judi75

Reply to Man, Woman, and Sex in a relationship in Sex & Romance Stardock Forums

I would have to say that most men I know (the majority of whom are in longterm, stable relationships) would like sex on a daily basis, and most women I know (ditto) would not. But even with this discrepancy, many of the women find it upsetting if/when their man turns to the ever available, ever reliable internet. Another 'being on the same page' issue is timing. I have a friend whose husband wakes her up in the middle of the night for some loving. If the husband ever

Reply to Ya Gotta Have Friends in Life Journals Stardock Forums

As an adult, the wanderlust I was raised with continued I'm just the opposite; I am happy to stay put, at least for a while. The idea of getting on another plane makes me cringe. But then again when I do get on a plane it's a snap compared to the 24-36 hour trips getting to North America from India used to be. The husband thinks I'm going to get restless--I'm used to 5 year cycles

Ya Gotta Have Friends in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

In the space of about 24 hours, I had an extended email exchange with a good friend in Ontario, spoke on the phone with a good friend in India, skyped with a good friend in Bulgaria, and talked with a good friend in Vancouver. This is in addition to hearing from various family members in both Canada and the US. And the thing that strikes me the most is that it seemed perfectly normal that my primary interactions spanned the globe. Leading a nomadic life has had its advantages--we have

Reply to Monday evening in Life Journals Stardock Forums

I love you, kiddo!

Monday evening in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Today was the deadline for taking the company's retirement package, and apparently several thousand people went for it (yes, the husband works for a large company). Despite that, the next step will probably be along the lines of 'guess what? you're retiring!'. This happened in the 80s as well--in addition to pay freezes, cancelled bonuses, etc. We were in a very different place in our life then and still managed to struggle through. This time around I worry about

Reply to Mystery Roar Detected in Space! in Pure Technology Stardock Forums

On behalf of fellow Canadians: the lions of Al-Rassan...

Reply to Bits and pieces in Life Journals Stardock Forums

I don't disagree at all with your point. It's like when there's something wrong in your own life, even though you know others are facing worse things, it doesn't matter. What's happening to you takes presidence, and, perhaps, rightly so. Ditto for poverty. It does create a moral dilemma when you've seen other poverty though--how do you 'rank' these things when it comes to doing what you can to help? We've taken the stand that whatever we can do to help, wherever

Bits and pieces in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

For some reason, I've been having trouble getting my thoughts together coherently in order to share them. Part of it is that I have lots of unrelated things I want to say and the obsessive/compulsive part of me can't stand the idea of disorganization. And part of it is also that I don't know who reads this (in terms of people in my 'real' life), so I have to kind of monitor what I post--which definitely defeats the purpose of this whole thing to some extent. So this will be

Reply to Getting My Health On! in Diet Stardock Forums

I always find it amazing when I keep a food log--never realize how much stuff ends up in my mouth until I see it in writing. It really adds up!

Reply to Democratic India's incredibly shameful treatment of Taslima nasreen will someone do immediate justice? - "Prof. Arindam Chaudhuri" in Blogging Stardock Forums

I agree that this situation is shameful but I don't agree that Hinduism has made the strides you feel it has. Sati still exists. Child marriage still exists. Dowry death still exists. Marriage to animals and trees still exists. All of these things continue in the villages (and dowry death extends to the major cities as well) under a system where the village religious leader dictates over the entire village. Aren't these also forms of imprisonment? I d

Reply to I do like to eat Greens in Diet Stardock Forums

I could live on salad when the weather is warm, soup when the weather is chilly. I view salads as a way to clean out the fridge--anything and everything gets thrown in and it becomes a meal in itself with the bonus of making me feel virtuous on 2 levels that way! I have started the get moving part--going to the gym 2-3 days a week for 30-40 minutes of cardio and then 50 min of weight training. All days it's a battle to get myself to go, but some days (like today), once I'm

Reply to Calling All Bloggers! in Blog Communities Stardock Forums

Even though I'm a newbie, this is exactly why I chose this blog site. I'm looking for a 'community' and this feels like a place where that exists. Thanks for reading my blog--and even more, for commenting!

You're Kidding, Right? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Before we moved to India, the husband decided we needed to get a patio furniture set. Since he was busy commuting between the midwest and India, the job fell to me. I can safely say that I sat on every patio set chair available in the city we were living in, and finally found a set I liked at Sears--table for 6, 6 chairs that could recline completely, 2 foot stools that could turn reclined chairs into lounges, and a side table. We hauled it to India and I think we used it on

Slumdog Millionaire in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Had a movie marathon the other day--saw Slumdog Millionaire and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The latter was somewhat disappointing. I never really came to like the lead female character, so much of the movie didn't ring true for me. And Brad Pitt remained Brad Pitt--engaging and charming, but still someone playing a role. But it also may partly have been because Slumdog Millionaire was so incredible and we saw that first. We lived in Indi

Family Un-ties in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I think it was a wonderful Christmas. It has been something like 11 years since the husband's entire family was together for Christmas, so that in itself was a good thing. And adding in our two sons-in-law did change some of the dynamics, but I believe each of them added something special to the mix. Then there was the visible (if not actual) presence of the next generation. Having JLO pregnant, looking it, at a stage where all who were patient could feel the bab

Oh, Baby! in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I usually get up quite early. I really value the dark, quiet time alone that allows me to ease into the day as it arrives. By the time it's light and others are stirring, I'm usually ready to get on with it. It's my favorite time of day, that time just before it actually starts--full of possibilities and hope. And even if they don't come through, there will be that same sense of 'maybe' tomorrow, as the next day reveals itself. So this morning I am writing as everyone else sleeps. I hear thei

And So It Begins in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Our big girl has been here for 4 days now and it has been lovely. She has helped with the prep work--mostly cooking and baking--which is why, ostensibly, she arrived early. It is always such a treat to have either of the girls by themselves, and with husbands and impending babies, it only gets more difficult to do. I love having them together; I love having them plus husbands. But having alone time with either of them is special. I know it is a very selfish thing

Reply to When was the last time you ... in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I read daily--nightly actually. I usually get into bed up to an hour before the husband and that's my reading time. I read lots of fantasy, mysteries and just plain old fiction. Just finished The Condition--good book. Loved The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Not so keen on the Stephanie Meyers books. Most books are forgetable. I have about a dozen that are keepers. Currently I'm reading Wally Lamb's latest--The Hour I First Belie

For David in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I was pretty messed up in high school There were several reasons for this. I was one to two years younger than almost everyone else, having skipped 2 grades (this was before AP, IB, or even enriched classes were readily available). I had also lost my mother when I was 11 and in grade 7, and my father was definitely not equipped to raise kids on his own, let alone a couple of girls. My sister tried to be there for me, but she was a teenager and the year I star

Coming Clean in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

I am in the final stages of getting ready for the Christmas arrivals. As I think I mentioned before, there will be 16 of us here this year--the husband's entire family. And while I'm thrilled and delighted and looking forward to it, this preparation part is the pits--especially since the arrivals are spread over a week's time, and as every houseperson knows, that's enough time for the initial 'clean' to have worn off. I have never been the world's best, or even the world's

Snow What's New? in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

It started snowing yesterday afternoon. It's not supposed to snow here; in fact, it's been over 4 years since it last snowed. So it waited until we moved here to try it again. Part of the deal of moving here was the advantage of not having to deal with a midwestern winter. After some 6 years in southern India, and at my ever advancing age, I was not keen to do the whole snow and ice thing again. So moving here was a bonus in many ways--a place we hadn't been be

Reply to Wednesday morning: Christmas decorations, continued in Life Journals Stardock Forums

Counted cross-stitch is REALLY easy--you just follow a pattern. The only tricks: pull the fabric as tightly as possible in the hoop, and make sure your crosses all go in the same direction. That's it. And once you finish a pattern, you can turn it into anything you want. Trust me--I am NOT crafty at all (or at least not in that sense of the word!)

Thursday afternoon: Holiday food in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Thanksgiving dinner is our favorite meal to make. It's probably my favorite holiday as well, but with the kids living in Canada and us in the US, it isn't really practical for everyone to be together. But I love the idea of having the people I love most together on a day set aside for being thankful. I mean, what more could I ask for than this wonderful family of mine and the life the husband has provided for us? While we were living in India, the husband would perio

Wednesday morning: Christmas decorations, continued in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Somehow I have stumbled into making tree skirts for my family. The first one truly was an accident. I have always enjoyed cross-stitch projects and back in the late 1980s I found a series of patterns based on the poem A Visit from St. Nicholas. They were so beautiful that I started on them, not having any clear idea of what I'd do with the finished products. Somewhere along the way the idea of making them into a tree skirt hit. So I cut each into an oval, edged i

Tuesday afternoon in Life Journals JoeUser Forums

Having been overseas for so long, this is the first Christmas in at least 7 years that I have had all of my Christmas decorations. And living in a new house means having to find the right place to put them all. It has been a pleasure to unpack these treasures and to spend some time with the memories they call up. I have somehow accumulated an unintentional collection of Santas, many from places we've visited. I even have one from a cart outside of Russel Market in Ba