plow is too wide to go down it. So, on that particular day, two weeks ago, my husband slipped and fell. He said he didn’t hurt himself and proceeded to walk around for almost a week with pain that eventually got so bad he had to go to the doctor. The next day, he was in surgery for a broken hip and 3 pins.

broken hip with pins

(more…)

Tags: Beautiful Women >50, falling on ice, feeling overwhelmed, hip surgery, midlife journey, shoveling snow, women baby boomers, women over 50 on facebook, yoga
Posted in Annice'sAngle, Family, Health, Home, Journey, Love, Main, Recuperation, Spirituality | 6 Comments »

Women Over 50 Who Love Their Pets

Tuesday, January 11th, 2011

Annice

If you recall, over a year ago, I wrote about Gus, my 10 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever. We rescued him eight years ago, complete with a bullet underneath his belly.

Gus taking it easy

My post at that time was about how constipated he was and how putting him on prednisone turned him into the dog from hell. Needless to say, it was a messy time for both of us.

Well, poor Gus is not only constipated again but it’s much worse: perianal fistulas. When the vet gave me the diagnosis, I immediately went home to research it. I already knew the condition was painful because poor Gus took forever to poop, and moan while doing it. Besides the pain, there was the itching, and irritation of the skin surrounding the anus. Worse still, the poor guy has the beginnings of small ulcers surrounding his anus (I’ll spare you the photos). Since Gus can’t take prednisone, he has to take an immunosuppressive medication (cyclosporine) which costs almost $300 for a month’s supply, and that’s if I buy it in Canada. The doctor doesn’t know how long he has to be on it, but Gus doesn’t care than it costs more than my car payment. Oh, he’s also on an antibiotic, and Flagyl (prescribed for anti-inflammatory bowel). And don’t let me forget to mention, he’s also taking Tramadol for pain relief for the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) connecting the shin bone to the thigh bone.)

Gus at play

In the end, we’ll probably have to change his diet to an even more expensive one because studies have shown the benefits of feeding afflicted dogs a grain-free diet containing one single protein the dog has never eaten. This reduces the possibility of triggering the immune system and preventing abscesses from healing. Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance (Venison & Sweet Potato, Lamb & Rice, Sweet Potato & Fish) and Blue’s Buffalo Venison, Sweet Potato & Vegetables is another option. Oh, I could also make his food, in which case, I could eat it, too, and keep it simple in the kitchen!

Good dog

Despite all that, Gus is still very athletic, eats like it’s his last meal, and scares anyone who comes to the door unannounced. And most of all, he’s extremely affectionate and worth all my efforts. Obama care for dogs? That’s what I’m talking about!

Tags: Beautiful Women >50, Chesapeake Bay Retreiver, Dogs, oops50 humor, writers over 50
Posted in Annice'sAngle, Beautiful Women >50, Entertainment, Health, Home, Humor, Living, Love, Main, Pets, Products, Products, Products, Products, Products, Relationships | 7 Comments »