Bits of My Life

The last ten days has been interesting. Of course my new iPad has been taking up my time. I've still got a lot of learning to do. Here it is with my tv adapter. Haven't got that little beauty out of the package yet. So much to learn.

And then there's the impending visit of our granddaughter and our preparations for said visit. Here we have another new purchase--a stool for Chelsea (and Ben) to use. We already had the potty seat.

Ron is happy to have a new vacuum cleaner. With this one he doesn't have to crawl around on the bedroom carpet with the hand tool in order to clean. This model actually works the way it is supposed to. And it didn't cost a mint! All good.

Oh, and one other bit. This morning I finished yet another version of my novel in preparation for the final final really final copy. Just have to do a final read through of the printed copy to check yet again. This writing is a lot of work, but I love it.

Being in the Right Place

Today's piece is a bit of a contest. Really. Look at the picture below and try to figure out just what it is. No, really, I'm serious. Sometimes you're just in the right place at the right time.

Do you see that all the faces are hidden? Who are these people? Why are they face-down on the floor of The Bay in north London?

Possible answers:
1. They are tired.
2. The floor smells so good they all just had to get down there.
3. This is a new way of modeling coats.
4. Well, you get the idea....

One evening a few days before Christmas 2009, my husband and I had just entered The Bay when he realized he had broken the zipper on his winter coat. I looked, couldn't fix it, and suggested we use his gift certificate to partially pay for a new one. Off to the coats we went and were just sourcing out where might be the ones we might actually buy when we heard a cascading crash behind us. We turned, we looked and took a few seconds to realize what had happened. A whole section of coats had dominoed over into the aisles.

We went closer to look. There were no salespeople around. I dug into my purse for my digital camera and voila!--a strange picture and a big laugh.

Self-Cleaning Oven

Okay. It's a hot summer day and I've got to do something to take my mind off the heat. Go swimming? NO! Clean the oven. Unfortunately, the self that is going to clean it is me!

Here is the sludgy mess that has been waiting for this day. I can put this job off for years at a time, if I can evade that Mom-image over my shoulder shaming me. On the counter rests the new silicon oven liner thing that I bought in a lovely kitchen store in Victoria but I have to have a clean oven to put it into. After that it slides out and into soapy water for a slick cleanup, so I'm told.

I take the racks out and soak them in the bathtub while the oven cleaner seeps into the grease and baked brown spots. I wonder where all that comes from as I rarely have an oven spill. Just what is that crap? I've found that soaking and then scrubbing with SOS erases most of the crud.

Here is one rack done and dripping off in the sink. My pretty bathroom was never made for this job!

Two hours, many scrubbings/soakings/swishings later, I finally have the finished product and eggs on the stove for--YIKES!!!--I run to rescue the eggs for lunch. Anyhow the oven looks great, the silicone mat fits perfectly and I can only dream that my oven will stay clean longer.


Now I need to take a shower!

I Really Must Try Stopping It...

Sometimes I despair of ever being able to stick to my goals. Oh, I know that's a negative thought and I am mostly a positive person, but, really. I get frustrated with myself. I so want to be the person I am in my dreams. What do I mean?

Just now I am struggling in so many ways. Today is Weight Watchers and I have to weigh in once again and I know I haven't stuck to the plan--which is very good--for the last week. I want to, I try to, and then I just forget about the whole thing and scarf down half a bowl of honey-covered peanuts. Last night, thankfully, my husband took them away from me, as I had asked in one of our food conversations.

Eating isn't the only place where my will power turns into won't. I have been planning to finish a little sweater for my sweet granddaughter since the summer time. Well, actually since last March when her mother and I bought the buttons in Victoria's lovely little button shop. All I have to do is finish the last ribbed edge and sew on the buttons. The sweater is all put together except for that. Yet there it sits.

Every day I plan to do more editing of my manuscript in preparation for getting it published. I have wonderful friends who are reading and commenting and each time I receive their emails I think about how I'm falling behind on my end. And yet, I want to get this done so badly that I lie awake nights thinking about getting it published. I visualize myself getting the acceptance letter. I see my title finally decided and on the dust jacket. I feel the glow of pride in a job well done. But in the daytime I procrastinate.

One of my roomies from university, oh, so many years ago, had a sign on her wall that has stayed with me. Procrastination is my fault, it brings me endless sorrow. I really must try stopping it; in fact, I'll start tomorrow. I think of it and laugh, yet see myself.

And housework! Don't even get me started! I never met a broom I couldn't ignore, a layer of dust I couldn't avoid or a vacuum I couldn't use for a clothes horse.

The thing is, eventually I get everything done but not before hours, days, months of I shoulds. Well, it's time to give myself some positive self talk (see, I've read all the how-to stuff!) and do something. Anything. Just get up and get going. Well......maybe after I play another game of MahJong.

These Boots Are Made For...

• Walking

Here they are, my serviceable, comfortable, easy-to-zip-up winter boots, looking a little used , or abused maybe, although I did give them a good rub down. These boots have been my loyal friends for five months and have kept my feet toasty and dry throughout this long, snowy winter. In these I have tramped through snow paths to my neighbour's house, sat in an icy arena watching skaters dance, rushed from condo to car to grocery store, tiptoed through slushy puddles, and walked the new streets of our lovely neighbourhood here in Dreamland, Ontario. They have served me well but I am thrilled to pack them away until next winter.

• Stepping Out

These snappy little numbers take me to church, to dinner, to dancing, to anywhere I want to be a little dressy but still have boots on to keep my feet snug, warm, and dry. They are a bit of a problem on ice as the leather soles are quite smooth but my guy takes my arm and I am doubly blessed. Into the closet with them, too!

• Wild and Crazy

Every once in a while I step into these babies with my jeans and my cowboy hat and climb up onto my stallion for a wild ride. Well, actually--not. But I do like to prance in them now and again. The downside is they are really noisy so people can hear me coming for miles.

• Cross Country Skiing

My cross-country ski boots look almost new--because they are! While we enjoy the skiing, these old bodies rebel at being forced out into the cold. This is a problem because we need cold for snow for skiing. Anyhow, these guys are pretty high tech, so much better than the first ones we bought over thirty years ago. These are almost like a runner but have a lace-up inside, covered with a zipper part, all of which keeps the snow out. They latch easily onto the ski bindings on the skis, unlike the old ones which necessitated bending over and contorting the body in unseemly and ungainly ways before we were ready to ski.

Today I have been saying goodbye to my winter boots and, by implication, joyously saying hello to my summer sandals. Oh, take a look at last summer's shoe frenzy, too! So these boots are walking to the storage closet and summer sandals are stepping out!

Snow in Ontario

Here is the picture from our bedroom window last weekend when we were homeless and our son took us in:

Looking out the kitchen doors I saw the barbecue snowed in:

And here's some of the back yard:

How about a sunny destination now, eh?

Maybe There Is A Plan!!!

We've all experienced it, we've all heard the stories about it. From deja vu to been there, done that, we've all used the expressions which have evolved to describe it. The theme of my piece today is serendipity, those moments that just seem to magically happen where coincidence is pushed to the limit.

This morning while we were preparing breakfast my husband and I were talking about what we would do with the remaining books from my 1500-book collection after our final invitation to friends and family to come and grab what they want this Sunday. We talked about boxing them up and giving them to charity or to the local used book store and hoped we wouldn't have too many to take. Imagine my delight a few minutes later when I opened my email to find a message from my brother who has offered to take all of them to a new used book store opening up in his area. Wonderful! First that the books are going somewhere they'll be appreciated and second, that we don't have to take them!

Yesterday we took a jaunt to Tillsonburg to a great furniture store to see about a new sofa--an idea we have since put on hold till we see how our stuff looks in the new place. On the way home we decided at the last minute to have supper in a remote little restaurant en route. Sitting waiting for our meal we were chatting about the Monday night visit from our friend who lives in Chilliwack BC and was here visiting his elderly mother. He told us about meeting some people out there who used to live here and they knew us. When we heard the names we marvelled at how small the world is. You might think that's the end of the story but the words had no sooner left my mouth when I looked up at the couple who had just sat down at a table nearby and thought I recognized them. I couldn't believe it. These people now live somewhere in Manitoba and we haven't seen them for years. I got my husband to turn around to verify and sure enough there they were--the people we had just mentioned not two minutes before!

Well I know we all have those moments but when they happen I really start to wonder about the power of thinking things into reality, as mentioned in The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. That idea that like attracts like as in positive ions--whatever they are!--is pretty magical and I have to think that our house sale is an example. From the time we got an unexpected offer, got excited about moving, and then through all the counter offers and waiting for conditions to be met, I just kept seeing that the deal was going to go through. And it did.

My word for today, therefore, is serendipity. Here's to magic!

Shoe Heaven

I saved the best for first today. These are my Pikolinos shoes which called to me in a mall store in Framingham, the best shopping mecca I have ever seen in my life. Perhaps it was the fact that it was the first week of August and absolutely everything was drastically reduced but Donna and I literally couldn't help ourselves, the deals were so great. And the quality and selection were unbelievable. Anyway these Pikolinos were the most expensive pair I bought but they are worth every penny with their intricate cut design and supple leather. Oh, and they feel like a dream on. It's all about comfort, you know?

Next are my Skechers which came with a second pair of laces for parties, I guess. They have orange sparkly bits in them.

These red heels are absolutely gorgeous leather and feel wonderful on, but the funky blue wedges were my biggest surprise. I always like colour so went to these immediatelyjust to see what they felt like on. Well they felt wonderful! I am definitely sprucing up my shoe wardrobe with these babies.

This black pair have the pointy toes and are not quite as comfortable as every other pair I bought but they are very cool with their tiny heels and white stitching. The woven red ones can be worn summer or winter, which I like. And, of course, the colour makes my heart sing.

I bought some dancing shoes--the black sling backs--and yet another pair of dark reds. These are patent, flat and open-toed but just as cute as can be. They will look awesome with my black or grey slacks. The lovely soft leather of the black laceups complements the sleek lines. I look forward to wearing these casually.

These two pairs might not look exciting but they are great. I have been loving the brown leather sandals, so soft and smooth on my feet, and the stretchy quality of the black straps makes for a smart yet comfortable pair of sandals which I can wear well into the fall. They will be great for concerts with my choir.

So there you have them--my eleven pair of shoes. I am still dumbfounded that I bought so many as I am definitely NOT a shopper. I guess I'll just blame it on my wonderful sister-in-law, Donna, who most decidedly IS a shopper. Now if I could just get her to pay for all of these.........

New Template

Today I was playing with templates and decided to choose this new one. Let me know if you like it
(a) better than the old one
(b) not as well as the old one or
(c) can't remember the old one or
(d) don't give a flying fig and/or
(e) feel threatened by filling out forms.

Weekend is looking lovely and I shan't be writing. In fact, I think I'll stop today as I have nothing to say and the sunny cool day is calling me. Ta!

Tidbits

1. Lots of things going on today and this week as my husband's sister and her husband are here from Connecticut. Yesterday the guys golfed while the girls did errands, shopped and ate lunch out. Pretty tough since all four of us ate dinner out, too. My only problem is when I wake up early in the morning I can't get back to sleep as I start thinking about what needs doing or what our plans for the day are. Never mind, we're having fun.

2. Our street has been gutted since Monday as they do the underground work preparations for the new subdivision going in to the west of us. Pretty nasty dust all around, even though they water frequently. Of course that means all our driveways are covered in mud as we drive in and out. Here is what the street looked like the day they started:




And this is the street allowance across from us which for 31 years has been a grassy area leading to a corn field. On Monday last the workers moved in.




Here is our street today looking south. The right side has been dug out and filled with new sewer and water pipes, while the left side is still paved although you really can't see it, the dust is so thick.

Remember the picture above of the street allowance? Here is what is looks like today. And beyond the piles of dirt are--you guessed it--more piles where the new streets will be laid out. Looks like this would be a good summer to be on the road to Timbuktu for two months!

This view to the north shows the last bit of road the workers are digging out and I thought I would show my readers exactly how far down they are going.

When I approached with my camera several fellows looked a little worried. They thought I was coming to take pictures for my complaints about what they're doing. No, I reassured them, I'm just writing my blog and needed some pictures. They did tell me the road will be a mess all summer. Bummer. Hey, that rhymes! See what lengths I'll go to for something happy?

Bedtime Stories

Last night my husband and I went to the theatre in Port Dover, a last-minute decision which paid off in laughter--sudden great, huge roars from the crowd. At one point I even found myself on the verge of snorting, the lines were so funny. Norm Foster's new play,






is a rollicking, roaring delight, sure to have you dabbing at happy tears. (Although the lady beside my husband didn't seem to laugh at all!)


The show is playing at the Lighthouse Theatre in Dover, which is found right on the main street as you drive into the village. My husband and I were remarking on how the facility and the playbill have improved over the thirty years we have been going there. Both are great.

We are fortunate to live in an area where there are many theatres, small and large, within an hour's drive, sometimes a little more. Here is a list of some of them:


1. Port Stanley Festival Theatre
2. Port Dover Lighthouse Festival Theatre
3. Petrolia's Victoria Playhouse
4. Blyth Festival of Canadian Theatre
5. Huron Country Playhouse
6. Drayton Festival Theatre
7. Stratford Shakespearean Festival Theatre et al
8. St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
9. Schoolhouse Theatre, St. Jacobs
10. Playhouse II, Grand Bend


If you go further afield you'll find several more. I am so happy to have all of these delightful places to frequent. Obviously others must be, too, as they are usually full or very close to it, no matter when you go.


Last night's, Bedtime Stories, was a wonderful start to this summer's theatre season. I hope we can find it playing somewhere else so we can take our guests in July. I know they will love this one. If you want to go, Google the theatres above to get a taste of the manna on the menu this year.

How I Love My Computer!

There was a time when I didn't have one ; indeed, didn't even know such a thing existed. I wonder what I did without it? Of course, I refer to my computer.

1. Keeping our family books was done in a thin spiral ledger book where either my husband or I recorded our (many) cheques and (few) deposits. We tried to keep this up to date and pay bills before the deadline, thus saving money, but didn't always succeed.

2. The twenty-seven photo albums which line the bottom shelf of my library attest to my old-technology camera and the many trips to get film developed. When digital first arrived I started having my pics put on a CD and brought them home to my computer.

3. I wrote recipes out by hand for friends and they did the same for me. My recipe book was a collection of slips sliding out because the tape had lost its stickiness.

4. Research was done for our Classroom Puzzlers in libraries or by buying books.

5. When I needed a phone number not in our phone book I called information--and it was free!

6. Our business was conducted by sending out flyers to all the schools in Canada, taking orders by phone or fax, and shipping bulky puzzlers to each customer.

7. I sent letters and made lots of phone calls.

8. I spent my days when not working doing projects around our home and not in my computer room.

9. I taught French and then English (and not Computers!).

10. Essays for courses, writing projects, and other such things were all done on a--hold your breath--typewriter! (That was a machine with keys that actually went up and smacked ink onto the page. Holy history! If I made a mistake on the last line of the page and it was something important, I had to start all over again rather than correct and leave a smudge.)

11. Surprisingly I was happy without my computer but now it's the first thing I turn to in the morning or whenever I want to sit and relax. (Oh, I forgot to mention games, which have evolved in my world. Solitaire is no longer solo. You might be playing with 8635 other players.)

As much as I love my computer and spend a lot of time on it, when I travel I don't miss it. The change is always good. So Monday when I fly to Beth's place in Victoria I'll be leaving my computer behind but I may stick in my flash drive with my writing project on it so I can work at her place when the mood strikes. No pressure but just in case.

Beader Girl Broods

1. As the summer season begins I am wondering if there is anything to the fact that GOLF spelled backwards is FLOG?

2. Why is it that now we've pretty much decided we don't want to sell our house (even though it is still listed), we've had a very interested buyer here twice to check it out? We have no idea what we'll do if we get our price offered.

3. Today I'm driving to Deerhurst to pick up my husband who went up for a conference yesterday. I am looking forward to those 4 hours in the car on this sunny day. I'm taking some CD's and stopping at Weber's for the best hamburger in the world. A time to enjoy my own company.

4. Is my sister-in-law's fascination with and great love for her dogs linked to the fact that DOG spelled backwards is GOD? (She is a great believer as well.)

5. Wednesday is appointment day for me. Hair in the morning--time to rejuvenate again and pedicure in the afternoon--time to update my 'pretty feet' look in preparation for summer in general but more specifically for my trip to Victoria and Beth. Yay!

Live always as though life is great and it pretty much will be!

Blue Mountain Pottery

Ah, memories, memories. When we got married hubby was fresh out of university and I was still finishing my degree, so that tells you how young we were. Happily we opened all the wedding and shower gifts because we had nothing, and we accepted people's offerings with a lot of gratitude. Well, of course, some of the gifts were more enticing than others.
The Blue Mountain pottery just didn't get us excited. And we received loads of it: a set of 6 small cup/mugs, a set of 4 taller mugs, a coffee pot (we don't drink coffee), and ashtray (we don't smoke), several vases of various sizes and shapes, and a host of other pieces I've done my best to forget. Gradually over the years, they disappeared in one way or another and we thought we'd seen the last of them.
Then, on our 25th wedding anniversary we had a party and members of the family scoured all the antique places and garage sales to find joke gifts for us. What else? Blue Mountain pottery. We laughed and laughed.





The best laugh of the night was when we opened a large, newspaper-wrapped piece. It was the big fish. After a moment I realized it was Mom's fish, given to her by some of my brothers and, true to form, she had kept and treasured it all those years.
"I want that back!" she interjected through all the comments and laughter. And she was serious. She still loved the piece. Here is a poor picture of it, the best quality I could get.

Anyhow the fish went back to Mom but when she died no one wanted it. Eventually someone took it and stored it in the basement because none of us could bear to get rid of it. Then on every wedding, birthday, or kind of gift-giving celebration since then, it has come out. My kids received it on their wedding days, I got it for a birthday, we passed it around to great laughter, each time. The best joke was when I figured I wouldn't get it for our 40th because it was in my basement, but somehow, someone found a duplicate. Now there are two floating around! Imagine my surprise when Sue gave me an article last week stating that kitschy Blue Mountain Pottery is now a hot item on E-Bay. Woe is me for all the pieces I used up or got rid of. In fact, I have to close now, to see if I can find Mom's fish in the basement!

Oh, my God! Really?

Today's post is a list of things I've learned in my many years so far. Sometimes in life you just have to laugh.

10. Losing weight is not so much about what you eat as where your head is at.
9. Mirrors at the gym are to scare you into working hard.
8. Women like to be told they look good. All the time. Over and over. It's a little thing that will bring men big rewards.
7. The positive side of things tastes much better than the negative side.
6. When you think someone is absolutely nuts, get to know them better. Chances are they're the most interesting types you'll ever meet.
5. Each crazy patterned bit in a patchwork quilt contributes to the whole, like people.
4. The different sized clothes in my closet are a metaphor for the many facets to my personality. I keep telling myself that anyhow.
3. Getting older means you have splitting nails, dry hands and scaly legs but the important thing is your mind is still whirring along wonderfully.
2. As you age hair thins on your legs but sprouts freshly on your upper lip.
1. After a barium enema your poop is a pale whitish-yellow colour.

I guess the above points are examples of wry humour!

Holy Crap! Where's the De-Icer?

Sunday, late in the day, hubby and I chugged up the 401 from Detroit airport to home after a sunny two weeks in California and Arizona. The road was bare and we made good time, arriving here about 8:45 p.m. Tired and glad of our own bed, we turned the lights out early, beginning a beautiful blissful sleep until about 8:00 the next morning. We couldn't believe we slept so long! Looking out the window I saw an icy panorama and was glad we had made it home on good roads. Here is the view from my office window upstairs. Note the icy tree.

In the midst of getting breakfast, about 8:20, the power went out. Oops. Guess it's cold breakfast. Not to worry. We had food in the house and bundled up. We turned on our gas fireplace and spent most of the morning in that room as the house gradually cooled down. Figuring what to do was the biggest problem as we are so dependant on power for our computers, our cooking, our washing of clothes.

Meanwhile outdoors, beside the front porch our little weeping caragana seemed to be shrinking under the weight of all that ice, and the red maple branches were hurting as well. This is the time when trees often lose their limbs as they creak, creak and often crack. There will be a lot of trees damaged across the area.

Around noon the power came back on and we raced to our computers to connect with the world. Hubby works from home so he checked his email which led to lots of work to keep him busy. I caught up on banking, email, uploading my holiday pictures and a bunch of other things. Around 2:00 p.m. the power died again and we were silent in our front room with the fireplace again. I thought I'd go down to the bank but then realized that I couldn't get the garage door open and would have to walk in all that ice and when I reached the bank it might not have power. Maybe they have a generator but I decided banking could wait till later.

Little did I know that the power would be out till almost 5 p.m. By then banking was way back in my priorities and I quickly heated the soup I had been defrosting all day. I put a kettle of water on to warm in case the power pooped again. Hubby went out on the roof to check on the ice near the drain--don't want a repeat of the freaky freeze we had a few years ago which resulted in a flooded room below and an insurance claim.

The story ends here today, with us still waiting for the sun to come out and melt the ice off the trees. Meanwhile I'm left with my memory, just before I went to bed last night, of the streetlight sliding brightly down the glassy branches as snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground. It was another time to stop and delight in the scene before it melts.

Thanksgiving?

Early last Wednesday morning hubby took me to rendezvous at Tim Horton's with my sister-in-law and a friend for our journey to New Hampshire. Up at 5:00 a.m., on the road at 5:40, meeting at 6:00--it all meant for a long day. We drove from Woodstock to Montreal and turned south to eventually cross into New Hampshire. From there we flew along famously, arriving at Paula's house about 5:00 p.m., just in time for some sustenance and relaxation. I hadn't seen Paula's new place and was interested to see her cute little house in an established neighbourhood with lots of trees and a small lake just down the street. The beauty of New Hampshire!

The next day was the American Thanksgiving when all stores were closed and most restaurants. We had a great afternoon hike up a pretty steep mountain trail--a challenge for me, the oldest of the group--with Toby and Oscar, Paula's dogs, tearing exuberantly all over the lovely natural scape. I loved seeing the little green bits of lichen and moss which were much more noticeable than usual because most everything else was brown and winter ready. After the hike it was time for us to get ready for our dinner party at a friend's house. The only catch was no shower at Paula's place (under construction). Not to worry, we were invited to use the shower at her friend Bill's place. Bill was away for Thanksgiving so had given Paula the key. Kind of nice, I thought. Paula had showered at fitness earlier so dropped the three of us there, laden with towels, hair dryers, clothes--everything we'd need for our respective transformations while she did some errands.

About five minutes before we expected Paula back, the doorbell rang. When RoseMarie and I went to open it, we saw a woman peering through the sidelight at us.
"Who are you?" she blurted when we opened the door. Of course we had no clue who she might be but she soon told us this was her house and we had no business being there. Thinking we could solve the problem we said Paula had let us in and explained Bill's permission.
"Get out!" she yelled.

From that point on, things went badly. We were trying to explain and she was freaking and threatening to call the police. Donna said for her to do that if she wanted. She did. All of our explaining did no good. Her problem was that she and her husband are extranged, in the throes of getting divorced and there was no reasoning with the woman.

I was ready to leave and stand on the curb to wait for Paula, but for some strange reason Donna just sat tiny in the big black leather chair and said we'd wait for Paula. We weren't going to wait in the cold. By this time, the woman was on the phone with the police and telling them a small part of the truth. She managed to persuade them that they should come out. When she found out that Donna was Paula's mother, she said, "I pity you," and then proceeded to vilify Paula. By then, I had had enough of trying to assure the woman that everything was alright, as RoseMarie and I had both been doing, and said that we didn't need to hear her talk about Paula. And then the doorbell rang again.

This time it was Paula's face peering through the window. We let her in and grabbed our bags of stuff to take to the van while crazy woman yelled at Paula. Last out the door, Paula's arm was caught as the woman slammed the door on it. About a block from the house we saw the police who were on their way, but we kept going. In the van Donna explained a bunch of the background to the story and we came to understand why she didn't want to leave till Paula got there. Suffice it to say unwittingly we had ended up in the middle of the domestic battle of the century and Paula was very apologetic. "Not your fault," we all chimed and soon started to find the humor in the situation. When we arrived at the party we had lots to talk about but the first thing we did was accept a good drink from Hazel, our wonderful hostess for that great evening.

On reflection, I've decided that American Thanksgiving is quite different from the Canadian one I know.

Ya Just Gotta Laugh

Last night hubby and I took a night out, having supper at East Side Mario's--not as good as the one in Woodstock!--and shopping in a mall in Cambridge. This one is interesting as it has an ice rink attached right opposite one row of shops, so that you can be wandering the shops and checking out the ladies' hockey game by glancing right and left. Cool concept. We were looking for the GNC as I needed some Omega3 Fish Oil. (Gotta keep up that healthy stuff!)

When we found the store I immediately started my search and hubby did his own thing. I find these stores a little intimidating because there are thousands of supplements and I don't want anyone to try to 'sell' me on them. My main health thing is fitness, exercise, eat lots of fruits and veggies, and TRY to stay away from the breads and desserts as much as possible. I don't want to be taking 50 pills a day.

Soon enough I found my mega jar, enough to last us for six months, and paid at the till. Hubby joined me there and got me to go over to the men's section. There he pointed out a jar labeled something like Increase Sensual Drive--for Men. This would not be too funny except for the warning on the back. Not to be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The last time I looked, men were neither pregnant nor likely to be breast feeding! Has this changed? Did we miss something?

We had a great laugh as we left the store.

Still Waiting?

My niece showed me a great story on Saturday. Yes, that's right, showed me. As we were walking back to the parking lot after the Wonderful Wacky Wedding we all attended, she showed me, in the distance, her van. I still didn't get it.

"Mom was sitting on the passenger side and I was driving. When we were nicely sitting in our chairs down by the river, waiting patiently for the wedding to start, Mom asked if I had locked the van. She was worried about something she had left in it," Tracy patiently explained.

I took another look at the van. The sliding door on the right side was wide open! Tracy's mom had not even closed the door, let alone locked it.

How often do we get somewhere and wonder if we have turned off the stove, locked the car, closed the windows against the rain, and a million other things? We just don't seem to be able to remember those things we do repetitively. Hubby and I have a system with the car. When he's driving, he locks it. When I'm driving I lock it. Yet still we get a block away and can't remember doing it. Grrr!

The worst is getting away on vacation and wondering about the house back home. Strangely, I am sure we have never left our house open or in jeopardy from the stove being on or something of the like, but still we wonder. Why is that?

Okay, this is the point where I come up with a great pearl of wisdom and you all say, "Aha! Isn't she clever?" ................still waiting? ........................... nothing yet..................mmmm...........

Well, I think I'll go and check to see if I left the water running in the pool.

Positive Self Talk

What is that? Positive self talk? Remember when you looked in the mirror and moaned about your burgeoning belly? Or your red acne? Or your short neck? Well, those things are negative self talk and we are all really good at it. I have decided that the real goal of my life is to learn to live with who and what I am. Not only to live with me but to like the attributes that are me.

For instance, I have to be pleased when I look at my chubby arms or when I see my hands growing beautiful liver spots. And I am ecstatic when I consider the grooves in my shoulders caused by a lifetime of holding up my boobs, or the lovely red-coloured veins sprouting on my thighs. Oh, it all makes me so happy!

Really, you say? Well, of course I remember the skin that was, and the two-piece bathing suits, with fond affection, but I try to concentrate on the good things about growing older: the power to plan my days how I want them, the many decisions that are all mine, the time I can spend doing my beading, or writing songs, or playing the piano, or talking to my intimates, or going to the gym, or swimming laps in my pool, or biking/hiking/liking all I do. It's a great life and if my physical attributes do not look as good as 40 years ago, they all still work, allowing me to do what I want. For that I am profoundly grateful. In fact, I'm positively grateful!