Catchin' Up

Hi again,

I can't let too many days to go by without writing, because I'm back and to really be present you need to be present. Writing helps me remember my life, because time flies. I woke up around 4:30 this morning and couldn't fall back asleep. Finally I decided to get out of bed and read my book club book and write here. That was an hour ago. I've been on Facebook instead.

I've gone to my gym 3X so far, swimming every time. Swimming is as close to meditating as I get (so far). I swim 36 laps/1 mile. It's 50 minutes of constant motion (breast stroke). The first third is an effort. The second I'm anticipating how close I am to the third. The last is instintive. I've been spending a few minutes in the hot tub afterward, then 10 minutes (if I can stand it) in the sauna. When I leave the gym after showering, etc, I feel transformed. I last went on Thanksgiving day and had the pool to myself. I decided not to shower afterward and do it at home. I decided I needed a Starbucks. I'm glad I didn't run into anyone I knew in my uncombed, chlorined, half-dried hair. 

I spent the night before Thanksgiving at my brother's with a few of his friends. We had an array of Chinese food for dinner, and did a lot of cooking and socializing and relaxing. There were 20 of us for dinner. Here's a few pictures:

My brother's family + 1

Emily and one of her favorite cousins (she has a lot!)

Like mother, like daughter

Part II of the dating game. I met another guy online, Bill. I liked him. Smart, worldly, well-spoken, fit, funny and adventurous. He was a real foodie and loved to dine out. We went out about five times, and had a great time, everytime. After our last great date, and texts that night saying what a wonderful time we each had, I never heard from him again. I sent a few texts. One funny email. One last email saying I thought he was a better man than to just disappear like he did. It shall remain a mystery. I know he's still alive because a friend is on the same dating site and can browse 'invisibily', and he's still logging on. I have moved on.

I went hiking on Friday with a new friend :) He's the shadow! That's his dog with Sparky.

I hosted Hanukkah at my house on Saturday night. There were 10 of us. It was relaxed. The food was great, especially the brisket (if I do say so myself). I love to entertain and bring people together (plus it's a great way to get my house clean). It was so nice to have my parents here. They were pretty funny. My dad is really quiet. My mother told the story (not nice) that my dad says her father paid him to marry her. My dad, from his quiet spot on the couch, said, 'not enough'. We all know my mother was the prize.

Sister Lisa, my brother and his daughter Hannah.

Mom and Emily and Sparky

A sweet picture of Barbara and my dad

I better sign off for now. I haven't read my book (it's become a monkey on my back) and I need to walk. Forty six miles till I reach my goal. I'm ready to enjoy the last day of my 5-day vacation. As always, it will be a very full day. 

Addio amici

Four paragraphs, for lack of a better title

I put all my layers on and went out to walk but the wind gusts and cold temperature made for a very short walk. My weather app says it feels like 17° with the wind chill. The hood of my coat kept blowing down. Time to buy a real hat. The wind made interesting patterns in the fallen leaves. Sparky loved chasing them. I'll rake or leaf-blow in earnest the next nice day. This isn't a picture near my house. My entire backyard is covered in leaves. It's covering moss, not grass, so I'm not in a hurry to get the job done.

Clients are gearing up for the holidays and we stylists are hopping. I think it takes being one to even understand how hard it is to deal with the stress of staying on time without showing that stress. It's sometimes impossible to even take a bathroom break when you're running late and your next client is shampooed and waiting for you. No one likes to wait, and I take pride in staying on time. One late client can cause you to run late for the next 5 clients. I'm not complaining, really. Most days run smoothly without anyone having a clue. Besides, I try not to sweat the small stuff and it's mostly all small stuff. I love my job. At least half of my clients leave with a hug.

I'm really sore from my workout on Thursday, especially around my lower ribcage, of all places. I meant to get to the gym and swim this morning but I didn't. I'd like to do it now, but don't want to leave my house. I was going to say my warm house, but it's not warm. And that's with my walking layers still on. I wonder how much money I'm really saving by keeping the thermostat low. It just doesn't make sense to me to heat the whole house when I use a small portion of it. My daughter has a portable heater in her bedroom. I just bought one for the family room. I'm about to turn it on and cover up with a blanket and try to read my bookclub book.

I went on a date last night. We started at a restaurant; I love to eat out. Then we went to Middleton Tavern in Annapolis to see a band, Sweet Leda. Lots of dancing and camaraderie. It was a fun night out. This morning I met my friend Kit at Starbucks for oatmeal and coffee. We get together most every weekend. It's great to have long-time friends. Kit and I have known each other since high school. She's retiring next month. I hope she joins my gym so I have a workout partner.

Hasta la próxima ...

(I love Google Translate)

Part of the present

The best part of having Sparky in my life is that he got me walking. Getting the SportsTracker app on my phone helped a lot too. It made me competitive with myself. I walk Sparky 6 mornings a week, at least 3 miles each time. Back when it stayed light like it should, I walked him at night too and would often wind up walking 6 or more miles a day. The app on my phone tracks any activity that can be tracked by GPS. I rode my bike a lot, kayaked 4 or 5 times, hiked and swam. My goal for the year is to complete 1,000 miles. I'm up to 934.32, but who's counting? I didn't think I had it in me. If I get up and get dressed right away and get out, I'm good to go. I can't procrastinate or it won't happen. I do a lot of thinking when I'm walking. Right now, I think about relationships past and present. It's just what my mind goes to. I listen to music and most music is about relationships, right? I haven't come to any conclusions about my feelings on relationships except I miss being in one. It's interesting being my age and dating. The first guy I dated from an online site read all kinds of books about being successful in relationships. I found that intriguing. One was how to clean up your looks. Do you have a good haircut? Any unnecessary facial hair? How about whitening your teeth? Trimming your nose and ear hair. Etc. He read the Five Languages of Love and other books on relationships. That was all good, but he was intolerant and judgemental and talked a blue streak but didn't listen. The good thing about him was he got me into hiking and we biked and walked together and he was a good cook. Too bad he was also a jerk. I went out with him for 3 months that should have been 3 weeks. How did I go from walking to dating? There's a segue in there somewhere. 

Did you hear the one about...

I should just jump in and pretend it's not been ages. I will. To start anyway. I went to a gym, my new gym. LA Fitness. I haven't gone to a gym in ages. In the 80's I was talked into buying a lifetime membership with no dues ever at a gym that became Bally's. I went for a while, but payed for my membership for much, much longer. I moved and it wasn't convenient to go and that was that. I went a few years back when I was looking for an indoor pool in the winter, and it was OK, but not convenient. I need convenience. I've been pretty active since April and started thinking of a gym again. I knew there were none with pools that I could afford, but thought if I could find one with classes, I'd participate. One of the gyms I checked out was LA Fitness. It has a pool! Lots and lots of classes. Big and clean. As the salesman was showing me around it popped in my head to tell him about the lifetime membership I have at Bally's. He stopped, looked at me and said, I think I have good news for you. LA bought Bally's two years ago. I now have the same exact benefits at LA that I did at Bally's. I could have done a dance! I went today for my fitness assessment. My BMI and other stats are all good. I've been feeling very fit and healthy. Well, my 'trainer' took me to the matt to do some core work. I was humiliated. Let's just say I have no core. She told me I did great because I didn't give up. Anyway, she really did a hard sell on personal training. I completely see the benefits, but there's no way I can add that into my monthly budget. When I was done with her I worked out on some of the machines. The ones with directions I could understand. Then I went swimming. That is my love. I only swam a half mile. My ususal in the summer is a mile. I know I need to work up to it. It felt awesome. I went in the hot tub, and then in the sauna. Then I showered and got ready to go. My goal is to go 3 times a week. That may not happen during the busy holiday season, but it's definitely doable. Yay!! 

Life is good, as per usual. Things are calm around here. My daughter turned 20 last month! To think she was only 13 when I started writing. She's living at home and working hard. Work is still great, and the perfect job for me. I never tire of it. Not to say that I don't enjoy my days off and vacation. Speaking of vacation, I had a very busy summer. I went to Myrtle Beach in June for a week with my sisters. 

I went to a resort in Southern Maryland on the western shore of the bay 3 times. Twice were overnight trips and once was for two nights.

 I went to Ocean City, MD for 3 nights and to Stone Harbor, NJ for 2 nights.

 In September I visited Happyone in Accident, MD.

In October I went on vacation by myself to Deep Creek Lake for 6 nights. I stayed in the same house I was in last Christmas. The house I love. I hiked, walked, read, used the outdoor hot tub and ate a lot of pizza. Time went by way too fast. That's all the trips I have planned for this year, though I'm really looking forward to seeing Happyone and her husband again sometime in the near future. I love spending time with them.

I've been dating, but I'll save those stories for another day. Ladeda!

Hello!

Hi! 

 I know it's been a very long time since I've written. We all go through phases in life and at one point writing was what I did all the time. I loved writing every day and I still consider my blogging friends to be my real friends. You know that you are.

It's summertime, so you know that I'm sitting on my porch with the fan blowing on me, looking for hummingbirds, with a smile on my face. Life is good. Today was my birthday. Again. I feel really great. I just wish that time would slow down. A lot. I turned 57 today. I find that so hard to believe. I remember being so excited to turn 13 and finally be a teenager. I remember being so excited to be 16 because I could swim during adult swim at the pool. I'm excited to be alive  and healthy but I'm not excited about getting older. I think that's normal. I hope I have a lot of good years left in me.

If you follow me on Facebook you know I've become quite a walker. Not like Happyone, but I've definitely got the bug. It's really all because of Sparky. I walk him before work and after. I use the free app SportsTracker, and I've become very competitive with myself. I've clocked 300 miles in the last 2 months. Sparky is a good walker, and walking makes us both happier. I don't think he's lost any weight, but I have. I need to eat more so I don't lose more. What a problem to have! I've also been swimming as much as I can. And riding my bike. So I feel healthy and happy.

Things are peaceful around the house these days, thank goodness. I'm feeling so much better than I did in the winter. I thrive on nature being alive.

I'm going on vacation in a little over a week to N Myrtle beach. So excited!! For the first time it's going to be my two sisters and me. No kids! No responsibility. Only R&R. I'm counting down the days!

I'll sign off now, but I'll be back. I promise I'll never give this up.

Why, hello

I don't know what's so hard about writing, or why I don't do it. I've spent a tiny amount of time thinking about it. I've come to the conclusion that there were too many things going on that I couldn't write about that were having a big impact on my life. My mother was a big thing, and I did share about that, but I don't want this to be about her and her falls and the impact on my life. She's doing fine, btw. No more pain. As healed up as she'll ever be after breaking her femur. She's wheelchair-bound now, which means no more falls, hopefully. I ended my relationship with Rob after 3 years years together. Talk about a big decision! Rob is really a wonderful guy, and I have no regrets about the time we spent together. I just didn't see a future because of the many differences we had. We talk occasionally, and wish each other much happiness. Life at home has been, um, difficult. Thats not new. It's been better and it's been worse. I'm optimistic that one day it will be great. In the meantime, I try to practice the serenity prayer :-)

I've become the primary caregiver of my daughter's dog Sparky. Isn't he a cutie? I've never liked dogs. I never, ever, ever planned to have one. I'll admit he's grown on me. He was probably put in my life for a reason. My daughter loves him, but its the age old thing. Child promises to take care of pet/parent inherits the job. It's a good thing he's good-looking. He's in dire need of training classes.

I've joined a few Meetup groups to expand my social circle. I went to a happy hour at place that had an Eagles tribute band. They were pretty good. It was so loud that conversation with the other members was impossible. I sat in my chair and tried to look like I was having fun. I did go to each table during the break and extend my hand to each member to introduce myself. Pretty brave, huh? Everyone was very friendly, but I felt very out of place. I will go to another outing with them, but not where there's a band playing. I joined another group that a friend belongs to and RSVP'd to a potluck dinner for this past Saturday. I made cheesecake. Unfortunately I was very sick on Saturday and had to bow out. I RSVP'd with a hiking group for a newbie hike this past Thursday, but was sick for that too. I'm waiting for an event to open up for a 20 mile bike trip in June. I have a lot of training to go for that one! I love the concept for Meetup. It's not a dating site-it's a way for people with similar interests to get out and do stuff.

On February 6 my boss, mentor and friend, Mason, suddenly passed away. A month later, I'm still in shock. I'm so thankful for the 26 years we had together. He had a whole lot more living to do, and life isn't the same without him. His wife Pam has run the salon for years, and thank goodness we have her. The salon is called Mason and Friends, but it could easily be called Mason and Family. I think we're closer than ever.

I'm looking forward to spring. I'm SO over appreciating the beauty of the bare tree limbs against the sky. I want green! Leaves and flowers. I want to swim and ride my bike and kayak and hang out by the water. It's getting closer to that every day.

And that's it for now. I did it! I wrote! Ladeda!

Vacation, ie, R&R

What a house, huh? It's where we stayed Christmas week. It was the vacation home of a client of mine until she lost her job here and moved there full-time. It's in the mountains in Western Maryland, not far from Happyone's Happy Trails. My client and her family were vacationing in Tahoe for the week and offered me the use of her house. It was very last`minute. I told her I'd find a way to make it happen, and I did. My daughter and I drove up on Christmas Day. My brother and niece arrived the next day along with a friend of my daughter's. Two more friends arrived the next day, and two the day after. At one point there were nine of us. So fun! We were in the outdoor hot tub once or twice every day. We ate well. We went snow tubing at the ski resort. It snowed at least a foot while we were there. I walked for hours every day and took a lot of pictures. If we're Facebook friends, they're posted there. It was just the kind of vacation I needed. R&R. I brought books I didn't read and movies I didn't watch. I just relaxed.

A view from the loft

Another view

Getting ready to go out

Lots of icicles

In the hot tub with my two oldest friends

Lakefront view

This last picture is one of my favorites. I spent a lot of time in those chairs, just listening to the silence.

Merry Christmas

In many ways, it's been a great holiday season. My house is lightly decorated. It was so much easier! My mantle is decorated just how I like it. There's touches of Christmas here and there. I wouldn't mind keeping it this way all year long! Sparky the dog has tried to touch, but everything is just out of his reach. Hahaha. I hosted my book club holiday party early in December. I'm so glad to know such a great group of women. We talk a lot, eat a lot, and talk about the book a little. This time we read "gods In Alabama" by Joshilyn Jackson. Everyone loved it. I had my family over for the "9th" day of Hanukkah. It was my first time making brisket and not knowing how much to buy, I made enough to feed a football team. The get-together was so much fun and the start of a new tradition. I stayed strong and resisted the urge to throw my big holiday party. It was the right decision for this year. I hope next year to be excited about it.

I'm off work till after New Years, for the first time. SO excited. I have lots of coffee in the foreseeable future, and if you know me, that's exciting! I'm headed to the mountains tomorrow for a much-needed vacation. Looking forward to gazing into a fireplace, reading a few books, soaking in the outdoor hot tub, eating good food, snow tubing, and making memories with family and friends.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas!

Ladeda

Yeah, yeah, I know: it's been forever. It's back to mostly mundane. I'm a warm-weather person and I'm happiest then. That's the time of year I look forward to. Christmas will be here before we know it, and this year for the first time, I'm not having my holiday party. I chose to go with less stress. I think I'll be really excited about resuming the tradition next year. I'm still having conflict with my decision, but really know it was the best one. Without company, I'm not decorating as much. As in not much at all, for me. I've threatened for years that I wasn't going to put up the Christmas tree and was always met with total opposition. This year I decided I just wasn't going to say anything. Then I remembered the dog. Sparky. No way can I have a tree with that puppy. Then I realized I couldn't display all my small trees. That has me sad, but it's not going to be that way always. Somehow next year I'll have things back to how I like them. And be excited.

Have I mentioned I think puppies are cute but wish I didn't have one? It came with my daughter, and as is usually the case, the mother is the one that winds up taking care of it. He deserves better than me, but we're sticking it out. I'm doing it for my child. Isn't that what mothers do?

My mom was released from the rehabilitation center and is back in assisted living after 6 weeks away. That was so hard on her, and on me. SO glad that chapter is closed. She's in pretty horrible pain. I try to put that out of my mind as much as I can.

Work is good. Thank goodness for work.

My daughter asked on Facebook on Thanksgiving what people were thankful for. The first (but not only) thing that came to my mind was my fortitude. It's been slipping a little lately, but I'm ever the optimist and am sure I'll be Ladeda-ing again real soon.

Fallen leaves

It's the day after the super storm. I spent a good deal of energy preparing for the worst, which never happened, thank goodness. I got all the leaves cleared out of my backyard and the deck furniture put away. Things I had to do eventually anyway. We had a lot of rain and wind and ferocious wind gusts. I went out a few times in my head-to-toe rain gear to walk Emily's dog. Otherwise I ate and watched TV. It was a lazy day. We never lost power, for which I remain thankful. I was very surprised that my salon stayed closed today. I know a lot of people lost power; that must be the reason. It rained all day and was cold and gray. I can't wait to see the sun again! What I'll remember most of the aftermath was how bright and beautiful the fallen leaves were. Bright green ones that weren't ready to come off mixed with the colorful ones that were.

My mom was moved to a rehab center last Tuesday. Poor, poor Mom. She's in so much pain. She's SO sorry that she let this happen by doing something, in her words, stupid. I don't like the rehab center at all. There are some wonderful caring people that work there, but for the most part it's far below par. I'm not sure how long she'll have to stay there. I'm counting the days till she can get out and back to her home. Yesterday was her 80th birthday. I decorated her room a little. She's received a lot of cards. We'll have a real celebration when she's better. She deserves it!

Till the next time....

It's not about ME

I powered up my laptop to write this. It really is the only time I turn it on. My iPad is my go-to Internet tool. I take it everywhere. Lately and for the foreseeable future, that means wherever my mother is. If you follow me on Facebook you know what's happened. If not, here it is.

My mom had a fall on Wednesday. She's not supposed to stand at all. She just had physical therapy the day before (for the first time in ages) and the therapist told her to never stand alone. My brother called that night and told my mom that the therapy wasn't to teach her to walk again. He stressed how important it was to be safe and not do anything that could cause a fall. He told her that if she fell and had to be hospitalized that we wouldn't be able to sit by her side at a hospital. Lisa is recovering from her surgery and he and I work. The next day she stood to break some dead branches off of a plant in a raised bed, lost her balance, and fell. She had a traumatic break in her left femur near her pelvis, with a few small fractures in her hip. She was transferred from her usual hospital to MD Shock Trauma, where they're equipped to handle the kind of surgery she needed. My brother was with me for most of that 14 hour day. I didn't give her a hard time about the consequence of her action. I did say that she wasn't a very good patient for her physical therapist. Her response was that she was being herself. The surgery lasted 5 hours. I've spent most of the last four days at the hospital with my mom. She's only in pain when they move her leg. She's lethargic, not eating, and not really talking. She moves her lips to talk but no sound comes out. Occasionally she does talk. She'll call my name. She's told me to shut up! To not put words in her mouth. She told one nurse she was fat and another she was pretty. She knows who she is, where she's at, and all that other important stuff. It's heartbreaking to see her like this. I feel compelled to be with her. I called her nurse this morning to see how she's doing. The nurse said she's fine! Of course she's not. I know how she is because I left her late last night. So, it's time to go back to the hospital. I know it well by now.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. I'll remain the optimist. We've been through this before. Rehab will be next. It will be a long road.

Ramble-y

I didn't have anyplace I had to go today. There was nothing I had to do. I thought about going through the clothes in my closet and cleaning out half of them. I thought about cleaning out my pantry. I'm not one to stay home on a day off. I find idle time depressing. But I did it. It was a very weird weather day. It was balmy in the morning and I took Sparky for a walk. I thought about riding my bike when I came back, but it started pouring. I made a batch of
Carrot Curry Soup.
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, cut in chunks
1-2 inch piece of ginger, grated
1 Tablespoon curry powder
4-5 cups carrots, cut in chunks
1 (15-ounce) can light coconut milk
3 cups vegetable stock
salt and pepper

In a medium saucepan, cook the onion until it begins to soften and turn translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the ginger and curry powder. Cook for another minute.
Add the carrots and cook for a few minutes until they begin to soften a bit.
Add the coconut milk and vegetable stock. Season with salt and pepper.
Simmer the carrots in the broth for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they are soft.
Put the carrot mixture into a blender or use an immersion blender. Puree until very smooth. Pour into a bowl. Top with fresh chopped cilantro.
*I don't always use the coconut milk. Sometimes I just increase the stock.

I watched a few programs I'd DVR'd. Revenge. Once Upon a Time. The Good Wife. I never watch TV during the day, except for The Today Show when I'm getting ready for work.

I did a little laundry. Walked the dog again. Sparky. He sure is cute. I worked on teaching him "stay" with pieces of hot dog (Kosher, no less) for bait. I worked on "come" too.

I'm still not a dog person. I'm taking care of him because he lives here and he needs me. Maybe one day I'll feel I need him too?

It poured on and off all day long. I decided to ride my bike during one break. I didn't get far before I saw the sky looking like this. I got home before the skies opened up. I set my beach chair in the open garage and sat there with Sparky watching the rain.

I spent Saturday night with my cousin Jill. We went a yoga studio that was hosting an art exhibit of Jill's former classmate. The art was about yoga, and how it influenced the artist's life. It made me want to do yoga. I'm thinking about it. We went to Clyde's afterward for a drink, and they had a 70's cover band. I loved it! They played the songs of my youth.

I hung out at my parent's place yesterday. I cut my mom's hair. Short. It's a good thing she has those snazzy glasses. They make her look very modern. I really like hanging out there. Most of the residents know me and there's a lot of greetings all around. I usually walk around the dining room during meals and pour coffee for the residents. It really is a home. I'm so thankful my parents are there. If you've known me for a while you know how bad it was when they were still in their home. This place is perfect. Not fancy. Not without many flaws. Just right.

I think I've written enough ramble-y things for one night. I'm so glad I'm still writing!

Debate time, but first a word or two

I can't believe it's been over a week since I've written and I don't want to let any more time pass. I have the debate on pause and I'll watch it after a little writing.

My sister from GA has been my house guest for over a week and she's been great company. We've run around on my days off, and spent the nights in front of the television eating ice cream. How many people get the opportunity to hang out with their siblings and have sleep-overs once they've become 'grown-ups'? My sister came to town to be with my parents and also to go away for the weekend with a group of her high school friends. It was fortuitous that she was here when my sister Lisa had a medical emergency. Lisa woke up one morning in horrible pain and was diagnosed with an intestinal obstruction. She had to have major surgery to repair it. Poor Lisa. It's been good that Ilene has been around to visit. Me too. Lisa will be out of work for many weeks. She missed the big dinner we had at The Annapolitan tonight with my parents, my brother and sister, my daughter and her friend, two nieces, nephew and grand-nephew. We feasted on lots and lots of Chinese food we brought in and ate in the private dining room. It was a lot of fun.

I had some excitement around here last night. I try to keep my garage door closed, but sometimes I forget. When I went out to walk the dog last night I noticed a bicycle laying at the end of my neighbor's driveway, and I called to tell her about it. When I got back, the neighbor wheeled the bike over to my garage. It was then I noticed my bike was missing! The bike I love! I called the police, and a K-9 officer that was nearby came over, listened to my story and told me a regular officer would be by, but that he'd ride around and look. The next officer came and I told him my story. He got a call and told me they might have found my bike, that they suspect, and I'd have to come with him to identify the bike. The K-9 officer saw a kid riding a bike in my neighborhood that matched my description. Long story short, we drove to a nearby bad neighborhood and they had a young kid in handcuffs along with my bike. I was very, very lucky. If I had called an hour or two later it would never have been found.
The cops said kids look for open garages and take bikes all the time. Very scary.

So that's a little something from my world. Hope things are good in yours. And now it's back to the debate.

Sunday again?

Here's how you can tell the difference between a dog-lover and Me. A dog-lover wouldn't mind their pet smelling like a dog. It's a good thing Sparky's cute. I've bathed him twice in the last two weeks. Then I found out Westies shouldn't be bathed often because they're prone to dry skin and skin problems. I use a towel to wipe him down each time I take him out, and I brush him. He just smells like a dog. Not his fault. On the upside, I like going for walks with him. So far I haven't had to take him out in the rain, and it's not cold yet. Yes, I'm attached to him. I just wish he didn't smell.

I was looking over some old posts and saw I wrote about planting a zillion zinnia seedlings in the spring. It was wonderful having a large cutting garden on the far side of my house. I'm glad that's where it was because the bottoms of the plant got powdery mildew and dried out, but they kept producing beautiful flowers. Next spring I'm going to look through catalogs so I can find even more varieties. I'm also going to plant a second batch halfway through the summer. I just picked these today.

I thought I'd multi-task and include a picture of my new iPhone with the flowers. I got it on Friday. So excited! I got a cool red case for it today. I love new electronics! My nephew is selling my iPhone4 for me; I'm hoping to cover the cost of my new one. I know some people who get a new phone every year by selling their old ones on Craigslist. That could be me next year. I'm still loving my iPad. I use it all the time. About the only time I use my laptop is to write my blog. And as you know that's hardly ever.

Till the next time...

Goodnight Sunday

It felt good to write in my blog again and very nice to get responses. It's the end of a long Sunday. It was absolutely beautiful outside. I wish I could have gotten out on my bike but I'm still nursing whatever's going on with my knee. I might try it tomorrow. We're having such beautiful weather here in Maryland. I think the high for today was 70°. It's lovely. Even though I wish I could still be swimming in the pool, there's a lot to be said for fall weather.

My daughter has always wanted a dog but not me. I've never wanted a dog. I've always said that I'm missing an animal gene because I've never felt any affection for any animal expect my bird. More specifically my first bird, Zeus. Emily got a dog about six months ago. A beautiful Westy puppy named Sparky. So, we have a pet. I'm getting used to it. I'm Sparky's aunt. He's been a pain because he's had no training. He doesn't know how to walk on a leash. He doesn't know any commands. No "no", no here, no nothing. He walked us. Sparky's been a bad dog. Well, it just so happens that I have a client who calls himself a dog whisperer. He spoke to my daughter when she first got Sparky, but none of his words of wisdom stuck. Today Mike came to our house to train us. Amazingly, a miracle occurred. We became the Alphas. Sparky is obeying us. Today is just day one, but we're off to a great start. !

I made a great Mediterranean chicken dish for my book club. It's been ages since I cooked anything using a recipe. I cook pretty plain. This dish had chicken, olive oil, lemon, oregano, kalamata olives, onions, garlic, tomatoes and feta cheese. Its a keeper! The book (I didn't read) was Song of Achilles. Since it took place in Greece, we all made Greek food. What an epicurean delight. I'm so thankful to be a part of my book club. I picked our next selection, Gods in Alabama, by Joshlyn Jackson. It's a great, great book. I know the book club is going to love it.

Well, I feel I'm rambling. Time for bed. I'm going kayaking first thing in the morning!

Been a long time

Hi! It would have been nice to announce a blogging break instead of dropping completely out of sight. Had I have known, I would have. I just stopped writing. I never planned on not coming back. Here I am!

I just looked over my last post and find it hard to believe it was so long ago. June! I want June back. I want summer again. I was talking to a client the other day and telling her things I don't like about the long, long winter. The bare trees, etc. She pointed out that she loves the beauty of bare trees silhouetted against the sky with deciduous trees for contrast. I'm going to embrace that point of view as best I can. Remember to look for the sunny side in things.

It's been a great summer. I'll just do a short recap. I did a lot of planting in the spring, and really enjoyed my garden. I started out spending a lot of time at the Naval Academy, then not so much. I spent a lot of time in Annapolis, then not so much. I took up swimming again, and got a lot of joy out of that. Because of swimming I developed a lot of neck pain, and had to be satisfied with only about 7 laps per day, but that was OK. I took up bike riding again too, and have racked up over 300 miles during the course of the summer. I went kayaking twice with a friend and once with Rob and loved that! I usually don't exercise at all, and it feels good to be healthier and in better shape. I don't think it's going to last. I memorized the feel of swimming on the last day the pool was open, and the way the light was reflected in the water. I knew it was the last time. I hurt my knee the last time I biked. I hope that wasn't my last time of the season.

It was an expensive summer. I got a new roof. Not a fun way to spend money at all!!! I also had two huge trees taken down. And new tires put on. And I lost my glasses! I still need to buy new ones.

I went on some fun trips this summer. I did some day trips with my friend Kit and with Happy One. I RV camped with my brother and his family for a few days in Urbanna, Va. Rob and I went on vacation for a week to Ocean City, MD. We biked, kayaked, etc. It was great. I missed going to Myrtle Beach, but just couldn't do it this year. The great thing about going local was the much shorter drive. I also visited my cousins on their vacation in Stone Harbor, NJ. We had such a great time together. I only stayed for 3 days; I wish it could have been longer. The end of August I went to my niece's wedding in GA. My mother, daughter, sister, brother and niece and I all flew down together for 4 days. It was wonderful.

So, that's the short version. I hope it will get me started.

Let me know if you read this; I'd love to hear from you!

I'm predictable

My life is so routine, but in a good way. I like routine.

I've been spending most of my free time in Annapolis these days. I picked up my mom after work on Saturday and off we went. It's such an easy thing to do with her. Because she has a handicap hang-tag, we can drive and park at the Naval Academy. It was a perfect day. We saw 4 different bridal parties by the magnificent chapel. We spoke to a gentleman from the class of '47. We were fascinated by his stories and he was happy to share them. We saw hundreds and hundreds of high school students who were there to experience the academy to see if they might be interested in attending one day. There's always something going on there. My mom and I ate at a crepe restaurant for dinner at an outdoor table, then went to the dock to people and boat watch. We left very happy.
 

Happy Mom

This tree was 8-10 feet wide!

I went back to Annapolis on Sunday and met my friend Kit. We were there for the 1st Sunday Arts Festival (I attended in May with my sister Lisa). It was another perfect weather day. Afterward we walked the backstreets. It's all very historic and I love the old homes. Almost best of all, I love the old trees. And the clouds. We went to the crepe place for dinner (so good!) and walked to the dock where we ate, and watched people and the boats.

I could have done the same thing today!

I drove to my client Karen P's house this morning. She's a long-time client and we have a lot in common, but we've never hung out. I've never made a rolled pie crust before, and I was there to learn. We (she) made a cherry pie. The cherries are jarred, from Trader Joe's. They are rated the best cherries by Cook's Illustrated. I stayed till the pie came out of the oven. Because it had to cool completely, I'll be going to Karen's house before work tomorrow to retrieve my half-pie. I can't wait! Karen is a master gardener. Her landscaping, mostly shaded, was amazing. It was a great visit.

Karen's pond

I drove to Annapolis from there to hang out with my daughter. Not downtown :) I would have, though. I'm not tired of it yet. It's a good routine.

I'm sitting on my porch, writing this. What else? I'm a creature of habit.

Day off scribbles

I hate that I can't sit on my porch without getting eaten by mosquitoes. There's only an hour of daylight left but I think it's still worth putting on repellent. Be right back. Okay, done. It's a little after the fact because I'm already very itchy. It will have to do. A few years ago Tiger mosquitoes came to our area. I think that's what they're called. They're awful!!! It's almost impossible to sit outside without protection. I think I need to stock up on OFF!

I'm sitting out on my porch, of course. I'm on my iPad and I'm using the dictation feature. So far I've spoken this text and had it translated. How cool is that? I see I have to go back and fix a few things but it looks like only about six words are incorrect. Not bad.

Today was my day off. I started out by meeting my friend and co-worker Pattie at the Dutch Market for breakfast. I'm not sure if I've mentioned my guilty pleasure. I've been going once a week, usually on Thursday or Friday. Sometimes I meet Pattie for breakfast, which is nice. The highlight is always the desserts. Every week I buy half of a black cherry pie. Okay, I also buy an apple fritter. Sometimes I buy two slices of pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling. Yeah, I know. The pie lasts me almost a week. Or maybe 5 days. Every night I have a small slice with a scoop or two of light vanilla ice cream. The crust stays delicious the whole week. I always have the apple fritter the first day, and I'm always sorry. They make the best apple fritters I've ever had. I eat a lot of salads and healthy food for all my other meals. I have to.

I drove out to see Rob today. He was supposed to come to my house yesterday but twisted his ankle on his morning run and wound up going to the ER. He has a sprained ankle and has it wrapped in an ace bandage with a splint. Poor Rob. He lives about an hour away, and it was certainly my turn to drive to him. We stopped at one of our favorite diners, the Chesapeake Grill, for lunch. Every time I'm there I have an open-face Reuben sandwich, which I love. Rob always has a BLT. Why change a good thing? We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting outside at his house. It was so hot in the sun! In the shade, it was delightful.

I was home with plenty of time left to spend outside. I watered my garden, which takes a lot of time. I love watering...it's very relaxing. I did a little of this and that. Mango hung out in his cage outside with me. As usual, I'll stay out on my porch till the lights come on. Then shower off the bug spray.

The dictation feature is wonderful. It's my new best friend.

My time

I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't spend time outside. It saves me. Fills my time. Entertains me. My happiness increases the moment I'm able to be outdoors. If I were to look back on what I've written the last 6 Springs, they would all probably sound so similar. Like now. I'm sitting on my porch on a beautiful evening. There's a breeze and a coolness to the air. The birds are so loud! My garden is so lush. I'm waiting for the hummingbirds to make their rounds. Life is good. Really, those things are all it takes for me to be happy. Any stress or worries are out of mind. I typically stay on my porch till the lights come on at 8:30. Sometimes I stay later. I do wonder what my neighbors think. There's Cheryl again, they might say. Doesn't she have a life? Well, it's a pretty solitary life, but it's a good one, and I keep myself amused. A lot of the times, it's on the porch. Little porch at that. I'm a firm believer that life is all about simple pleasures.

I've done SO much work in my garden this year. It's looking fantastic (if I do say so myself). It's cost a lot of $$$, but the payoff will be huge. I finally got the last of my zinnia seedlings in the ground yesterday. Probably at least a hundred of them! I just got up to look and someone (maybe the baby bunny I saw 10 minutes ago) bit off the top of one. I'll be so mad if they get eaten! I planted over a hundred seedlings at my salon, and the neighbor girls planted some in their garden. It should be a riot of flowers this summer. Stay tuned!

I probably mentioned that I discovered the grounds of the Naval Academy when my sister came to town in April. All this time I've lived here and never knew how wonderful it was. I've hung out there at least 5 times since then.  I love the huge trees and shady paths and large expanses of lawn. The landscaping is beautiful. The architecture is majestic. I got off work at 3 on Saturday, and thought, OK, now what? I changed into shorts and drove the short distance to Annapolis, then walked to the Academy. Turns out it was the night of a formal dance for the second-year midshipmen. The men (boys) were in their dress whites and their dates in long gowns. They were everywhere. How fun for me to see all that! I sat on a bench and watched the midshipmen, and couples photographing their babies, and daters walking, and a photography class taking pictures, etc. Did I mention it was a perfect weather day and night? I stayed there a few hours, then walked to Main St. I got an iced Americano (my new favorite drink) from Starbucks and a salad to go from a Mexican place, then sat on the dock, people-watching and looking over the bay, and eating. I finally left when it was dark. I'm so thankful I can find things to do alone that can make me so happy. I'm so thankful that it's Spring!

It got a little cool and dark out so I'm back in he house. I'd love to add pictures, but if I start on that, I might never push publish, so I'll end now. Hope to be back soon!

My time of year

This is the first time I'm using the new Blogger template. That shows how long it's been since I've written. Part of the problem is that I hardly use my laptop anymore. I'm always on my iPad and I never use it to input more than a few lines of text. Really Cheryl, how hard is it to take out your laptop? I'm also not keeping up with blogs because I prefer to use Reader on my laptop. I'm spoiled by the ease of using my iPad, but clearly it's not good for everything. That said, it's still amazing.

 I'm just home from work and sitting on my porch. It's a little humid. The birds are singing. The garden is lush. My neighbor is filling his lawn mower with gas. The peacefulness is about to get shattered.

So, not much is going on around here. When I'm not working and the weather cooperates, I'm in my garden. Spending a fortune on mulch, compost and plants. I'm so sore I could hardly sleep last night and work today was hard! My body feels like it went through the spin cycle of a washing machine. I've planted the last three days in a row. I'm so glad the plants are in and that my body will recover before I plant some more. The reward is right in front of me. Worth it. My latest hangout (besides coffee shops)  is the grounds of the Naval Academy. The landscaping is so beautiful. The trees are so old and so big and there's such variety.  I've taken my mom twice and we stroll around and sit on the benches. I went there with my sister Lisa on Sunday. Everyone in my family enjoys the outdoors. I'm so glad that it's Spring. My life feels all-around better when everything is green and I can be outside. Like now.

Time to read some blogs. I will catch up!