February 2019 Chat

[shades]

February was named after the Latin word februum, which means purification because the month was a time for purification.



What's happening this month?

2 Groundhog Day

5 Chinese New Year - Year of the Pig

14 Valentine's Day

19 Super Moon / Snow Moon

24 The Oscars

[Bean]

Good work, Shades! (Could have lost the last one though!)

I thought January was the month for purification - I mean, I know quite a few people who do Dry January...!

[shades]

I'm convinced the Romans didn't have a dry January

[Bean]

Ah history isn't my strong suit, but you're probably right!

The snow has finally arrived here! Not enough for a snowman though.

[jolovespiggies]

we have snow here too, in fact, for Cornwall we have an emergency situation here. many places closed, cars abandoned etc.

hugs jo xx

[3piggles]

Jo! You're back ❤ Wonderful ❤

February is Black History month in the US. It started as Black History Week in 1926. I think it became a month after MLK Jr was killed.

I skip the Oscars, too, Bean. I know it gets a huge audience, but it's not my kind of show.

[Bean]

Sorry the snow is causing so much chaos, Jo. It sounds like things will be back to normal soon.

And as 3piggles said - it's great to have you back!

[jolovespiggies]

thank you sweeties. it is great to be back. Feb not a good month because buddy holly's plane went down on the 4th.

hugs jo xx

[3piggles]

That is a sad aspect to February, Jo

Not being one to make New Year's resolutions, I waited a month to decide to sort my receipts into envelopes marked with the right month and year. We keep all receipts, as we both worked in retail, and know how important receipts are for returning or exchanging items, or for arguing overcharges. So I figured, as I put the first February receipts in the box with the January receipts, it was a good time to start separating the receipts to it doesn't take us years to find the one we want.

I've started walking to the mailbox, which is all of 100' away, but in the winter I don't get much walking done. I started it last week, and through the subzero weather, I've been donning a hat and gloves. Hubby has been donning his "cover everything" winter coat, ear muffs, gloves, you name it. We must be quite entertaining for the neighbors, going out like that, two totally opposites, LOL I've just always loved the cold, and he never has

[Bean]

I'm with your hub, wrap me up warm please!

I have a folder for receipts for household stuff, but it's not at all organised. Usually if I've put something in there myself (and no one else really sorts out anything like that, so I usually have!) I can remember vaguely what it looks like and pick it out fairly quickly.

We're better with anything relating to tax!

[3piggles]

We keep all of out tax documents in one folder, so we always have those. That's hubby's job. We just put the regular receipts in a container, and after a while, they all get mixed together. So when the pair of shoes we bought two weeks ago falls apart, we've added so many receipts since then, we have to waste a lot of time finding the receipt to return the shoes. Without the receipt, stores only refund the lowest amount that item sold for. If we paid full price, we lose that money. We don't return or exchange things that often, but when we do, we know we need the receipt. Since we've just started February, most of the receipts are for January, yet they're already all mixed together? Hmmm!

It's Super Bowl Sunday. Our team is playing, so we're having finger foods for dinner, so we can pay more attention to the game than to the food prep. Once the game is over, the endless week of hype will end. If we win, we'll have another week of celebrating, but that's not as bad as having to hear about every animal's prediction for the winner

[Bean]

There was quite a bit of chuntering about the game on our news last night. Did your team win?! Hope either way, you enjoyed the game and all the snacks.

I've had a bad start to the year for returns. I've bought a couple of things that have been faulty, and have ordered a couple of things online where the wrong thing has been delivered. No issues sorting any of it out, but I'd have preferred to spend that time in other ways!

[jolovespiggies]

I tend to keep most receipts, at least for a while.

hugs jo xx

[Bean]

I'd really like a fitness band, not to wear all the time, but I did find that the feedback it gave me was useful in terms of staying active and getting good quality sleep. But I've tried three different makes and they've all been faulty or just plain unreliable (one of them still registered me as being asleep an hour after I was up and moving around!) so had to go back. The first one I had was perfect, until I went swimming with it on (which it was designed for - that's a feature I'd really like as it's probably my main form of exercise) as it stopped working the next day!

[jolovespiggies]

that is so annoying bean sweetie, did you send it back?

hugs jo xx

[3piggles]

My original Fitbit, the clip on that only registered steps, was the most reliable, but obviously didn't give all the feedback that could be given. I have a Samsung watch now, and that registers sleep, heart rate, etc., if I open all those aspects of the app. I don't like to wear it when I'm sleeping, and it never seemed to get my sleep hours right, so I charge it overnight, and skip registering the sleep. I don't swim, but might start. I doubt I'd buy a new watch that would work under water, but if I were trying to swim a certain distance, it would be worth it.

[Bean]

I've had to send three back, Jo - I'm too embarrassed to buy another one now in case they think I'm up to something haha! Thankfully I got them all from Amazon and their customer service is great if you get something faulty.

My daughter has a pretty basic one that does steps, heartrate and sleep, and it seems pretty reliable. Maybe I should give up on tracking my swimming and just get one like hers, but I'm not ready to yet!

We played badminton at the weekend, for the first time in a long while. It was good fun, so we'll try to do it again, and if we do it regularly, hopefully my husband and I won't have such sore muscles the next day (the back of my husband's legs and my right arm!).

[3piggles]

I loved badminton, tennis, and all those racquet games, but I have Hole-in-the-racquet syndrome, and can't hit a ball or birdie to save my life, lol. Glad you had fun

That's outrageous! You got three, and all three leaked? There's something wrong with that brand. I googled trackers that would work underwater, and the most recommended ones for people who want to track steps, swimming, etc., are the Ironman ones, and they were pricey! Most started around $600!

The other thing is, if you want to track steps, not distance, you don't want a tracker based on GPS. To get the GPS to work, you can't just record steps around the house, as the GPS says you haven't gone anywhere. If you get one that actually records steps, such as the basic Samsung models, they may not be very accurate. Hubby and I have tried walking the exact same distances, together, and had radically different readings. It will give you an idea of how active you are, heart rate, etc. Since I have a Samsung phone, I have the Samsung health app, which lets me track how far I ride my bike, as well as how many steps I walk. The phone itself does the tracking, so you don't need a tracking watch, but we got the watches as free gifts, so we use them.

[shades]

Continuing the exercise/health theme, I was recently introduced to slow jogging:



I think it makes sense because the running plan I've been doing focuses on going slow to build up your strength and stamina. Go slow, then go slower. It's not a sprint!

[shades]

I've never followed doing x number of steps every day. On my phone, there's a monthly walking challenge. In December the #1 walker was doing 65,000 steps a day. She must be crazy or she attached her phone to a stray dog