Menopausal Mother

Welcome to another edition of Fly On The Wall, hosted by Karen of Baking In A Tornado. Today, the two of us are inviting you into our homes to give you a fly's eye view of what goes on behind closed doors. 

The fly at our house prefers to stay indoors not only to overhear our conversations but to relax in the A/C since it's hotter than Hades outside. Can't say that I blame him---every time I sit in the backyard garden I have to surround myself with double fans and chug an ice-cold beverage. Even the hot tub is no longer hot---we have it set at a refreshing 80 degrees so that we can pretend we own a pool. But the nosy fly still follows us around, and here's a peek at what he overheard this blistering month of July:

I recently suffered from a bout of Perioral Dermatitis, which is an unsightly red rash that starts on the nostrils and spreads down all around the mouth to the chin. It's an itchy, stubborn rash that is caused by an allergic reaction to lotions, toothpaste, and certain medications. In my case, it was a new facial serum I'd been using that triggered the ugly rash. My husband accompanied me to the dermatologist, and when she asked why I was there, I said, "LOOK AT ME! I look like a lioness who was just finished feasting on the bloody carcass of an antelope!!" My husband thought my remark was hilarious, but the dermatologist....not so much. 

Speaking of uncomfortable ailments, Hubs is dealing with an annoying case of Plantar fasciitis. He is on his feet all day walking several miles at work, but now it hurts to put pressure on the heel and the arch of his foot. He has to wear a support pad in his shoe during the day and a special boot at night to keep his foot straight while he sleeps. It has been bothering him for several weeks now and after listening to his numerous complaints while hobbling around the house, I jokingly tell him to just cut the damn foot off. The other night when we were in bed, my husband was struggling to get the bulky plastic boot over his foot while I was reading about weight loss stories associated with Ozempic. Our conversation went something like this:

And of course, the fly was privy to other weird conversations that always involved my husband.  

***Want More Meno Mama? I'm thrilled to share one of my first food articles in THE GIRLFRIEND (you can read it HERE) ---a website I have been trying to get published in for several years. But stay tuned--there are quite a few more articles coming from me on the site! Also, I have a new foodie article on AARP/The Ethel about camp food which you can read  HERE, and one on light summer food recipes HERE

After you finish buzzing around here with the fly, be sure and stop by Karen's house to see what her fly overheard this month! 

Baking In A Tornado     https://www.BakingInATornado.com

Today, July 12th, marks one year since I lost my sweet girl pug Savi. They say that the grief gets easier over time but I'm not sure about that. The pain of losing her still lingers; she was my best fur companion and I loved her more than I ever thought possible. She left a hole in my heart that I fear no other pet can fill. The tears still come when I think of her---as I often do. I remember the way she stared at me just before she closed her eyes for the last time while she was being euthanized. And I remember how my heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest. I don't know if I can ever get past that painful memory. Of course, I'm grateful for the two pugs I still have---I hold them extra close now---but they are not like Savi. She was my lap dog, my shadow, my baby. She loved to be cuddled and slept beside me every night for nine years. In my dreams, she's still there---until I wake to the empty spot beside me and remember she is gone.