Gone for a while

Duty calls.  I will be in Atlanta helping my son's family survive while his wife recovers for a while. When I have a moment, and if I get some great insights, I'll let you all know. I'm sure I will.  That's what grammas do when they are with their grandkids. Revelations come. Butl, life will return to normal and I will be back.

Truth Be Told

One of my better kayak memories, a day with daughter and manatees. What could be a better combination?

Truth be told. I thought I had erred yesterday when getting into the kayak, even though I plopped down in the seat just as I always do and never have a mishap. Michael admitted later that always before he had a hand on my kayak steadying it, as I sat.  But for some unknown reason this time he didn't. And I didn't realize it. That's how it is with information.  Sometimes you don't get to the truth of the situation until later.

You can bet next time I'll be more cautious. I always expect that Michael is there to steady me along the way, no matter where I'm headed.

Interesting what you might over hear in the morning when out on the trail. On the way this morning, I watched as a man was guiding a driver out of a blind driveway on to the road. Once he got the driver and car safely out and onto the side of the road I heard him say, as he jumped into the car." Okay, now your destiny is your own." Wow, I wish I had thought of saying that to my kids and grand kids when they graduated from high school.

I also over heard two men talking as they passed me on their bikes. One said to the other," I'm really not very regular."  I don't know if he was talking about biking or his bowels. You just never know, but which ever it is, I hope, for his health's sake, he gets more regular.

This and That plus ps note

Sorry the video didn't work yesterday.  Until further instruction, I will abandon the idea.  However, in the mean time, while I wait for Michael to finish ordering another pair of running shoes on the Internet, I will up load a couple of my latest. I'm doing a lot of experimenting to figure out my own style. Eventually, I will find my identity in my art work, where ever that may be.

We are supposed to be headed out for some kayaking this morning, if we ever get it together.  There is a lot of "first I have tos" going on.  But now that he has his shoes on order and I have my yoga and blog started for the day, I think we are finally in gear.

Yesterday, was clean out the closet day, according to Michael.  So I got that out of the way early enough.  A difficult thing for me to do.  Not the organizing part , but the parting part.  Parting with items that I just know I will be ruing that I threw out the the next day.

Not difficult for Michael, however. In fact I usually monitor what he is throwing out since I deem most of it stuff he should keep. If he doesn't wear something for a couple of months, he figures he never will.  Where as, even if I have clothes that are 20 years old, I can still see where they might fit into my future wardrobe. They might not fit, but I can usually convince myself there is always another day to work on it.

So I made some rash decisions.  Will I ever be able to fit into that dress again that I bought for my grandson's wedding?  I know it was only six years ago, but it really isn't very flattering on this body anymore. I really don't want to go around trying to suck it in.  What if I relax?  Not a pretty sight.
So that one begrudgingly  had to go.

 Also the running shorts.  They can go to someone who has better legs than I have.  I think I'd better stick to the longer style.

Well, I hear the man going into action mode, so better get into gear. Enough of this and that.

Post note:  So much for the kayak ride. First thing I did, getting into my kayak was turn it over.  With me in it. I went under and came up with a nose full of yucky water. I know how I did it, but it still took me by surprise. My advise for anyone getting into your kayak is hold on to the dock.  I didn't.

Michael helped ]pull me out, but he just couldn't stifle the laugh fast enough. I  have to admit, I looked pretty pathetic, all wet and cold, as I sloshed back to the house with remnants of the lake falling off me. He tried to take a picture so you could share in his laugh, but the camera wouldn't work.  It went into the lake with me.

After a hot shower and blowing all the lake water out of my nose, though, you will be glad to know that I am just fine. No more kayaking for me today, though. 

Change

Thought I would try adding a video this time, even if it doesn't relate to my blog today. We'll see if it works or not. So as it continues to up load( that's what it says it is doing anyway) I will continue with my thoughts for the day. Sorry, the video didn't work.  Guess I need some help with that.

The breeze felt pretty raw as I headed out this morning.  So I pulled the sleeves of my jacket closed around my hands for a while. It didn't take long, however, for me to start to feel the heat from my body so I shed the jacket after the first mile.  The weather hadn't change.  Just me. Isn't that the way it usually is? Things around us are usually pretty much the same, one way or the other.  Different day, different place, but the same types of things going on around us. Some good, some bad, some just are what they are.

We are often the change that is taking place. Our attitudes, our perceptions, our frame of reference to what is going on. I know that is true of me. Between the radio and TV, I followed parts of the day yesterday and thought about how much so many of us as Americans have changed over the years.  Here we have a second term black president. Now that is definitely change from fifty years ago. People have change how they feel about African Americans for that to happen.

In fact I think it remarkable that someone who came from such an obscure, challenged background has risen to, not only the highest office in our land, but the most influential position in the world. Incredible. I say that not only speaks of our country for it to be possible, but of the individual.

Now I realize that many will scoff at these thoughts and maybe even get their dander up a bit.  But, personally I don't see why America can't be the land that not only cares for its most vulnerable members of society, but encourages enterprise and resourcefulness of us all. The two aspects do not contradict each other. We are a prosperous nation that can make room for all of our citizens to have the opportunity to reach unbelievable heights.

I know it is so. It happened to our current president.

Here I go again!

My birthday went well yesterday, thanks to so many of you sending your best wishes.  It was a busy day with going to a local rendition of the musical "Nunsense" with my troupe of friends, followed by cheesecake and a glass of wine then dinner with Michael at the Outback. 

I noticed several times that "Happy Birthday" was being sung at different times through out the restaurant and they brought something that look pretty good to the honoree.  So Michael told the waitress that, not only was it my birthday, but it was my 72nd birthday. Talk about too much information! But we did enjoy sharing the hot fudge sundae they brought to me.

Yes, I'm still enjoying having birthdays with no compunctions. I figure another year is going to keep coming around until I'm done. And so far I have no complaints about any of them. If I'm older than some on this earth, all they have to do is wait and it will come around for them, too.  If they are lucky and play their life right. And if I'm younger than some, then I can be assured by their lead that it will be just fine when it is my turn.

You see, I believe that being happy has nothing to do with age, wealth or even health for the most part.  Studies have shown that the happiest segment of society is generally those with less, not those who have more.  They just accept and know they have to make the best of things.  They know that it is family and friends that make you happy and you don't need a fortune to have those.

Sure you have heard of the stereo typical old grouch, but I don't think they are any more prevalent than at any other age.  Just more verbal maybe, since sometimes they feel like they have lost their voice and aren't being heard.  If people take the time to listen to the seniors in their life they may see that they still enjoy a good laugh as anyone does.

Now health may be a bit different on the surface and I really can't say I have been there with issues much.  But, I have heard people who have been through pretty horrible stuff with their health say that, coming out the other side, they came out stronger and better for it.  Maybe coming to grips with their health issues is the key.  I wouldn't know and wouldn't presume to minimize anyone elses pain.

So, I'm now 72 and a day ( as Michael reminds me) and life is good.

Living on the Edge

Yesterday, we were definitely living on the edge. For us anyway.  We began with going out to The Hen House, which used to be the Cockadoodledoo, for breakfast.  Something we never do, unless it is after a race that morning and I have earned it. You noticed I didn't say anything about going out and running or biking first, either.

But, yesterday it was just because Michael was tired of the same old fare around our kitchen and had a real hankering for some biscuits and gravy.  I never order the biscuits and gravy, mainly because it personifies the opposite of what I envision to be a healthy breakfast.

After glancing over the menu, however, I realized that a half order of that couldn't be any worse for you than a three egg omelet with hash browns and sausage.  Besides all I had to do was add a cup of fruit to justify my choice.

So after a trip to Walmart to fill the larder again, we just went home and hung out for the afternoon. I'm reading an interesting book on President Obama's life that I'm enjoying, but it is going to take a bit to get it finished by the time it is due at the library.  Around three or so, after having had no lunch, I got hungry enough to have a piece of chocolate pie. Okay, I had made it with skim milk, but it still wasn't what I would consider a proper lunch.

Later, I made a pizza for dinner.  Whole wheat crust, of course, and lots of veggies with sausage and polished off with a glass of wine. We both felt pretty daring, breaking all of our rules, but agreed that  once in a while one just needs to do that.

However, before bed I must add, that I did have to have a glass of milk, vitamins and four prunes. One just has to be sure not to go over the edge entirely, you know.

My daughter, Kathy, wove this scarf for me on her loom( the one I gave up on) for my birthday. It came just in time for the cold snap we have had and the Celtic/Maine concert that I wore it to Thursday night with my friends at the court house. I can't imagine the patience it would take to weave a long scarf like this with such fine yarn, but I will enjoy wearing it for years to come. Thanks, Kathy.  You are sooo talented!

This and That

I was pretty "Good Morning" out during our 20 mile bike ride this morning.  Must be that a lot of people dusted off their bikes, due to the unusually warm weather we have been having and decided to get out on the trail.  So far, you can't call this winter, even by Florida standards. However, we are expecting a few degree cooling trend the rest of the week. Hope it is like this when family comes, though.  They expect warm weather and we do our best to accommodate them.

Now I need to read up about Jackson Pollock.  My girl friends got together to watch a movie about his life as an artist.  I guess my artist education pretty well ends with impressionism. I have never understood abstract art, but now my curiosity is peaked to find out what it is all about. Not that it would ever be my style, but I might learn to appreciate it anyway.

I still don't get the difference between what he did and the art created by that elephant.  I wouldn't be able to tell one from the other, if you showed them to me side by side even. That shows my limitations in the field of art, anyway.

By the way, the kale chips are delicious. What you do is cut out the main vein up the middle and tear in to chip size pieces. Cover them with olive oil, a tad of garlic and sprinkle with salt. Bake on a cookie sheet in a 375 degree oven for about 6 to 7 minutes.  Watch closely or they will burn.  You want them to be crisp, though. They are a great way to get your much needed dark green leafy veggies in a fun way.

Michal wasn't impressed with them, but that's okay.  More for me.