Milestone Birthday & Memorial Day

 

“I am so old I was never young.”

A milestone birthday this holiday weekend. Haven’t been inside a restaurant in a year & a half. Seriously toying with the idea of throwing caution to the wind and just doing it, to celebrate.

No hoopla or surprises for the BIG day. I know exactly how everything is going to play out.

I joined the Planetary Society getting a SENIOR membership. A secret passion of mine is to encourage efforts to explore the universe. I wish I were young enough to be an astronaut. But alas, I'm not . So instead, I can live vicariously through them. 

Also bought myself a watch. Been years since I’ve had one. This brand, Olivia Burton has pretty florals on the face. Feminine and full of whimsy.

Same is true of jeans. Haven’t worn a pair in forever and a day. Bought some with a patchwork design from Martha Stewart. They tickle my fancy. Make me feel like a wild child. With white hair of course. Should I dye my hair? Or continue to embrace it?

At a friends insistence, I splurged on a box of Mariage Freres TEA From France. ‘Rouge Bourbon Rooibos.” It better be good. It was kind of pricey.

My hubby is giving me a scarab ring I’ve coveted for a while. And a bottle of Thierry Mugler’s- Angel Muse perfume. I love the Angel brand.

In addition, there are a half a dozen new books, now added to my personal library, waiting to be read.

Since I’m on a webinar kick at the moment… Zooming here, there & everywhere. Don’t know when I’ll get to the books? They’ll sit on the shelf, taunting me, until I do. 

My advice to other birthday peeps, "If you don't INDULGE yourself, nobody else will."

For the first time ever, no butter cream frosting, people.

Stepping outside  my comfort zone. I’m having a delicate Italian Crème Cake. Full of coconut, pecans & cream cheese frosting. My mouth is watering at the thought of it. 

YUM. YUM.

Don’t know what my daughters will be doing over the weekend. They are under no pressure to be here for me.

One is too far away to participate. She has a new job being in charge. No vacay time, right now. Congrats. The other had a recent cancer scare. And her biopsy just came back BENIGN. It’s the REAL gift this year. Wonderful news. 

I will treasure each card and heartfelt greeting you all send. My friends & family, give me cause me to pause, and reflect on what’s ‘really’ important.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the kitty cat kisses & love... from my dear Mira. I don’t know how long she has left. She is completely blind and managing to get by at 18. She's so brave. Her unconditional love helps keep me afloat.

And last but not least- to honor this milestone birthday... I will make a donation to one of my favorite charities...

Heifer International.

If you want to check it out. Here is the link below. You are under no obligation to donate. Just a unique way to contribute to humanity for future reference. 

 https://www.heifer.org/gift-catalog/index.html

 Enjoy your weekend. I'll be eating cake and raising a glass to toast my new Medicare & Social Security status.

Please remember...

Memorial Day has a solemn purpose. 

HONOR it ...

And all those who have died defending US.

Popcorn, History & Freezing Temps

 

The temperatures had plunged into wintertime lows last week. So I wrapped myself in a heavy sweater and took care of business inside, rather than where it was cold outside. When the weekend came, the temps rose, becoming more seasonal. So I embraced them… by sitting out on the patio, drinking my raspberry tea... listening to the birds chirp, and watching squirrels scurry across the front lawn. But for some reason... I still didn’t want to venture too far from my comfort zone, by leaving the premises… even with the warmer weather. So I stayed firmly planted at home. Not even the CDC lifting the mask mandate made me budge. Instead I dug in my heels and decided to binge watch the History Channel on that night.  But first I needed refreshments. You have to have refreshments when you binge watch. I decided a peach tea to drink this time, instead of raspberry would be tasty. Then, ripping open a big old box of microwave popcorn, I bought for quarantine last year… I made myself a bag. As per my special requirements after it was popped… I added half a stick of melted butter and ¼ bottle of parmesan cheese into the bowl, along with the corn. It smelled delectable. I carefully carried it into the family room, anticipating it’s yummy goodness. Then I got myself comfy, cozy... situated on the couch. I tuned in the TV station of choice and started stuffing my mouth with popcorn. I was sooo happy to just be kicking back and relaxing. Also to be putting aside all my health problems and such. About 15 minutes into my bliss, I shifted my foot that had fallen asleep, to another position… forgetting it was attached to the leg… the big bowl of popcorn was 'precariously' sitting on. In less than a second... the bowl went KABOOM.  Popcorn, coagulated cheese and butter was all over my carpeted floor, everywhere. Before I could scream Boo-Hoo… my grey tabby had jumped from her perch and was licking up butter, cheese and attempting to inhale popcorn, literally inhale… no chewing. This was not a pretty picture from any angle, and I was worried the cat would get sick. My hubby came to the rescue with a small garbage bag, as I scooped up the contaminated popcorn, dodging Mira’s attempts to block me.  The 5 second rule did not apply any longer... so the taste of popcorn on my tongue was now erased, long gone. Such a shame. Finally, managing to outsmart the cat… I put the remaining popcorn inside the bag my hubby was holding, so he could cart it away, hiding the situation's catastrophic effects. It had all been my fault. As I looked at the empty bowl, and saw my TV show flicker from the screen… I got a tad bit angry that my evening had been ruined like this. Que Sera Sera, I thought. I picked up my flavored tea from the end table and went outside to clear my head. I stood there on the stoop looking up at the stars. I took in some fresh air and contemplated life. It’s the little things that bring joy. And tonight… unfortunately that joy had been fleeting and I was disappointed. Not to worry, my gut told me. There is always tomorrow...

A March Birthday in May, Post Office Style

 

A few days ago my mom got the birthday card I sent her. I live in the Midwest. She lives on the East Coast. She was thrilled to receive the card because her gift had already arrived. It had been mailed separately. That was a good thing.  My mom’s birthday is at the end of March. Let me repeat. At the end of March. So to arrive on time I mailed her card and that package around the 10^th of that month. She never got the card until last week,  the first week in the month of May. Eight weeks after the fact. I kid you not. Go figure. Seriously, the Pony Express could have gotten it there faster. I am so frustrated by the USPS I could scream. Since last summer there has been one problem after another with almost every item I’ve mailed… be it letter, bill, card or package. It’s ridiculous and inexcusable. The guy in charge needs to be kicked to the curb and fired. Processing machines have been ripped out slowing things down, employees fired, working hours cut, etc. If you want you could blame Covid19 for some of it, I’m sure. But I think it goes deeper than that. This guy in charge had no experience when he was placed in the position. He once privately owned  a shipping company in direct competition to USPS. Is his income supplemented by it now? Does he get kickbacks ?  I think he along with a lot of people in this country want to see the Post Office fail because they want it privatized. I don’t. Our Post Office had noble beginnings. It’s an important part of American history and needs to stay that way.  We need to preserve the institution at all costs. The USPS wasn’t ever supposed to be in the quandary it’s currently in, being unable to get the job done in a timely fashion or pay it’s bills. It was never supposed to make a profit. Mismanagement has led to its downfall. When a customer pays extra money for something to be delivered faster, it shouldn’t take 10 or more days to do it. Period. The USPS has to saddle up. Get back in the game and do the job it was created to do, without all the BS. They need to become more efficient in these modern times, for the sake of all it’s customers. Regardless of what some people think, we need the Post Office. And we have to do everything in our power to keep it. Don’t you agree? Without it I know I'd be lost. Where else could we go to get stamps that stir the imagination. The ones with personality plus… for Christmas, holidays, honoring icons, nature, writers, scientists, history and the like. Who else could give us that BIG thrill when we reach inside our mailboxes and get a letter from a loved one, in their own handwriting, not an antiseptic text.  Lets fight to make the Post Office the National Treasure it truly is. 

Happy Mothers Day

 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY 

to my mom, daughter, sister-in-law,

cousin, best friend, blog buddies 

and women everywhere. 

Have a GREAT day. 

This one is for you.

ENJOY!

Danny Boy by Emma Sophia (age 4)

Daddy this was your favorite song.

Since I was a little girl...

You asked me to recite it while

I was standing on your grave,

after you passed.

I did that first year and will any time I visit.

"If I am dead, as dead I well may be,

You'll come and find the place where I am lying,

And kneel and say an Ave there for me.

And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,

And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,

For you will bend and tell me that you love me,

And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!"

Two years ago today you were laid to rest.

REST in PEACE.

Running For The Roses- It's a WIN

 

It's DERBY DAY in KENTUCKY. I know my dad and grandpa are watching from HEAVEN with me today. I'm not making any predictions or placing any bets. But I do have a favorite. And I'm sipping a cocktail. May the BEST horse win.

 CONGRATULATIONS 
MEDINA SPIRIT

Just proves it's not how expensive you are

that wins the game. It's what you're made of.