Blessings and Tribulations

 Good Morning all you fine and fancy bloggers out there. It is a good morning anytime you wake up and can still move around, live your life, be happy. Don't you think!!

I've been sort of discombobulated lately. Seems if I get thrown off my routine I struggle to accomplish anything... for days!! I gotta fix that, there's no time to waste being discombobulated. Don't you just love that word! 

I have to tell you that my 'neighbor' who called the cops on me the other day waited a few days after she'd sent the cops on my trail for making noise, she goes to the office and gleefully tells them that SHE is the one who set me straight 'cause she hadn't heard a peep out of me since that policeman told me to behave myself. Guess what, girly, I've not changed a thing I have ever done and I just can't wait until my housekeeper gets here next week and starts doing her thing up here. Do I sound vindictive? Maybe, a tad. I am just so tired of all this mess.

I started a workshop here at Centerbrooke. I am sooooo into preserving our history (family history mostly) so I invited anyone to participate in writing down their memories in a notebook so that their grandchildren will have a sense of who their grandparents are. There were about 8 of us. They were so into telling their memories as they recalled them, of sharing and talking and having fun. And, guess what, I did not take one single picture!! What was I THINKING!!

My son-in-law came yesterday to accompany me to the eye dr. I can't see a blooming thing once my eyes are dilated!! And it takes me forever to get over it. My appointment was at 11... when I went to bed last night I noticed that my irises were still not back to normal but they are fine this morning. I have the best son-in-law. Besides being my DD (designed driver) he also fixed my dead mouse. But it wasn't my mouse at all but my computer had a glitch. He's such a wizard!! I'm so blessed! 

So... I guess I will get busy and catch up on all those chores that I neglected when I was discombobulated. Love that word!! I'll see you again soon. 

Friendship

 I just want to take a moment and express to you how much your friendship means to me and has meant over the years. 

You've been there for me time after time and I appreciate your love and care more than you know. 

I wish I could just invite you all to my apartment and we'd all just sit around and drink (whatever it is you like to drink) and talk and talk 'til the night falls and then the sun comes up. But, I don't think you all would fit in my apartment and that's a bummer. 

Having that many friends is such a blessing! 

Life is so short...

Live it filled with gladness and graditude.. I am glad that I have you and I am grateful for each of you.

Oh.... and then there's this...

He he!! 

Key Lime Pie Cures Anything

 Feeling more upbeat today. It's amazing what an outing will do for you... not to mention the turkey and dressing. And, you gotta have cranberry sauce with it. We always ask for extra!! Besides, Cracker Barrel has rocking chair to enjoy. 

Getting new hearing aids turned out to be a bust! Shirley had tried to get in touch with them to make an appt but wasn't successful so we thought we'd just give it a try. Geez, we were in the neighborhood anyway. Seems the man who owned the audio portion of Sam's Club sold out so there was no one there. Well, it's not the only Sam's club in the area so we'll try another one. 

What are we going to do now! I seldom make suggestions which drives Shirley nuts. She says she hates making all the decisions but I think she loves to be in charge. I just always don't want to be a bother but I spoke right up and said, 'I want to go to Michael's crafts. I need new paint brushes.' Had a great time wandering up and down the aisles just looking at things that I would have scoffed up when I was younger. But, I just looked, got my brushes, a pool noodle and an American flag. 

I bet you anything you are wondering what in the world am I gonna do with a pool noodle! I can just hear those brain waves twirling! You see, I have this neighbor that lives under me who thinks if she hears one single sound out of my apartment it's cause for complaint. I've never had anyone else complain before so I guess it is her, I am not making more noise. Probably less. 

So, when I turn my Roomba on it has a habit of bumping into doors, walls, .... you get the picture. I thought if I slit that pool noodle down it's length and slid it around the outer part of my Roomba it wouldn't make as much noise. I just gotta figure out how to anchor it around that thing. Glue? Nah... tape maybe. We'll see. 

It was a gorgeous day and only like 2 p.m. so Shirley asked me if I was hungry. I mean, we just ate  but she's thinking dessert at one of our favorite eating places, Decoys. Oh yes... there's always room for that. We both got key lime pie. 

But, while the waitress was waiting on our order Shirley was muttering under her breath about whether to get pie or maybe some of their fabulous hushpuppies. When we got our pie, that sweet waitress brought us a basket of hushpuppies, too. On the house! I think I would have been happy just with those. They are so good. 

So, yes, I do feel better today. I do have to say that the sweet, caring, thoughtful comments I got on that last post made a huge difference in how I felt. Thank you, each and every one of you for caring. Love you girls!! 

Living Our Best Lives

 Yesterday set the mood...

Shirley and I attended a performance of 'The Nutcracker' at our local art center. Local talent, all but the sugar plum fairy, whom they imported. haha

It was such a delightful event. I hadn't seen that dance since my granddaughter danced in a performance how many years ago!! She has a grown son now so it was awhile. 

A little 5 year old sat next to me. The place was sold out so Mommy had to sit just behind her. She was quite nervous about it all to begin with and then that child got so caught up in all the excitement of the Nutcracker and the little mice and so on. Pretty soon her body was pressed up against my arm. It did my soul good to see all of that through a child's eye again. I loved it. 

So, on to other things. 

My college football team (Alabama) played like junior high kids on Saturday and lost the SEC championship. I turned off the tv at halftime. So, here's  what I did instead.....

I'm pretty old. And, I have had a pretty good attitude about growing old,  I think. I have spent some time over the last years discovering who I was and what I was supposed to do with these last remaining years. I regularly get comments from others that I inspire them. I don't know about that. I am just being me but it has been a dream of mine to set an example for  others. And to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren. 

I see so many older ones that just sit around waiting to die, no interest in anything, constantly complaning about everything, making themselves and everyone around them miserable. I decided a while ago that I was not going to be that person, nor was I going to be around people who are constantly negative. 

So, on Saturday afternoon instead of watching my football team lose a game, I set up a facebook group for us older women. It's open to anyone of a 'certain age'. I have 20 members so far and I hope it grows. I want us women to be there for each other, to support each other

My blog is so dear to my heart. I have made so many wonderful friends here and sure want to keep them close to me forever. I won't give that up but, I just wanted to do something a little different as well as keeping my blog going.  This woman must have tooooo much time on her hands. haha

If you are interested in joining, go to facebook and look us up. We'd love to have you. 

It's Party Time

 Oh What A Party!

Sunday afternoon we said goodbye to one of our residents... Miss P

I am sure you remember me talking about her before... that classy lady, 93 years young, still wearing high heels and dressing to the nines. What an inspiration she has been to us all.

Shirley organized the party and she went all out with the High Heel decor. Even the cupcakes were made like high heels. There must be pictures but unfortunately I do not have any of those.

Miss P was just so delighted that we were recognizing her that she went into her kitchen and bakes 5 sweet potato pies and sent them down to add to all the other food we had prepared. Like I said, she is amazing!

Of course, she was all dressed up! I loved her outfit!! So daring, so cute, so Miss P.

You can't see her shoes with that long skirt.... but, yes, her ever-present high heels  were cream colored to match the appliques on her outfit.

Shirley has one of those printers so that one of the residents was taking pictures of each of us with the guest of honor and then she'd send them to Shirley's phone. Shirley printed them from there and an album was made and presented to Miss P. She was so happy with all of that. 

Miss P is actually Mrs. Pauline Copeland. That woman is gonna be missed around here big time! 

A New Yummy Veggie to Eat

 As I mentioned in my last post that a friend gave me some eggplant and that I wasn't sure how to cook it. You girls came to the rescue. Now I remember that the friend who grew the eggplant said she'd sliced it and fried it. But, Marcia, one of my blog buddies, said she peels them, slices them rather thin, slathers them with mayo and places them on a baking sheet. Then she tops the slices with Parmesan cheese and bakes them for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven, flipping them over at the 10 minute mark.

Let me tell you... those things were yummy. I was sad when I popped the last slice in my mouth. 

Did you know that the English call eggplant aubergine? It's a french word but we call it eggplant here in the U. S. 

Do you know why it got it's name?

Centuries ago, this vegetable was smaller and very pale in color. Looked like an egg!  DUH! Now they are such a beautiful deep purple. I've never seen a purple egg. Have you? 

Thanks again for all the help. Love you girls. You always come through for me. Others had different ways of cooking eggplant so I will have to try those out, too. But, just wanted to share my new-found veggie to eat. I love learning new things, eating new cruisine, going new places. This old world is filled with adventures of every kind. 

                            

                        Quote for the Day

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."          (Mary Pickford, actress)

Making the Most of Life

 How are you today? I hope everyone is fine and staying out of the heat (if you have heat where you are) and that you are well and happy,

There's nothing more wonderful than being healthy! The older you get, the more your body starts to fall apart. I wish I'd known more about how to take care of mine in years past but the info just wasn't out there. Or maybe I didn't listen. When we are young we think we will live forever!! From this side of the fence, let me tell you... we won't. We are like cars, the older we get the more our parts wear out. And... there's no replacements for most of them. 

Oh, geez, where was I going with all that, anyway? I am so blessed to be as healthy as I am and have the good mind that I do at my age. Every day I thank God above for being able to enjoy life. One of my joys is the friendship I have with my blogger buddies. You guys are just the greatest ever!

I've been trying to get back into the rhythm of writing every day... Working on my second novel and I am so slack about it all. Yet, I can't wait to get it finished. I can't have it both ways. I need to discipline myself... 

The story is about a little girl who lives in a coal mining camp, has little worldly goods but has to go to a town school where the rich kids go. (boy, can I relate to that). I didn't live in a camp but the rest is correct. She gets bullied because she is poor. Then she and her best buddy come upon a hobo who is camping beside a creek. They befriend him and then he ends up murdered. 

I have a friend/therapist/assistance who asked me the other day if I had ever taken classes in writing. and if I followed the writing rules, like plotting out the book before starting etc. I just laughed and said 'NO'. I often write a chapter in my head while I lie awake at night. There's no planned out plot. There's not a ton of notes on how it will turn out. It just happens. I guess that makes me an unconventional author! haha. 

So, maybe I need to put this post to rest and open up my book file and write some in it. Do my daily writing task. 

Will they find out who killed the hobo? Will Ruthie be a hero or be ridiculed more? Who knows? Maybe tonight when I can't sleep I'll find the answer to one or more of those questions. 

                        QUOTE FOR THE DAY

'Writers don't wait for their ship to come in; they write their way out to it'.         Sam Horn 

Old Friends and New Burgers

 What a day! 

I had an appointment with my oncologist today and got a glowing report. I just get 6 months check-up now. So, I am feeling on top of the world.

As I walked into the hospital where my doctor is located, I noticed an old lady sitting, waiting for her ride. "Doris," I shout. That is Doris, a previous resident from the Commons. She went several years ago to live with her daughter and I hadn't seen her since. To be perfectly blunt... I just figured she was no longer with us, if you know what I mean. Back then she was about 92. That woman loved to dance. And, she was a whiz at playing bingo. About once or twice a year she'd fly all by herself to Kentucky where she was from. And, that woman was a huge Kentucky basketball fan! Would even wear the team sweatshirts. I am so happy I ran into her. Just gave me a warm feeling deep inside my chest. 

Me and Doris. 

I called her an 'old woman'. Shame on me. When she lived here she was the age I am. She must be around 96 now. 

I wonder what people say about me when they see me out and about. Do they call me an 'old woman'. Most likely. Depending on what age they are, I guess.

For lunch Shirley and I tried out a new restaurant. I'd seen it advertised on facebook, they said they had the best burgers! #22 in the nation, #1 in our area of Virginia. So, we tried them out. I'd say they were definately great. I'd eaten so healthy for several days so it was time for a treat. 

                           I ate most of it!

Blogging Buddies

I guess I am feeling nostalgic today

but

I just wanted you all to know how much your friendship

means

to me!

Thank you for being my blog buddy. For being there when I need a shoulder to cry on, giving me laughter when I need a good one,  dancing with me with joy be it in sunshine or rain

and sharing my life with me.

Just don't know what I'd do without you all!

 

Behold, a feast!

                             What a day Friday was!! 

As I have said before, our new staff is unbelievable, doing so much for us, getting things fixed and making plans for the future.

Ashley, our new project manager! 

As a sort of 'We're here for you' sort of appreciation morning, they served us breakfast yesterday morning.

They Thanked Us! It's the other way around

 Everything was decorated so beautifully and I have never in all my life seen a spread like they put out.

 All I could think of that was missing was one thing I really love and that's southern country 'thickened' gravy. But, there were fruit trays, cheese trays, mini chicken biscuits, 3 kinds of meat, a big pot of grits, scrambled eggs, waffles and syrup, bagels and several kinds of sweet rolls. They truly outdid themselves!! But, I'm not complaining and I didn't hear anyone else doing so either. 

A few of the younger, more capable residents pitched in to get it all ready. 

Everyone had a lot of fun and if anyone left there hungry then I am sorry, it was there for the taking! 

Oh, and I failed to mention that the refreshment table held carafes of 3 kinds of juice, lemonade and there were mini sodas on ice. Good lordy, How did we get so lucky to get such a wonderful crew. 

Bears and Snakes OH MY

 

It was 1951, I was a new bride living far from home, just waiting for my sailor husband's ship to pull out of port for Korea. 

I was only there for about 3 weeks so we rented a room upstairs over some sort of business. The young Navy wife in the room next to us and I struck up a friendship and we spent lots of time together. 

Me and Millie having a big laugh on our apartment rooftop

One day we hopped a bus and rode over to the San Diego Zoo. That zoo is top-notch and we spent all afternoon looking at bears sun-bathing, monkeys jumping from tree to tree, birds preening in wire cages. We'd about done it all when Millie, that's my new friend, wanted to go in the Snake House. I do not like snakes! But, to please her I suffered through looking at all those slimey, slithering things.

It was late when we got back, the guys had duty. I'm not fond of spending the night alone but I'd crawled into bed, trying to fall asleep, when there is a banging on my door. It's Millie. 

"I'm scared. There's something in my apartment. Can I sleep with you?" Of course, we both have visions of those huge snakes in our heads. Imagination can be a wonderful thing... or it can scare you half to death! 

So, I slid over and gave her a spot next to me.  

Next morning, she cautiously opened her door. I would have been leery of going in there myself. So, being the 'friend' that I was, I went back into my room and left her to face the THING all by herself. Wasn't that just sweet of me!! 

A few minutes later she's banging on my door again. 

"I found it," she said. The picture hanging over her bed had fallen and scared her half to death. Well, at least we had each other. We agreed, no more visiting Snake Houses at the zoo!! 

Nothing Stops Miss P

 I just have to tell you about one of my neighbors here at the 55+ apartment complex! 

                                        We call her Miss P

                                         It fits her to a tee! 

She is 92 years old and I have never seen that woman when she wasn't dressed to the hilt. There's the dangly earrings, chunky necklaces and her signature eyeglasses and lordy, she is never without her high, high heels. How that woman walks in those things is  beyond me. 

When the Kentucky Derby was on, we had this fun-filled party going on, thanks to my Shirley who headed it up. There were mock-mint juleps and lots of food. There were guessing games and we even had our own race.  The horses were really stick horses attached to walkers and rollators. 

Now, you lookout for Miss P! She won once out of three races. And, in those red high heels. 

                    Gotta love her attitude. Gotta love that woman! 

My Heart is Heavy

I learned over the weekend that a friend of mine had died. 

Sometimes, people you have never met can make such an impact on your life and you become friends forever. 

                                This was Sue Gray O'Grady for me.

Back in 2007 I started blogging. My blog was 'Our Journey Through Alzheimers' as I wrote about my husband and my struggle with that dreaded disease. Sue was an early follower and supporter. So, we've been there for each other over the years. I am going to miss her, wish we gals could have gotten together for a good visit, I just hope she knew how much I appreciated her. 

Go easy into that good night, my friend....

Them Camptown Races, do-da!!

 So much fun last Saturday night...

Don't tell me old folks don't know how to have fun!!

We had races...

One you rolled the die and moved your 'horse' how ever many dots your die had on it.  

There was one where you picked a winner for the Kentucky Derby and placed your choice in a cup... I didn't win.  

Then there was the Rollator/walker race. Some of these gals borrowed rollators to use. And, some definately use theirs all the time. The winners were always those more at a 'disadvantage' than the healthier one. It was a riot. 

Miss P won one of the rollator races.

You just got to know about Miss P. She is 92 years old, always dressed to the hilt, big jewelry, sparkly outfits, hats, and heels!! 

That woman outdid the rest of the gals and she was wearing stilletoes! I mean 4 or 5 inches high. Pointy toes, skinny little heels. We were scared to death she'd fall but she did just fine... and won one race. 

These two girls were so busy, as were several others, making sure the event ran smoothly. 

And, they are such fun to be around... I think you can tell that from this picture.

Derby Party Fun

The Kentucky Derby was run Saturday evening. For the first time,here at Centerbrooke, we had a Derby party. Wow, what fun. A whole slew of gals cooked and decorated, held games and took pictures.... we all had a blast! 

First I will entice you with the food.... 

Kentucky Bourbon Meatballs, Southern potato salad, Pimento cheese sandwiches, Kentucky pasta salad, fruit, cheese straws.... I know I've left stuff out. So hard to keep up with it all. For desert we ate Toasted Pecan Cupcakes and banana pudding. 

Oh good grief.... I thought I had more pictures of the food than just this one. I am sure there are a bunch of pics floating around....I just didn't get them. 

At our "meet and greet" Lois gave everyone virgin mint juleps. No alcohol allowed... oh well, Who needed it to have fun?

As we registered we were given a ticket which we then took to the betting table and dropped it in "OUR" horses cup. I chose Forever Young... wouldn't you know it.. when the race was run that horse came in 3rd. But, hey, it wasn't last!! 

Most of the women wore their fascinators (hats) and some of the men had on hats or bowties. And we sat around drinking our mint juleps and laughing and having a great time. 

I am sorry but I have to break this up into two or more posts. There was just so much going on! 

I'll be back soon with more Kentucky Derby Party fun.