Hazel Lewis

My Comments (52 so far…)

Is your best friend a man or a woman?

There are some beautiful friendship tales above - I am like Deena, my husband above all, a couple of my 6 kids and my 4-legged kids! We aren’t social at all and enjoy simply being together. Two of my kids, a son and a daughter, I talk to nearly every day and consider them the best of friends.

How do you cool off in the heat of summer?

I live in Las Vegas - can’t stand the heat. Just got back from 2 weeks in Atlanta - completely different type of heat. So humid. We went to Six Flags on a Saturday that happened to be 94 with 80+% humidity. Yikes! Heat is heat - dry or wet. I really miss having open doors and windows such as I grew up with in Wyoming!

Have you ever purchased a product from a TV infomercial?

Good morning C jay! Thanks for the tip on painting my topsy thing white - I will keep that in mind for next spring. I have several places I can hang it and be able to move it out of "hot spots." We have loads of flowering plants in pots so that in the summer we can move them around to prevent burning. Walgreens has slipped but it is still my best option. We miss the nice rebates that are few and far between. Longs and Rite-Aid have closed leaving only Walgreens and CVS. CVS ads turn me off somehow - on cheap dark paper. Crazy, but that’s me.

Have you ever purchased a product from a TV infomercial?

I, too, got the Ronco Rotisserie and that turned out to be a fine buy. The topsy turvey tomato grower (which I picked up at Walgreens) not so good - I guess I overwatered it and my tomato drowned. I was also too late in the season - plan on trying it again next spring. (Las Vegas - too hot for anything these days). I have gotten several things at Walgreen for much cheaper than they would have been on TV. By the time you pay the postage you double the price.

Have you ever had cancer?

Hi Lin! I enjoyed your comments to "all of the above." I think having cancer puts you in a group that no one but us can ever truly relate to. It changes your life and your outlook about a lot of things. It was a year of enduring, constantly enduring. Losing all modesty. I too had radiation for, I think, 6 weeks - on my lung (didn’t have to have chemo thank goodness). The ladies where I went were very nice and compassionate, making a very difficult experience almost pleasant as I looked forward to seeing especially one of them, and discussing the books we were reading. I had always been so healthy, the only thing I went to doctors for were babies, took good care of my body, etc., so it was a major shock that this happened. I will never get over my hating to go to the doctor or yet, another test. Its too much, all the little things that people don’t even think about who haven’t lived it. I love life and want to live to be 105. I’m 66 now. Lots of books to read, etc., I don’t plan on giving it up for a long long time! Take care Lin!

Have you ever had cancer?

2004 was my year to top all years. I had a skin cancer on my butt (no, it never saw the sun) that had to be removed along with half my butt. In getting ready for that they found a spot in my lung. That began the first of many tests of my whole body. I had the butt thing taken care of the last of December 2003, then the upper left lobe of my lung removed in March 2004, then my thyroid was removed in July, finally finishing up in September 2004 with a skin cancer that had popped up on my nose. He removed so much of my nose that even tho a plastic surgeon completed the surgery it is still misshapen. All 4 cancers completely unrelated! On June 22nd I have the last of my 6 month visits and am going into annual visits with my oncologist! What a ride! Life is so precious - you really learn what matters and what doesn’t! (I’m glad to be back at home on the WOW - I got tangled up in Facebook and am remembering I enjoy WOW so much more and all the "friends" comments I used to always read.

What's your favorite part of winter?

I live in Las Vegas so, of course, I love winter!! I can’t stand the heat - so hot you walk outside and can’t get your breath - like sticking your head in an oven. It is so good to feel the cold crisp air and take a deep breath. I’m sure most of you heard about our snow storms of last week. They actually gave the kids a snow day because there was the POSSIBILITY of 10” that day. Being from Wyoming where we had snow days for good reason this blew my mind. The kids all had a great time all over time playing in the snow and it was a nice holiday thing for them. There is still snow on the mountains and it is beautiful to see. I love winter foods and clothes much more also.

Have you finished your holiday gift shopping?

It costs so much to mail big packages I’ve started sending money and gift cards to my children clear across the US. Since I’ve got 18 grandchildren now I give the little ones under 3 a gift and the others get money. Hubby and I pretty much get what we want thru the year so aren’t doing gifts this year. Got all the baking done and disbursed yesterday and now the week is free for me to look for the spirit of Christmas! We are making a little trip to San Diego to watch the Charger/Broncho game so that is probably our special gift to ourselves this year!

Are you sending out Christmas cards this year?

I remember growing up I used to help my mother address and sign the hundreds of cards they sent out each year. I have cut back more and more, only sending 9 out this year not counting family. None of our friends really send cards anymore. I have done a letter the past few years but there is just nothing going on anymore that I feel confident would make interesting reading. I enjoy getting cards and letters. This year we haven’t gotten any cards except for business and family. Hummmmm. Well, there is still a week!

For how long could you live without a mirror?

I am like JB - used to do the full thing and was moritified if anybody saw me otherwise. Now, slowly, since retiring, I have become able to go without. When I go out to dinner or shopping I will more than likely put on some blush and cover up the “age spots” but nothing more. I worry about embarrassing my husband but fortunately he thinks I am beautiful no matter what. I realize I will often leave the house and think, oops - I didn’t even check the mirror. I really get disappointed when I happen to see myself in the mirror - much older and plumper than I feel I am. Luckily, as with so many of you, my hair is so short I just flip it around and as long as it is clean and not “flat” I’m okay.

What are your plans for "Black Friday"?

We always get our tree the day after Thanksgiving and begin putting up Christmas decorations. I can’t imagine why people put themselves through that shopping mess today. Best Buy is putting out port-a-potties and issuing tickets - racing out there to fight the crowds at 4 and 5 a.m.? Not even when I was young and very broke!! Enjoy the weekend all!

What causes you the most stress lately?

It is very frightening to watch my small investment account dwindling by leaps and bounds. I wish I had just put it in CD’s. My husband still works but if anything were to happen to him I would be in very big trouble. I’m trying really hard to get all our “home improvement” debts paid off as soon as I can, letting my 401K “ride” as they continually tell us to do and keep the faith. We are leaving this morning for Colorado to check up on my 94 year old Dad who has recently been told that it is 911 urgent he wear oxygen 24/7 and take all the new pills given to him by his cardiologist. He is doing none of this. He doesn’t want to leave his wife, my stepmother, whose brain is pickled from drinking, and, at 79 she is physically and mentally older than him. Doesn’t compute - he keeps being driven to the doctor yet will not do anything they are telling him, in turn dying quicker than he should. So……a fun filled weekend trying to convince him to follow doctors’ advice yet he must feel he is remaining in charge. He has macular and also cannot hear so, although he says he isn’t done yet, he doesn’t have a whole lot going for him. I feel it may be our last visit with him. All we can do is remain faithful and remember where our strength comes from! I sure do enjoy my visits through the day with my WOW friends!!

Did you use a condom the first time you had sex?

Did they even have condoms back then? I was so young and clueless and he was 5 years older and back from the Marines … I too, married him although it didn’t last more than 27 years. My gosh and I have 20 with my present husband who is 13 years younger - I must be getting really old!!

Are you a little miffed that the Obama family isn't getting a kitty-cat?

Aye aye aye!! Did any of you see the dog house Ellen Degeneras gave Michelle when she visited the show? It was a tiny replica of the Whitehouse complete with a carpet with the Presidential seal on it, a little Presidential poncho, and pictures on the wall of the family and, of course, Ellen.

Whoopi Goldberg: We Have Finally Become Part of the Fabric of the United States of America

J Holmes - I so agree with you! I am anxious to watch the View today. Yesterday she was just over the top - I love watching so much (ever since Whoopi joined the group) and never miss a day but Elizabeth really brings my blood to a boil and I could well do without her.