04/13/2023

Alas, I fear I am ever and

always a la quick and dirty!

I scan my calendar quickly.

I jot notes on it abbreviated 

to the point that not even 

God could understand them!

Today, at exactly this time,

I'm supposed to be at the 

doctor's office. I canceled

because my calendar said I

had a dentist appointment.

It's not that I can't read . . .

it's simply 'twixt always

being in a hurry and 'tween

not able to read my own

handwriting, I mess up.

See how cleverly I got out

of blaming all this on aging

and half-hymers?!

I fear I'll be having more

incidents of this nature in

my future. Can't help but

wonder just excuses I'll

be giving myself?!

Where's my calendar . . .

Oh my God, no way in

Kingdom Come can I read

those scribbles!

04/12/2023

Isn't it interesting how we 

all like to dish out bits of 

advice, sage or otherwise.

Still, we find it a tad harder 

to take it!

"You really need to lose 

some weight, but of course

I don't. Stop asking me for 

a loan; I've never had to 

borrow money in my life. 

She's such a gossip; no way

would I talk about anybody

the way she does."

I get that was all a bit catty.

Okay, more than a bit catty. 

I fear we often say some of 

the most horrendous things 

to ourselves. In fact, I am

only even now coming to 

understand what damage 

we do to ourselves with our

self talk.

"I'm too fat. I'm not smart

enough. I shouldn't put up

with his talk. I need to read

more. I'd better work a few

more hours."

Frankly, it doesn't really

matter how surly or how

sophisticated our self

comments are. For sure, 

it would be truly important

that our self talk be of a 

higher caliber.

"My hair looks nice today.

I really like this dress on me.

This is a really good book I

am reading just now. I should

tell Jo how much I enjoy her

stories."

These types of higher self

comments are so healthy. We

would all benefit from seeking

to be much more positive!

"You look lovely today and 

I'm all dressed up; let's go out 

for lunch. Did you see what a

fine article Alice wrote? I would

like to learn from her; she's such

a good writer."

Now, that's the kind of self talk

we should all be doing!

04/11/0223

One of the things I so love

about living here is all the

wild life we get to see! And,

I'm talking about right here

on my property.

My absolute faves are the

bear, bobcat and mountain

lion. Running in a close

second, the elk and deer.

I get a kick out of the fox

and raccoon, but the raccoon

are a nuisance with the trash,

make no mistake.

Last evening it was a huge

bob cat. He was so big that

initially we thought it was

a mountain lion.  Added to

that, his tail was longer than

we're used to seeing. Still,

made our day, or should I 

say, night?!

We have so invaded their

original territory. I find it

amazing that they have

found a way to adapt. Some-

times, I worry about getting

attacked as we love being

outdoors. 

Lord willing and the Devil 

doesn't intervene . . . as

David Mason used to say!

04/10/2023

Well I can remember not

liking Monday mornings

back in the day . . .

I loved teaching, adored the

kids . . . so, methinks 'twas

more about kissing the week-

end goodby rather than the

issue of embracing the new 

week.

Now in my dotage, as it were,

I still like to party hearty on

the weekends with wondrous

family, friends and neighbors.

This makes Monday morning

a refreshing gift of recovery

and healing . . . and then, we

don't even have to go to work!

One of the things I much enjoy

in these elder years is . . .

that recognition of just how 

priceless life is and the need 

to enjoy every single moment 

however that looks to you.

These moments are indeed a 

gift . . . let's spend them well!

Happy Monday to one and all!

04/09/2023

Weekends ahoy . . . Oh how

I love them!

I find it so interesting to be

retired lo these many years

and still honoring weekend

customs!

I still love how the weekend

actually begins on Friday, 

FAC with the neighbors. 

Do you remember . . .

Friday Afternoon Club?

Saturday is a sleep in day. A

late, lazy brunch, sometimes

even with champagne. And, 

catching up on the news . . . 

local and/or otherwise!

Once in a while, it's pancakes 

on Sunday morn. Others, I psyche

myself up and make Chilaquiles.

No drinks on Sunday because

Monday brings work . . . teaching.

Ah, sometimes I still forget I'm

retired.

Maybe, it's high time I celebrate

each and every day rather than just

the weekends. I heard a rumor we

have a warm spring day coming up.

Again, that much fantasized about

picnic comes to mind. 

04/08/2023

"What we think, we become.

What we feel, we attract.

What we imagine, we create."

Wild Woman Sisterhood

Every now and then, I run 

across a sentiment that speaks 

to moi! The above statement 

is obviously very right brain, 

but that's where I spend most

of my thinking anyway . . .

The Power of Positive Thinking

~Norman Vincent Peale, 1952

was all the rage when I was a

couple of years old. My father

used to quote from it on a regular

basis. So, obviously I grew up

making that effort . . . alas, my

mind rebelled to the order.

It's in these latter of my years

that I suspect our choice of 

thinking has a great deal to 

do with who we are, what we 

become and the outcome of our

lives. I do wonder from time 

to time, if people see me as a 

negative or a positive person.

Bottom line, I'm still here . . .

and methinks I can still fight

to become who I want to be

04/07/2023

Yesterday, I celebrated an

anniversary of sorts . . .

Alas, I didn't share then, as

it was a bit much to think

about.

Six years ago yesterday, I

fainted whilst loading the

pickup of an early morn.

Unfortunately, my head hit

one of my beautiful rocks

and spit my skull open.

When I came to, I crawled to

the door and softly knocked

at the bottom of the door. At

last, Russel came and found

me.

He drove me to the hospital.

I ended up spending three days

there, 16 or 18 tests involved.

I was told by my own doc, that

I probably had two to three mo

to live.

What I celebrate today is my

6th anniversary of a life not

expected to live, but one gifted

me completely unexpected.

I pray, I have many, many more

years to celebrate. Unfortunately,

I lost roughly 17 - 27% of my

memory due to the accident. 

Nonetheless, it's been

interesting being reminded . . .

Do feel free to bring me tales

untold, I most likely will believe

them, after all . . .

04/06/2023

"No winter lasts forever.

No spring skips its turn."

~Hal Borland

Just read the forecast for the

week. I rather feel like the 

Gypsy who peeks at her own

fortune . . .

After snowing for about 18

hours straight, we're finally

promised an entire week of

what actually looks like 

spring in fine fettle. 

I'm going to celebrate; make

no mistake! Maybe eat out

one day, Have an outdoor

FAC. Take a short walk in

the sun. Speaking of sun,

I may visit my son!

Alas, we still have many

an inch of snow here at the

property . . . but still, lovely

to know we have a few days

respite from Mr. Winter

sticking his head in where

it doesn't belong.

Let's dance!!!

04/04/2023

Have to wonder about myself

sometimes . . .

I am supposedly this peaceful 

person . . . right down to those

times I marched against the 

Viet Nam war in college. I even 

participated in one of the bra-

burnings.

Then, why the hell do I so enjoy 

murder mysteries, both of the

book and the movie varieties?!

I'll confess, I cannot do those

more horrific, i.e. Stephen King.

But, give me Columbo and/or

Midsomer Murders and we're on!

It comes to me that it's not the

murders themselves that woo

me, but rather the intrigue and

manner of the who done it itself.

At least I have to give myself

credit for never having planned

one myself. That would be too

torrid by half.

At this late in the day, guess I'll

just have to accept myself as I

am. Good thing too as I'm diving 

into England's Inspector Alleyn

today.

Hey, does it count that I only like

fictitious murders and not the real

ones?!

04/04/2023

"The magic in me is old, it sings

the song of my ancestors, words 

of the forest tongue, long forgotten."

~A.M. Galdorceraft

Alas, I do not live as deep in the

forest as I would like, but I do live

there. A true blessing, after all! 'Tis

strange, I have the forest on my left,

the lady side, and modern life on 

my right, man's world indeed.

I've come to understand that I see

my tiny, 135 year old cabin, a place

of magic centered 'twixt and 'tween

the two. From the moment I enter,

life as we know it is left behind. I

find the era of yesteryear soothes

me and eases me.

There is naught in this world to

soothe one's soul as to sit by the

fire and candlelight in the living

area. I suppose one must honor

our modern day . . . that might

just be why the occasional marg

comes to mind.

I pray I may be granted the wish

of being here 'til my time is ore

and that I am held in the arms of

my ancestors until borne home.

Blessed be . . .

04/03/2023

"My mind is simultaneously

a dream factory and a grave-

yard where ghosts of dead 

memories haunt the promise 

of fresh starts." ~db

If ever there were a truer words

spoken, I don't know what they

would be! Surely, our minds

must be one of our greatest 

enemies at times!

Awaking happy and excited for

the day, and then we remember

the list . . . that godforsaken list

of all we must do or die!

Find myself missing someone,

longing to hold them for just

a moment . . . and then I recall

there may be an offense in the

midst of the missing.

Remembering a loved one fondly

and all of a sudden . . . the sorrow

of harsh incidents mess with my

heart.

I'm nigh onto a hundred, as I've

been heard to say . . . when am

I going to start controlling my

mind, my memories?! Aren't I

supposed to be the guy in charge

here?

That saying, that wise saying,

"Time to get over myself!"

04/02/2023

Tonight is one of those 

nights of the sleepless 

nature. As I only drink 

coffee every few weeks

or so, when I indulge,

there's no sleep to be

had that night.

I never dread the price 

I pay for my indulgence. 

'Tis rather fun dividing

up the night twixt and 

'tween the odd mystery, 

crossword puzzles, and

or a good book.

Tonight, my guy and I 

caught an old black and 

white. So interesting to 

note the changes in 

attitudes and allowances 

from back in the day and 

today's world. 

Wouldn't have minded a 

tad of ice cream, but the 

cupboard is bare. And, 

as long as sleep is being

denied me, may as well

have some fresh coffee 

made even more delectable 

with a dash of Bailey's.

So love me those bits and 

pieces, the spice of life . . .

04/01/2023

Oh, what an amazing world

we live in! Nuff said! ~ldj