Simple Living

I'm reading "The Simple Living Guide" by Janet Luhrs. It's a refreshing change in thinking. I like the suggestions given for dating. They fit into the life of retired people. Things like taking advantage of free concerts, bike riding, walking anywhere. It could be around a new neighborhood or along the beach or down the main street of a quaint town. Simple Living appeals to me also because as one ages, one gets "tired" of late nights and all the "partying" you could do out there. Don't get me wrong. I like parties and still like to get all dressed up to go out, but I'm not itching to do it as often as I did when I was younger. "Everything in moderation." Who said that? I've also decided to cut out some of my activities. I don't want to be so busy anymore. I'd like to have days when I have nothing scheduled and can do anything I choose on the spur of the moment. I'm hoping to leave the "hectic" life behind. Would you like to come with me? We'd have time to smell the roses.

The Daily Routine

What is the daily routine? Cleaning the house. That's how I spent my day today. I got a lot done and still have a lot to do. Tomorrow may be a continuation of today. Next week I'm going to the shore for a brief vacation. I want my home to be in top shape when I arrive home again. My cat will come with me next week so I won't have to worry about finding cat hair on the furniture when I get back. Cleaning is sort of boring but you always feel good when it's all done.

An Afternoon With My Sister

My sister came over this afternoon. I took her to see what Brenda had left in her store. E. found several items of clothing, a pair of earrings and a cute necklace. She was glad that I brought her to the store and mentioned that she was sorry that she had never gone there before. We came home and had iced tea. It was so very hot and humid today. We found a lot to chat about. She left to go home at about 4pm. It was a nice visit.

Brenda's Gifts

Our favorite boutique is closing tomorrow for good. We went today to see what was still left in the store. We found many treasures at a good reduced price. I was able to buy a birthday present for my sister and a couple for myself. There was a decorative lamp for half price which was an excellent buy. It's an accent lamp which will go in my foyer. Since everything was on sale, I didn't spend much money but got a lot of value. I've invited my sister to go with me if she'd like to see what's left tomorrow. Haven't heard from her yet. It's easier to resist if you don't go in the first place.

A First Meeting

I just met a very nice gentleman for lunch. It was an enjoyable lunch for me. It was like having a blind date. It's a strange way of getting to meet people, but I'm starting to believe in it. I was nervous and I think he was also. We chatted about all we could think of then we knew it was time to end our first meeting. He promised to call or email me again and said that we'd do this again. I look forward to it.

Tips and Tidbits

Today I took a quilting class called "Tips and Tidbits". It was very informative. My favorite quilt teacher taught us all her "tricks of the trade" so to speak. She also showed us examples from her own finished quilts. She has one advantage when it comes to machine quilting. She has a Long Arm machine for doing the tops of her quilts. A Long Arm machine can run from $10,000 for a manual machine to $40,000 for a computerized model. I don't think that I will ever have this type of machine in my future. If I did, I'd be turning quilts out quickly. Whenever I go to a quilt show it's always fun to look at and try these machines. Another problem I'd have is where would I put one in my small condo. I'd need a bigger house for such a machine. So, I'll just be content to sew on my regular size machine and continue to hand quilt my tops or if I find extra money, send them out to be quilted.

A Full Day

Today was a busy day. I had a doctor appointment in the morning which was about 40 minutes away. When I got back in my home area I had errands to run. Went to pick up my new eyeglasses this afternoon and at about 4:30pm a friend visited. We went shopping for a couple of hours and then met her husband for dinner. They stopped in here after dinner for a short visit. My cat, Sandy, was glad to have the company. I'm listening to gentle music now and winding down. Soon it'll be time to call it a day.

Pampering

Today I had my nails done, a French manicure. It looks terrific. I also gave myself a facial followed by a warm shower and clean hair. We had a thunderstorm about the time we were scheduled to go to water aerobics. Needless to say, water aerobics was postponed. Too risky. Pampering oneself while grooming is a treat. Manicures, pedicures, facials, the sauna and water aerobics for exercise. I'm starting a new diet. The food will come next Tues. I can't wait to try it because a friend is doing this diet and she loves the food. Hopefully, I'll be successful in getting to my goal weight and staying there. Almost time to put on the fragrant cremes and lotions and sink into my "easy chair" and read the biography of Edith Wharton by Hermione Lee.

It Only Takes One

When the right one comes along you'll know it. Words from a tv commercial. I'm in the process of getting to know someone. We haven't met yet. We like what we know about each other now, but I suppose meeting in person is the real test. We just had our first phone call. This is certainly a weird way to get to know someone. We've decided to meet for lunch on Monday. I'll keep you posted.

Four For Mah Jongg

Four of us played Mah Jongg today. It was a perfect set up. No one had to wait to play. We played about 12 games. I won one, came close twice to winning again, and made a mistake which cost me winning another time. The day went quickly. I hosted the games this time. The day turned out to be sunny and cooler than yesterday. I was able to open both doors so now I can appreciate the beautiful day. I also appreciate the quietness outside. I can hear traffic on the highway in the distance now that it's rush hour. The sound of the traffic is so low, it's almost soothing to hear. Quiet music is playing across the room from where I'm sitting. It too, is soothing. I know if I close my eyes, I'll be lulled to sleep. I have some reading to do. I think I'll get to it.

Why Making Jewelry Is A Good Idea

Learning how to make jewelry may be a good idea after all. I took a silver necklace to a regulation jewelry store to have a ring attached so the chain could be reattached. I got it back 4 days and $32. later. If I had known it was that expensive I wouldn't have taken it to a store, I would have tried fixing it myself. I do intend to persue jewelry making if only for the reason that I'd be able to repair my own jewelry much less expensively. I don't intend to make expensive jewelry, only custom type jewelry. I like some of the pretty, colorful, pastel beads I've seen in the craft stores. If I do this well, I can give what I make as gifts. Another reason for learning that craft. I have a friend who is interested in jewelry making. It's something we could get together to do. I'm always looking for new and interesting things to do with friends. I'll have my quilting friends, my Pinochle friends, my MJ friends, my red hat friends and now my jewelry making friends. That's what makes life interesting! Friends.

Pinochle / Life

We played Pinochle this past Saturday. I almost won the second game. I haven't won a game in over a year. Before the last hand, someone caught up to me. Our scores were even. Unfortunately for me, he made more points on the last hand and he won. I'm not lucky when playing cards. Thankfully, I have better luck in other areas of my life. You have to play with the hand you're dealt not only in cards, but also in life. Something I've learned to do in "life", but continue to be frustrated by in cards. By my age, you learn to roll with the punches. Since I haven't won at cards in over a year you'd think I'd have learned to live with that, well, I haven't. It's still disappointing, especially when you come so close. You may have guessed, I'm not a competitor. I don't like competing. Why? Because I usually lose. If you want to compete with me, I'd rather just step aside and let you have whatever we're competing for because you'd probably win it in the end anyway. That way I'd save myself the frustration and disappointment after all the energy I'd have spent competing. I am not a quitter, however. If I'm competing with myself in my own way and time I'll see a "thing" to the end. I tend to win more when competing with myself. So, I may never win another card game, but I like to think that I "win" in some ways in my "life". Thank you, God!

The Old Neighborhood in Pictures

My cousin sent pictures of the neighborhood we first lived in when we were wee ones. He went back to the "old" neighborhood with a friend of his and took pictures. Much to my disappointment, the house we lived in is no longer standing. There is an empty lot there now. He sent pictures of our first school, Blessed Sacrament, and of the church across the street. The school looks the same on the outside. So does the church. The only new addition to both is a white iron fence in front. On a side street, behind the church, is an old Victorian house where Kindergarten classes were held when we were of that age. I'm not sure if it's used for that purpose anymore, but it still looks impressive. The pictures recall many memories. I was 8 yrs old when we moved away so my recollection of other places in the neighborhood are not crystal clear now. We walked up the hill to the school. The cousins walked together. There were 7 of us going together at that time. We ranged in ages from 9 to 6 yrs. old. We walked home together also. Our house was a 3 family house. There were 3 "flats". My brother and I lived on the second floor. Two cousins lived upstairs from us and the other cousins lived downstairs. We had great fun playing together in those days. Where does the time go? Thanks for the memories.

Using The Library

I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. Instead of buying books which can be very expensive, I've decided to get my books from the library system in our county. I met 2 friends for lunch today and we perused the shops on Main St. I saw a book in the bookstore which I would have loved to buy. It was $35. I looked through the book, read the fly leaf and considered purchasing it. Good reason prevailed and I decided to come home and see if I could get it from the library.
I was able to request in on line which saved me a trip to the library. Now, when they have it available for me, I'll go down and pick it up. It's really quite convenient being able to order books through the library system and best of all it saves money now that I'm retired.

My Lazy Day

What should I write about tonight? I can tell about my visit to the eye doctor this morning. I was given a clean bill of health. I drove home with my sunglasses on and a very dark throwaway pair in front of my own sunglasses. My pupils were dilated so I couldn't read when I arrived home. It was a cool day so I was able to open both doors and feel, smell and appreciate the air outside. It was a "lazy" day for me. I did do the laundry, but I also took a long nap. For some reason I seem to be extra tired lately. I'm hoping that this too shall pass, and quickly. This evening I watched the news and one of the "talking heads". As I'm writing, I'm listening to music. I paid a few bills. I have a lot of reading to do and will read before I go to bed. The other day I thought of several topics to write about. I should have written them down, because I can't remember what they were today. Hopefully, something more interesting will occur to me for the next time.

Reading Vs. Television

Some people can read a book while the TV is on. I can't. It's too distracting. My house guest likes the TV in the evening. I'm tired of the" same old, same old " stuff that's on and would rather read. So, after I finish writing I'll retire to my bedroom and spend the rest of the evening reading. I often wonder what it was like to live before there was such an invention as television. Did people read more often? Did they play games in the evening? Did they listen to the radio? Or did they just go to bed earlier. Was there more conversation in the evening? I picture a summer evening without TV where I would sit on a porch swing and read a favorite book. When it got dark I'd sit there and watch the fireflies light up and smell the honeysuckle. If I lived in town I'd watch people passing by, out for their evening stroll. I wouldn't be sitting in in the air conditioning because there wouldn't be any. It would be cooler outside. I'd be enjoying the summer air and the summer season. I feel like I'm missing something today. I'm so used to having AC that I don't sit outside if it's hot and humid. I spend the cold winter inside and the hot humid summer inside as well. Oh, I'm thankful for AC, but I miss summers of my youth when we didn't have it. Our quiet street was alive with people visiting on porches and children riding bikes until it was time for the little ones to go to bed. That was much later than they went to bed in the winter. We weren't "stuck" in front of the tv in those days until very late in the evening. We seemed to enjoy each other's company more. Getting up before everyone else in the morning was a good time for reading also. It was quiet, and not as hot as later in the day. I know I'm being nostalgic, but although so much is "better" today, I long for some of the things we had or didn't have (AC for example) when I was young. I'd love to live in a neighborhood similar to the one I grew up in. Where we knew our neighbors and enjoyed chatting with them on a warm summer evening.

It Goes Fast

Today I went food shopping. I bought gas for my car. I had a haircut and got a pedicure. I came home with an empty wallet. Money has a way of "going" fast. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to live with 1965 prices for 1 week? I'd settle for 1 day. Think of how much a whole shopping cart of groceries would cost. A tank of gas would be very inexpensive. You could probably have a manicure, pedicure, facial and haircut for what a haircut costs today. Unfortunately, it doesn't come in as fast as it goes out.

Playing "Catch Up"

Now that things are winding down for the summer, with some organizations ceasing activities, I have time to catch up on my reading. There are a few John Grisham books I plan to read. I've been saving a couple of books which I'd like to get to like " The Greatest Generation" and "Flags of Our Fathers". The biography of Benjamin Franklin sits on my shelf waiting for me also. Al Gore's books "An Inconvenient Truth" and "The Assault on Reason" are also on the list. "Presidential Courage" by Michael Beschloss rounds out the list of histories. I've always favored Non-fiction. John Grisham and Rosemunde Pilcher's novels have always fascinated me and held my interest. What's especially fun is discussing the books with people who have also read them. I'll see if I can talk my sister and brother into reading the same books. It'll be interesting to get their "take" on them as well.

Rags To Riches

We watched the Belmont today. Rags to Riches won the race. It's the first time in 105 years that a filly has won that race. Rags to Riches was Mom's pick. It was very fitting that Mom should win because today is her 83rd birthday. She won a lottery ticket which did not pay off. It was exciting to pick the winner of the race. My horse Curlin came in second.
Horses are such beautiful animals. I love watching them race, or just watching them. I'm reminded of the days when I rode horses at Fox Chase stables. It was such a nice time of my young life. Yes, horses and cats are my favorite animals. I have a cat. Wish I could have a horse.

Okay, That's Enough

Watching the news today about the Saga of Paris Hilton makes me wonder what's wrong with the media. First of all, I'm a little tired of the sexual jokes and innuendo from the male reporters. Are they saints? I doubt it. I don't think the jokes are funny any more. It's like beating a dead horse. Get over it. The judicial system in LA is a laughing matter. Paris Hilton is a beautiful, young, rich woman. She's probably "spoiled" when you compare her life to that of the average young woman. She may be famous for being famous, but she's a human being. Leave her alone. She's suffering. She's being punished. If all of the reporters and papparazzi would "get a life" of their own we wouldn't have to be bombarded with this type of news. Let's drop this subject and get on with what truly matters in our country. Examine your own lives. How are you contributing to the general welfare of someone besides yourself.

Vine of Friendship Quilters

Our small quilt group met at my home tonight. I love when we get together. It's very low key. We work on our own quilts and chat with one another. I invited my FL friend to join us because she knows the gals in this group and I thought they'd like to see her and her them. We all had a nice visit. My cat, Sandy, enjoyed their company as well. He went from person to person peeking in their bags and even crawled into one which was empty. He sat there for a while much to the amusement of my guests. One of our group was not able to attend tonight. We missed her. Hopefully, we'll all be together next month when we meet again.

Fun With Friends

Tomorrow I'm meeting a friend for coffee. She lives in FL. I see her about 2x a year when she travels back to NJ to visit family. We use to work together until she retired about 10 years before I did. We've kept in touch ever since. We enjoy many of the same hobbies, so we have a lot to talk about. I'm looking forward to seeing her and catching up on the "news" of her life.
I know I've said it before, and I'll probably say it again. I'm very thankful for the friends I have. They make my life "full". In a few weeks school will be out for the summer and I'll get the chance to see a few other friends who are still working. Summer was always a time for "catching up" with old friends. I look forward to the summer and fun with friends. Just like I did when I was a kid.

Very Expensive

Have you had a picture framed lately? I brought a photo in to get framed today. I had a 50% off coupon and was surprised by the price which was quoted. It was almost $300 for a custom frame, a mat, and glass to cover the photo. That was the price after taking the 50% off. The final piece will be about 20inches x 24inches. I suppose that prices do go up like everything you buy does. The woman before me had a print framed. Hers was $1000. I guess I got off cheap.

I Don't Feel That The Chemistry Is There

When do you feel "The Chemistry" for someone? Is it when you first see a picture of them? Is it when you get an email from them? Is it when you first meet them in person? I'm curious. One of the reasons for closing a potential match on an internet dating site is just that. "I don't feel that the chemistry is there." A lot is based on whether one likes the picture presented. If you pass that test, there are others. Finally, you start open communication. What should you email about? What is it that people are looking for during the email communication period? What are the magic words which help you pass that part of the test? If you pass that part of the test it's suggested that you communicate via the telephone a few times before you decide to meet in person. I guess meeting in person is the ultimate test if you get that far. What is it people are looking for? Are people too fussy? Or do they just give up too soon? Or are they just trying to amuse themselves? I've been introduced to many men on the internet dating site. Some I've actually communicated with. It's been almost a whole year. I've "closed" some matches and have had some "closed" by someone else. I'm beginning to wonder if this is an artifial way of meeting someone and a waste of time and money?

Busy Morning.

How did you spend your Monday morning? Since it's the beginning of the week, all the phone calls you couldn't make over the weekend need to be made. I had to call doctors to make appointments for myself, and call doctors to get test results for my mother. It's not as easy as it sounds. I started calling at 8:30am and got a recording telling me to call back at 9am. When I called back at 9am I couldn't get through because everyone else was calling at that time. That was only for 1 doctor's office. I got the same run around when I called the 2nd doctor's office. I've already made 4 phone calls and haven't gotten 1 appointment. The worst part was that I called Mom's cardiologist to see if we could get test results from the tests she had recently. They said they'd call me back. They did, at 4:30pm, to ask which tests she had. Another day wasted. They promised to call back again. It's 7:55pm. They haven't called back yet. Makes one wonder if they've lost the tests or the results. Hopefully, they've just misplace them. We don't want to go through the testing again. You kind of lose confidence when you get the call asking which tests she had. Thankfully, inspite of the lack of communication with those who answer the phone, we do have confidence in our doctors. They are tops in their field.

Just Tell Me What You Want Me To Know

Did you ever notice when you're watching the news and the weather on tv that the reporters spend so much time telling you what they're going to tell you instead of simply telling you what they want you to know. I think in their trade that's called a "tease". It's more of an annoyance.
While watching the weather girl tonight it was especially annoying. I had chosen a new channel to watch. Tomorrow I'm tuning in to my usual channel and watching my favorite weather man who will give me the forecast for the day and a good idea of what to expect for the rest of the week.

Please, Change the Channel

My house guest is watching a noisy tv movie. It's full of excitement! There is a volcano erupting! It's not my cup of tea. I long for something quiet with less visual effects. Yes! She asks me if I "like this movie". I respond, "no, do you?" To my amazement she changes the channel. What we're watching now is much more quiet. It's not fiction. It's Court TV. This show can be interesting however, I can't help but wonder why I have so many tv channels and there's never anything "good" to watch. I'm paying for this stuff, too. I wish that the cable company would let me choose which channels I'd like to pay for. I don't watch half of the junk they give me. Hey, Cable Company, you can do better!

The Hot Humid 90's

The hot humid 90's have arrived. Today was a very uncomfortable day. I'd like the 80's back for awhile without humidity. It's not officially summer yet. It's still spring. Let's have some more spring weather so we are not oppressed by the weather when we sit outside. We can have the 2 months of July and August to be stuck inside with the AC. It looks beautiful outside, but I hate the humidity.