Should I tell anyone about this?

"It is so embarrassing."

I love it when someone I know recommends a product.  That personal referral is better than the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  If a friend has tried it, likes it, then it must be a great product.

By now, you all know that I have been on a quest, a long, draining quest to find a bra that fits, wears great, launders well, is affordable and well, is COMFORTABLE, all day long.



In my earlier years, bras didn't matter that much. My girlfriends joked that all I really needed was two bandaids.  I was thin, frail,  sick a lot and trying to stay above 100 pounds was an effort.


Then I got older.

My dreams of filling out a tank top came true. I graduated from tiny bras to mid size. I enjoyed frilly, pretty bras. Ones with lace and frills, all colors of the rainbow filled my dresser drawer, they were beautiful.

Then I got older.

Those pretty bras started riding up halfway through my day, they got caught up under my arms, and I found myself happy to take them off when I got home from work. Choosing a cotton sports bra for the rest of my evening felt wonderful.

Then I got older.

Thehubs finds this totally confusing.  He says "It is just a bra" when I tell him I need to go in a new store, in a new town and look at their bra selections. I won't repeat my response word for word, but it goes along the lines of suggesting he should wear an underwire around his hanging privates for a full day and then tell me if it matters.

I hope I have fully explained my long, grueling quest to find that perfect fitting, comfortable bra.  Because I found it, about a month ago and you won't believe where and how much I paid for it.

I bought one for $11.98 at Walmart.  It is a sports bra with padding and underwire. I wore it, washed it, wore it, washed it and loved it. I could wear it all day... So I went back and bought four more. My prayers had been answered and I couldn't wait to tell (brag) Kdaughter how much I paid for it. My long, grueling quest for that affordable and comfortable bra had a happy ending.

Until...

I just can't get it off at night. I have tried and tried. Each night it got harder to reach, harder to pull off over my head, and I struggled with it, bending into all kinds of positions trying to make it easier to get off. My shoulder began to hurt.

Last night, I had it partially slid off with my neck bent, and my arms swinging above my head. And it wouldn't move, my arm was so sore from pulling, it wouldn't bend anymore. Here I am, stuck with one arm in and one arm out and this giant booby sling wrapped tightly around my back and neck cutting off my air. I pulled and tugged until I felt my shoulder pop.

Where is thehubs, I NEED his help!  What if he is gone, what do I do? I am stuck, it won't go up or down, I can't get it off? I panic! I imagine an urgent conversation with the 911 operator telling her I can't breathe because my bra is stuck and please send help before I lose consciousness. 

Then thehubs walks in... by this time I am in tears, my shoulder is throbbing, help has arrived. 

We wrestle, we tug, we pull, we wrestle some more. I cry some more. He is finally able to pull it off and I can finally take a good breath of air.

Now...

These are "his" favorite bras.

Men...

The perfect fitting bra

$11.98 at Walmart

*some assistance required

slang terms for bras:

over the shoulder boulder holder 
boobie harness 

hooter harness

hammock for the girls

Empty Nest Syndrome...

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to."     Alfred A, Montapert

Yep, I got it bad. 

I thought it was bad when the kids moved out.

We have had the grandpuppy for the past 3 weeks while Kdaughter went to Texas.  This little furry baby went home yesterday. I miss her kisses when I walk in the door, her snuggles under the covers late at night, and her dancing for treats.  Although, I don't miss standing in the yard, at dawn, in the cold, wearing my robe, waiting for her to do her business.

 Here she is, after a warm bath,

mad at me for putting a bow in her hair.   

"Tater Pie", our cat, could care less. She enjoys the special diet of boiled chicken when grandpuppy is here and the treats but other than that Tater Pie is totally unaffected by guests or the world, or me, or anything for that matter. Tater Pie is very independent and completely maintenance free. She lets us live with her. 

Here is Lillie when she was a puppy, riding in her car seat, on her way home from doggy daycare.  Isn't she cute!

Have an awesome Monday!

As life goes...

I just had to show you this!  I bought this plant last summer and I am not sure what the name of it is.  I have it in the east window in my dining room where it gets full sun for about half of the day. It is blooming with these beautiful yellow flowers! #feelinggreatfulltoday

Where did they go?

It has been too long since I sat down and wrote anything besides a grocery list. I have tried, but nothing happened.

I searched for

the words.

I could see them in my head, even tell you what letter they begin with, but the words did not come. I sat so many times, alone, at my computer, trying to put a paragraph together. I tried sitting at different places, at different times, but to no avail. All I got were short ramblings of words that my English teachers would have circled in red followed by a big question mark.

Writing has always been my outlet, my thoughts unscrambled, a conversation with myself. I always felt clearer and more focused after I had written something. I have beautiful boxes filled with my writings, collections of short stories, poems, quotes, and articles. In the past, if I needed some inspiration, I just opened my beautiful box and there it was.

Until recently.

Nothing worked. My mind couldn't organize my words into sentences. After a while, I gave up and didn't keep trying. I was just too exhausted.

What is wrong with me? Is this just part of the growing older package? Along with bigger glasses, flat shoes, avoiding rush hour and dreading stairs? I even groan when I get out of my favorite chair. It's a “lazy boy” recliner, a very appropriately named piece of furniture and I have been spending a lot of time there recently. I have been too tired to do anything else.

Then came time for my checkup so I made a list of things that had changed since my last one. Well, the smart guy with all the diplomas on his wall had it figured out in just a few minutes. Just stop taking a new medication, as this is a side effect, and it should correct itself in a short time.

And it is...

Slowly, the words are coming back just as Mother Nature brings in bitter cold temperatures and some snow. 

All of our beautiful fall color is gone, wiped out by several days of heavy frost.

The snow is beautiful.

Thehubs has been busy decorating the outside for the holiday season. Each night at dusk, he checks each bulb, each timer, to make sure they are working properly as we get ready for the official lighting ceremony Thanksgiving night.  I have been doing some decorating inside too but I will save that for later.

I have been reading all of my favorite blogs but I apologize for leaving few comments as the words just couldn't connect. I read close to 40 blogs each day, usually on my ipad late at night. I find it relaxing.

TBT... How about a photo from the past?  Me and my big brother cruising around the lake! Summer 2012

Have a wonderful Thursday!