'Twas after Christmas, and all through the house, Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse. The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste, At the holiday parties had gone to my waist. When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber). I'd remember the marvellous meals I'd prepared, The gravies and sauces and beef nicely reared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese, And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please. As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt, And prepared once again to do battle with dirt. I said to myself, as I only can, "You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!" So--away with the last of the sour cream dip, Get rid of the fruitcake, every cracker and chip. Every last bit of food that I like must be banished, Till all the additional ounces have vanished. I won't have a cookie--not even a lick. I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore. But isn't that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD DIET! TWELVE MONTHS as a RED HATTER On my fiftieth birthday, my present was to me…… A membership to the Red hat Society On my second month of membership, my present was to me…. Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my third month of membership, my present was to me…. Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my fourth month of membership, my present was to me… Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my fifth month of membership, my present was to me… Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my sixth month of membership, my present was to me… Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my seventh month of membership, my present was to me… Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society… On my eight month of membership, my present was to me… Eight pair of earrings Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three Cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to tHe Red Hat Society…. On my ninth month of membership, my present was to me….. Nine whistling teapots Eight pair of earrings Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society… On my tenth month of membership, my present was to me… Ten fun-filled outings Nine whistling teapots Eight pairs of earrings Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my eleventh month of membership, my present was to me… Eleven laughing ladies Ten fun-filled outings Nine whistling teapots Eight pairs of earrings Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets And a Membership to the Red Hat Society On my twelfth month of membership, my present was to me….. Twelve hats with feathers Eleven laughing ladies Ten fun-filled outings Nine whistling teapots Eight pairs of earrings Seven sequined purses Six purple sweatshirts Five g-a-w-d-y rings Four purple shawls Three cheap wigs Two bangle bracelets and a Membership to the Red Hat Society Link to the Red Hat Society Official Page

Message from Queen Tourmaline       HAPPY NEW YEAR I am sure I am not alone, making New Year Resolutions, and not following through.  I have great intentions, as we all do, but by February 1, have lost all resolve and drive and slowly the resolution goes by the wayside. Wikopedia tells us this about resolutions: A New Year resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Years Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year Popular goals include resolutions to: ·       Improve health: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking ....(always number one on my list of resolutions. It is good thing I don't drink or smoke - one vice is enough) ·       Improve finances: get out of debt, save money (at our age, we should be treating ourselves more - what did we save all our lives for?) ·       Improve career: get a better job ......(retirement is the only job I am looking for) ·       Improve education: learn something new (such as a foreign language or music)..... (if you attended our Christmas Stocking event at the nursing home and heard us singing Christmas Carols with the residents, might not be a bad idea - improving our singing) ·       Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television ......(this is right on target - at our age and a great New Year Resolution) ·       Take a trip .....(always a great plan, we should travel while we are still able to get around and remember it?) ·       Volunteer to help others .... (great advice - the Precious Gems, donate to the Eden Community Food Bank every month at our events.  Lady Moonstone has volunteered there for years, and has opened our eyes to the needs in the community.  We are happy to do what little we can.  Our Christmas Stocking event at the nursing home is another event we all look forward to.  We get more out of it than the residents I am sure, and puts us in the Christmas spirit of giving.) Wikopedia reports on Success Rate Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals.  78% of those who set New Year resolutions fail, and those who succeed have 5 traits in common.  Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, (a system where small measurable goals are being set;  such as, a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends .... (true Red Hat style, lots of support from their friends.) (Are we surprised by these findings?   No, men can only focus on one thing at a time anyway, no wonder they have a higher percentage of success rate ..... We are always focused on the big picture (probably not the best choice of words when thinking of losing weight?) and multitask, juggling lots of balls in the air to keep the household etc. functioning.  Men don't have these abilities.  No wonder our resolutions fail, we just don't take the time to follow through and succeed. We are always the last on the list.  There is little time left over at the end of the day to do something for ourselves, exercise, volunteer etc.  We are so busy focusing on the family, work, household, where do we fit in time to do something that pleases us, makes us happy, or follow through with the resolutions we make.  We just don't have the energy when all else is done.  We look after everyone else and their needs first.   The best resolution we can make as mature women is to do something for ourselves - forget all those goals that are out of reach or that will fail. Been there....done that.  Even enjoying a great cup of tea in the evening, a good book, calling a friend, or attending a Red Hat event, is attainable and the rest will work itself out.  Sure helps with the "IMPROVE SELF" resolution to be less grumpy, less stressed.  Nothing like a Red Hat event to laugh and have a great time with your Red Hat sisters, and forget the resolutions we didn't follow through with.) Hats & Hugs, Queen Tourmaline         January 17, 2012