The Bead Class

A friend and I took a jewelry bead class tonight. The necklace looked easy enough, but turned out to be more of a challenge for us because we never beaded before. It was a full class. The women were all very nice and also friendly. I enjoyed the class even though I had to restart my necklace 2x. The teacher was very helpful when we asked for remedial help. My friend and I will get together to finish our necklaces. I think I'll try making earrings the next time. How hard can they be? They're smaller and will go faster. Beading will get easier. The next necklace will look better!!!

Too Far Away To Help

Mom's in pain. She said that she can hardly walk. Her knee is hurting and the pain is shooting down her leg. I suggested that she try using the heating pad for the pain. That seems to be helping, but it still hurts when she walks. Hopefully, by resting her leg over night, the pain will subside by morning. My frustration is that I'm too far away to help. She is at least one hour and a half away which wouldn't be too bad except for the tremendous amount of traffic I'd encounter to get there. We made an appointment with her doctor for Friday. Maybe she'll agree to knee surgery. We'll see.

Happy Birthday, John

Today would have been John F. Kennedy's 90th birthday. I wonder how different the past 44 years would have been if he had lived? Would we have had the same involvement in Vietnam? If not, then many of our friends and family who did serve may not have had to. Would they be different people today? Would we be different if we hadn't lost someone as a result of that war? We will never know and can only speculate. If it's true that what's meant to be will be, then it's a waste of time to speculate. Most people try to make the "best" of what life has dealt them. It's not easy and as someone once said, "life isn't fair" or to put it another way, "I never promised you a rose garden."

When The Holiday Is Over

Holidays are always welcome. We love to celebrate and to see family and friends. I also welcome the end of the holiday when everyone goes home. Things are able to return to "life as usual" which is sometimes a welcome relief from all of the hub bub. Even a "small" holiday can be exhausting for the hostess. As I'm writing I hear firecrackers exploding outside. It's Memorial Day. That's something that is usually reserved for The Fourth Of July. With things being the way they are now (the war in Iraq) people are showing their patriotism in many ways. There were the traditional parades today. There were concerts in parks, barbeques, picnics and many different "gatherings" of people to celebrate the holiday. I heard on the news today that there were "talks" in Iraq with Iran. That's heartening and gives one hope that diplomacy may help put an end to the war. Pray for peace.

Who Did It?

Did you ever watch a tv mystery and know "who did it" before the plot thickened? I must be watching too much tv lately, or it's an accumulation of a lifetime of watching tv. Mom says it's time to write my own mystery. Are the stories simple, or am I becoming a sleuth? I long for a mystery where I have no idea who commited the crime or why they did it. I guess that the writers follow some sort of a formula when writing. The formula needs to be changed.

God Bless America

At the end of mass today we sang God Bless America. It was very fitting since this is Memorial Day Weekend. After singing, everyone clapped! It was awesome! There were red, white and blue flowers on the altars. It was quite beautiful. I pray that we can have a return to world peace; That our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers don't have to fight any more wars. That may not be realistic in today's world, but it's an ideal I wish we could strive for. Let there be peace on earth.

Sunday and Beyond

Tomorrow is Sunday. I hope to go to church and then go to feed the cat. I'll pick up the Sunday newspapers on the way home. We are expecting warm weather again tomorrow. I have some fabric to wash and iron so that I'll be ready to take my last quilt class next week. Besides the quilt class, a friend and I are going to a bead shop this week to make a necklace. It'll be the first piece of jewelry that I make. If I like it, I'll make more. I happened to break a bowl this morning when I was emptying the dishwasher. I've saved the pieces because I've seen jewelry made out of broken china pieces. I hope I get to put the smashed bowl to good use. Then breaking it won't be a waste.

The Quiet Man

It's not St. Patrick's Day, when they usually play The Quiet Man, but it's on just the same. I always enjoyed this movie. It stars John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara along with Barry Fitzgerald and his brother who I think is named Shields. Ward Bond and several other familiar faces grace the screen. The setting is Ireland. A country I loved visiting twice. Would love to visit again some day. I understand that there have been many changes since I was last there almost 30 years ago. I loved the people I met there. I had the best Irish Coffee I ever had in Macroom where some of my ancestors came from. That town is in Cork. It is my dream to visit the old sod again and to see some of the places I missed the first time.

Another Warm Day

It was another hot day today, but not as hot as yesterday. I awoke early and went to feed my friend's cat. On the way home I stopped to pick up a few things. It was a quiet day, we had visitors for the afternoon. Around dinner time we shut off the AC and opened the doors. Now that it's near bedtime I think I'll turn it on again so we get a comfortable night's sleep.

Cat Sitting for the Weekend

Friends of mine are going away for the weekend. I've volunteered to go over each morning to feed their cat and to give her her meds. Smudge is old and has many ills, but she is sweet and pretty still. I'll go early in the morning before it gets too hot. The cat will probably be hungry then anyway.

The Heat Won, We Turned on The AC

At about 7pm tonight, I broke down and turned on the AC for the first time this season. The temps hit 91 earlier today. Mom and I managed most of the day with just the doors opened. I looked at her at one point and saw that her cheeks were pink and I asked if she'd like the air on. She said yes. She was being a trooper not asking for the AC this afternoon. Tomorrow the temps will go back down into the 80's. I'll probably leave the AC on anyway. If we return to the 70's I think I can turn it off. I was hoping not to have to use it this early wanting to save on my electric bill. But Health is more important. Actually, the air feels great. I'm glad I put it on.

Excitement Again

I have met someone on the internet site who seems to be very interesting. I'm excited about the possibilities. Over the past few months I've "met" several men. None of them has caused this much excitement. I look forward to emailing him and hopefully getting to know him as well as one can via email. Then, if we decide to, maybe we'll meet in person. That would be the real test. What would our first "in person" impression be? He mentioned in his bio that he has to feel chemistry right away when he meets someone. I'm not that limiting. I hope he feels "chemistry" when he meets me. Keep you fingers crossed! Let's see what happens. I've waited a long time for a "meaningful, loving" relationship.

Our Luncheon

Yesterday afternoon was the day of the retiree luncheon. Many of my former colleagues attended. It was very nice to see so many people I've know for almost 40 years. I saw the person who hired me for the job which became my career. Our master of ceremonies was a former administrator who seemed to shine in his new role as the organizer of this year's luncheon and still being "in charge". His taking over was a relief for those of us who have been retired longer than he has been retired. It's always nice to have someone else step up and do some of the work. I look forward to Sept. when we resume our monthly breakfasts and are able to stay current with the lives of our friends and former colleagues.

Looks Like A Park

The weather is beautiful today! It's been sunny with a gentle breeze. I've had both doors open and can smell the fresh air and feel the breeze. As I sit in the living room in my grandmother's rocking chair, I can look out the door and see the vast green lawn and the trees in the distance swaying with the gentle breeze. Past the trees is a chain link fence which surrounds the swimming pool. This holiday weekend will be the first one for using the pool. It promises to be just as beautiful as it is today. The pool is far enough away as not to be too noisy when it is visited by the residents of my community. I need to update my pool passes so I can take advantage of using the pool. I intend to do that tomorrow if the office is open. My plan is to walk to the pool, swim, and walk home when I've had enough. It'll be good exercise to walk instead of driving to the pool. I'll be burning more calories that way as well. I'm hoping that friends will visit and come to the pool with me. I find that the best time is around supper time when most people have gone home to eat. What is also nice is that there is a kiddy pool for small kids. That leaves the big pool for big people. A plus as far as I can tell.

Weather In the 90's on Friday

Summer is coming on Friday. I just heard the weather report for the rest of the week. We're going to hit temps of 90 on Friday. I hope that the humidity doesn't come along with the high temps. That's what makes it so unbearable. It'll be a good day for the beach and the pools. Beach weather in time for the Memorial Day Weekend which is the unofficial start of the summer season. I'd like to have temps in the 80's for June and then if it must, temps in the 90's occassionally for July and August. We'll need our share of rainy days as well. That will help the flora and also cool us off once in awhile. In any case, happy summertime to all.

Mail Again

The problem has been fixed. There is mail again. I've become use to receiving mail every day and it's a disappointment when there isn't any. Hopefully, whoever tried to send mail yesterday will give it a try again today. Then I won't miss any messages.

No Mail Today

It's been 24 hours since I've gotten any emails. I had to find out why. It seems that my mailbox of sent mail was at about 900 and needed to be trashed. Hopefully, that will do the trick. It's very unusual not to get any mail since some of it is ads and other garbage. Two of my friends called to tell me that the message they got when their email was bounced back was that my mailbox was full. I'm expecting some mail so now that the sent messages have been trashed, bring on the new mail. We'll see what happens.

Over The Bridge and Through The Traffic

We were invited to a party in New York. Ordinarily I'd go, but for this one I have to drive. The problem is that I'd have to drive across the GWB and navigate my way through NY traffic to get to the party. I never drive north of NJ. Since I'm inexperienced in driving in NY, I'm afraid of getting lost. I wonder how much a limo would cost? Probably more than I'd like to spend. Then there's the problem of getting Mom there without much ado. She can't walk far anymore. I'd need a wheelchair. Are there stairs to climb? Will the party be outside? Will it be too hot for her and all her meds? Maybe we could take the honoree out for lunch sometime after the surprise party. Funny thing is that I could go except for not knowing how I'd get there. But it's not me they want to see, it's Mom. That's a whole other thing.

A Good Weather Week Ahead

The weather this past weekend was "iffy". We had cool temps, warm temps and rain. This week will be beautiful according to the latest forecast. I look forward to going out in my shirt sleeves and leaving the sweater at home. I also look forward to having the doors open and smelling the fresh air. Sandy likes that, too. What a great time of the year. It's not too hot to have the doors opened. AC is not yet necessary. The electric bill and the gas bill are lower than they have been all winter. That's a real plus! I hope that we can have several weeks of the weather that's been promised this week. A real spring after winter! What more can you ask for?

Being A Lector

I did the readings at Mass this morning. I've been doing that for about 6 or 7 years. It's something I enjoy because it gives me a spiritual feeling I don't get by just being present at Mass. Although, I do get a spiritual feeling from being a spectator/participant also. I've gotten to know a few people in my church by doing this. I've had a few conversations with a few of the priests which I wouldn't necessarily have had before. I learned this week that our pastor is going to retire. I'll miss him. I hope that whoever takes his place is as pleasant a person as the pastor who is retiring. I hope to continue being a lector and would like to get to know more of the parishioners on a personal basis. I've been invited to functions because I'm a lector, but I haven't attended any of them yet because I'm reluctant to attend solo. It's always nice to have people to sit with at the dinners and dances. Maybe I'll meet someone through the internet dating service I joined. I'd attend the functions if I had an escort. OR, is there a single man who attends church who I could attend with? I don't know of any, but am open for an introduction or two. The pastor's retirement dinner is coming up soon. I'd love to attend. HEY, CUPID! See what you can do!

Here We Come!

Next weekend is Memorial Day Weekend. It's the beginning of the summer beach season at the shore and at most swimming pools. That means that the traffic going south down the parkway will be heavier than usual on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until after the Labor Day weekend which is the end of the beach season. Coming home going north on the parkway is tricky in the summer. You have to start home early or you tend to get in a mess of traffic going north. I remember a picture on the front of the Asbury Park Press when my mother first moved south. It showed the Driscoll Bridge and the heavy traffic coming south over the bridge. The caption on the picture said, "Here They Come". The article called the invaders "BENYS" which stands for Bergen, Essex and New York. I understand that further south in NJ, they have their own acronym for their invaders. But isn't it fun? And aren't you glad that we visitors bring our business south during the summer? I've always loved the NJ shore even though I am not a swimmer. I'm a walker on the beach or the boards. I love the atmosphere and the sound of the surf. Long live the New Jersey Shore!!!

A Baby Shower

This afternoon Susan and I went to a baby shower hosted by Marj. Her son and his wife are expecting twin girls in July. It was interesting to see the new things they make for babies these days. I enjoyed seeing Marj and her mother. We also saw Marj's friend Irene who I happened to meet at Marj's wedding. What was especially nice was that the Dad to be was at the shower. I think it is nice that the Dads are included these days. Doug sat at his wife's side as she opened the gifts. She received many nice gifts in duplicate. I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of the babies when the proud Grandmother just happens to have them in her pocketbook.

The Cat In The Box

Cats are so cute and also amusing. I love to watch Sandy do amusing things. One of my favorite things is to watch him squeeze into a cardboard box and go to sleep. He loves boxes and brown paper bags. I wish I knew what he was thinking when he climbs into one or the other. Right now he is sleeping in a box which happens to be just the right size for him. He is content. All I can see is his back rising and falling as he takes each breath. As I'm writing a paw reaches over the edge of the box. I can see two little triangles (his ears) behind the paw. I wonder what he dreams about?

What A Lovely Day Today

We had a touch of summer weather today. It was in the 80's and a bit humid. Finally, at about 3:30, it cooled off because we had a thunderstorm. I happened to view a Bicycle magazine in the doctor's office this morning. It motivated me to go and get an air compressor so that I can put air in my bicycle tires. The article I read told the story of several cyclists who lost different amounts of weight by riding their bikes. The prospect of doing that when I ride is what was so appealing to me. If I can get the tires filled with air, my plan is to ride early in the morning before the heat of the day. Our pool will be opening soon and that may provide a way to cool off after the ride. I hope that this plan is successful. Dieting alone doesn't cut it. Wish me luck!

A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words

Let me introduce myself. I am the author of these blogs. As I see it, Life is Good. I'm happy. I have all I need in life. The most important to me of all are my family and friends. I enjoy spending time with them and wish them the best that life has to offer. I'm enjoying the journey and look forward to where it may take me next. I love learning new things. I love being creative in some way or another. I appreciate the small things in life. I hope to grow in grace and kindness and wish peace to the rest of the world.

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day. I spent it with my mother. I went out this morning to get the Sunday papers for her and picked up hard rolls. I made her breakfast and gave her coffee. Yesterday I took her to get her hair permed. I gave her a quilted Vera Bradley pocketbook and a tray for her glasses. She had a restful day. We found the music channels on the new cable hookup. She likes to listen to them in the evening if she has trouble falling asleep. The weather was beautiful this weekend and we enjoyed our time together.

Another Nice Day

The weather is beautiful now. It's warm enough not to have to wear a sweater, but not so hot that you sweat when you're outside. I have the 2 doors opened and I can still hear the birds singing even though it's now dark outside. My neighbor has her AC on already. I don't understand her need for it today. The whir of the AC shatters the stillness of the evening as the day is coming to an end. Actually, it's rather annoying to listen to. My suggestion on this May evening is to open the doors and windows for FRESH air. I'm putting off using the AC until I can't stand the heat and humidity, when the temperature reaches into the 90's. I hope that weather doesn't come for at least a month and a half. I think it would be nice if we had weather in the 80's without humidity all summer. Then I wouldn't use the AC at all.

Deuce

Seven of my friends and I went into NYC today on the train. It was a quick ride. We walked from Penn Station to Le Madeleine for lunch. I had penne pasta and a green salad. After lunch we walked to the theater. The play was very enjoyable. I've always been a fan of Angela Lansbury. We saw her leave the theater and she signed autographs. One person in our group was lucky enough to get her autograph. She must be 80 by now but looks fantastic. She came out with her stage makeup still on. We commented how quickly she had changed. After giving autographs for about 10 minutes, she was rushed away in a limo to where we don't know. Probably back to the hotel to rest and have dinner before tonights performance. From the theater we walked the 10 blocks to Penn station and took the train home. The ride was slower because the train made more stops on the way home. We got to New Brunswick at 5:45pm and our rides were waiting for us. It was a great day. I had a lot of fun.

A Visit to the City

There are 8 of us going into NYC tomorrow to see a broadway play. The entire Mah Jongg group is taking a break from MJ and going for a day out in the city. We'll have lunch at Le Madeleine and then go to see Angela Lansbury in Deuce. I'm looking forward to the train ride. I feel like a kid going into the city. I've probably only ridden a train 2 other times in this country and 2 times in Europe. I haven't seen a broadway play in quite awhile either. It should be great fun for all of us. The weather promises to be about 80 degrees. I'm looking forward to our day out together.

They're Already Here

A news item today told of a foiled plot by a group of terrorists to massacre soldiers in Fort Dix, NJ. What a frightening story especially being so near. President Bush always says that if we don't fight the terrorists in Iraq, that they'll come here and we'll have to fight them here. Well, according to the news report, THEY'RE ALREADY HERE! The reporter said that the security at Fort Dix hasn't been beefed up either. I hope it was just not evident to him that they have done so. I guess that we all have to remain alert and that we need to report anything that seems unusual in our neighborhoods and towns. What a sad state of affairs. Makes you wonder who you can trust and who you can't. Please let there be peace on earth.

Good Morning, Early Morning

Today is starting early. Much like other days at home. I was awakened at 3:30am this morning by Sandy. Where is he now? Probably looking outside as night dwindles down. Where will he be shortly? Sleeping on a Queen Anne chair as the sun comes up. Where will I be? Drifting in and out between sleep in the recliner and watching and hearing the early news programs on the tv. I'm amazed by how easily I wake up these days almost fully awake and not drowsy. In about an hour or so I will start to slip back into sleep lulled by the sound of human voices reading the news of the day. Coffee is a welcomed refreshment at this early hour. Breakfast will be saved for a bit later, when the sun has risen. It's going to be an important day for me. I will visit the SS office and apply for benefits to start in a few months as I turn 62 and am definetly defined as a senior citizen. My age number is high, but I still feel like I did when I was 26. I guess the old adage is true. You're as young as you feel.

Getting to Know Someone, Slowly

I've met someone through an internet dating service. We have emailed each other a few times. We haven't met in person yet. That may be in the distant future because our emails are not sent daily. I'd like to know some things about him before we decide to meet. He is working, not retired like I am now. When one works full time, taking time for extra-curricular activities like emailing isn't as easy during the work week as it is for me. I'd like my new pen pal to write more often. I'm learning patience from my computer.

Keeping an Open Calendar

My calendar has been filled most of April and most of this May. I have very few commitments in June except for a couple of doctor appointments and my mother's birthday. I'm going to try to keep an open calendar so I have time for my hobbies. I need to have time to sew since I'm working on 2 quilts. I also need time to finish painting my pink rose. Those type of activities require having whole days "free". I may go to the shore to visit with Mom a few days before her birthday and of course take my brother with me. Hope we have good weather for those days. I told Mom that I'll make some jewelry with her since she has all the items she needs and just needs company to get her started. It's more fun to share a new hobby with someone. We'll visit the ocean and I may talk Mom into sitting on the boardwalk with her sketch pad while Dan and I walk the boards. I'm doing "fun" things, but I like to see empty blocks on my calendar sometimes because even being busy doing fun things can be exhausting. I hate feeling exhausted! So, here's to an open calendar for June.

A Good Night's Sleep

Yesterday I went to visit Mom. I stayed over night. Since Sandy was at home I had the most wonderful long sleep. The best I've had in a long time. I didn't get up until 9am this morning. Unlike the usual 4 or 5am rising that my SDT cat demands. I left for home at about 1pm. When I finally arrived, I got a lot done since I wasn't falling asleep on my feet. I've done laundry, made phone calls, paid bills, straightened up, loaded and unloaded the dishwasher, caught up with emails and had time to play with the cat. He must have missed me last night. Although he didn't "yell" at me when I came in. Sometimes he meows his displeasure with me and it aloof. Today he was happy to sit on my lap and to be petted. Next weekend, he'll be alone for 2 nights as I plan to go to the shore on Saturday and maybe come back home on Monday. He won't like that at all.

The Quilt Class

Today's class was a 4 hour session. I managed to cut all of my fabric for the blocks, but there wasn't any time left to start the sewing. The teacher did explain how to sew the curves together. Hopefully, when I sit down to sew this week, I'll have no trouble getting at least a few blocks together. There are 35 blocks in this quilt. The first couple of blocks will be a challenge but I should get the hang of what I'm doing after that many. I was really tired when I got home at 6pm. My neck hurt from looking down. I'm feeling better now after sleeping for a few minutes in my chair. All I need now is time to sew.

Sedona Suns

On Saturday I'll be taking another quilt class. The name of the quilt we will be learning is Sedona Suns. Each block is made with curves. We'll learn how to cut and sew the blocks. Curves are more of a challenge than straight lines to sew. When this quilt is done I'll give it to my sister. She'll use it as a wall hanging. I chose colors I thought she'd like, purples, turquoise, pinks, yellows and other sunlike colors. It'll hopefully have a South Western feel. Elaine likes that style in her home. I hope that I get the top of the quilt done by the end of the month because in the beginning of the next month I'll be taking my next class called Spin Cycle. That will be a stack and whack method of quilting. If I'm successful with that class I hope to give the quilt to my cousin Kathie as a surprise for her. She can use it as a lap quilt or a throw since it won't be "bed" size, but will be about 60in. x 60in. Kathie had a stroke last year. It's so sad to know she has been affected so adversely by her stroke. I last saw Kathie last summer and hope that I'll get a chance to visit her again this summer with quilt in hand. I know she'll appreciate the hand made quilt and it will give me joy to give it to her.

Spending A Day With A Friend

What a beautiful day today was. I met a friend and former colleague in the quaint town of Clinton. We had tea and caught up on news. Then, we visited a Bead Shop in town. It was just like being "little" and going into a penny candy store. One bead was more beautiful than the next. Which beads would we choose? What a hard decision! Then, we looked at the samples of necklaces which were on display to show what you'd make if you signed up for a class. We picked a "bubble " necklace as our favorite and signed up for that class at the end of the month. Having decided what piece of jewelry we'd make narrowed our choices of beads solving what was first an overwhelming decision. We were given a supply list and my friend and I went about the task of choosing our beads. We chose 2 different colors of Seed Beads and 1 color of Magnatama beads. Our next choice would be the neutral colored thread we'd string the beads with. My beads have silver, green, and a multi-colored hue to them. My thread is gray. The proprietor told me that those colors would make a beautiful finished product. I'm looking forward to my first jewelry making class and hope that after the class is done I can make the same item on my own. What a beautiful gift to give someone, A personally make piece of jewelry for a special friend or relative.

Dinner With Friends

A good friend of mine invited me and another couple for dinner at her home with her and her husband. What impressed me was that it was a spur of the moment thing. My friend served spaghetti and meatballs which was delicious. To be able to invite friends over on the spur of the moment is not always easy. Besides having to plan a meal, you want your home to be in good order too. I try to keep things in good order, but I sometimes have "stuff" around from hobbies and wouldn't want to have anyone visit at those times. My friends wouldn't mind as much as I would I'm sure. I admire someone whose home is always perfect and a show place. Wish mine were but I have too many hobbies and interests.

A Good Workout

A friend and I went back to doing water aerobic classes today. We had a new teacher who warmed us up with her workout. The water was cold until we started to exercise. We got a good workout and I don't feel any pain right now. Hopefully, I can say that in the morning when I get up. Sometimes when you exercise you don't feel the pain until the next day. The good thing about water aerobics is that the water supports you while you're jogging, doing jumping jacks and all the other motions we do. The class is always full. I'm looking forward to the summer when my friend and I take the classes during the day. There are 2 other teachers who give an excellent workout and it's nice to take a variety of classes. I still would like to get my bicycle tires filled with air. I'm sure that would be a good workout also, although I'm sure it wouldn't be as easy as water aerobics. I'd ride either early in the morning or before it gets dark at night. The heat of the day is not for me, especially while exercising.

Sandy, The SDT

My cat thinks that I can get by on little naps like he does. I seem to sleep for 3 hours and Sandy starts meowing trying to get me up. I may move me sleeping spot temporarily to silence his meows, but shortly thereafter, I hear his whining. Finally, when the sun comes up I've awakened for the day and he is asleep on the bed or curled up on his favorite easy chair. A friend of mine calls Sandy a SDT (sleep depravation terrorist). I think that is an apt description of my little friend. Although when he is an SDT I'm not sure he's a friend at all.