pYou know you are stressed when you take a head first plunge into a large curbside garbage pail. This was my reality today as I attempted yard work. I always sparkled with confidence over performing my own small repairs, inside and out of the house wielding tools like hammers, saws (hand varieties), trowels, scrappers, sandpaper and so on, and now this.
While in work mode, I readied the pail by opening the lid, then proceeded to roll the pail to its designated spot to then gather up raked leaves, wood bark strewn around by Hurricane Irene, and other detritus. I did not get far since my feet stepped on the lid, the pail tipped and in I went-head first. This was not serious enough to warrant a trip to the hospital on this fine day, simply a one inch long gash that didn't require sutures or more, there was some minor damage to the eye area, fatty part of the cheekbone (thank goodness for fat) and above the eyebrow. Peroxide and Bacitracin did the trick. The knee area was bruised but nothing a cold pack couldn't help.
With a friend, we went over all the ways we possess great luck during our contacts with the ground. This friend, in her late 70's had fallen on her lawn. An error in a prescription dosage led to dizziness and to a fall. Down she went - backwards, narrowly missing the sidewalk. What great luck that the sidewalk wasn't underneath her at the time. What great luck that the sticks and wood particles did not gouge my eye.
As far as the stress part, there will always be stressors and reasons that we need to pay more attention to our present condition. There will also be plenty of times when we have to thank our lucky stars that we came out of our situation as well as we did.
Banged up a bit but still smiling, I'll sign off.
Glo S
Monday, September 5, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
An epiphany
An epiphany is a moment of sudden revelation or insight. Well, I had one of those today. In a conversation with my dear daughter we spoke on the serious matter of hurts, bad feelings, anxiety and other negative emotions brought on by interactions with others, others such as relatives, friends, acquaintances, representatives of companies via phone and so on, others who have left us feeling harmed.
Following a stand off with a utility company representative about a bill that should not have been, I made a final decision. I will deal with the situation one more time with a supervisor and then let it go! If any other issues come up I will make my absolute best stab at resolving each and every problem before the month is up so I can begin a new month on a good footing, a clean slate so to speak, sprouting a positive attitude. The previous months issues will be put to rest. The point in all this is to save myself and others mental anguish and heart pain.
A segment of the "let it go" philosophy goes like this.
'If you want to be healthy morally, mentally and physically, just let it go. Let go of the
little annoyances of everyday life, the irritations and the petty vexations that cross your
path daily. Don't take them up, nurse them, pet them or brood over them. They are not
worth while. Let them go'.
With advanced age on us, we can certainly claim to have carried our share of hurts and harms from the past. I won't fool you or myself into believing I won't falter on this effort. This 'let it go' adage is a tough one to conform to and will require much trial and error.
'Let go of that feeling of jealousy, envy, malice,
let go all such thoughts. Sweep them out of your mind and you will
be surprised what a cleansing, a rejuvenating effect it will have on you, physically and
mentally. Let them all go, you house them at deadly risk'.
A good friend commented, 'who does all this anxiety hurt the most'. Of course the answer is ourselves. We must attempt to keep our heart and other body parts clean of contaminants and other dangerous aging elements that at times put weight on our shoulders and hips.
With that said I wish you all a healthy and cheerful new month of September.
Following a stand off with a utility company representative about a bill that should not have been, I made a final decision. I will deal with the situation one more time with a supervisor and then let it go! If any other issues come up I will make my absolute best stab at resolving each and every problem before the month is up so I can begin a new month on a good footing, a clean slate so to speak, sprouting a positive attitude. The previous months issues will be put to rest. The point in all this is to save myself and others mental anguish and heart pain.
A segment of the "let it go" philosophy goes like this.
'If you want to be healthy morally, mentally and physically, just let it go. Let go of the
little annoyances of everyday life, the irritations and the petty vexations that cross your
path daily. Don't take them up, nurse them, pet them or brood over them. They are not
worth while. Let them go'.
With advanced age on us, we can certainly claim to have carried our share of hurts and harms from the past. I won't fool you or myself into believing I won't falter on this effort. This 'let it go' adage is a tough one to conform to and will require much trial and error.
'Let go of that feeling of jealousy, envy, malice,
let go all such thoughts. Sweep them out of your mind and you will
be surprised what a cleansing, a rejuvenating effect it will have on you, physically and
mentally. Let them all go, you house them at deadly risk'.
A good friend commented, 'who does all this anxiety hurt the most'. Of course the answer is ourselves. We must attempt to keep our heart and other body parts clean of contaminants and other dangerous aging elements that at times put weight on our shoulders and hips.
With that said I wish you all a healthy and cheerful new month of September.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
catching up on reading
With all the 'free time on my hands' (how does free time get to our hands, anyway), I'm exploring writers I would never have considered reading before. George Carlin, humorist, author, satirist is one case in point, an author I pooh-poohed because of his profanity and over the edge approach. He comments on phrases like the one above and puts a Carlin spin on it. Ever wonder about such idioms like 'you take the cake','the greatest thing since sliced bread', and so on? He expounds on these freaky sayings and brings on a laugh.
I have shied away from some poetry, especially old English bards, Wordsworth, Keats, Coolridge and other dead writers, Burns, James, Thomas due to inability to get the cadence of the writing. I will attempt to make some understanding out of their writing because it exists, has import and I have the time.
It is a common thought that as we age we get more set in our ways and we tend not to let in new ideas. With hopes of trying to dispel this myth and others I will continue along this vein and let you know what happens next. Let's all attempt to do the same - take a myth and give it a good dispelling. Then let me know what happens next.
I have shied away from some poetry, especially old English bards, Wordsworth, Keats, Coolridge and other dead writers, Burns, James, Thomas due to inability to get the cadence of the writing. I will attempt to make some understanding out of their writing because it exists, has import and I have the time.
It is a common thought that as we age we get more set in our ways and we tend not to let in new ideas. With hopes of trying to dispel this myth and others I will continue along this vein and let you know what happens next. Let's all attempt to do the same - take a myth and give it a good dispelling. Then let me know what happens next.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Eating out
We're retired. With all the free time on our hands and staunch promises we made to ourselves to do some home cooking, we have finally arrived at the stage of 'eating out' for both socialability, as well as sustenance. This is a very big Florida event, but other places have this event going on.
When we arrive at our eating location, the first line of questioning of the server has to do with, do you offer a senior discount? This is a very honorable question since it has much to do with looking for the ultimate bargain.
We might next proceed to ask all sorts of other questions some having to do with food, such as, can I have large napkins, is the bun buttered, do you have whole wheat bread, are there extra pickles, followed by statements such as, I have diabetes and can't have sugar or salt or whatever goes with our state of health.
The servers are now saddled with far too much information on us. But that doesn't deter us seniors. We go into personal mode and begin to fire questions at them about their personal lives, such as, do you have children, have you seen the latest Robert Downey movie, do you like working here?
Our own children haven't been around enough because they live a distance away or are busy working and we need to establish some close parent/child relationship with someone. We have chosen the youth who are employed at the restaurants we frequent.
Now, this entry might sound like a knock against retired seniors when in fact it is a true assessment of what was overheard at a number of restaurants during all feeding hours and days of the week. Part of the reason I am such an expert at reporting this information has to do with my own involvement. Yes, at times the person I am referring to in this blog would be me, and my eating partners and certainly many, many others at all eating times and days of the week.
Now, about the servers, some have warmed nicely to the barrage of questions and others have maintained a professional stance. For the most part I would judge that fun was had by both servers and servees.
Bon apetite, all you retired seniors, see you at the eating establishments.
When we arrive at our eating location, the first line of questioning of the server has to do with, do you offer a senior discount? This is a very honorable question since it has much to do with looking for the ultimate bargain.
We might next proceed to ask all sorts of other questions some having to do with food, such as, can I have large napkins, is the bun buttered, do you have whole wheat bread, are there extra pickles, followed by statements such as, I have diabetes and can't have sugar or salt or whatever goes with our state of health.
The servers are now saddled with far too much information on us. But that doesn't deter us seniors. We go into personal mode and begin to fire questions at them about their personal lives, such as, do you have children, have you seen the latest Robert Downey movie, do you like working here?
Our own children haven't been around enough because they live a distance away or are busy working and we need to establish some close parent/child relationship with someone. We have chosen the youth who are employed at the restaurants we frequent.
Now, this entry might sound like a knock against retired seniors when in fact it is a true assessment of what was overheard at a number of restaurants during all feeding hours and days of the week. Part of the reason I am such an expert at reporting this information has to do with my own involvement. Yes, at times the person I am referring to in this blog would be me, and my eating partners and certainly many, many others at all eating times and days of the week.
Now, about the servers, some have warmed nicely to the barrage of questions and others have maintained a professional stance. For the most part I would judge that fun was had by both servers and servees.
Bon apetite, all you retired seniors, see you at the eating establishments.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Mom and the three bushes
This entry about mom does not have to do with bears she has come in contact with, but is about the three bushes she confronted in her front yard.
Unable to see clearly through her front windows, she decided to attack the three bushes that obstructed her view. She equipped herself with hedge clippers and who knows what else in the way of rusty tools and proceeded to saw and chop. The hedges got the best of her and after hacking and chopping she succumbed, fell into the jagged bushes and sustained some mighty severe bruises.
She appeared haggard and weak when I came for a visit. I consulted with my siblings and made a decision to take her with me for some tender loving care. Naturally, she protested. I countered with, "only for a week, Ma, until you get stronger".
Not having told a soul about her ordeal, I did not discover the bruises until a day later when she removed her sweater. Imagine the shock of seeing massive bruises on both shoulders, gash on her head, a black and blue that started at her forehead and ran down her face and around her ear.
After informing my sibs about all this, I called an ambulance and off she went to the emergency and then the hospital for a four day stint. The nurses and doctors could not believe the fall she sustained, and the strength and good health of this nonagenarian.
It is some kind of miracle that she lived through this. The condition of her house was deemed as uninhabitable for a 96 year old. She now lives with me, gets three meals a day, (she eats like a horse) bathed regularly, visits from the visiting nurse association, therapy sessions and is thriving.
I'm sure she misses her back yard with the bears, vegetable garden, all her flowering shrubs, peach trees and more, but at her age she was unable to eat properly, care for herself, and get up and down stairs.
She is a joy to be around. With all the caring she has done for the family and many many others, it is about time that she has the catering she deserves.
My grand desire is to be able to make her house livable and see her back with the bears. This is a tall order. The house will need major reconstruction, a bedroom with bathroom built on the first floor, a shoring up of her broken floor and new walls. Her two daughters will take turns staying with her at all times and will require a decent bedroom on the second floor. Her son lives in a house behind her and can assist, too.
Unable to see clearly through her front windows, she decided to attack the three bushes that obstructed her view. She equipped herself with hedge clippers and who knows what else in the way of rusty tools and proceeded to saw and chop. The hedges got the best of her and after hacking and chopping she succumbed, fell into the jagged bushes and sustained some mighty severe bruises.
She appeared haggard and weak when I came for a visit. I consulted with my siblings and made a decision to take her with me for some tender loving care. Naturally, she protested. I countered with, "only for a week, Ma, until you get stronger".
Not having told a soul about her ordeal, I did not discover the bruises until a day later when she removed her sweater. Imagine the shock of seeing massive bruises on both shoulders, gash on her head, a black and blue that started at her forehead and ran down her face and around her ear.
After informing my sibs about all this, I called an ambulance and off she went to the emergency and then the hospital for a four day stint. The nurses and doctors could not believe the fall she sustained, and the strength and good health of this nonagenarian.
It is some kind of miracle that she lived through this. The condition of her house was deemed as uninhabitable for a 96 year old. She now lives with me, gets three meals a day, (she eats like a horse) bathed regularly, visits from the visiting nurse association, therapy sessions and is thriving.
I'm sure she misses her back yard with the bears, vegetable garden, all her flowering shrubs, peach trees and more, but at her age she was unable to eat properly, care for herself, and get up and down stairs.
She is a joy to be around. With all the caring she has done for the family and many many others, it is about time that she has the catering she deserves.
My grand desire is to be able to make her house livable and see her back with the bears. This is a tall order. The house will need major reconstruction, a bedroom with bathroom built on the first floor, a shoring up of her broken floor and new walls. Her two daughters will take turns staying with her at all times and will require a decent bedroom on the second floor. Her son lives in a house behind her and can assist, too.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Birthdays
Birthdays - or bold enough to tell them what you really want.
Firmly resolute about never, ever, ever getting what I want for my birthday. I tell them time and time again PLEASE! They will not listen. What is it that I want?
NOTHING!
I don’t want or need a thing. If they must do something, how about detailing my car, spending the day hanging out together, but NOOOO, they have this need to buy me something. Well, If I can’t get what I want, then I don’t want anything! Wait, that is what I want. The gift I made my strong stand against?
Michael Buble tickets.
WOW! That was the sweetest, most thoughtful, gift that I never, ever, ever didn’t want. I’m already dreaming on a gift that I won’t want for my next birthday. The anticipation is palpable.
There is something to be said for birthday presents. Have you had your fill of potted plants, a lifetime of socks, (I’ll request to be buried in a few pair), a plethora of ties, scarves, pajamas, sweaters, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Of course, we are forever appreciative of the fact that folks are still willing to extend offers of gifts. Belonging to the practical school of gift giving, I say we take our altruistic gift givers off the hook and put forward for consideration a gift that adds to our education, enhances our skills, improves our socialization. A night school class in dance, hiking, jewelry making will work nicely.
There’s never enough of flora the likes of clematis, hydrangea, snowballs. May I add a bit of opinion? Make plant matter perennials, please. Anticipating the plants annual spring revival is a nifty way to remember the gifter. If perchance you happen to receive an eponymous Eleanor Roosevelt rose bush, keep in mind a horticulturist’s description of this rose; ‘not good in a bed, but fine against a wall’.
Once you have used your noggin and come up with a creative gift you can feel proud to gift, don’t lay back on your laurels, you are not finished. Along comes another occasion. An anniversary, graduation, one of those insipid occasions, i.e. mother’s day, father’s day, grandparents day, secretary day, boss day. Thanks a lot, Hallmark! Why snub Ground Hog’s Day? We honor Washington and Lincoln, what about Buchanan and Polk, they were presidential too?
If you care to give the VERY best and yearn to get really imaginative about this chronic venture, consider these;
-Donate to a worthy cause, animal shelter, cancer society, or college,
-mall gift cards
-plant a tree, buy a brick in the honoree’s name
-sports, restaurants tickets -look into Groupon.com for half-off offers
-Spa, grocery store gift cards,
-trips,
-car gear,
-movie tickets,
-mall gift cards (did I say this one already, never get enough of these)*.
-Umbrellas, a sure hit since they get misplaced over the years, or in the same year.
-A delivered pizza - my most creative offerings.
100 year old Uncle Willard, spurned an honorary party, yet agreed to an anchovy and pepperoni pizza- -yiiiieeeccch-- hope he didn’t get ‘agita’ (Italian heart burn). How many more ideas can anyone conjure up for these 90 to 100 year old youngsters.
*beware of gift cards. Companies and restaurants go out of business, cards are easily lost, misplaced, forgotten and the money is sitting out there, never to be recaptured, by you, that is. Note the conditions on the cards, some have a shelf life, expire, devalue through nonuse. If stolen, there’s no recourse.
Plum out of ideas? It’s now time to rely on the old standbys, scarf, tie, sweater, a potted tulip, gifts that can be stockpiled with the others, except for the tulip. Speaking of flora, these perennials come up every year to remind you how pleased you are that you did not get a scarf, tie, or sweater for your last birthday. No way to replant those. Another imaginative idea was the planting of a mother’s day garden for a friend. Did I mention perennials come up every year? There’s got to be many more spiffy gift notions out there.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Swiffer me til eternity
Please excuse my short hiatus as I was working out some of life's little curve balls, death of a baby and health issues of loved ones and so on. I'm back and feeling a bit bloggish, so here goes.
Swiffer - A Love Story.
As with the word salve, I equally love the word swiffer. And how I love to swiffer. The word swiffer is more than a noun. Like google, this word is flexible enough to be used as a verb, as in ‘I’ll google it’.
An Ode to Swiffer
I love to swiffer day and night,
even when I’m a fright
I swiffer high I Swiffer low,
and who’s to know
In formal dress and when I’m bare,
so who’s to care,
Easy, convenient, low energy
Swiffer me til eternity
If ever asked which house appliance I would part company; stove, microwave, washer, dryer, all would be sacrificed to my Swiffer. Byebye Amana, so long Westinghouse, HELLO SWIFFIE.
As with all love interests there is a downside to household products. Somewhat improved, Swiffers are a boon to the world of dusting, although a small hand vac is still needed for the trailings. Frugal me, I prolong the pad by flipping it. In the land of recycling, this product presents a big negative, not at all thrilled that a good portion of the pad goes unused due to a design flaw, plus the item isn’t biodegradable. Maybe the company can improve on this. Just maybe I’ll contact them with a complaint, ahh, constructive comment, hahaha. I feel one coming on.
Dear Swiffer (Proctor and Gamble), I admit to a serious yen to Swiffer but care to put to use more body parts than my hands. My feet want to get into the act, too, and in my humble opinion, I offer this suggestion. ‘Pedders’. They work like this, while swiffering to Michael Buble, I might get in some side step action and Pedder at the same time. For as you see, I’m retired and must maximize my time minimizing housework, for there are many more exciting things awaiting me out there. Additionally and please, Swiffer people, design your product to make full use of the pad and peds. Thank you. I remain, a devoted customer in perpetuity, or til hell freezes over or which ever comes first. Go green!
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