Remains of Hurricane Alberto

Over the last few days, we had had about 1.34" of rain (in my gauge).  Then last night, we had a couple of lines of strong thunderstorms roar through - lots of lightning and thunder.  When I could check the gauge this morning, we had gotten nearly another 2", so over 3.5" total for this event so far.  And it's still cloudy all day today.  Well, at least my plants are very happy.

Sunday Stealing

1 - Do you ever wish you were someone else? No

2 - How old are you? 82
3 - Age you get mistaken for: Probably about that.
4 - Your zodiac/horoscope and if you think it fits your personality: Pisces, but I have no idea what that means.
5 - What did you do on your last birthday? My swimming buddies took me to coffee after our class at the Y.
6 - What is one thing you would like to accomplish before your next birthday? Survive.
7 - What is your hair color? Gray/white.
8 - Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, many years ago.
9 - What is your eye color? Brown.
10 - If you could change your eye color, would you? I can't imagine why I would want to.
11 - Do you wear contacts/glasses? Glasses, plus lens implants after cataract surgery.
12 - Your opinion about your body and how comfortable you are with it: I'd like to weigh less, but I'm comfortable with what I've got.
13 - Have you ever considered plastic surgery? What would you alter about your body? I've never considered plastic surgery.  I'd alter having arthritis.
14 - Do you have any tattoos? Only the little dots from radiation therapy.
15 - Do you have any piercings? One in each ear lobe.
16 - Left or right handed? Very right handed.
17 - Do you drink? Only water and coffee.
18 - Do you smoke? Not any more.
19 - Do you have any pets? Just the birds at the feeders and the squirrels I wish I could get rid of.
20 - Do you have any “rules” about food? I'm on the "see food diet" - if I see food, I eat it.

PS - Thanks to Anne B. for the preceding post.

"Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer."

Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it's good advice to follow.  I've highlighted a few.

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

 

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

 

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

 

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together

 

5. Don’t stress over the little things. Like paying a little extra on price quotes. You’ve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

 

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A (wo)man is not old as long as (s)he has intelligence and affection.”

 

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

 

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

 

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

 

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

 

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun enjoying your life.

 

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

 

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

 

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

 

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

 

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

 

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

 

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

 

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

 

20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

 

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

 

REMEMBER: “Life is too short to drink bad wine and warm beer.”

Monday Miscellany

We got some thunder and a couple of brief showers over the weekend, but no really good rain.  Maybe this weekend.

After skipping Friday, I went to swimming this morning.  We still have no teacher and are beginning to wonder if they're hoping we'll quit coming so they don't have to worry about that any more.  No chance of that - at least not yet.

I am so enjoying watching the bluebirds.  They are very territorial about the feeder - running off cardinals and dive-bombing the squirrel.  The larger mockingbirds have discovered the feeder, though, and I have to deal with that one.

I got to see one of the newly fledged babies fluttering around the feeder.  He was fly-jumping from perch to perch, not getting too far from somewhere he could rest.  Funny!

We came in next-to-last at duplicate tonight.

Mother's Day Weekend

Margaret came over Thursday night, and we left early Friday morning.  We had lunch in Aiken, SC (near Augusta, GA), with an old friend we knew in Hendersonville.  We got to Sarah & Carson's house in Bluffton, SC, in time for supper.  They have a nice new house in one of those new developments with cul-de-sacs and about 30+ houses.  They seem to be settling in well.  We watched a lot of golf - rather it was always on the TV while we were talking.  Carson is caddy manager at a huge (23,000! acres), very posh, golf resort. Damned if I can pull up the name right now.  Lots of big houses, 2 very discrete, high-dollar shopping areas, stables, a shooting club, very manicured.  Both seem to be very happy with their jobs.  Sue came so she could spend some Mother's Day with her kids.  They took us to Savannah to see the wedding venue - it's in an old building, repurposed as an event center, in the historic part of town.  We have two VBROs for family members who come - don't know how many to expect at this point.  And we went out for a fabulous Italian dinner at a little place in a strip mall.

We drove to Charleston Sunday morning, to visit with Paul & Katherine.  Their hew house is quite a contrast - actually the neighborhood is.  The house is newly built, two stories over an empty space (louver-covered).  It's wedged into an area of pretty run-down houses. And it's almost right under an interstate.  The area is really in a soon-to-explode development area, so they should be sitting pretty when it does.  In any case, they love it, it's a gorgeous house, and they're happy with their jobs and in their new house.  They took us on a driving tour of Charleston, and to eat at a little shack-y eatery on Shem Creek for shrimp/scallops/oysters.  Yum!

We drove home on Monday (stopped to eat with Matt in Atlanta in both directions) and got here in time for Margaret to get out of town before the afternoon traffic.  Then I took TWO naps on Tuesday.  But I'm always ready to go.

Up next?  I hope to get to see Kate and Jean in the next week or so.