Monthly Archives: September 2014

09.07.14
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Just like tiny balls in a pin ball machine….

I didn’t used to even question the way my mind works..because, obviously, you only have your mind and don’t know how the monkey turns the crank in anyone else’s mind. I’m a rapid thinker or to describe it better, the electrical currents seem to bank off the the little cells similar to the balls in a pin ball machine. The little button gets no rest and it is played over and over and over again. I never questioned it until I started getting older and an off hand remark from my son-in-law who told me his mind never stops. Family and friends have commented that my conversation pattern is quite random.

odd, unusual, or unexpected.

I have envied Him for many years for his ability to sit and think about nothing. That latter has also irritated me beyond measure.

All of this and I don’t know left from right. I swear it is in the wiring. Justin was cutting my hair the other day and asked me to look right…thankfully he was standing on my right side and my split second hesitation made us both smile. I have spent many, many years feeling like something was wrong with me – obviously – because I do not know right and left without thinking about it. Gena and I came up with a directional plan that worked when we were together in a car. Your way and My way. You can’t get me on North South East and West – well until now – in my new habitat, I have no idea what direction I’m going when I leave home because of two curves in the road. I probably just need to come to terms with the fact that I’m not going to know which is right and which is left and get on with it. I do know that I’m right and he’s not…so maybe I’m making headway?

….and this post was going to be about politics and Meet the Press…

Until next time….

09.06.14
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One of the best inventions ever….

…and it isn’t new to me.  We had one in our house in Des Moines when I was growing up in the 60’s.  The full house attic fan.  When it is running it sucks cool air into the house from every open window and door.  It also expedites the smell of cooked cabbage rapidly through the house.  I’ve had it on most of the day – first low – then high – and now low again because HE is Cold!  Ohhhh brrrr.

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Which brings me to another subject.  I’ve noticed during walks in the neighborhood that no one leaves their front interior door open and God forbid anyone would leave their drapes/curtains open.  Is this a new rule that I’m unaware of after living in the country for so many years.  Day or Night.  The reason probably is because of people like me who like to walk and look into peoples houses at night.  I remember when we were in Charleston, SC taking an evening walk,  everyone had their sashes (oo la la) thrown wide open and with lights on inside, the decorating and architecture were totally visible….he wouldn’t look..was against his own privacy rule.  I’ve changed him.  But a lot of good it did.  There are a couple houses on our street that appear so locked up and dark that I have wondered if anyone actually lives there or if they are dead inside.  One night I did see a light through the skylight of one house.  At any rate.  I want this to change.  Throw open your curtains and open up your doors, people.  Don’t close yourself off…

Or maybe it is a social thing…I don’t want you at my door so I will batten down the hatches and hide in my house so I will be left alone.  I guess that is okay too…Who am I to judge?

Until next time….

09.06.14
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It has been a long, hot summer

This morning, Truman and I have decided to lounge in bed. I’ve been catching up on what everyone thinks and is doing on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WordPress…Truman is being a little more productive.

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He and I slept with the deck door open last night and this morning’s cool breeze and view has reminded me about how much I love retirement!

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We are days away from our Italy adventure…I have everything pretty much taken care of…the not pretty much is laundry and packing. I was awake until 2:30 this morning reading reviews about places I’m going to visit. I got that giddy feeling in my solar plexus…the one that feels good, feels like you almost could giggle, feelings of excitement and just the feeling of awe. I love an adventure.

until next time….

09.04.14
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The people we ask to have a seat in our life…..

I have quite a few people in my life that I can call friend.  Friends come and go physically in my life.  They are here and then they move away and with each one I have experienced a huge loss.  There are people I have called friends who were not really my friend – they are gone and I try to forgive and release the anger for my lack of awareness…but I never forget.  I’ve now moved away physically and I know how that feels to those I left…and now that I have made the move…I also understand the need for a different sunrise and sunset. 

I have a friend who is the most positive person in my life.  I think of her as a life coach…someone who always expects the best of me but picks me up and says what I need to hear when I’m down-under.  She keeps me real.  She was attacked by cancer a couple of years ago and beat it.  All through her ordeal, she was very open about her treatment…her emotional state…and in a way took care of all of us who were dealing with our own emotional pain because of her ball to the gut!  Recently she found out she is headed down the road again.  Cancer.  I’m pretty sure she knew the cancer would come back and has worked mentally and physically to get herself in shape in order to take on this next hurdle.  When she let us all know that she got a bad diagnosis, I told her that I wanted the strength she has and I want to be where she is….then I grounded to a complete stop and realized that I did not want to go through what she has gone through to be where she is.  Does that make sense.  She’s locked and loaded again.  Her advice is DON’T WASTE TIME.  Do what you need to do – NOW.  Don’t put it off – get healthy, be who you want to be right now…don’t put it off.  Don’t waste time! 

I love you, Tracy.  I love who you are and am so thankful I found you 7 years ago on Xanga.

Until next time…

09.02.14
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Prep Prep Prep

Its hard to believe that a week from today we will be somewhere up there >destination Italia!  The mental prep is going on now.  I hate the mental prep.  Before this week, we were planning and imagining and dreaming about the adventure.  This pre-week mental prep involves getting our affairs in order here before we leave.  I paid bills tonight, talked to Verizon about a global plan and stewed about what I will really take with me….the decision about shoes seems to be the biggest hurdle.. they really take up the most room.  Also stewing about suitcases…how many suitcases will fit in the car we rented.  The Brother-in Law will be easy…he takes a back pack…. I (and He) will be taking a large suitcase and two smaller carry on suitcases…Gena will do the same, I think.  It certainly won’t be an alfa romeo as we had first glamorized.  Monday, when I actually start putting clothes in the suitcase, I will be conservative *rolling eyes.  I know that I will do laundry the way I did laundry last time…in the shower with the clothes on the floor with my feet being the agitator.  Gena is bringing laundry detergent.  Haven’t decided if I will just take old underwear and throw it away each day the way we did in Ecuador.  Mildly concerned about the fire shooting from the ground in Iceland…if we get there, can we get home?  Jenny will be checking on the cats every few days…days away from my babies with no Carmen.  Justin is doing my hair Friday – something I can style without a hairdryer or at least a motel hair dryer.  Not enough European electric adapters to waste on a hair dryer…. Ya…I hate the mental prep.

Until next time…..