Random observations/discoveries

 

Thank heaven I’m a relatively tidy person. Maybe not a dust-the-vents-every-week kind of cleaner, but the bed is always made, towels always hung up.

          We had workmen here to measure my kitchen for countertops. (Those I cleaned beforehand till they squeaked) and then My Guy broaches the subject of grab bars. Next thing I know, I’ve got two strange men standing around in my bathroom (which you access through the bedroom) thumping walls and waving a tape measure. My supremely uncool shower cap was out for all to see, but at least the toilet was clean and no underwear was in sight.

 

          I knew I had these hips for a reason. They were very useful in supporting toddler daughter and then son while I was standing in line, stirring a pot, or just keeping said child out of trouble.

          They’re still proving their worth. It was raining to beat the band yesterday and my purchase was heavy and in a paper bag, and the checkout lady warned me to be careful. No way could this be a one-handed tote to the car. Those three bottles of wine nestled just fine on my left hip with the left arm supporting them. Good old muscle memory – that skill came right back to me.

 

          I’m sure this will be a complete shock to others my age, but I find this getting old process very annoying. I’m learning to cope with unpredictable knees and I know not to look too closely in the mirror. But the latest blow is that I’ve lost the ability to whistle, which seems very unfair.

Running Amok

 

We seem to be entering a new phase.

Last week the grocery store had lobsters on sale. After discussion with My Guy, we decided to go crazy. I called up to order two to be steamed and ready for pick-up. Except at the last minute I had a “what the hell” moment and asked for the poundage above the chicken lobsters.

It all comes together

 

Do you remember ever being very little and squatting by mud, mixing in twigs or leaves to create mud patties?

          I remember being about eight and discovering an old chemistry set in our basement in Virginia. It was pretty sparse, and I have no idea who it once belonged to (a misguided gift for my older sister?), but it did have a few test tubes and mysterious ingredients to mix together. Very cool. Although I never did produce any results, never mind blow up the house.

          Due to general familial disfunction, I never had those Hallmark moments at my mother or grandmother’s elbows in the kitchen, but I’ve always been drawn to cooking. I mean, who wouldn’t be if you can stir up your own chocolate chip cookies?

          As a late teen, while visiting my grandfather after my grandmother had died, I fixed several meals for him. Not that I was exactly accomplished. The baking powder biscuits made with baking soda by mistake, which meant they tasted like soap. My sainted Grampy ate them anyway. Or the scalloped oysters that he said were wonderful. I later learned that he was allergic to oysters.  

          So many cooking stories.

Columbus, Georgia, dead of summer, no AC. My in-laws down from Massachusetts to see my husband of barely a year graduate from Officer’s Candidate School. I made a meatloaf the day before and almost poisoned everyone. Fortunately, as it cooked the smell from the oven made it obvious that we’d better stick to just the vegetables for dinner.

          But the years went by and I did figure out how to cut up a chicken, make bread, roll pie crust.

Last night: pork stroganoff on spinach fettucine

  

        Maybe it’s a control thing. Being able to

  choose anything in the world, combining the

  ingredients, and then a result you can eat.

        What’s not to like?

Egocentricity

 

Today being National Selfish Day, today’s blog is all about ME and what makes ME happy.

Friday

 

Today’s philosophy question:

Is it slothful to make the bed while you’re still in it (you know, straightening the sheet, pulling the bedspread back up to the top as you lie there) or do you get points for being so tidy?

Week in review

 I’m not too sure how this will go - I’m avoiding my laptop due to unfriendly incursions and am writing this on my iPad. 

Last weekend we had an extended family event. One of the great-nephews had his first communion. Since this branch of the family trekked across several states to attend our grandsons’ three separate Bar Mitzvahs, the least My Guy and I could was go to mass a couple of towns over. 

I’m a very lapsed Episcopalian so these milestones have been quite the learning experience.  As I grow older some of these rituals don’t always make sense to me, but the church was pretty. Unfortunately I spent much of my time mulling over the medieval need to bring entertainment to the lower orders with fancy icons and impressive pomp  

On Monday I was waiting for an x-ray on my knee when this notice in the waiting room caught my attention  

Somehow messages warning against “aggressive behavior” make me feel less, not more safe.

And today a friend and I went to a very be-flowered tearoom awash in tablecloths and tea cups. They really get into the spirit, offering a trunk full of hats and fascinators for those who feel the need. 

And I found a new friend.

Peaceful distraction

 

          Gentle yoga went well yesterday, a happy change from last week when my knee was still behaving like one of Satan’s minions. On Monday my doctor suggested the possibility of a damaged meniscus and sent me off for an x-ray. Happily, not only did he give a prescription for a super-duper non-inflammatory med, the x-ray results said it had just been arthritis rearing its ugly head. Less happily, my stomach’s not too sure how it feels about this med so I’m treading carefully with that.

          But. . . much better knee so yoga went well.

          Before class began, a friend and I had a big discussion about arthritis and feet. Aging – flat feet – plantar fasciitis, and in no time the lady in back of us scooted over to show us her “barefoot” sneakers. Turns out she’s a waitress and those + orthotic inserts have saved her life.

          We went through our usual routine- stretching, a little down dog, a few warrior stances, and soon we were in the end of the session rest mode, flat on our mats, eyes closed.  I thought I even heard a quiet snore from my friend to the left.

          We began by visualizing somewhere we felt “happy, safe, and at peace.” I always pick the same place I use when I’m having my blood pressure taken (trying to keep my numbers low). I’m lying on our old swim dock on the lake – I’m alone, the sun is beating down, and the waves are gently rocking me. I could analyze the fact that I’m also isolated from anyone else, but that’s for another day.

           Then we were told to imagine a white light scanning over us, toes to top. This always makes me think creepily of an alien examination, probably not the experience our teacher wanted us to summon.

          The room quieted to almost silence which then was interrupted by pot banging from the caterer next door that rents the kitchen from our YMCA. Silence reigned again, although like waiting for the other shoe to fall, I was listening for the next pot bang.

          A little silence, then along came the train that runs alongside the building, tooting out “shave and a haircut, two bits.”